Fresh off of a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than friendship, and Aiden Walsh is more than happy to fill that role. But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated. Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be more than friends or will she send him back to the friend zone? Readers who enjoy spicy romances will devour Friend Zoned by Evelyn Sola, a steamy friends-to-lovers romance.
They say the best things come when you least expect it. Burned by her ex-husband and a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than a good friend. Besides, she’s still dealing with the ex-husband who can’t seem to let her go.Insert NBA coach, Aiden Walsh. Sure, he wants so much more than friendship with the beautiful woman he met at a wedding, but he’s sure he can play the part and he’s good at biding his time. So, for now, he’ll fill any role she wants.But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated when Jeannie finds out Aiden is so much more than just Manhattan’s favorite coach.Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be so much more, or will she send him back to the friend zone?
“Jeannie,” Vickie, the bride, says. She’s so beautiful with the happy newly married glow. “Have you met Colt’s coach, Aiden?”Shocked by the question, I look around the room and hope my mother will come save me, but she’s too busy talking and laughing to bother noticing me. I clear my throat and offer him my hand. His large palm practically envelops it. When he lifts my knuckles to his lips and kisses them, I almost combust into flames. It’s been almost two years since I felt a man’s lips on any part of me. That must be why my body is short circuiting right now. But if I have a few more drinks, I’m going to drag him into a dark corner and have my way with him. I clear my throat and yank my hand away.“So, you ah, coach football?” I ask, unsure of what else I could possibly ask. I try to think of any information my mother has given me. She says Mr. Colt is a football player. Vickie giggles and Colt groans. “Basketball,” Aiden corrects.“Are you sure?” I ask. “My mom said you’re a football player,” I say to Colt.Vickie tries to hide her laugh but fails.“I’m going to have a talk with Myra,” Colt says, but he’s being playful, so I’m not completely mortified by my faux pas. “Yeah, and I’m pretty sure I coach basketball, not football,” Aidan says. “Oh.” I wave my hand. “I don’t watch either.” I turn back to my chair, certain that they think I’m an idiot and will leave me alone now. “More of a reader, I see,” Aiden responds. “What book has you so engrossed?”My eyes dart to the table in search of my book. I thank a higher power that it’s safely inside my purse. No need to let these newlyweds and the sexy one know that my life is a train wreck. “Nothing you would find particularly interesting.” I clear my throat, but when I turn to look at Aiden, he’s looking directly at me. “Try me,” he says. I take a step toward the table, grab my purse and shove it under my chair. No way in hell he’ll see this book.
About Evelyn Sola
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion, and humor. She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.
Fresh off of a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than friendship, and Aiden Walsh is more than happy to fill that role. But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated. Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be more than friends or will she send him back to the friend zone? Readers who enjoy spicy romances will devour Friend Zoned by Evelyn Sola, a steamy friends-to-lovers romance.BlurbThey say the best things come when you least expect it. Burned by her ex-husband and a messy divorce, Jeannie Dubois isn’t looking for anything more than a good friend. Besides, she’s still dealing with the ex-husband who can’t seem to let her go.Insert NBA coach, Aiden Walsh. Sure, he wants so much more than friendship with the beautiful woman he met at a wedding, but he’s sure he can play the part and he’s good at biding his time. So, for now, he’ll fill any role she wants.But when these two friends become lovers, things quickly turn complicated when Jeannie finds out Aiden is so much more than just Manhattan’s favorite coach.Can Aiden prove to Jeannie that they’re meant to be so much more, or will she send him back to the friend zone?
The moment I get inside the mansion, I’m greeted by a server holding a tray of drinks. There are several different cocktails, but I grab a glass of red wine and move further into the home, noticing the white chairs set out for the wedding in the formal living room. I take off my coat, and someone takes it, handing me a ticket to retrieve it later. I look around and spot the mother and daughter. They’re on the other side of the room, and Jeannie is helping her mother with her coat before shrugging off her own.
