7860 Book(s) Related to they both died in the end

She came to seduce a monster. She didn't expect to fall for one.
Elena Heart is a liar, a spy, assassin and the last ghost of a murdered noble house. To break the curse of monsters plaguing her land, she accepts a deadly mission: infiltrate the court of King Xavier Drakes, the tyrant who rules with iron and shadow, and seduce him into ruin.
But the king is not the beast she imagined.
Xavier has spent a decade chained to a monster inside his own soul, forged by betrayal and a childhood spent in darkness. He sees Elena’s ruse from her first treacherous smile. Yet he doesn't kill her. He plays along. Because a woman brave enough to lie to a tyrant might be brave enough to help him burn the real conspiracy down.
As lies entangle into truth and hatred twists into obsession, Elena discovers the greatest danger isn't the monsters at the border, it's the man who knows her every secret and surrenders anyway.
In a game of power and poison, the last move is always love. Or murder.
They’re not sure which yet.

Three torturous years hauling bodies on the mortuary night shift, and I'd finally scraped together the cash for my brother Charles's heart transplant.
He just waved it off.
"My heart is fine. Mom and Dad didn't die in that gang war, either. I orchestrated the hit. You were the only casualty."
Nearby, my husband, Gerald, casually lit a cigar to deliver his own confession. "I never went bankrupt. 'Laying low' was just my excuse to avoid squeezing into that dingy funeral home dorm with you. I've been at the Long Island estate."
"I was going to punish you for another three years," Charles added, "but the stench of formaldehyde on you is nauseating. We couldn't take it anymore."
I froze, still clutching the credit card. Charles plucked the plastic from my numb fingers and shoved his phone screen in my face. A banking app stared back at me.
Balance: exactly zero.
"My name is still on the joint account," he sneered, tossing the card into the trash. "I drained it this morning. That blood money you made bagging stiffs is being handed out to street junkies as we speak. We'd never touch that filth."
Before the sheer absurdity of it could suffocate me, my parents walked in. Flanked by bodyguards, they kept their distance, eyeing me like a plague rat.
"You thought being the biological daughter gave you the right to ruthlessly bully Violet. We simply wanted to put you in your place."
"Swear you'll never cross Violet again, and you can remain a Falcone," my mother added coolly. "Otherwise, you're dead to us."
In the stifling silence that followed, my phone buzzed. A text from my oncologist.
[Mrs. Castello, the results are back. It's terminal. Do you consent to initiating the hospice and DNR protocols we discussed?]

I was dead, and the whole world was celebrating for my sister.

For twenty-two years, I had been the hardest-working but most invisible daughter in the Sterling family, forever living in the shadow of my gymnastics prodigy sister.

Running a high fever, I begged my family to take me to the hospital, only to hear: "Don't you DARE ruin Bella's award ceremony!"

When I was tricked into the abandoned equipment room and used my last breath to call my boyfriend while lying in a pool of blood, all I heard was: "Grace, quit the drama! Bella's accepting her award on stage!"

On stage, thunderous applause erupted as Bella lifted the "Young Gymnast of the Year" trophy.

And I drew my final breath.

When they returned home triumphant, thinking I had run away in a tantrum, they had no idea I was already dead right under their noses.

I bought my five-year-old son a Captain America shield for his birthday.

But when I landed in New York, the hospital called.

"Your son died during the medical procedure your husband authorized."

Marcus had signed Axel up as a living donor. For his mistress's kid.

While our baby bled out on the operating table, Marcus was cutting birthday cake with his new family.

Even used Axel's favorite Superman pillow as decoration.

I stared at my child's mutilated corpse and made a promise.

You fed my baby to wolves for a whore's smile. Time to return the favor, Marcus.

Swapped at birth and stripped of her rightful place, Mia Jones thought her life couldn't get any worse after her scheming sister, Eleanor, stole her family and her fiancé. But a malicious plot leads Mia into the wrong room.

Drugged and thrown into the wrong man’s bed. Mia Jones realized her hands were tied to the bed frame. A towering silhouette radiating a dangerous aura stood at the foot of the bed. Before she could process what was happening, she was claimed by a violent kiss from that man… unaware that the man she left behind was the ruthless heir of the Greco Empire and powerful billionaire. A man powerful enough to ruin cities with a single word. A man who never lets women near him, Dylan Greco.
When Dylan wakes, the mysterious woman is gone.
“Have you uncovered the identity of the woman last night?”
“Boss, we couldn’t find anything. That woman… must have broken in by accident.”
But he remembers her. And he wants answers.

Escaping into the night, Mia Jones tries to bury the traumatic memory, unaware that the CEO is tearing the city apart to find the mysterious woman with the crescent-shaped scar on her back.
Fate brings them together again when Mia unknowingly takes a job as the therapist for Dylan's autistic son, "Little Shrimp"—a child who instantly connects with her and calls her "Mummy". As Dylan unravels the truth about that dark night, he vows to protect Mia and help her reclaim everything that was stolen from her. But with a manipulative sister, a treacherous family, and deadly enemies lurking in the shadows, will their unexpected bond survive? It's a gripping tale of sweet revenge, hidden secrets, and a romance that could bring an empire to its knees.

For five years, Lyka Forth was the invisible force behind billionaire Hollywood icon Sean McGregor. She scheduled his life, anticipated his needs, and quietly hid a hopeless, unrequited love for her boss. She never expected him to look her way, especially not after the tragic car accident that claimed his wife’s life and left his four-year-old son traumatized and mute.
But Sean is drowning. Running on empty from a brutal case of insomnia, he discovers a bizarre secret: the only time his mind quiets is when he’s near Lyka. Desperate to give his son a stable guardian and eager to keep his only source of peace close, Sean offers Lyka a ruthless deal: a contract marriage. Only on paper. No feelings involved.
Forced into close proximity, the icy boundaries of their business arrangement begin to melt into a scorching, slow-burn passion. But between a media frenzy, a toxic manager, and a vengeful ex-girlfriend, their fake life is a battlefield. Just as Sean realizes his vows have become entirely real, a devastating secret about the night of the accident surfaces. The text messages that sent his late wife fleeing to her death came from Lyka’s phone.
Can love survive the ultimate betrayal, or was their marriage doomed from the very first signature?

