Isabelle Lawson loves her job. Driven, dedicated, there's no room in her high-pressure life to look for love outside the pages of the books she edits. Can a fun-loving, handsome stranger change her mind? A novelette of approximately 10k words. "Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

Sylvie goes to the jewelry store with a sad story, a looming debt, and a beloved heirloom. Everett is a hard-core do-gooder with a bank account to back him up. When he impulsively buys Sylvie’s hocked ring, he intends to return it to her. But Sylvie disappears. How will he find her again? And if his friends find his grand gestures…eccentric, how will a complete stranger react? A novelette of approximately 10.5k words. “Meet cute” is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

He has one mission Since they were children, career cop Judd Hamilton has built his life around taking care of his best friend, Autumn Buchanan. While he might once have dreamed of a different future for them, everything changed the day her father tried to kill them both. Determined to keep her safe, Judd put his feelings aside and turned his focus to protecting her, always. She leads a double life Nobody in their small town would ever dream that Autumn, Wishful's friendly librarian, is really successful erotic romantic suspense author, Rumor Fairchild. No one knows that the swoon-worthy hero of her series is based on her best friend, Judd. He's been fulfilling her rescue fantasies for years, and now she's ready to catapult them out of the friend zone to make her real life romance come true. Their nightmare returns But when the past comes full circle and Autumn's father returns to Wishful, even the power of Judd's badge isn't enough to keep her safe from the madman. If he wants the chance at a future with the one girl he's always loved, Judd may have to toss everything he's worked for aside to do the one job that matters.

The road to redemption... Struggling single mom Corinne Dawson doesn't have time for fun. She's too busy making a new life for her son and trying to avoid being dragged down by the ghost of who she used to be. But when an accident knocks her boss out of a local dance competition fund-raiser, she finds herself face-to-face with the worst mistake from her past. Attorney Tucker McGee has always seen past the prickly exterior of this former mean girl. He knows there's more to the story than simple spite. When they get partnered for Dancing With Wishful, he finally gets the chance to act on the spark he's felt since she moved home. But getting past her regrets just might be the biggest challenge he's ever faced. As the competition heats up, so do the feelings between them. Will Tucker be able to convince Corinne that she's more than the sum of her mistakes? Or will she be forced to leave town to find a new beginning without him?

Welcome back to Wishful, Mississippi, full of eccentric characters and southern charm, where author Kait Nolan delivers another heart-warming story of a strong, successful woman and the equally strong man who learns how to be her partner. A grown-up Boy Scout Liam Montgomery is the last person who'd call himself a hero, but he does have a tendency to try to save the world. Now that he's left the Marine Corps and returned to Wishful, he feels out of place and unsure of what comes next. He does know one thing: The girl who used to look up to him like a brother is all grown up. No way he can see her as a little sister now. And she won't give him the time of day. Queen of Doing All The Things Riley Gower isn't holding out for a hero. In fact, a knight in shining armor is the last thing she wants. She's been watching her mother chase that fairy tale for most of her life, with Riley the one left to pick up the pieces of unhappily ever after. Running Wishful's downtown pharmacy is a dream Riley's worked toward for years. Now that the business is finally hers, the realities of the current economy have made it seem like the dream is slipping through her fingers. So when her mother calls, expecting yet another rescue, Riley feels like she's spread thinner than the last pat of butter at Sunday dinner. The impossible mission he can’t resist It's hard enough for a woman like Riley to admit she could use a hand, but mix in the embarrassment of a childhood crush and the devastating attraction sizzling between them? No way. Liam is determined to help, but taking down insurgents is less complicated than infiltrating Riley's defenses. This will require reinforcements. And a plan.

The best things happen while you're acting... The historic Madrigal theater, in the heart of downtown Wishful, is about to close its doors forever. A last ditch fund-raising effort, a production of White Christmas, is probably the only thing that could bring Tyler Edison out of retirement. She fell in love on that stage, but when Brody Jensen abandoned her, she lost the heart to sing and dance for the crowd. Maybe it's time to take that back... It seems like pure chance when Brody's job, which has taken him all over the world, brings him back to his little hometown to oversee his boss's latest secret project. Brody's looking for closure, planning to sell the house his parents left him and finally put his past, and his memories of Tyler, behind him. What better way than to be a part of this last show? Even though his leading lady is surely long gone... Put on your dancing shoes, auditions start at six o'clock. Be Careful, It's My Heart is a novella of approximately 39k words.

Once upon a time, Red Riding Hood fell in love with the wolf.  It ended badly... Elodie Rose has a secret. Any day, she'll become a wolf and succumb to the violence that's cursed her family for centuries. For seventeen years she's hidden who and what she is. But now someone knows the truth and is determined to exterminate her family line. Living on borrowed time in the midst of this dangerous game of hide and seek, the last thing Elodie needs is to do is fall in love. But Sawyer is determined to protect her, and the brooding, angry boy is more than what he seems. Can they outsmart a madman? And if they survive, will they find a way to beat the curse for good?

A madcap modern marriage of convenience tale sure to leave fans begging for more Maybe there hasn't been actual blood, other than a few paper cuts, but Myles has put plenty of sweat into his independent, local newspaper, and he's even willing to admit to a few manly tears. Certainly, the paper has been his mistress since he moved to the small town of Wishful, Mississippi, and he doesn't feel it's hyperbolic in the least to say it owns a piece of his soul. He's building his dream, independent of the life laid out for him by his family, and that means everything. There's nothing he wouldn't do to ensure its success. Piper fell hard for Myles when they co-stared in the production of White Christmas that saved Wishful's historic Madrigal Theater. Not in love, she's careful to remind herself, but into very serious like, and certainly outrageous, chemistry-fueled attraction. But Piper knows that the bright lights of the stage can wreak havoc with perspective. She's been burnt by them before, when an on-stage passion fizzled into disappointment and heartache. That's why she put on the brakes with Myles, and she admits to herself that the fact that he played by her rules and waited only adds to his appeal. When Myles tells her that a major investor is pulling out of the paper, leaving him with a huge loan to repay or lose his control over what he's built, Piper is devastated for him. But when he jokingly admits that the best option he's come up with is to marry a showgirl to gain access to a trust fund, well, that just sounds like a plan to Piper. After all, why not take this great guy on marriage test drive? He's worth having just for this moment, however long it lasts. But as their fake marriage turns alarmingly real, they'll have to decide if they're in it for the moment or forever. Welcome to Wishful, Mississippi, a small town with big hearts, where folks come together to make their dreams come true. We first met Myles and Piper when they auditioned for White Christmas in BE CAREFUL, IT'S MY HEART, when another of Piper's zany schemes helped bring her friends Tyler and Brody together. We followed their story in ONCE UPON A SETUP, a Wishful Meet-Cute Romance, which tells the story behind Piper's cooling off period. But if you haven't read either of those, don't worry about jumping in here. Every Wishful story can stand on its own, just like the sassy women of this charming, southern town. Q: What makes the Wishful series special? Wishful is a collection of southern romance novels honoring my Mississippi roots. When I started the series, I set out to highlight everything that I love about living in the small town South--all our quirks, foibles, and dreams provide a fabulous (and often funny) backdrop to contemporary romances about stubborn, independent women and the men who love them. Q: Who would dig these books? Wishful is a southern romance series written for anyone looking for love in a small town. If you loved Hart of Dixie and miss the residents of Bluebell, you just might fall in love with Wishful. It's a town where everybody knows your name and hope springs eternal! Many of my readers also enjoy the books of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristan Higgins, Melanie Shawn, Ava Miles, and Jill Shalvis.

