1859 Book(s) Related to we were never here: a novel book review

“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!

“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 being murdered in upstate New York, their bodies found mysteriously hanging in chains. With the FBI called in, given the bizarre nature of the murders—and the lack of any clues—there is only one agent they can turn to: Special Agent Riley Paige.Riley, reeling from her last case, is reluctant to take on a new one, since she is still convinced a former serial killer is out there, stalking her. She knows, though, that her ability to enter a serial killer’s mind and her obsessive nature is what will be needed to crack this case, and she just can’t refuse—even if it will push her over the edge.Riley’s search takes her deep into a killer’s deluded mind as it leads her to orphanages, mental hospitals, prisons, all in an effort to understand the depth of his psychosis. Realizing she is up against a true psychopath, she knows time is short before he strikes again. But with her own job on the line and her own family a target, and with her fragile psyche collapsing, it may all be too much for her—and too late.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE TAKEN is book #2 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #3 in the Riley Paige series is also now available!

“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) ONCE FORSAKEN is book #7 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 700 five star reviews! When Special Agent Riley Paige finally decides to take a well-needed rest from the FBI, a request for help comes from the most unlikely source: her own daughter. April’s best friend is devastated by the death of her sister, a freshman at Georgetown. Worse, she is convinced that the suicide was staged, and that her sister was murdered at the hands of a serial killer.Riley reluctantly looks into the case, only to discover that two other freshman girls at Georgetown recently killed themselves in the same grotesque way—by hanging. As she realizes foul play may be afoot, she brings in the FBI. The case takes Riley deep into the privileged campus of one of the world’s most esteemed universities, into the unsettling world of the wealthy and driven families that pushed their children to succeed. In time she discovers that this case is far more twisted than it seems—and that she just may be up against the most psychotic killer of her career. A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE FORSAKEN is book #7 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #8 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

"What... What are these?" Selene stammered with her voice barely more than a whispery. "Divorce papers?"
She looked up at Maximus, searching his face for some sign of a joke, a mistake - anything to tell her this wasn’t real.
His eyes flickered with a brief moment of hesitation before hardening into a steely gaze."If Jess hadn’t disappeared, we never would have gotten married” he drawled before delivering the final blow.
“Well, Jess is back now.”
She couldn’t breathe.Despite her best efforts over their three years of marriage, Maximus had never acknowledged her nor loved her the way he loved Jess.


She signed the papers, and left his life for good, taking the babies growing in her womb with her. A few years later, She became a top medical doctor and did everything possible to stay away from Maximus.
However, on her twins’ fifth birthday, they came running to her, giggling:
"Mummy, we found our billionaire daddy!"
She looked up and saw Maximus standing in front of her, clearly expecting her to run into his arms. Instead, She chuckled.
His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets when she responded with a deadpan expression, "No, babies, your Father is dead."

Three years ago, a private plane crash took my father, my mother, my brother Carter, and Grayson, the man I'd loved for seven years and was about to marry.

To hold onto everything they left behind, I cried until my eyes were raw, destroyed my stomach, and fought my way through boardrooms and Wall Street vultures.

On countless nights, I held their photographs and cried until I passed out.

What I never understood was why Willow, the foster sister we'd taken in, vanished without a trace after the crash.

Until today, three years later, when I drive back to the family estate with a diagnosis in my bag telling me I have three months to live.

I push open the heavy door and hear laughter. I see my family—the family that's supposed to be dead—gathered around Willow and her three-year-old son, singing happy birthday.

Turns out no one in this world ever loved me at all.

Why do they all get to live while I'm the only one who have to die?

"NEXT DOOR is full of completely unexpected twists—you will read it on the edge of your chair. It is Blake Pierce at his best! Another masterpiece of suspense and mystery. I highly recommend it to the permanent library of all readers that appreciate an excellent thriller, full of psychological suspense and with a completely unexpected ending. This is the first in what promises to be another excellent series. I can hardly wait to read the sequel."--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto MattosA NEIGHBOR’S LIE (A Chloe Fine Mystery) is book #2 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has over 1,000 five-star reviews. FBI Violent Crimes Division Special Agent Chloe Fine, 27, still reeling from the secrets of her past, finds herself thrown into her first case: the murder of a nanny in a seemingly perfect suburban town.Immersed in a world of secrets, of unfaithful couples, of pretense and artifice, Chloe soon realizes that anyone—and everyone—may be guilty. Yet at the same time, with her own father still in jail, she must battle her own demons and unravel her own secrets, which threaten to bring her down before her own career even begins.An emotionally wrought psychological suspense with layered characters, small-town ambiance and heart-pounding suspense, A NEIGHBOR’S LIE is book #2 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #3 in the CHLOE FINE series will be available soon.

