[Small Town / Second Chance] When Jen heads back to her hometown after ten years to celebrate her grandmother's 70th birthday, she knows she'll have to face Matt, once the love of her life. But what both of them don't expect is to have the feelings they had long buried inside to flourish back to life along with walls of resentment, and a sizzling attraction. ***** Jennifer Bloom has completely escaped her small-town past. She's a successful interior designer with great clients and everything she's ever wanted. But when she's called back home to help plan her grandmother's 70th birthday party, she's partnered up with Matthew Hunt - once the love of her life. He's lived in town his whole life, and he's handsome, strong, kind, and the only man who's ever made her heart race. Experiencing life with Matthew again reminds Jennifer of all the things she's missing, even though she's got everything she once wanted. At one point, all those years ago, they thought they'd be spending their lives together, but life threw them a curveball, forcing her to make the decision to leave and never look back. Now, they realize love was never an issue; their problem has always been everything that comes in-between. He'd never move to the city, and Jennifer can't leave the life she's built behind. Walls of resentment still block the way, even though their love for each other still burns strong in their hearts. Can true love bridge the distance between them? Is love ever enough to make a relationship work? Is it finally their second chance?

Deadly assassins Allegra and Ace have been trying in vain to kill each other for years. With a mutual enemy threatening their mafias, they find themselves in an unexpected alliance, and soon discover killing each other isn't the only temptation they need to resist... ****** Allegra Grey is poised to be the next great American mafia leader, and she's more than living up to the name. A skilled assassin, there's only one target who's ever gotten away from her-suave, sinfully handsome Ace De Luca, heir to the Italian mafia and the Greys' biggest rival. When both mafias are faced with a dangerous threat, they're forced to work together to protect their families, and unexpected sparks fly. Allegra definitely isn't one to sleep with the enemy, especially an arrogant womanizer like Ace. But there's an undeniable electricity between them and Allegra's not sure it's all hatred. Ace may be bad news, but Allegra's never been afraid of a little danger. As the fire they're playing with grows to a scorching blaze, one thing is clear: trying to kill each other may have been difficult, but resisting this intense chemistry will be impossible. [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Regina Dionela Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes, violence and gore

When Helena finds a phone on the night train, she decides to text the first number in the list of contacts in order to figure out who it belongs to. ***** Helena Santos hasn't had the easiest life. At twenty-one, she's the legal guardian of her teenage sister, in the final year of her nursing degree, and working night shifts at her small-town's local bar. And things get a lot more complicated when she finds a phone on the train home and decides to text the first number in the list of contacts, in hopes of tracking down its owner. That contact? Adam Bauer; the charismatic, sweet, and refreshingly honest older brother of the person who lost their phone. As the two continue talking, they can't ignore the chemistry and growing feelings between them, but life is never that simple. To make things work, Helena and Adam need to juggle a troubled sister, a meddlesome ex-boyfriend, and one fat lawsuit - all intent on keeping them apart. [[word count: 40,000-50,000 words]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: This story contains swearing, mature themes, and sexual content.

Henley agrees to pretend to date millionaire Bennett Calloway for a fee, falling in love as she wonders - how is he involved in her brother's false conviction? ****** Henley Linden's brother is in jail for a crime he didn't commit, and she'll take any job to raise the money needed to free him. Soon, she's agreed to pretend to date millionaire Bennett Calloway for ten thousand dollars, so his mother will ease up the pressure on him to find a wife. But once Henley is enmeshed in Bennett's world, he falls for her, and she starts to have feelings for him as well. Despite her romance with Bennett, as she grows closer to the Calloways, Henley realizes they are somehow involved in her brother's conviction. Journeying deeper into a world of wealth and conspiracies, Henley is forced to rely on Bennett, though doing so could cost her everything. [[word count: 200,000-250,000 words]]

When Angelica Hale arrives in Italy in search of her birth father, she expects answers-maybe even closure. What she doesn't expect is to stumble into a crime scene... or into the sights of the Italian mafia. Now a target, Angelica is thrust into the dangerous world of Sebastian Alfonsi-a ruthless gangster with a gentle side he doesn't show easily, and a family name soaked in blood. He offers her protection and a chance to start a new life. But as their attraction grows so does the danger around them. With the walls closing in and enemies drawing even closer, loyalties blur, Angelica must decide whether to run from the danger-or dive headfirst into it. And falling for Sebastian could be her most dangerous mistake of all. Because in a world built on deception, some secrets are deadly. And the truth might kill her.

