MJ Fredrick

War correspondent Leo Ericson returns to his hometown of Bluestone Lake, Minnesota, when his parents notify him his young son is having trouble fitting in at school. Leo doesn’t know how to be a single parent since the death of his wife, and he certainly has no desire to return to Bluestone. But he needs a place for his son, a place where he’ll be with family, while Leo does his job. He’ll stay long enough to get Max settled, then go back to work. School counselor Trinity Madison watches Leo struggle with his son, trying to overcome the mental barricade she’s erected against the man who sent his son away when he’s perfectly capable of caring for the child. The situation brings about her own unsettled feelings about giving her child up for adoption when she was young. But as she observes Leo’s difficulties, his sacrifices, she softens toward the man. While he’s in town, he ends up working with some old friends and Trinity on a committee to revitalize Bluestone. The former resort town is struggling and looking for ways to bring tourists back. Leo finds himself charmed, then smitten with the feisty counselor, but will he still love her when he learns her secret?

Bluestone Homecoming

Welcome to Evansville, a sleepy Texas town on the verge of a boom. After growing up in a dying town, with only two restaurants, no movie theater, and no future, waitress Cassidy Simon wants out. For once, luck is on her side when the oil boom comes to South Texas. She’s determined to use it for her advantage, starting up an RV park for the oilfield workers to add to her escape fund. She’s never been out of Texas, and she’s itching for adventure. Grady McKenna couldn’t get away from his family’s ranch fast enough when he was a teenager, but a tour in the Air Force in the Middle East is enough to convince him there’s no place like home. He’s seen the world, had his adventure. Now he’s ready to contribute to his family’s legacy in Evansville. Naturally, the woman who draws his attention is the one intent on slipping through his fingers. How can he convince her life with him will be all the adventure she needs?

Waltz Back to Texas

When her best friend is kidnapped in Africa, Dr. Liv Olney must return to the scene of her own horrific captivity. The only man she trusts is former Army Lt. Gerard “Del” Delaney, the man who rescued her. Even with him, she can't relinquish control of her emotions, needing to keep painful memories at bay. In exile after a court martial that stripped him of everything, Del misses his son and his country. When Liv asks for help, his instinct is to turn away. But her courage reaches out to him and he cannot refuse, especially when she promises that she can help clear his name so he can go home. Together they travel to Africa, where they fight warlords and monsoons, and learn to trust and hope that, together, they can find happiness and peace.

Don't Look Back

Beth Lapointe has her hands full--her teenaged sister is struggling with new motherhood, her job as a waitress is becoming more strenuous as her boss is pulled in different directions, and her alcoholic father is demanding she help him or he’ll return to Bluestone. The last thing she needs is her high school sweetheart to show up live and in person and to realize she still has feelings for him. Country singer Maddox Bradley has returned to Bluestone, the only place he’s ever known peace. A car accident has the tabloids speculating over whether he’s drinking again, so he heads to the town where he used to spend his summer vacations. The town where he fell in love for the first time. He's surprised Beth is still there, but pleased. When he finds out she needs help, he wants nothing more than to give it to her, to make up for leaving her behind all those years ago. But is she willing to take it from a recovering alcoholic who has no plans to stick around?

Bluestone Song

Texas Frontier, 1826 Kit Barclay followed her husband into the wilds of Texas only to be widowed. Stranded with her mother- and sister-in-law to care for, with no hope of rescue before winter sets in, Kit has only one goal: survival. So when a lone horseman appears on the horizon, and then falls from his mount in fever, Kit must weigh the safety of her family against offering aid and shelter to the handsome stranger. Trace Watson has lost everything that ever mattered to him. Trying to forget, he heads to the frontier colony of San Felipe, not caring if he lives or dies. But when he wakes to discover he's being nursed back to health by a brave young widow, he vows to repay her kindness by guiding the three women back to civilization, no matter what the cost. Soon, Kit and Trace are fighting the elements, Indian attacks and outlaws—as well as feelings they both thought were long buried...

