Heartwarming books with characters you'll love: Welcome to Pajaro Bay.

Teresa Soto is hiding from her fellow gang members in the perfect place: the tiny village of Pajaro Bay. But when she falls for the squeaky-clean director of the local youth center, things get complicated. She's one step ahead of the danger on her tail, and may be taking him along for the ride. Should she run, should she hide, or should she stay and fight for the new life she's building based on a big, fat lie?

Get away to the little California beach town where the cottages are cute, the neighbors are nosy, and it's always possible to find your personal Happily Ever After.

The Pajaro Bay novels can be read in any order. Collect them all:

• Little Fox Cottage
• Boardwalk Cottage
• Honeymoon Cottage
• Lighthouse Cottage
• Rum Cake Cottage
• Songbird Cottage
• Sunshine Cottage
• Riverstone Cottage
• Harbor View Cottage

I am the prisoner of a rich, handsome demon. I should be plotting my escape, but it seems my heart has other plans...

Alana

I quit college for a year to work as a mechanic in my grandfather's garage. I never counted on a billionaire's car getting stolen there. Now 'Zeke' Zabresky is holding me hostage until his precious car is found. He's an angry, violent, mob boss; with gray eyes that sparkle like diamonds and rock-hard abs that invade my dreams. I will resist and escape if it is the last thing I do! But do I really want to....

Zeke

I was born into the mob and recruited by Lucifer to guard the gates of hell. I take what I want whenever I want. And what I want right now is Alana Hernandez, in my bed and submitting to my will. She thinks she can escape me, but no one gets away from Ezekiel Zabresky. I will bend her to my will and make her mine.

Demon's debt is a standalone, enemies to lovers, steamy, urban, paranormal shifter romance with a guaranteed HEA, no cheating and no cliffhangers. If you love billionaire /mafia romances with a sprinkling of the paranormal and lots of steamy scenes, this is the book you have been waiting for!

Year after year, Avery put on her best fake smile during homecoming week.
But this year sucked especially—it was the anniversary celebration of Alpha Alpha Phi.

The respectable, by-the-book Professor Stroh hadn’t always been like this though.
Once upon a time, she’d been the pierced and tattooed girl in fishnets and combat boots, voted most likely to cut someone.
She was the girl who took down that jackass-filled frat house.

But today, she’s about to face her worst nightmare.
The blue eyes, long legs, tapered waist, and rock-hard abs of NFL quarterback Keaton Shaw.
One of the Alphas she ruined with her infamous article…
Because of that stupid bet.
Because they were scumbags.
Because of the way they treated women, and her.

Bad news for her that Keaton still looks amazing.
And gorgeous. And charming. And everything she wishes he wasn’t…
And she’s still single.

I thought he was my wildest fantasy come true. Turns out he's my enemy...

His body looms over me, large and menacing. I’m afraid of what I’ve tempted. I think I’ve woken a dragon, and I'm about to be consumed.

He promised to fulfill my most sinful desires. He didn't say anything about abducting me in retaliation for what my father did.

My castle is about to become a dungeon, the knight in shining armor is actually a villain, and I'm a princess entangled in danger.


If you like your heroes dark and dangerous, and the action wickedly steamy, then get Entangled Mafia Princess today to scorch up your reading. Please note this dark mafia romance contains possible triggers.

Most days it's manageable. No more than a quiet wondering around the edges of her mind. What has become of the baby she left behind? Smiling through the pain and suffering in silence, Leslie Laudon marches forward. Embracing the life skillfully designed by her husband Paul. Living right could be penance for an impossible choice made with an uneasy heart. Dutiful and anchoring, Leslie poured herself into her other children. Nurturing them through infancy, protecting them as toddlers, guiding them as teens. As her youngest child heads off to college with her suitcases and coordinating dorm room accessories, so goes Leslie’s identity. The chaotic life of a busy working mother threatens to become dangerously quiet. Quiet enough to hear the voices she’s tried to silence for decades.

Gwen Fox was adopted by two perfect people. Noel and Millie have always treated her the same as their two biological sons. Her parents love is strong and unwavering, yet a soul-deep ache still lingers. Plagued by an unnamed, hard to explain, longing Gwen could never shake. Riddled with doubt and dragged down by the undertow of unanswered questions, Leslie and Gwen both find their lives suddenly upended. One seeks the truth about the day she was born. The other seeks herself, the woman she was before motherhood. Before she made a choice to leave a piece of her heart lying asleep in the hospital nursery.

In this complex journey for answers, blame is abundant. Guilt is thick enough to choke on. Marriages are brought to the brink of disaster. As the ripples of the past vibrate through their lives, Gwen and Leslie realize there is no turning back. What they have put into motion cannot be stopped. The road toward the truth will be littered with casualties.

