Category Archives: Contemporary

The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young 

The Fragile Ordinary by Samantha Young 

I am Comet Caldwell. And I sort of, kind of, absolutely hate my name. People expect extraordinary things from a girl named Comet. That she’ll be effortlessly cool and light up a room the way a comet blazes across the sky.
But from the shyness that makes her book-character friends more appealing than real people to the parents whose indifference hurts more than an open wound, Comet has never wanted to be the centre of attention. She can’t wait to graduate from her high school in Edinburgh, Scotland, where the only place… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Sexual harassment & threats of rape
  • Child abuse & neglect
  • Drug use
  • Overdose
  • Parent with cancer
  • Bullying

Play On by Samantha Young 

Play On by Samantha Young 

Nora O’Brien chased a dream from Indiana to Scotland, so sure it was the right thing to do. Three years later she was left in her adopted country with nothing to her name but guilt and regret. Until Aidan Lennox entered her life. Older, worldlier, a music producer and composer, the sexy Scot should never have made sense for Nora. But somehow in each other, they found the light they were looking for, the laughter and the passion—the strength to play on despite their past losses… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Child abuse
  • Childhood cancer

Every Little Thing by Samantha Young 

Every Little Thing by Samantha Young 

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy. Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Cheating

Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young 

Echoes of Scotland Street by Samantha Young 

Shannon MacLeod has always gone for the wrong type of man. After she drifted from one toxic relationship to the next, her last boyfriend gave her a wakeup call in the worst possible way. With her world shattered, she’s sworn off men—especially those of the bad-boy variety. Cole Walker is exactly the sort that Shannon wants to avoid—gorgeous, tattooed, charming, and cocky. But his rough exterior hides a good man who’s ready to find “the one.” He’s determined to pull Shannon from her self-imposed solitude and win her heart… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Rape recounted
  • Child abuse & neglect recounted
  • Abusive relationship recounted

Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman

After surviving a turbulent childhood, Mara Foster has finally gained independence and success as a painter. Now in her late twenties, she lives alone, still burdened by a troubled past involving a teenage affair with an older man and the tragic loss of her college boyfriend. But when Mara meets Hugo, the walls she has built around herself begin to crumble. Despite herself, she starts to fall in love and realizes she must either confront her dark secrets or be consumed by them. And either way, she risks losing Hugo and her second chance at happiness

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Anxiety
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of a boyfriend recounted

Just Business by Anna Zabo

Just Business by Anna Zabo

Justin White has the smarts, grit, and determination to succeed in the corporate world despite his colourful hair and eyeliner. Too bad his new employer’s prickly domineering CFO thinks otherwise. Haunted by an accident that left him with a wounded leg and broken heart, Eli Ovadia needs things neat and controlled. Justin is messy, whip-smart, and pushes all of Eli’s buttons. But taming that brash man is out of the question. One hot encounter at the office unlocks their smouldering desire, and sends them spinning into a relationship neither expected, but is that enough to overcome the scars of their past?

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Chronic leg injury from childhood car accident

Double or Nothing by Cari Z and LA Witt

Double or Nothing by Cari Z. and L.A. Witt

Rich Cody joined the U.S. Marshals to hunt down bad guys, not babysit witnesses. Orders are orders, though, and now he’s protecting a hacker with ties to the Albanian and Sicilian mobs. It’s just another exciting day in WITSEC. Leotrim Nicolosi was born into a world of crime and bloodshed. When that bloodshed hits too close to home, taking down Leo’s boyfriend—the son of a notorious mob boss—Leo is determined to destroy the Grimaldi family. He’s got evidence that will send every last Grimaldi to prison, he’s got the family’s wealth in an electronic… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Gun violence
  • Explosion
  • Military service recounted

The Other Women by Erin Zak

The Other Women by Erin Zak

Cecily Yates should love her husband, but doesn’t. She should leave him, but hasn’t. Instead, she leads a safe life in Chicago and sees Willow Carmichael on the side. When Willow moves for a job opportunity in Las Vegas, their love affair comes to a screeching halt, leaving Cecily broken, guilty and confused. Francesca Lopez has everything she needs: family, friends, a great job, and glittery non-stop Las Vegas excitement. If she’d known her perfect life was going to be flipped upside down when none other than Willow Carmichael tore her way into it, she would’ve guarded her… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Infidelity
  • Gambling addiction
  • Miscarriage mentioned
  • Death of a parent mentioned
  • Car accident recounted

Beautiful Accidents by Erin Zak

Beautiful Accidents by Erin Zak

Stevie Adams doesn’t believe in fate, not after losing her parents in a car crash. Now twenty-eight and a star in the Chicago improv scene, Stevie puts career first. No one’s going to get in the way of her New York City dreams. When her friends beg her to tag along to go see Constance Russo, a deaf psychic, Stevie begrudgingly agrees, as long as no one makes her get a reading.
American Sign Language interpreter Bernadette Thompson has two priorities: caring for her mother and working with her best friend, Constance Russo. But when the headstrong Stevie Adams.. Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings

  • Death of parents in a car accident

Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata 

Ruby Santos knew exactly what she was getting herself into when she signed up to write a soldier overseas. The guidelines were simple: one letter or email a week for the length of his or her deployment. Care packages were optional. Been there, done that. She thought she knew what to expect. What she didn’t count on was falling in love with the guy.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Parental abandonment
  • Military enlistment & deployment