Try the novels reviewers have called groundbreaking, controversial and realistic contemporary romances. AFTER THE FIRE The Hidden Cove Firefighter Series Three firefighters from the Malvaso family are trapped in a burning building and almost lose their lives. After they are rescued, they decide to change the way they’ve been living. “Inspiring and emotionally invigorating…a true hero’s tale.” RT Book Reviews PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT The Serenity House Trilogy Dr. Paige Kendrick keeps people at a distance and refuses a relationship with hunky doctor Ian Chandler. But Ian won’t stop until he gets what he wants—Paige! “I couldn't put this trilogy down!! I want to read about the rest of the women from Serenity House.” A reader BETTER THAN BEFORE The RightMatch.com series Super rich venture capitalist Spence Wickham joins his brother’s online dating service to prove that people lie on these sites. But when he falls for innocent, wholesome Annie Hopkins, Spence must find a way to make her love him for the man he is. “Classic Kathryn Shay—moving and realistic.” A reader STILL THE ONE, The Educators, a novella Annie Jacobs is happy teaching at her home town high school until her former teacher, Dylan Kane, returns to be the principal. Annie and Dylan have a past, one which almost destroyed her. Will he do it again? “As always Kathryn Shay tackles what most see as unthinkable material for a romance novel and ends up with a winner of a book.” A reader and high school teacher SOMEONE TO BELIEVE IN The O’Neil Family Series New York Senator Clay Wainwright and anti-gang specialist, Bailey O’Neil battle over how to control street gangs, but when forced to work together, they unexpectedly fall in love. “Shay’s writing trademark is taking seemingly impossible relationships and developing them into classic tales of true love.” Fresh Fiction COP OF THE YEAR The Bayview Heights Trilogy When Captain Mitch Lansing is assigned to Cassie Smith’s high school classroom, sparks fly. He’s by-the-book, and she’s unorthodox and innovative in her teaching methods. But when Mitch develops an unstoppable bond with her students, Cassie finds her attraction to him irresistible. “An emotionally powerful tale that leaves you breathless.” RT Book Reviews

    See author's note, below Pulling Home (That Second Chance #1) It's taken nine years and a cross-country move, but Audra Valentine Wheyton has kept her secrets safe. She's created the perfect life: a husband who loves her, a daughter she adores, and a position as head writer for an award-winning daytime soap. When her husband dies suddenly, Audra returns to her hometown for the funeral and faces a community that has not forgotten her meager beginnings and the man who has never forgiven her for marrying his brother. Jack Wheyton is a successful pediatric neurosurgeon who is about to become engaged when Audra walks back into his life with her daughter. He forgave his brother long ago for taking something that had been his, something he hadn't even realized he wanted until it was gone. But forgiving Audra is another story...and forgetting her? Near impossible. When a shattering illness strikes Audra's daughter, she turns to Jack to save her child and risks exposing a secret that will change their lives forever. A Family Affair: The Promise (Truth in Lies #7) Grant Richot sprinted through life, a boy wonder with talent, intelligence, confidence, and charm. He never doubted the world awaited him, just as he never doubted the right woman would come into his life—but only when he was ready for her. Anyone before that was simply preparation for the one. How wrong he was. Years and a tragedy later, Grant arrives in Maggie Finnegan’s hometown of Magdalena, New York—broken, uncertain, and searching for that second chance with the woman he cast aside. But Maggie’s no longer naïve and impressionable; she’s a confident, competent widow with a child, who has more at risk than another broken heart… Note from Mary: I love secondary characters: writing them, reading about them, even watching them on the big screen. Secondary characters support the “stars”; make them more vibrant and compelling. But when the story ends, I’m often left wondering what they’d do if they were in the “spotlight”. That’s why I’ve created special boxed sets that were part of That Second Chance series and the Truth in Lies series. These boxed sets let the reader follow the before and after of select characters as they first appear in That Second Chance series and later in the fictional town of my bestselling Truth in Lies series. Boxed Set One contains Pulling Home and A Family Affair: The Promise. I invite you to follow their journey!

     Emilia’s younger sister died of a rare disease, a loss she feels deeply. She’s devoted her biotech career to finding the cure. Yet on the verge of delivering a new drug to save a girl’s life, a vicious enemy will kill to block her from achieving her goal. Can she deliver the cure for a rare childhood disease, before her enemy kills her?Ex-SEAL Jonathan Hawkins Turner, known as Hawke, owns a protection company. Emilia is a close friend from his past. When her life is threatened, he vows to protect her and calls on the strength of his team. He risks all to rescue Emilia and save a child’s life.Deadly harm surrounds Emilia and a young girl’s life hangs by a thread. As danger closes in, Hawke’s possessive side surges. He hadn’t expected to lose his heart. But in this steamy friends-to-lovers romance, he is in deep.Can Hawke rescue the woman he loves and save the life of a child? ˃˃˃ MUST LOVE DANGER SERIES: In this military romantic suspense series, ex-Navy SEALs form an executive protection company called Black Swan. The black swans were unexpected, like the unexpected danger the company fights. The team is dedicated to saving lives in the civilian world, using skills honed to perfection under battle conditions.There is a rule for new teammates: Must Love DangerEach novel in the series is a complete romance with no cliffhangers and guaranteed HEA. And the characters you love make appearances in future stories. READ THIS NAVY SEAL ROMANCE!

