ŷ������

There’s just something irresistible about a small town romance, isn’t there?

Maybe it’s the tight-knit communities, the quirky townsfolk, or the way everyone knows your name (and your business!). But when it comes to falling in love, there's nothing quite like the charm of a slower pace, sweet traditions, and love stories rooted in everyday magic. 💕 Whether you're reading about a second chance at love, a single parent finding their match, or a city slicker falling for the local farmer, small town romance has a way of warming the heart and reminding us that sometimes love blooms best in the places we least expect.

That’s why I had so much fun writing , set in the quirky town of Cailkirn, Alaska. And I just learned yesterday that the publisher has it on sale for just $0.99 for a limited time! This book is not in KU and I don’t know how long the sale will last but the regular price for the ebook is 9.99. 📚❤️

Seeking solace after a painful past, Kitty Grant returns to her hometown, her eccentric grandmother , aunts and a citizenry as offbeat as when she left for the bright lights of LA . But facing Tack MacKinnon—the man whose heart she once broke—wasn’t part of the plan. Old flames reignite, but Kitty’s trust has been burned to cinders. Two people skittish about love must decide if it’s worth taking the risk again.

I’m also excited to spotlight a brand-new small town romance from my friend Kate Davies��No Way, Rosé plus a few more of my favorite small town love stories. Because you can never have too many cozy, feel-good reads on your nightstand!

Don’t forget to scroll down to see the other small town romance books I wrote, flavored with some delicious spice.

💕 Must-Read Small Town Romances

🍷 by Kate Davies
A fresh, funny, and heartfelt story that hits all the right notes. With a heroine you’ll want to invite to brunch and a romance that sparkles like your favorite glass of bubbly, No Way, Rosé is the perfect small town escape. Think sassy banter, unexpected feelings, and a community you’ll want to move into by chapter three.

🐾 by Carrie Nichols
A small town, a soldier, and a dog with a matchmaking streak? Sign me up. This story is sweet, touching, and exactly what I reach for when I want a little love and a lot of feels. (Carrie’s entire series set in Loon Lake is on my reread shelf. She really shows the best parts of living in a quirky small town.

👨‍�� by Dani Collins
This one tugged at my heartstrings. It’s a story about longing, healing, and the family we choose. Dani Collins delivers emotional depth with the perfect touch of romance.

💌 by Alanna Grace
So many reasons to love this one! It's got all the small-town goodness, slow burn tension, and characters you want to root for. A new-to-me author I’ll definitely be reading more from.

🌸 by Mindy Neff
Classic small town romance vibes with a heroine who doesn’t back down and a cowboy hero with a protective streak a mile wide. What’s not to love?

Despite my love for writing morally gray mafia men and billionaires in the big city, I have written a few small town romances myself!

❄️
Set in the delightfully offbeat town of Cailkirn, Alaska, this heartfelt, steamy romance with a suspense twist brings the heat to the frozen north. He’s grumpy and gorgeous, she’s stubborn and sunshiney, and together? Let’s just say things get very warm under all that snow.

💘
Opposites attract in a small town on an island in the Puget Sound. He’s the immovable boulder in the way of her doing her job, but that doesn’t stop the sparks flying in this oh so steamy romance between the big city girl and the billionaire recluse.

🐴If you’ve got a soft spot for cowboys and community, you might enjoy my Harlequin titles:

��
He’s used to being in charge—on the ranch and off—but she’s not one to follow someone else’s rules. Sparks fly in this clash of stubborn hearts.

🧹
She’s just there to clean up the mess, not fall in love. But in a town like this? Even the best laid plans get upended by a handsome smile and a kind heart.

If you love stories where love grows like wildflowers on the roadside and the town itself feels like a character, small town romance might be your perfect escape.

What are your favorite small town romances? I’d love to hear them—and add a few to my TBR pile. 📚💞

Until next time,
💖 Lucy

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You know how everyone talks about "show vs. tell" like it's all about describing a tear rolling down a cheek instead of just saying someone is sad? Well, lately I've been thinking about another layer of it. One that sneaks into my drafts when I'm not paying close attention. 😉

Confession time. Sometimes, when I’m deep in a story, I realize my characters �� who should sound nothing like me �� suddenly start thinking and talking like a middle-aged, suburban woman who loves coffee, books, and cozy afternoons. (Wonder where they picked that up. 😂) Not exactly the streetwise and dangerous persona I meant to create and the story needs!

It’s not on purpose! And it’s something I’ve learned to watch for �� because staying true to a character’s background and voice is a huge part of authentic storytelling.

Look, you all. This is going to come as a huge shock to some (or not), but I am NOT a mafia princess, socialite, down on her luck twenty-something, or brilliant scientist. Much less a mafioso, military special forces with a chip on my shoulder, shape shifting pack alpha or duke living in the Regency era.

All of those characters and more demand their own voices…not a reflection of mine.

Sometimes, without realizing it, I even code-switch my characters�� voices to make them feel more comfortable for myself �� softening their language, adjusting their attitudes.
Not because it's true to who they are, but because it feels safer or easier to write. Especially when I can still hear reader voices from years past saying things like, "Don't use that word so often, it ruins the book for me."

