Abandoned in an orphanage as a child, Geraldine Aketch’s scars are deep and still hurting. When the architect of her pain, her mother, crawls back seeking forgiveness, Geraldine is not ready to let her into her life and leaves home.
Brandon Odhiambo is a broken man. His wife ran off with his best friend and he must stay strong to take care of his daughter. Love is the last thing on his mind. Until he meets Geraldine.
Desire so strong brews between them. But their past lives intrude, and love is put to the test. Can they find a place called happiness, together?
12 Zodiac Signs. 12 Authors.
12 sexy, deeply romantic Novellas
Celebrate with a new novella each month, as you binge read your way through the horoscopes and decide for yourself:
Sometimes, I feel like I spend my whole life trying to keep the peace. As a court clerk, I keep everyone in line. There are rules to be followed, after all… still, sometimes it feels like the rules are just meant to be broken.
I should know better. Look where rule-breaking has gotten me.
Now, it’s the peace between my brother and his business partner I find the hardest to broker. If only I hadn’t broken the rule about sleeping with my brother’s best friend. Maybe their partnership wouldn’t be in jeopardy.
Now, I’ve got to find a way to help them put the past behind them. If they don’t, everything they worked so hard to build will go down in flames. I can’t give in to temptation again, no matter how I feel. The way Ethan has been looking at me, though, resisting his charms is going to be easier said than done.
I keep trying to find the equilibrium that will keep my life on track.
When it comes to love, maybe there’s no such thing as balance.
Meet the Author
Jennifer Woodhull is an author of romance with lots of wit, sexy heat, and plenty of heart. She is known for writing immersive settings that take readers to a wide variety of locales around the world. Her heroines are funny, strong, make bad decisions, and get in their own way sometimes before finding their path to happiness. Her heroes are driven, funny, sweet, and sometimes complicated.
Jennifer lives in Tennessee with her real life book boyfriend and their yellow lab, who can be more persuasive than any roguish hero when he’s after a snack.
A lover of travel, Jennifer has been known to plot novels and write pages of dialogue on her phone from planes, trains, and automobiles (though not while driving, because safety first).
Jennifer loves talking with readers about her characters and their world
Rebecca Layton returns to her beachside hometown of Sunnyville, California, determined to explore the possibility of rekindling her past relationship with the love of her life, Raymond Colton. She’s devastated to discover that he has moved on and is now engaged.
Raymond Colton harbors resentment towards Rebecca for abandoning him to pursue her dreams of life in the big city. Now she’s back and more beautiful than ever. But Raymond’s heart has been broken more than once and risking more heartache with Rebecca isn’t a gamble he’s willing to take.
When Rebecca agrees to use her marketing expertise to help Raymond’s father salvage his failing family business–Colton’s Ice Creamery–she and Raymond are thrown together, and old flames are ignited. Can they heal the wounds from their past and embrace the possibility of a brighter tomorrow?
“Hello, Raymond.” Memories and regrets flood through me as I take in his smooth, brown skin and the faded scar across the bridge of his nose from a bicycle fall. Clasping my hands, I force myself not to fiddle with them since he and I both know it’s a dead give-away that I’m nervous, guilty or, most likely, both. “How are you?”
“What are youdoing here?” The familiar voice is deep and steady with a coldness that rattles my determination to confront the mistakes of the past.
Does he think I don’t belong in my hometown because I went away to college and didn’t immediately return after graduation? “This is still my home.” Straightening my shoulders, I resolve not to allow Raymond to intimidate me the way he did his opponents on the football field. With a sinking sensation, I know that returning to Sunnyville with expectations of re-igniting a past passion with him may never happen, but I’m not going to slink away like a frightened child. I have questions that need answers—if not now, then later.
“We didn’t see you for two summers.” He spews out the bitter words as he avoids looking at me. “Guess you were too busy with your big-city life.”
“We need to talk.” I hold my hands out, squelching the apprehension surging through me as if I’m about to jump off the diving board into the deep end of a pool, unable to swim and without a life vest.
