With one phone call, Colt's life turned completely upside down, inside out, backwards, spiraled out of control... however you want to say it.
He was used to life not going as planned, but this little detour changed his life forever and completely terrified him. But he didn't have time to dwell on the fact he was now this toddler's one and only parent.
His little niece Poppy needed him and he was determined not to fail her.
But life continued to throw curve balls.
While trying to learn his new normal, Layla, his first and only love, breezed back into his life. That might have excited him, but he hadn't counted on the fact that she'd changed over the years.
Gone was the girl he fell in love with, replaced with someone he could barely stand to be around.
Colt didn't have time to deal with a snobby, bitter grump when he had a farm to run and a toddler to raise.
She may still be the most gorgeous woman he'd ever laid eyes on, but to him, beauty was about more than what was on the surface.
The problem was, he was starting to wonder if the new Layla wasn't really who she was.
He tried to resist her but sometimes love is never really over.
A beautiful and emotional journey about finding your way back to the love of your life.
Layla and Colt were childhood sweethearts but Layla wanted more than just the small town they lived in so she walked away from Colt leaving him heartbroken. Now twelve years later an accident has brought Layla home and Colt is now a single dad. Can Colt forgive Layla and once again trust her with his heart to give them both a second chance at love.
A swoon-worthy second chance romance from Jennifer Van Wyk that I can definitely recommend.
PLAYLIST
EXCERPT
Conversation continues around us, but all I see is Layla. For the first time in over a dozen years, I wish my friends weren’t around.
I could pull her out of her chair and onto my lap. She’d feel my hardening erection and I wouldn’t care because she’s the one who did it to me. I’d reach up and thread my fingers through her hair, keeping it away from her beautiful face, and pull her lips to mine.
From that moment on, we would simply exist as one.
“Colt,” she whispers, her voice a lustful combination of turned on and scared. I know the feeling.
“Yeah, baby?”
She makes a noise in the back of her throat. “Oh, shit, you called me baby. I can’t handle this.”
“Sorry. Am I overstepping?” I ask, reluctantly removing my hand from her.
“No! It’s just,” she drops her head, shaking it back and forth, “I never thought…”
“Never thought what?”
Layla’s eyes never leave mine as if she’s hoping she can still read right through me. She probably can, and maybe I should be worried about that but I’m really not. If Natalie’s death taught me anything, it’s that life is short. Yeah, I was hurt. Tim pulled me aside earlier and said point blank that I had only two choices. Either get over it because life isn’t meant to be lived holding a grudge, or live alone the rest of my life and likely have to watch her eventually with another man. He’d understood the hurt, hell, he was the first one here after she left so he saw the destruction from the beginning. The other man part isn’t what changed my mind. It was the holding a grudge part.
Natalie would have kicked my ass if she’d still been here when Layla came back. She always told me we’d find our way back, our path just didn’t look like I’d originally thought it would. And maybe that’s part of why I was holding onto that hurt. Because my plan was changed.
“I never thought we’d be able to even consider getting back to this.”
“Are you considering it?” I ask her, even though I know the answer. I need to hear it from her lips.
She watches me closely. “I am. Might be stupid, but it goes beyond consideration straight into hope. I’m hoping for this.”
I smile and give her neck a little squeeze. “I’m right there with you.”
AUTHOR BIO
Jennifer caught the writing bug when she was in high school, but didn’t bring her dream to life until many years later. From the Ground Up was her first published novel, and she wrote it hoping to touch just one person. Jennifer makes her home in rural Iowa with her farm boy high school sweetheart, three beautiful and amazing kids, one crazy Jack Russell terrier. Jennifer’s family enjoys visiting different parts of the United States with their camper, sitting around bonfires, and spending summers on the lake. When she’s not writing, she’s sipping coffee or iced tea with her kindle in her lap or binging on Netflix.
Jack Dryden-Jones is easily the worst rugby player on the field—when he moves to The States to follow in his brothers footsteps, he has no idea how he’d hate the game. He’s so horrible he considers faking an injury to take himself out of the game.
Jack is a quick-witted, comic book loving gentleman—not an athlete.
DO NOT DATE YOUR ROOMMATES CRUSH.
When her roommate brings home a random stranger, Eliza is shocked when he makes himself at home; he’s strapping, strong and watching a movie at the end of her couch as if he belongs there.
It makes her uncomfortable in the best way possible.
But if there is one thing she believes in, it’s GIRL CODE: No girl may date her friend's ex, past crush, or guys who have humiliated/used her. And she most certainly may not date any guy her friend currently fancies...
DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Jack and Eliza are two of the good ones—it’s going to take a miracle to keep them apart.
A sweet, funny and hilarious friends-to-lovers book and the fifth in the Jock Hard Series by the wonderful Sara Ney.
Jack is little brother to Ash who we met in book four of this series. Jack is struggling to fill his his brother's shoes they're polar opposites and he knows nothing about cricket which makes bonding a little harder with friends but he tries despite this to fit in! He wears his heart on his sleeve and that's what makes him such a loveable character.
Eliza is sassy, awkward but super cute she has zero interest in jocks which makes this book more fun and she's loyal to a fault.
An incredible slow burn with a fantastic funny build up Jack and Eliza have an incredible connection and attraction for each other and you would think with the type of banter between them that they are literally like an old married couple.
I loved Jock Reign so much! Sara Ney truly worked her magic with this storyline.
Meet Sara Ney
Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances.
Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced lattes, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
Cassidy Forrester agreed to help the world-famous band, The Original Kings, as their personal assistant. Her brother might be the drummer but their lead singer, Dash Kingston, is the man who rocked her world and disappeared the morning after.
Dash Kingston is grateful. He recently dodged a pregnancy scare with a groupie and is determined to focus on his music. Except the world and the media aren’t finished discussing Dash and his wild ways. His publicist has a solution. Dash needs a serious girlfriend. STAT. And she wants Cassidy to be the woman who tames the infamous ladies' man.
Cassidy isn’t the only one with sizzling memories of their night together, and when Dash is given the opportunity to make her his girlfriend, he's all in. He’s got enough charm to convince her to give him another chance, not just in his bed this time, but in his life. For the band’s sake, she agrees to play the role. But only a fool would make the same mistake twice, and Cassidy refuses to let their spark burn her a second time.
NY Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller, Carly Phillips gives her readers Alphalicious heroes to swoon for and romance to set your heart on fire.
She married her college sweetheart and lives in Purchase, NY along with her three crazy dogs: two wheaten terriers and a mutant Havanese, who are featured on her Facebook and Instagram.
The author of 50 romance novels, she has raised two incredible daughters who put up with having a mom as a full time writer.
Carly’s book, The Bachelor, was chosen by Kelly Ripa as a romance club pick and was the first romance on a nationally televised bookclub.
Carly loves social media and interacting with her readers.
Want to keep up with Carly? Sign up for her newsletter (below) and receive TWO FREE books at www.carlyphillips.com.
From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author L A Cotton, comes an emotional enemies-to-lovers romance. Angst... drama... friendship... and football. Will you survive senior year?
Ashleigh Chase has always had big dreams.But when she wakes up in hospital with no memory of how she got there, her bright future dissolves around her.Ezra Bennet has always felt like the odd one out.But this time, he really screwed up and has no choice but to face the consequences.Forced to retake their senior year, Ashleigh turns to Ezra only to find him cold and cruel and determined to keep her at arm's length.He's the guy she always wanted.She's the girl who was never good enough for him.But now there's a secret between them, one that she's determined to uncover.She thinks she can save him. But she doesn't realize yet...He's the one who ruined her.
About the Author:
Author of over thirty mature young adult and new adult novels, LA COTTON is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find LA immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
The only thing more dangerous than kissing the enemy... sleeping with the enemy. Good thing I had no intentions of doing either.
To Catch a Thief by Nana Malone is now live!
Oliver
To catch a thief... you have to think like a thief.
And Rian Beaumont was my mark. I'd start by stealing her kisses. But I already knew that wouldn't be punishment enough.
The only crime I committed was almost stealing her from my brother, and for that, I served my time.
She thought she knew me, but she had it all wrong-- I was nothing like my brother. To prove her wrong, I was going to steal her heart and make her mine.
Rian
Oliver Wexler might not have been the one that ruined my life five years ago, but he basically drove the getaway car.
The only thing more dangerous than kissing the enemy... sleeping with the enemy. Good thing I had no intentions of doing either.
But Ollie had a pesky habit of sticking his nose-- and his lips--where they didn't belong. Even though I've already learned my lessons about falling for a man like him. Because with a Wexler brother, it was never only your future on the line . . . but your heart too.
Download today on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo, Barnes & Noble!
USA Today Bestseller, Nana Malone's love of all things romance and adventure started with a tattered romantic suspense she "borrowed" from her cousin.
It was a sultry summer afternoon in Ghana, and Nana was a precocious thirteen. She's been in love with kick butt heroines ever since. With her overactive imagination, and channeling her inner Buffy, it was only a matter a time before she started creating her own characters.