But here’s the thing: those readers most likely share my demographic �� not my character’s. And if I sand down my character’s rougher edges just to make the story more palatable to my comfort zone...or that of my readers, I’m not telling the character’s story anymore. I’m telling mine.

Only you can decide whether to code-switch your characters�� voices to fit certain readers�� sensibilities.

But for me? One of the biggest reasons I DNF (did not finish) a book is when characters who are supposed to be dangerous, raw, or rough around the edges sound like they should be ordering a non-fat latte after their book club meeting. 😂

Characters are supposed to sound real �� even when their reality isn’t our own.

Every character we create is a little spark of life we’re setting loose on the page. They deserve the dignity of their own voice �� not one that's been edited down to match our comfort zone.

So, how do we write authentic voices? Research. Research. Research.

You can absolutely tell the difference between an author who researches people, subcultures (like the mafia world), times in history, etc. from the one whose knowledge comes from fictional stories about those things, whether in books, on T.V. or in the movies. Take time to get to know the type of person your character is supposed to be and stay true to that person. Watch documentaries. Listen to local dialects on YouTube. Read nonfiction. Take notes. Interview when and if you get the chance.

The times our characters sound most like us is when our only reference to the world they live in is in our imagination. If your world is a fantasy one you built, you can still research personality types, character archetypes, language codes for people in different places in society. It would be a lot of fun to turn some of these expectations on their head, but intentionally. Not because we don’t know any different.

At the end of the day, writing is all about connection �� between the story, the characters, and the reader. Staying true to each character’s authentic voice, even when it feels a little uncomfortable or different from our own, honors that connection. It’s not about writing for every reader’s sensibilities; it’s about letting our characters live and breathe as who they truly are. And honestly? That’s where the real magic of storytelling happens. ��

When we trust our characters to be fully themselves, we don’t just tell better stories... we tell truer ones. And that's the kind of writing that lingers in a reader’s heart long after they’ve finished the last page. 💖

Until next time!

Lucy

P.S. I'd love to hear from you �� have you ever caught yourself slipping into your own voice when writing a character? (Tell me I’m not the only one! 😂) Let's chat in the comments!

With more than 12.5 million copies of her books sold worldwide, Lucy’s an award winning and USA Today bestselling author with 95+ published books. Her stories have been translated for sale all over the world and after a long career in traditional publishing, she’s gone indie. She loves the freedom to write the stories both her and her loyal readers enjoy the most. Her steamy mafia romance series, Syndicate Rules features the morally gray alpha heroes and spice she love to write. She also writes contemporary, historical and paranormal romance. Some of her books have action adventure and intrigue. All of them are steamy and deeply emotional. She’s a voracious reader and loves to talk about both her books and those she’s read (or should read…good recs are always welcome). Welcome to her world where love conquers all, but not easily!

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Rejected Mate Romance: Heartache, Heat & Happily Ever After

Okay, full disclosure—I didn’t even realize rejected mate was a full-on romance trope until I binge-read Cate C. Wells�� wolf shifter series and joined her FB group. 😅

Spoiler alert: I devoured them. Every single one. These books hit all the emotional high notes: pain, longing, rage, redemption�� and yes, a grovel or two that absolutely wrecked me (in the best way).

There are currently seven books in the series, and they’re all incredible:

The Tyrant Alpha’s Rejected Mate

The Heir Apparent’s Rejected Mate

Derwyn’s Rejected Mate

The Lone Wolf’s Rejected Mate

His Curvy Rejected Mate

The Stone Wolf’s Rejected Mate

The Wild Wolf’s Rejected Mate

This is the kind of series that makes you feel everything. Cate doesn’t just give you angst and heartbreak—she gives you healing and love that feels earned. Her books have become the gold standard for this trope in my world.

💔 But wait, there’s more...

�� by K.C. Mills flips the trope on its head in the best way. Instead of one rejected mate, both the hero and heroine have been cast aside by the ones they believed were their fated mates. Wounded, betrayed, and completely disillusioned with the idea of true mating, they find something neither expected—each other. It’s a slower burn, rich in emotional healing, and full of those “we’re broken, but we fit�� moments that make rejected mate stories so satisfying. A fresh, beautifully done take on the trope.

🦇While technically not a rejected mate book, by Christine Feehan gives serious vibes. He doesn’t reject her outright, but he doesn’t see her—and she suffers for centuries waiting for him to recognize her as his mate. The emotional resonance? It’s all there.

🦁 from Lora Leigh’s Breed series also hits hard. It’s an “I-didn’t-know-I-was-hurting-you-but-I-was�� story with that powerful regret and raw vulnerability that makes rejected mate books so gut-wrenching and good.

😭�ճ�� duet by Lola Rock is an omegaverse, reverse harem romance with all the feels a rejected mate story can give you. It will take you through the emotional ringer for real. It is SO good.

