Helena Hunting – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read

Helena Hunting – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:15:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 http://www.wownovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/favicon.png Helena Hunting – Read Books Online Free Ebooks good best novels to read http://www.wownovels.com 32 32 If You Keep Me (Toronto Terror #6) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-keep-me-toronto-terror-6-read-online-helena-hunting Fri, 03 Apr 2026 23:15:03 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-keep-me-toronto-terror-6-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Forbidden, Sports, Virgin Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 152064 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 760(@200wpm)___ 608(@250wpm)___ 507(@300wpm)

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Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: ask my secret crush, aka. the most notorious (reformed) playboy in pro hockey, to take my virginity.

Too bad, I did.

After a string of terrible dates, I did the unthinkable. I propositioned Flip Madden.

Of course, he said no.
It isn’t that he’s almost a decade older than me, or that I’m still in university.
It’s because I’m his coach’s oldest daughter.

Not to mention my dad would bludgeon him with his hockey stick if he found out.
Which he won’t, because it will never happen.
And now things are awkward because there’s no going back.

Except Flip is more protective than ever, and his eyes follow me around every room we’re in together. He brings flowers to my recitals and reads all the books I recommend.

Things I should never, under any circumstances ever do: hope Flip Madden might actually want me too

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Tallulah Vander Zee

• Terror Coach’s oldest daughter

• In final year of university

• Tight with the Babe Brigade

Nickname: Talls, Tally, Kitten

Parents: Eline and Berend

Siblings: Ties and Fenna

Phillip “Flip” Madden:

• Brother to Rix

• Terror forward

• Best friend to teammate Tristan and former neighbor to Dred

Parents: Howard and Muffy

Siblings: Beatrix (Rix) Stiles

TERROR TEAMMATES

Tristan Stiles

• Terror Teammate

• Husband to Rix

• Best friend to Flip

Quinn Romero

• Terror Teammate

• Previously attended the Hockey Academy together

Kellan Ryker

• Terror Teammate

• New Goalie, tight with Quinn

Ashish Palaniappa

• Terror Teammate

• Husband to Shilpa (team lawyer)

• Best friend to Dallas

Connor Grace

• Former archnemesis to Flip

• Terror enforcer

• Previously attended the Hockey Academy with Dallas, Tristan and Flip

Dallas Bright

• Terror Forward

• Best friend to Ash

• Engaged to Hemi

Hollis Hendrix

• Best friend to Roman Hammerstein - Former Terror Goalie

• Coaches at the Hockey Academy: Toronto Campus

• Fiancé to Peggy “Aurora” Hammer Hammerstein

Roman Hammerstein

• Former Terror Goalie

• Coach for the Hockey Academy: Toronto Campus

• Dad to Aurora/Peggy/Hammer

• Hollis’s best friend

• Husband to Lexi

TALLY’S TILTON UNIVERSITY CREW

Cammie Lovelock

Enid Posey

Fee Forrest-Hammer

Chase Lovett

Mac Meyers

Gage Steel

Brody Stiles

THE BADASS BABE BRIGADE: TALLY’S GIRL SQUAD

Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst:

• PR for Terror

• Best friend to Shilpa

• Engaged to Dallas Bright

Nicknames: Hemi, Willy/Wills

Peggy Aurora “Hammer” Hammerstein

• Daughter to Roman Hammerstein

• Girlfriend of Hollis Hendrix

Nicknames:Peggy, Aurora, Hammer, Princess

Beatrix Madden

• Roommate to Hammer

• Sister of Flip Madden

• Married to Tristan Stiles

Nicknames: Rix, Beat, Bea

Essie Lovelock

• Rix’s best friend

• Lives in Toronto

• Dating Tristan’s brother, Nate Stiles

Sibling: Cammie (attends Tilton U-friend’s with Tally and Fee)

Alexandria Forrester

• Terror assistant coach

• Married to Roman

• Guardian to her two younger sisters Ophelia (Fee) and Calliope (Callie)

Nicknames: Lexi, angel

Shilpa Palaniappa

• Best friend to Hemi

• Terror Lawyer

• Married to Ashish Palaniappa

Nickname: Shilps

Copyright © 2026 Helena Hunting

All rights reserved

Published by Helena Hunting

Cover Design by Hang Le

Cover Illustration by @rosiesfables

Developmental Edit by Becca Mysoor Fairy Plotmother

Editing by Jessica Royer Ocken

And

Erica Russikoff of Erica Edits

Proofing by Julia Griffis

Sarah at All Encompassing Books

Amanda of Drafthouse Editorial Services

CHAPTER 1

TALLY

“Ijust want to have sex.”

The table goes silent for a moment, and all eyes shift to me.

I’m out for brunch with my Babe Brigade. These women are my friends, though they’re all a little older than me, and also almost all affiliated with the Terror, Toronto’s pro hockey team, of which my dad is the head coach.

Hemi’s eyes flare. “Uh-oh, what happened last night?” She’s the head of Terror PR and married to Dallas Bright, a forward on the team.

“The same old same old.” I’m the last virgin standing in my university friend group, and I don’t see that changing any time soon. “It’s so stupid. All these idiot boys just want to fuck the coach’s virgin daughter.”

A table of dad-aged guys close by looks our way. Hemi stares them down, and their breakfasts are suddenly super interesting.

“It must be frustrating.” Essie’s expression is all empathy.

Somehow a rumor proclaiming my unsullied status—to counteract the previous one where my ex called me a bad lay—has made its way through the douchebag population of my university. It’s become a fun game to play: Who can deflower the precious Terror virgin? Or at least that’s how it seems.

“Why can’t I find a nice boyfriend who wants to know me?”

Maybe my expectations are too high. Maybe I need to read less LoTR fanfic and omegaverse romance where the heroes are head-over-ass in love with their partner and exceptionally focused on providing unparalleled pleasure. Is that too much to ask?

Dred tents her fingers under her chin in contemplation. “Maybe hockey parties aren’t the ideal location to source such a man?” She’s married to Connor Grace, the Terror enforcer, who lives to make her happy.

I sigh. “You’re right. I know this. But my friends are all connected to the hockey world. There’s no escape. Last night some guy waited in line with me for the bathroom, and we got to chatting. He seemed so nice and legitimately interested, but when it was my turn, he asked if I was down to fuck. It’s horrifying how predictably horny university boys are.”

Rix and Essie make matching icked-out faces. “That’s awful.”

“Right?” I point my fork at my friends. “There are guys out there capable of a meaningful connection and know where to locate a fucking clitoris.”

“Women know where the clitoris is,” notes Rainbow, our server, as she tops up my coffee.

“I wish I was attracted to vaginas and not peens.” I sigh.

