From Jody Kaye, bestselling author and the creator of the Kingsbrier Quintuplets, comes Splinter of Hope: an emotionally gripping romantic short story about a woman who lived through the trauma of giving a secret child up for adoption and a sexy, southern, wounded warrior determined to make her his… —Kimber— What does anyone know about love at eighteen? All I was sure of was how much I loved my daughter… and giving her away destroyed me. Because back then the only labels I wore proved I was unwanted. Since we met, Trig has stood by my side. A protector. A lover. A splinter of hope that my arms won’t always be empty. He says he loves me, and I finally have the desire to lay my secrets bare. Except giving Trig another reason to walk away feels a lot like sacrificing our future… And I’ve already made one decision that shattered my heart. Set in small town North Carolina, Kimber & Trig’s love story is perfect for readers who love angsty, found family, contemporary romance with protective heroes. A steamy prequel to Shred of Decency, this book is the first in the Shattered Hearts of Carolina Series and has a guaranteed happily ever after. Grab a box of tissues for this tear-jerker and experience a roller coaster of emotions in a secret baby romance with a twist! (Please Note: This book contains other sensitive scenarios that may trigger readers.) A complimentary ebook copy of Splinter of Hope is available on this and the author’s website. The Shattered Hearts of Carolina Series Best Binge-read Experience: Book 1: Splinter of Hope Book 2: Shred of Decency Book 3: Sliver of Truth Book 4: Holding onto Hope Book 5: Home Wrecker Book 6: Deep Gap Book 7: Bleeding Heart With strength and determination to overcome the odds, be prepared for the Mill Girls’ thought-provoking love stories to tear at your heartstrings and their friendships to weave their way into your soul! Subjects: steamy southern romance series, emotional reads, new adult romance books, found family romance books, spicy romance books, contemporary romance book series, dark romance novels, contemporary gothic romance books, racy books, angsty romance novels, emotionally charged romance books, secret baby romance books, secret child romance novels, adoption stories in romance books, romance hero with traumatic past, wounded warrior romance book, friends to lovers romance novels, strong heroines in romance books, coming of age romance novel, second chance romance books, organized crime romance books, blue collar romance novels, bad boy romance books, antihero romance books, romance short story, novella, novelette, prequel, romantic short stories, quick romance reads, shattered hearts of carolina, kingsbrier, free romance book, free romance ebook, free romance novels, free steamy romance ebooks, free small town romance books, free first in series, free series starter

VICTORY AT ANY COST… Jump into your BattleMech cockpit, fire up your fusion engine, and charge into the fray with two all-new BattleTech novellas from Philip A. Lee and bestselling writer Blaine Lee Pardoe. A Splinter of Hope: Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion both his mentor and countless Federated Suns worlds. To rally his people, he funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital system: New Syrtis, the occupied capital of the Capellan March. However, the Capellan people have fought dearly for their prize and will do anything in their power to hold onto it. Will Julian’s gamble preserve the future of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion doomed before it even begins? The Anvil: Khan Malvina Hazen of Clan Jade Falcon is known throughout the Inner Sphere as a merciless, bloodthirsty tyrant. The next target for her scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners tactics is the Lyran Commonwealth world of Coventry: a persistent stain on the Jade Falcons’ history. But not all Falcons follow Malvina’s lead. Ordered to take Coventry at any cost, Galaxy Commander Stephanie Chistu wishes to see her Clan victorious, but no victory is worth the Jade Falcons losing their very soul. To stand up to tyranny and find an honorable path forward for her Clan, she must balance the razor’s edge between duty and honor—or die trying.

