Fiction

Two strangers. One couple's photoshoot. What could possibly go wrong? I'm Elsie Faren and I hate love. Err, not hate, exactly. More like I no longer believe in it. After watching my parents divorce, then dumping my deadbeat boyfriend, I realized the idea of love is a fantasy. For four years I've been perfectly content to remain single and alone, but now my best friend has tricked me into doing a couple's photoshoot with a stranger. Unfortunately, that stranger, Jameson Beck, has somehow managed to worm his way into my life, convincing me to go on three dates with him. I was so certain that my hardened heart would be immune to his sunshine demeanor and kind soul. Little did I know that between all my fears, our flirting, and some flying donuts, there would be a sizzling spark between us...one that would have my heart begging to be let out of its cage. But I've seen the effects of broken love-and I can't risk it-not even for Jameson. ...Right?

Marrying my best friend for money without revealing my hidden feelings for him…How hard could it be? Everything was going great until my life fell apart. One minute, I had a great internship, I was accomplishing my dream of becoming a storm chaser, and I was happy. But in one single day, I became jobless, homeless, and deeply in debt, my life stuttering to a crashing halt. Forced to head home to Meridel, proverbial tail tucked between my legs, things only got worse when I ran into my best friend, Liam—err, ex-best friend. We’d been friends since we were kids, up until he moved away two years ago to chase his own dream of being a famous country music singer, effectively cutting me out of his life for good. But now he’s back, and to top it off, his manager has created a harebrained scheme to improve his new bad boy image—marrying me . If it weren’t for the money promised to me in exchange, I never would have agreed, especially when I’d been hiding the fact that I'd been in love with Liam for years. But now, I have to marry my best friend, live in close quarters with him, and help him fix his reputation, all while keeping my feelings hidden? Should be a piece of cake. Right?

Fake dating my arch-nemesis during Christmas...what's the worst that could happen? One year ago, Oliver Lewis ruined my life by winning the community college photography contest-now he's ruined it again by scratching my car. Did I mention it's Christmastime? Now, while my car is being repaired, I'm forced to let Oliver chauffeur me around Meridel. But I've found a silver lining! If I win England's most prestigious photo competition, I can finally pay off my debt and move forward with my life. The only problem is, one of the judges is Oliver's father, and to better my chances, I have to get cozy with my arch-nemesis. AKA: pretend to be his girlfriend for Christmas. I thought it would be simple, but I did not expect that underneath that smug, arrogant exterior there'd be a sweet, thoughtful man who would find every excuse to be near me. But it doesn't matter. I, Maya Beck, will not fall for Oliver Lewis. My future rests on winning this contest and nothing-and no one-will get in the way of that. Especially not an annoyingly handsome British man. The Mistletoe Bluff is a sweet, closed-door romantic comedy with laugh-out-loud moments, sizzling chemistry, and swoony kisses.

A novella for fans of Castle of Dusk and Shadows... Best enjoyed after reading both Castle of Dusk and Shadows and Fortress of Blood and Power to avoid spoilers. A shy spirit. A scheming queen. And one headstrong princess willing to risk anything for a happily ever after. Months after her wedding, Elle Blackford is convinced that she and her family have a chance at a happy future, secure in their new life within Ashwood. Even if the threat of war with the summer kingdom of Ravenheart hovers over the land, it feels a long way off in the heart of winter. But then a mysterious spirit begins to haunt her, one that has refused to move on to the glade of souls. One that won't interact with anyone but Elle. One that makes Elle begin to question the history surrounding the Ashwood family. Meanwhile, Queen Griselda sets into motion a plan that could destroy Grace's happiness. Furious, Elle fights to help her sister, only to find herself at odds with both the queen...and Prince Fitz himself. As Elle searches for answers, she begins unraveling secrets that might rip away everything she loves.

