642 Book(s) Related to dan brown books

“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 CRAVED is book #3 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download!When prostitutes turn up dead in Phoenix, not much attention is paid. But when a pattern of disturbing murders is discovered, the local police soon realize a serial killer is on a rampage and they are in way over their heads. Given the unique nature of the crimes, the FBI, called in, knows they will need their most brilliant mind to crack the case: Special Agent Riley Paige.Riley, recovering from her last case and trying to pick up the pieces of her life, is at first reluctant. But when she learns of the grievous nature of the crimes and realizes the killer will soon strike again, she is compelled. She begins her hunt for the elusive killer and her obsessive nature takes her too far—perhaps too far, this time, to pull herself back from the brink. Riley’s search leads her into the unsettling world of prostitutes, of broken homes, and shattered dreams. She learns that, even amongst these women, there are glimpses of hope, hope being robbed by a violent psychopath. When a teenage girl is abducted, Riley, in a frantic race against time, struggles to probe the depths of the killer’s mind. But what she discovers leads her to a twist that is too shocking for even her to imagine.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE CRAVED is book #3 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #4 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

Julia loves reading BDSM erotic books. Her husband catches her reading one of those books and then they both try out playing sex games where Julia gets to be a slave and she loves playing these love games with her husband. But will these games affect their marriage? Let's find out by reading how it all started and how it's going!
This is book 02 of the slavery series.

Julia loves reading BDSM erotic books. Her husband catches her reading one of those books and then they both try out playing sex games where Julia gets to be a slave and she loves playing these love games with her husband. But will these games affect their marriage? Let's find out by reading how it all started and how it's going!
This is book 03 of the slavery series.

"You really intrigue me, Nara," He flashes another smile, but it disappears just as fast.

A confession that makes my cheeks burn.

"I intrigue a lot of people." I try to control my breathing. "Most are always bad."

He shakes his head slowly, not wanting to pry his eyes away from my rising chest. "You intrigue me in a different sense."

"And what sense is that?"

"In the sense that I ask myself... why is it—" His neck bobs as he swallows hard, the tip of his finger now grazing the side of my uncovered thigh."—That I always find myself so drawn to you?"


For Naralía Ambrose, hunting and trapping creatures aren't enough for her. Not when she knows dreaded dragons and shifters such as the one that killed her father still lurk in the depths of Emberwell.

Moving to the infamous City of Flames and becoming a part of the queen's dragon Venators, is all she dreams of in order to continue her father's legacy.

So, when an attack occurs in her village, and this opportunity finally arises for Naralía, she quickly finds herself uncovering secrets to the city. Ones that will make her question her views over the world she lives in and whether she can trust the people around her...

With a burning desire to hunt dragons, an impertinent thief she must capture, and a tempting romance brewing, Naralía will soon question where her loyalties truly lie.

"STRIP".. ,, HADES said in his bold , authoritative and demanding tone.His eyes held anger and temper which send fears to her. Every Fibres of her body was shaking under his powerful and dominance gaze. She stood at her Place and didn't know how to react on his words.

"I said Strip My wife".. ,, This time his voice made her trembled and with Shaking hands she started to open her wedding dress.

She removed her veil and looked at him. He was staring back at her with his intense pitch black orbs.

"Remove Your Ornaments Too"..,, He spoke when she stopped removing her Wedding dress. She removed her jewellery but left Golden Nuptials Chain Which he tied around her neck. Her glossy eyes were locked with his blazing eyes

"I don't have the whole Night" ... ,, Hades voice echoed in the room. Her breathing was low and sweats started to appear on her body.

She opened the strings of her wedding skirt and in a flow it fall down on the floor. With trembling hands she again pulled the strings of her blouse and opened the hooks. Now she was in her red lacy lingerie. However ,Not even for a second His eyes moved down and wandered at her curvy body.

His eyes were fixed on her eyes and she was gazing back at his beautiful deep black eyes. He stood up from the bed and came near her. She took a few steps back but the wall stopped and supported her body to stand properly. He bent and tilted his head and whispered in her ear. His husky deep voice and hot breath released thousands of butterflies in her stomach.

"You're not up to my standard".. ,, He said and left her in the room all alone on their wedding night. His words pierced her heart and a hurtful Chuckled came out of her mouth.

Tears were flowing through her eyes but she smiled sadly and said, "My name is DURGASHAKTI, husband and I'm not weak like you thought of me"

Story Of HADES and His PERSEPHONE

Content Warning
This book contains explicit sexual content, BDSM themes, power dynamics, violence, and dark romance elements. It is intended for mature readers (18+).
Lucifiel Thorne thought he had wiped out every last hunter.
He was wrong.
Levi Cross is just trying to survive. Between college, bills, and a past he doesn’t fully remember, life is already hard enough. The last thing he needs is attention—especially from a man who clearly doesn’t belong in his world.
But Lucifiel isn’t just any man. He’s powerful, controlling, and way too interested in Levi.
It started as a job offer, until it wasn't. Because the “job” takes him into a private, exclusive club where the rules are different,and where Levi is expected to play a role he never signed up for.
Lucifiel’s possession.
What was supposed to be temporary starts to feel like something else entirely. Something darker and far more dangerous than Levi ever expected.
Lucifiel wasn't all about the pleasure. What Levi doesn’t know is that he was way more than a pleasure toy.
He was the last hunter. And his blood is the one thing Lucifiel has been searching for.
The one thing that can end everything.
Or change it forever. Either way… Lucifiel plans to claim what’s his.

