1656 Book(s) Related to a dead crow's stare chapter 1

I was an orphan, and when I turned twelve, my parents found me. I thought I could finally escape my suffering and experience the warmth of a home and the love of parents. To fit in, I did everything I could to please and serve my family.
But what I never expected was that the reason they sought me out was for my bone marrow... They wanted to use it to save someone else!
My heart shattered. How could parents be so cruel?
Disillusioned with the world, I fell from the balcony and died.
But to my surprise, I was reborn!
This time, I would live for myself! Those who had hurt me would pay the price!

Saints and Sinners- She was the light to my dark.
The saint to my sinner. with her innocent eyes and devilish curves.
A Madonna that was meant to be admired but never touched.
Until someone took that innocence from her.
She left.
The darkness in my heart was finally complete.
I avenged her, I killed for her, but she never came back.
Until I saw her again. An angel dancing around a pole for money.
She didn’t know I owned that club. She didn’t know I was watching.
This time I won’t let her escape.
I will make her back into the girl I knew.
Whether she likes it or not.
2/ Judge and Jury- I can’t stop watching her.

I’m not even sure I want to.

Taylor Lawson, blonde, beautiful, and totally oblivious to how much dangers she’s in.

She’s also the one juror in my upcoming murder trial that hasn’t been bought.

The one who can put me behind bars for a very long time.

I know I should execute her.
After all that’s what I do.

I am the Judge.
I eliminate threats to The Family.
And Taylor is a threat.
But I don’t want to kill her.
Possessing her, making her love me seems like a much better plan for this particular Juror.

3/ Rags and Ritches-

“A dynamic story line that grips from the first chapter and doesn't let go.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Once Gone)“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)Women are turning up dead in the rural outskirts of Virginia, killed in grotesque ways, and when the FBI is called in, they are stumped. A serial killer is out there, his frequency increasing, and they know there is only one agent good enough to crack this case: Special Agent Riley Paige.Riley is on paid leave herself, recovering from her encounter with her last serial killer, and, fragile as she is, the FBI is reluctant to tap her brilliant mind. Yet Riley, needing to battle her own demons, comes on board, and her hunt leads her through the disturbing subculture of doll collectors, into the homes of broken families, and into the darkest canals of the killer’s mind. As Riley peels back the layers, she realizes she is up against a killer more twisted than she could have imagined. In a frantic race against time, she finds herself pushed to her limit, her job on the line, her own family in danger, and her fragile psyche collapsing.Yet once Riley Paige takes on a case, she will not quit. It obsesses her, leading her to the darkest corners of her own mind, blurring the lines between hunter and hunted. After a series of unexpected twists, her instincts lead her to a shocking climax that even Riley could not have imagined.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE GONE marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #2 in the Riley Paige series is now available!

Blood pooled beneath Eloise's head just moments after she discovered the truth about her husband. The man she built her world around wanted nothing more than to destroy her. He stole everything, her company, her pride, her future, and left her to die. But as the darkness closed in on her, fate offered a second chance.

**

Now she is back, with bloodstained memories and a thirst for revenge. Desperate and broken, she made a deal with the devil, a man powerful enough to hand her the weapons.

But his help comes at a price.

To be owned by him. For four months. A strict deal with no strings or feelings attached. But nothing about him is simple. He's infuriating, intoxicating, and every second with him chips away at her control.

What starts as business quickly spirals into a dangerous game of possession, secrets, and desire. And when hearts get involved, the real cost becomes something more than she bargained for.

He’s the last man she should trust… and the only one who makes her lose control.

The heist of the decade and yet, no one would have guessed… it was her.   The Milanese stars are missing from the famous Buccatino boutique. When American insurance investigator, Samuel Keane is called in to liaise with the polizia, he finds the whole heist odd. Not only are the Milanese stars, a set of five pink diamonds, not listed in the inventory of stolen items, worse, none of the surrounding owners or passersby witnessed a thing.  Samuel is anxious to solve the case and partners with local café owner, Vita, who has a very good vantage point to watch Buccatino. Vita herself has quite the interest in Samuel. He's a decent man, not to mention delicious, and he’s smart. But the last thing she wants is to be caught. After all, Vita has planned the heist for years. Five to be exact. The only thing she didn’t plan is falling in love with the young American.  As Samuel digs further into the history of the stars, he discovers Vita’s friends and her physically challenged sister are all connected to them. He learns of Vita’s past and the loneliness she’s resigned herself to in an effort to protect herself from loss. Samuel also learns Don Giovanni, proprietor of Buccatino, is no ordinary man. He’s a local Mafioso and will stop at nothing till he gets the stars.  The more Samuel investigates, the more dangers he and Vita face. Can he solve the case and what will happen with Vita? What will he do when we learns the heist of the decade isn’t about stealing pink diamonds… it’s about settling the score.

A soccer star and a kind-hearted artist find themselves on the same team, but love is a game they never planned on playing.Lucy Martin left her small hometown behind after her divorce. Now she's back, caring for her soccer-crazed nephew while his parents are deployed. She'd do anything to make him happy—including approaching her high school crush and current soccer superstar, Ryker James, for a favor.Nursing an injury, Ryker is laying low at his parents' house until he can rejoin his club and prove he has reformed his bad boy ways. When the sister of an old friend asks him to coach her nephew's soccer team, he should decline. But Lucy intrigues him, and he finds himself unable to disappoint her.Coaching forces them together and sparks fly—on and off the field. Lucy is wary of romance, and Ryker can’t afford a distraction. Before the final whistle blows, will they take a shot at love or forfeit the match?

