Showing results by author "Nicole Dykes" in All Categories

Best-selling novelist Karen Witemeyer joins award-winning authors Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese for this Texas-sized romance novella collection. Each of the authors' unique voices is on display in stories where courting couples leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.

He’s an influencer—whatever that means. He’s also stunningly beautiful with a feisty attitude, and I can’t deny that it intrigues me. But more importantly, he’s in trouble. I’m not like my brother. Except for being a cop, I don’t strive to save the entire world. However, I find myself compelled to save him. If he’ll calm down and just let me.

I know most would probably describe me as a little uptight, unwilling to change, set in my ways… The truth is, I just like my life the way it is—simple and predictable. I have everything I need—good friends, family close by, and the automotive business I've built from the ground up. I'm proud of the life I've made in this quiet, small town. Nothing needs to change. At least, that's what I believed up until the day Damon Deveraux, a lively and bold little whirlwind of a man in lip gloss and short shorts, saunters into my life and changes everything.

Life has been easy for me. Top of my class. Star quarterback of the football team. Every guy wants to be my friend, and every girl wants to date me. Yeah, life is pretty sweet. Except it’s not. It’s all fake. School comes too easy for me, and I’m bored. Football isn’t fun anymore. The guys I hang out with aren’t really my friends. And the girls? I don’t want to date them. The only one I want to date... He’s a little bit...hostile.

Sean is a normal guy. Has a great job as a photographer. Drives a new car, but not overly flashy. Has his small group of friends. Yeah he's just your run of the mill average Joe. Except, is anyone really all that normal? The secrets Sean harbors run deep. Stemmed from agony deep inside and a thirst for vengeance. Melody is perceived as the beautiful spoiled princess that fell for a beautiful, confident stranger many years ago. Two polar opposites. One night that changed everything without either of them knowing it. Can love conquer all? With the help from a mysterious stranger, Adele.

I'm the Rookie. That's how they want to label me. The new guy. But I'm damn good at what I do. I don't have anything to prove—except maybe to him. I've watched his career for years. So yeah, maybe I want to impress him a tiny bit. But I also can't help riling him up and ruffling his feathers. He wants me to do things his way, but I don't work like that. I may be the Rookie, but I'm about to school the Ace.

I'm a fan—how could I not be? And not just a fan of racing. I can't help but be swept up by the lives of celebrities. Wondering if they really have it so much better or if something is missing. Now that Maverick isn't just that hot racer I've followed for years and is instead my friend, I'm starting to see the answer. We always want what we don't have.

Here, it's different from my crazy, loud, glitzy life. It's quiet and peaceful. No one seems impressed with my celebrity. No one is less impressed than the sexy, aloof member of the cleaning crew. He couldn't care less who I am or why I'm here. He's convinced I'm one of the fortunate ones—and I suppose I am. I've had it all—big houses, the best care, money, fame, and shallow adoration... but I've never been loved. I've never known if people like me for who I am underneath it all or just for my money and fame. And to me... that seems awfully unfortunate.

The emo kid, the loner, the cynical wallflower with an attitude. It's no secret that I've never quite fit in. But it's glaringly obvious now that I've moved to this Podunk small town that seems to run entirely on sugar, friendliness, and cheer. (And cows, an ungodly number of cows.) I hate it—this place where everyone knows everyone, and I'm still the outsider. Who wants to fit in anyway? I've never really tried, never even thought I wanted to…until I met him. Jimbob is living his best life out here, farming the fields of Kansas, well and truly happy. And I just don't get it.

Spark of Hope: A bi-weekly trauma support group. This is my nightmare. When I think of a support group, I think of sad people sitting around talking about their feelings and nothing changing. And yet, when my brother and his best friend, who happens to be a therapist, presented the idea of holding the meetings at my gym, I caved. Because I, Benjamin Price, have always tried to rescue the people in my life. But I can’t. I’ve usually failed them.

I have a secret. We all have secrets. I’m nothing special. It just so happens, however, that my sworn enemy also knows my secret. He’s the absolute worst person to know this, and there’s nothing I can do about it. What he does with this information is totally out of my hands and completely in his. This is why I’ve never let anyone in. I don’t trust easily. I keep to myself. I’m closed off, angry—guarded.

I’ve always been a helper, someone who sees the world in a brighter light than others do, who tries to show everyone there’s good in this world. So when I meet Henry, I immediately make it my mission to show him how great the world can be if he’ll only accept a little help. Easier said than done. But I’ve always liked a challenge.

I like to party; to have a good time. Life’s too short not to. I learned that when I lost my grandpa. He told me to have fun while I can, and I intend to. Though sometimes when you’re having a good time, you forget others may see you as irresponsible. And sometimes you screw up. I’ve definitely screwed up a time or two, but I’m still determined to have fun. I’m hoping I’ll convince my best friend, Camden, to do the same along the way. He’s too serious. Too focused. Too busy taking care of everyone to just relax. And that’s where I come in.

I had everything; I was going to college, having a blast, enjoying myself, and not taking much seriously. But then, two years ago, everything changed. A car wreck destroyed my life. It sent me into a total tailspin. I walked away, even when everyone said I wouldn’t be able to. But I haven’t recovered from it. The only thing I have left is my best friend, but I’m sure he’ll give up on me soon. Even so, I can’t fight the truth: I’m irrevocably ruined.

I’m the fun one. The loud one. The overly opinionated one with no filter. I’ve been unapologetically me since day one, and it hasn’t been easy. Kicked out of my home when I was sixteen, I chose to be alone rather than not be my true self. I found my family now and a job I love. I have everything, and yet I’m still an outcast in so many ways...

I'm the hotshot—both on and off the track. I know how to work the crowd and show off. And I'm good at it. I've had to become very effective at putting on a show. But my agent is not a fan of my over-the-top antics. So she did something I still can't believe... She called in the press—the media. Specifically, the reporter who hates everything I stand for. And now, he's tasked with showing the world a different side of me. Yeah... Good luck with that.

I screwed up. Big time. I hurt someone, and I hate myself for it. I'm barely eighteen and already completely exhausted. Tired of being haunted by secrets and guilt. My biggest regret, though, is keeping it all from Adam—my best friend, teammate, protector. My everything since I can remember.

All I’ve ever wanted is to go to college and get out of Kensley. That small town is all I’ve ever known. I want to be free to be myself, not stifled by small minds in the football-loving town where I grew up. Then I blew my one and only chance. Now, I’m just stuck. Stuck in small-town life with the same small-town people I’ve always known. Stuck where I don’t want to be. Constantly on the defense and hiding secrets about myself. To never be the real me.

Selfish. That's the only way Andrew will ever see me. An abused boy who grew up and became a defense attorney for the rich and famous. I'll never forget the look on his face when I told him. The hurt and disgust I saw in his eyes as I stomped all over his dreams. He left me behind, convincing me he'd hate me forever. Now, circumstances have brought me back into his life. I have one more chance to prove I'm not the man he thinks I am. I'll do anything to prove I'm worthy of him.

I'm the rebel, the bad one. I follow no rules on the track or anywhere else. I'm the obnoxious bad boy the fans secretly root for. I don't mind playing my role. I'm good at it, and it pays to be the dark to his light. Until the good boy starts to get to me. I'm confused and unsure of what I want, when it was all so clear before. They say good always wins, but is that truly the case? In the race between the far-too-pretty good boy and the angry bad boy, who will actually win?