Showing results by narrator "Stephen Dexter" in All Categories

No one said it would be easy. No one promised we'd escape unscathed. When Baz, Kirin, and I ventured into the dream realm in search of the sacred Arcana objects, we had no idea what the Dark Arcana had in store for us. No idea that our darkest, most deeply hidden terrors would follow us back home. Now, Baz is haunted by monsters from the past none of us can see, let alone defeat. Kirin is wrestling with a heartbreaking accident that fractured his family a decade ago.

The deal is simple: the grumpy guy will pay off my debt if I find him a wife. Holden Rhodes is grouchy, unfairly hot, and has hated me for years. He's the last person I'd choose to inherit an inn with. As we renovate the inn and practice his dating skills, I see a different side of him. Was I all wrong about Holden? When we add ‘friends with benefits’ to the deal, our chemistry is so hot the sparks could burn down the inn. Holden’s a secret romantic, and I’m secretly falling for him.

Edira Brillwyn is a threadmender. She holds a rare, lifesaving power that can cure disease and heal injuries in the blink of an eye. But magic always comes with a cost, and saving anyone sacrifices a sliver of her own life. She’s always kept her abilities hidden…until the powerful Fernglove family discovers her secret. The Ferngloves are charming and beautiful, possess powerful magic, and don’t take no for an answer—especially Orin, the head of these ruling elites. When Edira’s brothers unexpectedly contract blight, Orin offers to help.

In the heart of Louisiana, the most powerful people in the South live behind elegant gates, mossy trees, and pleasant masks. Once every 10 years, the pretense falls away and a tournament is held to determine who will rule them. The Acquisition is a crucible for the Southern nobility, a love letter written to a time when barbarism was enshrined as law. Now, Sinclair Vinemont is in the running to claim the prize. There is only one way to win, and he has the key to do it - Stella Rousseau, his Acquisition.

My life has turned out to be a web of lies. All I know for sure is that the hit men who took me into their home aren't the real villains in this story. As the Chaos Crew helps me track down answers about who I am and what happened to me all those years ago, I can't help wondering if their home could become mine, too. Especially when I discover just how delicious each of them can be in their unique ways. But to work alongside me is a dangerous game. Will winning the loyalty of these brutal men guarantee my survival - or send them to an early grave?

I was starting to think I knew what I was dealing with here at the university best known as Villain Academy. Not so much. But can I really trust a shocking revelation from someone who's proven to be my enemy? There's no way to answer that without diving in. If my mother is still out there alive, I have to uncover the truth. Even if it means putting myself back in the hands of the mages who've betrayed me before.

Off-limits. That’s what Jude is to me. My older brother doesn’t trust me with his player of a best friend, which is totally fine, because I’m not interested. As Jude and I reluctantly become friends, I start to see that there’s more to him than others notice. But I still won’t go there, not when I have a crush on someone else. But Jude’s the perfect person to help show me the ropes when it comes to the opposite sex, besides it’s not like he’ll get attached to me. Except he does. And the thing about broken boys? They’re way too easy to fall for.

June Tucker doesn’t understand people. Numbers, data, and statistics? Those make sense. People? Not so much. In a town of Friday night fighters and moonshine-swilling line dancers, she’s the odd duck. And that suits her just fine. But her sister and friends are pairing off, and the change is unsettling. George “GT” Thompson was at the top of his game — one of the best receivers in football. But a career-ending injury sidelined him for good. Now he’s hoping to find relief in the healing waters of this tiny West Virginia town.

Erin cleans Mr. Morris's house twice a week to pay her tuition. The reclusive ex-soldier intimidates her, but she can't help but feel sympathy for him. Then, she walks in on him touching himself, and she has much darker, much more sensual feelings.

Riggins has been in love with Stella for as long as he can remember. As kids, they’d sneak out and spend long nights under the stars writing songs together, sharing their deepest confessions, and dreaming about getting out of their small town. When his band gets a record deal and a headlining tour, he convinces her to come see the world with him, and she agrees. It doesn’t take long before Riggins gets too far into the rockstar lifestyle, and everything begins to fall apart, including his relationship.

