Back to Top

Tag Archives: Contemporary Romance Novel

posts about books with a contemporary setting

Because I Need You by Drew Duncan #BookFair #MMRomance #Romance #WriteLGBTQ

 

Ellis Baxter.

Widower. Single dad. Agency temp.

Aiden Munroe.

CEO. Difficult to work for. Utter jerk.

Ellis thought he knew exactly what to expect when he walked into the offices of Munroe Holdings as the new assistant to the CEO.

But he never expected this.

Because I Need You by Drew Duncan is a standalone in the MM Single Dad Romance Series 'Just Because'.

It's a hot boss/CEO/assistant gay romance set in England (UK) with a side of humour, steamy sex, and a cute kid thrown in.

Available free

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright ©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Meet a single dad who finds love in an unexpected place #Excerpt from Package Deal an anthology by BBB Publishings #BBBpublishings #Anthology

In this excerpt from the Package Deal anthology, the single-dad hero of Hacking Planet Fun makes a plea for saving a little girl.

"I object in the strongest terms." Brinn Halin came to his feet. "Abandoning a four-year-old to the imperial foster system is wrong."

"No one's abandoning her." Kam Zavala, Master of the Academy, leaned back in his chair near the end of the oval table. "She'll be returned to the imperial facility where we got her. She's unsuitable. There's no malice in the board's decision. It's simply a good decision for the Academy."

Could the man not hear how cold-blooded those words were? "And how will that good decision affect a little girl?"

Kam, like the seven others seated around the table, had eyes as lifeless as the flat black tabletop.

Brinn straightened. "Yes, the imperial services will house and educate her, but that's it. She'll be a number, not a person. We rescued Dresden Fasra because she's a HalfKin. She may be four, but her vocabulary is akin to a twelve-year-old." With the flick of a hand, Brinn cast a holographic chart into the center of the table. "Her dexterity, speed, and comprehension are off the charts compared to human students."

"We're familiar with HalfKin stats." With a curt wave, Kam dismissed the chart. "Intelligence and ability don't change the fact that she's not a good fit. She needs to go."

"What she needs is training only the Academy can give her."

"Training with whom?" Kam folded his hands on the table. "This child has been through three foster families in the Academy in as many weeks. Each one marked her as ungovernable."

"All that means is they couldn't manage her. She's spirited."

"Spirited?" Kam picked up his notereader. "According to the first family, Dresden Fasra is, and I quote, 'difficult, obstinate, impudent, and impertinent.'" He stroked upward on the reader. "The second found her 'insulting, insolent, and flippant.' The third family simply stated, 'tantrums.'" He tossed the device onto the table. "With those qualities in her record, no Sen'dai in their right minds would foster her. The Guild wants children who can be trained as thieves. This girl is unsuitable. Thieves require patience and discipline. She has neither."

"Of course not. She's four!" Resisting the urge to raise his voice, Brinn braced both hands on the table. This was a board meeting, not a shouting match. "The lack of patience and discipline is why we foster young children. We mold them and teach them those skills. Dresden's parents were killed when she was two, and for half her life she's been housed with the imperial agency. Do any of you have a clue what life in that system is like?"

No one spoke.

"Well, I do."

Meet a single dad who finds love in an unexpected place #Excerpt from Package Deal an anthology by BBB Publishings #BBBpublishings #Anthology

Package Deal

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Divorced, widowed, adopted, blended or fostered, gay or straight -- each family has its own unique tale. Join these authors as they tell stories of amazing single dads who find love in unexpected places. Laugh, cry, get a little hot, and maybe even throw your phone. Don't say we didn't warn you.

https://books2read.com/PackageDealSingleDadAnthology

Join these amazing authors as they show off these amazing single dads! Featuring Stories by: Kayelle Allen, Rae Tina, Rhylie Matthews, L.P. Guleva, C. E. Lashua, Jenni Lynn, and Kaci Rose.

This is a multi-author anthology. Stories may come with a trigger warning and end on a cliff-hanger please be aware before reading.

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright ©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.

Single dads who find love in unexpected places #Excerpt from Package Deal an anthology by BBB Publishings #BBBpublishings #Anthology

Package Deal

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Divorced, widowed, adopted, blended or fostered, gay or straight -- each family has its own unique tale. Join these authors as they tell stories of amazing single dads who find love in unexpected places. Laugh, cry, get a little hot, and maybe even throw your phone. Don't say we didn't warn you.

https://books2read.com/PackageDealSingleDadAnthology

oin these amazing authors as they show off these amazing single dads! Featuring Stories by: Kayelle Allen, Rae Tina, Rhylie Matthews, L.P. Guleva, C. E. Lashua, Jenni Lynn, and Kaci Rose.

