Novels by Talia James

"You know, when I asked you to look out for my brother while I was gone, I didn't mean you had to do it forever."Mattie looked at her best friend—now her sister-in-law—and smiled. "Well, I did promise. And you know how seriously I take promises."There was a glimmer of sorrow in Jessica's eyes as she raised her champagne in a silent toast. For an instant, Mattie wondered if there was something going on in Jessica's life that her friend hadn't told her about. Then the moment passed, and Jessica said, with mock solemnity, "Thank you for making my brother happy.""Trust me, I've been waiting a long time for this.""You know, he always did want to be part of your family.""Watch it, I might start to worry that he married me just for that," she teased, even though she didn't really believe it.But looking out across her father's lawn, she could see why. Brad's parents—who'd nearly had a fit when she insisted on holding the reception in her father's backyard rather than the country club—sa

Losing Brad at twenty-one, when she'd never really had him, was devastating. Losing Brad at twenty-nine after lying in his arms, sleeping by his side and making love to him long into the night? There were simply no words for it. She wondered why the Nobel committee gave out awards for simple things like medical research and promoting world peace, but ignored the efforts of the brokenhearted to keep stumbling along as if nothing was wrong. Worst of all, she couldn't talk about her heartache with anyone. Jessica called every few days, but their conversations were brief. Mattie answered Jess's questions about 'how it had gone with Brad' as quickly as possible then changed the subject. Jessica—half a world away—would only worry if she knew how Mattie felt. Edith, Abigail, and Lucy tried to be supportive and understanding. But she didn't want to burden them. So for their sake, she insisted—repeatedly—that she was fine, relieved even to have the house back to herself, but she didn't thin

"Where the hell is she?" The words were out of his mouth before the door even slammed shut behind him. The bell continued to jingle in the silence that followed his question. For a moment, all three women—Edith, Abigail and Lucy—simply stared at him. Then the two older women spoke at once. "What do you mean, where is she?" Edith demanded hands fisted on her wide hips. Abigail's brightly painted lips pursed in a frown. "Isn't she with you?" Lucy's silence drew his attention. Even when he stared at her, she said nothing. Edith scowled, seemingly unaware of Lucy's silence. "She hasn't missed a day in years. We assumed, since she wasn't here to open the store, that she was with you." "She isn't." "Oh, dear," Abigail murmured. "Our Mattie is missing." Lucy—he noticed—showed no sign of concern. Silently she crept towards the door, apparently hoping to escape unnoticed. "Now Abigail," Edith warned. "Don't leap to conclusion. Just because she isn't here doesn't mean she's missing. I'

When she woke up to an empty bed the next morning, she wasn’t surprised. Brad rose early every morning— except for the morning she made him apple pie— to do situps and other torturous exercises. Given how much she’d appreciated those stomach muscles last night, she could hardly complain now.She stretched and yarned, smiling as she remembered the previous night. When they’d made love the night before, he’d been not just passionate, but surprisingly tender. And today was his birthday. She’d have to do something special for him.Mattie rolled over, burying her nose in the pillow, where he’d slept. The pillowcase still held his scent. It smelled like him and—she grinned as she recognized the scent—her bath gel.Only when she started to climb out of bed did she see him, sitting in her bedroom's only chair, half-hidden by the early-morning gloom. He sat, elbows on his knees, fingers templed, staring at her.And that's when she knew something was wrong. The relaxed, sexy Brad of last night

“Tell me about Mike.”Mattie stilled, about chocolate chips poised above the mixing bowl. Her hand clenched on the package and a few chips tumbled in. Deliberately, she shook half the chips into the bowl before asking, “What do you want to know?”She had the tapping of Brad’s shoes as he crossed the tile floor to stand beside her. In her peripheral vision, she saw him against the counter and cross his arms over his chest. “Tell me about the money.”She squeezed her eyes shut. When she opened them, she dumped the rest of the bag in the bowl—the day she was having for double chocolate chips. then she flipped the mixer on and waited for the consolation only raw cookie dough could provide.She turned to face him, “They told you about the loan,” she surmised. He nodded. “They shouldn’t have said anything.”“I pressured them.”She almost laughed at that. “Right. You’re the last person I’d expect to hear a defending them.”“They only wanted to help.”“I know.” She flipped the mixer off, extr

“You made her cry.”Brad looked up to see Lucy standing in the doorway to the office, flanked on either side by Edith and Abigail. Collectively, they looked ready to lynch him. The image of being hung by a quilted noose flashed through his mind. He laughed grimly at the visual.They didn’t see the humor he did. As one, they stepped into the room, fists propped on hips, narrowed in defensive anger.He held up his hands surrender. “Wait. I didn’t mean to. She’s just upset about the—“ He racked his brain for suitable lie, but couldn’t construct one. “About the books. She’s worried about the shop.”Infinitesimally the three women relaxed.“Well, hang it all,” Edith said. “We know that. But we don’t know what to do to help.”“No, we don’t,” added Lucy. “We offered to take pay cuts, but she wouldn’t listen.”“Oh, dear,” Abigail murmured. “We had hoped things were picking up. After all, a strong woman knows her own mind and her own limits.”Brad nodded as if he understood. He’d spent most of

