Browse Romance ARCs

Essence of Power

by A.J. Valenti

Tropes: slowburn, forcedproximity, dualpov

Instant download

He married her to settle a debt. Neither of them knew what the marriage would awaken. Eliza Merritt has spent her life preserving what remains of her family’s legacy. When her brother’s mistakes threaten Whitcomb Marine Terminal, marriage to Adrian Kodra offers the only solution that leaves the inheritance in her hands. Adrian gets access to a port his powerful family has wanted for years. Eliza gets the protection—and leverage—she needs to keep Whitcomb from being dismantled around her. It is a calculated alliance between two people who have no intention of confusing business with love. But Adrian Kodra has never been an ordinary businessman. And Eliza is beginning to understand that she was never an ordinary Merritt. For as long as she can remember, there have been moments she was taught not to question. Instincts too precise to dismiss. Sensations no one else seemed to feel. A force inside her that became dangerous whenever she stopped holding it back. Her mother taught her to suppress it. She never told Eliza what it was. Now, as Adrian’s world draws her deeper into the rivalries surrounding Whitcomb, the secrets her mother buried begin to surface. Eliza discovers that her family history does not begin with shipping fortunes and Newport estates—and that the power awakening inside her belongs to a bloodline older, rarer, and far more dangerous than anyone allowed her to know. There are others who recognize what she is becoming. Some have been waiting for it. As old family histories collide with modern criminal empires, Eliza and Adrian’s marriage becomes something neither of them accounted for: a partnership built on trust, desire, and a connection that seems to affect the power growing between them. Adrian married her for her inheritance. Eliza married him to protect it. But the deeper they go, the clearer it becomes that Whitcomb was only ever the surface of what her family left behind. [Read More]

A Stranger's Name

by Anna Michi

Tropes: slowburn, forcedproximity, firstperson

Instant download

Satiana was born to hold a sword, to be first on the battlefield. Her mother had other plans. Satiana Santern spent her whole life training to lead a battle team someday—like her father, like all four of her brothers. Instead, her mother signs her up for elemental magic: a future spent lobbing pretty orbs from the back line in a frilly dress, taking orders instead of giving them—nothing like the warrior's path she's dreamed of since she was old enough to swing a blade. Worse, she's staring down a marriage her mother's already arranged, to a boy she can't stand. There's only one way out: a marriage of convenience to a total stranger. Khennay Taisen is a clanless Vendayan with no ties, no obligations, and no obvious reason to help a girl he just met. But he offers his hand anyway—on paper only—and Satiana takes the deal without asking too many questions. The Academy of Three Powers gives her everything she ever wanted: a sword in her hand, training that pushes her to her limits, a real shot at proving she belongs. It also hands her a rival who refuses to lose gracefully, a strange white weasel that keeps turning up wherever she goes, and a husband who's supposed to mean nothing at all. Khen teases her, protects her, makes her laugh when she least expects it. But the closer Satiana gets to the truth of who he really is, the clearer one thing becomes: some secrets come at a price. And she's not the only one who'll have to pay it. This is a book 1 of The Academy of Three Powers duology. Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger. Book 2 has an HFN (Happy For Now) ending. Book 2 will be eventually available for ARC-reading on PenPinery as well, approximately around Nov-Dec 2026. [Read More]

Carve Me Golden

by Mara J. Ova

Tropes: forcedproximity, firstperson, characterdriven

19 readers reading

Trapped alone with your ultimate daydream crush while a storm rages around you… do you dare take the chance? Forced proximity · She’s also an athlete · Celebrity athlete and his fan · European alpine settings · High‑stakes sport · Overcoming traumatic past · Exotic settings and fresh sports After seven years with a toxic ex, Czech language teacher Zlata knows a new relationship is the last thing she needs. She’s finally thrown herself into ski racing, the real kind, with after-hours training and no rewards but the rush. But a girl is allowed to dream… and sometimes, dreams come true. A broken gondola. A violent storm. And Fabio Baier, her untouchable, world-famous ski racing crush, close enough to feel, to touch, to make her feel alive, if only for an hour. This was never supposed to be real. But when fantasy collides with reality, it doesn’t come softly. It burns. Because Fabio isn’t just every woman’s dream. He has demons of his own to outrun. And until they both face their pasts, all they have is craving. Carve Me Golden is a standalone in the Carve series, a high-heat sports romance filled with forced proximity, emotional scars, explosive chemistry, and a compelling couple who know that love must be earned. If you crave intense attraction, high-stakes passion, and a fantasy that refuses to stay just a fantasy, this book is for you. [Read More]