She’ll do anything to save her family—even marry a fae and face the dead. Years ago, Elle Blackford’s parents made a desperate deal with the fae kingdom of Ashwood. While her mother and sisters reconciled themselves to a future among dangerous immortals, Elle and her father studied forbidden magic, hoping to find a loophole. Until Elle’s father dies, forcing Elle’s sister to marry Prince Fitz, heir of Ashwood. But Elle has a plan to change their fate. For she knows that ghosts wander Ashwood Forest until the royal family sends them into the afterlife. Ghosts that can be returned to life. And she’s determined to save her father from his premature death. All she needs is powerful magic—magic Prince Fitz possesses. Taking her sister’s place, Elle marries Prince Fitz to steal his power. But in a world of bloodthirsty fae and vengeful ghosts, being a mortal comes with constant risks. As Elle navigates a kingdom of monsters and tragic secrets, she realizes she might not survive to save her family. And the key to her salvation might be her arrogant, cold husband—the one she’d planned to rob and abandon. If only she can trust him.

Sacrificed to the fae, her only hope is to run. But the cruel royals who seek her have never lost their prey. Florentia (Ren) Cantwell has always been an outsider. The townspeople fear her and her unusual silver hair, spreading rumors that she’s not entirely human. She’s never believed those crafted lies—until a stranger causes her to manifest dangerous winter magic. Determined to be rid of her, Ren’s brother casts her beyond their town’s borders, into the fae land of Silverfrost, leaving her as an offering to the cruel royal family. Ren knows that if the royals come to fetch her, she will face unspeakable horrors. Accepting the help of Garrick Darkgrove, a handsome wolf shifter and fellow loner, she flees the royal hunters in a desperate attempt to reach safety. But all goes wrong one heartbreaking night. The sibling king and queen take Ren to their austere fortress, where she is entangled in a series of deadly trials meant to test her magic and her bloodline. She is a spectacle. A tool. A captive. Forced to navigate a world of torture, manipulation, and demons, Ren knows she can trust no one. Not even Garrick, the man she now understands is forbidden to her. The one that, against her better judgment, she’s falling for. She’s prepared to pay for her freedom—but when the cost is her heart, the price may be more than she can bear.

For fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and A Curse So Dark and Lonely comes a new Beauty & the Beast retelling set in a dark and deadly atmosphere, with a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance, and a twisted curse that'll have you frantically flipping pages to find out what happens next. Maren's sole goal in life is to protect her family from their abusive father at all costs. When she's kidnapped and ripped away from her life in rural Minnesota, her world shatters. Thrust into a world of nightmares, Fae, and magic she hadn't known existed, Maren finds herself desperate to get back to her family. But the last heir of Eroth claims she can't leave. Prince Rhydian Malathar is cursed-and his time is running out. Maren is the last chance to break the curse entrapping himself and his kingdom. As the line between friend and foe becomes blurred, an unexpected flame ignites between the two. Yet nothing about the curse is as it seems, and Rhydian's secrets have put Maren's life in grave danger. Will Maren be able to break the Prince's curse before the last petal falls? Or will the darkness that consumes Rhydian keep them both bound forever?

Savannah Williams walked away from the squared circle—and from him—over two years ago. She went from being the top women’s wrestler and headlining the biggest shows at Elite Wrestling Entertainment to coaching high school cheerleaders in the blink of an eye. Now, she’s back and being forced to stand side by side with the man who broke her heart. After being the face of the company for over ten years, John Brooks is the first thing most people think of when they think of pro-wrestling. The second thing that comes to mind is usually Brooks Taylor and Savvy Skye, the ultimate power couple of the EWE. John has never forgotten the day Savannah walked out the door. He never thought he’d see her again—and he certainly never thought she’d return as his tag team partner to fight the company’s newest “it” couple thirsting for recognition. They say it’s just business—a friend helping out another friend, reigniting a fan-favorite duo meant to stir up nostalgia and put asses in seats—but everyone can see the tension between them is anything but pretend. You can’t fake that kind of chemistry. As they fight to reclaim their places at the top, the lines between performance and reality begin to blur, but are they ready for the truth to come out?

