The next round of Smutathon is this Friday, December 18 and it goes through December 20. I always love participating in Smutathon and my goal this time is try to fit a Christmas book into every prompt (except for the group book). The hosts, Riley and Lainey, have created a fun wheel with all the prompts so every time you are ready to read your next book you can just spin the wheel and see what you land on.

Enemies to Lovers

Heat up the holidays with this sizzling new novella from New York Times best-selling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward! 

Riley Kennedy’s emails keep getting crossed with her colleague, Kennedy Riley. 

The infuriating man forwards them along with his annoying commentary and unsolicited advice. At least she never has to see him in person since they work in different locations…until they come face to face at the office holiday party. As luck would have it, Kennedy turns out to be gorgeous…though still a jerk. Yet somehow he’s able to charm her out on the dance floor—and convince her to participate in his crazy scheme: He’ll go home with Riley for a Christmas party and pretend to be her boyfriend if Riley agrees to be his date to a wedding. 

It sounds easy enough. But little by little, the act they’re putting on starts to feel like so much more than a Christmas pact—and Riley’s about to learn there’s more to Kennedy than she ever imagined.

Dark or Taboo

Cookie wasn’t looking for love when her sister brought home two hot Russians. But now one of them won’t keep his hands to himself and she’s not sure she wants him to. He’s moved in next door and she can’t help but wonder…what’s he doing over there all alone?

Frost didn’t plan on falling for his sister-in-law, but one look and he was done for. Now all he’s got to do is convince her he’s the one…before it’s too late.

Warning: Did we throw in a holiday kidnapping? You bet your sweet tinsel we did! Count on us to deliver all the festive feels while having a big growly alpha save the day!

Forbidden

Annalise dreads seeing her stepbrother at her family’s Christmas get-together. Niles had always been so nasty, tormenting her in high school after their parents had gotten married. British and snobby, Niles did everything he could to hurt Annalise when they were younger. Now, Annalise hasn’t seen Niles in three years; he’s been away at school in England and Annalise has started her pre-med program in Dallas. When they reconnect, dark memories threaten, sparks fly, and they give true meaning to the “hard and dirty holidays.” 

Happy Holidays from Celia Aaron – Forced by the Kingpin FREE at the end of this book. xoxo 

Full disclosure: This is a smoking hot erotic tale with explicit sex and dubious consent. If this is your candy, enjoy.

Royalty + non contemporary

*These are two separate prompts so I will just pick one story if/when I land on these prompts.

Christmas magic is in the air… From the ballrooms of London, to abandoned Scottish castles, to the snowy streets of Gilded Age New York, four bestselling authors whip up some unforgettable romance…with a little help from some enchanted shortbread.

“Meet Me in Mayfair” by Tessa Dare
Louisa Ward needs a Christmas miracle. Unless she catches a wealthy husband at the ball tonight, the horrid, heartless Duke of Thorndale will evict her family from their beloved Mayfair home. But when her friend begs to switch dance cards, Louisa finds herself waltzing with the enemy: the horrid, heartless–and unexpectedly handsome–Thorndale himself. Now the duke’s holding her future in his hands…and he’s not letting go.

“The Duke of Christmas Present” by Sarah MacLean
Rich and ruthless, Eben, Duke of Allryd, has no time for holidays. Holidays are for whimsy and charm–the only two things his money cannot buy. Lady Jacqueline Mosby is full of both, even now, twelve years after she left to see the world. When Jacqueline returns for a single Christmas, Eben can’t resist the woman he never stopped loving…or the future that had once been in reach. It will take a miracle to convince her to stay…but if ever there were a time for miracles, it’s Christmas…

“Heiress Alone” by Sophie Jordan
When Annis Bannister’s family leaves her behind in the rush to escape an impending snowstorm, she finds herself stranded in the Highlands, left to fend off brigands terrorizing the countryside, robbing homes locked up for winter. Her only hope falls on her neighbor, a surly hermit duke who unravels her with a look, then a kiss … until she fears the danger to her heart outweighs the danger of brigands and snowstorms.

