A story of love, second chances, and redemption set within the landscapes of Montana.
Sammy Black Wolf, a Lakota/Irish ranch kid who plays basketball for the University of Montana has only ever dreamed of getting drafted into the NBA.
A chance encounter with Maggie, a music major from Drummond, shows Sammy there’s more to life than chasing a dream. They share immediate chemistry and their relationship evolves and deepens quickly.
Everything is going great…until it isn’t.
A brutal and life-changing attack on Maggie unravels their world and the fallout threatens the pillars of their relationship.
Will two broken souls find their way back?
EXCERPT:
“Zee, If I tell you this, you have to promise not to tell ANYONE, especially Julie,” Sammy requires. He wants to add Maggie to the list, but he already knows Zee understands this unspoken rule.
“I can’t tell Julie? This must be good.” Zee pauses before confirming, “Okay, I won’t tell anyone.”
“So, I went to pick up Pam after the game last night, right?”
“Yeah?”
“And I didn’t feel like going out, so we went back to my place.”
“Yep.”
“And we, you know, did our thing and I fell asleep.”
“I thought you weren’t spending the night with her, just doing the deed?”
“Ugh. We weren’t. She’s been wanting to spend the night, though, and I gave in. I’m such an idiot.”
“Anyway…” Zee prods patiently.
“Yeah. So apparently at about two o’clock in the morning, I roll over, wrap my arms around her and whisper in her ear, ‘I want to make love to you, Maggie.’”
“Shit,” Zee swears quietly.
“No kidding. Shit. Hell. Pick one. Ugh.”
“Wait! If you were asleep, how do you know you said it?”
“Because Pam got out of my bed, grabbed my boot, and threw it at my head.”
“For your sake, I hope she’s a terrible shot!” Zee tries not to laugh.
“No such luck. I have a shiner and a hell of a headache.”
J.W. Swartz writes contemporary fiction with a little mystery, a little romance, and the kind of real characters who will have you rooting for them from the beginning. Her stories most often take place in Missoula valley of Montana, where the layers of history and culture have blended to form a vibrant, independent-minded, and arts-loving community. She raised her family in the shadow of the mountains around Missoula, and you can find her enjoying local activities with her friends and family.
In 1996, New York City, Los Angeles, and the Mediterranean kingdom of Safina are worlds apart, but bound by love.
When terrorists attack Safina’s royal family, its two princes handle things differently. One wants revenge, and the other wants to save the beautiful country on the Mediterranean’s coast.
New York lawyer, Jay Salas, has avoided his role as Safina’s prince his entire life. But when his cousin, Rhys, goes on an all-out rampage seeking revenge on the terrorists, Jay must navigate the consequences of his cousin’s disastrous actions. Meticulous and determined, Jay devises a plan to stop Rhys from inflicting more harm on their ancestral home. But there’s a wildcard-someone who threatens to tear apart the cousins, someone who owns their hearts.
Cori Bennett didn’t expect to be dragged into the middle of her ex-lover’s family drama. Used as a pawn by all sides, she doesn’t know who to trust. Career-focused and fiercely independent, Cori doesn’t have time to hunt down terrorists for her out-of-control ex, or his sexy cousin. But apparently, the fate of
Safina is at stake.
Only one thing is certain: in order for love to succeed, they’ll have to learn to trust each other and follow their hearts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I am a storyteller first and foremost. My writing journey began after my 50th birthday and the lock-down provided me the opportunity to get my stories down. Some stories have been haunting my dreams for over forty years. But when the characters began shouting at me at all hours of the day and night I had to write them down, never having written before. My previous lives have been in advertising, fashion and as a small business owner.
I am clinically dyslexic (diagnosed in college) and have made it my life’s ambition to consume novels, poetry and article to push past those challenges and tell my stories.
A proud native-Californian, I live in Hermosa Beach, CA, a tiny beach-town in South Los Angeles County with my husband of sixteen years, two beautiful kids and two spunky-rescue kitties.
