Revenge. I'm familiar with it. You have to be when you're the firstborn son of a notorious mafia leader. Death and vengeance have been the very foundations of my life. So who in their fucking mind would be stupid enough to cross me? My brother and I have been wrongfully convicted of a crime we didn't commit. We know who is behind this. We bid our time behind bars, planned and prepared for the day we got out. Now we're free and hungry for redemption. I know what must be done. I know whose blood will be spilled. But before I go after him, I'll go after his daughter. I never said I play fair. *Book one in the Marino Brothers Duet. Rated 18+ due to explicit language, sex, and violence.*

"So what now?" "I don't know, Em." ***** CLOSER TO YOU TRILOGY ***** After the second chance of a lifetime, Emma Carter and Beau Lewis decide to call it quits. No matter how passionately their love burns, there's always something standing in their way. As Beau battles with demons from his past and Emma questions her entire future, the one thing they both need right now is space. Seemingly back where they started, Emma and Beau are thrown together in yet another impossible situation. Now more than ever, the first rule of their relationship stands: since the feelings are undeniable, they mustn't act on them again, for both of their sakes. There's just too much to lose. Facing their biggest test yet, can Emma and Beau resist each other for good, or is it true that in the end, love truly conquers all? Find out in the final installment of the Closer to You Trilogy Text copyright ©kjobrien™ 2020 #1 in Romance Reads 2021 #1 in NA #1 in RocknRoll #1 in Sequel Shipping #1 in Adult #1 in Back Together #1 in Flirtationship #2 in Addiction #2 in Old Flame #3 in Women's Fiction #5 in Slow Build #5 in Flirty #6 in Just Friends

~ 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? ***************************************************

Finding Happiness Spinoff - Aiden One shit relationship turned me into a once a done guy. The second she walked out of my garage I was hooked. I was going to make her mine. I fought it as long as possible, but after a drunk one-night with her I knew I couldn't fight off the need to be with her any longer. I was going to slowly make her mine. Finding her was my saving grace. A stupid relationship at 18 with an abusive guy let me with nothing but bad thoughts about men and a little boy to take care of. The moment I found him, was the moment I knew my future was decided. I wasn't ready for anything, and being a single Mom wasn't appealing. He showed up at my door by surprise and won my little boys heart...and mine. Finding him made my life whole. Massive shout out and thank you to crazyweirdicy for all the help again!!! <3

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐅𝐈𝐀 𝐃𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐘 *** "In today's lesson," Blaze breathed out just a centimetre from her ear, his large hand moving to her thigh and parting them, "we will be learning how to open up." Ellie's heart pounded against her ribcage. She waited with anticipation for what Blaze would do next, swallowing the saliva that was lodged in her throat. She never felt a rush the way she did whenever Blaze touched her, and he knew that as well as she did. "So, tell daddy," he gently ordered, a small smirk pulling at his lips at the whimper that fell from Ellie's swollen lips. "What is it that you really want, baby?" **** Ellie Mason was the type of girl that was quiet yet strong. Ambitious about anything she took part in. She never had to be told twice to do something but she would never go down without an argument first. But she was incredibly shy, closed-off from anyone and everyone, and had extremely low self-esteem. She never spoke to anyone unless she had to, she kept herself distant from many people, and she was easily frightened and/or intimidated by people. Her closest friend was her fraternal twin sister, Gemini, and no one else. Her life was simple until her father's dark past crept up on her and her family before his passing, where she has no choice but to meet Blaze Arrowood who, at first, wanted nothing to do with the girl. She was simply a temporary toy that he would soon discard once he was given what he wanted from the Mason family. But there was something about Ellie that made him intrigued. Why was this timid yet feisty girl stuck in his mind every night before he went to sleep and the second he woke up every morning? And why in the hell did he want to make her completely his? *** HIGHEST RANKS: #1 - selflove #1 - blaze #1 - control #1 - development #2 - insecure #2 - conflict

*WARNING: RATED MATURE DUE TO LANGUAGE/SEXUAL CONTENT. READERS MUST BE 17+* *CANNOT be read without reading prior novels in series* Wolfe Emerson is notorious for two things: being an absolute beast in a boxing ring and being a voluntary mute. His story remains unspoken and he prefers to live his life in silence. That is, until, his world is turned upside down when he meets someone who is louder than life. The complete opposite of him with her outspoken personality, Wolfe can't decide if this woman gets on his nerves or makes him feel things he's never felt before. The scariest part? For the first time in his life, he wants someone to know who he truly is and see him. Hear him. But will he be able to fight for her in silence, or will he finally have to speak up? Melanie "Lenny" Parks is notorious for one thing: being a total badass. At least, that's what she wants everyone to think. Her past is a deeply buried secret and she's more than happy to mask her pain behind tough scowls and cold smirks. That is, until, she meets a man who literally bulldozes into her life. This beast of a man seems to have his eyes set on her and what she's clearly hiding from the rest of the world. The kicker of it all? He doesn't speak. Yet he makes her want to fill in the unspoken blanks between them and finally show someone the real her. But does she even know who the real her is anymore, or has she been silenced for good? All rights reserved to TheFeveredBookaholic.

Finding Happiness Spinoff - Cole When I was 19, I knocked up the wrong woman. Trying to do the right thing for my unborn son I married her. Two more kids later, I realized who she really was after catching her at our youngest son's t-ball game with another dude. The healing process was a piece of cake, her not allowing me to see my kids was a pain I will never go through again. Even with all of this going on my best friend was there for me. It may have taken me 14 years to realize this is the girl of my dreams. They're right when they say good things come in time. He's always been my best friend, watching him hurt not being able to see the beautiful children he helped create broke my heart. I stayed by his side, helped him and was just there for him every second I could be. The Weaver family has been my second family forever, there was no way I wouldn't be there. It also didn't help that I've had a massive crush on this gorgeous man since I was 11 years old that only grew to full on butterflies every time he spoke to me by the time I was 15. I've never expected to ever end up with him, the universe had other plans.

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

Carly Atwood always remembered the man that used to live in the loft above the barn when she was a little girl. John was her childhood crush, he was the guy she wrote about in her diary, and when he left her in his army greens, he was the first man she ever cried for. Nine years later, Carly isn't the eleven year-old girl John left behind. She grew up and moved on with her life, taking over the Atwood Ranch following her father's death. John isn't the man he used to be either; physically and emotionally scarred following his last deployment in Afghanistan, John is returning to the only place he ever called home, back to the loft above the barn and to the pretty blonde girl that's been holding onto his dog tags for all these years. ----- Title inspired by the song of the same name by Tim McGraw.

COMPLETED. A university student. A professional hockey player. They've proved they can be friends. Can they be more? Although they're both in their early twenties and living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, their lives couldn't be more different. Camille Riccardi is a university student who doesn't feel like she has her life together quite just yet. A scary thought, considering she's graduating in a few months. Taylor Hudson, on the other hand, is exactly where he wants to be in life. Drafted first overall in the spring, he's set to begin his first National Hockey League season with the Winnipeg Storm. When they meet through mutual friends, they realize that they may have things in common, after all. They realize that maybe they could be friends. Maybe they could be even more. But it's not nearly as simple as it all sounds. This is their story. Cover designed on Canva with photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash.