Personal lives intersect with professional goals in this small-town workplace romance by bestselling romance author, Michele Lenard.

The goal was to prove I could be a success. Goals change.

Carter – People call me privileged. They’re not wrong, but my life isn’t as easy as they make it out to be. Especially now, with the fate of a small ski resort and the surrounding town resting on my shoulders. No wonder my receptionist called in a masseuse to relieve my tension. Long story short, it worked, although not in the way anyone was expecting. Now, on top of all my other burdens, I’m carrying around a secret that could render all my hard work useless. Let’s hope I’m as privileged as people think I am.

Sloane – Chasing my dream career wasn’t supposed to take so long. So, when the CEO of the ski resort had a job for me, I thought that might kickstart my career. Then I came face to face with the man, and realized my struggles were nothing compared to his. Through our time together I came to admire his determination, his heart, and other…things. It’s a dangerous thing to fall for the man who writes your paycheck, but is it just as dangerous to deny how I feel?

Paradise. Most of the time we assume it’s a place, but location isn’t everything.

Cade – Having my life mapped out for me means I don’t have much say in my future, so I figure I’ll enjoy the present. That’s why I’m squeezing in everything life has to offer before I take over the family business. My days are spent chasing an adrenaline rush on the mountain, and my nights with the endless buffet of tourists who pass through town. Perfect, right? I thought so, until Ms. PhD landed in front of me—literally—and looked at me like I’m more than just a tourist attraction. I liked that a lot, which means I need to keep my distance, so I don’t trap her in this town with me.

Cora – I’m not the kind of girl who’s easily distracted, which is what makes my interest in the town playboy so uncharacteristic. He’s never serious, and I don’t know any other way to be. Still, there’s something about his carefree, live in the moment attitude I find appealing. Freeing. It makes me want to follow his example and…have fun. He thinks he’ll be a bad influence on me, but what’s the harm in taking a page out of his playbook, just for the summer.

 This small-town, opposites attract romance will have you lusting after the guy who’s more than just a pretty face, and falling in love with his quirky hometown. 

Publicly, I'm a sports hero. Privately…

On the surface, I’ve got it all. I’m the starting goalie and Captain of the Colorado Bulldogs hockey team. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with. I can count an entire team of elite athletes as my friends. And according to the pundits, I’m an eligible bachelor.

That's the image everyone sees, but it’s just a role I play. A part dictated by my career. So, those questions I have about why I don’t crave sexual contact the way my teammates do–questions I’m afraid to ask with the world watching… I decided a long time ago it didn’t make sense to look for answers until after I retire.

Then I ran into him.

Tripp is loud, obnoxious, and full of confidence. Some people find his sass off-putting, but not me. I find it intriguing, and I admire his ability to be himself, consequences be damned. Apparently, I also admire the way he looks, since my eyes seem to linger on him longer than they should, and when he sets his sights on me…

Waiting for retirement to explore who I am seems like too big a sacrifice, so when Tripp offers to help me answer some of those questions about myself, I jump.

I'm tired of pretending to be Mr. Perfect… Tripp and his playboy antics might be just the thing I need to figure out who I am outside of hockey. The only problem is, everyone–including our mutual friends–see him as a bad pucking influence.

Thor meets Tony Hawk in this bi-awakening MM romance about a serious hockey goalie, a bratty skateboarder, a dare involving cake, and a lesson in how to use joysticks-for video games of course.

Author's Note: Bad Pucking Influence is a queer romance featuring hockey players, not a hockey book featuring lgbtq+ love. Fans of snarky playboys and gentle giants will enjoy this light-hearted, steamy yet touching love story. This spicy journey contains gay characters, same-sex romance, and themes of acceptance. It’s written as book two in the Colorado Bulldogs MM hockey series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it’s suggested you read book one first.

Superstition. su·per·sti·tion. noun.

A belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation. An irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature or God.A notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary.

Athletes are notoriously superstitious. Some don’t wash their gear. Others sleep with it. I’ve even heard of a guy that peed on the field to ward off evil spirits. But as far as I’m aware, my teammate Luca is the only guy whose ritual requires a more intimate activity.

I wouldn’t know that if I hadn’t stumbled into it by accident, and even then, I wouldn’t have thought my presence had any effect. But the next day he got on the ice and had one of the most spectacular games I've seen him play.

One of his best ever.

And it gives me an idea.