Picture it: Pine Grove, Louisiana. The year is 1986. A clueless divorced man stumbles into a world he never knew existed: aerobics class.
Stacy: I’ve always been the practical one in my friend group. Level-headed. Responsible. Cautious. Until the day HE came into my aerobics class…
Jessie: After I got divorced I decided it was time to get back into shape. I’d let myself get a bit soft over the years I was married. I was lifting weights at the community center when another guy said that aerobic exercise was the key to burning fat. When I saw a sign for Aerobics class, I figured that was the ticket. Until I walked into a room full of women wearing brightly colored tights and leg warmers, bouncing around doing complicated routines.
At first, I thought I was in the wrong place, but when I see my totally bodacious instructor Stacy, I know it was meant to be. I’m knocked right on my butt, and it’s not just because I tripped over my own feet doing the grapevine step. It’s love at first sight for me, but unfortunately, the feeling is not mutual. Yet.
I’m never going to be a rock star heartthrob, but you can bet your Walkman that when the music’s over, Stacy is going to be Jessie’s Girl.
Welcome to the 80s Baby series, a series of fun instalove romances set in the 1980s. Each book is a standalone with a totally tubular happily ever after.
Rose Bak has been obsessed with books since she got her first library card at age five. She is a passionate reader with an e-reader bursting with thousands of beloved books.
Although Rose enjoys writing both fiction and nonfiction, romance novels have always been her favorite guilty pleasure, both as a reader and an author. Rose’s contemporary romance books focus on strong female characters over age 35 and the alpha males who love them. Expect a lot of steam, a little bit of snark, and a guaranteed happily ever after.
Rose lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, and special needs dogs. In addition to writing, she also teaches accessible yoga and loves music. Sadly, she has absolutely no musical talent so she mostly sings in the shower.
Sparks fly when Tiffany locks eyes with Justin in a night to remember. A connection instantly formed, Tiffany hopes their paths will cross again, while Justin also finds any excuse to see her.
Yet, the more they meet, the more differences are highlighted.
Justin could never fall for a rich kid, someone who has always had everything. Coming from a troubled childhood, he understands the inequality between their lives all too well.
Judging friends and past traumas block their road to romance, threatening a disastrous end. The contrasts in their lives prove to be a thorn in their bond… but will love conquer all?
Once again we’re going back to the radical 1980s! Make that mixtape, pull on your legwarmers, and moonwalk your way through these fun stories set in Pine Grove. Hit Skateland, the soda shop, the arcade, and of course, Pine Grove Galleria in this set of totally sweet and steamy standalone stories from some of your favorite authors set in the decade of decadence. It’s the 80s, baby!
Sammi lives in the Midwest with her own book boyfriend and two daughters. When she’s not reading or concocting steamy stories, she loves hiking, camping, and watching her girls play basketball.
RYLAND I planned to avoid Sycamore Mountain for a lot longer than ten years, but when my dad dies, I have to go back. Hammond Whiskey Distillery isn’t the only thing waiting for me in my hometown.
Magnolia’s the girl I always wanted and could never have because she’s my sister’s best friend and too young for me. Now, she’s all grown up and even more captivating than I remember. The fire in her eyes tells me I have a lot of work ahead of me to make her mine.
I hope I’m not too late and have enough time to settle in and get through the annual Earth Day Fair. Her devotion to my family’s distillery is humbling. I should hand it over to her; maybe I will after her last name is Hammond. She thinks I’m not going to stay, but this time I’m not running. I’ll get her in my arms, in my life, permanently…after the rain.
MAGNOLIA Pining for a man who I never thought would come home has left me bitter and sad, no matter how much I try and hold onto the sunshine. I don’t know why he’s stayed away so long, but I can only hope it’s not because of me.
I’ve given so many years to Hammond Whiskey Distillery trying to feel closer to Ryland, but time still passes and I’m still alone. No one was prepared for Mr. Hammond’s death, least of all me. It’s the only reason Ryland comes back to Sycamore Mountain, but who is to say he’ll stay?
