In the shadow of the sassafras trees, desires entwine like the roots beneath the earth

TRINITY:

I’m all I have left to count on. Which is terrifying because my abusive husband refuses to divorce me.

What’s worse is that the custody of our children is not looking great for me.

There’s no one left to turn to for help since the rumor mill is in full swing, and I’m at the center of every conversation. Everyone has turned their back on me.

That is, everyone except Knox Santino, the broody new police officer in town… But I’m not sure if I can trust him enough to accept his help.

KNOX:

When I first saw her, she was a broken reflection of herself—bloodshot and swollen by the very hand of the person meant to protect her: her husband.

In our second encounter, something in Trinity awakened, attracting me like a moth to a flame.

And now, the closer I get to her, the more I’m exposed, and the greater risk there is for both of us.

With her husband lurking like a storm cloud, every instinct in me screams to keep her safe. But how can I protect her when she wants to find strength all on her own?

Slow burn friends to lovers set in a small Southern town, Like the Sassafras Trees is a moving work of suspenseful romantic fiction. Following both Trinity and Knox, this story unravels as a tale of resilience and the strength to reclaim one’s life.

Can a Navy SEAL save her from the lethal conspiracy?

Her life is in jeopardy.

Heiress Elizabeth Foster is a rebel, living on the fringes of her wealthy family’s influence. After witnessing an alarming subway accident, Elizabeth fears that she was the killer’s actual target. She turns to the one man she trusts, a former SEAL turned bodyguard. He is a childhood friend, and after ten years, she’s back under his protection.

˃˃˃ Who has a motive to kill her?

Ex-SEAL Wyatt Mercer’s new assignment at Stealth Security brings his past back to haunt him. A woman he doesn’t expect appears in his life, and reaches out for his protection. He is sure that she isn’t telling him everything, but when the threats escalate he rises to the challenge of protecting her from the claws of her powerful enemies.

˃˃˃ Can Wyatt rescue her in time?

Elizabeth stumbles across deadly secrets, and her enemies will stop at nothing to silence her. The fight against danger keeps Wyatt close, and he discovers a powerful attraction to Elizabeth. Will the forces of greed steal the one woman he desires, and wipe out any chance for a future?

˃˃˃ Lethal Peril (Stealth Security Book 2) has no cliffhanger.

Stealth Security Series:

Cold Peril (Garrett and Marlene)

Lethal Peril (Wyatt and Beth)

Ruthless Peril (Hunter and Tessa)

Grave Peril (Rip and Lela)

Deadly Peril (Thaddeus and Jana)

Stealth Security is a Military Romantic Suspense series with ex-Navy SEAL heroes employed as bodyguards to celebrity and VIP clients. The characters you love make appearances in future stories.

Charlie Renfrew is too busy and too broke for a love life. There’s no room in a schedule crammed with university, a full-time job, music, and his very committed relationship with overthinking. Hence the dating ban. Which is exactly when Ben Campbell shows up with his piercings, quirky knits, and indie rock fame. But maybe it’s time for Charlie to trade caffeine for something hotter, blonder, and completely out of his comfort zone.

Gorgeous, funny men don’t happen to Charlie. Not like this. Even if it’s ill-timed and too bloody complicated. But maybe a quick shag won’t hurt…

Sex might be easy, but being vulnerable isn’t. Not for Charlie, his anxiety, or his precarious stack of responsibilities. It would be so easy to fall into Ben’s world of cozy, snowy London where there’s love and sex and possibilities. But Charlie already knows what happens when he goes off course. Not to mention the consequences. And when the snow melts, he’ll have to put his heart back into a deep freeze…

He's out for revenge, but she might prove too hot for him to handle.

Miss Primrose needs to be punished.

A member of the wicked Inn of the Red Chrysanthemum, where the most indecent pleasures are indulged, Miss Primrose—or Mistress Primrose, as she prefers—left Nicholas Edelton a shell of a man. Now his older brother, Spencer Edelton, the Marquess of Carey, intends to provide her a set-down she will never forget.

