466 Book(s) Related to lj shen books

“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!

“A powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan) (re A Throne for Sisters)“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless!”--Books and Movie Reviews (re A Throne for Sisters)From #1 Bestselling author Morgan Rice comes a new series for fantasy and middle grade readers (and adults, too)! Fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson—look no further!In THE SCEPTER OF FIRE: OLIVER BLUE AND THE SCHOOL FOR SEERS (BOOK FOUR), 12 year old Oliver Blue is dispatched on an urgent mission to save The School for Seers. He must travel back in time, to Florence, 1592, to find the only artifact that can save them all.Yet the secret is guarded by none other than Galileo himself.As Oliver searches for one of the great scientists and inventors of all time, the man who invented the telescope and who discovered planets, Oliver must wonder: is a he a seer, too? And what other secrets is he holding?His brother Chris, more powerful than ever, remains determined to kill Oliver for all time. Oliver soon realizes it is a race against time, as the fate of the school—and of the world—is at stake.An uplifting fantasy, THE SCEPTER OF FIRE is book #4 in a riveting new series filled with magic, love, humor, heartbreak, tragedy, destiny, and a string of shocking surprises. It will make you fall in love with OLIVER BLUE, and keep you turning pages late into the night.Book #5 in the series will be available soon! “The beginnings of something remarkable are there.”--San Francisco Book Review (re A Quest of Heroes)

“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: SCANDAL AND SUPPER is Book #5 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, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan 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 Marie is hired to cleanse a unique and massive hotel in a nearby town, the scope of it is beyond anything she has encountered before. Just as she wonders if she has finally met her match, she learns that her local Mayor is trying to re-zone the downtown—and to shut down her B&B while he’s at it. Having a murder in the mix—for which she is pinned—hardly helps matters, either. In a multi-front war for her survival, can Marie manage to purge the ghosts, stay out of jail, and keep her livelihood?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 series 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)

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

“A powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries.”--Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan) (re A Throne for Sisters)“Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless!”--Books and Movie Reviews (re A Throne for Sisters)From #1 Bestselling fantasy author Morgan Rice comes a new series for middle grade readers—and adults, too! Fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson—look no further!In THE ORB OF KANDRA: OLIVER BLUE AND THE SCHOOL FOR SEERS (BOOK TWO), 11 year old Oliver Blue is back in the present day, racing to save Armando before his destined moment to die.But when Oliver learns that the sacred Orb of Kandra has been stolen, he knows it is up to him—and him alone—to save the school. And the only way is to travel back in time, to the England of 1690s, and to save one very important person: Sir Isaac Newton.The Obsidian School, meanwhile, has powerful seers of its own, and all are bent on Oliver’s destruction. And when they enlist and transform Oliver’s bully brother, Chris, it may just mean a fight to the death.An uplifting fantasy, THE ORB OF KANDRA is book #2 in a riveting new series filled with magic, love, humor, heartbreak, tragedy, destiny, and a series of shocking twists. It will make you fall in love with Oliver Blue, and keep you turning pages late into the night.Book #3 in the series (THE OBSIDIANS) is now also available!“The beginnings of something remarkable are there.” --San Francisco Book Review (re A Quest of Heroes)

My target should be terrified of me.
Instead, he's smirking like he already knows I'll never pull the trigger.
My heart races in my chest. This isn't me.
I am born to kill. I am born to take orders.
Yet those eyes, they're killing me.

She was born into power.
Now she chooses revenge.

Valentina Santangelo doesn’t belong in the shadows.
She was raised in them.

Daughter of a legacy built on blood, secrets, and ruthless control, Valentina has spent her life watching empires rise… and enemies fall. She knows the rules of this world. She knows how to survive it.

What she didn’t expect…
was to become its most dangerous player.

When betrayal rips through her family and threatens everything her father built, Valentina is done standing on the side-lines. She steps into the game—cold, calculated, and ready to make them pay.

But revenge has a price.

And the man standing in her way?
He’s not just her enemy…
He’s the one man who sees through every wall she’s built.

Dark. Dangerous. Impossible to resist.

As loyalty turns to obsession and desire collides with vengeance, Valentina must decide how far she’s willing to go—
and whether love is worth the risk of losing everything.

Because in her world…
you don’t fall in love.

You survive it.

