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Immerse yourself in captivating stories and heartfelt adventures through Aya Winter's enchanting blog. Discover a world of love, romance, and intrigue as you delve into the pages of Aya's unique narratives.

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Valentine’s Day in the Studio: Year One

2017: My First Valentine’s Day with The Hartgrave Tellers It was Valentine’s Day. Thank God we were in the studio, recording some demo...

Meet the Band: Emma Hartgrave

Emma Hartgrave, the woman who turns heartbreak into hits. Meet Emma Hartgrave: The Voice That Shakes the World Emma Hartgrave isn’t just...

Meet the Band: Liam Teller

Meet Liam Teller: The Unstoppable Force Behind the Hartgrave Tellers Liam Teller isn’t just the Hartgrave Tellers’ lead guitarist and...

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🖤🔥 The Dark Romance Trope: Why We Can’t Look Away 🔥🖤
There’s just something about a romance that walks the edge of danger—where passion, obsession, and power collide. Dark romance isn’t just about spice—it’s about intensity, tension, and a love that’s as dangerous as it is irresistible.
✨ Why We Love It:
🖤 Morally Gray Love Interests – “I’m not a good man.” (Sir, we don’t care.)
🔥 Power Plays & Obsession – He’s possessive. He’s ruthless. And he would burn the world for her.
💋 Enemies? Lovers? Both? – Every touch is a warning, every kiss a dare.
💀 High Stakes, High Tension – He shouldn’t love her, but he does. Now everyone is in danger.
⏳ Redemption Arc or Full Villain Mode? – Will she soften him, or will she fall right alongside him?
📖 Dark romance fans—what’s your ultimate must-have trope? Captive romance? Antihero obsession? Mafia love? Drop your faves! 👇🔥
#DarkRomance #MorallyGrayMen #PossessiveHeroes #SpicyReads #ForbiddenLove #RomanceTropes

📝 Fixing Plot Holes in Your Romance Novel 💖🔍
Nothing kills a swoon-worthy story faster than a glaring plot hole. Readers will notice. And they will call you out. 😅
✨ How to Find & Fix Plot Holes:
🔎 1. Ask ‘Why?’ (Then Ask Again) – If a character does something just to move the plot along (Why did she run away instead of talking it out?), dig deeper. Would she really react that way?
📖 2. Keep Track of Details – Eye color, timeline, backstories—if they change mid-book, you’ve got a problem. (Didn’t he say he hates coffee in Chapter 3? So why is he drinking it now??)
⏳ 3. Watch Out for Timeline Gaps – Did your couple fall in love too fast? Did your “pregnancy reveal” happen before it was scientifically possible? Time matters!
⚠️ 4. Check for Magic Fixes – Did your couple’s BIG conflict magically disappear without actual resolution? No one likes an easy fix. Give us emotional payoff!
👀 5. Get a Beta Reader – Fresh eyes see what you missed. If they say “Wait, but how did this happen?”—fix it!
💬 Writers, what’s the WORST plot hole you’ve ever written (or read)? Let’s talk! 👇😂
#PlotHolesBeGone #RomanceWriter #FixYourStory #WritersOfInstagram #WritingTips

🔥 The Sports Romance Trope: Why We Can’t Get Enough! 🏆💋

There’s just something about a gritty, competitive athlete falling HARD for the one person they shouldn’t. Whether it’s hockey, football, baseball, or even F1, sports romances give us elite tension, swoon-worthy moments, and scenes that live rent-free in our heads.

✨ Why We Love It:
🏟 Athleticism & Alpha Energy – He’s fast, fierce, and always in control… except when it comes to her.
🔥 Enemies to Lovers? Teammates to Lovers? – The rivalry! The tension! The we’re just friends denial!
💋 Locker Room Flirting & Post-Game Kisses – “That win was for you.” (Excuse me while I scream.)
💥 The Protective Streak™ – “Stay away from her.” (Sir, we are WEAK.)
⏳ He’s on a Deadline… and So Is Their Love – One last season, one last chance—will he choose love or the game?