While she waits for her chance at a job as a ninja assassin, in the meantime Nana works out her drama, passion, and sass with fictional characters every bit as sassy and kick butt as she thinks she is.
“What?” I chuckled as I slipped on my socks and shoes.
“Nothing.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I’m just impressed, is all.”
I chuckled and Beck shoved his sister’s chair, almost making her fall. “That’s my friend, asshole. You don’t get to be impressed.”
“No. She’s right.” Josie was still staring at me too. “I really expected you to have the smallest dick.”
“I feel like I should be offended.” I leaned back in my chair.
“It’s your personality.” Allie shrugged. “You know, cocky guy, small dick. Showy car, small dick.”
“Okay, Allie.” I pressed my elbows into my knees and looked across the fire at her. “Truth or dare?”
She stared at me, and I had a feeling that no matter what she picked she wouldn’t do it. “Truth.”
I let my gaze slide to Eli before it went back to her. I shouldn’t have even called her name. I should just ask her something stupid and move on, but my heart raced in my chest, and I didn’t hesitate with what I asked her next. “When was the last time that you were truly turned on? I mean really and truly, couldn’t-think-about-anything-else turned on?”
A few people snickered, but I didn’t look away from her. She didn’t pull her gaze away from me either as she answered, but I knew her answer was a lie the moment it left her mouth.
“When Eli kissed me.”
“Carson, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“When was the last time you were really and truly turned on? And I mean to the point that you actually considered kissing the girl?”
“Oh shit.” That came from Olly, but no one said anything to stop us.
“Just about any time I’m with you, but if you’re looking for a specific moment, the night the cops walked in while I was going down on you.”
Laughter rang out around us, but neither of us was deterred.
“Allie, truth or dare?”
“Truth.” There was no hesitation in her eyes. She wasn’t scared of what I had to say.
“Do you actually like Eli, or are you just pissed off at me?”
“This is the exact reason people think you have a small dick.” She crossed her arms. “You assume that everything anyone does it about you when it isn’t. I actually like Eli, for your information.” She tucked a blonde curl behind her ear. “Carson, truth or dare?”
“This is about to get messy,” Josie whispered to Beck, but I heard her. She was right. It probably was.
“Dare.” I cocked my head to the side and looked at her.
“I dare you to stop being such an asshole and just tell us what the hell your problem is.”
“My problem?” I rubbed at my jaw. “Currently my problem is you. You haven’t barely spoken to me in days, you’ve been avoiding me like the plague at community service, and now…”
“Now what?” She was angry.
“Now I have to sit here and watch you with him.” I pointed at Eli, and he had the nerve to fucking smirk at me.
“I haven’t spoken to you because the last time we spoke, you made it very clear where we stood. I’ve been avoiding you because I don’t want to deal with you, and you’re going to have to continue to watch me with him because I like him. And it’s the oddest thing, but he likes me too.”
“Truth or dare?”
“I’m done playing this stupid game.” She pushed out of her seat, and I knew that Eli was about to follow her.
“Truth or dare, Allie? It’s not that hard.”
She spun back around to face me, and I could see the anger in her eyes. “Fine. Dare.” She held out her arms because she thought by ending the truths, she was going to end this argument between us.
“I dare you to kiss me.”
“That’s not happening.” Eli had the balls to say that out loud to me, and it took everything inside me not to close the space between us and finish what we had started last weekend.
“The last time I checked, you weren’t Allie’s boyfriend, and you don’t speak for her.” I looked back to Allie, and she was staring at me. “Allie can either kiss me or she can drink.” I lifted the bottle of liquor and shook it between us.
“You kissing me changes nothing.” She shook her head.
“Then it won’t hurt.” I shrugged my shoulders and tried to act like I didn’t care one way or another, even though I didn’t know what would happen if she walked away from me now. “If you’re so into Eli and kissing me won’t change anything, then what are you so scared of?”
About Holly
I’m Holly Renee, a small-town east Tennessee girl who is obsessed with all things romance. I love bringing flawed, sassy, and real characters to life in a way that makes you feel like you’ve been best friends with them for years. No two Holly Renee books are the same, but if you love real, relatable, fun female characters and swoon-worthy heroes, I’m your girl.
When I’m not writing or reading, you can find me momming so hard, being disgustingly in love with my husband, or chilling in the middle of a lake with my sunglasses and a float. #lakelife
I have a 2-year-old adorable little man who is as wild and sweet as they come and a baby girl on the way.