    BUNDLED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. HALF MY HEART BOOK 1: THE CLOVER SERIES At nineteen, Devin Sutton lost his first love, his freedom, and his hope. Years later, the only thing he has on his mind this holiday season is finally settling the score back in Clover, North Carolina. That is, until the girl he thought he’d lost forever crosses his path. Rebecca Farrus is supposed to be off living the life of her dreams, not tending bar in some dive. When faced with the choice, will Devin decide to celebrate what he’s finally found or keep seeking retribution for everything he lost? CHANGE MY HEART BOOK 2: THE CLOVER SERIES You really can't have it all, or so Devin Sutton is finding out fast. Returning to Clover was all part of his plan to exact revenge on the town that robbed him of nearly a decade of his life. Unfortunately, things quickly begin to crumble when he's forced to choose between rekindling an old love or destroying the town. Walking the fine line between both might just end up leaving him with nothing. With his heart full of vengeance is there any room for love?

    To them. Not me. Women swoon over my wallet, but it’s a façade. A ruse. I keep to myself and always will. Besides, one thing I’ve learned is you never pursue romantic relationships at work. Especially not as the boss. The billionaire. The top shit.A girl from my past shows up at a fundraiser. The one that got away in college. She needs help changing the city for the better with a children’s home, but I have different ideas. Crazily enough, the more money I spend, the more time I get with her. And this time, I’m willing to pull out all the stops. It’s hard not to slip back into my old ways, but this woman is the one. She makes me want to be a brand new man.

    He’s a SWAT team operator who broke her heart.The gunman holding them hostage? He’s got no idea who he’s dealing with...Luella Brayshaw doesn’t think when she sees Nate Rivers, twelve years since he walked away. She just feels – all the hurt, and all the heat – and she runs. But by the time her brain clicks into gear she’s on a random train, with Nate – and that’s when it all goes very, very wrong.Driven and dedicated, Elite SWAT tactical operator Nate Rivers knows he made the right decision all those years ago. Although it’s hard to remember why with Lou right in front of him, all strong, gorgeous and justifiably furious with him.But then a gunman takes their carriage hostage… and suddenly the past doesn’t matter. Now it’s up to Nate and Lou – unarmed - to save everyone on that train.When their past and present collide, passion ignites – as hot and as powerful as a decade before. But can the mistakes of the past be forgiven? Or will they destroy any chance of a future together?** For the Fight is the first book in the Elite SWAT series. Each book is a stand-alone, with no cliff-hanger endings. For the Fight was previously published as Undaunted (WASP Team #1).

    But her insecurities creep up upon her as her life starts to fall to pieces all around her.Are second chances possible?Honeymoon BlissNow, married at last, Ava and Nico escape to their honeymoon, to relax and unwind. Together, they find bliss and a chance to forget the troubles and worries of their hectic lives. But even in paradise, problems from home and as far away as Denver, seep in.

    She definitely wouldn’t be stupid enough to fall for a movie star. Particularly not a Hollywood heartthrob like Jacob Swan.It doesn’t help that there’s a lot more to Jacob than his on-screen good guy, all-American persona. But Ally is in LA with a job to do. She’s in town to pursue her dreams of fashion design and create some gowns for the awards season for her friend and actress, Lena Lyons—not get distracted by Lena’s co-star.Of course the media has other ideas. When Ally is spotted in public with Jacob, threats aimed at destroying her fashion career go too far. Someone obviously doesn’t like all the attention she’s getting, and Ally becomes convinced she’s living in crazy town.The sensible thing would be to retreat home before it all ends in spectacular fashion. But will Ally be leaving more than her dreams behind if she says goodbye to Hollywood?This glamorous, fast-paced contemporary romance that will make you smile, is perfect for fans of Rachel Gibson, Victoria Dahl, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Liliana Hart.

    One year that changes everything. They seem to have it all. They’re in good health and are financially secure. They live in a pleasant and comfortable town. But as their lives intertwine, cracks emerge and restlessness grows. For Clive, is retirement the beginning of the end? Can fun-loving Saskia break free from her adulterous husband? Will Andy marry his childhood sweetheart? Is Jamie prepared to change his dishonest ways? Might Ellie’s happy marriage be shattered by temptation?Heart-warming and heart-breaking collide in this novel about aspirations, expectations and the realities of everyday life.

    She also loves her mentally challenged sister, Juliet. But a demanding career and Juliet's escalating needs leave little time for romance. Besides, Portia has a secret that most men wouldn't begin to understand. Millionaire Nelson Gregory also has a secret. It's what drives him to race cars, ride motorcycles, sky dive. He's constantly flirting with death, and when he's admitted to St. Joe's after a life threatening crash, it's not death that scares him. It's the possibility of living the rest of his life paralyzed. Portia assures him his spine is uninjured, but how can she know for sure? Nelson won't chance a long time relationship, but mysterious Portia fascinates him, and he pursues her. Secrets lose their power when they're shared. Slowly, Portia and Nelson confide in each other, and in the process they fall in love. But love without trust can't survive. It takes a medical crisis and the death of a dear patient and friend for Nelson to understand that the two go hand in hand. Is it too late to salvage the love of his life? Acute Care, a complicated love story about the many ways life teaches growth.