Turns Out... I Write This Trope Too

Honestly, I didn’t even realize I’d been writing the rejected mate trope until I had the “ohhhh�� moment while rereading my fantasy shifter romance series. And yep—turns out I’m deep in it. 😏

If you crave emotional tension, primal bonds, and mates fighting fate (and each other), here’s a quick guide to the books in the series—and why they belong on your trope radar:

�� Moon Awakening

She’s sent to Scotland to marry a laird by the king’s edict—only to be kidnapped by his enemy. He’s a Chrechte wolf shifter who doesn’t want a human mate, no matter how much his wolf demands he claim her.
“A mesmerizing journey into a world of passion and power.��

🌕 Moon Craving

After her sister ends up wed to the wrong laird, Abigail is sent to Scotland with a secret of her own—one almost as big as his ability to shift into a wolf. The pain he causes her by refusing to acknowledge their true mating!
“An epic tale of love and loyalty. Monroe captures the heart of the reader effortlessly.��

🔥 Moon Burning

She’s sworn to hate him—he’s part of the deadly wolf shifter tribe that decimated her people. But fate doesn’t care about history. He’s her mate.
“Dark, dangerous, and deeply romantic.��

🐉 Dragon’s Moon

He killed her brother with fire—literally. The dragon king of the Chrechte can’t believe his destined mate is the sister of the man he turned to ashes on the battlefield.
“Emotionally intense, beautifully written, and impossible to put down.��

🗡�� Warrior’s Moon

He rejected her when she was pregnant—with his child. Now she’s back in Scotland, running from a man who wants to kill her son and claim her. This time, her mate will fight to keep what he lost.
“An unforgettable tale of second chances, redemption, and wild devotion.��

⚔️ Viking’s Moon

His father slaughtered her entire pack. She’s vowed never to let a male claim her. But destiny doesn’t care about revenge—and the dreams don’t lie.
“Heart-wrenching, steamy, and soaked in myth and magic.��

If you're anything like me and this trope is your catnip (seriously, why is it so good when it hurts so bad?), give these books a try and let me know which ones hit you hardest.

Got a favorite rejected mate romance? Drop it in the comments or send me a rec—I’m always looking for my next emotional wreck-with-an-HEA read. 💌

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💔 They Had Their Chance�� and Blew It (Until Now)

One of the most emotion-driven romance tropes out there? Second chance romance.
I swear, just thinking about it gives me a little flutter in the chest.

This trope splits into two kinds of stories:
💔 Lovers reunited (YES PLEASE)
💔 Characters finding love again after losing someone

And while the second one is beautiful in its own way, I am all about the lovers reunited. Gimme the angst, the tension, the simmering resentment masking that undeniable chemistry. Especially when two people who once deeply loved each other—and now can barely be in the same room without snarking or sparking—are shoved back together by circumstance (or delicious meddling from others). 👀

These stories ache in the best way. We know they’re going to get their HEA, but the road there? Is paved with regrets, misunderstandings, and so. much. tension. This trope delivers big on emotional payoff—and feeds our craving for all the drama and delicious angst.

And seriously, who doesn’t love a good grovel? (Okay, probably someone out there. But it’s not me. 😇) I adore watching someone realize the love of their life is standing in front of them again—and this time, they won’t let them walk away. Not without showing just how sorry they are. Not without earning that second chance.

💥 My Second Chance Romance: Heat Seeker

Back in print! Both the primary and secondary romance arcs in Heat Seeker bring all the second-chance energy.

📖 When elite operative Kaden Marks is sent to extract an undercover agent whose identity has been compromised, he doesn’t expect it to be the woman he left behind—his ex-fiancée, Rachel Gannon. The same Rachel whose heart he broke. 😬

Now, all those old feelings are rising to the surface—and so are the reasons they fell apart. Add in the danger, secrets, and life-or-death stakes of their mission, and you’ve got a reunion story that’s as hot as it is emotionally gripping.

🔥 Lovers with a messy past
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers vibes (again!)
🔥 Action, betrayal, passion—and one heck of a grovel

❤️ Other Second Chance Romances I Love:

If you're craving more spicy, swoony, second chance romance, here are some of my top-tier faves—books I keep going back to because they hit every emotional note:

📚 by Cate C. Wells
Spicy, gritty, and filled with real-life emotion. The heroine’s strength? Chef’s kiss.

📚 by Posey Parks
What happens when the man who once broke your heart becomes the man you’re forced to marry? 🔥

📚 by Linda Howard
This one is peak tension + small town scandal + unforgettable redemption arc.

📚 by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Enemies with history. A southern belle with a bad rep. And the guy who never forgot her.

📚 by Lynne Graham
Secrets. A lost love. And a baby bombshell? This one has drama in spades.

📚 by Lynne Graham
A powerfully emotional journey of love lost and regained. Damiano is a groveling king.

So tell me��
Do you love a second chance romance with all the fire and feels?
Drop your favorites in the comments—I’m always looking for more emotional wreckage (with HEAs, of course). 💌

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✨SURPRISE REEL ALERT! ��

My amazing Spanish publisher, Coralia Press, completely blew me away with this reel for —not just in Spanish, but in ENGLISH too! 🥹💖
I’m beyond touched and totally obsessed with how it turned out. They captured the drama, the romance, and the sizzling tension perfectly! 🔥

This marriage may have started as a convenience�� but he never expected to crave her like this. 💍🔥

Hit play to see why this story of an arranged marriage, loyalty, and love in the shadows of the mafia is one of my all-time favorites to write.