📖 Sports romance fans—what’s your go-to trope? Teammates? Rivals? Forbidden love? Let’s discuss! 👇🔥

#SportsRomance #AthleteBookBoyfriend #RomanceTropes #SpicyReads #EnemiesToLovers #BookishChaos

🏒🔥 The Hockey Romance Trope: Why We’re Obsessed! 🔥🏒

There’s just something about a hockey romance. The grit, the tension, the undeniable chemistry—we eat it up every time. 😍

✨ Why It Works:
🥅 Tough on the Ice, Soft for Her – He’s an absolute menace on skates but a total simp when it comes to the woman he loves.
🖤 The Protective Energy™ – “Stay away from her.” (Sir, we are weak. 😭🔥)
🔥 Enemies to Lovers? Check. – Maybe she’s the reporter who shouldn’t fall for him. Maybe she’s his best friend’s little sister. Either way, tension = through the roof.
🏒 He’s All Rough & Rugged… Until He’s Not – That one scene where he’s holding a puppy? Game over.
💋 Locker Room Tension & Post-Game Makeouts – Need we say more?

📖 Drop your fave hockey romance books below! Or tell me—what’s the ultimate hockey romance moment? 👇

#HockeyRomance #SpicyReads #EnemiesToLovers #AthleteBookBoyfriend #RomanceTropes #bookstagram

Rockstar Romance: Give Me the Drama.
🎸 Passionate love.
🎶 Emotional lyrics that scream their feelings.
🔥 Backstage tension that’s too much to ignore.
Rockstar romance is sexy, messy, and full of angst—the perfect recipe for an addictive read. Add in:
✔️ A forbidden attraction (bandmates? manager? bad idea.)
✔️ A history of heartbreak (cue the moody ballads).
✔️ A song written about them. (And they don’t know. Yet.)
Would you rather date a rockstar or write their love story? 👀
#RockstarRomance #RomanceTropes #SpicyRomance #MusiciansInLove

Grumpy x Sunshine: Why It Just Works.
They shouldn’t fit, but they do. One is all dark sarcasm and brooding, the other is sunshine and warmth. Together? Magic.
💀 Grumpy:
✔️ Cynical.
✔️ Hates everything.
✔️ Secretly soft for one person (and ONLY them).
☀️ Sunshine:
✔️ Happy.
✔️ Too friendly for their own good.
✔️ Somehow breaks through Grumpy’s cold, dead heart.
Are you more Grumpy or Sunshine? Tell me in the comments! 👇
#GrumpySunshine #RomanceBooks #WritingTropes #LoveStories

The “One Bed” Trope Will Forever Be Elite.
There’s only one bed. They have to share. What do they do?
😳 Option 1: Stay on opposite sides, stiff as boards.
🔥 Option 2: Wake up way too close.
💀 Option 3: “I’ll sleep on the floor.” (And then they don’t.)
No matter what, we’re eating it up every time.
What’s another forced proximity trope you LOVE? 👇
#OneBedTrope #ForcedProximity #RomanceWriters #TropesWeLove

Slow Burn or Instant Heat? Choose Your Fighter.
🔥 Slow Burn:
✔️ The agonizing tension.
✔️ The barely there touches.
✔️ The slow build to that one earth-shattering moment.
🔥🔥 Instant Heat:
✔️ Sparks from page one.
✔️ No waiting—just passion and intensity.
✔️ We’re doing this now.
Which one do you love to read (or write)? Drop a 🔥 for slow burn, 🔥🔥 for instant heat!
#RomanceWriters #SlowBurn #InstantHeat #Bookstagram

Enemies to Lovers: The Superior Trope? Let’s Discuss.
🖤 They hate each other.
🔥 They fight.
💀 They would rather die than admit they’re falling.
❤️ But then one day… BAM. Love happens.
Enemies to lovers is the slow burn masterpiece of romance, and I will die on this hill.
🖊 Key ingredients:
✔️ Sharp banter (cutting words that hide the tension).
✔️ Forced teamwork (ugh now we have to work together).
✔️ A moment of vulnerability (when one lets their guard down just a little).
✔️ THE first kiss (usually after an argument, because DRAMA).
What’s the best enemies-to-lovers book you’ve read? Let’s chat! 👇
#EnemiesToLovers #SpicyRomance #WritingTropes #WritersLife

💥 Through the Glory and the Mess – A Hartgrave Tellers Story 💥
A spicy, emotional, chaotic rockstar romance filled with angst, longing, and the kind of love that refuses to stay in the past.
📖 Coming Soon. Are you ready for the mess?
#RockstarRomance #SecondChanceLove #SpicyReads #SlowBurnTension #MusicAndHeartbreak #ThroughTheGloryAndTheMess
#readmorebooks #bookstagram #romancebookstagram #spicybooks

