{"title":"Short Reads","description":"\u003cp\u003eBig stories, small packages — our Short Reads collection features novellas and short stories across all genres. Perfect for a lunch break, a long commute, or when you just need a quick escape. Mystery, romance, erotica, and more — all under 150 pages.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"a-captain-worth-finding","title":"A Captain Worth Finding","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEmma Lane has spent twelve years being indispensable. Taken in as an orphan by the Sterling family, she repaid their kindness by becoming the woman who holds everything together — managing four aristocratic households, raising children who aren't hers, and folding her own wants so small they nearly disappeared. Now twenty-nine, crossing the Atlantic aboard a Sears shipping vessel as four families race to reach a dying patriarch, Emma can feel the role she's built her life around slipping away. The children she raised are growing up. The girl she mentored is stepping into her place. And Emma is terrified of what's left when being needed stops being enough.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCaptain Jonah Hale commands the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eHeiress\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the way he commands everything — with precision, discipline, and a refusal to want anything the sea can't give him. Born on the Liverpool docks, self-made from nothing, he's earned his place at the helm. He hasn't earned a place in the world of the aristocrats he carries across the ocean. He knows the difference. He's made peace with it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen Emma Lane argues with him on his own quarterdeck, and peace is the last thing he feels.\u003cbr\u003eOver eighteen days of open water — through a storm that nearly breaks the ship, a reckoning that nearly breaks them both, and navigation lessons under the stars that teach them far more than longitude — a woman who's never wanted anything for herself and a man who's never believed he could have anything discover that the bravest act isn't surviving. It's reaching for something you might lose.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA Captain Worth Finding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a standalone novella set in the world of the beloved \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAmerican Heiresses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e series. Featuring cameos from fan-favorite couples and the next generation of characters who will star in the upcoming \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eHeirs of Defiance\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eseries, it bridges two eras and proves that the most extraordinary journeys don't always cross an ocean — sometimes they cross the distance between two people standing at the same rail.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ePerfect for readers who love:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSelf-made heroes with rough hands and steady hearts\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeroines who discover their own worth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFound family and letting go\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShipboard romance with real emotional stakes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClosed-door heat with open-heart intensity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Violet Sinclair","offers":[{"title":"eBook","offer_id":51912681160990,"sku":"Acaptainworthfinding-en-ebook-1","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":51912681193758,"sku":"acaptainworthfinding-en-audio","price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0402\/8958\/files\/English_-_A_Captain_Worth_Finding_-_Audiobook_Icon_7855b08e-dd8b-4939-ab1c-e6679a833b6c.jpg?v=1780301824"},{"product_id":"a-seance-at-seven-bells","title":"A Seance at Seven Bells","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eOn All Hallows' Eve in Victorian London, herbalist Clara Wetherly witnesses a séance that ends in murder. With a fraudulent medium dead and nine suspects, Clara must unmask the killer before midnight strikes—and before the exasperating Inspector Redgrave arrests the wrong person.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e✨ A bite-sized Victorian mystery short read perfect for your lunch break! This Halloween cozy (20,000 words \/ 80 pages) delivers a complete mystery in one delightful hour.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLondon, 1857. Clara Wetherly wants nothing more than a quiet All Hallows' Eve in her apothecary shop with her cat Marmalade and her herb-infused tinctures. Instead, her neighbor Mrs. Penfield insists she attend a séance conducted by the famous Madame Seraphina Vale.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eClara suspects the spiritualist is a fraud—and she's right. But when the lights go out and chaos erupts at the séance table, Clara's instincts prove horrifyingly correct in ways she never expected. Madame Seraphina is dead, stabbed with her own ceremonial dagger, and one of the nine guests is a killer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith the handsome, exasperating Inspector Graham Redgrave investigating and the clock ticking toward midnight, Clara must use her sharp observation, her understanding of human nature, and her ability to see through deception to unmask a murderer. But when Redgrave's logical deductions point to the wrong suspect, Clara races against time to prevent a terrible mistake—and catch the real killer before it's too late.