“You seem to have forgotten that you’re not marrying a commoner, Alina. You’re marrying the prince of all vampires, so look alive and get me some coffee.”
Alina Deluca lives a normal life up in the Californian north. At least that’s what she makes the world believe. Locked within her hypnotizing emerald eyes are horrors she could never speak of, even if it killed her.
Erick Stayton, the vampire prince, is her nightmare. To her, he was no more than a cold, savage predator that lusted for her blood and took away everything she had during that one traumatizing night four years ago. Problem is, she is bound to be his bride.
Mustering every strength to set things right in her awry life, she gets embroiled in an ages-old feud and a struggle for power of mind-boggling proportions. Strangely enough, she finds herself connecting with Erick in ways she never knew she could. Suddenly, everything is not what it seems.
Is Erick the heartless monster Alina makes him out to be? Will a vampire law made eons ago be the undoing of the whole vampire race? Will heated passion bloom in these bloodiest of times?

She ran away from home, leaving with anger inside her heart.
She will never accept his father's mistress to become the legal wife after her mom died.
Alone, lost, hungry and desperate. She met the young and wild Lance Angelo Vergara.
They shared a night with full of passion...
Ashamed of what she did. Nathalie Audrey Falcon leave without saying goodbye.
Leaving Lance in so much rage and burning desire.
After 6 years, their path crossed again.
The Forgotten Desire that they felt a long time ago, ignites...
Lance will never forget the night that they had and chased her.
But it will never be the same again...
She is already married, with a twin.
Hiding something...
And he has a secret...
That will about to be revealed...

“Addicting....ARENA ONE is one of those books that you read late into the night until your eyes start to cross because you don't want to put it down." --The Dallas Examiner The sequel to the #1 Bestseller ARENA ONE! In ARENA TWO, having just escaped from the treacherous island that was once Manhattan, Brooke, Ben, Logan, Bree and Rose make their way up the Hudson river in their stolen boat, low on fuel, low on food, and desperately needing shelter from the cold. On their tails are the slaverunners, who will stop at nothing until they capture them and bring them back. As they make their way upriver in this post-apocalyptic, action-packed thriller, on their way to try to find the mythical city in Canada, they will need to use all their ingenuity and survival skills to stay alive. Along the way they will encounter crazed survivors, roving gangs of predators, cannibals, wild animals, a desolate wasteland, and an unstoppable blizzard. They sustain injuries, get sick, and the Hudson freezes over as they do their best to salvage what they can and avoid the slaverunners’ pursuit. They find a small island and think they have found respite—until events don’t go their way. It is not until they board a mysterious train to nowhere that they find that things can always get worse. Along the way, Brooke’s feelings for Logan intensify, as do her feelings for Ben. Torn between these two boys, caught between their jealousy, she is unsure how she feels—until events choose for her. As they find themselves thrown back into an arena, they are shocked to discover that Arena Two is even worse. Thrown into a barbaric fighting stage, equipped with weapons, pitted against other teenagers—and against themselves—Brooke and the others will be forced to choose what’s important, and to make the most difficult sacrifices of their lives. Because in Arena Two, no one survives. Ever. “Grabbed my attention from the beginning and did not let go….This story is an amazing adventure that is fast paced and action packed from the very beginning. There is not a dull moment to be found.” --Paranormal Romance Guild {regarding Turned} “Jam packed with action, romance, adventure, and suspense. This book is a wonderful addition to this series and will have you wanting more from Morgan Rice.” --vampirebooksite.com {regarding Loved} “Morgan Rice proves herself again to be an extremely talented storyteller….This would appeal to a wide range of audiences, including younger fans of the vampire/fantasy genre. It ended with an unexpected cliffhanger that leaves you shocked.” --The Romance Reviews{regarding Loved}

“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 LURED is book #4 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download, with over 500 five star reviews!Women are turning up dead on a lone stretch of highway in Delaware. Some go missing for an inexplicable length of time, while others are turning up dead, their bodies left out for display in bizarre and mysterious ways. When a pattern is discovered, it becomes clear to the FBI that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt—luring girls in devious schemes—and that he won’t stop killing, ever.The FBI, desperate to crack the case, urges Special Agent Riley Paige to take it on. But the brilliant Riley, still reeling from past cases, has finally found peace in her home life, and is determined to help her daughter April get back on her feet. Yet when the murders become too disturbing, too urgent—and when her former partner Bill implores her—Riley finally realizes she can’t say no.Riley’s hunt leads her deep into the unsettling world of hitchhikers, of drifters, of women that no one else cares for. When she discovers that several women are being kept alive and that there is still time to save them, she realizes she will stop at nothing, obsessing over the case and driving herself to the brink. Yet Riley realizes her own life is falling apart, and her own fragile psyche can barely handle the strain. In a frantic race against time, she will have to plunge deep into the killer’s mind to save these women—and to save herself—from collapse.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE LURED is book #4 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.Book #5 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“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 STALKED is book #9 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews! When two soldiers are found dead on a huge military base in California, apparently killed by gunshot, military investigators are stumped. Who is killing its soldiers, inside the secure confines of its own base?And why?The FBI is called in, and Riley Paige is summoned to take the lead. As Riley finds herself immersed in the military culture, she is amazed to realize that serial killers can strike even here, in the midst of the most secure location on earth.She finds herself in a frantic cat and mouse chase, racing to decode the killer’s psychology. Yet she soon discovers she is up against a highly-trained killer, one that may, even for her, be too deadly an opponent.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE STALKED is book #9 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #10 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“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 COLD is book #8 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews! There is one cold case that has plagued Special Agent Riley Paige for her entire career, dwelling at the corners of her consciousness, forcing her to return to it again and again. The only case she has never solved, she has finally put it out of her mind.Until she gets a call from the murdered victim’s mother.It spurs Riley to face the case once again, and to not give up until she has found answers.Yet Riley barely has time to catch her breath when she receives a lead for another cold case, one which, if possible, strikes an even deeper note within her. It is a lead that promises to solve the case of her own mother’s killer.And it comes from Shane Hatcher.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE COLD is book #8 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #9 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“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 PINED is book #6 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! Men and women are turning up dead in the outskirts of Seattle, poisoned by a mysterious chemical. When a pattern is discovered and it becomes clear that a twisted serial killer is on the hunt, the FBI calls in their best asset: Special Agent Riley Paige. Riley is urged to return to the line of duty—but Riley, still reeling from the attacks on her family, is loath to return. Yet as bodies mount, and the murders become more inexplicable, Riley knows she has no choice.The case takes Riley deep into the unsettling world of nursing homes, of hospitals, of drifting caretakers and psychotic patients. As Riley delves deeper into the mind of the murderer, she realizes she is hunting the most terrifying killer of all: one whose madness knows no depths—and yet who may just appear shockingly ordinary.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE PINED is book #6 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #7 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“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 HUNTED is book #5 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 600 five star reviews! A prison break from a maximum security prison. Frantic calls from the FBI. Special Agent Riley Paige’s worst nightmare has come true: a serial killer she put away years ago is loose. And his main target is her.Riley is used to being the one hunting, but for the first time, she finds herself—and her family—to be the ones being hunted. As the killer stalks her, he also begins a new rampage of kills, and Riley must stop him before it is too late—for the other victims, and for herself.But this is no ordinary killer. He is too smart, and their game of cat-and-mouse too twisted, and he somehow manages to elude her and always stay one step ahead. Desperate to stop him, Riley realizes there is only one way: she must delve back into the past, into this killer’s twisted mind, his old cases, and re-learn what drives him. The only way to stop him, she realizes, is to face the darkness she thought she had left behind.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE HUNTED is book #5 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #6 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

