2017 Book(s) Related to a ruby guard but just a single one

On the night her family trades her future to save their collapsing business, Marionette Vale is forced into a contract marriage with the man society mocks, the reclusive, wheelchair-bound billionaire, Cassius Volkov.
To the world, Cassius is a broken heir… a powerless joke hidden behind inherited wealth.
To Marionette’s family, he is the safest place to dispose of the daughter they never valued.
But Marionette quickly learns that rumors are the most dangerous lies ever told.
Behind Cassius’s cold composure hides secrets powerful enough to shake the underworld itself. And Marionette soon realizes she wasn’t chosen by accident. She carries a forgotten medical legacy tied to a legend the world believes is dead.
Their marriage is meant to be a transaction, a calculated alliance between two people bound by necessity.
Instead, it becomes something neither of them planned.

Cassius needs her because of the legacy he believes she carries.
Marionette needs him as leverage against the life that tried to bury her.

As enemies close in and buried truths begin to surface, Marionette finds herself drawn to the only man who sees her strength without pity. And Cassius begins to realize that the woman he married out of strategy may be the only person capable of saving him in ways neither power nor medicine ever could.

But love built on secrets is fragile.
And trust is far more dangerous than betrayal.

Aila Seymour, my life and my death. Touching her gives me life but she stares at me with her eyes brimming with tears. Her look of innocence will be the reason of my perish. She holds the gun to my head, the arrow to my heart. "I shall continue being your wife."

"Take it. Take my heart. I do not care if you have lovers. I will turn a blind eye to all your mistress. I will endure the heartbreaks and the painful words. I will be with you." She held my gaze and whispered, "I love you, Caelon. I want to be with you, always." I pulled away and whispered in a small voice, "You will die." "I do not care." "You'll cease to exist. Like you have never existed in this life and the next." "It doesn't matter." "You will be nothing." Aila tugged at my hand and snuggled her head upon my chest, "As long as I am with you, Caelon Rouen, as long as I am with you." * We have faced death. We have been separated by fate.Love opposes our match. It is all in vain. I will die on her hands and she will mourn me. We are not supposed to meet but fate brings us together just to separate us, again. I am walking away from the path only to lead myself closer to it.

And yet, there is a way to end the cycle. She has to hate me back as much as I hate her. This is the reason why I married a cupid so I can break her enough to make her despise me. Will her hate be enough for her heart to stop loving me?

This Christmas, Her Rejected Mate Returns With Danger.

Joyce Rift thought she had moved on. Five years ago, Dalton Gray rejected her as his mate on her eighteenth birthday and disappeared without explanation. Now, three weeks before Christmas, he's back as the new alpha, claiming he made a terrible mistake and wants to make things right.

But he's not alone. A beautiful woman introduces herself as his fiancée, shattering Joyce's heart all over again. Before Joyce can even process the betrayal, news breaks that an entire wolf pack has been destroyed overnight.

The killings are brutal and they're moving closer to Pine Ridge with every passing day. When Joyce is attacked in broad daylight, Dalton finally breaks, revealing a truth he swore he'd take to his grave. Five years ago, he didn't have a choice. Rejecting her wasn't about wanting to leave. It was the only way to keep her alive. But his sacrifice meant nothing, because the enemy he's been running from has found them, and now they're demanding he reject Joyce again by Christmas Eve, or they'll take her themselves.

Caught between the mate who broke her heart and the loyal beta who's been waiting for her, Joyce must decide if she can forgive Dalton before it's too late. Because the Hunters are watching, and Christmas Eve is only two weeks away.

Can their love survive five years of pain, a pack under siege, and an enemy determined to destroy them both?

A rejected mate returns. A deadly threat closes in. And Christmas might be their last chance at forever.

A Latte for Two isn’t just a romance it’s a journey into the magic of small moments that change everything. When Clara walks into a cozy little café in Maplewood, she doesn’t expect a spilled latte to lead her to Ethan, the man who will challenge her heart in ways she never imagined.
What begins with shy smiles and clumsy apologies slowly turns into something deeper late-night conversations, promises whispered over coffee, and the kind of love that makes ordinary mornings unforgettable. But with every tender moment comes a question: can the simple comforts of lattes and laughter withstand the uncertainties of real life?
Sweet, emotional, and utterly captivating,
A Latte for Two is a slow-burn romance that proves the greatest love stories aren’t built on grand gestures, but on the quiet, everyday moments that stay with us forever.
Fall in love with Clara and Ethan’s story and discover why sometimes, the smallest beginnings lead to the biggest happily-ever-afters.

First loves are not forever and Madeline learns this the hard way. When her boyfriend of ten years asks for an open-relationship — to strengthen their bond, he explains — everything starts to fall apart. It’s only in the ruins of what she’d seen as her ‘forever’ that she comes to terms with the truth. Breaking free from the control of her former lover and finding her true self will take time; time and maybe a little help from a man whose path happened to cross hers. A man who, smitten with the person she’s slowly becoming, will do whatever he must to win her heart.