🔥 Through the Glory and the Mess – A Hartgrave Tellers Story 🔥
A spicy, slow-burn rockstar romance about passion, heartbreak, and the kind of love that refuses to fade.
📖 Coming soon. Are you ready for the mess?
#RockstarRomance #SpicyBooks #SlowBurnTension #friendstolovers #MusicAndHeartbreak #ForbiddenLove #ThroughTheGloryAndTheMess #LoveAndChaos
#bookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancebookstagram #romancebookrecs

🔥 Writing Strong Female Characters – It’s More Than Just ‘Tough’ 💪💋

A strong female character isn’t just someone who can throw a punch or deliver a snarky comeback (though we love both). Strength comes in many forms—and the best heroines have depth, flaws, and agency.

✨ What makes a strong female lead?

💖 Emotional Strength – She feels deeply but doesn’t let it break her. Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s power.

🧠 Intelligence & Wit – Whether she’s solving mysteries, outsmarting villains, or crushing it in her career, she owns her intellect.

🔥 Knows What She Wants – And she fights for it, whether it’s love, freedom, or a dream she refuses to give up on.

💪 Not Defined By a Man – Love is part of her journey, not her entire personality.

💥 Flawed, Complex, & Real – She makes mistakes. She learns. She grows. And that’s why we root for her.

📝 Writers, who’s your favorite strong female character in fiction? What makes her unforgettable? Let’s discuss! 👇✨

#WritingTips #StrongFemaleCharacters #BadassHeroines #RomanceWriter #BookishWomen #characterdevelopment #bookstagram #romancebookstagram #romancewritersofinstagram #romancewriters

When writing spicy romance makes you scream and cry into your pillow… 😭🔥
#SpicyRomance #HeartbreakAndHeat #RomanceReaders #RockstarVibes #RomanceWriter #IndieAuthor #ReadingEscape ##BookLovers #readersoftiktokbooktropes #romancebooks #SlowBurnRomance #romancebookstagram #bookstagram

Are you ready for a book that’ll break your heart, put it back together, and then set it on fire? Through the Glory and the Mess: Book One in the Hartgrave Tellers Saga 🔥🔥🔥
#SpicyRomance #HeartbreakAndHeat #RomanceReaders #RockstarVibes #RomanceWriter #IndieAuthor #ReadingEscape #BookLovers #romancebooks #SlowBurnRomance #bookstagram #romancebookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancenovels #romancebooksofinstagram #romancebookaddict

💬 Writers, be honest—what’s the latest you’ve ever stayed up because of a story idea? Drop your most chaotic writing hours below! 👇😂
#WriterLife #NoSleepOnlyWords #MidnightCreativity #RomanceWriter #FictionalChaos
#IndieAuthor #Storytelling #writersofig #writersofinstagram #writerofig #writerofinstagram

Excerpt from The Hartgrave Tellers Saga, Heartbreakers (prequel)
Dan and Max had dragged him into a game of soccer—or football, as they called it, being from Manchester. And good God, watching Liam play was an experience in itself.
Broad shoulders. Sculpted abs. Tattoos snaking across his chest and arms. And those damn tousled locks that fell just perfectly over his forehead.
When he took his shirt off, every girl at this resort adventure—including me—couldn’t look away.
He had a chiseled jawline, a boyish grin that could disarm anyone, green eyes that held every secret, and just enough stubble to make him look like he’d walked straight out of a Calvin Klein ad.
But Liam wasn’t just hot—he was more than that.
He had this intensity about him, like he carried the weight of every note he’d ever played, every lyric he’d ever written, right there in his stride.
So yeah, seeing Liam in a funk?
It was weird.
He wasn’t the kind of guy you’d picture brooding by the ocean.
On tour, he was fiery, funny, full of life.
But then… there was Emma.
Now that I thought about it, her absence was glaring.
On tour, Emma and Liam had been inseparable. Every waking moment, it was like they were in their own little world.
Everyone—and I mean everyone—wondered what was going on between them.
Sure, they both had flings, one-night stands, casual hookups.
But it always felt like a distraction.
Something to fill the space between… whatever they were.
Eventually, people stopped speculating.
Maybe they were just insanely good friends.
Or maybe it was something more complicated—something they were too stubborn to admit.
Either way, it made sense now.
Liam wasn’t just missing the band.
He was missing her.
“Do you think it’s because of Emma?” I asked, half to myself, half to Stacey and Josh.
Stacey tilted her head, considering. “If I had to guess? Yeah. They were kind of… everything to each other, weren’t they?”
Josh let out a low whistle. “It’s no wonder he’s in a funk. That kind of connection? You don’t just shake it off.”
And suddenly, it all clicked.
Liam wasn’t just lost.
He was missing his other half.
#ReadersOfInstagram #Bookish #Bookstagram #romancebooksofinstagram #romancereader

