Collection: Adult

Three months, two friends, and one chance to see if "just one time" can turn into more.

Quinn Riley loves three things in this world. The city of Rome, whose complicated history rivals her own; her career counseling job at Billings College, despite toxic campus dynamics; and her best friend, Colton-even if she's fighting a nagging thrum of attraction between them.

When she has the chance to combine all three loves-working on the same study abroad program that Colton's set to teach in-she can't pass it up. Unfortunately, the professors have turned what should be the summer of a lifetime into a test. If she fails, they plan to pass a new policy that will ruin her beloved job. It's an uphill battle, but Quinn's too stubborn to fail.

Colton Miller has never failed at anything. But when Quinn is being decimated by his colleagues, he can't help but stand up for her, even when it lands him in the middle of the ongoing faculty vs. staff feud. Now, in order to secure the tenured position he desperately needs, this summer has to go perfectly. That means ignoring how devastatingly in love with Quinn he's been for over a decade.

But when the two get to Rome, everything shifts. Their shared apartment feels smaller with each charged moment. Those casual touches that have defined their friendship don't feel so friendly anymore. And that "just one time" is anything but. With delectable food, flowing wine, and enough PDA around to turn anyone's mind to romance, the two question if finding forever with their best friend is worth the things they could lose in the process.

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig returns with What Happens at Nightfall, a delightfully Gothic romantic adventure, complete with a little bit of demon-hunting.
In the sprawling Gothic expanse of Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery, some secrets refuse to stay buried.
Recently laid off and searching for purpose, Jess reluctantly joins her best friend on a supposedly fun nighttime cemetery tour. Separated from her group by accident, she discovers a bunch of terrified boys and a strange, ancient key. Both lead to Green-Wood's surprisingly handsome resident arborist, Adam Chervinsky.
Recently widowed, Adam has more to protect than the leafy residents of Green-Wood. His children, still dealing with the loss of their mother, are acting strangely. A haunting is afoot, and Jess seems to know more than she's letting on. Sparks fly between Jess and Adam--and the unquiet spirits of Green-Wood rise from their century-long slumber.
As Jess and Adam delve deeper into the cemetery's haunted history, they uncover a Gilded Age curse, a ghostly socialite, and a demonic pact that stretches across generations. What lies hidden in the Green-Wood's splendid Vanderwilt mausoleum? As the line between the living and the dead blurs, and the shadows of Green-Wood begin to stir with malevolent intent, Jess must confront not only the supernatural forces but a shocking connection to the past if she and Adam truly want to live happily ever after.

From the crowded streets of São Paulo to the wide, unfamiliar skies of the American Midwest, Damaris Melo-Gyasi has spent her life crossing borders-geographical, cultural, economic, and spiritual. In this gripping and deeply personal memoir, she reveals how a young Brazilian girl with big dreams learned to survive, rebuild, and rise in a world that repeatedly told her she was "too much."

With unflinching honesty and unexpected humor, Damaris chronicles the highs and heartbreaks of forging a life far from home: navigating immigration and breaking through professional and personal ceilings, and discovering what resilience really feels like when no one is watching. Through every twist, she writes with the clarity of someone who has lived through fire-and come out shining.

At its heart, Making My Way is a powerful meditation on ambition, identity, and the systems that shape us. Damaris' story is for anyone who has dared to dream beyond their circumstances-and discovered that perseverance, faith, and grace may be enough to build an entirely new life.

A swoony, steamy anthology guaranteed to melt hearts.

How do Minnesotans battle dangerous, ICE-y conditions? They bring the heat with heart and hospitality.

Minnesota winters are known for their sub-zero temperatures, which is all the more reason to find someone to keep you warm. In this fifteen story anthology, the writers of Smut University, the Twin Cities' own writing collective, transport readers all over the world with fun and frosty winter-themed romantic stories. From the hockey rink to the curling club, the mountains of Vermont to Asia's highest plateau, and an ice hotel to an Antarctic ice shelf, love is in the (cold) air. Whether it's getting snow plowed or zam-boned, everyone is getting their happy ending.

