~ 2021 WATTY'S SHORTLIST ~ "I-well, I..." I hesitated with my response. I wanted to let go. To not worry about what would happen in the future. I'd always loved staring into fires. It hypnotized me with its beauty and danger. It was so tantalizing to look at, but one little touch could destroy. I knew the heat between Tyler and I was similar. It started off small but it had only grown in the weeks he'd been here. We'd fed it unintentionally, and it had gone from an ember to a crackling flame. Every nerve in my body wanted to reach out and touch it, even though I knew I'd get burned. *************************************************** Pia Callahan always lived a carefree life with no worries. Her only responsibilities were to attend her college classes (sometimes) and keep herself fed (on ramen). When tragedy strikes, Pia is all of the sudden thrown into a whirlwind of change. She has to grow up and take on more responsibility than she could ever imagine: the custody of her best friend's son. Pia may not believe she is the best person for the job, but she is determined to do it. She'll trade in frat parties for PTA meetings and beer-bongs for apple juice. But what happens when the ruggedly hot motocross athlete Tyler Westwood shows up in her small town? Tyler lives on the fast track, never caring too much about consequences. You can't when your job is to do backflips through the air. Sometimes, you just have to send it and hope for the best. From the second Tyler meets Pia, he knows he wants her. But she is determined to ignore their bubbling chemistry. She has priorities now and a summer fling isn't one of them. Will Pia be able to stay away from Tyler? Or will she decide to hit the throttle? ***************************************************

Our moms were best friends. There wasn't much more to it than that. Every holiday, vacation and weekend, I was forced to spend time with Jax and his family. When I was four years old and he drenched my favorite blouse in ketchup, Jax and I became arch enemies...and then - somehow - we became best friends. But like I said, there wasn't much more to it than that. Mostly. Okay, so of course I liked him a little. How could I not? Even though Jax was annoying at times, he was also funny, athletic, popular, and downright hot, and I was his nerdy little best friend. He was my protector, the one who rescued me countless times from countless threats. We shared more than just friendship... Until the death of Jax's mother. The grief drove a wedge between us, and only so much more grief would follow. But pain has a way of tearing people apart, only to force them back together again. That's what happened to us. And, unfortunately, the only way around pain is through it. Trigger Warning: This book contains references to physical abuse and sexual trauma. Please read cautiously, and remember to take care of yourself.

When River crosses paths with a man who speaks to every hidden hunger inside her, their connection spirals into an all-consuming pull neither of them can resist-but is she Grayson's salvation... or his ruin? *** Everyone in River Avelle's hometown knows about Grayson Maddox-the troubled bad boy who almost killed another student in the middle of the school hallway. Those who look into Grayson's eyes only see pure fury and hatred. They all think he's beyond redemption, even Grayson himself. But not River. As the seemingly perfect good girl, River saw something more in those alluring grey eyes. Something worth holding onto. From the first time their eyes connect, both Grayson and River feel the intense, undeniable attraction between them...but neither of them understand what's pulling them together so fiercely. The closer they get and the more vulnerable they become, River has to wonder: is she saving Grayson from his darkness? Or is she just pulling him further into hers? *** He tips my head toward his with his index finger, keeping my eyes trained on him and driving me crazy with the primal look on his face. His grey eyes look heavy, filled with dark desire, and a shock runs up through my core. Everything around us disappears and all I can sense is him and the hardness pressing between my legs. "What are you doing to me, River?" he whispers, his voice raspy and utterly captivated. His face is lowering and I'm closing my eyes, waiting for soft lips to press against mine. My whole body is on fire as I hold my breath for his touch. *** Cover by @strayin

