Tropes: Age Gap, Single Father/Nanny, Forbidden Romance, Retelling
Published: April 28, 2022
“Seriously amazing! One of the best books I’ve ever read!” —S.E. Rose, USA Today bestselling author
A steamy and twisty contemporary retelling of Jane Eyre from USA Today bestselling and #1 Amazon all-star author, Nelle L’Amour.
When legendary actress Edwina Rochester offered me a job to be the nanny of her five-year-old goddaughter, I didn’t expect to end up living at Thornhill, her infamous Hollywood mansion. The site of a kidnapping, suicide, and possible murder.
Nor did I expect to fall in love with my charge’s devastatingly handsome father, Ward Rochester. A man who’s totally off limits and is hiding a secret.
As my feelings for him deepen, strange, frightening sounds start coming from the room next to mine. My most intimate possessions go missing. And someone’s leaving me notes, threatening my life.
Should I trust the mysterious, mercurial Mr. Rochester? My heart tells me yes. But my brain tells me run.
The problem, reader, is I have no place to go. And I cannot resist him.
Will I get the happily ever after I’ve always longed for? Or will I be the next victim of The Curse of Thornhill?
Nelle L’Amour is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, who lives in Los Angeles with her Prince Charming-ish husband, beautiful twin princesses, and a bevy of royal pain-in-the-butt pets. A former executive in both the entertainment and toy industries with a prestigious Humanitas Prize for promoting human dignity and freedom to her credit, she gave up playing with Barbies a long time ago, but still enjoys playing with toys with her hubby. While she writes in her PJs, she loves to get dressed up and pretend she’s Hollywood royalty. Her steamy stories feature characters that will make you laugh, cry, and swoon and stay in your heart forever.
For Jolie and Jace, timing is everything. It’s also complicated, and they can’t seem to get it right. They enter a decade-long cycle of passion, heartbreak, bad timing, and, ultimately, self-discovery. Will time, for once, ever be on their side? Fans of Josie Silver and David Nicholls will fall in love with Time for Once by Jes Smyth, an adult, coming-of-age, second chance, love triangle, Women’s Fiction novel.
Have you ever wondered …
If I had met this person as who I am now, instead of who I was then, would it have changed anything?
For fans of Rebecca Serle and Josie Silver.
Two people. Ten years. One winding love story.
Time, for Jolie, is the worst. It moves too slowly when she needs it to speed up; too fast when she wishes she could just bring everything to a halt. But for her and Jace, timing is everything. And they can’t seem to get it right.
Time, for Jace, is simple. The plan is obvious and the outcome is inevitable: earn a degree, get a job, make a life. All in due time. But for him and Jolie, timing is complicated. And they have a habit of falling out of sync.
As they navigate the tides of their relationship amid the uncertainties of life after graduation, Jolie and Jace enter a decade-long cycle of passion, heartbreak, bad timing, and, ultimately, self-discovery. All in pursuit of an answer to the inescapable question: Will time, for once, ever be on their side?
Time for Once is an adult coming-of-age story about love, acceptance, and the mistakes we all make in the messy but crucial process of growth.
“How about we give him two more minutes?” Alix said. “If he’s not out by then, we can assume he left through the front and you won’t—” Alix stopped talking as the lecture door swung open.
Jolie’s back straightened. He was done. And walking. Right past the bench. His messenger bag was slung over one shoulder, and his stride purposeful—like he couldn’t wait to get out of the building.
Jolie stood up, trance-like. Her heart beating a sprinter’s pace. Go catch up, it would say if hearts had mouths. But her feet had turned to puddles, followed by her calves and then her knees. All she could do was stand still as her body dripped into a puddle across the tile.
Alix glanced at her. “Jolie, what are you doing?”
“I… I can’t.” Jolie’s voice shook.
Alix remained quiet. The significance of what Jolie had set out to do, and that she couldn’t see it through, didn’t need highlighting. “You never know,” Alix whispered while Jolie’s eyes tracked his legs moving him further away. “He might come through the Union again and I can give him your number or something.”
“That happened once. In three months. Those odds are not favorable.” Jolie watched him stop in front of the exit. Inevitably, he would walk out those doors and the “Where’s Waldo?” of her college years would continue. It seemed where she was frequent on this campus, he was elusive. Not a single random, or even not-so-random, run-in outside of class. Yet, there he stood, mere steps away. The end of the beginning was within her grasp. All she had to do was go up to him and say what she’d lost so much sleep rehearsing.
Hello.
