[Wattys 2023 Grand Prize Winner] After an eight-hour flight sitting next to her high school nemesis Jackson Carter, fashion designer and barista Isabelle Curtis thought that would finally be the last she would see of him. But as the saying goes, famous last words. * * * Isabelle Curtis and Jackson Carter were fierce academic rivals in high school, up until Jackson moved to the UK in junior year for boarding school. Eight years later, Jackson has returned from abroad to take on the role of CEO at his late father's company. When Isabelle and Jackson meet again, there's a war of words, banter and a passionate dislike towards each other. Throw in a high school reunion, some more chaos, and a 'deal' in the mix-one that might just involve a little faking and pretending. It's all fun and games and tit for tat, almost just like in high school, until real feelings become involved...

Natalia Stevens is smart, nice and shy-and this is exactly how everyone sees her. Even day-to-day conversations with friends and classmates are difficult, and guys certainly don't pay her any attention. During her senior year, Nati begins to notice unexpected interactions with her volleyball coach, Alex. Despite the apparent chemistry developing, she struggles to believe there is anything between them. Before she can make sense of it all, volleyball season is winding down, and it appears her mystifying crush will be out of her life for good. Natalia enters university just as socially petrified as she had been in high school, but new experiences with friends, booze and boys open up a surprising world of possibility. She realizes she can talk openly to other people for the first time, and this exhilarating discovery fosters a newfound confidence she thought she might never uncover in herself. Along the roller coaster ride of thrilling and frustrating crash-and-burn encounters with various crushes, however, there is one guy Nati can't seem to shake from her mind.

After a devastating tragedy shatters the renowned Romano crime family their fate weighs heavily on Don Leonardo Romano's only heir twenty-two year old Valentina. Determined to uphold the family's power Val will go to any means necessary even if it means selling her heart to the highest bidder. As the Romano family's most notorious hitman Matteo Costa knows the most depraved corners of New York's underground. So when Val arrives home after college he is confident she won't last long. The New York mafia would chew her up and eat her alive and yet... Serving as Valentina's personal guard Matteo realizes Val has grown into a beautiful, smart and cunning woman. He knows it won't be easy keeping the principessa safe especially when the Romano's rivals set their sights on her. But as their relationship grows Matteo realizes that his own desire might be the greatest threat to the Romano dynasty. Season 1 of The Hitman's Mark WARNING: This story contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.

[2024 WATTY WINNER][18+] Two best friends. Six weeks. One final shot at love. Since college, Maisie and August have been best friends-frustratingly, perfectly platonic best friends. For nine long years, Maisie has secretly harbored the hope that their relationship could be something more. In that time, Maisie Rhodes has skyrocketed to stardom as a pop sensation, earning the title of Pop Princess from her devoted Rhodie fans. When she hints on The Tonight Show that her love songs are inspired by someone close to her, speculation runs wild. To throw everyone off the scent-and protect her true feelings for August-Maisie's manager hatches a plan: fake a relationship with her best friend. Miraculously, August agrees. Now Maisie faces six weeks of pretending to date the one person she's always loved, all while tiptoeing around the unspoken truth that's lingered between them for years. What could possibly go wrong?

*2024 Watty Awards WINNER* All Vivienne Clarke wanted was to plan the best wedding of the season -- but of course, her libido gets in the way. ***** Socialite Violet Levine's *dream wedding in St. Tropez* must go off without a hitch, and Vivienne is the wedding planner behind the scenes to ensure that. She has every detail nailed down, has visited the castle-like venue dozens of times, met with vendors, and prepared everything to a T. But then Vivienne realizes the hot, filthy rich man she slept with the night before the wedding events begin is none other than Violet's older brother, the hotel mogul Axel Levine, who is paying for the whole shebang -- meaning her attraction to this man might risk her career. And when an out-of-the-blue storm threatens to flood the area where the Villa des Tropiques is located, she finds herself juggling problems beyond her control, and constantly teased by Axel's ever appealing -- and forbidden -- body. The more issues pile up on her plate, the more she becomes absolutely infatuated with Axel -- though he's the one signing her checks, and she most definitely cannot be seen frolicking with him. Between their sexual tension, and the looming storm about to literally rain on Violet's perfect day, how can Vivienne protect her reputation without losing her sanity -- and her underwear?