I was right. She’s tall and lean, with nice hips, a firm ass, and a perfect set of breasts. That’s a woman’s body. She’s wearing a black shirt under a black blazer and a black skirt that reaches her knees. Her legs are visibly toned under thick black stockings and she’s wearing ballet flats that don’t seem to go with the outfit. Someone is making a statement that she’s here under protest.The outfit can’t be described as anything other than plain and matronly, but on her body, it’s sexy as sin. Especially the bottom half with her hips and ass that sit in the skirt just right. My eyes travel up and land on her breasts. I was right. They’re perfect. Not too big or too small. Perfect to fit in the palm of my hand. She looks up at the exact moment that I lick my lips, and our eyes lock. It’s brief, but something in the room sizzles, and I feel my heart rate pick up for the first time in years. At least outside of a workout.She looks away, and the moment is lost. Even from a distance, I can tell she’s clearing her throat and doing her best to appear comfortable. A server comes by, and she grabs a colorful cocktail. She takes a sip and must approve because her full lips curl into a small smile until her mother swipes the drink from her and drinks it.She puts a finger in Jeannie’s face and waves it. “You have to drive me. No drinking.” Jeannie flags down the server and grabs another. “That won’t be for hours. If I have to be here, I’m drinking. Don’t make me fight you again.” She makes a fist, and so does her mother. They knock them together once. “Keep it up and you’ll be taking the bus home,” Jeannie warns.Her mother waves her off. “I have work to do. I’m going to find you a nice, young man.” She leans closer to Jeannie’s ear, and I take a few steps toward them so I can hear. “Mr. Colt knows a lot of young black men. Did I mention they are rich?” she adds again.
Jeannie looks around and rolls her eyes. “Well, then go do the Lord’s work, Mom.”“I have to because you’ve given up.” Her mom grabs another drink from a server and says, “I’m having so much fun.” The older woman limps away, and Jeannie seems to exhale in relief at her departure. She looks around and our eyes lock again, but she blushes and breaks the stare much too quickly. She moves to the back row of white chairs and takes a seat. She rummages through her purse, and I expect her to pull out her phone, but she surprises me. She pulls out a book. I can’t see the title or cover from here, but my interest is piqued yet again. She opens it, flips through a few pages, and looks down. I know the exact moment when she tunes everything out and focuses on the words in her book, and I make it my mission to find out what she’s reading before she leaves here tonight.
A Boston native, wife, mother, and wine enthusiast. If she’s not writing, thinking about writing, you will find Evelyn with a book in her hands. While a new publisher, she’s been writing for years, and she will continue to write for many years to come. Evelyn is obsessed with assertive and confident men who will stop at nothing to get their woman. Her stories are filled with love, passion, and humor.She currently lives in Chicago, IL with her husband and two daughters.Follow: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | Reader Group | Goodreads | BookBub | Newsletter | Amazon
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Jackson was there on the worst night of Harper’s life, and every day since. He’s everything she wants and needs, but is it worth blowing up their carefully balanced lives? Fans of Pippa Grant, Max Monroe, and Penny Reid will devour Sooner or Gator by Mae Harden, a steamy, small town, friends-to-lovers, roommates-to-lovers, forced proximity, beach romance.
JACKSON “What do you need?” That night was supposed to change everything… and it did. Just not in the way I had hoped. I was there on the worst night of Harper’s life. The night her world came crashing down, bringing with it the crushing responsibility of raising her own sister when she was still practically a kid herself. For seven years, I’ve been exactly what she asked for. I’ve been biding my time, but nothing stays the same—even on an island where it’s perpetually Christmas—and time is officially up.
HARPER “A friend.” The love of my life sleeps ten feet away from me, just on the other side of that wall. He doesn’t know how I feel about him, of course. That would just be crazy. Jackson has always been my rock, which is exactly why he can never know how desperately I want him. Sure, every grin he throws in my direction sets off a storm surge down below and makes my heart race like sandpipers on the beach, but that’s not an excuse to blow up our carefully balanced lives… right?