Time was running out.
“You’ve put way too much pressure on yourself, and on this person you don’t even know. And—Why is he just standing there?” Alix’s voice sounded far away.
The loud, rhythmic ticking from the lobby clock directly over his head had replaced the sound of his retreating footsteps now that he’d come to a stop.
Tick.
Jace was staring out the window. She noticed his headphones were pulled down around his neck.
Tick.
Jolie was standing only a few paces away from him.
Tick.
She could do this. She had to do this.
Go catch up.
Jolie clutched onto Alix’s arm. Her expression, she imagined, was wild. Her face was an oven.
Alix rolled her eyes. “I’m going to use the bathroom,” she said and mouthed, Go.
Reason took over emotion and Jolie launched herself forward.
About Jes Smyth
Jes Smyth is a writer at heart, a poet by accident, and the author of contemporary women’s fiction. With a background in psychology, and a lifetime stuck in her own head, Jes uniquely explores the often misunderstood emotions of change and growth in her debut Time for Once. You can find her on Instagram or at jessmyth.com
A night with a vigilante biker wasn’t my wisest choice.
I can’t resist the cocky motorcycle man, even though Block is old enough to be my father. He said he didn’t do commitments, which made it the perfect night of fun.
Except afterward, nobody else appeals to me.
Block shows up weeks later, and I break my one-time-only rule. I won’t fall for his arrogant smile and burly, tattooed build. It’s one last night to get him out of my system. Neither of us wants a relationship. Every wicked thing he does to me feels different – like it could be the real thing.
When a threat lands on my doorstep, one final night with Block becomes a three-day-weekend. He insists on helping me resolve my problems which only brings us closer together.
The day after our weekend together, I find out he’s my new boss.
Life always shoots me down and being with Block is no different.
Problem is, Block thinks we can be an exception.
I don’t want to be an exception. We should quit while we can.
If you love a sassy heroine, one-night-to-forever romance, and an alpha hero who sees what he wants and won’t let go, then you’ll love Block’s Road.
Karen Renee is the author of the Riot Motorcycle Club, Beta, and O-Town series of books. She once crunched Nielsen ratings data but these days she brings her imagination to life by writing books. She has wanted to be a writer since she was very young, but it’s taken the last twenty plus years for her to amass enough courage and overall life experience to bring that dream to life. Some of those life experiences came from the wonderful world of advertising, banking, and local television media research. She is a proud wife and mother, and a Jacksonville native. When she’s not at the soccer field or cooking, you can find her at her local library, the grocery store, in her car jamming out to some tunes, or hibernating while she writes and/or reads books.
He’s cynical and annoyed with the world. She’s bright, bubbly and determined to win him over both in life. Readers who love Carrie Elks and Avery Maxwell will devour Falling for the Grouch by Carolina Jax, a steamy, small town, grump/sunshine, beach romance.
Dash
When my son had to leave our small hometown of Christmas, Texas, I couldn’t wait to leave with him, only to fall into a new fresh hell.
Christmas 2.0 a/k/a Candy Cane Key.
Everyone is in love down here. They love their town. They love their school.
Let me tell you, True Love doesn’t exist. Romantic love is made up.
There’s no one who can tell me differently.
No matter how gorgeous she is.
And I’m the grouch who said so.
Summer
I love where I live. I love the sun, the people, my job. I love to help and do whatever anyone needs of me.
But letting them past my surface is hard when they’re only using our town as another way out.
For having a bright talented kid, and being extremely good looking, this guy is all types of grouch.
He’s cynical, annoyed with the world, and has become my new target.
Can I make him love Candy Cane Key, and also let my guard down and him in?
The MAN OF THE MONTH CLUB is a steamy small-town collection featuring a new hottie (or two!) every month. In 2023, escape to Candy Cane Key, Florida, and celebrate ALL the holidays with your favorite group of romance authors and their delicious Paradise men. Can’t wait to see you there!
I’m waiting for Dash to take the bait. Again. And then he does. I turn again and his rough hand lands on my hip as he leans toward me, his hot breath tickling my ear.
“That’s two. You shouldn’t tease a grouch.”
Bingo.
“What will happen if I do?” I take another chip and crunch it, licking the cheese off my fingers as I watch him.
“You’ll make him angry.”