💍💔🔥
#ConvenientMafiaWife #LucyMonroe #MafiaRomance #CoraliaPress #BookReel #RomanceReaders #SurpriseAndDelight #BookTok #Bookstagram

🎉 They’re Back! Two Heart-Pounding Romances Rereleased Today!

Dear Reader,

I’m so excited to share that two of my romantic suspense favorites are back and ready for you to fall in love with all over again!

💥 Heat Seeker
He’s a former special forces Marine haunted by his past.
She’s an undercover operative on the edge of danger.
Together? They’re explosive.

In Heat Seeker, Kaden and Rachel navigate a mission packed with secrets, passion, and second chances—because sometimes the biggest risk is opening your heart.

🚨 Tight Spaces
She’s a brilliant, independent woman caught in a deadly conspiracy.
He’s a protective hero forced to share close quarters.
One apartment. One danger. One undeniable attraction.

In Tight Spaces, Danusia and Max must outwit a ruthless enemy while trying (and failing!) to resist the heat simmering between them.

Whether you’re new to these stories or revisiting old favorites, I hope they bring you all the thrills, feels, and swoons your heart desires. ❤️

📚 Both books are now available in paperback wherever you like to buy your books, and in Kindle, & Kindle Unlimited.
Let me know what you think—I love hearing from you!

Big hugs,
Lucy

»
»

I’ll Take an Arranged Marriage with a Side of Danger, Please

(Why Mafia Romance Does the Forced Marriage Trope Best)

If there’s one trope that hooks me every single time, it’s the forced or arranged marriage. There’s just something deliciously irresistible about two people who have no choice but to marry—and then slowly, agonizingly, fall in love. Throw in some smoldering chemistry, emotional tension, and power plays? Yep, I’m all in.

And you know what world delivers this trope perfectly?
🔥 Mafia romance. 🔥

The mafia subculture practically begs for arranged marriages—alliances, betrayals, family duty, honor, revenge�� all excellent reasons to marry for anything but love. And that, my friends, makes the journey to true intimacy all the more intense.

These are some of my all-time favorite mafia romances with forced or arranged marriages. I’ve reread every single one of these beauties, and every one of them kept me up way too late the first time I read them.

📚 My Must-Read Forced/Arranged Mafia Romance Recs

💍 Bound by Honor by Cora Reilly
The OG! There’s a reason this book is iconic. It set the bar for so many of us.

👑 Taken by a Sinner by Michelle Heard
Arrogant, broody Greek don? Yes, please. Add a bride with backbone? Chef’s kiss.

🖤 Broken Whispers by Neva Altaj
So emotional and so HOT. The way Mikhail was with Bianca made me swoon.

🎭 Mistaken by Arianna Fraser
This book surprised me in all the best ways. The twists, the angst, the tension—it delivers.

🤫 Silent Vows by Jill Ramsower
The dynamic between Conner and Noemi kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning.

🔥 Cassio by Eva Winners
This one just drips with chemistry and emotional intensity. Total binge-read.

🚗 Nicky the Driver by Cate C. Wells
IYKYK. This book is weirdly perfect. Nicky is just so all in and the exact right guy for Zita. I’ve reread it more times than I care to admit.

💔 Brutal Vows by JT Geissinger
This book is fierce, fiery, and just�� ugh, so good. If you love enemies-to-lovers inside a forced marriage, do not miss it.

✍️ Of Course, I Had to Write It Too��

I mean�� how am I not going to write what I love reading so much? 😏
My Syndicate Rules series dives deep into this trope:

💥 Urgent Vows She’s the sacrifice when her sister leaves the powerful don standing at the altar.

🖤 Brutal Capo When he makes a mistake, he has one choice: marry her, or die.

💣 Forced Vows They sign the contract in blood for a marriage that will bring two powerful crime families together.

Each of these brings something different to the forced marriage dynamic—whether it’s high-stakes drama, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers, or a reluctant bride with an even more reluctant heart.

And I’m extra excited about what’s coming next...

🌞 Coming This Summer: Sins of Arrogance

The first book in my brand new Syndicate Sins series is a double-whammy: marriage in peril and arranged marriage in one spicy, emotional ride. Mick and Kara have all the angst, heat, and danger I love to write—and I cannot wait for you to read their story.

So if you’re like me and crave that forced proximity, reluctant yearning, and power-play passion that only an arranged mafia marriage can deliver... I hope you find a few new obsessions in this list. 💋

Tell me—what’s your favorite arranged marriage book of all time? I’m always looking for my next late-night read. 😈

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Give Me a Steamy Fairytale Retelling and I'm All In

One of the most prolific and popular romance tropes out there��and one of my absolute favorites—is the fairytale inspired romance, or a fairytale retelling. There's just something about those familiar stories, reimagined with all the heat, heart, and depth that modern romance brings, that makes them completely irresistible.

