fuonlyknew

The Captain’s Crush

by Freda Ann

(A Bliss Cay Novella, #6)
Publication date: June 13th 2025
Genres: Sweet & Clean Romance/Christian Romance/Contemporary Romance

Amelia Marks met her first love, Lewis, on summer vacation twenty-six years ago as a teenager, but their future goals kept them apart once they left Bliss Cay.

Now a successful middle-aged widow, and mother to a teenage daughter, her career brings her back to the island, the same place where she met Lewis. After he pulls her over in his police car, she’s stunned when he insists they’ve never met.

Flat out mad that he’s making her feel like a complete stranger, considering the summer they shared together, Amelia is determined to leave her feelings for him in the past. That was before Amelia discovers she’s now his new boss at the Bliss Cay Police Department and his name is not Lewis, it’s Jesse, who shares a striking resemblance to the boy who stole her heart all those years ago.

This mid-life love story is about heartbreak, family bonds, and some unexpected new beginnings with a happily ever after ending.

(All books in this series are ‘standalone’ beach town love stories with new main characters in each book.)

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Snapping back from my little trip down memory lane, a blaring siren pierces my helmet. I momentarily pull my gaze from the road to check the sideview mirrors for the cause.

I catch a glimpse of the police car behind me and ease my bike into the safety zone out of its way. Upon doing so, the marked car pulls behind me. I come to a stop putting the kickstand down and shutting the engine off.

Seriously? Relaxing my arms I force a breath out and rest my hands on my thighs waiting for the cop to approach me.

Hearing footsteps closing in, I turn to face them. Despite my helmet blocking a clear view, I notice a tall, muscular figure stopping a few feet in front of my bike.

Meeting his gaze, I see a man in uniform wearing dark sunglasses and his department issued hat resting his hands on his belt.

“Ma’am.” He gives me a slight nod. “I need your license and registration, please.”

Resisting the urge to ask the common question of ‘did I do something wrong officer’, I settle for, “No problem.”

Unzipping my vest I reach for the inside pocket, where I keep the paperwork. Pulling out what I need, I hand it to him and sit up tall while he looks them over.

As he scans my driver’s license and motorcycle registration, I furrow a brow studying his facial features. But when he senses me watching him, he lowers his hand and tips his head up staring back at me.

“Is something wrong?” The cop asks.

Curiosity gets the best of me the more I hear his voice. “Have we met before?”

Giving me a boyish grin as if he thinks I’m flirting with him, he dips his head and chuckles. “Uh, no ma’am. I can assure you we’ve never met, at least not until now.”

He hands me the papers when I say, “I guess not then. So, was I speeding or something?”

“Technically Ms. Marks you were going a little over the speed limit, but that’s not why I stopped you. There’s been a bike just like yours driving recklessly and cutting drivers off for a few weeks now. I’m just trying to keep everyone on our island safe.”

“Well, I appreciate that.”

He takes a step, stopping next to me while pulling his glasses halfway down his nose, looking over the top of them. “I hope you enjoy your stay ma’am.”

Peeking at the name tag on his chest, I state, “Thank you Officer Lewis. I’m sure I will.”

When he eases his car around me, I slide the papers back into my pocket. My brows raise up as his voice and what I could see of his eyes tickle a memory. “Wait, Officer Lewis? They wouldn’t use first names here, would they?”

I stare at the back of his patrol car as he drives away. That can’t be my Lewis, no way. He didn’t live here when we met. I could never forget his voice, eyes, or smile even after all of these years.

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About Author Freda Ann:

Freda Ann is fondly known for her sweet/clean, HEA RomComs. Her loyal fans and reviewers have compared several of her books to Hallmark movies. Many have hit #1 in multiple categories after release.

She writes relatable, faith and family based love stories which include kids and adorable dogs. Her writing style appeals to people of all ages. Her books will take you on an emotional journey with likable characters, and dreamy settings you’ll wish you could visit.

After retiring from a career in the law enforcement field, Freda feels blessed to be able to write and self-publish her stories for everyone to read. She adores her large family, 5 children and 9 grandchildren, and hosts monthly family gatherings.

To hear about new releases, please follow her on Amazon and also on Goodreads.

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Their Mended Hearts

by Angie Cole

(Cardinal Creek)
Publication date: March 25th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

He’s a firefighter haunted by tragedy; she’s a nurse who never stopped loving him. Jon and Katie find themselves drawn back together, bound by shared history and the promise of healing and hope.

Jon Clemmons, a devoted firefighter, carries the heavy burden of guilt from losing his sister in a tragic accident. His pain runs deep, and he’s learned to keep others at a distance, afraid to let anyone see his scars.

Katie Deluca, a compassionate nurse, and Jon’s first love, has her own wounds, but she’s never stopped caring for him. When they’re reunited at a family wedding, old sparks reignite, and with them, old hurts that need mending.

As Jon and Katie draw closer, Jon’s troubled past, family secrets, and a volatile temper threaten to unravel the bond between them. Katie’s unwavering love gives him hope, but fears of reliving their painful past linger.