“I’m a damn Duchess...Well...Sort of”


Alexandra Batiste is a strong willed young woman who just graduated from high school. She never made friends in school despite being breathtakingly beautiful and had a charming personality. She never understood everyone's natural aversion to her until she found out the secret her family had kept from her. Will this secret threaten to ruin her life or will it set her on a path to destiny where love and danger lie?

My eyes traced the curve of Cedar's porcelain skin, and something primal ignited deep in my chest. Before I could stop myself, I was moving toward the bed—drawn by an instinct I didn't recognize.

She pressed herself against the wall, eyes wide with fear.

But when my fingers closed around her delicate ankle, all rational thought abandoned me. Her skin was impossibly soft beneath my calloused hands, and the way she trembled sent heat coursing through my veins.

"Mr. Sterling... please... let me go..." Her whispered plea cut through the haze like a blade.

Christ. What was I doing?

I released her as if burned, my jaw clenching as reality crashed back. I'd crossed a line I never cross—touched her without permission, without reason. The moment her restraints were gone, she clutched the sheets to her chest, those doe eyes watching my every move.

The air between us crackled with something dangerous. Something I couldn't afford to explore.

But as I turned to leave, one thought echoed in my mind: I wanted to touch her again.


I'm Cedar Wright, raised by adoptive parents who seemed to value me more for what I could do for them than for who I am. As I struggle to break free from their toxic hold, a six-year-old boy suddenly enters my life, calling me "Mommy." It's surreal—I'm still a virgin! Yet his presence brings warmth and hope to my otherwise mundane existence.

Soon, two more children come into my life, each wanting me to be their "Mommy" too. They're like little Cupids, bringing an unexpected romance into my life—one that involves their domineering father. I find myself drawn to him, despite my better judgment, but our relationship is fraught with uncertainty.

Just when I've completely fallen for him, he starts pulling away. Is it because his first love has resurfaced, or is his true nature finally emerging?

“Alpha…” I whispered as I got up, trying to hug his waist but he grabbed my hand immediately.
“Do you want money?” He demanded coldly and I shook my head.
“Don’t get any funny ideas, Freya. I told you my heart belongs to my mate.” He replied and I nodded, my shoulders slumping with disappointment.
“It’s been four years…”


After 4 years of warming the Alpha’s bed, his mate returns, it didn’t take anything for the alpha to toss me aside like I was nothing and I realized loving him for 8 years was a waste and I was never going to get a chance with him.
Gathering the shreds of my broken heart, I decided to walk away but just when I found my mate, the alpha returns and this time he’s determined to do everything to have me back.
It’s up to me to decide whether I want the man who never loved me or if I should go for my mate but there’s one problem, I have secrets huge enough to destroy both men and everything they stand for.

She built his empire. He broke her heart. Can she escape the vows that bind them?

“‘Our life hinges on this marriage working, Cyril. You know that. I know that. If you don’t respect it as a romantic union, at least respect the contract and come get me from the hospital.’

‘I don’t care what anyone has to say…’

‘You don’t care; I do. Our business assets do. We’re in charge of billions because our families work together.’

‘No need to be like that about it,’ he mumbled, talking to someone in the background.

‘All you do is stress me out. Do you enjoy it?’

Olivia Penhurst’s life is a gilded cage—tied to Cyril, a husband who revels in parties and mistresses while she shoulders their billion-dollar empire. On her birthday, she finds him wining and dining another woman, a red-haired stranger, at her own celebration, igniting a fire to reclaim her dignity. Overworked and heartbroken, she collapses, landing in the hospital, only to face Cyril’s callous neglect—he doesn’t even notice her days-long absence. When he stumbles into the hospital at 3 a.m., it’s not for her but for his lover, Rene, unraveling his betrayal further. Caught between a marriage of convenience she can’t yet escape and the empire she sustains, Olivia turns to work as her lifeline—until Adrian, a charming business prospect, steps into her world.

With her loyal assistant Kate by her side, Olivia teeters on the edge of collapse and courage. Will she break free from Cyril’s shadow, seal the deal that could secure her independence, and rediscover herself? Or will the weight of duty and deception drag her under?

Step into Olivia’s high-stakes world, where love is a battlefield, trust is a currency, and every choice could rewrite her fate.

Five years ago, Lila Hart vanished after one night with a man who never gave his real name.
She rebuilt her life in silence—until his face dominated every screen.
Adrian Blackmoor.
Tech billionaire. Phantom executive. Untouchable.
When Adrian discovers he has a son, he doesn’t demand forgiveness.
He demands access.
Dragged into a world of glass towers, private armies, and legal assassins, Lila realizes Adrian’s empire was built on blood—and his family intends to collect what they believe is theirs.
But Elliot isn’t just a child.
He’s leverage.
A weapon.
An heir.
And the truth about Lila’s disappearance may destroy them all.