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

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: DISASTER AND DESSERT is Book #6—and the finale!—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, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan for: the house is haunted. Two things, actually: her great-aunt also left her a dog—and he is far from a typical dog.In the series finale, Marie finds her own future on the line as a murder occurs near her premises, and she is forced to solve it or else be implicated. With her rival innkeeper involved, it could hardly get any worse.As if that is not enough, this series finale brings to a head many questions: will Marie finally find her mother and what will happen between them? Will Marie end up with Robbie? With Brendan? Will she finally be able to claim her gifts, without Boo's help? And will she decide to stay and run the B&B—or be forced to leave this small town that has become her life?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 series 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)Don’t forget to check out Sophie Love’s other cozy mystery series, A CURIOUS BOOKSTORE, which begins with A FATAL FOLIO (Book #1), a bestseller with over 50 five-star reviews!

“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: DEATH AND BRUNCH is Book #2 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, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan for: the house is haunted. Two things, actually: her great-aunt also left her a dog—and he is far from a typical dog.Other B&B owners have heard of Marie’s ability to expel ghosts, and she finds herself, to her own surprise, in demand for her “services” from neighboring towns. It seems there are many B&Bs that need to have their ghosts cleansed. With her B&B failing, Marie, her trusted dog as her sidekick, has nothing to lose.But when she arrives to her first client—and someone unexpectedly dies—Marie realizes she may be in for more than she bargained for. Once again, she may have to solve the crime to save her own future.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: DEATH AND BRUNCH 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)Book #3 in the series—MALICE AND LUNCH—is now also available!

“The perfect romance or beach read, with a difference: its enthusiasm and beautiful descriptions offer an unexpected attention to the complexity of not just evolving love, but evolving psyches. It's a delightful recommendation for romance readers looking for a touch more complexity from their romance reads.”--Midwest Book Review (For Now and Forever)THE GHOSTLY GROUNDS: MALICE AND LUNCH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Sophie Love, author of The Inn at Sunset Harbor series, a #1 Bestseller with over 200 five-star reviews!Marie Fortune, 39, a successful dog groomer in Boston, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan 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 Marie, her reputation for ghost-cleansing growing, is summoned to exorcise an old manor house, she finds more than she bargained for: an unexpected death occurs.Worse, her trusted dog gets so sick, he is sent to the vet indefinitely.Marie, on her own, must solve the murder and expel the ghosts all by herself.Is she up to the task?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: MALICE AND LUNCH 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)

“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: VENGEANCE AND DINNER is Book #4 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, leaves the stressful life behind and heads to a small town in coastal Maine to create a new life. She remains intent on renovating the old, historic house her great-aunt left her and giving it a new life as a B&B. Yet there was one thing she couldn’t plan 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 Marie is invited to exorcise a supposedly haunted house, she encounters a twist she never could have anticipated. But before she can wrap her mind around the situation, a man turns up dead—forcing her to solve the case and to clear her own name.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 series 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)

“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: MURDER BY MANUSCRIPT is book #2 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.When Alexis is dispatched to scout out some books in an estate sale in a gothic mansion, she finds something she does not expect: one book is incredibly rare, the only one of its kind in existence, worth millions of dollars.She also soon finds something else she does not expect: a dead body.Thrust in the middle of the crime, will Alexis be able to clear her name?And will she discover the mystery at the heart of her very own store?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)Book #3 in the series—A PERILOUS PAGE—is now also available!

Born between two kingdoms at war, Astrid Stone’s life has been marked by pain and misfortune, condemned to live as a slave within her own palace.
She is the princess no one wants, the shadow of a lineage that despises her.
When the new wolf king, Lysander Rowan, forces her to marry him to avenge his father, both are trapped in a union forged by hatred… and consumed by a desire neither can deny.
As their love grows and her true nature awakens, Astrid must choose between loyalty to her past or a forbidden love that threatens to destroy them both.
In a world where blood dictates destiny, can love defy the moon?

Do all men lose interest in their wives after marriage?

We’ve been married for five years, and he never touched me.

At first he said he wasn’t well, so I was understanding. Later he recovered, but still kept me far away.

On our fifth wedding anniversary, my sister came in for a check-up, clearly pregnant with his child.

The truth hit me hard: he wasn’t incapable. He was just incapable with me.

I drew up the divorce papers, ready to end this empty marriage.

On the reason for divorce, I wrote with my own hand:

“Male sexual dysfunction; no marital relations in five years.”

He only smiled coldly when he saw it.

A week later, in the urology clinic.

I put on my medical gloves, looked at him, and said calmly:

“Sir, will you undress yourself, or shall I help you?”

His disapproval didn’t take away my confidence.

I still embraced better things in my career and love life!

But his life started to be filled with one accident after another.

