Palm Springs Poolside Novel Series by J. L. Brannick

Connor McCoy’s professional hockey nickname is The Hammer. And the first time we met, that’s exactly what he did to me. He hammered orders, barked instructions, and interrupted me three times. Then he tried to walk off before I could tell him I was not his latest assistant.But the intense, hot-as-sin man spectacularly outdoes himself when he almost gets me charged with felony burglary... moreConnor McCoy’s professional hockey nickname is The Hammer. And the first time we met, that’s exactly what he did to me. He hammered orders, barked instructions, and interrupted me three times. Then he tried to walk off before I could tell him I was not his latest assistant.But the intense, hot-as-sin man spectacularly outdoes himself when he almost gets me charged with felony burglary. I can’t avoid him forever when McCoy hires my dad as his daughter’s nanny, and he owns part of the hockey team where I’m interning. He’s a ragged fingernail on the chalkboard of my soul. Except when he’s scorching my brain with his dirty mouth.And McCoy is unapologetic about wanting to keep me––for himself, and his sweet little daughter. But can we navigate through his troubled past, our vast differences, and his intense dislike of me befriending the entire hockey team? And how can a person crave someone but want to kill them at the same time? I’m asking for a friend. less

The agreement should have been safe and simple. He needs a fake girlfriend, and I need a quiet place to live.But life is rarely simple. And living with the massive, scarred French Canadian hockey player who has a world-class filthy mouth? It’s anything but safe.When my father turns his rage on my little girl, I need to escape. But I’m broke, beaten down, and out of options. So when my best friend asks me to be Titus’s live-in fake girlfriend, I seize the crazy offer with both hands.Titus, a.k.a... moreThe agreement should have been safe and simple. He needs a fake girlfriend, and I need a quiet place to live.But life is rarely simple. And living with the massive, scarred French Canadian hockey player who has a world-class filthy mouth? It’s anything but safe.When my father turns his rage on my little girl, I need to escape. But I’m broke, beaten down, and out of options. So when my best friend asks me to be Titus’s live-in fake girlfriend, I seize the crazy offer with both hands.Titus, a.k.a. the Spartan, must convince a judge that he can provide a stable family environment for his toddler. We get to stay in his sunny Palm Springs home and pretend to be his family. It’s the perfect arrangement–so long as no one ends up in a Canadian jail.As my quiet daughter starts falling in love with the growly man, I become the unexpected owner of an adult online toy store. And he insists on helping me “product test” the merchandise.But getting involved with Titus could jeopardize our safe haven, and I can sense my psychotic father circling. So is running the only way to protect the people I love? less

When Zeke Deegan finds me mostly naked on the floor, I’m having a panic attack and gasping for air like a goldfish.Let’s just say, it isn’t one of my finest moments. And moving in with the hot, built, former Marine who is at least ten years older than me wasn’t on my radar when I came to Palm Springs. But my creepy boss makes the Big Bad Wolf look tame, and compared to my mother, Cinderella’s stepmother is a saint.My life isn’t a fairy tale... moreWhen Zeke Deegan finds me mostly naked on the floor, I’m having a panic attack and gasping for air like a goldfish.Let’s just say, it isn’t one of my finest moments. And moving in with the hot, built, former Marine who is at least ten years older than me wasn’t on my radar when I came to Palm Springs. But my creepy boss makes the Big Bad Wolf look tame, and compared to my mother, Cinderella’s stepmother is a saint.My life isn’t a fairy tale. It’s more like a B-grade horror movie, until Zeke and his house become my sanctuary.I can’t get attached, though. He may give off dominant Golden Retriever vibes and has a dirty, delicious mouth, but my mother frequently reminds me that he’s too handsome, too rich, and way out of my league.But he feeds me.Takes in my adopted (okay, stolen) cat.And gives me one of his little felt monster creations.Then I teasingly call him “Sir” one night, and the sizzling heat between us explodes. He’s the Dominant to my Submissive, and the whipped cream to my chocolate pie.But will I have the courage to tell him I want to stay, or will my tragic past and chaotic present come crashing down around us? A MF, forced proximity, former Marine, dominant Golden Retriever, age gap romance with fast banter, all the spice, and feels! less