Contemporary tagged booklist

Carve Me Golden

by Mara J. Ova

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]

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Carve Me Free: A Steamy Enemies‑to‑Lovers, Forbidden Ski Romance

by Mara j. Ova

She is ice and scandal. He is speed and sin. When they meet, they turn heat into a weapon they can’t stop using. But can that last? Having spent her life as a decoration for her scandalously rich father, Élise Moreau finds her rebellion in a reckless downhill racer. Escaping an Olympic gala, she takes him up on his offer to be free and wild in his arms. One reckless Olympic night. No names. Just escape, freedom, and the kind of sex that brands itself into your bones. Nico Reiner is the golden, reckless Super-G talent of Austria, hurling himself down the ice like he’s furious at the mountain and flirting his way through camera crews and fan girls. He’s used to casual hook-ups, easy worship, and being the wildest thing in any room—until one perfectly polished princess looks at him like he’s beneath her, then kisses him like she wants to burn her whole life down. They were not supposed to meet again. But months later, Austria’s new speed hero locks eyes with his mystery girl at a World Cup sponsor party—and finds out the wild stranger from his bed is the Moreau heiress whose disgraced dynasty now quietly owns his skis. What starts as a filthy, anonymous rebellion turns into a season-long obsession they can’t tame. As the stakes climb, they learn lust is easy; love is brutal. When crashes threaten careers, tabloids circle like vultures, and her father moves in for the kill, Nico and Élise have to face something far scarier than breaking rules: sacrifice, letting go of each ot [Read More]

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Carve My Heart: A Steamy Forbidden Olympic Sports Romance

by Mara J. Ova

The tension between them crackles and sizzles in every stolen moment. But they can't. Both their careers depend on it. Katharina Berger crashes into Austria's golden boy, Thomas Kern, on a glacier half on purpose, just to feel his eyes on her: sharp, amused, and hungry. One reckless dinner turns into a night of desperate moans, whispered commands, and breathless surrender that leaves her aching for days. Katharina is a PR manager who fought tooth and nail for her career and swore she'd never lose herself to an athlete, as her mother did. But one look at the way he moves, at the dangerous confidence in his voice, at the hunger in his eyes, and she's never wanted to break her own rules so badly. Austria's ski champion, Thomas Kern, isn't just good. He's the best in the world, and he knows it. But Katharina isn't just another distraction. Her sharp mind cuts straight through his defenses, and her body, the way she takes control, the way she comes apart for him, he's obsessed. When Katharina lands her dream job as the Austrian team's new PR manager, they're forced to work side by side. They know exactly how the other tastes. No one else on the team can ever know. As Thomas struggles under Olympic pressure, Katharina is the only one who sees the man under the legend: the exhaustion under the arrogance, the flicker of fear behind his grin. And he can't stop picturing the heat of her skin, the taste of her lips, the way her gaze cuts straight through every defense he's built. [Read More]

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Almost Honest

by Ava Ardyne

I can survive Pritzker. I can survive Quinn Ozler. Both are lies. Quinn Ozler is arrogant, dangerous, and completely off-limits—the billionaire heir who rules Pritzker’s elite campus like it was built for him. I’m a scholarship pre-med student one bad grade away from losing everything. Falling for Quinn would be reckless. Wanting him anyway could ruin me. Because behind the rivalry, the attraction, and the moments I pretend mean nothing, his family is hiding secrets. So is mine. And the closer we get, the more certain I am of one thing: Love makes liars of us both. A steamy new adult enemies-to-lovers romance featuring elite campus drama, dark family secrets, and a slow burn with plenty of heat. [Read More]

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From Geek to Chic

by Lisa S. Gayle

A fuzzy cat, a need for speed, and a chic new style… Commitment-phobe COO millionaire Quill Webber would rather race cars and work out with his best bro than spend more than one excruciatingly complicated night with a woman. But a bet with his best friend’s wife forces him to confront his steadfast mission—to protect his heart at all costs. Agreeing to a fake relationship with a billionaire’s daughter might convince him he can keep things strictly platonic… but can a guy who secretly loves his cat really pretend feelings aren’t part of the deal? Geek-centric animal lover Andie Thompson has one goal: to build the largest exotic animal sanctuary the world has ever seen. To make it happen, she needs capital from her trust fund—at least until the Las Vegas sanctuary is up and running. But her father is holding those funds hostage. He has a goal of his own: marrying her off to his arrogant best friend’s son, Maxwell. Tired of playing defense, Andie decides it’s time to go on offense—and what better way to do that than with a fake proposal from another man? What Andie doesn’t count on is that going on offense means everyone’s skeletons are about to come out… and that her guns-blazing fake boyfriend may be far more than he appears. From Geek to Chic is an open-door, action-packed contemporary romance with a guaranteed HEA. It’s a sequel to Goddess and the Geek but can be enjoyed as a standalone. [Read More]

