Cover Lust, No. 14

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie…

When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town.

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale. 

I love this simplistic yet striking color! The lights, the Menagerie logo, all of it. The story was a captivating 5 stars, too, thought it has quite the cliffhanger. Book two is scheduled for a fall release. 

{Book Review} The Baller: A Down and Dirty Football Novel by Vi Keeland

From Goodreads

From New York Times and USA Today Bestseller, Vi Keeland, comes a sexy new novel.

The first time I met Brody Easton was in the men’s locker room.
It was my first interview as a professional sportscaster.
The famed quarterback decided to bare all.
And by all, I don’t mean he told me any of his secrets.
No. The arrogant ass decided to drop his towel, just as I asked the first question. On camera.
The Super Bowl MVP quickly adopted a new hobby—screwing with me.
When I pushed back, he shifted from wanting to screw with me, to wanting to screw me.
But I don’t date players.
And it’s not because I’m one of the few women working in the world of professional football.
I’d date an athlete.
It’s the other kind of player I don’t date.
You know the type. Good looking, strong, cocky, always looking to get laid.

Brody Easton was the ultimate player.
Every woman wanted to be the one to change him.
But the truth was, all he needed was a girl worth changing for.
Turned out, I was that girl.
Simple right?
Let’s face it. It never is.
There’s a story between once upon a time and happily ever after…
And this one is ours. 

My Thoughts

3 "It's BYE-Week!" Stars

I'll be honest and say I bought this book mostly for it's ab-tastic (and pec-tastic, and arm-tastic, and cock-tastic) cover, but I did take into account the glowing reviews. I've been in the mood for these lighter, sexy contemporary romances lately, and this seemed to fit the bill.

Sadly, I was disappointed. 

I felt almost no chemistry between Delilah and Brody. She was definitely infatuated and I even wound up believing her love for him, but whenever Brody's POV was on, I read nothing but sexual attraction on his part, and only when he was around Delilah. When he wasn't with her, she hardly ever crossed his mind. He's a bit of a dick, and not even in a good way. He's just a dick.

This lead to the romance feeling forced, the drama and angst boring and over the top, and the sex, while objectively hot, didn't have enough to flesh it out. 

I'm usually completely clueless on the lingo when it comes to sport romances and don't pay much attention to it, but I live in the south. Even though I'm not much of a fan, football - college vs. professional, but still - is the way of life down here, and it's hard not to absorb some of it. The author lacked in her research of the sport, enough that even I could pick up on it. 

For example, there's a week during the season where a team doesn't have a game. This is called a bye week, not a bi week, as it's called in the story.

There's the introduction of a third and completely unneeded point of view about half way into the story, and there's more than a slight love triangle (for the hero instead of the norm of the heroine having multi love interests), though it winds up not going anywhere. Love triangles are the bane of my existence in and of themselves, but when the character is awful and it's handled poorly, it infuriates me even more.

So why three stars instead of 1? For some reason, I couldn't put the story down. I blew through it in less than a day, and stayed up way too late to finish it. It was addictive, and some parts were laugh out loud hilarious. I really liked Delilah as a character, despite her questionable taste in men, and the banter between her and her best friend was great. 

I did wind up somewhat enjoying the story, but I'm definitely the minority for not loving it. Check it out yourself if you're brave!

- The Bibliophile Babe

Waiting On Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

April 12th

How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him? 


The Pixie and the Player is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.



THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby. 
As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble. 

THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.
His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.

THE PLAN
Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal? 

Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.

Yes! The first book in this series, The Hooker and The Hermit, is one of my favorite contemporaries, and these authors are dynamite together. Can't wait!

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Playlists

Hey, ladies!

It's time for The Broke and The Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday! This week's topic is all about music and books; soundtracks/theme songs, songs you wish were books, anything music related.


I am so excited for this topic! I often find myself thinking "you know, this song would be perfect for this scene" while I'm reading, and fully admit to bookmarking my page, finding that perfect song on my phone, and then reading again with the perfect soundtrack playing.

