Stories by @betsy18

Playing for Keeps

Poppy Peterson’s life is finally back on track and she’s thriving as the publicist of the NFL’s most promising quarterback (and her childhood best friend), Cash Curran. So, she doesn’t appreciate when he makes an impulsive and public pass at America’s popstar darling, Lyric Adair. When Lyric’s notorious publicist Rosaline Sinclair reaches out, Poppy is ready to face her wrath, but instead learns that Lyric is equally interested. As Cash and Lyric embark on their ill-advised whirlwind romance, Poppy and Rosaline are forced together, each determined to protect their own client from the other. Poppy is frustrated by Rosaline’s cool demeanor, while at the same time, as a legend in the industry, she’s determined to impress her. But, no matter what she does, she can’t shake the feeling that Rosaline doesn’t like her. That is until one steamy night, when the two women contend with their unexpected feelings and begin a messy romance of their own. But with paparazzi, tabloids, and stalker fans nipping at their heels, Poppy and Rosaline’s loyalties will be tested in ways they could never expect.

Sweet Home Alabarden Park

Fiona Turner wonders which challenge will be the death of her: the renovation of a massive, crumbling, centuries-old English castle to make it fit for the King and Queen of England, or turning an American into a proper English duchess. As Princess Beryl's lady-in-waiting, Fiona's duties are usually limited to the tedium and tradition of royal functions, an obligation she loves. However, in preparation to host the king and queen's anniversary party, Princess Beryl has tasked Fiona to put her several historical degrees to use and spearhead the renovation of a neglected, but beautiful estate called Alabarden Park. The castle's latest young duchess, Alice Stewart, has agreed to the renovation and hosting the party, on the condition Fiona also help her manage the estate while she gets her bearings with a new peerage and sprawling inheritance. There is only one problem. The new duchess is American. A reckless, cheerful, ebullient American. Fiona's introversion and devotion to tradition has met its match against Alice's relentless effervescence and unorthodox ideas--but the constant friction creates an undeniable heat between them. When tragedy strikes unexpectedly, Fiona must choose between the royal duties close to her heart, or the duty she has to follow her heart.

Flawed

Celestine North lives a perfect life. She’s a model daughter and sister, she’s well-liked by her classmates and teachers, and she’s dating the impossibly charming Art Crevan. But then Celestine encounters a situation in which she makes an instinctive decision. She breaks a rule and now faces life-changing repercussions. She could be imprisoned. She could be branded. She could be found FLAWED.

Pride and Prejudice and Pittsburgh

What if you found a once-in-a-lifetime love…just not in your lifetime? Audrey Cameron has lost her spark. But after getting dumped by her first love and waitlisted at her dream art school all in one week, she has no intention of putting her heart on the line again to get it back. So when local curmudgeon Mr. Montgomery walks into her family’s Pittsburgh convenience store saying he can help her, Audrey doesn’t know what she’s expecting…but it’s definitely not that she’ll be transported back to 1812 to become a Regency romance heroine. Lucy Sinclair isn’t expecting to find an oddly dressed girl claiming to be from two hundred years in the future on her family’s estate. But she has to admit it’s a welcome distraction from being courted by a man her father expects her to marry—who offers a future she couldn’t be less interested in. Not that anyone has cared about what or who she’s interested in since her mother died, taking Lucy’s spark with her. While the two girls try to understand what’s happening and how to send Audrey home, their sparks make a comeback in a most unexpected way. Because as they both try over and over to fall for their suitors and the happily-ever-afters everyone expects of them, they find instead they don’t have to try at all to fall for each other. But can a most unexpected love story survive even more impossible circumstances?

