2020 American Fiction Awards Finalist - Women's Fiction

"This witty Roman a Clef makes for can't put it down reading. Melhado's fully formed characters bring to mind a more modern contemporary version of 'The Women.'" –Jeffrey Banks, Author and Coty-Award Winning Fashion Designer

From her elegant atelier office, Nadia Demidova discreetly monitors the arrival of her latest guests. Legendary doyenne of the fabled Palm Springs getaway, she can always tell from the moment the women arrive, which ones will be problems.

This group will not disappoint: a burned-out Fifth Avenue retail executive...a striking former model and Chicago socialite... an overweight Texas housewife on the brink of her second divorce and her beautiful, teenage daughter...and a CEO who, unhappy with recent plastic surgery, is secluded in her room.

Fortunately, Madame Demidova can rely on her Assistant Director to help manage the herd, not knowing that this valued employee is poised to make an audacious move.

Old secrets, new friends, second chances - and a chance to snag the divine man who unexpectedly arrives on the scene - are all on the menu at The Spa At Lavender Lane.

This collection of small town and big city romances and romantic comedies will keep you glued to the page, with stories including…
* A Rockstar who broke his promise to resurrect his fiancée’s languishing ranch, but took five years to return. Will she grant him a second chance, or has their love played its last tune?
* A young woman who fled the big city to escape her politician father's cheating scandal…only to fall for a struggling small town bike builder waiting for his big break. Is he a cheat like her father, or could the sexy single dad be custom made for her?
* A rundown single mom looking for a break and a kind-hearted entrepreneur in love with the wrong woman. Will their chemistry bring them love…or will the ghosts of her past come back to haunt them?
* A divorced, big time city baker forced to return to her family’s ranch. Falling for the younger and all too charming ranch hand was never part of the plan…
* A scandal that made Mitch and Olivia enemies. Can they now claim their joint inheritance without starting World War III?
* A haunted vet with nowhere else to go and a determined woman with no place to call home. Can they heal the hurricane-ravaged town of Patriot Bay…or with their broken hearts get in the way?
* And many more stories full of surprise, heartache, humor, and ALL the feels!

Fans of small town romances, romantic comedies, friends to lovers, second chances, military veterans, and happily ever afters will devour this boxed set of more than 15 standalone romances.

Each unique story in the Finally Got It Right Boxset guarantees a swoon-worthy book boyfriend and a happily ever after that fans of Melanie Harlow, Corinne Michaels, and Nicole Ellis are sure to enjoy!

Authors included in the box set are C.K. O'Connor, Heather Silvio, Cricket Rohman, Alexi Ferreira, Susanne Ash, Ginger Ring, Jade Royal & Amy Cecil, J.L. Campbell, Carmen Cook, Mel Walker, CA Miconi, Maci Dillon, J.C. Layne, Toni Denise, Lorah Jaiyn & Tiffany Carby, Jewel Walters, Macie Collins

All she wants is a second chance at life and love…and a beach house in the Keys.

The last thing Beck Foster wants to do is attend a party for her estranged aunt in the Florida Keys. One month earlier, Beck’s seemingly ideal existence imploded when her husband of thirty-four years announced he was leaving her. Now, so she has to sell her house, get a job, and somehow put her broken heart and life back together. She can’t do all that if she runs off to visit a woman she barely remembers.

Or can she?

Accompanied by her grown daughter who also longs for an escape, Beck heads to Coconut Key, where she’d lived the earliest years of her life. There, she forges a life-changing relationship with a woman she never really understood, dips her toes into the waters of a new romance, and begins the process of starting over.

But when a secret kept for nearly fifty years comes crashing down on them, all of Beck’s dreams are once again threatened. Can she forgive the lies that have shaped her life, or will the past ruin her chance at a new beginning in Coconut Key?

The Coconut Key Series celebrates older heroines, second chance romance, entangled families, and lifelong friendships. With a cast of unforgettable characters and stories that touch every woman’s heart, you’ll probably want the next one right this minute…

A Secret in the Keys (Book 1)
A Reunion in the Keys (Book 2)
A Season in the Keys (Book 3)
A Haven in the Keys (Book 4)
A Return to the Keys (Book 5)
A Wedding in the Keys (Book 6)
A Promise in the Keys (Book 7)

When life goes sideways, embracing the adventure is the fastest way to set things right.

