Romantik & erotik

Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Yes, it was her reason to live from ages 6 to 14. No, she'd rather not talk about what changed that. With her grandmaster dad out of the picture, a chronically-ill mom, two younger sisters, and an auto-mechanic job that pays the ever-accumulating bills, she has no time for games. And yet, when her best friend Easton guilts her into pinch-hitting for a charity chess tournament, Mallory cannot refuse. In the name of a decade-long friendship, Mallory sucks it up, agrees to play one last time, and... inadvertently defeats the current world champion. Oops.Holden Sawyer is only 20, but he's been dominating the world of chess for years. Hailed as one of the best players in history, he's handsome, the heir to a chess dynasty, and a household name who once dated a Kardashian. (Kind of. Technically, it was a Jenner.) His loss to a nobody like Mallory is inexplicable, and leads to a tiny problem: Holden has a... reputation. As a not-exactly-good-tempered loser. Terrified of how Holden might take her win, Mallory does the one thing she can think of: she runs away, determined to never think of what happened again. Phew!But as her victory grabs the attention of grandmasters everywhere, Mallory realises that she might be done with chess, but it's in no way done with her. Besides, a rematch against Holden might not be a bad thing. She's been thinking about him a lot lately...

What do handprints on early cave paintings tell us about the role of women in hunting? What does a mobile phone have to do with femicides? Or Kim Kardashian's diamond ring with Elena Ferrante? Annabelle Hirsch curates a compendium of women and their things, uncovering the thoughts and feelings at the heart of women's daily lives in this intimate and lively alternative history

Book 5 in the Never After series

Witness what the gods do after dark in the fifth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology, featuring exclusive behind-the-scenes content from creator Rachel Smythe.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady in danger must be in need of rescue, but whether she wants to be rescued is up for debate . . .England, 1867: Miss Poppy Delamare is living a lie. To escape an odious betrothal, she fled to London where she's been hiding as the unassuming secretary Flora Deaver. However, when her beloved sister is accused of murder, Poppy cannot leave her to the wolves. Only a most unexpected - and unwelcome - collision interrupts her journey home . . .Despite a rather dismal first meeting, Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, has no intention of abandoning a lady in need. But he's not above asking a favour. A fake betrothal will give Poppy and her sister the power of the dukedom and protect Langham from the society misses intent on becoming his duchess.Yet the longer the ruse goes on, the more Poppy and Langham realize how false their first impressions were - and the less pretend their engagement feels. But before Langham can propose in truth, their search reveals a tangled web of lies and betrayals. With time running out, can Poppy and Langham find the real culprit? Before Poppy becomes the next victim? 'Manda Collins is a delight!' Elizabeth Hoyt

STEFAN SOELL'S TOP 15 UKRAINIAN MODELS: breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly seductiveThis volume of photographs contains 15 different models, all of whom come from Ukraine. Each and every one is breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly seductive, and displays great self-confidence. Stefan Soell succeeds in firing up a stunning collection of images, all in a class of their own. Thanks to his talented eye and skilful finger, always hovering over the shutter release, all it takes is a tenth of a second to capture extraordinary pictures that typify his striking talent.In fact, a plan had long been in place to create a highly charged erotic photo tour, as Stefan has been taking pictures of Ukrainian models for well over 20 years. Today, he can look back on a highly eventful history. Before 1989 or 1990, it was practically impossible to pass girls through the Iron Curtain to the West. The only way to find them required many so-called managers and whatever connections there were to be had, together with bribery. You had to complete many official documents. Often, despite a great deal of hard work, there was no success. The general opinion of the authorities was that the young, pretty girls, in the prime of their lives, would never come back again, whatever else happened to them. Fortunately, over the years, travel options have improved, and the abolition of the visa requirement has enabled a stream of Ukrainian models to flow into the West unopposed.Stefan Soell has the following to say about his models: "These girls are part of a generation that grew up in hard times. In those days, you had to fight for any improvement in living standards, whether it was for better food, an improved job or a modest enhancement in personal comfort. I have always been impressed by the mental toughness and resilience of these Ukrainian girls. They have an extremely self-confident yet relaxed approach to nude photography. I book most of the models presented here through the model agency Phototours Ukraine. My special thanks go to Oksana, who, as a former model, runs her own agency to professional standards. Please visit www.phototours-ukraine.com.