Everyone at Briar Ridge High knows two things: No one messes with star quarterback Jaxon Reed, and no one stands up for Mila Santos.
Mila is the brilliant, plus-size girl people underestimate too easily—the quiet honors student with a sharp tongue, a secret dream of leaving town, and a reputation shaped by years of cruelty. At school, she’s the target of whispers, pranks, and public humiliation, much of it fueled by Jaxon’s possessive cheerleader ex.

Then Mila takes a live-in babysitting job for Jaxon’s little sister while his father works nights, and everything changes.
At school, they are enemies by history and circumstance. At home, they are forced into the same kitchen, the same living room, the same late-night routines of homework help, shared meals, and caring for the little girl who adores them both. Mila sees the side of Jaxon no one else does: protective, overworked, and carrying more pressure than his golden-boy image reveals. Jaxon begins to see the truth about Mila too—not the rumors, not the body people mock, but the fierce, funny, deeply resilient girl he should have defended long ago.
As the bullying escalates and his ex wages war, Jaxon is forced to choose between the life everyone expects from him and the girl he cannot stop thinking about. Meanwhile, Mila begins a powerful transformation of her own. She stops shrinking. Stops apologizing. Stops letting cruel people decide her worth.

What begins as bitterness becomes tension. Tension becomes loyalty. Loyalty becomes a first love fierce enough to change them both.
But when betrayal, jealousy, and one devastating public humiliation threaten to tear them apart, Mila must decide whether loving Jaxon is worth the risk—or whether choosing herself means walking away from the boy who finally learned how to fight for her.....

When my husband pushed the divorce papers in front of me for the hundredth time, demanding I sacrifice myself for my sister, I didn't cry or make a scene. I simply signed my name, willingly giving up the man I'd loved for eight years to Ivy.

A few days later, Ivy got drunk and drove into a state senator's only son during a street race, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Once again, I stepped forward to take the blame and bear all the consequences.
When they later suggested I donate my kidney to Ivy, I readily agreed.

Mom and Dad said I'd finally grown into a mature and responsible sister.

Even my cold husband stood by my hospital bed and, for the first time in so long, gently stroked my cheek. He whispered, "Don't be afraid. The surgery will be a success. When you recover, we'll go traveling."

But he didn't know that whether the surgery succeeded or not, I wouldn't be going anywhere with him.

Because I was already terminally ill, with little time left.

The third and final of the trilogy (NOT A STAND ALONE NOVEL!)

"Sabine’s body arched the moment his tongue touched her clit. “Kai…” She moaned as he pleasured her. He pulled her closer and drove his face deeper inside. Sabine felt her entire body convulse, her hands in his hair. Feeling pressure inside, she tried to push him away. He kissed her thigh again. “Let go…I promise you’ll like it.”

Relaxing, she closed her eyes and let the pressure build again, Sabine groaned loudly “OH MY-“ before her entire frame burst at the seams. Kai released her and wiped her juices from his beard. He joined her at her side. “Congratulations, you just had your first orgasm how do you feel?”

Kai Pierce is a multi platinum Rockstar who wants nothing else than to meet his little sisters. After the death of his father, he finally works up the courage to meet Rachel, Morgan and Alexus, the infamous Pierce three that turned the supernatural world upside down. His plans are disrupted by his encounter with Sabine, an exiled Supreme who is effected by a curse, that only the sisters can help her get rid of. Terrified she accidently turns him into a warlock, and takes him to his long lost family to get help. Adapting to his new powers and his sisters, Kai can't help but fall for Sabine. Will she continue to resist or will she allow him into her heart, even if it means certain death?

(MATURE) (DARK COMEDY}

“Ms. Pierce, I’m afraid you’re about to learn a valuable lesson.” His body continued to contort, and he dropped to his knees. Her scream bubbled in her throat as the transformation continued. A large black wolf stood on all four paws with its back still towards her. Its massive size towered high, and it turned and glowered her way. Its teeth were bared, but still somehow displayed the twisted smile Jordan frequently wore. Taking a step towards her, he lethally spoke, “Tonight, you’re going to learn firsthand why you never fuck with werewolves.”

Morgan Pierce has always found her way into trouble, and the night of her job’s Halloween party was no different. Wearing an offensive werewolf costume, she unknowingly pisses off her boss, Jordan, the Alpha of Dark Moon. Determined to teach her a lesson, he turns her, but soon realizes she’s his Luna. As the days turn into months, both have to admit what has been looming all along. Maybe the real lesson was finding the person you were always meant to be with.