Sunrise Over Texas

Ten years after winning a gold medal in ice dancing, Declan O’Hare has a successful business, running an ice skating rink and coaching a promising young pair. A promising young pair needs a choreographer, but he never thought their parents would hire Colby Martin, his ex-partner, his ex-best friend. His ex-wife. Seven years ago, Colby had been a media darling, talented, married to her best friend. And restless. She walked away from Declan, from ice dancing, all in the pursuit of fame in Hollywood. She’d been young and foolish. Now she had to swallow her pride to return to the place she’d grown up. To the life where she’d known success. To the man she’d left behind. Now they have to work together to raise another team to the top of the sport, overcoming resentment, broken hearts and broken dreams. keywords: sports romance, ice skating, figure skating, second chance romance, reunion romance, steamy romance, contemporary romance

A second chance sports romance

Hearts on Ice

Liz Salazar has a reputation for being wild, and it’s well-earned. But the women of Evansville, Texas, choose to overlook it since she’s an excellent stylist, with her own shop on the square. But when the handsome young mayor shows interest in Liz, that’s a different story. Suddenly everyone has an opinion, and none of them are positive. Killian Dawson has always toed the line. He continued his father’s legacy by running for mayor, and is leading the town of Evansville through the changes brought about by the oil boom. His one rebellion is his interest in Liz Salazar. He’s had a crush on her for years, and he’s ready to make his move despite the town’s disapproval. The reaction of the town is predictable, but the more time he spends with her, the more he knows she’s the one for him. And she is ready to change her ways, but not until after taking him on a wild Texas swing. keywords: good boy, reformed bad girl, bad reputation, small town romance, Texas romance, small Texas town

That Wild Texas Swing

Everyone loves to get away to the beach for a holiday. But what about the people who live there year-round, who work there in the hotels and restaurants? Meet the people who live and love on Avalon Island in these three full-length novels. Three complete novels set on the Texas Coast Avalon True Single mother Brioney Dawson has learned about responsibility the hard way, working as a maid in the motel in the small beach town of Avalon Island, Texas and looking after her younger brother. Local jack-of-all-trades Blue Maddox was her sister's high school boyfriend, but stayed behind when she went off to college. He's now drawn to Brioney, admiring her drive, her determination to give her daughter the best life she can. But will Brioney look past his beach-bum facade to see who he really is? Avalon Forever Fitz Dawson has come home to Avalon Island after a stint in the army. After raising his brother and sisters when their dad died, his responsibilities are done. It's time to follow his own dreams, which include remodeling an old motel on the north, less touristy, end of the island. It will take a lot of money and effort, but it will mean he can stay on the island he's loved and missed. Rachel Hamilton isn't surprised when Fitz turns up at her front door when he comes back to town. They've always been friends and since high school, have added "with benefits" to the description. She often wonders what might have happened between them if his dad hadn't died, if he hadn't been left with the responsibility of raising his siblings, if he hadn't thought his best option for providing for them was the army. She has dreams of a happily ever after, but he wants to live life on his own terms. She has to show him that she can take care of herself, and him, if he needs it. Can she turn their friendship into benefits for her? Avalon Hearts Jessamy Dawson couldn't wait to get away from Avalon Island and start living her life. Nine years later, a political scandal chases her from that life, and the only place she can find sanctuary is the home she couldn't wait to escape. Logan Marlowe is a hardworking single dad, working two jobs to pay child support. His son is the most important person in the world to him, and he hasn't dated since his divorce. But when Jessamy walks into his life, her own a disaster, he knows she's the one. She doesn't want to get involved after her affair with a senator exploded so publicly, and she certainly doesn't want Logan to know of her failure. He's sexy and sweet and makes her feel good--and she can't stay away. Until his ex recognizes Jessamy, and her secrets, and her sanctuary, are exposed once again. Keywords: friends to lovers, single mom, single dad, small town romance, small beach town romance, beach romance, beach read, friends with benefits, scandal

The complete Off-Season series

Avalon Island Love Stories

Peyton Michaels expected her assignment to be simple—write an article about everyday heroes. Heroes like Hot Shot firefighter Gabe Cooper. She never expected to find herself running up a mountain, a wildfire nipping at her heels, her life in his hands. And she never expected to be drawn to Gabe. After the loss of her husband in the line of duty, the last thing she wants is to fall in love with yet another man who routinely puts his life at risk. Gabe has had enough of women who want to make him into someone he’s not. Women like his ex, who couldn’t handle the heat of his job. Like Peyton, who sees him as a hero when he’s just a man doing a job. Except time after time, the pesky reporter proves her mettle. And gets deeper under his skin. But there’s an arsonist at work, and danger is closing in with the speed of a raging brush fire. Peyton and Gabe have to dig deep for what it takes to be a real hero—to find the courage to reach out and grab a forever kind of love. Before it’s too late.

