"We could just . . . *do it*, you know," he says now, teasingly. "Clear all that sexual tension up with one quick ten minute session?" I seriously hope he's joking, but I'm not certain he is. Either way, I can't prevent the exasperated huff of laughter that escapes my lips at those words. "You must be dreaming if you think there's *any* sexual tension between us," I scoff. "Anyway, I'd rather not be another notch on your bedpost, thanks very much." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ruby Rafferty has won the ultimate prize - a luxury holiday in Crete! In theory, it couldn't be more perfect - endless sun, Greek food, an unlimited free bar . . . There's only one problem. The man she has no choice but to share the prize with. Lewis Sheridan may be ridiculously attractive, but he is also cocky, cynical, and comes complete with his own specific set of red flags. He's everything Ruby has never wanted in a guy, and she's not sure she can survive *one* day alone with him, let alone ten. It's *fine*, though . . . Their suite is massive, the cocktails are flowing, and Ruby can't help but notice how handsome and charming the hotel manager is. If only he didn't think she and Lewis were already a couple . . . Will forced proximity push our vacationers closer or further apart? Can enemies really become lovers? And what will happen if anyone realises they're technically on holiday under false pretences? I guess we're about to find out . . . Cover by @jspromcoms

[2024 WATTYS SHORTLISTED] [18+] In the picturesque lakeside town, the calm waters mask the storm within Juniper Jenkins' heart. Betrayed and broken by her cheating boyfriend, she flees to the sanctuary of her friend's lakeside house, to work remotely for the summer. What she doesn't expect? Running into Wells Hansen-her rival from the Seattle Sun Times-of all people. And of all places, he's running the only coffee shop in town with decent Wi-Fi. She's sworn off men for the summer-pinky-promised no boys-with her two best friends. So there's no way she's breaking that pact. Not after what just happened. But fate doesn't care about pacts, and Juniper keeps bumping into Wells no matter how hard she tries not to. She resents him, and the feeling seems mutual. At least, that's what she believes.

I never knew I liked the color green, until I saw his eyes, glinting as he smiled. His glasses acted like framings of paintings, worth hanging at the Louvre. Ever since I met him, I knew I craved more green in my life, as much as he needed purple in his. He loved the color so much he wanted to be all around it. And, I was there, all around him, as he was, all around me. A slow burning romantic story of friendship, yearning, finding love, and a drizzle of drama. ---- Trigger Warning: Contains darker themes, involving death, abuse, and drugs. Copyright © 2025. All Rights Reserved.

Elise Savoy thought dropping Yale University would be the hardest part of her teen years-until her mind became the real battleground. After her mother's tragic death, 19-year-old Elise is drowning in grief and unraveling at the seams. Haunted by vivid psychotic episodes, she returns to her family's decaying home in another country, hoping the quiet will mend what's broken. But the house holds more than dusty memories and fading photographs. There's something lurking in the corners of her mind and maybe in the woods beyond the porch. As fragments of forgotten memories resurface, Elise begins to question what's real. The more she digs, the more reality slips through her fingers. Is she losing herself to grief and madness? Or is there something hidden in her past that's been waiting to be found? Sometimes, the only way to find the truth is to let it find you. .·:*¨ ¨*:·.⚘☘〄☘⚘.·:*¨ ¨*:·. Participant of the || Open Novella Contest 2025. Main prompt: 105.- Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns only this time, they're real. Secondary prompts: 102 and 126. 2025 Umi Moriko Original

[2024 WATTY WINNER][18+] Two best friends. Six weeks. One final shot at love. Since college, Maisie and August have been best friends-frustratingly, perfectly platonic best friends. For nine long years, Maisie has secretly harbored the hope that their relationship could be something more. In that time, Maisie Rhodes has skyrocketed to stardom as a pop sensation, earning the title of Pop Princess from her devoted Rhodie fans. When she hints on The Tonight Show that her love songs are inspired by someone close to her, speculation runs wild. To throw everyone off the scent-and protect her true feelings for August-Maisie's manager hatches a plan: fake a relationship with her best friend. Miraculously, August agrees. Now Maisie faces six weeks of pretending to date the one person she's always loved, all while tiptoeing around the unspoken truth that's lingered between them for years. What could possibly go wrong?

AMBY AWARDS TOP PICK 2023 ❤️ "You think I can't act like I'm into you?" He asks in a whisper. He reaches out, and strokes a finger down my cheek, and I feel myself shiver at the touch. "You think I can't convince everyone that I have feelings for you?" His eyes are darker than ever, and any sign of a smile has now vanished. The only word I can think right now to describe him is "smouldering". I have searched many great romance novels (and even more sub-standard ones), and I am yet to find a better synonym for that particular word. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Abigail Watson has always played by the rules. She also constantly strives to be the best at everything she does. So when her boyfriend Declan decides to turn their temporary break into a permanent break-up, she starts to seriously doubt her girlfriend skills. Her new flatmate Ric tells Abby she's not the problem, but how can she believe *him* when he's one of the most annoying guys she's ever encountered? However, when she needs a fake boyfriend to save face in front of Declan, Ric might just be the only man she can turn to . . . Practice Makes Perfect offers you some forced proximity, enemies to lovers, a dash of fake dating, pub quizzes, flatmate frustrations . . . And - of course - an annoying ex, because doesn't everyone have at least one of those??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cover by @LNRoberts1 ❤️

AMBY AWARDS TOP PICK 2024❤️ I can only see half of his face, reflected in the mirror at the front of the bus, and part of that is obscured by the peak of the black company-branded cap he's wearing. But I can see enough to glean that there's a strong jaw covered in scruff. A wide mouth that looks like it would be prone to smiling. He's wearing glasses with trendy light tortoiseshell frames, and I can't quite discern the colour of his eyes from my position . . . but some weird intuition is telling me that they'll be hazel, and I wonder when my brain is going to catch up. Because I *know* him, don't I? I'm almost certain of it. And he seems to know me, too. Or at least he thinks he does. The way he's glancing over at me lets me in on that. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mirren Shepherd has *many* pet peeves. Top of the list, though? Staycations . . . And surprises. So when her girls' trip abroad is cancelled at the last minute and she finds herself roped into a minibus tour of Northern Scotland instead, she isn't remotely happy. And when she finds out who their guide is . . . It's yet another reason for her to dislike surprises. Because Owen Sullivan wasn't so much the one who got away . . . He was the one who just didn't return. And, after she finally got over him, she never expected to see him again. Mirren would prefer to leave the past in the past, but Owen is determined to try to right his wrongs. Can she trust him? Can she trust *herself*? Maybe, just maybe, this surprise - and staycation - won't be as bad as Mirren thinks . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~

[18+] Ellis Sutton, the sweet and caring Instagram influencer, has never felt the need to be romantically involved with a man despite her online fame. Everything seems fine until a two-week fling one summer when a handsome cowboy shakes things up. Thoughts of him won't leave her mind, and the growing pressure from her massive Instagram following is starting to take a toll on her. Rhett Lawson, a true cowboy and part owner of the rugged Diamond Creek Ranch, a cattle ranch and lodging haven, is facing financial woes. In a desperate bid to rescue their family legacy, Rhett's sister hatches a plan - bring in the famed Instagram sensation, Ellis Sutton. The hope? That her massive following could breathe new life into the struggling ranch. However, the plan takes an unexpected twist when Rhett realizes that the same Instagram sensation his sister has invited is none other than Ellie - the two-week fling etched in his memory for over a year. He had no idea that the sweet and sexy woman he met at that bar that summer was actually a global phenomenon: social media influencer Ellis Sutton.