This is a multi-author anthology. Stories may come with a trigger warning and end on a cliff-hanger please be aware before reading.

My story in Package Deal, a BBB Publishings anthology, is Hacking Planet Fun.

Kam, Master of the Thieves' Guild Academy on the planet Kelthia, deals with a school full of fledgling thieves, con artists, and hackers, and doesn't need attitude from students or faculty. When he rejects a half-feline half-human prodigy for unmanageable behavior, his ex, Brinn, fosters the girl himself.

Brinn handles the unruly child well, and Kam grudgingly agrees she shows great potential as a future thief. Missing Brinn, Kam seeks to win him back. But when the child comes under suspicion as having hacked Planet Fun, an empire-renowned anti-gravity theme park, Kam must decide whether to trust his well-honed instincts... or his long-divided heart.

A twist on academy stories, the male-male science fiction romance Hacking Planet Fun focuses on the staff, and introduces a classroom of tiny precocious thieves who will steal your heart.

---

In this scene, Brinn has picked up Dresden, his four-year-old foster daughter, and is bringing her home for the first time. With him is Hahlibeth, his co-teacher, a fellow master thief he has known since Hahlibeth was three. Theirs is a brother/sister relationship. Dresden has been impossible for others to handle, but Brinn insists he can set the little one on the right path. Here, we see the beginning of her relationship with Brinn.

 

Brinn got out and opened the rear door for Dresden. "Would you like help carrying your bag?"

"I can manage. I'm strong." The girl hoisted the tote bag onto her shoulder. The sack was nearly half her length, but she held onto it all the way to the door.

The garage led into a short mud room and then the kitchen. The tantalizing smell of garlic and onions wafted to him.

"Welcome home, sir." One of the house droids greeted him. "Welcome home, Ms. Hahlibeth, and Miss Dresden."

"You know my name?" The girl blinked up at him.

"I do. All the house droids will recognize you. Sir." The droid turned to Brinn. "Dinner will be ready in thirty minutes. Would you care for a drink before dining?"

Before Brinn could respond, Dresden stepped forward. "I'd like milk, please."

"I will prepare it at once. May I take your bag?"

"Oh, thank you." The girl pulled it off her shoulder and dropped it to the floor. "That thing is heavy."

"Not to worry, Miss Dresden. I'll see it's delivered to your room at once."

"Thank you."

The droid walked away with the small satchel.

Hahlibeth looked everywhere but at Brinn.

"You know," Brinn said, stooping beside Dresden, "I did offer to help you with your bag."

"He's a droid. He's supposed to help people. I don't owe him anything. If you helped me, then I'd owe you. I don't want to owe anybody anything."

"I see." He moved to one knee. "Why is that?"

"Because if you owe people, they can control you." She narrowed her eyes, and a predatory gleam came over her face. "And nobody controls me."


Welcome to Book Hooks!
Book Hooks is a weekly cooperative meme hosted by Marketing for Romance Writers as part of the MFRW Authors Blog.
It's a chance each week for you to discover current works in progress or previously published books by possibly new-to-you authors.
Thank you for stopping by. Please say hello or leave a note in the comments.

Looks like a Holly Jolly Hop #recipe #giveaway @kayelleallen

Looks like a Holly Jolly Hop #recipe #giveaway @kayelleallenWelcome to the Holly Jolly Hop. This hop runs from 13 – 20 Dec 2016, and is held on Facebook. There are 60 authors taking part, which means multiple prizes and opportunities to win.

The Prize for my stop is (winner’s choice) either a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card. My prize is open internationally for Amazon readers, and the US for Barnes and Noble.  Your prize will be emailed to you, so if you win, I will need your email.

The featured book for this hop is A Romance for Christmas. This sweet feel-good holiday romance reaffirms all you love about Christmas. It’s Christmas Eve, and the end of a year in which everything Dara loves was lost. Everything but her little girl and a fierce determination to survive. When a cop brings Christmas to her door, he brings another gift she never expected to get.

Holly Jolly Hop Bread Pudding Recipe

I don’t bake often. Since I retired, I try to grab lunch and dinner out with friends, or pick up convenience foods. My local grocery stores have wonderful, fresh made items prepared and all I have to do is take them home and pop them in the microwave. But when it’s Christmas, I love to make bread pudding. This recipe is easy, and it’s a favorite.