“Peens are fun.” Rix bounces a little in her seat.

I keep my cucumber comment to myself.

“So fun.” Essie looks all dreamy.

They each have a Stiles brother who is wholly dedicated to their happiness and their vagina. I hang out with the youngest Stiles brother, but we are one-hundred-percent platonic, and he’s woefully obsessed with my friend Enid.

Rainbow finishes filling the coffees, humming to herself, and then flounces to the next table.

My rant continues. “I spent all of first year holding out because I wanted it to be with the right person, but it’s three-point-five years later and I’m still searching for someone to give my V-Card to! But it’s about more than sex,” I admit. “Sure, I want my first time to be great, and not some lackluster wah-wah experience with a guy who’s afraid of intimacy and needs a map and written directions to find my hot button. But I want my person. Someone I can hang out and cuddle with.” I envy the women I’m with because they all have their person. Even some of my university friends have serious boyfriends. I want someone to love, who loves me back.

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If You Claim Me (Toronto Terror #5) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-claim-me-toronto-terror-5-read-online-helena-hunting Wed, 19 Nov 2025 18:28:06 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-claim-me-toronto-terror-5-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Billionaire, Funny, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 132951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 665(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >136

Hockey's most hated player just asked me to marry him.

Connor Grace is the league's bad boy-and my best friend's worst enemy.

He's the fallen prince of a famous hotel chain dynasty.

Me? I'm the foster kid who grew up to be a librarian.

I never thought I'd end up in a marriage of convenience to make someone's grandma happy, but here we are.

I have no plans to kiss my husband for any reason other than show.

I have no plans to fall in love with the arrogant man dressed in a custom suit hiding intricate tattoos.

But when we're alone, he drops the mask he wears for the rest of the world.

He holds me like he means it when he says I'm his. And I want to believe him.

Too bad I learned early on that fairytales aren't real, and nothing good lasts forever

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

DRED

FRAUD.

I am a fraud.

I have committed fraud.

The word keeps slicing at me—unraveling my fragile ecosystem, poisoning it.

A panic spiral I don’t have time for is heading my way. If I was at home, I could succumb, let the anxiety wash over me and drag me down. But I’m at work, and my shift at the library doesn’t end for several more hours. I slip my finger under the hair tie around my wrist and pull it away from my skin, letting it snap back into place.

I repeat the action a dozen times, fighting to contain the panic before it can turn into a prickly weed and wrap me in its unrelenting, thorny hug.

The paper in my hands taunts me as I will the words and numbers to change, but they remain the same. I owe $105,300.27 in back rent (with interest) to the new apartment manager. I should have realized the rent I was paying was far too cheap for the building I was living in, but I didn’t question it, and now here I am—because my name is the same as my late grandmother’s, and until the management company changed, they continued to charge me what she’d been paying. Now I’ve made the leap to current market value and have to fill in the five-year gap I created.

I stop snapping the hair tie before I break the skin, fold the letter, and slide it back into my purse. Looking up, I grasp the edge of the sink, meeting my distressed gaze in the reflection. “You do not have time for a breakdown,” I say aloud. “Put it on hold. You can lose it when you get home. But you cannot do it here. You will figure a way out of this. You always do.”

I hope I’m right.

I take a deep breath, put my feelings on lock, and step out into the hall. I have five minutes left on my break, enough time to make tea. And then the after-school crowd arrives, which means my favorite twins Victor and Everly will grace me with their vibrant energy—which I could use right about now. They live at the group home a couple of blocks away, and I adore them.

Except as I turn toward the staff lounge, I run smack into a very solid chest. Warm hands wrap around my shoulders to steady me, sending an unexpected jolt through my body. I recognize the cologne immediately. I frown as I look up and am met with a closeup of the very chiseled jaw of Connor Grace.

He’s irritatingly attractive, and his presence is wholly disarming.

Also, we’re making physical contact, and my body enters haywire-mode as a result—like I wasn’t already distressed.

Connor’s piercing, steel gray eyes are locked on me, and his full lips tug down at the corners, as though the world is an irritant he’s forced to endure.

I know two versions of the man standing before me.

The first is the archenemy of my best friend, Flip Madden—that Connor is a Terror enforcer with a nasty reputation on the ice and professional hockey’s favorite villain.

The second Connor is the pro hockey player who attends his coach’s younger sister’s practices and games because she’s his number one fan, and he’s hers.

These are vastly different sides of the same man. The latter is a glimmering ruby of kindness I want to tuck in my pocket like a treasure.

For the past year, Connor has taken up space in the seat next to mine at Callie’s games on a nearly weekly basis. We both love that little girl.

New panic takes hold. Callie. “What are you doing here? Is Callie okay? Is Lexi?”

Lexi Forrest-Hammer is Connor’s pregnant coach and my best friend.

“Lexi is fine. So is Callie.” He drops his hands from my shoulders. “I’ve been looking for you.”

His tone makes it sound like it’s my fault he couldn’t find me. Like he wasted precious time, and I should feel bad about it.

Looks like our shitty moods match.

“Well, here I am. What do you want? I’m on break.” For three more minutes.

He rubs the back of his neck. “I need Meems’s books.”

“Who?”

“Meems. My grandmother. I need her books.”

I ignore the soft feeling that blooms in my chest at the adorable nickname this hard-edged, posh-as-fuck man has for his grandmother.

I have so many new questions. Like, why am I the person he’s sought out? Also, he and his family are billionaires. Why in the world would he need books from the library for his grandma when she can probably afford to buy every bookstore in the city?

I link my arms behind my back so I can snap my hair tie a few times. I’m still fighting my panic spiral. “The world doesn’t revolve around you and your needs, Connor.”

“Oh, I’m highly aware.” His steely eyes stay fixed on me, full of secrets and sadness. “My needs are generally at the bottom of everyone’s list. But my world revolves around Meems, and right now she needs what you have.”

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I Could Be Yours Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/i-could-be-yours-read-online-helena-hunting Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:55:50 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/i-could-be-yours-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Funny, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Advertisement

Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 97079 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >100

The best man ghosted me six years ago after kissing me, and now I have to plan every wedding event under the sun with him.

Nate Stiles is the definition of serious.
Furrowed brow? Check.
Rain cloud personality? Double check.

I shouldn’t be thinking about the fact that our kiss was the best one of my life right now. I should be planning the bachelorette party of the millennium.

I shouldn’t be wondering when Nate became such a good dancer after we got roped into salsa lessons with the happy couple. I should be mentally ticking off boxes on my bridal checklists.

I shouldn’t be wondering what it would be like if I didn’t hate Nate Stiles. I should be holding strong against a man who doesn’t believe in love.

