A new dark college reverse harem romance from the USA Today & WSJ bestselling author of The Sainthood Series.

In the secret society of The Luminaries, no sin will go unpunished…

Sleeping with my boyfriend’s best friend, behind his girlfriend’s back, probably wasn’t my smartest idea.

But Jase is mine, and it’s about time Julia knew it.

Attending Lowell University was supposed to be a fresh start. A chance to end all the sneaking around and make our relationship official.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Julia is digging her claws into Jase.

My boyfriend, Chad, is getting in deeper with a local gang.

And my loathsome new stepbrother, Ares, has just moved in.

Ares despises Chad and Jase, and the feeling is mutual. As their rivalry escalates, Ares seems determined to use me as a pawn, and I’m trapped in the middle. It doesn’t help that he’s hot AF, knows exactly how to push my buttons, and my body hasn’t gotten the memo he’s off-limits.

I wish that were the least of my worries.

Pride. Wrath. Lust. Envy. Greed. Gluttony. Sloth.

My life turns upside down the moment the dark secret society of The Luminaries is revealed to me.

Everything I thought I knew was a lie.

Now, I have lost all control over my future, and a heart-breaking new reality emerges.

One where lovers become enemies, enemies become allies, and corrupting sinners to sin is my only way to survive.
***
This is a 138k-word full-length novel and book one of two. It cannot be read as a stand-alone, and it ends with a cliff-hanger. This book contains mature content including cursing and graphic scenes with some dub-con/non-con. This is a dark romance, and it may contain triggers for some readers.

His job is to protect others, but can I trust him to look after my heart?

When I board the flight to Mexico, I can’t wait to leave my old corporate lifestyle behind. After a much-needed sabbatical, I plan to return home and open the coffee shop I’ve always wanted to.

Getting to know the strong, handsome stranger sitting next to me on my flight is an unexpected bonus. And so is our whirlwind holiday romance that leaves me breathless.

Brutus says he wants to continue things back in the real world, but I’m not sure he has room in his life for me, and I’m tired of settling for second best.

I recognize a workaholic when I see one because that used to be me. Brutus is the head of security for one of the country’s richest families, and I’m scared to fall hard for someone who may not be able to put me first. 

But just when I’m beginning to trust my feelings, danger from my past comes looking for me. When Brutus steps in to protect me, I know I’m in trouble. Because now my heart is going to need protection as well…

It all started when I hosted a little party for a bunch of new friends.

Though “friends” might not be the right word since the invitees were all the women I’d found out my boyfriend was talking to behind my back. When the guest of honor walked in--aka my now ex—things took a turn…

Unfortunately, a stranger witnessed the whole blowout. I was in a mood that night and ended up giving this gorgeous guy an attitude, too. As if my night could get any worse, before he stormed off, he informed me he was actually my landlord.

Colby Lennon, along with three of his friends, owned the building where my tattoo shop was located. He and I were total opposites. He wore a tie, oozed confidence that came with years of women falling at his feet, and wasn’t afraid to say what he wanted, which lately—was me.

I hated that I found myself attracted to him. Especially since I was supposed to be on a self-imposed dating hiatus. Yet the two of us couldn’t seem to stay away from each other. We started hanging out, as friends. I even went as far as making rules for what he’d dubbed our “undates.”

But eventually, our explosive attraction became too much to bear, and we broke our resolve. I let my guard down and started to really fall for Colby.

Nothing could have prepared me for the ride he took me on. And I certainly wasn't prepared for where I'd wind up when the ride was over.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.

He bullied me.

He loved me.

He destroyed me.

I thought the worst day of my life would be when my parents told me that we were losing everything and moving to Cape Cove. I would be starting a new life, one without luxury. I would be starting my senior year not knowing anyone, instead of with friends I knew my entire life.

I was wrong.

The worst day came when I met Axel Hartly and he chose me to be his new game.

To survive Cape Cove I needed to be strong and fight.

That’s what I did.

I had to play his game. I thought I could play harder and win.

I was wrong.

I knew the only way to succeed would be to keep my heart locked away. I underestimated Axel and how easily he could draw me in as a moth to his flame.

He was going to burn me alive.

Ever wonder what would happen if you bribed your brother’s ex-best friend to pop your cherry?

Yeah, me either, but I did it anyway. Now the moody man is madder than ever, but I came prepared to strike a deal.

One he can’t refuse…

Crew Taylor is the picture of perfection, if gruff, grumpy, and prone to throw a punch is your type. Clearly, it’s mine or I wouldn’t be begging him to bite the bullet and claim my virginity as his own.

Sure, he’s a bit of a caveman, broody and bossy and oh so naughty, but that’s sort of the point.
He’s experienced, his heated hazel eyes promising sinful skills in seduction, and I want him to teach me all he knows.

Lesson by lesson.
Night after night.

The problem?

He says he won’t allow me in his bed … but I wonder what it would take to get him to play in mine a bit?

He’s a gorgeous former Interpol agent.

Tall, dark, and Italian.