2018 RITA ® Award Winner for Best Short Contemporary Romance Professor Audrey Graham shouldn't be alive. But she didn't walk away from the accident that should've taken her life. She shouldn't have ever walked again according to the doctors. But after two years of physical therapy and countless surgeries, she's got a second lease on life. First stop? Camp Firefly Falls to try and catch up on some of the living she never did before her accident. Firefighter Hudson Lowell shouldn't be alive. In the wake of losing two members of his team in a structure fire gone wrong, he's been unable to work, unable to pull himself out of the survivor's guilt. In a last ditch effort to snap him out of it, his family surprises him with a 2 week reunion session at Camp Firefly Falls, reminder of a simpler, better time. The last thing he expects to find is the woman he helped cut out of a snarled up wreck of a car two years before. As sparks ignite between rescuer and rescuee, Audrey finally gets the chance to repay her hero. But can she convince this proud, stubborn man that life is still worth living? Or will Hudson let this chance at happiness slip through his fingers?

A mother of the groom billionaire romance for the Wishful wedding of the year Mayor Sandra Crawford has survived divorce. She's survived cancer. But she's not at all sure she'll survive the discovery that her town's billionaire philanthropist benefactor is actually the man she nearly left her husband for almost thirty years ago. Gerald Peyton, III didn't fight for Sandy back in college--a decision he's regretted ever since. Now Trey's older, wiser, and determined to win the heart of the woman he's never forgotten. When they wake up married in Vegas, Sandy chalks it up to a reckless mistake, but Trey's not willing to let her go so easily. Can he convince her to give their marriage a legitimate chance, or will she let him go for good this time? Author Interview Q: What makes the Wishful series special? Wishful is a collection of southern romance novels honoring my Mississippi roots. When I started the series, I set out to highlight everything that I love about living in the small town South--all our quirks, foibles, and dreams provide a fabulous (and often funny) backdrop to contemporary romances about stubborn, independent women and the men who love them. Q: Who would dig these books? Wishful is a southern romance series written for anyone looking for love in a small town. If you loved Hart of Dixie and miss the residents of Bluebell, you just might fall in love with Wishful. It's a town where everybody knows your name and hope springs eternal! Many of my readers also enjoy the books of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristan Higgins, Melanie Shawn, Ava Miles, and Jill Shalvis. Q: What order should I read the books in? This southern romance series has been written so that each story is a standalone that wraps up with a happily ever after by The End. That said, if you want to read them in chronological order I suggest this: To Get Me To You Be Careful, It's My Heart Know Me Well Just For This Moment Wish I Might Turn My World Around Dance Me A Dream See You Again Q: Are there crossovers with other series? YES! My Meet Cute Romance series of novelettes includes two Wishful stories. Once Upon A Coffee Once Upon A Setup My WISHING FOR A HERO series takes a look at the more suspenseful side of Wishful. If I Didn't Care

A blind date and a case of mistaken identity just might lead to love...When a beautiful stranger sits down at Dillon Lange's table, he knows he ought to say something about not being who she thinks he is, but he can't resist her smile or her engaging conversation. How long can he keep up the charade? And what will happen when her real date shows up?A blind date and a case of mistaken identity just might lead to love...After a long series of stinkers, when a respectful match from an online dating site asks to meet Avery Cahill in real life, she agrees. Invoking her favorite romantic comedy, they arrange to meet in a local coffee shop with a flower and a book.Under a serious deadline to finish a group project for his MBA--solo--the only thing Dillon Lange wants is peace and quiet. When a beautiful stranger sits down in his booth at the coffee shop, he knows he ought to say something about not being who she thinks he is, but he can't resist her smile or her engaging conversation.How long can he keep up the charade? And what will happen when her real date shows up?A short story of approximately 7,500 words.This story is a crossover with the Wishful series, which features Kait's full length contemporary romances.Q: What makes the Meet Cute Romance series special? "Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of contemporary romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.Q: Who would dig these books?Meet Cute Romances are designed to be a fast (but not too fast--these are full novelettes, not short stories of only a scene or two), lunchtime or coffee break read to give you a bright spot of romance in your day. If you're looking for a quick romantic pick me up, these short contemporary romances are sure to be right up your alley.Q: What order should I read the books in?These novelettes are each stand-alone and can be read in any order. Though there are a few recurring characters in some, so if you want to read in chronological order, they go like this: * Once Upon a Snow Day * Once Upon a New Year's Eve * Once Upon an Heirloom * Once Upon A Coffee * Once Upon A SetupQ: Are there crossovers with other series?YES! Two of my Meet Cutes tie in with my longer, southern romance series set in Wishful, Mississippi. Wishful is a collection of southern romance novels honoring my Mississippi roots and exploring love in a small town. You can try the first book in the series, To Get Me To You, for FREE! It comes just after Once Upon A Coffee. Once Upon A Setup is a companion novelette to Be Careful, It's My Heart (Book 2 in Wishful) and a prequel to Just For This Moment (Book 4 in Wishful, coming in Spring 2016).

After their parents' assassination, Emily's older brother Rab fled with her and stashed her in a human boarding school. As an ex-spy, whatever he's involved in is too dangerous to keep her close by. But all Rab's precautions don't matter when his enemies find her and kidnap her to use as leverage against him. Unable to contact her brother, it's up to little sister to prove what she's made of.What Emily wants more than anything is to live with her older brother Rab, but after their parents' assassination, Rab fled with her and stashed her in a human boarding school. She doesn't know what he's doing, only that he gave up his job as a spy for the Mirus Council of Races, and that whatever he's involved in is too dangerous to keep her close by. But all Rab's precautions don't matter when his enemies find her and kidnap her to use as leverage against him. Cut off from her world and unable to contact her brother, it's up to little sister to prove what she's made of.Whisper of Shadow is a short story of 8700 words set in the world of Kait Nolan's Mirus series. The Mirus inhabit a fast-paced world of dark dangers and sparkling magic woven into a unique, new paranormal mythology. This story originally appeared in the Magical Mayhem anthology.

Cade Shepherd is on top of the world as this year's Ultimate Fighting Champion. He doesn't even remember his life as Gage Dempsey, a Shadow Walker with the ability to magically transport himself from shadow to shadow. In fact, he can't remember anything before waking up in a cheap motel room ten years ago with mysterious burns on his hands--not even the woman he almost died for. Embry Hollister has picked up the pieces of her life, learned to control her ability to generate flame, and now works an enforcer for the Council of Races. But when her father is captured by the human military and the Council refuses mount a rescue mission, Embry has no choice but to go rogue. All she has to is find the man with the new name and new life who was completely wronged by her people, give him back the memories they stole, convince him to join her on what's probably a suicide mission, and hope that after ten years of living as a regular guy he still remembers what her father taught him. And after that, she just has to leave him. Again.

