And there she was, in the flesh. Her hair still dyed blonde, but curly again like when I saw her for the first time. She looked tired, cynical. Bored. And a little sad. I recognised these emotions instantly as it was the same way I'd been feeling for too long now. However, she was also still utterly beautiful and completely perfect, and the love I'd always harboured for her rushed back like a burst dam. Let's face it, it had never really went away. The dam may as well have even held back by some dubious duct tape. It had been leaking for years. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ He pretty much fell in love at first sight when he was 14 years old. 20 years later he's having to face the girl he fell for again . . . And he's not really coping well with it. You hopefully already know how it ends . . . But here's the chance to see Ryan's version of events. ❤️ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***This novella is Ryan's side of the main relationship in "No Reservations". It therefore serves as a companion to the main book and would be best enjoyed as dessert after you've binged on the main. 😉***

When her parents die in an accident, 27-year-old party girl, Adelaide Becker, sets her sights on inheriting the family fortune. But when the will is read, she is not surprised to find her parents are capable of ruining her happiness even from beyond the grave. If she hopes to inherit the family estate, she has to follow one not so inviting rule: move to the English countryside and live with a long forgotten grandmother. For a year. Begrudgingly, she packs her things and leaves the sandy shores of Greece for the small, ramshackle house her mother grew up in. Between the drafty room, the terrible food, and the young carpenter who seems more intent on sweeping her off her feet than fixing the roof, Adelaide is convinced her parents set the whole thing up just to punish her for indiscretions. She's determined to beat them at their own game and survive the year, but when her grandmother hands her a ring and a letter and declares her engaged, Adelaide might finally snap. *** ONC 2021 entry for prompt # 74. CW: Death of parent.

Free-spirited homebody Erica doesn't want to be queen. Which is fine, because her single, independent older sister Gemma is more than ready for the job. But their father doesn't care about any of that. He thinks a queen ought to be married and producing heirs (Yes, he really says producing heirs) if she is to take the throne. No matter how hard the girls try to convince him, the king will not budge. Gemma needs to get married at her upcoming birthday ball or he passes her over in favour of her sister being the next queen. Desperate to turn their circumstances back right-side-up, the two concoct a plan to find someone for Gemma to choose who will definitely not choose her back. But in order to do that, Erica is going to have to work together with her longtime crush. Who doesn't know she exists. She'll have to keep her feelings in check if she's going to convince him to help, but she might want to offer him a little something in return. ~ * ~ * ~ This is one of the five novellas I'll be writing for this year's ONC! You can find the rest of the stories (Hang it Up, Christmas at the Cabin, Love Lies & Red Eyes, and Runaway Fiances) on my profile! This story is based on prompt #49: "Master the rules of the game until you can play it better than they can."

Life cannot treat Alexia Grey any better. She has amazing family and friends and gets perfect scores. She is destined for great things. She has envisioned a life with her boyfriend, for whom she has sacrificed her entry to the state's best university. But fate has other plans. The perfect future she has pictured shatters into pieces one fateful day. Alexia Grey is a happy-go-lucky girl who has been dumped by her high school sweetheart. Things get more unbearable when it becomes the talk of the town. People either give her looks of pity or laugh at her. Left without a choice, she leaves for the city to start afresh. In New York City, she meets the cold and aloof Matteo Knight, whose mysterious vibe draws her towards him. Matteo is an introvert with great ambition. To achieve his lifetime goal of becoming a famous doctor, he refuses to get distracted by anything. As a result, he has grown distant from everyone around him. Enter Alexia Grey who has now become his neighbour. What kind of sparks will fly between a boy who is driven by his desire for success and a girl who wants a fresh start in life? *** [Open Novella Contest 2020] Prompt #61: After being jilted, you move to the city to hide your embarrassment, lick your wounds and start afresh. Started: 8 February 2020 Completed: 4 May 2020

For recent law school grad Charlotte Maxwell, real life has never been so good. On a post-graduation vacation with her best friend, the last thing Charlie is thinking about is meeting anyone: all she's looking to do is eat, drink, and get some sun (although not necessarily in that order). After three stressful years of focusing on school, Charlie's long overdue for some relaxation and she intends on maximizing every moment of this trip...by doing absolutely nothing. What she doesn't expect on her perfect vacation is to meet the perfect guy. Alex is smart, funny, and handsome. Despite their different backgrounds - Charlie is from a Midwestern middle class family while Alex is a wealthy Brit - their chemistry is undeniable. Charlie's not exactly the vacation fling kind of girl, but figures she can make an exception in Alex's case. But is Alex really too good to be true? What if the only souvenir Charlie brings back from her vacation is a broken heart? xoxo Steph

