Melody Heck Gatto

This is the second-edition of Score On Me. Re-worked and tweaked with a wonderful new editor, and some added storyline. This is the first book in the hockey romance series, the Renegades. (For mature audiences only.) Kat Torella didn't believe real love existed outside of her romance novels. She didn't believe in Prince Charming, or happily ever afters. Well, actually, she just didn't believe they would ever happen to her. Kat was not built for love. She always felt like the fat girl that no one really saw. Being bullied as a child led to a lifetime of self-doubt. She feared that she would always see that little fat girl staring back at her in the mirror. Even as an adult, she's still dealing with it. Hockey was her escape. She loved the game and she loved the players. One player in particular. He was dreamy. Even swoon-worthy. His dark eyes were mesmerizing. His smile devilishly sexy. His signature flowing locks always looked effortlessly perfect. He was flawless in every way... Too bad she would never get a guy like him. Well, at least that's what she thought. Kris Lafleur was the star defenseman for the Pittsburgh Renegades. Hockey was his life. Well, it was easy to be so dedicated to the game when he hadn't had much luck in the romance department. His hockey star status attracted puck bunnies and gold diggers. Neither was the kind of girl you wanted to bring home to mom; actually neither were the kind of girl that Kris even wanted to associate with. Deep down he was a hopeless romantic. He was looking for someone who was as devoted to him as he was to her, and not so interested in his bank account. His teammate did not believe those types of girls existed, and did everything he could to make Kris believe that Kat was definitely after his money. When he first saw her... Was it her smile? Was it her laugh? He didn't know what it was, but she already had his heart. All he knew is she was beautiful, and his gut told him she was genuine.

A Renegades Novel (2nd Edition)

Score on Me

Unsportsmanlike Conduct is the second book in the Renegades Ice Hockey Series. Sometimes love is messy, and unpredictable. The one you're with isn't always the one you're meant to be with. One year ago, Gia Torella made a huge mistake. After several glasses of champagne at her sister’s wedding she hooked up with Patrick Dubois, the most imposing hockey player on the Pittsburgh Renegades professional hockey team — both on the ice and off. But she vowed to forget that brief encounter, even if her body remembered all the wild and incredible things they did that night. She’s moved on from Patrick, and her solid, dependable boyfriend is proof of that. Patrick has never forgotten their one night of passion. Even though she’s the girlfriend of Tyler Kidd, his team’s captain and therefore completely off-limits, all he can think about is her curvy body, her bubbly personality, and the way she screamed out his name during the best sex he’s ever had. Since their night together, he’s given up on the puck bunnies, the partying, and the random hook-ups, and he’s willing to become the man she needs. They both know it’s wrong, but they’re drawn to each other in a whirlwind of passion. Can Patrick convince Gia that he has really changed into someone she could depend upon… and that sometimes love is worth the penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct?

Renegades 2

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Mary Smith

Lily O’Connor’s favorite time of year had finally arrived and she even won an ultimate Christmas adventure. Now, all Lily wanted was someone to go to Christmas events with who enjoyed the holiday as much as she did. There was only one thing to do, put out an ad in her favorite coffee shop as a last ditch effort. Wanted: Fellow Christmas Enthusiast to enjoy the twelve days of Christmas. Zane Miller had to grow up fast, and with that he lost his child-like enthusiasm for the holiday. When his cousin answered the unique want ad as him, he wasn’t sure what to think. One thing he never expected was a young woman like Lily being on the other end. They agreed to the twelve days with no strings attached. Was it really going to be that easy? Or would the spirit of Christmas bring a boyfriend for Lily? Book One of The Holiday Series

Wanted: Boyfriend for Christmas

Life happens. At least that’s what Paige Kidd had always thought. You found your career, you fell in love, got married, and had a family. She was on pace with everything except the last item. And her biological clock was ticking– loudly. Tyler Kidd’s focus was always on his game, whether it was the beginning of the season, playoffs, or the off-season, he was always thinking about how he could be at the top of his game. He was a hockey player; it was in his blood. He always just assumed that someday he would have a little team of his own. It wasn’t something he thought about a lot, he figured it would just happen. Until it wasn’t. Paige was a workaholic who loved her job. After all, that's where she met Tyler. But, she yearned for more, and Tyler was having a hard time sitting back and seeing his wife miserable. Life was happening around them while theirs stood still. Tyler would do anything to see his wife smile. He’d move heaven and earth to make her happy. And for once, hockey was the last thing on his mind.