“Christmas in Central Park” by Joanna Shupe
Women all over America devour Mrs. Walker’s weekly column for recipes and advice. No one knows Rose, the column’s author, can’t even boil water. When the paper’s owner, Duke Havemeyer, insists she host a Christmas party, Rose must scramble to find a husband, an empty mansion, and a cook. But Duke is not a man easily fooled and she fears her perfect plan is failing–especially when Duke’s attentions make her feel anything but professional. To save her career will she give up her chance at love?

Friends to Lovers

Despite sharing a birthday with the holiday, Christmas just wasn’t Noelle’s thing. As a kid she had been in love with the holiday, but adult Noelle just saw it as another day to get through. 

Jay has moved back home after a breakup and is looking to reconnect with his childhood bestie. Cooking up a scheme to get her in the holiday spirit with her sisters, he’s determined to bring back to the old Noelle. 

With a combination of nostalgia, Christmas magic and a little bit of mistletoe, Noelle the First is a tale of old friends finding their way back to each other and more.

Recommended

One year. Five million dollars. A proposal she can’t refuse. 

Escort Ruby Scott is used to waking up in the bed of a wealthy woman. What she isn’t expecting is to wake up with a ring on her finger and married to Yvonne Maxwell, one of the executives behind the Mistress Media empire, a woman as alluring as she is cold. 

For ten years, Yvonne has been sitting on an inheritance she can’t touch until she’s married. An encounter with an escort in a red dress presents the perfect solution—a marriage of convenience. In exchange for a year playing the role of her wife, Yvonne offers Ruby a life of glamour, decadence, and more money than Ruby ever dreamed of. 

Yvonne is adamant that they keep their arrangement strictly business. But as Ruby’s submissive side awakens, Yvonne can’t resist the temptation to make Ruby hers, and Ruby is intoxicated by the commanding woman and the release Yvonne grants her. 

As Ruby falls deeper into Yvonne’s seductive world of luxury and power games, both women struggle to keep their hearts from getting caught up in the passion between them. When their inner demons emerge and their fake marriage plot is threatened, Ruby and Yvonne find they have far more to lose than just the inheritance. 

Don’t miss the first book in this brand new series of sizzling standalone lesbian romances from the bestselling author of Being Hers.

One Word Title

We’ve made a list, and we’ve checked it, twice 
And she’s about to find out what happens to bad girls tonight. 
We’ll deck her halls with more than holly 
This Christmas Eve, we want her nice and naughty.  
They call us ruthless, and cruel. Filthy rich beyond belief, dominant beyond compare, and we run our company with iron fists. 

It’s the night before Christmas, but all is not calm. And all sure as h*ll ain’t right or bright. See, someone’s been skimming from the company piggy-bank, and selling secrets to our rivals. 

Not just anyone though. Her. 

Noelle Healy. The new hire. The innocently tempting, forbidden little tease who’s been driving us insane in our need to have her. 

…and we will have her. 

Dark hair, wild, fierce eyes, and just enough sass in those pouty lips and curvy hips to drive a man wild. Or two of them. 

But someone’s been a bad, bad girl this year, and she’s about to find her stocking stuffed with two somethings much harder than coal. We’ve got some heavy bells for her to jingle, and enough mistletoe to last all night. 

Christmas might come but once a year, but the two of us are farmore frequent than that. And Noelle’s about to unwrap a bah-humbugging she’ll never forget. 

The “nice” list? Psssh. Please. We both know the naughty list is much more fun ;). So double-down, get a little wild, and get ready to indulge yourself in some seriously over-the-top, totally unrealistic fantasy at it’s finest. Light a fire, grab a candy cane (or two), and let’s put a little extra jingle in your bells this holiday season ;). 
  
This mfm romance is ALL about her – no m/m. As with all my books, this standalone novella has no cheating, and a HEA guaranteed.