She knelt in the pouring rain, pounding on my glass door, covered in mud, her voice hoarse from shouting. I stood inside, holding Lily's hand. She called my name, over and over, like calling a dead person. I lowered my head and said to Lily, "Come on, Daddy will take you to dinner." Then I turned and closed the door. From beginning to end, I didn't look at her once. Not because I still hated her. It was because she meant nothing to me anymore. And that woman didn't know—three years ago, when she threw me away like trash, I had already learned not to cling to trash.

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"--Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor) SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF MURDER is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career. Worse, her long-time boyfriend, instead of proposing as she expected, decides to break up with her.Mia’s true passion lies in her own podcast, devoted to debunking the occult and shining light on the truth. The daughter of a con-man father, Mia feels a moral responsibility to the truth, and to spare others from being conned.When Mia, at a crossroads, receives an invitation from a famous supernatural podcast inviting her to move to Salem and join their podcast as the skeptic-in-residence, Mia sees a chance to start her life over again and to pursue her life’s mission.But things in Salem do not go as planned. When an unexpected death happens—in the midst of Mia trying to debunk a haunted inn—she realizes she may be in over her head. With her own future now at stake, can she really prove that witches and ghosts do not exist?A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.“The book had heart and the entire story worked together seamlessly that didn't sacrifice either intrigue or personality. I loved the characters - so many great characters! I can't wait to read whatever Fiona Grace writes next!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“Wow, this book takes off & never stops! I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended for those who love a great mystery with twists, turns, romance, and a long lost family member! I am reading the next book right now!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“This book is rather fast paced. It has the right blend of characters, place, and emotions. It was hard to put down and I hope to read the next book in the series.”

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!".--Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor)SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH is Book #3 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career—and from her long-time boyfriend, who breaks up with her.With the podcast and TV show taking off, Mia’s career and life are finally starting to bloom again—when her uptight family makes an unexpected visit to Salem, to cast doubts on her passion and to urge her to return home.At the same time, Mia’s show must try to debunk a notoriously haunted house, now on the market for sale. Mia, unable to explain the phenomena, seems to have met her match—just as the real estate agent drops dead.Could this house be as insidious as it seems?Or might there be some other motive?A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.“The book had heart and the entire story worked together seamlessly that didn't sacrifice either intrigue or personality. I loved the characters - so many great characters! I can't wait to read whatever Fiona Grace writes next!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“Wow, this book takes off & never stops! I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended for those who love a great mystery with twists, turns, romance, and a long lost family member! I am reading the next book right now!” --Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“This book is rather fast paced. It has the right blend of characters, place, and emotions. It was hard to put down and I hope to read the next book in the series.”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)

SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF CRIME is Book #2 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career—and from her long-time boyfriend, who breaks up with her.With the podcast taking off, and with a romance brewing, Mia and the crew film the first episode of their new TV show, in the haunted house of one of the original Salem witches. Mia’s working hard to debunk the unexplained happenings—when suddenly, someone dies unexpectedly.Even worse—the suspicion falls on her.With her future at stake and her career and reputation on the line, Mia has no choice but to solve the inexplicable death. Could the cause be supernatural?A mesmerizing page-turner, packed with intrigue, mystery, romance, pets, food—and most of all, the supernatural—SKEPTIC IN SALEM is a cozy with a twist, one you will cherish as it has you fall in love with its main character and as it keeps you glued (and laughing) throughout the night.Book #3 in the series—AN EPISODE OF DEATH—is now also available!

Warnings! This book is strictly Rated 18+
"Just one night stand with her new boss, changed everything about her existence. The more Faye tries to run away, the more daylan was dead set on turning her world upside down because whatever Daylan Sage wants he gets, and he wants her Willingly or by Force"

Three weeks into my life's new phase, I discovered I was pregnant. It was something that I couldn't fathom, other girls had sex but didn't get pregnant, why did mine have to be different? I wished the ground would crack open and swallow me.

I was pregnant for a man whose identity I had not even the slightest idea about.


After a one-night stand, she discovers she's pregnant. Not knowing who the father is, she's become the ridicule of all. She flees and starts a new life elsewhere.

But fate brings the kids' father to her years later, a powerful man.

Desperate to keep her children secret and safe from his influence, she hides them from him and refuses to reveal their identities. But as children grow older and their similarities to their father start to emerge, it becomes harder and harder to keep their true nature a secret.

What will happen to Kayla and her romance with the stranger?

"Sometimes love comes in like a breath of fresh air,

it finds you and consumes every piece of your existence."

Capo Dei Capi

Valentina has spent her entire life learning how to disappear.

