My Secret Obsession

As a teen, Dahlia Collins swore that she’d escape the sandy beaches of her little hometown of Avenel on The Hidden Banks Islands. She’d dreamt big for herself, craving the adventure and success that could only be found in a big city. But life in the big city turned tumultuous, and the overwhelming swells of betrayal and financial struggle carried her back to Avenel. Taking over Dahlia’s Delights Bakery should have been easy for her, except it wasn’t. The bakery was bleeding money. Someone was sabotaging her business. She needed to discover the saboteur and save her bakery before her hopes and dreams were crushed.

Mark Lane enjoyed a simple life in the quaint town of Avenel on the string of islands off the coast of North Carolina. His successful career as the police lieutenant was all he needed, or thought he needed, until he walked into Dahlia’s Delights. When he saw her, his world shifted. The young teen he’d last laid eyes on a decade ago was now a grown beauty. His heart double-tapped. His blood heated and strummed through his veins. Gone was the girl he’d teased in his youth. Instead, an auburn-haired beauty with emerald eyes robbed him of rational thought.

When Dahlia looked across the display counter and locked eyes with Mark, all the feelings she’d had for him as a teen rushed through her. Her stomach fluttered as desire cloaked her in a world of bliss. She was thirteen again. Falling in love with him would be so easy. Dang it, she was already halfway there.

Lily Summers is tired of being a good girl. Raised in a strict fundamentalist family, she's got years of repression and domination to overcome. Feeling suffocated by the expectations of her family, Lily rebels against her upbringing to embrace her needs and desires. With determination and curiosity as her guides, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

For the extraordinary people of Chimera Connections, love is more than a human experience—it’s a soul-deep bond that transcends the physical and spiritual realms. Their gifts amplify the intensity of their connections, making the need for their fated-mate impossible to ignore. For some, the journey to love is instantaneous and perfect. For others, it’s a battle of wills, trust, and serendipity. When the pull of a soulmate becomes undeniable, will they surrender to the power of love—or resist the destiny that calls to them?

“The author weaves a great storyline that is full of fear, heart-stopping terror, romance, heated sexual scenes, and suspense all of which culminates into a great climax.” Suzanne - Goodreads

Lizzy Adams hadn’t worked so hard to get a man’s attention as she had for Tyson Smith. The brawny black man with the soulful eyes, baritone voice that whispered over her like a velvet caress, and a smile that turned her knees to jelly occupied her thoughts… until she stood face to face with a man whose devious eyes scared her as much as the syringe in his hand. 

Terrified, Lizzy reaches out to Tyson, the one man she knew could keep her safe. He’d seen it all during his time in the military, but the fear in Lizzy’s eyes and the tremble in her voice triggered his alpha-male instincts and sent testosterone rocketing through his veins. Keeping Lizzy safe from a grieving father turned serial killer became Tyson’s priority. Despite the danger around them, they can’t deny the sexual tension mounting between them.

Here's what reviewers are saying about LIZZY'S KISS.

“I was feeling the fearwhile reading the book and had to read it in one session as it was too riveting to put down.” Suzanne – Goodreads

“A great read if you like a little more action and mystery with your romance books. You will be very pleasantly surprised on the deep and intriguing storyyou get out of it along with quite the ride of ups and downs and guessing.” Bailey – Goodreads

“It was fast-paced with a great backstoryto explain who and why someone wanted to kill Lizzy. The author gave us well developed engaging characters and terrific descriptive narratives.” Heather – Goodreads

“A little bit of sizzle in the romancearea was also good.” Kirstie – Goodreads

“I loved this book that is filled with suspense, drama, and of course steamy chemistry. The characters are well developed and engaging, and the storyline flowed smoothly from start to finish.” Elvira – Goodreads

“What a great book, I loved that Lizzy stands up for herself! Off the charts chemistrybetween Lizzy and Tyson!” Tina – Goodreads

Books in The Savage Security Series

#1 Blood Kiss

#2 Avenging Kiss

#3 Coveted Kiss

#4 Stolen Kiss

#5 Grace's Kiss

#6 Lizzy's Kiss

Other series by Karen Tjebben can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Tjebben/e/B00F1VIJKQ

The Scintillate Series - YA, supernatural, romantic suspense 

The Flowers of Avenel Series– Contemporary romance with a little mystery and a lot of spice. 

little mystery and a little spice. 

