Twice Shy

Explore the angst and excitement of forbidden love few would dare in this heart-stopping novella collection.

In Her Boss's Wife by Gun Brooke, January Wild needs a letter of recommendation to finally move to her dream job. Only she’s caught in the crosshairs of her bosses’ messy divorce and has a dangerous crush on her boss’s wife. Will they risk everything for a chance at forever?

In Her Therapist's Daughter by J.J. Hale, with the help of her therapist, Freya embarks on a journey of self-discovery that leads to a serendipitous meeting and an unexpected connection. Unbeknownst to them, Freya’s therapist is the same woman advising her daughter to follow her heart, straight into Freya’s arms.

In Her Brother’s Girlfriend by Aurora Rey, Hadley Devine always knew she’d find her way back to the family restaurant and take over as head chef. She didn’t count on working alongside Brianna Kerns, her brother’s girlfriend, and the woman she’s been in love with since high school.

Casey Stevens needs distance from her movie producer parents and her social media starlet ex-wife. When she lands in Rocky Springs with a bruised ego and a pile of cash, the quaint tourist town seems like the perfect place for a fresh start. But is it the right place to make her dream of owning a classy sex shop a reality?

Tara McCoy knows a thing or two about licking her wounds. She never wanted to move back home, but she’s making the most of it, turning her family’s sleepy bakery into a cupcake destination. The last thing she wants next door is some seedy sex store, even if it’s promoting self-care as much as sex. And especially if the new owner is drop-dead gorgeous.

With the busy holiday season heating up, neither can afford to be petty or lose a customer. But when their reluctant truce melts into a little bit of sugar and a whole lot of spice, will love prevail, or will their differences be too hot to handle?

Settle in for an opposites attract, renovation-to-remember from RITA award finalist Aurora Rey.     

After years of hustling from one adjunct gig to another, Kathleen Kenney has finally hit the big time. Forget tenure, she’s got a best-selling novel under her belt. That means leaving the campus grind for rural Vermont, fixing up the old farmhouse of her dreams, and writing romance fiction from the comfort and quiet of her new home. She doesn’t believe in the happily-ever-afters they promise, but really, who does? 

As the youngest member of the Barrow Brothers Construction team, Logan Barrow leaps at the opportunity to take lead on the Kenney job. It’s a chance to prove she can go beyond design and see a project through, from start to finish. Unfortunately, a flirtatious foible puts Kathleen on the defensive and leaves Logan scrambling to be taken seriously. Nothing goes as planned, and their meet-cute is a definite fixer-upper. 

The renovation gets done because that’s what Barrow Brothers is all about. The hardest job of all, though, will be convincing Kathleen their love is as move-in-ready as her farmhouse.

Burned-out chef Sy Travino never expected to wind up on a goat farm in rural Vermont, but that’s exactly where she lands after leaving the restaurant world to become a cheese maker. It’s a great place to flex her muscles and make a name for herself, though. Too bad the house she bought is practically unlivable.

Maddie Barrow can’t believe anyone would be dumb enough to buy a house sight unseen, but she’s not about to turn down the job of renovating it, especially since her best friend just hired Sy to turn Grumpy Old Goat into the chèvre everyone is talking about. When the estimate on the house exceeds Sy’s budget, Maddie puts her to work. 

It doesn’t take long for Sy and Maddie to admit their chemistry is off the charts, but having fun doesn’t always lead to forever. Could it be a foundation for love or nothing but a teardown?

Praise from Publishers Weekly: Rey stresses the importance of building something to last in this torrid home renovation romance....Rey makes the chemistry between Maddie and Sy obvious and immediate, leading naturally to plenty of creative and exciting sex scenes, but tempers the hot-and-heavy goings-on with emotional intelligence that makes the relationship feel as sturdy as a load-bearing wall. Readers will never doubt that a happy ending is on its way, but they’ll love watching it come together.

Venture capitalist Jude Benoit is named Majesty of Artemis, New Orleans’s premier lesbian Mardi Gras parade and ball, and enlists the expertise of private dance instructor Gabriella Viard to save her from making a fool of herself. Jude can follow the steps, but what happens when Gabby challenges her to lead with her heart?

Follow Her Lead was originally published in Opposites Attract: Butch/Femme Romance Novellas (Bold Strokes Books, 2021).

For Mira Lavigne, cider is about tradition, elegance, and class. She has little respect and even less patience for self-anointed mavericks who think their ticket to fame and fortune is throwing the rulebook out the window. Dylan Miller is one of those people. The only thing she loves more than pushing the envelope is finding ways to make cider, perry, and a few things she hasn’t even named yet more delicious and more accessible to everyone.

When Mira and Dylan are tapped to co-chair Finger Lakes Cider Week, neither can pass up the publicity and prestige of the role. But professional compromises raise personal stakes, and Dylan and Mira are hard-pressed to keep their businesses—and their hearts—out of harm’s way.