The moment I saw my name on that wedding invitation, I was already dead.

On Highway 23, a steel rebar had pierced straight through my chest. I was two months pregnant.

I called my fiancé Michael seventeen times. The first sixteen, he hung up without a word. On the seventeenth, his voice dripped with impatience: "Marrying Sophia is just for show. Stop making a scene."

The man who once knelt outside my family's estate for three days and nights, swearing to love me for a lifetime—he wouldn't spare me a single second more.

With my last breath, I dialed the funeral home. "I'm calling... for myself."

Flames consumed my body. My soul drifted toward the engagement banquet that should have been mine. When the killer's phone lit up, the name on the screen was Sophia...

When he destroyed my entire family, he never once thought of me.

So now, let me watch with my own eyes as this wedding becomes their funeral.

Ryan loves me deeply—at least that's what everyone says. Seven years together, we look like the perfect couple to outsiders. But only I know he's betrayed me three times.

The first time was three years ago. His brother died saving him, leaving behind his widow Sophia—Ryan's unforgettable first love. He married her behind my back. When I found out, I completely fell apart. I have dignity. I refuse to be the other woman. I wanted to leave, but he begged on his knees. "This is just to take care of my sister-in-law. Once I find the truth about my brother's death, I'll divorce her. Then we can get married."

I believed him. I forgot that a man never lets go of a lost love he's gotten back.

The second time was at last year's company anniversary. In front of everyone, he introduced Sophia as his wife. I watched them on stage, a knife through my heart. That night he explained, "It's just for show. Once everything's over, we can be together."

I believed him again.

The third time was two weeks ago. Surveillance footage showed Ryan with Sophia entering a hotel room. I rushed to confront him, but heard her voice outside his office. "Ryan, I'm pregnant. It's your baby."

Through the crack in the door, I see him hesitate. In that instant I understand.

He's going to keep her.

He spots me and rushes out in a panic. "It was an accident! Let me explain! After she has the baby, I'll give her money and make her leave. She won't be in our lives anymore!"

In that moment, I finally wake up. There will be no future for us.

In an elite suburb of New York City, girls are dying. That doesn’t happen in Greenvale, with its immaculate lawns, exclusive yacht clubs and multi-million dollar mansions. But behind its perfect façade, its trimmed hedges and luxury cars, a darkness lies. Girls, dependent on Adderall, outmaneuver each other to get into top colleges, while the mothers’ need to live vicariously only makes it worse. Bella DeFranco is one of the Bronx’s top SVU detectives. At only 37, she disarms everyone with her stunning good looks, yet she is as tough as most men—and a lot smarter, too. Yet when is summoned to Greenvale, she finds herself getting lost in a case that even she can’t comprehend. She stumbles into a land of secrets, a place where husbands hide their pasts from their wives, where friends are not what they seem, and where no one wants to know too much. As she digs deeper into layers of suburban dysfunction, she comes to learn that, behind all the fake smiles, there is a subtle violence--rivaling even her crime-ridden streets of the Bronx. With a killer on the loose, time running out, and a new partner who never recovered from his washed-up alcoholic days, the odds are stacked against Bella. She is determined, though, to save these girls, whatever the cost. Yet as she gets close, the depth of psychosis she discovers shocks even her….

When my fiancé left me to burn alive to save his "fragile" white lotus, I thought my story was over.

But death had other plans.

Reborn with memories intact, I watched him make the same fatal choice—abandoning me in the flames for her. This time, I smiled and said, "Go save her."

Because this time, the most powerful Alpha in North America was coming for me.

Derek thought he was discarding a burden. He had no idea he was throwing away his only lifeline.

Now, as I stand beside Lucas in his billion-dollar empire, watching my ex grovel in the gutter, I have just one message: karma is a bitch, and so am I.

Amber Weys is a 17 year old girl with prominent curves and it is well known that during adolescence boys are usually very hard, bullying is more serious every day leading Amber almost to madness, one of the main perpetrators of her bullying is Adam Raymond an important player of the school, acclaimed by all and envied by others.
But his life is not perfect, he was abandoned by his parents which led him to depression, fortunately he received help from the person he least expected, making them both live that first teenage love, but sometimes life takes unexpected turns.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESTINED is book #4 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1). In DESTINED (Book #4 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover herself back in time. She finds herself in a cemetery, on the run from a mob of villagers, and seeks refuge in the ancient cloisters of Assisi, in the countryside of Umbria, Italy. There, she learns of her destiny and her mission: to find her father and the ancient vampire Shield needed to save mankind. But Caitlin’s heart still pines for her lost love: Caleb. She desperately needs to know if he has survived their trip back in time. She learns that her mission requires her to go to Florence, but if she wants to pursue matters of the heart, she must go to Venice. She chooses Venice. Caitlin is overwhelmed at what she finds. Venice of the eighteenth century is a surreal place, men and women dressed in elaborate costumes and masks, celebrating an endless, lavish party. She is thrilled to discover and reunite with some of her close friends, and to be welcomed back into their coven. And she is excited to join them in Venice’s Grand Ball, the most important costume dance of the year, where she hopes, once again, to find Caleb. But Caitlin is not the only one who can travel back in time: Kyle soon arrives, too, and is determined to hunt her down and kill her once and for all. Sam, too, arrives, determined to save his sister before it is too late. At the Ball, Caitlin searches everywhere, and finds no sign of Caleb. That is, until the very last dance. She dances with a masked man who takes her heart away, and she feels certain that it is him. But as the partners change, she loses him again. Or does she? Caitlin soon finds herself torn between the two loves of her life, and discovers that she has to be careful what she wishes for. Her joy at finding what she wants might just come mixed with tragedy and heartbreak. In a climactic, action-packed ending, Caitlin finds herself up against true evil, Rome’s ancient vampire coven, and the most powerful vampire coven that ever existed. Surviving will demand all her skills, as she finds herself battling for her very life. She will have to sacrifice more than ever, if she is to save the one she loves…. “DESTINED is fast paced with enough action and twist and turns to keep you engaged until the end. There are so many twists and exciting developments throughout the story that it keeps your attention!” --The Romance Reviews “ I just turned 30 and there are a few YA series that I just love and this one is definitely on that list! READ IT! READ IT! READ IT! Don’t forget READ IT!” --werevampsromance.org

