Showing results by narrator "Lu Banks" in All Categories

Devastation and devotion are two sides to the same coin, and Brian Miller flips the coin to my heart without even trying. He thinks he's not good enough—that I deserve better than a damaged single father. But his demons can't be any worse than the one stalking my every move in our small town—the one no one can bring to justice. Despite the age difference between us, I'm not a little girl, and I know the truth. Brian will never forgive himself for not being there when I needed him most. But he's the only man who can rescue me now.

"The Millionaire" is in jail on a murder charge. Violent inmates beat him savagely, trying to extort money. To save his life, Maureen Gould must find the truth and free her client.

Conventional wisdom about running is passed down like folklore (and sometimes contradicts itself). In Running Smart, Mariska van Sprundel, a science journalist and recreational runner who has had her fair share of injuries, sets out to explore the science behind such claims. 

When I sign with the Tennessee Thunderbolts, I have two goals: prove my injury hasn't benched my career and get back to New York. But then, I meet Mila, the enigmatic therapist tasked with rehabbing my shoulder. With her long ponytail, professional demeanor, and girl-next-door look, Mila is nothing like my usual type. She's better—a good girl with sad eyes and a tragic past our small town loves to dissect.

Two things I'm gonna do at college: land an internship, and lose my virginity. I just didn't expect it to be with my brother's best friend. But the way he swings his hockey stick around as the captain of the team has me seeing stars. He may be a bad-tempered hockey player with everyone else, but he's always had a soft spot for me. He and my brother have been inseparable since they were kids, so we've basically grown up together. He's been to all my birthday parties, and I've never missed a single one of his games.

I did a dumb thing. See, Teenage Me accidentally summoned Azazel and locked him into a marriage contract with Present-Day Me. I never thought he'd actually go through with it, though. Until he does. But because he doesn't want this supernatural marriage of inconvenience any more than I do, he dumps me at his estate and tries to ignore me. Joke's on him, because I hate being ignored.

Some guys take the easy way out. Not me. I work hard and I work out even harder. My sister would like to see me settled down with a family, but running a successful gym while building a fitness empire takes time, sweat, and discipline—three things I can't afford to spare even for a chance at happy ever after. Then the new yoga instructor struts into my gym looking like the ultimate cheat day.

I learned one lesson early in life: Trust no one. This isn't the first time I've woken up with a stranger looming over my bed. But unlike last time, this dangerous man swears he means me no harm. For some reason, I believe him. But I never expected to fall for him. He's more deadly than the men who kidnapped me, yet I've never felt safer. But is it all an illusion, or is this dark prince truly my white knight?

I've never been the kind of girl to take the easy way out. Happy endings never came to people like me. The tarnished ones. I'm surrounded by a group that knows sadness too well. We know what it's like to lose and be tossed away like last night's trash. We are easy to blame for all the wrongs, because when others look at us, they see our scars. Most of our stories are told in the ink we bear, but we wear those tales proudly.

I never claimed to be a saint. But it wasn't until I found myself in cuffs that I learned the damage I was capable of. The only sunshine on those gray prison days came in the form of letters from a hopeful teenager with a quick wit. But the letters weren't addressed to me. They were meant for my bastard cellmate, who'd sooner toss them on the floor with the rest of his trash. So, I picked them up, read them, and wrote back, signing each letter, Love, Dad.

The gorgeous groomsman had all my attention when my best friend's ex was allegedly killed. Fun fact? I hated the man. Another fun fact? I was the last one to see him alive. There may not be anyone on my side except that groomsman I can't stop thinking about since the wedding.

There's only one woman I truly care about: my daughter. Until Maisy Stratford flounces into the front office of the Tennessee Thunderbolts with a heartfelt smile and a tray of baked goods. As the Bolts' newest hire, Maisy is optimistic, enthusiastic, and a goddess at manifestation. Everything I'm not. Known as Brawler, I'm a gruff, quiet, rough-around-the-edges, NHL defenseman. I haven't dated in decades. I've never been married and my daughter's a twenty-one-year-old mischief maker. I don't know how to talk about feelings or place my trust in the hands of a woman. 

She hates me . . . I'm going to make her fall in love with me anyway. As captain of the SoCal Vipers, the last couple of seasons haven't been going well. My stats are slipping, and I'm at risk of being traded. So, I'm not in the mood for a case of mistaken identity with the woman playing bouncer...

Lioness. That's the first word that comes to mind when I see the brilliant redhead selling cupcakes at the hockey arena. With the soul of an artist and the spirit of a nomad, Bea Turner is gorgeous, quirky, and refreshing. She's also my teammate's little sister. As the Tennessee Thunderbolts' Rookie, I should steer clear. I'm here to play hockey and provide much-needed financial security for my family. To do that, I need to avoid distractions.

What started out as a night of fun at a Vegas hotspot somehow turned into saying "I Do" by an Elvis impersonator. If you think that's bad, it gets worse. My new husband lied to me and told me he ran a not-for-profit. That couldn't be further from the truth. Imagine my surprise when I realized I married one of the best tight ends in the league. Did I mention my uncle owns the team?

Nothing comes easy. Nothing is given but must always be earned. The problem is I'm too tainted and broken to have anything good. That was a lesson I was taught early. A lesson I carried throughout my life, and into every relationship I had.

When Penny Sue Paine got Lucky, everyone was in an uproar. Because Lucky was the sweet-faced dog who had inherited the Paine millions! Now somebody wanted Lucky dead. So Penny Sue hired herself a tall, well-muscled hunk of a bodyguard . . . When Vic Noble found out his latest client was a dog, he nearly lost his cool. Then he got an eyeful of Miss Penny Sue Paine, a brunette with a body to die for and an innocence that could do a lesser man in. Good thing Vic was about as tough as they made 'em. But the tougher they are—the harder they fall!

Being an angel sucks. Well, a low-ranking angel, that is. Who'd have thought that one of the tasks in Heaven assigned to those not blessed with brain-melting power is shoveling unicorn poop? Not me, that's for sure, although I don't even remember who I was as a human before being turned into an...

Being a newly minted demon with some shiny black wings of my own should be a dream come true. I mean, I'm back in Hell, I've got power, I'm not a lowly human anymore, this could be the start to happily ever after with my boo Azazel! If only it weren't for that little snag . . . that Lucifer...

After living in Hell for a year, I might have to amend the saying "Hell is other people" to "Hell is other people's family." Specifically, my dear demon husband's family, AKA my infernal in-laws. Even more specifically, Lucifer, my grandfather-in-law. In a revelation surprising exactly no one...