Growing up in Tepito, she knows that surviving means staying invisible—keeping her head down, finishing her studies, and dreaming of a future far away from Mexico City, where her family might finally be safe. She never wanted power, danger, or attention. She only wanted out.

Everything shatters the night her cousin Paloma’s secret pulls her into the ruthless world of the Cruz cartel.

After witnessing an internal betrayal, Paloma becomes a liability. A girl is murdered to send a message. And Valentina, cornered by fear and desperation, makes a single reckless choice that seals her fate—stealing cartel merchandise in a failed attempt to survive.

There are no second chances in this world.

Now trapped inside a violent criminal organization where trust is a myth and mistakes are paid in blood, Valentina comes face to face with the most dangerous man in the cartel. A man who does not forgive. Who does not forget. Who does not release what belongs to him.

Survival is no longer about escape.

It is about submission, power, and the devastating cost of being claimed by the enemy.

And Valentina is about to learn that in the cartel’s world, temptation is never harmless—and loving the wrong man can be deadlier than any bullet.

Leonardo da Vinci once wrote, Black is like a broken vessel, which is deprived of the capacity to contain anything. I wonder what he thought of the color white. Did he think it was a sign of purity? Or did he too look upon whiteness as a false brightness, a lie?

2-years-ago if I stood on this very podium, with this man across from me, I would have smiled similar to the way I am now. The white dress hugging my body then a promise of honesty and trust as I glowed with a warmth knotting my stomach walls.

Only then, my smile would've been comfortable, wrapped in genuine joy, because then I loved him. At that stage in my life, he was my world and I would have laid myself on the floor where he walked with his blood-stained soles. And I would have done it naked, ready to bare myself to this one man with a smile on my face.

A smile that wasn't bold, or soaked with the whisper of revenge. My heart would have beat with love, and not in the threat that now lurks outside these Church walls, waiting with finite patience that would soon be over. This marriage is no fairy-tale.

SYNOPSIS

On the night of her best friend's Alpha naming ceremony, Ava finds out that she's mated to him. Aloha Denrick.

Unfortunately, he rejects her after humiliating her and ends up with her twin sister Ciara who makes life a living hell for her.

But what is this?

The Lycan King comes visiting, claiming Ava and the unborn child growing in her womb.

Would sparks fly between the new couples especially when Denrick decides to fight for her love?

MAIN

My wife, the most ruthless godmother in New York's underworld, wants a divorce.
The reason? Her male subordinate's old wound has flared up, and he only has three months to live. She wants to accompany him on his final journey as his wife.
To make room for her new lover, she not only doesn't go home, but even allows him to frame me for a fabricated death sentence.
In the dimly lit underground interrogation room, the backlash from deviating from the proper procedures caused my organs to rapidly fail, and I developed a persistent high fever.
Through the iron bars, she looked at my disfigured body, not recognizing me, but coldly raising her gun and giving the order to execute me herself.
She proudly believed that by clearing the way, she could go back and have a grand wedding with the man who was feigning illness.
Until the last shot, when my breathing stopped completely, she saw the old scar on the back of my left hand—the scar from the severed finger I had left for her.
That once arrogant godmother instantly broke down in tears beside my corpse.

“Are you sobber, Kharris?” he asked, placing his index finger in the center of my chest and gently lowering it to my cleavage.
“Don’t worry, I’m sober,” I assured him as I slowly lay down on the bed because he was gently pushing me with only his index finger. He’s staring at me as if he’s about to swallow me whole; it makes me shiver.
“I see, because there’s no turning back once I’m inside you, okay?” he said softly, leaning over me. I swallowed hard when he slowly bit his lower lip and leaned down to take my right breast into his mouth, playing with it with his warm tongue while his hand slid to my left and squeezed it.

***Kharris receives an invitation to engagement party of her first love, Dos. Desperate to get over her unrequited feeling, she spends one passionate night with Dos’ twin Uno; a billionaire and the firstborn son of a conglomerate of the mafia. The man who has his own unrequited love.
That's where their friends with benefits relationship began, but Kharris didn't expect to become pregnant with Uno's son. And because of one incident, Kharris runs away, hoping to finally move on with her life, but five years later. They ran into each other again...

This book is dedicated to you. We don't always have a perfect romance, but sometimes it is our reasons that keep us moving forward.

I have tried to write the story as best as I could, and each time I started I ended up deleting it. So I wanted to write a different kind of story and maybe I really messed it up or maybe I did a great job, either way, this is how it all went down. Thank you so much for reading my work and for your support, not just in buying the books but sending me those emails and encouraging me to continue writing. You are the hero in my stories.

note from Kylie Bray

In order to understand the reason why I've made the choices I have, when I became the person I am today, you would have to understand why. To do that, I would need to start from the very beginning.