Weary from exacting her revenge upon the man who assaulted her sister, Beatrice Primrose has had her fill of men of privilege and presumption, but she accepts a fateful invitation from a handsome nobleman to spend a sennight at his estate for a grand sum of money. She soon learns, however, that she will not get to reprise her role as Mistress. To her horror, she finds his lordship expects her to submit to him!

But Beatrice won’t give in so easily.

In a clash of wills, fueled by vengeance and desire, Lord Carey and Miss Primrose wrestle for dominance in, and out of, the bedchamber. Their biggest struggle, however, may be against their own passions…

Can Miss Primrose take what she dishes? And will Lord Carey succumb or succeed with her punishment?


HEAT ADVISORY: On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the hottest heat level, this enemies-to-lovers Regency historical romance is a 6! Read only if you enjoy scorching, wicked chemistry with themes of submission and dominance as well as elements of revenge and discipline.

I've got one chance to get her back…or fail the only mission that's ever mattered.

I came back to Storm Harbor for a simple job gathering intel for my best friend's security company, but my rule to keep business separate from pleasure goes up in flames when I meet my target’s niece, Petra.

She's all innocence and sweet curves and way too good for me, which is exactly why I should resist her. In my world, distractions are deadly. And yet, when she opens that sassy mouth of hers and refuses to stay out of trouble…my resolve crumbles.

When a hidden element takes me by surprise, turning the case, and my heart, upside down, I'm forced into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, with Petra as the bait. The timer ticks down, closing off all my options, until I'm facing my final chance to save the woman of my dreams.

Either I come back with her, or I don't come back at all.

Fans of Susan Stoker’s Mountain Mercenaries and Nicole Snow’s No Good Heroes are devouring Dakota Davies’ addictive series starter.

Scroll up and one click to start reading this smoking hot romantic suspense story today!

Ruthless killers. Deadly deceit. Fiery passion.
She’ll do anything to catch a polluter. He’ll do anything to stop her.

Undercover Texas PI Brock Emerson has one job—to keep chemical engineer Adelaide Reese from shutting down his client’s paper mill. But he had no idea how tempting the beautiful scientist would be. Or how much he’d want to protect her…

Set on proving pollution from the mill is poisoning the local town, Adelaide is making powerful enemies. And when angry mill employees stage a violent attack, Brock can’t help stepping in to save her.

Posing as a journalist, he wins her trust. Then they witness a murder that makes Brock question both his employer and his moral compass…and sends them running for their lives.

When the woman he’s falling for learns he’s been lying to her all along, Brock finds himself in a position he never imagined. Will doing his job cost him his integrity and his heart? Or will they both pay the ultimate price for crossing a master manipulator?

Overwhelmed by the neighborly attentions of the cheerful and vivacious “girl next door,” a man burned by love finds his passions reigniting in #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts’s First Impressions.

Entrepreneur Vance Banning took a residence in rural Maryland to escape business pressures—and relationships with women pursuing his bank account. To the community, he’s a moody, out-of-work carpenter with a chip on his shoulder. To next door neighbor Shane Abbott, he’s just a man who needs a little kindness in his life. Vance’s suspicions of the stunning beauty’s intense interest in him start to fade when he realizes Shane’s compassion is honest and joyful—giving his heart permission to experience true love.

I make the rules, and rule number one?
Don’t bang a bandmate. Ever.

Managing Criminal Records, the nation’s hottest rock band, is enough to drive anyone insane--and right now, I’m hanging on by a thread. So when Bronson Isaacs, our brooding, dirty-talking drummer, offers me a way to let off some steam--no strings attached--I can’t say no.

But one night between lifelong best friends quickly turns into our little secret. The more we fall into bed together, the harder it gets to pretend our friends-with-benefits arrangement isn’t turning into something so much more.

Falling for Bronson could ruin everything--our friendship, my career, and the band I’ve worked so hard to keep together.

Add in our rivals The Electrics suddenly waving the white flag so we can take down a common enemy together, and our summer tour is turning into pure chaos.