At first Luca objects. He’s embarrassed by the things he has to do to play well and doesn’t want to involve me in his sordid activities. But when he realizes there’s no other option he relents, and we become roommates to make things…convenient.

It was supposed to be a means to an end. A way to prolong his career. Things don’t go according to plan.

Now I’m harboring two secrets, both of which could hurt Luca and the team, and there’s no telling how deep the consequences will run if they come out. But one thing is certain—as the veteran player, he’s the one they’ll accuse of being a bad pucking roommate.

Fans of Loving the Legend will enjoy this double bi-awakening, MM romance about two teammates who have chemistry that extends beyond the ice, an unconventional roommate agreement, and a not-safe-for-work pair of dice. Bad Pucking Roommate is a romance featuring hockey players, not a hockey book featuring a romance. It's written as book three in the Colorado Bulldogs series, and while it can be read as a standalone, it's recommended you read the other books first.

Elliot Crawford is in love, but not with the man she planned to marry.

Elliot – Fleeing to Shane after my engagement ended was supposed to make me feel better. And it did, until I started wondering why my relationships never make me as happy as my friendship with him. Big mistake. Now when I look at him, I don’t just see my best friend, I see the sexy quarterback single women all over the country lust after. I’d be a fool to risk our friendship by trying to redefine it. So, why did I bait him into something more?

Shane – My teammates think a newly single Elliot will be a distraction heading into the playoffs, but just because my best friend is hot doesn’t mean I want her. Or it didn’t, until she dared me to touch her. Now I finally get what my teammates saw all along, but admitting it will make them question where my head’s at. The game and the girl are within reach, and I intend to win both. Good thing I’m trained to perform under pressure.

This standalone in the Mile High Romance Series contains characters that appear again in books 2-5, though it can be read at any time. Fans of Kane by Sawyer Bennet or Bad Reputation by Nicole Edwards will love this sports-themed, friends-to-lovers romance. Shane and Elliot’s Happily Ever After is full of laughter, steam, and a colorful cast of characters who help them see what they’ve been blind to for years.

Get all three books in the Colorado Bulldogs series in one complete box set.

Bad Pucking Timing - the story of the top rookie in the NHL draft, Niko and his coach's son, Xander, neither of whom was looking for a boyfriend but find they can't stay away from one another, even though their feelings could impact Niko's career and Xander's relationship with his father.

Bad Pucking Influence - the story of reserved goalie Noah and the bratty skateboarder, Tripp, who helps him discover himself, and ends up taking on his own demons in the process.

Bad Pucking Roommate - the story of how hockey prodigy Justus helps his childhood hero Luca overcome a crippling superstition that threatens his career.

Author's Note: The Colorado Bulldogs Series is three separate books about same-sex couples who find sizzling chemistry and emotional connections where they least expect them. These books are romances featuring hockey players, not hockey books featuring queer romance.

Lies of omission are still lies – so how do we know who we fell in love with?

Lisa – I never planned to write steamy romances, but what started as a way to pay the bills is now a pretty lucrative side hustle. That’s great for my bank account, but not so great for my dream of writing a children’s book. So, I took a job with an education company. Where better to learn the ropes, right? Things started off great, until I met my boss’ brother, who could be my next cover model. Best not to let that slip though, since I didn’t put romance novelist on my resume. My pen name protects my secret, but is it forcing me to live a lie?

Chris – I hate playing handyman for my brother’s fledgling company when my role is so much bigger, but I get his desire to succeed on his own merits. I’ll play along and pretend my contribution is limited to what I can do with my hands instead of my bank account. As far as excuses go it has merit, and even gives me reason to bump into the beautiful new writer, who I can’t stop thinking about. But getting close to her is so, so wrong, considering she doesn’t know I’m the one who writes her paycheck.

Our attraction is undeniable, but the secrets we harbor threaten to tear us, and my brother’s dream, apart.

Ever have someone get you so well it’s like looking in a mirror?

Cruz
Starting over is not what I had planned.

Those stories about magically becoming best friends with the person assigned to live with you… Yeah, that won’t be me. I already have a best friend. Even if I wanted a new one, Liam wouldn’t be it. He’s permanently grouchy, carrying a negative energy I don’t need since I’m finally in a good place. But I’ve never been good at ignoring when people need help, so I paste on a smile and play nice.