“You will not be disappointed if you take a journey around The Bend in Redwood Road. You will hang on every word wondering if resolution will be possible” Michele, 5 stars

"Stewart has a knack for creating rich, complicated characters. One standout is Leslie's daughter, Kerry, who is defiantly vocal about the issues within her family and laudably supportive of her mother. The author treads carefully around the subject of adoption, respectfully noting systematic issues while preserving the emotional complexities of Gwen's experience. Another intriguing feature is the romantic subplot" - Kirkus Reviews

He was a single father and a duke, upstanding and dutiful in every way. So the last thing Anthony Wodehouse expected was to feel something new and sinful for his brother’s best friend…

Lord Barrett Landers, Viscount Copeland, is at loose ends after being decommissioned as a naval officer at the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Instead of going home to Wiltshire, his family, and the marriage that his mother will inevitably attempt to force him into, he is happy to idle away the summer with his friends at Wodehouse Abbey in Yorkshire.

And then temptation arrives in the form of the estate’s owner, Lord Anthony Wodehouse, Duke of Malton.

Widower Anthony wants nothing more than to live his life in the country, as far away from London and his duties as a peer as he can get. He has children to raise, an estate to manage, and a family’s expectations to uphold. He thought that hosting his youngest brother’s friends for the summer would be nothing more than a minor inconvenience and a chance to expand his tiny circle of acquaintances.

Until handsome and charming Barrett stirs feelings in him that he never thought he could have.

Anthony and Barrett embark on an eye-opening love affair that makes both of them reconsider their ideas about duty and family. But when Anthony’s meddlesome aunt arrives with far more traditional plans for her nephew, and when she invites a passel of marriage-minded guests to stay with Anthony without asking him, the resulting shenanigans could land both Anthony and Barrett in heaps of trouble as they decide whether to follow their hearts or their families’ wishes.

This gay awakening story contains all the awkward feels down by the swimming pond, a heated game of hide and seek, trying to keep the kids from finding out, meddlesome Aunt Georgiana and her surprise companion, and a thrilling climax that will leave you breathless and groaning for more!

Please Be Advised – Steam Level – Fiery Hot with all the eggplants!


The AFTER THE WAR series consists of:

BETWEEN HIS LOVER AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
NEVER JUDGE A DUKE BY HIS LOVER
GAMES LOVERS PLAY
UNDER HIS LOVER’S WING
ONE GOOD DEED DESERVES A LOVER

She’s damaged. He's ruthless. Together, they're combustible...

Brooke Sullivan’s carefully ordered existence is spiraling out of control. Two years ago, she was violently abducted by a terrorist group and nearly killed. She’s worked hard to get her life back on track—moving to a new house, changing careers, going on a couple of dates. When she witnesses a murder, she’s plunged into a new nightmare. And as the past threatens to repeat itself, she’s not sure she’ll survive this time.

Cade “Saint” Rodgers never forgot the beautiful girl he talked to at the wedding of his commanding officer. Now she’s in trouble, and he’s the one tasked with protecting her. Brooke is terrified of men like him—a black-ops soldier for whom violence is a way of life—which makes falling for her a terrible idea. But that won’t stop Cade from using every sensual trick he’s got to make her believe anything is possible if only she wants it badly enough.

As danger draws closer, it’ll take all Cade’s strength—and all Brooke’s determination—to learn how to let go of the past and trust each other. But it might not be enough. To keep her safe, he may have to let her go forever…

**Start reading the Hostile Operations Team Series - Strike Team 2 today and enjoy an action-packed, seriously romantic and steamy-good-fun military romantic suspense. Each book can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers or cheating and a guaranteed happily-ever-after ending!

Zachary is a successful surgeon, scorching hot,
And my brother’s best friend, which makes him off limits.

I’d be lying if I said there weren’t sparks between us.
Sparks that soon turn into a raging inferno.
It might be romantic being holed up in an exclusive beach front community,
Except that my life’s in danger and I’m hiding a big secret from everyone.

What happens when Zachary finds out that I’m carrying his baby?

I planned to fake date my billionaire bosshole.

Not give him my v-card.

He’s sexy and arrogant…

His job post requests a vet, but he really needs a bride.
And if I fake marry him, he’ll pay off my mom’s medical bills.

Taking the job is a no-brainer…

But this “engagement” comes with fine print.
Touching, teasing, and every time our lips meet, my world tilts.

I’m marrying him to clear my debt, not to fall in love.

But tell that to the goosebumps covering my skin every time he looks at me.
And my virginal body craves his touch.
I fear he will see me, see that I’ve never had sex.

God help me to get through these six months because I’m falling for my hus

I’ve never relied on a man for anything
But now my career is in trouble, and Garrett says he can help.