It should have been the perfect New Year's Eve date. But when Gemma Forester gets called to bail her older brother out of trouble, she comes face to face with some of her own. Aaron Hendricks never forgot his best friend's little sister, but ten years wasn't enough to prepare him for the woman she's become. Will a chance meeting allow them to overcome the past? Once Upon A New Year's Eve is a novelette of approximately 8,500 words. “Meet cute” is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

The only thing Rowan Beale ever wanted was to be a cop. But in the wake of her partner's death, she still hasn't been cleared to return to duty. Amid rumors of PTSD and struggling under the weight of survivor's guilt, she's starting to believe she never will be. Already at loose ends, when her Uncle Robert has a heart attack, she doesn't hesitate to go to Wishful to take care of him. Reserve officer Nash Brewer is a born care-taker, so of course he pitches in after his neighbor and mentor has heart surgery. But it's not just the former Wishful Police Chief who needs his help. Robert's strong, gutsy niece is hurting and haunted—and someone's been targeting her. Nash can't help but fall as he and Rowan investigate, while keeping the secret from her fragile, but sharp-eyed uncle. When evidence points to Rowan herself as the perpetrator, the former Navy pilot knows in his gut there's something more going on. But how can he ignore the facts of the case? And how...

Charming, poignant, and sexy, When You Got a Good Thing pulled me in with its sweet charm and deft storytelling, and didn't let go until the very last page. It has everything I love in a small-town romance! ~USA Today Best-Selling Author Tawna Fenske She thought she could never go home again. Kennedy Reynolds has spent the past decade traveling the world as a free spirit. She never looks back at the past, the place, or the love she left behind—until her adopted mother’s unexpected death forces her home to Eden’s Ridge, Tennessee. Deputy Xander Kincaid has never forgotten his first love. He’s spent ten long years waiting for the chance to make up for one bone-headed mistake that sent her running. Now that she’s finally home, he wants to give her so much more than just an apology. Kennedy finds an unexpected ally in Xander, as she struggles to mend fences with her sisters and to care for the foster child her mother left behind. Falling back into his arms is beyond tempting, but accepting his support is dangerous. He can never know the truth about why she really left. Will Kennedy be able to bury the past and carve out her place in the Ridge, or will her secret destroy her second chance?

A captive who dreams of her freedom In public, violinist Elizabeth Duncan is the toast of the entertainment world. A prodigy who's been wowing audiences with her music since she was only twelve years old. But behind closed doors, she's desperate to escape the man who's turned her passion into a prison. When the specter of violence becomes more than a threat, she sacrifices everything to run. A hero lost without a mission Former special forces operative Ewan McBride has done everything he's supposed to since leaving the military: Moved home. Bought a new business. Integrated into the community. But he's just going through the motions. Until he rescues a woman in trouble in the midst of a terrible storm. A sanctuary and an unexpected new beginning Ewan recognizes a woman on the run and can't resist the urge to help. The danger from her past is certain to come calling. The safest place for her?...

A notorious former playboy As heir to Ardinmuir, Connor MacKean had one job: fulfill the marriage pact that's held his family captive for three-hundred years. Except his sister's the one who took the plunge, and now there's nothing standing in the way of him finding a real and lasting love. Nothing except the fact that the object of his affections has never seen him as anything more than her best friend's little brother. A hard-working Cinderella who doesn't need a prince The last thing Sophie Cameron has time for is a man. Her days are full keeping her flower shop afloat, expanding the event planning business she opened with her best friend, and keeping the promise she made to her late father to take care of her stepmother—even though Lorraine is more like a stepmonster. A fake engagement that's more real than either of them bargained for The little white lie Connor...

She loves weddings As a romance author, Paisley Parish is a hopeless romantic. Seeing her friends exchange promises of forever does her heart good—even if the whole thing does highlight her own regrettably single status. But that's what cake and champagne are for. She just has to escape the douchecanoe who won't take no for an answer. He hates weddings Former Army Ranger Ty Brooks is happy to see his brother-in-arms starting his new life. He just wishes he was out of this monkey suit and miles away from the seemingly endless parade of guests. All this happily ever after isn't for him, but he's determined nothing's going to ruin Harrison and Ivy's special night. Especially the asshat who's cornered one of the female guests. A blast from the past The knight in a tux who shows up with a glass of champagne pretending to be Paisley's date is none other than the first love who broke...

Good old, reliable Pru. Of the four Reynolds sisters, Pru is the natural choice to take on custody of the girl their late mother had planned to adopt. At thirty, suddenly becoming the mom of a teenager means big changes, but Pru's ready to do whatever it takes to adopt Ari. Before she settles down, though, she wants one thing for herself. Enter Flynn Bohannon, the sinfully sexy Irish musician in town for her sister's wedding. He's led the kind of free, vagabond life Pru can hardly imagine. Definitely not the kind of guy she should be dating, but he's the perfect guy for a crazy fun fling before her life changes. When Pru proposes a brief, no strings affair, Flynn's not about to say no. But when unexpected complications endanger the adoption, the two find themselves in a phony engagement. Now they have to convince a sharp-eyed, skeptical social worker, a teen who's too smart for her own good, three dubious sisters, and one protective brother-in-law that Flynn's willing to give up the gypsy life and settle down. But in convincing everyone that this relationship is real, will they convince each other as well?

A wounded warrior After the catastrophic loss of his best friend in battle, Army Ranger Tyson Brooks trades in his fatigues for a badge, moving to Eden's Ridge, Tennessee to rebuild his life and find a way to live in a world without Garrett. But no amount of protecting and serving the citizens of Stone County is enough to override the guilt that he simply didn't do enough. An incurable romantic Romance author Paisley Parish has spent her whole career chasing the perfect hero and finding all the real life options lacking. Until she runs into her high school sweetheart—the one who left her for the Army. The old spark is definitely still alive, but the man carries far more scars than the boy. A second chance to save each other When Paisley becomes the target of malicious harassment, the police have no suspects, no leads, no way to make her feel safe. As her stalker...

The Madrigal Theater is about to close its doors. Piper's on a mission to save it--even if it means pulling a little deception to get her best friend back up on the stage. When newspaperman Myles catches on to his co-star's shenanigans, he has a choice--keep quiet or get to the bottom of things. He's never been able to resist a story...and he's not sure he wants to resist Piper.Sometimes love begins with a little friendly blackmail...The historic Madrigal Theater in the heart of downtown Wishful is on the verge of closing its doors, and Piper Parish is on a mission to save it--even if it means pulling a little deception to get her best friend back up on the stage where she had her heart broken. When new-to-town newspaperman Myles Stewart catches on to his co-star's shenanigans, he has a choice--keep quiet or get to the bottom of things. He's never been able to resist a story...and he's not sure he wants to resist Piper.Be on the lookout for the exciting conclusion of Myles and Piper's love story in Just For This Moment (Wishful Book 4), coming Spring 2016.*A companion story to Be Careful, It's My Heart*A novelette of approximately 13,000 words.Q: What makes the Meet Cute Romance series special? "Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of contemporary romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.Q: Who would dig these books?Meet Cute Romances are designed to be a fast (but not too fast--these are full novelettes, not short stories of only a scene or two), lunchtime or coffee break read to give you a bright spot of romance in your day. If you're looking for a quick romantic pick me up, these short contemporary romances are sure to be right up your alley.Q: What order should I read the books in?These novelettes are each stand-alone and can be read in any order. Though there are a few recurring characters in some, so if you want to read in chronological order, they go like this: * Once Upon a Snow Day * Once Upon a New Year's Eve * Once Upon an Heirloom * Once Upon A Coffee * Once Upon A SetupQ: Are there crossovers with other series?YES! Two of my Meet Cutes tie in with my longer, southern romance series set in Wishful, Mississippi. Wishful is a collection of southern romance novels honoring my Mississippi roots and exploring love in a small town. You can try the first book in the series, To Get Me To You, for FREE! It comes just after Once Upon A Coffee. Once Upon A Setup is a companion novelette to Be Careful, It's My Heart (Book 2 in Wishful) and a prequel to Just For This Moment (Book 4 in Wishful, coming in Spring 2016).

