himself.It was clear that my presence bothered him, that I was nothing more than an irritation.So, why did I want to melt into a puddle whenever those dark eyes were trained on me?And why didn't I listen when my head warned my heart that he'd break it in two?I had one goal: To learn from Sebastian Ryker, not fall in love with him.

    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?

    But he’s no match for Alexa’s cold heart.Plagued by a bad reputation and a bitter divorce, Alexa is determined to make a name for herself outside of the bedroom. As International Airlines’ only female pilot, she’s had to work twice as hard and she won’t let someone like Jake bring her down. But she’s surprised to find he’s nothing like she expected him to be. Even more surprising is her growing attraction to him and his obvious attraction to her—an attraction that causes her to question whether swearing off men is such a good idea after all.But when Jake’s past resurfaces, she realizes getting close to him may be her biggest mistake of all.

    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!

    At Seemore Temps they pride themselves on the three B’s. Beauty, Brains, and Bounty. They supply the mostly male-driven businesses of Manhattan with able women that can do the job, and look good too. Needless to say, we’re a popular Agency.Working for Mason Chase should have been easy. He was married, kind and a bit of a flirt, but pretty harmless. Not like James Murtaugh or the Shameless Bastard as I’ve come to call him. He’s the ruthless, arrogant CEO of Renowned Investment Financial, and he’s set his eyes on... me.He can have any woman he wants and will go to great lengths to have them. I need this job, but I want, Christ, what do I want? Do I give in? Let him conquer me like some Emperor? Or do I stay in my place and collect the paycheck? We shall see, either way, it’s gonna be interesting.All good things must come to an end, right?Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

    From USA Today Bestselling author K Webster comes a standalone novel in Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward's Cocky Hero Club world!I’m a fighter.At least that’s what my daddy always told me.It’s in our blood.Hard work, hustle, and a little Hennessy is the Reid motto.He taught me to fight for everything I wanted in life.Take down those who threaten the dream.My dream is to marry the perfect man.That man is my father’s best friend and I won’t stop until I have him.And at Daddy’s wedding in Costa Rica, I plan to make that dream finally come true.Then, my life will be smooth sailing.Until a chance flight with an arrogant pilot throws me off course.Literally.Camilo’s decisions affect my future, and I can’t allow anything—not even a cocksure, ridiculously hot idiot—to stand in my way.Problem is, he fights back.Every battle I’ve won in life, he shoots down and exposes me for the fraud I am.Trapped in paradise with my devilishly handsome nemesis seems like one of the seven circles of Hell…and, boy, is it getting hot around here.He’ll strip me of my armor.Remind me of my past.Force me to rethink my future.And help me live in the moment.Will he steal my heart too?One thing’s for sure.This girl won’t give up without a fight.

    All I wanted was to escape the scandal.The job offer in California was the perfect opportunity to pack up and head West.A dark, sexy, and mysterious new boss wasn’t in the plan.And his secrets run deeper than just his business dealings.When Ethan reveals who and what he truly is, it throws everything I ever thought I knew about the world out the window.Vampire.The word alone brings up visions of blood-sucking monsters.Yet, Ethan is anything but.Falling for him, with his dashing good looks and honed charm, was almost inevitable.But we’re from two very different worlds, and the danger in his might just bring an end neither of us saw coming.(Bloodthirsty Bastard - a paranormal story from the Cocky Hero world you know and love.)

    My business.𝑀𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛.But even bad times have to come to an end. I thought that was the case when Valerie slid onto the bar stool next to mine and asked me to buy her a drink.She was gorgeous. Driven. Smart.𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠.𝐃𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞.Valerie was a ray of light when I needed it most, and I couldn’t get enough of her. Being with her made me think I could have it all again.Showed me I could have more.𝐴𝑙𝑙 𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑡.Except all 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 things must come to an end too.𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠.