“Oh? Will he punish me?” I lean in, eyes wide, “Maybe two spanks this time?” I ask in faux terror. It’s dark inside this bar, but there is no mistaking the way his pupils dilate. I reach for another chip but his hand on my hip squeezes once again and I jerk into the table pushing my hand onto the plate of nachos, getting cheese all over my finger. I stand upright to reach for a napkin, but he grabs my wrist and holds it, forcing me to face him head on. My entire body is racing with excitement, tingles moving from my toes to the top of my head.
He raises my finger dripping with cheese and paints my lips with it. He watches as I snake my tongue out to lick it off, our eyes holding the entire time. “You want to be punished?”
I nod my head slowly , sticking my finger in my mouth and sucking off the remaining cheese. A smug grin forms on his lips.
“Fuck, Rainbow Brite, I didn’t think you had it in you.”
“I don’t. Yet.” I raise a brow, daring him to answer me. Begging him to want the same things I do. He stands abruptly, bumping me, but I don’t move back. With his hand still wrapped around my wrist, I’m not going anywhere.
“You’re playing with fire, little girl.” He whispers in my ear, and I want to jump for joy.
I want to climb this man like a tree and let him take me home and do wicked, wicked things to my body, all the while reminding myself that he’s leaving, he’s just passing through this town, and I should not fall for the grouch. But it’s too late. “Then burn me, big boy.”
Hailing from a tiny town in New York, Carolina spends her free time with her military husband, their two sons and her chocolate lab, Lincoln. Her avid love for reading slowly morphed into an “I want to do that, too!” attitude and a dream was born with a pen and paper.
Carolina Jax writes contemporary romances about her favorite things – football, small towns and big hearts. Her stories are based on an everyday life with amazing people finding amazing love. They have the perfect combination of love, lust and laughs, and always with a Happily Ever After.
When she’s not on the field watching her boys play football and lacrosse, she loves to drink wine with friends, watch the Philadelphia Eagles (hopefully) win, read about alpha heroes, and dream about everything Christmas.
My name is Lucas Donovan, and I’m a sucker for a great taco.
No, that’s not an innuendo, though I do like my women like I like my tacos: extra spicy. So when a brand new food truck rolls into our sleepy little town of Fantasie, Maine, I know I’m in trouble. I just don’t know how much trouble.
Things go downhill fast when I meet Chloe Brown, the sizzling hot and super sassy owner of Taco Bout Love who is as extra as guac. Then out of the blue, Chloe plops her huge purple eyesore of a truck in my designated parking spot. I’m sorely tempted to have her truck towed, and her right along with it.
Unfortunately, Chloe’s as fierce as a ghost pepper, and she’s not going down without a fight. Before I know it, the only thing I’m certain of is that this woman drives me crazy… in the best way possible. What’s more is that I’m beginning to think I just might miss her when she’s gone.
Suddenly, I can’t seem to keep my hands off Chloe Brown… or her tacos.
USA TODAY bestselling author Lily Kate works a pretttttty boring day job and writes books filled with heat, heart, and humor by night. Her debut novel, Delivery Girl, landed instantly on the USA TODAY list, thanks to all of her fabulous readers! 🙂
When she’s not writing books, you may find her watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving, eating whipped cream from the can, or hanging out with her family.
ICU nurse Dani Davis has it all: a coveted job, a great condo, a surgeon boyfriend—though admittedly, things are a little shaky with the boyfriend. None of that matters when the beloved aunt who raised her falls ill. Dani races straight home to small-town Gladewater, Texas.
She almost doesn’t recognize her first love, Levi Cooper. He’s grown up and filled out in all kinds of mouthwatering ways, but one thing hasn’t changed: the painful mystery of why he left her heart in a million tiny pieces.
Levi never planned on setting foot back in Gladewater. The family farm is getting to be too much for his aging mother, so he reluctantly leaves his corner-office career to take the reins. The farm comes with a thousand problems, and twice as many memories—all of them bad, except for his memories of Dani, the first love he cut loose for her own good. But when he catches sight of her red curls and flashing green eyes, he can’t help but wonder if there’s any chance to rebuild her trust—and recapture the love that never died
♦ ♦ ♦
At Audiobook Empire, audio reigns supreme, narrators are hailed as heroes, and headphones are worn with pride.
Marrying pomp and circumstance with quality you can count on, Audiobook Empire is a full-service production house that produces and promotes audiobooks with gusto.
Madden Cole is considered a rock ‘n’ roll god, and all the women want him. Except for me.
After working my butt off as a journalist for years, I’ve heard the rumors about him and his band and have read all about their dirty scandals in the headlines.