I’m on the verge of asking Haley why she bought more wine glasses when we have a perfectly good set in the cabinet, but as she hands me one, I realize they’re only mostly stemless. “You know most people use bottle toppers to save their wine, right?” I laugh, eyeing the stubby stem with its rubber gasket before pushing it into the opening of what is now, quite clearly, a bottle not meant for sharing. Experimentally, I tip it sideways and watch an inch of deep burgundy liquid pool in the bottom of the glass. “Bottle toppers, much like bookmarks, are for quitters,” Haley says with a mischievous grin. “Besides, aren’t you always harping on about how important it is to finish what you start?” She looks extremely proud of herself as she tips back a hearty glug of cheap Cabernet. “But, more importantly, you’re both wrong. Trailer Park Shark is the one with Tara Reid, but it was the douche-canoe developer who flooded the trailer park, and I’m ninety-nine percent sure she’s the S.B.T.S.” “Back up.” Tizzy raises a hand like she’s about to ask the teacher for a bathroom pass. “You know I can’t with your movie shorthand.” “Sole Big Tittied Survivor,” Haley sighs heavily. “Okay, but that’s not exactly a common abbreviation,” Tizzy replies, copying Hayley’s sigh as dramatically as she can possibly manage. Some people have incredible memories for languages or history, but no one can match Haley when it comes to movies that came out decades before she was even born. The windows and doors are open to let in the spring air, and over the cacophony of tree frogs croaking and crickets chirping away outside, I hear car tires crunch on the gravel drive. Craning my neck as far as I dare, I spot a familiar, black jeep. It’s more rust than paint thanks to the salty Florida air, but as its tires come to a halt in their well-worn spots, I can’t help grinning. In the fading light of the orange sky, the profile of my other best friend, Jackson Beauregard, is clearly visible as he climbs out and grabs his things. Tizzy quirks an eyebrow at me as I straighten Haley goes on. “…and the poor-man’s Tommy Lee Jones, a.k.a. Robert Davi did not appear in Trailer Park Shark. He was, however, in the 2011 classic Swamp Shark where he starred opposite a busty blonde played by the O.G. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I swear to God, if one of you so much as whispers the name Sarah Michelle Gellar…” My little sister waits for one of us to match her encyclopedic knowledge, but we all know it’s not going to happen. “Kristy Swanson! Come on! Okay, extra credit points: Robert Davi was one of three villains in which beloved 80s adventure movie?” Tizzy and I stare blankly at each other while simultaneously tipping our bottles toward the sky. “The Goonies,” a deep voice supplies from just outside. “Come on, kid. Give us a hard one next time.” Grinning, I tip my head backward over the couch just in time to see Jackson coming through the screen door. “‘Bout time,” I sass. “We were about to start without you.” “No, you weren’t.” Jackson laughs, shaking his head as he drops his keys in the bowl where they always go. He hangs his backpack on its hook and drops onto the couch next to me, making me bounce as all six-and-a-half feet of him bottoms out the springs. “Well… we had considered it.” “What are we watching this week?” Jackson asks, changing the subject with about as much subtlety as a Horatio roller skating down Main Street in his favorite candy cane hot pants. “Swamp Shark,” Haley votes. “Literal flying sharks too much for you tonight?” Jackson chuckles. “Maybe once I’ve polished this off…” Haley replies, raising her wine and its extra classy attachment in a toast. “But Kristy Swanson with a shotgun?” She lets out an exaggerated whistle. “I’m always in the mood for that.” I snort. I can’t help it. “Yeah, who doesn’t love a busty blonde armed to the teeth?” Jackson twists the top off a beer and shrugs dispassionately as he stares down at it. “I could take ‘em or leave ‘em, honestly.” Tizzy leans over, her expression conspiratorial and eyes sparkling with mischief. Oh, fuck. Here we go, I groan inwardly. “And which part of that is uninspiring to you, Jackson? The ‘blonde’ bit or the ‘armed to the teeth’ bit? Because we know you don’t have issues with the ‘busty’ bit.” “Fucking bluetooth speakers,” Jackson mutters, suddenly finding the label of his beer bottle