Jillian Dodd's Blog

Sun. Sand. Cocktails

A sweet romance author needs to spice things up.
Both on the page and in real life.
She's just going to a destination wedding.
Instead, she finds temptation at the altar
Her next research subject?
The adorably handsome best man.


If you love:
🏝️ destination wedding drama
💕 forced proximity
💋 witty banter
🔥 and chemistry that refuses to behave

You're going to devour this one.
Save The Date

Book five in the Dating in the City series is officially LIVE — and trust me, this hero does not wait for his cue.

A sweet romance author needs to spice things up.
Both on the page and in real life.
She wants a little drama.
Instead, she lands center stage.
Her next research subject?
The ridiculously charming actor on the verge of fame.
He’s ambitious.
He’s magnetic.
And he definitely knows how to deliver a performance.
Expect laughs, flirty banter, tension, and one heroine who may or may not be in over her head.
Ready for your close-up?
👉 Grab your copy here. Party of One

Tell us if you fall in love with him. We need to know.

XOXO, Jillian and Kenzie

A sweet romance author needs to spice things up.
Both on the page and in real life.
She wants a little drama.
Instead, she lands center stage.
Her next research subject?
The ridiculously charming actor on the verge of fame.

Prepare for laughs, swoons, and a hero who might just steal the spotlight.

P.S. We're currently running a sale on the That Boy Series!
Get each ebook (1-8) for just 99¢ each!!
(Sale ends April 16th.)
It started with friendship. It ended with forever.

Being best friends with two gorgeous boys should come with a warning label—especially when one makes you laugh until you can't breathe, and the other makes your heart skip every single time he smiles.

There's Danny—the golden boy quarterback with sun-streaked hair, a killer arm, and a grin that dares me to take risks.

He's the adventure. The fun. The chaos.
And Phillip—the steady one. The boy who sees me when no one else does.
He's my safe place. My late-night phone call. My almost everything.

One boy gives me my first kiss.
One boy takes me to prom.
One boy asks me to marry him.

They're both my best friends.
But only one of them is that boy—the one who's owned my heart all along.

✨ TROPES YOU'LL LOVE:
💞 Friends to Lovers
🏡 Small Town Romance
💋 Boy Next Door
⚡ Slow Burn & Almost Kisses
🏈 Golden Boy Athlete
💔 Everyone Sees It but Them


Party of One

We're currently running a sale on the Keatyn Chronicles - Captive Films series.
Get each ebook for just 99¢ each!!
(Sale ends April 2nd.)

Captive Films’ CEO and playboy, Riley Johnson is hot, privileged, and seriously single. He’s got it all—a brand new jet, exotic cars, a luxury penthouse, and a different aspiring actress (or two) in his bed every night. His life is perfect until the only girl he ever loved walks back into it, causing him to wonder if he truly has it all.

Fame: Season One

🍀Are you feeling lucky? 🍀
Check out this excerpt.

I walk into the field house angrily, rush into the girls’ locker room, and quickly brush my hair back into a new ponytail and pull my bangs out of my face with a barrette. I wash my soccer sweat off with a wet towel, and throw on some powder and a bit of mascara. It’s gonna have to do.
Or I’m gonna be late.
I bang through the door and run smack into Aiden.
He says, “Sorry,” looks shyly at the ground, and then back up at me. He’s holding a small green leaf in his hand. “Here, I found this. Open your hand.”
I put my palm up toward him, and he lays a perfect four-leaf clover in it.
“Good luck,” he says, and gives me a quick kiss on the cheek.
It’s really quite adorable, and I can’t decide now if he’s a jerk or not.
I’m leaning toward not.
“Thanks.” I gently place the clover in my bag, see the two Hershey’s kisses Gracie gave me, and grab them. “Want one?”
Aiden smiles and says, “My favorite,” and pops it in his mouth.
I eat mine, while feeling slightly jealous of the kiss that just melted in Aiden’s mouth, and bounce happily over to the auditorium for dance tryouts.

Tryouts aren’t really that hard. They have us memorize two simple dance routines, one with pompoms and one without. Then we perform both individually and in a group. We spend about two hours learning them, and about fifteen minutes on the actual tryouts. Luckily, I am one of the first girls picked to do my individual routine, so I don’t have to sit there and wait nervously.
I have no idea how I do. I know the routine. And I know big smiles are important for dance performers. Besides, I couldn’t fake the smile on my face no matter how good an actor I might ever be.
The kiss on the cheek and four-leaf clover from Aiden has me grinning from ear to ear.
Still.
And I’m finding myself really looking forward to the all school mixer tonight.