Give me a steamy romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast and it's pretty much a guaranteed one-click for me. The emotionally wounded hero, the brave and kind heroine, the tension, the transformation, the slow burn that turns into a raging inferno? Yes, yes, and absolutely yes.

But it's not just Beauty and the Beast that gets me. I also love steamy romances inspired by Cinderella, Peter Pan, Snow White (hello, reverse harem anyone?), Rapunzel—honestly, the list goes on and on. These classic tales give us that delicious blend of the familiar and the unexpected. You think you know the story, but in the hands of the right romance author? You’re in for a whole new world.

Some of my favorite fairytale retellings that have seriously lived rent-free in my mind:

Finding Forever by Natasha Anders �� A beautifully emotional Cinderella-inspired romance that brings the angst and longing I adore.

Ravished by Amanda Quick �� This one’s Beauty and the Beast reimagined with Quick’s signature wit, intelligence, and sexual tension that sizzles.

Owned by the Lost Boys by AJ Merlin �� Peter Pan has never felt so dark and seductive. Seriously, the vibes in this one? Chef’s kiss.

Bollywood and the Beast by Suleikha Snyder �� A gorgeously diverse take on Beauty and the Beast with Bollywood glam, deep emotion, and yes, all the steam.

Silenced by Serena Akeroyd �� Dark, powerful hero meets light, fierce heroine, and the sparks? Oh, they fly. Inspired by Persephone & Hades (which I know is not technically a fairytale, but I’ve always thought Beauty and the Beast was a bit of a retelling of their story with a twist).

I also asked my readers to give me a list of some of their favorite retellings and here they are:

Hooked by Emily McIntire is more than one reader’s favorite fairytale retelling. Amanda C. says it’s a contemporary dark Peter Pan inspired romance. Yum!

According to Jolene E, Wonder by Evelyn Flood is Alice in Wonderland meets The Hunger Games. (Yes, it did make it onto my TBR.)

Lori S. recommends Cold Queen by K Webster, which is in her words, “a dark fantasy romance. Inspired by Snow Queen/Frozen and with all the sexy times goodness and of course good storyline.��

Beauty by Robin Mckinley is “a truly awesome version!�� according to Barbara C.

Beautiful Beast by Neva Altaj would have been on my list above but Jackie A. recommended it too.

Of Song and Sceptor by Liesl West is a dark Little Mermaid retelling according to Manda K, who recommended it.

I really believe part of the magic in these stories is how they give us a sense of comfort—familiar archetypes, known story elements—but with fresh twists, empowered characters, and all the grown-up stuff we didn’t know we needed when we first heard these stories as kids.

Also, the romantic fantasy of fairytales? Still alive and very well, thank you. Castles, curses, hidden identities, forbidden love, dangerous rescues, epic sacrifices—it all blends into the kind of high-stakes romance that makes your heart race in the best way. Which is why I enjoy writing fairytale inspired romance so much myself.

If you want to check out some of them, give these a try:

Brutal Capo from my Syndicate Rules series is a mafia romance take on Beauty and the Beast. She’s his captive, but he grows orchids instead of roses and he’s definitely not too tamed at the end.

Take Me from my Regency Scandals series is steamy and emotional with a strong Beauty and the Beast vibe. (I told you that was my favorite, right?)

Cinderella’s Jilted Billionaire kinda says it all in the title. 😅 (Yes, I was playing with titles and visibility on Amazon, etc. when I went Indie. Not sure I’ve figured it out yet, but I’m working on it.)

So yeah, if it's fairytale-inspired and steamy? It's probably already on my TBR. And if it’s got a Beast who’s only partially tamed by love, I’m definitely clicking that “Buy Now�� button.

Got a favorite fairytale retelling? Tell me! I’m always ready for another magical, sexy adventure. 💫

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OVERDUE

by Lucy Monroe

1st Printing 2024 Lucy Monroe LLC

COPYRIGHT © 2024 LUCY MONROE

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without express, written permission from the author Lucy Monroe who can be contacted off her website .

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Dedication

For my readers. You all are at the heart of the stories I tell. Thank you for being part of my adventure as an author.

Prologue

ZEPHYR

"I am not sitting on your lap during the meeting." Lucia laughs and smacks my cousin's arm.

Atlas grins at her. "But my lap is more comfortable than the chairs."

Before Atlas met Lucia, he never smiled.

Never. Not an exaggeration. A fact.

As our mafia's top assassin, he had no reason to.

Now, with a baby on the way and a wife that he adores, he doesn't just grin. He laughs. Not a lot, but it happens.

He is 100% whipped and does not give two fucks who knows it.

I like Lucia, but no woman is ever going to hold that kind of power over me.

"Sit wherever the hell you want. Just get your assess situated so we can get this done." Zeus glares at the rest of us.

My oldest cousin has always been grumpy, but he's only gotten more irascible since becoming the head of the Hades Brotherhood in Oregon.

Zeus sits down at the head of the table. Orion, his middle brother and our lawyer slides into the chair on his right. Instead of Atlas sitting to his left, like he used to do, he helps his wife into that seat before taking the one next to her.

