The Roomate Agreement by A. Akinosho

 

 

One apartment.

One fake boyfriend.

One agreement waiting to be broken.

The Roommate Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 3

by A. Akinosho

Genre: Billionaire Fake Dating Romance

One apartment. One fake boyfriend. One agreement waiting to be broken.

Makayla:
I’m tired of my dad playing matchmaker.
As a music teacher juggling life with sickle cell disease, I don’t have time—or energy—for forced dinner dates with “eligible men.”
So, I come up with a plan: find a fake boyfriend, let him move in, and make it believable.
Daniel was never supposed to say yes.
He’s a grumpy, emotionally walled-off lawyer who hates chaos and clings to solitude.
But now he’s in my apartment—tall, brooding, infuriatingly neat—and fitting into my world way too easily.
I don’t believe in love. Not when life has taught me it rarely sticks around.
But something about him feels dangerously real.

Daniel:
Something about her captured my attention the moment I met her.
I knew I was in trouble.
Controlled and always alone—that’s who I’ve been.
But I said yes before I could stop myself.
Because moving into her tea-scented, music-filled home was the only way I could be close to her.
She’s sunshine and sharp edges. She hums while stirring honey into her cup and smiles through pain like it’s nothing.
This was supposed to be pretend.
But with every stolen glance and late-night conversation, the line between real and fake keeps slipping.
She doesn’t believe in love.
I never thought it was possible.
But living with her is rewriting everything I thought I knew—
And walking away might not be an option.

 

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**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

The Handshake Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 1

He promised her the world, Then abandoned her at the altar.

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The Marriage Agreement

The Agreement Series Book 2

The best laid plans sometimes crumble, but fate has the perfect detour.

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A. Akinosho lives in her own little nest in Illinois. An avid reader and enjoy reading thrillers, suspense and romance novels (partial to romance genre). When, She’s not reading or keeping up with life. She enjoys writing and creating twist to stories. She loves writing about diverse characters, friendship and overcoming challenges through, what is perceived as a weakness.

 

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Falling On Southport by M.J. Slater

Falling On Southport

by M.J. Slater

Amazon.com: Falling on Southport eBook : Slater, M. J. : Books

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Book Blurb:

Perfect marriage. Prestigious family. Political privilege. Abigail Lethican’s world unravels when her husband admits to infidelity. Reeling from his betrayal, she follows him—only to become the prime suspect when he turns up dead. With her trial looming and the media circling, she finds an unexpected ally in her handsome and enigmatic neighbor. As they search for the truth, Abigail discovers her husband's polished facade concealed a maze of dangerous secrets. Sometimes, the deadliest lies hide in plain sight.

Excerpt:

My grandfather stood erect. His powerful form was equally matched against Jim’s. My grandmother sat in her wheelchair. She was immaculately coiffed with the cardigan of her twin sweater set arranged over her petite shoulders, but her expressionless face remained intent on the wall in front of her.  

“Hello, Grandfather!” Bounding down the stairs, I leaped down, hugging him hard and breathing in his scent. “It’s so good to see you.” I kneeled and took my grandmother’s hand in my own. “Hello, Grandmother, I’m your granddaughter, Abigail.”  

My grandmother looked up and smiled. “That’s so nice. You know, you have such a nice face, dear. Maybe you can help me. Do you know when they serve lunch on this flight?”  

My mother stepped in and wheeled her mother to the kitchen. “Yes, ma’am, lunch is being served right now. Allow me to take you to your seat.”  

“She’s getting worse,” I said to no one in particular. “Yes, she is. The doctor is not very positive about her progress. The nature of Alzheimer’s, you know,” Grandfather said, looking up at Jim and clapping him on the shoulder. “I’ve been talking to your fella here, Abigail, and I approve. He has a fine head on his shoulders. I’d better go check on your grandmother and maybe sneak a canapé or two.”  

Alone now, I looked at Jim and smiled. “So you’ve met Grandfather. What do you think?”  

“I mean, he’s great. I feel giddy. It’s crazy that the senator is your grandfather. He’s been behind every major piece of legislation for forty years.”  

“Well, he’s still just Grandfather to me. I’m glad you got a chance to meet him. He means a lot to me.”  

