Bound Beauty Jennifer Silverwood (A Wylder Tale, #3) Publication date: July 14, 2026 Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Forgotten gods haunt her steps, and the cursed prince she left behind isn’t done fighting for her soul.
Vynasha is bound to the prince of Bitterhelm. Even if she were to die, her spirit will remain trapped with him in the castle forever. But she won’t give in to Grendel without a fight. With the aid of an oracle, a witchling, and the wolf that claims her heart, Vynasha plans to claim her power as the curse breaker.
Ceddrych guards their nephew secretly while fighting to keep the feral beasts roaming their borders at bay. But the monsters are closing in, and the madness he has struggled with drives him to one desperate, unforgivable act.
A war is about to begin between the forgotten people of Wylderland and the cruel might of Bitterhelm. Beings of prophecy and legend unite in the epic third chapter of the Wylder Tales Series, a romantic gothic re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.
WYLDER TALES is a series of romantic dark fairy tales, set in the past of the wider Borderlands Saga, and includes:
•slow burn romantasy
•forced proximity
•enemies to lovers
•found family
•magical bonds
•wicked witches
•burly beasts
•morally gray characters
Alone with
Grendel, the man she had been tempted to love, the prince she loathed, Vynasha
didn’t want to wake up. Let her sleep for a thousand years like the cursed
princess, Morana. Let these walls crumble, the rose garden spread throughout
the keep with thorns and vines to keep the world out forever.
“I know
you are awake, Ashes.”
Vynasha
opened her eyes. The prince stood before the hearth, his back to her. He hadn’t
changed clothes since she had last seen him. Yet his faintly luminous skin had
dimmed from bronze to the dull gray she remembered. “What happened?” she asked.
“A fever
in your sleep. Odym says it was the runes.” Grendel’s shoulders hunched as he
hung his head. “I should not have come, I know this. But I…” he twisted to face
her. “Forgive me, Vynasha, but I cannot stay away from you any longer. I
could feel your pain through the bond, yet there was nothing I
could do to stop her,” he growled. “Do not ask me to leave you again, I beg of
you.”
Vynasha
should have been disgusted, but she was coming to accept the fact that Odym had
been right. No matter how she truly felt, they needed each other. And she could
not deny the way his words danced about her mind and breathed life back into
her limbs.
“I wish I
could tell you I was different,” he continued, “before my mother cursed me. But
the truth is, I was always a monster.” Grendel drew his shoulders back and
lifted his chin, pushing away from the fireplace mantel. He shook his head and
held his hands before him, palms upturned. “I never wanted to be my father.
I shall not make his mistakes, and so I will be honest with
you, Ash. No more secrets.”
She
shuddered and desperately wished she could bathe, could banish dreams of Nymwe
and be rid of the prince. The dread she felt before only grew as Grendel
paused, clenching his fists as though steeling himself for words he could not
take back.
“I owe you
everything, so much more than you know. When you willingly accepted the curse,
you took some of the monster into you. I have not been forced to change into a
beast ever since. It has given me time to remember myself in your absence, who
I was and who I hope to be.”
Vynasha
ground her sharp teeth. So they not only shared a bond with his spirit, but she
had taken part of his beast? That they were forced to share something she had
learned to take pride in made her ill.
Whatever
he saw in her face must have pained him, enough for him to turn away. “Forgive
me. I shall go. I should have never hoped…” He shook his head, dispelling
whatever he might have said as he took two more steps to the door.
She traced
the tip of her tongue on her lip, tasting the blood she spilled to forget. His
hand was on the doorknob when she said, “Wait.” The strength behind her command
surprised her and caused the prince to freeze in place.
Vynasha
lifted her hand with surprising ease. “Stay?”
We need
each other.
His
graying skin flickered to golden life as he turned with hope burning in his
violet eyes. “Always.”
At his
word, his promise, Vynasha released the breath she didn’t know she
had been holding. Even then, a small corner of her mind railed against her
actions, at the feelings she couldn’t seem to control. It must Grendel’s
influence, his feelings trickling through their bond.
This is
wrong.