I love seeing where other people have listed what music they think corresponds with a book, or when an author shares the music they wrote to. Hell, Karen Marie Moning had two CDs written for her Fever series (Shadowsong and Bloodrush), and they are so perfect for the series. Same with the Maybe Someday soundtrack for Colleen Hoover's Maybe Someday. I highly recommend checking those out on YouTube!

There have been several books I've thought of entire soundtracks for, but for this week's TTT topic, I've kept it to five songs for each of my books. EDIT: I was going to do 10, but I put off writing this post and my sleepy brain isn't functioning well enough to finish. :p



In no real order.....

9. Addicted series by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Books:
Addicted to You
Ricochet
Addicted for Now
Thrive
Addicted After All

This series is one of the heaviest, most angst-ridden (legitimate angst, but still) stories I've read, but I can't help but adore it. The characters are so well developed, the topics tough and intense, and the character arc of pretty much everyone involved is amazing to see.

Addicted Series Playlist

Walking After You - Foo Fighters

I Need Some Sleep - The Eels

A Lack of Color - Dashboard Confessional 

Love Song - The Cure

What It's Like - Everlast

8. Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

Books:
First Grave on The Right
Second Grave to The Left
Third Grave Dead Ahead
Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet
Fifth Grave Past The Light
Sixth Grave on The Edge
Seventh Grave and No Body
Eighth Grave After Dark
The Dirt on Ninth Grave
The Curse of Tenth Grave (June 2016)

I've just gotten back into reading this hilarious, sexy and addictive urban fantasy/paranormal romance series, and it's definitely going on my all time favorites self. Charley and Reyes are scorching together, the side characters crack me up, and the mystery aways keeps me on the edge. Currently on book 7, but I couldn't resist throwing a few songs together for the series so far.

Charley Davidson Playlist

Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield

Friday I'm in Love - The Cure

Drops of Jupiter - Train

Desperately Wanting - Better Than Ezra

Don't Fear The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult (I couldn't help myself!)

7. Crossfire series by Sylvia Day

Books:
Bared to You
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You (April 2016)

There is so much wrong with this couple, and the hero in particular, but I can't help being addicted to the series. It's my guiltiest of guilty pleasure read; full of romance, angst, and some off the charts hot smut, these books keep me enthralled with the story of Eva and Gideon.

Crossfire Series Playlist 

Dirty Little Thing - The Adelitas Way 

Mr. Brightside - The Killers

Addicted - Saving Abel

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - Michael Henry and Justin Robinett 

Crazy in Love by Sofia Karlberg 

(actually, the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack works for the entire story. Great soundtrack for a shit movie.)

6. Nocte series by Courtney Cole

Books:
Nocte
Verum
Lux

This twisted, twisted young adult/new adult...something (Romance? Dark? Mystery? Paranormal?) is a complete and utter mindfuck. If you like it dark and weird, check it out!

Nocte Series Playlist

Running Up That Hill - Placebo

I'll Take Everything - James Blunt

Take Me to Church - Hozier

Wherever You Will Go - The Calling

Letters from The Sky - Civil Twilight 

5. Shadowsong by Karen Marie Moning

Books:
Darkfever
Bloodfever
Faefever
Dreamfever
Shadowfever
Iced
Burned
Feverborn

One of my favorite series of all time, though I stopped after Shadowfever (I cannot stand Dani, and felt the series ended well in Shadowfever). 

Full of amazing world building, fae mythology, character development, action, snark, and the sexiest book boyfriend alive (Barrons...sigh <3), this series is fast paced and not one to miss!

Shadowsong Series Playlist

Never Too Late - Three Days Grace

Tears Don't Fall - Bullet for My Valentine

Insatiable - Daren Hayes

Help is on The Way - Rise Against 

Pussy Liquor - Rob Zomie

4. Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost

Books:
Halfway to The Grave
One Foot in The Grave
At Grave's End
Destined for an Early Grave
Outtakes From The Grave
This Side of The Grave
One Grave at a Time
Up From The Grave

This series is in my top 5 all time favorites, and is one I can reread over and over and still enjoy it as much as I did the first time. Full of vampires, ghouls, kick ass secondary characters, a bad ass heroine, a to die for British bad boy and plenty of sex, this story is a wild ride. 