Devin walked in, slightly unstable. “Aha, I see you’ve met the esteemed senator and worshiped at his alter no doubt.” Miraculously the words were not slurred. Jim’s fist clenched. “I just introduced myself. You know, you should consider yourself lucky to have such a great man in the family. My grandfather was best known for his moonshine.” He paused. “Then again, maybe you would have had more in common with him than you do the senator.”  

Devin’s face grew dark and his chest puffed up, the rage rolling off of him toward Jim. I cut in between them, immediately hit by the smell of alcohol on my brother’s breath. “Relax! Cut it out. This is not the place to start one of your childish fights. Also, you stink of booze. It’s not even two in the afternoon. Keep it together. Dad is going to kill you. Maybe you should go have some coffee. Or let’s all go get something to eat in the kitchen. Mom made deviled eggs. You both like those. Maybe you could bond over that.”  

Devin’s hostility toward Jim set off alarm bells in my head. He was a born curmudgeon, but his new predilection for plain cruelty was off-putting. “Just ignore him,” I whispered in Jim’s ear as we headed toward the kitchen door. “Apparently, he and Dad had a big fight. He’s just upset and taking it out on you.”  

“That’s no excuse for it. If he wasn’t your brother, I would have taken a swing at him.” 

Author Bio:

M. J. Slater is a native Chicagoan. After attending the University of Chicago, she spent 15 years in finance. She loves film noir, yoga, and walking along Lake Michigan with her dog. She lives in the suburbs with her husband and two girls.

My Favorite Frontier Holiday Scenes by Caroline Clemmons

When my children were young, we would watch It's A Wonderful Life every Christmas.  My youngest daughter and I still watch it.  I started thinking about how my characters might have celebrated their holidays in the 1880s in Texas. Here are a few of my favorite images, drawn from both history and the frontier families in my books.

Tucked-Away Christmas Trees and Homemade Decor 

Christmas trees weren’t common in every frontier home until the late 1800s, but when families had one, it was often a scrub cedar or pine, tucked in a corner to save space. Decorations came from what was on hand: strings of popcorn or cranberries, yarn, homemade paper chains, cookies, and sometimes dried fruit or nuts—pecans especially, if the harvest was good. No glittering glass baubles, but plenty of charm and ingenuity. 

Gift-Giving and Stockings 

Gifts were simple, heartfelt, and practical: maybe a handmade doll, a knitted scarf, a tin cup, a cake, or—if you were truly lucky—a shiny new penny in your stocking. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about receiving just a tin cup, a peppermint stick, and a heart-shaped cake—and feeling wealthy indeed. In my stories, I love depicting children’s delight over small treasures, and the tenderness of parents who made every morsel of Christmas magic from scratch. 

Community Feasts and Gatherings 

No frontier holiday was complete without music, laughter, and a hearty meal—even if it wasn’t extravagant. Game, cornbread, beans, dried fruits, and pies (vinegar pie was a prairie staple) filled plates. Cowboys and settlers would sometimes gather at the largest home, or even in a barn or blacksmith shop, for public celebrations, swapping songs played on fiddles, mouth organs, and singing carols late into the night. Special dances, like the famed Cowboy Christmas Ball in Anson, Texas, remind us how cherished these moments were. 

Holiday Worship and Reflection 

On the prairie, Christmas Day often started at church or with a prayer at home. Gratitude, hope, and togetherness were what people focused on, reflecting on the year that had passed and the bonds that held them close—no matter storms, drought, or uncertain futures. 

Resilience and Joy 

Frontier families knew how to make do—turning hardship into opportunity, and scarcity into celebration. Their holidays glowed with warmth, community spirit, and a belief that together, they could face anything. The scenes I write—whether candlelit gatherings, children at their first real Christmas tree, or couples sharing precious moments beside a roaring fire—are my tribute to the enduring joy and hope found on the Texas frontier. 

Share your favorite historical holiday memory, or let me know which frontier scene you’d most like to step into!

 

Brian by Alisa Jean

 

 

Sweet heat.

Sharp skates.

One perfect shot at forever.

Brian

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 4

by Alisa Jean

Genre: Hockey Sports Romance

Sweet heat. Sharp skates. One perfect shot at forever.

