The Appalachian Mountains Novels & Stories

Dr. Ivy Monroe has her life planned down to the minute and falling in love isn’t on the list. But when a once-in-a-lifetime research grant for couples opens up, she realizes she’s missing one key thing: a partner. Desperate, she convinces Lake Hart, a carefree filmmaker in need of quick cash, to pose as her husband for the summer. The two opposites enter a couples’ retreat in the mountains, pretending to be madly in love. Between the awkward therapy sessions, forced intimacy, and their one-bed cabin, their “fake” marriage starts to feel dangerously real. Ivy fights the growing pull between them, while Lake begins to see through her walls — and into her heart. As summer fades, so does the line between truth and lies. But when their secret is exposed, Ivy risks losing both her career and the man who made her believe in love again. Months later, in autumn’s quiet beauty, she gets one last chance to tell Lake the truth — that their love may have started as pretend, but it’s become the most real thing in her life.

Evren Draven was born with a mark no one could explain. For nineteen years it remained silent. Then ancient ruins buried beneath the northern mountains awaken, and the symbol hidden on his chest begins to burn. Pearl Ashbourne has spent her life hunting monsters and uncovering forgotten history. When several Wardens vanish near the newly discovered ruins, she is sent north to investigate what lies beneath the mountains. The mission should have been simple. Instead, every answer leads to another question. Why do the ruins react to Evren? Why do ancient symbols seem to recognize Pearl? And why do forbidden records speak of a forgotten race erased so completely that even their name should no longer exist? As buried secrets rise to the surface, Evren and Pearl uncover a conspiracy older than kingdoms, older than Lycans, and perhaps older than the gods themselves. Someone has been manipulating events for centuries. Someone has been waiting for them since before they were born. And if the truth is revealed, the world may never be the same again.

On a stormy night during the apocalypse, my own mother threw me out of the house while I was burning with fever, along with my husky, so my little brother would have a better chance of surviving. She shouted through the crack in the door, “Take that useless mutt and go die somewhere. Stop wasting your brother’s food!” I huddled in a pile of trash with my dog in my arms, convinced I was going to die. Then my husky suddenly spoke. “Host’s vital signs critically low. Infinite Supply Search System activated.” “Supermarket warehouse one hundred meters ahead. Three thousand freeze-dried meals detected.” “Pharmacy five hundred meters to the left. Five hundred boxes of antibiotics detected.” Three days later, I’d built a fortress with packs of dogs and mountains of supplies. I sat inside eating steak and watching the show. Outside the barbed wire, my mother and brother were on their knees, fighting each other over half a piece of moldy bread. I smiled. “Mom, even dogs wouldn’t eat that. Better savor it.”

Zoe Petridis: I had hoped to find my mate on this year-long pack ambassador trip with my papa and brother. I was prepared for what I thought was everything until our trip to the Ironfur Pack in the mountains of New York. I don't need to turn Gunnar and Henrik Kilbourn to stone. They are already made from carved granite. And holy Goddess, they are both mine!? Too bad they seem to think I'm giving up my Beta title to live on this cold mountain just because they are the Alpha's brothers. Gunnar and Henrik Kilbourn: We're the youngest of eight children. Our only brother is Alpha, and he already has a son. So we're less than spare heirs. We didn't care when our brother told us to be on our best behavior for visiting foreign Betas. During the masked event, we both scented our mate. To our surprise, we were smelling the same female… Zoe Petridis. But she seems to think we ought to go to her pack because she's a Beta. The female moves to the male's pack. That's how we were raised.

When Prince Aric returns to his kingdom, he discovers that his betrothed, Lady Danika, is plotting to usurp the throne from his mother, Queen Eira, who is seriously ill. Aric sets out on a perilous quest to locate the fabled Sapphire Crown, a potent artifact that is said to have the power to heal any disease, in an effort to save his mother and defend his realm. Aric battles dangerous jungles, abrasive mountains, and deadly traps in the remains of the Sapphire City with the help of the fearsome warrior Kaida. As they proceed, they come across Lady Danika's own group of warriors looking for the Crown, heightening the urgency of their quest. Aric and Kaida place their developing romance on hold in order to concentrate on their mission as they get closer to the Sapphire Crown. However, they discover their feelings for one another are stronger than they had anticipated when they eventually find the Crown and use it to heal Queen Eira. However, it is impossible to ignore Lady Danika's treachery, and Aric swears to find her and bring her to justice. Will Aric and Kaida be successful in prosecuting Lady Danika and defending their realm from harm? Learn the answer in this heart-pounding story of adventure, passion, and betrayal.

