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Hemlock’s life had finally evened out, steady—until Charlie Rose Cote sauntered into it. He should have known from the first kiss that she’d bring chaos, a roller coaster ride with no brakes and no one in control. One look at her, and he was in too deep. His brothers never failed to remind him of his terrible luck with women, urging him to cut his losses. Maybe they were right, or maybe, just maybe, his luck was finally turning.
CHARLIE
Charlie was craving a fresh start when she crossed paths with Hemlock. Everything about him screamed danger—his name, his smoldering dark eyes, that easy, reckless smile. Yet, she couldn’t help but fall, drawn into the storm that swirled around him. What started as a spark of curiosity quickly ignited into something she couldn’t resist, no matter how many warning signs flashed in her mind.
Roux Cantrell resides in Hammond LA, a cozy college town with her husband. Juggling a full time job as a stylist, a growing family, Roux manages to throw some pretty outlandish Halloween parties where the attendees must adorn a costume to gain entrance and she even manages one motorcycle trip on her Harley once a year.
Her love of books started when she was very young and has never wavered. Years past she didn't have the time to write with a growing family, now with the kids grown and out of the house she writes her own adventures.
Forbidden love reignites; stolen dreams lead to second chances.
Length: 60,000 words
Series: Soho Knights Book 3
Prior Reading: Recommended but not essential
Genre: Contemporary
Tropes: Second Chance, First Love, Demisexual Rep, Found Family, Forbidden Love
Trigger/Content Warnings: The MCs meet in a conversion therapy camp. Some elements of mental abuse are depicted on the page, and the physical abuse is discussed.
At just eighteen, Paolo and Max meet at a conversion therapy camp. Abandoned by their families. left to endure literal hell on earth, their love is forbidden. Their secret romance grows and as they make plans to escape, they are brutally torn apart.
They both spend the next twelve years building lives in different worlds. Paolo in the vibrant heart of Soho, London, surrounded by his found family, and Max thriving as a successful criminal lawyer in the bustling streets of New York. Both of them believing they’ve lost the love of their life forever.
Max finds himself in London after defending a mobster, which leads to an offer he literally can’t refuse. Needing thinking time before his fate is sealed, he unexpectedly crosses paths with Paolo again. The spark between them reignites, yet their reunion is fraught with challenges, and even the magical backdrop of the holidays may not be enough for them to get their second chance at love. With Paolo's sister at risk of suffering the same fate they endured, the stakes are even higher.Stolen Dream is a tale of resilience, forbidden love, and the fight for a future that embraces who they truly are. Will they save Paolo's sister in time, and can they find a way to be together, against all odds? Join them on this emotional journey of hope and redemption, where stolen dreams may just lead to a love worth fighting for..
KC greeted Paolo with a big hug when he arrived. She was such a wonderful woman, who had been through more than all his brothers put together. The bravery it took for her to transition in the nineties had Paolo in awe of her.
“What are you doing here on a Saturday?”
“I’m meeting an . . . an old friend.”
“Old boyfriend?” She smiled.
Paolo felt his face heating. She leant forward and whispered to him.
“Well, if it’s the guy who just walked in who looks like he wants to eat you, then I think I’ve got my answer.”
Paolo spun around and there was Max. He hadn’t gotten a proper look last night with the shock. Max had always had a broad build, but now he was built like a rugby player, with wide shoulders and a tapered waist. His hazel eyes were as captivating as they had been twelve years ago. Max smiled at him, showing those perfect dimples in his pinchable cheeks. He was clean-shaven, unlike Paolo who’d had a short beard for the last five years. His face was too babyish when he was clean-shaven.
“Can I give you a hug?” asked Max.
Paolo was too choked up, so he just nodded, and Max wrapped his big, muscular arms around him. They were the same height, but even though Paolo had packed on the muscle over the last few years, Max almost smothered him – albeit in a good way. He was wearing a citrusy aftershave, and he could happily stay like this in Max’s arms forever.
When the hug was bordering on being far too long for a public setting, they pulled apart and both smiled. Paolo gestured to a nearby table he’d claimed when he arrived. He made eye contact with KC, who gave him a warm smile and touched her heart. Paolo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
“Thank you for seeing me,” said Max.
