52 Book Club 2023: Summer Road Trip Challenge – A “hot & Spicy” Themed Read

"At seventeen, Lizzie Thornton left her hometown of Fair Haven to pursue her musical dreams—and to run from Trent Younger, the boy who broke her heart. Now a successful singer, Lizzie returns to Fair Haven nine years later. When she runs into Trent at her brother’s wedding, she discovers he’s no longer the shy boy she left behind. He’s a sexy, confident man who knows what he wants—and what he wants is her. When a night of passion results in unexpected consequences, Lizzie must grapple with prior heartbreak and with accepting that she still loves the one man she could never forget. Trent Younger grew up on the wrong side of the tracks, and he fought tooth and nail to establish himself as one of the most successful restaurateurs in Fair Haven. Yet he’s never forgotten Lizzie Thornton, the girl he adored, the same girl who left him to pick up the pieces of his life after tragedy struck them both. As Trent uncovers the layers of Lizzie’s guarded heart, he realizes that he doesn’t just want her in his bed. He wants her in his life—forever. Yet even as love rekindles, their pasts threaten to drive them apart. Unless they confront their demons, Lizzie and Trent may jeopardize a love that has already withstood the test of time."

Vampires, I'd never seen one up close before. That is, until one tried to kill me. But he saved me, the Reaver Raphael. I know I'm only Human, but the more I learn of him, the more intrigued I become. He scares me, much more than I'd ever admit. My instincts scream at me to run. I know he's one of the four brothers who control the Underworld. I know he kills people without warning or trigger. I know the other Supernaturals fear him, and I know what he says goes… period. Yet, I find myself drawn to him, my fear tempered by a morbid curiosity. Being around someone as powerful as Raphael is daunting, yet every time I'm near him, I feel a swarm of butterflies in my stomach. But I'm aware of the danger. I've studied the Reavers, and I know their charm is designed to lure you in. Raphael doesn't even have to try… he exudes an effortless allure that draws me, and everyone else, to him. I know I should run, I want to run. But I'm frozen in place, and the warning signs only seem to heighten the allure. I've danced with danger for too long, but playing with fire has never felt so satisfying. That was, until I woke up in a strange place, surrounded by an unsettling array of supernatural creatures. Reality hit me like a slap in the face. And it's in this moment that I regret ever pursuing the man in the silver suit, who meets me in the diner... I've read enough love stories to know that love could be a fatal flaw, or a mans greatest strength. Could I be his? Or would our love become a fatal collision course from which neither of us would escape?

Emerald was loved and accepted by all of her family. However, two family members took out their hate and anger on her from the moment she was born. They hated her mother. Her parents knowing this took her to their closest friend and ally Alpha Jason. He was the Alpha of the largest and strongest pack in the state of California. Emerald's mother being of the fae people cast a spell upon his land that not only protected the pack but her daughter as well. It was not found out until later that Emerald and his twin sons Devon and Nate were her mates. Unknown to all of them Emerald's jealous family members had promised to give her to the rogue Alpha Connor. He wanted her for her powers so he could make his pack the largest and strongest. Emerald grew up returned to Alpha Jason's land, but she can't understand why she is drawn back here. Alpha Connor's son Ryder has become alpha. There is also a new threat to Emerald that no one is aware of. The Vampire King has become aware of her existence and wants her as his queen. With her as his queen, he would become the most powerful supernatural in existence. Emerald has once again met her mates but with all her insecurities can they make it work. Emerald just wants to be happy and loved but with everything stacked against her will she ever find her happiness?

Fans of True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Interview with a Vampire enjoy the trills, action, and romantic drama of "Vampire Iniquity", Book One of the Tugurlan Chronicles. When Dan's friend asks for his help in rescuing his fiancé from evil kidnappers, little does he know that he’d be suck into a sinister world of vampires, cannibalism, and human trafficking. Captured by the vampires, Dan is crushed and beated as he'd forced to entertain them with a mock martial arts battle between him and an egotistical grandson of Dracula. Once free, he learns of his family’s legacy of being vampire slayers. After fetching his cousin to join them, they reenter the den of iniquity to rid the world of the evil doers. Will they succeed? Better yet... Will they all live to tell about it?

The powerful Alpha Gabriel and his Luna Malia have eight children. The Alpha's Children series follows the life, struggles, love and even war between them all. Book 1 follows the eldest, Ume, as she trains to take over the Lunarflare pack from her Father and ascend to the role of Alpha. Ume has trained all her life for this role, but it hasn't been without its struggles. Can Ume ignore what she discovers in the Adders nest and forge on to continue her legacy or will her discovery force her to shape a new destiny for herself?

