7109 Book(s) Related to rise from the rubble chapter 1

He called her boring. He said their marriage was a mistake. Then he left her bleeding, heartbroken... and pregnant.

Lily devoted seven years of her life to a man who only saw her as a convenience. When her husband, Alex, demanded a divorce, she begged him to stay only to discover he'd already proposed to his ex… and planned it all behind her back.

But betrayal wasn’t the end, it was just the beginning.

Left for dead, humiliated, and crushed by the ultimate heartbreak, Lily had nothing, until a billionaire stranger offered her a deal: a contract marriage, a new identity, and a chance to make the man who shattered her beg on his knees.

She accepted.

Now, Lily is no longer the soft-spoken housewife he threw away, she's the storm he never saw coming. Beautiful. Untouchable. Dangerous.
And Alex? He’s about to learn that the woman he underestimated is now the one who holds all the power. He broke her soul. Now she’s coming for him…

When the prey becomes the hunter…

As a half-elf paranormal recruitment consultant, Julia knows to stay away from vampires–to them, she’s just food.

So why would bloodthirsty alpha male Nathaniel La Caz be any different. When she turns up at the meeting in his factory, she senses that there is something about him. Julia is suddenly overwhelmed by her senses, and her magic goes haywire when she is near him. Things go from weird to worse when Julia witnesses the kidnapping of her cousin Claudia. And when more elves and fairies begin to vanish without a trace, and no help is in sight, Julia knows that she is her cousin’s only hope.

The police suspect vampires. And if they’re right, this could be a one day death trap. But Julia is willing to risk it all to save Claudia, even if it means she could become this crazed vampire’s next victim.

Rain and Ami are the best of friends since their nappies, however as they were growing
up, Rain's feelings for Ami grew beyond friendship. Ami was a hoyden and boyish due to her environment. As she was orphaned at a very early age, the only people around her were her uncle and his uncle's stepson, Rain and his male cousins.
Rain and Ami's friendship became shaky on the night of Rain's bride search ball. Rain's passionate kiss addled Ami's mind into thinking she was to be his bride. Will it be a happy ever after for them both or will Rain continue to defy fate?

“You take us so well, don't you?" Kade says, slamming his cock into my mouth as Lucien thrusts into my pussy at a savage, maddening pace. “Our sweet, little destruction."

They say the moon never forgets a sin, and on the night Nyra was born, it remembered them all.

Marked by the goddess and hunted by every clan, Nyra carries a power that could either save the wolves… or end them. The Lunar Crystal, the goddess’s shattered heart, can break the curse that’s slowly destroying their kind , but only if awakened by her blood.

Now the light wolves want her captured, the royals want her dead, and four dangerous rogues want to protect her, even if it means defying the laws of the moon itself.

As enemies close in and forbidden bonds ignite, Lyra must choose between surrendering her power… or embracing the darkness rising within her.

Because under the bleeding moon, love can be just as deadly as fate.

With her husband feeling more like a distant roommate, Nikki, an ex-college soccer player, knows there's more out there for her but scared to leave the comfort of her normal, usual, secure life. One night, during a massive storm, lightening strikes as a new player, Shane, joins her team. The second their eyes meet, time stops. She knows this person has always lived in her heart and soul. What is this feeling? It's illogical, it's fantasy, it's supported by all of the physical evidence you could throw in front of her. What the hell even is a soul mate, anyways? There's only one way to find out without actually having to interact with the dark haired stranger in real life...inviting him to dream with her. Will he join her?

