Summer Reads 2023 Novels & Stories

On our wedding anniversary, I ask my husband, Luke Blackburn, to buy me some fish stew. Since I'm in my first trimester, I keep vomiting every now and then due to morning sickness. Right now, I have an intense craving for fish stew. But Luke comes home empty-handed in the middle of the night. He claims that he's completely forgotten about my request. I don't say anything at all. All I notice is a strand of long hair sticking to Luke's collar that doesn't belong to me. Some time later, I see the fish stew I never got to eat in a photo that Luke's colleague, Ruby Pollard, has uploaded to her social media feed. The caption reads, "Luke ordered this dish for me. He knows that I love fish stew from this particular restaurant the most. I'm so touched by his gesture!" In the photo, I see a pair of familiar hands picking out fish bones from the meat tenderly just for Ruby.

On my fifth birthday with Zachary Murdock, I sit once again in front of a full table of cold food, just like every year before. Zachary had promised, as always, to spend the day with me. And, as always, he breaks that promise. This year, it's because his childhood sweetheart wanted to shoot a set of "artistic photos". She invited him and a few of his close buddies to be part of it. Without hesitation, he ditches me again and runs straight into her arms. At 11:00 pm, his childhood sweetheart posts a photo to her social media and sets it so that only I can see it. In the picture, four men are in nothing but black briefs and Windsor-knotted ties. They kneel around her while she is draped in sheer fabric like a goddess. The caption reads, "Some people beg for crumbs, but I own the entire bakery." I take a screenshot. Then, I send it to the girlfriends of all three of Zachary’s best buddies. If they all look down on me this much, let's hope they don't end up on their knees begging me someday.

During the holiday, a hashtag related to honeymoon trips goes viral on social media. The topic is, "How are you planning to spend your honeymoon?" One of the threads that has the most replies reads, "I have to bring my mistress along, of course." "Wow! That's crazy. Can you teach us how to pull that off?" I frown as I scroll down the thread and find the reply. "There are a lot of poor, female backpackers these days. As long as the mistress acts pitiful enough, you can pull the wool over your wife's eyes. And just like that, a couple's haven will become a world of three. "My wife and I will be going on our honeymoon trip tomorrow. I'll give everyone live updates in this thread." Feeling disgusted, I close the thread. … The next day, my husband, Sean Clifford, and I meet a poor, female backpacker on the road. She has no car, money, or any suitcases with her. Sprawling herself across the windshield, she begs, "Can you give me a ride, sir? I have blisters all over my feet. I can't walk anymore."

Julie Greene hadn't had a boyfriend since she started college. The last time she was in a relationship, her heart was broken and it was hard to trust again. Having a best friend since childhood was a big advantage, she never really felt lonely. Kelsey had always been like a sister, they were almost always together. They were always there for each other, even when Julie had a bit of a fall out with Preston, her "other" best friend. That is until Kelsey had a new boyfriend that she met on her summer vacation.

When Lisa Dumont travels down to New Orleans to stay with her mother for the summer, she finds herself entangled in a web of century-long territorial disputes between undead and supernatural forces. Lisa soon realizes that she has become torn between the blood-loyalty to her mother, Voodoo Priestess Madam Dumont, and the intrigue she has grown towards Elder Vampire, Hezekiah Mercier - the enemy. And consequently, the heavy discord between the two factions leaves Lisa with life-changing decisions to make that could possibly alter the fate of both groups and everyone else in between.

For Adults+🔞🔞🔞 Only..Gracie never wanted to come back home—but the summer traps her in the house with the one man she both fears and craves: her stepfather. Cold, ruthless, and dripping with quiet disdain, he’s made it clear for years that she is nothing but a burden. Yet his every glare ignites something forbidden in her, a hunger she’s never dared confess. Now, every moment alone with him feels like a test of control. The brush of his hand, the gravel in his voice, the way his eyes linger too long—Emma can’t tell if he wants to destroy her… or devour her. The secret she carries inside burns hotter each day, pulling her closer to the edge of obsession. This summer, masks will shatter. His cruelty hides something darker, and her longing hides something even more dangerous. Between hate and desire lies a line they are both desperate to cross—where punishment tastes like pleasure, and love is twisted with sin. A raw, heart-pounding tale of forbidden lust, dangerous secrets, and the irresistible pull of the man she was never meant to want. But Gracie’s story is only the beginning. This book unlocks a collection of raw, taboo-driven erotic tales—each one more daring, more dangerous, and more intoxicating than the last. For readers who crave the forbidden, who ache for the edge where desire blurs with darkness, this is your invitation.