I live on chaos and coffee, and you’ll find it running through every single one of my stories.
First of all, I absolutely abhor writing anything biographical. In any form. I’m terrible at it, and I have the very firm belief that no one wants to know who I am. You’re here for books, right? But that doesn’t mean I’m off the hook.
I grew up sneaking over to my great grandmother’s to read her Harlequin novels. Those were delivered once a month in a ginormous box, and from the age of ten, she let me devour them in their entirety. I fell in love with romance, even the clean kind. And that, undoubtedly, led to many days and nights with my face buried in a book and the discovery that I wasn’t happy unless my hair was up, and I had a story in my hand.
I never wanted to write. I wanted to read. ALL the words. Until someone pointed out to me that I’d been writing my entire life. I just needed to put the book in my hand down and pick up a pen.
Once I started, I found out that I couldn’t stop. Now, I’m always writing. Or reading. Or chasing my son through the house to get the elusive hug he thinks I don’t need.
Oh, and I’m a Leo… which is completely on-point if you know me at all. I love being the center of attention. On my terms. When I can stay at home in my pajamas. With lots and lots of coffee on hand. And maybe a few snacks.
Meribeth - Chaos erupts, causing my parents to force me into an arranged marriage. When I try tocoerce circumstances to take a turn, that’s when true mayhem strikes.Ramsey - She’s wild, crazy, and a streak of violence runs through her veins. But the headstrong,gorgeous redhead landing right in my lap is the key to executing a plot for vengeance.
Amy's 5 Star Review
Holy wow! This was an awesome book the characters were amazing I loved Meribeth she's a tough, loyal badass woman who knows how to defend herself with the thanks of being born into Mafia family.
I love a good mafia/MC book with alot of chaos, blood and destruction but when Meribeth is kidnapped by the gorgeous but ruthless Ramsey who has a score to settle when his dad is killed he's determined to destroy her family unbeknownst to him that she's been blindsided by her own family and seeks to take her own revenge with Ramsey by her side.
A fantastic start to the Seven Knights Series with a powerful couple I loved how combustible Ramsey and Meribeth are this is one sexy and intense read by the wonderful Esther. E. Schmidt.
About the Author:
Esther E. Schmidt, USA Today Bestselling author of 7 MC series, a Mafia Romance series, a PNR series, a contemporary romance series, and more. She's a graphic designer that also loves to write. She released her first series "Areion Fury MC" in October 2015. Esther lives in The Netherlands with her family, three daughters, and a crazy iguana. She loves to write about bad boy Alphas with a heart for only one woman. To make it a bit interesting, that woman needs to be a badass herself.
It was only meant to be a short trip—up to Chicago for two days and then back to Texas. At least, that was the plan until a massive snowstorm leaves me trapped in Chicago at a local hotel with no definite time frame of when I can go back home. If that wasn't a crazy-enough turn of events—I wake up to a beautiful princess standing in my hotel room.
She was definitely a sight to behold, but she's not the least bit thrilled to see me—think Momma Bear finding Goldilocks lying in her bed type of annoyance.
You see, my princess turned out to be a tired and angry traveler who had been double-booked...in my hotel room. With no rooms left anywhere in the city, we are forced to bunk together to ride out the storm. Now all that's left to determine is will we survive each other.
After a rocky start and some much-needed rest, Analise and I soon forge a friendship that turns into a no-strings-attached fling.
When the fairytale we got lost in melts away, we have an even bigger storm to weather that we never saw coming. The one where I'm faced with the uncertainty of having to walk away from the one woman who has opened a part of my heart I had thought was as frozen over as the city we found each other in.
Fated Hearts is a stand-alone novel and the last book in the Southern Bride series.
I loved, loved, loved Fated Hearts. It stole my heart from the very first page, Annalise and Roger were just perfect for each other.
Roger and Annalise have both found themselves stranded in Chicago due to bad weather. To make matter worse a mixup at a hotel causes these two strangers to have to share a room and sparks soon start to fly.
What starts off as some no strings attached fun soon turns into so much more when fate lends a hand.
I have loved the Southern Bride series and I'm so sad it come to an end but Kelly Elliott has definitely saved the best till last.
Meet Kelly Elliott
Kelly Elliott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling contemporary romance author. Her bestselling works include, Wanted, Broken, Lost Love, and Never Enough, to name a few.
Kelly lives in central Texas with her husband, Gus, her chocolate lab, four cats, and endless wildlife creatures. When she's not writing, Kelly enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
To find out more about Kelly and her books, you can find her through her website.