“One of the best thrillers I have read this year.”--Books and Movie Reviews (re Any Means Necessary)In the much-anticipated debut of a new series by #1 bestseller Jack Mars, when elite Delta Force soldier Luke Stone, 29, joins a secretive government agency, he is dispatched on the mission of a lifetime: a whirlwind race across Europe and the Mid-East to save the President’s daughter before she is beheaded by terrorists.In PRIMARY TARGET (Book #1), we see the forging of one of the world’s toughest—and most lethal—soldiers: Luke Stone. A 29 year old veteran who has seen enough battle to last a lifetime, Luke is tapped by the Special Response Team, a secretive new FBI agency (led by his mentor Don Morris) to tackle the most high-stake terrorism operations in the world.Luke, still haunted by his wartime past and newly married to an expecting Becca, is dispatched on a mission to Iraq, with his new partner Ed Newsam, to bring in a rogue American contractor. But what begins as a routine mission mushrooms into something much, much bigger.When the President’s teenage daughter, kidnapped in Europe, is ransomed by terrorists, Luke may be the only one in the world who can save her before it is too late.PRIMARY TARGET is an un-putdownable military thriller, a wild action ride that will leave you turning pages late into the night. It marks the long-anticipated debut of a riveting new series by #1 bestseller Jack Mars, dubbed “one of the best thriller authors” out there.“Thriller writing at its best.”--Midwest Book Review (re Any Means Necessary)Also available is Jack Mars’ #1 bestselling LUKE STONE THRILLER series (7 books), which begins with Any Means Necessary (Book #1), a free download with over 800 five star reviews!

Ophelia was born the weakest wolf in the pack, mocked, beaten, and treated like nothing. All she ever dreamed of was the day the Moon Goddess would give her a mate who would love her despite her flaws.

But when her fated mate was revealed, he didn’t claim her. He crushed her.

“I, Alpha Dominic, reject you as my mate. You will never be my Luna.”

The words tore her apart, and the pack’s laughter sealed her fate. Cast out, abandoned, and left to die, she thought her story had ended.

But the broken girl they discarded rose. The weak omega become stronger than them all. And the Alpha who rejected her bow at her feet.

"Mr. Grimwald, everything must be done in moderation!"

Penelope had never imagined that a careless remark would lead to her being swept into a wealthy family as a substitute bride.

Faced with a tyrannical devil who preyed on the weak, Penelope found herself trapped in countless situations—pressed against walls, pinned to the bed, her petite waist aching each night.

Fine, she thought. Fulfilling her duties as his temporary wife was part of the arrangement. But once the real fiancée returned, she planned to gather the fragments of her heart and leave quietly, pretending it had all meant nothing.

But who could have predicted that the domineering man would launch a global manhunt for her, only to handcuff her and throw her back onto the bed, declaring his cruel decree: "Woman, your term as a substitute bride lasts a lifetime!"

When Catherine finally found the courage to escape from her abusive boyfriend, she didn't know how painful the price of freedom would be.

Billionaire businessman and politician Nathan appeared in her life at the exact time she needed saving.

Just when Catherine was beginning to put her past behind her and longing for a happy ending, she and Nathan’s past came calling, a past that threatened to destroy them and their loved ones.

Will they fight it through or allow it to consume them?

"Take me, please take me now. I love you, Damon." she moaned as he continued squeezing and toying with her breasts, especially her nipples.
“I am yours. But only for tonight." was his cold reply.

★

Alpha Damon owns the physical appearance of an angel but a heart inclined to evil because of his demon origin.

Ladies fantasize about him because of his extraordinary beauty and aura but Damon cares for no one. No one at all.

The Cold Heart one.

However, Damon would meet a human girl Jane, who he saved from a gang of rapists. And she will make him feel things like compassion and concern and ultimately love.
But before he could accept these feelings as true and real, Danger and Death would come like the shadow as he will be the center of a war between Demons and Witches as well as Werewolves and Vampires...

Alexander Gray never suspects his investment consultant Vera is the hidden trillion-dollar heiress of Sterling Holdings. Fed up with restrictive elite life, she hides her identity to work an ordinary job. A sudden encounter with her boss sparks a thrilling secret romance—professional by day, irresistibly intimate by night.
When Alexander’s mother offers $50 million to drive her away, Vera shuts down her arrogance with a $100 million counteroffer. Her extraordinary talents soon surface, bringing huge profits and stunning the entire board. Once her true identity is revealed, the cold-hearted CEO falls madly in love, cherishing her genuine self over her wealth. A sizzling billionaire romance packed with shocking reversals and sweet true love!

I promised Ethan Caldwell, the boy I grew up with, I'd give up the top schools to attend some mediocre college with him.

On the final day of application submission, I brought homemade soup to his studio.

Outside the door, I heard him bragging to his friends: "Claire Bennett's like a damn puppy. I tell her to come to NYU with me, and boom, she changes her whole application to NYU. Lily's grades are shit. If Claire doesn't go for that full scholarship, Lily's got it in the bag. And Claire's so whipped, even when she finds out, she'll just suck it up like always."

