Pulling Heartstrings

by Alexa Riley

We've bundled together all the books from the Valentine Books we'd created for Read Me Romance, and added a BRAND NEW little treat in the back.

These heroines don't stand a chance when it comes to the men that claim them. Inside you'll find Cupid Get's Struck, Sweet Treats, A Valentine to Remember and Heartstrings!

Heartstrings

Bronte tried working as a paralegal in the big city, but after having the world's worst boss shadowing her every step she ran back home to Mittenville. Everything was going fine until the brand new attorney in town turned out to be the one she thought she could escape.

The moment Marcus laid eyes on Bronte she knocked him to his knees. She ran out on him but he wasn't giving up so easily. He's followed her home and there's nowhere she can hide.

Cupid Get's Struck

Astrid is finally back home after going to culinary school and has her first job interview. There's something familiar about her new boss, and it's pulling at her heartstrings.

Cupid has been biding his time until Astrid finally came home. Armed with an empire he built just for her, he'll finally confess that's he's been there all along.

Sweet Treats

Charity Treat is an elementary school teacher with a secret crush on the uncle of a student. She's been lusting from afar, but little does she know he's been taking steps to make her his.

Reese Lovella has been obsessed with Charity since the second he saw her. The Valentine's Day school dance is his opening to make her his and make sure she never gets away.

A Valentine to Remember

Mina has always had a special place in her heart for Aspen. It's too bad he doesn't feel the same way. Maybe it's time for her to finally move on and let Cupid work his magic.

Aspen has done his best to keep Mina at arm's length, but he won't last much longer. The thought of her with someone else is driving him to do things he swore not to. He's hanging by a thread, and she's holding the scissors.

Genres: Second Chance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Novella

132 pages, ebook

First published February 1, 2025

About the author

Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

Reviews

[Kellyythoralabatalla · Rating 3 out of 5]

ojalá el mundo fuera como algunos de los libros de AR. 🫠

[Nichole Lupardus · Rating 3 out of 5]

AR’s books are always great for a fun quick read. Listened to all of the included stories on their Read Me Romance podcast.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

s h e l v e s :
alpha
banter
boss
endearing fmc
funny
gone for her
instalove
lawyer x paralegal
men in suits
mutual pining
office
ott
protective
takes care of her
wife her up

e n d e a r m e n t s :
♥︎ teapot

k i n k s :
daddy (not until the epilogue tho)
dry humping
in the library stacks
no condom
office sex
panties to the side
pussy petting
tss
virgin
💦

e n d i n g :
HEA + babies!

*they have a cute cameo on book 2 of this series, last chapter!*

🔥

“I should check you for injuries.” I swallow hard as I pull the hem of her dress the rest of the way up to reveal her white cotton panties.

She doesn’t tell me to stop as I release the dress at her waist and move my hand between her legs.
My fingers trace the edge of her panties and then over the cotton covering her pussy. Her eyelids flutter as I gently touch her there, feeling the soft material dampen as her desire grows.

♥︎

Her words catch in her throat as I press against her wet panties, rubbing her clit.

She moans when I pull the wet cotton to the side, exposing her pussy for my touch. Her body shivers in pleasure, and mine does the same as my fingertips come in contact with her slippery wet heat.

♥︎

his fingers tug my panties all the way to the side.

♥︎

He grinds his cock into me, and I grip his shoulders.

♥︎

I free my cock from my slacks, and it’s pointing right at her wet heat.

The sound of her panties ripping makes her gasp, but I don’t care. I tuck the tattered material into my pocket as I press the head of my dick against her pussy lips.

when I nudge her wet opening, her eyelids lower.

I push into her just enough to make her gasp.

♥︎

She whimpers at the pinch of pain, but I’m right there, kissing her neck and licking her nipples.

she squeezes her pussy around my cock. Soon enough, her body relaxes, and when I brush my thumb over her clit, she rocks her hips.

♥︎

I bury myself as deep as I can go and grind against her clit.

[Unrulyreadr Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Alexa Riley book with 3 old stories and one new story. Did I read the 3 old ones again, yep. Still cute, instalove, OTT, unrealistic , just like I wanted them. Story 4 was what I wanted, I enjoyed it, Marcus and Bronte was a perfect match. She was cute as anything and I loved her sass. But the real winner was Mrs. Maggie the librarian . That feisty old woman made me laugh so loud.