I’ve always played the good girl on TV
But something about the silver fox makes me want to be bad.
He’s everything I don’t want–
Too confident, too rich, too handsome for my own good
And on top of that, he’s my best friend’s ex
But I’m determined to make him stop seeing me as a kid

He has me in a fake relationship for the positive press
Meanwhile, he’s losing the battle to keep his hands off me
Getting caught with him could ruin everything
Especially when a little blue plus sign shows up on the pregnancy test

Garrett might be able to save my career
But who is going to save me from Garrett?

"This. Book. The characters. You will fall in love with them, and you will devour this book so quickly, you'll end up wanting to read it all over again. I loved it!" - New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy

When I signed up for the nanny agency, I didn't expect a remote mansion on a windswept isle. Or a brooding billionaire who resents his new role. His brother's death means he's now in charge of a moody seven year old girl. She's lashing out at the world, but I can handle her. I have to. I need the money to finish my college degree. As long as I can avoid the boss who alternately mocks me and coaxes me to reveal my darkest secrets.

"A brooding billionaire, a gothic setting, and a whole lot of steam--Warren's nod to Jane Eyre had me entranced from page one!" - #1 New York Times bestselling author Helen Hardt

"An incredible five star read! Skye Warren delivers an unconventional, yet utterly explosive romance in Private Property." - USA Today bestselling author Jenika Snow

"A compelling love story between a brooding hero and a determined heroine all set against a moody gothic, background. You won't want to miss this." - Louise Bay, USA Today bestselling author.

PRIVATE PROPERTY is a full-length contemporary novel from New York Times bestselling author Skye Warren about secrets and redemption. It's the first book in the emotional Rochester trilogy.

This holiday season, there’s more than gingerbread in the oven.

I was always a type-A kind of girl— and that’s exactly what got me into trouble with Sterling Ahren.

Having a baby before thirty didn’t work out, so I took some time off to sort out my life. Sterling’s my new landlord… and he doesn’t plan anything.

He’s a billionaire playboy who can’t stand the holidays. A recluse of the worst kind, Sterling makes Scrooge look like a generous soul… except Ebenezer was never this sexy.

He doesn’t want a family— until the night we have a spontaneous one-night stand, and forget to use condoms. I can’t have a baby with a disorganized, free spirit like him. Between my overprotective brothers and his crazy fans, I already know this isn’t going to work out.

Except Sterling isn’t willing to let me go. He wants me home for the holidays… and this is my last chance to make a Christmas miracle happen.

One thing I know for sure: when Sterling and I collide, it’s going to be anything but a silent night.

Funny, touching, and delightful, this smoking hot billionaire holiday rom-com by Claudia Burgoa will make you feel the magic of Christmas.

My darkest secret?
I allowed a complete stranger to dominate me.
He left me with two things that night: His first name. And his baby.
Now Dominic's back and he's not letting me out of his sight.
 
 
* * NOW AN AMAZON TOP 29 BESTSELLER * *

 
 
It all started with a flight and a wildly attractive older guy.
And ended with the most erotic night of my life.
But my first taste of submission ended in flames.
And I ran far enough never to see him again.
 
Until today...
 
​"We have unfinished business, Princess."
 
"I think you have the wrong girl."
 
To which he replies: "Maybe I wasn't clear. You left once. I won't allow you to leave twice."
 
​Now it's becoming abundantly clear Dominic has a few dark secrets of his own.
Like the part about being an enigmatic billionaire. 
And the leader of a dark criminal underworld. 
 
Now how will I get myself out of this bloody mess?!?!
 
 
 
A full-length standalone age-gap romance from the Silver Fox series. Each book can be read on its own. All books come with an oh so satisfying happily ever after. No cheating or cliffhanger!

Grab some hot cocoa and snuggle under the covers this season with four all-new medieval romances by best-selling and award-winning authors. From friends to lovers to a marriage of convenience, hidden identities and his best friend’s sister, you’ll be swept away to the magic of Christmas in Scotland where braw heroes will do anything for the women they've come to love.

Keep the Yule Fire Burning by Allison Butler
Finley Blalock has always loved Mor Forester. But when her brother Liam confronts him, he can’t reveal the truth. After losing his mother, he refuses to ever tell someone he loves them. When Liam’s quest to find a husband for Mor pushes Fin to breaking point, a fight ensues. As punishment, they are challenged to keep the Yule fire burning for twelve days. If they fail, the tension between them will be dealt with using swords instead of fists. With his love for Mor and friendship with Liam at risk, Fin will need Yuletide wishes and the magic of mistletoe to find the courage to tell the woman he loves how much she means to him before he loses her – and his best friend – forever.

