Audiobook Release: Just Playing for Keeps (Hockey Ever After #2) by Lauren Blakely, narrators Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blakely, comes the next standalone hockey rom com in her Hockey Ever After series, JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS!

This spicy, fake dating, grumpy/sunshine, only one bed in a room, opposites attract hockey rom com is filled with all the steamy tension, yearning, and heat!

JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS is now available in all formats including the special edition hardcover free to read in Kindle Unlimited. Check out the excerpt below, and one-click your copy today!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast!
http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

About JUST PLAYING FOR KEEPS:

Ever hear the story about the dating coach who got dumped on the hockey arena’s jumbotron?

Everyone did. But I lived it. Including the moment when the team’s broody, tattooed star Lake Axelrod swooped in on skates to rescue me from public humiliation.

Even more surprising? When the famously grumpy (and ridiculously sexy) hockey player insists on being my fake boyfriend for my sister’s high-profile wedding. It’s the perfect sweet revenge plan since my ex is the best man. Bonus – I might even salvage my professional reputation.

We need rules though.

1. To pull this off, everyone from his teammates to my boss has to believe we’re a real couple.

2. That means swoony touches and knee-weakening kisses are required.

3. When it ends, we walk away.

But the intensity in Lake’s eyes after every post-game kiss makes me wonder if he’s pretending. With each whispered secret, the line between fake and real bends. Until it shatters one night in a hotel room.

Soon, he isn’t just playing the protective boyfriend—he’s the only one who truly sees me.

If I’m not careful, I’m going to break the most important rule of all: don’t fall for your fake date.

This is Lake and Remy's romance. Tropes include: grumpy/sunshine hockey romance, fake dating, workplace romance, best friend's brother, obsessed hero

ONE-CLICK YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ➜ https://blkly.pub/JustPlayingAMZ
✦ Audible ➜ Erin Mallon & Jason Clarke narrate in duet with a full cast!
http://blkly.pub/JPFKAudible

READ THE EXCERPT:

Remy

I lift my chin, look in the mirror in the dressing room, and meet his gaze. “Thank you. For coming in here.”

“Only place I want to be.” He lowers his face, gazing at my body as he runs his hands over my bare shoulders and coasts them down my arms, slow and sensual. When he reaches my hands, he slides his fingers through mine. A double clasp, and it feels like a reassuring embrace from behind me. I’m fizzy everywhere, bubbles popping in every cell.

He meets my gaze straight on in the mirror again. “You’d better go put on some lipstick, Remy. I’m going to do everything in my power to absolutely f*&k it up on camera.”

My Review - 5 of 5 stars - 

I enjoyed this story. There were smiles and giggles, some fanning with the steamy scenes, and tears at the end. Lake was so protective of Remy and was willing to do what he could to help her situation, mostly because he liked her secretly. Remy stood tall despite her huge humiliation. I loved her loyalty to family and friends, her great organizational skills, and caring for others. She was so good with Lake's father. Quite a wonderful book.
The narration by Erin Mallon, Jason Clarke (as the main characters), and Savannah Thomas and Ryan West (as secondary characters) was quite entertaining. They all did a great job with the emotions throughout the story and brought everyone to life for me.

ABOUT LAUREN BLAKELY:

A #1 New York Times Bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and #1 Audible Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that’s sexy, feel-good and witty. Her books have been featured in US Weekly and People. Lauren likes dogs, cake and show tunes and she is the vegetarian at your dinner party. 