Hot Shot

Breaking Daylight

Meet the Guenther brothers, who run the oldest winery in Cascade, Texas. You met them in Blame It on the Texas Stroll when Jolie went home to visit her mother. Now they are following their sister's footsteps and looking for their own happily-ever-afters! Perfectly Paired Thierry Guenther is a workaholic and a perfectionist. Both qualities serve him well as he runs the day-to-day operations of his family's Hill Country winery, Cascada Encantada. He couldn't want for anything more. At least that's what he thought. Piper Tobin is driving through the Texas Hill Country, her camera at the ready. She has sold most of her belongings, has before hitting the road in her trusty little car, for and is on an adventure, photographing wineries across the country. Until her trusty little car veers into a tree and is totaled. She's barely shaken off the shock when handsome Thierry is there, making sure she is okay, and tripping up her resolve to be an independent woman. Since she's stuck in Cascade until she can find another car, she gets a job driving a tour bus from winery to winery, always getting a thrill when her schedule takes her to Cascade Encantada, where Thierry always mysteriously appears when she's there. She doesn't have time or desire for a relationship, but she wouldn't say no to a fling. No one has ever had cause to regret one of those, right? A Taste of Trouble Sebastian Guenther loves his life. He gets to meet new people all the time in the tasting room of his family's Hill Country winery, Cascade Encantada. He loves his town, and is involved in several committees. And his family is mending after the scandal that nearly tore them apart. The one thing not in his life right now is love. It's not easy finding a partner in a small town, where the only other gay men are taken. Until the rodeo comes to town. Brody Williams has been with the rodeo since high school. He doesn't ride anymore—he's too practical to want to risk the injury. He's become the manager after years of experience. His one problem—the rodeo, with its intense atmosphere of masculinity, is no place to be out as a gay man. So he's kept his sexuality to himself and satisfied his romantic urgings by quiet trips away. He's never had a long relationship. Never wanted one. But when he meets cute, smart, comfortable-with-who-he-is Sebastian, he has to rethink his decisions. All of them. A Rogue's Reserve Lucien Guenther is the CEO of Cascada Encantada Winery. Lucien loves his life, both as a leader and as a city-dweller. He likes Cascade fine, but the city offers more excitement, and more variety, especially of the female variety. At his parents' renewal of vows ceremony, however, he lays eyes on Grace Moreno, the girl who was his main competition all through high school. Student council, band chair, scholarships—there was nothing he could win easily without her vying for the same goal. Grace Moreno is a mess. She's a newly single parent who has moved back home. The last thing she needs is for Lucien Guenther to know she failed at something. He falls into the same pattern of creating challenges for her to match, and she actually thrives on it, especially when she bests him, and he has to pay the penalty by working in the yard of her newly purchased house. The more time they spend together, the more they come to look at each other in a new way, and suddenly the challenges become less of a chance to best each other, and more a chance to seduce each other. But can the excitement last? Can he give up his carefree life to become the man she and her daughter need?

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine

When you’re trying to stay below the radar in a small town that thrives on gossip, you probably don’t want to break up with your football coach boyfriend and fall in love with your best friend’s widower within the same month. And heaven help you if you befriend the psychic who’s just moved nearby and your AWOL mother returns after a fourteen-year absence. Ellie Morgan is tired of playing second string to the football team coached by her boyfriend of three years. She ends their relationship, much to the dismay of the town’s citizens, who worry a heartbroken coach will ruin their chance for a championship team. Rumors of a romance with Noah Weston, her best friend’s widower, buzz when an accident on the beach causes him to bring her to the local clinic in his arms. The rumors disturb her, but also make her think about Noah in a way she hasn’t before. Even comments that she’s trying to slide into the void left by her best friend’s death can’t kill her fantasies, now as rampant as the rumor mill. Noah Weston is emerging from his grief a year and a half after his wife’s death. Ellie Morgan draws him with her energy and positive attitude. As their friendship progresses, though, he wonders if he can risk loving and losing everything again, and she wonders if she can handle taking second place, this time to a ghost.