Will they find strength in each other to break free from the grip of old grief, or will their love slip away once more?

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Jon Clemmons stepped out of the ambulance. The blaze roared, but his heart pounded louder. He pulled on his his helmet, feeling its weight from the familiar, heavy pressure settle onto his head. The cold metal pressed against his skin, reminding him of the battles he had fought and the scars he carried. Each scratch and dent on its surface echoed the burdens of memories and old wounds that never healed. memories and old wounds. For over fifteen years, he had protected Cardinal Creek, Texas. But since his sister’s tragic death five years ago, the air was different. It crackled with an urgency that gnawed at him.

While he waited for the Chief’s instructions, his hands trembled. Sweat coated his body, trickling down his spine like icy fingers. He clenched his fists tight. His sharp nails dug into his palms. The pain reminded him he was alive. He had to keep moving, even with despair wrapping around him. Since his sister Shelly died, time has only made the pain worse. Her screams are forever engraved in his mind. Her desperate cries for help from the SUV echoed in his mind. Her desperate cries for help from the SUV echoed in his mind. They played over and over, a cruel soundtrack in his nightmares. He strode toward the searing inferno with purposeful intensity, each step a testament to his resolve. Flames roared from the second-floor window. This sight reminded him of his failure to save his sister. Guilt and despair suffocated his heart.

As he neared the structure, the intense heat pressed against his skin. The flames’ smoky tendrils seemed to reach out to him. He positioned himself by the fire engine, ready to act. He scanned the fire for any sign of life. He clung to hope, even as despair crept in. A murmur, a sigh – anything would be enough.

He closed his eyes, trying to block out his sister’s panicked voice as she pleaded for help. Was it his imagination, or could he hear someone? The flames shooting from the house drew Jon in, even though his instincts told him to stay away. Then he heard it again—the faint but desperate cries of a little girl trapped inside. Jon rushed into the blazing fire, ignoring the Chief’s order to stay out. The roaring flames and thick smoke threatened to engulf him. I failed Shelly, so I can’t fail anyone else.

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About Author Angie Cole:

My journey as a romance author is deeply rooted in my personal experiences of love, loss, and resilience. The profound impact of the losses I have endured, including the passing of my grandparents and my parents, has shaped my perspective on life and love.

My own love story is one of healing and finding joy after heartache, and it mirrors the themes I explore in my novels.

As a survivor of grief and a believer in the power of love, I channel my experiences into crafting stories that resonate with the complexities and triumphs of the human heart. My writing is a testament to the idea that love can emerge from the most unexpected places, offering hope and healing. The one thing that can be learned from grief is that it’s a very personal experience and isn’t the same for every person.

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Finding Charlie

by Jess Allen

Publication date: May 6th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Charlotte Evans has never belonged. Her entire existence has been one wrong turn after another. When faced with a hard look at her future, she decides to change her fate. Desperate to not be the reason her boyfriend doesn’t pursue his dreams, she takes off in search of her own.

Ten years later, at the height of his baseball career, Liam “The Rocket” Hayes has it all. Fame, fortune, and he’s finally stopped pining for the lost girlfriend from his youth. But when coincidence leads him straight to her, Liam gets more than he bargained for, including a ten-year-old son.

In a story about first loves and second chances, follow Charlotte and Liam as they find their way back to each other, one pitch at a time.

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For the rest of her life, whenever she closed her eyes, she’d see Liam’s face at that moment. Hurt and fury blended into anguish, his face twisted and eyes cold. Eyebrows narrowed in disdain.

“Hey there,” Jack said from behind her. He stuck his hand out to Liam. “I’m Jack, and you are?”

Liam didn’t acknowledge him or his offer of a handshake. Instead, he turned and walked away from Charlie. She watched as he got into his car and peeled out of the parking lot, disappearing from sight. She watched the space where he stood, as if watching would bring him back.

“Charlie, you look like you saw a ghost.” Jack moved in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “You all right? Who was that?”

Her face fell, the weight of what she’d done bearing down on her. She wanted to crash to her knees and let the heaviness blanket her until she couldn’t feel it anymore.

“Hey, let’s get home,” Jack pleaded gently.

“Go ahead,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll meet you there. I just …I need a minute.”

Questions plagued Jack’s face, but he didn’t object.

The stars kept shining; the crickets continued to chirp. Families hugged their kids for a job well done and piled into cars to go home. Time passed, crowds dispersed. She waved off the coach when he told her he was shutting down the lights. The world moved on unaffected while Charlie’s carefully built life crashed and burned around her. She found herself on the pitcher’s mound, her bare legs covered in goosebumps despite the late summer heat.