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Goddess and the Geek

by Lisa S. Gayle

Geniuses can become bad boys too... The Goddess is a glamorous marketing whiz full of sass with a shady past. The Geek is a genius CEO with a head for numbers but not for words. He has his sights set on her… but what happens when he has to face challenges beyond the power of his brain? Will he flee back to the confines of his comfortable office desk? Or will he stand beside her and fight? Gigi “Goddess” Green is her name—well, her fake one anyway. Forced to create a false identity to escape her manipulative, controlling ex, Genevieve is on the run, and only one man has been willing to hire her under false pretenses. He’s smart, sweet, and sensitive—and he’s a freaking millionaire who’s into her of all people! But will he still be into her when he finds out she’s got to take down the most powerful casino owner in Reno? Should she tell him he’s her one and only ally before she ropes him in? Or just bring his genius brain along for the ride? Brendan Carter King is just a regular everyday guy—well, mostly anyway. He’s good at numbers—so good, in fact, that he dropped out of college to start his own finance company and earn himself millions. He has the CEO title, the mansion, the cars, the everything—except a partner in life to love and cherish. No one has ever caught his eye until her—the glamorous Gigi Goddess Green. Will she be willing to give a geeky guy in glasses a chance? Because one look into her ingenious eyes and he’s lost. Goddess and the Geek is a standalone, open-door adventure that features an action-packed, opposites-attract contemporary romance. [Read More]

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Love in La La Land

by Lisa S. Gayle

Reality TV, riches, and a race for romance—with the glitz and glam of the Hollywood spotlight! Yes, please! Sign me up. An all-new season is filming in America’s renowned movie town, and the directors are hunting for contestants with the enticing tagline: Want to sparkle under the city lights? Bria Harper doesn’t date city boys, especially manscaped stuck-up ones with styled hair and trimmed goatees. But she’ll compete in any setting for a million dollars! As much as she wants to enter the competition alone, using her military skills and crafty strategies to win, the race requires a partner. Rick’s seemingly equally hungry to win the money, but the show’s dramatic rules have thrown them a curveball—America will vote the couple they deem to be the most “in love” as the winners. Will they have to fake an engagement to convince the fans they’re in love? If so, she can never let her feelings become real because she doesn’t do forever! Rick Turner gladly exited the Hollywood scene, leaving behind an unfulfilling career as a cameraman on the very show his friends are encouraging him to compete as a contestant on now. After years of filming false narratives and dealing with his toxic ex-wife, he’s more interested in genuine relationships. But Bria’s real—he can feel it—and though she’s his polar opposite, she’s too good to resist, even while she’s encouraging him to fake an engagement in front of his manipulative ex. Trusting love again won’t be easy, but perhaps he can bend the rules and play the game for a chance at love? As long as he doesn’t get his heart broken again in the process! Love in La La Land is an opposites-attract, open-door romantic adventure. It's third in The Race for Riches or Romance series but can be read as a standalone. [Read More]

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Tangle in the Tropics

by Lisa S. Gayle

Reality TV, riches, and a race for romance—with a taste of the tropics! Yes, please! Sign me up. An all-new season is filming in the secluded island paradise of Fiji and the directors are hunting for contestants with the enticing tagline: Want to shine in the spotlight? But Andrew Meyers already does! He doesn’t need an outrageous action-adventure reality show to find a girl. He’s professional football’s most sought-after quarterback. Trailed by cameras, women, football junkies, and more, he craves ibuprofen ten times more than attention. All he wants to do is play football—without the paparazzi! Well…and win back the love of his life who won’t give him the time of the day. But perhaps if they were stuck on a desert island together, she would? Hannah Cooper is cautious about falling in love. Ever since she dated the quarterback king of football, relationships have been tough. She’s harboring a deep wound from their unforgettable time together, and moving on from her intense feelings for him hasn’t been easy. After all, how could she? His handsome face is splashed across every TV screen, magazine, and internet site in the world. But this time, she’s decided to move on for good—because what better place to fall in love than on a secluded island with a group of commitment-seeking single men! Tangle in the Tropics is a full-length, open-door romance that is best read as the second in the series but can be read as a standalone. It features an emotionally charged, celebrity romance. [Read More]