In which I fall in love with my brother's best friend. ***** "Don't pretend like you don't feel anything." His voice is low, sending shivers down my spine. "What do you mean?" "You know damn well what I mean." "I don't know what you're talking about." I pretend to ignore him, flipping some pages in my book. "Come on. I have all these assignments waiting. Aren't you supposed to teach me tonight?" "It depends on what you want me to teach." He smirks, his voice sounding even more dangerous. ***** I thought that my brother was the most popular guy in school, but as soon as I step into my university life, I realize how wrong I was. Meet Vaughn Cooper, his best friend. The guy is the epitome of every girl's dream. Godlike handsome. The quarterback. He's got the looks, and he's got the brain. Come on, he's got the scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in the country, while I have just barely passed the entrance examination after long years of struggle during high school. How could a guy who worked that hard and deserves nothing more but adoration be labeled as a bad boy? Yeah, the answer is simple. The moment we lock eyes, I realize something as I stare into those piercing, amber eyes. He's not every girl's dream. He's every girl's nightmare. In my case, MY nightmare. Calm down, heart. Our story hasn't even started. ***** THE SPENCERS SERIES BOOK #1 © 2020 Anya Jayvyn. All Rights Reserved. (Content warning: This book has descriptive sexual content, explicit language, and triggering themes)

Highest rank #14 LOVE--- Twenty-two-year-old Laliana Summers can hardly believe it when she becomes a famous author. But the dream slowly becomes a nightmare when a mysterious stalker breaks into her home. This person knows everything about her, and soon being in the spotlight becomes Laliana's own personal hell, with nowhere to hide. --- Forced into a decision that leaves her with no privacy, Laliana is stuck with a bodyguard to watch over her until the stalker is found. And this particular, breathtakingly handsome bodyguard is proving to be a terrible distraction for her ability to focus on writing. ---------------------------------------------------- ▪️FEATURED on @crime's Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @TeenFiction's "Funny Bones" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @NA "Reads of the Month" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @NA "Hold my Wine | Chicklit" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @ContemporaryLits's "Contemporary Romance" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @PsychologicalNovel "Triggering Romance" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @NewAdultReads "Featured" Reading List! ▪️FEATURED on @WattCliches "Beating Hearts" Reading List! ---------------------------------------------------- Copyright- @AuthorCassidyKate Cover created using CANVA PRO Started- 03/31/2021 Highest Ranks: ❊#1 in Relationship - 11/08/2021 ❊#1 in Comedy - 01/14/2022 ❊#4 in Chick Lit - 07/19/2021 ❊#1 in Bodyguard - 08/16/2021 ❊#14 in LOVE - 02/07/2024 ❊#6 in Young Adult - 02/29/2024 ❊#3 in Love Story - 02/07/2024 ❊#41 in Romance - 08/13/2021 ❊#9 in Humor - 08/29/2021 ❊#5 in New Adult - 07/31/2021 ❊#1 in Contemporary Lit - 05/31/2021 ❊#10 in Author - 06/02/2021 ❊#1 in Secret - 09/08/2021 ❊#1 in Crush - 10/02/2021 ❊#2 in Life - 04/28/2022 If you are reading this story on any platform other than Wattpad, you are at risk a malware attack.

Maybe One Day is now published as a Paperback, and E-book with W by Wattpad Books! ***** Hayley Donovan has been in love with Jace Hammond for years, but as they finally begin to grow close, they're pulled apart by the ghosts of their pasts. ***** Hayley Donovan has been in love with her best friend's brother, Jace, for years, but the feelings have never been reciprocated. That is, until Hayley decides to leave her small town and her family's tragic past behind to attend the University of Georgia - the very same university where Jace is attending. As the two reconnect for the first time in over a year, they can't ignore the growing feelings between them, however, things are never simple when it comes to love. The couple must work through both of their emotional pasts, as well as deal with a classmate, Levi, who is intent on making Hayley's experience at university one that'll have her fearing for her life. Content and/or Triggering Warning: this story contains swearing, mature themes, and sexual content. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Along For The Ride is now published as a Wattpad Book! As a Wattpad reader, you can access both the Original Edition and Books Edition upon purchase. When Katelyn is forced to travel the US with her pop star brother and leave her soccer dream behind, she is furious - until she meets singer Zach Matthews... ***** Connor Jackson. These two words make every girl scream and beg for a chance to meet him. He's the world's biggest pop star, but for seventeen-year-old Katelyn Jackson, he's just her older brother. When she's forced to put her competitive soccer dreams on hold to go along on his US summer tour, she's unimpressed. But when she meets the lead singer of his opening act, everything changes and life on the road takes a whole different turn. [[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]]