The Keatyn Chronicles (1-7) is on sale!
Each book is only 99¢ so you can binge read!!

May the luck of the Irish (and a four-leaf clover) be with you.
XOXO,
Jill + Kenzie🍀

Stalk Me

A sweet romance author needs to spice things up.
Both on the page and in real life.
She needs new romantic inspiration.
Instead, she gets injured.
Her next research subject?
The heart-stopping ER doctor who treats her.

“Aww,” my hot neighbor, Matt, grins. “You bought beer with me in mind. I’m flattered.”
I regret this already. “Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Too late. I’ll be checking all the trees on this block to see which one you carved our initials into.”

Preorder Today! Heart Stopper


P.S. We're currently running a sale on the Spy Girl series.
Get each ebook for just 99¢ each!!
(Sale ends Feb 26th.)
She’s rich. Beautiful. Deadly.
And she’s falling for the prince she’s supposed to protect.

Eighteen-year-old Huntley Von Allister has a secret.
She’s a spy.
Recruited by a covert agency so secret even the President doesn’t know it exists, Huntley is pulled from training for her first mission.

Her cover? Pose as the long-lost daughter of a billionaire.
Her assignment? Infiltrate high society and protect Prince Lorenzo of Montrovia from assassination.
The problem? The Playboy Prince is dangerously charming. And falling for him could compromise everything.

As Huntley navigates glittering galas, hidden agendas, and deadly secrets, she realizes the Prince isn’t the only one being played.
The deeper she falls, the more she discovers a conspiracy that could shatter her world—and expose her heart.
Because in the game of spies and secrets, love is the ultimate risk.

✨Tropes readers love:
Spy Adventure & Secret Identity
Playboy Prince
She Saves Him
Forbidden Love
Love Triangle
High Society Glamour
Save-the-World Stakes

We're beyond excited to finally reveal the cover for
✨Writing Mr. Right✨
the first book in the newly rebranded
Dating in the City series.

Isn't she cute?!

This brand-new cover perfectly captures Kitty Valentine's world—NYC vibes, dating chaos, awkward moments, flirty banter, and all the heart-melting swoon you could possibly want.
This series makeover has been over a year in the making, and we wanted the new look to feel fun and fresh.
💖 100% this era of Kitty Valentine

📚 Writing Mr. Right releases February 13, making it the ultimate Galentine's Day read. Grab your besties, your favorite snacks, and prepare for dating disasters and happily-ever-afters.

✨ Want more?
All books are up for preorder on Amazon
We're rapid-releasing every other week (hello instant gratification!)
And yes—there will be a full signed paperback set with these gorgeous new covers when the final book drops in mid-June.

We are dying to hear what you think of the cover—and trust us, this is just the beginning 💕
XOXO,
Jill + Kenzie

Writing Mr. Right

The glitter and confetti still aren't out of our carpets, but we're already looking ahead to a very busy and exciting 2026—and we have some fun news to share!

First up: Kitty Valentine is back—and she's had a glow-up ✨

We've been working on the rebranding of this beloved series for over a year, and we cannot wait to finally show it to you. The first book releases February 13, just in time for the perfect Galentine's Day read 💕

✨ New series name: Dating in the City
✨ New title: Writing Mr. Right

This series is perfect for readers who love:
Awkward heroines
Dating disasters
Flirty banter
Swoony happily-ever-afters

If you haven't read the series—or if you want to fall in love with it all over again—you can join the ARC team and help us launch this brand-new era of Kitty Valentine.
Click here to sign up.

We'll be rapid-releasing the books every other week, and all titles are currently up for preorder on Amazon. Normally, we offer early access in our store, but this time we're doing something extra special:
✨ A full signed paperback set with the brand-new covers, available when the final book releases in mid-June.

We cannot wait to show you the covers in a couple of weeks.
They're completely different from before and feel
so unmistakably Jillian Dodd.


XOXO,
Jill + Kenzie

Sign up Here-https://airtable.com/appidlUzLLtoN4q3...

The glitter and confetti still aren't out of our carpets, but we're already looking ahead to a very busy and exciting 2026—and we have some fun news to share!

First up: Kitty Valentine is back—and she's had a glow-up ✨

We've been working on the rebranding of this beloved series for over a year, and we cannot wait to finally show it to you. The first book releases February 13, just in time for the perfect Galentine's Day read 💕

✨ New series name: Dating in the City
✨ New title: Writing Mr. Right

This series is perfect for readers who love:
Awkward heroines
Dating disasters
Flirty banter
Swoony happily-ever-afters

If you haven't read the series—or if you want to fall in love with it all over again—you can join the ARC team and help us launch this brand-new era of Kitty Valentine.

