For Maleek Jones, hockey is his wife. Everything and everyone else is his mistress, an aside. When unexpected responsibilities land in his lap, the balance of his world is disrupted, changing the way he sees everything.

Small-business owner and financial advisor Samiyah Manhattan is mourning the death of her six-year marriage when she vows never to trust men again. Alone at a local bar, Samiyah attempts to put her situation in perspective when she is drawn inexorably to the presence of a nearby patron. Celebrity ex-boxer and heavyweight champion turned business mogul Jonas Alexander Rose never takes women too seriously. They only attach themselves to him because of his star-studded status. However, when he meets the beautiful Samiyah Manhattan, Jonas is overwhelmed by the heated attraction.

The job offer she expected after taking an unpaid internship at a major shoe company didn’t come through. The friend who’d offered her a place to stay suddenly gave her 48 hours to vacate after a misunderstanding. And when she’s forced to move back to her hometown to live with her father and his mistress-turned-wife, it almost seems impossible for things to get any worse...until she runs into her former best friend, who’s only gotten fine with time.

You met them in the Valentine and Rose series. In this prelude, I will formally introduce you to Malik Anthony Clark, Tristian Neil Clark, and Langston Jamal Clark.

One thing that held constant in Shelby Donovan’s life was her career. As a world-renowned artist, Shelby’s paintings traveled the globe, landing in museums and homes across the nation. But what she couldn’t seem to get under control was her love life. Her mother insisted it was because of her best friend, Sebastian Cartwright. They’ve known each other for years. Sebastian and Shelby shared everything; embarrassing moments, secrets, dating tips, affection, and even an explosive kiss during one tipsy night on Shelby’s birthday.

Asha's life is no fairytale, by any stretch of the imagination. There was no kind, generous father to care for and protect her from the Vegas that exists beyond the glitz and glamour of The Strip. No wise, doting mother to look over and guide her, passing down essential lessons and leading her to the right path. And certainly, no Prince Charming just around the corner, ready to rescue her from working late nights to cover steadily mounting bills.

NBA star Paul "Polo" Logan is known for his on-court prowess and his off-court philandering. Kendra Doll is the main woman in his life, and although their past bonds them together, it also may be what tears them apart. He’s ready to make a change and truly commit to her, but is it too late?

Putting herself first is what Jordana Evans knows how to do best. She’s at the top of her game in her career and no longer haunted by memories of her past threatening to steal her joy. In her mind, being in love is a want, not a need, and she’s convinced that she’ll be just fine without it. Having intimate relations with the opposite sex is something she’s willing to do for one night only. But then came along…him.

Popular travel blogger Greer Kennedy is living the good life with a successful career and equally as successful fiance until one phone call from a friend opens her eyes to the truth of her relationship. Tall, handsome, and successful in his own right, Derek Hill is dealing with some serious relationship problems as well. When their paths cross, they mutually but unofficially decide to share a night - or three or four - of anonymous pleasure.

Train. Fight. Repeat. That's been Princeton "The Prince" Lattimore's life for as long as he can remember. But when an interruption to his heavyweight champion world comes in the form of an alluring journalist who sees well beyond his undefeated stature, he quickly learns there’s a lot more to life outside of the boxing ring.

Dr. Ezekiel Green is ready to make a fresh start in a new city after the divorce from his high school sweetheart. What was supposed to be a professional business dinner with a future colleague quickly transformed into a love at first sight encounter, or so he thought. Dr. Jemma Holiday was spirited, brilliant, beautiful, and another man’s wife.

After a hectic school year with her classroom of first graders, Nova Grant is desperate for a break. So when her best friend invites her to spend the summer down in Miami, taking the vacation is a no-brainer. The only thing is, her best friend’s husband had the same idea, inviting his friend Guy Thompson to stay in the condo Nova was already guaranteed.

At twenty-one, Ason ‘Ace’ Williams Jr. knows all about inevitable endings. He’s formerly famous, a popular rapper’s muse, the son of a three-time NBA champ, and a little… complicated. After a disturbing scandal and loss rocks his world, he’s left to deal with both in a city that doesn’t quite feel like home. It’s a place filled with old family friends he’s never met, reminders of all the endings he’s had to endure, and even worse—he’s stuck there after his dad takes a job no one ever imagined him taking.

Twenty-nine-year-old Happy Galleria is unhappy with the way her life is going. Her life plans were to be married, excelling in her career, and pregnant with her first child. However, her boyfriend, Phil, has other plans. Trying to make partner at his law firm, his plans don’t include a family, marriage, or setting roots anytime soon. Happy has always been good with remaining emotionless, but will her emotions start to show once Phil ignores her pleas for wanting more in their relationship?

