9458 Book(s) Related to to be a power in the shadows

I was carrying Don Elijah’s child. But on the exact day I went into labor, the man I loved dragged me to an underground freezer—standing at a deadly minus ten degrees Celsius—and locked the heavy metal door.

The reason? The Varro Mafia family’s ironclad rule: the firstborn son inherits the entire empire. His brother’s wife, Elena, was also pregnant, our due dates separated by a single day.

To guarantee his brother’s child secured the throne, Elijah callously snuffed out my hope.

"Elena’s child must be born first," he demanded coldly. "This is what you owe them!"

He ignored the warm rush of my broken water. He ignored my agonizing, tearing contractions. He shoved me into the icy darkness, violently injecting me with a drug specifically designed to halt my labor.

Curled up on the frost-covered concrete, freezing and completely alone, I clutched my stomach in sheer agony. In the suffocating cold, I felt the terrifying stillness. I felt the tiny, fighting heartbeat inside me slowly, torturously fading away.

Hot tears streamed down my face, freezing before they hit the ground.

"My baby..." I whispered into the pitch-black void, my heart shattering into a million pieces. "Mommy is so sorry..."

Elijah sacrificed our child out of blind loyalty to his brother. But when he finally opens that frostbitten door, he won’t merely find a broken woman—he will face the terrifying, irreversible ruin of his own legacy.

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.

On Day 100 of the global heat collapse, surface temperature climbed to a hopeless 70°C.

To keep my girlfriend from being roasted alive, I drove my ice ability past the limit and became her personal human air conditioner.

But when my ability core was on the verge of shattering and I collapsed coughing blood, she stole the last two bottles of water from my pack and climbed into someone else’s temperature-controlled car without looking back.

Before she left, she tossed the life-saving lump of ice I’d condensed with half my life onto the blistering asphalt like garbage.

“Jack, I’m sick of your cooling cutting out any second. I’m not staying here to die with you.”

She didn’t know—

The moment that ice turned into white vapor, the broken ability core in my chest—the one ruined because of her—evolved in the abyss.

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor)A VILLA IN SICILY: OLIVE OIL AND MURDER is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!Audrey Smart, 34, is a brilliant vet—yet fed up by her demanding clients who think they know more than her and who don’t care about their animals. Burnt-out with the endless hours, she wonders if the time has come for a new direction. And when her 15th year high school reunion (and her hopes for re-sparking on old flame) end in disaster, Audrey knows the time has come to make a change.When Audrey sees an ad for a $1 home in Sicily, it captivates her. The only catch is that the house requires renovation, something she knows little about. She wonders if it could be real—and if she may really be crazy enough to go for it. Can Audrey create a life and career—and the home of her dreams—in a beautiful Sicilian village? And perhaps even find love while she’s there?Or will an unexpected death—one that only she can solve—put an end to all of her plans?Are some dreams too good to be true?A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page.“The book had heart and the entire story worked together seamlessly that didn't sacrifice either intrigue or personality. I loved the characters - so many great characters! I can't wait to read whatever Fiona Grace writes next!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“Wow, this book takes off & never stops! I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended for those who love a great mystery with twists, turns, romance, and a long lost family member! I am reading the next book right now!” --Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“This book is rather fast paced. It has the right blend of characters, place, and emotions. It was hard to put down and I hope to read the next book in the series.”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)Books #2 and #3 in the series—FIGS AND A CADAVER and VINO AND DEATH—are now also available!

My brother and my fiancée forged evidence of my crimes. They claimed I was guilty of corruption, bribery, and betraying the family—that I was a traitor to the nation. If not for their "mercy," they said, I would have already been sentenced to death.

But that wasn't enough. Three years later, when Father lay dying, my brother and fiancée threw me into the Gulf of Mexico, all to eliminate any chance I might have of competing for the family inheritance.

When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to three years ago—to the moment they framed me for treason...

In my past life, I was betrayed by my fiancée and my tycoon boss, and thrown alive into a mutated swarm to be torn apart.

When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn fifteen days before the multidimensional catastrophe! Facing my vain ex-boyfriend who was still threatening to break off our engagement and buy me luxury bags, I sneered and decisively blocked him, instantly awakening a "Beast-Level Infrastructure System."

Hoarding supplies in the apocalypse? Too narrow-minded! I directly infiltrated the polar regions with my geeky best friends, tampered with central permissions, and seized my tycoon boss's invincible fortress—a multi-billion dollar investment with a nuclear reactor!

When the catastrophe erupted and gravity collapsed, my boss and ex-girlfriend, dragging their mangled bodies, knelt outside the ten-meter-thick tungsten steel door, frantically kowtowing, begging to be brought in as dogs. I, however, holding a Romanée-Conti, coldly pressed the gravity strangulation button.

