Contemporary Romance books

Will & Patrick: Book One

Patrick Mason travels to Bristol to spend the summer with his brother, Ben. He’s cat sitting for the first two weeks while Ben goes on holiday. But Ben neglected to tell him he wouldn’t be doing it alone. Will Adams—Ben’s mate and Patrick’s long-time crush—is staying in Ben’s guest room while he waits to move into his new house after a breakup.

Against his better judgment, Patrick convinces Will that a little no-strings fun is just what they need. Patrick doesn’t want to get involved with a guy on the rebound, and Will isn’t interested in starting something serious with a student. But Patrick’s never been good at separating sex from feelings, and this time is no exception. As their weeks together draw to a close, they need to decide if they have something worth pursuing or if it’s really just a casual thing.

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Il loro matrimonio doveva essere solo una questione d’affari…

Quando Chris Valentine, scrittore in cerca di editore, incontra Jesse Donovan, è interessato a un contratto letterario o magari a un appuntamento. L’ultima cosa che si aspetta è una proposta di matrimonio dallo scapolo d’oro di New York!

Jesse è nei guai. Per mantenere il controllo della sua compagnia deve sposarsi, perciò offre a Chris un accordo: dovrà vivere nella sua splendida villa per un anno e recitare la parte del marito devoto. In cambio avrà tutto il tempo per scrivere e, al termine del contratto, se ne andrà via con un milione di dollari. Chris ce la può fare. Sì, ce la può fare a vivere con l’uomo più bello e affettuoso che abbia mai incontrato, un uomo che lui desidera disperatamente e non può avere. Perché, quando serve, al cuor si comanda. O forse no?

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Groomzilla

When drama threatens to ruin a romance on a reality show, only a true friend can save a groomzilla’s wedding.

Daniel Green is neither a romantic nor a wedding planner, but he’s the only person who can manage his childhood friend Ander, an outrageous fashion designer soon to marry a wealthy entertainment lawyer. Distracting Daniel is Owen Grainger, a too-handsome-to-be-true producer whose quiet charm pulls Daniel into his orbit.

When the stress of the show triggers bad behavior from Ander, the coproducer decides it’s the key to a ratings bonanza, and he undermines Ander and Rafe’s relationship to create more drama. Daniel is determined to protect his friend, but when he falls for Owen, there’s much more at stake than ratings.

Groomzilla Does Vegas

Daniel Green and Owen Grainger found a happy ending in the middle of chaos. Now, a year later, they are engaged, setting up house, and working on their new production company. What could go wrong? Well, allowing the eccentric but well-meaning Ander to be the wedding planner is possibly Daniel's first mistake. A bachelor weekend in Las Vegas might just make or break Daniel's last nerve.

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Don't miss these reader favorites from Kate McMurray!

In Blind Items, Jonathan is too afraid to step out of the closet, and Drew thinks the smartest thing might be to let him go—until Jonathan shows up drunk one night at his apartment. The slow burn of their attraction doesn’t fade with Jonathan's buzz, but navigating a relationship is never easy—especially in the shadow of right-wing politics. In Four Corners, after five years gone, Adam is back, and he has his mind set on Jake. But those years of anger, hurt, and confusion are a lot to overcome, and Jake doesn’t find it easy to forgive. In The Stars The Tremble, Mike’s partner was killed when Emma was a toddler, and Gio mourns the beautiful voice he will never have again, so coping with loss is something they have in common. Their initial physical attraction quickly grows to something more as each hopes to fill the gap that loss and grief has left in his life. In When the Planets Align, quiet, practical Simon realizes he’s been in love with Michael all his life, only now Michael has moved on. They will find themselves in the right place at the right time to take the next step. In The Windup, Ian lets an old friend talk him into joining the Rainbow League, New York’s LGBT amateur baseball league. Baseball turns out to be a great outlet for his anxiety, and not only because sexy teammate Ty has caught his eye. But when Ian receives an offer for a job overseas, Ty needs a new plan: convince Ian that home is where Ty is.

See excerpt for individual blurbs.