One day I was just a widow facing the prospect of an empty nest, living a life that was anything but enchanted. The next, I had discovered my magical roots, and my rightful place as the Guardian of the portal between the Faery and Earth.

There was shock. And there was fear. After all, no one plans to start over at forty-five. I intended to grow old with my husband. I thought we’d live an ordinary life. So I’ll be damned if I’m going to waste this opportunity to live in a world I always thought was imaginary.

I’m half-witch, half-faery, and facing dangers as real as the ache in my bad knee. Ibuprofen and caffeine keep me going, and I could do this for the rest of my life. Whoever thinks my family home is an easy mark better take notice: the new Guardian in town isn’t going down without a fight.

After all, she’s already learned to let go of her simple existence and believe in the extraordinary power inside of her. What could possibly stop her now?

“I don't say this often, but I was genuinely hooked by Helio Tropez from start to finish!! ” - Advanced Reader

"So captivating and uniquely creative! The characters are wonderful and the story is compelling. I also love how the book weaves in commentary on our present-day world with wise insights on how to address these issues." - Advanced Reader

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What would you be willing to sacrifice to protect the ones you love?

Tia Violetta is about to turn 30. She lives in a mansion, barricaded away with her paranoid father, Haddon, who has shielded her from the world and her true heritage.

What Tia doesn’t know, is that a sinister, hidden AI, known as SIM, has enslaved humans on Earth through mass mind control.

And SIM is hunting her.

Hadden and Tia are descendants of Helio Tropez, a subterranean safe haven where all inhabitants possess supernatural abilities, and speak in the Matrix language.

Tia discovers she bears the mark of Pentada, along with four other women in her family that she never knew existed.

Together Pentada have can alter the course of humanity forever. Unless their psychic powers were to fall in the hands of SIM.

Just before Hadden dies, he sends a telepathic message to his younger self to time travel fifty years into the future to save Tia.

But by doing so, young Hadden starts a chain of events that will blow Tia’s world apart, sending them on two different timelines.

They must confront dangers in the subterranean and surface worlds to unite Pentada.

And only two possible outcomes await humanity. Will it be ascension to a higher density or complete annihilation of life on Earth?

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If you liked "The Celestine Prophecy", "A Wrinkle in Time" or "Mists of Avalon", you'll love this.

This epic fantasy explores metaphysical mysteries, conspiracies and time travel mysteries that will stir the soul.

April 1910. Women's rights activist Alvera Fields mysteriously vanishes from her home one night, leaving her newborn baby and husband behind, the case never solved.

April 2021. On the anniversary of her great-great-grandmother's disappearance, Alvera's namesake Vera Portman vanishes in an eerily similar manner.

Six months later, the police recover a girl's body. While the family waits in the horror of finding out if it's Vera, Felicity Portman clings to hope that her missing teenage daughter is still alive. Despite all odds, Felicity senses a link between the decades-apart cases--a mother feels such things in her bones. But all suspicion points to the last person who saw Vera alive: Felicity's sister-in-law, Marin.

Marin, with her troubled past.
Marin, the poor woman who married into the rich family.
Marin, the only one who knows Felicity's darkest secret.

As Felicity makes a shocking discovery in Vera's journal, she questions who her daughter really is. The deeper she digs, the more she's ensnared in the same mysteries that claimed their ancestor in a terribly slow ruin.

From USA TODAY bestselling author of Pretty Ugly Lies and Little Deadly Secrets comes a highly anticipated psychological thriller that weaves history and family drama into a taut page-turner. Perfect for fans of Riley Sager, Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, and Ruth Ware.

"An emotionally charged mystery of how a mother must lose her daughter to find herself. Chilling from the first page. Gripping until the last." - reader review

She's determined to leave her haunting past behind and avoid falling in love again. He's an oceanographer and an opportunity for her to tempt the waters of love.

Madison Ragnar feels most alive teaching her students or tying up her running shoes. As a high school English teacher starting over in a new town, she yearns to create a new, less complicated life. So, when a man named Michael shows himself in the most unexpected places, questions are raised about Madison's safety.

