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The Critic by Joanne Schwehm


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The Hard Way


Katie Ashley - 2016
    Because of his talent at football, coupled with his father’s wealth, he’s always gotten his way. But when a night of drunken debauchery lands him in hot water with the college athletic board, neither his influential father nor his charming grin can save him. He finds it a total buzz kill when he is sentenced to community service with troubled youth at an inner-city shelter. But his nightmare is only beginning when his greatest high school regret is the very one in charge of the program, and she has him by the balls in more ways than one.For Avery Prescott, senior year was a nightmare of epic proportions, and Cade Hall played the lead villain. After she fled her small town for college in the bright lights of Atlanta, she thought she had escaped the painful memories of her past. She never could have imagined Cade would waltz through the door of the outreach program she presided over. But Avery has news for Cade--she isn’t the same shy, doormat of a girl she was in high school. Since she holds Cade's football future in her hands, she’s more than ready to make payback a real bitch.Will the two stay in the defensive zone or discover that sometimes life's greatest lessons are learned the hard way?

It All Started with a Lima Bean


Kimi Flores - 2013
    It must be gifted freely.Abby Sullivan cherishes the life she is creating for herself in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California. She adores her best friend and supportive family. Her job as a kindergarten teacher offers her life hope and purpose. She is very talented at many things, especially hiding the pain of her past. That is until her world collides with Caleb Hunter’s, giving them both a lesson in forgiveness and love.A life changing love is cruelly snatched by sickness and death. A person must be willing to give love, the greatest gift of all, to receive love.A successful writer, Caleb is living life day-to-day. Giving refuge to his sad and lonely heart since his wife's sudden death from cervical cancer, his primary focus becomes honoring her memory by rearing their five-year-old daughter, Madison. Yet, when Madison Hunter walks into Miss Abby’s kindergarten class, everything changes for all three of them.With a little nudge from a loving mother-in-law who has everyone’s best interest at heart, anything is possible, especially when forgiveness and love gift even more blessings than ever imaginable.**This is book 1 in the Intertwined Hearts series. Each book in the series follows a different couple and they can each be read as stand alones**

Promises, Promises


Josie Bordeaux - 2013
    Keeping her secrets guarded closely, she finds solace with a man who is caring, warm, and loving, the complete opposite of what she left behind. Zander can’t trust love. He has a string of bad relationships as proof, and it leaves him wondering if Isabella is just one more temptress who will break his heart. A troubled past threatens the budding relationship between Isabella and Zander. She can’t shake the eerie feeling of her ex lurking in the shadows ready to end her newly found happiness. Unfortunately, she’s right.e that she’s always searched for? Or will he ruin the love that is finally just in her grasp?

Love Notes


Heather Gunter - 2013
    And when you are left to face your demons alone, will you learn that only you have the power to overcome them?Charlie has never had it easy. Between the constant moving and the incessant fat comments and jokes from her father, her self-worth is nonexistent. Her reflection in the mirror shows her nothing but a plain Jane. Music is the only thing that keeps her sanity in check.Charlie catches the eye of the town star quarterback, Maverick. With her curves, her brunette hair, and the voice of an angel, Maverick has never met anyone like her. Everything that is different about Charlie just makes Maverick like her more. Unfortunately, Charlie doesn’t see it herself.Proving it to her may deem harder than he thinks, especially when tragedy strikes and tears them apart.Now standing on her own two feet she may finally learn exactly who she is, what’s she’s capable of and how very un plain Jane she really is.

Downshift


Winter Travers - 2016
    Now, the King of the Street Racing scene, he finally has everything he wants and he won’t let anyone take it away from him. Violet Barnes lived a sheltered life growing up, never fitting in except in the books that she loved. After losing her parents, she forges forward, creating her own little world, content in being alone. When Violet stumbles into Luke’s shop, sparks fly but neither can let go of the hard lessons they learned growing up. Will Violet give Luke a chance to prove he’s not just another gear head? Or will Luke write Violet off before they even have a chance to see that they both need to let go of their past, and focus on the future?