Click here to sign up. https://airtable.com/appidlUzLLtoN4q3...

We'll be rapid-releasing the books every other week, and all titles are currently up for preorder on Amazon. Normally, we offer early access in our store, but this time we're doing something extra special:

✨ A full signed paperback set with the brand-new covers, available when the final book releases in mid-June.

We cannot wait to show you the covers in a couple of weeks.

They're completely different from before and feel
so unmistakably Jillian Dodd.

The graphic below gives you a little sneak peek 👀

XOXO,
Jill + Kenzie

Twelve days.
Ainsley

I wake up and look at the clock. It's nearly nine. I can't believe I slept in so late.
I touch my abdomen and think about my call with Damon last night. The decision I made not to tell him that I'm pregnant.
My questions this morning are: Was it the right thing to do? And what are the consequences of my decision?
It does mean I'm going to have to go through pregnancy alone. But I believe it will be worth it. I care for him. Love him. Want his first season of college football to be everything he's ever dreamed of. For him to be able to focus on those goals and experiences. To have nothing to distract him. For the press to talk only of his accomplishments and not on the fact that a less-than-two-week summer fling resulted in an unplanned pregnancy.
Which is the other big issue.
We have been together for all of twelve days.
Day one was just harmless flirting.
Day three, the night of Chase and Dani's wedding, I found out about my dad's gambling addiction, drank too much, and tried to seduce Damon.
Day four, I woke up mostly naked with him in my bed. And later that day, we shared our first kiss.
Day six was our first date, when we spent a fun night in a tent he had set up for us.
On day seven, after making sand angels, we were naked together in the shower, and the physical side of our relationship progressed past kissing.
Day eight was our butterfly picnic, where we first said I love you. Where we spoke of how fast things were moving between us and how we believed we were soulmates.
On day nine, we watched fireworks together, and later, I fell asleep on his shoulder.
On day ten—the night of his birthday party—he wished for birthday sex, took me to his suite, and asked me to be his girlfriend. And when he blew out the candles just after midnight on his actual birthday, he said, I wish Ainsley would love me forever.
On the eleventh day, we shared a long night filled with passion and love, ending my sexual drought.
And on the twelfth day, our last day together, we agreed I would visit him whenever I could. We discussed how we would label our relationship and ultimately decided he would call me what he'd called me since the first day he saw me—his future wife.
I look down at the charm-filled bracelet on my wrist. The charms he gave me to remind me of each of those days. Days spent falling in love with him.
I told him I truly believed he was my first real love. And that I wanted to support him in football, life, and beyond.
And that's what I'm doing—supporting him in football so that he can enjoy it in his life and beyond.
I smile when I think about what else we said that day. How he asked me to move to Lincoln with him. Since I have to work this summer and then finish my degree at a different school this fall and get a job, we decided to do the long-distance thing until after I graduated and then reevaluate things at Christmastime.
Christmastime.
That's when I'll tell him.
I grab my phone and look up his season schedule. Their last game is Thanksgiving weekend. If they have a good enough record, they will go to the conference championship game the following weekend.
There's another reason why this makes sense.
Damon is the ultimate in big gestures. If I told him now, he'd want to get married. I know he would.
And although we're in love and we're going to have a baby, there's no need to rush that kind of commitment.
It would be too much, too soon. I mean, take my parents, for example. They got pregnant and married after only knowing each other for a few months. And even though they are now just getting a divorce, honestly, as soon as my mother found out Dad had lied to her about all the money he'd lost, she should have left him then.
And I don't want to go through that.
I think Damon's wonderful. But by not telling him, I can keep the focus on our relationship. We'll have time to figure out if there's more than just love there. If we could have not only a loving and healthy relationship, but one filled with mutual respect.
And I know Damon is nothing like my ex, Brad. I don't believe he will cheat on me. But I don't know that for sure. I don't know how he will react if he doesn't end up starting. Or how he will behave when he becomes the star I know he will be. And how he will handle the attention he's bound to get from everyone—from journalists to girls.
The only thing I don't like about this plan is that I'm going to have to—well, not lie to him exactly, but I won't really be telling him the truth.
And somehow, I'm going to have to hide this pregnancy from him.
From Sammy.
From everyone.
To be honest, it might not be that hard. Other than being a little tired, I really don't feel pregnant.
I pop out of bed and go into the bathroom.
Look at the tests on the counter, double-checking that they're still showing positive.
I close my eyes.

