Both Pirin Basamendi and Gracie Olwyn have way too much to hide, not to mention a virulent contagion to avoid. Which is why they'd have preferred to never meet each other. But Gracie has what Pirin is eager to retrieve and Gracie is desperate to get rid of: the lightning stone. So, reluctantly, they do meet—and discover an instant attraction that's impossible to resist.  

Soon, despite themselves, they begin to reveal their secrets—and become deeply entangled in each other’s lives. For Pirin, this means immersion in Gracie’s unsettling, scary-vivid episodic dreams about two women, Analergin and Kaldi, and events that somehow eerily echo her own ancestral past. For Gracie, it means helping Pirin confront the very real threat of a man determined to kill her.

Amid self-doubt, stealth, a pandemic, fear of attack, and attempted murder, their attraction turns to love—and their lives will never be the same.

What do you do when the whole world breaks?

Like when you make it through a plague with the woman you’ve loved for way more than half your septuagenarian life—only to watch her die, leaving you alone. And then, just weeks later, the world around you descends into relentless dark and cold.

Besieged, desolate Hester is too numb to know what to do. And even though she’s lucky to have the means to endure for quite a while, she’s tempted—really tempted—to just give it up. What, after all, is she enduring for?

But giving up will have to wait when she stumbles upon people who introduce her to the first rule of survival: Don’t try to go it alone if you don’t have to.

War veteran Jamie Gwynmorgan had made a sweet life for herself. Then, one morning on her way to work, she’s abducted off the street. She doesn’t know why. Or who did it. Or where she’s been taken. She can’t even measure the passage of time. 

Utterly alone, only rarely able to hear a human voice, prohibited from seeing human faces, even her own, Jamie endures in a sinister, disorienting fog that devours her memories of before and weakens her grip on sanity—until a bit of contraband darts into her imploded world with a message, and with hope.

It’s just a tiny voice recorder/player, no doubt unwillingly forsaken, but it gives Jamie the means to measure time, to remember. And if she can remember before, then maybe she can find her way home to reclaim the life and the deep, abiding love some unknown enemy has stolen from her.

In some ways, Marine Lieutenant Jamie Gwynmorgan has it pretty good. The motherly kindness of Lynn Hillinger, the senator she saved during the war that nearly killed them both, never wavers. Plus she has a great place to stay while she's on convalescent leave—and a steady supply of the best lemonade on earth.

But flashbacks and nightmares shadow her as she tries to decide: Attempt a return to active duty, or...what? Jamie doubts she can ever achieve the peaceful life she dreams of—until she meets smart, idealistic Adele Sabellius. As their relationship deepens, almost anything seems possible.

Soon, however, Jamie learns that something more menacing than nightmares and flashbacks has begun to twist the restless shadows around her. Though she may never understand why Adele loves her, Jamie will do whatever it takes to keep Adele safe when relentless enemies emerge from those darkening shadows to threaten yet another war.

Jamie Gwynmorgan doesn't believe in prayer. She doesn't believe in anything much. Except that people can't be trusted—certainly not anyone she's ever met.

But Jamie knows some things. From experience. She knows if she died, nobody would give a damn. Nobody would even notice. She knows the better she can fight, the safer she'll be. That's why she can't resist the sleek, dark lethality of the weapon—and the recruiter's promise that yes, if she's strong enough, good enough, she'll get to fire that weapon in combat. She doesn't care about the uniform. And screw the pretend-camaraderie. Only Safe matters—and if she can do combat, then maybe she can fight her way to Safe.

Jamie expects a grueling fight that she might lose. What she never expects is to win love.

No-nonsense operations manager Kell Murphy wants to let loose and have some fun. Moonlighting as a bartender provides just enough adventure with strangers who don’t expect anything more than a well-made cocktail.

Business owner Taylor Simpson wants ultimate control. She might be at the bar every week to check out the sexy bartender, but she only ever orders one drink. Longing for a D/s dynamic that satisfies her need for dominance and her sexual desires, Taylor hopes to find her perfect power exchange in Kell.

As their attraction intensifies, Kell must decide if she’s willing to surrender to Taylor’s control while Taylor struggles to trust her real-life fantasy come true. Neither went looking for love, but as they explore their desires unleashed, their hearts lead them on an unexpected journey.

Wisdom is knowing which battles are worth fighting.

Sophia Lamont is the youngest representative her state has ever seen. She’s determined to leave her mark on day one. Old school politics won’t dare stand in her way.

As a prison guard, Reggie Northrup has seen the system fail to provide healing for families or rehabilitation for offenders. She closes herself off emotionally to do her job, but it costs her more than she knows.

When Sophia and Reggie are chosen for the governor’s new community design team and tasked with tackling substance use and mental health issues, battle lines are drawn even as sparks fly. Do Reggie and Sophia have the wisdom to set aside the things they cannot change and fight courageously to change what they can? Love just might depend on it.

Sophia McGovern can’t seem to settle down. Memories of all her bad decisions refuse to leave her alone. So, she moves from town to town, from one dead-end job to another, keeping to herself, which serves her well—until she arrives in Ft. Devlin, Colorado. From the first day, Ft. Devlin was different. Maybe that’s why she says yes to teaching a car maintenance class at the local high school.

High school literacy teacher Pru Glynn is happy with her life just as it is. She has a great job, close friends, and a loving family. She’d like to find a wonderful woman to share it with, but she isn’t about to settle for just anyone. When beautiful Sophia McGovern swings into town, Pru can’t deny an attraction, but Sophia’s itinerant lifestyle doesn’t fit in with her deep-set roots and strong ties to family and friends.

Sophia and Pru have no intention of falling in love, but sometimes love happens when and where you least expect it.

Nico Marshall’s living her best life. Her packaging company’s turning a profit and she’s just been labeled Chicago’s most promising up-and-coming artist. The only thing missing is love. When she meets a beautiful woman on the train with an indescribable sweet and sugary scent, Nico’s ready to make her move.

Sophia Sweet doesn’t have time for distractions. Never mind how fit and tan Nico is, or how she has the most beautiful eyes ever. Sophia only has one goal: keep the family business alive. Her third-generation chocolatier shop, Sweet Stuff, is tanking. In a last-ditch effort, Sophia creates an upscale version of their product and needs the perfect package to ensure success.

When Sophia recognizes Nico from the train but mistakes her for the packaging company’s warehouse employee, Nico doesn’t bother to correct her. She’s been burned by women in the past wanting her for her money. This time, she’s determined to win Sophia over with her charm.

Sofia is tired: of touring, of her record company, of her fake boyfriend. After collapsing on stage, she’s forced to recuperate at her beach house.

Madison feels settled for the first time in a long while. She’s back home in Miami and her interior design business is thriving. So what if she’s a little lonely, the universe will send her someone when she’s ready. But Madison soon discovers the universe has a sick sense of humor when Sofia turns out to be her new client. Once upon a time, they were bandmates in America’s hottest girl band. Their biggest secret? They were in love—the forever and ever kind—until Sofia told Madison she was going solo.

Flung back into each other’s lives, each is forced to face the hurt they caused the other. But maybe, just maybe, Sofia’s new single, “Not This Time,” is the universe playing matchmaker again.