Along the way, Madison meets Phil, who throws a wrench in Madison's declaration to not fall in love. It seems that her escape through miles of running is the only real footing she has in life.

Will Madison's have control over her life? Or will fate have a say in its outcome?

Whispers from the Heart is a page-turning piece of women’s literature. If you enjoy complex characters, a hint of suspense, and overcoming life’s obstacles, then you’ll love Heather Hummel Gallagher’s compelling story. Whispers from the Heartis a New York Book Festival Award Winner.

If you could escape the life your parents chose for you, would you do it?

Horse racing isn’t for nice girls like Alex. She’s been told again and again: stick to horse shows, stick to riding lessons, stick to the relative safety of the suburban equestrian center where she has been a working student since grade school.

But Alex can’t shake the conviction that the Thoroughbred life is her destiny.

When her unstable trainer cuts her off from horses, Alex finally has to obey her instinct to run away from the safe version of life. She heads to Ocala, where horse racing is king, with no plan and no leads on jobs. When she meets handsome, successful racehorse trainer Alexander White, she feels an instant connection with him. Could this be her dream come true?

Falling for Alexander and learning to stay on young racehorses all at once: that’s risky business. But it’s a risk Alex is willing to take — until a storm of emotion threatens to founder her new life. Nothing at Alexander’s gorgeous Thoroughbred farm is as simple as it seems, and she’s not the only one lining up for Alexander’s affection — or his horses.

How many times will Alex obey her urge to run away when things get too real? And what happens to her dreams if she can’t stay the course?

Gallop headlong into a world of beauty, love, and risk with this stunning women's fiction novel!

The Alex & Alexander Series

First published in 2011, the Alex & Alexander Series explores the hearts and minds of the people who make a living in Thoroughbred horse-racing. Originally beginning with a short novel entitled The Head and Not The Heart, the series was expanded in 2020 to provide a smoother reading experience.

The series includes:

1. Runaway Alex

2. The Head and Not The Heart

3. Other People's Horses (Semi-Finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, for horse-racing literature)

4. Claiming Christmas

5. Turning for Home (Finalist for the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award, for horse-racing literature)

Praise for The Alex & Alexander Series

“[Alex is] easy to relate to–equal parts doubt and hope, insecurity and confidence. I think she’s inspiring, and will nudge her readers to face their own crises.”

– Melaina Phipps, Saratoga.com

“The writing is beautiful, and if you love horses, she doesn’t dumb it down. She concentrates what makes horses so compelling.”

– Alexa Shelton, Amazon review

Experience the Rush of True Love Twelve Times Over.
Live In The Drama That Comes When You're Bound To Your Perfect Match Through Fate.

Share a bed with Giddeon Black. As the Alpha and creator of Kismet Dating Agency, he's always the first to indulge.

Take a trip to Haden Springs and meet true, unbridled masculinity. Michael Adair, head of Kodiak Dating Agency, offers something much more than just love and pleasure.

Get your happily ever after through Prince Dating Agency, known for helping even the most stubborn playboys find love.

Your destiny awaits with these 3 Best-Selling Shifter Series:

Kismet Dating Agency
Kodiak Dating Agency
Bears with Benefits

All 12 Titles Box Set Inside the Boxset Include:

Mason's Match
Liam's Lust
Will's Destiny
Noah's Secret
Dorian's Reward
Anders' Allure
Brock's Pleasure
Michael's Secret
An Alpha's Fortune
Caleb's Destiny
Seth's Bounty
Balor's Premonition


This collection of box sets is only being offered for a limited time. See inside for a special first date gift.

Packed with stand-alone paranormal romance stories with no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a HEA! Strictly for those who love alpha protectors, shifters, and steamy adventure.

Story contains mature themes and language, and is intended for 18+ readers only.