Night Huntress Playlist

Monsters - Hurricane Bells

Come Alive - Foo Fighters

If You Could Only See - Tonic

My Beloved Monster - Eels

Love Me Like You Do - Ellie Goulding 

3. Sweet Filthy Boy by Christina Lauren

One of my favorite books I read in 2015, and arguably my favorite contemporary. Sizzling chemistry, the sweetest hero, sex, humor, and a dash of angst all set to a Parisian background, Sweet Filthy Boy is the perfect mixture of just that: sweet and filthy. ;)

Sweet Filthy Boy Playlist

Dark Blue  - Jack's Mannequin 

Sugar - Maroon 5

For You - Bare Naked Ladies

Overwhelmed - Tim McMorris

All About You - McFly

2. The Artists Trilogy by Karina Halle

Books:
Sins & Needles
On Every Street (novella)
Bold Tricks
Shooting Scars

One of the best best romantic suspense books I've ever had the pleasure of reading! This is not your typical romance. It's dark. It's gritty. It's intense, painful, wild and captivating. There's some off the charts chemistry between people that are so wrong, and yet so right for each other. There's violence, sex, lies, danger, and some of the best character development ever. One of my very few 6 star reads!

If you've never tried a KH book, I highly suggest starting with this series. 

The Artist Trilogy Playlist

On Every Street - Dire Straights

Angel - Massive Attack

Pain - Jimmy Eat World

Time of Dying - Three Days Grace

Better Than Me - Hinder

1. November 9 by Colleen Hoover

My new favorite Hoover book! I was swept away by Ben and Fallon's love story, rocky as it was. The way we only saw those November 9ths was something I really enjoyed, and while I guessed some of the big plot twist, it was still a wonderfully enjoyable book.

November 9 Playlist

Demons - Imagine Dragons

Beautiful Disaster - John McLaughlin

If You Ever Come Back - The Script (I don't especially like this song, but it's so fitting!)

She is the Sunlight - Trading Yesterday

A Drop in The Ocean - Ron Pope

All done!

What about you? What books would you set music to?

A Smaller Book Haul!

Hey, ladies!


After the Truly Massive Book Haul from last week, I have another - albeit smaller - haul for you!

Audible

This series is best listened to, I think!

 Twelve. Twelve of the deadliest beasts ever forged in the fires of hell have escaped onto our plane, and they want nothing more than to rip out the jugular of Charley Davidson and serve her lifeless, mangled body to Satan for dinner. So there’s that. But Charley has more on her plate than a mob of testy hellhounds. For one thing, her father has disappeared, and the more she retraces his last steps, the more she learns he was conducting an investigation of his own, one that has Charley questioning everything she’s ever known about him. Add to that an ex-BFF who is haunting her night and day, a rash of suicides that has authorities baffled, and a drop-dead sexy fiancé who has attracted the attentions of a local celebrity, and Charley is not having the best week of her life.

A tad north of hell, a hop, skip, and a jump past the realm of eternity, is a little place called Earth, and Charley Davidson, grim reaper extraordinaire, is determined to do everything in her power to protect it.

We’re doomed. 

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
No, really. She’s just my best friend... 

Arizona Turner has been my best friend since fourth grade, even when we “hated” each other. We’ve been there for one another through first kisses, first “times,” and we’ve been each other’s constant when good relationships turned bad. (We even went to colleges that were minutes away from each other…)

Throughout the years, and despite what anyone says, we’ve never crossed the line.

Never thought about it.
Never wanted to.

Until one night changed everything.
At least, it should’ve ...

Just friends.
We’re just friends.
I’m only saying this until I figure out if she’s still “just” my best friend… 

Doing a reread of this, and loving it even more the second time around! I wasn't sure on the narrator at first, but she's really grown on me.

Atlanta would be a nice place to live, if it weren't for the magic. When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose.

Kate Daniels works for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle---especially if they involve Atlanta's shapeshifting community.