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePerfect for fans of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eMrs. Jeffries mysteries\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eDeanna Raybourn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, A SÉANCE AT SEVEN BELLS blends Victorian atmosphere, authentic period detail, and a slow-burn romance into an elegant Halloween mystery that will leave readers eager for Clara's next investigation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eSERIES NOTE:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThis Halloween novella introduces the Zia Bellamy Mysteries, a Victorian cozy series featuring herbalist Clara Wetherly, her matchmaking ghost grandmother, and the one marmalade cat who sees everything. While this book stands alone, readers will find threads that weave into future mysteries set in gaslit London.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVictorian Mystery • Paranormal Cozy • All Hallows' Eve Setting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSéance Murder • Herbalist Protagonist • Cat Sleuth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlow-Burn Romance • Female Amateur Detective • Historical Cozy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubtle Ghost • Inspector Romance • Halloween Mystery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Zia Bellamy","offers":[{"title":"eBook","offer_id":51916699894046,"sku":"aseanceatsevenbells-en-ebook","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":51916699926814,"sku":null,"price":3.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0402\/8958\/files\/aseanceatsevenbells.jpg?v=1780343431"},{"product_id":"scandals-of-the-season-complete-collection-delilah-duvall","title":"Scandals of the Season - Five Wicked Tales - The Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis collection includes all 5 novellas in the Scandals of the Season series.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e\u003cu\u003eA Wicked Victorian Romance Collection\u003c\/u\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eFive Scandalous Tales of Desire, Power, and Ruin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStep into glittering ballrooms, shadowed corridors, and whispered midnight bargains where reputations are currency—and surrender is the most dangerous pleasure of all. This \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ecomplete five-book Victorian erotic romance boxed set\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e delivers commanding dukes, daring heroines, forbidden contracts, and delicious scandals that ignite behind closed doors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerfect for readers who crave \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003emarriage-of-convenience heat, enemies-to-lovers tension, masked seductions, power exchanges, and rakes who fall hardest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBook 1 – The Duke’s Decadent Deal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo save her family from ruin, Lady Helena Ashworth signs a scandalous contract with the dark Duke of Vallencourt—trading freedom for five thousand pounds and three weeks at his command. What begins as cold necessity turns dangerously intoxicating when desire blurs the lines between duty and devotion… and a notorious masquerade tempts her to risk everything for the man who could destroy—or claim—her heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTropes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Marriage of convenience, forced proximity, commanding hero, decadent desire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBook 2 – Masquerade of Sin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne reckless night behind a jeweled mask leads Cecily Craven into the arms of a stranger who promises pleasure—and delivers ruin. But her mysterious seducer is the very man sworn to destroy her family. In a ballroom of secrets and silk, vengeance collides with obsession, and enemies become lovers beneath the cover of scandal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTropes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Masked strangers, enemies to lovers, revenge romance, forbidden passion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBook 3 – Taming the Governess\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMiss Eliza Farrow arrives at Heathmoor Hall with sharp wit and dangerous secrets—only to clash with a viscount who demands absolute obedience. Their battle of wills ignites a seductive game of discipline and desire where neither intends to yield… until surrender becomes the most intoxicating victory of all.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTropes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Governess\/lord, power exchange, enemies to lovers, forbidden attraction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBook 4 – Compromised at Midnight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLady Imogen Blackwood, London’s untouchable Ice Maiden, is publicly compromised by society’s most notorious rake—and forced into the one marriage she never intended to accept. He promises patience. She vows resistance. But three days of courtship turn into nights of temptation, and when the Ice Maiden finally melts, the scandal will set Mayfair ablaze.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTropes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Forced marriage, rake vs. ice queen, slow burn to scorching heat, society scandal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBook 5 – The Spinster’s Scandalous Ruin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDesperate to escape a monstrous engagement, a courageous spinster asks London’s most infamous rake to destroy her reputation—only to discover that ruin can awaken unexpected courage, pleasure, and love. The plan was protection through scandal. The outcome is a marriage neither of them expected… and neither is willing to lose.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTropes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ruin-to-rescue, marriage of convenience, rake falls first, awakening desire.