utterly fascinating, but Haley is all ears. “Wait… what happened? What’d I miss?” “Nothing,” I say quickly, feeling my own face burn with embarrassment, even though I was just an innocent bystander in all this. “Jackson forgot to disconnect the living room speakers from his phone last night… didn’t he?” Tizzy tilts her head, locking her eyes on six-and-a-half feet worth of blushing man. Jackson clears his throat and gets to his feet. “Anyone want a glass of water?” Without waiting for an answer, he disappears, no doubt to let Tizzy get this out of her system. “Tizz…” I start.I know what she’s getting at and it’s nothing new. “Come on, Harper. Brunette roommate gets lonely and crawls into bed? You still seriously think that had nothing to do with you?” “Of course, I do.” Admittedly, it would be easier if he was into something less… can porn be wholesome? Tizzy would like everyone to believe Jackson and I are star crossed lovers, destined to fall for each other in some kind of epic love story that spans decades and generations and all of time and space. I think Tizzy needs a new vibrator and a subscription to Passionflix, but I’m only a wimple away from making my vow of celibacy official, so what do I know?
Mae Harden has a thing for spicy books, hilarious meet-cutes, mouthy women, and the kind of men who will pull your hair in bed, but run a bath for you after… if you’ve been a good girl, of course. Smut-com, rom-cum, or whatever you want to call them, Mae likes her books funny, filthy, and full of feels.
Mae lives in Virginia with her smokin’ hot husband, two kids who delight in giving out hugs and gray hairs, and a collection of fur babies that probably qualifies her as a zoo keeper. IF she had free time, she’d use it to bake, water the remaining houseplants, and do crafty shit, all while listening to true-crime podcasts.
Faking Love with the Billionaire Boss is part of The Auckland Billionaires series by Serenity Woods.
ABOUT:
Faking love with your brother’s gorgeous best mate is never going to end well…
When Titus Oates calls to ask me if I’d do him a favor and accompany him on a visit to a potential investor in the UK, I hyperventilate and have to breathe into a brown paper bag.
Ever since I was sixteen and he kissed me at a birthday party, I’ve had a huge crush on him, so I’m not going to pass up on the chance to spend some time with him while he’s here. The wealthy investor owns a stately home in Devon, and the week promises to be great fun, with a murder-mystery night and even a fancy ball, so I’m excited to agree.
Titus intends for us to go as friends, but the problems start when the investor immediately assumes we’re a couple. Flummoxed, I don’t correct him, and we end up in that awkward situation where we can’t break the charade without embarrassing ourselves. So we decide the easiest option is to pretend to be an item.
Unfortunately, when we end up sharing a room, the sizzling attraction that’s always been between us inevitably turns faking love into making love. Titus is going back to New Zealand after his visit. And I work in the UK. We can’t possibly have a future together. But a short-term fling seems like a great idea, until it’s time to part…
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Contains no cheating, no cliffhangers, just a scorching romance and a heart-melting HEA 🙂
When David found Delaney sleeping in his bed, he never thought they’d be more than friends. But as time passes, he quickly discovers that the smallest spark leads to possibilities he never expected. Readers who enjoy spicy romances will devour Defeat by Evelyn Sola, a steamy, friends with benefits romance.
“ I loved this book from beginning to end! Max and Summer were such a sexy couple. Summer was such a poised young woman. An old soul. The way Max loved Summer…whew!”- Amazon Review for Downfall
A self-proclaimed bachelor, content on his own. A runaway bride, searching for her freedom.
They may seem like they’ve got nothing in common, but the tiniest sparks make the biggest flames.
Delaney Lewis is desperate for her freedom. From her controlling mother and the man she left standing at the altar.
Her best friend is more than happy to help her escape and sets Delaney up at her soon to be brother-in-law’s house while he’s out of town, confident that when David comes home—he’ll do whatever it takes to keep Delaney safe from her crazy family.