“Remember in Haley's wedding toast, how she talked about our first summer here? How we call it that summer? The summer we will never forget?” he said.
“Yeah.”
“Being here with you today is like that. I'll never forget the way you look, what you say, how you kiss me, and how you make me feel. I know we've been flirting and kissing, but today feels like one of those moments. The start of something we'll never forget.”
Tears filled my eyes as I clinked my glass against his. “To us.”
We sealed the toast with a kiss, and then he held my gaze and said, “I love you, Ainsley.”

I was shocked he had said it so soon and asked if he was serious.

“I've always been serious about you.”
“I mean, I thought the whole future wifey was, like, just a flirty thing.”
He shook his head. “I wouldn't joke about that.”

And I could barely believe it.

“You really are in love with me? Like, it's not just some crush?”
“Most definitely not,” he said, sliding his finger across my cheek. “I am in love with you.”

I press my eyes shut tighter as I'm overcome with emotion. I so clearly remember locking eyes with him the first time I saw him, feeling like I was starring in a romance movie and had just met my true love.

“I want you to know how I feel. How I've felt since I first saw you. Tell me what you're thinking.” He pulled me onto his lap. “Actually, don't tell me what you're thinking. Tell me how you're feeling.”
“That day, we, um … like, our eyes met …” I stuttered out.
“I knew then,” he said.
Tears filled my eyes as I cradled his handsome face in my hands. And then I said what was truly in my heart.
“I love you too, Damon.”

And I knew I meant it.
Which is why I'm doing this.

Monday, June 22nd
A contented sigh.
Ainsley

“Wow,” Jadyn says, pointing to one of the two design boards I set in front of her. “This design is quite unique.”
And I'm trying to figure out if that's like someone saying you look nice when you think your outfit should elicit a word like fantastic or gorgeous.
I swallow and hope she doesn't hate it because I am obsessed with the way it turned out. The other board is nice. It's just that it's way safer. Standard. Typical.
But I feel like Uncle Tripp has never played anything safe in his life.
She looks at the other board, nods approvingly, then goes back to the first one. “Tell me about your inspiration for this.”
“Um, well,” I stutter out, because I know this is going to sound silly the second I say it, “I imagined the kind of home Uncle Tripp would have if he were a cowboy. Thought the lobby of the hotel should look like that.”
She starts laughing.
Shit.
But then she says, “That's exactly what this is. He's going to love it. The massive copper-covered fireplace is truly an incredible idea. It's very much a mix of the rustic vibe of Cowtown with a touch of Dallas bling.”
I heard Fort Worth was called Cowtown, but I sorta thought it had to do with cowboys—which I guess, in a way, it kind of does. It got the name because of the cattle drives that had started in the Midwest and ended at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
“And these coffee tables—are they honed marble?”
“No, they're concrete,” I tell her.
“And gives it sparkle? A glitter finish?”
I shake my head. “They're actually made from Unimin white quartz sand, which glimmers. I like the juxtaposition of the rough stone with the smooth copper. Plus, you can put your boots up on it and never hurt it. Same goes for cocktails.”
“I really like the rich color of these chairs,” she says, studying the other board. “Do you think you could work them into this design?”
“Yeah, I think that would look—” I start to say, but then a coworker sets a steaming bowl of refried rice with some kind of fish in front of Jadyn, and I immediately feel sick. “Oh, um, can you give me a minute?” I say to her, quickly leaving the room and heading straight to the bathroom.
I take a deep, cleansing breath.
The smell made me feel like I could throw up, but now that I'm away from it, I'm completely fine.
Oh my gosh. Do I have morning sickness? But then I laugh at myself because it's not morning. It's nearly one.
I probably need to look up pregnancy symptoms. What's normal and not. And see a doctor to get confirmation.
Although I did take a pregnancy test again this morning, just to be doubly sure. Because other than being tired—which, considering the number of hours we've been working, isn't a surprise—I feel good.
And I'm glad. I need whatever symptoms I might have to wait until I'm done with this project.
Because now, more than ever, I really need to do well. I need Jadyn to give me the most amazing referral letter ever so that I can get a good job when I graduate.