Synopsis:

Emma, a brilliant physicist, dedicates her life to pushing the boundaries of technology in her laboratory, striving to create robots that emulate human emotions and behaviors. Her world is turned upside down when an inexplicable event causes two of her robots to take on the essence of shooting stars. Unbeknownst to Emma, one of these celestial entities is intertwined with her fate—it's the reincarnation of her true love, Charlie.

As Emma navigates this surreal occurrence, she uncovers a gateway to an alternate reality where she can experiment with creating life. In this new world, she discovers Charlie, who has chosen to return to Earth as a robot, longing for the love he has cherished through countless reincarnations.

Together, Emma and Charlie embark on a journey filled with passion, adventure, and self-discovery, fighting against the challenges posed by their drastically different existences. As they battle to unite the digital and real worlds, Emma must confront the question: Can love transcend the boundaries of form and function? In their quest for true love, they will discover the depths of connection, the power of choice, and the eternal bond that has already bound them across time and space.

After I got pregnant with my second child, our two foster kids turned into monsters.
Ten-year-old Silas started hiding crushed glass in my prenatal meals. His eight-year-old sister, Lyra, would stand outside my door at night, whispering, "Die, Vivienne. It's your time to die."
When Silas violently shoved me toward the stairs, I packed their bags, ready to send them back to the agency.
But my five-year-old daughter, Elodie, clung to them, begging me through tears.
Foolishly, I relented. I let them stay.
Shortly after, I lost my baby.
I closed my eyes in absolute despair—only to open them and find myself back on the exact day I discovered I was pregnant.

The secret to their future lies in the past. War rages on, stretching the Army of Merceria to the breaking point. Even with Norland armies marching in the north, their capital proves the tougher challenge, leaving Gerald no choice but to split his army.  Meanwhile, devastated by the loss of its king, Weldwyn desperately struggles to marshal enough forces to repel the inevitable invasion from their greatest rival.  Seizing the opportunity, the Twelve Clans flood across the border, confident that this time they will fulfill their destiny.  Now, as conflict sweeps across the lands, the Dark Queen finally unleashes her ruthless fury.  Can the youngest kingdom defeat humanity's oldest foe?   Join Anna and Gerald as they struggle to save the kingdom they have spent so many years building as the Heir to the Crown series continues in Book Nine, War of the Crown.   Prepare to engage in battle as you unsheathe War of the Crown.

The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy! As peace settles across the land, two great kingdoms prepare for a royal wedding. With all eyes focused on the celebrations, the unexpected arrival of a Norland delegation throws everything into chaos. For generations, they have laid claim to the throne of Merceria, yet now they want to negotiate? With her own nobles council in constant conflict, Queen Anna is forced to question the motive of this visit. Is it a trap, or a genuine desire to end hostilities? Against the wisdom of her advisors, she travels north, determined to forge a new future for her people.  Will her unwavering desire for peace lead to the destruction of all she holds dear?  Journey with Anna and discover the true motives of the Norlanders in Defender of the Crown, book seven of Paul J Bennett's Heir to the Crown series. If you like hidden agendas, desperate battles, and determined mages, then this is the book for you!  Settle in for a wild ride with Defender of the Crown, and give peace a chance!

“You are staring again,” I say.

Caylix doesn’t even blink. “You wore that dress knowing exactly what it would do to me.”

I glance down at the silk. “This dress? Are you jealous? You can borrow it if you want. It might be a little short on you, but…”

His mouth finds the sensitive curve of my neck as his hand slides beneath the silk of my dress. "Tell me what you need, Avi," he growls against my skin, his fingers teasing the heat between my thighs. "How many times do you want me to ruin you tonight?"

————————-

I was promised to a prince. Instead, I fell in love with the man sworn to die for me.

For thirteen years, Caylix has been more than my shadow guard. He's my best friend, protector, and the voice in my mind thanks to an ancient soul bond neither of us understands.

He feels my fear, hears my thoughts,
and anyone who comes for me has to go through him first. With war closing in, dark magic corrupting the throne, and my arranged marriage holding two kingdoms together, falling for him isn't just forbidden.

It could destroy everything.

Then an ancient prophecy awakens.

The mysterious bond between us isn't a mistake. It's the key to a forgotten power capable of saving the kingdoms... or plunging them into darkness forever.

Now we're racing against assassins, traitors, and a rising evil that's been waiting centuries to return.

The only problem?

Saving the world may demand the one sacrifice neither of us can survive.

I'd rather watch kingdoms burn than lose him.

🛡️ Shadow Guard Romance
💙 Soul-Bound by Ancient Magic
❤️ Forbidden Love
⚔️ Slow Burn
👑 Princess x Shadow Guard
🫶 Touch Her and Die
🔥 He Falls First
🔮 Ancient Prophecy
🌑 Dark Magic Rising
🗝️ Hidden Identity & Buried Secrets
🏰 Royal Politics & Power Struggles
✨ Epic Fantasy Romance

Valentina Cruz is master of seduction with no past, no real name.
She’s conned princes, diplomats, billionaires—then successfully vanished without a trace.

Now targeting her newest mark? Adriano De Luca—
For six months, she’ll play the perfect bride to Adriano De Luca—Milan’s most feared mafia heir, known popularly as The Widowmaker - before she completes her plan then vanishes.