Still, she
couldn’t deny how the persistent itch beneath her skin abated with him beside
her, holding her hand. It shouldn’t have mattered. Truly, she hated how easily
she gave in to these feelings. She could never tell him. Grendel had bound her
life to his. Even if she were to leave, to beg the wylderfolk to take her back
into their home, she would never be rid of him. And the longer she remained in
the prince’s castle, the less she wanted to be free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jennifer Silverwood lives in the middle of an enchanted forest surrounded by cursed books, nosy spirits, and mischievous goblins she calls her children. After beginning several nonsensical degrees, she found her calling helping other authors bring their books to life. Jennifer is the author of two fairy tale fantasy series: the Borderlands Saga and Wylder Tales. Because she wasn't satisfied writing in one genre, she also invites you to explore uncharted space with the Heaven’s Edge Novellas—and dare to fall in love again with the standalone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.
Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
SYNOPSIS:
An Aeon by birth, Diane Butler knew when she walked away from her fellow Aeons that she wanted certain things: wealth, power, acceptance. But she'd come to realize she didn't belong with Dark Sides and joined in the battle to save Auralia from darkness. But when her past comes after her, she understand that she can't escape it with a simple name change.
A surprise encounter that turns ugly pits lone Emmett Forrest against thugs determined to hurt Cassie. With each threat out cold on the ground, he believes he's done. But when the men report the incident to the Auralia Police Department, he can't avoid the drama or the intrigue surrounding her.
“Anyone else bored as sin? We stopped the Irish mob and Dark Sides from taking over Auralia in December. January and February, we took some time to recover from Dark Sides’ Project Reckoning. I know you all have been tending to your personal lives, your relationships, and your careers, but for me, those two months were the epitome of boredom. Now March is almost over, and still boredom reigns.”
“Diane—” Braden started.
“Cassie,” she interrupted. “Try to remember, Braden. I’ve told you so many times that I’m using my middle name now. I’m not Diane anymore.” She pouted her lips.
“Cassie. I told you, Cassie for short.” She swept her gaze around the living room at Braden and Payson’s house and flung her hands up. “I swear, it’s not that hard to remember my name. I made a change, I’m not Diane. I’m not that woman any more. I’m aligned with light and love. I’m Cassie. Cassie. Cassie Butler. Gauzy, gossamer, and open, not rigid, harsh, or angry Cassie.” The rock lodged in her gut weighed her down. Was she different? Truly? She’d been putting in the work with her counselor, Claire Eve Kelly, to make the change permanent. But with the chaos of the past not far behind, she ached for the excitement of the life she had. The parties, the conniving to get what she wanted. It had all been so mesmerizing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
After cutting her writing teeth as a feature writer for commercial and trade magazines, a reporter for newspapers and radio, and an executive editor for a communications company, award-winning author Lynn Crandall tuned her voracious appetite for stories to writing contemporary and paranormal romance, women’s fiction, and romantic suspense. In her books, she enjoys taking readers on emotional journeys with relatable characters who refuse to back down, and face challenges and tribulations with heart and soul. She believes every love has a story, and hers is with one handsome husband and a large, beautiful circle of family, including her cat Winter.
The greatest danger may lie in the firestorm burning
between them
Jenna McCray dedicated her life and trust fund to helping others succeed
through her charitable foundation, Pathways Mission. After a self-imposed
hiatus, her first venture back into the dating pool is an unmitigated disaster
witnessed by many, including hunky Fire Marshall Thomas Donovan.
Donovan had a profound mistrust of the upper crust—until Jenna McCray. One
photo in the paper. That’s all it took. Regal. Composed. A killer smile. She
looked straight into the camera…and into him--and he hadn’t even met her yet.
When he finally did, the effect was seismic. Prim, proper, and utterly
magnetic. Something primal flared to life inside him, and he was powerless
against it. Calling her “The Ice Queen” didn’t help. Mocking was easier than
admitting she'd gotten under his skin long before they even spoke.
When a fire ravages her business on the same night someone vandalizes her home,
he wonders if the incidents are connected and searches for answers.
But someone wants to keep their secret buried.
As danger escalates, so does the blistering chemistry between Jenna and
Donovan, and he vows to protect her at all costs—even if it means risking
everything.