Brian Anderson has always been the good guy—center for the Los Angeles Quakes, team peacemaker, and top scorer. He’s watched his teammates fall in love one by one, but he’s stayed far from the line of fire—until a fierce left winger blindsides him in a no-holds-barred charity game. Alexis Barlowe doesn’t care about NHL fame. She’s too busy raising her daughter and guarding her heart after one betrayal too many.

Brian is determined in his pursuit, and Alexis eventually lets him in. He’s everything Peter, her ex, wasn’t—kind, dependable, crazy about her and her daughter. But when a woman from Brian’s past shows up five months pregnant and claiming he’s the father, Alexis’s walls come crashing back down.

The test says the baby is his. But Brian swears it’s not true. As secrets unravel and old wounds reopen, both must decide if love is worth the risk—or if their happily ever after is just another story cut short.

Brian:
Hockey Romance
He Falls First, Insta Love
Single Mom
Secret Daughter
She Plays Hockey
Insta Family
Confirmed Bachelor
She Doesn’t Believe In Love
Perennial Good Guy

 

 

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**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

 

Lincoln

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 1

 

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Luka

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 2

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Matthew

A Los Angeles Quakes Hockey Series Book 3

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Alisa Jean is the pseudonym for award-winning authors Marla A. White and C J Bahr. They first teamed up over thirty years ago over a bottle of Zima (don’t ask) while polishing their gear for a horse show. They’ve since moved on to better beverages and writing novels. Separately, Marla prefers to murder characters in the usual way, while C J uses paranormal means. The long-time best friends joined together as a writing team through their mutual love of hockey. Wonder twin powers activated! Their hockey romances examine flawed characters with heart, humor, and sexy sizzle.

 

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All or None by Clive Fleury

 

 

As bodies pile up and bombs go off, Detective Ryan finds murder is the least of his problems—family secrets and a distracting romance threaten to blow his investigation apart.

All Or None

A Detective Ryan Mystery #2

by ,

Genre: Cozy Mystery 

Returning to Sydney, Detective Ramesh Ryan is promoted to the Homicide Squad. Zoe Yang joins him there. Now a detective herself, she is assigned as his junior partner. Straight up, the cops are off and running-investigating the discovery of a murdered company director. Following the clues, Detective Ryan finds that this and a second murder may be linked to past events.

As the pressure mounts for a quick solution to the case, the detective finds that he too, is in the killer's crosshairs. But Ryan is distracted from the investigation by a romantic encounter with an old university friend. He also worries about his mother, Mumta, and her new obsessive desire for grandchildren from her only son. Could this be linked to her recent medical tests? And there's another pressing problem-the plague of rats in his apartment block.

Detective Ryan's hands are well and truly full!

 

**New Release – Nov 11, 2025!**

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Off Season

A Detective Ryan Mystery #1

Detective Ryan navigates drug overdoses, a mysterious foot on the beach and a long-buried cold case.

Detective Ramesh Ryan's career with Sydney's prestigious Organized Crime Unit is on the up, until he loses a court case against the city's most powerful drug dealer. In disgrace, the detective is relocated to the tiny Australian beach town of Barton.

It is off-season in Barton-when its few criminals usually take a well-earned rest. But not this year! With the detective's arrival, the town suddenly becomes murder central. Two bodies are discovered in the space of days, both victims of drug overdoses. Then a mysterious foot is found washed up on the beach, and memories are awoken of an unsolved cold case of the teenager who disappeared fifteen years ago. Add to this a blossoming romance, along with a contract taken out on Ryan's life, and it's clear that the detective has jumped out of the Sydney frying pan into the Barton fire.

What follows is an action-packed adventure, thrilling at every turn-where truth and lies are almost impossible to separate, and unexpected twists are the order of the day.

 

Praise For OFF SEASON

 

“Off Season is a sensational and thrilling mystery that will take its reader on a journey of ups and downs and twists and turns galore while always entertaining and thrilling you!”

 —Aimee – GOODREADS review

 

“Attention grabber. Moves quickly and smoothly. Informative. Enjoyable. Don't miss.”