Fly With Me

A one-way ticket to love or a bumpy ride ahead? Flying-phobic ER nurse Olive Murphy is still gripping the armrest from her first-ever take-off when the pilot announces an in-flight medical emergency. Olive leaps into action and saves a life, but ends up getting stuck in the airport hours away from the marathon she's running in honor of her brother. Luckily for her, Stella Soriano, the stunning type A copilot, offers to give her a ride. After the two spend a magical day together, Stella makes a surprising request: Will Olive be her fake girlfriend? A video of Olive saving a life has gone viral and started generating big sales for Stella's airline. Stella sees their union as the perfect opportunity to get to the boys' club executives at her company who keep overlooking her for a long-deserved promotion. Realizing this arrangement could help her too, Olive dives into memorizing Stella’s comically comprehensive three-ring-binder guide to fake dating. As the two grow closer, what’s supposed to be a ruse feels more and more real. Could this be the romantic ride of their lives, or an epic crash and burn? A sparkling and steamy Sapphic romance, Fly with Me by Andie Burke is filled with sharp banter and that sweet, swooping feeling of finding “the one” when and where you least expect it.

The Perks of Loving a Wallflower

As a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a polite young lady—or a bawdy old man. Anything to solve the case. Her latest assignment unveils a top-secret military cipher covering up an enigma that goes back centuries. But when Tommy’s beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she’s secretly smitten with, more than her mission is at stake... Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn’t believe in love. Her cold heart didn't pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to rescue her priceless manuscript and decode its clues to unmask a villain. She hates that she needs a man's help—so she’s delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. Her cold heart... did it just pitter-patter?

A Holly Jolly Christmas

Holly hasn’t been home for two years. Ever since her brother died, Mistleberry is a haunting ground full of history she’s tried to escape. Her family are grieving, her ex won’t stop calling, and bumping into Vicky Castleton puts the cherry on the crumbling Christmas cake. Because Holly’s first love and biggest regret looks better than ever. Holly tries to heal the holes in her heart as her family—and persistent best friend—keep pushing her to confront her past. But the more time she spends with her old flame, the more she’s hit with the undeniable truth: her heart has never let go of Vicky. Time’s running out, and years of hiding away and shielding herself have left her with the question: can she conquer her ghosts this Christmas, and risk it all for love?

If You Kiss Me Like That

Ashley ‘Ash’ Cooper is still reeling after her recent divorce, throwing all her energy into her job in The City. When she’s seated next to one of her mother’s friends at a family party, falling in love is the last thing on her mind. After losing her husband many years ago, Gloria Young rebuilt herself as a single parent. Now that her daughters are both at university, she’s perfectly content with her quiet life in the village of Murraywood. An unexpectedly enjoyable evening with a friend’s daughter pushes Gloria into exploring a new side of herself. Will she overcome her fear of what people think and allow herself a new chance at happiness? And can Ash let go of the past and open herself up to love again?

Satisfaction Guaranteed

Cade Elgin has a life and career in New York City, and she's determined to get back to both as soon as possible after her aunt's funeral in Portland. However, when she unexpectedly inherits her aunt's sex toy store -- and has to save it from foreclosure -- Cade realizes she's not going anywhere. But making Share the Love profitable won't be as easy as Cade had hoped. Her new partner has an infuriating lack of business sense, and an infuriating ability to turn Cade on. Selena Mathis knows that nothing is more important than saving Share the Love. Not her pride, not her inconvenient attraction toward her new business partner. Cade may be more buttoned-up than Selena usually goes for, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to turn the store around. But the more they work together, the harder it becomes for Selena to ignore her growing feelings for Cade. And she starts to wonder if there is something more important than saving Share the Love.

The Secret of You and Me

True love never fades-and old secrets never die...Nora hasn't looked back. Not since she fled Texas to start a new life. Away from her father's volatile temper and ever-watchful gaze of her claustrophobically conservative small town, Nora has freed herself. She can live--and love--however she wants. The only problem is that she also left behind the one woman she can't forget. Now tragedy calls her back home to confront her past-and reconcile her future. Sophie still years for Nora - her best friend and first love - despite all the years between them. Keeping her true self hidden hasn't been easy, but it's been necessary. So when Sophie finds out that Nora has returned, she hopes Nora's stay is short. The life she has built depends on itS but they both find that first love doesn't fade easily. Memories come to light, passion ignites, and old feelings resurface.