The lesson from the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes: ice always melts and love always endures.

All proceeds from this anthology support the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Bearing Witness tells the story of churches in downtown Istanbul have been caring for migrants and refugees for 34 years; it tells the story of the courage and resilience of the refugees they serve; and it bears witness to the faithfulness of God who is with us, who cares for refugees and shares their suffering. The stories here are a part of the bigger story of God, his work in the world, and his call on his people to bear witness to him. The presence of God in a tiny garden office in downtown Istanbul has made it a sacred space.

In our current world of chaos, as we witness cruelty meted out to strangers in our midst, these stories need to be heard. In a single decade the number of people displaced from their homes has more than doubled, increasing from 60 million to 120 million. Nations build walls to keep out refugees and migrants; governments and political parties retreat to nationalism and nativism. The Church has a different mandate.

Bearing Witness is a call to the global church, to followers of Jesus everywhere, to see and serve refugees and migrants, widows and orphans, the hungry, the poor, and the prisoner in obedience to his command and in response to his love.

Homeless To Homerun is my story. My story is about struggle, grit, and the power of never giving up. It's about starting from rock bottom and finding your way to success one setback one lesson, and one small victory at a time. This book is for anyone who has been counted out or knocked down. It's about seeing life through the lens of empathy, understanding why people do what they do and realizing that change is not something to fear. It's where growth begins.

The living keep more secrets than the dead.

Adventure to the dark corners of Rokugan with wardmaster Yogo Shuko in this new folk horror novel from Legend of the Five Rings.

In a remote corner of the Emerald Empire, a ghostly harbinger of doom and death haunts those who claim ownership over the forest village of Red Grove. When members of the new lord's family are found dead, he summons wardmaster Yogo Shuko to dispatch the spirit.

With her apprentice, the young witch hunter Kuni Tansho, in tow, Shuko soon realizes their presence is not the only unwelcome thing in town. The locals are suspicious, the nobility secretive, and the forest unyielding.

As an enemy none can describe lays siege to the castle, Shuko and Tansho must solve a forgotten mystery before the bindings of fate close around them.

Longlisted for the International Booker Prize!

From the author and translator of The Details, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2024, comes a story about five people--or five stories about small talk and big lies.

From a successful child actor who has now turned into a failing thief to an actor hired to give a speech at a stranger's wedding to a couple feigning married bliss to keep their inheritance, Small Comfort brilliantly examines the value of people and money.

Capturing the profound beauty of everyday moments, each tale is an evocative journey written with sharp insight and emotional depth. From the subtle undercurrents of wealth and loss to the naked vulgarity of greed, Small Comfort invites us to reflect on the ways in which material pursuits can fulfill or betray us. Whether it's illuminating the fragile comfort found in wealth or the devastating consequences of its absence, Ia Genberg's narratives resonate with universal truths about human nature, vulnerability, and ambition, and effortlessly reminds us of their deeper meaning.

Where Faith Takes Root in the Quiet Moments

In The Potting Bench, the author invites readers into a gentle, reflective devotional shaped by the rhythms of gardening, growth, and daily faith. Each entry offers space to pause, notice God's presence, and tend the soil of the heart with care and intention.

Drawing on Scripture, personal insight, and everyday moments, this devotional connects spiritual formation with the slow, faithful work of planting, pruning, and waiting. Like a well-worn potting bench, these pages hold both the mess and the beauty of a life shaped by grace.

Readers will:

• Reflect on God's work through ordinary moments
• Cultivate deeper trust through Scripture and prayer
• Nurture spiritual growth with patience and hope

Open The Potting Bench and step into a devotional journey that encourages you to slow down, dig deep, and grow closer to God-one day at a time.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Joe Hill, a chilling tale of modern-world dangers, dark academia, and the unexpected consequences of revenge as six friends dabble in the occult and are tragically, horrifyingly successful... calling forth an evil entity that demands regular human sacrifice.