Avery's senior year is turned upside down when a kiss with her older brothers' best friend ignites a forbidden relationship tangled in danger, heartbreak, and family secrets that could destroy everything. *** "Aiden..." I shake my head, eyes fixed anywhere but the gorgeous man next to me. His hand grips my chin tightly, just enough to make me avert my eyes to his. "You know you want this as much as I fucking do. I want you to be mine. I want to be the one to hold you and kiss you the one you go to whenever you're happy or fucking sad. But let it be me, let me fucking show you that it should be me." He glares, jaw tensing. ...... ©hessaherophinelove

Sheltered art student Olivia will do anything to find her missing brother, even if it means infiltrating London's most exclusive sex club, run by the Moretti crime family. Thrust into a seductive world of wealth, power and sinful fantasies as L'Ombra's newest waitress, she catches the eye of the club's ruthless owner-Luca Moretti, the mafia king himself. A prime suspect in Noah's disappearance, the dangerously alluring Luca represents everything she fears and desires. His touch ignites a fire within her, awakening a hunger for submission and pleasure she never knew existed. He also happens to be the only person who can help her find the answers she needs. Trust is a luxury, and deception lurks at every corner, yet Olivia's closeness to Luca makes her question everything she thought she knew about the Moretti mafia boss...and herself. Standalone in the Sinful Fantasies series WARNING: This story contains content that may not be suitable for some readers.

A fish-out-of-water story about a New York City chef who inherits a ranch, discovers a family he never knew, and finds unexpected love with a fiercely loyal woman. For fans of western romance superstars like Lyla Sage and Elise Silver. New York City chef Jake West had it all, but a few strokes of a pen meant no more marriage. No more restaurant. No more big city lifestyle. Then he receives a call explaining that his long-estranged father, Brett, has died, and he needs to return to the Canadian ranch he left as a child. Jake expects to go, sign more papers, and return to the city and rebuild his future. Instead Jake learns that Brett's left the ranch to him-and only him. Things might have been hot in his restaurant's kitchen, but that's nothing compared to what he faces now: a family he didn't know existed, and a property he doesn't want. Tanner and Brady, his half-brothers, don't want him around. And while his stepmother, Peony, welcomes him, there's Liz, Peony's daughter. She's not a West, but her loyalties lie with the family, not an outsider. However, as Jake settles into the rhythms of the ranch, he wonders if he's finally found something that's been missing in his life-especially as he and Liz grow closer. At first, it's just attraction, but when a sudden kiss ignites a heat in both of them, they can't ignore this raging inferno. Maybe Brett West knew what he was doing when he summoned his eldest son back home-and gave him a chance to change his life forever. This is Book 1 of the West Line Ranch Series. Book 2 - Western Connection and Book 3 - Western Flame, are currently available to read on Wattpad In bookstores January 20th, 2026! Pre-order here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/790665/western-heat-by-caroline-richardson/9781998341375/ Watty's Shortlist - 2021 Cover designed by Nora Inla

Mia has spent years in captivity, being subjected to torturous testing by human scientists who are desperate to learn the secrets of her kind: werewolves. When she is rescued by Lorenzo, a possessive and passionate Alpha and the man she quickly learns is her mate, Mia must relearn how to adjust to life outside of her cage, deal with the challenges of joining a new pack, and trust the people around her - even if she shouldn't. Because the scientists aren't finished with their sadistic work, and this time, they have joined forces with a powerful witch who has a score to settle with Lorenzo's pack. And if Mia and Lorenzo can't figure out a way to stop them, not only will they be ripped apart, but all wolfkind may be at stake.

When aspiring writer Nella has a wild night, her hook-up with the sexy and tattooed Baz turns into a wild goose chase when she realizes she lent her only handwritten copy of her first novel to him - and it's gone missing. ****** Grad student Nella has always been overly cautious, but after meeting the charismatic tattoo artist Baz, she can't resist hopping into bed with him for a night of passion. The next morning, she's shocked to remember she loaned him the manuscript of her first novel, forcing them to reconnect so she can get it back. There's just one problem: Baz tells her the manuscript has gone missing. Forced to team up with Baz to investigate who took it, she soon finds herself catching feels instead of culprits. Can Nella trust the mysterious Baz, who remains guarded about his past? Will they be able to recover what was lost, and turn their tension into something more? Or is she living in a fantasy just as magical as her manuscript? 2021 Wattys Winner--Romance Content warning: This story contains mature sexual content and themes of alcohol abuse and emotionally manipulative relationships.