Loving the Game

This is a cute holiday romance about Rylee Davis.Rylee has sad things in her life that she needed to overcome, she's put it off for too many years. Holding on to a past love and missing her Grandfather was making the holidays harder than she expected. The enchanted spirit of Christmas plays a part in helping her find what she needs to finally move on. From Saint Nick to reindeer and jingle bells, Rylee's story is one magical tale.Nick is the General Manager of the Renegades. He's tall, dark and handsome. His looks were not lost on Rylee and his impeccable manners intrigued her. The holiday season had her wondering if what she thought was an accidental meeting wasn't really a gift from Jolly Ol' Saint Nick?

The Renegades (Hockey Romance), #4

Zambonis and Mistletoe

Fangirl romance. Ever wonder what would happen if your hockey crush fell for you? Kat Torella never imagined it would happen to her. Happily ever after? Not on Kat’s radar. She didn’t believe in it, at least not for her. More to the point, she wasn’t sure she was even built for love. Cautious where her heart is concerned, Kat instead focuses on her career. But when she meets him, Kat throws caution to the wind. After all, what girl wouldn’t want to spend a steamy night with her all-time hockey crush? Especially one with mesmerizing chocolate brown eyes, a swoon worthy smile, and shaggy sex hair. Kris Lafleur, sexy star defenseman for the Pittsburgh Renegades ice hockey team has spent the last year dedicating himself to the game while getting over a disastrous relationship. A hopeless romantic, deep down Kris longs for a girl who is attracted to him and not his bank account. A guy like Kris Lafleur would never see a future with someone like her. But Kris has other ideas and he’s determined not to let Kat walk out of his life. His heart insists she’s the real deal, and he wants her, baggage and all. While Kat battles her insecurities, Kris contends with interference from a well-meaning teammate who wants to save him from being burned again. And when it looks like history is repeating and trust is called into play, will their love be strong enough to survive?

Score On Me

Love can be the best trophy and the sweetest consolation prize.Shutout is the story of Dominic Zanetti (Renegades goalie) and Hailee Valentine.Dominic is flirty, swoon-worthy and tattooed. He's only ever truly loved one woman - Hailee - the one that got away. But that was a lifetime ago. She left a scar on his heart so deep that no bunny would ever fill it. No girl measured up to his Hailee – not that he wanted anyone to. If he was lucky enough to find her again, he wasn’t going to let her go so easily.Hailee is stubborn, talented, tattooed, and not the kind of woman to let a man take care of her. She refuses to sit in the kitchen and bake pies for anyone. She is her own woman and plans to stay that way. That's why she had to leave Dominic all those years ago. Hailee kept herself hidden away in a hockey-free bubble, avoiding all aspects of the game and eliminating the possibility of running into him. Her heart missed Dominic, but her brain knew that she couldn’t be what he needed. It was just better this way. She had her own dreams and wasn’t about to give up on them, even if it meant giving him up.When all things in her life finally start to fall neatly into place, one thing is still missing. Dominic.Dominic was used to shutting out teams on the ice, but didn’t like being shutout by her. Hailee already had his heart, all she had to do was take down the walls she built, and stop playing games.

The Renegades (Hockey Romance), #5

Shutout

Talia never imagined that at almost forty years old, she’d be newly single again. Not to mention picking up a sexy young man at a Pittsburgh bar. What she thought was a one-night stand, turned into night after night of the best sex she’d ever had. Even the news that he was a teammate of her brother couldn’t extinguish the desire she had for Harrison. Somehow, he had made himself a permanent fixture in her bed and was slowly moving in on her heart. He fawned over her like no man ever had before, and she was loving the attention, but she wasn’t ready to give her heart away so easily. Not after what she just went through. Harrison vowed off relationships. He was a self-proclaimed lifelong-bachelor. Talia was simply supposed to be a notch in his bedpost, a hook-up. But he was drawn to this woman with such an animal attraction. Typically, he never bedded the same woman twice, yet he couldn’t get enough of Talia. At her age, she wasn’t looking for a new relationship. With Harrison, things quickly turned hot and heavy. She had her fun, and it was very fun, but now her divorce papers were finalized. It was time to figure out what made her happy, put on her big-girl pants and start the next chapter of her life. The only problem was, she knew exactly what made her happy - the one thing she shouldn’t want - Harrison.

