LA Hearts Series by Victoria Lum

JessI thought I knew my best friend.Transcontinental video chats didn’t do him justice.He’s not an awkward teenager anymore, and one look from him sets my body on edge.I’m the type of woman who has her life together. Sure, a panic attack here or there might derail my day, but I’ve got this.I have my life under control.I’m not the type of woman to lust after the most important person in my life.But he knows me better than I know myself—even the anxious parts I try my best to hide... moreJessI thought I knew my best friend.Transcontinental video chats didn’t do him justice.He’s not an awkward teenager anymore, and one look from him sets my body on edge.I’m the type of woman who has her life together. Sure, a panic attack here or there might derail my day, but I’ve got this.I have my life under control.I’m not the type of woman to lust after the most important person in my life.But he knows me better than I know myself—even the anxious parts I try my best to hide.Now that we’re in the same place, everything in our relationship is changing.JamesI’m back for her.She’s my best friend.Being in love with Jess has been the sweetest agony, and I’ve waited long enough.I’ve watched her fall for men who don’t appreciate her.I’ve waited for her to see me.Now it finally seems like she might, and I won’t hold back until she’s mine. less

He’s everything cold. She’s my darkest obsession.LizI never thought I’d fall in love with Parker, my brother’s best friend.He’s a damaged man and now I’m his daughter’s nanny for the summer.He’s grumpy and hates me but I have no idea why.I've always wanted a happily-ever-after with my fairytale prince, And fairytale prince he is not.But with every inadvertent brush of our bodies and intense stares, I wonder what it would be like to have Parker’s hands on me... moreHe’s everything cold. She’s my darkest obsession.LizI never thought I’d fall in love with Parker, my brother’s best friend.He’s a damaged man and now I’m his daughter’s nanny for the summer.He’s grumpy and hates me but I have no idea why.I've always wanted a happily-ever-after with my fairytale prince, And fairytale prince he is not.But with every inadvertent brush of our bodies and intense stares, I wonder what it would be like to have Parker’s hands on me.I wonder if this tortured, imperfect man is actually the prince in my story. ParkerI lost everything when my wife died.I’m angry with the world, but mostly at myself.All I have is my work and my daughter.And a nanny, who is also my best friend’s sister.Liz is full of light and joy—everything I’m not, everything I don’t deserve.I know I shouldn’t touch her. I have blood on my hands.Seeing her every single day, the temptation keeps getting stronger, but I’m keeping a secret she would never forgive me for.If she ever finds out, I’ll lose her forever.Tropes for The Coldest Passion:- Dirty talking hero- Tortured hero- Single dad and nanny- Single dad with a tragic past- Forced proximity- Cute little kid- Girl next door- Virgin heroine- Brother's best friend- Forbidden love and secrets! less

One lie tore us apart. Another lie forced us back together.The boy I was forbidden to love became a man with revenge in his eyes. He was my prince in ripped jeans and tattered books.I was the girl hiding in her parents’ mansion.Our love was intense. Passionate. One I thought would last forever.All it took was one secret, a devastating lie, and I lost everything.Him. Our future. Hope.Now he’s back, eleven years later.Ruthless. Cunning. Cold. A shark in a business suit... moreOne lie tore us apart. Another lie forced us back together.The boy I was forbidden to love became a man with revenge in his eyes. He was my prince in ripped jeans and tattered books.I was the girl hiding in her parents’ mansion.Our love was intense. Passionate. One I thought would last forever.All it took was one secret, a devastating lie, and I lost everything.Him. Our future. Hope.Now he’s back, eleven years later.Ruthless. Cunning. Cold. A shark in a business suit.Adrian Scott built his empire on revenge.He hates me, and I’m next in his plan.I’m supposed to pretend to date him. Another lie. A smokescreen. To fool the world into thinking The Shark is finally settling down. I have no choice but to do as he asks or lose everything.However, he still knows every curve and secret my body holds.The lines between our lies and my heart blur more and more.And I wonder if loving him is the harshest hope.Tropes:- Rags to riches- Alpha-hole CEO- Opposite sides of the tracks- Revenge plot- Billionaire- Fake dating- Star crossed lovers- Second chance- Lovers to enemies to lovers- Angsty and spicy goodness less

What is the person she despises is the perfect man for her?He’s known as a Casanova, a flirt, a philanderer.But to me, he’s nothing but a pain in the neck.We’re like oil and water, fire and explosives - a volatile mix that can’t seem to stay away from each other.Twelve years ago, Jack Szeto was the bad boy with the lip ring and panty-melting grins.I was the goodie-two-shoes with the fancy last name who never fell for his act... moreWhat is the person she despises is the perfect man for her?He’s known as a Casanova, a flirt, a philanderer.But to me, he’s nothing but a pain in the neck.We’re like oil and water, fire and explosives - a volatile mix that can’t seem to stay away from each other.Twelve years ago, Jack Szeto was the bad boy with the lip ring and panty-melting grins.I was the goodie-two-shoes with the fancy last name who never fell for his act.Now, he’s a devil in an expensive suit - the Jack of all trades who still has the power to seduce women from all walks of life.When my best friend begged me to model in a sexy photoshoot for an upcomingromance novel from a bestselling author, I agreed without knowing Jack would be oneof my partners in the racy sessions.Suddenly, every room with him in it feels stifling. Every brush of his body against mine feels intoxicating. And the intensity in his gaze threatens to blaze through my carefully erected barriers.I’m forced to wonder if his bad boy persona is all an act or if I’m going to be another woman falling victim to his charms.Or maybe he’s the brightest spark I’ve been waiting for all my life.Tropes for The Brightest Spark:✔️Unrequited love✔️Opposite sides of the tracks✔️Enemies to lovers (from the female character’s perspective)✔️Touch her and you’ll regret it✔️Forced proximity✔️Bad boy with good girl✔️Forbidden✔️Swoon and light angst and holidays! less