Seeing him again reminds me that pieces of my heart are still jagged even though Harmony, my best friend and Ryland’s sister, tried to help me smooth them out over the years. Working together gives me hope I’m not sure I can trust. Maybe a little rain will wash away the past. When the clouds part, I don’t know what path I’ll be on, but Ryland will know he’s not the only one who has changed.
If you like alpha heroes and an insta-love story that is sweet and spicy but isn’t necessarily simple, then this is for you. No cheating with a guaranteed HEA. It is a standalone but is related to my Denver Family series (Banks Ink., Suburban Outcasts and Higgins Security). Meet Ryland in Finding Luck Again (Get Lucky Series).
The MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB is a steamy small-town collection featuring a new hottie (or two!) every month. In 2022, escape to Sycamore Mountain, North Carolina and celebrate ALL the holidays with your favorite group of romance authors and their delicious mountain men. Can’t wait to see you there!
Ember Davis loves alpha heroes with a range of emotions, but a strong sense of how to take care of their women. She loves her heroines from all walks of life, just like her heroes, and she wants them to be real and relatable. Her heroines tend to be sassy, opinionated and smart.
Ember is a stay at home mom of two who recently refound her love of books and all things romance and is so glad that she did. She’s always been creative but writing and creating stories that she would love to read that satisfies the dreams she had as a little girl. She loves butterflies, the color purple and enjoying time with her family.
Pssst…it’s totally a pen name, but everything above is 100% true.
Is it possible to have both my brewery and Sawyer?
Or will I be forced to choose?
Bet Me, an all-new enemies-to-lovers standalone romance with sizzling chemistry set in the Kanfield Brothers Series from bestselling author Allie Everhart is available now!
Sawyer Kanfield
Smoking hot. Sexy as hell.
And the one person who could put me out of business.
If he thinks he’s going to run me out of town for opening a microbrewery that competes with his, he’s in for a fight.
And I’m going to win.
The Kanfield name will get him a few customers, but he knows my beer is better than his. That’s why he keeps trying so hard to get close to me.
Flirty comments. Dinner invites. A kiss. He can do all that and more, but I’ll never give him my secrets.
I admit I’m attracted to him, but I won’t let that distract me. The stakes are too high. I put everything I have into this brewery and if it doesn’t succeed I’ll be left with nothing.
In a town this size, only one of us will survive and it’s going to be me.
Except I’m starting to really like the jerk…
Is it possible to have both my brewery and Sawyer? Or will I be forced to choose?
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
GINA
Sawyer pretended to hate me, but I know it was all for show. The last night of camp he proved that by kissing me. He told me he had to tell me a secret so I followed him from the bonfire into the woods. He was so nervous, all fidgety and he kept looking at his feet. I asked him what the secret was, and instead of answering me, he kissed me. It was so fast I barely knew what happened. And then he ran away, faster than I’d ever seen him run.
If he’d stuck round, I probably would have kissed him back, but on the cheek. I’d never kissed anyone before Sawyer. At that age I thought the whole idea of it was gross. But for some reason the idea of kissing Sawyer was less gross than kissing some other boy.
About Allie Everhart
Allie Everhart is the author of more than 50 books and several bestselling series, including The Jade Series, The Kensington Series, and The Wheeler Brothers. Allie writes angsty love stories, often with a twist of mystery and suspense. She loves reading for hours in a comfy spot, drinking strong coffee, walking in the woods, and writing emotional stories that make the characters work for their happy ending.
Connect with Allie Everhart
Website: http://allieeverhart.com/
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3re4Tcd
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3jhrTTt
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KnO867
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Jju5El
Crown of Crimson, book two in the high heat, dark fantasy romance series, Underworld Gods from New York Times Bestselling author Karina Halle is coming April 28th, and we have the gorgeous cover!