Was he nervous? This wasn’t how he remembered him. Max had been the strong one when they’d been in the camp. It wasn’t just Paolo who looked up to him; it was everyone. Paolo wasn’t sure what to say. He felt tongue tied, so he grabbed a menu, passing one to Max. He knew the menu by heart, but Max didn’t need to know that.
“Did you want to get something to eat?” asked Paolo. That was a safe conversation starter.
“I am always hungry.”
He smiled, and then a dark shadow appeared in his eyes. It was clear a memory had hit him. One they shared. Paolo needed to get things back on track. Today was not a day to go down memory lane.
Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in 2023. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.
Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?
The best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new.
The best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new.
Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan. He scores the trifecta of trouble when a broody hunk buys him a drink. Sparks fly, passions flare, and a simple kiss becomes a four-alarm blaze until an untimely interruption douses the men with an icy reality, pitting loyalty against lust.
They shouldn’t... They couldn’t… Spoiler alert: they do!
It was supposed to be one and done but memories of their shared encounter won’t let go. A single text triggers two years of conversations, healing, and an endearing friendship that could blossom into something precious if Dom and Sven were brave enough to take a chance.
An unexpected invitation could provide the nudge their scarred hearts need. Exploring their reignited passion for two weeks in Vail would be a heavenly hideaway if not for a hellish houseguest’s resolve to cause trouble. Family rifts and uncomfortable confrontations abound, and embracing a future with Sven means Dom must face his past. Is their love strong enough to withstand the fire, or will they go down in flames?
Starts With a Bang is a standalone novel within the Redemption Ridge universe. It contains mature content and is intended for adults.
Reaching into my pocket, I removed my key fob and unlocked the vehicle. The headlights flashed on, but instead of going to the driver’s door, I detoured around to the passenger side. I turned to face Stevie. No. Not Stevie. Sven. Maybe if I repeated it often enough, I could forget he was Kerry’s little brother. Sven had stopped several feet away, and my headlights illuminated his perfect body. I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind all night. Other guys had flirted with me, but they weren’t him. Sven.
What I was about to do was wrong, but I could worry about it later. I grabbed the handle on the minivan’s rear door and slid it open. Sven was right. We were consenting adults and didn’t need Kerry’s permission. What had he meant about Sven not learning his lesson from past mistakes? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask, but I noticed Sven hadn’t budged from his spot. I forced my gaze up to his face and registered his hesitant expression.
“Why a minivan?” Sven asked.
I saw our interaction in a new light and admired Sven’s self-preservation. I was a virtual stranger who wanted to lure him into the back of my sketchy vehicle in a dark parking lot. “It’s convenient for my work.”
Sven took a few tentative steps closer. “So, no car seats or soccer ball hazards I need to be concerned about?”
“No kids,” I said.
“Good to know.” Sven edged a little closer. “What about tarps, duct tape, and rope?”
I laughed for what seemed like the first time in months. “I’m not a serial killer either.”
“Phew.” Sven strode forward until he reached the open door. He squinted his cobalt-blue eyes and scrutinized the minivan’s dark interior. “No lights?”
“I disabled them.” Realizing how bad that sounded, I added, “I’m a private detective.” I gestured to the white van. “It’s nondescript, fits in everywhere, and lets me blend in during surveillance. Dome lights will make me stand out like a sore thumb during nighttime stakeouts.”
Sven pursed his lips and nodded. “Makes sense.” He reached inside the van and rested his hand on a captain’s chair. “How far back do these seats recline?”
“Climb on in and let’s find out.”
“Said the spider to the fly.” And Sven walked into my web.
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE! Did I mention that I absolutely loved this book? Dom and Sven are wonderful together, and I loved the way they came together and everything after. The stuff they had to deal with no couple should, but it makes them stronger in the end. Brilliant writing, wonderful story, amazing characters...it is the perfect combination for a story you don't want to put down. 5 stars.
Ever since she was a little girl, Aimee Nicole Walker entertained herself with stories that popped into her head. Now she makes a living by telling stories to others. She wears many titles—wife, mom, and grandma are just a few. Love inspires everything she does, podcasts keep her sane, and coffee is the magic elixir that fuels her day.
HEMLOCK
Roux Cantrell resides in Hammond LA, a cozy college town with her husband. Juggling a full time job as a stylist, a growing family, Roux manages to throw some pretty outlandish Halloween parties where the attendees must adorn a costume to gain entrance and she even manages one motorcycle trip on her Harley once a year.
