C.E. Ricci

All's fair in hate and hockey.


My path to success never included an enemy as a teammate, especially one as infuriating as Quinton de Haas.

Clawing under my skin is his favorite pastime, only feeding the animosity between us as the years pass.

We're as completely opposite as two people can be; the golden boy and the black sheep.

Constantly at odds or at each other's throats.

The only thing we can agree on is hockey is our true love, and we'll do whatever it takes to come out on top.

I never imagined that drive would lead me to do the unthinkable: falling into bed with my not-so-straight rival.

But athletes are a superstitious bunch, and when our hook-ups lead to victories, we tell ourselves we can't stop.

Besides, it's all for the sake of the team, right?

Iced Out

It was never meant to be more than a dare. A party game. A dare. A single kiss. That's all it took to flip my world upside down. I've always classified myself as straight, and as far as I can tell, so has he. I didn't think one kiss would change that, but I was so wrong. Now, I can't stop thinking about him. In all the ways I shouldn't. My best friend. Aspen. His taste is branded in my memory, his touch seared in my skin. And I want more. This simmering attraction I feel only grows with passing time. Which is why I start tossing out new dares. Riskier ones that toe lines we never thought we'd cross. I'm gambling with our friendship, knowing it could ruin us. But there's so much more at stake here. Like my heart.
*Don't You Dare is a new adult college romance featuring two best friends, too many baseball puns, scorching dirty talk, and a whole lot of bi-curious exploration. Not suitable for anyone under 18 years of age.*

Don't You Dare

Follow the River is a full-length, mature, new adult bully/enemies-to-lovers MM (male/male) romance with dark themes. There will be triggering content for some readers. Specific triggers WILL NOT be listed at the beginning of the book as they will be spoilers, so please be advised that if you have triggers, any at all, this book might not be for you.I've never been one to back down from a challenge. Rather than shy away, I grit my teeth and use it as an opportunity to prove myself.Not just in football, but also in life.Even when I was thrown through a loop in discovering I was bisexual, I embraced it.Owning it so no one can use it as ammunition against me.But when Ciaráin Grady comes barreling into my life with his venomous tongue and amber eyes brimming with disdain, I realize every test of my character and strength could never have prepared me for the trial he holds.One that toes the line of love and hate.It's all-consuming and toxic.Yet under the layers of revulsion he masks his face with, I see it.A glimmer of lust from deep within his secretive, broken soul.And when we're thrown together under heinous circumstances, the distinction between enemy and lover begins to blur.So...what is Ciaráin Grady to me?I'm only certain that he is the greatest challenge of my life.

Follow the River

Corruption. Secrets. Betrayal. Knowing the number of people I can trust is limited. Not uncommon for an heir to the key of Enclave. I should understand it. Be used to it. Expect it. But somehow I'm still blindsided when I find I've dedicated my life to a lie. To what extent is the proof of our sins buried? I'm not sure. Only as more time passes, I'm worried I'll never learn fact from fiction. It's why I'm taking my place within our brotherhood. Not out of obligation, but as a cover to get what I desperately need. The truth. The only thing standing in my way? A six-foot asshole in Armani with sapphire eyes and a heart of ice and stone. He despises me on principle alone. He's a distraction I crave but can't afford. Yet I doubt the hatred he carries is actually for me. Which makes me want to melt his cold, callous demeanor more. And when I catch a glimpse beneath the surface, I find I'm not the only one searching for answers to unspoken questions. Or keeping secrets. **These Vile Secrets is an enemies-to-lovers MM romance and is the first book of five in the Enclave series. This is a true series and must be read in order. This is Roman's story. This is diving into dark romance and there will be triggering content.