What Your Favorite Romance Trope Says About You
We all have that one romance trope we can’t resist—whether it’s enemies who can’t stop bickering or childhood best friends who finally realize they’re meant to be. But what does your favorite trope reveal about you? Let’s break it down!
Which one trope is your favourite? Let’s hear it! #RomanceBooks #SlowBurnRomance #LoveAndLonging #EmotionalReads #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookish #Bookstagram #AmReading #Bibliophile #Bookworm #FictionLover
#romancereader

She stepped into the room… and the world held its breath. A force of nature wrapped in gold, confidence laced with vulnerability. And him? Helplessly, utterly in love.

✨ The Hartgrave Tellers: Through the Glory and the Mess ✨

A story of longing, love, and the moments that change everything. Coming soon.
#RomanceBooks #SlowBurnRomance #LoveAndLonging #EmotionalReads #ContemporaryFiction #DramaticRomance #RomanticFiction #CinematicStorytelling #MustRead #TBR #IndieAuthor #Storytelling #ReadMoreBooks #BookAesthetic #BookAddict #ReadingEscape

Ever read a book where the characters felt like actual people? That’s because they had:
🖊 Personal habits. (Fidgeting with their rings, drinking coffee exactly the same way every morning.)
🖊 Unique speech patterns. (Do they ramble? Are they sarcastic? Do they always say “dude”?)
🖊 Contradictions. (A confident CEO who gets tongue-tied around their crush? A badass fighter who secretly loves baking?)
Give your characters layers, and your readers will feel like they know them.
What’s a tiny but telling detail about your MC? Share it! 👇
#WritingCharacters #CharacterDepth #WritersLife #Bookstagram
#romancebooks #romancebookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancebooks #romancebooklovers

The Best Characters Have THIS In Common
Want readers to remember your characters long after they close the book? Give them a defining moment.
📖 The choice that changes everything.
💔 The moment they break down and let someone in.
🔥 The realization that love is worth the risk.
Characters are shaped by decisions, not descriptions. Make them face the fire—and watch them grow.
Tell me: What’s a defining moment in your WIP? 👇
#WritingCommunity #CharacterArcs #WritersOfInstagram #FictionalCharacters
#bookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancebookstagram #romancewritersofinstagram #romancewriting #originalcharacter

I originally posted this as a comment, but I’m sharing it here because maybe another indie author needs to hear it today too. ❤️

Self-doubt happens to all of us. No one will like this. No one will read this. Why am I even writing this?

But here’s the thing—switch your thinking. Write the book for yourself. Write the story you would want to read. Who cares if no one else picks it up? Finishing a book is an achievement in itself.

So just write. Write the book you love, the book you want to see in the world. Because if nothing else, you deserve to write your favorite story—just for you. ❤️

#IndieAuthor #WriteForYourself #SelfDoubtIsALiar #JustWriteTheBook #RomanceWriter #bookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancebookstagram #spicybookstagram #writerproblems #authorquotes

💬 Romance writers, let’s be real—writing spice is both serious business and absolutely hilarious at the same time. 😂🔥

Spicy scenes? Fun.
Trying to write them without cringing? A challenge.
Realizing your characters are WAY steamier than you planned? Every. Single. Time.

Drop your funniest spicy scene struggles in the comments, and let’s laugh (and commiserate) together! 👇🔥✍️

#RomanceWriter #SpicyBooks #AuthorLife #OopsAllSmut #WritingStruggles
#AuthorStruggles #OopsTooMuchSmut #FictionalChaos
#bookstagram #spicybooks #spicymemes #spicybookstagram

🔥 Through the Glory and the Mess – A Hartgrave Tellers Story 🔥
A spicy, angst-filled, rockstar romance about love, fame, and the fine line between heartbreak and hitting the high note.

📖 Coming Soon. Are you ready for the mess?

