I combined all of the Dumont Diaries novellas into a standalone novel, which was rewritten, expanded, and retitled as Trophy Wife. I step on the dark stage, the cheap plastic of my platforms cutting into the top of my toes, every step bringing a pinch of pain. I keep my eyes down, following the flecks of silver on the unforgiving stage, waiting, exhaling a breath in controlled anticipation, my abs tightening. Then, the lights come on and I have almost three minutes to forget. Welcome to my life, a drained bank account and six nights a week spinning around a greasy strip club pole. When salvation comes in the form of six feet of drop-dead-gorgeous, complete with a limo and a thick wad of cash, my stilettos run happily out the door to freedom. They say that money doesn’t buy happiness. But it does buy escape. Happiness is an overrated fairytale. *To Have is a novella, 15,000 words in length, and was part 1 of a 4-part series. Their titles are: To Have To Hold Till Death Do Us Part

    14 original teen paranormal short stories YA talent, united with the common theme of road trips.Contents:Introduction by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong1 Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray2 Scenic Route (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan3 Red Run by Kami Garcia4 Things About Love (Genies #1.5) by Jackson Pearce5 Niederwald (Soul Screamers #4.5) by Rachel Vincent6 Merely Mortal (Wicked Lovely #5.5) by Melissa Marr7 Facing Facts (Darkest Powers #3.6) by Kelley Armstrong8 Let’s Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan9 Bridge (Shade #2.5) by Jeri Smith-ReadySkin Contact (The Body Finder #2.5) by Kimberly Derting10 Leaving by Ally Condie11 At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday12 IV League by Margaret Stohl13 Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson14 The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes15 Automatic (The Morganville Vampires: Extras) by Rachel Caine

    For Kylie, the miracle of her survival is also her burden-as a doctor at one of the clinics for the infected, she is forced to witness endless suffering. What's worse, strange things are happening to the remains of the dead, and by the time she befriends Ben Archer, she's beginning to wonder if a global pandemic is the least of her problems.... Thistle & Thorne by Ann AguirreAfter a catastrophic spill turns the country into a vast chemical wasteland, those who could afford it retreated to fortresses, self-contained communities run by powerful corporations. But for Mari Thistle, life on the outside-in the Red Zone-is a constant struggle. To protect her family, Mari teams up with the mysterious Thorne Goodman. Together, they'll face an evil plot in both the underworld of the Red Zone and the society inside the fortresses that could destroy those on the outside...for good. Sun Storm by Karen DuvallSarah Daggot has been chasing storms since she was a child. But after the biggest solar flares in history nearly destroy the planet, she becomes a Kinetic, endowed by her exposure to extreme radiation with the power to sense coming storms-in the cosmos and beyond. And she's not the only one. Sarah believes the Kinetics are destined to join forces and halt the final onslaught of the sun. She'll vow to keep trying to convince the one missing link in their chain of defense, the enigmatic Ian Matthews, up until the world ends.

    When Claire and James move into a beautiful Victorian home together, she soon discovers that he is being seduced by a secret from his past, one thought buried long ago.(Previously published as the out-of-print CURTAINS FOR LOVE)

    1 The Bastard Stepchild - George R.R. Martin 2 Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris 3 The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale 4 Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green 5 Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor 6 Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling 7 It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn8 The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden 9 Hellbender - Laurie R. King 10 Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook 11 No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass 12 The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover13 The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle 14 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon15 Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts 16 In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs 17 The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton

    I’m going away for spring break with my two best friends from college, and we’ve vowed to spend the vacation seeking out fun in the sun—along with some hot, no-strings-attached sex. The only thing I needed was the perfect guy, and then I met Austin Murphy. He might be totally wrong for me, but the tattooed bad boy is hard to resist. When I’m in his arms, everything just feels right.And I’m just a guy…I’m just a bartender who lives in Key West, stuck in an endless cycle of boredom. But then Mackenzie Forbes, America’s Sweetheart herself, comes up to me and looks at me with those bright green eyes…and everything changes. She acts like she’s just a normal girl and I’m just a normal guy, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. My past isn’t pretty, you know. I did what I had to do to survive, and she’d run if she learned the truth about my darkness. But with her, I’m finally realizing what it’s like to be alive. To laugh, live, and be happy.All good things must come to an end…