Quickie (a book under 130 pages)

Noelle’s voice has captivated Alex, and she’s become his greatest obsession. Since he hired her to read audiobooks, listening to her is the only thing that makes his lonely world bearable. Thank God she’s never seen him. His scars would only scare her away. 

Alex has starred in every fantasy Noelle’s had since she first heard his voice over the phone, and reading erotica samples to him only fuels her desire. Listening to him on the other end of the phone is the best part of her day, and she’s willing to do anything to please him. 

On Christmas Eve a storm comes through, sending Noelle in search of her reclusive boss. Once she’s at his cabin with no place to go, there’s only one way to keep warm. 

Warning: This is the sweetest, cheesiest, most Christmassy book ever! It’s filled with late-night confessions, dirty deeds, and a lifetime of love. If you love this time of year, I’ve got some cheer for you! 

Fake Relationship

Her thermostat was set to frosty, until her Christmas cowboy cranks up the heat.

Ashley Hughes would love to cancel Christmas this year. Instead of holiday plans, she’s back in her Texas hometown planning her twin sister’s wedding — to her ex! Nothing like small town speculation to make her life cheery and bright. No one believes that she’s over the groom, until a certain cowboy secret crush steps in to be her plus one. Ashley’s tried to friend zone Jennings since high school, because she’s always known kissing the casual charmer would lead to a love she’d never forget.

Jennings Hill would be the first to admit that his feelings for his ex-best friend are more likely to land him on the naughty list. When he sees Ashley again, he only wants to help but then a rumor links them romantically and that’s when their lives get complicated. 

The more time they spend together, the more Jennings worries she’s not over her ex, but Ashley starts wishing Jennings was her present wrapped under the Christmas tree.

Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas is a sweet and sexy standalone Texas romance in a series of standalones! Saving the Sheriff, Resisting the Rancher, Taming the Troublemaker, and Claiming the Cowboy for Christmas can be read in any order.

Forced proximity

Amy Winstead is a twenty something video producer who loves Christmas more than anyone she’s ever known. This year, the holidays are gonna be a lot less happy because she can’t afford the plane ticket home to celebrate with her family, and her best and oldest friend Josh is moving halfway across the country for a new job that he couldn’t turn down.

When Josh asks her to accompany him on his road trip from Texas to Connecticut and offers to pay for her plane ticket back home, how could Amy say no? He’s promised some fun surprises on the trip, and more time with him could never be a bad thing.

One surprise Josh hasn’t planned on is the record-breaking blizzard heading their way. They decide to wait out the storm in the charming town of Holly Hill, where a little holiday magic and a lot of snow combine to help Josh and Amy realize that the something that’s always simmered between them could easily become something more…

winter/holiday

Daniel Black married the woman of his dreams in a whirlwind of love. She’s his entire world and sometimes he’s a little too obsessed with his wife. So when he discovers their marriage license has been deleted from the state’s records, he loses his mind. Someone in their lives is trying to sabotage his relationship with his one and only, and he’ll burn down the city to find out who it is. The only good thing about it is that now he can give his wife the wedding of her dreams. 

Blakely loves her husband and everything about their lives. The one thing she can’t seem to make work is her relationship with her father and her stepmother. She tries her best but it’s not good enough, and when they find out that her marriage to Daniel is invalid they jump at the chance for her to finally be rid of him. If there’s one thing she won’t do, it’s give up the man who worships the ground she walks on. She’ll marry him all over again, but will they support her decision? 

Warning: Look, it’s Christmas, so we went full-on cheese-fest. This hero is hands down one of the craziest we’ve ever written and he’s so obsessed it’s scary. But during the most wonderful time of the year, isn’t that just perfect? Light up a yule log and cuddle up with this precious quickie!

Second chance

Nothing says “Christmas”

like red-hot scandal!

“We weren’t supposed to do this.”