And consequently between me and Lucia.

She won the argument of getting he own chair, but no way is she ever going to win the one about sitting next to me.

Yes, I am twenty-eight years old with a leadership position in the Hades Brotherhood, but that doesn't mean I've stopped enjoying getting a rise out of my older cousin.

Atlas is too easy to poke. One implication that you want to flirt with his wife and he's throwing you into a wall.

I grin and lean around Atlas to wink at Lucia. "You look beautiful today, cousin."

Atlas growls.

But Lucia grins and thanks me.

"Give it a rest," my older brother, Helios, says. "I have to get back to the club."

I make a motion for things to proceed. "By all means. Let's get this meeting going."

"Thanks for your approval," Zeus says sardonically before nodding to Lucia. "Tell us what you've found."

"I ran the numbers in several different scenarios and purchasing our own property on the Oregon coast for delivery access makes the most sense."

She taps something on her tablet and mine dings with a notification. So does everyone else's at the table.

"If you look at the report I just sent," she says, indicating our tablets. "You'll see that in terms of reward-risk ratios and net profits, it's the most feasible option long term."

I scan the parameters and numbers in her report documentation. It all supports her conclusion.

"Even as a short-term proposition, it makes the most sense," I say.

Helios frowns without look up from his device. "Especially after our current connection tried to increase their receiving fees after the last shipment arrived."

We convinced them to stick with the original terms of the agreement, but now we know they can't be trusted. Our choice was to find another receiving company, buy or own property, or put our own people in charge of the current business.

Small towns on the Oregon coast are like small towns everywhere. Too many people know too much about everybody's business. If we came in and took over, it would draw attention we don't need.

Finding a new company carries the same risk as sticking with the old one.

"But purchasing our own access is going to require some kind of front and a consistent presence."

"A completely legitimate enterprise run by a private billionaire with no known ties to organized crime," Zeus agrees, his gazed fixed squarely on me.

I look around the table and realize everyone else is looking at me too.

"Why do I get the feeling I’m the last to hear about this?"

My brother, Helios, shrugs. "We need another front man and I'm already busy with the club. Orion is our lawyer. He can't move to the Oregon Coast."

"I'm building Lucia a house here," Atlas says, like that's an iron clad excuse not to relocate.

"We need a front corporation in Oregon to do business on our behalf that cannot be traced back to the Hades Brotherhood," Zeus says to me.

"Your status as a billionaire in your own right makes you the ideal person for the role," Orion adds.

"I knew designing that app was going to come back to bite me in the ass." It already had once.

I spent the time I was supposed to be listening to lectures on business law designing a combined dating and social media app. It went viral and I became a millionaire pretty much overnight.

Our uncle, who is also the West Coast Godfather of the Night, was not happy that when the app went viral, so did my name. He had to pull in favors to get my name and picture out of the media while distancing me from the family business.

The best part, besides the money, was that his damage control included removing me from the pre-law program I'd never wanted to be in the first place.

My millionaire status jumped to billionaire status when I sold the app to a major software company. After that, I turned my attention to financial investments and have nearly doubled the billions I got for selling the app since.

Now I am one of the least talked about billionaires in the United States, just like most of the other mafia related men on Forbes Fortune 500 list. Unlike the other billionaires connected to organized crime, my fortune is entirely my own.

I tithe to the Brotherhood, like every other person who has taken the oath, but that's it. On the surface, I am a squeaky-clean businessman who made it big in an industry inundated by entrepreneurs.

Which is exactly why they want me to buy the property on the coast. "Why do I have to move the coast? Why can't I just buy the property?"

"The move will further distance you from us. Once you are established there, you can do more business for us without drawing attention to our endeavors here."

"This is a long-term solution you've been thinking about for a while." Zeus inclines his head.

Of course, he has. He is our anax. He's always thinking ahead about what is best for our Brotherhood. How to keep our family not only safe, but thriving.

And apparently part of that plan includes me establishing my identity as a no doubt reclusive billionaire living on the Oregon Coast.

I glare at Helios. "Why didn't you warn me about this?"

"You are too busy picking up chicks when you come into the club to talk." My brother doesn't sound even a little repentant.

"I wonder what your app users would think knowing the developer has never once used the platform?" Lucia muses.

I shrug. "I don't care."

I have never been the public face of the app and now I don't even own it.

"I'm a city guy. What the hell am I supposed to do for dates in some Podunk town on the coast?"

"The female population of Portland will survive your absence," Zeus says.

I snap right back, "Just because you are happy to live like a monk, doesn't mean the rest of us are."

I have a healthy sex drive and no desire for commitment. That means I need a city size dating pool, not a small town where everyone knows my business.

"I don't want you participating in our import business. You know what to look for in the property, but once you buy it. We'll set up everything for receiving goods and transporting them without detection."

"If I buy a house on the beach and suddenly start limiting access to the property to cover your operations, that in itself will be suspicious."

Lucia leans around her ape of a husband to grin at me. "Not if the beach property is for a think tank dedicated to environmental conservation and climate change solutions."

