Smartypants Romance

Living with her mother seemed like a good idea at the time. But Elliott Donovan's living arrangements are not working for her anymore. Desperate to get back on her financial feet after a divorce and out from under her mother's thumb, Elliott takes a job in the child care center at Weight Expectations, a local gym.It has everything she needs - family friendly hours, more pay than she expected, and a super cute trainer who just happens to have part of his house for rent.Abel DiSoto was living the good life until his wife walked out taking half of the family income with her. The blow to his ego was bad enough, but after a fire at the gym scattered Abel's clients, and consequently his commissions, he's stuck figuring out how to make ends meet, too. Renting out the master suite of his house to his new co-worker seems like an easy solution. They're both mature adults, they both have eight-year-old daughters, and their work schedules coordinate so they can lend each other a helping hand to ease the burden of single parenthood.The only downside? Living like a blended family when you're not actually a family can present some challenges.Welcome back to Weight Expectations, where the unexpected is likely to happen.'Cutie and the Beast' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #3 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

As far as Green Valley is concerned, Kim Dae disappeared into the Wraiths a decade ago. They were sort of right. Kim has spent her life since Jethro fighting her curious nature and trying to blend into the background. Unfortunately for her, a mysterious Maestro comes to town and takes quick notice of her for reasons unknown to anybody. The masked conductor, known simply as Devlin, was already a source of much gossip thanks to his reputation for getting fired. Now, his sudden interest in the quiet fourth chair cellist has added fuel to the rumor fire. The new conductor of the symphony needs to learn to control his temper and finish his latest musical masterpiece and only the reluctant star of his symphony can help him do that. If Devlin can't convince Kim to help to finish his latest composition he'll lose everything. Can Devlin and Kim compose without losing composure? The Treble With Men is book #2 in the Scorned Women Society series. It is a full-length romantic comedy novel, and can be read as a standalone.

Theirs was a forever kind of love, until it was stolen. ZORA LEFFERSBEE'S once perfect life is no longer perfect. Her tenure at the University is in question, funding for her employees uncertain, and her faux-fianc , Jackson James's unpredictability is wearing on her last nerve. Just when Zora is convinced things can't get more complicated, life proves her wrong. What the heck is he doing here? NICK ROSSI's complicated life is still extremely complicated. He's used to fighting for everything he has, but he's also used to winning. Now a man of power and influence, his return to Green Valley after so many years hasn't gone according to plan, especially with the woman he's always wanted. She can't know why I left, or why I'm back. A powerful woman intent on righting the wrongs of the world, Zora doesn't have time or energy to deal with the man who broke her young heart. A powerful man intent on righting the wrongs of the past, Nick can't help wanting to protect Zora, even if his devotion is unrequited. 'Been There Done That' is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Leffersbee series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

A painting, a panic room, a thief, and her lover ... whose job is to catch her. There are three things you need to know about Anna. 1) She's a bounty hunter with adrenaline junkie habits, 2) She's the "awkward" twin, and 3) She's a thief - kind of. Darius designs security systems for Cipher Security, and the strange and remarkable woman he met the night the painting was stolen is as intriguing a mystery as his hunt for the thief is. But the lady has no filter, and she knows she can't lie to the man who looks like a Disney Prince and kisses like fairytales are true, so she runs from the one person who may actually see her as the heroine of her own story. Code of Honor is book #2 in the Cipher Security series. It is a full-length romantic suspense novel, and can be read as a standalone.

If opposites do actually attract, then Gunnar Erickson and Frankie Reeves take the cake.Frankie Reeves is complicated, even though she won't admit it. She fills her days working as an ER nurse, taking care of her mom, and searching for the father she never knew. Anything else has no place in her perfectly compartmentalized, purposefully simple life. Attachments? No thank you. She has no time for that.Gunnar Erickson recently moved to Green Valley to train at Viking MMA with his brother Cage. Being the youngest of the Erickson clan, he's always felt like he has something to prove, and now that he's finished with college, it's his time to shine. But before he can step into the ring, a freak accident sends him to the ER and into the care of one Frankie Reeves.While he's immediately smitten, she pretends to be unfazed by this six-foot-three, two hundred and thirty-pound beef cake. Gunnar sets out to prove to Frankie that, not only does she like him more than she wants to admit, but he's not the uneducated, brute she assumes he is. To Frankie, he's the worst kind of complication, but that doesn't make it easy to stay away.'Beef Cake' is a full-length contemporary romance, can be read as a standalone, and is book #4 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