Jenna
shrieked and jumped up, toppling her chair and stumbling into someone behind
her, who then collided with a waiter carrying a water pitcher, sending all
three to the floor in a shower of ice-cold water.
She
landed partially on top of the man, his arms around her waist as he bore the
brunt of the fall. Another scream lodged in her throat when she saw it resting
on her thigh.
Suddenly,
his hand moved, and the spider vanished.
“You’re
okay,” murmured a husky voice against her ear. “It’s gone. You’re okay.”
Laughter
filtered through a fog of humiliation. She’d freaked out—in a public place and
lay on the floor atop a total stranger while Oscar did nothing but watch, a
self-satisfied smirk on his face.
“Something
wrong, Jenna?” he crooned.
“I
t-t-told you I h-hate spiders.” Her body trembled, and she couldn’t control the
quiver in her voice.
The
man’s arms tightened slightly.
“Did
you?” cooed Oscar. “I must have forgotten.”
***
Donovan
couldn’t believe his eyes when he first saw Jenna McCray in person tonight. All
prim and proper, like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, and his crazy heart
raced like a runaway train.
She’d
dominated his thoughts from the moment he saw her picture in the paper two
weeks ago. Hell, he’d even cut the damn thing out and kept it in his desk. How
pathetic was that?
Everything
from her regal posture to how she sipped the wine screamed money and class.
Coffee-colored hair pulled into a tight bun at the nape, and pearl studs in her
ears emphasized the delicate bone structure of her face and the fullness of
ruby-colored lips. The basic black dress and single strand of pearls would look
simple on most women. On her, it was elegant.
When
their gazes locked briefly, the jolt of desire was so potent it shocked him.
The
returning look of interest stole his breath.
Every
unexplained feeling he’d endured the last two weeks hit like a tidal wave. It
took massive effort to walk calmly to his table.
Oscar's
joining her was an unpleasant shock. The man was dirty as mud. Why on earth
would a woman like her associate with him?
Thoughts
in turmoil, he decided to skip dinner and leave—until all hell broke loose.
He’d
never met anyone with arachnophobia, but judging by her reaction to a fake
spider, she suffered an extreme case. As snickers from the other patrons
registered, his protective instincts surged.
A
shudder rolled through her body, and she sucked in a jerky breath, mumbling
something he didn’t catch.
“It’s
gone,” he whispered. “You’re okay.”
She
made a move to stand, and he maneuvered to assist, one hand remaining on her
arm for stability.
“I’m
so sorry,” she muttered, avoiding eye contact and swiping at the water on her
dress. “I’ll pay to have your clothes cleaned.”
Face
flaming, she watched the waiter clean up the mess. “Oh, Alfred,” she asked. “Are
you all right?”
“I’m
fine, Miss McCray.” He nodded toward Oscar’s retreating figure. “And he’s to
blame—not you.”
Donovan
lightly squeezed her arm. “Ma’am? Are you okay?”
She
managed a shaky “I’m fine,” then swallowed. “Th-thank you. For helping me.”
Donovan clenched his teeth as his fantasy
dreams went up in smoke. She couldn’t even look him in the eye when she mumbled
insincere words of gratitude.
“Anytime.”
At
his terse response, dark, earnest eyes, filled with confusion and something he
couldn’t readily identify, whipped to his. Desire coursed through him, heady as
strong whiskey, leaving him off-balance.
She
frowned and retrieved a wallet from the bag on the table, pulled out a card and
some bills, then passed the money to Alfred. “If this isn’t sufficient for my
wine and the pitcher, please let me know.”
He
hesitated, then took the money. “It’s fine, Miss McCray.”
A
harried woman appeared from Donovan’s left. The manager—they’d met on a
previous visit, but he couldn’t recall her name.
“Oh
my God, Jenna. Are you all right?”
“I’m
fine, Katie. Embarrassed but unhurt.” She nodded toward Donovan. “This
gentleman broke my fall.” She nibbled her lower lip as though unsure of what to
do next. Inhaling, she passed him the card. “Thank you, Mr…”
“Donovan.”
“Mr.
