But what of its opposite -- the moment when it becomes clear that things are indisputably over? Dumped is a survey of every type of romantic crack-up, a group of stories full of the hilarity, wisdom, insight, and sometimes, yes, fierce revenges of some of the most memorable broken hearts in recent literature. Dumped sheds light on what can be the toughest part of human relations -- whether newly elucidating the misery we've all endured, or merely reminding us that others have had it far worse -- from the mother in Elizabeth Berg's Open House absurdly attempting to tell her son his father has left, to the betrayed wife in Roald Dahl's "Lamb to Slaughter," who beats her husband to death with a leg of lamb, then cooks it for the police. With contributions from such notable authors as Will Self, Saul Bellow, Alice Munro, Raymond Carver, Lorrie Moore, Dorothy Parker, Andre Dubus, and Tobias Wolff, as well as rising stars like Lucinda Rosenfeld and Steve Almond, Dumped spans every variety of romantic catastrophe and every possible response to it; from the wise to the hilarious, the bitter to the bittersweet. This book is the panacea for problems of the heart.

    After losing her job as a party clown, Larissa's roommate gets her a gig working for an escort service. Her first client is Senator Chase Underwood: hot, married, and the current presidential candidate. Will his penchant for sexual domination destroy his prospects of world domination?PART II: DisclosureLarissa Jacobs' financial debt may be a thing of the past, now that Senator--and the all-but-certain future president--Chase Underwood has offered her a lucrative position in his campaign. But, like the rest of Chase's staffers, Larissa is asked to sign a nondisclosure agreement; only Larissa's NDA comes with some interesting stipulations that may make or break their arrangement.PART III: ExposureLarissa Jacobs has finally found the man of her dreams in presidential candidate Chase Underwood, but her dreams of happily ever after have been put on hold indefinitely. When a feature in the L.A Times exposes their affair, Chase and Larissa are thrust into the center of a scandal that will rock the nation and the very foundation of their love.PART IV: ClosureAfter the scandal caused by her affair with presidential candidate Chase Underwood, Larissa Jacobs is flown to his lavish villa in Tuscany. Larissa watches the news coverage of Chase's victory and fantasizes about him storming into the villa and making good on his promise to marry her. But her fantasies are becoming less and less appealing with every day they spend apart. It doesn't help that the hot Secret Service agent assigned to guard her has become the only person she can speak to.Will Larissa remain true to her promise to wait for Chase? Will Chase finally put his love for Larissa before his career?

    Reiss UnRaveled by K. Bromberg Come by J.A. Huss Red & Wolfe by Ella James The Devil In Me by K.I. Lynn Worth by Shay Savage These Men by Andrea SmithSTILL by Alessandra TorreKick by C.D. ReissThe first novella in Songs of PerditionFiona Drazen, sex addict, submissive slave, celebutante, trapped in a mental ward until Dr. Elliot Chapman can help her remember why she's there. But once she does, she might not want to go home to the Master she tried to kill.***************************************************************Unraveled by K. BrombergOne night.One mistake.Filled with fear.Sated by pleasure.Robbed of control.Blindfolded and bound.Shamed she liked it.Doomed to want it.Limits tested.Boundaries pushed.Desire awakened.Inhibition unleashed.An identity unraveled.Lives changed forever.***************************************************************COME by J.A. HussHe must have her, take her, control her, keep her. She will submit. But she will do it when she is ready and willing. The bond is uneasy and the future uncertain. But one thing’s for sure.Alone… Harper and James are dangerous.Together… they are unstoppable.***************************************************************Red & Wolfe by Ella JamesAfter years attempting to contact her estranged grandmother, an artist who lives on a remote island, Sarah “Red” Ryder is surprised to receive an invitation. When she arrives at the island, she’s shocked to find it is now the home of J. Wolfe, the reclusive artist, who has his own plans for her.***************************************************************The Devil in Me by K.I. LynnIn search of strength and guidance at a nearby church, Jared happens upon a temptation. One he cannot hope to resist. Each time he sees her, the overwhelming urge to have her consumes him. The lust is overpowering, dragging him deeper and deeper with each encounter, exposing the devil within.***************************************************************Worth by Shay SavageAn injured Roman Tribunus finds comfort in the touch of the slave commanded to tend to his wounds. As a slave, her value is measured as a couple of coins, but as Tribunus Faustus learns more about her, he begins to understand her true worth.Still, a man of his station can never acknowledge feelings for a slave, and she is already owned by another man.***************************************************************These Men by Andrea SmithPaige Matthews has a lot to learn, and more than just about being an intern with the F.B.I. Inexperience with all types of relationships leaves her looking for a new place to live. Eli Chambers and his partner, Cain Maddox, are looking for a roommate. It's the perfect arrangement, but one that will change all their lives forever.***************************************************************STILL by Alessandra TorreI was raised right. To mind my manners, keep my knees together, to put my napkin in my lap. But somehow, with one look at the dark sexuality that is Brett Jacobs, I forgot my Southern graces. They may have gotten lost in the pushmeupagainstthewall and takemehere action that occurred. In the clothes-ripping ohmygod action that followed. They may have, along with my sanity and common sense, deserted me, leaving me with bruised lips, ripped panties, and multiple orgasms.***************************************************************This set will only be available for a limited time, so get it before it disappears.