Keeping her safe has become his life's mission. 
 Gage Hendrix is a man without roots. As an MSD Team Leader for the Department of State, he operates in high-threat environments. Serving in dangerous postings around the world, his team provides emergency security support and crisis response. Keeping the US ambassador's daughter safe in Sri Lanka? An unusual assignment for an "action group" used to dealing with evacuations, wars, incursions, and coups. Expecting a spoilt princess, Gage finds a hard-working therapist with a huge heart and sad eyes. 
 Hiding from heartache is no longer an option. 
 Chantal Durant's best friend has gone into hiding with intel that could lead to a nation's upheaval. Enemies have targeted the last person who helped her to escape… Turning a tragic past into a constructive existence, Chantal dedicates herself to helping others. She likes her work, likes her routine, and doesn't like that her safety is now in the hands of a cocky MSD agent. Her undeniable sexual attraction for the ruggedly handsome bodyguard would not only end his career but could get them both killed. 
 As multiple threats close in, Gage is faced with harrowing decisions. Trapped in an unfamiliar landscape, both Gage and Chantal will have to act fast to make it out alive. "If you're looking for the perfect blend of action and steam set against the backdrop of exciting international locales...your first stop should be Louise Dawn." - Janie Crouch.

Forced to return to the past and then venture back into the realms of the dark lord to save her friend, Esmerelda faces loss, love, and a new awakening in this final installment of the Esmerelda Sleuth Series. Filled with excitement, love, loss, time travel, family dynamics, dimension hopping, and a few vampires, this is the completion of a story that you won't want to miss.

Mike Pike, the Royal Beta of the New Moon Kingdom was once looking forward to finding his mate at one time. Circumstances changed his mind when he met Jonda six months ago on his quest to find his missing king. He fell in love and fully intended to take Jonda as his chosen mate. That was until he found out the love of his life had cheated on him, and on the same night, he ran down his mate who stole Queen Tala's Crown. Now the thief needs his help to protect her son from the Shadow Witch, the same Dark witch that searches for four ancient stones to open the realms gates, unleashing the god of the underworld. Mike: It didn't matter if my mate turned up out of the blue, or that the goddess fated me to a thief and murderer. I had chosen Jonda the moment I laid eyes on her. My wolf had chosen too. One night was all it took to knock my realm off kilt and shatter my heart. A Dark Witch is on the hunt and he's hunting for two things. A set of stones and the jewel thief - Lyric Swift - My mate and her son. Lyric: For five years I have lived as a rogue, wheeling and dealing to survive. For three years I have been a mother. I would do anything to protect my son's secret. Even if that means trusting my Beta mate, a mate I can't be with, a mate I couldn't give myself to. A mate who is in love with another. A mate who makes me feel things I don't want to.

Maribell is a shy young woman who has spent her whole life seeing to the needs of her siblings after her father ran off. She spent her life being hated by her mother and treated like trash while her twin is given everything on a silver platter. Maribell is on her way home from working a double shift at a diner when she is attacked from behind. When she comes to she's in a cell facing a strange man she has never seen before. While in his cells she meets a mysterious woman who vows to set her free before she can be sold off. Margo and the Devil's Knights work together to free the people trapped in the cells while Dex works with a journalist to expose Bernard's and the Island's secrets. Dex and Maribell meet and she's instantly attracted to him but her own experiences before she met Bernard are enough to make her pause. She works at the club and learns more about Dex and his painful past when his mom and sister walk into the bar. Maribel learns that not all men are the same and the men of the Devil's Knights would fight to protect a woman or child in a horrible situation. Things are going well for them until her mother and sister barge into the club demanding that she come back home. Bernard is still on the loose and someone is pulling some strings in the background. Margo and Kane are intent on seeing justice served one way or another and the Island shut down no matter the cost.

In the shadowed alleys of Ravenwood, Celeste Osborne finds herself irresistibly drawn to the enigmatic and dangerously alluring Lucian Bathory. Hired as an au pair for the mysterious Bathory family, Celeste quickly discovers that Lucian is no ordinary man—he’s a centuries-old vampire with a thirst for blood and a hunger that goes far beyond the physical. As Celeste is pulled deeper into Lucian’s dark world, the boundaries between fear and desire begin to blur. Her days are filled with tension, but it’s in the secret hours of the night that their passions ignite. Lucian’s touch awakens something wild within her, something she never knew existed, but it comes at a price. His world is one of power, danger, and ancient rivalries, and loving him means embracing a darkness that could consume her whole. As their forbidden romance intensifies, Celeste must decide if she’s willing to surrender to the seductive pull of Lucian’s world, where every kiss could be her last and every touch could bind her to him for eternity. In this tale of love, lust, and immortality, Celeste will learn that some desires are worth risking everything—even her soul. "Crimson Shadows: Forbidden Thirst" is Book I of the Crimson Shadows series. It is a dark and passionate story where love and danger entwine, pushing the boundaries of what it means to surrender to desire.