Reckless Hearts Short Story

Melanie Benjamin introduces readers to the lavish, heady world of her novel The Swans of Fifth Avenue with this exclusive ebook short story! In this enchanting prequel, New York society and Hollywood royalty collide during the doomed and decadent life of Ernest Hemingway. Spain, 1959. Slim Hawks Hayward likes to think she doesn’t get jealous. But when her dear friend Lauren “Betty” Bacall learns that Papa Hemingway has come to watch the bullfights and insists that Slim make introductions, she can’t help feeling protective. Slim has known Papa for years. He always makes her feel like the most beautiful woman in the room—even when his wife is standing right beside him. Truth be told, Slim could have learned to love him all those years ago, in the streets of Havana or the mountains of the American West. Now, Slim is sure that Papa will fall for Betty. What she doesn’t anticipate is the feeling that Papa himself has changed—and their relationship will never be the same. Features a captivating preview of Melanie Benjamin’s highly anticipated novel The Swans of Fifth Avenue! Advance praise for Melanie Benjamin’s The Swans of Fifth Avenue “The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his ‘swans’ is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It’s a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty—and for Capote, too.”—Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants “A delicious tale . . . Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote’s greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection.”—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet “Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you’re offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York’s elite—without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin’s prose—captivatingly earnest and sophisticated.”—Vanessa Diffenbaugh, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers “Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth.”—Library Journal

"N.M. Kelby writes beautifully. Her characters are unforgettable, and her use of oddball details adds to the particular flavor of the story, which has moments of melancholy and tenderness among the fireworks." -The Capital Times

Melanie Benjamin introduces readers to the lavish, heady world of her novel The Swans of Fifth Avenue with this exclusive ebook short story! In this enchanting prequel, New York society and Hollywood royalty collide during the doomed and decadent life of Ernest Hemingway. Spain, 1959. Slim Hawks Hayward likes to think she doesn't get jealous. But when her dear friend Lauren "Betty" Bacall learns that Papa Hemingway has come to watch the bullfights and insists that Slim make introductions, she can't help feeling protective. Slim has known Papa for years. He always makes her feel like the most beautiful woman in the room'even when his wife is standing right beside him. Truth be told, Slim could have learned to love him all those years ago, in the streets of Havana or the mountains of the American West. Now, Slim is sure that Papa will fall for Betty. What she doesn't anticipate is the feeling that Papa himself has changed'and their relationship will never be the same. Features a captivating preview of Melanie Benjamin's highly anticipated novel The Swans of Fifth Avenue! Advance praise for Melanie Benjamin's The Swans of Fifth Avenue "The strange and fascinating relationship between Truman Capote and his 'swans' is wonderfully reimagined in this engrossing novel. It's a credit to Benjamin that we end up caring so much for these women of power, grace, and beauty'and for Capote, too."'Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants "A delicious tale ... Melanie Benjamin has turned Truman Capote's greatest scandal into your next must-read book-club selection."'Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet "Reading The Swans of Fifth Avenue is like being ushered into a party where you're offered champagne and fed the sumptuous secrets of New York's elite'without having to pay the price afterward. The swans are outmatched only by the elegance of Melanie Benjamin's prose'captivatingly earnest and sophisticated."'Vanessa Diffenbaugh, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of Flowers "Benjamin convincingly portrays a large cast of colorful historical figures while crafting a compelling, gossipy narrative with rich emotional depth."'Library Journal From the eBook edition.

Reckless Hearts is the second book in the sexy and suspenseful Wicked Games series, where lies, passion, and betrayal collide in the steamy beach town of Dream Point. What do you do if you find yourself fantasizing about kissing your best friend? Sensitive guitarist Jake has been asking himself that same question for a long time, and there's no easy answer. Telling his dream girl—talented anime artist Elena—about his feelings might lead to the ultimate rejection, but not telling her just might kill him. Before Jake can make his move, though, a new mysterious guy enters the picture in an unexpected way. In Elena's mind, Harlow is excitement personified: a rebellious yet kindred spirit who she instantly connected with online. Jake's gut is telling him that something about Harlow is off, and that Elena is in way over her head, but the more Jake pushes the issue, the more he pushes Elena right into Harlow's arms—and into a tragic situation that neither of them would ever see coming.

Up until two years ago, I was living large and my life’s priorities were anchored to three things – my NBA stardom, money and celebrity. I was also a colossal dick. Until one night turned my world upside down and I suffered unspeakable loss. That event changed the man I was and made me a widowed-single father. Now I’m a desperate parent trying to raise my special needs son and find him a trustworthy live-in nanny. Grad student Brooklyn Hayes may be the one, with her single-minded focus on caring for my son and finishing her Master’s degree. She’s the perfect fit for our needs. Maybe too perfect…with her bright smile, nurturing kindness and gentle touch. Caleb isn’t the only one who’s fallen for her. I don’t know when or how it happened, but she changed the game for me. Turning my losing streak into a winning second-half.

Falling for the professor wasn’t part of my plan… From the moment the man walked into the bar, I knew he was still in the closet. But that didn’t stop us from sharing an incredible night together. Our easy, one-night hookup went from no-strings-attached to a tangled mess on the first day of the semester, when I locked eyes with the mystery man from the bar... who also happens to be my new Art History professor. Lucas Mathiasson is everywhere I turn and the harder we try to resist, the closer we’re pulled together. Until our weekend in Vegas. Then all bets – and rules – are off. But lessons in love can’t be taught from a syllabus. They have to be experienced. And not all love is easy. Not all rules are meant to be broken. And not all men are created to live life in the open. Falling for my professor wasn’t part of the plan... but how do you let go of the man who taught you how to love?

He was my brother's best friend... but my brother was never the problem. Everything else was. Sloan- Have you ever felt such a pull to one person that you cannot control yourself around them? Just one mention of their name and a fire ignites deep within? Well I, Sloan Barton, had that connection... with my brother's best friend. You see, I was in love with Wesley King long before I ever knew what love was. Always tagging along, admiring him from afar. Until one day, he loved me back. Except I found out he wasn't mine first and because of that, I had no choice but to let him go. Although I tried desperately and failed to fight the pull between us over the years, that wouldn't be the last time we had to walk away from each other. Wes- I'll never forget the moment I realized the sweet kid I grew up with had turned into the girl I couldn't stop thinking about. I fell hard. Suddenly, she became all my hopes and dreams. Until life pulled us in different directions. They say timing is everything, so when I see the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on sitting in my bar... I take that as my sign. Maybe our stars have finally aligned.

Meg Thurgood, former society girl, took the blame for her friend and paid a steep price. Now all she wants is solitude and a chance to rebuild her life. She thinks she's found that in an isolated house she rents from a mysterious stranger. Simon McAlter has hidden in his house on the coast of Maine since a fire left him scarred. A successful landscape architect who conducts his business and teaches his classes remotely, he's lost his inspiration and is trying to pretend he's not lonely. Simon's new neighbor is more than he bargained for. When he learns Meg's secret, will he retreat into the shadows or will he learn to see past the surface and trust in Meg's love?