“Baby, we were born to do this…”

A luxurious Christmas cruise should be paradise. Instead, Mia Harper has a confession to make to her billionaire ex: they’re still married! Now she’s trapped with sexy-as-sin Sam Buchanan—and their searing desire. But Sam’s serving up a little holiday blackmail. He’ll grant Mia a divorce…if she gives Sam what he really wants for Christmas: a no-strings fling with her. 

bad boy/girl

All He Wants For Christmas:

Veronica Till is at the end of her rope. Single, broke, about to lose her apartment, and all alone, on Christmas, in harsh, cold, New York City. When she bungles her latest job working the secretary desk for New York’s youngest, hottest, most demanding billionaire, she’s sure she’s going to get tossed out on her rear. But her new boss has other plans…

Nick Layne is a man obsessed with one thing and one thing only: working tirelessly and ceaselessly in building his empire. Except suddenly, there’s something else that’s caught Nick’s eye. She’s young, gorgeous, innocent, and lost, and with one look, he’s obsessed. No woman has ever turned his head like Veronica. No other woman has ever enticed him, and captivated him like this. And now, Nick knows exactly what he wants for Christmas—Christmas, and forever.

A Present For Daddy’s Princess:

Lia Stone already has it all—the huge house, the expensive clothes and jewelry, the fairytale life, and above all, the gorgeous, hunky husband twelve years her senior. But Barrett isn’t just “hubby”. Some nights, he’s also Daddy, and Daddy knows exactly how to make his little princess squeal and moan. And tonight, on Christmas Eve, Daddy’s on his way home with an extra special present for his pretty little princess…

From the moment he saw her and saved her from a terrible situation, Barrett new Lia would be his. People would have already called him a lucky man, with his wealth, power, prestige, and respect. But Lia is his crown jewel, and the light of his life. She’s also something else that no one else knows about: his little Princess. And tonight, on Christmas Eve “Daddy Barrett” is on his way home with an extra special little treat for his little Lia. But only if she’s a very, very good girl…

Bad Bad Santa:

Sweet and innocent Bettina is a girl on the run. I mean, you would be too if your crook of a father offered your virginity and hand in marriage to appease a skeezy mob boss he owes money to. All alone in a remote winter cabin, Bettina thinks she’s safe at last. But she’s about to learn exactly how wrong she is…

Russian mob hitman Kristof is a beast of a man. A hunter. A killer. A savage hell-bent on completing his mission, no matter what it takes. His latest job has him hiding out as a Mall Santa, but when he spots his mark, the holly-jolly is going to quickly be replaced with something far darker and growlier. Cornering his gorgeous, tempting prey, Kristof finds himself torn between completing his mission, or taking exactly what he wants for Christmas this year…

Warning: this story contains themes such as dubcon, restraint, and force that may be unsettling or triggering for some readers.

Claimed On Christmas:

Recently divorced Alessandra isn’t expecting much else besides Netflix and chilling alone this holiday season. But when three rough, growly, gorgeous delivery men arrive with the new bed she’s ordered, and when Alessandra realizes she knows them, well, she’s going to find out just how much stuffing her stocking can take…

When James, Gunner, and Max arrive at a glitzy home on Christmas Eve to make a delivery, the Ice Queen bitch who tormented them in high school is the last person they expect to find there. But it’s been years since then, and the three men are all grown up. Big, strong, rough, and ready for some payback. They’ve made a naughty list and checked it twice, and Alessandra is about to get three unexpected, BIG packages tonight…

Warning: this story contains themes such as dubcon, restraint, and force that may be unsettling or triggering for some readers.

New to you author

Suffering from the Christmas blues, Noel was doing all she could to avoid the holiday season. When her best friend, Chris, returned to town unannounced, her world was turned upside down and made better all at once. 

Chris was determined to shower Noel with holiday cheer by showing her the true meaning of Christmas 

And the true meaning of love.

Author you love

This Christmas, my husband is going with an unconventional gift for his best friend.

Me.

It’s only supposed to be for one night… But one night becomes two, becomes our entire vacation. There are no rules except the ones we make, and sharing me brings both Derek and Grayson closer than any of us could have imagined.

This year, what happens in our bedroom will put all three of us on Santa’s Naughty List.

*Sword-cross guarantee*

~Cassie