In the final minute before the exam, my childhood friend, the one who was supposed to bring both of our exam documents, handed in only his own admission ticket. When it was my turn, his hands were empty. He said matter-of-factly, “Your exam ticket and ID aren’t here. Skip a subject and give your Cornell slot to Summer.” I froze. I couldn’t believe he would sabotage my college exam just to help Summer. Summer Hayes was the class beauty, but my grades had consistently outshined hers throughout high school. I looked at the boy I had known for eighteen years. Anger and disbelief bubbled up, making me laugh bitterly. Then I turned and walked away. Behind me, Jason Turner shouted, exasperated. “You are so good at school. So what if you repeat a year? “And now you are skipping the exam on a whim. How will that make Summer look? Are you really letting everyone think she forced you?” I didn’t even glance back. Skipping the exam on a whim. He had no idea. Two weeks ago, I had already secured an Early Admission spot in Harvard’s Physics Talent Program. Coming to the college entrance exam today was just a gesture of our eighteen-year friendship, going through the motions with him. Since he didn’t care, that friendship ended here.

When Ford Cannon starts getting bullied by his crush, the puppy love he had for the arrogant alpha died in the last summer of high school. With a broken heart, Ford decides to resume senior year with more confidence but that’s when he discovers his true self, he’s - A LYCAN! And coincidentally, Ford’s destined mate turns out to be his high school bully ... the arrogant alpha. Will it be an enemies to lovers? Hatred at the beginning, but ends up to be the love- pair that no one can separate..... or will the newly turned Lycan reject the alpha?

Lia Blake's last summer in high school and prom night ended up being her worst summer and prom night ever. Her crush found his mate and abandoned her. Broken, she fled from the pack to where no one knows her to settle in but that night, she appeared before the Lycan king as his bride. …Slowly, he shifted away the portion of the white veil covering her lips, then he leaned in and his lips claimed hers. But it lasted for a moment as the guards stormed into the hall. "The Lycan Luna is gone! That woman is an intruder!" At once he tore his lips away from her, gripped the veil and flung away. His grey eyes darkened as he realized the woman before him wasn't his bride. "Seize her!" The cold hardhearted Lycan king had commanded and she was at once seized and thrown into his dungeon. Derrick Kings, the Lycan king and leader of four packs. The Alphas, werewolves and Lycans obey his commands. His past and secret hunted him and turned him into a beast with his enemies lurking and waiting to strike him down at any chance. But what he didn't know was how fast his life will change the moment an unknown woman appeared before him as his bride. What is the fate of Lia Blake, will she survive the wrath of the hardhearted Lycan King whoose secret and past hunted, Or will she regret ever leaving her pack?

Jonathan Silvercloud: I'm your everyday 22-year-old billionaire tech genius. What young, extremely intelligent billionaires aren't that common? Guess that's only in comics. Also, like in comics, the most intelligent man or werewolf in the room doesn't find love. Or so I thought till Persephone Fayte landed a summer internship with my company. Persephone Fayte: I just landed my dream job. Okay, so it's a summer internship. Please don't rain on my parade. My sister and her mate are finally letting me leave Sicily and Europe! America and Silvercloud Industries, here I come! I'm ready to show everyone at Silvercloud what I am made of. I thought I was prepared for anything. I was unprepared for Jonathan Silvercloud. Also Including Two Short Side Stories: Cult Of Love (Rohan Rock & Shikoba Thorn) & Spy Games (Cillian MacCarthy & Tomila Đurić) The Genius Delta is the fourth full-length book in the Bloodmoon Pack series. You can read this as a standalone or in series order. Bloodmoon Pack Series: Book 1 - Alpha Logan Book 2 - Betas Surprise Mate Book 3 - The Reluctant Alpha Bloodmoon Novella - The Hunted Hunter Book 4 - The Genius Delta Bloodmoon Spinoff Series The Incubi Pack Series: Book 1 - Alpha of Nightmares Book 2 - The Hybrid Alpha Book 3 - Dream Mate Book 4 - Beta's Innocent Mate