Can Criminal Records survive the Break the Rules Tour--or is this summer destined to be our last?

From USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Tabatha Kiss comes a wild and spicy friends-to-lovers rockstar romance packed with heat, humor, and secrets. Don’t miss this new chapter in the Break the Rules series and find out why romance lovers can’t get enough of Tabby’s lovable heroes!

TRUE LOVE CAN BE HAZARDOUS!

Navy SEAL Lucas Parker is assigned to bodyguard a pop singer on tour, only to discover that she is a flame from his past. What starts as infatuation quickly becomes a much deeper emotion. Lucas must save his true love from the clutches of a ruthless stalker, if he has any chance of a happily-ever-after.

Haylee Nichols makes her dream of stardom come true, but her sick 5-year-old son is more important to her. She chooses motherhood over her career but must finish her last tour. Danger looms when a celebrity stalker might not let her live to return home. A medically trained Navy SEAL is her protector, and his kindness captures her heart. But she must reach deep for the strength to fight off her oppressor before she can embrace the future she wants.

A spicy small-town romance and TikTok phenomenon, perfect for fans of Hannah Grace and Stephanie Archer.

'This is everything I love! Cozy small town romance, fall vibes, coffee house vibes, and grumpy x sunshine trope that was done perfectly!'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley Reviewer

The Sunday Times bestseller and winner of TikTok shop Book of the Year 2024

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is a cozy romantic novel with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

Tropes:

• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Small town
• Found family
• Spicy

I am in love with Barrett Roth, but at what cost?

Determined to release David from Roth Pharmaceuticals’ dangerous research program, Emily Anderson stands up to their two-faced CFO once again. But winning Barrett over means getting inside his head…and closer to his heart than Emily expected.
As she tries to navigate her covert feelings — and her dwindling interest in David — Emily discovers the tumultuous personal life that Barrett has hidden from her. Caught in the snare of an addiction that is tightening its grasp, he has one foot in the grave...
And now Emily could be going down with him.
Struggling to balance the hearts of two mortal enemies, Emily fights to get Barrett to take accountability for his company’s sins. Even if it means eroding David’s faith in her — and pushing Barrett to the brink of destruction.

Brimming with tension to the final word, The Snare of Addiction navigates the rippling impact of private suffering, the depths of addiction, and how love has the potential to both save — and end — lives.

When sixteen-year-old Emily Anderson was hit by a car, she woke up screaming a stranger’s name.

Ever since, Emily’s dreams have been replaced by the memories of others — and she still doesn’t know who “Barrett” is. Now twenty-eight, she’s never had the courage to move out of her childhood home in Toronto; until a Vancouver university offers her the chance to study a Master of Medical Ethics. Encouraged, Emily latches onto it as a catalyst for change.

There, she meets self-assured Nova Scotian, David Mathis, who seems to have an unjustified hatred for Vancouver’s most esteemed family, the Roths. But when she’s introduced to the spirited CFO of Roth Pharmaceuticals, Emily discovers that he and David are locked in a bitter family feud. And she can’t seem to stay away from either of them…

When David starts suffering from an unexplained illness, Emily realizes that the Roth-Mathis rivalry hides a far more insidious threat. Adamant to prove her independence, Emily goes in search of the truth — desperate to pinpoint the origin of David’s illness before it consumes him.

Dripping with suspense until the last page, The Veil of Oppression explores the complexity of family history, the formative connection between father and son, and how friendships are forged on the grounds of an invisible battlefield.

There's a storm brewing...

The day his wife died, Sheriff Cash Hill discovered she was leaving him for another man, one she'd loved since before their marriage. How could the single dad ever trust another woman again? But when Georgia's best friend, Holly, comes back to town, something about Holly's sweet, sassy vulnerability has his protective instincts kicking in hard.

Holly Jensen left La Colina, Texas with regrets. She's returned home to work as the new large animal vet and to watch over her best friend's daughter. But Holly's knowledge of Georgia's past could rip a family apart. And she's reluctant to go to the sexy…and single…sheriff, as he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with her.