Known playboy and award-winning R&B singer Wesley Johnson Jr. puts his dating rules to the side when he has a second chance encounter with the woman he can’t stop thinking about. Finding himself in unchartered territory, he realizes he can’t rely on his fame to earn the affection of this one special woman. Will his new ways be enough for her to let her guard down, or will someone from his past ruin their chances together?

Sebastian Shark is on the verge of realizing his dream. The Edge - the most luxurious Los Angeles skyscraper ever conceived - will be his legacy, an icon to dominate LA’s skyline just as Shark dominates its boardrooms. Self-made businesswoman Abbigail Gibson is on a trajectory toward massive success, but to get there, she must navigate the egos of her demanding clients - particularly the driven and obstinate Shark, who possesses the special talent of aggravating and arousing her within the same breath.

Thea Landry has always known her place in modern-day society. It's somewhere just above the trash can her mother dumped her in as a newborn, but below the class where much comes easy. With her tattered shoes and bargain-bin clothes, her life has never been full of glamour. So when a rich and charismatic man takes interest, she doesn't fool herself into thinking their encounter is anything more than a one-night stand. Months later, she's kicking herself for not getting his phone number. Or his last name. She's given up hope of seeing him ever again.

One of the wealthiest Russian oligarchs, Alex Volkov is as ruthless as he is magnetic. He always gets what he wants, and what he wants is me, in his bed. He’s the kind of trouble every woman should run from. The bullet his bodyguard took for him proves that. I should stay far away, but for one night, I give in to temptation. Before I know it, he’s pulling me deeper into his world of excess and violence, invading not only my life but my heart. How much trust can I place in a man so dangerous? How much do I dare risk for his love?

I never finish a project late. Ever. So, when sassy, stilettoed Vivian Vandemark swaggers in with a roll of red tape to shut down my construction site, you can imagine my reaction. Although, it involves a sledgehammer and perfectly good drywall, so maybe you can’t. She doesn’t look or act like any government employee I’ve met, and I’m determined to uncover her secrets. When I lean in, I lean in hard. But so does Vivian. Now that we’re incinerating the bedsheets, we’re in way over our heads. What started out as physical infatuation quickly morphs into more.

Literary editor Antonia Harper had it all - the career, the man, the future. That was then. Now Antonia is jobless, alone, and at a crossroads. What better time to travel the world? A solo honeymoon on the Emerald Isle will be like hitting the reset button. No distractions, no drama. Aiden Byrnes may be a literature professor, but words fail him when he meets the woman staying in the cottage next door. Tully Cross is meant to be a sleepy little village, and he's meant to be on a working holiday - not a vacation, and most definitely not with his beautiful neighbor.

The men of Rescue Four are known for two things: for being the best the Williamsport Fire Department has to offer and for their rugged sex appeal. Rescue Four's reputation is carried like a badge of honor among all the men, including Eric "Harvard" Kim. Eric is the unofficial leader of the Rescue Four squad, and with his quiet yet appealing demeanor, he definitely lives up to his squad's playboy ways with the women. That is, until a certain bar owner catches his eye. Eric is hit with a desire so intense and overwhelming he can do little about it except submit.

It was supposed to be a simple weekend away to forget the heartache caused by my cheating husband. But the man sitting next to me in 1B has different plans. Cash’s whiskey-colored eyes and easy smile beg me to dance beneath the stars, kiss in the moonlight, and walk hand in hand down the streets of Boston. Unfortunately, life has other plans because I’m still married, and Cash James is the billionaire playboy standing between me and my dream promotion.

Liza B.—the only DJ who gives a jam—wants to take her neighborhood back from the soulless property developer dropping unaffordable condos on every street corner in DC. But her planned protest at a corporate event takes a turn after she mistakes the smoldering-hot CEO for the waitstaff. When they go toe-to-toe, the sparks fly—but her impossible-to-ignore family thwarts her every move. Liza wants Dorsey Fitzgerald out of her hood, but she’ll settle for getting him out of her head.

Bad at commitment or born to roam? Either way, US Deputy Marshal Kurt Dandridge feels trapped. Maybe staying in one place for too long is the source of his unhappiness, or maybe it's because he's engaged to the wrong person. Finding his fiance in bed with another man takes care of one problem but creates another. Ridge needs a place to live. He'd leave Savannah altogether if not for his vow to apprehend an elusive fugitive. Renting a room from Kendall Blakemore seems like the perfect solution until Ridge finds himself falling for the alluring man. Would one kiss derail his course?