The Abyss Era, the Old Gods are all dead. On this wasteland, only I sit high on my icy throne, establishing absolute laws.

My perfect husband built a thick soundproof wall in our new house, strictly forbidding me from touching it. When he left, I took a hammer to the drywall. Hidden inside the dark void was a bloodstained engagement ring belonging to a missing woman. Am I sleeping next to a killer?

At the Morello family’s Christmas dinner, I stood beside Vincent, waiting for him to announce our engagement.
Instead, in the very next second, he walked in holding a little boy and claimed him as his son.
And the woman he said he was going to marry? Scarlett Morello. The one he had always introduced as his “sister.”
The whole room erupted in applause. I stood there frozen, like a nail hammered into the floor.
Later, in his study, he took my hand and said, “Scarlett is dying. Late-stage breast cancer. She only has six months left. After she’s gone, I’ll marry you.”
But there was no guilt in his eyes. No love, either.
Then he told me to go to his villa that afternoon, to take care of the woman who was supposedly “dying.”
I opened the photo he sent me. Scarlett was lying in a hospital bed, pale-faced, an IV in the back of her hand.
A professional tennis player who had been playing in an exhibition match three weeks ago, and who had dropped three grand at Louis Vuitton on Fifth Avenue just five days ago.
But sure. She was “dying.”
At three in the morning, I was curled up by the front door of my apartment, crying so long I lost track of time.
Then my phone lit up. A text from an unknown number:
[Elena, I’m downstairs. When we were kids, you told me that once I controlled the docks on the East Coast, you’d marry me. The docks are mine now. Does that promise still stand?]
I pulled back the curtain and there he was. Ethan Vitale, my first love, leaning against the door of a black Cadillac, lifting a hand in a lazy wave.
Three years ago, when he left New York, he was only a Capo.
Now, he was the Don of the Vitale family.
He didn’t rush me. Didn’t pressure me to come downstairs.
He came for one reason only, to let me know he was back.
I wiped away my tears and texted back:
[It still stands.]
Because I wanted to see for myself just how long that woman could keep up her act.

The day he proposed, Atticus knelt before me, holding the Hale family's heirloom necklace.
I thought I had finally survived the ordeal.
After eight years of unrequited love, being humiliated by his sister, nitpicked by his mother, and mocked by the city's socialites for being unworthy of the Hales... Until this very moment, when he personally fastened the heirloom around my neck. Everyone saw it. I, Clara, was finally accepted by the Hale family.
Tears in my eyes, I said yes, thinking it was the happiest moment of my life.
But just days after putting on that necklace, bizarre red rashes crawled up my neck. My pale skin rotted away piece by piece, and my internal organs went into irreversible failure.
The most absurd part? The exact same day I started rotting, his dying mother miraculously cured her terminal illness, and his sister's half-destroyed face was restored to flawless perfection.
Disfigured and barely looking human, I threw myself off the Harbour Bridge—
I opened my eyes, and I was back on the day of the proposal.

Nancy could not believe that she fell for his lies. He had said he loved her and wished to spend the rest of his days with her, but at the first sign of trouble, he had rejected her and she could not forget the words he had thrown at her.

"I have a great wife and four wonderful children. If you refuse to abort, then we are through. I love my family so much that I wouldn't want you to ruin it!"

I shattered my knee in a blizzard getting our hockey captain Carter the wristguard he demanded.
Everyone on campus knew I was his desperate little errand girl. I told myself he was just testing my loyalty because the injury left him scared to let people in—until I stood outside the locker room and heard him say while the guys were losing their shit laughing:
"Luke's sister? Her brother destroyed my leg. She gets to be my punching bag. Fair trade."
"This weekend at the party, round thirteen—I'm dumping her in front of everyone and kicking her to the curb."
My hand found the paper in my pocket—my diagnosis from three years ago: permanent nerve damage, right hand. The souvenir I got from saving his life.
Suddenly the whole thing felt obscene.
If he wanted to play games so badly, I was more than happy to blow up his final round myself.

"Come back to me, Ivy," the man whom she used to love with all her heart said.“No, no,” Ivy shook her head and backed away from him. Her body trembled as fear consumed her whole being. He was the reason her baby was gone! He was the reason for all her suffering!

