Jennifer Dawson

Meet Jackson McKay... There's only one thing you need to know about me. I'm a cold hearted bastard that will never love you the way you deserve. And I'm sorry to say, bastard beats nice guy, every time. I never lie. Never deceive. I lay out exactly what will happen. My only promise is that I'm a one-night stand. That this is will be our first and last time together. Then I stand back and let them walk. But they never do. Because they all want to believe they will be the one to change me. And, Gwen Johnson, the woman that will be his demise... There's only one thing you need to know about me. What I want, I get. End of story. I didn't come to own one of the best restaurants in the city of Chicago before the age of thirty by taking no for an answer. And what I want is for this cold hearted bastard, and culinary genius, to work for me. I don't care how difficult he is. I'm going to figure out what makes him tick, what he needs most, and then I'm going to go in for the kill. The way I see it, you either own it, or it owns you...

Cold Hearted Bastard

Kate Angell

Sharla Lovelace

Welcome to Moonbright, Maine . . . Where the scents of donuts and cider waft through the crisp night air . . . with just a hint of magic. It’s time for the annual Halloween costume party at the cottage on Pumpkin and Vine, the perfect place to celebrate the pleasures of the season. Guests return to the picturesque B & B year after year to snuggle up in its cozy rooms, explore the quiet, tree-lined streets and enjoy all the spooky fun of the holiday. But local legend whispers that it’s also a place where wishes have a strange way of coming true. For three unsuspecting revelers, it’s going to be an enchanted weekend of candy corn kisses and midnight black kittens, along with some real Halloween surprises—the kind that make your heart skip a beat—for many more celebrations to come... “This wonderful, well-written collection calls to mind brisk autumn nights cuddled with a loved one.” –Publishers Weekly “This diverse trio of stories bring three couples to love with a charming, slightly sexy Halloween flair . . . Sassy, funny, and dusted with magic.” --Library Journal “With humor and a little mysticism thrown in, each story winds its way to a happy ever after. Every pairing comes to fruition in a unique way.” –RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

The Cottage on Pumpkin and Vine

"A professor of forensic anthropology, James Donovan is the reasonable sibling among the passionate, impulsive Donovans. But there's nothing reasonable about his reaction to baker Gracie Roberts. She's all wild curls and mouth-watering curves, as deliciously tempting as the sugary treats she's famous for--and twice as irritating. But before long, James decides that getting a taste of her is one indulgence he can't pass up"--Page 4 of cover.

The Name of the Game

Runaway bride Maddie Donovan bursts into a bar while still wearing her wedding dress, and into the arms of bartender Mitch Riley, who offers for her to stay at his place until things settle down. Original.

Take a Chance on Me

I used to be a nice, normal girl. I had dreams. Good, happy dreams of a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a fairytale love that lasts forever. Nobody ever warned me that sometimes, the prince dies three weeks before the wedding. Now, I go through my days, a shadow of my former self. I pretend I'm okay, and the people in my life pretend to believe me. But, sometimes, when I can no longer stand the craving, I roam an underground sex club looking for my next hit. It's dirty and wrong, but I can't stop, and my only line of defense between them and me, is the rules I've designed to keep me safe. The men always abide by my rules. Until I meet him. I don't question the instincts that tell me to run. One look at him, standing there, power radiating off him in waves, tells me all I need to know. He will make me crave those happy dreams I've left behind. And that is not an option.

Crave

I’ve wanted my brother’s best friend, Leo Santoro, for too many years to count. No matter what I do, he won’t confront the attraction that burns between us. It’s time to put him behind me once and for all. I have no choice but to call his bluff. And then I will walk away. The last woman I should want is my best friend’s baby sister, Jillian Banks. No matter what I do, she won’t ignore the attraction that burns between us. It’s time she learns the real me. The only promise I can make is that her fantasies are no match for reality. And then I’ll watch her walk away.

Sinful

I vow. I crave. I give in. I used to be a nice, normal girl. I had dreams. Good, happy dreams of a white picket fence, 2.5 kids, and a fairytale love that lasts forever. Nobody ever warned me that sometimes, the prince dies three weeks before the wedding. Like any addict, I swear this time is the last…. Now, I go through my days, a shadow of my former self. I pretend I’m okay, and the people in my life pretend to believe me. But, sometimes, when I can no longer stand the craving, I roam an underground sex club looking for my next hit. It’s dirty and wrong, but I can’t stop, and my only line of defense between them and me, is the rules I’ve designed to keep me safe. Men always abide by my rules. Until I meet him. And, like any addict, I’m wrong. I don’t question the instincts that tell me to run. One look at him, standing there, power radiating off him in waves, tells me all I need to know. He will make me crave those happy dreams I’ve left behind. And that is not an option.