Connect w/ Lauren:

Website: laurenblakely.com 

NL Signup: http://laurenblakely.com/newsletter  

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LaurenBlakelyBooks

Instagram: http://instagram.com/laurenblakelybooks

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurenblakelybooks

 

Teaser: A Very Grumpy Sheriff (Wolf Valley - Grumps #15) by Shaw Hart

A Very Grumpy Sheriff by Shaw Hart releases on June 26th!

https://geni.us/VeryGrumpySheriff

Available on All Platforms

I’ve loved him my whole life, but he doesn’t know I exist…

Suri
Devon Hayes has been part of my heart for as long as I can remember.
He was older, untouchable, and too focused on protecting the world to notice a curvy wallflower like me.
When he left Colorado to join the Army, I was terrified that I would never see him again.
I couldn’t have that, so I took a chance and did something that I was never brave enough to do when we were in high school together.
I wrote him letters.
Hundreds of them.
Every fear, every dream, every part of my heart poured onto paper.
He never knew it was me, and I never intended to tell him.
Until I get a job offer in Wolf Valley.
I know that I’ll likely never see him again, so in my final letter to Devon, I sign my name.
I figure that will be it and that I’ll have to let go of my crush on him and resign myself to never seeing him again.
Except he follows me here.
Now the man that I’ve always loved is here, and for the first time ever, he’s paying attention to me.

Devon
I joined the Army to serve, to protect, and to make a difference.
It kept me busy for years, and I thought that I had everything I wanted in life.
Until the first letter arrived.
Every month, like clockwork, a new letter would show up, all of them from a woman who refused to give me her name, a woman who seemed to know everything about me, and became everything to me.
Her words kept me alive in the darkest places.
Her kindness saved me when I didn’t want to be saved.
And then she sent me one last note, saying goodbye and finally telling me her name.
Suri Michaels.
She said goodbye in her letter, but I knew that wasn’t the end for us.
It’s the beginning.
I’m out of the military now and ready to settle down.

And I know just who I’m going to do that with.

 

Teaser: Sweet Trouble by Clara Pines and Unscripted Christmas by Tess Thompson (Sugarville Grove Series)

Sweet Trouble by Clara Pines releases on June 16th - https://geni.us/2CDyM

Unscripted Christmas by Tess Thompson June 18th - https://geni.us/UnscriptedChristmas

https://geni.us/SugarvilleGroveSeries

BINGE THE WHOLE SERIES!

SWEET TROUBLE

Can this former bad boy show his high school crush he has what it takes to be her man?

Tripp Lawrence earned his reputation as Sugarville Grove’s biggest heartbreaker. And even if the title doesn’t fit him anymore, it doesn’t matter. He won’t let himself get tied down to a woman now, because the only one who ever really caught his eye got away years ago.

They say opposites attract, and that couldn’t have been truer for Tripp’s teen infatuation with smart, serious Jillian Johnson. But even though his popularity and athletic prowess back then had every other girl in school weak in the knees, Jillian wouldn’t give him the time of day. And when she moved away he pretty much gave up on ever finding the one.

But when Jillian returns to small town Sugarville Grove just in time for the holidays with two adorable little girls in tow, Tripp finds his heart pounding and his palms sweating over his crush all over again.

If only he hadn’t made such a terrible impression on her back in high school…

Can Tripp reform his ways and show Jillian that he’s a new man now?

It might just take a Christmas miracle, the help of the whole crew at the Lawrence family farm, and two very special little girls…

UNSCRIPTED CHRISTMAS

Can a Hollywood star and a small-town speech therapist turn their impossible attraction into forever?

Jason Hayes has spent years chasing success and finally catching it. With a hit television show, a producer credit, and a future locked in Hollywood, he should feel fulfilled. Instead, when filming shuts down for December, he finds himself craving something fame has never given him. So he heads home to Sugarville Grove… and straight back into the orbit of the woman he can't stop thinking about.

Mauve didn't plan to fall for a famous actor, especially not after rebuilding her life post-divorce. Trading New York City for a quiet Vermont town gave her peace, purpose, and a job she loves helping children find their voices. Jason was supposed to be a fun, fleeting holiday spark. Nothing more.

Then came three perfect days in Los Angeles. Now he's back for Christmas and unable to stay away from the woman who's been on his mind ever since.