Adriano lives by a brutal rule: kill for less than a lie. When Valentina steps into his world under a fake name and a flawless seduction plan, she becomes the one game he refuses to lose. But beneath the heat and shadows, something else stirs—he knows her face. From a past soaked in blood.

This was supposed to be her final con. One last, dangerous game.

“You taste like a lie,” he said.
“You kiss like a man bored with the truth,” she whispered.

"You're just a pathetic slave wolf. This bond means nothing!" Beta Marcus sneered as he shattered the fake mate medallion, revealing years of deception in front of the jeering pack.
As a slave wolf born into servitude, Lyra has known nothing but chains and cruelty her entire life. When she discovers what she believed was her mate bond with the pack's Beta was actually an enchanted lie designed to exploit her rare blood for dark rituals, her world crumbles completely.
Cast out to die in the cursed Shadowlands, Lyra is found by the mysterious Phantom Alpha - a legendary figure whispered about in fearful tales. Darius Nightfall is not just any Alpha; he's the exiled heir to the Celestial Court, banished for refusing an arranged marriage and seeking to overthrow corrupt pack hierarchies.
In his hidden sanctuary, Lyra discovers she's not a slave wolf at all, but the last of the StarBlood lineage - descendants of the first werewolves blessed by ancient celestial magic. Her blood doesn't just heal; it can reshape the very foundations of pack power structures.
But when her former captors come hunting for the "escaped slave" and Marcus reveals he's been working with a conspiracy to harvest StarBlood wolves for an ancient ritual, Lyra must choose: hide in safety with the Alpha who sees her true worth, or return to face those who enslaved her - not as their victim, but as their reckoning.
The weak slave they discarded will return as an empress of starlight and shadow.

WARNING: This book is dangerously addictive. Sebastian Wolfe's desires are dark, his control absolute and you'll crave every moment.
"You're shaking," he murmured. "Excited… or afraid?"
I didn't answer.
A second later, the sting of his command made my breath catch.
"Answer."
"Both."One punishment. One rule. One night that changes everything.
Bellmere University was supposed to be my fresh start—until him.
Sebastian Wolfe. Billionaire. Dean. My father's best friend… and the man who now holds my future in his hands.
When I cross him, his response is merciless.
When I plead, his touch is even more dangerous.
And when the whispers begin—Did you hear about the Dean and his favorite student?—there's only one choice left.
Obey him in secret… or lose everything.
But Sebastian Wolfe doesn't just demand submission.
He wants my heart.
And the most terrifying part?
I might just give it to him.
This isn't your usual dark romance. It's a story of obsession, control, and a love that burns too deep to escape.

"I need an heir, would you like to have a baby with me, my mate?"

***Keegan Suzy Madison was trying to do is raise money for her father's kidney surgery. She was on her way home to sell the last of her properties to pay for her dad's oxygen when a car ran into her.

Cruise Tyson White is the Alpha of the Dark-Cross Moon Pack. He is the most feared Alpha and has made his pack the most powerful in the whole of Virginia.

After the death of his father, Cruise is set to pick up his inheritance and return to Washington where his multimillion wine company and girlfriend were. To get the inheritance, he would have to bring forth an heir.

There can be no peace while any possibility of invasion remains After beating back the Norlanders, the Mercerians decide on retribution through force of arms. Provoked by all that has happened, they are determined to do something that has never been done before — a full-scale invasion of Norland. Weakened as they are, they must rely on their allies to increase their prospects for success. For the Orcs, it is a chance to reclaim their ancestral lands, while the Trolls seek to protect their new home. The Dwarves see it as an opportunity to increase trade, but for the Elves... Even with Weldwyn coming to their aid, Queen Anna fears it's still not enough to turn the tide of battle. Yet when refugees flood across the border, she has to wonder if it's an opportunity for an unexpected ally or a clever deception. On the eve of battle, just as the army is set to attack, word comes of a dark presence stalking the land, jeopardizing the entire invasion. Can they vanquish this ancient evil, or will they be consumed by it? Join the campaign against Norland in Fury of the Crown, the fast-paced, riveting eighth book in the Heir to the Crown series. If you like dangerous situations, risky plans, and engrossing storylines, then this is the book for you!   Tear into your copy of Fury of the Crown, and witness the wrath of Merceria.

“He gave her a ring. She came for his blood.”

Kira Antonova married the most feared man in Moscow. Not for love—but for revenge. Maxim Belov, head of the Bratva, is her enemy… and her only way to uncover the truth about her aunt’s brutal murder.

With a smile on her lips and a knife behind her back, Kira plays the part of the perfect mafia wife. But the deeper she slips into Maxim’s world, the more uncertain her heart becomes. He’s ruthless, yes—but not without scars. Not without secrets.

As passion ignites and loyalties fracture, Kira must decide: Will she finish what she started—or will her vendetta destroy them both?

In a world where love is lethal and truth is never simple…
Can vengeance survive desire?

He rules with silence.
She survives by staying invisible.

Darius Valecrest is not a man who bends. As Alpha of the Valecrest Dominion, his authority is absolute, his control legendary. He has built his reign on discipline, strength, and the unshakable belief that attachment is weakness.

Then Ivy Laurent steps onto his land.

She isn’t wolf.
She isn’t pack.
She isn’t meant to matter.