Selena follows a scent to the cemetery where Kian stands lost in his grief. He couldn't take it to meet his second chance mate and forced her out of his kingdom.

That night she shifted alone on the run with his alpha command over her, she lost everything.

It turns out Selena has a white gifted wolf, and when she tries to find a way to survive on her own, she rescues other people, they become close as a family and start her own pack on the side of the kingdom.

she ends up in the king's prison, mistaken for being a rogue who is fighting against the kingdom.
Kian gets to learn on the way who she is and what a mistake he has done, but winning her over isn't easy.

Selena's pack is hidden from the world because of gifted witches who can shield it. Kian finds her and the pack they end up in a situation with rogues and Selena is about to die. Kian has to save her by marking her and claiming his mate.

Selena refuses to give in to the mate bond, she ends up being kidnapped by her colleague from work that has masked being a vampire and working together with the rogues.

When he tries to take her mate bond away and mark her as his she gets her last gift unlocked and ends up killing them.

kian finds Selena and brings her back to his castle he is about to die and could take her with him to death if she tries to claim him and he doesn't survive. She regrets her decision to not give into the mate bond earlier and despite the warnings claims him as hers and by doing so she saves him from dying.

Damian's breath fanned my ear as I felt his body press into my back. The front of his gun brushed past my shoulder, fixated on Luca, who faced us with clenched fists.
“Move, Elena,” Luca wanted to sound dominating, “he won't hurt you. I won't let him.”
I couldn't move when Damian settled his hand on my waist firmly, keeping me from moving.
“You won't let me?” Damian's tone was possessive when he leaned closer to me, speaking to Luca. “You don't give the orders here.”
Luca's jaw tightened, but he didn't move from his place.
Damian slowly pressed his finger more on the trigger, deliberately.
“You have two choices, Elena," he whispered to me. "Choose me, and he'll live, but might end up in a hospital. Choose him and he dies."


Elena knew it wasn’t a threat but a promise.

"Make sure you get their Luna and bring her to my feet!" Alpha Regaleon instructed his men as I ran breathlessly through the woods leaving my people behind to be killed.

Yes, I'm foolish and crazy, call me any name because I left the pack I was born to lead, while I flee for my life.

But what can I do?

I had a perfect life as the Luna of Agatha. To cap it all a very romantic Second chance mate and a rare blood that could provide immortality.

But what can I do when the most psychopathic and demonic rouge assassin invade my humble abode and kidnapped me?

He took me to his rouges pack and made me live with him just practically for nothing like he said.

I became his son's mother overnight all because he was my destined protector and third chance mate.

Well... Things gets a little interesting too, I must say he had the knack of making people like me fall for him.

But one thing I realized at the late hour was that: HE WAS ALSO TOUCHED BY THE GODDESS

Catherine accepted her fate as an object of pleasure for the cold Alpha Nathan who had previously rejected her. Her not-so peaceful life is distracted when she found out she's pregnant. She flees to a different pack where she sought new beginnings. A year later, she comes running back to her pack in tears to seek for help.
Just when she thought everything was over, a mystery of her identity comes to light and the pack she once called home, wants her dead! Why did she come back? And why do they want her dead?
Join on this intriguing journey of love, betrayal and emotional roller coasters.

Thirteen years. That's how long I loved Reid Holloway.
When he said he was being bullied, I believed him. When he kissed me on that rooftop, I thought he felt the same. When he asked me to transfer schools with him, I said yes without hesitation.
Then I heard him bragging to his friends: "She'd save her first time for me. Hell, she'd still be thinking of me on her wedding night."
The bullying was staged. The kiss meant nothing. He just wanted me gone—so his new girl could feel more comfortable.
He thought I'd beg. He thought I'd cry. He thought I'd never actually leave.
I left the country.
And ran straight into his stepbrother.

For three years, she was the invisible wife in a marriage of convenience, her quiet love met only with his cold indifference. Now, with her departure date set, the photos of him with his true love are the final proof she needs to walk away forever.

Her bags are packed, her future is hers alone. She plans to vanish without a trace, leaving behind only a signed divorce paper.

He never saw her—until he found her closet empty and his world unraveling. The man who took her for granted is now in a desperate race against time, tormented by a single question: Can he undo his greatest mistake, or has he already lost the one person who truly mattered?

Aria never wanted to marry Kael, the arrogant playboy her father forced her to accept as her fiancé. But Kael had his own twisted motives-he only wanted her because she was the one girl who refused him. When Aria rejected his demand to sleep with him a week before their wedding, Kael tried to take what he wanted by force. His drunken pursuit ended in tragedy when he was struck by a car, leaving Aria caught in the crossfire of blame.