Exhausted by the futility of her efforts against the city's endemic problems and the revolving door of violence in her Chicago emergency room, Dr. Miranda Campbell came home to Wishful, where she knew she could make a real difference in people's lives. Between her clinic, a rotation in the hospital's ER, volunteer work at the new women's shelter, and time spent with family and friends, her life is full. But it's not too full to notice a sexy lawman when she sees one.Former US Marshal Ethan Greer is still settling into the job as Wishful's new Chief of Police, but he's starting to realize it may be years before he'll ever be considered one of the locals. Fair enough. He's the first to admit that making the shift to small town policing is a big adjustment. After losing his marriage and almost his life in line of duty, the slow pace of Wishful is a change he's happy to make.While Miranda's and Ethan interest in each...

A Novella of the Mirus: Trouble. That’s what wolf-shifter Mick Guidry thinks when a beautiful woman appears in his New Orleans bar with a hurricane at her back. His first impression is confirmed when Sophie starts asking questions about his missing waitress, Liza. Mick will do anything to rescue a member of the pack he’s made for himself, including forming an unlikely alliance with a woman with a badge.

Just a city girl, living in a lonely world. Displaced Steel Magnolia Norah Burke doesn't know the meaning of failure. But when she threatens to blow the whistle on some shady business practices at her Chicago marketing firm, she gets fired fast as all get out. Licking her wounds, she heads back below the Mason-Dixon for a little home-grown Southern comfort. Just a small town boy. With his iron-clad Mississippi roots, Councilman Cam Crawford is a man who values tradition, preservation, and the love of a good dog. When a big box warehouse store tries to capitalize on his hometown's economic downturn, it seriously burns his biscuit. He's not about to let anyone's ambition destroy what he holds dear. A David vs. Goliath story with a side of grits. This unlikely pair just might be the perfect allies--in war and out. But as the battle to stop GrandGoods heats up and sparks of attraction turn to something more, will Norah's bigger-picture perspective go with Cam's "keep it as it is" attitude? Are they meant to be like biscuits and gravy? Or are they just as wrong as unsweetened tea?

A horse-whispering lonerAfter years as an Army Ranger, Sebastian Donnelly is content to be left alone with his horses. He's better with them than with...people. But that changes when his boss's little sister shows up. There's something about her, a vulnerability that tugs at his need to rescue. And a sexy, vivacious charm that ignites an attraction he ought to ignore.A soon-to-be lawyerDesperate for a break before her last semester of law school, Laurel Maxwell is excited to see her brother marry the woman he loves. Logan and Athena, their happiness, the life they're building at the farm all serve as a reminder that she's barreling toward a future she's no longer sure she wants. One her overbearing father insists is the only path she's meant for.Who's rescuing who?When Laurel is offered the chance to stay on the farm and dogsit while the happy couple honeymoons, she jumps at...

It was a terrible idea. But that doesn’t stop Sarah Meadows from saying yes to covering for her identical twin sister at staff orientation week at Camp Firefly Falls. It’s just a few days and she'll be back to finishing her master's thesis, right? But when her sexy, ex-park ranger partner figures out her secret, she’s got her work cut out convincing him not to turn her in. Beckett Hayes knows he should report Sarah to the boss, but instead, he finds himself agreeing to train her. There’s just something about those big, doe eyes and all that sass. But when Sarah starts to matter more than he planned, the pressure's on. Can he convince her to take the road less traveled or will this one week have to be enough? A novelette of approximately 16k words. This story is a crossover introduction to the Camp Firefly Falls series. Check out my full novel in the series, Second Chance Summer.

Jace Applewhite is home for the holidays, helping out on his family's Christmas tree farm and enjoying some much needed downtime between semesters of grad school. He's intrigued by the sexy and serious barista from The Daily Grind, but she's got a Hand's Off vibe that can be seen from miles away. Tara Honeycutt missed most of her college years being single parent to her two younger half siblings. Working multiple jobs, she's forgotten what it's like to be a normal twenty-something. All her focus is on giving the kids some new holiday memories. When a major gas line breaks, leaving them with no heat, no hot water, and no way to cook for Christmas, Jace invites Tara and her sibs out to Applewhite Farms. Will a good old fashioned farmhouse Christmas be enough to get Tara to give him a second glance?

Jaded Army medic Ryan Malone never expected his next mission would bring him back from Afghanistan to tiny Wishful, Mississippi. His great uncle's health is failing and the cantankerous old coot has pushed everyone in the family away. Ryan is their last resort to get Uncle Percy to move into assisted living before he breaks a hip—or something worse. He's looking to get in, get it done, and get back out. That definitely doesn't include taking time out for a sweet-faced waitress with a heart bigger than the Atlantic.Interior designer Hannah Wheeler is a long way from the high-powered clients of her old Atlanta firm. Despite the fact that she's currently spending her days waiting tables, she's discovered she really enjoys the small-town life she found with her sister. This Christmas season, she's finally ready to introduce Wishful to her true capabilities by using her skills to spread some holiday spirit. But with Ryan and Percy,...

Delaney Newell knows what it means to be powerless. Against the family who wouldn't support her. Against the man she loved who betrayed her. Against the gossips who won't let her forget it. But after years of struggling, she's finally getting her life together. Sean Murphy has spent years fighting forest fires. The former hotshot turned forester knows the growth that can sprout from unfathomable destruction. That's what he sees in Delaney—someone who got leveled by life but didn't stop growing. He's spent the past several months watching the shy red-head blossom, and he really likes what he sees. When Delaney is accused of a crime she didn't commit, everyone is willing to believe the worst of her. Everyone except Sean. The woman he knows couldn't possibly be behind the rash of fires that are keeping the volunteer fire department hopping. Someone is deliberately framing her. Will Delaney trust him enough to help her find the real culprit?

An heiress in hiding... For graphic designer Cecily Dixon, building a successful life on her own terms, independent of her family's name and wealth, has been an all-important goal. That's why she followed her boss to tiny Wishful, Mississippi. While she's fallen in love with the town and the work being done to bring it back to life, her internship is over and it's time to take the next power-house step in her career...somewhere else. A bookstore in trouble... Reed Campbell is Wishful born and bred. He loves his small town life, and it suits him just fine. When he needs help breathing life into his struggling bookstore, the brilliant and sexy Cecily is the last person he expects to volunteer. Since one chemistry-fueled summer weekend, she's been giving him the cold shoulder, and he can't figure out how he blew it. A romance with an expiration date... Working together will start the thaw, but they both know the clock is ticking and Cecily will be moving on. Or will she? Wishful is just the right size for Reed, but can he convince Cecily that his small town can support her big dreams?