Two back to back apocalyptic incidents change the world; the first, a nuclear war between America and North Korea, and then, as the world is still reeling from the consequences of that debacle, two pieces of space rock the size of Manhattan slam into the Earth, wiping out billions of people in just minutes, one of them unleashing a deadly pathogen that scatters into the atmosphere. Within months, men are dying off by the millions, and within a year, they are an endangered species. Women, their physiology unaffected by the virus, are forced to take over. They not only save what little remains of the male species, they start to rebuild a new world, a new paradigm, one entirely dominated by women. New international laws are established forbidding men from ever gaining positions of power again, for it is men who are seen as the toxic element, who failed to prevent a nuclear war, who built the war machines, who waged war against one another, and who subjugated women in their patriarchal society. Sixteen years have passed since the first bombs were dropped and the asteroids fell from the sky, when Tanner McNeal, and his intrepid team of space voyagers, return from their mission to Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. When they step back on Earth, they are shocked to find a different world. Tanner and the men of his crew are promptly arrested under the new mandates, and the women of his crew are taken away to be indoctrinated on their roles in the new Utopia. With so few men left alive, most of them in work camps or farm collectives, relegated to laborers for the most part, Tanner discovers who he is up against, Lady V, the President of New America, a woman who hates men so deeply that she has developed an entirely new gender, Woman Ex, and her goal is to eliminate all men forever. Tanner is racing against the clock, as he organizes a grassroots rebellion, a seemingly impossible uprising against Lady V's army, but he soon discovers that many women are on his side, and the battle ensues to save the race of humanity.

Real Laplaine takes you on another rollercoaster ride into a dystopian world of the near-future in this high-concept thriller.
Charles Freedom Long, author of Alvar's Spear

Chock full of great characters, lively action, and adroit narrative, Woman EX is a novel you won’t want to put down.
Ken Dickson, author of The Road to Amistad

Woman EX, by Real Laplaine, is a wonderfully written dystopia.
Russell Warnberg, author of 2064

Here is another fascinating book from an author I came to enjoy so much. You know you are reading a great book when it sounds less like fiction and more like hypothetical truth.
A.G. Mogan, author of The Secret Journals of Adolf Hitler

If you want to read a book that is so close to the reality and full of action and also makes you think of what could happen in our lifetime, you won't want to miss this one.
Marina Osipova, author of The Cruel Romance

An utterly captivating and quickly-paced thriller with a clear message behind.
Victoria Ichizli-Bartels - author of Cheerleading for Writers

Despite spilled blood and broken bones, from the ashes Blood Fury will once again rise.
 

Trip, son of the former president of the Blood Fury MC, is determined to resurrect his dead father's destroyed club. It’ll be a long, difficult road as the new president attempts to rebuild the club from the cold ashes left behind.

Bad blood and bitter memories are only some of the obstacles Trip has to overcome. The local police department, Manning Grove PD, is another, since they don’t want to see their small town once again overrun by outlaw bikers.

Then there’s Stella, a local bar owner and a major distraction Trip doesn’t need, but can’t resist, even though she gives him every reason to. She’s tough, she’s broken, and the last thing she wants in her life is a man like him.

In the end, Trip has to decide if the war is worth fighting. And if Stella is the warrior he needs battling by his side.

Blood & Bones: Trip is the first book in the Blood Fury MC series. As always, this book has no cheating, no cliffhanger and has an HEA. While it’s recommended to read my Brothers in Blue series first, it’s not necessary.

West Golden—so easy to hate, yet so hard to resist.

Don’t let that pretty face of his fool you. He isn’t the boy next door, or the kind you trust with your heart. He’s the devil in designer jeans, with all the charm of a bona fide psycho.

Trust me.

He swears I did something to cross him before I even stepped foot inside Cypress Prep, but it’s a lie. No one knows better than me that I’m all out of chances. One more misstep and I can kiss my future goodbye, which means I can’t possibly be guilty of whatever he thinks I’ve done.

West marks me with a target anyway, and as this town’s football star, no one dares to go against him. His money, status, and the loyalty of his equally entitled brothers makes him seem untouchable. Only, I know better than that.

This false god isn’t infallible like he wants the world to believe. Whenever I stare into those devilish green eyes, I see it plain as day. The chink in his armor. His one and only weakness.

Me.

The King of Cypress Prep has finally met his match, and taking him down just became an inside job.

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The Golden Boys are all smokin’ hot, but there’s only one guy for Blue Riley, which means this romance isn’t a reverse harem. Also, full disclosure, this saga does contain strong bully themes. So, if you’re not into romances where hate turns into love (well … eventually), and if you don’t like your heroes of the unapologetically alpha variety, this might not be the book for you. There is no rape or dubious consent whatsoever. However, due to adult themes and sexual situations, this one’s only for the 18+ crowd.