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)VOWED is Book #7 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In VOWED (Book #7 of the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb find themselves in medieval Scotland, in 1350, a time of knights and shining armor, of castles and warriors, of the quest for the Holy Grail said to contain the key to true vampire immortality. Landing on the shores of the ancient Isle of Skye, a remote island off the Western coast of Scotland where only the most elite warriors live and train, they are ecstatic to reunite with Sam and Polly, Scarlet and Ruth, a human king and his warriors, and with all of Aiden’s coven. Before they can continue their mission for the fourth and final key, the time has come for Caleb and Caitlin to wed. Against the most amazing backdrop Caitlin could ever hope for, an elaborate vampire wedding is planned, including all of the ancient rituals and ceremonies that accompany it. It is the wedding of a lifetime, meticulously planned by Polly and the others, and Caitlin and Caleb are happier than they’ve ever been. Simultaneously, Sam and Polly, to their own surprise, are each falling deeply in love with one another. As their relationship accelerates, Sam surprises Polly with a vow of his own. And Polly surprises him with her own shocking news. But all is not well beneath the surface. Blake has appeared again, and his deep love for Caitlin might just threaten her union, on the day before her wedding. Sera has appeared again, too, and vows to break apart what she cannot have. Scarlet, too, finds herself in danger, as the source of her deep powers are revealed—along with the revelation of who are her true parents. Worst of all, Kyle has landed back in time, and has tracked down his old protégé, Rynd, to force him to use his shapeshifting skill to trick and kill Caitlin and her people. As they fall into his elaborate trap, Caitlin and the others find themselves in deeper danger than ever before. It will be a race to find the final key, before everyone Caitlin holds dear is wiped out for good. This time, she will have to make the hardest choices and sacrifices of her life.

During a trip to Greece, in the ancient beach of Mykonos, Franco's life changes forever. Franco is deeply hurt because his ex-girlfriend Beatriz has broken up with him and has committed herself to a new man, his best friend, just two weeks after ending things with him. Desiring to forget his painful past, Franco travels to Greece and there he meets Mary. Both share a love for ancient sites; she is a beautiful journalist who is studying the yopa practices in Mykonos beach for an holistic report. But amidst hundreds of tourists, they experience an attack by werewolves, with Mary and Franco being the only survivors.

As the werewolves surround them, Franco notices a peculiar glimmer in Mary's eyes, a spark that ignites an undeniable attraction. Drawn to her, not just physically but by her inner strength and determination, Franco vows to protect her at all costs. The werewolves' presence in the temple raises questions in Franco's mind - what do these monsters seek in the temple of Apollo? And why do they look at Mary as if they want to devour her and possess her at the same time?

Determined to unravel the mystery, Franco discovers an ancient legend surrounding the temple - a legend that tells of a powerful artifact hidden within its depths. This fabled object is said to grant unimaginable power to whoever possesses it. Could this be the reason the werewolves are so fixated on Mary? They become each other's pillars of strength, drawing on their shared knowledge and unwavering trust.

Franco must make a difficult choice - embrace their connection and delve into the supernatural world to rescue Mary, or reject her and try to protect her from the dangers that await for both of them... will He conquer the love and the fears inside of him? ...

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)FATED is Book #11 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In FATED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to understand what’s happening to her, as she wakes and realizes she’s becoming a vampire. Alienated from her parents and her friends, the only person she has left to turn to is Sage, the mysterious boy who has quickly become the love of her life. Yet Sage, whose house she finds boarded up, is nowhere to be found. Scarlet, alone in the world, with nowhere left to turn, seeks out her friends and tries to reconcile with them. All seems to be patched up when they invite her to join them on a trip to an abandoned island in the Hudson—but as things get out of hand and Scarlet’s true powers are revealed, who her friends and enemies are becomes more confusing than ever. Blake, still interested in her, tries to make amends. He seems sincere, and Scarlet is confused as she has to grapple with whether to be with Blake or to wait for Sage, who is nowhere to be found. When Scarlet finally finds Sage, they have the most romantic time of her life; yet it is tinged with tragedy, as Sage is dying, with but a few days left to live. Kyle, meanwhile, turned into the only other vampire left in the world, is on a murderous rampage, seeking Scarlet; Caitlin and Caleb consult with Aiden, and they each embark on different missions—Caleb to stop and kill Kyle, and Caitlin, to the famed Yale University library, to research the ancient relic rumored to both cure and kill vampires for all time. It is a race against time, and it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming, and Sage is dying with each passing moment. As the book culminates in an action-packed, shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. Will Scarlet make the ultimate sacrifice to save Sage’s life? Will she risk everything she has for love?

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

There's a heavy iron door at the end of the hall. Anyone who steps inside returns with eyes full of hatred. That’s all it took for the basement to turn my gentle fiancé into a predator and my loyal best friend into an enemy. Now, I'm trapped with a mother who claims the violence is all in my head. I have to open that door.