Predictably, Liam isn’t much of a talker, but after an unexpected accident he needs my help in other ways. Ways that offer me answers about myself. Ways that raise new questions about the football dreams I’ve been chasing since I was a kid. Ways that make me relive the past I want to ignore.

To say I’m confused is an understatement, but there’s one thing I know for certain…Liam is either the key to one door or the bolt that could prevent another from ever opening. And I have to choose which I want him to be.

Liam
Starting over is exactly what I need.

I can’t get any more invisible than I’ve been for the past few years, and I figure rooming with another person means at least one human on the planet can’t ignore me. Unfortunately, that human is Adonis personified, and not gay, so it’s looking like my invisibility streak might continue.

Then I suffer a minor accident, and Cruz’s hero complex comes out in full force.

I should be grateful to have someone to open my door and carry my books, but when you pair his selfless personality with that body… My mind starts to blur the roommate line, which makes his blur the line of not being gay.

My heart is already battered, and I doubt it can take rejection from the one person who broke down all the walls I’d built around it. That doesn’t mean I won’t try to give it to him anyway.

**Beautifully Fractured is a high-heat MM romance with medium angst that features a grumpy/sunshine relationship, forced proximity, hurt/comfort situations and a sexual-awakening. This is book one in a series of interconnected standalones. Though the main characters are athletes, this is not a sports romance. Rather, it's a romance that happens to feature people who play sports.

Happily-ever-after doesn’t come easy when two kids and a famously promiscuous ex are part of the equation…

Jen – I didn’t plan to stay single after my divorce. I would’ve liked to find someone special, but single moms aren’t exactly sought after, and since my ex dates enough for both of us, I owe it to our daughter to set a better example. And I did, for ten long years. Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting to meet someone, and I definitely wasn’t expecting that someone to turn my world upside down. But it’s not just my world that’s affected by the new man in my life, which means I may have to choose between my daughter’s happiness and my own.

Anthony – After my wife died, I swore I’d never put myself in a position to feel loss like that again. Besides, I could never replace the mother of my child. I never intended to break that promise, but my meddling son ruined my plans. Turns out, the kid’s a great matchmaker, but nothing is easy when teenagers are involved. Or the Internet. Now I’ve got to fight for the second chance I didn’t think I wanted, and prove to two very stubborn women that they should take a chance on me.

If you wanted more of Jen after Purely Novel Intent, now’s your chance to see how her happily-ever-after unfolds.

They say your true love should be your best friend. What happens if that person becomes your worst enemy?

Jason – I am drowning in happily ever after(s). My best friend and business partner, his brother, even my childhood neighbor, are all either engaged or married, making me the lone single guy in the group. I could live with that if I thought I’d find my own happily ever after, but she left my heart too damaged for that. And since she happens to be close with my partner’s new wife, I’m scared she’ll cost me my friends too. The worst part is, as much as I hate her for what she did to us, I think I still love her. Or the idea of her anyway.

Harper -My mother never recovered from a broken heart, which is why I swore never to fall in love. But I got careless. I let someone in, gave him my heart, and he ripped it out when he accused me of betraying him. I could’ve let it break me, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction, especially now that he’s back in my life. Unfortunately, seeing him again has unintended consequences, and now my carefully constructed façade is starting to crack. I’m scared to make myself vulnerable again, but I think I’m even more scared to live without him.

Sometimes you have to see yourself through someone else’s eyes to understand who you really are.

Colt – Life tackled me when I wasn’t looking. One minute I’m in the zone, preparing for what I hope will be another winning season, and the next I’m struggling to keep my focus on the game instead of the prim and proper beauty my agent hired to help me plan for life after football. Usually women flock to me, but this one I have to chase, and I can tell she won’t be easy to win. That doesn’t scare me. It terrifies me. I’ve disappointed every woman I’ve ever known by putting the game first, and now that I found something I want more than another ring, I’m not sure I’m man enough to win off the field.

Samantha – I’m no stranger to alpha males. In my line of work they come with the territory, and I’ve been around long enough to hold my own. That’s why the cocky football player with a reputation for scoring on and off the field is such a surprise. On the surface he’s the kind of guy who could ruin my credibility, but when he sets his focus on me, he lets me see the person behind the persona, and it’s someone I respect. Like even. I swore never to mix business with pleasure, but the perfectly imperfect ball player is hard to resist, which begs the question; is he worth breaking my one and only rule?