All Hanna Heikkinen wants is to be reunited with her father again. After all, that’s why she ventured into the dark and dangerous fantasy world of Tuonela, the Land of the Dead, in order to save his life. But this time her devotion to her father comes at a cost—her growing relationship with Tuoni, the God of Death himself, who held Hanna captive in exchange for her father’s life. The last thing she expects is to feel remorse at leaving Death at his castle of Shadow’s End without even saying goodbye, and yet he’s all she can think about.
Death has always prided himself on never trusting the living, but Hanna’s apparent betrayal has left a scar fathom’s deep. Vowing revenge on his future bride, and making sure she upholds her end of the bargain, Death sets out across his realm to steal Hanna back, which only fans the flames between them. But Death and Hanna aren’t just fighting each other—malevolent Old Gods are rising to power within the realm, magic is being poisoned, and buried secrets are brought to light, secrets that may cause Hanna to lose everyone she loves dear once again.
Meet Karina:
Karina Halle is a former travel writer and music journalist and The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestselling author of The Pact, Love, in English, The Artists Trilogy, Dirty Angels and over 20 other wild and romantic reads. She lives on an island off the coast of British Columbia with her husband and her rescue pup, where she drinks a lot of wine, hikes a lot of trails and devours a lot of books.
Halle is represented by the Root Literary and is both self-published and published by Simon & Schuster and Hachette in North America and in the UK.
Vengeance of a Mafia Queen, an all new dark enemies to lovers mafia romance from USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Siobhan Davis is coming May 31st and we have the first look at the stunning cover!
Losing my innocence at thirteen, in the most brutal way, changed me. My kidnapper stole my childhood and tried to break me. The knowledge my father orchestrated the entire situation hardened my heart, and instead of grieving his death, I celebrated it.
One down. Many more to go.
My burning need for revenge has only grown over the years, keeping me focused on my goals and enabling my rise to power.
Made men are weak. A pretty face and the promise of a good time easily distracts them.
Now, I’m in charge.
Men bow before me.
Except for him—the brother of my abductor. Massimo fights me every step of the way, but I’m not about to let the explosive chemistry between us deter me from my chosen path. His family is my enemy. He is my enemy, even if he doesn’t know it yet.
I won’t stop until all those who wronged me are punished.
By the time they realize I’m coming, it will be too late.
They tried to take everything from me.
But where they failed, I will succeed.
Unless he becomes my weakness.
Add VENGEANCE OF A MAFIA QUEEN to Goodreads:
Models: Soj & Yesi Burgess
Photography by Wander Aguiar
Cover Designed by Shanoff Designs
About Siobhan
Siobhan Davis is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Top 10 bestselling romance author. Siobhan writes emotionally intense stories with swoon-worthy romance, complex characters, and tons of unexpected plot twists and turns that will have you flipping the pages beyond bedtime! She has sold over 1.5 million books and her titles are translated into several languages.
Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Siobhan forged a successful corporate career in human resource management.
She lives in the Garden County of Ireland with her husband and two sons.
With another nod, I strode over to the wardrobe where I’d unpacked last night, and as I grabbed a Henley, some jeans, my boots, a sweatshirt, and my coat, I felt her glance on me as she fastened her dress back up from where she’d pulled the two halves aside to bare her belly to my covetous gaze.
“Ask,” I said gruffly as I turned back to her. “Don’t just bottle up whatever’s on your mind.”
“Where’s your cut?”
“With Wynter. She wanted to make sure I was coming back to her.”
Her eyes rounded. “Oh.”
“We get along well,” was all I said.
“Seems like it.” Her brow furrowed as she stared down at the ground. I wasn’t sure what to expect from her next, but I didn’t prod, just tucked her hand in mine and dragged her back down the hall toward the elevator because we needed to get shit moving.