These Vile Secrets

That's the thing about hearts- Like waves, they break too. Grief. I've never battled with the raw, debilitating pain that comes with it. Then a twist of fate hits me out of nowhere, and I can barely keep from drowning. It's like weights tied to my ankles in the middle of a raging ocean. I'm helpless, with no way to swim back to the surface. But fate is crueler still, bringing my stepbrother back for the first time in years. Cannon never wanted this family. Especially me. Still, he's always been my greatest desire. And my biggest weakness. He's unattainable. Straight, engaged, and with a seemingly perfect life on the other side of the country. It's something I'd do well to remember, yet when he stays, it's so easy to forget. In finding solace together, we mend what once was broken. This loss bonds us. Changes us. He's become more than a brother or a lover. He's my anchor. So how am I supposed to keep my head above water when I'll eventually lose him too? *Head Above Water is a STANDALONE full length MM enemies-to-lovers stepbrother romance novel.*

Head Above Water

After Rain Falls

Taking in Kason Fuller as roommate is meant to be a favor; one I regret immediately. The bumbling, virgin football player drives me to the brink of sanity, stealing my food, my sleep, my peace and solitude.
My solution? Call a ceasefire. Get him out on dates and out of my hair. Yet as our truce shifts, I realize there's a depth to this connection unlike any l've felt before. It turns out, I don't mind his presence. I crave it, along with every morsel I learn about him.
But falling for the guy from the wrong side of the tracks wasn't in the cards. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Now, l'm at a crossroads between the life I thought l'd have, or risking everything to catch him.

Fair Catch

After Rain Falls is BOOK TWO OF TWO in the River of Rain Duet. In order to understand the contents of this book, you must read Follow the River first. This is the conclusion of River and Rain's story.Love has never been important to me. Not because I didn't want it, I just never imagined feeling something so powerful.There was a point where I thought I felt it years ago for the person I trusted most in the world, only to have it shatter in a thousand pieces.But now he's back in my life and I'm certain I was wrong.Because nothing compares to the way I feel about River Lennox. Nothing could have prepared me for the war we waged against one another to turn into a battle to not only find ourselves, but each other.Our prison sentence became our sanctuary from anything-or anyone-who dared to rip us apart.He crawled under my skin, into my heart, and made a home for himself there despite my efforts to stop him.But it doesn't matter now. Not when I find myself being thrown into a chess game I never asked to play with decisions forced on me that no one should have to make.It's not just life and death.It's love and hate.The past and the future.Except...when my past comes knocking with a thirst for vengeance, I start to question if I have a future at all.

Hidden Thorns

Tailored Espionage

After Rain Falls is BOOK TWO OF TWO in the River of Rain Duet. In order to understand the contents of this book, you must read Follow the River first. This is the conclusion of River and Rain's story.

Love has never been important to me. Not because I didn't want it, I just never imagined feeling something so powerful.
There was a point where I thought I felt it years ago for the person I trusted most in the world, only to have it shatter in a thousand pieces.
But now he's back in my life and I'm certain I was wrong.

Because nothing compares to the way I feel about River Lennox.
Nothing could have prepared me for the war we waged against one another to turn into a battle to not only find ourselves, but each other.

Our prison sentence became our sanctuary from anything--or anyone--who dared to rip us apart.
He crawled under my skin, into my heart, and made a home for himself there despite my efforts to stop him.

But it doesn't matter now. Not when I find myself being thrown into a chess game I never asked to play with decisions forced on me that no one should have to make.

It's not just life and death.
It's love and hate.
The past and the future.

Except...when my past comes knocking with a thirst for vengeance, I start to question if I have a future at all.

River of Rain #2

It was never meant to be more than a dare.

A party game. A dare. A single kiss.

That’s all it took to flip my world upside down.

I’ve always classified myself as straight, and as far as I can tell, so has he.

I didn’t think one kiss would change that, but I was so wrong.

Now, I can’t stop thinking about him. In all the ways I shouldn’t.

My best friend.

Aspen.

His taste is branded in my memory, his touch seared in my skin.

And I want more.

This simmering attraction I feel only grows with passing time.

Which is why I start tossing out new dares.

Riskier ones that toe lines we never thought we’d cross.

I’m gambling with our friendship, knowing it could ruin us.

But there’s so much more at stake here.

Like my heart.


*Don't You Dare is a new adult college romance featuring two best friends, too many baseball puns, scorching dirty talk, and a whole lot of bi-curious exploration. Not suitable for anyone under 18 years of age.*

C.E. Ricci

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