    The perfect gentleman and the perfect lover, Shawn could be the man of Casey's dreams. But with someone bent on turning her dreams into nightmares, trusting the wrong person could be the last thing Casey ever does.

     And when he decides he wants something, or someone, he gets it. If he chooses you, be ready to give him everything. Be ready to take everything you can take. Be ready to be… A SLAVE TO HIM.

    Includes:SOMETHING BORROWEDRachel White is the consummate good girl. A hardworking attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid-of-honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always done the right thing and played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy's fiancé, Dex—and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same about her. As the September wedding date nears, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.SOMETHING BLUEDarcy Rhone has always been able to rely on a few things: Her beauty and charm. Her fiancé Dex. Her lifelong best friend Rachel. She never needed anything else. Or so she thinks until Dex calls off their dream wedding and she uncovers the ultimate betrayal. Blaming everyone but herself, Darcy flees to London and attempts to recreate her glamorous life on a new continent. But to her dismay, she discovers that her tried-and-true tricks no longer apply—and that her luck has finally expired. It is only then that she can begin her journey toward redemption, forgiveness, and true love.LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITHEllen and Andy Graham have the perfect marriage. There is no question how deep their devotion is, and how naturally they bring out the best in each other. But one fateful afternoon, Ellen runs into Leo. The one who brought out the worst in her. The one who left her heartbroken nearly a decade ago. The one she could never quite forget. When his reappearance ignites long-dormant emotions, Ellen begins to question whether the life she's living is the one she's meant to live.

    Featuring: HIS HUMAN SLAVE COLLARED AND CAGED, MY HUMAN SLAVE AWAITS HER TRAINING Like all humans, she was born into galactic slavery. I bought and paid for her, which means she’s mine now. Mine to use. Because according to our gene-matching program, she’ll produce the best offspring. And our species is nearly extinct. In the meantime, I must teach her to yield to my will, accept my discipline and serve me as her one true master. And the next three books in the series: HIS HUMAN PRISONER TRAINING HIS HUMAN His HUMAN REBEL

    Fall in love over and over again!

    Worse than that? She's broke. Her boyfriend recently left her, so she's stuck paying her hefty apartment rent alone. After two months unemployed, there's no money left. With no immediate family to turn to, Red reaches out to her estranged grandmother, a reclusive writer living on an island off the coast of Charleston. Several days later, Red receives $30,000 and an invitation to visit. James Wolfe is not Red's grandmother - but he's the only person waiting for her at the boat dock. Red has something he needs. He won't take "no" for an answer, and he doesn't mind screwing her over to get it. He lost his conscience six years ago, when he went off the grid. Since then, life is about him - and the renowned oil paintings he does under the mysterious pseudonym "W." Until the moment he sees her. Then Red is all he wants. And Wolfe will have her - any way he can. * This story is the first of three serials about Red & Wolfe. Red & Wolfe Part I was originally published in The BEND Anthology, a collection of stories from the authors of The Erotica Consortium.

