LS Phoenix's Blog, page 16

Meet the Heroine: Sabrina Cole

Not every heroine needs saving.

Some just need space to figure out who they are—preferably with a camera in one hand and a fresh start in the other.

Name: Sabrina Cole

Age: 28

Occupation: Photographer (freelance, underpaid, wildly passionate)

Backstory: Newly divorced. Freshly relocated. Determined not to fall for the first emotionally unavailable man who makes her feel something again. (Oops.)

📸 Fun Fact:

She once went viral for a photo of a random stranger reading poetry on a rooftop. Still swears it was staged by the universe.

🥂 Favorite Drink:

Rosé. On ice. From a mason jar. Zero shame.

💬 Quote That Sums Her Up:

“I didn’t move here to find someone. I moved here to find myself. And then he had to go and ruin that plan with those damn eyes and his inconvenient timing.”

🔥 Spicy Teaser:

He tells her to hold still, voice low, hand on her waist like he owns it.

She doesn’t.

Not because she doesn’t want to obey…

But because the second she does, she knows she won’t be able to stop.

🎞 Behind the Scenes Secret:

Sabrina was originally written as emotionally closed-off, but she surprised everyone—Jack included—by being the bold one.

She’s not afraid to ask for what she wants.

Even when it terrifies her.

Want to see her and Jack crash into each other in all the best ways?

Read “Late Blooms” tomorrow!

Character Crush: Jack Hayes

If you love your fictional men older, broody, and emotionally unavailable with a secret soft spot for one woman—meet your next obsession.

Name: Jack Hayes

Age: 42

Occupation: Former literature professor, current recluse with a garden full of secrets

Location: Quiet coastal town with too much wind and not enough distractions

Vibe: Smells like cedarwood, espresso, and regret

☕ Favorite Drink:

Black coffee. No cream. No sugar. Just like his sense of humor.

(He did once accept a lavender latte… but only because she handed it to him with that smile.)

🖤 Quote That Lives in Our Heads:

“I haven’t wanted anything in a long time. And then you showed up, all fire and bare feet, acting like you weren’t going to ruin me.”

🔥 Spicy Teaser:

She leans in, camera in hand, breath catching when his fingers wrap around her wrist—not hard, just firm.

“Keep pointing that thing at me,” he murmurs, voice low. “And I’m going to give you something worth remembering.”

👀 Behind the Scenes Secret:

Jack wasn’t supposed to be the main love interest.

Originally, he was just the grumpy neighbor next door.

Then he took one look at her… and suddenly, the story changed.

Want to meet him properly?

Read “Late Blooms”, this week’s exclusive age gap short story. He’s waiting. Posting Thursday!

Alaksan Heat Releasing 6/30

 Some kisses feel like promises. This one? It’s a warning.

🎥 Book Quote Drop

🔥 “You kiss me like you’re about to ruin me.”

💬 “Sweetheart, I’m not about to. I already did.”

If you like your romance sharp, dirty, and impossible to quit… you’re in the right place.

📚 Read the book that broke the rules: https://amzn.to/3S7DKou

10 Age Gap Romances That Got It Right

🔥 10 Age Gap Romances That Got It Right

There’s just something about an older hero falling hard for a younger heroine that makes us swoon, squirm, and occasionally scream into our pillows. When it’s done right? Chef’s kiss.

Here are 10 age gap romances that serve up the tension, spice, and emotional pull we crave—some are indie gems, some are modern classics, and all of them are unforgettable.

💋 1. Birthday Girl – Penelope Douglas

The ultimate “oops-I’m-living-with-my-boyfriend’s-dad” story. Pike is broody, forbidden, and way too tempting. Iconic.

🖤 2. Praise – Sara Cate

She calls him “Sir” before she even knows who he is… and then finds out he’s her ex’s dad. Talk about complicated. Age gap? Check. Spice? Off the charts. Tension? Unbearable in the best way.

🔥 3. Credence – Penelope Douglas

This book is one wild ride. Three men. One girl. One snowy cabin. And yes—one very complicated age gap dynamic.

💼 4. 

The Confidence of Wildflowers – Micalea Smeltzer

She’s 18. He’s 33. A slow burn with emotional depth and quiet intensity. Prepare to feel everything.

🎤 5. Give Me More – Sara Cate

This one brings the heat and the heart. A married couple invites their best friend into their bedroom—he’s older, guarded, and completely undone by what he feels. MMF + age gap + emotional wreckage.

🍷 6. A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime – Monica Murphy

Boarding school drama with an age-appropriate twist, but he feels older in every delicious way. Protective, commanding, obsessive.

✍️ 7. Professor – Felicity Banks

She’s his student. He’s her professor. This indie read is spicy, forbidden, and full of tension. Yes, sir.

💔 8. Does It Hurt? – H.D. Carlton

Not a typical age gap—but it’s intense, unhinged, and deeply addictive. For readers who like their romance twisted.