The thermos in my hands feels cold now.

All About You (Love & Hate Series #1)

I start hating Oliver just after his older brother Christian’s death. I drag him down a road of humiliation and pain to try to cope with what his brother did to me.
A few months after Christian’s passing, Oliver leaves town, and for the next two years, he is absent from my life. The demons claw their way back in, and I must learn to live with the secret that has destroyed me.
Now I’m starting a new life, away from Gargle and away from my past, but everything crashes when I see Oliver the first day at university. It’s clear that many things have changed since we’ve been apart. Now he is captain of the rugby team and the most popular bloke on campus.
Then he makes a bet and gives me an ultimatum: I leave Braxton forever and start somewhere else, or I stay and play his game… because he’s never forgotten that it was me who ruined his life two years ago.

What happens when Kyrah Bailey falls in love with the son of a tycoon, Blake Dawson and later finds out that he has strings attached with his neighbor Sabrina Johnson? Will Kyrah be able to dig out Blake's past? Will she forgive Blake or not? Torn between her boyfriend, Blake and her best friend, Scott Stone, her world crumbles down as she tries to fight for her lover forgetting about her friends and family. Will she realize her mistakes and who will she end up falling for?

Forsaken. Beastless. Cursed. When Aeloria Tideborn was placed into the sacred waters of the Beast Temple as a newborn, no creature answered her call. In a world where every child bonds with a beast protector, she grew up mocked as hollow....bullied at school, rejected by her parents, and forced to scrape by with nothing but her stubborn spark.

Until the sea claimed her.

On her sixteenth birthday, she found him: Kaelthys, a crying cub hidden in a seaside cave. Not just any beast, but a Leviathan, the ancient god-beast of the ocean, whispered about only in myth. From that moment on, she was no longer hollow. She was chosen.

Now eighteen, Aeloria is summoned to Beast Bond Academy, where the strongest bonded fae compete for rank, power, and survival. Trials are brutal. Ranks are everything. And her Leviathan bond makes her the academy's biggest mystery, and biggest threat.

But The Primal Accord hides a dangerous secret: they plan to enslave the sea and destroy the Leviathan's kin. Aeloria must decide whether to protect the very people who cast her aside... or rise as the heir of the ocean and lead the sea to war.

And then there are the four beast-bonded males drawn to her by fate, enemies, rivals, protectors, lovers. The bonds she swore she'd never need might be the only thing strong enough to save her world.

Dark Academia ✅
Rejected heroine ✅
Magical academy ✅
Deadly trials ✅
Reverse harem / multiple mates ✅
Enemies-to-lovers tension ✅
Mythical beast bond ✅
Sea creatures/Merpeople ✅

This is not a happy story, this is in no way a love story despite what the stupid a-hole men in her life chose to believe. There are triggers, including SA, talk of past SA, ideas, and attempts at suicide, as well as thoughts and feelings surrounding unwanted pregnancy. I don't romanticize what happens despite what the deluded characters do. This is not a typical shifter story, so please don't expect it to be. You will need a box of Kleenex and nearby objects to throw in frustration and anger. So, if you still wish to read Ria's story and follow her journey, watching her persevere, become an awesome mom, and never back down from screaming at the top of her lungs this is wrong, despite a short bout of temporary insanity, then come along and read her story, and fly with dragons.

She had survived; she had prospered, from a time trapped in her personal hell to the hard life on the streets, to finally finding happiness with her chosen family.

Ria

She thought she had been handed a gift, a reward for perseverance. Yet that gift had a dark reality attached.

She would discover a world she didn't know existed, a future she didn't choose, and a purpose she refused.

She would discover dragons, and they said she was theirs.

“If this girl asked you to kiss her, what would you do?”

“I would kiss her,” he breathed, his lips grazing just shy of hers.

Lisette’s breath faltered as she leaned in, drawn by the heat of him. The almost-touch was enough to make her shiver, but not enough to satisfy.

Her hands moved first, sliding over his chest, feeling the strength beneath her palms. He stilled—then gave in.

His mouth found hers, deeper this time, unhurried but certain. The world seemed to fall quiet around them, leaving only the warmth between their bodies and the quiet, undeniable pull to get closer.
~
When a brilliant law student embarks on a summer mission to lose her virginity, she falls for a mysterious newcomer—unaware he's infiltrating her world to destroy her powerful family. When desire turns into betrayal, she must choose: protect the people who raised her, or the man who could destroy them.