With his dimpled grin and devilish charm, firefighter Gavin Bailey is hot as a five-alarm fire and twice as dangerous. The youngest of five brothers, he’s the daredevil of the family. Until the unexpected strikes and he finds himself sidelined. Skylar Stanley’s life didn’t just fall apart. It exploded. Spectacularly. Dropped by her publisher and her agent, and dumped by her boyfriend, she suddenly has no place to live and a career circling the drain. She comes home to the quirky, feuding small town she hasn’t lived in since kindergarten to find her mojo.

How do you get over a woman you never should have been, ahem, under in the first place? Just when FBI special agent Spencer Landry had decided to forget about investigative journalist Maxine "Max" Keller and their one hot night together, there's a threat made against her, and Spencer's protective instincts get all riled up. Again. So now they're shacking up on the Louisiana bayou and pretending to be in love so he can keep Max safe until the guy is apprehended.

Bull riding is all Gavin’s known for years, but when it’s time to retire, he can’t let go of the reckless lifestyle. He finds a job that brings him to a small-town Texas ranch and face-to-face with the woman who snuck out after their one-night stand. She can pretend she’s over him, but he’s not letting her go that easily. After months of giving her space, Gavin’s tired of waiting for Maize to admit what he knows they both want - a second round between the sheets. It may only take eight seconds to win a championship, but he’ll prove to her that he can go all night long.

After almost a year away from hockey, Bastian Durand’s return to the game should be a triumph. Instead he’s taken down by the Chicago Rebels mascot. It can’t get worse. Or maybe it can. Because the human inside the Rowdy Rebel costume is none other than Pepper Calhoun. His friend’s sister. His coach’s daughter. And the woman Bastian has wanted for the longest time.

She was supposed to be a one-night stand. A way to sate my sexual appetite. I let her glimpse the man I am. The face that I hide behind my carefully cultivated life. But she ripped open that divide - and there's no going back. Now, she's here. In my city. I don't care that I'm Manhattan royalty and she's the help. Only that she's living in my summer home. With me. And I want more.

She has a head for business and a body for sin. He is a coach who knows how to use his equipment. Neither is looking for love. Should be easy, right? Wrong. This might be the most important game Kendall Wales and Hunter Owens have ever played where everything is on the line. With one wrong play, they could lose it all. Hopefully, the game clock doesn’t reach zero before it’s too late.

Reid Jackson - I’m a simple guy. There are only two things I love: my family and playing professional football. I may not understand why people get married, but I’d go anywhere for my brother, even his friend Camille’s wedding. Once I’m there, I realize our Bronx upbringing has left me unprepared for the world of old Southern money. Over 24 hours, I see scandal, threats, and lies. It’s a life I don’t relate to, a place I never want to belong. Even so, when the minister asks if anyone objects, I shock not only myself but also the beautiful bride when I stand up.

Sikthand hadn't planned to take the stubborn little human hostage. But with political tensions at an all-time high, he had no choice. He would unflinchingly use her as a bargaining chip to secure better relations with the new Tremantian ruler. He would not, however, fall prey to her charms. When Sophia and Sikthand realize how far their enemies are willing to go to grab galactic power, they're forced into an unlikely alliance-and possibly a marriage of convenience-to protect their people. It's a good plan, too, if they don't do anything irrational along the way. Like falling in love.

But Aiden has always had other ideas. After spending the early years of his life without his dad, hockey legend Lucas Brooks, Aiden is determined not to settle for anything less than true love. When he's ready. Now he's living the fast life of an NHL bachelor. He won't give his heart to any one girl, but they can have his body - all night long. The party to celebrate the start of the second half of the season was supposed to be no different from any other night. And when a stunning stranger approaches him, he can't seem to keep his hands off her.

With my clan threatened, I don’t have time for romance with a pesky Earth female. Until I meet Piper. She and her youngling son are part of our planet’s new settlement. Soon, I find myself helping her plan her home and talking about odd Earthling activities. What is a square dance, and must I do it? She’s soft and lush in all the right places, and I could pick her up and carry her around with one arm. And her son…I ache to show him how to tame a mighty winged trundier. Piper may say she doesn’t need love, but I'll do whatever it takes to win her heart.