But before I do, understand that this is not a sappy happy romance, this is my life, this is the story of where happy endings come from. This is the path I led. So while many people would always start and end with their true love, I would start with my first. Because isn't a first love the most life altering one.

"When I was younger, I was a beggar by circumstance,

When I got older, I remained a beggar by choice."

Today was the first day back at school. While most of the asshats who attended Liston High Private School actually went in for the first day, I was stuck scrubbing the toilets of the Hallow mansion.

And regardless of what my brother says I look like, I am not a scholarship kid. I'm Dainy Hallow and the guy with the Goku hair wiping puke off the pebbled bathroom floor is my older brother Aiden.

Last night as is customary to do the night before school starts, we had a huge ass party.

Our initial plan was to go to school, skip last period, get home and clear out the evidence before our parents arrived back the following day.

Let's just say that plan went to shit fast when Aiden called mom. He asked her to pick up the suit he ordered from G&G for the cancer benefit we were hosting next month. A simple question followed by an unexpected answer.

Apparently, my brother and I were misinformed with regards to my parents return. My parents were actually arriving today in less than three hours.

Two hours and four injuries later, the beer bottles are gone. The bathrooms now sanitized, and beds clothed in fresh unused linen.

The rest of the house is tidy but not clean. My brother and I aren't dumb, we've been doing this for five years.

Unlike most siblings, Aiden and I don't bicker all the time.

SYNOPSIS
They are Alphas. The head of packs and leaders of packs. But, they were also head of Alphas. Leaders of Alphas. Referred as the Alpha King.
There is only one Alpha King in the history of werewolves. Notorious. Fearful. Ruthless.
Mason Jekkings.

Mae Banks is an Omega from Blue Moon Pack. Blue Moon Pack Omegas gets sold after every five years. Mae is forced to become a slave for the Alpha King. However, things gets complicated when Mason finds out that Mae holds the key to breaking the curse that tied his age down.

This book is a work of fiction. All characters are fictional.

Any religious references made was done solely for the purpose of

Bringing the story to reality and making it believable to the readers.

No dis-respect to religious beliefs was intended.

Once upon a time I met a girl, I loved her with everything in me.

My love was something that happened so sudden, like a real fairy tale.

She was my beauty and I, her beast.

When she stared in my eyes I was lost in her black soulless depths, forgetting the soul I didn't see.

When Beauty looked into my HEART I saw the future in her cold hard stare.

Her body was my glory, I ignored the weapon it showed me.

I was obsessed in the slope of her curves, the movement of her hips as she put one foot in front of the other.

Her touch blinded me.

When Beauty touched me she awoke the beast, called to the killer and hummed to the sniper, until she was where my heaven began and my demons ended.

I remember the day when just a glimpse of her gutted me in the chest.

Beauty was where my madness sang and in less than a month I was hers.

My pops once told me that every man has his falling point.

Every brother has a day to mourn.

The world almost ended for her when she was eight years old. Laura, a powerful werewolf with witch-like abilities, witnessed her kingdom shattering. She was forced to flee from her world concealing her true identity.

But when she fell in love with a human, it seemed the new world had other plans for her. She was once again drawn into a complex plot designed to destroy her life. Yet… she went behind her responsibilities, breaking her heart and locking her love. Nevertheless… Her unending love heeded her.

Grey Flexis tried to hide his glitches from the rest of the world, but he realised he couldn't hide from his love. Desperate to win his love he takes unexpected paths that shocked him. Nevertheless… Laura encountered a stumbling block as a result of his unending love.

Let us walk together to their Destiny to unravel the mysteries in their lives.

To annul the engagement, the aloof heiress of a wealthy family spent three years planning thirteen accidents to try and kill me.
Car accident, falling object, poisoning... I survived covered in blood, only to be met with her disgusted question: "How come you're still alive?"
She let her scheming childhood sweetheart crush my father's ashes, and even personally drained my last remaining blood to save me, all for her sweetheart's self-inflicted injury.
She thought I would be like a dog, clinging to her side forever without any boundaries.
Until that day, I calmly handed over the annulment agreement, clutching the diagnosis of late-stage brain cancer, and completely disappeared from her world.
Later, when she finally found out the truth, she searched the world frantically, only to find my emaciated, cold corpse.
That arrogant and haughty young lady has completely collapsed.
She personally sent her childhood sweetheart to hell, knelt before my body wearing a veil, and desperately raised a gun:
“Ivan, walk slowly on your way to the underworld... I’m giving my life for you.”