How do you know if a risk is worth taking?If you knew, there wouldn't be any risk. Following a disastrous appearance on a televised baking show, Sophie Copeland is certain things can't get any worse. Several calamities later, Sophie finds herself in Green Valley, Tennessee with no plan, no place to stay, and no prospects. But at least she has a temporary seasonal arrangement with the famed Donner Bakery. And that's something, right?It's not permanent, and it's not a home, but it's still something.Enter Joel Barnes, a Green Valley mystery, wrapped in rumors, and a whispered connection to the local notorious biker gang. Joel's got a name for being bad news, but he also has an apartment for rent.Intrigued by the dichotomy of Joel's reputation and sexy southern pull, Sophie can't help but be tempted, even though she knows--given her (bad) luck--she should stay far, far away. . .Yet as everyone knows, without risk, there's no reward.'No Whisk, No Reward' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#3 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Suzie Samuels is the only thing standing between Clifford and his life's work. All he has to do is change everything about her. Perception creates reality and Clifford Rutledge needs the irascible stripper to prove it.Suzie Samuels is set to prove once and for all she's more than Short Fuse Suze, stripper for the Black Demons and renowned motorcycle arsonist. If all it takes is hard work, then Suzie knows how to work it hard.But Suzie's scandalous spirit tests Clifford resolve. And Clifford's buttoned-up bullying is driving Suzie bonkers.Can Clifford move past their differences long enough to pull off the impossible task of changing the bare lady into a fair lady?More importantly, as perceptions shift and priorities change, will he want to?'My Bare Lady' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Scorned Women's Society series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Nothing about being a librarian prepared Thuy Nguyen for such a wide variety of casseroles. Or life in a small town. Or becoming a farmer.But what can she do when her catastrophe-prone best friend begs her for help? After all, Maddy has always been there for Thuy. It's time to return the favor.It's simple really, all she has to do is: learn everything about farming ASAP, save her BBF's family business from disaster, and avoid being caught staring at Maddy's biker brother, and his muscles, and his smile, and his soulful, sexy eyes.Oh yeah, and she should definitely not fall in love with him.Easy, right? . . . Right.'Prose Before Bros' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#3 in the Green Valley Library series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

It's hard to get revenge without getting a rap sheet.After Tempest Cassidy walks in on her husband banging her high school nemesis, her whole world gets turned upside down. She goes from being known as the Duchess of Muffins to the town crazy. Her new MO: revenge. Eventually, Tempest grows weary being arrested. Yet what choice does she have? If she's not angry, then she's simply . . . sad.Just as she decides to get her life back on track, in walks Cage Erickson, the new bouncer at the local strip club. He's scary-handsome and the polar opposite of her ex. She's attracted to him, but she's not looking for a rebound. He's attracted to her, but he's not looking for a serious relationship. So, they agree to be friends.But when lines get blurred in the friend zone, will they both get burned? Or will it be a TKO?'Stud Muffin' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#2 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