“LOVE LIKE THIS creates a world of emotions and turmoil, describing superbly the mind of a young lady (Keira) and her struggles to balance her social life and her career. Sophie Love is a natural storyteller. LOVE LIKE THIS is very well written and edited, and I highly recommend it to the permanent library of all readers that appreciate a romance that can be savored during a weekend.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) LOVE LIKE YOURS (The Romance Chronicles—Book #5) is book #5 in a new, sweet romance series by #1 bestselling author Sophie Love. The series begins with LOVE LIKE THIS (Book #1), a free download!Keira Swanson, 28, finds herself spending a magical Christmas with new her new boyfriend and his family in Sweden. How will their relationship end?Keira returns to New York to discover, to her shock, that she has started a new trend in dating that is sweeping across the country—“Scandinavian romance”—and to find herself becoming a celebrity. Even more confusing, her sister gets engaged, and gives Keira constant advice. Overwhelmed, Keira takes solace when Christiano calls, and surprises herself when she agrees to take a week off and meet him on neutral ground: in Greece.Her magazine is thrilled, and they want this to be her new assignment: can love work the second time around, in a different time and place, if you give it one more chance?Greece is spectacular, filled with sun, ocean, ruins and romance. It is one of the most beautiful places she has ever been. But nothing can prepare Keira for her encounter with Cristiano—and the surprise that follows on its heels.A wholesome romantic comedy that is as profound as it is funny, LOVE LIKE YOURS is book #5 in a dazzling new romance series that will make you laugh, cry, and will keep you turning pages late into the night—and will make you fall in love with romance all over again.Book #6 will be published soon!“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….[This is] 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 (Diane Donovan re: For Now and Forever)

''Well, do you have something to say?''
A strapping, muscular naked man asked me as he sat across from me as I was also sitting there naked, half-submerged in this large tub of water.
''Don't worry, I won't bite you, baby...''
He said as he moved closer to me, pulling me into his lap and placing me on his leg.
''Wh-what is this, Master?'' I finally asked him as he handed me a small bar.
''I am not your Master,'' he snapped at me in a harsh tone.
''I am your Mate.''

After the death of Alasia's mother five years before, her stepfather used the trust given to her upon her mother's death to support his drinking habits.
Once he was broke and refusing to manage the one low-end job he had, he felt he was left with no other choice. He decided to sell his eldest stepdaughter in the event that he could get enough to move away, and therefore, take her younger brother along with him.
Alasia at the mere age of 16 is sold into slavery into the most fierce werewolf pack, The Crimson Caine, by her overzealous and abusive step-father.
How can she survive under the most ruthless and Alpha?
And what if she finds out she's his MATE?

‘I had not expected to breed you, little girl.’ He said, his voice emotionless but his eyes were hot with lust,’ You were just a plaything to be used till I tired of you, but there was no way I would let any child of mine grow up as a bastard.’
My breath caught in my throat at the sheer cruelty, the heartlessness of his words. Was that all I had been to him?
The young innocent woman and the older, heartless Mafia Boss who cannot have enough of her.

When the cynical, jaded Mafia Don Lucien Delano, meets eighteen-year-old, Proserpina Martinez, she falls in love with him without realizing that she is just a plaything for him. By the time she comprehends reality, it is too late. Pregnant and alone the spirited young woman does something that takes the Don by surprise.
She runs away.
But the Don has never had a woman dump him; He is the one who leaves them, Incensed, he sets out to get them back
What happens next?
Read it to find out how the stormy, passionate lovers battle their emotions and themselves.

Charlotte Spencer was the perfect wife to Alexander Forbes and the devoted mother to their five-year-old son.
She spent years mastering nutrition plans and medical care, sacrificing her own dreams to manage their son’s severe allergies.

But on the day Charlotte suffered a painful scalding accident, her husband didn’t rush to her side.
Instead, he held another woman’s hand, his voice soft with concern: “Are you hurt?”