As snowy nights, cozy traditions, and Sugarville Grove’s tight-knit community pull them closer, Mauve sees past the celebrity to the man beneath—the one who's always dreamed of the family he never had. Jason, meanwhile, begins to wonder if the life he's built means anything without someone to share it with.

They want the same things. They just live in different worlds.

This Christmas, they'll have to decide whether to chase separate dreams on opposite coasts or risk everything for the love they both want.

 

Audiobook Release: Bright Dead Things (Bitter Legacies #1) by Hailey Turner, narrator Gary Furlong

Bright Dead Things by Hailey Turner is now live on audio!

Narrated by: Gary Furlong 

If the forest stares back at you, you’re already prey.

Bran Gallagher grew up with three rules passed down through his coven: beware forest paths that lead to dangerous mounds, always keep iron close, and never speak of magic.

Cillian Dunne grew up with his mother’s love, his father’s absence, and secret warnings to never trust a witch.

In Pelham’s forest, where bright lights haunt the trees and hunt the lost, there are traditions kept for survival and others out of habit, none of which should be broken.

Bran and Cillian unknowingly broke tradition and ruined each other in the aftermath of a kiss years ago. Reunited in the wake of a family tragedy, they cross paths with something old, something terrifying—something that wants them dead. When Bran’s younger sister is stolen away by a nightmare into the Otherworld, they can only follow and try to keep each other alive in a strange and haunting land.

Trapped in a dangerous Fae Court, Bran learns being a witch comes with a death sentence. To save him, Cillian must fight against those who seek power from a past he has no memory of, and the only person he can trust is the witch who broke his heart.

But it might be too late.

For the Fae have never been kind, and they have always hungered, and this time, what they hunger for is revenge.

Listen today!

Audible: https://bit.ly/3PqVb5O

Amazon: https://bit.ly/4tXVC5x

Apple: https://bit.ly/4wVpt1a

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/4e0ZWeB

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3Q88Mz5

Chirp: https://bit.ly/4wWCR56 

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/4wVU4Ma 

Audiobook Review: Promise (Rogue River #1) by L.B. Dunbar, narrators Samantha Brentmoor and Lance Greenfield

 

Blurb: 

A heart-mending romance for a small town marriage-in-repair between reunited lovers seeking a second chance at love later in life.

Dart Rivers is my ex-husband, or so I thought.

Three years ago, he drove out of our small town to chase racing dreams, leaving me and my broken heart in his rearview mirror.

Couple goals and shattered promises brought feelings of failure on both our parts.

Then one night, a special delivery is left on my back step. A stork-drop of sorts. (Think Baby Boom). At first, I believe there must be a mistake, but when the sweet bundle swaddled in pink gazes at me, I’ll do anything to keep her.

Enter Dart Rivers again.

An accident on the track leads to him sneaking into the house, crashing on my couch, and announcing he’s still mine.

Close proximity provides honest conversations, friendly couch time, and familiar attractions. With silver speckled in his hair, Dart is still the best-looking man I’ve ever seen, making my belly flutter and my heart beat again.

But can I trust that fragile organ? Can I give my ex-not-ex-husband a second chance? Can I believe Dart’s new promises?

+ + +

Rogue River series is a spin-off from the Sterling Falls series, specifically Sterling Touch, giving readers small-town romances with characters over 40.

If you love the following, this book is for you:

💍Marriage in repair

💎Still my wife

🩷Only ever been you

🍼Surprise baby (think Baby Boom)

🏁Former NASCAR driver

🏠Small town romance

🩷Heat and heart and HEA

Amazon: Amazon.com: Promise (Rogue River Book 1) eBook : Dunbar, L.B.: Kindle Store

Audible: Promise Audiobook by L.B. Dunbar

B&N: Promise | Barnes & Noble®

Bookbub: Promise (Rogue River Book 1) by L.B. Dunbar - BookBub

Goodreads: Promise: Rogue River, Book 1 by L.B. Dunbar | Goodreads

My Review - 4 of 5 stars - 

This was a second chance for Trinity and Dart. Restlessness, looking for something more for him, had Dart leaving Trinity behind. Trinity gave up on their marriage and filed for divorce. When a little surprise fell into her arms, she took this blessing to heart. Then Dart returned and came with a big surprise. I loved how patient Dart was and how accepting he was of Trinity's little bundle, with the usual misunderstanding and noncommunication keeping a wall between them. Their hearts knew the truth, and happiness was had by all. A good story, worth the read.

