Odette Stone

He’s a professional hockey player trying to survive on his new team. I’m just trying to survive. I’m down to my last dollar. I live day-to-day in a world that doesn’t care. Despite my bad luck, I’m a fighter. I never give up. I never stop trying. Ryan Parker's wealth and generosity, sets him apart from anyone I know. Yet, I don’t trust him. It’s nothing personal. I trust no one. But when my bad luck takes a turn for the worse, one person shows up. Ryan Parker. I do not understand why he bothered because the guy has enough of his own issues to deal with. But I don’t have a choice. I need him. It’s a matter of survival. His friendship changed everything. It changed me. I started to believe in myself. I allowed myself to trust. And for the first time, in a long time, I felt my heart beat again. In the game of love, winning is harder than it looks. I don’t know the rules. I don’t know how to win. But I’ll play my heart out until the whistle blows. Home Game.

I’ve never been in love. I’ve never had an orgasm, but I’ve faked plenty. I want to experience love.  Real, passionate love. I don’t want to die. It’s funny what blurts out of your mouth when the plane you’re on is going down, and I didn’t hold back with my seat mate when my plane decided to crash. My hysterical confessions didn’t faze the muscular stranger that sat beside me.  In fact, he promised if we survived, he’d give me my first orgasm.   We survived. I came. And then he left without telling me who he was. On the first day of my job, I stood in front of the Vancouver Wolves hockey team and called out a number.  #33. Imagine my shock when he skated forward. Max is an incredible hockey player, whose wild, out-of-control antics have almost derailed his career.  So many secrets shroud his past and continue to threaten his future.   Now he’s my secret.  And that secret could ruin everything.   Puck Me SECRETLY.  Some secrets are too big to keep. Intended for adult audiences only.

He's a gifted hockey player who can't get his act together. The moment I heard about Levi Ziegler, I had a bad feeling in my gut. As a seasoned sports agent, I just knew he was going to be trouble. But despite my reservations, as a favor to the GM of the Vancouver Wolves, I agreed to sign this young, wild player as a client. One reckless night, One terrible mistake, and suddenly my entire world, and everything I have worked for, is on thin ice. Thanks to my rookie. I shouldn’t work with him professionally, because I can't seem to keep my hands off him. The more tangled our lies get, The more complicated our relationship becomes. Can I figure out how to get him signed with the team, while keeping him out of my bed and my heart? He's a high risk rookie, and he's a liability I can't resist.

He's a professional hockey player that lives on the edge. I prefer to play life by the rules. I’m the personal assistant at a sports agency that no one notices. Unless they need coffee. I don’t like sports and I like professional athletes even less. I’m indifferent to the mostly male clientele, except for one. Mica “the savage” Petrov. When it comes to wild antics, Mica is the biggest offender of them all. He’s reckless, wild and carelessly charming. I’m mortified that I find him attractive. But it doesn’t matter because the guy hasn’t taken a second look at me. Not once. In two years. Mica's career jeopardizing situation requires drastic measures to be taken to keep him in the game. He’s got money, I’ve got debt and my boss has a crazy idea. Which is how I found myself stepping up to save him from himself. But at what cost? How long can I keep fighting my attraction? What ghosts from his past is he brawling with? All I know is that I need to defend my heart before this big defenseman steals it away. Can we win this game? Or is it too late for either of us? The Penalty Box: Fighting Love Has Consequences.

Free Vancouver Wolves novella for newsletter subscribers. Originally published in the Holiday Loves anthology.

My name is Beth Stirling, and I’m an anti-socialite. While the rest of the world, is trying to get into my parent’s inner circle. I’ve spent my life trying to escape it. But life outside of that privileged bubble is a struggle. My relationship ended after my boyfriend cheated on me. I was fired by my boss because she was the other woman. I moved from his penthouse to a horrible one-bedroom. And now I’m being coerced into helping my dad’s political campaign. Porter, a Navy SEAL, came into town to get his ex-girlfriend back. In an unfortunate turn of events, while he bailed me out of jail, I forced him to be play the part of my fake boyfriend. But I might have been pushing it, when I announced him as my fake fiancé to the entire world. As my lies intertwine us -- the mess I’m making is getting bigger. It’s getting harder and harder, to tell what is real and what is fake. But when things take a dangerous turn, There is only one person I want to turn to for protection. Whatever you do, don’t fall in love.