The Dublin Nights box set includes the contemporary romantic suspense titles, On the Edge and On the Line. On the Edge: From a horse farm in Kentucky to Dublin, Ireland - falling for her hot Irish boss is not part of the plan. Billionaire businessman by day, fighter by night...On the Line: On the day of Adam and Anna's wedding, she won't be there, and he'll lay everything on the line to get her back.

Though his methods may be rough, when it comes to protecting what’s his, Russian vor Sergei Petrovyh’s heart is always in the right place. That’s never been more true than when the gorgeous Evette Labadie asks him for a job. He knows enough to keep his hands off someone as beloved by the locals as Evie, but there’s something about her that calls to him - no matter how badly he burns to make her his.

I’m the type of girl who’s given up on fairy tales. So when Beck – the hot new busboy at work - starts flirting with me, I know better than to get my hopes up. Happily ever afters aren’t for the average. I learned that the hard way. But how can I be expected to resist a man who can quote Austen, loves making me laugh, and seems to be everything hot and good in this world? Only there’s so much more to him than that. Billionaire playboy? Check. Troubled soul? Check.

Rising star cellist Kate Flynn is new to Chicago and her job at the Windy City Chamber Ensemble. On day one, she is surprised by the board's intriguing president, Vivian Kensington. Not only does the woman come with a formidable reputation, but she's also deaf. However, between a familiar face Kate isn't ready to see again and the difficulties of being a single mom, she isn't sure Chicago is the right place for her.

Jules Moretti is newly single, an aspiring writer, and the hyper-competent assistant to the most powerful woman in fashion. It's a tough job, but her ice queen boss won't settle for less than perfection. Vivian Carlisle helms the internationally revered fashion publication Du Jour. She might be smack in the middle of a messy divorce, but you have to make sacrifices to be the best. That's what she tells herself, anyway. When the unthinkable happens, Vivian's regimented world is turned upside-down. Her life is about power, success, and dominance—not a baby!

It doesn't take long for billionaire businessman Evan Reese to realize his attraction to ad executive Celia Taylor. For six months he's wooed her, and now she's agreed to accompany him to beautiful Catalina for a family wedding. There he plans to seduce her with his charms, but he can't be certain how she's going to take the news that she'll be there on his arm playing the role of his fake fiancée.

Small-business owner and financial advisor Samiyah Manhattan is mourning the death of her six-year marriage when she vows never to trust men again. Alone at a local bar, Samiyah attempts to put her situation in perspective when she is drawn inexorably to the presence of a nearby patron. Celebrity ex-boxer and heavyweight champion turned business mogul Jonas Alexander Rose never takes women too seriously. They only attach themselves to him because of his star-studded status. However, when he meets the beautiful Samiyah Manhattan, Jonas is overwhelmed by the heated attraction.

With her soft curves and sharp tongue, defense attorney Cressida Bridwell is the only woman in Mercury Ridge that I want. She's also the one woman I can't have. Jonah As a police officer, I spend a lot of time testifying in court, and no one is a tougher adversary than Cressida. I have to confess, I love going toe-to-toe with the passionate public defender. I admire her dedication to her clients, even if her faith in them is misguided at times. Judging by the way she glares at me, though, the admiration is entirely one-sided. She views me as the enemy. But I'm a Griffin brother—and ...

JACK: Who's the stunning siren with the killer curves? Damn… I’m stuck guarding Layla Thorne, rock star diva and the ultimate forbidden fruit. She’s a hurricane in heels, so why am I aching to get caught in her storm? Day one, she ditches me. Mobbed by fans—rookie move, sweetheart. She’s a wildcat in leather, I’m a soldier in chaos. Her fiery spirit’s a dangerous aphrodisiac. Why can’t I stop thinking about those lips? Protecting her just got primal. How do I keep my distance when all I want is to claim her? LAYLA: Who’s the broad-shouldered brooding hunk with the piercing...

I just want to be naughty for one night of my life. I think I’d be really good at it... I need to escape. I’m a bad girl trapped in a good girl’s body. Perfect grades, star volleyball player, lead in the drama club. I know it’ll lead to a great career. But I need more. Just one night. In Ireland. On St. Patrick’s Day. Thousands of miles away from anyone who knows me. That’s how I met Dare Mackenzie. With fire in his emerald eyes, sinful promises on his lips. And an accent as intoxicating as the darkest stout. He keeps saying I’m too sweet, too innocent, too good. I dare you, ...

When Emma Wright’s small-town bakery becomes the target of a massive redevelopment project, she’s determined to protect the one thing that connects her to her late mother and her close-knit community. Enter Liam Hawthorne—a devastatingly handsome billionaire whose name is plastered all over the plans to turn her charming neighborhood into a sterile urban hub. Liam’s life has always been about success and strategy, but meeting Emma throws him completely off balance. Her fiery determination and unapologetic passion for her craft make him question everything he thought he wanted. ...