Witness what the gods do after dark in the fourth volume of a stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology from creator Rachel Smythe."I don't always get to do as I please."The rumor mill of Olympus is constantly churning, but Persephone and Hades are all anyone can talk about. With the constant gossip creating intense pressure on the pair, they decide to slow down their budding romance and focus on sorting out their own issues first.But that's easier said than done.Hades struggles to find support in his personal life, with Zeus trivializing his feelings and Minthe resorting to abusive patterns in their relationship. And while Hades tries to create healthier boundaries where he can-like finally putting a stop to his sporadic, revenge-fueled hookups with Hera-he still feels lonely and adrift.Persephone feels equally ostracized as her classmates shun her for her connection to Hades, and she can find no refuge at home, with Apollo constantly dropping by unannounced and pushing his unwelcome advances. And on top of it all, the wrathful god of war, Ares, has returned to Olympus to dredge up his sordid history with the goddess of spring, threatening to surface Persephone's dark and mysterious past and ruin her tenuous position in the land of the gods.Despite agreeing to take it slow, Persephone and Hades find themselves inextricably drawn toward each other once more amid the chaos. The pull of fate cannot be denied.This edition of Rachel Smythe's original Eisner-winning webcomic Lore Olympus features exclusive behind-the-scenes content and brings the Greek pantheon into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.This volume collects episodes 76-102 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

PRE-ORDER NOW! The unbreakable bonds of family and love are explored in this brilliantly tender story from the author of Guy's Girl.On the day she arrives in Canada for her older brother's wedding, Eliot Beck hasn't seen her family in three years. Eliot adores her wacky collection of siblings and in-laws, but there's a reason she fled to Manhattan and buried herself in her work - and she's not ready to share it with anyone.Eliot thinks she's prepared to survive the four-day wedding extravaganza - until she sees her best friend, Manuel, looking as handsome as ever. When they met as children, she felt like she'd found the missing half of her soul. She tried so hard not to fall in love with him. . . but did anyway.Manuel's presence threatens to undo the fortress Eliot has built around herself. If she isn't careful, by the end of this wedding, the whole castle might come crumbling down. . .

But Natalie is desperate enough to propose to a man who makes her want to kill him-and kiss him, in equal measure. Natalie has haunted his dreams since the moment they met, but their sizzling chemistry immediately morphed into simmering insults.Now, a quickie marriage could help them both.

Rose used to love Christmas - until the year everything changed. She hasn't been home to visit her family for the holidays since.Charlie is facing his first Christmas alone. It may be the most wonderful time of the year for some, but not for him. Not this year.In search of comfort and seclusion, Rose escapes to a cottage in rural Donegal to hunker down for the festive season alone.But when Charlie opens the door to Seaview Cottage, the two strangers realise that their holiday rental has been double-booked.Both of them expected to spend this Christmas alone. But their lives could be changed forever if they agree to spend it together. . .

Ten years after the murder of pop idol Ai Hoshino, her young (and unusually mature) twins are now poised to enter high school. While her death has had a profound effect on the children, it's manifested in polar-opposite ways. Ruby is determined to follow in her mother's footsteps and become an idol, but Aqua has no desire to stand in the spotlight. Instead, he works behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, all while harboring an ulterior motive: discover the identity of the accomplice in his mother's untimely death!

¿I HOPE SHE, AT LEAST, WILL BE FREE.¿As the newly appointed assistant officer to the commander of the First Order of Knights, Aristia is one step closer to becoming the heir of House Monique. But fighting against destiny is never easy, and a run-in with Ruveliss on the anniversary of her mother¿s death makes it clear that the bonds that tie them together run deeper than Tia ever knew. And though her path to knighthood is finally secure, Tia must now face another battle field: high society!

After Sasaki¿s graduation, the clock ticks on while Sasaki and Miyanös relationship slowly deepens bit by bit. They do all the little things couples döeat lunch together, swap favorite books and music, quote BL lines¿and just be there for each other. And then one day, Miyano suddenly realizes he wouldn¿t mind if this lasted for the rest of his life¿

"First published as Text for you in the United States of America by Penguin Books, 2021. Published under the title Love again 2023"--Title page verso.