The narration by Samantha Brentmoor and Lance Greenfield added to the story. They did a great job with all the emotions this book required.

This is my unsolicited review.

Release: Dosa Day by Veena Katikineni, illustrator Karina Nechval

 

Dosa Day

by Veena Katikineni

Children’s Picture Book

Date Published: June 2, 2026

It’s Dosa Day!

Join a curious child and their loving Ammamma on a joyful kitchen adventure filled with crispy dosas, colorful chutneys, and heartwarming family traditions. As they learn about different kinds of dosas, they discover that the real magic isn’t just in cooking—it’s in the time spent together.

Dosa Day is a playful children’s picture book celebrating Indian cuisine, family traditions, and intergenerational love. With rhythmic read-aloud text and vibrant illustrations, this story creates a rich sensory experience that introduces young readers to culture, connection, and mindful togetherness.

Perfect for children ages 3–7, this diverse picture book is ideal for:

• Multicultural children’s books
• Indian and South Asian culture stories for kids
• Picture books about food, family, and traditions
• Engaging read-aloud bedtime stories

Whether you’re introducing Indian cuisine like dosa for the first time or building a more inclusive children’s library, Dosa Day is a meaningful addition to any child’s bookshelf.

 

About the Author

 

 In the quiet magic of the Mojave Desert, where the sky stretches wide and the sunsets set everything golden, Veena Katikineni found the perfect place to let her imagination wander.

Dosa Day was born from a heart full of cherished memories: big, bustling family gatherings with her beloved Indian family, where the house was always full, the food was always flowing, and the smell of something delicious was always drifting through the air. Food wasn’t just food — it was love, laughter, and the heartbeat of every gathering.

A physician by training, Veena has spent her career caring for others, but she has always believed that stories heal in their own special way. This is her love letter to dosa, to her roots, and to the joy of sharing both with the world.

When she’s not writing or seeing patients, you’ll find her on her yoga mat, planning the family’s next adventure, or exploring the world with her loving husband and two spirited boys, her favorite companions in wandering and in life.

She believes magic lives in the everyday moments, especially the ones shared around a table.

Contact Links

Author Website

Instagram

TikTok

Facebook

Purchase Link

Amazon

Release: One in a Billion (Accidentally Yours #1) by Jennifer Bernard

One In A Billion 

by Jennifer Bernard 

Available now!

https://geni.us/OneInABillion

Available on All Platforms

First in a new series where meet-cutes go wrong… or exactly right.

Pilot Rory Baker was born to fly. Schlepping around Lincoln Kerr, a billionaire with an ego as big as his bank balance? Not so much. Especially when Lincoln suddenly demands they fly to Hawaii despite severe weather warnings. Rory’s perfect flying record is about to crash and burn—literally. It’s a miracle he survives. Even more miraculous that rescuers find him in the middle of a Hawaiian jungle, and one of them is the hottest woman he’s ever seen…who also happens to swing a machete like a champ. Rory makes a snap decision: pretend to be his boss until he knows who he can trust.

Mathilda Wheeler is living on borrowed time. An agreement with her parents has allowed her to live the carefree life of a grad student for nearly a decade, but she’s been avoiding a major decision—one that’s about to track her down all the way from England to a hidden research camp in a lush Hawaiian valley. Why now, when she’s finally found a man she could love? And why him, billionaire Lincoln Kerr, the very type she’s been avoiding? Though…Mathilda has to admit, he’s unlike any rich guy she’s ever met. For instance, even some of her fellow scientists seem to know more about Lincoln’s personal and professional life than the man himself.