Both are faced with a choice…stay locked in the past or allow their reservations to be silenced by a passion hotter than Texas summer nights. Can they learn to trust their own hearts and each other?

SAVING THE SHERIFF is a sweet and sexy standalone Texas romance in a series of standalones! Saving the Sheriff, Resisting the Rancher, Taming the Troublemaker and Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas can be read in any order.

Jane is a beautiful, young, intelligent, and wealthy woman searching for true love. By luck, she meets Bill, a poor but proud young man glued to his cell phone for hours every day.

Despite her initial doubts, Jane falls in love with Bill, and soon, they can't wait until they text each other daily. Bill and Jane also talk about cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) issues. As Bill begins to suspect that Jane’s millions are dirty, the young couple is caught in a web of curious questions, evasive answers, and financial secrets. Will their love be strong enough to survive this unexpected challenge?

In this thrilling small-town adventure, Dulcie Brisand knows her family has secrets, but they were buried long ago… until they suddenly refuse to stay that way. Now, she’s on the run and must face hidden conspiracies as she attempts to save herself and those she loves.

The fallout from a decades-old mystery threatens to tear her world apart, forcing her to seek protection from a powerful figure in the dangerous criminal underworld, who just happens to be the father she’s never known. Struggling to make sense of the truth, she and her unexpected allies confront the past and unknown enemies who are determined to either control her life or end it.

With the help of the handsome but rough-around-the-edges Deacon Hawkins, she fights against the criminal plot endangering and displacing everyone she holds dear, while waiting for the next shoe to drop and the next enemy to surface.

Follow Dulcie on a journey full of twists and turns as threats lurk around every corner culminating in an explosive ending leaving her unsure of who she can trust.

He delivers street justice. She upholds the law. To protect the innocent, they’ll set aside their differences—and uncover undeniable common desires in Nightshade, a Night Tales novel of romantic suspense from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts.

Colt Nightshade has no patience for the bureaucratic red tape that entangles law enforcement and sets the guilty free. Lieutenant Althea Grayson believes in the rules and procedures that help keep order over the chaos that threatens society. Together, they are a teenage girl’s only hope of survival against a ruthless criminal. Their methods couldn’t be more dissimilar, but Colt senses a kindred rebellious spirit simmering beneath Althea’s tough cop exterior—and a passion waiting to be ignited

He's a mystery wrapped in rugged charm,
A hot lumberjack with a bad reputation...
The lone wolf everyone in town avoids.

New town, fresh start—that’s all I want.
He and I hit it off at the bar, but I’m not looking for anything serious.
Our chemistry is explosive, so we decide on just one night.
Or so I thought...

People tell me he's damaged goods, an outcast, even his parents.
But I see him for who he is: loyal, protective, and a little bit broken.

Just when I think things could be perfect, I uncover his dangerous past.
The only thing worse than falling for a man with dark secrets?
Is keeping my own secret from him—how do I tell him I’m pregnant?

From bestselling author L.J. Shen, comes a new, standalone, contemporary romance.

NOW A TOP TEN AMAZON BESTSELLER

"Best book of the year" - Angie's Dreamy Reads.
"Best book I HAVE EVER READ" - Bookalicious Babes Blog.

They call him The Mute for a reason.
Hard, cold and calculated, he rarely speaks.
When he does, it’s with disdain.
When he does, his words aren’t meant for me.
When he does, my stomach flips and my world tilts on its axis.
He is thirty-three.
I am eighteen.
He’s a single dad and my father’s business partner.
I’m just a kid to him and his enemy’s daughter.
He’s emotionally unavailable.
And I am…feeling. Feeling things I shouldn’t feel for him.
Trent Rexroth is going to break my heart. The writing isn’t just on the wall, it’s inked on my soul.
And yet, I can’t stay away.
A scandal is the last thing my family needs. But a scandal is what we’re going to give them.
And oh, what beautiful chaos it will be.