Can a Marine turned baker and a jaded contractor find their way to a second chance? Braxton Whitmore needs a change. After leaving the Marines, he's free to build a new life. But is he gonna be a baker? Really? When his buddy inherits a decrepit bar and proposes they partner up to turn it into a bakery, Brax figures why not? Until his ex comes walking in. Mia Whitmore has built a new life for herself, far from the heartbreak and secrets that tore her marriage apart. The last thing she expects is for her estranged husband to be business partners with her latest client. Or for Brax to think they're already divorced. As they're forced into proximity on the renovation, truths come to light, and Brax and Mia get a second chance. But when past secrets become present danger, Brax puts everything on the line to protect the woman who's always held his heart.

Four years ago, firefighter Caleb Romero saved a child and met the woman of his dreams. But trauma killed the timing, so he's contented himself with being the friend she needed as she navigated sudden parenthood. Four years ago, Emerson Aldridge became a mom in the worst possible way. Without qualm, she abandoned her own dreams to shepherd her teenage daughter through their shared grief. Her number one priority has been to raise Fiona the way her best friend would have wanted. Now Fi's headed off to college and Emerson has no idea how to feel about her suddenly empty nest. She barely even remembers life before motherhood, but Caleb's right next door to give her a reminder—along with a toe-curling kiss that catapults them past friends and into something more. The life she wanted before the accident is still within reach. He just has to convince her that their age difference means nothing. Piece of cake. Right?

What do a tattooed bar owner and a modern-day flower child have in common? Denver has been aware of Misty, the one and only florist in Eden's Ridge, since she showed up in town three years ago. Aware, and interested. But he's been busy--or so he tells himself. His bartender, Kennedy, has her suspicions. When Kennedy and her wedding planner cook up a matchmaking scheme to put Denver in Misty's orbit, Denver, a bar owner and tattooed biker, is surprised at how much he has in common with the modern-day flower child--including their mutual tendency to want to leave the past in the past and keep it private. But what will happen when Misty's private past is revealed, and clashes painfully with the things Denver has tried to put behind him? A novelette of approximately 15k words. This story is a crossover with the Misfit Inn series (It comes after Book 1). Check out the first full novel in the series, When You Got A Good Thing. Q: What makes the Meet Cute Romance series special? "Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of contemporary romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting. Q: Who would dig these books? Meet Cute Romances are designed to be a fast (but not too fast--these are full novelettes, not short stories of only a scene or two), lunchtime or coffee break read to give you a bright spot of romance in your day. If you're looking for a quick romantic pick me up, these short contemporary romances are sure to be right up your alley. Q: What order should I read the books in? These novelettes are each stand-alone and can be read in any order. Though there are a few recurring characters in some, so if you want to read in chronological order, they go like this: Once Upon a Snow Day Once Upon a New Year's Eve Once Upon an Heirloom Once Upon A Coffee Once Upon A Setup Once Upon A Campfire Once Upon A Wedding Q: Are there crossovers with other series? YES! Two of my Meet Cutes tie in with my longer, southern romance series set in Wishful, Mississippi. Wishful is a collection of southern romance novels honoring my Mississippi roots and exploring love in a small town. You can try the first book in the series, To Get Me To You, for FREE! It comes just after Once Upon A Coffee. Once Upon A Setup is a companion novelette to Be Careful, It's My Heart (Book 2 in Wishful) and a prequel to Just For This Moment (Book 4 in Wishful). Once Upon A Campfire ties in with the shared world Camp Firefly Falls series. And Once Upon A Wedding follows the first book in The Misfit Inn series (When You Got A Good Thing).

Can a SEAL without a mission and a widowed baker help each other learn to live again? Jonah Ferguson never wanted to be anything but a Navy SEAL. But after an injury sidelines his military career, he finds himself back home in small-town Tennessee. Opening a bakery with his best friends and daring to re-imagine his life is a whole new mission, but his biggest challenge yet is sticking to the friend zone with the woman who helped give him new purpose. Two years after losing her husband to a traumatic brain injury, baker Rachel McCleary needs a change. With the proceeds from the sale of her business, she's exploring what a new life would look like. For the short-term, it means helping one of her former students make his fledgling business thrive. And hopefully adding some benefits to the friendship that helped bring her back to life. All Rachel wants is temporary, and that's the one thing Jonah can give her. But when the trouble that's stalked his business...

Elementary school teacher Mary Alice Reed wanted a nice, stable guy to share her happily ever after. When she thought she'd found him, everyone tried to tell her that the guy she thought was her Mr. Right, was really Mr. Somebody Else's. Living with a town's worth of I-told-you-so isn't easy, but she's coping. And definitely taking a break from love in order to get past her last disaster to chair her favorite Christmas charity.Trauma surgeon Chad Phillips gave up the intensity and long hours of a big city hospital to move to Wishful. He wants a home and family, a town with a slower pace, where he can actually build a life. Being one of Wishful's most eligible bachelors has gotten him a lot of pie and casseroles, but it hasn't helped him find that special someone to come home to.When a friend's accident lands Mary Alice in his ER, Chad finds himself more than intrigued. Part Martha Stewart, part Mary Poppins, and all Girl Next Door, she's exactly what he's been looking for....

Oh my wow! Maggie & Porter's story is emotional & swoon-worthy. I was cheering so hard for them through their journey to HEA. Grab some tissues because there are some heartfelt moments along the way, along with laughter and messy life lessons. Kait Nolan weaves the perfect blend of family, heartbreak, humor and love at last. Don't miss out! ~USA Today Bestselling Author J.H. Croix"That girl who got knocked up in high school."Maggie Reynolds went all the way to Los Angeles to escape that label, but she hears the whispers every time she comes home to Eden's Ridge, Tennessee. She's been burning the candle at both ends for the last twelve years, trying to make something of her herself, trying to give people something else to say about her.Porter Ingram prides himself on being a steady man, a good friend, but he's none too steady when he flies off to California because Maggie's collapsed from exhaustion and she doesn't want her...

They say timing is everything, and for single dad Hamish Colquhoun, the timing couldn't be worse. With a new law practice to establish, a centuries-old farmhouse to restore, and the challenges of raising a tween daughter, romance is the last thing on his mind. But when Afton Lennox, his best friend's runaway bride, comes home seeking redemption, she ignites all the feelings he's tried for years to bury. Will he let his guarded heart take a leap of faith to write a new ending to their shared history?

Isla's ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?Kait Nolan's Mirus series is set in a paranormal world unlike any you've visited before—inventive new mythology full of fast-paced action, dark dangers, sparkling magic, and sizzling, undeniable attraction.Isla's ability as a Seer has made her a life-long captive of a paranormal crime lord. Fae assassin, Ransom, offers her a chance at escape, but when she touches his hand she sees only blood, horror, apocalypse. What reason can Ransom have for wanting to rescue her, and can she possibly trust a man who deals in death?