Eve has no choice but to give up her own goal and marry the old billionaire who could even be her grandfather...due to her father's illness and the expensive operational costs.

Despite the sex harassment she faces on a regular basis, the humiliation she receives from the old son, Liam, is another source of pain for Eve. Then, Eve's only thought is to make as much money as she can and get away from the family.

Nevertheless, as Liam works with Eve, he gradually falls in love with the girl he used to loathe.

What will he do about his hidden feelings for his stepmother?

Esther is accused of killing the princess. She is tortured by Alpha King Nicholas and the entire pack. She hopes to find her mate on her eighteenth birthday and escape a life of torment, only to find that her mate is Nicholas who hates her guts.

There were five of them. Piece of cake! I howled as I liked to make my presence felt. Their reddened eyes turned to me just as one of them tore at the man’s throat and grabbed the woman. I almost lost my mind with rage when I saw their damn claws at her neck. To my surprise, he didn’t sink his fangs in, instead, with full force, he broke her legs. Her desperate scream of pain echoed through the forest. The trees would be the only witnesses to the massacre I was about to make. In pain, she fainted. They messed with her. Big mistake!
.........................................
Her salvation came from him. His Luna was safe but how safe was the environment she came from? Follow Dominic Stone, the werewolf actor and secret agent as he fights for the truth and his love for Rebecca.

On the day the world ended, Ethan Cole was nothing.

Too poor to afford a NeuralVerse headset, he entered the apocalypse with no talent, no power, and no future. One year later, he died forgotten beneath a tide of monsters.

But fate gave him one impossible chance.

Reborn on the morning of launch day, Ethan remembers everything — the collapse of civilization, the betrayals, the hidden treasures, and the terrifying truth behind NeuralVerse.

This time, he refuses to stay weak.

Using fourteen loan apps, Ethan gambles everything to buy the only Bronze-tier headset in town… and awakens the legendary SSS-Rank Talent: Infinite Fusion.

A talent capable of evolving trash equipment into god-tier artifacts.

While the world panics and millions remain blind to the coming catastrophe, Ethan begins his rise from the bottom — forging ancient weapons, stealing destiny itself, and preparing to dominate a world where death is permanent.

In the Oracle World, mercy is weakness.

And Ethan Cole has already died once.

Christopher was born into one of the most powerful families in the country. Most of the family members are politicians. After graduation, he will become an official under his grandfather's arrangement. However, he meets a girl on his graduation trip and falls in love with her. His family disapproved of their marriage because he was engaged to a girl from a powerful family. So she eloped with him and became the daughter-in-law of his family. What's next for Christopher's story?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)FOUND is Book #8 of the Vampire Journals, the Bestselling series which begins with TURNED (Book #1). In FOUND (Book #8 of the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb awake in ancient Israel, in the year 33 A.D., and are amazed to find themselves in the time of Christ. Ancient Israel is a place of holy sites, of ancient synagogues, of lost relics. It is the most spiritually charged place in the universe—and in 33 A.D., the year of Christ’s crucifixion, it is the most spiritually charged time. In the heart of its capitol, Jerusalem, lies the Holy Temple of Solomon, inside of which sits the Holy of Holies and the Ark of God. And in these streets, Christ will take his final steps to be crucified. Jerusalem teems with people of all religious backgrounds and faiths, under the watchful eye of Roman soldiers, and their Prefect, Pontius Pilate. The city also has a dark side, with its labyrinthian streets and maze of alleyways leading to hidden secrets and Pagan temples. Caitlin now, finally, has all four keys, but still, she must find her father. Her search takes her to Nazareth, to Capernaum, to Jerusalem, following a mystical trail of secrets and clues in the footsteps of Christ. It also takes her to the ancient Mount of Olives, to Aiden and his coven, and to more powerful secrets and relics than she’s ever known. At every turn, her father is just a step away. But time is of the essence: Sam, turned to the dark side, has landed back in this time, too, and as he unites with Rexius, leader of the evil coven, they race to beat Caitlin to the Shield. Rexius will stop at nothing to destroy Caitlin and Caleb, and with Sam on his side, and a new army behind him, the odds are in his favor. Making matters worse, Scarlet arrives back in time alone, separated from her parents. She roams the streets of Jerusalem on her own, with Ruth, and as she begins to discover her own powers, she also finds herself in graver danger than she’s ever been. Especially when she discovers that she is holding a great secret, too. Does Caitlin find her father? Does she find the ancient vampire shield? Does she reunite with her daughter? Does her own brother try to kill her? And will her love with Caleb survive this final trip back in time?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)BETROTHED is Book #6 in the Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In BETROTHED (Book #6 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb find themselves, once again, back in time—this time, in the London of 1599. London in 1599 is a wild place, filled with paradoxes: while on the one hand it is an incredibly enlightened, sophisticated time, breeding playwrights like Shakespeare, on the other, it is also barbaric and cruel, with daily public executions, torture, and heads of prisoners impaled on spikes. It is also a time of superstition and grave public danger, with a lack of sanitation, and the Bubonic Plague spreading in the streets, carried by rats. In this environment Caitlin and Caleb land, on the search for her father, for the third key, for the mythical shield that can save humankind. Their mission takes them through a whirlwind of London’s most amazing medieval architecture, through the British countryside’s most breathtaking castles. It takes them back into the heart of London, where they just might meet Shakespeare himself, and see one of his plays live. It brings them to a little girl, Scarlet, who just might become their daughter. And all the while, Caitlin’s love for Caleb deepens, as finally they are together—and as Caleb might just finally find the perfect time, and place, to propose to her. Sam and Polly have traveled back, too, and as they find themselves stuck together on their own journey, their relationship deepens, as they each, despite themselves, can’t help feeling more deeply for each other. But all is not well. Kyle has come back, too, as has his evil sidekick, Sergei, and they are both intent on destroying everything good in Caitlin’s life. It will be a race to the finish, as Caitlin is forced to make some of the hardest decisions of her life if she is to save everyone who is dear to her, save her relationship with Caleb—and try to make it out alive.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (regarding Turned) OBSESSED is Book #12—and the final book—of the bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)--a free download with over 900 five star reviews! In OBSESSED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine races to save her true love, Sage, before he is killed at the hand of the Immortalists. Alienated from her friends and family—and with only one night left before Sage is wiped out—Scarlet is forced to choose whether to sacrifice it all for him.Caitlin and Caleb race desperately to save their daughter, still determined to find a way to cure Scarlet and to end vampirism for all time. Their quest leads them to one shocking secret after the next as they seek to find the ancient, lost vampire city, hidden deep beneath the Sphinx in Egypt. What they find may just change the destiny of the vampire race for all time.Yet it may still be too late. The Immortalist nation is intent on killing Scarlet and Sage, while Kyle, too, is on a murderous rampage, turning Vivian and the entire high school into his own vampire army, set on destroying the town.In OBSESSED, the shocking finale of the 12 book series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, Scarlet and Caitlin will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. Will Scarlet make the ultimate sacrifice to save Sage’s life? Will Caitlin give up everything to save her daughter? Will they both risk everything for love? “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 book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)LOVED is Book #2 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with Book #1, TURNED! In LOVED (Book #2 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin and Caleb embark together on their quest to find the one object that can stop the imminent vampire and human war: the lost sword. An object of vampire lore, there is grave doubt over whether it even exists. If there is any hope of finding it, they must first trace Caitlin’s ancestry. Is she really the One? Their search begins with finding Caitlin’s father. Who was he? Why did he abandon her? As the search broadens, they are shocked by what they discover about who she really is. But they are not the only ones searching for the legendary sword. The Blacktide Coven wants it, too, and they are close on Caitlin and Caleb’s trail. Worse, Caitlin’s little brother, Sam, remains obsessed with finding his Dad. But Sam soon finds himself in way over his head, smack in the middle of a vampire war. Will he jeopardize their search? Caitlin and Caleb’s journey takes them on a whirlwind of historic locations—from the Hudson Valley, to Salem, to the heart of historic Boston—the very spot where witches were once hung on the hill of Boston Common. Why are these locations so important to the vampire race? And what do they have to do with Caitlin’s ancestry, and with who she’s becoming? But they may not even make it. Caitlin and Caleb’s love for each other is blossoming. And their forbidden romance may just destroy everything they’ve set out to achieve…. “LOVED, the second book in the Vampire Journals series, is just as great as the first book, TURNED, and jam packed with action, romance, adventure, and suspense. If you loved the first book, get your hands on this one and fall in love all over again.” --Vampirebooksite.com “THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS series has had a great plot, and LOVED especially was the kind of book you will have trouble putting down at night. The ending was a cliffhanger that was so spectacular that you will immediately want to buy the next book, just to see what happens. As you can see, this book was a huge step up in the series and receives a solid A.” --The Dallas Examiner

