Showing results by narrator "Desiree Ketchum" in All Categories

Raised in a cult where opinions and freedom in women were not tolerated, Mara Greene narrowly escaped a life as a child bride—one where she would’ve been shared and owned by all the men in the compound. Her testimony helped put the cult leader in prison, but she’s never truly gotten past the horrors inflicted on her. Her conditioning to keep silent persists even now—despite having found a safe haven at the Resting Warrior Ranch.

We were best friends, then we were enemies. Loved. Protected. Cherished. There was a time when Ranieri Andretti made me feel those things. That was before his family came after mine. He was supposed to forget me. We went our separate ways. It should have stayed like that. But now he's back in my life, and he's my new boss. I want to hate him. He's my ex-best friend. My tormentor. The head of the Andretti family. But no matter how hard I try...I can't stay away.

Who in the world would go on a dating show to find love? Turns out, I'm that person. Paige Holland, lifetime resident of Elk Lake, Wisconsin, and dedicated seventh-grade math teacher. I love my charming town, but there's seriously no single action here. Unless of course I want to date the painfully boring mailman or the kid at the Quick Mart. Hard pass to both. So, what's a girl to do? Apparently, apply to Midwestern Matchmaker and hope the reality show gods will smile on me.

Ben Castillo. NBA champion. Olympic gold medalist. Widely hailed "King of the Court." The morning he walks into my dingy diner, I have enough sense to keep my head down and go right on wiping tables, pouring coffee, and serving up short stacks. A man who looks like that—superstar or not—has only ever meant trouble, and more trouble is the last thing I need. If anything, he seems drawn to my indifference.

A runaway bride, wearing a freakin’ tiara, and carrying a stolen lion cub, of all things. This was not how rowdy, bad-boy-turned-small-town-cop Zander Landry expected his day to go. He really didn’t expect his night to end with her sleeping in his bed after her near-kidnapping. But his intense attraction to her and the feelings of protectiveness she stirs up? Oh, yeah, he knew those were coming. She’s stunning, whip-smart, and trouble with a capital T. The gorgeous hellion soon discovers just how dirty things can get in the bayou.

If I'm looking for trouble, I don't need a rock star like Noah Hayes to find it. I play the bad girl well enough on my own. While millions of people might idolize these so-called Rock Gods, I party with them on a daily basis. I know the truth. They're just as flawed and damaged as the rest of us. So, while Noah's charms may work on his many groupies, I'm immune. But ever since Noah first laid eyes on me, it's been his life mission to get a taste. And what he lacks in discretion, he makes up for in determination.

I should have used my college degree to become a lawyer, politician, or heck, even a Time Lord—hey, it worked for Dr. Who. But no, I had to own a bridal boutique. Turns out that's a terrible idea for someone with my lousy dating history. Every day, I'm surrounded by the trappings of the perfect wedding, and I'm starting to resent all the smug almost-marrieds. I shouldn't want to throat punch the brides, right? Then Jamie Riordan moves to Elk Lake with his twelve-year-old daughter. He's everything I've ever wanted in a guy—tall, gorgeous, successful, and clearly devoted to his kid.

My family is famous for two things in our small town: Our annual Christmas party And… Our feud with The Pearce family. Our families hate each other. It's a tale as old as St. Nick himself. So, imagine what happens when a harmless little argument with Jackson Pearce ends with us both behind bars for the night. As if that wasn't bad enough… The punishment for our crime? The only Christmas party we're allowed to have is one together. At Town Hall. But… It gets worse.

“I want a divorce.” No woman wants to say those words. No woman who is still in love with her husband anyway. Our marriage has been tested, repeatedly. It’s been dragged through tabloids and rumors and fans that just won’t let us be. Through it all, we’ve remained unbreakable. We didn’t have the perfect marriage because perfection doesn’t exist. But we had love. We had trust. We had chemistry that to this day sets everything inside me on fire. Then one life-threatening statement creates a chain of lies that leaves me no choice but to say those horrible words.