Kimber and Trig’s swoon-worthy romances bundled into one highly addictive collection of love stories… A birthday gift leads to a life-changing confession, and infertility tests the strength of a marriage. —Splinter of Hope— What does anyone know about love at eighteen? All I was sure of was how much I loved my daughter… and giving her away destroyed me. Because back then the only labels I wore proved I was unwanted. Since we met, Trig has stood by my side. A protector. A lover. A splinter of hope that my arms won’t always be empty. He says he loves me, and I finally have the desire to lay my secrets bare. Except giving Trig another reason to walk away feels a lot like sacrificing our future… And I’ve already made one decision that shattered my heart. —Holding Onto Hope— Sometimes you can’t give the people you love everything they want no matter how hard you try. Other times, people need more of you than you’re capable of giving. I’m at a crossroads between my wants and their needs. Kimber and I haven’t been able to grow our family and the clock is winding down. My friendship with Jake is becoming a nightmare. Convinced everyone has it better than he does, my partner can’t see the damage he’s inflicting on himself and those around us. Forced to choose, I’m holding onto hope that it’s never too late. Jody Kaye, the creator of the Kingsbrier Quintuplets, presents the Shattered Hearts of Carolina Series Hope Collection, two steamy southern romance short stories set in the heart of North Carolina. This emotionally-charged romance pairing features the thought-provoking journey of a strong heroine and the wounded warrior who loves her. The Shattered Hearts of Carolina Series Best Binge-read Experience: Book 1: Splinter of Hope Book 2: Shred of Decency Book 3: Sliver of Truth Book 4: Holding onto Hope Book 5: Home Wrecker Book 6: Deep Gap Book 7: Bleeding Heart With strength and determination to overcome the odds, be prepared for a ton of angst and a whole lot of steam as the Mill Girls’ love stories tear at your heartstrings and their friendships to weave their way into your soul! **These books contain sensitive scenarios that may trigger readers. Subjects: steamy southern romance series, emotional reads, new adult romance books, found family romance books, spicy romance books, contemporary romance book series, dark romance novels, angsty romance novels, emotionally charged romance books, secret baby romance books, secret child romance novels, adoption stories in romance books, romance hero with traumatic past, wounded warrior romance book, friends to lovers romance novels, second chance romance, later in life romance, strong heroines in romance books, coming of age romance novel, second chance romance books, blue collar romance novels, bad boy romance books, antihero romance books, marriage in trouble romance book, infertility in romance ebooks, romance short story, novella, novelette, prequel, romantic short stories, quick romance reads,

The Federated Suns stand at the edge of a precipice… Violent expansion of the Capellan Confederation and the Draconis Combine has cost recently crowned First Prince Julian Davion more than just countless strategic worlds. The war’s toll claimed a mentor and close friend, and righteous vengeance burns bright. To rally his people and preserve the future of the Federated Suns, Julian funnels the fires of justice into an ambitious yet risky campaign to retake a vital system: New Syrtis, the lost capital of the Capellan March. Success would dislodge an ancient enemy from their strategic foothold in Suns space, but failure may cost Julian the nation he inherited. However, the Capellan people have fought dearly for their prize and will do anything in their power to hold onto it. Will Julian’s gamble save the very soul of the Federated Suns, or is the invasion of New Syrtis doomed before it even begins?

The first English translation and publication of a Polish poet whose struggles with spiritual issues spark comparison to Czestaw Mitosz.

Sometimes you can’t give the people you love everything they want no matter how hard you try. Other times, people need more of you than you’re capable of giving. I’m at a crossroads between my wants and their needs. Kimber and I haven’t been able to grow our family and the clock is winding down. My friendship with Jake is becoming a nightmare. Convinced everyone has it better than he does, my partner can’t see the damage he’s inflicting on himself and those around us. Forced to choose, I’m holding onto hope that it’s never too late. The Shattered Hearts of Carolina series is meant to be read in order. Trig & Kimber’s story begins in Splinter of Hope.  Subjects: romance novels, steamy romance, contemporary romance series, dark romance, racy book, southern romance, southern romance series, emotional reads, blue collar romance, long romance series, love, love stories, found family romance books, bad boy romance, sexy romance, dirty books, angsty romance novels, sexy books, short story, short stories, novella, novelette, romantic short stories, quick romance read, alpha hero, alpha male, drug abuse, secret baby, traumatic past, adoption, pregnancy romance, single mother, single parent, friends to lovers, strong heroine, coming of age, second chance, second chance at love, starting over, emotional triggers, happily ever after, love heals, army vet, military veteran, ptsd, surprise baby, infertility, secondary infertility, fertility treatments, mental health, mental health awareness, wounded warrior, service dog, service animal, emotional support animal, white collar crime, organized crime, blue collar romance, anti-hero, anti-hero romance, small town, small town romance, small town southern, small town southern romance, dual pov, dual perspective, loyalty, loyal friendship, twists and turns, wrong side of the tracks, stripper, exotic dancer, gentleman’s club, strip club, cocktail lounge, undercover, blackmail, mill girls, north carolina, brighton, raleigh, shattered hearts, shattered hearts of carolina, splinter of hope, shred of decency, sliver of truth, homewrecker, home wrecker, holding onto hope, deep gap, kingsbrier, jody kaye