Showing results by author "Maria Barnett" in All Categories

William. Retired marine biologist. Widower. Notorious silver fox. Scorching hot trouble wrapped up in a drool-worthy package. I moved to this town to escape heartbreak. Getting into a relationship with the town's most desirable widower is not in my plan. But he knows what he wants and won't stop until he gets it. And this time he wants me. Never mind that he is twice my age. The local town's rumor mill is going wild. His adult children are convinced I am the wicked witch bent on stealing their dad. I was supposed to start a new life. Alone. But that explosive kiss has started something I ...

Learning to swim in just a few hours is a challenging task, as swimming requires practice, confidence, and a level of comfort in the water. However, this guide can provide you with some guidelines to help you make progress in a short amount of time. This guide is based on real life experience teachings. I have proven time after time that a person with the right disposition may learn to swim, propelling oneself through the water with one's own momentum, in few hours. To get confidence in the water may take more than few hours. Keep in mind that individual results may vary, and it's always ...

When Grayson Holt stormed into my life, I knew everything was about to change. He’s the gruff, no-nonsense bodyguard my father hired to keep me in line. Too cold, too guarded—too infuriating. But one heated moment and a shared secret shifts everything. Now, I’m caught between the man I shouldn’t want and the family name I can’t escape. The DuPont legacy is a gilded cage, and Grayson is the only one who makes me feel free. But the deeper we fall, the tighter the chains become. With danger closing in and my father pulling the strings, the lines between duty and desire blur. I’ll ...

Sam and I have our whole future planned—college, adventure, and a life filled with love. He’s my best friend, my high school sweetheart, and the boy I can’t imagine my life without. But I never saw Jake coming. Jake, my neighbor and childhood friend, has been watching me, loving me in secret for years. Now, he’s ready to act on his obsession, and he’s not asking for my love. He’s demanding it. When Jake’s obsession turns dangerous, my world unravels in an instant. Trapped, terrified, and far from the safety of Sam’s arms, I realize that Jake won’t let me go. He’ll stop ...

A love that defies death, a secret that spans lifetimes. Samuel, haunted by visions. Emily, drawn to the forbidden. Willowbrook's ancestral Mansion conceals a love story from the 1890s. Against society's constraints, Samuel and Emily ignite a passion that's both irresistible and perilous. But a sinister presence from the past threatens to unravel their chance at happiness, as secrets long buried resurface, weaving a tangled web of desire and danger. Together, they uncover the truth of their past lives, a love that transcends time, but their powerful families and a relentless force stand in ...

Hooking up with the hottest bartending silver fox after walking out on my scheming ex was not how I envisioned ending the day. Yet, there I was following his every command after a taste of his hottie and just one dance. This is just supposed to be just one night. Guys twice my age are a no-no. But the way my body responds to his gaze says differently. This commitment phobe is making me want to forget my rules. If only he is not about to become someone else's baby daddy.

The Billionaire Heir and the Hotel Staffer. Off-Limits. Impossible. Irresistible. Returning to Arkansas for a family staycation at Diadem-Hedge should be routine—smile for the press, manage the Fitzgerald name, and keep the drama under wraps. Simple. Predictable. Then I meet her. Marriott isn’t just another hotel staffer. She’s chaos where I’m control, fire where I’m ice, and the only person in this place who refuses to treat me like the heir I was born to be. She storms into my life with a sharp tongue, a stack of linens, and zero interest in the rules I live by. I should walk ...

Paws and Healing In the quiet aftermath of loss, my world was confined to the boundaries of raising Ethan, my son, whose unique perspective on life challenges me daily. I have accepted that I will grow old alone, and that my focus will be on him. But then came Emily. Her smile is enough to make my days brighter. And the unexpected catalyst, brought close by the simple friendship between her dog and Ethan has ignited a spark I thought long extinguished, making me yearn for a connection I believed was forever lost to me. After one night that blurred the lines between companionship and a ...

A House Full of Secrets. A Husband Full of Rage. And a Darkness That Won’t Let Her Go… I once believed in fairytales, in love that lasts forever. But reality has a cruel way of rewriting dreams. Mark was my prince once, before his love turned to rage, before every step I took felt like walking on glass. Now, in the house he bought for us—a house that whispers in the dark—I’ve found the diary of a woman who lived here before me. Sarah. She was trapped too. And then… she vanished. The shadows in this house are alive. Watching. Waiting. And with every passing day, I feel them ...

In the quiet aftermath of loss, my world was confined to the boundaries of raising Ethan, my son, whose unique perspective on life challenges me daily. I have accepted that I will grow old alone, and that my focus will be on him. But then came Emily. Her smile is enough to make my days brighter. And the unexpected catalyst, brought close by the simple friendship between her dog and Ethan has ignited a spark I thought long extinguished, making me yearn for a connection I believed was forever lost to me. After one night that blurred the lines between companionship and a deeper longing, fear ...