When we were in her room, she finally said, “I’m glad you’ve built a relationship with her, Rex, and I’m so sorry that I’m the reason why you weren’t there to watch her grow up. You must really hate me—”
My hands were cupping her cheeks before she could finish that sentence. I rested my forehead on hers, and I spoke the words against her lips so she could feel my breath.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. What was done to you was not your choice. You are not the reason things didn’t work out with Wynter. You survived, Rachel, and that’s all I could have asked of you. That you somehow worked out how to wake up day after day and to keep on with your life.
“Wynter—I wish we’d been able to raise her, don’t get me wrong. But it’s never too late to have a relationship. For us to be close. We weren’t there at the start, but life lasts for a hell of a long time, and we can be there for her now, can’t we?”
Her lips trembled. “She’ll hate me for not coming with you.”
“I’ll explain.” I pressed my thumb against her quivering mouth, needing to stop that tremor. “I’m good at explaining, and she’ll understand.
“Nyx can not be in jail, Rachel. I need you to get him out of there, do you hear me?”
Shivering, she nodded.
“If it means you have to pull all the favors you have, if it means you have to break the law, you do it. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” she said on a whisper.
“However, you do not put yourself in danger or in harm’s way, Rachel. Understand?”
“I understand.”
“Good.”
Her lips parted as she stared up at me. Nothing about Rachel was easy to decipher, but at that moment, her eyes darkened with emotions that might as well have spelled out letters for me to read.
L. O. V. E.
W. A. N. T.
N. E. E. D.
They were feelings I hadn’t seen in her expression for years. Not running simultaneously, at any rate. Want and need were one thing, but love, deeply entwined among them, was another.
Seeing them here, now, imbued me with a strength I didn’t know I possessed.
I cupped her chin and, mouth hovering over hers, whispered, “I won’t kiss you goodbye.”
“You left your cut with Wynter and are leaving me with the promise of a kiss?”
Grinning slightly, I nodded and traced my fingers over the soft line of her jaw. “We both have things to do, and if I kiss you, we aren’t going anywhere.”
“You’re right.” She sighed. “I hate that you’re right.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It happens sometimes.”
About Serena
I’m a romance bookaholic and I won’t touch a book unless I know there’s a happy ending. This addiction is what made me craft stories that suit my voracious need for raunchy romance. I love twists and unexpected turns, and my novels all contain sexy guys, dark humor, and hot AF love scenes.
I write MF, Menage, and Reverse Harem (also known as Why Choose romance,) in both contemporary and paranormal. Some of my stories are darker than others, but I can promise you one thing, you will always get the happy ending your heart needs!
Connect with Serena
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3l2SaUO
Instagram: https://bit.ly/2TWLNGG
Amazon: https://amzn.to/38a13bq
Join her reader group: https://bit.ly/32cbyHe
Website: http://www.serenaakeroyd.com
Stay up to date with Serena by joining her mailing list: https://bit.ly/3mMYWhI
Three powerful families.Three arranged marriages.And one beautiful stranger with a secret who changes everything.
Devil’s Angel, an all-new steamy new adult standalone romance from bestselling author Julie Capulet is available now!
Cassidy
They say family is something you’re born with. Mine abandoned me long ago. They say true love is a myth. Mine showed up as a gorgeous devil who almost killed me. I fought back. Our bodies and our hearts knew, even if our realities would never allow it.
Knox
I’m one of five heirs to the Ramsey fortune and estate, a hundred acres of tropical paradise on the island of Kauai. I’m also the chosen one—a detail that’s about to ruin my life. My marriage will be arranged, to secure the alliance between families.
But when a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger literally slays me, she changes everything.
This is more than obsessive lust. It’s the kind of star-crossed love worth dying for. And it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Because settling for a future without her is no longer an option.
DEVIL’S ANGEL is a steamy standalone new adult arranged marriage romance set in paradise. It contains scorching hot love scenes and is intended for readers 18+
Grab your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3tzTHYT
Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/DevilsAngel
Add Devil’s Angel to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3wAg6XV
Excerpt
I walk the six blocks to Perfection Catering to start work.