“I said, step aside.”It’s already been rumored that he cherished her. There was no way it hadn’t reached the ears of the King. He needed to hurry and get rid of his father, only then could he root out Keanna’s anxiety.Neil’s absence was intentional. Completely intentional, knowing full well they would somehow approach Keanna, his weakness.Neil’s eyes grew cold seeing Keanna on the floor, shaking, gasping for air. He shifted his eyes back to his father and the former king staggered backwards, looking into his son’s eyes. The gaze was not one which a son is seeing his father, rather, it’s one of a male predator ready to protect his female from another coveting her.“Neil!” Clara was equally buffed that he found them. She immediately went into action and started sobbing pitifully, clinging onto his arm with all her might."You've finally arrived! I was waiting for you, I was so frightened, hiic! They even said that they were going to rape me! I probably would have been next after Kean

Keanna began pacing, Neil’s condition heavy on her mind.“Your Highness.” a small voice called out, slightly frightening Keanna.She opened the door to see a maid holding a bundle of clothes.Feeling anxious, she began peeling off her garments and changing into the ones the maid provided. After changing, he made haste to the meet spot, tightly clutching the hood of the cloak to hide her face and hair. As she reached closer, she saw Clara waving her over.“Our excuse to leave is that we have an emergency at home and you are the maid that will come with me. Do you understand?”“Yes, I understand.” Keanna nodded.“I’ve prepared our horses outside. Let’s hurry,” said Clara as she pushed open the door.They walked to the horses and grabbed the reins.“Have you ever ridden a horse before?”Keanna shook her head, gently patting the head of the horse.“I’ll teach you the simplest way to ride. Follow close behind me.”The two made their way to the palace gates, and the guards stopped them.“Wh

Keanna stumbled as she absorbed the information. “That person was Neil!” Looking back at it, it was around that time Neil started entering the quiet library. “I was always worried and wondered if he had safely escaped, but there was no way I could have asked anyone. The soldiers that were looking for him threatened me to keep my mouth shut about the incident.” That day was imprinted in Keanna’s memory. It wasn’t something easily forgotten, but with a bloodied face and a hoarse, pained voice, she wouldn’t easily recognize Neil. He was always near her…if only she knew sooner… “Why do you think he told you not to remind me of it?” she sniffled. Silvia held her hands and gave a gentle squeeze, giving her a warm smile. “His Majesty must have wanted you to remember it on your own.” It was the first time in a long time she was in the company of another. She couldn’t ask anyone about him, the risk of him being pursued was still great. There was no sign of him being dragged away, so sh

Five years ago.A small library detached from the palace. A place where even the caretaker rarely visits. This place was her secret place. At the west end of the library, she’d been looking for a book on the bottom of the bookshelf, and when she removed a few books, she found a small space where she could crawl inside.Ever since she found that space, she often came there to hide when the other concubines beat her for stealing food. In order to not be found, she put the books back in place from the inside and silently cried.It was the same that day.The sound of heavy breathing echoed throughout the quiet library and she wondered if they had found her, but dismissed the thought as she’s the only one who knows of the secret place.The breathing got closer, and she heard a thud. Her hands flew to her mouth to stop her shriek, she looked in the space above the books and caught a glimpse of a figure but couldn’

Keanna was startled awake by the loud noises outside. Whenever Neil left to oversee government affairs in the early mornings, he’d leave Silvia to attend to her.“Are you awake, your highness?”“Has Neil-I mean his majesty left?”“Yes. He left after ordering us to take good care of you.”Silvia made a face when she said that, and Keanna wondered if something happened.“Would you like to have breakfast first?”Keanna struggled to open her eyes and began rubbing them as if to rub away the sleepiness.“No. I’ll eat in a bit. Speaking of, why is it so noisy outside?”“It’s nothing. Pay it no my, my lady.”When Keanna got off the bed and stood, Silvia placed a blanket over her shoulders. Suddenly, the door of her room swung open.BAM!“Misses, you cannot enter here!” A maid screamed out, and Keanna heard dozens

A month passes in a flash.Neil’s greed for Keanna was constant. If she was about to fall asleep, he would wake her and force her to eat. With the help of her new diet, Keanna gained weight, becoming moderately plump. Silvia was overjoyed as she always had to force Keanna to eat, but with Neil, he made sure she ate.“Keanna, I’ll be leaving for a week.”“What?”That day, after finishing another one of their lovemaking sessions, Keanna was about to pass out but he caught her and held her in his arms. Neil fed her nothing but nutritious foods, like shredded lamb soup and sliced fruits, and like a baby bird, she swallowed whatever he gave her.“The whereabouts of the King-ah, I mean my father has been found.”He comforted her at how she visibly flinched at the mention of the former King.“Don’t be afraid. This is me putting an end to it all.”“An end?”