His Christmas Angel by Aurrora St. James
Reclusive Laird Dougal de Giffard knows that no woman will have him. Thanks to his infamous father, rumors of black magic have overshadowed his life until even strong men avoid him. When he’s ambushed and left for dead just days before Christmas, he’s rescued by his neighbor's feisty daughter. Slaine de Morham might be enticing, and raising every one of his protective instincts, but he intends to keep her at a distance. That is, until she’s threatened. Suddenly, Dougal finds himself with an unexpected wife, new enemies, and an assassin drawing near. The more time he spends with Slaine, the more he wants to protect her, and love her. But it’s going to take a Christmas miracle to keep her. Who could ever love the devil of Goblin Hall?

A Gift from the Sea by Nancy Lee Badger
A shipwrecked son of a clan chieftain, Monroe hides his full identity from the young lass who saves him from the waves, and her brothers. An attack by seafaring warriors puts all their lives in danger and the resulting deaths place a shadow over the upcoming Christmas Festivities. Leading Gwyn and her family toward his home far from the coast of Scotland’s North Sea could be a mistake, yet be the only way to keep them all alive.

Celtic Nollaig Moon by Ria Cantrell
Devon MacDougall never expected to find himself in the midst of an assassination attempt on the king. Surrounded by enemies and not knowing who to trust, he vows to find the would-be assassin before a second attempt is made. But when the lovely daughter of the MacCollum laird becomes involved, he's torn between protecting her and finding the culprit.

Loving both bears consequences.

I’m a woman over 40 with two men in my life.
Two bear shifters who in their own way know how to please my desires.

One lover protects me from enemies that are waiting for me in the dark night.
I feel so safe when he holds me in his muscular arms.

My other lover was my fated mated who dumped me in college but wants a second chance now.
I should hate him but he’s still just too gorgeous.

I’m now pregnant but don’t know who the father is.

I must choose between my fated mate and my protector.
Or can my twisted dream to have them both come true?

Bear Daddies is a standalone Paranormal Romance with a HEA and NO cheating!

You can’t fly without falling, so close your eyes and let go.

People ask me if I’m human. If I have feelings. If I’ve ever loved anyone. I’m the lawyer who has never lost a case because I have nothing else to live for.
Until Jonah.
He’s my complete opposite: a reckless boy twelve years younger than me, made of sunshine and wicked smiles, pure and breathtaking.
It all starts with a secret. He wants to find out if he’s bi, and he begs me to teach him because we’ll never see each other again.
Until he shows up on my doorstep with nowhere else to go. I can’t draw lines faster than we blur them. He’s the unstoppable force; I’m the immovable object. When we collide, things get filthy. Complicated. More beautiful than I ever could have imagined.
He’s the only person ever to learn the truth: I’ve always been human. I’ve always had feelings. I’ve been so, so afraid to lose.
Because the moment we find enough trust to jump is the moment we realize our wings might be too broken to fly.

A heartfelt, emotional story of two lonely souls searching for meaning, featuring a bi awakening, grumpy/sunshine opposites attract, an age gap, and a main character with a disability.

The books in this series take place in the same universe and have recurring characters, but each book is a standalone that can be read separately or in any order!

Summer was mine once. Leaving her behind to go to war was unforgivable. I survived... barely. Though my body is broken. I never expected to see her at the veteran’s support office.

There are a million reasons I don't deserve her. I fell in with a bad crowd when I got back home. Worse than she can imagine. They’re still out to get me.

My love is dangerous.

And my secrets are deadly.

BEFORE SHE WAS MINE is an angsty second-chance standalone romance with a 100% guarantee of a happily ever after. No cliffhangers. No cheating. Just a scorching hot love story.

It was a crazy, one-time thing.
A night I’ll never forget.

The pounding of the bass from the speakers
Grinding on a crowded dance floor
Sexy masks and no last names.

We missed the countdown to midnight,
But that beautiful stranger and I definitely rang in the new year.

After my divorce I didn’t think I’d trust a woman again.
Briella’s new in town, and something about her draws me in.
Fierce, independent…and full of surprises.

I never expected to fall in love again.
I never guessed Briella was my masked lover on New Year’s Eve.
Or that the baby she’s carrying is mine.

A home full of chaos…and comfort.

With three-year-old twins to raise, widower Ian Parsons temporarily hires Rachel Gray hoping she’ll solve all their problems. And soon the nanny is working wonders with his girls…and Ian. Rachel even has him agreeing to adopt a bonded dog and cat because the twins love them. He’s laughing, smiling and falling in love again. But will Ian need a double dose of courage to ask Rachel to stay…as his wife?  

From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Jason is sweet and sexy…and works for the logging company that wants to buy my land.
I can’t tell if he’s really into me...

Or if he’s just doing his boss’ bidding.

He offers to help when I decide I want to get the farm going again.
I really want to trust him, but my track record in relationships leaves much to be desired.
The only place I’m not totally overwhelmed is in his arms,
A misunderstanding threatens the happiness I’ve found with Jason,
But his persistence turns the tide.

Now with the help of him and many new friends,
My dream is about to become a reality.
Happily ever after + a successful business + a surprise baby makes three!