You can download and share this recipe in pdf format. It includes the Bread Pudding recipe plus bonus recipes for Sweet Butter Topping and Cinnamon Sprinkle

Bread Pudding Ingredients
1 loaf whole grain bread, broken into small pieces
2 12 oz. cans evaporated milk
1 cup water
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
5 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup butter, softened
(Optional: Add 1 cup raisins)

Place broken bread pieces in a large bowl. If using, add the raisins.
Combine milk, water, vanilla, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sugar, and blend well.
Pour over the bread and toss to coat. If dry, add 2-3 teaspoonsful of water, one at a time, until bread is well moistened.
Pour mixture into a greased 13×9 inch baking dish.
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until set.
Serve warm with ice cream, or drizzle with your favorite icing. Download the PDF for additional recipes.

Holly Jolly Hop Entry

ON DECEMBER 13th go to my Facebook page: http://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author and find the post for the Holly Jolly Hop. It’s right at the top. While there, comment with the name of a friend you’d like to see at Christmas. That’s all there is to it!

If you like my page I can tag you if you win. This is not required but greatly appreciated. Tell your friends about this giveaway. Like this post, share this post, tag a friend, tap someone on the shoulder, etc.

You must enter on Facebook. Comments here are great, but they won’t enter you into the Holly Jolly Hop.

The next Holly Jolly Hop stop is here: https://www.facebook.com/mjohnstonwriter/ and you’ll also see that link on my Facebook page. For more fun hops and goodies from other events, visit Fiction Books, Readers, Writers, and Reviewers on Facebook. Have fun and enjoy hopping!

Enter to win the Grand Prize Kindle Paperwhite and find a list of all stops and giveaways on the hop on CM McCoy’s website. http://www.cmmccoy.com/blog/holly-jolly-holiday-giveaway-kindle-paperwhite-or-50-gc/

The Holly Jolly Hop giveaway is open until 11:59pm EST, 20 Dec 2016. The prize from me is open internationally. Other authors in the hop may have different requirements. Random winner selected from comments. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Facebook is not responsible for the Holly Jolly Hop giveaway.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home for Christmas #MFRWhooks #HolidayRomance @kayelleallen

Who doesn't want to go home for Christmas? In the sweet holiday story, A Romance for Christmas, a widow with a small child answers a knock at her door late on Christmas Eve. When she answers, everything changes. This holiday tale is a story of love, loss, and the spirit of giving.

Home for Christmas...

Home for Christmas #MFRWhooks #HolidayRomance @kayelleallenEveryone should stay home for Christmas -- that was Dara's belief. If her late husband had listened to her, he would still be here. Their daughter would still have a father. But job and duty had overshadowed family, and home. He would never be home for Christmas again...

---

Dara was gaining strength daily, and would finish therapy the first week of January and return to work. Disability paid for the basics - lights, phone, water, trash collection, and she'd never bought anything on credit, refusing to dig herself into a hole she'd never escape once it got started.

She went to the closet and pulled down a box with a ball, crayons, paper, and three books. A friend had brought over a few things as well. This wasn't the grand Christmas she had wanted for her daughter, but all the other valuables had been sold. There was nothing left but her wedding ring.

She didn't wear it. Removing it had been part of saying good-bye to Jack.

They said it would help, and it had. Sort of. But not much.

Dara sank into one of the kitchen chairs and put her face in her hands.

Sometime later, when the doorbell rang, she grabbed a paper towel and dried her eyes. The clock over the stove said nine o'clock. Who would be calling at this hour on Christmas Eve? She stuffed the wet towel in her robe pocket on the way to the door.

 

Love Contemporary Romance?

Can you fall in love again when the love of your life has gone?

Try my book, A Romance for Christmas, on all retailers.
A free behind the scenes booklet is included. No sign up necessary.

A Romance for Christmas includes a link to a free behind the scenes booklet

A free behind the scenes booklet included inside A Romance for Christmas

Any of my characters mentioned on this page might be found in multiple books in my story universe. Download a printable book list and check them off as you read.


~ Copyright ©2024 Kayelle Allen. All rights reserved ~ Kayelle Allen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program which provides the means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com. If you purchase an item listed on the site from Amazon.com, Kayelle will earn a small commission. Other sites might be affiliate links as well. These will not result in higher prices for you. Thank you for your support!


To experience art, sci-fi, romance, and space opera with unstoppable, unshakeable, unforgettable characters so real you'll swear you've met them, join my newsletter.