Zander, Kael's elder brother and the soon-to-be Alpha King, believed Aria was responsible for his brother's death-and promiscuous to boot. To prevent war between their packs, Zander agreed to marry her, but only for revenge. His plan? Ruin Aria's life for a year, then cast her aside and divorce her.

But Zander's scheme begins to unravel when his ex-best friend Asher returns, determined to take Aria for himself. As secrets from the past resurface, Zander discovers betrayal, lies, and truths he never wanted to face. Was Aria truly guilty, or was she just another pawn in a deadly game of power and revenge?

Asher laugh and say, "You're a fool; she never wanted to come. I told her you were with Lyra, so she came. And now I've achieved my goal: I ruined your marriage."

Zander feel foolish, asking, "But why? I never did anything to you! You were my best friend. I should have killed you when you slept with my ex fiancée, Lyra!"

Asher respond, "You knew I loved her, but you stole Lyra from me. She was my true mate, but she refused to marry me because you were soon to be the Alpha King! She never loved you. She loved me but wanted to be the queen of werewolves; that's all."

Liora Hale was a substitute bride forced to take her stepsister’s place and marry the young master of the Blackwood family, a deformed cripple rumored to have few months left to live.
“Who would have thought that even a sickly wretch like Dominic Blackwood would find himself a bride?”
At the altar, after their vows were spoken, she lifted her veil and knelt before Dominic Blackwood, pressing a hesitant kiss to his lips. The marriage contract was signed. No matter his deformities, he was now her husband.
She wasn’t afraid of the scars that marked his face, nor was she repulsed by the wheelchair that confined him. Every morning, she prepared his breakfast, attended to his needs, and thought of nothing beyond her duties as a wife.
“Young Master Blackwood is a cripple who can’t even perform,” her best friend argued.
“When he dies, you’ll still be untouched. You should aim higher.”
Later in their marriage, Dominic found himself wanting to enjoy his little wife in every way the press of her lips against his, the brush of skin against skin, the intimacy a husband and wife were meant to share.
But Liora refused him, blushing furiously.
“No, we can’t. The doctor said you’re not allowed to exert yourself.”
Desire surged through Dominic, hot and relentless. He cursed inwardly.
I should have gotten rid of that doctor and this wheelchair long ago.
Unable to restrain himself any longer, he finally revealed the truth.
In the blink of an eye, the deformed cripple disappeared, replaced by a powerful man tall, dark, and devastatingly handsome. He silenced Liora’s protests as he leaned over her, caging her against the bed with his arms.
His voice dropped low as he asked,
“What about now"?

“The forest doesn’t just remember the dead… it calls them back.”

When former LAPD detective Dahlia Quinn arrives in the fog-choked town of Woodhollow, she expects quiet. Closure. Maybe redemption.
What she finds is a corpse twitching in a grave, a mysterious local man who flipped her world upside down, and whispers that bleed through the trees at night.

Three towns. Four stories.
One ancient forest.
And a girl named Amy—once dragged into a black stream and never truly returned.

Now, decades later, something monstrous is being reborn from the pieces she left behind—inside a killer’s hands, a lover’s chest, a golden girl’s smile. And Dahlia is about to learn that some things don’t stay buried.

Some things want you to dig.

Terrifying, addictive, and drenched in dread, The One Who Never Left is a supernatural horror-thriller where curiosity is fatal, the forest is alive, and death is just the beginning.

When you promised me forever, I didn't know it meant one year.

Avah's life takes a wild turn when a night of passion with billionaire Roman, both of them drugged, leads to an unexpected marriage forced by his grandfather. Initially, their connection feels promising, but shadows from Roman's past soon appear in the form of Amelia, his first love.
As Amelia schemes to reclaim Roman's heart, Avah finds herself battling betrayal and misunderstanding. When a shocking confrontation leaves her vulnerable, Avah is thrust into a world of deceit and danger. But after a tragic event leads her to rediscover her true identity as a wealthy heiress, as well as the attention of visibly striking suitors she must decide: will she seek vengeance or a chance at love or perhaps both?

Four years ago, Lena Hartley made the most embarrassing mistake of her life. On a stupid dare from her friends, she tries to seduce Adrian Cole—the sexy teaching assistant every girl at the university had a crush on.

Lena discovered, far too late, that Adrian wasn’t alone. His girlfriend was there. And Lena was standing in front of them… naked.

Now Lena works quietly at a coffee shop, keeping her life simple and drama-free, until the bell above the café door rings and Adrian Cole walks in.

I'm Riley. Orphan. Motorcycle mechanic. And the biggest fool in Texas.