"Very entertaining. Highly recommended for the permanent library of any reader who appreciates a well-written mystery with twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!" --Books and Movie Reviews (regarding Murder in the Manor)A VILLA IN SICILY: OLIVE OIL AND MURDER is the debut novel in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews (and a free download)!Audrey Smart, 34, is a brilliant vet—yet fed up by her demanding clients who think they know more than her and who don’t care about their animals. Burnt-out with the endless hours, she wonders if the time has come for a new direction. And when her 15th year high school reunion (and her hopes for re-sparking on old flame) end in disaster, Audrey knows the time has come to make a change.When Audrey sees an ad for a $1 home in Sicily, it captivates her. The only catch is that the house requires renovation, something she knows little about. She wonders if it could be real—and if she may really be crazy enough to go for it. Can Audrey create a life and career—and the home of her dreams—in a beautiful Sicilian village? And perhaps even find love while she’s there?Or will an unexpected death—one that only she can solve—put an end to all of her plans?Are some dreams too good to be true?A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page.“The book had heart and the entire story worked together seamlessly that didn't sacrifice either intrigue or personality. I loved the characters - so many great characters! I can't wait to read whatever Fiona Grace writes next!”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“Wow, this book takes off & never stops! I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended for those who love a great mystery with twists, turns, romance, and a long lost family member! I am reading the next book right now!” --Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)“This book is rather fast paced. It has the right blend of characters, place, and emotions. It was hard to put down and I hope to read the next book in the series.”--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)Books #2 and #3 in the series—FIGS AND A CADAVER and VINO AND DEATH—are now also available!

We’ve been married for five years. Then, she got pregnant with someone else's child.
In front of everyone, she said: "Ethan doesn't want this baby. You've always wanted one, right? Fine, take it and raise it."
In that moment, I finally understood: she wasn’t incapable of loving someone—she simply never saw me as a human being.
I took off my wedding ring, left it on the tray, and bought a one-way ticket to the North. My family said I wouldn't survive in the frozen North; she said that without her, I was nothing.
Three years later, she tracked me down using the GPS hidden inside that ring. She pushed open the door to my attic room, finding only a note I’d left: "Don't look for me. We're square."

I took the blame for my wife and went to jail, thinking I was protecting our family.

Five years later, when I was released from prison, my mansion was confiscated, my company fell into the hands of my younger brother, and the woman I loved with all my heart was nestled in my brother's arms, mocking my misfortune.

They had been having an affair for a long time, and even my imprisonment was a conspiracy meticulously planned by this despicable couple! What makes me even more furious is that my precious daughter was abandoned on the street like a stray dog, and subjected to beatings and bullying by their illegitimate son .

They thought that by draining my blood, they could forever condemn me to oblivion.

But they forgot that I was once an unparalleled genius in the business world.

"You were meant to be my death. Instead, you've become my damnation."
Aria Thornwell has spent three years as a healer in her town, attempting to forget the night her former fiancé publically humiliated her by selecting her affluent stepsister instead—taking Aria's family fortune with him. Now, she lives quietly, utilizing her skill to aid the underprivileged while her stepfamily flaunts their stolen fortune.

But on the winter solstice, everything changes. She's chosen as the ceremonial bride for the vampires' holy Winter Feast—a "honor" that guarantees death at daybreak following the Christmas Eve rite. Dragged to the Crimson Vale with five other human tributes, Aria is prepared to meet her fate with dignity.

Until she meets him.

Lord Sebastian Thorne, the ancient vampire who has presided over the Winter Feast for eight centuries, is meant to drain her at dawn following the binding ritual. It's tradition. It's law. It's survival—the ceremonial blood maintains the vampire realm for another year.

But as Sebastian's lips brush her throat in the ceremonial hall, something unbelievable happens. Her blood doesn't simply sustain him—it wakes something in him that's been dead for generations. And in a move that shocks the whole vampire court, he refuses to complete the rite.
"This one is mine," he proclaims, his old strength sweeping the hall. "Anyone who touches her answers to me."

Trapped in the Obsidian Palace as Sebastian's "protected bride," Aria discovers three frightening truths: Sebastian isn't protecting her out of mercy—he's dying from an ancient curse, and her blood is the only thing keeping him alive past Christmas; the vampire court will do anything to kill her and reinstate the ritual; and her "ordinary" healer's gift is actually a rare and dangerous power that vampire nobility has been hunting for generations.

