Bold Strokes Books romance authors give listeners a glimpse into the lives of favorite couples celebrating special moments "after the honeymoon ends." These short stories from Ali Vali, Clifford Henderson, Lee Lynch, Lisa Girolami, Megan O'Brien, Nell Stark and Trinity Tam, Radclyffe, Winter Pennington, and a dozen others provide touching moments in love stories that need no introduction and also offer a special treat to those who have read the original courtships.

I have been immersed in criminal activity from the day I was born. I was bred for the sole purpose of carrying on my father's reign of terror. I was born into the Bratva, and I would die in the Bratva. It was my destiny. I learned how to spot a fighter from a very early age, and Kathleen had that fighting spirit inside her. I wasn't sure what her story was, but she piqued my curiosity. In my gut, I also knew I'd left my mark on her. She'll never be the same, never recover from unwittingly drawing my attention.

Ruby Jacobson was going to have a new life, but it seemed fate gave her a twisted version of it. She is taken from her bed and given to a man that calls her his. Gavin Darris has always desired the darker pleasures in life. He sees Ruby, and he wants her like he has never wanted anything else before. She has a determination in her eyes, and is exactly what he is looking for.

Fresh off a divorce from a Hollywood hotshot, Madison Atwood needs an escape. With the paparazzi fresh on her heels and her love life splashed on every tabloid, she runs away to a swanky retreat in Northern California. Avalon Springs is the mountainside haven she needs to find herself again. Luke Dawson lives off the grid, preferring solitude to society. When he finds a beautiful woman soaking in the hot springs on his property, he can't stop himself from watching her. She captures his attention, but she's just a city girl - a beautiful distraction disturbing the peace.

Fundraiser Linden Hill has a knack for reading people. She always knows which conversations will put a prospect at ease, which drink will loosen a patron's lips - or his wallet - and how cleavage will make a donor sweeten the deal. She's even foreseen her dateless weekends 464 times in a row. But 10 years after watching life drain from her former mentor's and first love's eyes, her skills for divining the predictable are lost.

Amanda Jenner is done being a boring man magnet and has finally taken control of her love life. As any smart paralegal would, she's researched the hell out of how to seduce a man. She's waxed, primped, and ready to put her newfound skills into action - and a masquerade bar crawl is the perfect venue for her solo coming-out party.

In the dim lights of Aurora’s premier kink club waits an alpha eager to take control. Billionaire Crawford Daniels has bedded submissives before, but he’s never given one his collar. That privilege is reserved for the man who’s strong-willed enough to tell him no, but whose pretty lips always say yes. Crawford wants more than a pet - he wants a partner. Someone to pamper and spoil or punish.

Love sees deep below the surface. In the aftermath of WWII, widowed Sarah is dragged to a carnival by friends where she's riveted by the unearthly gaze of the tattooed man in the freak show. When this sensitive soul hides in her hayloft after escaping imprisonment by the evil carnival owner, Sarah shelters Tom on her farm. Deeply drawn to the quiet yet powerfully magnetic man, Sarah fights her attraction while learning about his mysterious past and gentle nature.

Alone and broke, Paige Stewart can't believe her good luck. Who hires a virtual stranger out of a New York City coffee shop to care for their adorable grandson? Apparently Claudia Renaldi does. Widower Matteo Renaldi isn't pleased that his mother found a replacement nanny so soon after he fired the last one. Yet little Matty takes to Paige like no other nanny before. And Matteo can't deny he's quite taken with her as well. She's beautiful. Sweet. And far, far too young for him.

Fynn: I caught the silhouette of a woman out of the corner of my eye when I was carrying out an execution. She could have been a spy, so I had no choice but to follow her. When I cornered her in an abandoned house, I knew I had to have her. Anya: I'm just trying to survive this bloody war. When I heard men's voices on the other side of the fence, I couldn't help but be curious. The sound of gunshots sent me scurrying back to my camp. I never expected to be followed.

I had no idea the wickedness that lay beneath his angelic features and pleasurable touch. I wanted one night out to be wild and crazy; to be like all the other young women my age. I'd been living such a sheltered life that when a new group of friends took me to a nightclub for some drinks and dancing - nothing overly rebellious, considering - I jumped at the chance. And you can imagine my surprise when the sexiest man at the club, heck, the sexiest man I'd ever set eyes upon wanted to spend some alone time getting to know the plain Jane daughter of a pastor!

Tonight, my virginity goes to the highest bidder.... This obviously isn’t the fun, romantic first time I’ve always imagined, but it’s the only way to raise the money to save my sister from her abusive ex. The best I can hope for is that my buyer won’t be a creep. And that he won’t hurt me. But I’ll confess, by the time the auction is over, this lifelong book nerd is shaking in her high heels and itchy lace corset. And then I meet him. Sterling.

I was born a princess among criminals. An untouchable cartel daughter amongst thieves. Heiress to a throne others have killed for, and one I'd do anything to escape. I want to start a new life with my first love, Diego. But his ruthless brother, Cristiano, will do anything to claim me for himself...Because in the de la Rosa family, old grudges run deeper than loyalty, and betrayal is a three-letter word: war. But in this feud between brothers, I'm the prize.

Colin McCullough has always been a man of devotion, and at summer’s end, he will finally receive his Holy Orders. Samantha Dougherty never intended to cause trouble, but when she’s invited to stay at McCullough Mountain for summer break, she proves to be an irresistible temptation. Hot summer nights lead to secret moments of seduction neither Colin or Samantha can resist. No vow of celibacy is without sin. Colin’s thoughts are far from pure, but his intentions to become a priest remain.

Ryan has money. Not just real-life rich but fairy-tale money that can change my life. He offers me $50,000 to be his companion. I don’t know exactly what’s going to be involved, but I’m a stripper, so I think I have a pretty good idea. When I get to his home, nothing is as I expect. He doesn’t touch me. Not straight away. He treats me like I’m his girlfriend.

Determined to overcome a difficult past, Erica Hathaway learns early on how to make it on her own. Days after her college graduation, she finds herself face to face with a panel of investors who will make or break her fledgling startup. The only thing she didn't prepare for was going weak in the knees over an arrogant and gorgeous investor who's seemingly determined to derail her presentation.

Alone and broke, Paige Stewart can't believe her good luck. Who hires a virtual stranger out of a New York City coffee shop to care for their adorable grandson? Apparently Claudia Renaldi does. Widower Matteo Renaldi isn't pleased that his mother found a replacement nanny so soon after he fired the last one. Yet little Matty takes to Paige like no other nanny before. And Matteo can't deny he's quite taken with her as well. She's beautiful. Sweet. And far, far too young for him.

When Regina's friends insist on setting her up a "Fantasy Fix" to help her get over her cheating ex, she dreams up some kinky out-of-this-world encounters that they could never possibly bring to life. But the next thing Regina knows, her friends have got her laced into a shiny black corset, tight leather pants, and a sexy pair of stilettos. It's time for some downtown vampire-fantasy fun...

Kady Dresco and Colton Brooks click on a level that defies logic. There are only two problems. One, he's her older brother's irritating best friend, and two, they're bidding on the same military security services contract. When the competition heats up, Colton is torn between wanting to strangle Kady (and her annoying brilliance) and kissing her into submission. Which is a bad idea for a million reasons, because Kady's submission is exactly what he craves.

A man and woman possessed of telekinetic powers. She is the doctor. He is the experiment. What comes between them is a terrifying secret history that could save them or destroy them.