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MURDER AND BREAKFAST is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews.Marie Fortune, 39, a successful dog groomer in Boston, has had enough of catering to the wealthy and their pampered dogs. Realizing it is time to make a change, she quits and heads to a small coastal town in Maine where she remembers fond summers as a kid. Marie expects to go for a brief getaway—and is shocked to learn that her great-aunt left her an inheritance: a dilapidated, historic house high up on a hill overlooking the harbor. Marie feels an instant connection. Although the locals tell her it would be folly, Marie decides to renovate and give it a second life as a B&B.But there is one thing she couldn’t have planned for: the house is haunted.Two things, actually: her great-aunt also left her a dog—and he is far from a typical dog.When an unexpected death occurs soon thereafter, solving the crime will be more than just a matter of curiosity for Marie—her very future may depend on it.A page-turning cozy, packed with mystery, love, hauntings, travel, pets and food—anchored around a small town and a B&B in need of renovation that will capture your heart—THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS is an un-putdownable cozy that will keep you turning pages (and laughing out loud) late into the night.“The romance is there, but not overdosed. Kudos to the author for this amazing start of a series that promises to be very entertaining.”--Books and Movies Reviews (For Now and Forever)Books #2 and #3 in the series—DEATH AND BRUNCH and MALICE AND LUNCH—are now also available!

High-school misfit Julian fell in over his head into a relationship doomed for dysfunction. When the love of your life turns out to be a polyamorous vampire, eternity together is bound to be a messy rollercoaster, but even after all the trauma and heartbreak, this one of a kind devil still holds his heart. If only Luc shared his devotion... He certainly shares his obsession.

“Your girlfriend’s pretty cynical, now isn’t she?” Luc speaks into my ear, leaning casually on my shoulder. I blush bright red, and his smile grows all the broader.
He takes both our hands and leads us off across the dance floor, and the crowd parts for him like he’s the King of England - the bouncers steering away anyone that tries to block us.
“Holy shit. You really are the owner?!” Heather drunkenly shouts, as we make our way up the stairs and into that VIP booth.
“My club and my right to lay claim to anyone who catches my eye,” Luc drawls, and I shoot him a look, shifting my weight to get in between him and Heather.
“Look, you can’t just… I mean, thanks for the drinks, but she is not going to…” God I sound like an idiot, and staring straight in Luc’s eyes I feel more than a little intimidated, especially because he is not intimidated by me whatsoever. He’s smiling like I’ve just gifted him a shiny new present. I turn to tell Heather we should go, and Luc catches my arm.
“I wasn’t trying to steal away your date,” he laughs. “I invited the both of you here, now didn’t I?” He pushes a hand through Heather’s hair, turning boldly to face her dreamy eyed gawking. “You ever had a three way?”

Alessandro Martini, once the play boy is changed in to a mature and responsible man, when took over the position of CEO of Martini Group, however, not many knows about his true identity of being an Italian mafia leader except those are involved. Being CEO and ruthless mafia leader his life is full of challenges because of his rivals on both sides, to make it worst his father demands an heir from him, he wouldn’t have given a damn to his wish unless he was threatened by his own father on the positions he holds.
Autumn is the ordinary girl, who struggled for making her career after she was ditched by her boyfriend four years ago, while crying out for his betrayal she happened to spend the night with stranger, someone whose identity she doesn’t know. However, as time passes she was happy with her twin babies and her life until one day when kidnapping of her sons brought her face to face with their father, knowing his identity only scared her for her and her kid’s life.

I just landed my dream job on Wall Street, but the celebratory champagne came with a bizarre side effect. I can suddenly see the exact probability of someone killing me floating above their heads. My parents? 5% and 70%. The fiancé I ran to for safety? A blood-red 100%.

Rhye Gosling demanded she marry him after their accidental nerve-wracking one-night stand. Little did she know, he was the most powerful Alpha in the werewolf community, a world she thought only existed in the book. How hard could it be? Yet, the handsome and demanding Alpha would change her life to the full extent, bringing her laughter and tears, hatred and love, and into the chaotic world of magic and wonder where werewolves and demons existed and would do everything to bring the Alpha to his knees.