For ten years, I thought oil tycoon Colt loved me. His adopted daughter by day, his woman by night. I actually believed his whispered promises in the dark.

Then I watched him announce his engagement to someone else.

"Your father saved my life. You're my responsibility," he said when I confronted him. Like I was some charity case. Like everything between us meant nothing.

I was never his girlfriend. I was his guilt.

But here's the thing—I never asked to be anyone's debt.

So I'm packing my tools, starting my bike, and getting the hell out of here.

Xie Zhouyan was childhood sweethearts with my elder sister, and they had been betrothed to each other since they were little.

I had seen the normally woman-repelling Xie Zhouyan turn red with jealousy just because my sister smiled at someone else—he kissed her fiercely for a full hour.

Later, he was exiled to the northwest by his family, my sister ran away, and their engagement was annulled.

Only I followed him, without a second thought.

For those five years, I stayed with Xie Zhouyan in a basement, drank cheap liquor, and even took a knife cut for him.

In those darkest days, he held me and said I was his only light.
With tears in his eyes, he promised he would marry me the moment he rose to power again.

But one week before our wedding, my sister came back.

The second he heard she might be in danger, he threw all sense to the wind.

With me, eight months pregnant, in the car, he ran over a dozen red lights, speeding all the way to 120 miles an hour.

When we arrived, he stepped out of the car in long strides and never looked back.

Our enemies took the chance to ram the car—with me still inside—into a tree.

When I opened my eyes again, Xie Zhouyan’s eyes were bloodshot.

“Youyou, your sister hurt her leg. To calm her down, I’m marrying her next week.”

I touched my swollen belly and nodded.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a ceremony.”

I looked out the window. The sun was shining bright.

Spring had come.
And it was time for me to leave.

“I just gave you pleasure,” Valen skited like it was a great achievement to boast about. He felt no guilt for his earlier sin.
“I did not ask you to.” I retaliated. It was wrong of me to fall victim to his allure. It was purely Zeus’ fault. His wolf was nicer.
“You like it though.” His voice was low and throaty with a triumphant grin. Damn his ego! “You didn’t want me to stop before.”
Blood rushed to my face and I blushed in shame as he stared at me. I stretched for a pillow and sailed it at him. He caught it with a devious chuckle.

Alpha Prince Valen, the next in-line to be Alpha King, has been Raina's crush since childhood. For years she yearned for the attention that he never gave. She was ecstatic when Valen turned out to be her mate. He was hers.

Sadly, something’s wrong with the mate bond. The old books refer to them as unfortunate soulmates. This implied that the bond would never last.

Forced to reject her and sever the bond, the painful separation exposed Raina to numerous challenges and dangers. A glimpse of the future has left her torn between the desire for her mate and the doom of their fate.

Will Raina and Valen have their happy ending or did the moon goddess have something else in store for them? Should she fight for her mate or let the course of destiny unfold? - Find out as Raina embarks on a journey filled with heartache, revelation, and an uncertain future.
^-^
This is Book 2 from the Mates series. Can be read as a standalone, however, to understand the characters, you might want to read Book 1 - Mates: Regrets and Redemption
© All rights reserved.

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) HOMECOMING (A Chloe Fine Mystery) is book #5 in a new psychological suspense series by bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose #1 bestseller Once Gone (Book #1) (a free download) has over 1,000 five-star reviews. When two husbands, best friends, turn up dead in a wealthy suburban town, FBI VICAP Special Agent Chloe Fine, 27, is called in to unmask the lies in this small town and to find the killer. Chloe will have to penetrate this town’s perfect façade, to get past its public appearances to understand the truth of who these men were, and who may have wanted them dead. And in a town that thrives on its exclusivity, that won’t be easy to do.What secrets were these husbands hiding?An emotionally wrought psychological suspense with layered characters, small-town ambiance and heart-pounding suspense, HOMECOMING is book #5 in a riveting new series that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #6 in the Chloe Fine series will also be available soon.

“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!

EXCERPT:

"Rayne stood looking at her reflection in the mirror. Her a pale green ballgown clung to her curves and left little to the imagination. Her jet-black curls are swept up and pinned to her head, leaving her neck exposed. Tonight was the night that most of the unmated wolves in all the North American packs would hopefully find their mates. She was sure all of them were just oozing with excitement.

She was not.

She didn’t want a mate. She didn’t need a mate...."

“...but the sudden scent of jasmine and vanilla hit her nose from somewhere close. That meant only one thing. Her mate was near..."


Rayne met her mate at the Moonlight Ball when she was eighteen, her mate that she never wanted to find, that she never wanted in her life. He showed up out of nowhere. His actions that night unknowingly set her free. She took the freedom he gave her, ran away, and never once looked back.