Ivy thought she was the luckiest woman in the world - she was married to the man of her dream.But that was just her illusion. On the day she received her pregnancy report, she found her husband in bed with his best friend. Before she had the chance to tell him about her pregnancy, she was forced to divorce and her family was driven to bankruptcy by that one man she loved.Since then, her life went south.
She married a governor in another country whom everyone thought was a gentleman. Everyone envied her, but no one knew he was a sadist who loved to abuse her.Five years later, the man she used to love met her by chance and begged her to come back.But would she be able to give her heart again, when all she felt toward him was fear and hatred? Knowing that he was the sole reason her life had turned to be what it was today with endless suffering?

In his previous life, Evan risked his life to protect his fiancée and brothers in the apocalypse, only to be pushed off the fortress and fed to zombies. She thought she had obtained the address of the supply warehouse, but he had already been watching her affair with her lover on surveillance cameras.

Thinking she had his Noah's Ark, she was thrown into an empty warehouse on the day the virus broke out, and then sold as a bargaining chip by the mob.

When the zombie horde surged in, his former "white moonlight" and "true love" knelt before the fortress gate, begging him to open it.

Evan coldly uttered: "This time, it's your turn to taste despair."

"You're not just any she-wolf, Ava," Lucas's voice softened, though it still held a wicked undertone. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. She gave you to all three of us."
I stared at him, dread and curiosity twisting inside me.
Three mates?
Ava Wynter, the disgraced daughter of an Alpha, has lived as a servant in her own pack—rejected, abused, and branded wolfless after a lie destroyed her life. But on the night of her eighteenth birthday, everything changes. Her wolf awakens. So does a dangerous, undeniable bond—with all three Alpha triplet brothers of the powerful Moonclaw Pack.
Zack rejects her. Kane claims her. Lucas desires her.
But nothing is as simple as a mate bond. Secrets run deep in the blood moon prophecy, and Ava is no ordinary wolf. As her hidden powers emerge and dark forces rise, Ava must decide: will she run from her fate or rise to become the Luna who changes everything?

"Bite me." Chase Sterling's whisper was a blade against my skin.

I should pull away.
I should hate him.
But my wolf is howling yes while my heart screams no.

"Say stop," he breathes against my pulse, "and I'll stop."

Liar.

We both know he can't stop.
The bond won't let him.

And neither can I.


Ten years ago, they found my father with his throat torn out
on Silvermoon land.

The Sterlings called it "trespassing."
I called it murder.

They gave us hush money and a warning:
Keep quiet, or the Beta's daughter is next.

So I learned to be invisible.
To swallow my rage.
To survive.

Until someone slipped a note into my locker:
They lied about how your father died.


Chase Sterling.

Future Alpha. Golden boy. Untouchable.

The moment our eyes met, the bond snapped into place—
a collar I never asked for, a chain I can't break.

He says he didn't know.
He says his father is innocent.
He says he'll help me find the truth.

But every time he touches me,
I feel my father's blood on his hands.


Now I'm trapped between two impossible choices:

Accept the bond and betray everything I am.
Or break it—and lose the partner who can prove
my father's killer walks free.

The worst part?

When Chase whispers "mine" against my skin—
I want to believe him.

We had earned countless merits in war.

I could crush refined steel with my bare hands. My comrades could manipulate metal, hack electronic devices, and phase through concrete walls.

But what was the price?

Bone calcification, organ failure, every breath feeling like swallowing razor blades.

Ever since we broke into that laboratory,

For seventy years, we've been hiding in the gutters like rats, barely surviving.

Until my comrade was strapped to an experiment table once again.

She was declared dead. They just didn’t expect her to come back richer, colder, and hungry for blood. Lyra Calloway once had everything: a doting father, a rightful inheritance, and a fiancé she trusted with her life. Then her half-sister and fiancé conspired to steal it all, staging a car accident to bury her secrets along with her body. She survived. And for two years, in silence, she rebuilt herself into someone they won’t recognise and won’t survive. Her weapon of choice: Ethan Vance. Cold, ruthless, and the one man with enough power and enough hatred for her ex-fiancé to help her burn his empire to the ground. Lyra offers him a deal, a marriage in name only, insider access to destroy their mutual enemy in exchange. Ethan agrees. But he adds a condition of his own: if she’s going to wear his ring, she belongs to him completely in every boardroom, every bedroom, every heartbeat of the plan. What Lyra doesn’t know is that Ethan isn’t a stranger she recruited. He’s the one who has been circling her life for years, waiting for the exact moment she’d have nowhere left to turn but to him. As their fake marriage entangles them in real desire, real danger, and a revenge plot that runs deeper than either of them planned, Lyra will have to decide if she’s using Ethan, or if he’s always been the one pulling her strings.