#RockstarRomance #SpicyReads #FameAndHeartbreak #MusicAndLove #ThroughTheGloryAndTheMess #SlowBurnTension #OnlyOneBed #forbiddenlove #bookstagram #spicybookstagram #romancebookstagram

📖 Which book boyfriend trope is your favorite? Grumpy x Sunshine? Tattooed bad boy? Soft cinnamon roll? Let’s discuss! 👇😂
#BookBoyfriend #RomanceBooks #FictionalMenOnly #GrumpySunshine #SpicyReads #AuthorLife

Writing Romance? Your Characters Need This.
A great romance isn’t just about chemistry—it’s about why these two characters work together.
💔 Opposites attract? Why do they challenge each other?
💘 Childhood sweethearts? What makes their bond unbreakable?
🔥 Enemies to lovers? What’s keeping them apart—and what will break that tension?
Love stories hit harder when characters grow because of each other. Make them better together—but never dependent on each other.
What’s your favorite romance dynamic to write? Drop it below! 👇
#RomanceWriter #CharacterDevelopment #WritingTips #LoveStories #bookstagram #writersofinstagram #romancewritersofinstagram #spicyromance #spicybookstagram #romancebookstagram

Romance Writers Be Like… 😏🔥

✍️ Me, starting my draft:
“This will be a sweet, emotional love story with just a touch of spice.”

🔥 Five chapters later:
• They’re making out against a wall.
• Someone just whispered ‘tell me to stop’ but NO ONE WANTS TO STOP.
• His hands are doing things that require a warning label.
• I blacked out and now there’s an entire chapter of smut.
• Did they even talk about their feelings yet? Who knows.

💀 Me, rereading: “Welp. Guess this isn’t a ‘touch’ of spice anymore.”

📖 Beta readers, besties—please tell me I’m not alone. 😅😂🔥

#RomanceWriter #SpicyBooks #OopsAllSmut #AuthorProblems #IJustWantedFluff #bookishchaos #bookstagram #spicybookstagram #spicyromance #spicyromancebooks #spiceisnice

Why Character Arcs Make or Break a Romance Novel 💘📖

Romance isn’t just about the falling in love—it’s about who your characters become along the way. A great character arc makes the HEA (Happily Ever After) feel earned, not just inevitable.

🔥 The Three Must-Have Arcs in a Romance:

💔 The Wounded Heart Arc – They don’t believe in love… until the right person makes them want to try.
(Example: The emotionally unavailable rockstar who finally lets someone in.)

🔥 The Self-Worth Arc – They never felt good enough… until they realize they were worthy all along.
(Example: The shy songwriter who learns to own the spotlight—and love.)

💡 The Perspective Shift Arc – They thought love had to look a certain way… until they meet someone who proves them wrong.
(Example: The grumpy CEO who realizes life isn’t just about work—because love is the best kind of risk.)

💬 Question for writers & readers: What’s your favorite kind of romance character arc? Let’s discuss in the comments! 👇✨

#RomanceWriter #CharacterDevelopment #LoveStories #Bookstagram #WritingTips

The Romance Writer Struggle is Real 😂💘

📖 Me, starting a new romance novel:
“This time, it’s going to be soft and wholesome, with minimal angst.”

🔥 Me, 10 chapters in:
- They’re ex-lovers with unresolved tension.
- One of them is emotionally unavailable.
- There’s only ONE bed.
- He just called her ‘darling’ in the middle of an argument.
- Someone’s playing guitar in a dimly lit hotel room, staring at her like she’s his last chance at happiness.

💀 Me: “Welp, here we go again.”

#RomanceWriter #SpicyBooks #OneBedTrope #AuthorLife #SlowBurnPain #SendHelp #romancebookstagram #bookstagram #romancewritersofinstagram #romancewriter

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@aya_winter_romances

HGT

The Hartgrave-Tellers

Under the relentless glare of fame, rock stars Emma Hartgrave and Liam Teller lead The Hartgrave Tellers, a cultural phenomenon often compared to the greats before them. For years, they’ve orbited each other—through breakups, scandals, and the ruthless machinery of the music industry. But when old demons resurface and the past refuses to stay buried, they must decide whether their love is worth the cost of survival.

The Hartgrave Tellers: Through the Glory and the Mess is a gripping story of passion, power, and the price of life in the spotlight.

‘Through the Glory and the Mess’ – Available soon.

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