Donovan. Please—”
“No
mister. Just Donovan.”
Lips
slightly parted, she hesitated. “Oh. Okay. Donovan. Please send me a bill for
the dry cleaning.”
“That’s
not necessary.”
“Yes.
It is.”
Cheeks
the brightest red he’d ever seen, her earnest expression softened.
“Please.”
That
one word curbed his resentment. He took the card, ignoring the tingle as their
fingers brushed.
“Donovan,”
said Katie. “Thank you for helping my friend.”
“No
problem, ma’am.”
“And
dinner’s on me tonight.”
“Actually,
I was just leaving.”
She
looked around. “Was something wrong with your table?”
He
shook his head. “Unexpected change in plans. I was on my way out when—this
happened.”
“Then
please accept a raincheck for next time.”
He
nodded, knowing he would never accept the offer, no matter how kindly extended.
Katie
rubbed Jenna’s shoulder. “Guess kicking him to the curb in a public place
wasn’t such a good idea after all, huh?”
Donovan
barely covered his surprise. So that’s what happened—good for her.
Jenna’s
gaze skipped from him to Katie. “No. It wasn’t.”
“I’ve
never seen you react that way before.”
She glanced
at Donovan. “I—it just surprised me. That’s all.”
He
immediately recognized the lie. She wasn’t surprised. She was terrified.
“I
told him they bothered me.”
And
that’s the understatement of the century.
“And you’d already told him to back off,”
added Katie, “so the creep had a Plan B to get even. I’m just happy you weren’t
hurt.”
This
time, when she looked at Donavan, her gaze held, and the intensity floored him.
A dark chocolate brown enhanced by a golden ring around the edges, they
glistened in the restaurant’s ambient lighting.
Or
was it unshed tears?
Texas Winds
Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Romance
Two hearts shattered by betrayal. Once chance to trust
again.
Jake Holloway discovered his wife’s infidelity as she lay in
a coma, carrying a child that may not be his.
Four years later, his heart remains closed to all emotion. Lexie Morgan’s dream
of happily-ever-after ended the day she stood alone at the altar. The need to
put distance between her and the pain places her in the path of feral hogs and
Jake Holloway’s life. Neither is prepared for the intense attraction.
When Lexie meets his four-year-old daughter, Katie, the timid child with
downcast eyes steals her heart.
Forced to rely on Jake’s assistance, it’s impossible to ignore the escalating
pull.
But the past never dies, and resurrected hurts threaten their fragile bond.
Will the ever-changing Texas winds hold them together or reduce their love to
dust?
Ankle and hip
throbbed in unison, and a growing headache added to the misery mix.
She took a breath
and looked around. The front bumper dug into the far side of the muddy
embankment, and the blown-out tire rested in muck halfway up the rim. Dingy
water in the ditch swirled around her feet and leached up her mud-coated pant
legs. Her disgusted gaze took in the filthy jeans and soaked and blood-coated
tee shirt. “Crap,” she muttered. “Brand new shoes.” She swiped a hand across
her cheek, leaving a streak of bloody mud in its wake. “Great way to start my
first vacation in years.”
She adjusted her
grip on the door and blew wet hair away from her mouth. “Alrighty then.”
Muttering under her breath, she reached past the dog and plucked the half-full
Swear Jar from the floorboard. An irritated swipe at the wet hair
clinging to her cheek left more muddy streaks behind. “Time for the big guns.”
She placed the jug on the seat near Biscuit and pulled two soggy one-dollar
bills and three quarters from her pocket. She took a breath and ceremoniously
dropped the quarters through a slot cut into the lid, mumbling after each one.
“Damn. Damn. Dammit.” She took a deep breath and crammed the wet bills through
the hole. “And son-of-a-bitch.”
“Don’t reckon
that’s gonna help much.”
An f-bomb exploded
before she could stop it.
***
Startled by the
man’s deep voice, Lexie swore and spun around, tossing the jar over her
shoulder as intense pain shot up her leg.
Off-balance, she grabbed the door to keep from falling on her rear as
the jug landed with a mushy thump at the stranger’s feet.