My name is Essie Lovelock. I am a reformed love obsessed fairytale fanatic and I’m determined to be the best maid of honor my best friend could ever have.

And I am absolutely not going to fall for the best man.
standalone grumpy/sunshine, second chance romance

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

ESSIE

Isnap several pictures, but the mirror doesn’t allow me to fully capture the miles of poofy satin, tulle, and lace that make up this wildly ostentatious dress. My best friend, Rix, the bride-to-be, should be here any minute, and I want to give her a reason to smile. She’s been stressing over every wedding detail lately. Tonight, we’re having dinner to tick all the boxes on the upcoming bridal shower and the stag and doe. Rix is determined everything go smoothly, which is why I’m here ahead of her, checking on the dresses. I take my role of maid of honor seriously—most of the time anyway—but when I saw this dress, I couldn’t resist trying it on.

The chime of the door signals her arrival. “Trixie Rixie, I have something amazing to show you!” I singsong as I grab a suit jacket from the rack. Me and my makeshift groom twirl into the viewing area, belting out the lyrics to our favorite slow-dance song from high school.

Except my best friend is not standing in the middle of the store. It’s her soon-to-be brother-in-law, Nate Stiles. Looking wildly uncomfortable. And ungodly gorgeous. And also horrified and unimpressed. How someone can wear so many feelings at the same time is an absolute wonder.

His delightfully dark brows pull together, chocolate eyes narrowing, full lips pulling down. “What in the actual fuck?”

“What are you doing here?” I attempt to backtrack, but this dress has more yards of material than freaking Fabricland. I step on the train and topple backwards, landing on the floor with an oof. My makeshift suit-jacket groom goes flying. The hoop skirt flips up, and I raise my arm just in time to prevent it from smacking me in the face.

I feel like a flipped-over beetle as I struggle to right myself.

Uma, the sales associate who has been our go-to for all wedding-dress-related issues, rushes over. “Oh my goodness! Are you okay?”

Nate’s stupidly pretty, displeased face appears above me, and he extends a hand. “That’s a loaded question.”

I ignore his offer of assistance and try, again, to right myself, but the freaking hoop is a menace. Nate’s face is a telling shade of red. I am ten thousand percent sure my underwear is showing, and probably ninety percent of my ass since it’s a thong. My mortification doubles.

Nate disappears, and two strong hands slide under my arms. A moment later I’m on my feet. I fight the goose bumps that skitter across my skin. The hoop skirt somehow flips up again, but this time I’m not fast enough to keep it from hitting me in the face. I jerk my head back and connect with his chin.

Nate grunts and releases me. I wobble perilously before settling, still on my feet thankfully.

“Are you okay?” Uma asks again.

“I’m fine. Just peachy. Thanks so much. I’m very sorry.” I can’t die of embarrassment today, not when Rix is counting on me.

I spin, and the excessively poofy skirt flares, returning to the appropriate location. I bet it looks so cool. But I can’t confirm this because Nate is glaring at me, his thick, defined forearms crossed over his equally thick, defined chest. The Stileses have excellent genes. All three brothers are ridiculously good looking. But Nate has that tall-dark blond-and-grumpy thing going, and I’m such a fan.

I shouldn’t be, based on our history, but I tend to be attracted to the wrong men—including the one standing in front of me, looking displeased.

My face is on fire as I try to give him a wide berth, but the expansive skirt makes it impossible.

“Is this Rix’s dress?” His gaze moves over me, expression reflecting judgment, skepticism, and several other feelings I’m too busy being mortified and offended by to identify.

“Of course not! I was just…” Good Lord, what was I doing? Anyway, Rix is getting married on a beach. She would sweat to death in this number. Besides, she’s about simplicity. “Why are you even here?”

“Rix had some kind of emergency, so I’ve been sent to collect you.”

They might as well have asked him to clean up roadkill, based on how unhappy he looks.

“Is everything okay? Why didn’t she call me?”

“Probably because you’re here managing shit already, and I was available.” He consults his wristwatch. “You need to change out of that. It’s a twenty-minute drive, and we’re already cutting it close.”

“Yes, sir!” I salute him and click my heels together, then cross to the fitting room and attempt to get the hoop skirt through the door without flashing anyone, again.

Once inside, I realize the zipper is stuck. Which means I need help.

I poke my head out. Nate’s back is to me, phone in hand, forearms flexing as he thumb-types. Probably telling Tristan, his older brother and Rix’s fiancé, that we’ll be late thanks to me. I search for Uma, but she’s helping another customer.

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If You Love Me (Toronto Terror #4) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-love-me-toronto-terror-4-read-online-helena-hunting Wed, 19 Mar 2025 15:58:03 +0000 http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-love-me-toronto-terror-4-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Erotic, Forbidden, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 124494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 498(@250wpm)___ 415(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >128

Two nights with her ruined me for all other women, but I never got the chance to make her mine.

I’m the pinnacle of control. I protect the net, my team, and my daughter.
It’s my final season and I can’t afford any distractions.
Except our new assistant coach just walked in.
And I would know her face anywhere.
She’s the one I dream about.

That weekend, I was just a man—not the legend, the dad, the mentor.
I didn’t care that I was a decade older.
For the first time in my life, I was ready to risk everything if it meant having her.
Until I woke up to an empty bed and no note.
Three years of wishing I knew how to find her, now she’s my new boss.

I can be patient.
But for her—I want to break all the rules

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

ROMAN

“No fuckin’ way.”

Standing at the front of the room, looking like a damn vision, is the woman of my dreams. Quite literally, she’s been the star of them for the past three-plus years. At least once a month I wake up with a massive hard-on, the wisps of yet another dream featuring her slow to fade. I love those nights as much as I loathe them. They’re a reminder of what I had, briefly, and lost.

“Alexandria Forrester comes to us from the Ontario League…”

Coach Vander Zee keeps talking, but I don’t hear any of it, because I’m too busy staring at the siren of a woman next to him and the GM, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

And now I have a last name to go with the one I groaned and whispered like a prayer.

Alexandria Forrester.

Lexi.

It was hands down the best forty-eight hours of my life. Most of it was spent naked.

And now here she is. In three dimensions. Real and tangible and more beautiful than she was the last time I saw her.

I tune back in as Vander Zee says, “She’ll be joining the Terror as our new assistant coach.”

My entire world inverts. Because the woman of my dreams—the one who disappeared without so much as a goodbye note—just became my fucking boss.

CHAPTER 2

LEXI

Idid not accurately account for the level of anxiety that would come with seeing Roman again in person. The best goalie the league has ever seen.

I’ve never met Roman The Player before—only Roman The Man. There’s no way he would remember me the way I remember him. And I remember every last detail of my time with Roman Hammerstein.