Melting the Ice

Professional hockey player Noah Rodgers was a ladies’ man. He didn’t do relationships. He liked to keep his options open, no-strings attached. And he made no secret of his rules. Jordan Baker managed The Sin Bin restaurant. She was a people person who enjoyed being in charge and rocked a mean pencil skirt and blazer. Still recovering from her last disastrous break-up, she was concentrating on her career. She wasn’t interested in taking chances with her heart. Keeping Noah and his flirtatious ways at bay proved difficult– virtually impossible. He was charming, devastatingly handsome, and focused on her. And she liked it. Could no strings attached be enough for her?

Power Play

After the Buzzer

Body Checked

Morgan’s world had been turned upside down and starting over in a new city after a loss. Even though moving in with her uncle and his family seemed like the fiscally responsible decision, she was itching for her own space. She was ready to make a life for herself. Travis Anderson was a rookie with the Renegades professional hockey team. Being in a new city with a new team he had one goal: to make a name for himself. His focus was on hockey – it’s all he had. Until he ran in to Morgan Benson and her amazing blue eyes that he couldn’t seem to shake. Figuring out how to split his focus between solidifying a spot on the team and winning over Morgan proved a difficult task. Travis wanted both hockey and Morgan. Balance was the key to life, right? What he wasn’t expecting was that she was the niece of one of his new teammates. Travis was already on Coach Walker’s radar as a rookie. Dating Sam Morris’s niece had him skating on thin ice.

Breakaway

Is it true that love overcomes all? Gorgeous hunk, Kaden O’Conner is carefree and always smiling. Why wouldn’t he be? He’s hot property—one half of the Renegades star goalie tandem—a confirmed bachelor, and has his pick of beautiful women. Everything he ever wanted has landed in his lap, and he’s determined to enjoy himself. Alison Bishop had her professional figure skating chances ruined by an injury, but the natural beauty picked herself up, built up her own business, and still manages to teach kids how to ice skate in her spare time. When an ice skating lesson overlaps a Renegades hockey fundraiser, Alison meets Kaden by chance, and is quickly catapulted into a hot romance that would melt the ice caps! Skates are off as the two throw caution to the wind. It’s all fun and games—until it isn’t. When reality drops a bombshell in their laps, they find their romance is suddenly on thin ice. Now Kaden is on a mission to thaw Alison’s permafrost before he loses the one thing in life he didn’t realize he needed. Keywords: hockey romance, sports romance, athlete hero, surprise pregnancy, surprise baby, bad boy, series romance, the renegades, Pittsburgh, Melody Heck Gatto, baby daddy, hockey hottie, hockey fiction, hockey novel, sports fiction

Renegades 6

Shootout Save

The latest solo book from Melody Heck Gatto is a classic tale of good girl falls for bad boy... Harley Brady has a plan for her life: Finish college, get a job, get married, have kids. In that order. She craves stability, since her parents were never there for her emotionally. She’s dating a man who is everything she wants. He’s older, stable. Sure, he might be a little boring but no one’s perfect. Spencer Wilson is living his best college life, waiting for the next party. A jock with a heart of gold thanks to his close-knit upbringing, one devilish smirk has the ladies falling at his feet. He’s a player whose only plan is to have fun before he graduates into the real world. After Spencer and Harley share a few stolen kisses, Harley realizes what’s missing in her relationship – Love. Has she been planning a future with the wrong man?

A Holiday Series Novel

Off-Limits Valentine

Until You is a short, sweet and sexy read about falling in love and healing old wounds. It is a prequel in The Renegades Series about Sam Morris and Trina Kidd. Trina never imagined she'd end up in bed with a hot surfer dude when she set out for a quiet getaway from the chaos that was her life. Her family meant well, but they were smothering her. She needed to get away. The beach was her escape. It was her retreat away from the mess her life had become. Being there did something magical to her. It slowed her pulse, it captivated her senses, it took away all her stress. The soft lapping of the waves, the heat of the sun and the welcoming sand molding around her feet; it was her paradise. Her drop dead gorgeous neighbor wasn't too bad either. Dirty blond hair, sparkling blue eyes and a panty dropping smile. That sexy smile made her feel like a nervous schoolgirl. Being close to him was the first she had felt alive in a long time. Her life has been hell the past year. She felt fortunate to come out the other side unscathed. Now it was time for her to take time and regroup. One night with Sam was a perfect distraction. A distraction that she needed more than she knew. Trina found herself wrapped up in his charm and good looks. He was handsome and genuine in every way that she needed right now. He was an adventure that she desperately needed in her life. Unfortunately, her personal demons threatened to keep her from true happiness. It might be time for her and her dog Toby to run again. Sam was a professional hockey player from the west coast. He had a rough season riddled with injuries and couldn't shake the stink of not even coming close to being in the playoffs. He needed to get away. He needed to clear his head before he embarked on a summer of family obligations. Hiding out on the east coast with his dog sounded like a good place to start. A nice quiet, peaceful beach vacation. Until he met Trina. The moment he laid eyes on her he was smitten. Sam hadn't crushed on a girl like this since junior high. That one night changed everything. He knew what his life had been missing: her. Trina was more than one night stand material. She was a woman that deserved love and devotion. He wanted to give that to her and wasn't going to leave without her.