The brim of a dark
Stetson cast his face in shadow, but there was no disguising his frame. Tall,
at least six-two or three, shoulders a mile wide, with long, muscular legs
encased in worn jeans. Muddy work boots covered his feet, and well-used leather
gloves stuck out of his front pocket. Rain dripping from the brim of his hat
left wet trails on his pale blue chambray shirt, and the rolled-up sleeves
revealed tanned, muscular forearms.
He hesitated, then
picked up the jar, one corner of his mouth curling up as he read the
inscription. “I’m guessing that last word is expensive,” he said as he passed
her the container before stepping back.
His husky,
just-woke-up voice raced through her like fine wine, leaving her momentarily
speechless. “It is,” she snapped and took the jug. “Five bucks.” She glanced past him and noted a
grime-coated, black Ford F250 crew cab parked behind him on the shoulder of the
road. Holy crap. I never heard a thing. She eyed her bag, mentally
calculating how long it would take to reach the pistol inside if needed. “You
shouldn’t sneak up on people. I have a gun. And I know how to use it.”
He made no effort
to approach, just stood there, hands on his hips. “Are you hurt?”
She gripped the
door tighter when her throbbing ankle threatened to fold again. “No. I’m good.”
“You have blood on
your face. And mud.”
His intense gaze
traveled up and down her body, causing an involuntary shiver.
“Were you ejected?”
“No. I slipped when
I got out.”
He tipped his head
toward the back seat. “What about the dog?”
She glanced at
Biscuit, who showed no concern over the stranger’s sudden appearance, and noted
a little blood on the side of his mouth. How did she miss that before?
“Biscuit!” Dismissing the man, she leaned against the car and ran her hands
over the dog again, checking more thoroughly for anything broken. “I’m so
sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”
The dog stoically
endured her frantic exam with only a slight whimper when she touched his front
paw before moving to his mouth. “Come on, baby, open up.” She slowly pried his
jaw open and saw blood on his tongue.
“Looks like he bit
it. Probably on impact.”
It took tremendous
effort not to react to the unexpected voice behind her left shoulder. “Yeah.
Probably. I’ll have him checked out when I get to town.”
He looked at the
luggage piled in the back of the SUV. “Where you headed?”
She glanced up and
discovered walnut-colored eyes watching Biscuit, his square jaw visibly tense.
His face was rugged and somber, bronzed by wind and sun and covered with dark
stubble. No laugh lines around full lips, and unspoken pain was alive in dark,
fathomless eyes. In a heartbeat, his expression changed, switching to
closed-off and distant as he took two steps back, hands stuffed in his front
pockets.
Multi-awarding winning author Dana Wayne is a
sixth-generation Texan and still resides in the Piney Woods. She routinely
speaks at book clubs, writers’ groups and other organizations and is a frequent
guest on numerous writing blogs. A die-hard romantic, her stories are filled
with strong women, second chances, and happily ever after.
“I’m all about the romance, so my tales are heartwarming,
have a splash of suspense and humor. While they are a little steamy, I believe
romance is more about emotion than sex, and the journey is more important than
the destination.
“I retired in late 2013 and published my first book in 2016.
I was over the moon when it was awarded first place in a contest through the
Texas Association of Authors, and I never looked back. My books have been
nominated for and/or received various awards and numerous five-star reviews. To
have my work validated in such a manner is very gratifying and humbling.”
Affiliations include Texas Association of Authors, Writers
League of Texas, East Texas Writers Guild, Northeast Texas Writers
Organization, and East Texas Writers Association.
Audrey Adams knows the exact routine for all her regular customers. That’s what happens when you work at the same Brooklyn coffee shop for years. So it’s completely normal that she notices Theo Sullivan, a shy new patron who comes in at exactly 8:17 a.m., right? And that this incredibly tall (and cute) man never drinks his coffee, always leaves a generous tip, only stays long enough to scribble in a notebook, and wears the same KN95 mask. Call it barista instincts or a reasonable reaction to Theo’s undeniable sweetness, but Audrey is crushing hard.
Audrey decides to find Theo, return his book, and confess her feelings. Before long, they’re inseparable, talking nonstop and meeting up for dates at the coffee shop.