Owner of my fucking body. Provider of magical orgasms. Biggest dick I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying (and failing) to deep throat. But my effort was applauded, appreciated, and rewarded with more multiple orgasms than I’ve ever received in a weekend.

Roman was an incredible, intelligent, filthy sex machine. But maybe all the ladies he spends time with feel that way. Maybe he’s just that good. And where does that leave me?

Except now, I’m left standing in front of my new team, staring at the man who rocked my entire world and made everyone I’ve tried to date after him seem like elevator music.

My stomach is a roiling mess. Starting a new job is never easy, but being a woman under thirty on the coaching staff of a pro hockey team? If they smell my fear, I’m finished before my skates even touch the ice.

“Let me introduce you to some of our key players,” Coach Vander Zee says after the guys have been given the go-ahead to grab a plate and get in line for the buffet.

The other two assistant coaches, Ralph Boxer and Arnold Thomas, and the equipment manager, Donnie Richards, have joined the line and are chatting with the players. Ralph seems nice, a little quirky, but he’s the goalie coach, so that tracks. Arnold and Donnie have been a touch remote, but maybe they were tight with the previous assistant coach. Both of them are quite a bit older than me, so that could be a factor as well.

Vander Zee scans the room, and of course the closest person happens to be Roman. I can barely breathe as Coach calls him over. This could go one of two ways. Neither is awesome.

Roman’s expression remains impassive. He’s grown even more attractive in the years since I last saw him. Gray flirts at his temples. He’s broad and thick and stupidly gorgeous, and while I convinced myself there’s no way he’d remember me, I’m suddenly worried I could be wrong. But I can’t rewind time and fix it.

“Alexandria, I’m sure you recognize Roman, the most outstanding goalie in the league,” Vander Zee says with genuine pride. “Roman, this is Alexandria. She coached the men’s team in Windsor and the women’s team in Niagara before coming to us.” Vander Zee claps Roman on the shoulder. “Roman will be a great resource for you as you learn the ropes here.”

Roman smiles and extends his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Alexandria.”

My knees nearly buckle at the sound of my full name in his exquisite, rich voice. Several other things I’ve heard that voice say crowd my mind.

You’re going to be my good girl and let me feed you my cock, Lexi.

Such a pretty pussy. I’m going to make it weep for me.

Show me what you like, Lexi. I’m going to make this gorgeous body sing.

And then reality hits. His face is entirely neutral as we shake hands. He really doesn’t remember me.

No doubt I’m one of many faceless women who’ve been on the receiving end of his exceptional off-ice skill set. The things we did. The way he took control and brought out a side of myself I hadn’t experienced before him. And haven’t experienced since.

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Chase Lovett Wants Me Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/chase-lovett-wants-me-read-online-helena-hunting Sun, 02 Feb 2025 19:14:46 +0000 https://www.wownovels.com/chase-lovett-wants-me-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, College, Contemporary, Sports, Virgin Authors: Helena Hunting Advertisement

Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 63335 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 317(@200wpm)___ 253(@250wpm)___ 211(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >66

A brand new standalone, opposites attract, college hockey romance.

Chase Lovett.
Star of my (unrequited) fantasies.
Hottest guy on campus.
Hockey god.

Too bad he has no idea who I am. Literally, I’m so invisible to him that he once sat on me in class.

No thanks to a fire in the dorms, he just became my accidental roommate.
Did I mention the hotel room our university moved us to has only one bed?
Not ideal.

Worse, I accidentally left “My Precious” Lord of the Rings underwear hanging to dry in our shower.
My actual nightmare.

My name is Cammie Lovelock and this might just be the worst, best thing that’s ever happened to me.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

CAMMIE

My phone pings with a message from my sister.

Essie

Video chat in 1 min!

I nearly collide with another person as I rush out of the communal bathroom. I flatten myself against the wall as Chase Lovett, hockey god, the most popular guy in our residence building and the hottest guy in first year, brushes past me without so much as a glance in my direction. Like I don’t exist. It’s basically the story of my life.

I continue my cardboard cutout impression as Chase, his hockey buddies, and two girls who haven’t spoken a word to me in the two months we’ve lived on this floor, continue down the hall, laughing and chatting. They’re probably heading to the common room. The Toronto Terror, the local pro hockey team, are playing tonight. I stare shamelessly at Chase’s retreating form, all six-foot-four of dark hair, broad shoulders, and magnificent, highly smackable ass.

My phone rings, so I quickly hold my lanyard to the lock and slip into my room.

Aragorn, Legolas, and Arwen stare intensely at me from the poster above my bed.

“Hey! Hi! Hello!” I say breathlessly as Essie’s two-dimensional image appears.

My room is directly across the hall from the bathroom, so I have no reason to be breathless. Chase does it to me every time.

“Did I catch you at a bad time?” A slight frown tugs at the corners of my sister’s lips.

“Nope. Not a bad time. I was in the bathroom.”

“Oh. Fair.” She lobs a series of questions at me. “How are things? How are classes? Have you made any new friends since we talked last week?”

She asks the new friends question all the time. Essie and I are opposites. She’s effortlessly cool, outgoing, and has an endless supply of friends. I’m nerdy, introverted, and have two close friends, one of whom I met online. The other I met in my English class. It took me six weeks to say hi. Her name is Tally, and she’s the only person I know, who isn’t a grandpa, who loves Good & Plenty.

Essie’s phone is propped in a holder on her vanity, which is covered in makeup and application tools. Her straight, dark hair is pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head. She’s wearing a pink, off-the-shoulder sweater and dark-wash denim.

“Classes are good.” Especially the two I have with Chase. “And I talked to a girl in bio class last week.” I asked if the seat was taken beside her. She said she was waiting for her friend. I found another one.

“That’s great! What’s her name?”

I scramble for a name. “Her name is Greta.”

“That’s old school. Have you made plans yet? Did you exchange numbers?” Essie dips a liner brush in black liquid, expertly lining her dark eyes with a dramatic flourish.

“Not yet. But I’ll see her tomorrow.” It’s not untrue. I will see her tomorrow. But I will not be asking to exchange numbers or hang out. I sat three rows back and watched her friend slide into the seat next to her. I’ve seen her with Chase before. Just talking, but still. We definitely don’t run in the same circles. If I had a chance in hell with Chase, she would be competition.

“That’s cool. Have you seen Brody on campus yet?” Essie asks. “I know a couple of other people on campus if you want their info.”

“Oh, that’s okay. You don’t need to do that.” Like I want my sister making my friends for me. “And, yeah. We have a class together.” I fight to keep my internal cringe from showing on my face. I’ve managed to keep that tidbit to myself up until this moment. Brody Stiles is the youngest brother of Tristan Stiles, pro hockey player for the Toronto Terror.