Our new favorite trope: Childhood friends. To enemies. To lovers. In a chemistry-filled debut romance.Daniel Rosenberg and Liyah Cohen-Jackson's last conversation-fourteen years ago at summer camp-ended their friendship. Until they find themselves seated next to each other on a plane, and bitterly pick up right where they left off. At least they can go their separate ways again after landing... That is, until Daniel's marketing firm gets hired by the Chicago museum where Liyah works as a junior curator, and they're forced to collaborate with potential career changing promotions on the line.With every meeting and post-work social gathering with colleagues, the tension (and chemistry) between Daniel and Liyah builds until they're forced to confront why they broke apart years ago at camp. But as they find comfort in their shared experiences as Jews of color and fumble towards friendship, can they ignore their growing feelings for each other?With sexy charm and undeniable wit, Rachel Runya Katz's sparkling debut, Thank You For Sharing, proves that if you're open to love, anything is possible."[An] excellent, multilayered look at the experiences of Jews of color in this deftly woven story...Katz successfully portrays how romance meets real life in this terrific debut." - Library Journal (starred review)"Rachel Runya Katz's Thank You for Sharing is a magical love story. This is a poignant, sharp and sexy romance with the kind of complex, big-hearted characters and emotional honesty readers will adore. I loved it!" - Carley Fortune, New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After"This book wrapped a fist around my heart and refused to let go. Gorgeously written, with two magnetic leads, an irresistible group of friends, and a warmth that radiates from every page. Rachel Runya Katz is a true talent." - Rachel Lynn Solomon, New York Times bestselling author of The Ex Talk"Impossible to put down! A delicious pressure-cooker-style slow burn of a romance, Thank You for Sharing contains the greatest 'only one bed' scene I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Not only is the romance delightful, but Rachel Runya Katz handles the complexity of grief and trauma with the tenderest of touches, creating a safe, welcoming space for her characters and readers alike. I have no doubt that readers will fall head over heels for Liyah and Daniel!" - Alexandria Bellefleur, bestselling, Lambda award-winning author of Written in the Stars and The Fiancée Farce

Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Fugitive in this propulsive thriller about a woman in a race against time to clear her name and find her husband’s murderer.

“A villain living life in hard mode… whose every path leads to death.” Playing Daughter of the Duke’s Super Love Project as the easy mode heroine, Ivonne, makes charming the male characters a breeze. But once you switch to hard mode and step into the shoes of Penelope, the misunderstood villain, it’s nearly impossible to even stay alive! So imagine the shock of suddenly waking up in Penelope’s body—you know right away that your life is on the line. With love interests who will kill you if their affection meters drop too low and the inability to speak without choosing from pre-selected dialogue, it quickly becomes clear that Penelope’s chances have been rigged from the start—and this villain might just be destined to die!

From the bestselling author of Spoiler Alert, comes Ship Wrecked, the final romcom in Olivia Dade's fandom trilogy. Sparks fly when two co-stars finally yield to temptation after filming on the same remote island for years . . .Maria's one-night-stand - the thick-thighed, sexy Viking of a man she left without a word or a note - just reappeared. Apparently, Peter's her surly Gods of the Gates co-star, and they're about to spend the next six years filming on a desolate Irish island together. She still wants him . . . but he now wants nothing to do with her.Peter knows this role could finally transform him from a forgettable character actor into a leading man. He also knows a failed relationship with Maria could poison the set, and he won't sabotage his career for a woman who's already walked away from him once. Given time, maybe they can be cooperative colleagues or friends - possibly even best friends - but not lovers again. No matter how much he aches for her.For years, they don't touch off-camera. But on their last night of filming, their mutual restraint finally shatters, and all their pent-up desire explodes into renewed passion. Too bad they still don't have a future together, since Peter's going back to Hollywood, while Maria's returning to her native Sweden. She thinks she needs more than he can give her, but he's determined to change her mind, and he's spent the last six years waiting. Watching. Wanting. His shipwrecked Swede doesn't stand a chance.Praise for Olivia Dade'An absolutely witty, swoon worthy behind the scenes romp! Delightful from beginning to end!' Julie Murphy'This slow burn romance had me falling in love every step of the way' Meryl Wilsner'All the Feels leaves you swooning and eager for more!' Denise Williams'Joyful, clever and full of heart . . . all the things I love about romance' Rachel Lynn Solomon'Whip-smart dialogue, scorching chemistry, and side-splitting humour . . . This author is an absolute gem!' Mia Sosa'Hilarious and poignant at the same time' Cat Sebastian'Full of humour, heart and heat' Kate Clayborn

'One of the best!' Julia Quinn, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton seriesA new series by Mary Balogh, bestselling author of The Westcott series. If you loved Bridgerton, you'll adore Mary Balogh. The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs-by his own son. As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor.So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn't look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It's only when Gwyneth Rhys-the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him-holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family.It is Gwyneth's loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin's war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?Praise for Mary Balogh 'A grand mistress of the genre' Romantic Times'Balogh is the queen of spicy Regency-era romance, creating memorable characters in unforgettable stories' Booklist'Mary Balogh sets the gold standard in historical romance' New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz'A romance writer of mesmerising intensity, Mary Balogh has the gift of making a relationship seem utterly real and utterly compelling' Mary Jo Putney