    How could it when I vowed never to fall in love.Reef Burton, the sexy blue-eyed Australian football player, and his mates are definitely not ‘Losers’, yet writing it on a menu gave me a reason to smile. Only it didn’t make it to the trash. He returns to the restaurant where I work wearing his killer smile. I wasn’t to know those squiggly lines and arrows meant something—an offensive play his football team learned at an earlier training session. He’ll see what I wrote. Apart from it being awkward the next time I serve him, he could also report me to my boss.I can’t lose my job when in hindsight, I need to pay all the bills rolling in and care for my father.I’m thankful he kept it as our secret.Until he left me a note.Responding will only lead to more trouble.So, when Mr Blue Eyes-Blond Surfy-Hair gives me one of his spine-tingling looks, how can I resist?* COCKY NOTES is set in Australia and takes place before Cocky Bastard.

    He was my protector. My best friend. My everything.And I was sidekick.We stayed close, even when relationships and life in general tried to tear us apart.Years later, he landed an internship at Montague Enterprises, competing with my childhood nemesis, Conner Daniels, for the final coveted position.That's when things got messy. The two bargained for the official job offer, using me as their pawn.And I fell for it. The scheming. The stolen kisses. The late night texts. My heart was being torn in two, and neither one of them cared. All good things must come to an end, right? Except our ending was one I didn't see coming. Hell, it should've never started in the first place.

    What kind of guy stands up his prom date and leaves her hanging, waiting for him to show up? A total jerk, that’s who.Never mind. I left my tiny nowhere town and moved to New York to follow my dream of becoming an actress.Ten years later, my dream hasn’t happened, and I’m working as the office supply girl at Morgan Financial Holdings, doing my best to keep my paycheck and not get fired by the world’s most terrifying boss. Life couldn’t get much worse, until I get stuck in an elevator and guess who comes to rescue me? In a city of eight million people, it’s Holden.Turns out he’s moved to New York, too, to be an EMT. I don’t want to see my teenage nemesis as one of the good guys, but he’s out saving lives every day, and he’s still gorgeous and cocky. I could fall for him all over again, and that’s a problem. Because it’s only a matter of time before Holden crushes me again.My hometown heartbreaker isn’t the guy I left behind anymore. If I could stop hating him, I might belong with him. The question is, which one of us will get hurt first?

    Demanding. Cocky. All words I would use to describe Kingston Avery. The owner of Avery Capital Holdings— and my new boss. It was tempting enough working together everyday, but ignoring his wicked promises under his roof was impossible. But the company had a zero fraternization policy, and things were already complicated enough. I needed to focus on doing my job. And avoid doing my boss. Kingston wasn't just another suit... He was a cocky suit. And when the suit came off, He was a man who could steal my heart. Gorgeous. Attentive. Compassionate.I just hope it didn't cost me my career.

    He justifies nothing for no one. He's determined to enter the political race in New York. Not even an astute and gorgeous woman as Maya Armstrong will stop him. A bitter ex-lover blows up his playboy lifestyle to the media and tries to ruin his chances with any woman that enters his life.Maya's reputation precedes her on and off the screen. As the host of Spotlight with Maya, it’s her job to take people to task and hold them accountable, but when billionaire banker turned candidate, Ethan West, sits on her proverbial couch, sparks fly in more ways than one. They both try and prove the other one wrong throughout the campaign, but a past ex-lover and a one night stand may cause more drama than neither one wanted to see.Find out what happens when two alpha personalities collide! Will their rift end his campaign, or will it be the beginning of something much, much bigger, like romance?This is based in the world of New York Times Bestselling Authors Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland Cocky bastard series

    The opportunity to host a satellite radio show gave me a new lease on life and everything was great…until I was forced to interview a ghost from the past.I guess what they say is true…some ghosts are meant to haunt you. He was always my ultimate dream but instead he became my devastating heartbreak. With his interview over, I was ready to move on with my life. However, he had other plans. While his focus was getting reacquainted in a way he said was meant to be, I just wanted him and the memories he brought gone. He challenged me. I built up my walls—my heart was closed to him—but I forgot he was ruthless in the pursuit of what he wanted.They say there is a fine line between love and hate and I skated it until I couldn’t fight it anymore.