One night in a moment of sheer madness I confessed my secrets to him. All my life I've been pretending. Pretending to be the woman I thought I should be instead of the woman I really am. I've been faking it and I am good. No one has ever guessed. Except him. He just looked at me and knew. Chad Fellows is not the man I want, but he's fast becoming the man I need. One night in a moment of sheer madness I held her in my arms and let her cry. I did the right thing, letting her walk away, no matter how much she calls to the part of me that wants to rescue her. We are nothing alike, and she's a mess of complications in a life I'm trying to keep simple. But then I touched her and made her tremble and now I can't turn away. Ruby Stiles is not the woman I want, but she's fast becoming the woman I need.

Debauched

Forced to spend two weeks in the same house as Cecilia Riley for his sister's upcoming wedding, corporate mogul Shane Donovan is determined to draw her into a sexy game that will melt away her icy reserve. Original.

The Winner Takes It All

A prizewinning, semi-autobiographical debut novel that explores a young woman’s struggle with mental illness at Oxford University in the 1950s—for readers of Ottessa Moshfegh, Melissa Broder, and Sally Rooney.

At a tea party at Oxford University in the 1950s, earnest undergraduates in floral dresses clink cups, discussing their studies, sports, and summer balls. But to one student, Josephine, they are grotesquely transformed: she is sitting among ominous armadillos. Then, the laughter comes. As she is engulfed in mirthless hysterics, her college has no choice but to send her away.

Since her mother’s death, Josephine’s reality seems a badly painted canvas, viewed through the wrong end of a telescope. It is a relief to find a sense of belonging, for once, within the mental institution where she is confined. But, eventually, she must reintegrate with society. Through a transformative encounter with a fellow patient, a return to real life seems possible.

Originally published in 1961, The Ha-Ha was met with critical acclaim and belongs on the shelf alongside Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Praised as “luminous” by The New York Times and “a singular, elegant novel” by The Guardian, and with a new introduction by Melissa Broder, The Ha-Ha offers a moving and timeless perspective on mental illness and coming of age.

The Ha-Ha

After spending my thirtieth birthday with my parents, and drowning my sorrows in a bottle of tequila and splash of margarita mix, I know something has to change. All I want is a little excitement, one chance to go wild before I settle back into my regularly scheduled life. Fueled by liquid courage, I set about giving myself the perfect gift, my bad-boy neighbor, firefighter Lukas Marlow. Sure, I like an intoxicated girl looking to turn her fantasies into reality as much as the next man, but this is sweet little Abby Simmons and on the do-not-touch list. Since I’m a nice guy and refuse to take advantage of her, I offer a compromise to her unexpected offer. Sleep it off, and if she hasn’t changed her mind in the light of day, I’ll fulfill all her dirty desires. Seemed reasonable, I mean, she’s such a good girl it’s not like she’ll ever take me on it. My plan is perfect... until right about the time she emails me her sexual to-do list. **Please note: This book has been previously published under my original pen name, Julia Devlin. It has been edited and updated, but the general story has remained unchanged.**

The Burn List

Valentine's night. Three women. A hot new club where anything can happen. After a life changing tragedy Layla Hunter is finally happy. Michael Banks has pulled her back from the dead and given her a love she'd thought was lost to her forever. Now, all she wants is to return the favor and give him the one thing she swore she'd never do again. Jillian Banks is up for absolutely anything and her smoking hot fiancé, Leo Santoro, is determined to give it to her. After exploring her fantasies in the privacy of her own home, Jillian's ready for more and Leo is going above and beyond to make her happy. In return, she'll do anything to make him proud. Ruby Stiles isn't sure what she's doing at a sex party at one of Chicago's most anticipated new clubs. Currently she's blaming it on curiosity. All she wants is to disappear into the background, only her emotions have decided to go on a roller coaster ride and the last thing she expects is for Chad Fellows to pick up the pieces. Sometimes even the best laid plans unravel...

Unraveled

Country and city, strapping and petite--these new neighbors have literally nothing in common. Are the fireworks crackling between them pure irritation--or something a whole lot hotter? With her professional reputation in tatters--and her boss in jail--Sophie Kincaid has no choice but to move to small-town Revival, Illinois, until the dust settles, where her best friends have arranged a job and a house for her. For six months, she's pretty sure she can handle anything--even her new landlord and neighbor, Ryder Moore. A magnetic 6'4" deputy sheriff, Ryder's good looks and habit of flirting with intent to seduce are an infuriating distraction--and, to Sophie's alarm, an undeniable temptation. Ryder knows Sophie's type--entitled city girl--and it's not one of his favorites. Add in her snarky sass and her propensity for trouble and she's not exactly his ideal tenant. But something about the curvy little blonde fires Ryder's imagination, not to mention his desire. Soon enough their verbal sparring seems like a prelude to something much more physical--and far more pleasurable. Is love right around the corner--or just right next door? Praise for Jennifer Dawson's As Good as New "Dawson captures the small romantic moments that make a relationship work." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review "Dawson doesn't disappoint with the fourth sizzling addition to her A Something New series. . . . Readers will fly through Dawson's latest sexy and fun novel." --Booklist

