A dash of a pretend role. A shot of steamy chemistry. Put it in a shaker, then pour for one exotic cocktail on the rocks!Wesley Templeton was determined to not follow in his namesake’s path as a cardiac surgeon. Was he smart enough for it? Of course. Did he have the time and patience to master the craft? Absolutely. Was he going to let his controlling grandfather hold his trust fund over his head until he achieved what was expected of him? Hell no!Harper Fairchild was the redheaded stepchild. Literally. Smart, nerdy, picked on, and often thought of as an outcast. Her social life was as dismal as her family one, so she left home when she could and made a new life somewhere else. Unfortunately she found it was hard to break the mold of what cast her as undesirable. Until she loses a bet with a coworker and agrees to a makeover for a blind date. When that turns into another disaster she escapes to a bar to nurse her emotional wounds, striking up a conversation with the sexy bartender and wondering if she could keep up the ruse of the confident sexy chick she was pretending to be.

    Imagine my surprise when a drenched, flustered brunette slipped into the booth across from me, acting like she was supposed to be there.When she slipped back out with a snappy goodbye, I never thought I’d see her again.Until I walked into my Friday morning meeting.At first, I didn’t recognize her—she was dry this time. But from the look on her face, she recognized me.When she gave the worst pitch I’ve ever sat through, I thought my boss, and mentor, was going to show her the door—except he accepts the proposal and tells me we have to work together.I didn’t anticipate I would like her, let alone be interested in her. Sure, she was hot and sassy.But something about her rubbed me the wrong way.And yet I couldn’t stop thinking about her.So, when she leaves the room and her phone chimes with a new text, I knew I wasn’t supposed to look.I also knew I wasn’t supposed to cancel her date for later that evening.And I definitely knew I wasn’t supposed to delete the entire exchange, so she had no idea what I’d done.But I did. And then I showed up at the restaurant, pretending like this was all a big coincidence.When the date is over, I want more. I need more.We start pretend-dating because she needs practice, and I tell myself, New York’s most eligible billionaire bachelor, that this is just a bit of fun.What could possibly go wrong?

    Graham Morgan was my first boss, but soon after I was working with some of the most famous entrepreneurs, business moguls, and movie stars in the city. They trusted me because I always followed the cardinal rules:Never betray secrets. And never, under any circumstance, get personally involved.I’d never dreamed of violating my professional mantra.Not until she walked past me.The look we exchanged that night set my body on fire, and I knew right then and there that no matter the consequences, she was going to be mine. But she was one of them—off limits and out of my league, but she was the kind of woman who I was willing to risk everything for.I keep other people’s secrets for a living, but the biggest secret of all might be my own.

    My father, an 80’s icon, and my siblings all celebrities in their own right. Then there’s me, Lyric Griffin, hiding in plain sight, trying to be everything I’m not.Along comes Eddie, someone I find myself completely attracted to. I’m simply Lyric to him, not a princess of rock. He’s gorgeous, a little cocky, and knows what he wants—me.But I made a mistake.I trusted him, and he betrayed me.Is Eddie nothing but a hotshot deceiver?The thing about secrets, they always come out in the end.From international bestselling author K E Osborn comes Hotshot Deceiver – a novel, based on Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward’s Cocky Bastard. Featuring Eddie, with guest appearances from Pixy, Chance, and Aubrey the characters you all know and love.

    B. for Bossy, is fast becoming the bane of my existence.After running into him, literally, he’s now popping up everywhere, and somehow managing to weave his way into my life.He's egotistical, smug, and so ridiculously good-looking it should be illegal—he's way too hot to handle. I don't do hot, those type of guys are more trouble than they’re worth.Although, I'd secretly love to do him.We’ve kissed once—it was smokin’, and led to me dry humping his leg in front of the entire club like a shameless hussy. Oh, and did I mention I deep throated his thumb within seconds of meeting him … I didn’t even know his name.Apparently I have issues, big ones.He makes me do things I never imagined myself doing.He makes me feel things I'm not comfortable feeling.It just wouldn’t work, even if I wanted it to. Between us we have more baggage than a carousel at LAX airport.He's everything I want, but can never have.Or so I thought.