When she's called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar on the border between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers that there's a new player in town. One who's been around for thousands of years---and who rode to war at the side of Kate's father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, to handle. Because this time Kate will be taking on family. 

BEWARE:
LETHALLY SEDUCTIVE ALPHA MALE OF IMMENSE STRENGTH AND DARK EROTICISM. DO NOT LOOK AT HIM. DO NOT TOUCH HIM. DO NOT BE TEMPTED. DO NOT BE SEDUCED....

With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerising eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensly sensual, he is free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. Now Adam's only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.

Enter law student Gabrielle O'Callaghan. For Gabrielle, cursed with the ability to see both worlds, Mortal and Faery, it is the beginning of a long, dangerous seduction. But as Adam's quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the cosnpiracy that threatens both Mortal and Faery realms...and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love...

Kindle

Not my usual thing, but it was only $0.99!

One HELLO can change a life. One HELLO can save a life.

Tricia: A girl struggling to find her way after her beloved grandma's death.
Emerson: A guy who lives his life to fulfill promises, real and hypothetical.
Angie: A girl with secrets she can only express through poetry.
Brenda: An actress and screenplay writer afraid to confront her past.
Brian: A potter who sets aside his life for Tricia, to the detriment of both.

Linked and transformed by one phone call, Hello? weaves together these five Wisconsin teens' stories into a compelling narrative of friendship and family, loss and love, heartbreak and healing, serendipity, and ultimately hope.

Told from all five viewpoints: narration (Tricia), narration (Emerson), free verse poetry (Angie), screenplay format (Brenda), narration and drawings (Brian).

 Merrick Thatcher went through a hell that no one could possibly imagine. He fought to protect his country, his family, and the men standing at his side, but it wasn't just being a soldier overseas that changed him. He watched his friends die in front of him, felt indescribable pain, and lost his sight in the very same moment. 

Badly injured, blind, and angry, he's done with war, but now he’s fighting his own battle. So, he’s waiting for it to end, spending his days and nights in a thick darkness no light can penetrate. Until Grace walks into his life and his broken eyes open to a woman that changes everything for him.

A story about two flawed souls finding love amidst the grief. A love that shines vividly, even in the dark, and discovering that sometimes being broken is how the light gets in.

Cursed, numb, rejected, scorned, wicked, sinister, dark, twisted...my name is Tex Campisi and this is my legacy. I killed my father in cold blood and lost my soul right along with him. 
I crave war more than peace, and I'm about to take my place in history as the youngest Capo dei Capi in the Cosa Nostra...that is until someone stops me, saves me from myself. 

But the only person able to do that...is my best friends sister, Mo Abandanato, and she just ripped my heart out and asked me to hold it in my hands while she put bullets through it. 

Im cursed so I did it. 
I'm numb so I held it. 
I'm wicked so I liked it.
I used the pain Mo caused as a catalyst to turn into my biggest nightmare--the five families greatest enemy. It's my turn to take a stand, knowing full well I'm going to lose my mind to the madness that is the American Mafia. I've always been told Blood is thicker than life. I wish I would have listened. Because regardless of who you love? You will betray. You will kill.
Blood Always Wins. 
The only way out is death...yours.

Welcome to the Dark Side of the Family.

Wedding hookups never amount to anything.

Those who partake in this wicked little activity know the rules. Get in. Get laid. Get out. There's no expectation of a relationship. It is what it is.

Dylan Sparks knows the rules. She’s familiar with the protocol. And she engages in the best sex of her life with a complete stranger at her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.

Reese Carroll doesn’t care about the rules. He wants more than just one night with Dylan.

And Dylan finds him too addicting to pass up.

Sweet Addiction is the story of one woman’s struggle to keep things casual, and one man’s desire to never let her go.

I wasn't a fan of this author's book The Paper Swan, but figured I'd give this $0.99 a try!

This is not your typical love story.
It’s not so black and white. Lines are crossed.
Walls are smashed. Good becomes bad.
Bad becomes very, very good.