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A los veinticuatro años, los tics y tartamudeos de Carter Stevenson lo han convertido en una persona extremadamente tímida. Aunque sus amigos lo acusan de dejar que su síndrome de Tourette le dicte la vida, Carter decide irse de Los Ángeles y trasladarse a una ciudad más pequeña y tranquila de California, Santa Josefina. Su intención es mantener un perfil bajo y evitar a la gente. Lo que no estaba en sus planes es que su vecino, Ethan Hart, entre estrepitosamente en su soledad y lo obligue a salir y a vivir.

Desde el principio, Ethan deja claro su amor por Carter. Pero teme que Carter no vea más allá de su lesión cerebral, a pesar de que eso le permita estar más en armonía con sus sentimientos que la mayoría de la gente. Para Carter, hay un gran problema: ha sufrido mucho en el pasado a manos de quienes se suponía eran su pareja «perfecta» y no quiere volver a arriesgar su corazón.

Sea como sea, Ethan está decidido a mostrarle a Carter que deben estar juntos. Pero entonces, Ethan recibe malas noticias y de repente necesita a Carter para que le dé apoyo y fuerzas para seguir adelante. ¿Será capaz Carter de estar a la altura cuando Ethan más lo necesita?

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Even though bankers’ hours leave long weekends for romance, cosmic intervention is Grant’s only option when money doesn’t buy happiness and he’s got virginity in spades.

Grant Adams is a twenty-six-year-old bank teller who’s unlucky at love, yet hopelessly hopeful. After years of horrific first dates, he’s convinced he’s saving himself for true love. Surely he has bad taste in men because it couldn’t possibly be his persnickety nature that’s sent them packing.

Tristan Carr has been in a holding pattern since his daughter was born fifteen years ago, which suits his workaholic lifestyle just fine. This ex–naval officer turned auto mechanic never wanted anyone interfering with being a weekend dad. For Tristan to rearrange his carefully orchestrated life, a guy will need to be special. Or in the case of the newest employee at his bank, the guy will need to be adorable, shy, and open to the prospect of forever when it shows up at his window.

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Buch 1 in der Serie - Carlisle Cops

Officer Red Markham kennt die Schattenseiten des Lebens. Von einem Autounfall, der seinen Eltern das Leben kostete, hat er hässliche Narben davongetragen, die ihm den Umgang mit anderen Menschen schwer machen. Sein Job als Polizist auf den Straßen von Carlisle, Pennsylvania, trägt ebenso dazu bei, da sich in letzter Zeit Drogenmissbrauch mit tödlichem Ausgang häuft. Eines Nachmittags wird Red wegen eines Kindes, das bei einem Unfall fast ertrunken wäre, zum örtlichen Schwimmbad gerufen. Am Unfallort stellt er fest, dass das Kind von dem Rettungsschwimmer Terry Baumgartner gerettet wurde. Red ist nicht überrascht, als der gut aussehende Terry ihn und sein hässliches Gesicht keines Blickes würdigt.

Mit anzuhören, dass einer der Rettungskräfte ihn für oberflächlich hält, öffnet Terry die Augen. Vielleicht ist er doch nicht so nett, wie er immer gedacht hat. Seine Freundin Julie schlägt vor, dass er Menschen unterstützt, denen es nicht so gut geht, indem er Essen an ältere Leute liefert. Auf seiner Tour trifft er die offenherzige Margie, eine Frau, die sagt, was sie denkt. Es stellt sich heraus, dass sie die Tante von Officer Red Markham ist.

Reds und Terrys Welten prallen aufeinander, als Red versucht, den Ursprung der Drogenwelle zu finden und Terry vor seinem Exfreund zu beschützen, der ein Nein nicht akzeptieren kann. Zusammen finden sie vielleicht mehr, als sie erwartet hatten – wenn sie es schaffen, hinter die Fassade des anderen zu blicken.