This series is sure to give you GOSSIP GIRL and ONE TREE HILL vibes, and the angst will keep you burning through the pages to find out what happens next. One-click and get lost in this series today!

Smooches!
RJ & NT

Billionaire Preston Clarke conquered my bed and stole my heart.
If only he hadn't broken it and walked into the office a year later… as my new boss.

I know, I know. It's my fault for falling for a filthy rich and obscenely handsome Manhattan type.
Silly of me to think Preston had something more beneath his immaculate suit than just a chiseled body.

But what a body. I still wake up sweating from dreams about the night we shared.
I thought knowing I'll never experience one again was torture enough. I was wrong.

Because working with him every single day is definitely worse.

I hate that he thinks he can order me around or that he still thinks I belong to him.
And I really hate that he stays late in the office when I try to bury myself in work to stop thinking about him.

Most of all though, I hate seeing glimpses of the man I once believed he was.
Hints of true passion and charm beneath Mr. Billionaire's stone-cold demeanor.

But it doesn't matter how many evenings we spend together in the office.
There is absolutely no way I'm falling for him again.

No cheating, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed!

A heartbroken American writer. A shy English lord. Can they plot a new destiny in each other’s arms?
Merle Walker is still stinging from betrayal. After her treacherous boyfriend steals the credit for her award-winning screenplay, she flees LA to her friend’s remote English cottage to lick her wounds. But when her BFF’s brother turns out to be a devilishly handsome and polite English noble, she can’t ignore the instant attraction.
Lord Robert Chissholm worries his ex-wife is right: he’s as dull as dry toast. He’s sure he has no chance with a gorgeous and glamorous Hollywood screenwriter. But along with her charm, he’s quite taken by her latest work delving into one of Britain’s finest wartime moments.
Though she lands a deal for her new project, Merle fears she’s too common for her old-fashioned gentleman. And pressure mounts for Lord Robert to return to Parliament—and abandon his sweet American beauty in favor of a politically savvy reunion with his cruel ex-wife.
Is this the final scene for their love, or will they pen their own happily-ever-after?
The Courtship of Merle Walker is a delightful standalone contemporary romance. If you like picturesque English countryside’s, shy British noblemen, and hearts determined to heal, you’ll adore Annette Drake’s transatlantic tale.

Snowball--an aptly named bundle of feline fluff--is thankful to be spending her first Christmas in the comfort of Weber Haus, the Victorian B&B run by Miss Tilly. Emily Diemer, who cooks for the guests, dotes on Snowball, but she's not thrilled about another new arrival at the B&B: Miss Tilly's nephew, Lukas. Which is odd, because Snowball's animal instincts tell her that Lukas and Emily should definitely be friends.
 
Everything Emily needs is in this quaint community--including, she hopes, the chance to open her own bakery one day. She doesn't think much of Lukas for leaving his aging aunt to struggle while he jets around the world taking photographs. But now that he's here, helping to spruce up the property and getting mixed up in Snowball's antics, she begins to soften a little. Until she learns what he has planned . . .
 
Lukas is going to sell Weber Haus so that Miss Tilly can retire. But Snowball is certain that this B&B, and these people, are supposed to be her forever home. Somehow she has to get these stubborn humans to see things through the wisdom of a cat's eye and a kitten's loyal, loving heart . . .
"Expertly crafted...the perfect Christmas treat."
--Booklist, Starred Review

The International Bestseller!

Recommended by Oprah Magazine ∙ Cosmo ∙ PopSugar ∙ SheReads ∙ Parade ∙ and more!

An epic saga from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray based on the true story of an extraordinary castle in the heart of France and the remarkable women bound by its legacy.
 
Most castles are protected by men. This one by women.

A founding mother...
1774. Gently-bred noblewoman Adrienne Lafayette becomes her husband, the Marquis de Lafayette’s political partner in the fight for American independence. But when their idealism sparks revolution in France and the guillotine threatens everything she holds dear, Adrienne must renounce the complicated man she loves, or risk her life for a legacy that will inspire generations to come.