When I land a job as a writer for Limelight magazine, I’ll stop at nothing to make a good impression. Even if it means agreeing to a sit-down interview with the bad boys of A Rebels Havoc.
They’re making a name for themselves by soaring to the top of the charts with multiplatinum records and sold-out tours.
Madden is cold and closed-off, but the more I get to know him, the more he starts to open up to me. As hard as I’ve tried to resist wanting him, when he turns on his sweet-talking charm, all the walls I’ve built around me crumble.
They say what goes up must come down, and the band is forced to face the downside of fame. Rumors, lies, and blackmail threaten Madden’s life and the career he and the guys have worked so hard to build.
He doesn’t know about the secret I’ve been keeping.
And I fear when he finds out the truth, it could destroy everything.
USA Today Bestselling author Brooke O’Brien writes steamy and swoon-worthy new adult and contemporary romances.
She believes a love worth having is worth fighting for, and she brings this into her stories where her characters risk it all for love.
If Brooke’s not writing or reading, she’s probably spending time with her family, binge-watching the latest crime documentary, indulging in chocolate, or watching Hawkeye football or NBA basketball.
My life has never been one of ease. Taken at fifteen, I was subjected to horrors better left in the dark, and then shunned by the people who were supposed to love me. Even with all that, I was one of the lucky ones. Because I was rescued by members of the very motorcycle club I am now proud to call my family.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t have scars. Deep, depressing, never-ending emotional pain forever reminds me of what I went through. That and the image of my tormentor, which is tattooed on my brain. It’s been years since I’ve seen that face, but it’s back. Only, it’s different. The soul occupying the body isn’t black as pitch. The man owning the body is a wise-ass, commanding, possessive, and a healthy dose of sweet and sin.
Can I trust the man with my tormentor’s face? Or will he destroy me in ways I never dreamed?
Nico…
I’m the black sheep of a family who built their empire by treating humans like they’re a commodity to be bought and sold. Banished at thirteen to spend my teenage years at a boarding school with no tether to the people I grew up with, all because I didn’t conform to who they wanted me to be. But I was okay with that because at least I had a chance to be normal. And karma’s a bitch.
My cousin and I planned for years to end the suffering our family caused and destroy those who caused it. We almost did it, too, but one member remains, still wreaking havoc on the city I call home again. Add in the fact that I’ve met the woman of my dreams, who happens to hate and fear me on sight, and life is a real barrel of laughs. No matter. I’ll win her over and make her mine.
I just have to convince her that I’m not who she thinks I am and keep her alive long enough to do it.
Devil’s Handmaidens MC is a multi-author world focusing on a badass all-female MC with various chapters/locations written by some of your favorite MC authors.
Andi Rhodes is an author whose passion is creating romance from chaos in all her books! She writes MC (motorcycle club) romance with a generous helping of suspense and doesn’t shy away from the more difficult topics. Her books can be triggering for some so consider yourself warned. Andi also ensures each book ends with the couple getting their HEA! Most importantly, Andi is living her real life HEA with her husband and their boxers.
For access to release info, updates, and exclusive content, be sure to sign up for Andi’s newsletter at andirhodes.com.
I thought I knew him. I didn’t. I thought he was trustworthy. He wasn’t.
But nothing in this world is as it seems.
I caught the attention of the most notorious man in the underworld.
Konstantin wasn’t the type to be ignored. He commanded his criminal empire with an iron fist but he had secrets of his own.
But I was Tatiana Nikolaev. I’d never bend to a man’s will or be used as a pawn. Not again.
The moment I tempted the fates and played with fire, life spiraled out of control.
My only way of survival was to trust again.
But could I?
*This is a complete duet.*
Eva Winners released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing vigorously ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.
She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails or exploring the beaches.
Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.
Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you’ll never want to leave.
Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!
Having sampled the forbidden fruits of her online antics, Savannah wants more. When her relationship with Arcas comes under pressure, Savannah must make a choice. Will she make the right one? Fans of Julia Quinn, Shayla Black, Tessa Dare, and EL James will love Voyeur by Ida Brady, a spicy, seductive, enemies-to-lovers, alpha/virgin, disability, BDSM, erotic romance.
Having sampled the forbidden fruits of her online antics, Savannah wants more. Her penchant for voyeurism unlocks a new dimension in her relationship with Arcas, not to mention a boudoir of new thrills…RPGs, corsets and monsters, oh my!
With the success of her blog, demands from Savannah’s online fans means she can earn money from strangers and satisfy her curiosity.