Essie has always sort of known the Stiles brothers because of her best friend Rix, and I’ve always known of them. Tristan, Nate, and Brody. Brody and I are the same age, just like Essie is the same age as Brody’s middle brother, Nate. But until this year, my path had never really crossed with Brody.

Essie stops applying makeup to shoot me a disbelieving look. “What? Why didn’t you tell me that until now?”

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >66

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If You Need Me (Toronto Terror #3) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-need-me-toronto-terror-3-read-online-helena-hunting Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:36:30 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/if-you-need-me-toronto-terror-3-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Funny, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >129

A standalone enemies to lovers, fake engagement, hockey romance.

I’ve been secretly in love with Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst since the third grade.

I should be the one taking her to our small-town high school reunion. The prom king finally gets his chance with the valedictorian.
Except she hates me.

To the world, I’m a pro hockey player with a million dollar smile.
To Hemi, I’m the menace who (accidentally) sank her bike to the bottom of the lake.

I never thought I’d be able to right my wrongs until she took the team’s PR job.
I’d hoped I was making progress, winning her over—one geriatric polka party at a time.

Until I got drunk one night and made a mistake. A very big mistake.
Now the world thinks we’re both very much in love–—except Hemi is absolutely in loathe.

To save our jobs and reputations, we have to convince all our friends, family, and bosses that our fake relationship is the real deal.

I’ll do anything to protect her, especially if it means I get to be the best boyfriend Hemi never expected.

*If you want to meet Dallas and Hemi before you read their story, you can start with If You Hate Me, and If You Want Me.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

DALLAS

“Calm the fuck down,” I tell my reflection as I grip the edge of the sink.

Of all the inconvenient times to spring an anxiety boner, this sure tops the list.

“Open the damn door, Dallas.” Willy rattles the knob.

“Ah, fuck me.” I grit my teeth against the surge of desire.

It’s pointless, though. I’m already picturing her pissed-off expression: rosy cheeks, fists on her curvy hips, full lips pushed out in an adorable, annoyed pout. My erection turns into a steel rod.

Wilhelmina Reddi-Grinst, referred to by the team as Hemi—but who I call Willy, mostly to ensure her attention is on me—is the public relations director for the Toronto Terror, the professional hockey team I play for.

She’s also the woman of my dreams—has been for years. Unfortunately, she hates me. She has good reason. We’ve known each other since kindergarten, and I was a dick of the highest order growing up.

Even more unfortunate is the way my body responds to her every single time. Especially when she’s giving me shit. People always bend over backwards to please me. But not Willy. Never Willy.

“I’ll be right out,” I call, panic layering on top of anxiety. This should not be happening. I took care of myself before I left the damn house. Twice. But here I am, battling yet another raging anxiety boner. In the bathroom of a pet rescue shelter. It’s embarrassing.

And it’s a new low. But handling my situation in here is better than having pictures of me holding a rescue dog while sporting a hard-on all over the internet.

Horrible decision made, I uncurl one hand from the edge of the sink, hating myself as I reach into my underwear to fist my cock. I accidentally groan at the instant relief.

“I heard that sound, Dallas. I heard it.” Willy raps aggressively. “You better open this door by the time I reach three or I will sign you up for clown and sauerkraut pierogi detail.”

I hate clowns. Probably because my older brothers, Manning and Ferris, made me watch IT when I was four. And sauerkraut reminds me of my great-grandma Helga’s house, where my siblings and I sometimes had to stay as kids when my parents went away on vacation. I came down with the stomach flu after eating her borscht, and now the smell of cooked cabbage in any form triggers my gag reflex.

“I just need a minute!” I call back, stroking fast and hard. I slam my eyes shut, trying not to picture Willy naked and angry. It’s difficult with her on the other side of the door.

“You’ve had ten. Your minutes are up.” More knocking. “Three,” Hemi’s voice shakes with rage.

The fallout from this will be bad. So, so bad. She’ll for sure make me pay for this. And the worst part is, I’ll eat it up. Because it will mean her focus is exactly where I want it. On me. I know it’s messed up to enjoy pissing her off. It’s a problem, and I should seek therapy for it. But her anger is preferable to apathy.

The angrier she gets, the harder I get. It should be the opposite. I should not love getting under her skin the way I do. But at least I know I affect her, too.

“Two. Clown detail it is.”

I can’t do clown detail again. Public panic attacks aren’t good for my image.

“I’m sending the email with your name, right now.” The glee in her voice sends a shiver down my spine. God, I love her.

I’m so fucked when it comes to Wilhelmina.

And then I do something stupider than whacking off in a public bathroom.

CHAPTER 2

HEMI

The door swings open, and Dallas’s arm shoots out. He grabs my wrist and yanks me into the bathroom. My boobs hit the door on the way in. He slams it closed behind him and turns the lock.

“Why am I in here with you?” I grimace at his sweaty, disheveled appearance. He’s hunched at the waist, one hand on his knee. “Are you sick? Do you have the flu? You better not have the flu. You should have told me before you wasted everyone’s time.”

“I don’t have the flu.” He’s panting. And still bent over. I don’t know what’s happening with his other hand, maybe cupping his junk?

“Then why do you look like…like this?” I fling a hand in his handsomely rumpled direction. Fucking Dallas. Such an annoyingly pretty boy, and a giant pain in my ass.

“I need a minute,” he snaps.

I scoff and fist my hands at my sides so I don’t give in to the urge to strangle him. He does this almost every time, and I firmly believe it’s to annoy me. He was the most popular guy in our high school, always the center of attention. He should be used to it by now.

But getting angrier will only make me look unprofessional, not him. It’s frustrating that nothing has changed since we were kids. I’m still the outspoken nerdy girl, and he’s still the prom king. I take a deep breath and put on my nice-Hemi hat, because I need him to leave this bathroom and do the promo shoot with the adorable Chihuahua mix so I can go to yet another coffee date with a random online dude whose picture is hopefully not ten years out of date.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >129

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If You Want Me (Toronto Terror #2) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-want-me-toronto-terror-2-read-online-helena-hunting Wed, 07 Aug 2024 09:50:09 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/if-you-want-me-toronto-terror-2-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Forbidden, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 147021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >153

A standalone age-gap, dad's best friend hockey romance.

There’s no one more off limits than my best friend’s daughter.

Peggy Aurora Hammerstein. The Toronto Terror’s unofficial team princess. I would never do anything to mess with our team dynamics this late into the hockey season, but seeing her work in the front office changed something for me.

I see her as she is now: a powerful woman with ambition for miles.
When I hold her against me, she fits perfectly.