“I’m busy.” Shrugging his broad shoulders, he abruptly stands and heads to the sink. Grabbing a cloth, he swipes the clean counter.
“Really?” I scan the almost-empty creamery and place my hands on my hips. “It doesn’t appear to be overflowing with customers.”
“Looks can be deceiving, can’t they?” A muscle twitches along his strong jawline. “You see things one way and I see something different.” He nods toward the door as if signaling that it’s time for me to leave. “I’ve got a business to run.”
“Raymond.” I stand and hesitantly make my way toward him, then tentatively reach out until I’m almost touching his arm before I think better of it and drop my hand to my side. “I’d like it if we could…”
“What?” He steps back, his eyes utterly devoid of any emotion as if he’s speaking to a stranger. “You made yourself very clear the last time you were here.” He curls his upper lip and scowls at me. “You said you didn’t feel as if you belonged here. That it no longer felt like home.”
“Oh dear,” exclaims the elderly woman eating in the back loudly. I had forgotten she was there and, when I glance in her direction, bright green eyes twinkle encouragingly back at me.
“It’s more complicated than that.” Exasperated, I refocus on Raymond while fighting the tightness in my chest. “And you know it.”
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing left to say.” With several long strides, he heads through the back door of the shop. “Good-bye, Rebecca,” he calls out as he disappears from sight. As usual, he looks as good going as he does coming.
My stomach coils tight as a sailor’s knot. Why had I deluded myself into believing that speaking with Raymond about our past was going to be easy? I drop my head and remember it’s not the first time reality has demolished my fantasies. How many birthdays had I spent expecting to see my father burst through the front door, pick me up in his arms, and swing me around before promising that he’d never leave again? More times than I can count. I should know better, but, observing Raymond as he walks away, I know that tenaciousness and hard work produce positive results in business, but they might not do so in love. I need to get out of here before I embarrass myself even more.
As I pass the lone customer, she places her spoon onto the table by her bowl, dabs a paper napkin against her lips, then, quickly rises from her chair to follow me outside.
About the Author
After years of not pursuing my writing dreams, I decided it was time to stop sitting on the sidelines of my publishing aspirations. In 2019, I contracted with The Wild Rose Press for a three book series, California Hearts. The release date for my debut novel, Orange Blossoms-Love Blooms, is October 19, 2020. My novella, A Whirl With My Mocha Chocolate Swirl is part of The Wild Rose Press’ One Scoop or Two series and will be released in September 9, 2020.
I write contemporary romance and women’s fiction with emotion-driven characters and unexpected plot twists and turns. The character’s journeys are layered with heart and soul and reflect the diversity of the world around me. My stories center around love, families, friendships, following your passion, second chances and overcoming obstacles.
When I’m not busy plotting my next novel, you will find me bike riding along one of Southern, California’s scenic beaches with my husband or discussing love, life and the mysteries of the universe with my daughter.
An orphan discovers he can wield ancient, mysterious technology but will
pay a terrible price if he uses his wondrous skills to fight for his
benefactor.
As winter settles in an old man sits down to pen the tale of his youth. A
sense of melancholy, of love lost, and the disappointment of labors
performed in vain cloak his shoulders as he leans forward, the quill in the
weathered knuckles of his hand hovering over parchment. Asking himself where
it all began was unnecessary … time could not erase the flames that leapt
in his mind’s eye.
Herein contains Patrin’s complete first mission, Greater Things than Thou,
All Things Ruin, and That Which Remains From his early childhood memories,
kidnapping, salvation, and finally, the betrayal of his best friend.
About the Author
As a native Texan in the early 90s R.L. Dean created door programs for
bulletin board software. In 1998 R.L. became a Christian and has taught
expositional Sunday School at his local church for eight years. He currently
resides in southeast Texas with his wife of twenty years, ten cats, and two
stray dogs. He works in the IT industry as a technician for a large
restaurant chain, but his dream is to work professionally creating novels,
television shows, and films.
This blog serves the purpose of helping all of those who likes to write to get technical information as well as, having a safe harbor to discuss ideas.
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