Something to Talk About

A collection of three full-length contemporary romance novels Where There's Smoke Lauren Stokes put a lid on her attraction toward her best friend Seth Escamilla years ago. She'd never be his type of woman, so why torture herself? When sexual awareness strikes during a friendly football game, she's stunned. He's guilty for injuring her and looks after her, but Lauren resorts to wisecracking to distance herself from him. Seth's confused by the new emotions swamping him. This is Lauren, his best friend, someone he has fun with, not someone he has fun with! He doesn't plan to settle down, and he won't risk their friendship when they have no future. They resist the new attraction, and the efforts of their families to push them together. When a wedding loosens their inhibitions, keeping the new aspect of their relationship a secret is harder than they would have thought. Something to Talk About When you’re trying to stay below the radar in a small town that thrives on gossip, you probably don’t want to break up with your football coach boyfriend and fall in love with your best friend’s widower within the same month. And heaven help you if you befriend the psychic who’s just moved nearby and your AWOL mother returns after a fourteen-year absence. Ellie Morgan is tired of playing second string to the football team coached by her boyfriend of three years. She ends their relationship, much to the dismay of the town’s citizens, who worry a heartbroken coach will ruin their chance for a championship team. Rumors of a romance with Noah Weston, her best friend’s widower, buzz when an accident on the beach causes him to bring her to the local clinic in his arms. The rumors disturb her, but also make her think about Noah in a way she hasn’t before. Even comments that she’s trying to slide into the void left by her best friend’s death can’t kill her fantasies, now as rampant as the rumor mill. Noah Weston is emerging from his grief a year and a half after his wife’s death. Ellie Morgan draws him with her energy and positive attitude. As their friendship progresses, though, he wonders if he can risk loving and losing everything again, and she wonders if she can handle taking second place, this time to a ghost. What (Not) to Expect When You're Expecting Bailey Summers is very good at taking care of herself. So good, in fact, that she shuts others out with very little effort. But when her brother and his partner want a child, she pushes out of her comfort zone and offers to be their surrogate. It’s just nine months out of her life, right? Right. Because of course when she’s struggling with morning sickness, she encounters the hottest man she’s ever met. To make matters worse, he’s the new bartender at her popular bar. Rick Cassidy comes with his own complications. He’s a middle school teacher taking a summer job as a bartender to help out his brother’s family. His brother is in a rehab hospital after colliding with a drunk driver, and Rick is trying to help them make ends meet. He’s just out of a relationship himself, with a woman who couldn’t handle him spending so much time caring for his brother. So what’s he doing eyeballing his boss, the boss of a job he needs? But late nights, close quarters and second-trimester hormones overrule better judgement, and complications intertwine. This is definitely not what they were expecting.

The Happily Ever After Bundle

Quinn Alden is leaving Bluestone. As soon as he can get someone to buy the bar he bought with his Army buddy, the one who didn’t come home, he’s heading for someplace where the fishing is as good, but the winters aren’t so miserable. This was never his dream, the lake, the bar, the girl... Lily Prater is the heart of Bluestone. As the owner of the landing where people dock their boats, rent a launch or a cabin, she has a lot invested in the town. She’s fighting hard to save her town, hit hard by the recession. Her mind is always spinning with ideas, ideas she can usually get Quinn to help her carry out. They work together on the summer celebrations, the outdoor movies, the winter carnival, the tension growing between them. But it takes leaving Bluestone for him to see her as more than his best friend’s girl, and make him wonder if leaving Bluestone for good is what he wants at all...

Leaving Bluestone

Three complete romantic suspense novels by award-winning author MJ Fredrick, taking you from a steamy African jungle to political intrigue in Austin to the icy waters of Antarctica. Don’t Look Back, a Golden Heart and Epic Award finalist When her best friend is kidnapped in Africa, Dr. Liv Olney must return to the scene of her own horrific captivity. The only man she trusts is former Army Lt. Gerard “Del” Delaney, the man who rescued her. Even with him, she can't relinquish control of her emotions, needing to keep painful memories at bay. In exile after a court martial that stripped him of everything, Del misses his son and his country. When Liv asks for help, his instinct is to turn away. But her courage reaches out to him and he cannot refuse, especially when she promises that she can help clear his name so he can go home. Together they travel to Africa, where they fight warlords and monsoons, and learn to trust and hope that, together, they can find happiness and peace. Guarded Hearts Texas Congresswoman McKenna Jones’s life is in danger when her father’s old enemy surfaces. She’s the target of revenge and narrowly escapes a kidnapping attempt. She's advised to go into hiding until the threat has passed, but her fight to get an important bill passed forces her to stay right where she is. Her father assigns Ethan Riggins to protect her--a sacrifice of her privacy, but it's no real hardship since he's sinfully sexy and easy to work with. For Ethan Riggins, it's a struggle to keep his distance from the congresswoman. McKenna is his assignment, and his friend’s daughter. She also happens to be smart, driven and beautiful. Being around her makes him want to loosen the reins on his emotions, which he's kept in check for far too long. When the threat escalates, Ethan and McKenna have to take charge of the investigation so they can discover if a happily-ever-after is in store for them. Midnight Sun This wasn’t the adventure she’d signed up for… A sexy boss, a rough crossing, and pirates—all Brylie Winston wanted was a job to help her earn money to buy her own restaurant. She hopes to earn it by working as a chef on a cruise to Antarctica. But she’s slept with her boss, which throws her off-balance even more than the rough seas and warnings of pirates in the area. And he’s determined to have a repeat performance… Bad boy former snowboarder Marcus Devlin is running from his reputation, sent to learn the family business after decking a senator’s son and making the papers. So maybe he indulged in a last-minute fling before boarding his family’s cruise ship to Antarctica. Perhaps Fate is showing him that wasn’t so bad—the gorgeous redhead who snuck out of his bed is on the cruise. She’ll be a lovely distraction during his exile. But when modern-day pirates take over the ship, his instinct is to protect her and the other passengers. But what does a spoiled rich boy know about saving people’s lives?