     Get all four books for a limited time. Each book is an interconnected standalone. Blitzed: “I brought Laurie back to meet her father. I brought her back to meet you.” I’m normally not into jocks, but when Troy Wood asks me out, I feel like I’m the Chosen One. After all, he’s hot as hell and Silver Lake’s best athlete, practically the King of Campus. God’s gift to women—that’s what they call him, but I’ll make a gentleman out of him. Everything is perfect, and he already practically has his ticket to the Big Leagues. There’s just one little problem . . . I’m hiding a secret that could destroy him and his future. I can’t tell him . . . I can’t tell him that I’m pregnant with his baby. Over the Middle: O. M. G. That’s the only thing on my mind when I’m assigned to help superstar tight end, Duncan Hart, rehab his elbow. With a body that looks like a sculpted masterpiece, his chiseled features melt the hearts of women everywhere, including mine. There’s just one problem. Duncan’s an jerk, with an ego the size of our football stadium. He lives for the roar of the crowd. He thrives on it. And he wants to let me experience the Hart Attack — yes, he has a name for it. But that’s not going to happen. At least, that’s what I keep telling myself… All’s fair in love and war, and I have two choices — take him down, or let him score. Rushed: They say opportunity doesn't knock twice… Yet here comes Tyler Paulson, crashing through the door of my life. I know he’ll be trouble, but I can’t escape that smile… He's our new hot shot quarterback, and I’m supposed to show him around the city, but what I really want to do is show him how much I’ve grown up. Except there's one little problem. If I screw this up, I'm out of a job. So I have to be professional. No frisky business, and no mixing business with pleasure. But Tyler doesn’t play by the rules. He’s used to getting what he wants. I’ll have to resist and not give him the upper hand, but it’ll only be a matter of time before he scores his second chance. Fourth Down Baby: He tempted me and I couldn’t resist. Now I’m having his baby. It all started out innocent. Cory helped me around the house, and I mentored him, but then things changed. I started to see desire in his eyes, and I have to admit, I liked it. I know it isn't right, but I can't help myself. He makes me feel alive again. But being with him isn’t healthy. We come from different worlds. I should let him go—let him live his life. I’ll only hold him back and keep him from achieving his dreams. It was supposed to be a fling with the forbidden. I only wanted to indulge, nothing more. I planned to say goodbye before anything got out of hand. But now I can’t… because I’m pregnant with his baby.