We talked about that once while she was waiting for Atlas to get back from a trip to Russia. Lucia had been a little stressed with him out of the country, and we kept her entertained with a game of what would your perfect life look like?

I'd been a smartass and said mine would be participating in a think tank to find ways to reverse the damage we've done to our planet.

Apparently, she'd taken me at my word.

The only problem? I'd been using sarcasm to cover my very real desire to do something to make our world better.

Not the typical attitude of a made man.

"What the hell do I know about a think tank?" It's ridiculous to think I could become something so completely different than what I am.

I have never been ashamed of my family, or how we make our living. The man I killed to become made hurt children and he kept getting away with it.

But I like finding solutions. It's how my brain works. Turning that onto improving the future of our planet? Is one endeavor I don't think I could ever get bored of.

There's too much to do.

Zeus shrugs. "You're smart. You can figure it out."

"There's nothing you can't do if you set your mind to it," Helios agrees.

I stare at my cousin and brother, for once completely speechless.

"What did you know about dating apps when you designed yours?" Orion asks. "Nothing. But you designed the best app on the market."

I smile when Orion doesn't caveat the claim with one of the best. That's our Brotherhood. We always win.

And if we're going to fix some of the problems facing our planet and the population living on it, it will take the ruthlessness of our nature to do it right.

"We protect our family and our business," Atlas says. "Part of that is giving them both a future."

And suddenly, I’m not just a legitimate frontman for our mafia, but I am it's hope of the future too.

Chapter 1AMELIA

Ada Nelson slams a copy of Handmaid's Tale onto an already large stack of books on the library cart.

I move closer so I can see the other titles and my stomach cramps.

They are all books that have been banned in other places. There have been no petitions to ban books in the Deerbrush Point Community Library that I am aware of though.

"Are you reshelving those?" I ask hopefully.

Mrs. Nelson looks up, a maniacal glint in her weathered blue eyes. "No, dear. We will be disposing of them. We aren't going to have books like these on the shelves of my library. Not anymore."

"It's the town's library, isn't it?" I have to curl my fingers into a fist to stop myself reaching out and grabbing as many of the books as I can and running with them.

"Of course, dear. However, we must protect impressionable minds, don't you agree?" She smiles at me sweetly, but that smile is a lie.

There is nothing sweet about what she's doing.

I see a Judy Bloom book in the stack and can't hold back my gasp.

That book was a childhood friend.

Is that a children's dictionary? A dictionary?

I've bitten my tongue many times when Mrs. Nelson has one of her ideas.

Like deciding to take the chairs out of the children's books section, to discourage parents dropping their children off for free babysitting.

The head librarian felt the prominently placed signs telling parents all children twelve and under must be accompanied by a responsible adult weren't enough. That particular effort backfired on her though.

Most kids don't mind sitting on the floor and that's exactly what they started doing. Little legs sprawling into the aisles was one thing. But Mrs. Nelson about had a coronary when those same children started laying books out on the carpet in front of them to read.

The chairs reappeared pretty darn quickly.

Once these books are gone, they aren't coming back though. Whether she throws them away, or recycles them, by the time patrons start complaining, the volumes will be long gone.

And there isn't money in the library's budget to replace them all. Which is what she's counting on, I bet.

"No, I don't agree." I grab the children's dictionary and shake it at her. "Young minds need to be challenged and fed, not buried under a bunch of fertilizer and kept in the dark like mushrooms."

"With an attitude like that it's a good thing you aren't the head librarian." She pulls another book and adds it to the pile.

"You may be head librarian, but you cannot cull the library shelves like this without board approval."

"You are mistaken. Part of my job description is to maintain the collection, removing books that are no longer popular and purchasing others to keep our offerings current."

"Those books aren't unpopular." Several are so dogeared, they need replacing, not disposing of.

I don't say this though because she'll use that as another excuse to dispose of the books.

"You are exceeding your authority," I tell her, my heart racing and my palms wet from sweat.

I hate confrontation.

"I think not, Amelia."

How many times have I asked her to call me Mel? Too many to count.

"It is you who is out of line." She gives me a measuring look from beneath beetled brows. "I am sure you do not wish to lose the job you love so much for insubordination, but my patience is not limitless."

"What's the point of working in a library with no books?" I rashly demand.

"There are plenty of books left. Good books that do not perpetrate an unacceptable agenda." She uses air quotes when she says agenda.

"What agenda would that be?" I demand. "Education?"

"Do not be facetious, Amelia. It is unbecoming. Your youth and inexperience may blind you to the risk inherent in the ideas propagated by these books, buts I know what I need to do to protect our community."

"Ideas propagated by a dictionary?" I ask with disbelief.

"Please return that book to the cart, Amelia."

I hold it close to my chest. "No."

"Perhaps you need a moment to collect yourself. Please do so and return with an appropriate attitude, or do not return at all."

The children's dictionary tucked tightly under one arm, I pull my phone out and start recording my boss. "Please repeat why you are removing all of these books from the library shelves."

She glares at me. "Cell phone usage is prohibited in the library, as you know. Please put that away."

I don't listen, but instead angle my phone so I can record the titles being removed from the library.