His Dangerous Temptation

Lucien Guenther is the CEO of Cascade Encantada Winery, and his ideas for growing the company have made it not only the oldest winery in Cascade, Texas, but the most successful. Of course, his brothers get mad because he comes up with ideas from his home in San Antonio, and leaves all the work to them. But Lucien loves his life, both as a leader and as a city-dweller. He likes Cascade fine, but the city offers more excitement, and more variety, especially of the female variety. At his parents’ renewal of vows ceremony, however, he lays eyes on Grace Moreno, the girl who was his main competition all through high school. Student council, band chair, scholarships—there was nothing he could win easily without her vying for the same goal. She’s grown into a gorgeous, confident woman, and he can’t keep his eyes off of her. Grace Moreno is a mess. She’s a newly single parent who has moved back home because she can’t afford Austin real estate on her income. In fact, just receiving an income is a challenge. She’s living with her parents and her increasingly defiant nine-year-old daughter, and the last thing she needs is for Lucien Guenther to know she failed at something. He falls into the same pattern of creating challenges for her to match, and she actually thrives on it, especially when she bests him, and he has to pay the penalty by working in the yard of her newly purchased house. The more time they spend together, the more they come to look at each other in a new way, and suddenly the challenges become less of a chance to best each other, and more a chance to seduce each other. But can the excitement last? Can he give up his carefree life to become the man she and her daughter need?

A Rogue's Reserve

Lori Cervantes would say she was pretty content with her life. But when her favorite getaway, a campground on the San Marcos River, is put up for sale, she begins to rethink her dreams. She’d brought her kids to the family-owned place after her divorce, and they’d spent countless weekends in the cabins, floating the river, sitting by the fire. But now the owners are retiring, and it may never be the same. Because of that, she is determined to spend as much time there as possible to soak up final memories, even if it means helping the owners’ eldest son fix up the place for the sale. Justin Langston is glad his parents are finally retiring so they’ll have time for themselves after running the campground for decades. He couldn’t be happier to see the place go. The place was a drag on him when he was a kid. Not when they first bought it, when only the family had enjoyed it, but when they turned it into a business that ate up every weekend of his life until he left home. He’s working on a long list of tasks when a guest shows up despite her reservation being canceled—and insists on staying. Maybe if she hadn’t been a cute single woman, he might have put up more of a fight. But now she’s here, willing to work, and helping him see the campground anew through her eyes. The more they work, the more appealing the place becomes. The more appealing she becomes. But his parents deserve to retire, and Lori deserves to be happy. How can he make all of their dreams come true—including his?

Claiming Her Happy Place

Bailey Summers is very good at taking care of herself. So good, in fact, that she shuts others out with very little effort. But when her brother and his partner want a child, she pushes out of her comfort zone and offers to be their surrogate. It’s just nine months out of her life, right? Right. Because of course when she’s struggling with morning sickness, she encounters the hottest man she’s ever met. To make matters worse, he’s the new bartender at her popular bar. Rick Cassidy comes with his own complications. He’s a middle school teacher taking a summer job as a bartender to help out his brother’s family. His brother is in a rehab hospital after colliding with a drunk driver, and Rick is trying to help them make ends meet. He’s just out of a relationship himself, with a woman who couldn’t handle him spending so much time caring for his brother. So what’s he doing eyeballing his boss, the boss of a job he needs? But late nights, close quarters and second-trimester hormones overrule better judgement, and complications intertwine. This is definitely not what they were expecting.

MJ Fredrick

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