Mariah Dietz

It started with a crush.The best stories always do.Our story sounds predictable.Short-lived.Destined for failure.It was anything but.Lincoln Beckett was the star wide receiver at Brighton University-smart, funny, and like many would guess, heartbreak shined in his blue eyes and was etched across his steel jaw.He was popular, a guaranteed draft pick, and worst of all: My brother's best friend.It's a tale of unrequited love.I tried not to like him.I had an entire list of rules.Rules that led me to Derek Jones.Derek's the other starting wide receiver for Brighton University.A transfer who's proving to be a promising athlete who doesn't play by the rules.His brown eyes hold promises-ones solely for me.When Lincoln offers me a sideways glance, Derek stares.And when Derek leans closer, it's Lincoln whose touch I feel.Adversaries on the field-and now off.It wasn't meant to be a love triangle.That was reserved for the classics, Gatsby and Mr. Darcy.I've never been uncertainUntil n

The Rules Duet

Bending the Rules

Poppy Anderson was nailing her sophomore year at Brighton University. She liked her classes, had the greatest best friend, and was finally ready to start dating again. Or she was ... until her ex, Mike, transferred to Brighton and started exchanging long stares and inside jokes that Poppy thought he'd forgotten.Paxton Lawson was long ago labeled 'The Golden Boy.' Starting quarterback and team captain at Brighton University, his future was brighter than the sun until a short path of indiscretions tarnished his name and potentially his future. When he learns that his sister's best friend, Poppy, has backed herself into a corner and is facing as many doubts and uncertainties as he is, Paxton suggests the biggest ruse of the year: a fake relationship.Writing the rules was supposed to make things clear, defined, and definite. Only, their relationship becomes increasingly complex as the lines are blurred, days become weeks, and kisses for show begin to feel like confessions.Can lies lead to truths? And what happens when the rules they wrote begin to expire?One lie, Two hearts, And fifteen years of friendship are about to be put to the ultimate test.Writing the Rules is a complete standalone and can be read independently, but is book 6 in The Dating Playbook serie

A Fake Dating, Sports Romance

Writing the Rules

Sticks and stonesmight bruise my bones, but these rules are guaranteed to break me.The Romans have a famous saying: "The stars incline us, they do not bind us."The words hold so much weight, and importance, They're stained on my skin.Just like she is.The ink may not be visible, But the binds are indisputable, Pulling me back to her like a rough tide.Impossible to leave.However, time has proven, freewill or not, it will take more than bending the rules to be with her, it will require breakin

The Rules Duet: Book 2

Breaking the Rules

Chloe Robinson is determined to be more spontaneous, exciting, and 'fun'-whatever that means. Her resolve is put to the test when she learns her twin sister has arranged for them to return to their junior year at Brighton University with a road trip across the country with their best friend, Cooper, and the one person Chloe works to avoid at all costs: Tyler Banks.Tyler Banks is the heir to Banks Luxury Resorts and Hotels, and this year's "star football player." Tyler's life and future appear bright and endless as the universe, except, his life is in a constant state of balance and currently his greatest balancing act is allowing Chloe to ignore him and believe he's her enemy when she's becoming his reason to succeed.Two and a half weeks.Seven cities.And one game of truth or dare that is about to expose everything.

An Enemies-to-Lovers Sports Romance Standalone

Exploring the Rules

Rumor has it...It all started with a lie.I met Ian Forrest, middle linebacker and Roman God reincarnated last winter. Dark hair and steel eyes, granite stacks of muscles, and a secret smile that made me weak.You see, once upon a time, I Rose Cartwright, believed in happily ever after's.But life had taught me too quickly that rules are necessary and that gilded cages won't protect your heart. Yet, our lives began to weave together-a seamless and beautiful tapestry of 'non-date' dates.By the time summer arrived, so had my nerves. He was leaving for two months, so I drew a hard line in the sand and labeled what we shared a friendship, though we'd both known it was more.Now, it's the beginning of our senior year, and once again, everything is bringing us together.Only now, the secrets are bigger, the lies greater, and the stakes are even higher.Will the pressure break us apartOr will I be able to forget the Rules? This is book five in The Dating Playbook Series, but can be read and enjoyed as a complete standalone.