—Margaret – GOODREADS review

 

“Fleury masterfully crafts a narrative that is both fast-paced and intricately plotted. The story kicks off with a bang and maintains its momentum throughout, with each chapter ending on a tantalizing cliffhanger. The plot is peppered with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers interested.”

—J. Komrie - GOODREADS review

 

“Great build-up of suspense, a layered plot, and an enticing protagonist. Takes a lot of turns, which I love. This is definitely a page turner for anyone who loves a good crime mystery.”

—Carolina Rolim – Verified AMAZON reader review

 

 

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Clive Fleury is an award-winning writer of books and screenplays and has worked all over the world as a Film/TV director, writer and producer. He has written six books, most recently 'All Or None', the second novel in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series.

 

'All Or None' sees Detective Ryan back in the thick of things. His latest investigation into a mysterious death couldn’t come at a worse time. He discovers his mother is hiding a troubling secret and is further sidetracked by a new romance. Fans of who dunnit's, crime thrillers, and cop and detective stories will love this novel. 

 

Clive's other books include 'Off Season' - book one in the Detective Ryan Murder Mystery series; 'Kill Code' - a dystopian science fiction novel set in a world facing climate change;  ‘Scary Lizzy’  - a novel about an eight year old girl, who befriends an African child ghost –  and the teen action adventure book; ‘The Boy Next Door ‘ -  a story of what happens when a teenage girl has a crush on her next door neighbor, who isn’t all he seems.  He also co-wrote ‘Art Pengriffin and The Curse of The Four’ - a young adult fantasy adventure about a teenage boy who discovers his father was Merlin the Magician.

 

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Crafting the Perfect Western Romance Heroine: Inspired by Grit by Caroline Clemmons

 

As an author of Western romance, one of the questions I’m often asked is how I create heroines that feel both historically authentic and deeply inspiring. The secret lies in looking beyond the well-polished images of the Old West and diving into the raw, often heartbreaking accounts left behind by the women who settled Texas in the 1880s. 

I’ve found invaluable insight within the diaries and letters of these women, not just on how they lived, but on the indomitable spirit that defined their existence. Texas in that era wasn’t for the faint of heart. The environment could be harsh, the weather unpredictable, and help was often miles or days away. Women who came from the Eastern United States, expecting a more genteel frontier experience, frequently found themselves unprepared for the realities of prairie life. Many, tragically, didn’t survive the challenges. 

But the women who did were described in a single word—grit. Grit was more than stubbornness; it was a blend of resilience and adaptability, a refusal to surrender, no matter how dire the circumstances. Whether that meant fighting off prairie fires, patching up sod houses, or foraging for food during hard times, these women pressed forward with determination. 

Reading the firsthand accounts left by these women brings their struggles—and their triumphs—to vivid life. Day after day, they faced hardship, from failed crops to isolation, yet their spirit shines through every sentence. When I craft my heroines, I draw upon these voices, striving to capture not only their endurance but also their hopes, humor, and fierce love for family, land, and freedom. 

In my stories, my heroines are not damsels waiting to be rescued. Instead, they face adversity head-on, often saving themselves or working side by side with the hero to overcome challenges. They might make mistakes, feel fear, or shed tears, but ultimately, it is their grit—the quality those early Texan women carried—that enables them to not only survive but thrive. 

For today’s reader, such heroines offer inspiration that transcends time. Their lessons are clear: Strength is found in perseverance, courage is cultivated through adversity, and hope is a vital companion on even the hardest trails. By channeling the essence of those diary entries into my heroines, I aim to honor the real women who helped shape Texas—and to encourage every reader to find a little more grit in themselves. 

Thanksgiving Overruled by Libby Kay

 

 

Cozy up this season with the newest Pinegrove FD Romance book!

Thanksgiving Overruled

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 3

by Libby Kay

Genre: Contemporary Small-Town Firefighter Sapphic Romance

Everyone wants to hear those three little words during the holidays…

Where’s the casserole?!

Winnie Kerr wants to utter another three-word phrase to her girlfriend, but Thanksgiving has other plans. After spending far too much time on work, this legal eagle decides an impromptu road trip to visit her sister is the perfect time to tell her girlfriend she loves her. What could go wrong during a few days away from work, right?