Mileena Holland is the daughter of the head warriors of her pack that is a royal pack of Lycans called “The Nightingale”.

When Mileena shifts at five, something had happened that never in a million anyone will think that will happen. She became a white Lycan. Throughout the years, some consider her a blessing, while others consider it to be an abomination. That she will get bullied by other children. Finally, her mother was fed up and left the pack taking Mileena with them, but something happen that shocked Mileena and her mother all together. Her father stayed behind. From there both women left the pack and became rouges. eventually, they found a pack to settle in, and everything got better till Rouge attacked killing some members including her mother. Will Mileena seek revenge, or will she finally become broken?

Spirit ran away from her royal family to have a normal life. She wanted to marry for love but instead, she had to marry for duty. Now name Kinnerly she settles in New York City and falls in love with the hotel owner's son Drake. Secrets are places after a banquet in the hotel and the two must pretend to be together until secrets got leaked. And betrayals sets in.

Can they forgive each other?
Will they get married at the end or would betrayal win out in the end?

She was supposed to be an Alpha. Instead, she was sold to a monster on the night of her coronation.


Rue Lowell spent all her life preparing to be Alpha of Bloodhound Pack. After her parents' mysterious death, the Alpha position automatically fell on her.

But on the night she was meant to be crowned, she was sold as a slave to the Alpha Beast, Alpha Thane, the cursed Lycan King who was rumoured to have murdered his own mate.

…

People called him a monster. A beast. His name was whispered with fear, and his presence sent terror into every heart.

Alpha Thane Lockwood carried a curse from birth, a curse that killed his emotions, turning him heartless and cold.

The first time he saw Rue, he was spellbound, his frozen heart stirring for the first time in centuries. He found himself inexplicably drawn to her, craving her presence, her scent, her soul.

Until everything changed on the night of a bloodmoon. Secrets were unraveled, and Thane discovered Rue was his mate.

The one in the prophecy.
The one meant to destroy him.
His curse.

Kate has been the perfect girl everyone admires, she is everyone's favorite and she has been everything you could ever ask for especially her childhood best friend, Ezra but one unexpected event happened that made everything fall apart... she found out that her dad is having an affair with Ezra's mom which caused them to fall apart from each other at such a young age... fast forward to when they grew up, they saw each other once again and many things have already changed with Ezra and after seeing him for the first time in years she realized something... she's still hung up on the past and that she loves the guy, but Ezra is interested in her friend, Ana... what will she do about this especially when seeing her childhood best friend also triggers the pain she had experience in the past? Will she risk her peace just to be with him or will she listen to her mind and stay away from him?

A terrible, world-changing curse.
When Jack Sylvan and his best mate Nolan are unwittingly manipulated by an evil mastermind, a horrible, undead curse is unleashed upon the entire continent of Northern Aldoria.

Forced to flee their lifelong home, the city-state of Lazaras, Jack and his friends must lead a group of terrified survivors to safety. But soon, powerful forces beyond Jack’s understanding, and a mysterious young woman, compel him toward a grand destiny for which he feels entirely unprepared.

Can he fulfil his destiny as the hero of mankind? Can he restore hope to a once beautiful, now ravished land? Can he ensure the survival of his friends and loved ones? Only time and an unwavering resolve will tell.

Recommended by eGlobal

“I want you to stage a private jet crash for me. That way I can get away from Elias for good.”
When my best friend Poppy heard my request, her jaw nearly hit the floor. She wondered if she’d misheard.
"Are you out of your fucking mind, Molly?" she deadpanned.
"I’m entirely serious." I said, keeping my voice dead flat.
"Molly, you're married to Elias Blackwood." Poppy stood up, running a hand through her blue hair. "The Elias. The Alpha who swore you were his one true love, fought his entire clan to make you an ordinary human his Luna, and literally threw away his inheritance for you. The guy who shares his live location with you 24/7 and fired every female assistant in his building. Half the internet calls your marriage the modern fairy tale. If you die, he will tear the world apart looking for your body."
I let out a dry, broken laugh. "He won't have to look hard. He already has a replacement."
Poppy froze. "What are you talking about?"
"He has another family, Poppy."

Rule number 1 for the music school landlord? Don’t date the back-room tenant.Duke's a grumpy recluse struggling to care for his fragile sister, but when he meets Careena he's instantly drawn to her.She’s bright smiles, warm laughter, and completely off-limits.A stickler for the rules, he struggles to keep his distance… until a trauma from his sister’s past resurfaces and puts both Careena and his sister in danger. Now, Duke has no choice but to get closer to the woman who makes his heart race.Can he stop himself from falling for Careena? And will he be able to protect her and his sister when trouble finds them both? Love and family drama collide in this clean BWWM romance. *Please Note: A REASON TO GROW was previously publishedas‘CALL ME BROKEN’.