Essence of Power

by A.J. Valenti

Tropes: slowburn, forcedproximity, dualpov

Instant download

He married her to settle a debt. Neither of them knew what the marriage would awaken. Eliza Merritt has spent her life preserving what remains of her family’s legacy. When her brother’s mistakes threaten Whitcomb Marine Terminal, marriage to Adrian Kodra offers the only solution that leaves the inheritance in her hands. Adrian gets access to a port his powerful family has wanted for years. Eliza gets the protection—and leverage—she needs to keep Whitcomb from being dismantled around her. It is a calculated alliance between two people who have no intention of confusing business with love. But Adrian Kodra has never been an ordinary businessman. And Eliza is beginning to understand that she was never an ordinary Merritt. For as long as she can remember, there have been moments she was taught not to question. Instincts too precise to dismiss. Sensations no one else seemed to feel. A force inside her that became dangerous whenever she stopped holding it back. Her mother taught her to suppress it. She never told Eliza what it was. Now, as Adrian’s world draws her deeper into the rivalries surrounding Whitcomb, the secrets her mother buried begin to surface. Eliza discovers that her family history does not begin with shipping fortunes and Newport estates—and that the power awakening inside her belongs to a bloodline older, rarer, and far more dangerous than anyone allowed her to know. There are others who recognize what she is becoming. Some have been waiting for it. As old family histories collide with modern criminal empires, Eliza and Adrian’s marriage becomes something neither of them accounted for: a partnership built on trust, desire, and a connection that seems to affect the power growing between them. Adrian married her for her inheritance. Eliza married him to protect it. But the deeper they go, the clearer it becomes that Whitcomb was only ever the surface of what her family left behind. [Read More]

A Stranger's Name

by Anna Michi

Tropes: slowburn, forcedproximity, firstperson

Instant download

Satiana was born to hold a sword, to be first on the battlefield. Her mother had other plans. Satiana Santern spent her whole life training to lead a battle team someday—like her father, like all four of her brothers. Instead, her mother signs her up for elemental magic: a future spent lobbing pretty orbs from the back line in a frilly dress, taking orders instead of giving them—nothing like the warrior's path she's dreamed of since she was old enough to swing a blade. Worse, she's staring down a marriage her mother's already arranged, to a boy she can't stand. There's only one way out: a marriage of convenience to a total stranger. Khennay Taisen is a clanless Vendayan with no ties, no obligations, and no obvious reason to help a girl he just met. But he offers his hand anyway—on paper only—and Satiana takes the deal without asking too many questions. The Academy of Three Powers gives her everything she ever wanted: a sword in her hand, training that pushes her to her limits, a real shot at proving she belongs. It also hands her a rival who refuses to lose gracefully, a strange white weasel that keeps turning up wherever she goes, and a husband who's supposed to mean nothing at all. Khen teases her, protects her, makes her laugh when she least expects it. But the closer Satiana gets to the truth of who he really is, the clearer one thing becomes: some secrets come at a price. And she's not the only one who'll have to pay it. This is a book 1 of The Academy of Three Powers duology. Book 1 ends with a cliffhanger. Book 2 has an HFN (Happy For Now) ending. Book 2 will be eventually available for ARC-reading on PenPinery as well, approximately around Nov-Dec 2026. [Read More]

Carve Me Golden

by Mara J. Ova

Tropes: forcedproximity, firstperson, characterdriven

19 readers reading

Trapped alone with your ultimate daydream crush while a storm rages around you… do you dare take the chance? Forced proximity · She’s also an athlete · Celebrity athlete and his fan · European alpine settings · High‑stakes sport · Overcoming traumatic past · Exotic settings and fresh sports After seven years with a toxic ex, Czech language teacher Zlata knows a new relationship is the last thing she needs. She’s finally thrown herself into ski racing, the real kind, with after-hours training and no rewards but the rush. But a girl is allowed to dream… and sometimes, dreams come true. A broken gondola. A violent storm. And Fabio Baier, her untouchable, world-famous ski racing crush, close enough to feel, to touch, to make her feel alive, if only for an hour. This was never supposed to be real. But when fantasy collides with reality, it doesn’t come softly. It burns. Because Fabio isn’t just every woman’s dream. He has demons of his own to outrun. And until they both face their pasts, all they have is craving. Carve Me Golden is a standalone in the Carve series, a high-heat sports romance filled with forced proximity, emotional scars, explosive chemistry, and a compelling couple who know that love must be earned. If you crave intense attraction, high-stakes passion, and a fantasy that refuses to stay just a fantasy, this book is for you. [Read More]

Let Me Count the Ways

by Laurel Osterkamp

Tropes: characterdriven, strongfmc, humor

It was impulsive of me, sleeping with Theo; he’s a rule-obsessed sheriff who’s SO not my type. Then again, Theo’s got this knack for making me feel seen, heard, and desired… I’m Emma Jacobs, owner of The Pretty Pinecone, a romance-only bookstore. I can sell you the perfect love story, but I can't seem to write my own happy ending. When a rival bookstore threatens my beloved shop’s survival, I decide to offer wine tastings and poetry nights. There’s just one problem—Theo Baird, Sugar Pine's infuriatingly handsome yet uptight new sheriff. He’s determined to shut me down over every minor infraction. Good thing that Theo’s good looking, because his personality is desperate need of a glow-up. And yet, no one challenges me the way Theo can. As my Valentine’s Day event approaches, featuring anonymous love confessions and Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s passionate verses, our boundaries begin to blur, and I wonder if maybe I’ve misread Theo all along. But then disaster strikes, and I must decide if I’m brave enough to risk my heart on the most daring venture of all—falling in love. LET ME COUNT THE WAYS is a sparkling, small-town romance about finding courage in poetry, passion in the unexpected, and the one person who makes breaking the rules worthwhile. [Read More]

