Emmaline Bennett is a dedicated ballerina with dreams of dancing on the world's greatest stages. At college, she balances her intense training with her studies, all while maintaining her sweet and generous nature. Her best friend, Hannah, is her polar opposite-wild, fashion-forward, and always ready for a party. Despite their differences, their bond is unbreakable. Enter Tyler Henderson, the campus heartthrob and star hockey player. Cold, wild, and with a reputation as a massive player, Tyler is the exact opposite of the type of guy Emmaline would ever fall for. Beneath his drop-dead gorgeous exterior lies a tumultuous soul, burdened with deep-seated daddy issues. When Hannah's boyfriend, also a hockey player and a close friend of Tyler's, introduces them, Emmaline and Tyler's worlds collide. Emmaline would never fall for a guy like Tyler, and Tyler would never fall for a girl like emmaline. She's not his type at all, and he's not hers. As they navigate the challenges of college life, intense training schedules, and their personal ambitions, they each struggle with their own battles and their preconceptions about love and relationships. In a story of passion, ambition, and unexpected encounters, emmaline and Tyler must navigate the complexities of their lives and discover whether they can remain true to themselves while facing the unexpected twists fate throws their way.

Aubrey Carr doesn't do athletes, especially not hockey players with egos bigger than the rink. As a rising star in the journalism department and a legendary campus partier, she's used to being the one in control of her stories, her image, and definitely her heart. Easton Black doesn't do rules. Late to practice, always one punch away from suspension, and carrying more baggage than he lets on, he's a walking headline waiting to happen. He's also the best player on the team, and he knows it. When Aubrey gets stuck shadowing Easton for a make-or-break feature story, sparks fly in all the wrong (and right) directions. He's cocky, infuriating, and way too observant. She's bold, untouchable, and exactly the distraction he doesn't need. The only thing they have in common? They'd rather lose the game than fall for each other. Too bad life and love don't play fair.

Mia Hill. College bound with an athletic scholarship. A go-getter with big dreams and a fully thought out plan to make sure they come true. But with her father's release from prison looming and the inevitable stresses of adulting, everything she was once so sure of seems to slip away. And it all begins the summer before college when she finds herself working alongside Grayson Adler, football hotshot and player extraordinaire. On his way to a bright future of his own, Grayson should be focused on two things as he heads to college. Football. And getting good grades so he can keep playing football. What he wasn't counting on is Mia. The girl who grates his nerves more than anyone else. But who's also captivated him like no other. They quickly find themselves fighting urges that they have absolutely no time for, and feelings that don't fit into their plans. But try as they might, they just can't seem to stay away from each other. Grayson has always loved a challenge but getting closer to Mia is a game he's never played before. And as her past resurfaces, all the rules begin to change for their eyes. But ready or not, it's time to start playing the game.

Eva Graham is a guarded, no-nonsense social science major who studies human behavior to understand why people leave-and how to make sure she never lets the wrong ones in. She keeps to herself, avoids drama, and especially avoids campus athletes, whom she considers walking red flags. Cole Grayson is a third-year psychology major, a cocky ice hockey star with a grin that disarms and a fanbase full of puck bunnies. While everyone sees him coasting, Cole's under constant pressure-trying to go pro, balancing school, and keeping up a charming front to hide just how much he's cracking underneath. When Cole starts slipping in class, he's assigned a tutor: Eva. Neither is thrilled. She thinks he's a loud, lazy distraction. He calls her "Teach" just to get under her skin-she responds by calling him "Skates," with just the right amount of disdain. What begins as bickering soon turns into banter... then something softer. The nicknames stick, becoming a quiet thread that ties them together as friends-and maybe more. Cole falls first. Hard. Eva, scared of being hurt and shaped by people who've left before, fights it. Still, she agrees to go to one of his games-just once. But seeing him on the ice, in his world, adored yet somehow still alone, shifts everything. Then the bet surfaces. A stupid, careless thing made before he really knew her-and it threatens to destroy everything they've built. Surrounded by puck bunnies stirring drama, teammates with their own loyalties, and a past Eva isn't ready to share, the fragile trust between them begins to crack. Between jealousy, late-night confessions, and moments where one look says everything, Eva and Cole must decide: is love worth risking it all-even if it started with a bet, a nickname, and everything going wrong?

