Recommendations based on "Sticks and Stones"

A short story set just after the end of The Magpie Lord. Stephen Day and Lord Crane return to London. Neither is quite sure where their fledgeling relationship is going. It seems unlikely that there can be much of a future for them, under the circumstances, with Stephen going back to work and Crane returning to China. Until they encounter an unexpected moment of magic...

'Megan Bannen has created a world that you'll never want to leave and characters that will carve a spot into your heart. This series is playfully unique, delightfully steamy, utterly romantic, and overall unmissable!' Ali Hazelwood From the author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy, comes a delightful fantasy with a best friends-to-lovers rom com twist, imagine When Harry Met Sally, but with dragons! The town of Eternity was shocked when widowed, middle-aged Twyla Banneker partnered up with her best friend, Frank Ellis, to join the Tanrian Marshals. Eight years later, her career remains a welcome change from the domestic grind of mum life. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the job is a lot safer these days. . . and a lot less exciting. So when Twyla and Frank find a glitter-covered body near a dragon-sized footprint, they're ready to be back in action. Soon, a handsome scientist arrives to assist with the investigation. To Twyla's delight and Frank's consternation, Dr. Quill Vanderlinden finds Twyla as fascinating as the newly discovered dragons. As Twyla and Frank are drawn deeper into a nefarious plot with more twists than a Tanrian mineshaft, danger closes in on all sides. Will their easy friendship survive the adventure or is it about to ignite into something more? Praise for Megan Bannen: 'Deeply adorable and heartbreakingly hilarious . . . a bear hug of a book full of wonders and pink dragons' Jayci Lee, author of Nine Tailed 'A truly outstanding romantic fantasy' India Holton, author of The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels 'Megan Bannen remains the queen of swoons upon swoons upon swoons! The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a playful, quirky gem-full of feels and guaranteed to deliver the perfect grumpy/sunshine fix!' Sierra Simone 'Seamlessly blends fantasy, romance, and modern family dynamics, all while making you laugh until you (literally) cry. . . I love this book so much that I would bury bodies for Twyla and Frank so deep no one would ever find them' Lish McBride, author of Rough Around the Hedges 'Romantic, wildly creative, and utterly charming, The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a fantasy unlike any I've read before' Lana Harper, author of Payback's a Witch 'The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy broke my heart, put it back together, then tucked me into bed with a forehead kiss. Packed with earnest characters, wit, action, and reluctant yearning, this is easily my favourite fantasy romance of the year' Jen DeLuca, author of Well Met 'A uniquely charming mixture of whimsy and the macabre that completely won me over' Helen Hoang, author of The Kiss Quotient 'Megan Bannen remains the queen of swoons upon swoons upon swoons! The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy is a playful, quirky gem-full of feels and guaranteed to deliver the perfect grumpy/sunshine fix!' Sierra Simone 'A little sweet, a little spicy, a little sharp and entirely moreish!' Davinia Evans, author of Notorious Sorcerer 'I showed up for the fantastic, fun fantasy setting but it was Hart and Mercy that kept me reading' Ruby Dixon, author of Ice Planet Barbarians 'Megan Bannen has found her voice with this incredibly smart, and hilariously weird debut. A must read' Nisha Sharma, author of Dating Dr. Dil

Flaminius's days of bouncing between beds are snatched away the instant he sets eyes on his perfect genetic match, Aurelia. Suddenly, the tedious task of claiming his rightful place on the Arkhnuetian throne doesn't seem as daunting with his whip-smart wife by his side. But it's not like Aurelia had a choice; Flaminius is the only soul she can reproduce with, and she's not about to play a role in her people's extinction.After a swift wedding and passionate honeymoon, an assassination attempt plummets the lovers back into the reality of ruling. Fueled by their indomitable matched hormones and fierce loyalty to each other, together they must evade his mother's Machiavellian schemes, hunt down the mysterious cause of death plaguing the match making Keys, and protect their people from a violent supremacist cult, the Oradagra. But it turns out the greatest threat to their existence is something neither of them could have seen coming, and it's a race against time to save the entire Arkhnuetian planet.

"This is a story about hunger. 1532. Santo Domingo de la Calzada. A young girl grows up wild and wily--her beauty is only outmatched by her dreams of escape. But María knows she can only ever be a prize, or a pawn, in the games played by men. When an alluring stranger offers an alternate path, María makes a desperate choice. She vows to have no regrets. This is a story about love. 1827. London. A young woman lives an idyllic but cloistered life on her family's estate, until a moment of forbidden intimacy sees her shipped off to London. Charlotte's tender heart and seemingly impossible wishes are swept away by an invitation from a beautiful widow -- but the price of freedom is higher than she could have imagined. This is a story about rage. 2019. Boston. College was supposed to be her chance to be someone new. That's why Alice moved halfway across the world, leaving her old life behind. But after an out-of-character one-night stand leaves her questioning her past, her present, and her future, Alice throws herself into the hunt for answers . . . and revenge"--

Life For Sasha Isn't Getting Easier. She Has Survived Run-in's With Monstrous Dulcha, Lived Through An Abduction, And Even Made It Passed Charles' Constant Badgering For Sex. But If She Thought The Hurdles Of This New Life Were Behind Her, She Was Dead Wrong.when The Regional Comes To Visit Stefan's Clan, The Pressure Increases. Sasha Finds Herself On A Giant Scale, Assessed For Her Magic And Held In The Balance. If She Doesn't Have The Magic Stefan Hopes, She Could Find Herself On The Street While Still In Grave Danger. Even With A Favorable Outcome, However, Her Inability To Use Her Magic Presents A Road Block Not Easily Crossed.no, Life Is Not Getting Easier.stefan Feels The Heat, Too. He Must Finally Declare A Mate, And Admitting His Desire For A Human Is The Worst Form Of Taboo. He Could Jeopardize Not Only His Place As Leader, But His And Sasha's Life. His Decision Is Like Walking On A Razor's Edge.