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L’ultimissima cosa che Vincent Wade si aspetta è che Carson Cress gli chieda di uscire. Vince è uno studente di biologia scrupoloso e solitario; Carson Cress, al contrario, è una superstar del football, una specie di mito che vive costantemente sotto ai riflettori. È impossibile che tra loro possa funzionare. Ma Vince sta imparando che spesso le persone piombano nella tua vita come una forza inarrestabile e che tutto quello che ti resta da fare è aggrapparti, oppure ritrovarti con il cuore spezzato. Se la loro storia riuscirà a sopravvivere al disastroso incidente che costringe Carson a ripensare tutto il proprio futuro, allora forse Vince potrà finalmente trovare qualcosa in cui credere.

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In My Heart Novellas

An Infatuation

With his ten-year high school reunion approaching, Harold wonders whether Mario will be as muscular, sexy, and tantalizing as he remembers. As a teenager, it was love at first sight for Harold while tutoring football star Mario, until homophobia and bullying drove Mario deep into the closet. Now they’re both married men. Mario, a model, is miserable with his producer wife, while Harold, a teacher, is perfectly content with his businessman husband, Stuart. When the two meet again, will the old flame reignite, setting Harold’s comfortable life ablaze? How can Harold be happy with Stuart when he is still infatuated with his Adonis, his first love, Mario? Harold faces this seemingly impossible situation with inimitable wit, tenderness, and humor as he attempts to reconcile the past and the future.

A Shooting Star

On the eve of the best night of his life, winning an Academy Award, Jonathan Bello thinks back to his one great love, David Star.

Flipping back the pages of time, Jonathan recalls his handsome, muscular, and charismatic college roommate. Since Jonathan was a freshman and David a senior in the Theatre Department, David took Jonathan under his wing and molded him, not only as an actor but as a lover. With every wonderful new adventure, David left his joyful mark on anyone with whom they came in contact, but Jonathan soon uncovered David’s dark past, leading to a shocking event. Undaunted, Jonathan celebrates the captivating man who will always hold a special place in his heart.

A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.

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Derek Sawyer thinks he has it all—a high-salaried position, a boyfriend, a dog, even a new cabin on the lake—until a business trip with his manager and best friend, Victor, shatters his world.

One night of drunken horsing around in their hotel room leads to the most intensely personal violation Derek has ever endured. As if the humiliation of working under his attacker every day isn’t enough, Victor reports Derek for sexual harassment. Now he’s without a job, without a boyfriend, and the mortgage on the cabin is due.

Officer Russ Thomas has worked with rape victims before, and it doesn’t take him long to sort out the truth in Derek’s tale. With his support, Derek finally reports the crime, months after it happened. But restraining orders and lawyers further Victor’s anger toward him, and even though a relationship develops between Derek and the policeman, Russ can’t be there to protect him all the time.

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When vacationing Denver architect Roger Mackie rolls into a quaint old trading post in Montana’s Bitterroot Mountain Range to gas up his car, it’s the start of a life-changing journey. Lean, handsome Chippewa Johnny Two-Guns is looking for a ride. He’s on a mission to recover some clan treasures. Roger is immediately smitten and drives Johnny all the way to Arizona.

Although the two successfully build a friendship, Roger is unable to initiate the intimacy they both seem to desire. A second visit gives Roger another chance to draw Johnny out of his shell. The payoff is spectacular, leading to a week of sex and discovery, during which Johnny’s innocent enthusiasm shows Roger a new side of love between men. But trouble is on the horizon for the new couple, as fate seems set against them. And what does the sudden appearance of sexy young architect Brad Beaver portend for the future?

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A Senses Series Story

Artist Arik Bosler is terrified he might have lost his creative gift in the accident that left his hand badly burned. When he’s offered the chance to work with renowned artist Ken Brighton, Arik fears his injury will be too much to overcome.

He travels to Pleasanton to meet Ken, where he runs into the intimidating Reg Thompson. Reg, a biker who customizes motorcycles, is a big man with a heart of gold who was rejected by most of his family. Arik is initially afraid of Reg because of his size. However it’s Reg’s heart that warms Arik’s interest and gets him to look past the exterior to let down his guard.

But Arik soon realizes that certain members of Reg’s motorcycle club are into things he can’t have any part of. Reg can’t understand why Arik disappears until he learns Arik’s injury was the result of his father’s drug activity. Though neither Reg nor Arik wants anything to do with drugs, the new leadership of Reg’s club might have other ideas.