Her little flirts and taunts push my buttons, if she doesn’t stop–my control just might break.
But I can never cross that line. I can never know what it could be to call her mine.

I’ve never wanted anyone more than Aurora and no one can ever know.

*This is Hollis Hendrix's standalone novel. If you want to meet Hollis before you read this book, check out If You Hate Me, Rix and Tristan's story.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

HAMMER

Of all the stupid things I could possibly do, this wins the gold medal. So, so stupid. Like what would ever possess me to do something so unfathomably idiotic?

I’m supposed to keep Hollis’s cats company while the team is on an away series, not succumb to my tried-and-true teenage fantasies.

I should be dating someone my own age, a nice guy from one of my university classes. But having a professional hockey player for a dad hasn’t really helped my love life. Worse, my crush on his teammate started as a small, harmless thing that I tried to ignore. Tried and failed.

I knew better, know better, but I was weak and cuddled up, and my vibrator was right there in my bag. Brand new, and magical, and waiting to be tested…

What was I supposed to do?

Not test it out in Hollis Hendrix’s bed.

But it’s too late, the mistake has been made.

I, Peggy Aurora Hammerstein, masturbated in my dad’s best friend’s bed.

CHAPTER 2

HAMMER

“This is my literal nightmare.” I slam my thumb against the button until the elevator arrives. It feels like my soul has left my damn body. I throw myself inside and struggle to calm my breathing as the numbers climb to the penthouse floor. My stomach is flipping, my mouth is dry, my palms are sweating. “You have time to get rid of the evidence. It’ll be fine.”

The team never comes back from an away series this early. Except today they are. I thought I’d have hours after my class meeting. The sheets still need to be washed. I need to get rid of the evidence. And I left my freaking vibrator behind. How the hell could I have left it behind? In all the months I’ve been taking care of Hollis’s cats, I’ve always stayed on the right side of the infatuation line. Until now. And look at the mess I’ve gotten myself into.

I pace the tiny steel box as the elevator ascends forty-four stories. It takes an eternity. The doors finally slide open, and I launch myself into the hallway.

I will never do something this stupid ever again. The sensor on Hollis’s door turns green as I pass the fob in front of it. I’m immediately accosted by Postie and Malone. I ignore them while I key in the alarm code.

Once that’s taken care of, I give the needy orange tabby rescue cats a quick head scratch. “I need to take care of a few things, and then I’ll give you a treat. Your dad will be home soon.”

The floor creaks from somewhere in the penthouse. The cats’ ears perk up. I freeze for a moment, then peer over the back of the couch as Hollis steps around the corner.

This is worse than bad. This is emergency-level holy shit. I cannot erase the evidence if he’s already home. My eyeballs nearly pop out of my head and roll across the floor. Because he’s fresh from the shower, running a towel over his face. Another towel is wrapped around his waist. It’s ratty and smaller than the usual huge bath sheets he uses. Because the clean ones are in his laundry room. And so are the dirty sheets.

I should cover my eyes, or turn around, or announce my presence. But I’m too busy having a freaking panic attack. I can barely breathe. The rapid drumming of my heartbeat is all I can hear. Also, the possibility that I might die of embarrassment is real. Apparently, I can still appreciate the visual delight that is a mostly undressed Hollis Hendrix, though.

His jacked-up hockey body is a sight to behold. His biceps pop, highlighting his half-sleeve tattoo as he runs the towel over his dark, wet hair. It’s a cool piece of art that’s impossible not to admire. On his biceps, a hockey player skates across a frozen lake, the sun shining down on him. In the background, huge pine trees frame the edge of the water. As they rise to his shoulder, the winter scene changes to fall. The evergreens turn into maples with their boastful yellow, orange, and red leaves. Single vibrant leaves flutter over his shoulder and across his chest. Muscles flex and ripple, water droplets cascade over his drool-worthy pecs before he swipes them away.

I’m in so much trouble right now. So much trouble. From his spot across the room, I’m obscured by the couch. But freaking Postie, the noisy asshole that he is, gives me away by meowing obnoxiously.

I shoot to my feet.

Hollis startles and holds the towel in his hand to his chest. “What the fuck?”

“I’m so sorry!” I shout.

Postie meows and hurdles over the couch like an Olympian. Malone’s tail puffs up, and he hustles his chonky butt across the room and disappears into Hollis’s bedroom. The corner of the bed is visible from where I’m standing. I consider following him, but I’m not as fast as a cat, and there will be questions.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >153

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If You Hate Me (Toronto Terror #1) Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/if-you-hate-me-toronto-terror-1-read-online-helena-hunting Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:51:06 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/if-you-hate-me-toronto-terror-1-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Forbidden, Funny, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Series: Toronto Terror Series by Helena Hunting
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Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147051 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 735(@200wpm)___ 588(@250wpm)___ 490(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >152

A brand new standalone hate-to-love, brother's best friend hockey romance.

My new roommates are two pro hockey players.
First, my manwhore older brother, and second, his seriously hot best friend (who I seriously hate).
This was a last resort.
No one should be sleeping on a futon that smells like Cheetos and ball sweat.
But here I am, trying to get my life together.

Tristan Stiles is the bane of my existence.
He never wears a shirt.
We can’t seem to stop fighting.
He’s an arrogant playboy with a filthy reputation.
Sure, I had a crush on him when I was fourteen, but that was a long time ago.
I know better than to trust him.

I just need to survive long enough to find a new job and get a new place.
And not accidentally let Tristan rail me into next week.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CHAPTER 1

RIX

It smells like Cheetos, beer, possibly ball sweat, and a hint of men’s deodorant in here. My stomach gurgles ominously as I lie on the futon in the loft of my older brother’s condo. If I can’t sleep, I might as well call my best friend and fill her in.

“I have fifteen minutes between clients. What the heck is going on?” Essie asks when she answers.

It’s noisy from the big event she’s working. Her makeup brushes click and clink as they’re cleaned and slotted away while she waits for the next person to fill her chair.

“I imploded my life,” I tell her, succinct and accurate.

“This sounds bad. What happened?”

“I rage-quit my job and moved out of my apartment.”

It sounds even worse when I say it aloud. I’m so disappointed in myself. Asking my brother if I could stay at his place feels like the ultimate failure—he’s a professional hockey player, and I’m now unemployed and un-homed. I’m lucky I even caught him between ice time and going out.

“Did your roommates invite you to join their sex party again?” she asks.

“They did.”

“Why the hell can’t they take no for an answer? That’s harassment!”

I smile. I appreciate her indignation on my behalf. “Look, I respect anyone doing whatever gets their rocks off, but listen when I say no thank you. And then my boss dropped four boxes of receipts on my desk at the end of the day and said they needed to be sorted by nine tomorrow, so I lost my shit and quit.”