The betrayal cut deeper when her own son looked up at her with cold eyes.
“I prefer Auntie Sabrina,” he said. “She’s gentle, beautiful, and talented. Unlike you, Mom. You’re just a housewife.”

On Charlotte’s birthday, she overheard the woman who had stolen her life ask Alexander a single, devastating question: “Will you ever love me?”
His answer was immediate. “Yes.”
In that moment, the truth shattered her world.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t tried hard enough; it was that he had never loved her at all.
Watching them lost in their own intimacy, Charlotte finally stopped fighting for a place in a home where she was never truly wanted.

She turned her back on the only life she had known, her voice steady and final.
“ Alexander Forbes, I want a divorce.”

For seven years, I was the perfect wife, only to be replaced by his first love.
Ethan didn't just break my heart;

he let his mistress steal my jewelry designs, and manipulated my own son into calling me a monster.
I was suffocating in a marriage built on lies.

But they made one fatal mistake: they pushed me too far.

The day I walked away, I didn't just leave a toxic husband and an ungrateful son.

I left behind the broken woman they created.

With the support of my best friend and the unexpected warmth of a powerful CEO who saw my true worth, I reclaimed my name, my career, and my life.

Now, as my designs shine on the world stage, Ethan is on his knees begging for forgiveness.

But he’s too late.

The day I walked away was the day I finally found myself.

And I will never look back.

Marcello is a young Italian boss, who has built his empire on total intolerance and violence. Elsa's father is murdered in the most ruthless way, which gets Don Marcello involved, and his life entangled with this young mafia's daughter.

He kidnapped her, claiming his aim is to protect her from her father's murderers but it certainly does not seem like it because he is possessive and won't let her go!

Elsa is no innocent good girl either, she is more than ready to revenge her father's death and no handsome possessive devil can keep her caged, and make her sip tea while her father's murder enjoys her family's downfall!

Marcello and Elsa's life has to change, in a way that has them reeling with emotion, lust, passion, and dark secrets, and surely nothing will ever be the same again for the both of them.

"You are not only the father of my future husband, but also the father of my best friend."
He regarded me with eyes shaped like crescent moons and spoke his letters in a voice that was alluring.

"Let's keep this to ourselves and nobody will find out about us."


He is a forbidden man whose temptation makes it possible for two sinners to have sexual relations regardless of the cost.

His breath trails behind my lips and teases the delicate threads of my femininity, making me want to grab hold of his collar and ensnare him in an everlasting kiss. To the extent that my mind can go, everything that is not allowed to be eaten was delicious.

"She took everything from me," I whispered.
Benjamin nodded once. "But she doesn't know you're alive."
" I want revenge," I said, my voice cold. "She doesn't get to win. Not after this."
"I figured you would," Benjamin said.
"Why did you help me?" I asked him. "Why are you helping me?
"Just know that I'm your secret admirer."He said.


On the day of my wedding, I was stabbed, left to die... and forgotten. While I bled in my wedding dress, my fiancé married my sister.
And my adoptive family, the people who I thought loved me, never even looked for me. They all moved on, like I never existed. I thought my world had ended.
But I refused to stay a victim. Benjamin Grey, CEO of Grey Global found me, saved me, and helped me rise again.
When I thought I would get my revenge, I found out that my biological mother who had been missing for fifteen years was alive, and held captive by my adoptive parents.
The more I try to find peace, the more trouble comes in. And I wished I had died that day. Maybe death would've been easier than living with everything I now know. Maybe I won't have to face all these traumas.
But life had other plans.

Ariel Bennett is one of the most popular rising stars in the music industry, beautiful, untouchable, adored. But behind closed doors, her world is a cage built on control, threats, and a routine of being pimped out to satisfy powerful men.

When one of those men is killed, with her as the only witness, she’s forced into a deal with the most dangerous man she has ever met.

Vincent Russo.

It’s that or she dies.


Vincent Russo only had one goal when he decided to keep Ariel alive that night: use her for his operation, then erase her existence when it was over.

That was until a coup was formed against him, and he had to seek refuge with her to regroup and strategize.

Without warning, feelings start to grow, tension becomes palpable, and he finds himself becoming vulnerable around her, which he hates but can't help.

When the danger of his world looms even closer and puts her in danger, he can't help but ask himself a question...

Was he selfish enough to hold onto her when he's everything she should be running away from?

"My gift has finally arrived, a perfect specimen, perfect for an heir."


If only I had known that I wouldn't ever return to my house. Never see my mother, my siblings, or Violet... I never would have gotten in that car.

My father remarked, "She's all yours,"

"Dad? Dad? Dad?! " I yelled. I squirmed as tears began to stream, attempting to break free.


Years have passed...

"My gift has finally arrived," said a voice I recognized. That voice was the catalyst for my downfall.

"Well, now that we're acquainted, I think we can go see my son." You know, I purchased you for him. "A perfect specimen, perfect for an heir," he murmured, a nasty smirk on his face.


"Son!" Antonio applauded.

"What do you want, father?" I felt a little chill at the sound of the fresh voice. The Italian accent in the words, together with how deep, velvety, and dominating it was, shook me to my very core. I was a little pleased that he spoke so harshly about his father.

He had midnight-black hair that fell in a part of his onyx eyes, which was lengthy in the center but short on the sides. Deeply tanned complexion, full pink lips, and a jawline with a five o'clock shadow.

He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt beneath that had the first three buttons undone, revealing some tattoos. His hands were encrusted with silver rings, some of which had black jewels. Both hands and backs of both had tattoos.

I was intrigued by the creative swirls since I was ignorant of the whole tattoo.

Not if he made the decision to remove his shirt.