Violet Clarke is ready to take over the world, one strawberry at a time, after she inherits her grandfather's old farm. That's the plan, at least... But when firefighter, William Baxter, shows up for a routine safety inspection, he informs her in no uncertain terms that her raspberry-themed world takeover is shut down until she fixes the berry farm's storage shed. Yes, she understands it's a fire disaster waiting to happen. No, she doesn't have any money for repairs, Will. So when the rough and rugged fireman returns, offering her his grumpiest help to restore the shed, well... She can't ...

Getting his heart broken by his new best friend wasn’t part of the plan. Ed Delancey: How does a nerdy, introverted data analyst make new friends? Very carefully and deliberately, of course. It throws me for a loop when grad student Rita Ryan effortlessly teases me out of my shell. But is she going to stick around long enough for our connection to go anywhere? Rita Ryan: Ed is quirky, sweet, and impossible to resist. Sticking to my job search with the World’s Hottest Nerd distracting me may be more than my ambition can handle. Even if I landed the perfect job, it’s hard to imagine ...

They’ve dedicated their lives to saving others, but can they save themselves? Seventeen years ago, they met while doing emergency response work following Hurricane Rita. Maybe it was adrenaline that brought them together, maybe it was love, but it didn’t matter. It wasn’t meant to be. They lived in different parts of the world. They agreed to share one night, then went their separate ways. Dr. Clara Bownton has spent her entire medical career saving people’s lives and she’s always had a soft spot for Texas. But the years of traveling to disaster sites and war zones have worn her ...

Kane Charming is hotter than a lightning bolt—and twice as dangerous. Cami When I’m offered the lead cameraperson position for a major TV show, it’s a dream come true—until I’m told I’ll be filming literal tornadoes. As if that weren’t bad enough, I’m stuck in a truck with Kane Charming, the world’s most famous daredevil and renowned bachelor, for hours on end. He’s too sexy, too brave, too charming—too everything. Falling for him would be a catastrophe of epic proportions. Kane I have fame, fortune, and an exciting career. What can I say? I lead a charmed life. But ...

I never planned to act on my attraction to my best friend. Keeping my pregnancy a secret from him just sort of happened. And when his mother invited me to live with her in a small town where I could hide from the world, I let my heart lead. In all other aspects of my life, I’ve followed a plan. I’ve been methodical, rational, and I’ve never acted without careful consideration. One night with Noah Reynolds and a pink line on a plastic stick, and I barely recognize myself anymore. Noah is so much more than my boss and my best friend, he’s the man my gaze tracks no matter how many ...

Sometimes, the wrong brother leads you to the right one. OLIVIA I said, "I love you,” and I thought I meant it. I was one day from walking down the aisle with him. Now I’m being torn apart because of it. My fiancé’s betrayal shattered my world and my trust. Nate is his older brother, my unexpected savior. He pieced me back together when I was broken. Now I'm caught between my past and my future, between loyalty and desire. Can one forbidden night make all the difference in the world? NATE I'm in love with a woman. She was meant to be my sister-in-law. Now she might be my everything. ...

I didn’t know what I was walking into that night. A friend’s birthday, a high-end club, and there he was—a shadow in the corner, all piercing eyes and lethal charisma. I knew Marcus was trouble the moment he looked my way, but something in his gaze was calling me to him, despite the warning etched into every line of his face. He told me to stay away. Told me his world was too dark, that I was too good for him. But even then, I could feel it: a pull that went deeper than reason, tethering me to the danger he carried. Soon, it wasn’t enough to just watch from the sidelines—I wanted ...

Nora Never flirt with a mafia boss. Especially when he’s your best friend's father and soon-to-be baby’s daddy. Handsome and dangerous, with thick muscles and a sly smirk. Massimo tempts me with one incendiary night I can’t resist. Tangled sheets, panties soaked, lady parts are sore. Until I find out I'm carrying his child. I flee to protect our baby from his lethal enemies. But Massimo discovers my betrayal and comes to reclaim his prize. I crave his passionate embrace. But I must protect our child from his violent world. Massimo Nora was only supposed to be a fling. But she got ...

As a single mom, life hasn’t been easy. So, I’m packing up and heading to the mountains to be closer to family—and closer to my ruggedly handsome brother-in-law. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, but can’t resist. Tall, strong, and fiercely protective, he knows exactly how to take care of a woman. When he offers my daughter and me a place to stay, the spark between us from the last time we met ignites into something undeniable. The question is, will I give in to the chemistry that’s impossible to ignore? Tempting Mountain Man is a steamy instalove romance featuring a fiercely ...