The past never stays buried forever... The past caught up with Harper Carrington in the cruelest way. After tragedy summoned her home to Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains, she was confronted with another twist of the knife – Wyck, her first love who abandoned her fifteen years before and disappeared off the map. Wyck Ward never planned to see Harper again after her powerful father exiled him from Carrington Ridge. Consumed by the desire for revenge, Wyck spent over a decade systematically destroying the man's corrupt legacy. But with his enemy suddenly dead, Wyck realizes his all-consuming vendetta could cost him what his fractured soul needs - Harper. Join Harper and Wyck as they discover if some hearts are too damaged to ever mend or if even the coldest embers can flare back to life when two fractured souls find the pieces they’ve been missing. If you enjoy small town, second chance romances with complex characters, all the feels, a side of steam, and lots of twisty mountain roads, you'll love this first book in the new Carrington Ridge series.

The young and beautiful daughter of a hunter, Isabella Abegail Bannister was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and yet unlike other rich man's child, her life is more challenging than most. As the only descendant of her father, she has to become the head of their clan and that is to protect the human against wolves. The Northern region was at peace for a while ever since her family and the Alpha of the North signed an agreement of peace treaty. The wolves are not to enter the city, without permission from the head of the leader while the people in the City are forbidden to hunt the mountains that belong to the Vernice. The signed agreement was respected and maintained until the heirs took over. As Alpha Zero passes his leadership to his son Charles, Isabella becomes the head of the Bannister hunters. What would happen to peace and the promise of co-existence? When both of them have their grudge against each other. But faith will turn the tables around after Alpha Charles falls into the charm of a beautiful female hunter named Isabella. And Isabella needle his help in her fight against the other pack of wolves. That she wouldn't mind seducing him to get back at her enemies.

I had been diagnosed with a structural abnormality. The doctor had told me my condition was extremely rare, the kind that had no cure. It was not exactly dangerous. I was just… different from other men in that regard. More intense. Far beyond normal. It had been a constant problem. Every time I brought a woman home, things fell apart the moment clothes started coming off. One look at me, and they panicked and ran like they had seen something they could not handle. My good buddy Gavin Cobb knew how long I had been going without, and he finally decided to help. He told me about a cycling club and suggested I check it out. At first, I did not take it seriously. Riding bikes? What was supposed to be exciting about that? Then he said, "You're underestimating it. The club was full of women. You'd ride up into the mountains at night, and once it was dark, no one could see anything. That was your opportunity. Make them feel good, and they wouldn't push you away. After that, your life would be easy." The idea got to me immediately. I did not think twice. I agreed on the spot.

On the day my boyfriend and I moved into our new home, his ex-girlfriend gave us a mysterious gift. The moment I opened the front door, a swarm of hornets came flying out. I screamed in fright as I felt seven or eight stings from them. His ex, Erica Loft, jumped out from behind the door with a giggle. She shouted, "Surprise! "I went up the mountains to visit a master craftsman. I wanted to get you this specially brewed hornet wine, and I even brought back a hornet's nest for you to decorate your new house with! "Isn't this a great gift?" Erica made a face at us. She was gleeful at the messy predicament I was in. My boyfriend, Joe Fulham, clenched his teeth. He rushed forward to grab Erica by the wrist as he shouted angrily at her. "Are you crazy? Don't you know that hornets are venomous?! Is this really a surprise, or are you trying to hurt us?" I listened to another one of their huge arguments from behind the door, feeling like an outsider in my own relationship. As I felt the stinging pain in my arm, I knew this wedding was about to fall through.

Even though I've been with Eric Blackclaw, the heir to the Alpha title, for three years, he's still unwilling to mark me. Later, he falls in love at first sight with my stepsister, Layla Talbot. Thus, he begins courting her in a grand manner in the pack. This time, I no longer throw a tantrum, nor do I question Eric like I did before. Instead, I just burn all the gifts he's given me and rip my gown for our marking ceremony into shreds. On Eric's birthday, I leave Northpine Woods on my own. Before I board the private jet bound for another continent, Eric sends me a message via the mind-link. "Avril, why aren't you here yet? Everyone's waiting for you." I don't respond to Eric at all. This time, I just sever my mind-link with Eric. What he doesn't know is that I've already accepted Alpha Marcus Howler's mating proposal to me half a month ago. Once the private jet lands in the new territory located in Frosthill Mountains, Marcus and I will become mates with the Moon Goddess as our witness.