David Sutton finds the surprise of a lifetime when he discovers a woman sleeping soundly in his bed. When she explains how she ended up there, David’s heart and mind slowly open, leading to a permanent place to stay, a job, and best of all, a new outlook.
The woman who was much like a stranger before, slowly becomes his friend…with a few intimate perks and before they know it, real sparks start to fly.
Never did I think a girl like Gretchen Hawthorne would be the woman of my dreams.
She is stubborn, irritating, and can piss me off at the drop of a hat. But she is also sweet and has a vulnerability about her that she doesn’t allow many to see.
She let me in for a split second, and what I found was even more than I had bargained for. Her façade is nothing more than a mask to hide her fears.
One wild night in the barn at my cousin’s house, and I’m hooked.
She’s intriguing.
She’s beautiful.
But she also has it in her head that she and I will never work.
Which is ridiculous, and I vow to prove her wrong.
I’m Colton Thomas, and I’m stubborn too, and I do not give up easily.
She better hold on tight because I’m coming for her. And I plan to break down all those walls she’s built so high around her.
Robbed of the family ranch that should have been his legacy, Raleigh Beaumont is a man with no roots and no purpose. When a friend drags him to Vegas, he figures he’s got nothing to lose. But after a hell of a lot of whiskey and a high stakes poker game with a beautiful stranger, he finds himself the alleged owner of a barony in Scotland.
An heiress with a crumbling heritage
When her brother’s bride disappears just days before the wedding that’s meant to save their ancestral home from the mad marriage pact that’s held their family captive for generations, Kyla MacKean believes they’ve been granted a reprieve. Until she finds out about the new, single—male—owner of Lochmara and knows she’s next on the chopping block or ownership of both their estates reverts to the crown.
A modern answer to a three-hundred-year-old problem.
Raleigh’s lost his land once. He’s not about to lose it again. Not even because of some lunatic pact made centuries before he was born. Kyla’s desperate to save Ardinmuir. She agrees to marry him on one condition: They wed for one year to satisfy the pact, then get a quick and quiet divorce. There’s no stipulation against it, and they’ll both get what they want.
But this displaced Texan and his fiery bride are about to find so much more than they bargained for.
I LOVED Kyla and Raleigh! These two are an example of my perfect romance with their slow burn love story. He was stripped of his family legacy and she’s fighting like crazy to hang on to hers, which somehow made them a perfect partnership.
Complete with a rocky first impression.
I had such a fun time reading Cowboy In A Kilt that I devoured it completely. It’s a fun story that’s not just a marriage of convenience, not just friends to lovers but also a kind of fish out of water story. Raleigh somehow fits into the town and makes his own connections which makes his home feel like his home.
This is the start to a new series and this first book has me excited for the next story. Usually the first book in a series spends too much time telling us about all the characters but even though we didn’t know these characters beforehand, they were introduced seamlessly and well-fleshed out.
There are so many characters I want to know about and I hope they all get a love story…even possibly Malcolm and Charlotte!
Cowboy in a Kilt is such a fun story, a good time from start to finish and now I need to know, who’s story is next!
Popular girl, Kennedy Myers made one mistake in high school – she chose the wrong boy. If only her nerdy friend, Elijah Stevenson would have told her how he felt, maybe things could have been different. Ten years later, the Spring Hills High School reunion gives them a chance to face their regrets. Will they get a second chance, or will it be just another missed connection? Readers who enjoy swoony reads will love Kiss You Back by Mel Walker, a second chance, friends-to-lovers, small town romance.
Kennedy Myers was the queen of Spring Hills High School: beauty pageant champ, head cheerleader, and the most popular girl in school. She only made one mistake—she said yes to the wrong boy.
Elijah Stevenson was the resident nerd at Spring Hills High. Convention said he should have never been friends with someone like Kennedy Myers. He hid in the shadows and avoided the spotlight, which was where she thrived. Not wanting to risk their friendship, Elijah watched as she ran off with the boy he knew wouldn’t love her the way he did.