Haunted by a past she can’t outrun, Kaia is forced into an impossible bargain: deceive a ruthless mafia don and bring about his downfall within sixty days or lose the one thing she loves most, her son.
What begins as a deadly con turns into a dangerous game of desire, as Kaia finds herself drawn to the very man she’s meant to destroy. With every lie, every touch of heart, the lines blur.
Ninety days. One heart. A choice between survival and surrender.
Will Kaia finish the job she was sent to do… or will love rewrite the rules of the game?

Zoe Marshall thought her marriage was unbreakable. She built her life around Ethan Carter—powerful, brilliant, and untouchable. Until his betrayal shattered her so deeply that filing for divorce became her only way to breathe again. She thought leaving him would set her free. But freedom is never that simple when your ex-husband is a ruthless billionaire who turns regret into obsession.
Ethan is determined to win her back, to claim what he believes is still his—no matter what it takes. Just as Zoe begins to rediscover her strength, Mason King enters her life: dangerous, wealthy, and hiding secrets darker than midnight shadows. He offers her protection and a passion she never imagined. But his world is deadly, and his past is painted with blood.
When an enemy obsessed with Ethan threatens Zoe’s life to erase her forever, and Mason’s hidden demons resurface, she finds herself trapped between two powerful men fighting for her love... or her destruction. Who will truly protect her? Who will destroy her? Because when love becomes a battlefield, only the strongest hearts survive—and Zoe isn’t letting anyone else decide her fate.

Daisy survives high school as a plus sized nerd bullied daily by star quarterback Liam Martinez and his girlfriend Tiffany. When her mother secures her a live in tutoring job for a wealthy family's daughter, it feels like an escape until she discovers the mansion belongs to the Martinez family and Liam is her student's older brother. Now trapped under her bully's roof, Daisy plans to study his weaknesses and destroy him from the inside. But unknown to her, Liam's teammates dared him to publicly date Daisy for three months without catching feelings and he's confident he can win. As fake tutoring sessions become something neither of them expected and the truth about the bet explodes before the championship game, Daisy and Liam must face what they've done to each other and decide if love built on lies and manipulation can become something real.

When Mila transfers to Northshore Academy, she wants a fresh start. She doesn’t expect to clash with Cole, the cold and feared hockey star everyone avoids.

Cole is the best player in the school. He barely talks. No one dares to challenge him—until Mila steps onto the ice and proves she can play just as well.

Their rivalry turns into a public challenge. The rule is simple: if Mila wins, Cole must carry her school bag every day for six months. If Cole wins, Mila will have to accept the embarrassment.

Mila wins.

From that day on, Cole walks beside her to school, silent and serious, carrying her bag. Rumors spread. Students stare. What starts as a punishment slowly turns into something neither of them expects

Blane Samuel
A definition of a nice guy, a guy who always think about others first than himself. Since his break up with Lauren Hastington, he's a wreck. He thought he won't look at another woman but he was wrong. One day, a beautiful girl in red dress came to him caught his eyes.