Mari Balogh has a problem, she’s madly in love with her girlfriend and cannot get those three little words off her tongue. After being burned before from her unsupportive family and a string of bad breakups, this paralegal is guarded. She happily agrees on a road trip to Pinegrove, eager for the space to profess her affections. How hard can it be, right?

From a little trespassing and a kitchen nightmare to a surly cat and a series of misunderstandings, the road to I love you is rife with hiccups. Can these two find their way to happily ever after? Or will their relationship go up in a puff of sweet potato casserole scented smoke?

But Pinegrove has proven that love is never overruled!

Return to small-town Pinegrove, Georgia, the romantic setting of Libby Kay’s endearing novels, When Sparks Fly and Old Flames, as well as the 2026 novel about another of the hunky firemen in town. Don’t miss any of the action or romance!

 

**NEW RELEASE!**

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**Don’t miss the other books in the series!**

 

When Sparks Fly

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 1

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Old Flames

A Pinegrove FD Novel Book 2

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Libby Kay lives in the city in the heart of the Midwest with her husband. When she’s not writing, Libby loves reading romance novels of any kind. Stories of people falling in love nourish her soul. Contemporary or Regency, sweet or hot, as long as there is a happily ever after—she’s in love!

When not surrounded by books, Libby can be found baking in her kitchen, binging true crime shows, or on the road with her husband, traveling as far as their bank account will allow.

Libby cohosts the Romance Roundup podcast with Liz Donatelli where they recommend romance books and interview authors, influencers, and publishers. Check it out for your weekly dose of romance!

 

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A Day in the Life of a Pioneer Woman by Caroline Clemmons

  

What was the day really like? 

Before dawn breaks over the Texas prairie, Rosalind is already awake. The dark is quiet and cool—her favorite moment, when the world feels gentle and the day’s demands are still sleeping. She stacks kindling in the stove, coaxing the first flames to life and warming her small cabin for her still-sleeping husband and children. 

Her hands know the rhythm of morning by heart: grind a little coffee for her husband, roll out biscuits, and ladle yesterday’s bacon grease into the skillet. By the time pink stains the horizon, she’s poured steaming mugs, dished up cornbread, and set out a jar of last summer’s preserves. The family gathers, exchanging sleepy smiles and plans for the day. 

As the sun rises, the real work begins. Rosalind wraps her calico skirt above her sturdy boots, covers her hair with a sunbonnet, and heads outside. The summer garden waits: tomatoes heavy on the vine, rows of beans, corn seeking the sky. She sweeps a hoe between plants, pausing to finger tiny green shoots. Every vegetable is precious—meant for supper, or for canning and salting against winter. 

Mid-morning brings laundry. Buckets of creek water slosh to the fire behind the house, where a cauldron bubbles. Soap she made from lard and wood ash scents the steam. She scrubs her family’s clothes until her back aches, pinning them along the fence to dry in the baking sun. Her youngest helps, earning a sticky kiss and a splash of cooling water. 

A stranger might be surprised at the constant company. Neighbors drop by to trade news, borrow sugar, or share a scrap of gossip. Rosalind always offers a cup of coffee and something sweet—hospitality is life here, where distances are vast and friends are precious. 

At noontime, there’s bread to bake, meat to stew, eggs to collect from complaining hens. She patches her son’s overalls, embroiders a new handkerchief, and sets aside the most delicate tasks for afternoon shade: a letter home, or mending her best dress for Sunday. 

When a storm rolls in, Rosalind gathers quilts, checks the roof, and soothes her babies with songs her mother sang. Sometimes the wind sounds like a wagon train, rattling shingles and shaking windowpanes. But when rainbows arch from horizon to horizon, she feels a hope as wide as the sky. 

Dusk returns her husband and children from the outside. Supper is simple but hearty—succotash and hot bread, blackberry preserves on the side. Afterward, there’s music if someone fetches a fiddle, or stories by lamplight, or the comforting silence of a family together, safe in the middle of a wild, beautiful land. 

When Rosalind finally lies down, her bones are tired but her heart is full. She’s a builder, a caretaker, a dreamer—carving home from hardscrabble prairie, one small, steadfast day at a time. 

Read more about how Rosalind came to her home in Jesse and the Mail Order Bride.