Freshly sprung from the Marines, Griffin Powell is looking for some fun. Las Vegas offers the perfect playground to blow off some steam before getting to the serious work of deciding what to do with his life. He never expects that fun to include the high school crush who tutored him years ago. Samantha Ferguson arrives in Vegas for a friend's wedding only to get dumped by text. Desperate not to be the only single in a sea of couples, she makes an impulsive offer to the former bad boy she used to tutor in high school: Be her fake boyfriend for the weekend. Griff knows he's not the guy for Sam, but he can't resist saying yes for the chance to get to know this grown-up version of the girl who once starred in all his dreams. Turns out, there's not a lot of faking it involved. Between the single bed and the endless couples activities, new feelings flare from the old, until they both fall under the spell of Sin City. Will what happens in Vegas stay in Vegas? Or...

The Money Pit meets Fixer Upper in the next installment of the Men of the Misfit Inn series. After a lifetime spent trying to prove he's not a screw up, contractor Wyatt Sullivan is ready to take his YouTube channel, DIWyatt, to the big time. But he needs more than the one-man flips that built his reputation. He needs something truly big to impress network execs enough to give him his own home improvement show. After a messy, ugly divorce, publicist Deanna James can't afford another mistake. So when she wakes up from a night of too much wine to find out she's bought a historic monstrosity of a house in an online auction, she panics. If she's going to sell it and not lose her shirt to her ex-husband, she's going to need some serious help. But how will she afford it? Wyatt's just the guy to ride to her rescue. He'll take on the job if she'll let him film the process. Deanna sweetens the deal with the added bonus of using her PR...

Athena Reynolds is a goddess in the kitchen, and she's got her Michelin-starred restaurant Olympus to back it up. Darling of the Chicago restaurant scene, she's flying high—until a betrayal leads to her sudden fall from grace. Furious and reeling, she heads home to the solace of family in Tennessee.Logan Maxwell has his hands full keeping his organic farm thriving and in the black. He doesn't have time to do more than wonder about the prickly mystery that is Athena Reynolds and relive their one passionate night together. Her life is in Chicago and his is irrevocably tied to his land. But that hasn't stopped him from craving more.But small towns are like small kitchens, everyone's constantly bumping into each other and sooner or later something's bound to boil over. Maybe that's why Logan finds it so hard to resist Athena. Well, that and the fact that he's never been able to walk away from a woman in distress. An unexpected confidant,...

As director of the local animal shelter, Brooke Redding is used to being the one doing the rescuing. But when a freak winter storm endangers her animals with sub-freezing temperatures and enough snow to constitute a Mississippi blizzard, she's in the market for a miracle.Hayden Garrow wants nothing more than to be her hero. With four-wheel drive, an empty barn, and a crush on Brooke that goes back to junior high, he's got a plan to save all her furry charges. They've just got to survive icy roads, canine labor, and a pair of matchmaking octogenarians to get there.What's the worst that could happen in this snowbound Southern romance?This story is a crossover with the Wishful series."Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

From online friends to real-world lovers For five years, Skye Stuart has crushed hard on her Scottish penpal. But what's a Mississippi girl to do when the object of her affections lives an ocean away? Convince her best friend that Scotland is the perfect place for her destination wedding. Jason McKinnon has adored Skye from afar for years. The last thing he expects is for her to walk in after one of his performances at the local pub. When she asks him to be her plus one for the wedding that brought her to town, he can't say no. But as proximity heats friendship to more and they both give in to the inevitable, will these two friends turned lovers have to settle for a fling or can they find a way to make their very different lives mesh for a shot at something real?

"Just a fling," she said...Tess Peyton wanted to do something fun and reckless and wholly out of character. A steamy weekend with a Scotsman seems like a plan. When her Scotsman turns out to be a good Southern boy, that's a minor deviation. Then one night turns to two, two turns to more, and suddenly she knows she's in way over her head. This is why one should always stick to the plan."Bachelor for life," he said...But that was before all of Mitch Campbell's friends, cousins, and even his little sister started pairing off like someone was building an ark. No wonder he fell, and fell hard, for his "no attachments, no last names" European fling. And just when he's ready to tell the woman of his dreams that he wants to change that arrangement, she disappears, leaving him with no means of tracking her down, and a big ol' hole in his heart.And then Fate stepped in...Because, guess what? The guy Tess ran out on in Edinburgh...

One of Nashville's fastest rising stars, Kyle Keenan has it all—fame, fans, and a chance at fortune. But the dream he's busted his tail for means nothing without the woman who holds his heart. With her sassy smile and pull-no-punches attitude, Abbey is his greatest love—and his greatest regret. When he's confronted in a live TV interview about alleged involvement with a country music starlet, Kyle blurts out he's already engaged...to Abbey. Abbey Whittaker has come a long way from the starry-eyed six-year-old who made a marriage pact with her best friend. With a thriving business, a loving family, and a tight-knit group of friends, she's put away childish things. She long ago banished Kyle from her life, so the last thing she expects is him walking through her door or the blistering kiss that follows. Kyle is desperate to convince Abbey that a fake engagement is the best way to get the media off her back—and his. And it just might give him a...

A runaway authorIvy Blake is on a deadline. Actually, she's past the deadline and desperate to find some peace, quiet, and inspiration to get her book back on track. She doesn't plan on a Tennessee blizzard or the bear that causes her to crash.A grumpy lumberjackHarrison Wilkes isn't actually a lumberjack, but he's doing his best impression during this week away from real life. He needs to rest, recharge, and stay the hell away from people, while he makes some major life decisions. He doesn't plan to be executing a snowbound rescue.Is it getting hot in here?When Winter Stormageddon traps Ivy and Harrison together, suddenly his one-man cabin feels more cramped than cozy. As more than the fireplace heats things up, Harrison's starting to think the interruption to his solitude might be worth it. Will the grumpy lumberjack prove to be inspiration or distraction?This novella is a crossover with The Misfit Inn series.

Reunion Prom? Is this really a thing?In Wishful it is. Lexi Morales never imagined her life would turn into the premise for an 1980s teen movie. But when her big high school trauma hit like a ton of bricks, she spent the next decade trying to hide the truth. After years of careful avoidance, she's back in town to care for her injured mother, just in time for the high school reunion she never planned to attend—a reunion that evokes memories she's tried to forget.Wishful's friendly neighborhood photographer, Zach Warren, has no idea why he and his best friend drifted apart. But from the first, flashbulb moment he sees Lexi all grown up, she's all he can think about—and his thoughts keep straying right out of the friendzone.Zach's offer of temporary employment while she's in town should be a perfect fit, but acting like she's never thought of him as more than a friend turns out to be harder than Lexi ever expected. All she...

Livia Applewhite needs a change. Her awful boss has made the job she used to love a serious drag. On top of that, it seems everyone around her is paired off in romantic bliss. It's enough to give a girl a complex. Hoping a change of scenery will give her new perspective, she sets off for a two-week trip to Tennessee to visit her favorite cousin. It's been more than a decade since Declan Callahan has thought about anything but being a dad. But when his extensive (and meddling) foster family wrangles him into a "chance" encounter with the first love he had to leave behind, he's wise enough not to waste it. He's got a long-overdue apology to make. But as that apology opens a door long shut, Livia and Declan give in to the spell of nostalgia, basking as all those old feelings kindle anew. They're fully grown now, with lives in different places. Will this brief encounter be enough to convince Livia to give the undeniable connection between them a real...

A permanent injury in the line of duty effectively ended Ian Ryker’s career as a Shadow Walker for the Council of Races. Being posted to a safe house in Washington, D.C. was one step short of forced retirement–until the day Marley Weiss, a local human woman, witnessed something she should never have seen. According to Mirus law, that glimpse of their world makes her life forfeit. Once, Ian might have followed orders to take her out. But not this time.