Camilla Medilton
Beautiful model who always have positive thinking and live her life the fullest. With her beautiful face and body, every guy wants her until it made some of them take a bad step. Since she sense the bad situation, she took a random guy to be his boyfriend and apparently that guy is Blane Samuel

"Hey baby! I miss you, what took you so long? How's work?" Camilla linked her arm to Blane who was clueless seeing a beautiful hot girl linking her arm to him

After pulling back-to-back graveyard shifts, I dragged myself to my twin brother's place to mooch his washer. One look at his biohazard of a bed, and I crashed on the clean bunk across the room instead.
Big mistake. It belonged to Jensen—the baseball team's untouchable ice king.
He lost his mind over the sweet peach scent someone left in his sheets, then discovered it was the first thing in two years that let him actually sleep. My desperate brother, hunting for free rent, conned me into playing Jensen's "replacement sleep aid" and locked the damn door behind me.
Jensen caught on instantly. But instead of throwing me out, he offered me cash to stick around as his contract girlfriend. After he handled some thugs threatening my brother, this guy who never lets anyone close pressed his face into my neck, voice raw and possessive:
"Your brother sold you to clear his debt. You're mine now. And I don't do returns."

I gave birth to three children for my ruthless mafia husband. And every single time, he tore the newborns from my blood-soaked sheets and handed them straight to my barren sister.
For seven years, I endured electroshock therapy and brutal captivity, reduced to nothing but a breeding vessel to complete their "picture-perfect" family.
He thought he had broken my spirit long ago. That’s why, when the assassins struck, he didn't hesitate to shove me into the line of fire as a human shield.
To protect his true love, he threw my bleeding, wounded body into a freezing water cell as their perfect scapegoat.
He thought tossing me a few scraps of mercy would have me crawling back to him, begging like a dog.
But he was dead wrong.
When the bone-chilling water swallowed me, I didn't panic or thrash. I simply smiled, letting the black depths drag me under.
Domenico could never have imagined that the cold, lifeless corpse he personally sent to the morgue was my perfect escape, seven agonizing years in the making.
He stole my babies. He stripped away every last ounce of my dignity.
So now, I’m going to take away everything he holds dear, piece by agonizing piece: his empire, his power, and the love he arrogantly thought he could control forever.

I found the thirteenth piece of evidence of Reid's affair today.

Black lace panties, shoved deep between his car seats.

The first time, it was designer lipstick in his glove box. "Oh, that's mine," my friend Mia shrugged. "Must've fallen out when Reid gave me a ride."

The sixth time, a hotel key card in his console. "I borrowed his car for a business trip," my brother Owen explained calmly. "Stop being so paranoid, Nadia."

Thirteen times. Thirteen perfect excuses.

When I confront Reid with the panties, he just makes a phone call.

On speaker, Mia and Owen claim the underwear is theirs—some late-night hookup in my fiancé's back seat. "You're being ridiculous, Nadia," they snap in unison. "You're getting married. Start acting like it. Trust him."

I watch Reid's face, that innocent mask he wears so well.

Then I smile.

Because I bought those panties myself. I planted them there.

And now I finally know who's been his accomplice all along.

My uncle has a hunting cabin in Alaska. Every December, I stay there for a few days.

This year he wasn't there—left me the keys.

When I walked in, I noticed there was a new deer head mount above the fireplace.

Not a whitetail deer. A moose. Very large.

But I noticed its eyes weren't made of glass.

Those two eyeballs looked... too real.

The pupils even contracted in the light.

I texted my uncle asking when he'd shot this moose.

He replied: "What moose?"

I looked at the mount again.

Its lips moved slightly.

Not the rise and fall of breathing, but... trying to form a word.

Kael Varez spent his entire life being treated like dirt, mocked for being poor, humiliated for being fatherless and discarded by the woman he loved the moment a richer man appeared.

But on the night his dying mother whispers a terrifying secret, Kael’s world changes forever because the assassins hunting him believed that he is the missing heir to a brutal underground empire built on blood, power and fear.

Now, trapped in a deadly world where loyalty is bought and betrayal hides behind every smile, Kael must survive ruthless enemies, dangerous alliances and a family that wants him erased before he can uncover the truth about who he really is but the deeper he falls into the darkness, the more he begins to change.

So when the bastard everyone once despised finally rises, will he destroy the empire or become something even worse than the men hunting him?

In a world ruled by powerful werewolf bloodlines, one name was never meant to exist again.

Elias Ashford.

Born during the terrifying Blood Moon Eclipse, Elias was feared from the moment he took his first breath. Whispers followed him his entire life cursed child, monster, omen of destruction. Even his own father, the ruthless Alpha Darius Ashford, hid dark secrets about the night Elias was born.

But everything changes when Elias meets Vivienne Silvercrest the daughter of a rival bloodline and the girl tied to him by a forbidden bond older than history itself What begins as a dangerous mate connection soon awakens something ancient buried deep beneath the werewolf world.

An ancient kingdom erased from history A forgotten throne A power capable of destroying gods As mysterious enemies known as the Black Moon Order rise from the shadows, Elias discovers the horrifying truth:

He is not just a cursed Alpha.

He is the reincarnation of the First Alpha the legendary King of the Void, a being so powerful the Moon Goddess herself betrayed and sealed him centuries ago Now the seals are breaking Monsters buried beneath the earth are awakening Ancient prophecies are coming alive.

And Vivienne may be the only person capable of either saving Elias or destroying him forever.

Bound by love, hunted by fate, and surrounded by betrayal, Elias and Vivienne must uncover the truth behind the curse before the world falls into darkness again.

But some curses were never meant to be broken.

And some kings were never meant to return.

