Breathing in the Fog
​Kara wakes up in a terrifying new world as a vampire. Trying to escape the ones who turned her, she meets James, a tall, helpful vampire that finds her a home with another group of vampires led by Ian. However, once at Ian's, she discovers there are traitors living among her and wars brewing between the vampires. Along with her new best friend, Lenny, she and Ian discover she isn't just an average new vampire, but they aren't sure what these differences will mean for her. While dealing with strange dreams from past vampires and powers new ones couldn’t be capable of, Kara has to help Ian and her new home face the challenges rising against them. She finds out that there are cruel and terrible things happening to vampires. She also realizes that while she thought she might belong with James, Ian has worked his way into her heart. She's not sure what to do about Ian, but she may not have a chance to figure it out if she can't survive.
A Beautiful Lily
"You're okay."
This is what Lillian tells herself. This is what she has to say to herself in order to cope with what happened a month ago. But she knows it's not true. She's losing control of herself, and she doesn't know what to do.
How could one night change the rest of your life?
The Charred Grape
Rachael, a hardworking single mom, juggles the chaos of making ends meet as a waitress at the beloved restaurant The Charred Grape and always strives to be the best mother she can for her young son, Leo.
When the restaurant is bought out and taken over by a new owner, Rachael and the rest of the staff are understandably more than a little nervous. Will they lose their jobs? Will new management be so unbearable they'll be forced to quit? Will their loyal customers accept this change of hands?
Those nerves turn into something else entirely as the days pass and Rachael learns more about her new boss and also becomes friends with the new chef. What starts as an easy and carefree back-of-the-house and afterhours friendship quickly seems to be turning into something else, but can Rachael find space in her busy, high-stress life for romance?
This short story originally appeared in Recipes for Romance: A Sweet Valentine's Day Anthology published by And You Press, an imprint of Nicole Frail Books, released in January 2025. This ebook contains small edits from the author.
Recipes for Romance
In Recipes for Romance: A Sweet Valentine’s Day Anthology, the bedroom doors may be closed, but these characters' hearts are wide open to finding love, showing love, and rekindling long-lost love while cooking, baking, snacking, and sipping their way through dates, heartaches, memories, and personal triumphs.
Stories included in this collection are:
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“Another Fish in the Sea” by Amy Kelly
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“Batter Together” by Katie Fitzgerald
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“Strawberry Macarons” by Jessica Daniliuk
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“Better in Black” by MK Edgley
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“Truffle and Truth” by Elise Gilmore
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“Comfort Food and Covert Magic” by S.B. Rizk
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“The Day Before Life Goes On” by Annabel den Dekker
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“Second Time's Sweeter” by Melissa Mastro
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“Misery on the Bounty” by Elizabeth Baizel
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“MJ’s Jersey” by Mitchell S. Elrick
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“We Already Have” by Desi Stowe
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"Love Through a Cookie" by Heather Culler
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“The Missing Cupcake” by Megan Wood
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“A Note to Remember” by Bjarne Borresen
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“Sweet As Pie” by Krista Renee
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“Brownie Points” by Aimee Moineaux
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“Welcome Home” by Melissa Cate
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“Baked in Love” by J.E. Smith
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“The Charred Grape” by Caroline Baccene
Recipes for Romance includes sweet stories that will leave you feeling good. And maybe a little hungry.