2026 Books Read

Rio and Hallie's Book

In the steamy third novel in the Silver Pines Ranch series, a newly appointed sheriff and a congressman’s daughter must keep their impulsive Vegas nuptials hidden to protect their reputations—but what happens in Vegas rarely remains secret. Her heart is wild. Only he can capture it. When Cole Ashby is appointed Laurel Creek’s sheriff, he is determined to prove to the town, his family, and most importantly to himself that he’s the responsible choice for the job. A devoted single dad, his main goal is to lay steady roots for his young daughter. As the daughter of a Kentucky congressman, elementary school teacher Ginger Danforth's life has always been about neat appearances. But inside she’s dying to break free from the restraints of reputation and embrace the sense of adventure that runs through her veins. When the Laurel Creek crew heads to Las Vegas for a weekend away, long\-time friends Ginger and Cole play a game of truth or dare and, after a few too many drinks, wake up the next morning having exchanged marriage vows in a Vegas chapel. With no chance of an immediate annulment, the two make a stay married for ninety days in secret, until Ginger's father is re\-elected and Cole is out of his probationary period as county sheriff. But when Ginger agrees to help watch Cole’s daughter for the summer and the pair are forced to spend an increasing amount of time in each other’s company, riding the high of their accidental marriage, the more it begins to feel real. Until they start to forget their marriage was ever meant to be temporary. . .

Hands down, my favorite thing in the world is to score. Touchdowns. Don't let the fact that I'm the leading pick in the Most Valuable Playboy charity auction fool you. These days, I'm only a player on the field. I've kept my pants zipped all season long—and it has been long—because nothing's more important than leading my team to victory every week. Except maybe escaping from the team owner's recently-widowed and handsy-as-hell sister who's dead set on winning more than a date with me. Enter Violet and a well-placed Hail Mary. She's my best friend's sister with a smile as sweet as cherry pie and a mind that runs quicker than the 40-yard-dash. After Violet saves the day with the highest bid, I don't even give her a two-minute warning before I kiss her in front of the whole crowd and then announce that she's my girlfriend. Which would be fine except my agent tells me we've got to keep up the act while he's negotiating my contract. What happens next when faking it starts to feel all too real?

He had everything he could’ve wanted…except her. Dangerous. Powerful. Reclusive. Vuk Markovic is notorious for shunning human interactions. The scarred billionaire rarely talks, and he has no interest in relationships outside his small but trusted circle. His only exception? Her . The beauty to his beast, the object of his obsession. He saw her first. He wanted her first. But now, she’s engaged to his oldest friend—and the closer the wedding looms, the more he’s torn between loyalty and desire. She should be his…and he might just risk it all to have her. \\\* Beautiful. Successful. Glamorous. To the world, supermodel Ayana Kidane leads the perfect life. Her career has skyrocketed, and she’s engaged to one of New York’s most eligible bachelors. What people don't know is that the engagement is only a business arrangement. He gets his inheritance when they marry; she gets the money she needs to leave her abusive agency. Pretending to be in love should be easy—until she finds herself increasingly drawn to her fiancé’s enigmatic best man. Vuk thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. She knows she should stay away, but when her wedding is thrown into chaos, he’s the only person she finds comfort in… Until his past catches up with them and threatens everything they love.

Lakefront Billionaire Book \#3 coming in 2025\.

A country music star finds inspiration in a ruggedly handsome cowboy while visiting Silver Pines Ranch, but being from two totally different worlds, is there even a chance at their budding love story becoming more than a one-hit wonder? She’s a star on the rise. He just wants to see her shine. Rising country star Cassie Spencer, otherwise known as the Princess of Bluegrass, is just kicking off her music career when tragedy strikes during her tour. Seeking solace, she retreats to Kentucky to visit her sister Ivy. Haden Westbrook, the charming heartthrob of Laurel Creek, only wants one a peaceful life tending to the Silver Pines ranch and his beloved horses. So when the stunning, free-spirited Cassie arrives in town causing chaos, his world is turned upside down. At first, Cassie and Haden seem worlds apart. Yet, as they explore the picturesque farmlands surrounding Sugarland Mountain, they discover first impressions can be deceiving and an undeniable chemistry soon ignites. Cassie’s stay in Kentucky was only meant to be temporary. But when their spring fling begins to turn into something more, can Haden convince her to stay lost in the country with him?

Olivia Sutton is the sweetheart of Laurel Creek. The owner of a popular boutique, she enjoys the comforts of home, her cat, and freshly baked treats. Yet beneath her good girl exterior, Olivia harbour’s a secret desire for something more intense—a man who can take control. Enter Asher Reed, the town’s deputy fire chief, known for his intense eyes and mysterious past. Asher keeps everything in his life tightly controlled. Except when it comes to Olivia, the golden-haired shop owner who has captured his attention in ways he can’t ignore. When a fire damages Olivia’s home, Asher steps in to pick up the pieces. As they spend more time together, Olivia soon realises that the smoldering firefighter might be the key to her deepest desires. But when she discovers the truth about his past, will their connection ignite into a blazing romance or be extinguished by the weight of his secrets?