NOTE: 68 Days and Counting is going to be published! The story has been split into two books and slightly altered for publication being renamed: Hitting the Crossbar (April 18th 2023) and Across the Line (April 2024). You can now buy Hitting the Crossbar here: https://books.wattpad.com/shop/p/hitting-the-crossbar Description: Sequel to first draft of The Bad Boy And the Tomboy. Macy Anderson and Sam Cahill are together in Manchester, England living the new university life with new friends, soccer teams, experiences, and more. Through their ups and downs navigating their first year in a new setting, follow along once again for the pair's new challenges in their relationship and their love of soccer. All Rights Reserved- ©nikki20038 No honestly, you copy this book, I will hunt you down and-kidding but you'll be in some serious shit :) #5 in Teen Fiction (5/2/17) Cover~ @Purplerabbit474789

The Bad Boy and The Tomboy is now published as a Wattpad Book! As a Wattpad reader, you can access both the Original Edition and Books Edition upon purchase. Nicknames, a love of soccer, and school rumors are all the bad boy and the tomboy have in common. But if they give each other a chance, will they find something more? ***** Seventeen-year-old Macy Anderson is a tomboy that plays soccer, hangs with the guys, can't stand girls (except her best friend Jasmine) and doesn't know who Sam Cahill is. But when the pair unexpectedly meet, everything goes downhill from there. Because Sam Cahill is the school's bad boy, known for skipping classes and getting into trouble. Not to mention his cocky attitude, British accent, and magnetic charm, which seems to work on all the girls -- except Macy, who has a rule not date in high school. But when Sam starts showing her his moves (on and off the soccer field), Macy begins to see a different guy under the leather-clad exterior. Will that be enough to convince her that he's the one guy worth breaking the rules for? [[Word count: 300,000 - 350,000 words]] [[2015 Watty Winner]] All Rights Reserved- ©nikki20038

She's a wild, free spirit who sees the good in everyone, and he's the hardened, bad-tempered loner who wants nothing to do with her-yet no matter how hard he tries to push her away, she's the one temptation he can't escape. *** He's never met someone with such a bubbly personality. Not to mention the wildness and odd phrases she says every five minutes. He hates it. He hates how he can't stay away from it. He hates what she does to him; it's not like him to chase after some girl. She gets under his skin like no other. She's never met someone with such a bad attitude. He's ill-mannered and menacing. The glare never seems to leave his face. Considering it all, she can't help but feel the attraction toward him. Dangerous attraction toward a seemingly dangerous man. Maybe it's the tattoos on his arm that gets her attention. Or maybe it's because she can tell there's hope for good under his rough exterior. And she's about to find it, whether he likes it or not. It's no secret that the two of them are complete and total opposites. *** "You like being called Sugar, don't you?" I tease, placing my toothbrush back after finishing. He does the same and gives me a side-eyed scowl. He grips my chin harshly and kisses me. My body temperature raises a good ten degrees and my right leg goes all wiggly. He pulls away. "You like it when I kiss you, don't you?" He teases the same way I did to him and I'm left blubbering. "I think both of our questions are rhetorical," I lower my voice up at him. His lip curls up into a smirk. *** #1 in Young Adult #9 in Badboy #1 in Cold #3 in Goodgirl #1 in Sweetheart #14 in Love *** *Warning* This story contains mature themes (language, scenes