NINA VILLA NEEDS A BOYFRIEND - A FAKE BOYFRIEND. ENTER NICK DAVIS. Nina Villa told her mother she’s bringing her new boyfriend to Haven for family vacation. The problem? She doesn’t have a new boyfriend. But, what are you supposed to do when your mother invites your ex-boyfriend’s family to the summer house? Now everyone is eager to meet the man who has managed to capture the attention of the workaholic Nina. Her best friend says she should hire someone. They do it in the movies, right? It could be fun in a no strings attached kind of way. Nick Davis seems like the perfect fit, considering he doesn’t like Nina, so cutting ties at the end of the summer will be easy, right? Nina makes Nick an offer: pretend to be her boyfriend for the summer in exchange for more money than he’s ever seen in his life. It’s an offer he can’t refuse – the money could help pay off his brother’s tuition and maybe send his dad on a vacation for once. Little do either of them know, this simple favor is going to have big consequences. And neither is prepared for when feelings begin to grow and the truth about who he is finally comes to light. UNTIL NOW is a contemporary fake dating romance. It is the first in the Strangers series.

SHE JUST HAS TO MAKE IT TWO WEEKS, BUT HE ISN'T GOING TO MAKE IT EASY. Michaela Reed’s life is falling apart. Her husband wants a divorce, she is one mistake away from being fired, and she barely recognizes the woman in the mirror. The cherry on top? Her boss wants her to work with the Devil himself on a new project. (Okay, maybe not the Devil , but he’s close enough.) Finnley Sheffield has always been a bit of a wild card — the life of the party, you might say — and it’s finally starting to catch up to him. Finn needs help getting his life on track and the only person who can help him…can’t. Instead, she offers the one person who can handle the project — Michaela, who just so happens to be his best friend’s annoying little sister. Neither is happy with the idea, but they know working together is the only way to get what they want. Now that they’re forced to spend time together, the lines are starting to blur. Michaela realizes that maybe he isn’t as much of a passive-aggressive, narcissistic a-hole as she thought. Finn finds out that she isn’t the same clingy, annoying little kid she used to be. They’re both discovering that maybe they don’t hate each other as much as they thought… Or maybe it’s all just part of a game. STRICTLY BUSINESS is a contemporary, enemies-to-lovers romance. It is the second book in the Strangers series.

The Song Calls Book One in the Music, Mayhem, and Murder Series In the heart of Dunn County, Minnesota, two sisters reunite—one with a badge, the other with psychic gifts. Elise Kennedy has returned home, a recent college graduate with haunting memories and developing gifts. Childhood trauma cracked her wide open to the unseen, and the veil is thinner than ever. Her sister, Ruth, a deputy sheriff, is her anchor in the chaos. Together, they form The Kennedy Sisters, a band whose harmonies stir more than just local hearts. But when success draws the shadow of a mysterious stalker, Elise must navigate more than just rising stardom. Danger looms, and Ruth uses her skills as a cop to investigate the worldly threat while Elise’s psychic senses awaken. Through Tarot cards and the healing touch of a Reiki master, Elise begins to uncover the truth buried in intuition. Music, mayhem, and a brush with the paranormal collide in this suspenseful, soul-stirring debut of the Music, Mayhem, and Murder Series .