Shayda Hijazi—the perfect wife, the perfect mother, the perfect daughter. For thirty-three years, she has played by the rules, swallowing secrets, burying dreams and doing whatever it takes to anchor her family. Shayda Hijazi is about to come face to face with the one thing that can rip it all apart, the one thing her heart has always been denied: Love.

Troy Heathgate—untamed, exhilarating, dangerous—a man who does exactly as he pleases. Life bends to his will. Until he comes across the one thing he would give it all up for, but can never have.

Born on the same day in opposite corners of the world, their lives collide. And nothing is ever the same again. 

Spanning three decades, 53 Letters for My Lover is a fiercely sensual, emotional ride to the heart of an epic, forbidden love that defies it all—an intimate exploration of love, loyalty, passion, betrayal, and the human journey for hope, happiness and redemption.

Phoebe West has been head-over-heels in love with her brother’s best friend for as long as she can remember. 

Not that he’s bothered to notice. 

Despite several mortifying attempts at seduction and a decade’s worth of unrequited pining, nothing Phoebe does seems to make any impact on the man she’s obsessed over since her bra-stuffing days. She knows it’s time to let him go, though just the thought is nearly enough to shatter her… 

Nathaniel “Nate” Knox has only ever seen Phoebe as one thing: forbidden.

There’s a darkness in Nate, the kind you can’t avoid after years working in special forces and private security. He’s no good for anyone — especially not someone as sweet as his best friend’s little sister. He knows he can’t have her. Not ever. Even if she makes him feel things he barely recognizes... 

Some lines aren’t meant to be crossed. 

When an unforeseeable series of events sends Phoebe stumbling headfirst into danger, there’s only one man who can protect her. Though, in his quest to save her life, he may just break her heart... 

From New York Times Bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, comes a sexy new standalone novel.

He was someone who belonged in my wildest fantasies instead of a rest stop in the middle of Nebraska.

A sexy, cocky, Australian named Chance was the last person I expected to run into on my cross-country drive.

When my car broke down, we made a deal. Next thing I knew, we were traveling together, spending sexually-tense nights in hotels and taking unplanned detours. 

My ordinary road trip turned into the adventure of a lifetime. It was all fun and games until things got intense.

I wanted him, but Chance wouldn’t make a move. I thought he wanted me too, but something was holding him back. 

I wasn’t supposed to fall for the cocky bastard, especially when I knew we’d be going our separate ways.

All good things must come to an end, right? 

Except our ending was one I didn’t see coming.

Love and Lists is the first book in the Chocolate Lovers spinoff - Chocoholics: The foul-mouthed offspring tell their stories.

Twenty-five-year-old Gavin Ellis has always had the love and support of his family ever since he was a little boy and couldn't stop talking about his penis. He's also always had their unsolicited advice and uncanny knack of embarrassing him at all costs. Now that he's an adult and trying to convince the love of his life to love him back, things haven't changed very much from when he was younger. 

When Gavin's best friend Tyler suggests he make a to-do list of items that will ensure he wins the girl, Gavin is one-hundred-percent on board: after a few six packs.

After puking in the shrubs, a bad experience with Viagra, a Sex-Ed course gone wrong, and a slew of other mishaps courtesy of his family and friends, Gavin is pretty sure this list will be the death of him.

Sometimes, trying to make someone love you with a list isn't always the best idea. Especially when "Show her your penis" is the first "to-do" item...

I live in a world where freedom doesn't exist, and life is a battle for survival. Most people aren't even allowed to have names.

But I had a name once. I was Allura until the Wardens captured me.

They told me I was a Nameless. That I was no one, and my sole purpose was to obey them. And, for a while, I believed them.

I spent years living underground in the channels beneath the city, dreaming of being outside again. I never thought it would happen. That I'd die in the darkness of my cell.

But then three guys show up in the channels and my fate suddenly changes.

Blaise, Ryder, and Reece are part of a secret group working to take down the Wardens and help rescue the Nameless. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I might survive.

But the outside world isn't like how I remember. The city has become even more dangerous, especially for the Nameless. To survive, I'll have to learn how to trust the guys and live in a world full of crime where almost everyone is hunting for me.