Two weeks. Two weeks of sun, sand and stress-free fun. At least that's the package Lizzie was sold. Little does she know, the package was a dream. A sweetly wrapped lie fed to her by those she trusts the most. There will be sand, sure. And sun, lots of it. But stress-free? Well, with Isaac in tow, that's pretty much impossible. Convinced he's still bad news, Lizzie is determined to enjoy every single second of her vacation without him. Just because he's next door doesn't mean they'll cross paths...right? Featured on: Teen Fiction | Head over Heels New Adult | It's all because of the Hormones Stories Undiscovered | Plain Janes? Not These Ladies... (January 2022)

how far would you go . . . for someone you love? ♔ Levi steps forward, placing himself between me and Jack. Like he's protecting me from him. But I don't need protecting, certainly not from Jack. "Who do you think you are, dude?" Levi spits, getting in Jack's face. "Look, Scarlett was just helping me out with a proj-" "I'm not your dude," Jack bites, and I want to tear my hair out of my head. This is going downhill very fast. Jack turns to me. "Scar, we need to talk," he says lowly. Then loud enough for Levi to hear, "So can you please get this kid to leave." "Hey, you don't get to come in here and start ordering her around," Levi says harshly. "You don't control her." "And you think that you do?" Jack spits. ♔ When Scarlett moved off to college, she hoped to start anew and find her way in this world alone. Two problems. One: her older brother goes to the same college, and it seems like he's everywhere, keeping her from doing everything she hoped to do as a college freshman. Two: her brother's devastatingly handsome best friend also seems hell-bent on ruining her college experience . . . but in a different way. Their paths keep crossing, and Scarlett is reminded of the powerful attraction that they've both ignored for far too long. Not to mention, a new face begins to occupy everyday Scarlett's thoughts. When Scarlett is paired with an allusive, darkly handsome stranger for a film project, her world begins to open in ways she never thought possible. But as his mystery unravels into dark secrets, she wonders if she's falling a bit too hard. Before long, Scarlett is forced to realize that balancing the hearts of two boys at once just might result in the breaking of her own.

A young woman thought she had a high school love but that was all quick to change once he moved them from the only place she knew. Adina receives news the same day an opportunity comes up and she can leave. Can Adina find a safe place to live? Drew grew up in a small town and strove to do all he could to help others. What happens then he keeps running into the same lady and sparks seem to instantly fly? Beautiful cover photo made by Lissasysnop! The story is my own so please do not steal my work!!!!! Copyrighted 2024© All Rights Reserved

Rescued from a blind date from hell, a career woman's one night stand with her would be savior has unforeseen consequences. **** Up and coming New York apartment manager, Vanessa Torres' life is going perfectly according to her five year plan. Well, everything except in the love department, but that will come later. On cloud nine from her recent promotion, she agrees to go on a blind date arranged by her friend. Little does she know her squeaky clean life is about to turn upside down, following a one night stand with a handsome stranger, who saves her from the disastrous set-up. Reputable, lease up closer, Gabriel Tate, loves to live life by the game of chance, with no long term plans in mind. Blessed with Adonis-like looks and a charming personality he's used to getting what he wants when he wants until one flip of a coin changes his life forever. Their lives become entangled in a heated competition to fulfill rental contracts for their respective employers, not to mention running in the same social circles within the apartment industry. They soon realize change and compromise are necessary not only within their careers but also life and neither expected to find love during the chaotic and dysfunctional rivalry. Open Novella Contest 2023 Prompts: #5 Flip a coin and make a life choice with it. Two choices, one coin, and no turning back. Do you dare? #25 "If he smiled at you, he'll break your heart. If she winked at you, she'll rip you apart. #39 On a blind date with a complete mismatch, you're increasingly uncomfortable , but too polite to leave. Then an attractive stranger comes over and gives you an out. © 2023 LJRae

*EDITORS PICK* "This book has been so amazing I found myself daydreaming about it💖💖 totally worth my time 😃" "This story has had me laughing, screaming, and squealing with excitement. Dexter definitely gives me "dude really?" vibes and I'm so grateful the ending wasn't dragged out. Gaby is painfully relatable and I love her dearly and here I am wishing I had a friend like katya. I don't think I could give this story any more love!!! 💛💛💛💛💛" If you like this book, you can buy it: https://bookgoodies.com/a/B07RD1HRR5 A boy, a girl, a dating guru-what can possibly go wrong?! Gaby's recently split from her boyfriend of ten years and needs to escape fast. Where better than the Highlands of Scotland where she can lick her wounds and recover in peace and quiet? Fate has different ideas in mind. First, there's the rough and ready Jack McAllan who bears more than a passing resemblance to Gaby's favourite fictional Scottish hero. He's an important part of the local community, even if he's failed to impress Gaby so far. Who knew a guy could be so rude and taciturn? Then, there's the mystery of the woman whose home she now inhabits. Kirsty's left too many tantalising clues for Gaby to resist, not least her not-so-secret identity and YouTube fame. But why did Kirsty run, and does it have anything to do with the red-haired Scot who keeps turning up in Gaby's daydreams much as she tries to resist... Featuring kilts, mist-cloaked hills, lochs where the water runs deep, spoilt cats and a little too much whisky, Highland Fling is a sweet, fun-filled romp through Scottish small towns and rural life, finding love, making a fool of yourself and discovering that an overactive imagination leads you into all kinds of trouble... The perfect book for fans of chick lit humour, laugh-out loud romantic comedies along the lines of Jill Mansell, Sophie Kinsella and Jenny Colgan.