Can you lose something that was never really yours in the first place? When one wrong choice lands him in hot water, Josh Davis has no choice but to make a deal with the Devil. By signing the dotted line, he’ll never have to worry about being implicated in what happened that night. Elizabeth Cain lost her parents two months before her sixteenth birthday. Per their will, to gain her full inheritance and attend the school of her dreams, she must first be married. When her adoptive mother approaches her with a solution to all of their problems, it’s an offer Elizabeth can’t refuse, even if she wants to. By agreeing to the arranged marriage, Josh and Elizabeth are thrust into a life much different than the ones they imagined. Over the course of the next decade, they play their parts, make their required public appearances, and successfully fool everyone into thinking they’re madly in love… But not even the perfect ruse can put time on their side. With the terms of their contract coming to an end, Josh and Elizabeth are faced with deciding whether they were meant to stay together or end things once and for all. Elizabeth wants out, but Josh isn’t sure he’s ready to let go. When she invokes the Last Hoorah Clause of their contract, Josh has no choice but to join her on a weekend trip with her friends in Palm Valley—and maybe find a way to keep the woman he never expected to want in the first place. TERMS + CONDITIONS is a contemporary second-chance romance. It is the third book in the Strangers series, a series of interconnected standalones.

HIM Would you fight for a life you don’t remember? It’s been one year since he woke up in the hospital; in a town he doesn’t know, with no name, no memory, and no idea how he got there. His memory hasn’t returned, except for the small glimpses of her . He doesn’t know her name or how she fits into his life, but she is the one thing he has to hold onto. He is the biggest thing to happen in Bezer, Colorado, in over a decade, and the town has no problem stopping and staring when they see him. The problem? Bezer is a town stuck in the past with very little access to the outside world, and they like it that way. With no money and no idea where to begin searching, he feels he has no option but to try and settle into a town he knows he doesn’t belong. HER Would you fight for a love that no longer exists, or risk moving on to a love you never expected? One year. That’s how long it’s been since she saw her husband. One year since she heard his voice or told him she loved him. One year since he left without a proper goodbye... Only to go missing three days later. All evidence points to his death, but there are too many unanswered questions. With no answers about what happened that fateful day, she’s been forced to live with the unknown, but hasn’t given up hope that she’ll find out the truth sooner or later. When an unexpected force enters her world, it offers her a new chance at what she thought she lost forever. Now, she has to make a difficult decision: hold on to the memories of the past or open her heart and risk it all. Begin Again is an amnesia, forgotten love, second chance romance. It is the fourth book of the Strangers series.

A Christmas wedding. A fake relationship. And a secret that could change everything. Tate Kerrigan always knew she would one day attend her best friend’s wedding on Christmas Day, but she never imagined her ex-boyfriend would be standing on the other side of the aisle. She’s happy for Farrah, really, but that doesn’t make this any less awkward. Braxton Powell planned to be as far away from Snowhaven Springs as possible on the day his ex-girlfriend married his ex-best friend, but when the groom calls him asking for a suspicious favor, Braxton knows only one person can help. Before he knows it, the bride has caught him sneaking around with Tate, and Braxton’s plans for the holidays get thrown out the window. Now, everyone thinks Tate and Braxton are dating, and to tell them any different would make things far more uncomfortable (for everyone). And while she knows it’s only pretend, Tate can’t deny the pull she feels between them. It’s as undeniable as it was the day they met, but this time, nothing is keeping her from doing something about it… Winter's Kiss is a Christmas novella in the Elite Wrestling Entertainment series.

She had reclaimed her life … and her confidence … until her turbulent past burst in Sierra Bauer is nobody’s fool: she’s a skilled and confident aircraft mechanic, a woman operating in a man’s world. But her stable world is about to stall out. After her stalker was sent to prison, and she was cleared of wrongdoing by the FAA in her brother’s fatal plane crash, Sierra had finally reclaimed her life, and her livelihood. But in the dead of winter at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport, she makes a gruesome discovery—a woman’s frozen body hidden inside the maintenance bay of a Range Airlines plane. Her life is pitched into a tailspin. Enter Detective Quinn Moore of the Airport Police Department, who finds himself attracted to Sierra despite mounting evidence forcing him to consider her the prime suspect. Sierra’s stalker may be back, and someone is trying to frame her for the murder. The woman Sierra blames for her brother’s death may hold the key to uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the entire aviation industry. She and Quinn must find the truth before Sierra becomes the next casualty.

