DECEMBER 2024 INDIE NEXT PICK! LIBRARYREADS TOP PICK FOR DECEMBER! Rosie writes romance novels and listens to Taylor Swift on loop. Aiden is a literary fiction writer who doesn't believe in happy endings. They're about to write a book together—what could go wrong? The Hating Game meets Beach Read in this sexy and hilarious enemies-to-lovers romance from a debut Peruvian-Tennessean voice. Rosie, an idealistic and passionate Peruvian American, leaves her Tennessee hometown to pursue her dream of making it in New York as a writer. But her plan is derailed when she ends up in class with her archnemesis and ex-crush, Aiden Huntington—an obnoxious, surly, and gorgeous literary fiction writer who doesn’t have much patience for the romance genre or for Rosie. Rosie and Aiden regularly go to verbal battle in workshop until their professor reaches her breaking point. She allows them to stay in her class on one condition: they must cowrite a novel that blends their genres. The reluctant writing duo can’t help but put pieces of themselves into their accidentally steamy novel, and their manuscript-in-progress provides an outlet for them to confess their feelings—and explore their attraction toward each other. When Rosie and Aiden find themselves competing against each other for a potentially career-changing opportunity, the flames of old rivalry reignite, and their once-in-a-lifetime love story is once again at risk of being shelved—unless they can find a way to end the book on their own terms.

Sometimes opposites attract so hard they miss. Lucas Barclay—charismatic Californian and fastidious photographer—is impatiently waiting for his commitment-phobic boyfriend to . . . well, commit. In the meantime, he rents a shared apartment, which is fine , except for the nocturnal cryptid also living there. Lucas spends his days working at his family’s horse sanctuary, contemplating the unexplained doodles left on his bathroom mirror, and dodging inkwells. Left on carpet . Armand Demetrio’s grim-dark comic Surrogate Goose has catapulted him to unexpected fame, and the British artiste finds himself abroad, teaching a workshop in California. He spends his nights dreading the international convention at the end of the summer (and the celebrity it entails), tarnishing his hard-won sobriety, and wallowing in the mystery of his elusive flatmate. Why would anyone need so much kale? And why does everything smell of lilac? Though conflicting schedules keep Lucas and Armand from meeting in person, tentative communication begins through text, Post-it notes, and muffins. But Armand will return to London soon, and he and Lucas might get clock-blocked. Can you fall in love with someone you’ve never met? **See this title's page on RiptidePublishing.com for content warnings.**

A broken football star. A determined baker. And a love neither saw coming. Camille never intended to fall for the handsome stranger who saw her tear-streaked cheeks and insisted on helping—a man as rugged as the mountains he works in and as rooted in football as her own battered heart. But after one humiliating breakup, a fierce warning from her boss, and Grandma’s beloved coaching center on the brink of closure, Camille has lost too much to let her feelings sideline her dreams. Liam just wants two days to pick up his new prosthetic arm and slip back into his self-made bubble, far from the gridiron glory he buried with his amputated arm. Yet when his old mentor begs him for a coaching rescue, Liam can’t turn his back on the only woman who believed in him. The last thing he expects is the woman from behind the bakery to be the fiery, determined coach fighting like crazy to save the program. Their chemistry is undeniable, their teamwork unstoppable—but falling in love now could risk everything, especially the futures of the kids counting on them. Will passion cost them a lifelong dream, or will one bold play seal their victory—in football and in love? A closed-door, rivals-to-lovers slow burn that proves sometimes the most powerful comeback isn’t on the field—it’s in your heart. For fans of Leah Brunner, Sarah Adams, and Annah Conwell, Emerald Bay Chefs romances are interconnected standalone small town romances that can be read in any order with minimal spoilers. You are guaranteed a happily ever after and no cheating, just swoony kisses and sizzling chemistry.

Their biggest project isn’t the building—it’s each other. Joy Holiday traded small-town life for a fast-paced city career a lifetime ago. She never intended to return to the dusty mining town her estranged mother called home. But when she inherits her mom’s crumbling building, she’s forced to confront the past she thought she’d left behind. The dilapidated structure symbolizes memories Joy would rather bury, and she plans to demolish it and move on for good—so she hires the guy with the best reputation in town. Charlie Hunnicutt is a hometown boy who has spent years painstakingly restoring each historic building brick by brick. Unbeknownst to Joy, the town’s passionate preservationist sees nothing but potential in the old structure. It’s a treasure, a piece of the town’s soul worth saving. So when Joy, with demolition on her mind, sweeps into town in her sleek BMW, it’s all Charlie can do to keep his cool. What should be a straightforward business transaction quickly turns into a battle of wills as the two butt heads at every turn. But while they clash over the building’s fate, an undeniable attraction begins to grow between them. As their connection deepens, Joy and Charlie are forced to face their conflicting visions and decide whether love can bridge the gap between their worlds. Where history clashes with the future, love might just be the blueprint. For fans of enemies to lovers, reverse grumpy sunshine, and swoony golden retriever heroes, The Fixer is a heartwarming small-town romance with plenty of spice … and, of course, a guaranteed HEA.

Grumpy fireman, meet your Sunshine! Grace does not need saving, especially not from a guy whose nickname screams danger. So why is she so drawn to Tox Ellis, the Darling Bay Fire Department’s hazmat guru? Tox knows how to keep volatile compounds from exploding, but apparently, he can't resist fiery Grace, the woman convinced he needs fixing. Will Darling Bay survive the sizzling chemistry between Grace and Tox? Who’ll be there to extinguish the inevitable flames? One hot firefighter meets (and lights) his match. Combustible? Oh, yeah. The first sweet and hilarious installment in the sizzling Firefighters of Darling Bay series by bestselling author (and ex-real life 911 fire dispatcher) Rachael Herron. Opposites attract in this small town romance! Dive into this heartwarming and hilarious contemporary romantic comedy, and you’ll be dreaming of a marina view—and a hot fireman—of your very own. Scroll up and click Buy Now! The Firefighters of Darling Bay series: Book 1: Blaze Book 2: Burn Book 3: Flame Book 4: Heat “Relationships are at the heart of women’s fiction, and Herron could teach a master class on creating them.” —Chicklit Central Level of fire protection needed: This romcom has delicious spice (you'll need a fan and a cold glass of water to douse yourself) but never fear, the spiciest scenes happen behind a closed door.

Ten hours… That’s how much time we spent together. How much time I got with the man whose bright eyes and sultry smile almost made me forget that I was sick. Six hundred minutes… That’s how long it took me to fall in love. Thirty-six thousand seconds... And then it was over. And all I wanted was more. More seconds. More minutes. More hours. More him. Ten hours… Such a small, insignificant amount of time. Yet those ten hours changed everything. *Ten Hours is the first book in a two part Duet. What Comes After is also now available!