[My remaining lifespan: 36 Hours]
I didn't cry when my own mother branded a death pact into my chest.
I didn't fight back when my brother kicked me into the mud using the very leg I gave my life force to heal.
But when I opened my bedroom door to find my husband thrashing in our bed with another woman—and he smashed my bleeding head against the floor just to shut me up—something inside me finally snapped.
With 12 hours left, my in-laws shatter my bones.
With 3 hours left, my husband hands me a poisoned drink.
They think they are getting rid of a useless burden by tossing me into the World Rift.
They have no idea they are sending me to the very place where my powers will awaken.
And when I return, hell is coming with me.

My name is Marlow Kane. I’m an orphan. I grew up in a lab—daily injections, pills, training—until I escaped and learned how to pass as “normal.”

No one knows what I used to be.

To my classmates, I’m the quiet nobody—the guy you forget is even there.

Then graduation trip hit. The boat went down, and I dragged seven classmates onto a deserted island.

At dawn I scouted the treeline and found a corpse—its wounds looked like someone had chewed the flesh right off.

I warned them not to go inland, not to wander. The school bully laughed in my face, said I was making up ghost stories because I wanted to play leader.

That night no one took watch. Everyone slept shoulder-to-shoulder by the fire—except me.

After midnight, one of us started shivering, shaking uncontrollably… then snapped upright and launched at the person next to her, teeth first.

The bully stumbled back. I was the only one who moved. I rushed in and drove a knife straight into her skull.

Firelight washed over her gray skin and bloodshot eyes. No one laughed anymore.

Blake sat in the sand staring at me, lips trembling, unable to say a word.

"Daddy... so cold... and it hurts..." When my precious daughter Mia whispered these words in her weak voice, my heart felt like it was being torn apart.
The life-saving medicine was just ten meters away, but that damned anti-magic barrier had become an insurmountable chasm between life and death.
What made me even more furious was that the vampire guarding the gate not only extorted my life savings, but also demanded I kneel like a dog and lick his boots before he would open the door.
He didn't know that if the door stayed closed, it wouldn't just be my daughter who died—his son and mother would perish too!

At the family banquet, a power-hungry male special assistant projected a dimly lit bed photo onto the massive screen. He claimed he had slept with my wife—the heiress to the family—and demanded I walk away from the marriage with nothing.
While all the relatives were waiting for me to become the laughingstock, my eyes landed on a red rose burn scar in the corner of the photo. I couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He hadn't even turned on the bedside lamp. He had no idea that the woman he had just slept with was actually the wife of a psychopathic serial killer.

Hania, a single fashion designer, is secretly in love with her sister’s fiancé.
After the engagement party, she gives herself to a stranger—one reckless night, no names, no rules—then disappears before sunrise.
She doesn’t know the man she left behind is David Miller, president of Miller Group. Cold. Untouchable. A man who loathes women’s advances—and never forgives trespass.
When he finds her, punishment becomes obsession.
She thinks she’s escaped him—
until she meets his dark gaze from the stage of a strip club.

This time, David doesn’t let her run.
He takes her away.
Keeps her in his bed.
On his terms.
“Before I lose interest,” he whispers, dangerously close,
“You exist for me.”

At the dawn of time, two ancient adversaries clashed over control of Earth. One man rose to stand at humanity's side. A soldier whose name we still remember today... .Angelic Special Forces Colonel Mikhail Mannuki'ili awakens, mortally wounded, in his crashed ship. The woman who saves his life has abilities which seem familiar, but with no memory of his past, he can't remember why! With his ship destroyed and a shattered wing, he has no choice but to integrate into her village. .Ninsianna's people have prophecies of a winged champion, a Sword of the Gods who will defend her people against an Evil One. Mikhail insists he is no demigod, but her dark premonitions and his uncanny ability to kill say otherwise. Even without the technology destroyed along with his ship, the sword he carries is a weapon of mass destruction to a people who still throw sticks and stones. When women start to disappear, Mikhail must organize her people to fight back . .Evil whispers to a sullen Prince. A dying species seeks to avoid extinction. Two emperors, entrenched in their ancient ideologies, cannot see the larger threat. As intrigues roil the heavens, a tiny Mesopotamian town becomes ground-zero for this fantasy fiction retelling of mankind's most epic story about the battle between good and evil … the clash of empires and ideologies … and the greatest superhero to ever walk the Earth. The Archangel Michael. .Omnibus Edition Contains:--Sword of the Gods--No Place for Fallen Angels--Forbidden Fruit.This book is NOT religious fiction.

