The Brightest Light Series by Lisina Coney

A woman ready to move on. A man who can't afford distractions. An inspiring journey of healing love.Determined to walk away from a traumatic past, 22-year-old Grace Allen feels ready to take the next step in her healing journey—dipping a toe into the dating pool. Although she should probably start by making a friend or two, right?Samuel ‘Cal’ Callaghan isn’t who she had envisioned as her first male friend in… well, forever... moreA woman ready to move on. A man who can't afford distractions. An inspiring journey of healing love.Determined to walk away from a traumatic past, 22-year-old Grace Allen feels ready to take the next step in her healing journey—dipping a toe into the dating pool. Although she should probably start by making a friend or two, right?Samuel ‘Cal’ Callaghan isn’t who she had envisioned as her first male friend in… well, forever. With an intimidating build, tattoos everywhere, eight years her senior, and a little sister under his care, the last thing she expected was to warm up to him so easily. As their friendship evolves, Grace can’t help but wonder if Cal is exactly who she’s been looking for all this time.Cal can’t afford to lose sight of his priorities—making sure his tattoo parlor thrives and taking care of his little sister. Especially the latter. He wants to make sure 4-year-old Maddie has a healthy and happy childhood despite their mother going off the rails and her father’s blatant neglect. There’s certainly no room for love in his life right now. But when a sweet blonde with a veiled past breaks down his walls, he finds it difficult to stick to his guns.CONTENT NOTES: This book contains themes of sexual assault (there are no explicit scenes depicting sexual assault), profanity, alcoholism, and explicit sexual content. Recommended for 18+. less

Forbidden. That's what they are to each other. Maddie Stevens has never felt good enough. Not good enough to keep her parents’ love. Not good enough to be independent and stop being her brother’s problem. Not good enough to build the future she wants. When she injures her ankle before a ballet audition that could change her career forever, she’s convinced her life is over at twenty-one... moreForbidden. That's what they are to each other. Maddie Stevens has never felt good enough. Not good enough to keep her parents’ love. Not good enough to be independent and stop being her brother’s problem. Not good enough to build the future she wants. When she injures her ankle before a ballet audition that could change her career forever, she’s convinced her life is over at twenty-one. What’s the point of having dreams when they can go down the drain at any moment? And because the universe has a cruel sense of humor, her physical therapist turns out to be a tank-shaped grouch who doesn’t even seem to like her that much. It’s totally unfair that, for six weeks, she’s forced to look at that handsome beard and listen to that deep voice that makes her head all dizzy. Top that with the fact that he’s ten years her senior, and falling for James Simmons is a recipe for disaster. But when their forced proximity makes the lines start blurring, the forbidden temptation becomes impossible to resist. Content notes: This book contains themes of alcoholism, drugs, profanity, death, and explicit sexual scenes. Recommended for mature readers only. less

She's a rule follower. He's a man who could ruin her reputation.Lila Callaghan has two big problems. She’s been caught in an act of revenge she isn’t proud of, and the man she’s been avoiding for two years is the one who saw everything.Reed Abner is more than a hotshot professor at Lila’s university. He’s a family friend, and Lila is only too happy to pretend he never saw her slash her cheating ex-boyfriend’s tire... moreShe's a rule follower. He's a man who could ruin her reputation.Lila Callaghan has two big problems. She’s been caught in an act of revenge she isn’t proud of, and the man she’s been avoiding for two years is the one who saw everything.Reed Abner is more than a hotshot professor at Lila’s university. He’s a family friend, and Lila is only too happy to pretend he never saw her slash her cheating ex-boyfriend’s tire. Before this colossal lapse in judgment, Lila didn’t want to be associated with Reed at all, in fact, at the risk of other students and faculty thinking the popular professor was playing favorites.Avoiding Reed is easy enough…until it isn’t. When Lila is suddenly desperate for an internship, he offers her a dream opportunity at the youth center he coordinates. This close to finishing her Master’s degree, she’d be foolish to turn it down. The only issue? Reed’s her supervisor.Working in such close proximity to each other poses an even bigger problem. Reed proves to be an excellent mentor, but he’s awakened feelings in Lila she shouldn’t have.Reed is her superior. He’s twelve years her senior. And as the burning desire between them grows, Lila wonders if falling for him will be her worst mistake yet. less