Hidden identities, ancient bequests, intimate nights, a jackass billionaire…and speaking of, what was Lincoln Kerr’s super-secret trip to Hawaii all about, anyway? Rory and Mathilda have no idea. But judging by the sudden appearance of murder drones and masked commandos, clearly there’s more to this story than an accidental one-in-a-billion meet-cute.

 

Release Boost: A Very Grumpy Veterinarian (Wolf Valley: Grumps #14) by Shaw Hart

A Very Grumpy Veterinarian 

by Shaw Hart 

Available now!

https://geni.us/AVeryGrumpyVet

Read On All Platforms

I think I’m finally ready to fall in love… I just didn’t expect it to be with my grumpy boss.

Pearl
I’ve worked at Wolf Valley Veterinary Clinic for years.
I love my job, I love the animals, and I loved working with Dr. Harris before he retired.
Then his replacement gets here, and I realize that there might be something else I love about my job.
Him.
Dr. Wells Bennett.
He’s quiet, brooding, annoyingly handsome, and the kind of man who looks at you once and sees too much.
He showed up a few months ago to help out his mentor, but then he stayed.
Took over the clinic.
Took over my routine.
Took over my peace of mind.
Now I’m dealing with a boss who barely talks, glowers at anyone who smiles with me, and finds excuses to stay late when I’m the only other one here.
I should be focusing on my work, but all I can think about is what it would feel like if my grumpy vet finally made a move.

Wells
I came to Wolf Valley to help my mentor through his last months at the clinic.
I thought it would be temporary.
Then I met Pearl.
She’s sunshine and fire all wrapped into one gorgeous, curvy woman who cares more about animals than most people care about each other.
The first day I saw her hold a trembling puppy to her chest and whisper softly to comfort him, I was done for.
Completely gone.
So, when my mentor retired, I didn’t hesitate.
I stayed.
But things are complicated.
Pearl works for me, and I’m terrified of risking the one bright thing I have here.
Only now, every day she’s near me is torture.
Every smile she gives someone else is a punch to the gut.
And every time she brushes past me in the hallway, I have to remind myself she’s not mine.
Not yet.

 

Excerpt Reveal: Undercover Lover by Jacqueline Francis

Check out the 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐭 below for the upcoming release for 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬 set to release 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡
https://mybook.to/UndercoverLover_JF