The strip of non-tattooed skin fell from his neck down to the fly he unfastened. "Do I scare you?" "No." "I should." . . . After a salacious event makes her want to leave home, Mina takes a traveling nurse position as far away as possible: Tokyo. In a different country with a different name, lies protect her from her past. Placed in an apartment near a Yakuza base, she meets Ryuzo, an alluring and disillusioned member of the criminal organization. As the two grow closer, Ryuzo admits he is trying to free himself of his gang ties. Mina vows to help him, but when she discovers his true identity, she realizes she isn't the only dirty, dirty liar. . . . Content Warning: This story is intended for mature audiences only. This story contains frequent cursing, explicit sexual content, mild violence, and mentions of drug use.

After a nasty breakup, romance writer Joanna Wilson travels to a beach house for a much-needed escape. But when she runs into her best friend's older brother and longtime crush, the summer takes an unexpected turn. As old flames spark and secrets come to light, Joanna and Gabriel must decide if they're willing to risk it all. ***** When romance writer Joanna Wilson catches her boyfriend cheating, she sees her own happily ever after going down the drain. However, what should've been one of the worst moments of her life turns out to be a blessing in disguise when her best friend suggests she travels to her parents' beach house for a much-needed escape and an opportunity to write a new book. Without thinking twice, she jumps at the chance to get her life back on track, not expecting to find rock star Gabriel Morales - aka her best friend's older brother and lifelong crush - only wrapped in a towel the moment she opens the door. They've known each other their whole lives so they decide there's no harm in spending summer together-especially when they both need a break from the world. But when the sizzling attraction they've been nurturing for each other over the years comes out to play, they'll need to decide if they're ready to play with fire and confront the dark secrets that hover over their heads. *** [best friend's brother/rockstar]

In a family of dark-haired children, blonde Ivy has always felt like the odd duck out. Always finding herself in trouble, she sees her potential redemption when the village's new visitor asks her to show him around. Everyone is sure to take notice when she's on the arm of a handsome man. But her new friend is more charming than she expected, and she soon hopes for a lot more than sightseeing. If only she could shake the feeling that he is hiding something from her... Sam Hemsworth is an agent working for the Rose Agency. A new case brings him to a picturesque village where any visitor is the latest news. The constant attention from the residents is not ideal when you need to discover someone's darkest secrets. Being attracted to the daughter of the family he's sent to investigate isn't overly helpful, either. He had better complete his mission as quickly as possible before Ivy's dog steals his wooden leg again... or the dog's owner steals his heart.

College football star Reid Donahue's comeback is documented by sports media head Jo Lawrence, but as sparks fly between them, Jo must navigate both her career ambitions and growing attraction to the reserved athlete. *** When college football superstar Reid Donahue is ready for a comeback following a gruesome injury, the university tasks their head of sports media for a season-long piece on Reid's return to glory. Jo Lawrence knows that doing this piece is her in for a post-grad job at ESPN and is determined to make her way through a notoriously male-dominated industry. But Reid - reserved and withdrawn since his injury - is making things difficult for Jo at every turn...including the wind sprints her heart seems to do every time he looks at her across the football field. *** [2024 WATTY WINNER] [Wattpad HQ pick January 2025 & June-July 2025] [6x featured story] [18+] Copyright 2023-2025 | Taylor Romagnoli [moonraess]

The Queen of Hearts meets the gilded world of Marie Antoinette. A princess with a holy Gift. A kingdom hiding a dangerous secret. And a marriage meant to bring peace to a land with a violent history of war. Eighteen-year-old Ophelia Rosiers is a princess of Rosailles, and also the heir to a holy Gift that determined the fate of her queendom centuries ago. But now with her Gift locked away, she can only hear the whispers of the Angels her people revere. As a result, her sister has been named next in line, and she is being sent to their enemy nation, Garnette, in order to marry their Crown Prince and hopefully lead their countries into an era of much needed peace. Only when she arrives, she quickly starts to suspect her betrothed is not who she dreamed him to be. Stuck in a palace surrounded by gossiping courtiers and enemies at every turn, Ophelia's friends are few. Especially when one of her handmaidens turns out to have secrets of her own, turning what Ophelia has always believed about her destiny upside down. Desperate for a distraction, she finds company with Prince Pierre-her betrothed's younger brother-who has motives of his own. When betrayal lands Ophelia as Garnette's prisoner, she realizes her whole life she has been dictated by other people's lies. With peace shattered for good and Ophelia's fate left in her own hands, she does the one thing she has left-she takes back control, even if it means turning into the very monster her enemies make her out to be. Bisexual MC. Book 1 in The Blood of the Angels series