But Theo is reluctant to fully let Audrey into his heart. He continues to hide his scar and refuses to talk about his past. Their feelings are bubbling under the surface, but will Theo—and the truth behind his accident—keep him from finding the love they've both been longing for?
The Vacation Bubble: A Second Chance Romantic Comedy Marcella Steele (To Barcelona with Love Trilogy, #1) Publication date: September 1, 2025 Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance
Readers’ Favorite Perfect for fans of Beach Read, The Unhoneymooners, and Part of Your World—this witty second chance romance is a sun-drenched escape with heart, heat, and humor.
A fling wasn’t on her vacation itinerary. Neither was falling in love with the one man she’d already run from.
Romance has ghosted, gaslit, and gone full Shakespearean tragedy on Sofia Drake. She’s officially a one-woman rom-com with no third act in sight, ready to bolt if love sneaks up on her again.
Freshly dumped and jobless, Sofia is mid-pity-party (yes, wine and ice cream are involved) when a friend drags her to a job fair. If she’d known how a chance meeting would blow up her carefully constructed life, she would’ve stayed home. One look into Ryan Hunter’s crystal blue eyes and she can tell he’s trouble. He’s gorgeous, charming, and way too young. He’s also the first man in years to make her feel a real, rocket-exploding kind of heat. But when the jet-setting Ryan invites her on a spontaneous trip to Barcelona, Sofia does what she does best: she runs.
It takes a kick from her best friend (a “get a life” lecture) to move Sofia out of her comfort zone and onto a plane to Barcelona—alone. No men, no pressure, just a solo adventure. At least… until she runs straight into the one man she swore she’d never see again.
Now, Ryan is offering to be her personal tour guide, and Sofia is breaking her own ‘no men’ rule for a new one: keep it vacation-only. Sun, sangria, and maybe a little sizzle. They make a pact for the summer: Thirty days—no falling in love, no risky complications. Really.
Sometimes the best adventures happen when you finally stop running from what scares you the most.
“The Vacation Bubble will resonate with readers who crave wanderlust, sizzling chemistry, and second chances.” Readers’ Favorite
Sofia – the meet cute#1 San Francisco job networking event
It was his voice I heard first—deep, with a sexy tone that rumbled through me.
“I’m in the mergers and acquisitions department. Possibly you’re acquainted with the bank?” he asked the balding man next to him. “It’s a global company whose headquarters are located here in San Francisco and in London. We’re looking for fresh talent, someone with experience in finance. The organization has an excellent training program.”
The line moved up, but I hung back, waving at people to take the place in front of me. Obvious? A few sideways glances confirmed that my chivalry wasn’t going unnoticed.
His voice came from my right, only a few feet away. I shifted in my high heels and casually pretended to brush a piece of lint off my shoulder, then caught sight of him. It may have been only four or five seconds, but as my eyes raked across his features, time seemed to slow, as if watching a movie at half speed. To say he was gorgeous wouldn’t do him justice. That face belonged on the cover of GQ magazine. Tall, dark, and handsome with refined, perfectly symmetrical features, luscious full lips, and, God help me, a chiseled jawline resembling Adonis. That was the moment I knew I was in trouble.
He continued his pitch to the short man in a suit. The man wasn’t over thirty-five, but the back of his head was already thinning. Sexy guy stood over six feet tall, his bronzed olive skin and tousled dark curls effortlessly stylish without seeming overdone. Even his clothes were sexy, although it was more about the way they fit his frame. My eyes scanned him from bottom to top, taking in his leather shoes, indigo-blue designer jeans, a white-collared shirt, and a black sport coat cut close to his body, revealing broad shoulders that led to a slender waist in a V shape. When he raised his arm to retrieve a business card, his bicep bulged against the sleeve of his jacket. Holy shit.
A buzzing sound rang in my ears, muting the conversation, but I watched as his face broke into a wide smile, dimples forming like perfect punctuation marks on his cheeks. Without warning, his head swiveled a fraction to the right and his eyes caught sight of mine—sparkling, deep blue eyes that held me transfixed for a split second. Then, in one swift (not obvious at all) move, I brought my hand to my hair and, as I flicked it over my shoulder, my gaze shifted to the blond woman directly in front of me. Thank God I was next in line.