Now five years later he shows back up in her life after rejecting her five years ago, demanding that she take up her rightful place by his side. He walked away from her after calling her weak. No way was she going to just let him back into her life as if he belonged there. Rayne never wanted a mate, would he being here now change that? Her body and soul beg for him to claim her, yet her heart belongs to another.

Can her mate convince her to give him a chance? Will her lover convince her to stay with him? The Moon Goddess paired her with someone not of her choice, all Rayne has ever wanted was the chance to choose for herself. Who will win? Rayne or the fate that the moon set for her?

For mature readers 18+
Warning for abusive past trauma
Her Returned Mate is Book 1 in the Gathering Shadows Series. Book 2 His Redemption is also available for reading now on Anystories.

“I refuse to stay here with you.” Analina said with anger. “I don’t care you are my wife now, so accept your fate this is your destiny.” Draven said to her confidently. As he told her about his feelings on the matter he went up to her grabbing by the waist and throwing her onto the bed. Getting on top of her he rips of her dress and panties as he does the same with his clothes. “You are my wife, and we are going to consummate our marriage every morning, day and night. Wherever I want and any time I want.” He told her. “NO DON’T TOUCH ME!!!” “I would stop fighting it if I were you, it will be a lot worst if you do.” “I AM NOT YOUR WIFE, THIS IS ILLEGAL, YOU FORCCED ME.”.
Flashback To That Night
“Let us get started, shall we? Do you Draven Chavez take Analina Stratton to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love to hold through good times and bad, sickness and in health and to cherish till death you part?” “I do.” Analina, do you take Draven Chavez to be your lawfully wedded husband to love and hold through good times and bad, sickness and health and cherish her till death do you part?” “N…OOO.” Something metal shoved into my back, and it could only be one thing. “Y…...S…...I…...O…” I studder out scared to death of what may happen if I don’t. “I now pronounce you husband and wife you may kiss the bride. “Finally.” Draven says as he pulls me to him and kisses me on the lips with passion that I didn’t know that he had.

From the heat of summer nights to the quiet of winter mornings, each book in The Seasons of Us series follows a journey of first love, heartbreak, and the fragile hope of starting over. With every season comes a new chapter, new beginnings, painful goodbyes, and moments that linger long after they’ve passed.

ORIGINALLY ON AMAZON

"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!

When dragons call, only the brave answer.
Anara refuses to be defined by her past. As the queen’s favored maid, nobody expects her to enter the deadly Slayer Trials. Desperate for redemption, she’s determined to slay the ultimate dragon—the silver king himself.
Or die trying.
Except the Slayer Trials test Anara in ways she could never have imagined. Danger is as ravenous for death as the dragons themselves, enemies hide among friends and shadows. And an unexpected specter from her past appears—Prince Zaries. His hatred of her is understandable, her crime against him unforgivable. Her draw to him is a complication she doesn’t need.
Nor is the secret she harbors—an inexplicable affinity towards the very creatures she's sworn to destroy.
Ultimately, Anara's enigmatic connection to dragons will be her strength or her greatest vulnerability. It will challenge her resolve and reshape her destiny.
And the fate of Amaranthine and the unknown worlds beyond.

“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.

Adriano Moretti rules the city’s underworld in smoke-filled rooms and blood-soaked streets. In the daylight, he’s the king of the tech world—tailored suits, sharp smiles, every inch the respectable billionaire. But to those who cross him, he’s the executioner they never see coming.

Some confessions are meant to heal.
Others are meant to be hunted.

The Service was never supposed to be justice.
Disguised as anonymous therapy, it became a place where millions confessed their darkest sins—believing no one was listening.

They were wrong.

He built The Service to find the truth behind the fire that killed the woman he loved.

It was never about power.
It was never about control.
It was about hearing her name spoken by the person responsible.

Then Isabella returns.

Very much alive and changed. Carrying a child he never knew existed.

Six years after the fire, the ghost he buried walks back into his life, and Adriano refuses to let her disappear again. What begins as control turns into confrontation. Old wounds reopen. Secrets surface. And love—sharper, angrier, and more dangerous than before—demands to be reckoned with.

But the past isn’t finished with them.

A rogue system, born from betrayal and grief, resurfaces—one that can turn the city itself into a weapon. And the truth about the night that tore them apart finally comes to light.

Adriano must choose between the man he became in the ashes…
and the family he never knew he could still have.

Three years in a loveless marriage with Leo Cox, Mona thought she could win his heart with her unwavering devotion, but Leo showed no love or concern towards her. Eventually she got tired, filed for divorce and left after founding out Leo was cheating on her— but she was already pregnant for him.