A grump who lost his family... After a devastating loss, Malcolm Niall has spent the past twenty years hiding from the world. As manager of a Highland estate, he's built a life of purpose, caring for the land and animals. And for the past six months, his peace has been utterly destroyed by a sexy Southern whirlwind who's never met a stranger. Worse, they have to work together daily. His sunshiny nemesis who's starting a new life Nothing about Charlotte Vasquez's life has been traditional. She never married, abandoned her corporate job to raise the son of her late best friend, and now she's followed that grown-up son to Scotland for a chance at something new. While she's enjoying the challenge, she could do without the attitude from the broody Scot next door. Join forces to protect a runaway Malcolm and Charlotte clash over absolutely everything on the renovation...

What's a little marriage between friends? Mia has been Braxton's best friend for years. Even when they no longer lived in the same foster family, even after he'd aged out of the system, he'd continued to look out for the one person who got under his skin and made him care. For the last six years, Mia's been keeping her head down, putting one foot in front of the other, unable to trust anyone with her secrets—including the foster brother who's been the one bright spot in her life, as well as her secret crush. Just one more day until Mia turns eighteen—a legal adult. Brax doesn't trust her foster father and wants her out of that house. Is proposing a marriage of convenience to your best friend a little drastic? Maybe so. But what Brax feels is so far beyond friendship. Is it possible Mia feels it, too? Please note that this is a backstory prequel. The adult second chance romance between Brax and Mia is cover in MIXED UP...

Banished from their world with his memory wiped, Ultimate Fighter Cade Shepherd doesn’t remember his life as Gage Dempsey, not even the woman he nearly died for. But when Embry Hollister’s father is kidnapped by military scientists, the only one she can turn to for help is the love from her past. Will Gage remember the Shadow Walker skills he learned from her father, and if they survive, will Embry be able to walk away a second time?

A blind date and a case of mistaken identity just might lead to love. After a long series of stinkers, when a respectful match from an online dating site asks to meet Avery Cahill in real life, she agrees. Invoking her favorite romantic comedy, they arrange to meet in a local coffee shop with a flower and a book. Under a serious deadline to finish a group project for his MBA–solo–the only thing Dillon Lange wants is peace and quiet. When a beautiful stranger sits down in his booth at the coffee shop, he knows he ought to say something about not being who she thinks he is, but he can’t resist her smile or her engaging conversation. How long can he keep up the charade? And what will happen when her real date shows up? A short story of approximately 7,500 words. This story is a crossover with the Wishful series.

Charming, poignant, and sexy, When You Got a Good Thing pulled me in with its sweet charm and deft storytelling, and didn't let go until the very last page. It has everything I love in a small-town romance! ~USA Today Best-Selling Author Tawna Fenske She thought she could never go home again. Kennedy Reynolds has spent the past decade traveling the world as a free spirit. She never looks back at the past, the place, or the love she left behind—until her adopted mother’s unexpected death forces her home to Eden’s Ridge, Tennessee. Deputy Xander Kincaid has never forgotten his first love. He’s spent ten long years waiting for the chance to make up for one bone-headed mistake that sent her running. Now that she’s finally home, he wants to give her so much more than just an apology. Kennedy finds an unexpected ally in Xander, as she struggles to mend fences with her sisters and to care for the foster child her mother left behind. Falling back into his arms is beyond tempting, but accepting his support is dangerous. He can never know the truth about why she really left. Will Kennedy be able to bury the past and carve out her place in the Ridge, or will her secret destroy her second chance?

Banished from their world with his memory wiped, Ultimate Fighter Cade Shepherd doesn’t remember his life as Gage Dempsey, not even the woman he nearly died for. But when Embry Hollister’s father is kidnapped by military scientists, the only one she can turn to for help is the love from her past. Will Gage remember the Shadow Walker skills he learned from her father, and if they survive, will Embry be able to walk away a second time?

He has one mission Since they were children, career cop Judd Hamilton has built his life around taking care of his best friend, Autumn Buchanan. While he might once have dreamed of a different future for them, everything changed the day her father tried to kill them both. Determined to keep her safe, Judd put his feelings aside and turned his focus to protecting her, always. She leads a double life Nobody in their small town would ever dream that Autumn, Wishful's friendly librarian, is really successful erotic romantic suspense author, Rumor Fairchild. No one knows that the swoon-worthy hero of her series is based on her best friend, Judd. He's been fulfilling her rescue fantasies for years, and now she's ready to catapult them out of the friend zone to make her real life romance come true. When Autumn's real life nightmare returns, danger pushes them together. Will they take a chance on love or will Judd push her away one last time? Will Judd be able to protect her when her real life nightmare returns? Keywords: southern romance novels, southern romance series, love in a small town, southern love story, best friends to lovers romance, small town southern suspense, rescue fantasy romance

Virtual Match is your one-stop shop to convincing those nosy relatives, the too friendly coworker, or your ex that you’re off the market. We’ll match you up with an attentive boyfriend or girlfriend. Texts, emails, phone calls, and even gifts. A virtual love life is all the fun of being in a relationship–well, almost all the fun–and none of the commitment. Our matches know how to stay discreet and convincing. You might even forget it’s not real. Log on to Virtual Match and meet the match of your dreams who doesn’t mind staying just a fantasy. Wish I Might by Kait Nolan: Bookstore owner Reed Campbell wasn't looking for a woman. But when the new clerk he hired won't take no for an answer, he needs a girlfriend in a hurry. His friends give him the perfect out—Virtual Match, a service that offers a fake relationship with none of the fuss. But when Reed gets a second chance with Cecily Dixon, the one that got away, his virtual girlfriend may cause more problems than she solves. Lip Service by Wendy Sparrow: Amputee Berg Cyrano is struggling with civilian life. Dating is perilous, but the girl next door is oh so tempting in her sexy sundresses. His new gig as “virtual boyfriend” allows him to bask in her sunshine without risking rejection and without her knowing. Roxie Edmonds has tried cupcakes and pizza and her neighbor doesn’t adore her yet. Using the Virtual Match site he recommended will get rid of a slimy coworker, but she absolutely can’t fall for her new fake boyfriend. Code Name: Girlfriend by Jessica Fox: Drew needs a girlfriend—fast. Trouble is that he already told his nosy coworkers all about her, and she doesn't exist. When his best friend sees an ad for Virtual Match, it seems like the answer to all his problems...until he starts falling for his match. Caroline is struggling to get her writing career off the ground when she gets a chance to write a tell-all feature on Virtual Match. Seems easy enough, until pretending to be someone's girlfriend suddenly gets far too real. Dream Home by Lisa Kroger: Evie Bowen doesn’t have time for the boyfriend her mom and sister think she needs. Still reeling from her husband’s death, she’s renovating the antebellum plantation meant to be their dream home. Enter Luc Savini, her virtual boyfriend. Luc may keep her family at bay and provide company in the dark of night, but when sinister things start happening in Evie’s house, she’s still very much on her own. Something Old and Something New by J.R. Pearse Nelson: Delia has finally managed to kick her cheating ex-husband to the curb. In a parting jab at her lack of tech savvy and need for companionship, the ex signs her up for Virtual Match. The texts from the virtual boyfriend are as creepy as the idea and getting stranger, but she can’t figure out how to stop them. When an old friend—that’s all it can ever be—shows up on her doorstep, Delia is pushed to retire old heartaches in favor of a new vision of herself and her future. Matchmaker Reality by Sharon Hughson: Ronnie Shay isn’t willing to put her heart on the line and risk it being broken. A fake boyfriend through Virtual Match will prevent her from investing in a relationship as well as keep her nagging family at bay. Unexpected sparks fly with her imaginary boyfriend and she gets in deep—her feelings unearthing a past secret she’d buried. When her virtual boyfriend wants to meet, reality might ruin Ronnie’s chances of a real connection. Will her heart survive and is love worth the gamble? Virtual Surprise by Catherine Lynn: Home is where your heart heals. And, Anna’s moved on since her divorce. Really. To convince her friends, Anna signs up for Virtual Match. A fake boyfriend is safe and easy…right up until their relationship feels real. Then, there’s her high school crush—who broke her heart. Neither man is simple and one may not even exist. Luke’s job with Virtual Match is just for extra cash, not for a relationship. He’s still dealing with his anger for the girl who once hurt him. Then, he starts falling for his assigned “girlfriend.” Is it worth the risk to make their match real? Home Field Advantage by Kate Davison: Home isn’t always where the heart is—sometimes it needs a little push. For Shelby Steele, going home to Suwannee Grove after her sister’s death is the hardest thing she's ever done. The reasons she left make it even harder. One look at Dallas Lane and she knows her bigger mistake may have been staying away so long. Dallas has always considered Shelby the love of his life and he'd like nothing more than for her trip home to be permanent. But if Shelby ever finds out Dallas was posing as her sister’s Virtual Match, he doubts even his home field advantage will help convince her to stay.