Aldwin Rush a well known Billionaire, Strongly hates women.
Aldwin Rush had just stepped out of his car; for a funeral service for the late Dustin Cage usually, he doesn't attend such events but his driver (Dustin Cage) died in his car while coming to pick him up from the airport. He usually doesn't attend funerals because they bring back bad memories
but he thought to pay his final respects to Mr. Cage. As he walked down the stairs to the graveside he saw a familiar face, she was standing by the grave-side holding a flower. At first, he could not believe his eyes but eventually took a step further, behold standing in a black knee-length gown was Kia Ray,
her hair made into a ponytail with a few strands intentionally left out on both sides of her face, her sunglass perfectly fits, she looked sad and those sad eyes looked familiar he could tell.
While standing in the back Nile, Julian and Davin approached him “I hate funerals because someone always cries like that little boy over there” Julian says pointing towards Aries.
“Isn't that his fiancée, I heard their wedding was supposed to be today” Nile said pointing towards Kia,
she looks familiar” He says for the first time; “Of course she looks familiar, she was his fiancée Dustin's favorite topic” Davin says.
“No it's not that, I can't place my fingers on it but I remember that face”
He insisted.
She dropped her flower in the coffin, turns around heading for the car.

Aldwin could not explain how the world was currently on a slow-mo, she took off her sunglasses and the sunlight was shining directly on her face, her lips looked soft her beautiful smile when she finally flushed, something like adrenaline spiked .

"I’ll marry you Drake, not because I get weak in the knees and cream my panties whenever I see you, but because I want Riley to suffer for hurting me.” “I don’t care what your reasons are my love, just say yes to me and I’ll worship your sweet, curvy body for the rest of my life, I’ll make you the envy of every woman on earth, just say yes to me, my love."
Mia’s wedding to the big boss, Riley Osborne was cancelled on her wedding day. There was a rumor that she cheated on Riley and ended up getting married to low life pauper, but no one knows who her husband is and they keep mocking her because of her breakup with the boss. The war between Riley and Drake caused everyone to know that Mia is loved and wanted by two billionaire brothers. Who would have thought that she is secretly married to the senior master, her bosses elder brother Drake Osborne, who happens to own 80 percent of the Osborne empire.

She went to a club with her friends to drink for the first time after finishing her third-year examinations. Gabriella was a 21-year-old virgin who had never kissed anybody before. 

She met a stranger at a club, accompanied him to a hotel, had her first kiss, and lost her virginity. She enjoyed herself. When she awoke the next morning, the man was gone,  He left. She found out she was pregnant a few months later. She continued to go to the hotel in the hopes of running into the man, but after four months, she gave up. He abandoned her, leaving her to face the situation alone. 

She dropped out of university to raise her son. She returned to school a year later to complete her studies and get her degree. She then saw the person she had slept with on TV and realized he was now engaged, as well as the fact that he was the well-known multi-billionaire Javier Hills. 

What would his grandma do when she finds a boy who looks just like her grandson?

How do you find those hiding in the shadows, when you believe everyone is hiding something?

Jane is a teenager in high school who had always been insecure about her looks thanks to her older sister who was always deemed more beautiful. She thought living under her sister's shadow was the worst thing that could happen to her.

Until one day, her luck turned for the worst when the school's biggest jerk and the bad boy Jake decided to force her to become his wing-woman to win Liliana's heart! Not only that, she accidentally bumped into an even bigger jerk, Jake's older brother Aaron who couldn't seem to keep his hands off of her. How will she ever escape these ruthless bad boys?

Sheltered, and Innocent Amelia West has had a long, stressful life even though she's just nineteen. In other for her life to be less stressful, and without problems, she kept herself, and her life hidden under a hoodie after gaining admission in a prestigious university away from her parents.
Unfortunately, she was wrong. She became a victim of bullying which was something she never expected to happen. She met Finnick Stark, the cold-hearted, heart breaker, and mysterious man.

Finnick became interested in Amelia after seeing her for the very first time. She was weird, but he knew there was something else. All his life he's been searching for His Special One. The one made for him.

Their completely different worlds collide. Amelia's strangeness, and the mysteries about Finnick will slowly be revealed.

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.In A TRACE OF VICE (Book #3 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, follows a fresh lead for her abducted daughter. It leads to a violent confrontation with The Collector—which, in turn, offers more clues that may, after all this time, reunite her with her daughter.Yet at the same time, Keri is assigned a new case, one with a frantic ticking clock. A teenage girl has gone missing in Los Angeles, a girl from a good family was who duped into drugs and abducted into a sex trafficking ring. Keri is hot on her trail—but the trail is moving fast, with the girl being constantly moved and with her abductors’ single, nefarious goal: to cross her over the border with Mexico.In an epic, breathtaking, cat and mouse chase that takes them through the seedy underworld of trafficking, Keri and Ray will be pushed to their limits to save the girl—and her own daughter—before it is all too late.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF VICE is book #3 in a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)Book #4 in the Keri Locke series will be available soon.