And all those wicked Regency fantasies offer plenty of material. Namely, what the commanding Duke would do to Emmaline in the confines of the carriage. And the dressing room. And the masquerade ball. Savannah’s imagination knows no bounds, and her appetite for this historical couple is heightened by the arrival of Lady Dewberry and the devilish Lord Walcott.
But when Savannah finds herself targeted by zealots, the ugly truth about her childhood begins to emerge. As her relationship with Arcas comes under pressure, Savannah must make a choice: to conceal the past or finally confront her demons.
With Arcas’ encouragement, Savannah hovers between two worlds, indulging in her new online career and fantasizing about a fictional one she hasn’t had the pleasure of knowing. Yet.
Savannah’s desire always began in her clit. The tell-tale pulsing, the silent rhythmic throbbing captivated her, holding her in its thrall. Spellbound.
She was learning so much about her sexuality, discovering new kinks and fetishes, finding out what it was that aroused her.
A bit of dom/sub action. Super hot.
Pup play. Super not.
But there was no judgment in her exploration. No shame. Nothing off limits.
Arcas was a generous and open-minded lover. Their sex-life in the past three months had been like unlocking some secret level in a game.
Wondrous, new, and a little fucking scary.
Which was why she was eager and yet nervous as she approached the luxurious estate miles away from the city, about to embark on her first orgy.
The ranch-style home was one of many exclusive properties that dotted the Victorian coastline. Arcas had pointed out the sheer number of convertibles and boutique stores as she drove through Somerton, slowing to a crawl every now and then to gawk at the locals. Every person they spotted seemed to be out of some high-end fashion advertisement. Perfect hair, expensive clothes and a decent fake tan. It was odd and yet fascinating but not enough to distract her from the trepidation that danced along her spine.
Savannah drove through the gated security of the estate and along the winding driveway, secured on either side by large hedgerows. She felt simultaneously comforted and claustrophobic.
Until she spotted the house. It sprawled out in front of them, stretching across the paved drive and extending out farther than she could see. If the grandiosity of the home wasn’t enough to make her feel nervous, the sheer newness of this experience did.
She took her time getting out of the car, smoothing down her dress, admiring the plants and flowers. But she couldn’t hang out in the driveway forever. Savannah straightened her spine as they approached the front door.
Arcas waited patiently beside her, giving her a light pat on her butt for encouragement. A hell of a lot had changed in three months, including the spectacular success of her online sex blog, ‘Sexcapades.’ She was fast building up many sexual experiences, which meant a ton of material to write about, not that she could document everything. Lord knew, she tried.
“You know you have to ring the bell to gain entry, right?”
Savannah turned to her boyfriend. His green eyes were bright with mischief.
“I think I’m a little nervous.”
“That’s totally normal.”
“Bec said she’d be coming, right?”
“She did. And that the people who rock up here are legit. It’s exclusive and selective. They know about your blog, and that you’ve got a private channel. It’s all above board.”
The private channel had been created when a few individuals wanted to take her journaling and sexual experiences to a new level. They’d wanted to watch her have sex online. To see her pleasure herself, making requests in the process.
After chatting with Arcas about the safety measures they would put in place, she had set up an exclusive, private group. Which meant that if anyone actually wanted to watch her orgasm, they could. If they paid.
And boy did they pay.
It had been more popular than she had expected. She was still becoming accustomed to this line of work, not to mention the wonderfully liberating nature of exploring her sexuality with strangers. Savannah nodded. Drawing in a deep breath, she rang the bell. “It’s orgy time.”
About Ida Brady
Ida Brady writes spicy contemporary and erotic romance that packs all the heat! From humour, to heartbreak, to happily ever after, you’re guaranteed a steamy read with all the tropes. Enemies to lovers, billionaire, virgin, menage…you name it, she writes it!
Ida is a lover of chocolate and thunderstorms. When she isn’t trying to tame her intractable curls, she’s running after her little ones, usually with a book in hand. Ida lives in the hustle and bustle of Melbourne’s CBD with her Irish husband and their out of control collection of books. She sometimes daydreams about having a huge library in her home but will settle for stacking novels in the kitchen drawers instead.
In her past life, Ida taught VCE Literature and English to a gaggle of teenagers. While she misses their enthusiasm, she sure as hell doesn’t miss marking papers. You might find her dancing the Argentine tango in her spare time, which isn’t often these days. She loves travelling with her family, observing strangers at cafés and getting lost in a good story.
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“Seriously amazing! One of the best books I’ve ever read!” —S.E. Rose, USA Today bestselling author
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