But the moment Darius catches her scent, instinct roars what logic denies — she is his.

Ivy came to Valecrest territory to disappear. Fleeing a past that stole her voice and fractured her confidence, she wants nothing more than anonymity and safety. What she finds instead is a man whose presence commands rooms — and whose protection feels dangerously close to possession.

When rival Alphas discover Ivy carries dormant blood from an ancient lineage capable of destabilizing the Dominion, she becomes more than a woman.

She becomes leverage.
She becomes a threat.
She becomes a crown.

Now Darius must choose: protect his throne… or claim the woman who could destroy it.

And Ivy must decide if standing beside an Alpha means losing herself — or finally becoming something stronger.

Because in Valecrest territory, mates are not asked.
They are claimed.

At St. Darius Academy, power is everything—and Amara Kade has none.
Invisible, quiet, and burdened by a past no one knows, Amara survives school by staying out of sight… until one mistake puts her directly in the path of Lucien Voss, the untouchable king of the campus.
Cold, calculating, and dangerously charming, Lucien doesn’t just humiliate people—he dismantles them. And for reasons Amara can’t understand, he chooses her as his new obsession.

"You think you can escape this, Amara? You're mine, just like she was."

Amara Vale never asked for any of this. What started as a quiet life in her village quickly spirals into chaos when her home is destroyed by vampires. Captured and brought to the Crimson Palace, she’s accused of witchcraft but only to uncover the truth: she’s the reincarnation of Queen Seraphina, a long-dead ruler. And Lucien Draven, the ruthless prince of the kingdom, is bound to her by an ancient curse.

Lucien, tormented by his past and his connection to Amara, can’t let her go. Despite his cold demeanor, there’s a history between them that she doesn’t remember, but he does. As she struggles with her newfound powers and fragmented memories, the pull between them grows undeniable. But Lucien isn’t just fighting his feelings, he’s hiding the truth about their past, and it’s a truth that could destroy everything.

Randy, the Crown Prince has secretly been crushing on his child hood friend, Desmond which he knows very well as him being insane.
But what happens when Desmond who is totally drunk chooses him as his admirer when in a truth or dare game, he is dared to kiss someone of the same sex...
It started with a kiss and ended with a steamy night..
The next day, Desmond in regret curses at the Crown Prince and calls him 'gay' for taking advantage of him, who was drunk...
What happens when the Crown Prince vows to make Desmond's life a living hell for the curses he threw at him and for calling him 'gay' even though he is secretly in love with him?

Not all wars are won on the battlefield! Even as a young child, Anna fought against injustice. Now, with the crown firmly in her grasp, she need only win over the Nobles Council to usher in an age of enlightenment. However, in a court full of people vying for power and influence, she quickly learns that seizing a crown and holding on to it are two completely different things. It takes the resurfacing of past crimes to put her new laws to the test, paving the way for a bright new future. But when one of her own is condemned, will Anna support the rule of law or become a despot to save her closest friend? Find out what happens when the conflict moves from the battlefield to the council chambers in Burden of the Crown, book six of Paul J Bennett's Heir to the Crown series. If you like a little intrigue, seeing villains get their just rewards, and must have more Gerald and Anna in your life, then this book is for you!   Crack open your copy of Burden of the Crown, and discover who returns!

Weldwyn has fallen, and with it, all hope of peace. The army of Merceria, bruised and beaten, returns only to learn of the invasion of its closest ally, Weldwyn. With the Palace destroyed by dragons, and the royal family presumed dead, Summersgate surrenders without a fight, leaving those within fearing for their very lives. Powerless to withstand the coming darkness, some choose to side with their captors, putting the success of Weldwyn's liberation in jeopardy. Even as the Mercerian army regroups, opposition at home spreads, creating an explosive situation where enemy soldiers are not the only danger they must now confront. Outnumbered and overwhelmed, all their cunning and experience may not be enough to vanquish the evil that threatens to engulf the land. Discover what's in store for the denizens of the Four Kingdoms as Paul J Bennett's Heir to the Crown series continues in book ten, Triumph of the Crown. Grab your copy to join the fight today to free Weldwyn from its oppressors! New to the series? Meet Gerald Matheson, the steadfast warrior in Servant of the Crown, Heir to the Crown: Book One, available in eBook, Audiobook, and Paperback.

When my mate dumps me in front of two entire packs, it can’t get worse—until I realized I was pregnant.
Seadon
Our engagement was meant to unite two werewolf packs.
Then one accusation turned me into public enemy number one.
I thought my mate would stand by me—instead, he ended our bond in front of everyone and left me to bear the blame alone.

With no other choice, I fled to the human world, raising the little one whose fuzzy ears pop out at the worst times. I thought I’d finally outrun the wolf-pack drama—until danger found me again.