    Were they things I even wanted anymore?Spencer Broten was a pain in my backside from the moment we met.I was conned into going on a road trip with him.Within hours, I realized he wasn't just my trainer. He was much more.This unnamed, unplanned winding road turned into us getting to know each other as we truly were.Two broken bodies, two broken souls finding out we were more the same than different.The line between hate and love is a bitter edge.Outside or inside.Where will we land?

    I’m my own woman, and I know just how I’m going to prove it. I went through six years of college to earn my master’s in business to please him, while I wanted a degree in interior design, so I worked my tush off and received my bachelor’s in that too. Now that I’m twenty-four, I’m going to do a one-eighty in my life and take a job I never saw myself doing, just to please me. It really can’t be too hard to serve food to people, make beds, and use a feather duster…can it? I’ll be sailing away and forgetting all my worries. Or so I think, until I look up to see the sexy captain, with his white hat on, step in front of me and I meet Reed Nichols. Growing up while traveling the open seas made my decision to take over the family business the easiest one I’ve ever had to make. After four years in college taking accounting classes, I went after my true dream…a captain’s license. I always knew I’d follow in my father’s footsteps; I just didn’t think it’d be this soon. Right before he passed, he asked me to do just that and I’ve never looked back. Right now, my life is perfect, just the way I want it. I run the company my father founded and drive a million-dollar yacht every day. I pick and choose who lies in my bed, and I’ve never allowed anyone there for more than a night or two. No one has ever kept my attention any longer than that. Then I look down to see the long legs of a cabin stewardess walking toward my boat and I meet Maci Foster.

    Heartbreaker. They say I put the hot in hot-shot cardiologist.Not that it matters. I never stick my tongue depressor in my co-workers.What can I say? I play by a set of personal rules.Even if those rules eliminate 99.9% of the woman I come in contact with from my dating-pool.Even if those rules land me on a blind date with Emily, my childhood sweetheart, a woman I hadn’t seen since I broke her heart freshmen year of college.Let’s just say the evening was a disaster. She took one look at me, and it was…Date over. Do not pass go. Do not collect your two-hundred dollars.The thing is, I can’t stop thinking about her. She was my first kiss, and every other first that two people can share.She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved.How can I make her understand what really happened between us when she wants nothing to do with me?How can I let her walk away again, when it could mean another ten years wondering…what if?The answer’s simple. I can’t.Unfortunately, the solution to my dilemma is a five-year-old Colombian girl with a deadly heart condition. The same little girl Emily’s non-profit organization brought to the United States to receive life-saving surgery.When the chief of staff informs me, I need to improve my public image because my bedside manner sucks--not THAT bedside manner. I’m just fine between the sheets, thank you very much—I agree to perform the girl’s operation… Because spending more time with Emily is worth the risk.Even if it means I have to break every rule in my playbook.Even if it means destroying myself in the process.I may be a sap, but I’ll do anything for a second chance with the woman who’s owned my heart since the fourth-grade.

    BelindaAs a political blogger living in Manhattan, I have no time to date. My few free hours are spent with best friend Soraya, and her husband Graham. Love has no place in this equation. Then Prince Zan walks into the coffee shop. He’s confident and different from other men, making it clear from our first conversation royal lineage won’t stand in his way.I know better than to be carried away by green eyes and soft lips.But if that’s the case, how did I end up in his bed?ZanMy dark past is a nightmare I can’t escape from. It was anything but easy to become a royal. Then I met Belinda. She might be a commoner, but there’s nothing at all common about this woman. One look is all it takes. Maybe if I bring her to my homeland she’ll be under its spell too.But the differences between our two worlds seem impossible to overcome. I refuse to ignore my duty and passion for my people, and Belinda won’t abandon her career. The right woman or destiny? Whatever it takes, I'm determined to have both.**Royal Pain is another steamy edition to the Cocky Hero Club series by author Leslie Pike. Opposites attract in this royal romance of choosing between love and duty. Follow your heart by devouring this passionate love story today!