Sophia Honey never expected college to mean sharing an apartment with her childhood nemesis. ~~~ Freshman Sophia Honey never imagined her brother would stick her with Theo Gray-his best friend and her childhood nemesis-as her roommate. But things get complicated fast. Theo, with his shirtless mornings, flirty remarks, and those intense stares, pushes all of her buttons. Just when Sophia thinks she can handle their awkward living arrangement, she discovers he's not just popular-he's one of the hottest seniors on campus. And as the star of the hockey team, his status skyrockets, forcing her to tread carefully around him to avoid drama. But drama comes knocking When Sophia lands a side gig with the seniors in her photography department to make some extra cash, she doesn't expect her first assignment to be Theo Gray shirtless in front of her camera. She definitely doesn't expect him to say yes with that smug grin-and one condition. What he wants in return? Not money. Something else. Something dangerous. As the photo sessions begin, so does the unraveling. Their banter becomes charged. His touches linger a little too long. Her defenses are violently slipping. ​Then comes the night the mask shatters. When Theo stumbles home drunk, his eyes glassy and his defenses down, he confesses a truth that breaks every version of him Sophia thought she knew. ​Gone is the boy who teased her growing up. This Theo is raw, complex, and beautifully broken in places she never noticed before. ​Suddenly, Sophia wants things she never dared to dream of. His kisses. His hands on her skin. His body-yes-but also his secrets, his pain... him. What started as a paycheck has become a dangerous line they can't stop crossing, forcing her to realize the most terrifying truth of all: ​What if falling for Theo Gray was the real assignment all along?

"hey! Blondie!" "don't call me that" extended synopsis inside

Tyson Reed is hockey's golden boy-talented, charming, and a notorious manwhore. He's used to getting whatever (and whoever) he wants. But when he meets Sophie Carter, the no-nonsense, commitment-phobic woman who wants nothing to do with him, he's thrown off his game. Sophie isn't impressed by Tyson's cocky grin or his flirty reputation. She's focused on her career and has no time for a player like him. But Tyson doesn't take no for an answer, and soon he's determined to prove that he's more than just a manwhore. One night of passion turns into something neither of them expected, but when morning comes, Sophie walks away, convinced a relationship with Tyson is a mistake. Tyson, however, isn't used to losing. He wants more than just a fling, and he's willing to fight for it. As the sparks fly and their worlds collide, Sophie must decide if she's willing to risk her heart on a man who's spent his whole life avoiding commitment. For Tyson, this game is for keeps.

* * * Lauren Collins is a good girl. She's responsible and shy but has a tight knit group of friends, excellent grades, and is dating Thomas Clark, a popular football player at Littleton High School. Nathan Rhodes is a bad boy. There are too many rumors to count about the times he's been in jail, or come close to it. But behind the tough, arrogant bad boy facade, Nathan is a mysterious, observant guy with a few too many unrevealed secrets for Lauren's taste. When Lauren finds out her boyfriend has been using her for sex, she decides it's time to quit playing nice. With the help of her best friend, Lauren decides to create a social experiment that makes her become popular and outspoken; she goes from being invisible to being the center of attention overnight. She even seems to capture the attention of Nathan Rhodes. Both of them of secrets that they don't want to share. Both of them have enemies they want to get back at. Both of them have to realize that they aren't so different after all. * * * disclaimer: so far this story is unedited, and will probably remain unedited until i complete it. enjoy!

What happens when an arrogant hockey star falls for an honor student that only wants to stay away from trouble? On the ice, Caleb Dawson is unstoppable, but his talent alone might not be enough to win Jennifer's heart, especially when his bad boy reputation is exactly what she's not looking for... ***** Jennifer Beckett is academically gifted, but while she may seem flawless in the classroom, she spends her life hiding her insecurities. Boy trouble is the last thing she would want to get involved in, so when she collides with Caleb Dawson, the cocky and self-centered hockey player that everyone worships, Jennifer can't get away fast enough. The problem is, the two of them keep gravitating toward each other. Does Caleb have what it takes to be in a relationship, despite his arrogance from being one of the best teenage hockey players in America? And can Jennifer see past her own issues to give him - and herself - a chance? [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]] Cover designed by Ray Gardener