Lucy was sold to Antonio Martinelli, the former boss of the biggest Italian mafia when she was 14 years old. After spending years in the "safe house," Lucy is delivered to his son Luca Martinelli, the new leader, as a birthday gift. Luca fights the urge to fall in love with the ebony beauty as Lucy attempts to keep a promise she made and regain her former self. Will they endure all the deceit, lust, murder, and betrayal committed in the name of love together?

I've signed five blood-bound annulment contracts with my mafia don husband.
Each and every time, he fed me the same line: "When this is over, we'll tie the knot again."
But every single one of those "things" was for the same woman: Seraphina Moretti.
We ended our marital bond for the first time, and I sobbed, begging him to tell me if his love for me had ever been real.
He clamped his hold on my jaw hard enough to whiten his knuckles, enunciating every word coldly: "Elara, that doesn't matter."
When the second annulment rolled around, I was mocked openly at the family gala, labelled a discarded floozy for all the clan to see. I locked myself away in the ensuite bathroom and sliced open my wrists; blood trickled along the tile grout, pooling across the floor like a crimson stream.

My best mate Talia tracked me down to find me trembling. It wasn't the wound's ache making me shake, though—Killian was somewhere on the estate that very night, yet he never bothered to pop by and check on me once.

By the third split, I'd taught myself never to shed a tear in his presence.

On the fourth occasion, I even took it upon myself to ask him flat-out: "What sham do you need me to play along with now?"
He froze for the longest moment, said nothing at all in the end, just curled his hands into tight fists and spun his back on me.
Now we're here for the fifth annulment.
He's fool enough to think he only needs to click his fingers and I'll trot back to remarry him just as I've done all the previous times. What he did not know is this:
This time, I'm disappearing from his life for good.

Eight years ago, I was forced to marry Sicily's most dangerous man.

Louis De Santis, heir to the Santis crime family, decided he wanted me. Right in front of me, he brutally tortured and killed my fiancé Alessandro, then dumped the body in the ocean for the sharks. He used Alessandro's blood to write threats on the wall to my parents—I had no choice but to walk into that fortress he called home.

Louis was obsessed with me to the point of madness. He took bullets for me during family wars, got down on his knees and begged the family elders when they questioned his choice. Under that twisted kind of love, I gradually fell for him and gave him a son—Marco.

For five years, I thought I'd found happiness.

Until year eight, when the Corleone family sent their "peace offering"—Angelina Corleone. This innocent-looking woman effortlessly stole Louis's heart. He had the nerve to announce: "You two are going to get along."

I couldn't stand the betrayal, so I secretly reached out to other families to try getting rid of Angelina.

I got caught.

In his rage, Louis strung up 5-year-old Marco above the blast furnace at the steel mill.

"NO! Please! He's just a child!" I rushed toward Louis frantically, but his men held me back.

Molten steel roared inside the furnace at 2912°F. Scorching heat blasted upward as little Marco dangled just ten feet above the flames.

My heart nearly stopped.

"Mommy! Help me! It's so hot! So hot!" Marco screamed in terror.

"Put him down! Please!" I fell to my knees, begging desperately, "Kill me! Kill me instead! Don't hurt Marco!"

"Nod and let her stay, and I'll let him down." Louis coldly began counting down: "TEN!"

I watched Marco's little body writhing in agony from the heat.

"NINE!"

Sweat and tears blurred my vision.

"EIGHT!"

"I agree! I AGREE!" I broke down screaming, "She can stay! Please let Marco down!"

Louis smiled with satisfaction and stopped counting, about to signal his men.

Then—

"SNAP!"

The rope suddenly broke!

"NOOO—!"

Time seemed to freeze. I watched helplessly as Marco's tiny body plummeted.

"THUD!"

He fell into the furnace.

In an instant, he was gone.

I completely shattered, blood spurting from my mouth as I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes again, I'd gone back to the day Louis first brought Angelina home.

This time, I'm going to make him pay!

To protect my fallen comrade's orphaned daughter, I sealed away my identity as the God of War and endured three years as the worthless, trampled live-in son-in-law of an overseas billionaire family.

Managers forced me to haul the heaviest cargo, while relatives mocked me as a freeloading dog.

My high-and-mighty fiancée despised me most of all. At the Global Tech Summit, she publicly threw an annulment agreement in my face, forcing me into a cheap waiter's uniform to serve drinks to her new billionaire lover.

Everyone waited for me to break down and beg, eagerly anticipating the ultimate joke.

But I simply picked up the pen with absolute calm, signed my name, and turned away.

They thought this was my absolute ruin, my final descent into the gutter. Little did they know, this annulment paper completely shattered the final shackle that forced me to show mercy to this world.

When the alarm blared, signaling that my comrade's daughter had been dragged onto an illegal laboratory table, I pressed the old military dog tag on my chest, untouched for three years.

"God of War Protocol, terminate hibernation."

In that instant, low-orbit armed satellites shifted their trajectories. A stealth fleet blockaded international waters. Trillions in offshore funds were unfrozen in a flash.

Those arrogant elites who believed they controlled everything had no idea. Now that the disguise of a worthless loser was cast aside, they were about to face the apocalyptic fury of the Supreme Commander of the Abyss.

“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 LOST is book #10 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 900 five star reviews! Still reeling from her former partner Lucy’s death and from her partner Bill’s PTSD, FBI Special Agent Riley Paige does her best to try to keep herself stable and to patch together her family life. She has to decide what to about April’s boyfriend, recovering from his abusive father, and about Blaine, who is ready for their relationship to move ahead.But before she can work it out, Riley is summoned for a new case. In an idyllic suburban town in the Midwest, teenage girls are going missing—and a body has already turned up. The police are stumped, and Riley is called in to catch the killer before another girl goes missing.Making things worse is that Riley is assigned a partner she does not want—her nemesis, Special agent Roston—who had been interrogating her in Shane’s case.Even worse: Shane is on the loose, he wants revenge—and he has Riley’s family in his sights.A dark psychological thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE LOST is book #10 in a riveting new series—with a beloved new character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night. Book #11 in the Riley Paige series will be available soon.