On her wedding day, Alexa experiences the biggest joke of the century when her fiance appears at the altar together with none other than her stepsister, leaving her humiliated in front of everyone.

In just one day, Alexa loses her marriage, her career, and her family's support. Banished abroad by her father due to her stepmother and stepsister's deception, her reputation lies in ruins.

A year later, Alexa returns with a resolve to uncover the truth behind her mother's death and seek revenge. To achieve this, she needs local influence strong enough to challenge her family. Alexa reaches out to Darwin, who proposes a marriage contract based on mutual benefit.

What will happen next?

Isabella's eyes welled up with tears as she desperately pleaded with John with her voice trembling.
"John, please believe me, I'm being blackmailed! I don't know who this man is or how I got here. I would never hurt you, I swear," she pleaded.John's face twisted in a mix of anger and disgust with his voice dripping with venom. Isabelle had betrayed her and he couldn't endure the pain. "Enough of lies Isabell, or can I say Sophia? I know all your secrets now. You've been using me from the start, playing me for my family's money and power. You never loved me, you only loved what I could give you," John lamented, his eyes filled with emotions with the scene in front of him.Isabella's voice cracked as she tried to convince John of her love. "That's not true, John. I love you, I love your kindness, your heart... I love everything about you. Please, don't say that," Isabella explained with her eyes filled with tears.
John's expression only hardened with his eyes cold and unforgiving."You're a master manipulator, Isabella. You've played me like a fool and I won't fall for it anymore," he screamed.With a heavy heart, John turned to walk away leaving Isabella devastated. Isabelle called out to him with her pleas echoing through the air but John didn't look back. In the novel, a tale of love, romance, and hidden truths unfolds. The wealthy and famous family's children navigate a treacherous world of deceit and manipulation, with Isabella caught in the crossfire. As dark secrets emerge, Isabella must confront her past and the dangerous games that threaten to destroy her future. Will love triumph over lies, or will the darkness consume everything Isabella holds dear?

Her back hit the wall, his breath hot against her ear.
“I should hate you,” Laura whispered, though her body trembled at his touch.
Lucian’s hand slid lower, possessive, dangerous. “Then why,” he growled, lips brushing hers, “do you ache for me every time I’m near?”

Once, Laura trusted her mate completely. Until Alpha Lucian chose another woman, shattering her heart. Now she rules as the feared Alpha King—cold, untouchable, except for one weakness: Lucian's five-year-old daughter.

When vampire assassins target her crown, Laura's forced into an impossible alliance with the man who destroyed her. Every mission draws them closer. Every touch reignites the fire she's tried to kill.

Can she resist the mate who burned her once before or will surrendering to him be the deadliest mistake of all?

Blurb:

Lilith thought she had died as the one guy she had ever loved stared at her with hatred in his eyes, only to wake up two years ago when he hadn’t shown her his true colors.

Life gave her another chance and you can be sure she’s using it for revenge.

In her past life she had made mistakes by being too kind and naive, and trusting those who she shouldn’t have.

She had been betrayed and hurt, and lost everything she had, including her life; but In this life, she swears to get revenge on those evil people including her self-acclaimed bestie and the so-called love of her life.

With more than enough information at her disposal this time around, she came with her revenge serving cold.

The only thing she was not prepared for is the fact that she finds herself a mate this time around, a mate she never had in her past life.

He is the least possible guy she expects, one she had blown off severally in the past, and one who just happens to be the ex best friend of her husband in her past life…

Fed up with her miserable fate, Alorea decided to end her life, only to unexpectedly rebirth eight years earlier. In this new life, she encountered her Alpha Mate again—the one who had tormented her in her past life. However, this time... he seemed to be deeply in love with her.


She glared at her reflection in the mirror, a beauty staring back at her. One that had been lost in the future, the lovely, gentle creature that she used to be. Now, she is that creature again, lovely and gracious but no more gentle. This time, she was ready to find him and make him pay for all the things he had done to her!

"Nathan Hale of the Rising Shadow pack, this time it will be me calling the shots on you. I promise."

Minerva hated Karlos Rodriguez ever since they got into an arrange married by her parents before they died due to a sudden ambush. She did not like the sight of him and had always yearned to run away with her boyfriend if she succeeds in divorcing her current husband. Little did she know that secret dangers are lurking for her life and a lot of enemies were waiting for opportunities to kill her, as she is the next queen of the Red Cartel, the powerful and strongest mafia organization. Time passes by, she learned that Karlos was tasked by her both parents to protect, train, and mold her to be the next successor of their organization, one of the reasons why they push her to marry him of all people in the world.