He’s way out of her league, but when danger explodes around them, she finds herself on the run with the sexiest man she’s ever met.

CIA analyst Gabbi Hansley has a plan—escape her dysfunctional family, excel at her job, and build a safe, stable life for herself. Boring? Maybe, but she likes boring. When tasked to meet a security contractor and give him an encrypted drive, a quick, simple job goes terribly wrong.

Gabbi didn’t expect her contact to be the hottest man she’s ever seen. Nor was she expecting the bad guys who turn up and spray the restaurant with bullets.

After years of wading through the muck, dismantling mafia crime syndicates in Italy, former Anti-Mafia officer and Interpol agent Matteo “Hades” Mancini likes his job at Sentinel Security. He also knows he has nothing permanent to offer any woman, so he keeps things fun and temporary. 
But when his dangerous past rears its head, he finds himself trapped with the tough, no-nonsense Gabbi, and on a second glance, he sees past her sensible exterior to the tempting woman beneath.

Now Gabbi and Matteo are in a race for survival. While they work to track down who’s after them, attraction burns hot and bright. Gabbi knows a man like Matteo won’t be interested in her for long, and she asks him to show her all the things she’s been missing in the bedroom. But the possessive need to keep her safe is growing in Matteo, and soon he has two mission objectives: take down the bad guys, and convince Gabbi Hansley that she’s his.

Meet. Fall in love. Live happily ever after…
It’s the way it should be.
At least, that’s what we’ve been told.
But that’s only in fairytales.
Real life throws twists and turns.
It will flip you upside down and inside out.
Yet, love will appear when you least expect it.
In the most unusual of places.
Under the worst of circumstances.
It can bring light to situations so dark you can barely see.
Hope where none lived before.
Passion where only pain lies.
It can surprise you and heal the deepest of wounds.
As long as you’re willing to embrace the unexpected ever after…

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS:
Silla Webb & Kaden Layne ◦ Gwyn McNamee ◦ A. M. Guilliams ◦ Ashley Cade ◦ Claire Wilder ◦ Evan Grace ◦ Gail Haris ◦ Georgia Coffman ◦ Heather Dahlgren ◦ Hollis Wynn ◦ Jennifer Rebecca ◦ Leaona Luxx ◦ Lynn Burke ◦ Mandi Beck ◦ Rachel Lyn Adams ◦ Rene Webb ◦ Willow Aster & Laura Pavlov

I will stop at nothing to protect her.
The moment she takes the stand I’m lost, drowning in the details of her story escaping an infamous cult’s compound. Every part of me screams to keep her safe from the men eager to kill her for testifying.
When I'm the next US marshal assigned to her protection detail, I know it’s a mistake to make it personal. But taking her to my hometown is my best bet of keeping her safe until the trial is over.
Forced together day and night, her innocence begs me to show her just how good the right touch can be.
Every stolen kiss is forbidden, putting my heart in danger for when she has to leave.
Each glance and unspoken word between us is a risk we shouldn't take.
Fantasies of us together become my only thoughts.
She's becoming my biggest weakness.

I knew better than to let my guard down.
Because the men she escaped from won’t stop until they have her back.

Guarded by the Marshal is the first book in a new WITSEC, small-town romantic suspense series. Please note this series is recommended for readers 18+ due to graphic content, discussion of past abuse, PTSD, and foul language. Each book can be read as a standalone but is best read in order.

Because love can bleed into the darkest heart.

To the world, I'm Damien DeSalvo, businessman.
I own a security company, ensuring the safety of my clients.
But behind the scenes, I'm known as the Watcher.
I stay hidden, overseeing the secrecy of Hidden Justice--those who rid the world of its scum,
one bad guy at a time.
Until the day she stumbles into my path and one kiss changes everything.
Stalked and terrified, Raven Bailey needs my protection.
I need her.
Can I find the man threatening the woman I love before he finds her?
We're playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
And I'm determined to win.

Hollywood's biggest star first belonged to me.

Breaking up with your high school sweetheart was one thing.
Breaking up with Hollywood’s favorite actor? That was a different situation.

I’d been in love with Aiden Walters since I was a little girl. We’d grown up as neighbors in small town Wisconsin. I knew him inside and out, and he knew every single piece of me. I was there when his career took off, and I was almost certain I’d always be a part of his life.
It wasn’t until a scandal broke out that I was forced to end things with Aiden. He didn’t take it very well. The boy I once loved began to hate me. He went off to California to leave all of his past behind—including me.
Five years later, he was back in town for the next few months taking care of some family business. He was staying in the only hotel in our small town. The hotel I now oversaw. For the next few months, I’d be forced to cater to the man whose heart I’d broken all those years ago. The man who resented me. The man who swore he’d never speak to me again.
Now that he was back in town, in constant connection with me, I had to keep reminding myself daily of why I ended things with him in the first place. Otherwise, I’d find myself falling in love with him all over again. Only this time, I was certain that if I fell, he wouldn’t be willing to catch me.