Sebastion Drakos has been a selfish man all his life. For so long he put his needs above all those who he protects as the Alpha of The Redwood Pack. All for the love of an unworthy woman. Now with her gone, it leaves Sebastion to raise the son she gave him. For Jace, he will do anything.

Irina Belova is a slave. Vicktor is her master and a monster. Irina's daughter is her master's pawn. He uses her child to keep her in line. Vicktor is sending her on a mission. Irina is to spy on Sebastion, then trap him. Vicktor wants the mighty Alpha for his collection.

Fate may have plans for these two. They have children that they will do anything for. Each has a past they want to atone for. Can they survive the storm that is coming? Will Sebastion find his redemption? Will Irina find her freedom? Or will the forces working against all supernatural creatures keep them from achieving what they both want?

Mature Content Warning
18+ Readers
Drama Series

The cover of this book was made by fellow writer KeyKirita
The title of this book was the help of fellow writer Marii Solaria
Both writers have helped me greatly

Gathering Shadows Novels:
Book 1: Her Returned Mate
Book 2: His Redemption

Julia loves reading BDSM erotic books. Her husband catches her reading one of those books and then they both try out playing sex games where Julia gets to be a slave and she loves playing these love games with her husband. But will these games affect their marriage? Let's find out by reading how it all started and how it's going!
This is book 04 and the final book of the slavery series.

When Sanaya Johnson joined ReefWood Inc. as the CEO, Lancelin Eustein’s Personal Secretary, little did she know that her life was about to change forever. As a Scribt, a human with knowledge of the immortal world, she had to constantly balance her two worlds while keeping the immortal world a secret from her near and dear ones. But trouble arises when Lancelin himself takes an interest in Sanaya, a liking that threatens to shatter her hold on reality.
Lancelin has lived for centuries amongst humans but no one has ever tempted him as his little Secretary does without even trying. He is determined to win her over at any cost, just to get a taste of the forbidden fruit. But Sanaya has had her heart broken once and she finds it near impossible to trust another man, especially an Incubus who is to be the future Incubus King.
But just when the two of them start to fall for each other, the past comes to haunt them in the most unexpected of ways. And with Lancelin’s coronation on the way, will he be able to keep Sanaya by his side when the entire world wants to tear them apart?

I came to Frostveil Academy to because it was expected.
I never expected to be claimed….. especially not by him.

At Frostveil Academy, magic is power—and only the most powerful wolves rule the ice.

My name is Elira Frostborne. I am used to being invisible. I arrives at the elite Frostveil Academy already marked as an outsider. I don’t have my wolf yet. I don’t know my magical limits. And in a school built on dominance, that makes me dangerous—or disposable.
Especially when he starts to notice me….

Kade Pyrrhos is everything Frostveil respects. Powerful. Feared. Unbreakable. His wolf is fully awakened, his strength unquestioned, and his future already written. As the academy’s golden boy, he knows control is everything… until I arrives and his control begins to crumble.

Because something about me calls to him.

Every glance sparks tension. Every moment of closeness ignites power neither of us understands. My magic reacts to him in ways it never has before, and Kade’s wolf refuses to ignore me—no matter how forbidden I am.

Bound by secrets, divided by blood, and drawn together by a force older than the academy itself, we must decide whether to fight the bond forming between us… or surrender to it.

At Frostveil, strength is tested, power is claimed, and some bonds are impossible to break.
Even if he is my stepbrother.

Two women have gone missing in two weeks: the first, found dead, was slashed and dumped in a back alley in Boston. The second was discovered by a child in a Swan Boat Ride. As fear intensifies, Hunter, the head of the FBI Behavioral Unit, calls his star criminal profiler, Tracy Wrenn, to help on the case. Even though she had plans to become engaged that evening, Tracy quickly cancels her plans and rushes to Boston to help. A beautiful, young professor of criminal psychology, Tracy has become renowned for her success at cracking cases no one else can. With her unusual insights and unique point of view, she is relentless at probing the inner minds of murderers. When a third woman goes missing, and when Tracy finds herself in danger, everything intensifies. In a shocking turn of events, Tracy finds out more not only about the killer, but about herself--and learns that nothing is what is seems.Book #2 in The Killing Game will be released soon.

“Shades of THE HUNGER GAMES permeate a story centered around two courageous teens determined to buck all odds in an effort to regain their loved ones. A believable, involving world, recommended for those who enjoy dystopian novels, powerful female characters, and stories of uncommon courage.” --Midwest Book Review, D. Donovan, eBook Reviewer (regarding Arena 1)ARENA 3 is book #3 in the Bestselling Survival Trilogy, which begins with ARENA 1, a free download. After nearly freezing to death on their trek north, Brooke and her small group wake to find themselves in civilization. They have found the utopian city, hidden deep in a remote stretch of Canada. They have heat, food, comfortable beds, clean clothes, and security. Finally, they have made it.As Brooke recovers, she meets the mysterious survivors who inhabit this city, and who vie for her love. She trains again, enhancing her fighting skills greatly under the wing of a new mentor, and matures into a woman. Brooke soon realizes, though, that being safe and secluded is not all there is to life. When she hears rumors of survivors underground, deep in America, fighting to restore order from the inside—her Dad possibly amongst them—Brooke finds herself facing the choice of a lifetime: to live in this perfect place, free and safe for the rest of her days, or to embark and fight for others’ freedom. It would be a journey, she knows, back through post-apocalyptic America, this time traveling west, across its breadth, in search of the rumored survivors, of her father. She would have to fight her way through a land transformed by apocalypse, try to survive a never-ending stream of dangers, roving packs of violent gangs, with few resources and fewer supplies. It would be a two thousand mile trek to a certain suicide. And if she leaves this utopia, she knows, there is no coming back.Yet that is not the worst of it: something else lies in her way. Arena 3. The greatest arena left in what was once America, the most brutal and dangerous of them all, the one from which no one survives. The one, she knows, that would test the very limit of all that she is.Will she risk it all for others?An action-packed dystopian thriller featuring a tough female heroine whom readers worldwide have fallen in love with, ARENA THREE is the shocking conclusion to the bestselling Survival Trilogy, and one that will leave you turning pages late into the night."Addicting...ARENA ONE was one of those books that you read late into the night until your eyes start to cross because you don’t want to put it down." –Dallas Examiner