I loved Finley for two years.
Until 1:00 AM on a Tuesday, when his best friend, Orion, sent me a half-naked photo and a jarring voice note."
If I actually bag her, don't go flipping out on me. A deal's a deal."
I booked the first flight out to confront him, only to catch the boy I loved naked and thrusting into another woman.
But that wasn't even the part that broke me.
When my roommate bypassed the hockey team's private Discord server, I found a channel named: #locker-room-bets.
There was my boyfriend, typing the words that shattered my world: "She's boring... She's like a lost puppy, you can't shake her... Play with her all you want."
My loyalty and two years of my life were nothing but a sick joke.
The entire hockey team had put money down on when I would willingly spread my legs for his best friend.

After Amelia has woken from the encounter with the fates, she must find a way to prevent her own death. Only as her day goes on she realizes nothing is like it had been in the vision she saw of her future.

An internal struggle for her to emerge as the white wolf send her into an encounter with a blood beast, who succeeds in enticing her. That is until they are interrupted by the arrival of her mate.
Nothing is how it should be and it is going to take every alley she has to find out why, and maybe a little help from an enemy....

The future is never set in stone....and sometimes you need to break all the rules.

This is the sequel to the book 'More Than Me', it can be read as a standalone.

The legendary general Victor was sentenced to death, and everyone thought he had already been buried in the grave.
Until a phone call came through ,
"Dad, help!... They took Mom away."

Follow the heart shattering journey of a girl named Charlotte who is relentlessly pursued by three guys in her neighbourhood - Tommy, Jason, and Holden. The three have tortured her for years and seem to hold a sick twisted obsession for her timid personality…

Charlotte soon realises that she must escape their clutches in order to make it out alive... even if that means doing something that she will heavily regret!

As she flees from the abuse along with running from her neglectful mother and home town, Charlotte meets Anna, a kind-hearted girl who wants nothing more than to help her.

But can Charlotte truly start over?

Will she manage to fit in with Anna’s friends who just so happen to be three very large, heavily crime involved guys?

The new school bad-boy Alex, feared by most that meet him, instantly suspects that "Lottie" isn't who she claims to be. He remains cold towards her, not wanting to let her in on his groups secrets without trusting her - that is until he unravels Charlottes past one small piece at a time...

Will the stone cold Alex eventually let her in? Protect her from the three demons haunting her past? Or will he turn her over to them willingly to save himself the hassle?

My fingers slipped into my undergarments... I was on Sandor's bed, but I wasn't thinking of Sandor... the man I hated. Massimo, my boyfriend's brother.
He was never supposed to exist in my story. I was supposed to marry the man I loved and live a perfect life. But Massimo appeared out of nowhere, and my body betrayed me the moment he did. I touched myself while thinking of him, aching for a man who never once looked at me... not even once.
Valeria had been with her boyfriend for years, and at last, the day of their wedding arrived. Nervous, overwhelmed, and ready to say I do, she walked down the aisle—only to find her groom missing.
In his place stood his dangerously irresistible brother.
The man she had fantasized about more times than she could count.
Faced with desire, betrayal, and a choice that could destroy everything, Valeria must decide:
Will she marry the man standing at the altar or walk away from the wedding—and her fate—forever?

Nicole Williams is a good girl, an 18-year-old college student. She is deceived by her sister during a party to enter the room of a mysterious man. Her sister didn't expect that she would end up in the wrong room. After being exposed in her passionate night in national newspapers, she is forced to marry that man, who will make her suffer unimaginably.

Bruno Leone is a multimillionaire CEO, an attractive man in his early 30s. After being betrayed by a woman with his own brother, he became bitter. Unintentionally, he spends a night with Nicole while in a drunken state from a drink he was given. His father forces him to marry the girl, and he thinks she planned it all. Therefore, he decides to make her regret what she did, enjoying making her suffer. He never thought he would end up loving her. Will Nicole be able to forgive him after all the harm he caused?

In the dark of night, when the whole world is covered by the shadows, Pennelope Casey finds herself caught up with the man she's always dreamed of. He's got this magnetic charm, this irresistible allure, and what started as a chance encounter without any formal introductions has now transformed into a year and a half of pure bliss. It might be a bit strange that he only shows up in her b*d at night, but Penn is convinced that he's the perfect fit for her, and she can't bring herself to push him away.

Ace Romano possesses a deep understanding of Penn that surpasses her wildest expectations. She's undeniably gorgeous, fiercely independent, and cautious when it comes to opening up to others. However, Ace, or that's what they call him, struggles with his own inner demons, hindering him from forming meaningful connections with people. Yet, when Penn unintentionally becomes entangled in the dangerous underbelly of Denver, Ace's protective instincts kick in with full force. The real challenge arises when Penn witnesses Ace's commanding alpha demeanor in the broad daylight, causing her to question if he's still the person she believed him to be.