What is power without control? Aurora dreams of surpassing the Demi-Gods, but her rare elemental magic comes from an unstable source within her that she struggles to keep in check. It doesn't stop her from wreaking havoc, though, and she's nothing but excited about the rising bounty on her head. But when she garners the attention of Princess Polaris, the daughter of one of the most feared Demi-Gods on earth, her entire world is shaken. With secrets of her own identity revealed to her and a terrorist organization placing a giant target on her back, Aurora agrees to travel with Polaris back to their native homeland. They can barely tolerate each other, but with Aurora's erratic power growing stronger, and a vengeful, katana-wielding vampire seeking to steal it from her, they are forced to set aside their differences to survive and reach their home in one piece. That is, if Aurora's magic doesn't destroy them first. The Crimson Witch is the first book of the epic YA Dark fantasy action-adventure series Gorgon, full of thrilling battles, witty banter, fierce characters, and hints of brutal, bloodcurdling horror! Fans of Naruto, Percy Jackson, and Fullmetal Alchemist will be captivated by this action-packed tale with a fresh take on mythological and fantastical beings! Readers will also be in store for a heartwarming tale of the growing bond between sisters.

A new dawn for humanity and a chance for Netty Scott to prove she could be a space captain that would go down in history. What was supposed to be a terraforming mission changes when their pods open early, still in the Void. Scrambling to find answers the crew inadvertently lets horrors unknown on board the ship. When mysterious allies show up Netty has no choice but to trust them, even if she knows they're hiding something big. With dangers lurking behind every corner the crew must fight their way to safety. Will the darkness overcome Netty or will she find the strength to see the stars once more.

The only case they haven't cracked is how to be together. Not on Officer Maggie Kyle’s Christmas bingo card: A homemade bomb in a bus station locker. A child, the prime suspect in the bombing. Her partner of ten years abandoning her to solve the case on her own. Max St. James might be the worst cop in the world—or at least in Toronto: He fell in love with his partner. He’s the reason she never became a detective. He doesn’t much care who planted the bomb. The IED’s blast ignites years of tension, sending Maggie and Max careening in opposite directions—but opposites still attract. Can they find a way to come together to solve the case before another bomb goes off? And will it mean another ten years sacrificing the future they want for the partnership they already have?

Position, influence, authority. Everything Jade has worked for is within her grasp, but only if she can keep her secret. Rising quickly as a top intelligence agent, Jade hunts the assassin responsible for murders among those vying for the throne, spurred on by a mysterious informant she's only ever heard from through notes. Jade's position, rocked by her informant's undeniable allure and the reappearance of her first love, is tenuous as the threads of the assassin's web pull in close around her. Blood spills in a kingdom torn by prejudice and paranoia as Jade's secrets spin out of her control, leading her to a truth better left undiscovered.

Moving to Chicago should have felt like a dream come true, but for Roxanna Lovegood, it’s a last-ditch effort to run away from a nightmarish past. When mysterious creatures break into her new apartment, curiosity leads her to a puzzling artifact buried under the floorboards. It takes her from the shores of Lake Michigan to the forest of a distant realm where she’s surrounded—and threatened—by people and creatures she’s only heard of in fairytales. Devon is a mischievous fae determined to figure out how Roxi wound up there to begin with. He’s even more determined to send her back home. There are secrets to keep and his own set of wounds unwilling to heal, and the last thing he wants or needs is this outsider questioning—and challenging—everything he thought he knew. There’s just one teensy-weensy problem. Despite the shadows lurking in every corner... ...despite the growing threat of demons prowling the land... ...and despite the cutthroat High Court’s manipulation... ...the longer Roxi stays in the realm of the fae… ...the less either of them wants her to leave.