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Serie Guards of Folsom, Libro 3

Grant Maxwell si sveglia una mattina e scopre che la macchina del caffè è spirata durante la notte. Max, come lo conoscono tutti, non può iniziare la giornata senza la sua bevanda preferita, così si dirige al bar sotto casa, dove trova qualcosa che è ancora più eccitante della caffeina: un barista sexy di ventisei anni, Aiden James. Per la prima volta in vita sua questo Dom affermato, sicuro di sé e rispettato si trova a corto di parole di fronte al fascino del giovane.

Aiden vive con tre coinquilini, fa un lavoro senza nessuno sbocco per il futuro e non è sicuro di dove la vita lo stia portando. Fino a quando non incontra Max, che lo introduce a uno stile di vita a lui sconosciuto ma che lo intriga. Entrambi scopriranno presto che non è solo l’attrazione che li accomuna.

Condividere una piccola perversione è una cosa, ma le blande esperienze sessuali che Aiden ha avuto in passato, sommate alla paura di perdersi in Max, potrebbero impedirgli di vivere la sua fantasia. Anche Max ha il suo ostacolo da superare: deve aiutare Aiden a scoprire il suo lato da sottomesso pur essendo, per la prima volta in vita sua, innamorato perso di qualcuno.

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An At Your Service Novel

When Anthony Mercer walked into Au cœur du terroir, he was looking for good food and a pleasant evening spent with a friend. He never expected to meet—and sleep with—Paul Delescluse, a waiter at the restaurant. After spending a magical week together in Paris, Anthony must return to his life in North Carolina, while Paul remains in France.

Despite the distance and the lack of promises between them—Paul wants sex, not a relationship—Paul and Anthony forge a solid friendship. Then Anthony’s job takes him back to Paris, this time to stay. Paul is thrilled to have him back, but Anthony has a harder choice: be another of Paul’s conquests or fight for the relationship he knows they could have, if only Paul would believe it.

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Guards of Folsom: Book Five

Tek Cain & Jamie Ryan work at the Guards of Folsom BDSM club. After two years on the run from their old motorcycle club and the Feds, Tek & Jamie are finally able to relax and enjoy their new life in New York City. But the past won’t stay buried, and when the MC resurfaces, it’s Jamie who pays the price. Tek and the rest of the members at the Guards of Folsom must work together to get back one of their own.

In this, the final installment in the Guards of Folsom series, everyone must come together, bound as one in their quest to find Jamie and bring him home once and for all.

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Russ Michaels has his whole life ahead of him but no plans beyond dropping out of school as soon as he turns eighteen. He’s been in and out of juvenile detention for the last four years and thoroughly expects to end up in an adult penitentiary at some point. He hates life and everyone in it, especially this latest community service that he earned in lieu of juvie yet again.

CJ Calhoun has big plans. He wants to bring joy and happiness to sick and injured children for as long as he can by performing as a clown. The problem is, he has stage-four cancer and a horrible prognosis.

When circumstances throw these two polar opposites together, they find they have more in common than they imagined. CJ discovers Russ’s talent for art and arranges for Russ to create a mural in the hospital foyer, which leads to a tentative scholarship to the Art Institute. As life changes in ways neither of them could have expected, Russ must work harder than ever to better himself as CJ struggles with his deteriorating health.

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Immerse yourself in the best-selling Blue Notes universe, where music and romance are intrinsically intertwined. In Blue Notes, a struggling jazz violinist meets an attorney for a true journey of the heart; in The Melody Thief, a renowned cellist, sought after by conductors the world over, seeks hope and forgiveness from a lawyer; in Aria, rekindled lust blossoms into a true romance in world of opera; in Prelude, a world-renowned conductor clashes with a substitute violinist; in Symphony in Blue, revisit the couples of the Blue Notes series; in Encore, the cool kid violinist and the wannabe conductor dance in and out of a relationship and in Dissonance, a British noble on the run meets a busker in a subway.

See excerpt for individual blurbs.

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