Racked by confusion and changes in her body, Diana found herself irresistibly drawn to Andrew. Passion ignited and threatened to consume them both. However, she was unprepared for the reason he had sought her out and the danger that lay ahead. Regardless, sharing a love of conquering their goals, this unlikely pair began to form an unexpected bond that led them to a place neither of them ever expected to be.

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

I sacrificed ten years of my life in prison for Alaric. I burned my hand in a raging fire, just to save our four-year-old son.
Yet the family I saved abandoned me. My husband favored his scheming stepmother. My own son called me dirty, rejecting his birth mother. To humiliate me, Alaric even bet half a million on my dignity.
Tired of endless humiliation, I chose to leave the cold father and son who broke me completely.
Just as I fell into despair, my childhood sweetheart—now a powerful CEO—returned. He swore to guard me closely, making up for all the warmth I had lost.

If there is one person Josie hates more than her aunt Beth, it's Richard Kingston. The boy who tortured her growing up. But she thought she'd seen the last of him years ago. So, why the hell is he showing up now to ruin her life? Why is he demanding she marry him, when she was planning on marrying her boyfriend James? And why does it seem like he's keeping secrets she doesn't want to unlock?

Amethyst is a woman who loves her family so much.
She has a boyfriend named Earl.
Amethyst's life was simple, and it's ok with her.
Until one night, She and her boyfriend went on a date.
It should be a romantic and simple date but it turns out into a nightmare!
They witnessed a killing which leads Earl to die.
And the master mind? Named Aivan Warren who's reckless that suddenly feel something strange when he saw Amethyst.
He let Amethyst live and free but in one condition. She will do whatever Aivan wants for two months! Yes, it was totally crazy for her. But, what can she do? He is powerful and reckless.
What will happen with those two months?
Will Amethyst live after two months?
If Aivan wants her to love him, how can she love the person who just killed her boyfriend for no reason?

Nightfall Investigations Series: Origins-Book One

Sponsor Echo wasn’t looking for destiny…
She walked into Nightfall Investigations looking for a job.
She found a vampire instead, and now the most dangerous man in Seattle refuses to let her die.

The city doesn’t know what lives beneath it.
Sponsor Echo certainly didn’t.
Sleeping in an alley, hungry, broke, and one bad decision away from disappearing entirely, she walked into Nightfall Investigations looking for a job. Instead, she found Cyne Nightfall. Quiet, controlled…dangerous in ways she can’t explain, and not human.
Cyne has spent centuries keeping the monsters in Seattle under control. Vampires, cults, things that crawl through corridors most people will never see. He has rules. Boundaries. Distance. Then Sponsor walks through his door and the world starts shifting around her. Literally.
Wards fail when she enters a room. Containment sites destabilize, and ancient factions that have been silent for decades suddenly start hunting again. But they aren’t hunting Cyne. They’re hunting her.
Now a missing journalist has uncovered something buried beneath the city…something tied to Sponsor’s blood, Cyne’s past, and a power neither of them fully understands.
As cults close in and the supernatural world begins to fracture, Cyne realizes something far more dangerous than the enemies surrounding them: he’s starting to care. And if anyone tries to take Sponsor from him…Seattle won’t survive what he becomes.

Perfect for readers who love:
• dark paranormal romance
• protective vampire heroes
• strong female leads discovering their power
• supernatural mysteries and cult conspiracies
• slow-burn tension with dangerous stakes

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

Chained in a dark basement and abused for three years, Evie finally escaped. Returning home, she saw her sister, Vivian, surrounded by a crowd, blowing out candles on a five-layer cake.

——

Kidnapped by a gang, Evie endured three years of hell. She discovered that it was all orchestrated by Vivian, whose goal was to make her completely disappear from this world.

Heaven-rending hatred outweighed despair. Having cheated death and returned to the Vance family, her adoptive parents avoided her like the plague, and her fiancé was already with Vivian.

Evie didn't care at all. She would return the suffering she endured twofold. With careful planning at every step, she took over the Vance Group, transforming from someone universally loathed into a universally worshipped multi-faceted boss—she possessed countless hidden identities.

Even the fiancé who had once betrayed her knelt before her, begging for forgiveness.