"Are you planning to throw these books away?" Sweat trickles down my back and soaks my armpits.

"Of course not." Her indignant tone matches her expression. "They will be recycled. Deerbrush Point Community Library is green certified."

I cannot believe this woman. Does she think recycling the books somehow makes what she's doing better?

The righteous glint in her eyes says she does.

"I quit."

Her jaw drops, her eyes popping.

She's shocked? I'm shocked!

What am I doing?

I spent four years away from my ailing grandparents to get my degree in information science. When I landed my dream job in my hometown without having to complete a masters degree in library science, I was over the moon.

It felt like it was too good to be true, but here I am after four years, still working as a librarian in Deerbrush Point.

Here I was anyway.

Oh, man. Am I really doing this?

"Do not be melodramatic, Amelia. You are not quitting over something so insignificant as me pulling a few books from the shelves."

"First, it is just a few. You've got at least twenty books there already. Second, it is not insignificant. What you are doing goes against everything a public library stands for." I turn off my phone and tuck it away in sweater pocket.

Then, I pull my lanyard with my badge declaring me an Assistant Librarian over my head, and put it on top of the books.

Next, I remove the key to the library from my keyring and drop it beside the lanyard. Pulling in my next breath feels like I'm doing it under water.

I only got that key six months ago.

"There's no point in having a key to a library that isn't a library anymore." Dyani slurps her chocolate milkshake through the straw, her dark brown eyes snapping with annoyance.

I stir my pineapple milkshake before trying to suck some up through the straw. A fruit chunk gets caught and my cheeks hollow, trying to move it.

Giving up, I use my spoon. Pineapple, sugary goodness bursts across my tastebuds. "I can't believe the president of the library board agrees with Ada."

While I always defer to her preference for formality, she never respects mine for being called Mel. Now that I don't work for the woman anymore, I'm not extending her the courtesy of calling her Mrs. Nelson any longer.

Anyway, Ada is an improvement over the word I'd rather call her.

Dyani tilts her head and purses her lips. "Uh, I'm not sure Blakely taking the old bat's side has anything to do with her beliefs about what books should, or should not be, in the library."

"She's married to my cousin, for goodness' sake. She should take my side."

"You mean the same cousin who tells everybody who will listen how wrong it was that your grandparents left their house to you?"

"We've gotten past that."

"Yeah, no." Dyani shakes her head. "He is not over it."

"The house passed down through the oldest sons. His dad wouldn't have inherited regardless." And Percy was never even in the running.

"Grandpa only bypassed my dad in my favor because he trusted me not to sell to developers."

The homestead overlooking Ipset Cove has been in the Pierson family for over a hundred and fifty years. Since before Deerbrush Point was designated a township. Property developers have been trying to buy it off the family for the past four generations.

"I know that. You know that. But your cousin can't seem to get that through his head."

"He would sell to developers in a heartbeat."

"There are lots of people in town who wouldn't be sad to see that happen." Dyani pushes away her now empty milkshake glass and sits back in the red vinyl covered booth to stare at me. "What are you going to do?"

"About the house? Keep it like grandpa wanted."

Dyani shakes her head. "Not about the house, doofus. About the library."

"What can I do?"

"Fight it."

"I'm not much of a fighter." I'm more of a hide in a quiet nook and read kind of girl.

"So, you're just going to let the Adas of this world win?"

My best friend does not shy from confrontation. If there's a protest, she's always standing on the front line.

I'm the one who makes the signs.

"How? Am I supposed to start a competing library?"

Grandpa may have left me a house and property worth a couple of million, but the only actual money he left me is in a trust for the house's upkeep and property taxes. The rest went to my dad.

I live off the wages I earn.

Which is going to be exactly zero dollars, with no unemployment benefits since I quit my job.

"Come on. You're a Pierson. If you won't do anything, who will?"

Three of the founding families have descendants still living in Deerbrush Point: the Piersons, the Washingtons and the Richards.

"Grandpa was a Pierson with a capital P. I'm just me." Amelia Pierson, average height, medium brown hair, eyes the same color as almost half the U.S. population, brown and a body just on the fluffy side of average.

"Last time I checked your last name was capitalized too."

"It's not the same."

"It's exactly the same. You have a responsibility to the community."

I can't argue with a woman who takes her own responsibility to the land and people of this region as seriously as Dyani Acothley. She comes from a long line of Chinook conservationists that are the driving force behind the green footprint of our small coastal town.

"Are you going to let her throw those books away?"

"She plans to recycle them." In the bins in the back of the library.

That won't be picked up for two more days.

"Dumpster diving is legal, right?"

"For the most part. Why?"

"Are you busy tonight?"

"No. Again, why?"

"Want to do some dumpster diving with me?"

"Sounds smelly."

"I don't mean actual dumpsters."

"What do you mean?"

The people of Deerbrush Point and surrounding communities deserve access to the books Ada is throwing out via the recycle bins.

I’m not sure how to make that happen, but it starts with rescuing the books from the garbage service.

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�� Where to Buy My Syndicate Rules Paperbacks (Beyond Amazon!)

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