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eInside This Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCommanding dukes and notorious rakes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBold heroines who refuse to be tamed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContracts, compromises, and masked seductions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHigh-society scandal and decadent pleasure\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExplicit heat · Victorian setting · Happily Ever Afters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you love the lush sensuality of historical romance with daring power dynamics and irresistible tension, this \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003ecomplete Regency Collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is your next binge-worthy escape!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Delilah Duvall","offers":[{"title":"ebook","offer_id":51936866107678,"sku":null,"price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"audiobook","offer_id":51936866140446,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback","offer_id":51936866173214,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0402\/8958\/files\/DelilahScandalsoftheSeasonebookcover.png?v=1780929257"},{"product_id":"scandalous-arrangements-three-wicked-tales","title":"Scandalous Arrangements: Three Wicked Tales","description":"\u003cp\u003e3 BOOK COLLECTION:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom Book 1: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe needed an heir. He needed revenge. Neither expected to fall in love.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLady Penelope Fairmont has spent years surviving the aftermath of a cruel marriage. Now a wealthy widow, she believes her nightmare is behind her—until her late husband’s family threatens to steal her fortune unless she produces an heir.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOut of options and out of time, Penelope makes a scandalous proposal to the last man she should trust: Gabriel Montclair, the infamous Earl of Ravenshollow—and her husband’s closest friend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGabriel has his own reasons for accepting. Penelope once broke his heart to marry for wealth. Now, he sees a chance to claim her in the most intimate way… and settle an old score. But what begins as a cold, calculated arrangement quickly blazes into passion neither can control.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs Penelope’s innocence melts beneath Gabriel’s touch, she discovers a fire she never dared to embrace. And Gabriel, hardened by betrayal, finds himself risking the one thing he swore to protect—his heart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut when their deal succeeds beyond their expectations, secrets and old wounds threaten to destroy the fragile bond they’ve built. Can a union born of lies become a love worth fighting for?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA steamy Regency romance filled with forbidden desire, emotional tension, and sizzling chemistry. Perfect for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Scarlett Scott, and Eloisa James.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Delilah Duvall","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51937225474334,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0999\/0402\/8958\/files\/DelilahScandelousArrangementsCollectoinscover.png?v=1780933494"},{"product_id":"scandalous-liaisons-three-novella-collection","title":"Scandalous Liaisons - Three Novella Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eTHREE NOVELLA COLLECTION - \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere scandal is a game, pleasure is an art, and love is the ultimate ruin.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBehind the glittering ballrooms and proper drawing rooms of Regency London lies a secret society where desire knows no bounds and passion defies all rules. The most daring members of the ton gather in hidden chambers to explore forbidden pleasures, dangerous wagers, and scandalous arrangements that would destroy reputations if ever discovered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnter a world where strict dukes lose control to sharp-tongued governesses, where bold spinsters make wicked bargains with powerful marquesses, and where widows discover that experience can be the most intoxicating aphrodisiac of all. Each liaison burns hotter than the last, each secret more dangerous than propriety allows.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut in this clandestine world of silk restraints and whispered commands, hearts prove as vulnerable as bodies. Love blooms in the most unexpected places—between enemies forced into intimacy, between strangers bound by blackmail, between those who thought they knew exactly what they wanted until desire rewrote all the rules.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan\u003eInterconnected stories of forbidden passion featuring:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"rich-content-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGovernesses who teach their employers lessons they'll never forget\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarriage bargains that become so much more than business\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidows who prove that experience trumps youth every time\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEnemies who discover that hate and desire are separated by the thinnest of lines\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArrangements that begin with scandal and end with surrender\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEach story delivers a complete happily ever after while revealing glimpses of the secret society that binds these lovers together. 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