Ever think Scrooge had it right before the ghosts ruined his life? Meet Aidan O'Conner.At one time he was a world-renowned celebrity who gave freely of himself and his money without wanting anything in return...until those around him took without asking. Now Aidan wants nothing of the world--or anyone who's a part of it.When a stranger appears at his doorstep, Aidan knows he's seen her before…in his dreams.Born on Olympus as a goddess, Leta knows nothing of the human world. But a ruthless enemy has driven her from the world of dreams and into the home of the only man who can help her: Aidan. Her immortal powers are derived from human emotions--and his anger is just the fuel she needs to defend herself…One cold winter's night will change their lives forever…Trapped together in a brutal winter storm, Aidan and Leta must turn to the only power capable of saving them--or destroying them both: trust.

Sasha Riggs is a reclusive artist, haunted by vivid dreams and nightmares that she turns into extraordinary paintings. Desperate to understand her visions, she finds herself drawn to the Greek island of Corfu.She has only just arrived when she encounters Bran Killian, an Irish magician with a warm charisma and secrets dancing in his eyes. Sasha has never met Bran before, but she knows him only too well - because this is the man from her dreams. The man she has painted over and over again. The man she seems fated to be with...if she can find the courage to accept who she really is.Sasha soon discovers that four other strangers have been lured to the island. Like Bran, they are all desperately searching for a mysterious jewel known as the fire star - before it falls into the wrong hands. Together, they might just succeed. But first they must learn to trust one another, and reveal their deepest secrets.On the sun-drenched island of Corfu, love and magic are sparked into life. And for Sasha, nothing will ever be the same again.

Enter a world of timeless seduction, of ancient intrigue and modern-day passion. Enter the dazzling world of Karen Marie Moning, whose acclaimed Highlander novels have captivated readers, spanning the continents and the centuries, bringing ancient Scotland vividly to life. In a novel brimming with time-travel adventure and sensual heat, the bestselling author of The Dark Highlander delivers a love story that will hold you in thrall—and a hero you will most certainly never forget.BEWARE: lethally seductive alpha male of immense strength, do not look at him. Do not touch him. Do not be tempted. Do not be seduced.With his long, black hair and dark, mesmerizing eyes, Adam Black is Trouble with a capital T. Immortal, arrogant, and intensely sensual, he is the consummate seducer, free to roam across time and continents in pursuit of his insatiable desires. That is, until a curse strips him of his immortality and makes him invisible, a cruel fate for so irresistible a man. With his very life at stake, Adam’s only hope for survival is in the hands of the one woman who can actually see him.Enter law student Gabrielle O’Callaghan, who is cursed with the ability to see both worlds: Mortal and Faery. From the moment she lays eyes on this stunning male, Gabby is certain of one thing: He could be her undoing. Thus begins a long, dangerous seduction. Because despite his powerful strength and unquenchable hungers, Adam refuses to take a woman by force. Instead, he will tease his way into Gabby’s bed and make her want him just as he wants her.Now, no matter how hard Gabby tries to avoid him, Adam is everywhere, invisible to all but her—perched atop her office cubicle in too-tight jeans, whispering softly from behind the stacks of the law library, stealing her breath away with his knowing smile…all the while tempting her with the promise of unimaginable pleasure in his arms. But soon danger will intrude on this sensual dance. For as Adam’s quest to regain his immortality plunges them into a world of timeless magic and the deadly politics of the Faery queen’s court, the price of surrender could be their very lives. Unless they can thwart the conspiracy that threatens both mortal and Faery realms…and give them a shot at a destiny few mortals ever know: glorious, wondrous, endless love.

Leader. Soldier. Pawn. Militess Halina has claimed numerous victories for her king and country. Now she's under siege inside her own castle, held by enemies determined to start a war and condemn her lover as both a king-killer and a child-slayer. Necromancer. Healer. Protector. Sun Mage Gethen commands life and death, but even such power may not be enough to free his beloved militess or defeat a resurrected evil that feeds on the kingdom's most innocent victims. Separate they're vulnerable. Together they might stand a chance. In a battle for souls and survival, a warrior fights for the kingdom she serves and the man she loves, even as her beloved mage must triumph over an undying malice to save the woman he adores and the legacies of two nations. ***** The Militess & Mage novels combine the sword & sorcery elements of epic fantasy with paranormal elements and wrap them around a romance. They also include a powerful heroine who makes no apologies for being a woman and a warrior, who uses her body and her mind, and who will never be confused for a damsel in distress.

From breakout star Sydney Shields comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of Heavenly Bodies and The Atlas Six. When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares offering a bargain: he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. With a bite of her soul to seal the deal, Claudia is enrolled, taking the place of Odette, a student who mysteriously passed away. Her arrival sparks suspicion and Cassius MacLeod - her infuriating academic rival - spreads the rumour that Claudia had a hand in Odette's death. Hell bent on clearing her name, Claudia makes a discovery that puts her in direct danger. The only way to protect herself: free Dorian. By night, she studies the stars, slowly unravelling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. But Cassius may not be who he says he is, and soon Claudia must decide: will trusting him be the last mistake she ever makes?