He's a professional hockey player that lives on the edge. I prefer to play life by the rules. I’m the personal assistant at a sports agency that no one notices. Unless they need coffee. I don’t like sports and I like professional athletes even less. I’m indifferent to the mostly male clientele, except for one. Mica “the savage” Petrov. When it comes to wild antics, Mica is the biggest offender of them all. He’s reckless, wild and carelessly charming. I’m mortified that I find him attractive. But it doesn’t matter because the guy hasn’t taken a second look at me. Not once. In two years. Mica's career jeopardizing situation requires drastic measures to be taken to keep him in the game. He’s got money, I’ve got debt and my boss has a crazy idea. Which is how I found myself stepping up to save him from himself. But at what cost? How long can I keep fighting my attraction? What ghosts from his past is he brawling with? All I know is that I need to defend my heart before this big defenseman steals it away. Can we win this game? Or is it too late for either of us? The Penalty Box: Fighting Love Has Consequences.

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, And I witnessed a crime. The police are failing to protect me. And my chance of survival isn't looking good. Andrusha, is the cold and dangerous leader of the Vancouver Russian mafia, He's also my best chance to make it to trial alive. The only thing we have in common, Is our shared enemy. This man is everything your mom warned you about. He's ruthless. He's cold. And he likes to be in control. I should be afraid of him. I should keep my distance. So why is he the only one who makes me feel safe? Who will protect me from my protector?

When my grandfather, a shipping tycoon, went missing, I quickly discovered that there are some problems that money can’t solve. And this frightening situation was one of them. I didn’t think things could possibly get worse, but then I woke up. To a monster standing over me. With his hand covering my mouth. My reluctant captor, Viktor, with his clipped Russian accent and scary looking guns, operates with military precision. Don’t even get me started on his rules. As he drags me across the globe, we are plunged into a dark world that is filled with danger and violence. But the conflict we are rushing towards, isn’t what scares me. What truly terrifies me, is how this man is starting to make me feel. My beautiful Russian monster. He’s the only thing standing between me and my worst nightmare. And I’m not sure that we will survive.

It’s not easy being the Donut Princess. Parties around the world. Unlimited budget. Living in a luxury hotel. Full-time security. Which was how I found myself being guarded by a Navy SEAL I hated. Aaron was bossy, as unrelenting an asshole as he was stupidly attractive. Nope. Not going there. Socialites don’t fall for the help. ... But those socialites haven’t seen a shirtless Aaron Walker. My name is Femi Payne, and I want my bodyguard. No one says no to the Donut Princess. Until him.

Not yet willing to admit that my relationship is on the brink of doom, I keep my head firmly planted in wedding planning hell. Matt, my fiancé, is just distracted. He’s busy at work. And if I could just pick my bridal colors, I’m sure everything will get back on track. I don’t know why he is acting so distant and erratic. And why did he invite his big, intimidating, hard-to-read, Navy SEAL friend, Jackson, to live with us? What is the secret they’re keeping from me? I’m valiantly hanging onto my fairytale future, and single-handedly trying to get Matt and myself down the aisle. But things are getting complicated. Jackson makes me aware of things. Things I’m not yet willing to admit. Like the fact that I’m lonely and hurt, and afraid that Matt isn’t the man I want to marry. I’m the good girl. I’m the one you bring home to your mom. I’m the virgin saving myself. And no matter what, I’m going to get my happy ending.

After I dropped my bombshell secret in front of a full church, Both Jackson and Matt left me standing at the altar. No one saw any of this coming. Especially not me. I’m about to become a single mom. And my future is no longer just about me, or what I want. I need to put my unborn baby’s needs first. Matt professes to love me. He is the safe, proper choice, offering us a future filled with sunny holidays, stability and a safe commitment. Everything Jackson offers me, comes from a place of duty, not love. Why won’t this man let me get close to his heart? Can I face a future that promises nothing but uncertainty and heartache? I’m not always good, and perhaps, your mom wouldn’t approve. But I’m going to find a life that’s right for my baby, And no matter what, I’m going to make sure my child gets a happy ending. Even if it feels like that choice will break my heart.