They’re already loading up the vans parked out in front, so I show my ID to the driver and get into the van, where Maggie has saved a seat for me.
“I can’t believe we’re going to Seven Mile Beach,” she gushes.
“What’s Seven Mile Beach?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s only the most expensive residence in the United States. We’re working for the Fitzpatricks today. It’s Vivi Fitzpatrick’s twentieth birthday party.”
“Vivi Fitzpatrick.” Doesn’t ring a bell. “Should I know who that is?”
Maggie rolls her eyes, like she can’t believe anyone could be so obtuse. “What am I going to do with you? The Fitzpatricks are celebrities. They own the most exclusive high-end hotels in Waikiki. Their resorts are where the tourists with serious money stay.” Maggie keeps up with all the latest social media gossip.
I, it has to be said, don’t.
“Here, I’ll show you their photos.” Maggie knows I don’t really have the time or the data to scroll the internet non-stop. She fills me in on all the gaps in my celebrity education.
“This is Malachi.” She zooms in. “Isn’t he absolutely gorgeous?”
I guess he is, in an internet-worthy sort of a way. He has black hair and white teeth. He’s surrounded by beautiful women in bikinis smiling vapidly for the camera.
“Perri, Tatum and Vivi Fitzpatrick’s follower numbers on Instagram are ranked one, two and three in the world.” Maggie scrolls further. “Here’s a photo of the three of them.”
I point to the sister in the middle as she zooms in. “Is that Tatum?” I recognize her face.
“Yes. And this one’s Perri. And that’s Vivi on the right.”
Vivi isn’t smiling. Perri is wearing a lot of make-up. She has a weird sheen to her, like she could be made of plastic.
I don’t get a chance to ask Maggie more questions because we’re driving up to a massive gate. We come to a stop and several security guards climb aboard. The van is searched and we all have to be checked with metal detectors to make sure we’re not armed. Which seems a little over the top but I guess these celebrities can’t be too careful.
We finally pass the inspection and our fleet of vans gets waved through. A palm-tree lined entrance winds along a grassy slope overlooking a golden sand beach and the turquoise water.
Maggie and I are both wide-eyed as we drive into the compound. The house looks like a five-star plantation-style hotel with modern additions. There’s a gigantic lanai and a glittering infinite pool surrounded by palm trees. The entire place gleams with money.
We’re led inside, and put to work alongside the army of staff that are already setting up the outdoor area with the tables, decorations, an outdoor up-market tiki bar and a giant buffet.
The day goes quickly, and the limousines start pulling up just after six o’clock. Maggie and I are given trays with flutes of champagne and told to stand near the entrance so we can serve the new arrivals. From here, Maggie fills me in on who’s who.
“I love this job,” Maggie gushes. Then her eyes go wide. “Holy shit, that’s Jagger King!” He’s stepping out of a white stretch limousine. He has straw-colored blond hair that catches the early evening sun. The rolled-up sleeves of his shirt show off his gold chains, his suntan and his tattoos. “God, he’s so beautiful.”
“Is he a movie star too? He looks like one.”
“No, he works for his family,” Maggie explains. “All the Kings do. They own banks, skyscrapers and basically half the real estate and businesses in Honolulu. If the Fitzpatricks are the Hollywood of Hawaii, the Kings could be described as the Wall Street.”
“He doesn’t look like a banker.”
“That’s because he has so much money, he can look however he wants.” Two other people get out of the limo. “There’s Stone,” Maggie whispers excitedly.
Stone is tall and lankier than his brother. He’s wearing sunglasses and black clothes.
“And there’s Aurora.” Maggie is totally starstruck.
Aurora has dark red hair and a sexy, femme fatale look. She’s wearing a red dress, if it could even be called a dress. It’s more like a shred of ripped fabric that’s covering only the most necessary areas.
The Kings are coming up the steps. Maggie and I watch them as they help themselves to champagne. Up close, they’re even more striking. Their clothes and their obvious, glittering wealth give them a power that’s hard to describe. Jagger is the most physically stunning, but all three of them have a magnetic, sparked presence, like if you touched them they might give you an electric shock.