The Spring Hills Ten-Year High School reunion gives them both an opportunity to revisit the point in their life which they both hold with regret. Will the reunion allow them a second chance or will it be just another missed connection?
Popular girl, Kennedy Myers made one mistake in high school – she chose the wrong boy. If only her nerdy friend, Elijah Stevenson would have told her how he felt, maybe things could have been different. Ten years later, the Spring Hills High School reunion gives them a chance to face their regrets. Will they get a second chance, or will it be just another missed connection? Readers who enjoy swoony reads will love Kiss You Back by Mel Walker, a second chance, friends-to-lovers, small town romance.
Kennedy Myers was the queen of Spring Hills High School: beauty pageant champ, head cheerleader, and the most popular girl in school. She only made one mistake—she said yes to the wrong boy.
Elijah Stevenson was the resident nerd at Spring Hills High. Convention said he should have never been friends with someone like Kennedy Myers. He hid in the shadows and avoided the spotlight, which was where she thrived. Not wanting to risk their friendship, Elijah watched as she ran off with the boy he knew wouldn’t love her the way he did.
The Spring Hills Ten-Year High School reunion gives them both an opportunity to revisit the point in their life which they both hold with regret. Will the reunion allow them a second chance or will it be just another missed connection?.
I stare into Elijah’s Stevenson’s intense hazel eyes, and I’m transported back in time. His gaze has changed; it carries with it more confidence and self-assurance than the nervous tic he used to possess. His inability to maintain eye contact with me had always given me a thrill, made me feel special, gave me a sense of power. His ability to swing on an emotional pendulum was one of my most favorite things.
One second, he’d forget who I was, and we’d be just two friends, hanging out and enjoying the little moments, something other boys in my class never understood. They always looked to impress me with their over-the-top gestures. Not Elijah. Once he got over the nervousness and he relaxed enough to reveal himself, we shared some truly special moments. Moments I didn’t get to share with many other people, moments I know he didn’t share with anyone else.
And then there were moments like this.
Friends don’t greet one another this way. Yet, we were always only friends. When these greetings started, I never expected that they would last. I expected he’d want more. I waited. Waited for him to take charge, and every single time he retreated. Until that very last time.
But it’s been ten years, and I’m different. I’m a shell of the princess who ruled the hallways at Spring Hills High. The ten years were not nearly as kind to me as they’ve been to him.
He has grown into a man. A tall, dark, handsome man with designer clothes, a New York City strut, and a confidence he never possessed before. This time his gaze doesn’t falter. We lock eyes, and it’s me who looks away first.
I inhale the expensive cologne, and images of equally tall models and trust fund women on his arm invade. My feet retreat, taking with me the confidence I possessed a moment ago. I realize now that he’s in the driver’s seat and the best I can do is hold on tight and pray he leads us to the promised land.
Mel Walker has been writing fiction most of his adult life. Specializing in Short Stories and Contemporary fiction and Romance Novels. A native New Yorker and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan. He loves to write about ordinary people placed in difficult situations, especially as it relates to their closest relationships.
Mel Walker is a rare bird, the male romance author. Specializing in heartfelt small town romance, he enjoys telling compelling romances with all the feels. A native New Yorkers and life-long frustrated NY Mets fan, he enjoys long walks, bike rides and taking in the energy of the city.
From Wall Street Journal and USA Today Bestseller Winter Travers comes a small town romantic comedy that will have you laughing and swooning all at the same time.
Nine years ago, Shelby Lyn told Wilder Presley she loved him. Wilder hopped in his red SUV, and left without a word or a goodbye.
Now, Wilder is back looking as fine as the fireworks on the fourth of July lighting up the Jefferson county sky, and he’s here to stay.
Shelby always knew that Wilder was out of her league. He was the popular country boy who was loved and adored by everyone while Shelby was the shy, quiet girl who was invisible to everyone.
It shouldn’t matter that Wilder is back, but he just pulled into Shelby Lyn’s driveway, and he’s got something to say…