Working at Virago, one of the most successful women's magazines in the nation is a dream come true for Lindsay Pinke. After five years of being overworked and underpaid in the research department, she's finally noticed by Colette Duarte, the provocative executive editor of the magazine. She offers Lindsay the coveted role as her personal assistant, but first she must prove she's worthy of the position. Lindsay must interview Victoria Nox, the elusive and extremely private CEO of Nox Media Holdings. If Lindsay succeeds, Colette promises her great things for her publishing career. If Lindsay fails, her chance as a respected writer will be cut short.A chance meeting with Victoria at a high class function puts into motion a series of events that leaves Lindsay blindsided by her strong physical reaction to the magnetic but foreboding woman. When she unwittingly falls into Victoria's world of dark temptations and complex entanglements, she leans the shocking truth Victoria...

When Jonathan and Lauren met at University, it should have been the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, and Jonathan became ‘the one that got away.’ Years later, at a University reunion, Jonathan shows up unexpectedly throwing Lauren into turmoil. The pair start talking, and soon all the old feelings come back. But will this time be different, or will their mutual affection continue to be unrequited?

A Love is Blind Novel Dan White is trying to acclimate to civilian life after a long career in the military with multiple combat deployments. Now he’s home in the Austin area, living with his brother Dixon, Dixon’s husband, Audie, and their two nine-year-olds. During the New Year celebration, Dan meets Abraham Weldon, and the connection is instant. There’s a kiss. There’s a dance. There’s a proposition. Then Dan finds out Weldon is bisexual. And a dad. With five kids. Five kids, one of whom is a blind fifteen-year-old. Weldon has been in love twice in his life—with his high school best friend, Blake, and with his wife, Krista, who he met in a Dairy Queen as she was crying over a positive pregnancy test. Love number three hits Weldon like a hammer when he meets Dan. But since Dan isn’t interested in a guy with kids, they might only get one night together.

In early twentieth century England, a good valet can be damned hard to come by — at least, when one's requirements are quite so specific as Lord Algernon Huffingham's. Algy likes a man with a firm hand. Preferably work-calloused, and applied with vigour to Algy's aristocratic buttocks. He's beginning to despair of ever finding a man who can give him what he needs and still respect him in the morning.Disgraced footman Robert likes a roll in the hay as much as the next man. Preferably with the next man. But he's more accustomed to following orders than issuing them — and some of his lordship's requirements are a bit more extreme than he's used to! Robert may be easy on the eye and flexible in his morals, but will he be able to rise to Algy's challenge?

Fight like a man, or die like a slave.Two years ago, Brooklyn Marshall was a happily married London policeman and amateur boxer with a promising future. Then he accidentally killed a rioter whose powerful father had him convicted of murder. To ease the burden on the prison system, the state sold Brooklyn into slavery. Now he's the "Mean Machine," competing on the slave prizefighting circuit for the entertainment of freemen, and being rented out for sexual service to his wealthier fans.When barrister Nathaniel Bishop purchases Brooklyn's services for a night, Brooklyn braces himself for yet another round of humiliation and pain. But the pair form an unexpected bond that grows into something more. Brooklyn hesitates to call it love—such feelings can't truly exist between freemen and slaves—but when Nathaniel reveals that he wants to get Brooklyn's conviction overturned, Brooklyn dares to hope.Until an accident in the ring sends Brooklyn on the run...

Fascinating fiction starts with characters who make readers care. This Live Wire Writer Guide presents a simple, effective technique to sharpen your hook, charge your scenes, and amplify your voice whether you're a beginner or an expert.Most writing manuals skirt craft questions with gimmicks and quick fixes rather than plugging directly into your story's power source. Energize your fiction and boost your career witha new characterization method that jumpstarts drafting, crafting, revision, and pitching.skill-builders to intensify language, stakes, and emotion for your readers.battle-tested solutions for common traps, crutches, and habits.a dynamic story-planning strategy effective for plotters and pantsers.ample examples and exercises to help you upgrade fiction in any genre.Blast past overused tics and types with storycraft that busts your ruts and awes your audience. Whether you like to wing it or bring it, Verbalize offers a...

In this fairytale inspired by a classic children's story, weaver's daughter Adrien is tired of turning down marriage proposals. So she disguises herself as a boy and sets out on a journey of discovery, accompanied only by her faithful piglet Ferkel. Rescuing a young monk named Felix from brigands, Adrien agrees to act as bodyguard on his journey to the King's castle to present the princess with a telescope.The lovely Princess Selene has also had more than her fair share of suitors, but she refuses to marry until someone gives her the moon. Felix's telescope could grant her heart's desire, but it's Adrien who finds herself in love with the lively, beautiful princess.Astonished to find Selene loves her in return, Adrien's joy is short-lived. Surely Selene's love will die when Adrien reveals her true gender? And in any case, two women cannot be married — can they?

Every future has dirty roots.Marooned in the galactic backwaters of the HardCell company, colonist Runt struggles to eke out an existence on a newly-terraformed tropical planetoid. Since his clone-wife died on entry, he’s been doing the work of two on his failing protein farm. Overworked and undersized, Runt’s dwindling hope of earning corporate citizenship has turned to fear of violent “retirement.”When an overdue crate of provisions crashes on his beach, Runt searches frantically for a replacement wife among the tools and food. Instead he gets Ox, a mute hulk who seems more like a corporate assassin than a simple offworld farmer.Shackwacky and near-starving, Runt has no choice but to work with his silent partner despite his mounting paranoia and the unsettling appeal of Ox’s genetically altered pheromones. Ox plays the part of the gentle giant well, but Runt’s still not convinced he hasn’t arrived with murder in mind.Between brutal desire and the seeds of a relationship, Runt’s fears and Ox’s inhuman past collide on a fertile world where hope and love just might have room to grow.

In Alex's notebooks, the story of Vee unfolds, from their first kiss, their first date, and the moments in between. It’s a May-December romance between a former punk girl gone conservative, and a gamine young woman in combat boots and fishnets. They find each other on the streets of New York City and it's love at first sight. This is a short collection of stories.