The stars are not what they seem. So look away; they'll whisper you your fate. Iyana's only ambition in life is to become a healer like her grandmother, but that all changes when her village is attacked by a neighboring kingdom. She desperately calls upon the heavens for salvation and the stars respond, yet not as she had ever imagined. She is sent Altair, a hypnotically handsome star in human form. Iyana is more shocked to discover that she is an Aztia, a magic bearer born once in every generation, and that a captured enemy soldier named Emmeric is unwittingly caught up in her destiny. Although he is fated to work with Iyana, Emmeric is reluctant to assist a woman from the village he was recently trying to destroy, no matter how spellbinding her beauty is. He trusts his rival Altair even less, as the star and Iyana are caught in each other's orbit. When the emperor's own son, Zane, joins their quest to stop his father's tyrannical invasion, the companions begin unveiling long-buried secrets that echo through time. Secrets that could change the course of human history and reveal the hidden origin of the Aztia themselves. A captured foe. A fallen star. A forsaken prince. Betrayal is inevitable. But who will perpetrate it?

The tundra may be frozen, but it's the secrets within the frost that chill. After a difficult first year in Fort Haven, Jean sets out with Popcorn on a trek into the desolate northern wastes. There, she meets the family he never mentioned—a nomadic tribe journeying toward their Spring Holding ground. The reunion is brief… until a sudden blizzard traps them in the icy expanse, forcing them to stay with the tribe. Cut off from Fort Haven and surrounded by strangers, Jean must adapt quickly to unfamiliar customs and beliefs. But when whispers of magic and untapped potential arise, she finds herself surrounded by fellow curseborn who encourage her along a path she never expected. In the north, she’s wanted. In the south, she’s reviled. Should she return to the place where racism screams her name…Or stay among the Silverpike tribe, where purpose and belonging might finally be within reach? Time is running out, and the souls in the ice are waiting. Book 2 in The Cassy series, Souls in the Ice is a clean, character-driven fantasy exploring identity, belonging, and the quiet power of hope in the face of prejudice. Suitable for teen readers, with light mentions of violence and mature themes.

Solyana brought the green, but the prophecy is far from fulfilled. Fully embracing her destiny, she charges toward the city of Thonethren to save her sister, and all of Mothmar, from the Taka Reu worshiping King Erval. Pallah thought she found the home of her dreams in the courts of Erval, only to stumble straight into a nightmare. To find her brother, she must redeem her broken soul, or lose them both to destruction. Jonas spent his life unraveling truth from legends, but the greatest truth continues to evade him. Uncovering the secrets of the stars means the life or death of his friends—if only he can get it in time. These three, along with an abandoned girl, an ousted queen, and a sneaking steward, must run head-long to save the world before the coming Red Moon and certain demise.

With her newly acquired Gift burning inside her, Solyana Marusda evades the Taka Reu while in search of uncovering the prophecy’s secrets. But the answers are paved in sacrifices that make her wonder whether she is the savior of her people or their destruction. Growing in her connection with the Mother Below yet separated from all that she’s ever loved, Pallah searches for a place of belonging only to find herself the instrument of chaos. Compelled by forces beyond her control, there is no way of telling what is or isn’t her own will. All the while, someone is watching, waiting—with more sinister schemes than either girl can know.

Get ready to embark on an EPIC road trip to the Arctic with the Martinez family! An award-winning, family-friendly, bilingual chapter book for kids 6-10. The Martinez siblings are on their way to visit family in Mexico for Navidad. Their neighbor Don Toño has created a "to-go" version of his virtual reality invention that allows them to be whisked off to the Arctic. When they arrive, the kids have animal bodies! They begin exploring, flying, and making new friends. When the unthinkable happens, will they be able to use the lessons they have learned to save their little sister? Adorable lemmings, polar bears, snowy owls, and harp seals grace the pages of this colorful illustrated adventure that will have kids (and their grown-ups) begging for one more chapter! Let your imagination soar with this exciting bilingual adventure!