A daring visionary...
1914. Glittering New York socialite Beatrice Chanler is a force of nature, daunted by nothing—not her humble beginnings, her crumbling marriage, or the outbreak of war. But after witnessing the devastation in France firsthand, Beatrice takes on the challenge of a lifetime: convincing America to fight for what's right.

A reluctant resistor...
1940. French school-teacher and aspiring artist Marthe Simone has an orphan's self-reliance and wants nothing to do with war. But as the realities of Nazi occupation transform her life in the isolated castle where she came of age, she makes a discovery that calls into question who she is, and more importantly, who she is willing to become.

Intricately woven and powerfully told, The Women of Chateau Lafayette is a sweeping novel about duty and hope, love and courage, and the strength we take from those who came before us.

A widower with two adorable boys and a Bohemian beauty who owns the local café are brought together in this emotional, heartwarming novel in Donna Alward’s Darling, VT series.

Widower Ethan Gallagher’s biggest challenge is just making it day to day. A single father to two adorable boys and a firefighter, he juggles work and parenthood with the help of his family. But life without his wife is even harder to navigate. When he’s injured on a call and put off work until he’s healed, he finds himself at loose ends. And that leads him to volunteering at the temporary food bank site and puts him face to face with Willow Dunaway, owner of the Purple Pig Café and the woman in charge of the project.

After a particularly rough childhood followed by years away from Darling, Willow has come home and started a business she’s passionate about. She’s worked hard at finding inner peace and serenity, but Ethan challenges that at every turn, making her realize there are still things she hasn’t dealt with. The passion between them is incendiary, and she also finds herself falling for his little boys, which resurrects all sorts of memories she thought she’d put behind her.

But when Willow’s deepest secret is finally revealed, their fragile happiness is threatened. You can’t have love without trust, and how can you trust when falling in love is the most frightening thing of all?

A theme park “princess” meets a single dad…who turns out to be a real prince!
Enjoy the delightful royal romance from acclaimed author Teri Wilson and Hallmark Publishing.

Lacey found her dream job: playing a princess character at a popular fairytale theme park in sunny southern Florida. Her diamond tiara might not be real, but the smiles of the children she meets every day certainly are. It’s just too bad that her ex-boyfriend was never impressed with her career choice.

Henry, the crown prince of Bella-Moritz, is trying to fulfill his young daughter’s birthday wish: to be a normal girl with a normal life. That’s why they’re pretending to be ordinary tourists at an American amusement park. Henry lost his wife four years ago, and he’s been going through the motions ever since. But could a meeting with a make-believe princess lead to real love?

This enchanting romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwiches.

What if I am the very darkness that I fear?

I’ve made a lot of bad decisions, like getting myself arrested and saying “I do” to an irresistible drug dealer. Even still, I managed to make some good ones, too. But when shadow-ridden nightmares encroach upon my waking life, my world flips upside down.

I search inside myself for answers, unleashing a powerful force from within that can face the shadow’s depths.

But those depths hide grave secrets within the very establishment sworn to protect us. Will I be able to save not only myself but countless others? Or is this all part of a greater delusion?


Content Advisory: Story contains mature themes and is intended for readers 18+

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What Amazon readers are saying:

★★★★★ 'A suspenseful urban fantasy adventure, unlike any I have ever seen'

★★★★★ 'I could not put this book down, and stayed up all night to finish!'

★★★★★ 'The dream sequences were written so well, they pulled me in, left me with the surreal feeling of having experienced them myself.'

About the Author
Rossana's inspiration comes from a variety of authors and genres, including McKenzie Hunter, Margaret Atwood, K.F. Breene, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Arturo Perez-Reverte, Paolo Coehlo, Sarah Maas and so many more.

One never knows how lucky they are, until everything gets taken away.

Adam Collins is just beginning to put his life back together when he meets Chelsea, his sweet and beautiful next-door neighbor. As the two spend more time together, an attraction between them builds.

A nightmare from Adam’s past, that he thought was long ago dead and buried, comes back to life and places him and Chelsea in danger. Enlisting the help of two of his former Navy SEALs team members, Adam must find a way to keep them both safe.

As the danger mounts and passions ignite, one question will remain. Who will be left standing after Sweet Vengeance is served?