“I’m pregnant.” Her voice cracked.
He stared at the test like it might explode. “How long have you known?”
“Three days.”
“Three days.” He repeated it like testing the weight of a lie. “Tell me, Bella. Whose is it?”
The question hit her like a physical blow. “Yours. It’s yours, Nathaniel.”
“Don’t lie to me.” His face was a mask of cold fury. “We haven’t shared a bed in months. So I’ll ask again, whose baby is it?”


Bella Martinez thought her loveless marriage to billionaire Nathaniel Blackwood couldn't get worse, until she discovers she's pregnant. But when Nathaniel reveals he's been sterile for seven years and accuses her of cheating, Bella's world crumbles. As she fights to prove her innocence, dark family secrets emerge that threaten to destroy everything. The truth about her pregnancy is more shocking than anyone imagined, and it will either tear the Blackwood empire apart or forge an unbreakable bond between two broken souls.

The cab driver warned me to stay away from the St. Helis Campus.

I should have listened.

On my first day at St. Helis University, I walked into a classroom and watched a student feed on another girl's neck — crimson eyes, no apology, just amusement when he caught me staring.

By nightfall, I'd been chased, cornered, and bled on by things that shouldn't exist.

Here's what I know: the fog never lifts in Ashford. The beautiful students who move without sound aren't students at all. And the glass dome at the center of campus — the one everyone warns me to avoid — is exactly where I need to go.

I came here following a dream and a broken star chart that shouldn't exist. I stayed because somewhere inside that dome is the answer to a voice that's been calling my name for a year.

My name is Faye Allen. I have no idea what I've walked into.

But I'm starting to think it's been waiting for me.

" When I don't get a thing...I ruin it," he said and then started laughing maniacally.

"And believe me nobody wants a ruined girl."

And now she understood her life is ended.

Ayzel is a beautiful, innocent orphan girl, trapped by an agent to trap a Mafia don. Under a planned scheme, she enters the Mafia's
den and becomes the victim of that ruthless Mafia don's lust. She comes to know that the day her mother died giving birth to her in an orphanage, the very day a bloody massacre happens in this family.
Will Ayzel accomplish the mission or get herself destroyed by that mafia don? will she find the secret of her paternity before it's too late?
will she be able to survive the web of lies, lust, and danger?

After a humiliating breakup, Athena’s best friend tricks her into helping their roommate, Jonas Parker, rehearse for a romantic comedy audition. One fake marriage license, several drinks, and one very questionable cousin later, Athena wakes up to discover she’s apparently married.
To her best friend.
And the entire internet knows about it.
Determined to fix the mistake, Athena plans to get an annulment immediately—until Jonas lands the role of a lifetime, and staying married suddenly becomes part of the deal. Jonas has spent years telling everyone exactly one thing: “We’re not dating.” Now he’s trying to convince the world that his accidental wife isn’t just his best friend. Because if their marriage falls apart, so might his acting career.
As if that isn’t complicated enough, Athena’s estranged billionaire father wants her to come home and claim her place as heir to his empire, her ex-boyfriend wants her back now that he knows she’s rich, and her new boss turns out to be Duke Montgomery—her former fiancé who still hasn’t forgiven her for breaking his heart.
With jealous exes, scheming socialites, corporate power struggles, fake relationships, family secrets, a charming stranger and a wedding neither of them remembers agreeing to, Athena and Jonas are about to discover that friendship is a lot easier than love.
And then Athena begins to notice something she never saw before. Maybe the person she’s been looking for has been standing beside her all along.
After all, what happens in Vegas was supposed to stay in Vegas.
Instead, it followed her home and it might just change her life forever.

“You look beautiful in that gown.” He whispered as he reached for my hand.

I didn’t answer him. All I could feel was hatred, sadness, and sorrow. This is the worst day of my life.

We faced the judge while I was trying to brush his hand off my arm.

The entire event happened with me trying to move away from him while he keeps on pulling me beside him.

The judge didn’t even ask me if I agree on marrying him.

“And now, I pronounce you husband and wife! Mr. Hastings, you may kiss your wife now.”

That phrase caused my whole body to shiver. I could still remember the time when he kissed me.

Sebastine faced me and lifted the veil above my head. I froze in place for a moment while I was staring at his face.

Slowly, he moved his face closer to me while looking straight into my eyes. My heart kept on beating so fast it felt like it was going to jump off my chest.

He put his hand under my chin and made me look at him as he claimed my lips.