She screamed into the night sky. She stomped and kicked at the dirt. Dust billowed around her like a tornado. She flailed her arms and pounded her feet while ugly tears slid down her cheeks. Why? What will happen now? Bile rose in her throat, and her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

Impossible questions throttled her, which only made her cry harder. What-ifs circled her like vultures. She thought of Matty and their wonderful life with Ada and Sam. What would she tell them? She plopped to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. She wanted to curl into a ball and sleep. Every muscle in her body ached with exhaustion. The emotional turmoil of the evening finally catching up to her. She longed to be held, to smell Rachel’s lavender perfume as she held her close.

Tires in the gravel lot startled her out of her misery, and she watched as Liam climbed out of the driver’s seat and strode toward her.

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About Author Jess Allen:

Jess Allen is an avid reader and has been writing since she was a child. She loves romance novels and psychological thrillers. She loves to talk books, Gilmore Girls and Veronica Mars. You can find her on instagram: jesswritesromance

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Head Over Heels In Love

by Mariah Ankenman

(Jackson Family Distillery, #4)
Publication date: May 8th 2025
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Catching a woman breaking into his car was not the way Ace Jackson wanted to start his day. Finding out she’s the new hire at his family’s distillery is even worse. Sure, she said she mistook his car for her’s, but there’s something about Millie he doesn’t trust. Too bad all his siblings vetoed his vote. What’s the point of being the oldest if you don’t get to be in charge?

Millie Danes told the grumpy Adonis she wasn’t breaking into his car, but did he believe her? No! The guy has a stick up his butt bigger than the pine trees gracing the Rocky Mountains. Unfortunately, he’s her new boss or she’d try and see if she could melt that icy exterior. But she has more on the line than a job, she needs funds to start her dream. Her very own aerial studio.

When a theft is discovered at work, Ace enlists Millie’s help as a spy in exchange for the money to build her dream. Their tentative truce becomes complicated when desires fan the flames of temptation. In the battle of love, who will fall first?

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“Millie!”

Her shouted name came from beyond the swinging door. Irritation rose, winning the war over guilt as she quickened her pace. “Ugh, coming!”

She pushed through the door into the back, muttering to herself. “Get your boxers out of a bunch you grumpy asshole. It was five damn seconds.”

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Ace demanded the second the door stopped swinging.

“Well, I was working, until you pulled me back here to yell at me like an angry schoolmarm.”

Confusion drew his brow down. “What the…never mind. How is pulling some dangerous stunt and almost breaking your fool neck working? Last time I checked this was a bar, not some ridiculous stunt show.”

That was it. She knew the guy was her boss, but he was being a giant dick. No one talked to her that way.

“First of all, I wasn’t about to break anything. Before you rushed in and grabbed me—”

“Saved you.”

She arched one eyebrow in disbelief. “Is that what you thought you were doing? Saving the helpless damsel in distress? I got news for you buddy. I have been bottle-walking for years. I know how to fall from the bottles safely. Provided some jackass doesn’t grab me off them and tweak my back.”

His angry demeanor disappeared in an instant. Ace took a step forward, eyes scanning her body as his voice softened. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Shocked by the sudden switch—and his concern—she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

The sudden grab had surprised her and put her off kilter, but he hadn’t injured her back.

He glanced into her eyes, stealing her breath as she saw the unmasked worry filling them. Wow. Who knew Mr. Ice had feelings?

“Really, Ace,” she said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “I’m okay.”

He glanced down at her hand on his arm. The air in the room thickened. A rush of heat filled her. A bolt of electricity shot through her body, her fingers tingling against his warm skin. She quickly pulled her hand back, clenching it into a fist and placing it behind her.

What the hell was that?

Pushing the moment away, Millie cleared her throat. “I know how to fall safely off the bottles. I promise you I would have been fine.”

Ace shook his head, blinking a few times before the angry scowl returned to his face. “Why the hell were you on top of those bottles in the first place? We pay you to work, Millie. Not goof around.”

And there went all her warm fuzzy feelings for this man. Jeeze, it was like Jekyll and Hyde with him.

“I was working.” She lifted onto her toes, still not high enough to be eye to eye with the Grumpy Green Giant. Lifting a finger, she poked him in the chest. “If you take a peek out that door you will see.”

Ace glanced down at her finger, raising a brow when he looked back up at her.

Maybe poking her boss wasn’t the best idea, but he was being a jerk, and she didn’t like to be pushed around. Especially not when she was making him a ton of money.

“Look,” she huffed, flopping back onto flat feet and pushing the door open a crack. “See all those people rushing to get the new drink special? I did that. It’s called creative marketing.”

Ace leaned over her. His chest pressing against her back, the heat radiating off his body nearly suffocating her with its warm, intoxicating scent. Dammit! Why did he have to be so hot? Normally it didn’t matter how attractive a person was, if they were an ass, she wasn’t attracted to them. Her body didn’t get that memo with Ace. Didn’t matter. Wasn’t like she was going to do anything about it.

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About Author Mariah Ankenman:

Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her.

Mariah loves to lose herself in a world of words. Her favorite thing about writing is when she can make someone’s day a little brighter with one of her books. To learn more about Mariah and her books visit her website www.mariahankenman.com

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.