A man of few words, Ranger Jay Daniels values the calm, quiet solitude of the Great Smoky Mountains. Never quite fitting in with either side of his family, he prefers the company of birds and trees to people.Yeah, he'd most definitely prefer a bird--any bird, any bird at all, take a vulture for instance--to the human-tornado hybrid that just blew onto his peaceful stretch of the Appalachian Trail.The path of true love never has run smooth for Olive Perry. After getting dumped and promptly abandoned in the middle of her multi-month hike, Olive swears off men. Determined to finish the long trek by herself, she doesn't need a prince--or broody and taciturn ranger--to save her.Yet, when an early snowstorm threatens the mountains, and Ranger Daniels is charged with getting hikers to safety, that includes hot-tempered Olive Perry. Snowed in and forced to share an abandoned cabin, can Olive's heated intensity melt Jay's cool reserve?And if so, will this happy trail lead to true love? Or will their time together be just another bump in the road?'Happy Trail' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Park Ranger series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Steven Thompson had a bad year. A string of mean, kinky (the alarming kind, not the good kind), and crazy dating debacles combined with a boss who appears to be experiencing male-prenatal-psychosis means Steven's stress levels are high. They're so high, he's decided to quit dating and focus instead solely on his job.Until he meets Dr. Ken Miles.Doctor Ken Miles is having a fantastic year. His hard work is paying off in a big way . . . professionally. But his social life? Not so much.Until he meets Steven Thompson. Steven isn't so sure about Dr. Miles, but Ken is one hundred percent certain about Mr. Thompson. And even though both men know full well that the key to getting what you want out of life is hard work, they can't seem to make them--together--work.Will they ever get on the same page? Or just keep sticking to the same old script?'Sticking to the Script' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #2 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

Rian Thompson thought she joined the gym to get healthy. Little did she know she was about to add hundred and ninety pounds of swoonworthy abdominal muscles and arrogance to her life.Every day in Rians's life follows a predictable pattern, and she wouldn't have it any other way. She's got a nice job, a nice place to live, and a nice family - even if they are a little wedding-zilla-ish at the moment. She doesn't need anything spectacular to be happy. She just needs to get healthy - mentally, physically. . . and maybe spiritually if that happens. But she'll settle for two out of three until her sister finally gets hitched.Carlos Davies thought his life was perfect. Little did he know it was about to be turned upside down by a woman who is not his type.In Carlos's mind, his life is damn near perfect. He's got a great job, a great place to live, and a great stash of pick up lines that always work. It has occurred to him that maybe no one actually takes him all that seriously. But with these bulging biceps and thick, dark hair, does that even matter since he's never sleeping alone?Welcome to Weight Expectations, where great--and unexpected--things happen.'Weight Expectations' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book#1 in the Cipher Office series, Knitting in the City World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

I'm Levi Buchanan, and until five years ago, I thought the legend of my family's curse was a load of crazy, Southern nonsense.No curse can make you fall in love at first sight. No curse can force a true, deep, passionate, all-consuming love that will haunt you all the days of your life.Then I met Jocelyn Abernathy and I realized how completely wrong I was.The problem is, Jocelyn guards her feelings like well-armed soldier. She's the most beautiful, stubborn, infuriating woman I've ever met. Every time she talks, I want to kiss the living daylights out of her. But I can't.Because when we met, she didn't need true love. She needed a best friend. And that's what I've been to her... for five years.But when Jocelyn meets a handsome stranger her first day working at Donner Bakery and she lets him buy her a dill pickle cupcake, I realize with ominous regret that I may have missed my window with my best friend.If I can't get her to see past our friendship, my new curse may be to watch the love of my life move on with someone else.'Baking Me Crazy' is a full-length contemporary romantic comedy, can be read as a standalone, and is book #1 in the Donner Bakery series, Green Valley World, Penny Reid Book Universe.

There are three things you need to know about Shane P.I. 1) P.I. is not her last name, it's her job title, 2) her specialty is catching cheaters, and she always makes them pay, and 3) she's a superhuman - kind of.You see, Shane happens to be a below-the-knee amputee with a badass array of prosthetic legs, a hidden past, and a private investigator's license. She's tall, beautiful, doesn't blend, and she doesn't trust a soul.Then there's Gabriel, a security expert for Cipher Security. His job is to discover Shane's identity and find the money she appropriated from a particularly troublesome client. His time with the UN Peacekeepers left him with emotional scars and a fiercely protective streak that finds its focus on the beautiful P.I.A cheating husband, a stolen fortune, and a plot to hack data from thousands of people sends Shane into an uneasy alliance with Gabriel and the security company charged with recovering the money. The attraction between them is like an elephant in a room full of breakable things, and figuring out how to trust each other with their hearts and maybe their lives is the most fragile thing of all.