I flinched but then I closed my eyes as I felt the warmth of his mouth.

I wanted to push him away, I wanted to punch his face but I just couldn’t. It felt like a spell was cast on me.

I tapped his chest for him to finally move away but he just won’t pull away from the kiss.

He only let go of me when he was finally satisfied. We were both panting.
His men started to clap while looking at us.

Her current chapter explored a love story between two women in 1950s New York – a time of profound social constraint and hidden desires. Based on interviews with older queer women, the narrative revealed extraordinary resilience.
"Sometimes," Sarah told Rebecca, "the most radical act is simply existing. Refusing to be erased."
The typewriter continued its percussive rhythm. Each keystroke was an act of documentation, of resistance.

Mya Evans never believed in monsters, until the night she walked into a warehouse and met Dante Cardello.
Cold, violent and powerful, the mob boss doesn’t forgive theft. He punishes it. But instead of putting a bullet in her father’s skull, Dante names his terms. Marriage, obedience and an heir within a year.
Mya swears she’ll never want him, never love him, never surrender her fire. But Dante has no intention of letting his unwilling bride remain untouched. He’ll break her defiance and teach her that everything that belongs to him stays his.
Enemies to lovers, forced marriage, age gap and breeding kink.
In Dante’s world, vows aren’t whispered at an altar.
They’re written in blood.

Detective Lauren James has always trusted her instincts, but when she discovers that supernatural beings are manipulating Chicago's justice system, everyone thinks she's lost her mind.
Given one week to prove her "delusions" or face psychiatric evaluation, Lauren turns to the only person who believes her; her partner, Detective Alex Henderson, whose unwavering support feels like a lifeline in her darkest hour.
But as they chase evidence that always slips away at the last moment, Lauren doesn't realize that Alex is who she is investigating, and Alex's ancient bloodline requires a human sacrifice under the full moon to renew his fading powers.
And she's already been chosen.

MATURE CONTENT: This book is strictly R18+

BLURB:
Before I could turn toward him, the ground vanished beneath my feet. Again, a startled gasp tore from my throat as he lifted me with sudden force, and in the next breath, my legs were wrapped around his waist, his hands firm on my ass like I paid him to own it too.

Before words could leave my mouth he kissed me deliberately. Like he needed to stir the moment. Stir something in me.

My pupils flared at the shock of his movement, my heart pounding so violently it felt as though it might break free from my chest.

"I wouldn't mind helping you strip if you aren't going to do it yourself?" His voice dripped with a demand that felt more like a command instead of a request.
~
Too much of an aura for a one-night stand who I never knew was the husband I feared.

~
How will you feel when you wake up only to discover you had been set up for an arranged marriage with a man whose stories about him made ears that heard it tingle?

Afraid, devastated, angry, right?

Then what will be your reaction when you find out that a one-night stand whom you had paid to stir a scandal and stop the marriage turned out to be the arranged husband you're running away from?

Now I believe words can't describe your feelings. However, that was my story.
He wanted me, made rules for me. Made me fight to know who he was and now even my restraint can't subdue him rather he consumed every bit of me.

What will become my fate when I find out what made me afraid of him, afraid of the city was actually who I was?

He promised her dying father he'd protect her. Always.
Dante Moretti grew up under Liliana's dad—a powerful mafia boss who taught him everything and treated him like a son. When the old man was killed, Dante swore he'd keep Liliana safe, no matter what. For years, he watched over her like a big brother, making sure no one ever hurt her.
Now Liliana is 21 and back home. She's beautiful, curvy, and done with Dante's rules. She wants to date, go out, live her life. But Dante won't let any guy near her. He scares them all away.
He tells himself it's because he's her guardian.
He tells himself she's like family.
But the truth? He doesn't want anyone touching her... because he wants her for himself.
One night, the jealousy boils over. One touch changes everything. What started as protection turns into something dark, hot, and completely forbidden.
In Dante's dangerous world, love is a weakness enemies can use. Old secrets about her father's death are coming out, and rivals are watching. But Dante can't let her go. Not now. Not ever.
She's his to protect.
She's his to have.
And some lines were meant to be crossed.
A steamy, possessive mafia guardian romance full of forbidden love, intense jealousy, and off-the-charts passion. Perfect for fans of dark, obsessive alphas and the women who bring them to their knees.

I'm screwed.

If I want to keep my dream job, my new (and way-too-attractive-for-his-own-good) boss says I have to score an interview with one of the legendary Fontaine brothers of Hollywood.

I know three things about the Fontaine brothers:

that they're Hollywood royalty,
that all four of them are ridiculously, mind-numbingly sexy,
and
that they never, ever give interviews.