Go Deep


Bella Love-Wins - 2016
     I'm not riding a wave to the NFL. I am the wave, and everyone knows it, including my fans, opponents, coaches, every NFL agent who matters, and the hot little chicks who follow me around. I'm the whole package...with a package that leaves chicks wanting more. There's just one exception. Cassidy Greyson. She is the uptight cheerleader, my brother's best friend, and a fellow student in a few of my courses. Getting a piece of her is now my informal senior year 'pet' project. Little does she know she's about to be owned. Cassidy Greyson 
I worked my butt off for three school years and two long summers so I could graduate early and get the hell out of my backwater life in Louisiana. Sure, I stuck to the cheerleading, but only because it was a family tradition that my mother insisted I keep up. Just because my older sister, Caroline, fell for the 'be-a-cheerleader-to-marry-an-NFL-star' trap, doesn't mean I want to follow in their footsteps. This is why Slade 'Slaughter' Clark doesn't have a chance in hell. I've avoided falling for the arrogant jock up until now, and there's no way I'll let him in. My business professor may have thought he was doing us both a favor when he forced Slade and me to partner up for a major project. I just wish I didn't have to stare into his sexy hazel eyes or watch him flex his tight, bulky muscles while we work together. *Author's note. Go Deep is a full length, standalone story with a HEA ending and no cliffhanger. This story is light on football and heavy on steamy romance.

On the Rocks


Sawyer Bennett - 2014
    Now he’s returned home to the sand and salty breeze of the North Carolina Outer Banks so he can open The Last Call, a beach bar nestled among the dunes of the Atlantic.Five years ago, Gabby Ward drunkenly threw herself at her best friend’s brother, only to have her young heart crushed. Hunter is back but Gabby is content to stay far away from him and his dangerously charming ways. Gabby’s well-schemed plans to ignore Hunter go up in flames when he presents her an offer she simply can’t refuse. Working together day in and day out proves problematic for two reasons—Gabby realizes her feelings for Hunter are still very much alive, while Hunter struggles to break through to Gabby’s cold heart. What starts out as a mutual business arrangement soon turns into a passion that neither can deny.But when the pro surfing tour comes knocking and Hunter has a chance to reclaim his former glory, hard choices lie ahead for both of them.Choices that could destroy what they have built or take them further than they could ever dare to hope in their second chance at romance.

Anyone But Him


Cassie Graham - 2014
    College is the only constant in her life. She’s made a lot of mistakes and she intends on keeping them in the past. Move on and forget. That’s her motto. Jennings Cohen is no ordinary man—not at all. He would have never imagined his life would turn into such a spectacle. The tabloids exploit him, fans stalk him and the paparazzi are relentless. It’s not always fun being Jennings. It doesn’t help that he has a secret. One that comes at a price he’s not sure he can pay.Relationships get complicated and hearts shatter.It’s not easy living a lie, but it’s easier than telling the truth.

Tempting Levi


Jules Barnard - 2017
    Then is father died and left him in charge of the family’s multimillion-dollar resort. Now he’s forced to work with financially uptight advisors telling him what to do, and he needs someone he can trust at his side.The perfect candidate walks through the door in a pencil skirt, fitted white blouse, and a mass of wavy blond hair she tries to contain.The only problem?She’s his cheating ex’s younger sister.Hell no. The last thing Levi needs is another Wright female in his life.Then again, he always liked playing with fire…★USA TODAY BESTSELLER★EXCERPT:“My scar looks hot, does it?” he said.She laughed as he peppered her skin with light kisses. “Very hot.”“Don’t give me ideas Emily, or I won’t let you go home.”★★★★★ “My world has been changed by the Cade brothers.” ~ Amazon Reviewer

Porn Star


Laurelin Paige - 2016
    Maybe you clear your browser history religiously. Maybe you pretend to be aghast whenever someone even mentions the word porn in your presence.But the truth is that you do know me.Everybody knows Logan O'Toole, world famous porn star.Except then Devi Dare pops into my world, and pretty soon I'm doing things that aren't like me--like texting her with flirty banter and creating an entire web porn series just so I can get to star in her bed. Again. And again.With Devi, my entire universe shifts, and the more time I spend with her, the more I realize that Logan O'Toole isn't the guy I thought he was.So maybe I'm not the guy you thought I was either.