A Second-Chance-Romance Sports Standalone

Forgetting the Rules

It started with friendship.The best stories always do.Our story sounds unlikely.Bizarre.A fable.Like wine and cheese and my favorite pair of jeans, Things got better over time-Too good, it seemed.Arlo Kostas was the starting running back for Brighton University.His quick smile and sharp witWas enough to disarm even the biggest cynic.And his perfectly defined abs and more perfect face, Convinced the rest.I was homesick, Counting down the days until I returned home for spring break when we met.Clinging to memories I'd been trying to hold onto for yearsAnd then he tipped my world upside down.Maybe it was bad luck.Perhaps we were jinxed, But things between Arlo and I were doomed, Right from the very start.We were supposed to be friends but like everything, Things kept getting blurred, Now, we're Defining the

A Friends to Lovers Sports Romance

Defining the Rules

Sometimes life's unforeseen paths lead us to discovering sides of ourselves we never knew existed. Home has always been Ace Bosse's place of solace, but returning home for the summer from college, she finds herself building an unexpected relationship with Max Miller, who's recently returned home from Alaska. Max has lived next door for ten years, and she knows of his reckless reputation, and nothing more. Max realizes he never knew he had left so much behind, when he left three years ago to find what he thought he'd lost. Max teaches Ace that sometimes a little crazy is exactly what life needs, while learning that some risks are worth taking, regardless of the risks. But how do you know when you've met the right person? And will they be prepared to experience one of life's biggest obstacles? Falling in love isn't easy, but holding on to it is where the real challenge lies. ****This is the first book in the series of three, and does end with a cliffhanger. Book two will be released March 1, 2015****

Becoming His

One night changed my life-one that I barely remember. When I close my eyes, my mind paints a picture of his smile and shades the contours of his hands, the deep scar around his bicep. I'm an artist, yet my hands are unsteady. With his presence, he has unknowingly broken that something inside of me that makes me who I am. Being around him is like standing in a rainstorm. First the drops tickle my skin, and then they coat me, refusing to be ignored. Finally, they soak into me, reaching parts of me I don't think anyone has ever touched. When dreams turn into reality, will the picture in my mind transfer to paper?

The Weight of Rain

Samantha Chase

Shari J. Ryan

A. M. Madden

Gia Riley

Taryn Plendl

A. D. Justice

S. M. Donaldson

Misha Elliott

Sidonia Rose

Ashlee Taylor

Elizabeth Hayes

AJ. Harmon

Ellie Keys

christina Benjamin

Fourteen newly written stories by fifteen Authors in the City authors. This anthology will benefit a children's hospital in the Florida area where the 2016 Authors in the City book signing will be held. Authors in the City is hosted by Stephanie's Book Reports.Waiting for Midnight - Samantha ChaseWhite Christmas - AJ HarmonHoliday With Holli - S.M. DonaldsonOne Hot Christmas - A.D. JusticeNick - AM MaddenComing Home - Taryn PlendlTangled in Tinsel - Mariah DietzStay Awhile - Gia RileyWhite Midnight - Shari J. RyanA Holiday Discovery - Ellie KeysChristmas Letters - Christina BenjaminAll I Want for Christmas - Misha ElliottRepairing Christmas - Sidonia RoseFinding Christmas - Elizabeth Hayes & Ashlee Taylor

Christmas in the City

"I loved her and she left. Maybe I wasn't enough. Maybe I'll never be enough." I've been thinking these words since before we even got together.Everything is new. The old no longer has a place here. Physical items are easy to replace. I'm constantly battling the ones that aren't.Every thought and memory I have is stained.By you.You weren't even there for half of them.How is she still present even though she left?I can do this. I'm going to survive losing her.

Losing Her

A romance that will keep you on the edge of your seat by USA Today Bestselling Author Mariah Dietz. Greyson Meyers can't afford the distraction of a relationship. His focus is football and earning his degree to ensure his mom never has to work another day. Mila Atwool has it all together-at least, that's what everyone thinks. But after an incident fractured her safety and trust last year, Mila's been struggling to maintain appearances. The two strike a deal: Mila will pose as his girlfriend to make his life appear better balanced so he can earn a sponsorship, and in turn, Grey will train her in self-defense to help her rebuild a sense of security. Two and a half years of friendship ensured their fake relationship would be a safe bet-or so they thought. But what was a simmering tension quickly boils over, and both are terrified of getting burned. They realize this new zone may be impossible to escape unscathed.