“Are you feeling okay?” Jadyn asks when I return.
“Yeah, sorry. Just a little tired. But I'm fine.”
“I feel ya. I've been exhausted too,” she says. “This is a big project to try to make perfect in a short amount of time. Are both designs within budget?”
“They are. The only variable is that copper prices change often, but right now, we're good.”
She looks out into the main office space and yells, “Claire, can you come in here?”
Claire, who is just under Jadyn in the design pecking order for this project, gets up from her desk and joins us.
Jadyn says, “How far along are you”—I start to panic. How could she possibly know I'm pregnant when I just found out myself? I'm sure I look guilty when I glance down at my belly—“on the bathroom plans?”
And I realize she isn't talking to me, but rather to Claire.
I let out a deep breath.
“We have some mood boards and a bunch of ideas,” Claire replies. “But we're waiting for the exterior and lobby plans to get approved so that everything will be cohesive.”
“Excellent. Look at this concrete,” Jadyn says. “I would love to make bathtubs out of it, but I think they would weigh too much. Don't you think that it would make amazing sinks though? Almost a trough-style with the counters and sink all in one piece.”
“That would be very cool,” Claire says. “Hang on.” She rushes back out, stands in front of the big bulletin board with all our random inspiration, and then comes back in and sets photos and tiles in front of us. “It'd be a splurge, but when I was in Scotland, I stayed at a beautiful inn that had this modern copper tub, lined with stainless steel. We could add polished chrome fixtures. Wood paneling on the wall behind it maybe? And look at these classic green-and-white marble floor tiles. I was thinking we'd do them in a diamond checkered pattern.”
“Yes to the tubs if we can get them in time,” Jadyn says with a grin. “I love them, and the stainless steel interior is great for hygiene. Start with the tubs and the sinks and see what else you come up with.” She grabs the tiles and swaps their positions around the photo of the tub. “What if, instead of wood on the wall, we use wood-looking tiles on the floor and do the marble tiles on the walls? Maybe mock it up both ways.”
Claire nods, looks excited, and quickly exits with the samples, eager to get started.
“You did a really nice job on this, Ainsley. Obviously, your uncle made sure you got this internship,” Jadyn says, tapping on my board, “but this design proves that's not the only reason you were chosen.”
And I swear, I have a smile plastered on my face for the rest of the day.


I'm just getting home from the office when my phone buzzes. I smile as I see Damon's adorable face on my screen.
“Hey, gorgeous,” he says.
“Hey, you,” I reply, dropping my tote on the coffee table, plopping down on the couch, and putting my feet up.
“How was your day?” he asks.
“It was awesome. Jadyn loved my lobby design. Hang on. I'll text you a picture of it.”
I do, and when he gets it, I watch him break out in a wide grin.
“This is amazing. The fireplace—is it copper? It's so bold. How did you come up with something like that?”
I shrug. “I don't know. I just was inspired. It's a weird combination of this town, its heritage, and my uncle Tripp.”
“You're very creative. I'm impressed,” he says, but then his mouth forms a naughty smirk. “Although, if you're alone, I know a way you could impress me more.”
“You go first,” I say, knowing exactly what he's thinking.
He quickly pulls his shirt up over his head, revealing tan muscles.
Two can play at that game, I think, slowly unbuttoning my blouse.
“I miss you,” he says with a sigh.
“I miss you too. How was your night out with your teammates? We didn't get a chance to talk yesterday.”
“It was pretty good. Last year, Treyvon and Chase were roommates. And it sounds like Treyvon partied a lot. Got a lot of girls. But apparently, Chase and I are a bad influence on him. He only had a couple of beers when we were out, is focused on eating healthy, and has started drinking hydrogen water for faster workout recovery.”
“And the girls?” I tease.
“Oh, he says that's healthy for him,” Damon says with a laugh.
“And what about you?” I ask.
“What about me?” he wonders, legitimately looking confused. But then he goes, “You know I'm pretty strict with my diet.”
“I was referring to the girls. I'm sure there were some at the party.”
“There were, but—are you questioning things with us already?” he asks.
I shrug and bite my lower lip. Because I don't know. Am I? Yes, kind of. Maybe. Sorta.
“Well, if you are, you shouldn't be. And anytime you think otherwise, take a look at that bracelet on your wrist and know that whether I'm with you or not, you're always wrapped up in my love.”
“Do you think it's a little crazy that we fell in love in, like, twelve days?”
“Actually, it was just eight days when I told you I loved you. And don't forget, you said it back,” he says seriously, pointing his finger in my direction.
“Is that better or worse?” I ask with a laugh while I'm shaking my head.
“Better or worse? Sounds like wedding vows to me. What do you think? Christmas wedding? Then you move to Lincoln with me and get a job here?”

Keep Reading That Girl!!
That Girl: Damon + Ainsley #2