Valentina: Woman Empowered


M.J. Fields - 2018
    That his love saved her. Then, in the blink of an eye, he left her, leaving her more alone and vulnerable than ever. Betrayed by love What Franco Protettore left behind became her reasons to live. Pregnant with twins, Valentina had no choice but to protect his children the way he should have been there to do.Empowered by women Former party girl and fashion icon to lifestyle blogger, socialite to single mom, Valentina is followed by over a hundred thousand intrigued fans. When love threatens to destroy her again, will she fight for it or strap on her stilettos and walk away?

Branded


Emma Nichole - 2020
    Get out. Onto the next call.Don’t let the job melt into your personal life.I was never supposed to see Sawyer Westbrook again.I was in, and then I was out, just like I’m supposed to be.But her soot covered face was etched into my mind.Her scared eyes seared into my soul.I’ve never stopped thinking about her.But she doesn’t remember who I am.To her, I’m just another cocky firefighter lookingto score a night in her bed.If she knew who I really was, she’d remember thaton the night I pulled her from the flames,she vowed to hate me forever.Emma Nichole’s Branded is an angsty, steamycontemporary romance written in K. Bromberg’sEveryday Heroes World project.

Prick Tease


Misti Murphy - 2015
     There are a million damn reasons why I shouldn’t touch her. Her brothers are my best friends. We grew up together, under the same roof. I’m supposed to think of her like a little sister. I won’t break my loyalty for a f*ck. Razer Bennington forgot me when he joined the marines. One kiss. Seven years. I can’t get the taste of him out of my mouth. I’m meant to be the good girl. A virgin. A role model. I’m supposed to live up to their expectations. Screw that… I’m going to get what I want. I should be careful what I wish for. *** Claire Hadley was about to check the perfect fiancé off her checklist. Until she found him underneath a hooker. Running home to her brother, she doesn’t expect to be rescued by Razer Bennington. Seven years ago he left her behind. But she hasn’t forgotten their last night together. Or the kiss they shared. Tired of living up to the expectations of others, she throws caution to the wind. This time she’ll get what she wants. Even if getting what she wants could destroy him. Complete stand alone romance.

Uncovering Love


Kacey Shea - 2015
    You’ve got to hold onto it with everything you’ve got."As part owner in a PI firm that specializes in matters of the heart, the rules are simple. I catch cheaters and vet potential suitors. I don't fall in love, especially with the man I'm hired to investigate. Only, that's become a problem. As one case moves beyond professional, I find myself fighting an attraction I cannot resist. This hunky, tatted muscle man is hiding a wicked sense of humor and generous spirit behind his six pack. The more I learn about him, the more I want him for myself.But I can't break the rules, even if I've uncovered love in the most unexpected of places.Uncovering Love is the first in a series, but can also be read as a standalone.

Prom King


Penny Wylder - 2018
    I was the nerdy girl with a fantasy crush. All of my childhood, I was invisible to Adam Carlisle. That was fine, because I was too shy, and too smart, to think I had a chance with the most popular guy in school. Until someone crowned him prom king... And me queen. But it was only a cruel joke that ruined my self-esteem and broke my heart. Ten years later and my friend begs me to attend our school reunion with her. I'm older, wiser, but still a nerd. This event is setting off my anxiety. I want it to be over. Then... I see him. My prom king. Adam is hotter than ever. But what really gets my attention? He's staring right at me. I'm not invisible anymore. What happens when my fantasy crush becomes reality? This full-length novel is all about second chances, true love, and a crazy hot alpha realizing that the nerdy girl is his modern day Cinderella. NO cheating, lots of kindle-melting action, and always a happily ever after!