A flush bloomed on my face, not solely due to the hot flash racing up my neck. Stop right there, missy, I told myself. He’s too young, probably in his thirties. I’d never needed a drink so desperately. Forcing my view straight ahead, I ordered a gin and tonic when I reached the edge of the bar.
Faster than details break in a news story, Kennedy Sloane gets scooped.
On a rainy Manhattan afternoon, career-obsessed writer and news producer
Kennedy loses the interview that was guaranteed to catapult her to senior
producer status. Hours later, revered and feared book editor Muffin Evans, aka
the Manuscript Eater, shelves the publication of her promising debut novel.
Over a night of tears and too many glasses of wine, Kennedy responds to an
internet ad for a villa on the picturesque island of Hilton Head. She books a
five-week “hiatus from life,” to focus on herself, free from
distractions.
However, soon after arriving on the island, J.P. Long catches Kennedy’s
hesitant eye. Despite a series of serendipitous encounters around the romantic
oasis, Kennedy knows there’s no room in her life for a charming
professional golfer turned businessman who is battling his own personal and
professional insecurities.
But maybe he’s worth the trouble.
If there’s one thing Kennedy’s learned, it’s that life
rarely happens as expected, and sometimes, the best stories unfold when you
stop chasing the perfect headline.
About the Author
A graduate of Fordham University, Caila Klaiss is an award-winning network
news producer who spent seventeen years crisscrossing the country to cover
breaking and developing stories for platforms across ABC News. The bulk of her
career was spent producing true crime documentaries for 20/20.
Since making the difficult decision to leave a career she loved, Caila has
pursued her other life-long dream of becoming a writer. When she is not
reading, writing, or researching, Caila recharges by practicing yoga.
Born, raised, and currently living in northeastern Pennsylvania, Caila is a
New Yorker at heart whose happy place is a warm sandy beach, under a palm
tree.
For Christian Griffith, his number one rule is: You ride in my truck, you let me open the door. Another problem in his busy life was the last thing he needed. Unfortunately, argumentative Cassandra Parker showing up on his family’s ranch and sticking her nose in their business isn’t even his biggest problem—neither is the fact that with nowhere else to live, she’s in his house. The biggest problem? The engagement ring on her finger.
Cassandra has a life motto: If you’re going to kill someone, make it look like an accident, cry at the funeral, admit to nothing, and deny everything. Exiled from New York and stranded on a cattle ranch, she didn’t exactly choose to be Christian’s problem. Living with the single dad and his daughters was a downgrade from her high-rise office and city comforts, but she agreed for one simple reason: desperation to save her job and salvage what’s left of her career. And this hot cowboy won’t lasso her into staying a second longer than necessary.
Content warnings:Loss of a spouse/parent, medical content, injuries due to professional bull riding, cheating (not between the main characters)
Brief mentions: pregnancy (not a main character), injuries from military service (not a main character)
Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable, romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time, she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her Kindle is always within reach due to a love of small-town romances that borders on obsession.
After all the hurt between them, will they be able to find
their way back to each other?
Ruby thought that she and James had something special. She’s
never had such strong feelings for someone. And after his betrayal, she’s also
never felt this much hurt. Ruby just wants her old life back before she knew
anyone at Maxton Hall, especially before she knew James. But as hard as tries,
she can’t forget him….
When they both receive their acceptance to Oxford, James
sees it as a punishment, while Ruby sees it as a dream come true. Ruby wants to
support James as he struggles with his father’s expectations of him taking over
the family business. But she makes one thing very clear: she is not willing to
forgive him or give him a second chance. As love and hate compete for Ruby's
heart, James will try everything he can to win her back.
Mona Kasten is an international bestseller and literary
phenomenon. She was born in Hamburg in 1992 and studied library and information
management before devoting herself entirely to writing. After the success of
her first novel, Begin Again, she quickly established herself as a star in
German publishing and around the world and her Maxton Hall series solidified
that. She has sold over 3 million copies in her country of Germany alone, and
translation rights to her series have been sold in over twenty countries.