I've been in the boardroom long enough to know that some men are just off-limits. As head of marketing for my family's successful boutique hotel business, I'd never jeopardize our brand's success for someone like Beckett Taylor. He's arrogant and cocky. And completely ruthless when it comes to getting his way in business. But when we're forced to spend the weekend together at a conference, I find myself unable to resist the fire that has been burning between us. He is, after all, ridiculously sexy. One night, I tell myself. One hot, steamy, forbidden night.

When Nyx's quest to discover the secrets behind the Harvester's rings leads her to the Meerkin homeworld of Kyvren, she's only too happy to have an excuse to visit them. Since going their separate ways from Arkadia's Station, she's been unable to find any information on the state of their planet—or their attempt to reclaim it—and she only knows of one entity capable of covering up a civil war. Of course, the one person who could probably answer every question she has is also the last person she wants to ask.

A babysitter. That’s all I am. But I have my own life to live. Dreams of going to the NFL. And this is a distraction I can’t afford to have.

Vaughn Tucker is the hot playboy drummer of the Tucker Brothers band, whose four albums have all hit number one. Vaughn is drop-dead gorgeous . . . and completely out of control. Gigi Hayes's life is a million miles from packed stadiums and high-profile tour schedules. She's a small-town girl who spends all her time working in the library and studying to become a qualified social worker. For . . . reasons. When Vaughn meets Gigi, for the first time in his life, he's the one who's star-struck.

Peter and I were drawn to each other from the very beginning—even when I was just a kid, sneaking out to see him at the rundown orphanage for boys. I thought we'd be forever. We weren't. So, I left our small town with nothing but a map for my future and a shattered heart, and I didn't look back. Until now. See, I'm organizing the fundraiser of the year, and I need Peter, master mechanic, to help me rebuild a classic car for an auction that'll help hundreds of foster kids. I was sure I was prepared to see him again. I could ignore his magnetic pull this time around. I was wrong.

Ophelia has survived warfare, curses, and betrayals. Now, as the Revered of the Mystique Warriors and the Chosen of the Angels, she faces an unprecedented threat: The bloodthirsty Queen of the Fae sails for the shores of Gallantia. To ensure the safety of her people, Ophelia is forced into a deadly bargain. As the hunt for the remaining two Angel emblems continues—now with newfound allies—Ophelia's chosen family is thrown into peril and prophecies. Fates are questioned, magic seeks to kill, and the Angels try to bend Ophelia further to their will.

Once, I had everything. Drummer for the biggest band in the world. Fame. Money. Happiness. All at my fingertips. Then, six years ago, my world stopped turning. My best friend. My best girl. A burning field in the pouring rain. I survived, but I left the biggest part of me with them. And now I sift through the rubble of my broken life. I didn't want a second chance. Redemption. Closure. Not for me.

When my car is stolen outside my new college dorm, my roommate points me to "The Vigil"—a trio of students who tackle crimes when campus security drops the ball. The last thing I expect walking into the Vigil's office is to find Logan Brooks staring back at me. I want nothing to do with the stepbrother I once had the world's hugest crush on. But even though he looks at me like I'm dirt under his shoe, he and his hot friends insist on taking my case. No way am I letting them investigate on their own. Working with them will give me the chance to find out what's really up with Logan.

CAPitalize Your Finances offers an easy-to-understand framework that listeners can follow during any season of their lives. Whether you’re just beginning to express interest and commitment to personal finance, at the pinnacle of your career, winding down into retirement, or thinking about your legacy for future generations, CAPitalize Your Finances walks you through every step you need to succeed on your terms and with your own values and passions guiding you.

Ophelia and Malakai have been ripped from their loved ones and are at the mercy of a vengeful god. But they quickly discover that in order to uncover secrets buried among realms, that may be precisely where they need to be. Even if it jeopardizes all they have fought to become.

Reid Riddick was hotness personified, so of course I literally ran into with him - well, more like he plowed into me. I didn’t know he was a football player when I started falling and now I can’t stop. A stolen kiss later and my heart races whenever he looks at me from across the quad. But my secret would spell disaster for him.