Until You (Prequel to The Renegades Series)

Renegades 7

Blindsided

Love can be the best trophy and the sweetest consolation prize. Shutout is the story of Dominic Zanetti (Renegades goalie) and Hailee Valentine. Dominic is flirty, swoon-worthy and tattooed. He's only ever truly loved one woman - Hailee - the one that got away. But that was a lifetime ago. She left a scar on his heart so deep that no bunny would ever fill it. No girl measured up to his Hailee – not that he wanted anyone to. If he was lucky enough to find her again, he wasn’t going to let her go so easily. Hailee is stubborn, talented, tattooed, and not the kind of woman to let a man take care of her. She refuses to sit in the kitchen and bake pies for anyone. She is her own woman and plans to stay that way. That's why she had to leave Dominic all those years ago. Hailee kept herself hidden away in a hockey-free bubble, avoiding all aspects of the game and eliminating the possibility of running into him. Her heart missed Dominic, but her brain knew that she couldn’t be what he needed. It was just better this way. She had her own dreams and wasn’t about to give up on them, even if it meant giving him up. When all things in her life finally start to fall neatly into place, one thing is still missing. Dominic. Dominic was used to shutting out teams on the ice, but didn’t like being shutout by her. Hailee already had his heart, all she had to do was take down the walls she built, and stop playing games.

Renegades 5

The star player. The chosen one. Tyler Kidd ruled the hockey league. He was driven hard by a hatred for losing. Yet behind his on ice persona he was damaged. Betrayed by the one he loved, he battled his demons with alcohol and women. One fueled the other and spiraled out of control. Losing his spot on the team was not on Tyler’s agenda, until it was. Faced with ruining his career, he had one chance to make things right and not lose the one thing he lived for. Hockey. Charged with taking hold of Tyler’s career, Paige Martin never dreamed her new job as Renegades PR assistant meant cleaning up after his mistakes. She never imagined she would see a side of him he showed to no-one. And she definitely never thought she’d end up in his bed. She was everything he never knew he needed and he was everything she knew she should never touch. Lines blur, careers are on the line. But what happens when you have no other choice than playing the game?

Renegades 3

Playing the Game

This novella was previously published in the Hockey Holidays Anthology in November 2018. Avery James was finally getting her life together after an ugly break-up. It had taken almost an entire year, but she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The Pink Ribbon Cupcakery was busy with orders for Christmas cookies, holiday cupcakes, and preparing for the local orphanage’s annual Christmas Eve party. She was enjoying the busy holiday season. When she came face to face with her one-night stand from last New Year’s Eve, her jolly mood came to a crashing halt. Literally. In his brash, self-important, smug way, Kyler Wilson flirted his way into her life, her bakery, and her heart. Her brain wanted her to square off her shoulders and tell him that this was her bakery, and her rules, and that he could save the smooth-talking for some other girl, because she wasn’t ready to be hurt by love again. However, her heart seemed to be in charge. Her legs felt like they were going to crumble each time hockey-boy flashed a grin. It wasn’t that she didn’t find him deliciously handsome and irresistible, but after being so vulnerable at the hands of her former fiancé, she never wanted to be in that position again. She’d be damned if she was going to swoon like a groupie. Even though tall, dark and handsome Kyler made her weak in the knees with every smoldering look. The deep rumble of his voice sent her heart a flutter. His kisses were pure heaven, and his rock-hard body had her craving more. Kyler could see right through the sugary sweet baker. She wanted him. But then again, what girl didn’t? But unlike the usual bunnies that fell at his feet, she was one tough-cookie. And the challenge of breaking through that defensive outer shell was riveting. A year ago, a bottle of tequila helped him get a glimpse of the fun, and free-spirited Avery, and he was on a mission to find that girl again.

Melody Heck Gatto

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