My only chance is to seduce one of them. The only problem? Historically speaking, I'm way more likely to put my foot in my mouth (or generally make a fool of myself) than charm the pants off anyone.

That's where my way-too-sexy boss comes in. He might hold the fate of my job in his hands, but he's also totally willing to teach me the art of seduction. I only hope I can survive his lessons. . .

Due to explicit scenes, this steamy romantic comedy is rated 18+.

The Secret to Seduction is created by Ember Casey, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.

[WARNING: RAPE, TORTURE, MURDER, MATURE CONTENT 18+]
In the shimmering light of what was supposed to be her dream wedding, Hazel's life descends into a nightmare she could never have foreseen. As the celebration unfolds, the joyous occasion swiftly transforms into a horrifying bloodbath, leaving Hazel to wonder if anyone has survived.
The man she was meant to marry, her childhood lover... Was he still alive or not?
But the nightmare was far from over. Captured by a ruthless and deranged man who reigned as the king of the underground mafia, Hazel's life took a dark and harrowing turn.
Forced into his bed in a state of vulnerability and despair, Hazel faced a horror she had never imagined on what should have been the happiest day of her life.
But her body bears the scars of unspeakable cruelty; her innocence is forever stolen.
Her secret mission, the path she embarked on with purpose, has now spiraled into a dark and perilous mission for survival.
**
“You have no right to treat me in this way.”
Francisco, a man with a darkness that matched the shadows of his empire, gritted his teeth and issued a chilling warning, "I can be more cruel to you, detective."
‘I am not weak; just remember it, Francisco. I am not afraid of you…’

His lips brushed mine, and for one reckless heartbeat, I believed it was real.
Then my mate’s voice cut through the air.
Rhael his eyes burning with hurt, as if he hadn’t been the one to reject me for being an Omega.
Auren’s arm tightened around me, his growl silencing him, staking a claim that was never meant to last.
When the crowd was gone, his tone changed low, cold, merciless.
“No one’s watching now. Let go.”
And I did. Because I’d forgotten what I was to him
a lie dressed as a lover, a pawn pretending to matter.

Plot and Description:
In the heart of Paris, "Passionate Encounters in Paris" unfolds as a tale of forbidden love and profound connection between Alexander Laurent, a driven American entrepreneur, and Amélie Dubois, a talented local artist. Their serendipitous meeting at an art gallery sparks an immediate attraction, drawing them into a whirlwind romance amidst the city's enchanting backdrop.

Amidst the iconic landmarks and cobblestone streets, Alexander and Amélie navigate the complexities of their burgeoning relationship. Alexander, captivated by Amélie's vibrant art and spirit, finds himself drawn to her passion and creativity. Meanwhile, Amélie is equally enthralled by Alexander's ambition and the depth of their emotional connection.

Their love story deepens with each intimate moment shared—the stolen kisses in quiet cafés, passionate encounters in Amélie's Montmartre loft, and heartfelt conversations under the Parisian moonlight. As they explore the city together—from the Louvre to the Seine—they discover new facets of themselves and each other, forging a bond that transcends the boundaries of their respective worlds.

However, their love is not without its challenges. Caught between their undeniable chemistry and the obligations that threaten to pull them apart, Alexander and Amélie must confront the realities of their situation. Yet, through it all, their love remains steadfast, a testament to the enduring power of passion and the timeless allure of Paris—the city where their hearts found home in each other's embrace.

"I was done being what others discarded. I would burn this entire pack to the ground before I let anyone take away the one thing I had left. Some wounds do not bleed. They hollow you out until survival is the only thing that remains."
Lyssara believed one truth above all else: a mate was sacred. The other half of your soul. A bond meant to be eternal.
Until Kaelrith looked at her with nothing but cold disgust.
The moment their eyes met, Lyssara saw no love, no recognition, no trace of the connection she had dreamed of her entire life. Instead, fate bound her to a man who wanted someone else.
Night after night, she watched him choose Vaelira, her own sister. Every tender word, every stolen moment, every promise of a future that should have been hers was given to another woman while Lyssara faded into the background.
Until she discovered a secret that changed everything.
A tiny heartbeat inside her.
Her child became her strength, her reason to survive, and the one thing she would protect at any cost.
Then Thalric appeared from the shadows. Scarred, dangerous, and untouched by her broken past. He did not try to save her. He simply saw her when everyone else turned away.
But when Lyssara finally learned to stand on her own, Kaelrith realized what he had lost.
Now the man who destroyed her must face the man who helped her rise.
Only one of them is worthy of her heart.