    Cast Being a psychic detective who can channel only negative emotions makes Kent Raef good at catching murderers, but bad at maintaining relationships. Then Lauren Wilcox arrives with a most intriguing case: her twin sister has been murdered and is communing with Lauren's spirit-and sharing her body. Raef's the only one who can track the killer and free the spirit. But soon he begins to wonder just which twin he wants to save...and why.... HAUNTED New York Times Bestselling Author Gena Showalter Artist Aurora Harper is convinced she's witnessed a crime-a murder so brutal she's repressed the memories, only to paint the scene by the light of the moon. Now she needs her new neighbor, Detective Levi Reid, to help her track down the victim-and the killer. Levi's dealing with his own memory issues, but one thing he knows for sure: Harper is meant to be his, and nothing can take her away from him-not in this life...and not in death....

    Four great knights, each in his own world of shadow and darkness during times of strife and battle in Medieval England and Ireland. Some of Le Veque's greatest heroes come alive in this limited edition collection. Enter the darkness with them... but understand the hope and the romance in these four bestselling tales. Lord of War: Black Angel - He is the right hand of the Black Prince. When she comes into his life, will he choose love over war? Black Sword - He is an Irish rebel bent on destroying the English. When he falls in love with his enemy's sister, those who once served him now turn against him. Lord of the Shadows - As the bodyguard of the hated King John, all is not what it seems in this exciting Medieval spy romance. While Angels Slept - In the anarchy of Stephen and Matilda, a great English lord falls in love with a grieving widow. Can their love survive the odds?

    If you do, she’ll take your soul.” Werewolf Griffin Romeo has new prey—a sexy female vamp named Isabella has been hunting in Sin City, and it’s Griffin’s job to stop her. Tracking Isabella is easy work for an alpha wolf, but once he gets close to gorgeous Isabella…Griffin’s careful plans go straight to hell. Because with one bite, he’s absolutely hooked on her, lost…mated. Vamps and werewolves are supposed to be sworn enemies. They aren’t supposed to feel a white-hot attraction that burns soul deep. Now that he’s found his mate, Griffin isn’t about to let Isabella go, especially not when he learns that Isabella isn’t the killer who is attacking humans in Vegas. Griffin’s mate has been set-up, and he’ll fight with a wolf’s fury to find the enemy who is working against them both. Someone wants Isabella to be judged guilty by the wolves in Vegas, but Griffin won’t let that happen. Their mating may be forbidden, but Griffin and Isabella are about to show the paranormal world just how fiercely a vamp and werewolf can fight for each other—because mates bond forever. And nothing will come between them. Author’s Note: FORBIDDEN BITE is a short, sexy story (32,000 words) about one hot werewolf and his sexy vamp mate. Lust comes first (and fast!) in this tale, and then love is close behind. If you enjoy a hero who will gladly sacrifice everything for his lady, hot times, and a happy ending…then maybe you should take a BITE.

    There, she falls head over heels for the dark and mysterious Gabe, despite warnings to stay away from him. In an effort to learn more about the cousin she barely knew, Lexi uncovers details that make her question what really happened the night Austin died - details that could be putting her own life in danger.

    She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.Some girls lose their hearts to love.Some girls lose their minds.Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.