And when I got home, Eugenia was tied to a pillar in the living room. Naked. That was the last straw and the reason I’ve ended up here. On this futon.

“Seriously?” I can practically see Essie shaking her head. “That’s the fourth time that’s happened! You lasted two and a half months longer than I would have.”

“I really wanted it to work out, you know? It was my first real job at a firm. I had benefits and a steady paycheck, and now I have nothing.” How could I be so stupid and reactive?

“You are highly employable, Rix. You graduated at the top of your class. Come to Vancouver. Where are you staying now? Please don’t say a Motel Heaven.”

“Almost as bad, I’m at my brother’s.” I love Flip. He’s a great brother, and he’s helped me out financially in the past, but this clearly indicates that I’ve failed at taking care of myself. I hate that I’ve messed up my life so completely after being so careful.

“Oh my God. Rix.”

“It gets worse.” Because not only did I lose my job and my apartment, so I get to sleep on a futon in his loft with no doors or privacy, but I also did the unthinkable.

“Worse how?” Essie asks.

“I went to the Pink Taco. And I always overdo it.” Especially when I’m mid-tragedy. I love those freaking tacos.

“Tell me you didn’t have the refried beans.”

“I had the refried beans. And several margaritas.” So stupid. And expensive.

“Rix, you know better.”

“I know. My stomach sounds like a beast lives in there. A bean-fueled beast. I also might have left Rob an emotional, half-drunk voicemail.”

When Rob moved across the country, from Toronto to the east coast, to pursue his master’s, I wanted to try long distance. He was pragmatic and did not. We were together for more than a year, so I’m still sore about it. I’d thought we were heading toward moving in together, toward stability and next steps, so being over sucked, even if it was the right thing to do.

“Dude, you broke up months ago. Noooo.” Essie groans.

“Yeah.”

“What kind of message?”

“Not one I want to repeat. Maybe he won’t listen to it.” He’ll listen to it.

“Babe, seriously, come to Vancouver. There are accounting jobs here.”

“It’s enticing.” But also impractical, irresponsible, and expensive. I’ve capped out on all three tonight alone.

The sound of someone trying to get into the condo downstairs has me rushing to get off the phone. “I think my bro’s home. I’ll message later.”

“’Kay. Love you more than chocolate ice cream.”

“Same.” I end the call and press my phone to my chest. Emotions clog my throat.

I don’t want to explain this to my brother. I’m horrified by the whole thing.

The front door opens, and I take a deep breath, preparing for the inevitable embarrassing conversation. The kitchen lights flicker on.

“Ah, fuck. Shit. Too bright!” A deep voice echoes off the high ceilings.

My stomach gurgles as I tense. Stupid refried beans. It’s not my brother, Phillip—Flip. That started when I was a kid and couldn’t pronounce his name. Now it’s an ongoing joke because he’s a next-level fuckboy, as in “Flip me over and do me from behind.”

Unfortunately, it seems that my brother’s teammate and roommate, Tristan, is home. He sounds different, though. Which makes sense since he was eighteen when I last saw him in three dimensions, and he’s in his mid-twenties now. His voice is deeper, grittier.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >152

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Where It Begins – A Pucked Novella Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/where-it-begins-a-pucked-novella-read-online-helena-hunting Fri, 15 Dec 2023 11:43:38 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/where-it-begins-a-pucked-novella-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Funny, Novella, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Advertisement

Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 55667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 223(@250wpm)___ 186(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >58

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Helena Hunting comes a story in her Pucked series. The untold story of Skye and Sidney, and the origin story where Vi and Miller are teens when their parents start dating and fall in love… I accidentally grabbed the wrong drink at the coffee shop. On the upside, the hot guy it belonged to chased me down to kindly swap with me. On the down side, the reason I grabbed the wrong drink in the first place is because the hot guy had just caught me checking out his ass…sets. In my defense, his rear view is rather magnificent. In true, humiliating form, I word-vomited a bunch of horrible nonsense. Including an unnecessary explanation of the trauma I’d evaded thanks to his chasing me down. Nothing could ruin my lactose-intolerant day faster than my one true dairy. I did not expect him to ask me out on a date after that. I also didn’t expect the date to go well since my tendency to truth-vomit is high, and not everyone finds that quality endearing. But apparently he does. Because he asks me out again.
And again. Sidney Butterson (yes, it’s a weird last name) ticks all my boxes.
He's smart, he's funny, he's employed and he's ridiculously hot.
There’s one catch. We’re both single parents. With teens. And if our kids don’t like each other?
Well, we’re doomed. **Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

FOREWORD

ONE THOUSAND AND ONE DARK NIGHTS

Once upon a time, in the future…

I was a student fascinated with stories and learning.

I studied philosophy, poetry, history, the occult, and

the art and science of love and magic. I had a vast

library at my father’s home and collected thousands

of volumes of fantastic tales.

I learned all about ancient races and bygone

times. About myths and legends and dreams of all

people through the millennium. And the more I read

the stronger my imagination grew until I discovered

that I was able to travel into the stories... to actually

become part of them.

I wish I could say that I listened to my teacher

and respected my gift, as I ought to have. If I had, I

would not be telling you this tale now.

But I was foolhardy and confused, showing off

with bravery.

One afternoon, curious about the myth of the

Arabian Nights, I traveled back to ancient Persia to

see for myself if it was true that every day Shahryar

(Persian: شهريار, “king”) married a new virgin, and then

sent yesterday's wife to be beheaded. It was written

and I had read that by the time he met Scheherazade,

the vizier's daughter, he’d killed one thousand

women.

Something went wrong with my efforts. I arrived

in the midst of the story and somehow exchanged

places with Scheherazade – a phenomena that had

never occurred before and that still to this day, I

cannot explain.

Now I am trapped in that ancient past. I have

taken on Scheherazade’s life and the only way I can

protect myself and stay alive is to do what she did to

protect herself and stay alive.

Every night the King calls for me and listens as I spin tales.

And when the evening ends and dawn breaks, I stop at a

point that leaves him breathless and yearning for more.

And so the King spares my life for one more day, so that

he might hear the rest of my dark tale.

As soon as I finish a story... I begin a new

one... like the one that you, dear reader, have before

you now.

CHAPTER ONE

ACCIDENTAL MEETING

Skye

“Vi, if we don’t leave in five minutes you’ll have to walk to school!” I call down the narrow hallway.

Violet, my teen daughter, steps out of the bathroom with red eyes, shoulders slumped with defeat.