Fans of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum and Jana DeLeon's Miss Fortune will find a new character to love in Holly Hands!Holly Hands. 29. Single mom. Disgraced, former boxing pro. Repo woman.Repossessing Lamborghinis and other exotic toys from criminals is second-hat for Holly.But finding a dead body—and solving a murder—is not.Luckily, Holly has Lucky by her side—a neglected pit bull she found on the wrong side of a job, who refuses to leave her side—and who, like her, has nowhere to go but up. Together, maybe they can crawl their way out of the urban hell of their bad slice of Baltimore, where coming home at night is even more dangerous than going to work. Maybe Holly can manage to get her young daughter the medical treatment she desperately needs, and manage to get her out of her dangerous public school and into the private school of her dreams. Just maybe, she can fall in love with that private school Dad from the other side of town and start a whole new life.Or maybe not.Life has never been easy for Holly. And if the past few days—and the dead body in her trunk—are any indication—it’s about to get a whole lot worse.KNOCKOUT (A HOLLY HANDS COZY MYSTERY) is book #1 in a riveting new cozy mystery series, a page-turning thriller that grabs you from page one and does not let go. Get ready to find yourself reading all night, bleary-eyed, and falling madly in love with a new character who will fight her way into your heart.Book #2 (SUCKER PUNCH) and Book #3 (BELOW THE BELT) in the series are also available.

“LOVE LIKE THIS creates a world of emotions and turmoil, describing superbly the mind of a young lady (Keira) and her struggles to balance her social life and her career. Sophie Love is a natural storyteller. LOVE LIKE THIS is very well written and edited, and I highly recommend it to the permanent library of all readers that appreciate a romance that can be savored during a weekend.”--Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) LOVE LIKE THEIRS (The Romance Chronicles—Book #4) is book #4 in a new, sweet romance series by #1 bestselling author Sophie Love. The series begins with LOVE LIKE THIS (Book #1), a free download!Keira Swanson, 28, has sworn off of love. With her heart still hurting from her breakups with Cristiano and Shane, she will not allow her magazine to use her for another love experiment.Which is fine by them, because they want to send her off on a different kind of trip: to prove that someone suffering from a breakup can avoid a knee-jerk rebound affair and manage NOT to fall in love. To emphasize the point, they will NOT assign her a new tour guide. Instead, Keira will take a cruise to the Scandinavian countries and have to navigate herself.Keira is thrilled to accept the assignment. There is nothing she wants more than to be alone, and go to the Northern climes, where she can cool her head, and where surely she will not find love.But Keira does not anticipate the beauty of Copenhagen and of Stockholm (“the Paris of the North”) or the stunning hospitality of the Scandinavians.With Christmas on the way, resisting a new love may be harder than she thinks….A wholesome romantic comedy that is as profound as it is funny, LOVE LIKE THEIRS is book #4 in a dazzling new romance series that will make you laugh, cry, and will keep you turning pages late into the night—and will make you fall in love with romance all over again.Book #5 will be published soon!“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….[This is] 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 (Diane Donovan re: For Now and Forever)

“Sophie Love's ability to impart magic to her readers is exquisitely wrought in powerfully evocative phrases and descriptions….[This is] 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 (Diane Donovan re: For Now and Forever) “A very well written novel, describing the struggle of a woman to find her true identity. The author did an amazing job with the creation of the characters and her description of the environment. 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, Roberto Mattos (re: For Now and Forever)LOVE LIKE THIS (The Romance Chronicles—Book #1) is the debut of a new romance series by #1 bestselling author Sophie Love.Keira Swanson, 28, lands her dream job at Viatorum, a slick magazine in New York City, as an aspiring travel writer. But their culture is brutal, her boss is a monster, and she doesn’t know if she can last for long.That changes when Keira, by a fluke, is handed a coveted assignment and given her big chance: to travel to Ireland for 30 days, witness the legendary Lisdoonvarna festival of love, and to debunk the myth that true love exists. Keira, cynical herself and in a rocky place with her long-term boyfriend, is all too happy to oblige.But when Keira falls in love with Ireland and meets her Irish tour guide, who just may be the man of her dreams, she is no longer sure of anything.A whirlwind romantic comedy that is as profound as it is funny, LOVE LIKE THIS is book #1 in the debut of a dazzling new romance series that will make you laugh, cry, and will keep you turning pages late into the night—and will make you fall in love with romance all over again.Book #2 in The Romance Chronicles is now available for pre-order!

Sera thought the auction was just for formality and no one would want a blood servant like her. She was surprised when three immortal kings bid for her and she was sold to them.

They were men cursed to never feel, never speak truth, and never know silence. As the fifth Catalyst, they need her blood to break the curse.

But every feeding brings back more memories about their love, betrayal and how she died in her previous life.