And guess who shows up like a hero? The same alpha who walked away.
He swears he’ll clear my name and protect me, but there’s something he doesn’t know.
There’s a tiny pair of eyes watching him from behind the door—our son.
Alex

For nineteen years, Castella Celeron Valtheris has lived as the symbol of hope and the sole heir to the throne of Caeloria. But behind the noble title, she is merely a woman bound by rules and expectations. Freedom is a dream she chases only in the shadows. Slipping away from the quiet city of Evrithall, far from the watchful eyes of the court, to taste the world forever forbidden to her.
Everything changes when a new royal guard from the capital, arrives to protect her. With his striking presence, molten golden-brown eyes, and unyielding demeanor, Kael is a constant reminder that freedom might be nothing more than an illusion.
He watches her every move, challenges her defiance, and unknowingly sparks a fire as dangerous as the creatures lurking beyond the Thaldrun, the colossal wall that shields Caeloria from the horrors of the Nyxthrad forest.
Outside that wall, darkness thrives. Nyxthrad is home to ancient terrors: a blood-hunger plague that turns men into Morvane, swift, ravenous hunters far deadlier than the dead should be and other beasts pulled from the oldest legends.
Each attack pushes Caeloria closer to the brink.
When the secret of her blood, and the ancient power it carries, comes to light, she realizes she is more than an heir. As the shadow of war looms, the lines between duty and desire begin to crumble.
The dangerous tension between her and Kael draws her into a battle not only for her kingdom, but for her heart.
Will she defy the destiny carved for her, risking everything for the freedom she craves?
Or will she surrender to a path that demands her trust in a man who may be as dangerous as the secrets he keeps?

Sing, Muse, of the queen who refused to be the price,
Born in a storm with fire in her fate, she burned the old device.
At seven motherless, at eight she climbed the tower’s height,
She saw the dragon’s smoke and chose a blade, not white.
Her name—Elaina, Visserland’s heir, a flame that would not kneel,
When the lords said “Woman unfit,” she broke their maze with words of steel.
The bishops cursed her for being profane, and she burned their book in the square’s light.
“The rite that lists daughters as tribute—that is the true sin and blight!”

Rosemary Decker, a 27-year-old marketing executive fleeing corporate burnout in Seattle, inherits her great-aunt's mysterious bookshop in Thornwick Hollow just as her life crumbles. But the inheritance comes with a chilling countdown—twenty-eight days until a crimson eclipse that occurs once per generation. Holden Ashworth, a devastatingly compelling stranger with secrets older than the mountain town itself, seems to know intimate details about her family history that she's never heard before. As Rosemary discovers the horrifying truth about an ancient covenant that has claimed six generations of women from her bloodline, she realizes Holden isn't courting her—he's preparing her for a ritual that will grant him immortality while consuming her life essence. But some family legacies are worth fighting for, and in Thornwick Hollow, the hunted might just become the hunter when the crimson eclipse rises and old debts written in blood come due.

Holly Leefe has seen it all. Being a medium keeps life interesting. Not that it needed any help. She already had a psychic for a husband and a clairsentient teenage daughter. Data analyst by day, ghost hunter by night. Unless it was football season. She did live in Texas after all.
This fall Holly and her husband Jesse are trying to help a widower and his fiancé discover why suddenly stilettos are being thrown through their TV. Plus a few other nuisance cases. As if helping the dead and raising a teenager wasn’t enough, the ghost of her grandmother won’t rest until the family home is returned to its 1980’s glory.

I’ve seen the living; I’ve seen the dead. I’ve seen angels and I’ve seen demons. No matter how many malevolent or benevolent beings I interacted with, none could terrify me as much as the spirit that walked through the door into the kitchen where I was cooking dinner. Mentally bracing myself, I stirred in chili powder to the ground beef on the stove before I acknowledged the woman that was now looking over my shoulder.
“That’s too much seasoning. It’s going to be too spicy.” I turned to face the food police. “You need to call your mother.” It was an order, not a request. I raised an eyebrow, inviting her to explain. “She won’t listen to reason.”
“Are you two still feuding?” She had been fighting with my mother for the last two and a half years. I’d inherited the “gift” from my mother who had gotten it from my grandmother and so on and so forth. They didn’t need me to pass messages back and forth. She seemed to have forgotten that I had refused to get involved.

Due to an arranged marriage between our families, I married Damien Blackwood, heir to a business empire.

During five years of marriage, I tried hard to play the perfect wife, bore him a daughter Lily, thinking I had finally won his love.

Until his first love Serena returned from abroad, I watched him rekindle his passion for another woman, watched them rekindle their old flame.

A car accident changed everything.

I was taken to court, sentenced to three years in prison, becoming a "murderer" despised by everyone.

And he personally sent me to prison.

I'm a figure skating prodigy from one of the wealthiest families in the country. I'm also an idiot.

I believed that if I was kind enough, people would be kind in return. So I sponsored Haley Dunning, a scholarship skater on our team, and treated her like my own little sister.

The day before the NCAA qualifier, she came up to me with a sports drink, said she wanted to help keep my energy up.

I drank it. Went down on the ice with a broken leg. Drug test came back positive for banned stimulants.

Overnight, I went from the queen of the rink to the face of a scandal no one could stop talking about.

Expelled from school. Torn apart on social media. Calloway Corporation's stock in freefall.

Haley stood in front of the cameras, tears in her eyes: "Piper just wanted to win so badly. I never thought she'd go this far..."

I fell into a depression. Couldn't sleep without medication.

Then one day, she showed up at my hospital room with my boyfriend, bearing "comfort": a cup of water and a few pills: "Piper, take your meds, okay? This is all my fault for being so stupid..."

Three minutes later, I'm coughing up blood, convulsing on the floor.

Right before I died, I caught the look on her face. That sweet, innocent face. A slow, vicious smile spreading across it.

She knocked over the pill bottle and started screaming: "I grabbed the wrong ones! I mixed up her antidepressants with some old person's heart meds! I'm so stupid!"