Rafael Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs. I’m a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums. On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son. For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip. Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn’t be attracted to. Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company? That isn’t part of our travel plans. After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs. Even if it means breaking hers in the process. Ellie What’s worse than working for a grumpy single dad? Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school. Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High. He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of. I’m an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music. We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything. Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma. Being his son’s nanny is one thing, but wishing for more? Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written.

She's about to make a deal with the college bad boy... Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she's carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush's attention, she'll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice... even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date. ...and it's going to be oh so good. All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he's worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he's all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn't take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn't going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

She’s good at achieving her goals… College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change. But the game just got a whole lot more complicated... Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

He'll make her a hot girl, but can he make her his girl? Shy, quiet Hannah is surrounded by handsome, sensitive, swoon-worthy men...who are fictional. As her thirtieth birthday looms, she takes stock of her life: her small-town bookstore isn't making ends meet and she's never been in love. Something needs to change. She knows exactly who's going to help her. Women fall head over heels for laid-back, confident Wyatt, but all he cares about is surfing. The only thing holding him back from going pro? His non-existent social media presence. When Hannah offers to run his social media in exchange for lessons, it's too good to pass up. He'll coax the pretty bookworm out of her shell, but they'll do it his way. Disastrous surf lessons, dive bar karaoke, a romance-only bookstore and a sparkly dress that makes her feel beautiful—spending time with Wyatt is nothing like Hannah expected. But he's all wrong for her... right? A spicy, hilarious small-town friends-to-lovers romantic comedy with a guaranteed HEA. This is the second book in the Queen's Cove series, but can be read as a standalone.

The deal is simple: he’ll wipe out my debt if I find him a wife. Holden Rhodes is grouchy, unfairly hot, and has hated me for years. Now we own an inn together. As we renovate the inn and practice his dating skills, I see a different side of him, though, and wonder if I was all wrong. 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. I’m terrible at bartending, a video of a bear stealing my toy went viral, and everyone in this small town knows my business, but Holden Rhodes is so much more than I expected, and now I’m not sure I want to leave. A grumpy-sunshine friends-with-benefits spicy small town romantic comedy with an HEA. This is book 3 in the Queen's Cove series, but can be read as a standalone.

The guy who broke my heart is now an arrogant, too-hot firefighter… who’s hellbent on getting me back. This summer, I have one goal: field work. I need it to finish my PhD. I never expected Finn Rhodes to offer help. He broke my heart twelve years ago, and now that he’s back in town, I want nothing to do with him. Finn wants one thing—me. We were inseparable as kids until everything changed. Now, he’s all grown up—tattooed, muscled, and unfairly hot… and insists we’re meant to be together. I know he’ll grow bored of me and this small town like before, but he’ll never give up unless it’s his idea. I’ll pretend to date him, but actually? I’m trying to get him to dump me. Between hiking the back country and cringe-worthy dates designed to turn him off, I begin to remember why we were best friends. Despite how hard I try, Finn isn’t interested in dumping me… and now I’m not sure I want him to. Finn’s always been trouble, but now he’s a different kind entirely. The kind that might break my heart. Again.

Christina Lauren, returns with a delicious new romance between the buttoned\-up heir of a grocery chain and his free\-spirited artist ex as they fake their relationship in order to receive a massive inheritance. Anna Green thought she was marrying Liam “West” Weston for access to subsidized family housing while at UCLA. She also thought she’d signed divorce papers when the graduation caps were tossed, and they both went on their merry ways. Three years later, Anna is a starving artist living paycheck to paycheck while West is a Stanford professor. He may be one of four heirs to the Weston Foods conglomerate, but he has little interest in working for the heartless corporation his family built from the ground up. He is interested, however, in his one\-hundred\-million\-dollar inheritance. There’s just one catch. Due to an antiquated clause in his grandfather’s will, Liam won’t see a penny until he’s been happily married for five years. Just when Liam thinks he’s in the home stretch, pressure mounts from his family to see this mysterious spouse, and he has no choice but to turn to the one person he’s afraid to introduce to his one\-percenter parents—his unpolished, not\-so\-ex\-wife. But in the presence of his family, Liam’s fears quickly shift from whether the feisty, foul\-mouthed, paint\-splattered Anna can play the part to whether the toxic world of wealth will corrupt someone as pure of heart as his surprisingly grounded and loyal wife. Liam will have to ask himself if the price tag on his flimsy cover story is worth losing true love that sprouted from a lie.