A Fake Dating Sports Romance

The Fake Zone

Breaking up is hard to do.It's even harder when you're not expecting it.Brooke Jensen is a planner. Not only in her personal life but also professionally as one of the most sought after event planners in Chicago. But, when the ideal life she built for herself, complete with handsome, long-term boyfriend and perfect apartment crumbles, she realizes there are some things you just can't plan for. While trying to start anew from her best friend's guest room and discovering the best doughnuts in the city, an idea sparks to life when she meets Levi. He's intriguing, funny, and shockingly good-looking, and what had been a few stray thoughts becomes a new passion for Brooke, a blog detailing learning how to be single. The project introduces Brooke to new people and experiences, and keeps returning her back to Levi.But, Brooke learns kismet may have been wrong when she learns Levi is the last person she should be interested in.Falling for the wrong guy once has Brooke hesitant to start a new relationship, but Levi is quickly proving that The Fallback might be even better.

The Fallback

I came here to escape. Leave the debris and avoid the inevitable truths.Things are better.Worse.Different.I?m finding me, but in the process I fear I?m forgetting those I have left, and the ones who have left me. Maybe I?m losing who I was.Can I forget my past and move forward?Can I forget him?

Finding Me

Shakespeare believed there was always humor in tragedy and tragedy in humor.My life proved his theory as fact.At eighteen I was a single parent moving to this small town to be with the man I loved. The one who was supposed to love and cherish me in return.Finding out he had a wife was tragic.Remaining in love with him in spite of her was more tragic.My mom and best friend setting me up on a long string of blind dates was an ongoing tragedy.Nine years later, I've learned to see the humor in most situations.My mom and best friend setting me up on disastrous blind dates.My son's jokes.The fire alarm going off each time I cook.My constant bright spot always adding to the humor is my son, Hayden. But when Hayden had a life-threatening allergic reaction, the man who came to help my little boy became my own savior. His laugh, his smile, and the way his eyes lit up when he spoke to my son made him a beacon of light in both our lives.But I wasn't the only one who noticed him.When I began having feelings for the man my best and only friend had fallen for, I knew following my heart would once again lead to a fresh round of heartbreak.Love led me to this town.Lies have kept me here.Will history repeat itself?Or has life just thrown me another Curveball?

CURVEBALL

From USA Today Bestselling Author Mariah Dietz comes a delicious, angsty, and addictive sports romance about falling for your brother's best friend. It started with a crush. The best stories always do. Our story sounds predictable, short-lived, and destined for failure. Lincoln Beckett is the star wide receiver at Brighton University-- smart, funny, and like many would guess, heartbreak shines in his dark eyes and is etched across his jaw. He's popular, a guaranteed draft pick, and worst of all: my brother's best friend. I tried not to like him. I have an entire list of reasons, reasons that have become my rules for dating. Rules that Lincoln continues bending.

I have loved my best friend for eleven years.Eleven years of celebrations.Eleven years of victories and losses.Eleven years of inside jokes and shared smiles.Eleven years of helping him raise his daughter as a single father.He smiles at me and my world brightens.He ignores me and I forget how to function.He holds my hand and takes more of my heart.He leaves and time stops.We have both lost too much, but am I willing to risk the effects of falling again?

The Effects of Falling

The Return Play

Carey Heywood

Melissa Collins

Meghan Quinn

Jeannine Colette

Kandi Steiner

Katy Regnery

J. D. Hollyfield

Liv Morris

Elle Brooks

A. M. Johnson

M. J. Fields

Amy Daws

Kathryn Andrews

Kristen Luciani

Ryan Ringbloom

Tori Madison

Saperstein

Isabelle Richards

A glittering diamond, the promise of forever, and the hope that your future in-laws will move to a galaxy far, far away...sounds like a decadent recipe for eternal happiness, doesn't it? All girls dream about their wedding day, fantasize about each and every gooey-delicious detail. It's so easy to get scooped by the champagne bubbles and swallowed by our dreams. But we all know the magical path toward happily ever after is not always sprinkled with pixie dust. Sometimes, we stumble over our plans for a perfect future and choke on the words promising forever. We watch the path take a defiant turn away from our blissful paradise because everybody has secrets, and skeletons, and fears. And sometimes, being drunk in love isn't always enough. This is a collection of twenty romantic short stories that will make you laugh, cry & swoon featuring twenty trendsetting romance authors with 100% of all digital proceeds being donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Mariah Dietz

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