🌲 9. Give Me a Reason – A.L. Jackson

Single dad + club owner + teacher. The age gap is the least of what makes this story sizzle. Pure emotional chaos—in the best way.

🌸 10. Late Blooms – LS Phoenix (Blog Exclusive)

If you like slow-burn tension and quiet older heroes who unravel when they finally let go, don’t miss this week’s featured short story.

Have a favorite age gap romance that made you swoon? Drop it in the comments—I’m always looking for more to obsess over.

Why We Love Age Gap Romance

There’s just something about age gap stories that hit different. Maybe it’s the forbidden tension. Maybe it’s the way experience meets reckless desire. Either way, age gap romance continues to be one of the most addictive tropes out there—and for good reason.

So let’s break it down.

✨ The Maturity Factor

Older heroes tend to come with a certain confidence. They’ve been through the mess. The heartbreak. The hard lessons. And now? They know exactly what they want—and how to get it.

Which is usually… her.

Enter the younger heroine, with her unfiltered energy, bold opinions, and zero interest in being “handled.” Watching her crack his control? Irresistible.

🔥 The Tension (Yeah, That Kind)

Whether it’s a mentor-turned-lover, a boss-employee dynamic, or a “you’re my best friend’s dad” situation, age gap stories thrive on forbidden territory. That line they shouldn’t cross? It’s already blurred.

And the closer they get, the hotter it burns.

❤️ Power Imbalance? Or Just a Different Kind of Vulnerability?

Yes, there’s often a built-in imbalance—financial, emotional, even social. But when it’s done right, the story leans into mutual growth.

He learns to feel again.

She learns to trust.

And together, they meet in the middle—in all the ways that count.

🥀 The Taboo Appeal

Let’s be honest: the “we shouldn’t” factor makes it even better.

It’s risky. Messy. A little scandalous.

And that’s exactly why we love it.

Want a taste?

Check out this week’s exclusive short story, “Late Blooms”—a slow-burn, steamy romance between a stubborn photographer and the older man who should’ve been off-limits.

(But definitely wasn’t.) Comes out Friday.

Signs It’s Not So Fake Anymore

They say it’s just a marriage of convenience.

But here are a few signs that arrangement is about to get real:

He touches her lower back in public. Without thinking.

She starts wearing his shirts… and doesn’t give them back.

Someone calls her his wife—and he doesn’t correct them.

The kiss was supposed to be for show. That was five minutes ago.

They keep forgetting it’s not real.

Bonus sign? He looks at her like she’s his everything… and you know damn well that wasn’t in the contract.

What’s your favorite “oh no, I caught feelings” moment in a book?

Trope Battle: Who Wore It Better—Fake Dating or Marriage of Convenience?

 Both start with a lie.

Both require convincing everyone else it’s real.

But which trope delivers the most tension?

🖤 Fake Dating:

“We’re just pretending.”

Except now you’re sitting on his lap at a family dinner and his hand is way too high on your thigh.

💍 Marriage of Convenience:

“We’re married. Just not like that.”

Until he starts acting like your husband… and it’s not an act anymore.

Drop your vote below:

Fake Dating or Marriage of Convenience?

And tell me—what’s the scene that sealed the deal for you?

Truth or Dare: Marriage Edition

 Let’s play a romance reader version of Truth or Dare.

Truth:

What’s the most unhinged reason you’ve seen two characters get married in a book?

Dare:

Comment below with a spicy married-but-pretending-it’s-not-real scene that lives rent-free in your head. Bonus points if it includes jealousy, a fake kiss that went too far, or one bed.

Go. I’ll be in the comments with popcorn.

Top 5 Reasons They Say ‘I Do’ (When They Really Shouldn’t)

Marriage of convenience might sound cold, but in romance? It’s pure fire.

Here are 5 reasons characters tie the knot—without love on the table (yet):

💰 Inheritance Clause: Grandpa said no ring, no riches.

📸 Publicity Stunt: When your brand needs a believable love story.

✈️ Visa or Green Card: When staying in the country means playing house.

🏢 Business Merger: CEO + CEO = power couple… on paper.

💔 Revenge: Nothing says “I’ve moved on” like marrying someone else.

Bonus? Watching them fall for each other anyway. Every. Damn. Time.

Which reason is your favorite to read? Or do you love the chaos of all five at once? 👀

Why Do We Love Marriage of Convenience Romances So Much?

It’s the ultimate slow-burn setup: two people agree to marry for practical reasons—money, business, PR, you name it. Feelings? Not part of the plan.

So why do we eat it up every single time?

Maybe it’s the tension of pretending to be a couple while secretly catching feelings.

Maybe it’s the little moments—one bed, one glance, one accidental touch that feels too good to be fake.

Or maybe it’s because watching them fall for real when they’re not supposed to is just that satisfying.

Tell me—what’s your favorite marriage of convenience book? 👇

Or drop your favorite fake-to-real moment. (I won’t judge if it’s the kiss that went on too long.)