This just in: romance takes center stage as West End theatre's Richard Troy steps out with none other than castmate Elaine Graham

Richard Troy used to be the hottest actor in London, but the only thing firing up lately is his temper. We all love to love a bad boy, but Richard's antics have made him Enemy Number One, breaking the hearts of fans across the city.

Have the tides turned? Has English rose Lainie Graham made him into a new man?

Sources say the mismatched pair has been spotted at multiple events, arm in arm and hip to hip. From fits of jealousy to longing looks and heated whispers, onlookers are stunned by this blooming romance.

Could the rumors be right? Could this unlikely romance be the real thing? Or are these gifted stage actors playing us all?

From International Best Selling Romance Novelist, Hope Hughes, comes a gripping, heartfelt tale of two lovers, fighting for the freedom to…

No. Scratch that. Too cheesy.

…two people, torn apart by the tumultuous tides of life, only to discover refuge in…

WTF? What does that even mean? DELETE.

…two people, confused as shit as to where they should be and who they should love and none of this means a damn thing because it’s all lies!
Lies.
I’m not Hope Hughes. I’m not some fierce woman romance machine. Hell, I’m not even a woman. 
I’m a liar. 
And while I refuse to believe my own BS, deceit masked in heartfelt phrases of love and devotion, I want to make herbelieve them. Because maybe—just maybe—if she can find the soul within my words, she’ll also be able to find the truth scribbled on my heart. 
You see, I once lived for the perfect plot twist.
I just never expected to actually live it.
This is my story. Well, maybe her story. I just wish I could make it our story.
The one I’m still writing.

Secrets. 
Everyone has one. 
Some are bigger than others. 
And when secrets are revealed, 
Some will heal you ... 
And some will end you. 

Kate Sedgwick’s life has been anything but typical. She’s endured hardship and tragedy, but throughout it all she remains happy and optimistic (there’s a reason her best friend Gus calls her Bright Side). Kate is strong-willed, funny, smart, and musically gifted. She’s also never believed in love. So when Kate leaves San Diego to attend college in the small town of Grant, Minnesota, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with Keller Banks. 

They both feel it. 
But they each have a reason to fight it. 
They each have a secret. 

And when secrets are revealed, 
Some will heal you … 
And some will end you. 

Kennedy Cross had her heart broken early in life. It wasn't someone or something who betrayed her—it was her own body. Despite it being all she’s ever wanted, Kennedy will never know what it feels like to feel her baby’s feet kick from the inside out. Having been pronounced infertile at only eighteen, she redirected her life the best way she could.

Eight years and a degree later, Kennedy is one of the most well-loved first-grade teachers at Rock Falls Elementary School. It doesn’t matter that her college boyfriend left her because he wanted children of his own. She has twenty-two of the most gorgeous six-year-olds who adore her and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jackson Steele deals only in extremes. He falls victim to manic episodes lasting for days, sometimes weeks at a time, sending him reeling from volatile highs to devastating lows. It’s a living hell just being inside his own mind, and that hell has taken everything he’s ever loved away from him. But what if, this time, it gives him something? An untimely gift from God and a brunette with legs eight miles long will bring him the most unforeseen joy but also his most challenging of tests.

What happens when circumstances of life threaten the one thing both Jackson and Kennedy love? Saving Steele from himself may prove to be too much for Cross to bear. 

Their love led to a lie
Their truth led to the end

Brigs McGregor is crawling out from the ashes. After losing his wife and son in a car accident and his job from his subsequent downward spiral, he's finally moving forward, getting a prestigious teaching position at the University of London and a new life in the city. Slowly, but surely, he's pushing past the guilt and putting his tragic past behind him.

Until he sees her.

Natasha Trudeau once loved a man so much she thought she'd die without him. But their love was wrong, doomed from the start, and when their world crashed around them, Natasha was nearly buried in the rubble. It took years of moving on to forget him, and now that she's in London, she's ready to start again.

Until she sees him.

Because some loves are too dangerous to ever indulge.
And some loves are far too powerful to ignore.
Their love just might be the life and the death of them.

Okay, so it wasn't that small.