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Crush in the Cascades

by Lisa S. Gayle

Reality TV, riches, and a race for romance! What’s not to like? For Easton Cooper, everything—except a chance at one million dollars. Desperate for cash, he’ll even compete on an outrageous action-adventure reality show, and he hates reality TV. As luck would have it, he’s thrust into his element, a series of outdoor challenges in the Oregon Cascade Mountains. But there’s a catch—he’s staring across the meadow at his partner—a tan, hot, out-of-place California girl, wearing heels and a formal dress in the middle of freaking nowhere—and she will not bring him down! Even if he has to drag her across the finish line. Amity Rose wants an adventure. No one told her that “dress accordingly” meant deck out in hardcore mountain gear. So she wore strappy heels and a fancy dress to the opening scene. So she hates bugs, cold air, tents, campfires—must she go on? Now all the contestants think she’s a pampered princess—and to add to her bad luck, her partner is the worst—a gangly, overconfident, know-it-all mountain trail guide. Did the directors just add a romantic twist to the drama? Sure, why not? Maybe she’ll leave the race with something more valuable than money. Just not with him! Crush in the Cascades is a full-length, open-door contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone. It features an action-packed, enemies-to-lovers romance. [Read More]

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Power of Shadow

by Violet Hale

Power. Control. Blood. Obsession. Ryker is the heir to the Pact — a ruthless mafia organization built on power, loyalty, and violence. A man raised to rule, trained to destroy, and sworn to a code that demands sacrifice above all else. Ashley was never meant to cross his path. She is Shadow — a legendary assassin feared in the criminal underworld. Silent. Deadly. Untraceable. She doesn’t miss. She doesn’t hesitate. And she never lets emotions interfere with the job. Until him. Their meeting was supposed to end in blood. Instead, it ignites a dangerous obsession and dark desires neither of them can escape. He should kill her. She should betray him. And yet every choice they make pulls them deeper into a world of lies, power struggles, and forbidden desire. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, one truth becomes clear: love is the most dangerous weakness of all. Because in the world of the Pact, it's not the one who loves the most who wins — it's the one who pulls the trigger first. Power of Shadow is a dark mafia romance featuring morally gray characters, enemies-to-lovers tension, obsession, violence, and a ruthless antihero. This book is the first in a series and ends on emotional resolution, while the danger is far from over. [Read More]

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The Price of Traveling Light

by S. E. Morris

Rae Stevens is a woman on the run. So desperate to escape the compound where she was raised that she walked thirty miles through the Texas countryside to Odessa before fleeing south to San Antonio, she has settled into a quiet life in a tiny apartment, careful to keep her identity and background secret. A chance meeting with her new neighbor leads to the belief she might just deserve more… Ward Schramm has strict rules when it comes to women. No women his buddies or brother might be interested in. No one very much younger. No sex with a woman who might feel obligated. No relationships. Most of all, no developing feelings. Rae Stevens is very much not his type, but he’ll try anyone once. Something about the mechanic has him wanting more than he ever has before… Eddie Cooper took his father’s religious cult and built it into a drug trafficking stronghold. Rae can bring it all down. He’s already reclaimed her once. If he can’t bring her back to the Panhandle alive, he’s more than willing to make sure she can’t testify. The danger brings Ward and Rae together. Can they make it long enough for love to bloom? [Read More]

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Bare

by Alex W. Wells

Neil Ashworth has spent four years not being looked at. He teaches English at a Manchester comprehensive. Arrives at 7:20. Takes the back staircase, drinks his coffee before the staff room fills, and locks his office door twice before he leaves at night. His ex-wife knows he is gay. His five-year-old son does not know there is anything to know. His colleagues see a quiet, competent teacher. Neil plans to keep it that way. Then the school hires Rory Cavanaugh to paint a mural on the courtyard wall. Rory has paint under his nails and a lip ring that has no business in a Key Stage 4 briefing. He is warm and loud, and he has been raising his younger brother since the boy was eight. He paints what he sees. What he sees is Neil. One school year. A mural on the courtyard wall. A portrait in oil that nobody gave him permission to start. A Manchester gallery show that will hang Neil's face six feet tall, in public. If Neil lets him finish, his father will see it. His son. His colleagues. Neil himself. This is a contemporary literary MM romance featuring slow-burn intimacy, a closeted single dad, a warm artist, forced proximity in a school setting, explicit on-page scenes between adult men, and a hard-won HEA. 18+ only. Note: Bare is already live on Amazon, so you can post your honest review the moment you finish reading. [Read More]

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