Head Over Heels

A prizewinning, semi-autobiographical debut novel that explores a young woman’s struggle with mental illness at Oxford University in the 1950s—for readers of Ottessa Moshfegh, Melissa Broder, and Sally Rooney. At a tea party at Oxford University in the 1950s, earnest undergraduates in floral dresses clink cups, discussing their studies, sports, and summer balls. But to one student, Josephine, they are grotesquely transformed: she is sitting among ominous armadillos. Then, the laughter comes. As she is engulfed in mirthless hysterics, her college has no choice but to send her away. Since her mother’s death, Josephine’s reality seems a badly painted canvas, viewed through the wrong end of a telescope. It is a relief to find a sense of belonging, for once, within the mental institution where she is confined. But, eventually, she must reintegrate with society. Through a transformative encounter with a fellow patient, a return to real life seems possible. Originally published in 1961, The Ha-Ha was met with critical acclaim and belongs on the shelf alongside Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Praised as “luminous” by The New York Times and “a singular, elegant novel” by The Guardian, and with a new introduction by Melissa Broder, The Ha-Ha offers a moving and timeless perspective on mental illness and coming of age.

A Novel

John Sutherland

'A very fine first novel. Dawson writes very well, with . . . a poetic perception of how tremulous is the distinction between the mad world and the sane.' - "Glasgow Herald" 'A remarkably talented first novel . . . Miss Dawson is neither sentimental nor sensational . . . Her heroine is a convincing and sympathetic character, and when her mind begins to shift into the nightmare perspective of schizophrenia the writing creates an atmosphere of quiet terror.' - "Observer" 'Cool, short, tender and occasionally as prettily ruthless as the impact of a stiletto heel . . . twice as alarming because everything is implied rather than explicit.' - "Tatler" 'A cool, clever, well-constructed novel about the nature of reality . . . Miss Dawson writes very well indeed . . . [B]rilliant.' - Penelope Mortimer, "Sunday Times" 'A novel about madness which succeeds completely.' - "Daily Telegraph" 'A little masterpiece.' - "Bookman" 'I wanted the knack of existing. I did not know the rules.' So says Josephine, the heroine of Jennifer Dawson's remarkable novel, an exploration of a young woman's mental illness that met with universal critical acclaim and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize as the best novel of the year. After suffering a breakdown following the death of her mother, Josephine finds herself confined to an institution where patients are 'treated' by such means as electroshock therapy and lobotomies. But when she falls in love with Alasdair, a fellow patient she meets on the grassy bank of the ha-ha, she realizes that her recovery will have to be on her own defiant terms. Inspired by the author's own breakdown and hospitalization, "The Ha-Ha" (1961) remains a moving and powerful examination of mental illness. This new edition includes an afterword by the author and an introduction by John Sutherland.

The Ha-ha

I’m Cat McKay, and I’m in desperate need of a man. My farm manager deserted me six weeks before our grand opening that will help put my family’s business on the map. Now I need to find a replacement because I’m not about to be the reason we fail. Unfortunately, Caden Landry— whose arrogance, evasions, and good looks rub me the wrong way—is my only option on a list of zero candidates. So, as much as it pains me to admit it, I need him to step in and save the day. Yeah, I hate it too. I’m Caden Landry, and I have a self-destructive streak a mile wide. One thing is clear I need to stay the hell away from my new boss, Cat McKay. Not an easy task, considering she’s the kind of woman I find irresistible. But I’m tired of running, tired of living paycheck to paycheck with nothing but a flatbed to my name. I’m determined this time I’m going to get my life together. So, I’m not about to screw a golden opportunity because I can’t keep my hands off the woman in charge. This time, self-preservation will prevail.

Arrogant Bastard

After an injury ends his NFL career, Evan Donovan is stunned when Penelope Watkins, the woman who has loved him for years, shows up on his doorstep determined to nurse him back to health{u2014}and to make him admit that he cannot live without her.

As Good as New

"An author to watch out for.” –RT Book Reviews In high school, they’d burned fast and hot. Now is their chance to find out if the sparks that linger will ignite a whole new flame. The only thing Darcy Miller ever wanted more than gorgeous troublemaker Griffin Strong was to shake off the dust of small-town Revival, Illinois, and head to the big city—even if she had to leave him behind. Ten years later, Darcy is the ultimate New Yorker, writing a sex blog and living on designer cocktails and the pulse of urban life. That is, until she hears that Revival plans to seize her mother’s house right after the holidays, thanks to the new mayor—who is none other than Darcy’s ex... Griffin couldn’t have asked for a more dangerous Christmas gift. Curvy, sassy Darcy is every bit as delectable as the wild child she was in high school—and just as determined to stir up problems. But Griffin learned long ago to straighten up and fly right in order to make changes in the town he loves. Keeping his reputation wholesome is a big part of that. If only Darcy didn’t make him want to take his place on the naughty list with her, right under the mistletoe... Praise for Jennifer Dawson’s Take a Chance on Me “Witty repartee, memorable secondary characters, and powerful attraction skillfully handled will have readers eager for the next in the series.” –Publishers Weekly “If you like Jill Shalvis, you’ll truly enjoy Take a Chance on Me.” --Night Owl Reviews

Jennifer Dawson

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