My boyfriend pulled her into his arms. Didn't even glance at me dying on the floor: "She meant well. Piper just had bad luck."

I was poisoned to death in that hospital room.

Then I opened my eyes, and it was the day before the qualifier.

Mona would do anything to get money for her mother's surgery, even if it means accepting a rich, spoilt girl's bet. All she has to do is get caught in some incriminating photos with billionaire tycoon Ian Harrison.

Easy peasy.

Until it's not.

Caught in the billionaire's twisted web, in a world of wealth, glamour and deceit, Mona will soon learn that everything isn't as it seems, and there's more to Ian that meets the eye.

But first, she must protect her heart from being crushed under his cruel hands.

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor) BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE is the debut novel in a charming and hilarious new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, whose bestselling Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery) has nearly 200 five star reviews. Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own. When Allison spots a charming, vacant storefront on the boardwalk near Venice, she wonders if she could really start life anew. Feeling like it’s a sign, and a time to take a chance in life, she goes for it. Yet Allison did not anticipate the wild ride ahead of her: the boardwalk, filled with fun and outrageous characters, is pulsing with life, from the Italian pizzeria owners on either side of her who vie for her affection, to the fortune tellers and scheming rival bakery owner nearby. Allison yearns to just focus on her delicious new pastry recipes and keep her struggling bakery afloat—but when a murder occurs right near her shop, everything changes. Implicated, her entire future at stake, Allison has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. As an orphaned dog wanders into her life, a devoted new sidekick with a knack for solving mysteries, she starts her search. Will they find the killer? And can her struggling bakery survive? A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart. Book #2 in the series—A MURDEROUS MACARON—is also available!

In a vast universe filled with strange races and unfathomable power, Emrys finds himself thrust into a relentless battle for survival. As races clash for dominance, Emrys awakens a mysterious ability that grants him powers beyond imagination, transforming him into a key player in this cosmic conflict.

His home world, Xyron, stands on the edge of ruin, invaded by countless races from distant worlds. In this post-apocalyptic realm, survival demands blood and sacrifice. Emrys must fight fiercely, not just for himself but for the fate of his world. Each battle uncovers hidden truths and long-buried secrets, leading him closer to the heart of the invasion.

As he delves deeper, Emrys stumbles upon a shocking revelation: the true reason behind the invasion of these myriad races in his world. With enemies lurking at every corner and allies hard to find, Emrys must navigate a treacherous path.

Will he harness his newfound powers to save Xyron, or will he become a pawn in a game far greater than he ever imagined? The fate of his world hangs in the balance as the ultimate battle for survival begins.

Regina Fairchild lives a life defined by quiet survival.
A scholarship student working grueling hours to stay afloat, her anonymity is the only protection she has against a past she'd rather forget.
She's just trying to graduate from the University of California with her scholarship intact, avoiding attention at all costs. But Regina’s carefully constructed world is shattered the moment she catches the eye of Lucas Sinclair.
Lucas is the Campus King, a football god, and currently, Anita Kelly’s golden-crowned boyfriend. He is also the son of a billionaire, a man who lives a world away from Regina’s reality. He shouldn't even know her name, let alone the intimate, painful details of her father’s heroic death. But he does. He’s determined to keep her close, unwilling to let her slip from his grasp again, regardless of her fierce reluctance or the public spectacle he creates.
She becomes the target of every girl who covets Lucas, especially Anita Kelly, his jealous and possessive girlfriend, who will stop at nothing to reclaim her territory.
As Regina struggles to navigate the escalating rivalry, the manipulative schemes, and her own resurfacing trauma, she finds herself drawn to the magnetic, determined Lucas.
Caught between a secret promise, an undeniable attraction that threatens to destroy her life and her future.
Regina must face a terrifying choice, run from the chaos and safety she's always known, or risk everything—including her heart—on the promise of a football star’s obsession.

My teammates viewed me as a mobile food supply and planned to butcher me before they ran out of rations.
They thought that as long as I died, they would win this "survival game."
However, they would never know that what I brought back from the depths of the ruins wasn't fear, but the highest-level administrative privileges of the entire logistics system. While they killed each other for a bag of expired biscuits, I had already locked the exit to this hell. Sorry, but in this settling of accounts, you aren't even qualified to be treated as bargaining chips.

"And.. you are?"
"Camila..."
Lawson frowned. "What..."
Camila’s gaze hardened. "I didn't walk back from the dead for a friendly chat or to rehash how thoroughly you all ruined what was left of my life..." She held her chin up as if trying to keep herself from breaking her fragile composure. "I came to settle the score."


Camila thought she had lost everything when she received the shock of her life. But when she was forced to fake her own death and assume a new identity, she realized she had been accidentally given a second chance.
This new life came with a new discovery that Camila, the once shameful and disgraceful wife of the wealthy and powerful Miller family, turned out to be a force to be reckoned with, a rival worthy of respect, and a woman not to be underestimated.
Not even her husband stood a chance.

They killed his whole family. They left the boy alive, thinking he was nothing. A pup with no den, they said. The city would eat him soon enough.

They were wrong about that. The city did not eat him. It forged him.

Ten years later, Kaelen comes home to Charter. He is not a boy anymore. He carries a cold magic that was born from his own pain and suffering, the ability to pull bad memories out of places and make them real for a while. A scream trapped in a wall, the shadow of a victim, the last feeling of someone who died wrong: it is all fuel for him now.