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.In A TRACE OF MURDER (Book #2 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, remains haunted by the abduction of her own daughter. Encouraged by the new lead that has landed, the first in years, she pursues it with all that she has, determined to find her daughter and bring her back alive.Yet Keri, at the same time, receives a phone call from a frantic husband, a famed Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, who reports that his wife has been missing for two days. A wealthy socialite with no enemies and little reason to leave her life, he fears the worst has become of his wife.Keri takes on the case, assigned a new partner whom she hates, as Ray still recovers in the hospital. Her investigation leads her deep into the elite Beverly Hills world of the idle rich, to encounters with lonely housewives, and those with shopping-addicted, empty lives. Keri, in over her head in this world, becomes increasingly puzzled by the conflicting signals: did this woman, with a stalker and a lurid, secret past, run away, or was she abducted?Or did something far more sinister happen?A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF MURDER is book #2 in a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)Book #3 in the Keri Locke series will be available soon.

"With blood, fire, and magic I claim you Urmah son of Abdi_ili and Anunit, the descendant of royals, blessed by the two gods of the sun..." ... "I am Tiye daughter of pharaohs, I am Sekhmet daughter of the great god Ra, we claim you, body and soul to the rest of your days in this world and the after to be our lord and guardian, to be our love and spirit, here we bound you to us. May we never be set free forever and ever."

Princess Tiye was meant to be a goddess queen, she would sit on Egypt's throne and rule with Sekhmet's blessing, but before her eighteenth name day she was betrayed by her uncle and cousin, and she became a fugitive, a murderer.

on her journey for safety, she meets prince Urmah, The forsaken son of the Akkadian king. He promises to help her to take back what is rightfully hers and get her revenge after his visit with his father. But their plan fails when her troubles follow them to Akkad, and that's when the goddess makes her presence known to the world.

Who would prince Urmah choose, the woman he renounced his God for, or his father's approval and acceptance? And what would Tiye do when she is forced to witness the murder of her loved ones for the second time? Are her throne and revenge worth the sacrifice?

“Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Rise of the Dragons)From #1 Bestseller Morgan Rice comes an unforgettable new fantasy series. In A SONG FOR ORPHANS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Three), Sophia, 17, journeys in search of her parents. Her quest takes her to foreign and strange lands—and to a shocking secret she could never imagine.Kate, 15, is summoned by the witch, as her time has come to repay the favor. But Kate is changing, coming of age, become ever more powerful—and what will become of Kate if she makes a deal with darkness?Sebastian, a romantic, follows his heart, throwing it all away to reject his family and find Sophia. But Lady D’Angelica is still bent on killing her—and may have other plans.A SONG FOR ORPHANS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Three) is the third book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #4 in the series will be released soon.“An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rice’s previous novels, along with fans of works such as The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini…. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.” --The Wanderer, A Literary Journal (regarding Rise of the Dragons)

They gave him 24 hours to hand over the girl.
He gave them 30 seconds to regret .

Jack Cole was supposed to be nobody—just another quiet college student.
No records. No past. No trace he ever existed.

But when a powerful family tries to take his cousin as part of a dirty deal…
and a billionaire heiress becomes the target of a professional kill team…

Something buried comes back.

The campus?
Just his cover.

The truth?
He’s a weapon trained for war—
the kind governments deny, and enemies never see coming.

Now the richest family in the city wants him dead.
A private army is moving in.
And a global biotech empire is pulling strings from the shadows.

They think they’re hunting him.

They’re wrong.

Jack isn’t running.
He’s choosing who dies first.

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense. A TRACE OF HOPE is the final book in the Keri Locke series, bringing the series to a dramatic conclusion.In A TRACE OF HOPE (Book #5 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, is closer than she’s ever been to finding her daughter. Finally, she gets a fresh lead—and this time, she will do whatever it takes to bring her home alive.At the same time, a new, urgent case is assigned to Keri: an 18 year old girl has gone missing after being hazed by her sorority. As the race is on to find her, Keri plunges deep into the world of pristine college campuses, and comes to realize that all is not what it seems.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF HOPE is book #5 in a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)