    Take a walk on the wild side with hunky alpha heroes who will stop at nothing to win over their fated mates. All stories start off a series from USA Today and National Bestselling authors. Bad Boy Fire Bear - Bella Love-Wins Nevada firefighter bear shifter, Jax Carson never believed settling down was in the cards for him. That was right up until his bear caught sight of the new waitress, Joleen Emery, and roared with a lust to claim her. FURever: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance - Kate Kent Are you ready to have your toes curled? One curvy, sexy woman plus two hunky Alpha wolf shifters = scorching, hot menage romance! Shifted Undercover - C.E. Black Secret agendas, and hidden plans, begin to unravel after chaos erupts on a plane. Nikki isn’t willing to lose the love she’s found in Adam over a flight plan gone wrong, and Adam is determined to risk it all for the love of his woman; revealing the beast that resides within. The Werewolf’s Bride - Michele Bardsley To honor her town’s 150-year-old pact with the werewolves, Arabelle Winton dutifully marries Shadow Pack alpha Greyson Burke. Their marriage of convenience might well turn into true love. But only if the pack's most dangerous enemy doesn’t destroy them first. Chief Bear - Scarlett Grove On Fate Mountain, Levi Blackthorn is alpha of the search-and-rescue crew the Rescue Bears. Juliet Hernandez is a sassy, sweet woman who’s been unlucky in love. Can Juliet let go of her past and trust the wild heart of her shifter mate? Redeem the Wolf - Harmony Raines Kurt has made mistakes, big mistakes, and he paid the price, but one woman saved him, coaxing him back from the brink. Then she left, before he could thank her, all he has to hold onto, is the memory of her face, a face he paints over and over again. Now she needs his help, can Kurt save her, and somehow redeem his wolf? Shiftr: Swipe Left for Love (Melissa) - Ariana Hawkes When Melissa Ericson has a panic attack as her best friend is giving birth, sexy shifter Doctor Harley is on hand to calm her down. But there's something about him that keeps tugging at her mind, and suddenly she's drawn back into a place she never wanted to think about again. The past is so confusing and painful, but will the smoking-hot werewolf prove to be her destroyer or her savior? Brindle - V. Vaughn Becoming a werewolf the night of senior prom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. When Katie realizes what’s she done she runs. But mating season has arrived, and Brindle is the only one that can satisfy the needs of her fever, and her heart. Dietrich (Bear Dating Agency I) - Becca Fanning A family of single Bear Shifter men, a secluded state park and a matronly grandmother who is sick of not having any grandchildren. Come along for the lip-biting, hair-pulling, sweaty-riding Bear Dating Agency series!

    But her plans of settling into a normal life are derailed when she witnesses a prominent judge in her community committing a violent assault. Running from her own past and fueled by a passion to make the judge answer for his crimes, Piper is forced to decide if she’ll play by the rules or achieve justice in her own way.Complicating things further, Piper finds herself fighting a powerful attraction to rookie cop, Bobby Wright. Although she’s increasingly enamored with Bobby, his staunch belief in the justice system is in stark contrast to her own. She may not share his opinions about the effectiveness of the law, but she certainly can’t deny how safe she feels when she’s in his arms or how every kiss leaves her desperate for more.For Piper, the idea of finally living an ordinary life with a man to love is tempting. However, fate keeps placing the judge, quite literally, in her path. Will she decide the only way to win is to be as wicked as the judge, but with righteous intentions? And more importantly, will Bobby choose to let her go, or follow her as she crosses the line and takes justice into her own hands?

    along with a monster. The chance encounter led her to an unbelievable world that shouldn't have existed, a place where myths and fairytales were real and, in some cases, deadly. Kay knew she would have to brave this new world if she hoped to find a cure for her terminal cancer. With a strange yet beautiful cast of characters, Kay uncovered truths that would change her life forever. However, before it was all over, she discovered she wasn't the only one with problems. Yet another seventeen-year-old young woman was fighting for her life. Kira had grown up in a magical world. Despite this, her life had not been filled with many good things. She considered her empty, emotional solitude the only positive aspect of her life and fought daily battles to escape abuse and torture. Trained to be an expert assassin, she was charged with kidnapping Kay and delivering her to Kira's master, Lord Donovan. As the two young women set forth on their journeys, their paths would cross in unimaginable ways. There was only one question that remained: who would come out alive? WARNING: This is a upper ya/young adult/new adult fictional story that includes some explicit language, graphic violence, and mild sexual situations. Recommended for ages sixteen and up.

    Ordered to protect her, Sevastyan will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.Rules are made to be broken...PhD student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the breathtakingly gorgeous Sevastyan before the professional hit man whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. With every day she spends under his protection, she falls deeper under his masterful spell.Are you ready to play?Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true...