When she forgives them and tries to break the curse, a ghost appears to warn her about traps and false victories.

She is confused and doesn't know who to trust again when the kindest person to her turns out to be after her downfall and the court faction plots to destroy her.

Can her love for the three kings help break the curse?
Will she be able to rise to her position as the blood goddess?
And most importantly, will she recognize the trap set for her?

"Fast paced, packed with aaction and engaging dialogue, Unleashed was a book I thoroughly enjoyed." — Brandon Sanderson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of: The Stormlight Archives. In the bone-chilling spring, spice trades are lucrative and exhausting, and Emiel Dharr wants nothing more than to come home to a hot meal with his beloved daughters. But when he returns to an empty home and a note detailing his daughters’ kidnappings, the horror-stricken spicetrader will lose them forever unless he travels beside a mercenary and a mysterious magus to the imposing city of Altarra to free them.Beside unfriendly companions, Emiel travels across lands darkening under the specter of war, and finds himself targeted by ruthless leaders scrambling for an advantage. Nothing will stop him from saving his daughters, but the road becomes ever-more dangerous as monsters unseen for generations suddenly appear. Facing death at every step of his journey, Emiel accidentally awakens a terrifying power inside him. Is this coincidence, or is something more sinister at play?With a frightening inner power growing inside him, Emiel’s time is limited. War lies ahead, predators dog his trail, and hideous monsters threaten his life. So be it. Emiel will destroy anything standing between himself and his daughters; even if it means embracing the very power he most fears. Scroll up and click BUY NOW to dive into this great epic fantasy!

Giving up has never been an option….
While fighting for his life and freedom has become commonplace for Alpha Cole Redmen, the battle for both hits a whole new level once he finally returns to the place he’s never called home. When his fight to escape results in dissociative amnesia, Cole must overcome one obstacle after another to get to the place he only knows about in his dreams. Will he follow his dreams and find his way home or will he get lost along the way?
Join Cole on his emotional journey, inspiring change, as he fights to return to Crimson Dawn.

*This is the second book in the Crimson Dawn series. This series is best read in order.

**Content warning, this book contains descriptions of physical and sexual abuse that sensitive readers may find disturbing. For adult readers only.

“Your pussy is dripping, begging for me to use it.” He whispered, his deep and sexy voice sending my whole body on fire. His fingers brushed over my clit, slowly down my entrance.

“Fuck, you are so damn tight.” He muttered, sliding two fingers in and began finger-fucking me.

“Please,” I breathed, needing more.


After being kicked out of the house by her parents and rejected by the man who got her pregnant. Abigail was left on the street which led to the loss of her baby.

But what she never expected was being kidnapped by the same man who killed her father. The ruthless and mafia Don, who the rumours has it that he doesn't have a heart. He radiates danger but couldn't bring herself to hate him.

Will she survive his obsession or will she be destroyed by it?

When Alcee Mariani turns twenty-one, she knows her time is up. Her family has arranged her marriage from the time she was twelve to the future Don of the Lozano family, Torquato "The Grizzly" Lozano. He's rumored to be cold, cruel and heartless and he's a full ten years older than she is.
Selling her virginity online is a surefire way to make sure The Grizzly cancels the agreement and when she lets her father know she's sold it to the highest bidder and never got his real name, the contract is ended but so is her association with her own family.
Six years later she is no longer the treasured principessa of the Mariani family, but the single-mother to a five-year old boy who bears an uncanny resemblance to the man to whom she sold her innocence.
Torquato Lozano has searched for the woman who left him high and dry after an incredible night of passion nearly six years ago. When he stumbles across her in a newly purchased company working as an IT tech, he's stunned to find out she's the woman his family arranged him to marry so many years before. A perusal of her file tells him she didn't leave their rendezvous all those nights ago empty handed. Her little boy is the spitting image of him, right down to his massive size.
When Alcee's family realize they are losing out on a lucrative financial alliance they should have been part of, it starts a war. With enemies appearing at every corner, Alcee and Torquato will need to let the past go and work together to keep their son alive. Their passion will reignite as they strive to keep their family safe and forge a new power to take over the New York criminal underworld.

One minute, I was a waitress in London hiding from a family that hated me. The next, I’m stepping through a mirror into a desert world that thinks I’m a goddess.

​They call me the Dawning Vessel. They say I’m the only one who can stop the Void from swallowing this realm. But to me, it feels like a death sentence.

​Now, I’m trapped between two men who couldn't be more different.

​Kael. The golden commander who lives for duty. He wants to protect me, to train me, and to place a crown on my head, even if it means following a prophecy that might kill us both.

​Rhydian. The silver-eyed demi-god who hates the very word destiny. He’s arrogant, dangerous, and the only person who sees me as a woman, not a weapon. He doesn’t want me to save the world; he wants me to burn it down.

​As the Chigaru looters move in and the gods begin to wake, I have to figure out who to trust. Because in Aurelion, the prophecy isn’t a gift.

​It’s a leash. And I’ve never been good at following orders.

His lips wrapped around my clit and sucked hard enough to make my hips jerk against his face. I felt the tension building inside me, growing tighter and hotter, like I was going to fall apart any second. "Fuck, Hendrix," I moaned and my voice broke as my fingers gripped the sheets.

ו÷

Hendrix has always been trouble, ignoring warnings and getting into messes—like the time he snuck into Dennis’s (my second mom's) basement and ended up with a scar. Now, at 20, he’s battling ARDS and has been sent to a wellness center for treatment, which I've been forced to go to too. I’ve always seen him as my annoying stepbrother, but something about this place has me looking at him differently. Suddenly, I can’t shake how attractive he looks, and it’s messing with my head. These next four months are going to be way more complicated than I expected.