Aria lost her ten fingers and her entire future to a pair of fake lovers in her past life. Reborn before the crucial music competition, she abandons her role as a shadow pianist and picks up her abandoned violin again. With bleeding fingers and a death wish for revenge, she teams up with Adrian, the ruthless piano tyrant of Juilliard Prep. They burn down the perfect reputation of the hypocritical genius who once ruined her. Broken strings can be re-tuned. Broken talent always plays louder than lies.

They built a hundred-year name on a scholarship they stole from a dead girl.

This morning that name landed on my desk. Brooke Hale, applicant. One signature away from the federal clerkship her family has won, somehow, in every generation since 1962.

I'm the one who signs.

I wrote three words instead. Recommend denial. Then I sat with my hands flat on the file so they'd stop shaking.

The Hales think it's a cold case. A girl named Iris, ruled ineligible sixty years ago, gone quiet, gone poor, gone.

They don't know Iris was my great-grandmother.

They don't know I kept the letter.

Anna Brown has the ability to dream and go to the Moonland, the land of werewolves, and dark creatures. But she wished all her dreams were just like those that everybody has. Yet, her dreams were different. Her dreams weren't colors of rainbows and sunshine, her dreams became her reality, after all, she was a descendant of the Moon Goddess. The last of her bloodline. Nobody knew that she was the daughter of the Moon and Fire. However, Anna was beyond miserable, how fate played her, how she was just a pawn to an ancient war of werewolves. Her fierce visions were her grief untold, and she wished she could show it, she does. But she has to let the long-lost Golden Alpha Harry Camilton in so he can trust him yet, she doesn't know whom to trust and they shattered her hope, lies were told. Would she choose the promise of his love or choose the call of the Moon Goddess?

Marigold never asked to be hunted, mistaken for her dead twin, or babysat by the most terrifying Alpha in the kingdom. Gregor says it’s life or death. She says it’s annoying. Between botched impressions of her glamorous sister, endless sass, and the fact that her only spare clothes are long gone, survival feels like one big joke—until the Black Fang pack closes in with blood in their teeth.
He’s massive, ruthless, and maddeningly protective. She’s reckless, sharp-tongued, and absolutely not afraid of him. Together, they’re running for their lives beneath the storm—but what’s more dangerous? The assassins hunting them…or the sparks threatening to burn them both alive?

In the dead of night, a brutal murder shatters the peace of a quiet neighborhood. A sharp-witted female detective and a seasoned male homicide detective are thrust together to solve the case. As they dive into a series of chilling mysteries, each more twisted than the last, their professional partnership evolves.

Through late-night stakeouts and heart-pounding chases, their bond deepens, and mutual respect turns into a burgeoning romance. But with a cunning killer always one step ahead, they must stay focused to survive. In a world where shadows conceal the darkest truths, can they trust each other enough to bring justice?

Marisol Torres had known hardship her entire life, but nothing could prepare her for the night her entire family was massacred. A ruthless gang stormed into their tiny home, slaughtering her parents and siblings while she lay helpless in a pool of blood. Left for dead but miraculously surviving, she emerged from the ashes with nothing but a scarred body and a heart consumed by vengeance.

 

Desperation led her into the hands of Rafael Montoya, a powerful and enigmatic mafia lord with a reputation as lethal as his charm. At his high-end nightclub, Marisol became more than just a dancer, she became his spy, his enforcer, and eventually his confidante. But beneath her obedience, she harbored a secret: every move she made was a step toward avenging her family.

 

Her world unravels when she spots one of her family’s killers in Rafael’s inner circle, a scarred man with a sinister grin. She’s certain he’s part of the gang that destroyed her life, but why is he so deeply connected to Rafael? As she digs deeper, shocking truths emerge: her father’s death wasn’t just a random act of violence. It was part of a calculated betrayal tied to her father’s hidden double life, and Rafael’s empire.

 

When Marisol confronts Rafael, his chilling confession shatters her: “Your father betrayed me, Marisol. His choices sealed your family’s fate.”

Now, with vengeance within reach, Marisol must decide: will she destroy the man who saved her but kept her in the dark? Or will uncovering the truth about her father lead her down an even darker path?

Can Marisol forgive the man who both saved her life and shattered it? Or will the weight of her revenge pull her into the very darkness she’s trying to escape?

Sebastian Manchini is a monster dressed like a Greek god.
The city fears his name. Women beg for his touch.
And me? I was the unlucky one thrown straight into his world.
I’m Lily Garlo, a 22
year
old student who wanted nothing more than a simple life.
But on my first day at a new job, I walked straight into his office without knowing who he was.
He cornered me, stripped me off my clothes, and looked at me as if I was prey.
Everything after that became a nightmare.
My step brother’s debt to the Cosa Nostra turned into my prison.
One night I was dragged into a glittering party that turned out to be my own wedding…
to Sebastian Manchini.
I didn’t walk down the aisle. I was dragged into it.
He owned me.
He ruled me.
And with just a look, he could make me drop to my knees.
Then he died.
Or so I thought.
Months later, shattered by grief and a miscarriage, a baby I never realized I was carrying,
his younger brother Dante stepped in and became my only safe place.
I started to breathe again.
I started to feel again.
And then,
Boom.
Sebastian came back from the dead.
More dangerous. More ruthless.
And he’s come to claim me as his.
This time, there is no escape.
I am locked in his golden cage, trapped in his poisoned love…
and part of me still burns for the monster who ruined my life.
He was the mafia king, the sweet poison I never asked for, and the addiction I can’t escape…