Evie gave a seductive smile, "My apologies. I am already with your CEO cousin. You should call me your cousin-in-law now."

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.

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?

"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.

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.

Seventy-two hours before my wedding, I stood in front of the fitting mirror at a bridal shop.

My best friend sent me a social media post, and the red exclamation mark in the message box stung my eyes sharply.

The post’s title read: Guys, my boyfriend is getting married to his current partner. What should I do?

The comment section had already erupted into chaos.
“Dude, are you out of your mind? You’re the other woman here!”
“You’re the homewrecker and you dare post this to get roasted? Where’s your shame?”

The poster was firing back furiously, every word oozing unapologetic madness:
“We’ve been inseparable since we were kids! His first love, first kiss, first time—all mine!”
“He doesn’t even like that old hag; he’s only marrying her out of obligation!”
“Who’s the real mistress, anyway?”

I should have swiped past it like a silly joke, but my gaze was locked onto the poster’s profile picture.

It showed two hands laced together. Peeking out from the man’s wrist was a dark green watch dial—a Richard Mille Valentine’s Day limited edition. It was the seven-figure engagement gift I’d bought him by selling my mother’s last precious heirloom, the only one of its kind in the world.

My heart was squeezed tight by an icy hand, plummeting to the bottom in an instant.

I tapped into the account’s homepage. The second my finger swiped open the photo album, a dizzying, world-spinning sensation crashed over me.

In the photos, the man holding the girl closely was none other than Lu Yanchen—my fiancé, who was supposed to marry me in three days.

I stared at the screen. All the wedding hopes and love I’d saved up over three years shattered into nothing but dust at this moment.

I couldn’t believe it, yet I had to. The man who’d loved me for three years and sworn to protect me forever had been lying to me from start to finish.

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.

“Hide! Hide!” I yelled, striking Greg violently in the butt. I sensed his astonishment but I didn’t give a damn. If he loved me, he'd understand I was in a precarious situation. “What the hell's happening?!” Greg screamed but I still pushed him into my wardrobe anyway as Fred's voice echoed through the house. I can't imagine the torment I'd face if I was caught in a relationship with a man. 7 years ago, I worked for the Richardson family with my mother and when I lost her to cancer, I decided to drop out of school. However, luck was on my side or so I thought. The Richardson adopted me as their own but when I thought my life was starting to get better, Fred the true son of the family came into my life. It went downhill from there. I became a sex toy for him and it even got worse when my adoptive father joined his son to make my life a misery. I became traumatic. Not even the sweetest prince charming could woo me into liking him. To hell with every man! I hated them all until Greg came along. He loved me more than I loved myself but what could I do? Both father and son of the Richardson family had issued me a stern warning to shut every man out – I was an exclusive property. Would I ever get a shot at true love when my life’s a living hell?

When Carolina, an obsessed, lovesick lesbian, gets her heart broken by the lady she wants to spend the rest of her life with, she wants to take revenge on the man who stole the love of her life. Surprisingly, this “man* turns out to be her stepbrother whom she abhorred with her life. She begins a mission to stalk her stepbrother, get him obsessed with her, then dump him so she can get back with Angelina, her ex girlfriend. What starts as fake admiration and obsession eventually turns into something real and Carolina realizes that she may not be a lesbian after all. Maybe bisexual. But she was definitely into men. And one of them… is her stepbrother.

Five years, I bled for Dario. Took a bullet for him. Cleaned up his dirtiest books. Drank myself into the ER just to keep his bosses sweet.
Then he slid divorce papers across the table and told me to sign. His mistress was pregnant; the family needed a "proper" heir, and I was in the way. So I signed—and let him strip me of everything I'd built.
Three hours later, a rival crew ran his car off the bridge. He survived. But he will never father a child again.
Now he's pouring a fortune he can't spare into his mistress's baby, showing off his "heir" to every boss in New York. He thinks his bloodline is finally safe.
He has no idea whose child he's really raising. And I'm the only one who does.

