Stroke of Fate

No-nonsense operations manager Kell Murphy wants to let loose and have some fun. Moonlighting as a bartender provides just enough adventure with strangers who don’t expect anything more than a well-made cocktail.

Business owner Taylor Simpson wants ultimate control. She might be at the bar every week to check out the sexy bartender, but she only ever orders one drink. Longing for a D/s dynamic that satisfies her need for dominance and her sexual desires, Taylor hopes to find her perfect power exchange in Kell.

As their attraction intensifies, Kell must decide if she’s willing to surrender to Taylor’s control while Taylor struggles to trust her real-life fantasy come true. Neither went looking for love, but as they explore their desires unleashed, their hearts lead them on an unexpected journey.

Jordan Spade doesn’t get involved. The last thing she wants is to be responsible for someone. When her father needed her the most she wasn’t there, and she never got a chance to express her regret. She’s channeled her guilt into building her business as a general contractor, to at least have a sense of purpose even if she isn’t exactly happy.

Callie Burke is well on her way to making a name for herself as a stained-glass artist. Her next job puts her on a job site with Jordan, where some of the crew harass her. Callie knows how to handle it. She doesn’t need Jordan’s assistance, but she can’t help but notice Jordan doesn’t intervene. 

Jordan later feels compelled to make it up to Callie, and an unlikely friendship fans their simmering attraction. But to get close to Callie, Jordan must open her heart and accept she can’t control every outcome, and that means forgiving herself for a mistake she can never undo.

Mika James is handsome, so what’s the problem if she uses her attributes to seduce rich women? There are worse ways to keep a roof over her head. After her latest lover calls it quits for a better offer and shows her the door by telling her she’ll never do anything of importance with her life anyway, Mika has a choice to make: keep searching for validation between the sheets or go back to college and prove she’s capable of more.

Professor Jennifer Long loves her job and she’s really good at it. Unfortunately, it’s the only thing she has under control. Her unrewarding yo-yo dieting and her mom’s unending suggestion that she lose weight because no one will want her the way she is has killed not only her confidence, but any belief she’s sexy.

Mika’s struggling with her coursework, but she isn’t keen on admitting she needs help, even if it’s from the beautiful Professor Long. When Mika realizes Jennifer could also use some tutoring—of the hands-on erotic variety—they strike a deal to help each other. If only their perfect sexy arrangement wasn’t so dangerous for their hearts.

Master carpenter Blaze Carter has upheld her family legacy for honesty and excellence and honed a reputation to match. Her greatest desire is to pass her knowledge on to her children. All she has to do is find her perfect partner who wants the same things—a full life and a family of their own.

Trinity Greene grew up poor and has risen above the stigma of believing she’ll never amount to anything. She’s worked hard and is well on her way to becoming head nurse in the ED. Her dream is within reach and the last thing she needs is an oh-so-attractive distraction.

When a devastating injury threatens to derail her future, Blaze struggles with the possibility of giving up on her dream. Trinity knows all too well the odds are against Blaze but isn’t willing to let her stop believing. Not when she’s beginning to care for Blaze’s heart as well as her recovery. Together, they must decide if love and a future is a possibility worth fighting for.

Hudson Frost thinks she has it all until her relationship is cut short. Unprepared for the end she didn’t see coming, she relocates to mend the pieces of her broken heart. Ariana Marks is out to prove she’s got what it takes to start a catering business and show her parents she isn’t a failure. When her business loan is denied, she’s left wondering if they’re right.

When Hudson’s and Ari's paths keep crossing, it feels like destiny. Hudson has the expertise to help Ari get her business up and running. Ari can help with Hudson’s awkward living situation. Both women want control over their lives—one to protect her heart, the other, her lifelong dream. Can they learn to give up control and give in to the growing attraction between them? Or will their reluctance to rely on each other prevent either from the life they’ve always wanted?

In this small-town second chance romance, Melissa Brayden’s Dream a Little Dream explores the pain of betrayal, the courage to face the unexpected, and the longing for a love that’s unforgettable.

Savanna Potter is having an off year. Her aunt died, and the woman of her dreams, who had agreed to meet her on the suspension bridge one year after their first amazing date, stood her up. Then, in news that rocks her, it turns out the dad she knew isn’t her biological father. So, who the hell is?

Savanna, angry and adrift, can’t believe it when Dr. Kyle Remington, the very woman who left her standing on that bridge like a fool, shows up in Dreamer’s Bay.

Not only has Kyle landed in Savanna’s small town, but she’s managed to charm every other person who lives there. Savanna has no plans to forgive and forget. There’s nothing between them anymore, even if Kyle’s sparkling blue eyes and shiny dark hair make Savanna’s pesky knees go weak. Life is too complicated for second chances. Or is it?