"A brilliantly Faustian fable with a heart as huge as a dragon's, and a stinging twist in its tail. I devoured it." --Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in Suite 11

Arthur Oakes is a reader, a dreamer, and a student at Rackham College, Maine, renowned for its frosty winters, exceptional library, and beautiful buildings. But his idyll--and burgeoning romance with Gwen Underfoot--is shattered when a local drug dealer and her partner corner him into one of the worst crimes he can imagine: stealing rare books from the college library.

Trapped and desperate, Arthur turns to his closest friends for comfort and help. Together they dream up a wild, fantastical scheme to free Arthur from the cruel trap in which he finds himself. Wealthy, irrepressible Colin Wren suggests using the unnerving Crane journal (bound in the skin of its author) to summon a dragon to do their bidding. The others--brave, beautiful Alison Shiner; the battling twins Donna and Donovan McBride; and brainy, bold Gwen--don't hesitate to join Colin in an effort to smash reality and bring a creature of the impossible into our world.

But there's nothing simple about dealing with dragons, and their pact to save Arthur becomes a terrifying bargain in which the six must choose a new sacrifice for King Sorrow every year--or become his next meal.

From a young age, child star-turned pop star Willa Stone knew "having it all" was a myth. The truth is, at some point, you have to choose what you really want in life: a career or a love life, fame or friends, success or peace. Knowing her true purpose in life is to create music and perform, she's long accepted that her life would always be on display, and every moment would revolve around building the brand. Even her relationships are manufactured, a lifetime of fake PR relationships in order to build interest in her next album.

When she's instructed to hide from the limelight for a while, she isn't sure what to do with herself. That is, until she stumbles into Holly Ridge. There, she starts daydreaming about finding balance and, for the first time in her life, having it all.

After a health scare made him realize he was living for nothing but his job, Leo Sinclaire is out to find balance in his life. This starts with buying a rundown house, connecting with the roots he's ignored since becoming a cutthroat publicist to some of the world's biggest stars, and, most importantly, being alone.

Unfortunately, he quickly finds that if he wants to be alone, Holly Ridge is the wrong choice. That peaceful existence completely evaporates when he discovers his biggest client-and biggest headache-has the same small town as her place to hide away. He spends time trying to keep her in line, both for his job and his sanity, but after a while, old feelings start to surface, and even though dating a client is strictly forbidden, he can't seem to stop thinking about her.

What happens when those thoughts turn into trying to figure out if they can have it all, together?

This lush dark gothic fantasy debut by Lindsey Hart weaves haunting worldbuilding, goddess-blessed magic, and an aching slow-burn romance into a story of legacy, devotion, and survival. Perfect for fans of V.E. Schwab, Rachel Gillig, and Hannah Whitten-and for readers who crave gothic fantasy steeped in tension, magic, and emotional depth.

Aurelia Moirae never asked for power-or for the gods who carved her bloodline to come calling.

When her world collapses, Aurelia is dragged into Nyxarra, a mist-shrouded city ruled by blood bargains, ancient grudges, and magic long thought buried. What begins as a desperate attempt to save her brother quickly unravels into something far more dangerous.

With a haunted warrior at her side and a beautiful monster at her throat, Aurelia must face the stories etched into her blood-and the cost of daring to rewrite them.

Power is a curse. Love is a risk. And survival may cost her everything she has left.

"The thorns we inherit do not ask permission. They prick, they scar, they remind us that beauty was never meant to be harmless. And neither were we."

One perfect day in Barcelona. One kiss that changed everything. One goodbye that broke my heart.

I've always been the overlooked sister, the forgotten friend, the girl in the background of everyone else's love story. But when a handsome stranger rescued my purse-and then my entire day-I dared to believe my story might finally be starting.

Then he vanished. No explanation. No phone number. Not even a last name.

Classic.