Thanksgiving has always been a bad day for Arabella. From the disaster at her Engagement party to her father's decision to disown her. For seven years, Arabella worked hard to provide for herself and her son. Until her father's summons that she is needed back home. She thinks "this year might just be the time that things turn around for the better". But her father is set in his ways. Instead of welcoming his only grandson, he states that the boy is a problem since he has arranged a marriage of convenience for her. Thank God for the handsome stranger on the plane. Christian swoops in to save...

When I first laid eyes on Isabella, I knew I was in trouble. She’s my best friend’s sister—and a threat to everything I’ve worked for. Too beautiful, too tempting—too impossible to resist. One night of surrender changes everything, and dark secrets rise to the surface. Now, I’m torn between the woman I can’t stay away from and the revenge I’ve lived for. Her father ordered my parents’ deaths, and nothing can ever be the same. The pull between us is dangerous, but the truth? It’s devastating. With every touch, every kiss, the line between love and betrayal blurs. The ...

He’s the brilliant surgeon with a broken heart. I’m the guarded nurse who swore off love. But some lines are meant to be crossed. After too many heartbreaks, I made a rule: no more men. Especially not at work. But when Dr. Benjamin Carter strides into the hospital where I’m head nurse, my resolve starts to crack. He’s older, gruffer, and carries the kind of regrets that weigh heavy in his eyes. The same man who once saved my father’s life now stands in my path, unraveling the walls I’ve carefully built around my heart. The sparks between us are impossible to ignore, but giving ...

The magical allure my musical career once held is now gone. Amidst the thunderous applause, I feel hollow. I have poured my heart and soul into being a country singer, but still, I am unhappy. Going to Texas seems like the solution. Not only would I get much needed rest, but I would also be honoring my mother by visiting the place she loved most. I did not count on meeting him though. Broken but utterly beautiful, our attraction cannot be denied. Maverick has ensnared me, and I am helpless to do anything about it. But what happens when the past catches up with him? Will he let me loose and ...

Life in Ocean's Edge is anything but easy. Running my small diner while raising my daughter, Emma, who has special needs, leaves me exhausted. Abandoned by my ex-husband, I fight every day to keep us afloat. When Jake walks into my diner, I see just another customer. Little do I know, he's a billionaire doctor, far removed from my world. Yet, he steps in during Emma's crisis, and suddenly, he's not just a stranger. He's my hero. Jake offers to help with the diner, and against my better judgment, I let him. As we work side by side, sparks fly. But his world is so different from mine, and his...

Life as a soldier has not been good to me. Now in my fifties, I am constantly plagued by guilt and have accepted that I will live the rest of my life alone. I did not count on Liv derailing my plans. In my dark and desolate world, she was the light that showed me the potential of a happy life … with her. She is mine from the moment I laid eyes on her. And no one can take her away from me. Not even her cheating artist ex-boyfriend who is crawling to get her back. But a figure from my past threatens to destroy my chance of happiness. I must find a way to save Liv before it’s too late.

In the heart of a tight-knit small town, where whispers travel faster than the wind, young single mother Clara finds herself fighting to provide for her son, Lucas, after being disowned by her family. Life is a constant struggle until she meets Nathan, a silver fox doctor twice her age with a gentle heart and a charming smile.

In a landscape where connections pave the way to success, authentic networking emerges as an invaluable asset. As we traverse this journey, we'll uncover how the power of networking extends far beyond professional spheres, resonating deeply within our personal lives. Forging meaningful relationships isn't solely about advancing careers or driving business growth—it's about enriching our lives with connections that are authentic, profound, and lasting.

My Protégé. My Temptation. My Greatest Mistake. I built my empire on hard work and a heart locked behind steel walls. Love? That was a fairytale I stopped believing in the day James shattered me. Then Ethan walks into my life. Brilliant. Charismatic. A writer with raw talent and a hunger to prove himself. I tell myself I’m just his mentor, guiding him through the ruthless world of publishing. But the way he looks at me? The way he makes me feel? It’s anything but professional. He’s younger. Off-limits. A risk I swore I’d never take again. Yet, against every instinct, I fall. Hard....

An arsonist on the loose and an even hotter single dad fireman setting my heart ablaze. When a serial arsonist resurfaces in Ashwood, I'm sent to investigate. Moving here with my introverted daughter, Lily, I’m determined to uncover the truth. On my first day, I meet Ryan, a widowed Assistant Captain firefighter equally committed to solving the arson cases. Flames, the arsonist, started terrorizing the town years ago, killing an entire family. Now, he's back, and fear grips Ashwood. Ryan's instant attraction to me is undeniable, but he's still grieving his wife, living alone with his ...