As Jagger takes a champagne flute from my tray, his gaze lands briefly on my face. His gold hair catches the light almost theatrically but his irises are a very dark brown. As our eyes meet, something about him seems almost weirdly … familiar. But why would it? I most definitely have never met Jagger King. Maybe I’ve seen a photo of him somewhere before. He winks at me before sauntering off into the growing crowd.
Maggie exhales a shaky breath. “Did you see that? He looked right at you!”
There’s some commotion as more people make their entrance behind us, from the interior of the house.
“It’s Perri and Vivi,” Maggie exclaims with hushed awe. “Vivi is the one in purple.”
Both women are dark-haired and exotic-looking. They’re wearing the most to-die-for outfits I’ve ever seen.
“Oh, look, here comes Echo Ramsey.”
A valet opens the door of the next car and a young woman steps out. “Who’s Echo Ramsey?” I whisper back.
Maggie gives me a look. “You seriously must be living under a rock, Cassidy. You’ve never heard of Echo Ramsey?”
“Uh … no.”
“The Ramseys live on Kauai,” Maggie explains patiently. “All three families are interconnected. There are a lot of marriages between the families and they own businesses together. The Ramseys are more reclusive than the others.”
“Why?”
“They just prefer to stay out of the limelight. Their house is like a castle. It’s surrounded by acres of land and high, guarded walls. I’ve heard it’s like an absolute fortress, but inside there’s this beautiful haven, with all kinds of orchards and botanical gardens. The Ramseys live like they’re still on the frontier. They ride horses. They grow crops and they live almost entirely off the land.”
“Wow.” I imagine what that must be like. To catch your own fish or pick fruit off your very own trees.
“My friend’s cousin went to a party there once. She said they all look like supermodels.”
“Echo Ramsey sure looks like one.”
Echo is willowy thin with dark, glossy long hair that’s beautifully cut. She’s almost ethereal-looking, like she could be half fairy or a nymph who just wandered in from a magical woodland. There’s a quiet gravity to her. It’s the groundedness of someone who belongs and who walks around every day feeling the effortless security of that. You can tell she’s loved. You can tell it holds her up and shapes the way she looks at the world. I have a radar for that kind of thing because it’s so absent in my own life.
“Blaise Ramsey is stunning too,” Maggie says. “They all are. I’ve seen the occasional photo of Remington, in the city. He’s the oldest. He’s on the board of some of the businesses the families co-own. He’s huge and built like a fighter. So are Knox and Wolf. They train in MMA, I’ve heard. But they hate publicity. There are a lot of cousins and extended family too, like a clan, but it’s the five siblings that get talked about most.”
And now I’m curious. “What about the other two? Knox. And Wolf.” They have unusual names.
“Apparently Wolf is crazy and, like, armed. He’s some kind of weapons expert or something. I don’t know much about Knox. My friend’s cousin said he was the most gorgeous of all of them. He’s seriously hot and he spends most of his time swimming and hunting. He’s sort of wild and outdoorsy, like a tropical island version of a hot mountain man. He’s hardly ever seen. I’ve never seen a picture of him. But according to my friend, all the Ramsey men are absolutely lethal—I mean, I don’t know why you’d describe someone you just met as lethal, but that’s what she said.”
“Wow,” I say again. It all sounds so wildly romantic. Keeping to yourselves. Swearing loyalty to your clan.
Growing up like I have, I’ve always coveted the idea of a haven. What would that be like, to belong to a place that’s guarded and beautiful and filled with people who know you and who care about you enough to keep you safe?
I wish I could find out.
About Julie Capulet
Julie Capulet writes contemporary romance starring sexy, obsessed alphas and the sweet & sassy women who bring them to their knees. Her stories are inspired by true love and she’s married to her own real life hero. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, walking on the beach, drinking wine and watching rom-coms.