    Sky High LoveSloan Hayes loves her job as a pilot. But lately all the travel, the never seeing her family or friends, was getting to her. Thanks to her two best friends, Camilla and Hazel, she knows she needs to make a change if she ever wants to get out of her funk. She wasn't expecting Asher Rickman to be her change.Asher was Camilla's older brother who moved away to live in London when he was in college. She hasn't seen him in years until one night, out of the blue, she runs into him while in London. He's funny, smart and so sexy it makes her eyes hurt just looking at him. But nothing can happen. He's her best friend's brother.Asher hasn't seen Sloan Hayes in who knows how long, but she's no longer the lanky, pre-teen girl he remembered from his own teen years.She was all woman.And he wanted her.There's just one problem. She's his sister's best friend. And there is no way he can have her.But he can't stop thinking about her no matter how hard he tries.Could he somehow convince her that it didn't matter? That love could be worth it?

    Becca Johnson has devoted herself to her work after personal tragedy taught her she’s better off alone. She finds solace in the isolation of oceanic research but as her six-month work rotation draws to a close, events rapidly escalate into life-threatening chaos. Struggling to hold her team together, she is forced to accept the help of the Ocean Wolves.Ethan Carter joined the Ocean Wolves after his troubled history ended his career in the elite Special Boat Services. Now, he’s a hired gun with the Wolves, paid to protect the interests of the world’s biggest oceanic multi-national, Triton Core. When his team is tasked to escort crucial research to the surface, he discovers events spiraling out of control and the woman from his past he’s tried desperately to forget—the woman who reignites emotions buried deep in his heart.Fighting increasing danger that threatens the lives of everyone in the deep-sea habitat, Ethan vows to protect Becca at all costs.But as their options dwindle, leaving them trapped 8000 feet below the surface, will it be enough to keep her alive?Hold your breath for deep-sea action, adventure, and romance!

    It’s home to farmers and shopkeepers, dreamers and schemers. And it’s the perfect place to fall in love.Rosemary Brunner’s life might look small to some, but she has things arranged just the way she likes them. She’s turned her family farm into a sanctuary for troubled horses. She has dinner once a week with her elderly neighbors. And if she needs a little company and gossip, her best friend Nikki can swing by with dinner from the Blue Plate Diner and plenty to say. For a country girl with a heaping helping of social anxiety, she has things figured out just fine.Then Stephen walks into her life, and her careful little world falls apart.Stephen Beckett can’t understand why his father retired to sleepy Catoctin Creek. The days are too quiet, the nights are too dark, and everything moves too slowly for his high-octane lifestyle. The sooner Stephen can get his life back in order and head back home to Manhattan, the better.Then Stephen meets Rosemary, and a bolt of lightning seems to set the dark country night aglow.With opposite intentions, their chances at a happy ending don’t look great. But Stephen and Rosemary might not be able to help falling for each other…if Stephen’s ambitions and Rosemary’s traditions aren’t too much for this budding romance to bear.

    But when your best friend has died and your other friends have moved away it can suddenly get a whole lot tougher. Now heartbroken Jenny has a female shaped hole in her life which - despite the presence of many women - won’t go away. Grief has turned her into a first class snob.Husband Lonny preps the house for climate change and is unable to halt Jenny’s unravelling. Then gorgeous Trudi wafts into the creative writing class bringing some much needed hope.Feeling that this is the only way out of her depression, Jenny’s intention to befriend Trudi builds to an obsession while facing all manner of setbacks. A motley crew of unsuitable local women is encroaching while lovely Trudi remains elusive. Why is something that used to be so easy, now so hard?Mixing serious issues with much hilarity ‘Friends and Neighbours’ is a feel-good story for our times.‘This book made me laugh out loud in many places and shed a tear in others’ Siobhan Curham. Author. 'An American in Paris'

    Naked is my super power, and I work it like a boss. In New Orleans, pleasure is a public service and I’m happy to do my part. I know what women crave, and I help their men learn to give it to them-- with plenty of kinky window-dressing and an air of delicious command. It’s just a game men and women play, one that leaves everybody satisfied. Until the day I’m dragged into court on a ridiculous charge. Now I’m playing the game with Erik Jensen, Esq., the man who looks more like a sexy pirate than an attorney. Suddenly, the stakes are higher than I could ever have imagined. Because Erik isn’t the man I thought he was, and neither is the game. If I win, I keep it all: my business, my reputation, and my formerly invulnerable heart. If I lose…well, I won’t let that happen. But it’s getting harder to tell which one of us is being mastered and before long, a safe word is the only thing standing between happily ever after and a pair of broken hearts.