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Sparks fly when the wholesome girl next door crosses the path of a sexy, alpha male. 

Grace followed the rules. She always played it safe and never put her heart in jeopardy, until the night she met him. She’d never imagined connecting with an alpha male like Ryan. Giving herself to him as he'd cradled her in his arms had come naturally... until she sobered up. He was everything that she’d convinced herself she didn’t want. Or was he everything she needed?

Ryan balanced on a thin line of gray. He’d killed his share of demons but managed to live at peace with his actions. Then he met Grace, a woman who pushed all his buttons and shook him to his core. The need to have her overwhelmed him, but she kept shooting him down. Could he convince her that he was exactly what she needed? 

Grace's Kiss has a HEA and can be read independently from the other books in the Savage Security Series. This book has adult language and sexual situations.

Here’s what reviewers are saying about Grace’s Kiss.

“An intriguing suspenseful mystery romance story that is different because there are two stories running concurrently. It is part serial killer and part romance, but they come together beautifully and move quickly.” Misty – Goodreads

“The romance, mystery, and suspense keeps you turning pages to see what is next.” Carol – Goodreads

“Intense read that definitely had me intrigued wanting to read page after page as the plot unveiled and journey through their relationship with stupefying scenes and challenging scenarios.” Nadea – Goodreads

“Grace's Kiss is an entertaining read that is part romance and part serial killer thriller.” Becky – Goodreads

“This novel had a powerful main character and a powerful underlying theme of actions and consequences.” Samantha – Goodreads

Books in The Savage Security Series

#1 Blood Kiss

#2 Avenging Kiss

#3 Coveted Kiss

#4 Stolen Kiss

#5 Grace's Kiss

#6 Lizzy's Kiss

Other series by Karen Tjebben can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Tjebben/e/B00F1VIJKQ

The Scintillate Series - YA, supernatural, romantic suspense 

The Flowers of Avenel Series– Contemporary romance with a little mystery and a lot of spice.

A sociopath is on the hunt… Bret Silva’s handsome face is plastered all over town on placards praising his success. But neither his eyes nor his friendly smile betray the dark beast that lurks within. A beast that requires sacrifices. But one mistake endangers Bret’s survival. When the men from Savage Security discover a damning photo, they realize that someone has mastered the art of the perfect murder. As their hunt begins, Cole Savage must reconcile his desire for justice with the burning ache in his heart for Julia Romero. Enlisting her help as a realtor, they work together to find a new home for Savage Security while the hunt for the killer continues. As the men discover more victims, they piece together the clues and realize that one of their own may be in the sights of a ruthless killer.

An amazing, thrilling series. With lots of action you will be flipping pages like crazy to see what happens next.” Jessica Bronder – Goodreads Reviewer

When Cole Savage opened Savage Security, he’d wanted to use his extensive military experience to help civilians defend themselves. He hadn’t expected the ghosts of his past to hunt him and his men down. But that’s exactly what they did. And now, in the aftermath of the attack, the men of Savage Security must band together to eliminate the terrorists living on American soil.

Bella Chan can still feel the deadly grip of Hazeem Ali’s fingers wrapped around her neck. If Jack hadn’t shown up at Savage Security, she’d be dead. In pure alpha-male fashion, Jack appoints himself her personal bodyguard, but Bella soon realizes that Jack isn’t there to protect her. He’s there to win her heart. 