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)DESIRED is Book #5 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In DESIRED (Book #5 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine wakes to discover that she has once again traveled back in time. This time, she has landed in eighteenth century Paris, an age of great opulence, of kings and queens—but also of revolution. Reunited with her true love, Caleb, the two of them finally have the quiet, romantic time together that they never had. They spend idyllic time together in the city of Paris, visiting its most romantic sites, as their love grows ever deeper. Caitlin decides to give up the search for her father, so that she can savor this time and place, and spend her life with Caleb. Caleb takes her to his medieval castle, near the ocean, and Caitlin is happier than she ever dreamed. But their idyllic time together is not destined to last forever, and events intercede that force the two of them apart. Caitlin once again finds herself united with Aiden and his coven, with Polly and with new friends, as she focuses again on her training, and on her mission. She is introduced to the lavish world of Versailles, and encounters outfits and opulence beyond what she ever dreamed. With never ending feasts and parties and concerts, Versailles is a world of its own. She is happily reunited with her bother Sam, who is also back in time, and having dreams of their father, too. But all is not as well as it seems. Kyle has traveled back in time, too—this time, with his evil sidekick, Sergei—and he is more determined than ever to kill Caitlin. And Sam and Polly each fall ever deeper into toxic relationships, which just might threaten to destroy everything around them. As Caitlin becomes a true and hardened warrior, she comes closer than ever to finding her father, and the mythical Shield. The climactic, action-packed ending, takes Caitlin through a whirlwind of Paris’ most important medieval locations, on a hunt for clues. But surviving this time will demand skills she never dreamed she had. And reuniting with Caleb will require her to make the hardest choices—and sacrifices—of her life.

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)BETRAYED is book #3 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with TURNED (Book #1)! In BETRAYED (Book #3 in the Vampire Journals), Caitlin Paine awakes from a deep coma to discover she has been turned. Now a true, full-bred vampire, she marvels at her new powers, including her ability to fly, and her superhuman strength. She finds that her true love, Caleb, is still by her side, waiting patiently for her to recover. She has everything she could dream of. Until it all, suddenly, goes terribly wrong. Caitlin is horrified to discover Caleb with his ex-wife, Sera, and before Caleb has a chance to explain, Caitlin tells him to leave. Heartbroken, confused, Caitlin wants to curl up and die, her only consolation being in her wolf-pup Rose. Caitlin also finds consolation in her new surroundings. She finds she has been placed on a hidden island in the Hudson River—Pollepel—amidst an elite coven of teenage vampires, boys and girls alike, 24 in all, including her. She learns that this is a place for outcasts, just like her, and as she meets her new best friend, Polly, and begins her training in elite vampire combat, she realizes that she might finally have a place to call home. But a major vampire war is looming, and her brother Sam is still out there, kidnapped by Samantha. The evil Kyle, too, now wielding the mythical Sword, is still on the warpath, and he will stop at nothing to wipe out New York. Caitlin, despite her new home, and despite her finding a new love interest in the elusive vampire Blake, knows that she can only stay on this island for so long before her destiny calls. After all, she is still the One, and all eyes still look to her to find her father and the other weapon that might save them all. Torn between her new friends and her lingering feelings for Caleb, she must come to decide where her true loyalties lie, and whether she is willing to risk it all to try to find Caleb and have him in her life once again…. “BETRAYED is a great installment for this series. If you haven't read her first two novels, read them and then get your hands on BETRAYED.” VampireBookSite “The cliffhanger at the end of BETRAYED will leave the reader panting for more, and BETRAYED receives a solid A for its face paced read, and imaginative story.” --The Dallas Examiner “BETRAYED has good romance, a strong plot, lots of action, and a very quick pace. There are so many wonderful surprises that you will not want to stop reading it until the very end.” --The Romance Reviews

“Tianna! No! Stop it! Your brother is in the other room!”
Read and enjoy the experience of Valencia and Aaron, from friends with benefits to a real relationship. Will she leave Aaron for his sister Tianna? Read and find out!

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!" --Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)CRAVED is Book #10 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with Book #1, TURNED! In CRAVED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to find out exactly what she’s becoming. Her erratic behavior has alienated her new boyfriend, Blake, and she struggles to make amends, and to make him understand. But the problem is, she can barely understand herself what’s happening to her. At the same time, the new boy in school, the mysterious Sage, comes into her life. Their paths keep intertwining, and although she tries to avoid it, he directly pursues her, despite the objections of her best friend, Maria, who has her own eyes set on Sage. Scarlet finds herself swept away by Sage, who takes her into his world, past the gates of his family’s historic river mansion. As their relationship deepens, she begins to learn more about his mysterious past, his family, and the secrets he must hold. They spend the most romantic time she can imagine, on a secluded island in the Hudson, and she is convinced she has found the true love of her life. But then she is devastated to learn Sage’s biggest secret of all: he is not human, either, and he has only a few weeks left to live. Tragically, just at the moment when destiny has brought her greatest love, it also seems fated to tear them apart. As Scarlet returns to the high school parties leading up to the big dance, she ends up in a huge falling-out with her friends, who excommunicate her from their group. At the same time, Vivian rounds up the popular girls to make her life hell, leading to an unavoidable confrontation. Scarlet’s forced to sneak out, making matters worse with her parents, and soon finds pressure building from all sides. The only light in her life is Sage. But he is still holding back some of his secrets, and Blake resurfaces, determined to pursue her. Caitlin, meanwhile, is determined to find a way to reverse Scarlet’s vampirism. What she finds leads her on a journey to find the antidote, deep into the darkest corners of rare libraries and bookstores—and to an ancient discovery she can hardly imagine. But it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming. She wants to be with Sage—but fate seems set on tearing them apart. As the book culminates in an action-packed and shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. How much is she willing to risk for love?

The story follows Markus Ironclad, a man whose life is filled with conflict. On the one hand, he lives under the scrutiny of his in-laws, who constantly judge him. On the other hand, he must contend with the threat of the god killers, who murdered his father. As the plot unfolds, Markus finds himself in a battle for his life, and a fight for his heart. Can he overcome the odds and find the happiness he deserves?