Carve Me Golden

by Mara J. Ova

Tropes: forcedproximity, firstperson, characterdriven

19 readers reading

Trapped alone with your ultimate daydream crush while a storm rages around you… do you dare take the chance? Forced proximity · She’s also an athlete · Celebrity athlete and his fan · European alpine settings · High‑stakes sport · Overcoming traumatic past · Exotic settings and fresh sports After seven years with a toxic ex, Czech language teacher Zlata knows a new relationship is the last thing she needs. She’s finally thrown herself into ski racing, the real kind, with after-hours training and no rewards but the rush. But a girl is allowed to dream… and sometimes, dreams come true. A broken gondola. A violent storm. And Fabio Baier, her untouchable, world-famous ski racing crush, close enough to feel, to touch, to make her feel alive, if only for an hour. This was never supposed to be real. But when fantasy collides with reality, it doesn’t come softly. It burns. Because Fabio isn’t just every woman’s dream. He has demons of his own to outrun. And until they both face their pasts, all they have is craving. Carve Me Golden is a standalone in the Carve series, a high-heat sports romance filled with forced proximity, emotional scars, explosive chemistry, and a compelling couple who know that love must be earned. If you crave intense attraction, high-stakes passion, and a fantasy that refuses to stay just a fantasy, this book is for you. [Read More]

Marked in Blood

by Emmett Vance

Tropes: forcedproximity, dualpov, darkromance

14 readers reading

He cut his own hand instead of mine. It was the kindest thing he ever did to me. They sold me to the Sasso syndicate to seal ninety days of peace — a hostage, a clause in a contract, blood witnessed across two open palms while two armies watched. The new boss was supposed to be a monster. Kiril Sasso is worse than that, and better: a wreck of a man with shaking hands and a cruel mouth, so certain he ruins everything he touches that he'd rather bury me than risk keeping me. He locks the doors. He swears he'll end me when the ninety days run out. And when he reaches for me in the dark, he does it rough, like a man taking the one thing he's sure he isn't allowed. I was thrown away once, a long time ago. I learned the wrong lesson from it: I don't leave. Not when he's cruel. Not when he shoves me toward the door. Not when there's a debt in a ledger neither of us has seen, waiting a very long time to come due. So I'll do the one thing that terrifies a man who's never been kept. When the doors finally open — I'll stay. ═══════ WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT ═══════ ✦ Dark M/M Mafia Romance — Enemies to Lovers, Blood Vow ✦ Self-destructive boss × hostage who won't break (he cuts his own hand instead of yours) ✦ Forced Proximity — ninety days, one locked house ✦ Hurt/Comfort, Dual POV (Kiril + Eli) — broken man held, not fixed ✦ Explicit, on-page, 18+ — rough turning tender ✦ HEA guaranteed — Book 1 of a trilogy ═══════ CONTENT NOTES ═══════ Explicit on-page M/M sex (18+ / rough turning tender) / self-harm at the blood vow (he cuts his own palm) + blood / captivity + hostage / organized-crime violence / past child abandonment / HEA — not a cliffhanger, but one open season-thread. ═══════ FOR ARC READERS ═══════ If you're here for the dark, welcome home. Marked in Blood is for readers who want the broken one held instead of fixed. Book 1 of three. The Tally trilogy. HEA guaranteed. — Emmett Vance [Read More]

Masks and Moonbeams

by Kanika Singhal

Tropes: characterdriven, dualpov, strongfmc

Instant download

To be loved is to be known. Princess Lata moonlights as a vigilante and finds an ally worth dying for. But what does this man have to do with her good-for-nothing fiancé? Chakor captures the Moon God. Now she needs to let him go. Or watch him die. To keep her promise to her dying queen, General Ria lives her life under a mask. But an old friend returns, and now she has a choice – lose her heart or break her oath. Chitrani falls in love with a Snake prince as a child. Years later, why does her fiancé look so much like the boy she lost? And Kalindi – the village healer – tries to evict a long-healed warrior from her hut by making him do housework. She doesn’t know he is a prince. “... being truly seen beneath expectations, titles, and carefully guarded secrets.” – Amazon Reviewer, Canada “The romances are tender without being cheesy and the mix of mythology and folklore gives it personality.” – Amazon Reviewer, Spain In this collection of clean fantasy romance, five women find themselves seen — truly seen — by the last person they expected. Five stories. Five happy endings. No cliff-hangers. Masks and Moonbeams is the first book in the Of Queens and Rascals series — fantasy romance rooted in Indian mythology, folklore, and history — fierce heroines, heroes who earn their place, and love that sees through every mask. “... a shiny gate to escape from the reality of modern, fast-paced life.” – Amazon Reviewer, Germany [Read More]