Twisted Riley's Books
Billionaira Bargain
For Emma Montgomery, life as the pampered daughter of Manhattan's elite carried the weight of impossible expectations. Groomed from birth to lead her family's corporate dynasty, genuine love seemed an elusive dream amid the superficial trappings of wealth. That is, until a shocking proposal opened doors to an unexpected future. When her father arranges for Emma to enter a marriage contract with James Reynolds, the charismatic heir to a powerful political family, she sees it as an escape from her turbulent past. But neither Emma nor James could foresee the firestorm of passion and betrayal that would be sparked by their convenient union. As the one-year countdown on their sham marriage begins, Emma finds herself falling for James's unexpected depths and charm. But James has his own demons - bound by duty to fulfill his father's Machiavellian ambitions while his own heart belongs to another. As cordial pretenses melt into smoldering intimacy, their worlds collide in a maelstrom of corporate greed, political ambition, and star-crossed desire. In this sumptuous tale of love among New York's upper echelons, Emma and James become delicious pawns in a high-stakes game they never imagined playing. With every blistering secret revealed, every heart-wrenching choice posed, they must decide whether to surrender to the inescapable lure of power and privilege, or burn it all to the ground for a love too intoxicating to deny.
Facade of Desire
Ava Taylor was born into an extremely wealthy New York family, but endured a miserable childhood witnessing her parents' toxic, loveless marriage. Eventually going into business herself, she swore off romance after seeing how it destroyed her mother. Liam Parker had a vastly different upbringing, having to hustle on the streets of Brooklyn just to survive until a teacher helped him turn his life around and earn a scholarship to an elite university. When Ava and Liam first meet at a Manhattan bar, she's initially put off by his brash advances. But Liam's charisma and seeming depth intrigue Ava enough to let down her guard. However, unbeknownst to her, Liam is perpetrating an elaborate lie - he accepted a dare from friends to try making a wealthy woman like Ava fall for him, just to win a lavish vacation. Using coaching from a friend, Liam completely constructs a fake persona of a sophisticated, successful businessman to woo Ava with extravagant dates and an air of wealth. She becomes smitten, convincing herself to keep things casual to protect her heart. Just as guilt is threatening to make Liam confess, a bombshell emerges - Ava will only inherit her father's fortune if she marries before age 27 in six months. Desperate, she propositions Liam to enter a marriage of convenience, offering him $10 million from her inheritance. Despite knowing it's wrong, Liam's greed and faint hope of somehow earning Ava's love override his conscience. They hastily marry under false pretenses of his lies. But Ava's unhinged ex soon begins sabotaging their union, revealing Liam's deceptions as part of a larger, murderous scheme to inherit Ava's fortune himself. When the truth finally explodes, Ava is devastated by Liam's betrayal. However, Liam proves his feelings became real when he risks his life to protect Ava from her psychopathic ex's attack. In the traumatic aftermath, they're able to rebuild from honesty, cherishing the profound connection that improbably bloomed from deception.