“When you think that life cannot get better, Blake Pierce comes up with another masterpiece of thriller and mystery! This book is full of twists, and the end brings a surprising revelation. Strongly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who enjoys a very well-written thriller.”--Books and Movie Reviews (re Almost Gone) A MURDER IN PARIS is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone has received 1,500 five-star reviews.Diana Hope, 55, is still adjusting to her recent separation when she discovers her ex-husband has just proposed to a woman 30 years younger. Secretly hoping they would reunite, Diana is devastated. She realizes the time has come to reimagine life without him—in fact, to reimagine her life, period.Devoting the last 30 years of her life to being a dutiful wife and mother and to climbing the corporate ladder, Diana has been relentlessly driven, and has not taken a moment to do anything for herself. Now, the time has come.Diana never forgot her first boyfriend, who begged her to join him for a year in Europe after college. She had wanted to go so badly, but it had seemed like a wild, romantic idea, and a gap year, she’d thought, would hinder her resume and career. But now, with her daughters grown, her husband gone, and her career no longer fulfilling, Diana realizes it’s time for herself—and to take that romantic year in Europe she’d always dreamed of.Diana prepares to embark on the year of her life, finally turning to her bucket list, hoping to tour the most beautiful sights and sample the most scrumptious cuisines—and maybe, even, to fall in love again. But a year in Europe may have different plans in store for her. Can A-type Diana learn to go with the flow, to be spontaneous, to let down her guard and to learn to truly enjoy life again?In A MURDER IN PARIS (Book #1), Diana hopes to kick off her journey, and find new love, with an unforgettable night at the Versailles ball. But when the dramatic night takes a harrowing turn she could never expect, Diana realizes she will have to solve the crime—or else have her trip end in disaster.A YEAR IN EUROPE is a charming and laugh-out-loud cozy mystery series, packed with food and travel, with mysteries that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and with experiences that will leave you with a sense of wonder. As Diana embarks on her quixotic quest for love and meaning, you will find yourself falling in love and rooting for her. You will be in shock at the twists and turns her journey takes as she somehow finds herself at the center of a mystery, and must play amateur sleuth to solve it. Fans of books like Eat, Pray, Love and Under the Tuscan Sun have finally found the cozy mystery series they’ve been hoping for!Book #2 (DEATH IN FLORENCE) and book #3 (VENGEANCE IN VIENNA) in the series are now also available!

“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success. I can hardly wait to put my hands on the second and third books!”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos)From #1 Bestseller Morgan Rice comes an unforgettable new fantasy series. In A DIRGE FOR PRINCES (A Throne for Sisters—Book Four), Sophia, 17, battles for her life, trying to recover from the wound left by Lady D’Angelica. Will her sister Kate’s new powers be enough to bring her back?The ship sails with the sisters to the distant and exotic lands of their uncle, their last hope and only know connection to their parents. Yet the journey is treacherous, and even if they find it, the sisters don’t know if their reception will be warm or hostile.Kate, indentured to the witch, finds herself in an increasingly desperate situation—until she meets a sorceress who may hold the secret to her freedom.Sebastian returns to court, heartbroken, desperate to know if Sophie is alive. As his mother forces him to marry Lady D’Angelica, he knows the time has come to risk it all.A DIRGE FOR PRINCES (A Throne for Sisters—Book Four) is the fourth book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #5 in the series will be released soon.“[A THRONE FOR SISTERS is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.In A TRACE OF CRIME (Book #4 in the Keri Locke mystery series), Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, follows a fresh lead for her abducted daughter. She winds her way through a twisted underworld, and step by step, she gets closer to finding her daughter.Yet she has no time. Keri is assigned a new case: a dad calls from an affluent community and reports that his teen daughter vanished on the way home from school.Shortly after, ransom letters arrive. Twisted, filled with riddles, they make it clear that there is little time to save the girl. They also make it clear that this is the work of a diabolical killer who is toying with them.Keri and the police must scramble to find the kidnapper, to understand his demands, to decode the letters, and most of all, to outwit him. But in this master game of chess, Keri may find herself up against a foe even she cannot understand, and for the missing girl—and her own daughter—she may just be too late.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF CRIME is book #4 in a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)Book #5 in the Keri Locke series will be available soon.

“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos)The new #1 Bestselling epic fantasy series by Morgan Rice!In A CLASP FOR HEIRS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Eight), Sophia, Kate and Lucas finally meet their parents. Who are they? Why were they in exile?And what secret message might they hold for them about their identities?Meanwhile, the Master of Crows ravages Ashton, Stonehome lies in danger, and Sebastian must find a way to whisk Violet to safety.Will Sophie, Kate and Lucas return in time to save them?Will they return at all?A CLASP FOR HEIRS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Seven) is book #7 in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. “[A Throne for Sisters is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success. I can hardly wait to put my hands on the second and third books!”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos)The new #1 Bestselling epic fantasy series by Morgan Rice!In A CROWN FOR ASSASSINS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Seven), Sophia, Kate and Lucas finally get the chance to journey in search of their long-lost parents. Will they find them?Are they alive?And what message do they hold for them?Their journey demands a price, though. Ashton is left without a ruler, and the Master of Crows still lies in wait, ready to strike. As the fate of the realm lies in the balance, help may come from the most unlikely place of all: Stonehome.A CROWN FOR ASSASSINS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Seven) is book #7 in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #8 in the series will be released soon.“[A Throne for Sisters is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

“Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Rise of the Dragons)From #1 Bestseller Morgan Rice comes an unforgettable new fantasy series. In A COURT FOR THIEVES (A Throne for Sisters—Book Two), Sophia, 17, finds her world upside down as she is cast from the romantic world of aristocracy and back to the horrors of the orphanage. This time the nuns seem intent on killing her. Yet that doesn’t pain her as much as her broken heart. Will Sebastian realize his mistake and come back for her?Her younger sister Kate, 15, embarks on her training with the witch, coming of age under her auspices, mastering the sword, gaining more power than she ever imagined possible—and determined to embark on a quest to save her sister. She finds herself immersed in a world of violence and combat, of a magic she craves—and yet one that may consume her.A secret is revealed about Sophia and Kate’s lost parents, and all may not be what it seems for the sisters. Fate, indeed, may be turned on its head. A COURT FOR THIEVES (A Throne for Sisters—Book Two) is the second book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #3 in the series—A SONG FOR ORPHANS—will be released soon.“An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rice’s previous novels, along with fans of works such as The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini…. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.” --The Wanderer, A Literary Journal (regarding Rise of the Dragons)

“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success. I can hardly wait to put my hands on the second and third books!”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos)From #1 Bestseller Morgan Rice comes an unforgettable new fantasy series. In A JEWEL FOR ROYALS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Five), Sophia, 17, gets word that Sebastian, her love, is imprisoned and set to be executed. Will she risk it all for love?Her sister Kate, 15, struggles to escape the witch’s power—but it may be too strong. Kate may be forced to pay the price for the deal she made—and to live a life she doesn’t want to.The Queen is furious at Lady D’Angelica for failing to woo her son, Sebastian. She is prepared to sentence her to the Lead Mask. But Lady D’Angelica has her own plans, and she won’t go down so easily.Cora and Emeline finally reach Stonehome—and what they find there shocks them.Most shocking of all, though, is Sophia and Kate’s brother, a man who will change their destinies forever. What secrets does he hold about their long-lost parents?A JEWEL FOR ROYALS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Five) is the fifth book in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #6 in the series will be released soon.“[A Throne for Sisters is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success. I can hardly wait to put my hands on the second and third books!”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos)The new #1 Bestselling epic fantasy series by Morgan Rice!In A KISS FOR QUEENS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Six), it is time for Sophia to come into her own. It is time for her to lead an army, to lead a nation, to step up and be the commander of the most epic battle the realm may ever see. Her love, Sebastian, remains imprisoned and set to be executed. Will they reunite in time?Kate has finally freed herself from the witch’s power, and is free to become the warrior she was meant to be. Her skills will be tested in the battle of her life, as she fights at her sister’s side. Will the sisters save each other?The Queen, furious at Rupert and Lady D’Angelica, exiles him and sentences her to execution. But they just may have their own agenda.And all of this converges in an epic battle that will decide the future of the crown—and the fate of the realm—forever.A KISS FOR QUEENS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Six) is book #6 in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #7 in the series will be released soon.“[A Throne for Sisters is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)From #1 bestselling mystery author Blake Pierce comes a new masterpiece of psychological suspense.Keri Locke, Missing Persons Detective in the Homicide division of the LAPD, remains haunted by the abduction of her own daughter, years before, never found. Still obsessed with finding her, Keri buries her grief the only way she knows how: by throwing herself into the cases of missing persons in Los Angeles.A routine phone call from a worried mother of a high-schooler, only two hours missing, should be ignored. Yet something about the mother’s voice strikes a chord, and Keri decides to investigate.What she finds shocks her. The missing daughter—of a prominent senator—was hiding secrets no one knew. When all evidence points to a runaway, Keri is ordered off the case. And yet, despite pressure from her superiors, from the media, despite all trails going cold, the brilliant and obsessed Keri refuses to let it go. She knows she has but 48 hours if she has any chance of bringing this girl back alive.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, A TRACE OF DEATH marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)Book #2 in the Keri Locke series will be available soon.

For three years, I loved Liam, a man obsessed with cleanliness. Yet he made endless exceptions for Chloe. Public shame and hurt pushed me to leave. I reclaimed my life, gained a powerful family and a sincere lover, as the selfish man paid dearly for his choices

I'm a forensic audio specialist. I make a living digging up the truths people deliberately erase from static and noise.
My 19-year-old brother was accused of pushing a billionaire's bride to her death at her wedding.
The police presented their "smoking gun" recording. I heard exactly twelve seconds missing from it.
Those twelve seconds hold the truth about how the bride really died—and the billionaire family's dark secret that will get both me and my brother killed.
They smashed my equipment, threatened my life, bribed the cops, and tried to bury the truth forever.
But what they don't know is—
Some voices refuse to stay silent. Even when they're cut out.