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐂𝐎
She’s not 𝘶𝘯attractive.
That’s the first thing I think as I take her in…because I’m a man. And that’s what we do. She’s got a decent rack on her, I’ll give her that much, but she’s definitely not…my type. I usually go for tall, leggy models with soft curves and even softer voices. The woman standing in front of me, however, is none of those things. Short, a little stocky, and built like she could probably bench-press me if she tried. Her dark hair is pulled back in a tight ponytail, like a drill sergeant who’s ready to run an obstacle course or…wrestle someone to the ground.
I’m willing to bet she’d prefer the latter.
Nothing about her is delicate or feminine. Maybe her eyes. She’s got really pretty eyes, but those caramel-colored spheres are currently burning a hole straight through me, so they’re no less hostile than the rest of her.
I clear my throat to ease the awkward tension. “What are the chances that your boss is gonna come back here and tell us he’s changed his mind because he’s realized this is the dumbest idea he’s ever come up with?”
“I’d say…roughly zero.”
That doesn’t sound promising, but I persist because I need to find a way out of this. “But you don’t want to put your future career on the line working with someone like me. It’s too risky. I’m not trained for something like this. I’m just going to end up being a liability.”
“Trust me, I already knew you’d be deadweight on this case before we even drove over here, but Detective Collins calls the shots, so…here we are.”
I’ll admit, that stings a little, but the egomaniac in me refuses to accept that I could possibly be bad at anything. So, I’m just going to take that snarky little remark as a challenge. She thinks I can’t do this job, so now I have to prove to her (and anyone else who doubts me) that I can. With my mind made up, I throw myself headfirst into this assignment.
Assignment? See? I’m starting to think like a cop already.
I lean back against the couch, casually stretching my arms over the backrest. “So, do you have a name, or should I just call you Officer Stiff?”
“Lopez.”
“That’s your last name. What’s your first?”
She hesitates, then irritably mutters, “Valeria.”
I let the name roll around in my head for a second. “Valeria,” I repeat, testing it out. “That’s a hard R. Valeria. I dig it. Valerrrrrrria.”
Her eyes shoot another dagger into me. She’s mentally stabbed me about six times already. From this brief interaction, I gather that she’s not much of a talker. Curt and to the point seem to be more her style. But if we’re going to do this, I need her to say more than three words to me.
“Fancy. Sounds like you should be ruling a kingdom, not glaring at me like you’re wishing I’d spontaneously combust and disintegrate into ashes.”
She crosses her arms. “Not glaring. Just waiting for you to start acting like a grown-up so we can get this over with.”
I grin. “Oh, sweetheart, if you’re waiting for that, we’re gonna be here a long time.”
She exhales sharply through her nose. “Don’t call me sweetheart.”
Yeah, she hates me. Which is fine. I can work with that. At least she’s…talking.
“Okay…Valerrrrria,” I say, stretching her name out again just to annoy her, “since we’re supposed to be madly in love, maybe you should tell me a little about yourself. You know, give me some intel.”
“Uh…I’m a cop,” she says as if I didn’t know that already.
“Wow. Riveting. Got any hobbies? Favorite color? Do you eat food, or do you just survive on pure determination and the smell of fear?”
She levels me with a look. “I don’t have time for hobbies. I work.”
Jesus. I’m supposed to fake date a woman who has the personality of a brick wall.
“Well, you sound like a fun time,” I say. “Look, no offense, but if we’re going to convince people we’re a couple, we should at least try to act like we don’t despise each other.”
“Who says I despise you?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the open hostility you keep flinging in my direction and the look of absolute disdain on your face.”
“You’re mistaken.” She fakes a smile. “That’s just my face.”
“Charming.”
She exhales as if I’m testing her last shred of patience. “As long as we don’t have to hold hands or kiss or—God forbid—be affectionate, I think we’ll be fine.”
I press my hand to my chest, mock-wounded. “That hurts, Val. And here I thought I was irresistible.”
“Yeah, well, I have quite a high resistance to bullshit.”
I laugh, because okay, that was a good one. “Fair enough. How about we start small and work our way up? First, you need to stop looking at me like I ran over your childhood dog?”
“Fine.” She lets out an aggravated breath and tries her best to adjust the scowl on her face. “There you go. What’s next?”
“I’m gonna put that down as a work in progress because…your face hasn’t changed at all, but we can work on that in conjunction with point two.”
“Which is?”
“Which is…you sorta, kinda need to pretend that you don’t find me…repulsive.”
“I’ve never been good at lying.” She fakes another smile. “But if you put on a shirt, I’ll give it a shot.”
“Deal.”
I head upstairs to my bedroom, shaking my head as I pull a T-shirt from my dresser. She’s got an attitude; I’ll give her that. I tug the shirt over my head, then grab another one before heading back down.
When I reach the living room, she’s still standing there with her arms crossed, scanning the room like she’s looking for threats. It’s like she never takes a second to relax. Without a word, I toss the extra T-shirt at her.
She catches it on reflex, a frown wrinkling her forehead. “What’s this for?”
I drop onto the couch, stretching my legs out. “Maybe if you dress normal, it’ll be easier to slip into character.”
Her frown deepens. “I am dressed normal. This is my uniform.”
“Exactly.” I gesture vaguely at her. “You’re supposed to be my girlfriend, not my personal SWAT team. The gun isn’t an accessory my other girlfriends have.”
She groans but pulls the T-shirt on over her uniform, yanking it down to cover her gun.
I watch her for a second, tilting my head. It’s weird, but— “Huh.”
She shoots me a wary glance. “What?”
I shrug. “Wasn’t expecting it, but you look…kinda cute in that.”
She groans again and flops onto the couch, as far from me as possible. “Can we focus?”
I wipe the wide grin off my face and draw my eyebrows together to feign seriousness. “Yes, of course. Mild distraction. I’m razor-focused now.”
She ignores me. “Collins says we need a solid backstory, something believable.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
She leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees. “So, I don’t know what my undercover name is yet, so let’s call me X for now. We—”
“Wow. X? How imaginative. You thought of that on your own?”
I get visually stabbed for the seventh time before she lets out an irritable breath and continues. “We met at a…diner. They’re probably going to make me a waitress…or a bartender, so—”
“What in the Cinderella bullshit love story are you trying to spin here? It’s unbelievable straight out the gate. It’ll make more sense if you were a talent agent or an exec—”
She swiftly cuts me off. “It’s not about the job. It’s about how easy it is to disprove. You fake an executive role, someone makes one call and I’m exposed. You fake a service job, and no one can pin anything down. A waitress makes sense. High turnover, inconsistent schedules. Restaurants open and close all the time, and there’s no public paper trail. If someone digs, there’s nothing solid to contradict our story.”
I guess that makes sense. “Okay, so you’re waitressing at this diner and I, what? Came in and swept you off your feet with my wit and charm? I have that effect on women, you know?”
She tries her best to suppress a gag. “No. You started a conversation. I wasn’t interested.”
“Mm. See, now that’s where your story loses credibility.” I lean in a little. “A hot movie star walks into your diner, flirts with you, and you…say no? No one’s gonna buy that. Wouldn’t it be more believable if you were fangirling? That’s usually the response I get.”
“Maybe that’s what intrigued you about me,” she says, as if her explanation is more plausible. It isn’t, but I’m trying to humor her. “I didn’t care about your stardom, but you were persistent. You asked me out for coffee. I said no. You asked again.”
I smirk. “Again?”
“Yes.”
“I would never ask again. I have what some would call…self-respect.”
“Well…” She stumbles for a second but quickly recovers. “You made an exception for me. You found my cold, borderline hostile rejection oddly… magnetic.”
I squint at her, trying to make sense of her distorted relationship with reality. “So, let me get this straight. You think I, a man who has women practically climbing over each other to breathe the same air as me, chased you because you were mean to me?”
“Exactly.”
“Sounds like I need therapy.”
“You probably do.”

𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 ~ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
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Reading Challenge Check-in

Here I stand on my Reading Challenges for 2026

I have been doing well with this one based on Titles. I only need Q and X, both of which I have books lined up. I have also stayed up with the monthly mini challenges.

Another one where I am doing well. I have listened to 23 audiobooks so far. I had chosen "My Precious" which is 30+ audiobooks. I am debating moving up to "Marathoner" - 50+ books. I am not sure if I can do that many so I will stay where I am for the time being.

For this one, I had chosen the level Detective (16-25). As of the end of May, I have completed 13. I should be able to achieve this goal by the end of the year.

My goal is Ancient History (25 books). I have read 18 books so I should achieve this challenge by the end of the year.

I always seem to struggle this one, but I am working at achieving this one by the end of the year. My level goal is Silver (25 books). At this point, I have managed to read 7 books at this point. Fingers crossed that I can push myself a little harder.

I always start this one with a desire to read more paranormal books. My goal is level 4, which is 20+ books. I am at a lowly 7 books. There is still time, so I definitely am not giving up.

There is always the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I do this more to keep track of my reading altogether. I set my goal at 225 books. It seems that I have made it to 115 books (it says 22 books ahead of schedule) so I should make it.

Next month, I will just record how many I add to each challenge monthly.

Till next time,