Fellow Savage Security member Logan Murphy may not be dead, but his heart is broken. As he deals with the betrayal and death of Adita Chopra, Logan discovers technology so advanced that it is only spoken about in theory. 

Together, the Savage Security Team must race to discover the members of the terrorist cell living within their city. As they navigate through the intrigue and deception that camouflages 

Here's what reviewers are saying about Coveted Kiss.

“Intense and intriguing, with super characters.” Petula on Goodreads

“A captivating read that is sure to take you on a thrilling journey as Bella and Jack find a way to make their relationship work in the midst of mystery.” Truly on Goodreads

Books in Series

#1 Blood Kiss

#2 Avenging Kiss

#3 Coveted Kiss

#4 Stolen Kiss

#5 Grace's Kiss

#6 Lizzy's Kiss

Other series by Karen Tjebben can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Tjebben/e/B00F1VIJKQ

Scintillate Series - YA Supernatural Romance

Flowers of Avenel - Contemporary Romance

"Blood Kiss is a dark, suspenseful, romantic thriller!" - Sara W.

Desperate to protect herself from the escalating advances of her stalker, Alisha Woods went into Young Guns to buy a gun and gain a sense of safety. As she wrapped her fingers around the Glock, something inside her clicked. The weight of the weapon in her hand empowered her. She couldn’t help but smile as she realized she was one step closer to reclaiming her life.

Mike Lewis was an alpha-male in need of a damsel to save. When Alisha crossed his path, she fit the bill perfectly. Her fear and desperation triggered his protective side. Knowing that his conscience would gnaw at him like a rabid dog if he let her walk away, he offered his help. 

Pacey’s anxiety skittered through him like a rat on crack when he watched Alisha. He’d dedicated countless weeks to their courtship, but he’d noticed a change in her. Dark rings encircled her hypnotizing blue eyes, and she was jittery. But worst of all, her bubbly personality was flattening, like soda that’s been left out too long. Her beauty still shone through, but a dark cloud hung over her and obscured her natural glow. She needed his help.

As Pacey’s advances increase, the heat between Mike and Alisha explodes. Unable to deny their attraction, they find love in the midst of Alisha’s nightmare. 

Here's what reviewers are saying about BLOOD KISS.

"Fast paced and full of suspense, Blood Kiss was an exciting read. Tjebben draws us in with the mystery and as we get deeper into the story, the threat intensifies leaving me desperate for answers." - Erin

"I was glued to the book from the beginning and could not put it down till I finished it... I felt all of the characters’ emotions while reading their story. This story is full of twists and turns, mystery, drama, suspense, and romance." - Annamaria

"Creepy, weird, delusional, selfish, mentally unstable...This story gives you a few different POVs but it's written as not to be confusing. Knowing what and how the stalker was thinking brings a whole new depth to the story. It lets you experience the stalking." - Book Loving Moma

Books in Series

#1 Blood Kiss

#2 Avenging Kiss

#3 Coveted Kiss

#4 Stolen Kiss

#5 Grace's Kiss

#6 Lizzy's Kiss

I hope you enjoy these 2 chapters. Chapter 3 gives you insight into the "villian" of the story. She's a complicated woman who is trapped in a bad situation and is sabotaging Dahlia's Delights against her will. Chapter 4 hints at a potential romantic connection between Dahlia's and Mark.

Thank you for listening to my stories on My Secret Obsession. It's has been a wonderful journey for me, and I hope you've enjoyed it too. I am stepping away from the podcast for now. We are at a life change with my parents, and I just can't keep up with the podcast.

Many of my books, including Dahlia's Delights, will be available on Amazon as audiobooks in a few days. I hope you enjoy them.

Thank you for walking with me through My Secret Obsession. I've had a wonderful time, and truly do appreciate your support. Go to Cherishlively.substack.com to follow me on social media and find the podcast hosting sites that feature the wonderful stories for your entertainment.

Good bye for now...