A perfect small town read that will appeal to fans of Candis Terry's Sweet, Texas, Brenda Novak's Whiskey Creek, Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor, and Marie Force's Gansett Island. Wishful, Mississippi. From the post Civil War fountain on the town green, to the gossip served along with grits and coffee at Dinner Belles Diner, it will always be Campbell Crawford's hometown--preferably just as it is. The way he sees it, the corporate big-box store that wants to unpack on the outskirts threatens everything he holds dear, but the town's economy demands some kind of change. He's not sure city girl Norah Burke can possibly understand Wishful enough help him turn things around--no matter how much his dog loves her. Norah falls for the charms of the town as hard as she falls for the charms of the man, and she's determined to help. But even if they can get the votes to send the suits packing and get the town on its feet again, can she really give up her corner office and power lunches for the corner booth at the local diner? What's a nice executive like her going to do in a place like this?

Sylvie Noll goes to the jewelry store with a sad story, a looming debt, and a beloved heirloom. Everett Sperry, III is a hard-core do-gooder with a bank account to back him up. When he impulsively buys Sylvie’s hocked ring, he intends to return it to her. But Sylvie disappears. How will he find her again? And if his friends find his grand gestures…eccentric, how will a complete stranger react? A novelette of approximately 10.5k words.

Isabelle Lawson loves her job. Driven, dedicated, there's no room in her high-pressure life to look for love outside the pages of the books she edits. Can a fun-loving, handsome stranger change her mind? A novelette of approximately 10k words. Est. reading time: 45-60 min. "Meet cute" is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.

The Madrigal Theater is about to close its doors. Piper's on a mission to save it--even if it means pulling a little deception to get her best friend back up on the stage. When newspaperman Myles catches on to his co-star's shenanigans, he has a choice--keep quiet or get to the bottom of things. He's never been able to resist a story...and he's not sure he wants to resist Piper.

Kait Nolan presents an engaging small town, second chance romance that will appeal to fans of Candis Terry's Sweet, Texas; Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor; and Ava Miles' Dare Valley. The best things happen while you're acting... The historic Madrigal theater, in the heart of downtown Wishful, is about to close its doors forever. A last ditch fund-raising effort, a production of White Christmas, is probably the only thing that could bring Tyler Edison out of retirement. She fell in love on that stage, but when Brody Jensen abandoned her, she lost the heart to sing and dance for the crowd. Maybe it's time to take that back... It seems like pure chance when Brody's job, which has taken him all over the world, brings him back to his little hometown to oversee his boss's latest secret project. Brody's looking for closure, planning to sell the house his parents left him and finally put his past, and his memories of Tyler, behind him. What better way than to be a part of this last show? Even though his leading lady is surely long gone... Put on your dancing shoes, auditions start at six o'clock. Be Careful, It's My Heart is a novella of approximately 39k words. Books in the Wishful Series (May Be Read Out of Order): Once Upon A Coffee (short story--try it FREE!) To Get Me To You (novel) Be Careful, It's My Heart (novella) Excerpt: "Okay, let's see where you are, Brody," called Nate. "'The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing', from the top." She didn't smile now as he crossed the stage. Her face was set in a carefully neutral expression. Fine. He could be every bit as professional as she could. Brody reached for her, curving one hand around her waist, the other taking her free hand. They fit. They'd always fit. Somebody queued up the music. Tyler glanced down as if checking the position of their feet, which was ridiculous since she knew exactly where her feet were in the pitch black dark. The faint trace of color high in her cheeks gave her away. So she wasn't as unaffected as she wanted him to believe. Brody could see the thrum of her pulse at the base of her throat, felt the answering echo of his own as she lifted her head again, focusing on his eyes. She was stiff at first, resisting his lead. They stumbled a few times. He missed several steps. Then she did. And then the song was over, and she was frowning, knowing they botched the number. "Okay, try it again, and this time, Tyler, remember you aren't doing an impression of a fence post. Loosen up," ordered Nate. She took a moment, closed her eyes as if to center herself, then nodded. With a roll of her neck, she shook out all her limbs. Brody felt the difference in her posture as soon as she took position again. The music swelled, and they locked eyes. On cue, they began to move, and at last, at long last, he felt like he was home. Everyone and everything faded except the music and the woman in his arms. He led, spun, dipped, and by the time she broke away into a quick shuffle tap, her eyes were sparking with fun and her cheeks were flushed with exertion. Brody found himself grinning, improvising in response, as he couldn't remember this section of choreography to save his soul. He watched her, starting to follow her lead, mimicking, mirroring as they came back together and whirled around the stage. And at last they ended, Tyler in a deep dip over his knee, her face flushed and smiling, her chest heaving. "Excellent!" called Nate. "You're remembering how to move together." Something hot and dark flashed in Tyler's eyes. Brody tugged her up, into his arms, and held her a moment too long, letting the awareness, the heat sink in. No, he hadn't forgotten what it was to move with her--on stage or in the dark. Neither had she.**

It should have been the perfect New Year's Eve date. But when Gemma Forester gets called to bail her older brother out of trouble, she comes face to face with some of her own. Aaron Hendricks never forgot his best friend's little sister, but ten years wasn't enough to prepare him for the woman she's become. Will a chance meeting allow them to overcome the past? Once Upon A New Year's Eve is a novelette of approximately 8,500 words. “Meet cute” is a term used to describe a situation in which a future romantic couple meets for the first time. Meet Cute Romance is a series of romantic shorts celebrating the possibilities of that first meeting.