Ten million dollars. Her price tag. An open marriage contract deal.
"The credit limit increase is generous," the lawyer said. "From one million to ten million annually."
"What if I change my mind?"
"Then you lose the children," the lawyer said, matter-of-factly. "Without family money or independent income, custody battles become very difficult."
After eighteen years as the devoted wife of billionaire Daniel Harrison, Emma faces a heart-wrenching ultimatum: sign a $10 million open marriage contract or lose custody of her three children.
Shattered by Daniel’s cold betrayal and his affair with his calculating personal assistant, Natalie, Emma’s perfect world unravels. Seeking solace, she finds an unexpected ally in Robert Langley—Natalie’s betrayed husband in her open marriage, a powerful businessman and devoted father whose quiet strength ignites a forbidden passion neither of them can resist.
As their connection deepens, Emma must choose—cling to the wealth and stability her children depend on or risk everything for a love that could redeem her heart.
When betrayal collides with desire, will Emma choose safety or a second chance at a life she never dared to dream of?

Five years ago, on the day when Isla realized she was pregnant with her boyfriend Alpha Adrian's child and excited to tell him, her life shattered in one night -- her Beta parents turned out to be Lycan spies and ruined Adrian's entire pack. Isla had no choice but to fled for her life after Adrian killed her parents before her eyes and believed IsIa was also part of the Lycan schemes.
Five years later, hidden in a quiet human town with her young son Noah, Isla has built a new life far from the werewolf world.
However, one viral post about her bakery exposed her location to Adrian. Captured and dragged back to Adrian's pack, Isla had to face her sin, love, desire and hatred this time....

Year 1968...

Divina was broken-hearted due to her lover, Alfredo's infidelity. He cheated on her with a rich heiress named Belen. Even though it was difficult for Divina, she forced herself to move on. She became a teacher in a private school and became close friends with their headteacher, Marco Salvador. Marco is a happy person and he shares this happiness with those people around him to the point that Divina is slowly falling for him... but there is one absolute rule in that school, they shouldn't have a romantic relationship with each other. Marco holds a high position at school and Divina loves teaching. How are they able to face the obstacles of their growing affection? Are they destined to be together or will they end up with the common saying, "they met but they were not fated"?

"We were but we were not..."

Jennifer suddenly announced in the sorority common room: "Everything's on me tonight, ladies—oceanview cabana at The Pearl!"
The whole room cheered. I kept my eyes on my textbook.
Yesterday she borrowed twenty bucks from me for a salad. Now she's booking a five-thousand-dollar minimum venue? She wanted the black card in my bag.
"Teresa, just lend me your card to get us in the door. I'll cover everything myself." I stared at her for three seconds, then handed it over. Her face lit up.
I stepped away and called the club manager. "Lock my account, highest security tier. Without my verification code, not a single charge goes through."
She took my card and rounded up five girls, headed straight to the club. Champagne, caviar, Wagyu, Louis XIII—she ordered all of it.
When the check came, it totaled fifty-two thousand, three hundred and eighty dollars.
And the card wouldn't go through.

I hid in my best friend's closet to catch my fiancé cheating.
Through the gap in the door, I saw them on the bed. Tessa was blindfolded, wrists tied to the headboard with silk scarves. Callum's hands wrapped around her throat—some kind of breath play, I guessed.
Then her moaning turned to choking.
Her body convulsed. Her bound hands clawed at nothing. Her legs kicked against the mattress.
Then stopped.
Callum released her throat. Checked her pulse. Sighed.
And lit a cigarette.
He sat there scrolling his phone next to her body. No panic. No CPR. No 911.
Like this wasn't his first time watching someone die.
I bit my hand to keep from screaming. Blood seeped across the floor toward my bare feet.
Then he walked toward the closet.
I escaped that night. Barely. Ran three floors up to my neighbor's apartment—Dr. Neve Ashton, a trauma therapist. Beautiful. Warm. The kind of woman who made you feel safe just by existing.
She pulled me inside, locked the door, handed me tea.
"I called the police," she said. "They're on their way."
An hour passed. No sirens.
I looked at her. She smiled.

I sacrificed ten years of my life in prison for Alaric. I burned my hand in a raging fire, just to save our four-year-old son.
Yet the family I saved abandoned me. My husband favored his scheming stepmother. My own son called me dirty, rejecting his birth mother. To humiliate me, Alaric even bet half a million on my dignity.
Tired of endless humiliation, I chose to leave the cold father and son who broke me completely.
Just as I fell into despair, my childhood sweetheart—now a powerful CEO—returned. He swore to guard me closely, making up for all the warmth I had lost.