Yuki never wanted to be caught in anyone's drama. But when Ramir, Kade's obsessive best friend, discovers a deadly secret from a night Kade barely remembers, he gives her an ultimatum. Become his girlfriend or watch Kade's life get destroyed.

Yuki agrees to protect the boy she loves. Soon after the charges against Kade are dropped, his family sends him abroad, and he ghosts her completely.

A year later, Yuki enrolls in the same elite college. The shy girl Kade once adored has become the hottest girl on campus, pursued by every guy around. The gentle boy she sacrificed everything for has returned colder and more distant than ever.

Now Kade must fight to win back the only person who ever made him feel alive, even after he ghosted her.

Luca is a gay little Don of the Italian Mafia. He is in love with his second-in-command, Marco. What will Marco think when he finds out he is a little? The big bad Mafia boss is actually. A sweet, innocent boy behind closed doors. What will happen when the rival Don finds out about his secret? What will Luca and Marco do about everything that is happening? What will his family and crew think about him being a little gay boy? Will they still be able to follow him as their leader, or will it all crack under pressure?

Joanna Arden was supposed to be dead.

The sole heir of the Arden family died in a tragic accident that sent shockwaves through the business world.

But when she opened her eyes, she found herself waking up in the body of a suicidal girl named Millie Hart.

With only ninety days to uncover her killer, Joanna must live under a new identity, infiltrate her own family, and expose a secret that has been buried for seventeen years.

But everything becomes far more complicated when a mysterious man begins appearing at every turn.

Alarich Vance.

A cold, untouchable CEO who seems to know far more about her than he should.

The man who always arrives just in time to save her.

The man who looks at her as though he has already lost her thousands of times before.

But there is one thing Joanna doesn't know.

This isn't the first time Alarich has tried to save her.

And if he fails again, Joanna will die.

Again.

Windemere Bay was supposed to save Elise Grant. Once an LAPD detective, her career ended in disgrace after a case went tragically wrong. Two years sober, she hides in a seaside cottage, determined to live quietly.

Until a teenage girl washes up dead beneath her cliff.

The sheriff calls it an accident. Elise sees murder. And the more she digs, the more she uncovers whispers of missing girls, money laundering, and a secret society known only as the Tides Club.

Hank Delaney, hiding his identity in windemere. Tattooed, magnetic, and far too dangerous for Claire’s broken heart. Their paths cross in ways neither of them expected, pulling her into a web of lies, blood, and forbidden desire.

As the tide rises and the bodies count grows, Claire must face the haunting truth: the real danger isn’t just in the case she’s chasing, but in the man she can’t seem to stay away from.

Windermere Bay is beautiful, but beauty can be deadly.

Ronnie is a witch who lost both her parents at a tender age. She has to live with her step mother and annoying step sister. She gets married off to an alpha wolf who hasn't found his mate. She becomes the queen so she could leave as soon as he finds his mate. What will happen when they both finds out she's his mate and he doesn't love her. Find out.

Vivienne Payton is a 19 years old girl with endless beauty, she was raised in an orphanage, she knew nothing of her birth parents or who brought her to such a place but at the age of ten, she was thrown out for a crime she didn't commit, she never thought life was easy but she made sure she worked hard her entire life to give herself a better life and future but for how long when life problems presented themselves, bringing her back to the reality that she was all alone with no one to call her own but for a successful future she was willing to do anything including being the billionaire's Surrogate, he was broken, betrayed and disappointed and 9 months with him changed everything
"I'm only doing this for money...that's the important thing to me"
She needed it but what happens when her fate is twisted, what started fine turned serious. What if feelings and the heart are involved, will Vivienne be able to reach her goal of being successful or will she embrace her new life, will Victor ever get over his wife's death and accept love for the second time?

A MUST read d story full of, drama, lies, betrayal, hot romance, forbidden passion, and a possessive Male Lead.

I was reborn, back to the moment before I was dragged to death by motorcycles in the wasteland.

In my previous life, I listened to the moral blackmail of the saintly female lead Daisy and used my abilities to desperately save a motorcycle gang surrounded by zombies.

As a result, I was severely injured from ability overexertion, and these ungrateful wolves used me as a tool to establish dominance, dragging me to death with motorcycles across the wasteland.

Before I died, Daisy was still there crying: "We tried our best, this isn't our fault."

Now that I have a second chance, she stands before me again shouting:

"Cole! What are you standing there for? Go save them! Those people are going to die! You have abilities, you must save them!"

Looking at her hypocritical saintly face, rage burned in my chest.

Why should my abilities save ungrateful wolves? Why should my life be a stepping stone for others?

The kindness of fools is worthless!

So I threw her out to feed the zombies!