Luna has tried her best to make her forced marriage to Xen work for the sake of their child. But with Riley and Sophia- Xen's ex-girlfriend and her son in the picture. She fights a losing battle.
Ollie, Xen's son is neglected by his father for a very long time and he is also suffering from a mysterious sickness that's draining his life force.
When his last wish to have his dad come to his 5th birthday party is dashed by his failure to show up, Ollie dies in an accident after seeing his father celebrate Riley's birthday with Sophia and it's displayed on the big advertising boards that fill the city.
Ollie dies and Luna follows after, unable to bear the grief, dying in her mate's hands cursing him and begging for a second chance to save her son.
Luna gets the opportunity and is woken up in the past, exactly one year to the day Sophia and Riley show up.
But this time around, Luna is willing to get rid of everyone and anyone even her mate if he steps in her way to save her son.

Derek Chen—a forty-year-old, overweight, balding photographer—has hit rock bottom. Fired by his boss Morgan and humiliated by supermodel Mia Harrington, he's left homeless, bitter, and consumed by rage. His descent into depravity began long before: secretly filming women, groping assistants, nursing a festering hatred of the world that rejected him.

But one drunken night in a Los Angeles park changes everything.

When Derek stumbles upon Mia—passed out, vulnerable, and alone after discovering Morgan's infidelity—he seizes his chance. What begins as a brutal assault transforms into something far more twisted when Mia witnesses Morgan's betrayal firsthand. Shattered by her boyfriend's cruelty and trapped by Derek's blackmail footage, the nineteen-year-old icon makes a choice that will destroy them both: she submits.

Now Derek holds the leash—literally. Mia Harrington, the world's most desired woman, has become his collared pet, his willing slave, his instrument of revenge. And Morgan? He'll watch it all unfold.

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.

"Stay with me, Luna. Please. I can't lose you both."
Her eyes were on mine and I could see the resolution and gratefulness in her eyes despite the pain.
"You never deserved us. We were too good for you. If I had another chance," she whispered slowly pausing to breathe, "I would never stay with you. I would save my son from your indifference. I would spare us both the pain of loving someone who never loved us back."
"I did love you," I insisted, tears rolling down my face. "I do love Ollie. Please, Luna."
"Next time," she promised, a smile on her lips and tears running down freely her side of her eyes, "we'll be free."


Luna has tried her best to make her forced marriage to Xen work for the sake of their child. But with Riley and Sophia- Xen's ex-girlfriend and her son in the picture. She fights a losing battle.
Ollie, Xen's son, is neglected by his father for a very long time, and he is also suffering from a mysterious sickness that's draining his life force.
When his last wish to have his dad come to his 5th birthday party is dashed by his failure to show up, Ollie dies in an accident after seeing his father celebrate Riley's birthday with Sophia, and it's displayed on the big advertising boards that fill the city.
Ollie dies, and Luna follows after, unable to bear the grief, dying in her mate's hands, cursing him and begging for a second chance to save her son.
Luna gets the opportunity and is woken up in the past, exactly one year to the day, Sophia and Riley show up.
But this time around, Luna is willing to get rid of everyone and anyone, even her mate, if he steps in her way to save her son.

"You're pathetic." Sophia's manicured nails dug into my shoulder. "A wolfless freak who thinks she can fight back?"

The storage room door slammed shut. The lock clicked.

My inhaler was in my locker. My lungs seized. Darkness crept in.

"Help..." I wheezed. "Please..."

But they were already walking away, laughing.

Lynette, the most feared Alpha in the Canadian territories who ruled through blood and ice, dies in an ambush—only to wake up as Elara Grey, a seventeen-year-old wolfless Omega who just suffocated to death from bullying.

The original Elara's life was pure torment. Humiliated by golden boy Blythe Harrison and his girlfriend Sophia Reign, then left to die gasping in a locked room. But that's not the worst part her family faces:

"Your adorable little family," the scarred mercenary held up their photo. "The black market's offering a million for you, Lynette. But them? They're just a bonus. I'll make sure they suffer as well."

Now Lynette's lethal instincts awaken in this fragile, asthmatic body.

She'll protect this family and destroy everyone who dared to hurt them—one brutal lesson at a time.

A love story where pride makes it hard to listen, and prejudice harder to acknowledge feelings. A young college student (Rose) who seeks nothing but perfection, tries to avoid the pain we taste once in love, acting like she has philophobia. She meets a guy (Sam) who'll come into her life like a thunder, surprisingly but doesn't leave as easy nor as quickly, instead her world flips upside down, making her question everything she once stood for.

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