Fast forward to six months later, when I discover my mystery man is Brody "Candy" Kane-NHL golden boy, my sister's fiancé's teammate-and he needs a favor. As in, a girlfriend to keep his reputation in good shape while he skates into a new contract. And frankly? I wouldn't mind a date to my sister's over-the-top wedding.

The deal: Fake date through wedding season. Break up at the end. No harm, no foul.

The rules: Fake smiles for the cameras. Fake hand-holding for the fans. Absolutely, positively, no falling for each other for real.

The problem: The chemistry that sparked in Barcelona? Never actually went away. And pretending to be in love with someone you're already halfway in love with?

Terrible idea. 0/10. Would not recommend.

A swoony Christian romance about second chances, hidden identities, and discovering that the one man you shouldn't want might be exactly who you need. Fans of Emma St. Clair, Jenny Proctor, and Courtney Walsh will love this sweet and clean, fake dating rom-com with all the banter and none of the spice.

When the spotlight turns deadly, survival becomes the performance of her life.

A single gunshot rings out, shattering Laurel Hayward's debut as a professional dancer-and witnessing an assassination is only the beginning of her nightmare. The ruthless killer will stop at nothing to find her-determined to possess her or silence her forever.

Enter Deputy U.S. Marshal Jason Dunn: handsome, confident, and far too good at getting under Laurel's skin. Keeping her alive is his job, but keeping his distance? Impossible. Alone in the secluded safe house, the line between duty and desire blurs into something too powerful to resist.

Laurel needs Jason to survive. Jason needs her to finally capture the ghost who's haunted his career for years. But as their attraction ignites, the obsessed killer returns with a deadly final act . . .

And it could cost them everything.

* Stay With Me was previously published in 2014 as Stay by Karyn Lawrence (Nikki's alter ego). This completely rewritten version features new content, more spice, and a point-of-view switch.

In this powerful memoir, Anna says what too many women never get to say: this happened, it mattered, and it cannot be ignored.

A crime reporter covering the nation's most powerful institutions, Anna Giaritelli had moved to Washington, D.C. with the dream of making it. There she had built her career investigating federal law enforcement, border security, and the machinery of government that most Americans never see up close. Through the years, the city became her home. Then, on an ordinary Saturday morning in April 2020, everything changed.

Walking to the post office a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol, Anna was attacked in broad daylight, physically and sexually assaulted on a public sidewalk while strangers looked on. She survived. Her attacker fled the scene before anyone could stop him.

What followed would test her in ways she never imagined: a years-long legal ordeal, a system that kept releasing her assailant back onto the streets, and the stunning discovery that D.C. police had simply erased her assault from their public crime statistics, as if it had never happened.

Under Assault is Anna's unflinching account of what it means to be victimized twice: first by her attacker, then by the city she loved. It is also something more-a story of hard-won healing, of a reporter who turned her most personal trauma into her most important story, and of the courage it takes to speak when powerful institutions want you silent.

Anna Giaritelli is an award-winning journalist. She joined the Washington Examiner in 2015 and covers homeland security. She has reported from the border on more than 60 trips and was a finalist for the 2024 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism for her coverage of the border crisis. Giaritelli has appeared on Fox News, BBC, Newsmax, The Times, C-SPAN, Sky News, Live Now from FOX, and syndicated Sirius XM and iHeartRadio programs. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Asbury University in 2011. She is based in Georgia.

From the author of the viral, bestselling #bestofbooktok dark romantic tragedy "Under Your Scars" comes an all-new heartbreaking tale.

Elowen has spent her life beneath the shadow of a cruel village, where compassion is forbidden and dragons are nothing more than a page in history.

But deep in the heart of the mountain, the last dragon remains, forged in fire and war with an unwavering disdain for the rot of humans.

Both crave the same thing: to be chosen. What unfolds is an unlikely love story where its legacy transcends the ages.

In this fantasy retelling of the classic ballet Swan Lake, a fierce beast learns to love gently; but love is no shield against cruelty.