    I knew who I was and what direction my life was headed. I owned the most prestigious night clubs down the east coast yet I kept my identity a secret. I don’t like being in the lime light and my hometown was none of anyone’s business. However, making people happy was. I did that with my clubs. Until the day tragedy struck my family. I had a choice to make and it wasn’t an easy one.At the end of the day, family always comes first. I went home to take care of my mom and the ranch. I didn’t plan on that little smart mouth Hope showing up with a laptop in hand. Just out of a cheating relationship the girl was hell bent on hating all men. Me included. Hating me wasn’t the only thing she came back home for. She needed a quiet place to write her next article. Her interest? The man that suddenly closed down all the upscale clubs on the east coast.I wanted to be anonymous for a reason. I didn’t want the cameras and all the tabloids in mine or my family’s business. So, I don’t give her anything. Well, nothing she wants anyhow.I give her the cowboy, the man that I’ve once again become with the dirty mouth. Until she learns the truth and wants to run with it. I should have known that a second chance at love wouldn’t happen for me. All fairy tales have to end, right?

    Hearing her uninformed, teasing commentary on every game she watches makes me laugh—even when it’s my team she’s talking about. I might be her biggest fan.I thought Troy Tipton was just a nice guy with a gorgeous smile. Until I learned he was a fan-favorite NFL star quarterback. The same one gracing magazine covers with his irresistible dimples. The same one I mock on my show.When we start dating, the explosive chemistry we share is impossible to ignore. But can we keep our opposing careers from ruining what we have before we even begin? Or will we let them destroy everything good that’s between us?---------------------------------------------Mister Dimples is written within the Mister Moneybags world by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward where you'll get to see many familiar faces again.

    The "dirty duo" that makes you swoon, gets you hot and then melts your heart with the happily ever after. Two newbie authors, one sketchy Instagram DM, a few phone calls, a drunken live video plotting out our next best seller and then BOOM! Trending and on the radar of every publishing company in the industry, we make it--together. A best seller list, two literary agents and we're cruising by for the next year...until we don't. Writer's block hits and Lorenzo and I are forced to finally meet face to face, retreating to a cabin in the woods all weekend to bang out our next big hit. I don't think our agents wanted us to bang out each other but that's what happens. Over and over again on every damn inch of that cabin. Turns out those sexy scenes that Lorenzo writes have nothing on his real moves. One weekend and then we'll go back to being work partners, except nothing is the same. It'll never be the same.

    And those secrets threaten to shatter me right along with the trust I’ve started granting him.AsherI’m reckless.I’m wild.I’m a rebel.I live life on the edge.My life was a revolving door of fun and women until a jaw-dropping beauty caught her man cheating on her.All I could think about was making sure he realized his mistake…and rubbing it in his face.I laid a kiss on her to rival all others.But I wasn’t prepared for the kiss to knock me to my knees as she stormed off without giving me her name.Her trust issues won’t allow me to keep things to myself.It’s either bare my secrets or risk losing the only thing that makes me truly happy.**Reckless Rebel is a complete standalone inspired by Vi Keeland & Penelope Ward's Stuck-Up Suit.**

    Dear Ida,The arrogant man at the dry cleaners made my bad day worse.So, the last thing I expected was for him to offer me a job.I shouldn’t have accepted—not if I wanted to maintain my sanity.But the allure of a big paycheck overpowered my reservations.Now, I know he’s just as infuriating as a boss as he was the first day we met; yet, the sparks that fly between us are far more than on a professional level.The more time I spend with him, helping him secure investors for his new restaurant chain, the harder it is to ignore the attraction between us.Playing with fire, you’re bound to get burned.And this man has seared himself into my soul.Tell me, Ida, is there hope for our future, or is it impossible to really please this Tough Customer?

    Not really. But I didn’t need him rubbing his happiness in my face either. The whole friends with benefits thing was really working for us, until he humiliated me and discarded me for the real deal, true love thing. I definitely didn’t love him, which is why I was so shocked at how worthless I felt after our breakup. I was Caroline Gower—I had power, money, and a distinguished family name. I had everything I ever wanted, but as it turned out, not everything I really needed. And what I realized I needed was to get the hell out of New York City. Some said I was running. They were right. And while I tried to adapt to my new inconspicuous life, I ran straight into one man who wanted to hurt me and another who wanted to control me. The latter was the most egotistical jerk I’d ever met. One look in his glacial eyes and I knew he was a monster. His intensity proved it to me. He was definitely the opposite of someone I wanted to spend any kind of time with. Except—I couldn’t just walk away from him . . .or my new life. And while he thought he could dominate me, haze me, and break me, he didn’t know that those bully tactics wouldn’t work on me. Caroline Gower has never been afraid of monsters.