But the power is wild and untamed. Every time he uses it, it hurts him and costs him something valuable. His enemies are still here, rich and comfortable, three of the most powerful people in the city. They do not know he is coming for them. They are about to learn.

To destroy them, Kaelen must first master himself. He must grow stronger and learn the full depths of his power. Because the echoes do not just haunt his enemies. They haunt him too. And the stronger he becomes, the less of his original self remains behind.

Renee thought marriage meant forever. But to Clark, she was nothing more than a burden… a mistake he planned to erase. The night of the fire, he made his choice: to leave her behind, to let the flames consume her, and to start over without the wife he once vowed to love for a mistress he once introduced as “Just a Friend”.
But fate had other plans.
Pulled from the ashes by Andrew Kinsley… the man who’d always loved her in silence…Renee was given a second chance at life. Now stronger, sharper, and no longer blinded by love, she returns not as Clark’s wife, but as his nightmare.
With Andrew at her side, Renee is ready to dismantle everything Clark treasures… his career, his reputation, his family… piece by piece.
Because some betrayals don’t deserve forgiveness. They deserve fire.

I married a rapist.
After the wedding, I played the perfect wife. I always took off my makeup after he fell asleep, and reapplied it before he woke up.
My husband loved showing off on his livestream, bragging that women should know their place.
One viewer sent a warning in the chat:
[Run, man. Only vengeful spirits do their makeup in the middle of the night—when their resentment is strongest, the makeup lasts longer!]
I covered my face and grinned wickedly.
Oops, forgot concealer. My corpse marks are showing.

They call it an "alpha team," boasting about our million-dollar AI equipment. I thought I just had terrible luck at work—the scanner bruising my arm, the coffee maker intentionally scalding me. Trapped by a $500,000 resignation penalty, I must survive tonight’s overtime. But in the dark copy room, the shredder is... breathing.

From #1 bestselling author Blake Pierce comes a heart-pounding new mystery series.In the cornfields of Nebraska a woman is found murdered, strung up on a pole, the victim of a deranged killer. It doesn’t take long for the police to realize a serial killer is on the loose—and that his spree has just begun.Detective Mackenzie White, young, tough, smarter than the aging, chauvinistic men on her local force, finds herself called in grudgingly to help solve it. As much as the other officers hate to admit it, they need her young, brilliant mind, which has already helped crack cold cases that had left them stumped. Yet even for Mackenzie this new case proves an impossible riddle, something the likes of which she—and the local force—have ever seen.With the FBI called in, together, an intense manhunt ensues. Mackenzie, reeling from her own dark past, her failed relationships, and her undeniable attraction to the new FBI agent, finds herself battling her own demons as her hunt for the killer takes her to the darkest places of her mind. As she delves into the killer’s mind, obsessing over his twisted psychology, she finds that evil truly does exist. She only hopes it will not be too late to extricate herself from it, as her entire life collapses around her.As more bodies turn up dead and a frantic race against time ensues, there is no way out but to find him before he kills again.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, BEFORE HE KILLS marks the debut of a riveting new series—and a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 in the Mackenzie White Mystery series will be available soon. Also available by Blake Pierce is ONCE GONE (A Riley Paige mystery—Book #1), a #1 bestseller!

“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. 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) IF SHE KNEW (A Kate Wise Mystery) is book #1 in a new psychological thriller series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. 55 year old empty nester—and freshly retired FBI agent—Kate Wise finds herself drawn out of her quiet suburban life when her friend’s daughter is murdered in a home invasion—and she is implored to help.Kate thought she left the FBI behind after 30 years as their top agent, respected for her brilliant mind, tough street skills and her uncanny ability to hunt down serial killers. Yet Kate, bored with the quiet town, at a crossroads in life, is summoned by a friend she can’t turn down.As Kate hunts the killer, she soon finds herself at the forefront of a manhunt, as more bodies turn up—all suburban moms in perfect marriages—and it becomes apparent there is a serial killer stalking this quiet town. She unearths secrets from her neighbors she wishes she never knew, discovering that all is not what it seems in this picture of model streets and neighbors. Affairs and lying are rampant, and Kate must sift through the town’s underbelly if she will stop the killer from striking again.But this killer is one step ahead of her, and it may end up being Kate who is in danger.An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, IF SHE KNEW is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #2 in the KATE WISE MYSTERY series is coming soon!

I hate myself because i look like you.

An act of revenge has gone wrong. An unexpected love affair... A misguided conception through lies, deceit, and betrayal. Caught in the web of all this is, Monique Carolla Montgomery... Will she put her happiness first for once in her life or side with her mentally retarded twin, Monique Caroline Montgomery... And let go of the only good thing that has brightened her life since their beloved mother's death?? Follow up on the enthralling love story of Monique and Edgar where their love faces many difficulties through lies, deceit, revenge, forgiveness, and heartbreaks...

Dillion and Nash knew each other since they were little. Then Nash went away for almost 10 years and when he came back, he then found his mate. They were somewhat happy and then just before they mate Dillion ran away.

It's been 2 years since Dillion and Nash saw each other, will they ever see each other again or will they forever be apart. Will Nash find out Dillion's secret or will it be hidden forever.