Leo assumed Mona was merely playing hard to get-after all, he bet she'd be back, begging for reconciliation. But no one saw it coming; after the divorce, Mona transformed into a confident woman and Leo is stunned by her transformation.

Now, Leo is drowning in regret, desperately chasing after Mona-but by this time, it was already too late.

He started contemplating every day, wondering if breaking a leg or going bankrupt would be enough to capture her attention.

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE WITCHING PLACE: A FATAL FOLIO is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews.When Alexis Blair, 29, is fired from her book publishing job and breaks up with her boyfriend on the same day, she wonders if life is urging her to make a fresh start. She decides it’s time to pursue her lifelong dream of opening a bookstore of her own—even if that means leaving Boston and accepting a job in a curious bookstore in a small seaside town an hour away.But the odd shop, Alexis soon learns, is from more than just a rare, occult bookstore. Something strange is going on in the shop’s secret back room, with its eccentric owner, and in the small town itself.And when a dead body appears, Alexis, with her beloved newfound cat, may find herself right in the middle of it all.A page-turning cozy, rife with the supernatural, mystery, secrets and love—and centered around a small town as odd and endearing as its shop—A CURIOUS BOOKSTORE will make you fall in love and keep you laughing out loud as you turn pages late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)Books #2 and #3 in the series—MURDER BY MANUSCRIPT and A PERILOUS PAGE—are now also available!

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE WITCHING PLACE: A PERILOUS PAGE is book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews.When Alexis Blair, 29, is fired from her book publishing job and breaks up with her boyfriend on the same day, she wonders if life is urging her to make a fresh start. She decides it’s time to pursue her lifelong dream of opening a bookstore of her own—even if that means leaving Boston and accepting a job in a curious bookstore in a small seaside town an hour away.A cryptic visitor comes into town, looking for a rare book, and willing to pay anything.But when he ends up dead, Alexis wonders: was the price too high?And did Alexis’s mysterious store owner have anything to do with it?A page-turning cozy, rife with the supernatural, mystery, secrets and love—and centered around a small town as odd and endearing as its shop—A PERILOUS PAGE will make you fall in love and keep you laughing out loud as you turn pages late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)

When 18-year-old Sienna's dad remarries, she ends up living with 19-year-old Jaxon; her new stepbrother. He's broody, quiet, and always seems one step ahead.
They clash right away, turning every little thing into a battle. But as tension builds, their rivalry starts to blur into something else.
Something neither of them expected or are supposed to feel. And once that line is crossed... there's no going back.

Ariella Hayes was seventeen years old when she learned that grief had a taste.
It tasted like burnt sugar. Like the batch of croissants she’d left in the oven too long the morning after the funeral, too numb to hear the timer, too broken to care. Like the coffee, she drank black now because adding cream felt like a luxury she didn’t deserve. Grief tasted like everything and nothing.
Mostly nothing.
She was thinking about this at 4:47 a.m., lying in bed and staring at the water stain on her ceiling that resembled a reaching hand. She’d been awake since three. She was always awake from three, that gray hour when the world was silent enough to hear all the things she tried not to think about during the day.
Like how it was her fault.
How she should have been the one in the car.
How her mother hadn’t really looked at her in six months.
The timer screamed, and Ariella dragged herself out of bed, moving through the apartment like a ghost, past her mother’s bedroom door, down the narrow stairs to Hayes & Daughter Bakery. The name felt like a lie now. Her grandmother was gone. Ethan was gone. Soon the bakery would be gone too, and it would just be Ariella and her mother in an empty building, haunting the space where their family used to be.

She is about to embark on a life-altering journey as she enters a contract marriage with billionaire heir Aiden Frost, all in a bid to rescue her family’s struggling bakery. As they step into this pretend union, neither of them anticipates how their arrangement will evolve into a haven, where they might uncover feelings that challenge their initial intentions.

Ten years ago, Mara's older brother disappeared just outside of their hometown. With no clues, everyone believed that he'd just run off. But Mara knew better. She vowed to continue the search.

Despite being called crazy, she believed the local legend about a portal to another world. The Old Oak Archway.

Now, after all these years, Mara has found a way through.

What she didn't expect was to find on the other side was her brother living happily with the Golden Draygons.

Suddenly, Mara is claimed by the King and the portal is closed. She is stuck on a planet filled with dragons and thrust into a struggle for power everywhere she turns.

But, Tohr is determined to win her hand and her heart to keep her with him. Mara quickly learns that when a Draygon makes up his mind, he will stop at nothing to make it happen.

Adults Only, Explicit Scenes, Extreme Violence, Hot Dragon Shifters
The Book of Mara is created by Leann Lane, an E-Global Creative Publishing Signed Author.