_The first book in Kate Hawthorne's new series, Risk Aware, takes us back to Los Angeles and back to the club where it all began...Rapture. Love by Risk Aware Book One is a dad's business rival (with a mouth on him), age gap romance, with power exchange, hurt/comfort, found family, and the kind of best friend you've always wanted. And did I mention Marshall Covington has three brothers?_ SILAS There are ten rules to architectural design including, but not limited to, balance, harmony, unity, organization...variety. My love life has fewer rules, and it's no surprise I'm more successful at one of these things than the other. It's not my fault that my personal preference for keeping things fresh throws me headfirst into a less than ideal situation with a stranger, and it's definitely not my fault that the man who saves my ass—literally—the last man who should. Marshall Covington, my father's business rival. MARSHALL I did not set out in life with the intention to seduce the son of my least favorite professor-turned-biggest business competitor, but on the back end of a confrontational meeting that has me desperate to blow off some steam, there's no denying how perfect Silas feels in my arms. If I've learned one thing in my thirty-nine years, it's that secrets never stay secret for long. There's no hiding Silas' talent, there's no hiding his (platonic) affection for his best friend, and there's no hiding the way I'm absolutely head over heels in love with him. Between his father and my brothers, the truth about us is going to come out sooner rather than later. We've reinforced our foundation with love, but is that enough? Please use the look inside feature to check content warnings.

The second book in Kate Hawthorne's Risk Aware series, Burden of Proof is a best friend's brother (in-law) romance. LINCOLN My best friend fell in love, and it ruined my life. I'd never tell him that, so I'm trying to make the best of my new living situation, but it's lonely, and I'm lonely, and it's the need to be held that drives me to search out a partner who will let me submit for the night. Going to my knees for another man brings up more feelings than I bargained for, and the complications that arise afterward only make things worse. Running to Silas and Marshall for help brings me right into the sights of the man I was trying to get away from. Hunter Covington, Marshall's younger-but equally dominant-brother. HUNTER Accepting a one-night stand kind of proposition was supposed to be my last hurrah, but when the broken man I can't stop thinking about turns out to be the best friend of my brother's boyfriend, there's no chance I'm walking away. Lincoln is scared, but he's brave. He's messy, but he's perfect. I convince Lincoln to give me a chance, and being with him changes everything. I've played with power exchange before, but the circular nature of our dynamic feels special and new. The need to take care of Lincoln and keep him safe is visceral, but the pleasure I find when I sink down to my knees in front of him is indisputable. The closer we get, the more Lincoln wants to run. I can give him a home, but I can't make him stay. The only thing I can do now is hope our love is strong enough to prove Lincoln deserves the life we both want and more.

RIGGS Three years after the unexpected death of my husband, I’m finally coming out the other side of my grief. I have a successful tattoo shop that’s on the brink of expansion, I have my best friend, and that’s plenty. I’ve become good at finding entertainment and pleasure when I need it, but it’s the last thing I’m thinking about when a distressed client passes out in my arms after his first tattoo. The only thing I expect even less than that is running into him at Club Rapture with his hand down his pants and an expression I am desperate to see more of. Smith Covington is too naïve, too young, and too irresistible. SMITH It’s exhausting to live in the shadow of the three men I admire most, so deciding to rebel against their idea of me isn’t something I put too much thought into. Walking into Ink and Ember and getting half of my arm tattooed turned out to be more than I bargained for, and developing a massive crush on Riggs Ember doesn’t make things easier for me either. My brothers are not pleased when I show up to our weekly dinner with fresh ink and a hickey, and they’d be even less thrilled if they knew what kinds of things I did with Riggs after hours. For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m chasing the things I want, not the things my brothers want for me. Riggs is so focused on the exploration of my pleasure, it’s hard to think about anything else—not the differences in our wants, not the looming presence of his dead husband, and certainly not the appearance of someone from his past who threatens the stability of everything we’ve built. Riggs and I are broken in different ways, but is our love strong enough to support the weight of a future we never thought possible? CW: death of a spouse (off page, before the events of the book)

Daniel I knew from the first time I saw her, I wanted to marry Sophie. Beautiful, intelligent, and playfully dominant, she's everything I ever wanted. The distance between us was never an issue, but eight years in with a ring on her finger after a cross-country move, neither of us is sure what the future looks like. Sophie I've never wanted more from a partner than what Daniel is able to give. He's a dream in all the best ways, but that's never had any bearing on the things we do when we're not together. Flirting with a good-looking man at the paint store isn't out of the ordinary, but when we take things further, nothing will ever be the same. Finn Covington is tall, sad, and self-deprecating...and Daniel and I want him for keeps. Finn After having my heart broken worse than I ever thought possible, the last thing I want is the exact thing I need. Getting involved with (another) couple is a horrible idea, but I don't have it in me to say no. Being with Sophie and Daniel is better than I could have hoped, but as their wedding day draws closer, so does our expiration date. Fighting the judgement of my brothers, my own self-doubt, and the ghosts of my past, I have to decide if a life with Sophie and Daniel is something I can fight for or something I'll lose forever.