“Thriller writing at its best. Thriller enthusiasts who relish the precise execution of an international thriller, but who seek the psychological depth and believability of a protagonist who simultaneously fields professional and personal life challenges, will find this a gripping story that's hard to put down.”--Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Any Means Necessary)“One of the best thrillers I have read this year. The plot is intelligent and will keep you hooked from the beginning. The author did a superb job creating a set of characters who are fully developed and very much enjoyable. I can hardly wait for the sequel.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Any Means Necessary)When nuclear waste is stolen by jihadists in the middle of the night from an unguarded New York City hospital, the police, in a frantic race against time, call in the FBI. Luke Stone, head of an elite, secretive, department within the FBI, is the only man they can turn to. Luke realizes right away that the terrorists’ aim is to create a dirty bomb, that they seek a high-value target, and that they will hit it within 48 hours.A cat and mouse chase follows, pitting the world’s most savvy government agents versus its most sophisticated terrorists. As Agent Stone peels back layer after layer, he soon realizes he is up against a vast conspiracy, and that the target is even more high value than he could have imagined—leading all the way to the President of the United States. With Luke framed for the crime, his team threatened and his own family in danger, the stakes could not be higher. But as a former special forces commando, Luke has been in tough positions before, and he will not give up until he finds a way to stop them—using any means necessary.Twist follows twist as one man finds himself up against an army of obstacles and conspiracies, pushing even the limits of what he can handle, and culminating in a shocking climax.A political thriller with heart-pounding action, dramatic international settings, and non-stop suspense, ANY MEANS NECESSARY marks the debut of an explosive new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #2 in the Luke Stone series is also now available!

“A MASTERPIECE OF THRILLER AND MYSTERY. Blake Pierce did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. 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) FACE OF DEATH is book #1 in a new FBI thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. FBI Special Agent Zoe Prime suffers from a rare condition which also gives her a unique talent—she views the world through a lens of numbers. The numbers torment her, make her unable to relate to people, and give her a failed romantic life—yet they also allow her to see patterns that no other FBI agent can see. Zoe keeps her condition a secret, ashamed, in fear her colleagues may find out.Yet when a serial killer strikes across the Midwest, strangling women in remote places and seemingly at random, Zoe, for the first time, is stumped. Is there a pattern? Can there be no pattern at all? Or is this killer as obsessed with numbers as she is?In a mad race against time, Zoe must enter the diabolical mind of a killer who always seems to be one step ahead of her, and stop him from claiming his next victim before it’s too late. At the same time, she must keep at bay her own demons, which may ultimately prove to be even more threatening.An action-packed thriller with heart-pounding suspense, FACE OF DEATH is book #1 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Books #2 and #3 in the series—FACE OF MURDER and FACE OF FEAR—are also available for pre-order.

Dema never expected her new job to end with a marriage proposal from her billionaire CEO.
But with the tabloids destroying his family's reputation, Rami needs a wife—fast.
One year, a quiet divorce, four million dollars. That's the deal.
Thrown into a world of luxury, scrutiny, and impossible expectations, Dema struggles to keep up while Rami treats their marriage like another business arrangement. Yet beneath his cold rules and perfect composure, something unspoken flickers between them.
Just when Dema begins to wonder if their pretend marriage is becoming something real, she overhears a late-night phone call that makes her blood run cold.
Because maybe she wasn't chosen.
Maybe she was used.
And maybe the deal was never the real trap.

Chiara Benedetti thought her wedding day would be the start of her freedom, instead, it becomes her descent into hell. Before she can say "I do," the chapel doors are torn off their hinges by Nico Ferraro, the brutal Don of the Ferraro family and her father's greatest enemy. He doesn't come for blood; he comes for his property.

He reveals a chilling truth: three years ago, her father sold her to him in a blood debt, and her entire life has been nothing but a fraud to hide the transaction.

Nico doesn't want a wife. He wants a possession to break. He expects Chiara to cower, to beg, and to kneel but Chiara is made of the same iron as the men in her world. She fights, she provokes, and she talks back, turning her captivity into a psychological battlefield. Her defiance doesn't disgust Nico, it intoxicates him. What begins as a cold exchange of power spirals into a dark, erotic obsession that neither can control.

As Nico introduces Chiara to the darker edges of his desire, scenes of rough possession and degradation, she is terrified to realize she doesn't just endure him; she craves him. When a rescue attempt by her former fiancé offers her a way out, Chiara makes a choice that shocks everyone: she stays. Not for love, but for the dark intensity only Nico provides. Caught between a secret rebellion within Nico’s own family and a rival family demanding her head, Nico must decide if he will sacrifice his empire to keep the woman he swore was just a debt. In a world where love is a weakness, their mutual destruction might be the only thing that makes them feel alive.

“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. I strongly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that enjoys a very well written thriller.”--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Almost Gone) ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a new psychological thriller series by USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has received over 1,000 five star reviews. After the disastrous fallout from her last placement in England, all 23-year-old Cassandra Vale wants is a chance to pick up the pieces. A high-society, divorced mother in sunny Italy seems to be the answer. But is she? With a new family come new children, new rules, and new expectations. Cassandra’s determined to make this one last - until a horrifying discovery pushes her to a breaking point. And when the unimaginable occurs, will it be too late to pull herself back from the brink? Who, she wonders, is she becoming?A riveting mystery replete with complex characters, layers of secrets, dramatic twists and turns and heart-pounding suspense, ALMOST DEAD is book #3 in a psychological suspense series that will have you turning pages late into the night. Book #4 in the series will be available soon.