Overall review; cute read, AR special, nice lunchtime read. spice is spicing and I give it a 4/5 on the spice level.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened to audiobook of Heartstrings on Read Me Romance Podcast 🎧

Heartstrings had the signature Alexa Riley charm—protective hero, sweet heroine, and a happily ever after. It’s a good choice if you’re looking for a quick, easy read but it felt too rushed to fully connect with the characters. The story had potential, but there wasn’t enough buildup to make the romance feel truly heartfelt. If you love ultra-fast insta-love with a possessive hero, you might still enjoy it, but I was hoping for a little more depth to really pull at my heartstrings.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mostly annoyed cause I'd already bought and read all but the last book in this for the same price as this, but it was the only way to get the last story which was a continuation from another series.
They're all ok, but not really anything to them. Just shorr quick fluff.

[Ꭿຖᥲ·♡ ྀི · Rating 2 out of 5]

2✯

-dual POV
-alpha hero
-virgin heroine
-no separation
-insta love/lust
-hero celibate after meeting h
-no cheating, no owd/omd
-epilogue: years later -married with a kid and another on the way

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for Heartstrings only: I enjoyed this but wish it was longer like the other books in the series. It felt rushed compared to the previous two. There's a sweet spot in length for books like this and this one was just a tad on the short side.

[-ˏˋ D ˊˎ- · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Love makes you wake up and look around for the first time.
At least that’s what it did to me. I love you, and from the moment
I laid eyes on you, it was like seeing the world in color.”
-Marcus Xander, from Heartstrings by Alexa Riley

[Valentina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Demasiado cortas y dulces para mi. Son 4 mini historias en un libro.
El protagonista estuvo siempre enamorado de ella (en los cuatro mini historias) y ella obviamente no lo sabía. Fueron súper rápidas y algunas me dieron muchísimo cringe

[Maca_DVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ya habia leido los demás pero el de Heartstrings no y no lo encontre solito sino en el bundle, pero estuvo bueno, aunque siento que como era tan cortito me embutieron todo, siempre he dicho que ellas podrían escribir excelentes libros con más de 100 páginas

[Lisbeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short but cute reads, they were all ok reads.

[effin surrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story of Bronte and Marcus in Heartstrings🖤❤️❤️❤️

[Flo₂₂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tags and rating is only for the last new story Heartstrings, i rated the others separately.

[Kimmylongtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

😍😍😍😍

[Elaine G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartstrings - 3.5 stars

[Tatjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but sweet. Towards the end of the story, I felt like I skipped a part of the story. Suddenly they both said I love you. A little too fast. It's like someone turned on fast forward.

[Kyareth14 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love all the stories in this bundle.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

RMR 2/18/25

[Melanie Milburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compilation of Valentine themed shorts gets very spicy very quickly. (Fans self rapidly)
If you’re looking torrid quick reads, this book is for you.

[Lisbeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muy predecible y apresurada, como todas sus novelas.

[Shirin Rasheed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bronte and Marcus are just adorable and sweet together. This story is sugary sweet and a perfect read. Really loved this bundle.

[Megan]

I only read the new story, Heartstrings (@ 40 pgs.)

[Rmqbookqueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast short and smutty reads all in one bundle? Sign me up! Also an exclusive short story that is connected to A Cowboy Christmas, and Winter Wrangler is at the end of this book bundle.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay

[LastNightInVegas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25🎧

[gg · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is my review of "heartstrings"

the premise sounded good, so i was eager to read this story, also because it had been a while since i'd read anything from AR, buuuut... i was left disappointed. i know it's a short story, but everything felt rushed, like it was all happening on fast-forward, and the minimal development that was needed just wasn’t there. each scene felt condensed, perfunctory and half-hearted.

i don't know, i've read quite a bit from alexa riley now, and i feel like the quality of their writing fluctuates a lot, and it honestly leaves me confused and kind of sad, because it feels like they're just churning out stories after stories with little thought or real heart behind it.

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 older stories, 1 new story. Did I read the older stories before getting to the new one? I sure did! Heartwarming and as cute and steamy as the first time I read them.

All safe. Some of the heroes (like Cupid and Aspen) are virgins. No manwhores. All the heroines are virgins and belong only to their heroes. Now ow/om. No cheating, sharing, abuse. HEA with epilogues years out