“Baby? What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“I can’t get my right contact lens in to save my life.” She looks down at the finger crooked in a come-hither motion and squints. “Shitballs, I think I might have dropped it.” She flails her free hand in the air. “Great! Just great! Like I’m ever going to find it now.”

As a single mom of a teenage girl, I know that one tiny mishap has the potential to ruin an entire day. “Why don’t you just wear your glasses? They make your eyes pop.”

Violet sigh-groans. “Because I have a Mathletes competition this afternoon, and my plan is to not wear my glasses and also to open the top two buttons on my shirt.” She motions to her chest. “So I can throw the other team off with a boob distraction. The combination temporarily fools them into believing I’m unable to math. Also, John Kirkwood always calls me four eyes when I wear my glasses and he’s in two of my classes, so I would prefer to avoid the irritation today.”

“If he’s teasing you, it means he likes you,” I point out.

“If we were in middle school, that might ring true, but John is a jerk and a jock. He’s a jork. And the only thing he likes about me are these.” She pats her right boob.

Violet looks very much like me and not her dad. Which is good because her dad was a one-night stand that turned into the most beautiful surprise I didn’t know I needed in my life. Raising Violet on my own hasn’t always been easy, but my parents are supportive and I’m lucky to have a stable, well-paying job.

“He’s just jealous that you’re a smart, independent young woman who’s going places.”

“It’s more likely he’s just a jork who makes fun of people because he has a finger penis.”

“A finger penis?”

“Yeah.” She holds up her index finger. “A penis that’s more like a finger. That’s the rumor, anyway.”

“Men are fragile creatures with easily bruised egos,” I muse as I inspect Violet’s crooked finger. “Your contact lens is still on your finger. Want me to help you put it in?”

She sighs, but nods. “Can you? I wish I could be successful at putting them in over fifty percent of the time. If I didn’t have this Mathlete competition and it wasn’t our first time against this team, I would wear the glasses. But the last time we played a new team, I wore contacts and hinted at some cleavage, and two of their team members broke out in hives and another had to breathe into a paper bag.”

“Is it fair to use your boobs as a distraction tactic?” I motion her back into the bathroom.

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >58

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Shattered Truths – Lies, Hearts & Truths Read Online Helena Hunting http://www.wownovels.com/shattered-truths-lies-hearts-truths-read-online-helena-hunting Mon, 04 Sep 2023 20:23:14 +0000 http://www.booksnovels.com/shattered-truths-lies-hearts-truths-read-online-helena-hunting Genre: Alpha Male, Contemporary, Sports Authors: Helena Hunting Advertisement

Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 119680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 598(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)

<<<<1 2 3 11 21 >125

The first time I met Winter Marks, I almost took her out with my Jeep.
To be fair, she came out of nowhere.

I flirted with her, and she flipped me off and disappeared into the woods on her bike.
But she left me a souvenir: a single hockey skate.

Seemed to me that divine intervention shouldn’t be ignored.

She was my icy Cinderella and I would be her Prince Not-So-Charming.

Winter was more than just a sassy, badass hockey-playing hottie.
She’s stuck in a prison of a life. And I’m the perfect escape.

Neither of us expected to fall.
Or for the truth to shatter us.

*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************

CAST OF CHARACTERS

1 NEAR MISS

BJ

“I’m heading to the arena.” I grab an apple from the fruit bowl and kiss my mom on the cheek.

She glances at the clock on the stove. “I thought you didn’t have practice with Adele until ten.”

“I don’t. Just getting in some solo ice time.” I take a bite out of the apple while I fill my travel mug with coffee.

“Don’t forget we have a free skate tonight,” Dad says as he slathers butter on toast.

“Looking forward to it.” I put the lid on my coffee and head for the door.

“An apple won’t cut it for breakfast, Randall. You need protein!” Mom calls after me.

“I’ve got bars in my bag. See you at the rink!” I shove my feet into my slides, grab the keys to my Jeep, and bust my ass out the door before my mom tries to sit me down for a seven-course meal. Skating on an overly full stomach isn’t my favorite.

A minute later, I’m pulling out of the driveway and onto the packed-gravel road, stones spitting from beneath my tires. I slow down at the T-intersection, glancing in both directions before I pull onto the main road that leads to town. As I accelerate, a person on a bike comes shooting out of the wooded trail that runs perpendicular to the road. I hit the brakes and the tires squeal, leaving rubber behind me.

My heart is in my throat as I make eye contact with the girl on the bike. She’s wearing a helmet, thank God. Her eyes are wide with shock as she attempts to course correct, and her lips form the word fuck as she turns the handlebars. I’m sure we’re about to collide, but she manages the turn, though she nearly skids out as she avoids slamming into the side of my Jeep.

“The fuck, dude?” She grabs the edge of my door to steady herself. “It’s called a goddamn stop sign for a reason, not a fucking pause-and-keep-on-rolling sign.”

In the brief moment when our faces are less than half a foot apart, I notice a lot of things—the first being that she’s smoking hot, in an unconventional way. Her face is all angles and sharp lines, and her eyes are the color of a stormy sky, but her lips are full and pouty, softening her features, and her chin tapers, giving her face a heart shape. There’s a jagged horizontal scar in the center of her chin, and freckles dot the bridge of her nose. Her long, dark hair is pulled back in a braid that hangs nearly to her waist, and there’s a hockey bag strapped to the back of her bike.

“Your reaction time is incredible,” I say, like an idiot.

“Seriously? You’re lucky I didn’t dent your Jeep, asshole.”

The last thing I should do is smile, but I can’t help it. “Damn. You’re gorgeous, with a sharp tongue, and you play hockey? This is divine intervention. You’re basically the woman of my dreams.”

She looks at me like I have two heads, then purses her lips and pushes off the side of the Jeep. She rounds the hood while firing the bird at the windshield. “I hope you don’t fuck like you drive,” she yells.

As she navigates the steep slope that leads to the trail on the opposite side of the road, her back tire skids on the fresh gravel and she goes down.

“Shit.” I flick on my hazard lights, pull onto the soft shoulder, and hop out of the Jeep. By the time I reach the bumper, she’s already back on her bike, disappearing into the forest. But not before I notice the Boones logo on the back of her shirt. It’s a local bakery that makes the most amazing fried apple fritter rings. Everyone I know is addicted to them, including me.

A skid mark from her tires mars the gravel where she wiped out, and something glints from the wildflowers that line the road. I crouch to get a better look. It’s a hockey skate with MARKS Sharpied on the tongue.

I pick it up and smile. Looks like I’m making a pit stop before I hit the ice.

2 CINDERELLA ON BLADES

Winter

I make it to Boones with ten minutes to spare, which is good because my elbow is bleeding and so is my knee, and the back of my right thigh has some serious road rash.

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