    As the holidays approach, those insecurities reappear. Luke Tatum realizes he doesn’t know Kate as well as he thought when he sees her with her guard down. As he discovers who Kate really is, his admiration and attraction to her grows. When faced with the possibility of losing someone she loves, Kate's faith wavers. This Christmas, will she accept support from Luke or will she push him away? When You Believe- Belle Calhoune Maggie Kilcannon lives in Breeze Point, Cape Cod after leaving her native Ireland. After tragically losing her parents, Maggie’s weary about loving and losing anyone. When she meets Alec Donahue, a soldier on Christmas leave, she falls madly in love with him. Can she live with the uncertainty of loving a soldier on active duty? Alec Donahue always wanted to serve his country, but his life changes when he meets the beautiful, spirited Maggie. He wants forever with Maggie, who’s reluctant to give her heart to someone who might leave her. Can Alec make Maggie believe in happily ever after? Perchance to Dream- JoAnn Durgin Ellie Franklin and Ryan Sullivan are the hometown sweethearts of Cade’s Corner, Ohio. As their Christmas wedding approaches, Ryan is expected back from his second deployment to Afghanistan. When an unforeseen event occurs, will Ellie’s plans be postponed or come to a screeching halt? With faith, family, and the support of an entire town behind her, will this bride’s prayers for a holiday miracle be answered? Nowhere for Christmas- Heather Gray Avery’s a journalist and mom to teenager Eli. Gavin’s an enigmatic photographer. A botched schedule lands them all in a rental car for Christmas. With everything that goes wrong, it’ll take a miracle to get them anywhere. But miracles come in surprising packages. Like a bait shop owner and a family that can’t agree on how to remove a skunk's stink. Join the trio as they learn reaching the destination doesn't mean the journey’s over. God has so much more in store for them. After all—anything can happen on the road to Nowhere. Christmas Lost and Found- Angel Moore When Serena comes home determined to save her mother’s shop, the manager blames her for her mother’s troubles. But he’s the only person she can rely on for help. Has Michael wasted the years he spent trying to keep All Things Christmas open? Serena’s resolve to correct things financially threatens the heart of the store. It’s about Christmas. Not just sales. Has Serena become so calculating that she doesn’t celebrate her faith anymore? One Enchanted Christmas- Melissa Tagg Last December, author Maren Grant went on a magical date with her book’s cover model—Colin Renwycke. Fast forward one year. With a looming deadline, Maren is desperate to recapture her creative spark. Then she remembers Colin’s invitation to visit his family’s Iowa farm… Drew Renwycke never planned to move home and take over the farm. But he’s spent too many years watching his siblings unravel—including Colin. When Maren lands on his doorstep, he realizes she may be the key to coaxing his brother home.

    She's learned the hard way that she isn't desirable anymore. But when she flirts with a man at The Sex Club, she gets far more than she bargained for, and the game she plays soon turns to obsession for the fire in one man’s touch. Will she have to choose between the love of her life and her secure, safe, yet intolerable existence.Stephen Knight enters the club looking for the woman he has fallen for over email and through her art work. She's everything he's ever dreamed of and seeing her in the flesh makes him desire her physically as well. As her passion comes to life in his arms, Stephen's lust turns to love. Wanting far more from her than a few nights of seduction, can he make her believe in forever?“Invitation to Seduction” is a contemporary erotic romance of approximately 38,000 words.This story was previously published in 2006 in the anthology “Open Invitation” by Jasmine Haynes.

    Masquerading as a substitute teacher, he tracks down the killer – a high school senior – and methodically builds a web to entrap him. Teacher does not desire simple justice or death for the killer; he wants the killer to endure what his son endured. But Teacher’s plan takes a life-shattering turn when he must save his son’s former girlfriend from the clutches of the brutal MS-13 gang. A taut, suspenseful thriller, Red Rider explores the depths of revenge and the strength of human bonds.

    Now he’s willing to break all the rules, offering sweet punishments and sweeter rewards. His sexual authority slowly strips away some of her precious control.But that’s the one thing Keira’s not ready to relinquish…Come Monday is the first book in New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr’s Wild Irish series.

    But when the prince is summoned back to fulfill his duty to his struggling country, reality is thrust upon Talia all too soon. She returns home, heartbroken, convinced she was a passing fancy for an idle ruler and his most trusted men. Until the day they arrive on her doorstep, determined to have her back where she belongs.Sway by Lauren Dane. Book 1 of the Delicious seriesTaken from Ms Dane's website - SWAY will be in the CHERISHED Duology with me and Maya Banks – both our books will have a contemporary BDSM theme. It’s also the start to my DELICIOUS series, the spin off from The Brown Siblings books. Levi Warner is an established, older man—wealthy, powerful, and above all, respectable. Then Levi meets Daisy, an uninhibited 24-year-old dance instructor and artist, not exactly the kind of woman Levi is accustomed to. But the young, free spirit, brings out something in him he only experienced in fantasies. When their scorching affair turns into something unexpectedly deeper, Levi finds himself torn between preserving his reputation, and exploring a wilder and much more satisfying kind of life.