Despite her annoyance towards her husband, would she still give him a chance to change her heart and love him instead? Will there be one day that as they fight for the legacy of her parents’ organization, they would also be fight for each other’s love?

The STORY comprises of the most dangerous mafia, he is also a handsome young Man of about 24 years of age by name Harrison McCall He is known to be the leader of the Mafia group be the name, “Black Jaguars” these group are feared by many in the country and with this he doesn’t “NO” for an answer especially when it comes to his personal needs.
He is mostly feared by people except his family members who know nothing about his dangerous life style.
Harrison has always been a jerk, a cheater and a dangerous bi***h he hated the word Love because he never believed in it but he like to flirts around. Until, the day he met Elena.
A 20 year Old young lady by name Elena Morgan, She’s a very beautiful, Kind but timid at times, smart, and little bit shy young Lady and the only daughter of her parents.
The STORY got thrilled when both families got the two different individuals married.
Harrison and Elena got married but it was a love less marriage. They were living like enemies but as time goes on things began to change.
But, when the two couple decided to take their new found love life to another turn, Jason came in the picture.
Jason, Harrison’s cousin brother is the opposite of him.
Jason hates everything about Harrison. Firstly, he took away his love for his ex-girlfriend Sara and now the one true love he had which is Elena he took her away and got married to her too.
Jason is verge to take REVENGE on him and pay him back in double folds.
Jason planned on making Harrison’s new found happiness to be shattered and he is determined to KILL for it.

Will he succeed with his plans???

In my last life, I was the scapegoat, set off Charlie's deep love for another woman, and finally ended up with a family of miserable end. After rebirth, I decided to let it go, waiting for Peiheng to file for divorce. But the development of the situation is a bit strange, how does a man who barely goes home in my last life come back every once in a while? And worried that I will betray him? "Do you believe that in the near future, you will hate me and want me to disappear?" I asked. "Don't dream." He replied, "We'll torture each other to death." I sighed, as a reborn I know that Charlie will soon meet his true love. Finally, they met, I thought freedom was only one step away from me. But he said, "Who said I want a divorce?" Not only did he not divorce, but he cared more and more about me, even his true love was abandoned!

After ten years of marriage, Hollis Meyer believed she had found an extraordinary husband. Little did she know, he would lead her on a destructive path! Disguised as a marriage, he manipulated her emotions, plotted for her wealth, and even wiped out the entire Meyer family, all for a fleeting moment of true love.

But fate intervened with a meticulously planned murder, sending her back ten years in time! In this new life, she pledged to utterly destroy him, reduce his bloodline to ashes, and curse his lover with endless misfortune.

She vowed to exact a hundredfold revenge on all those who had caused her harm!
And so, her first act after rebirth was to reject the advances of that jerk and resolutely marry her archenemy from her previous life—a prominent tycoon she must not have provoked this time!

She expected their union to be driven by desire rather than affection, but to her surprise, the tycoon showered her with boundless love and devotion after they tied the knot.

“I need you both inside me—now,” I beg, voice breaking as Casper’s tongue lashes my clit and Cassian’s cock throbs against my lips.

Casper pulls back, eyes blazing. “Tell us, Elowen. Fucking say it.”

I grip them harder, stroking in sync. “I get dripping wet just thinking of you—both of you.”

Cassian snarls, thumb smearing my spit-slick lips. “That’s our filthy girl.” He flips me onto hands and knees, trapped between them.


Elowen Hartley, Thornwood Pack Beta’s overlooked daughter, flees abusive ex Drake after he cheats publicly at the bar. Seeking best friend Cindy, she crashes into Cindy’s twin brothers: hot-headed protector Casper and cool racer Cassian—future Alphas who both claim her.

Drake clings with dirty photos and grudge. Elowen’s mother secretly betrothed her to him. Defiant, Elowen lets both twins mark her, forging a rare double bond that shocks the pack.

As politics ignite and Elowen’s mysterious heritage awakens hidden power, the twins’ love faces a deadly test: protect her, or shatter everything?

Christian kissed me like sin — hard enough to make me forget why I came back.
When he finally let me go, his thumb brushed my swollen lips. “Tell me, Stella… is this revenge, or do you still crave me too?”
“Careful, brother,” Logan drawled from the doorway, dark eyes sliding over me. “That’s your fiancée’s sister.”
Then Ryder’s voice cut through the tension, cold and devastating.
“You disappeared from my bed three years ago without a word. Now you’re back pretending this house was never yours.”

Officially, I’m the Ashfords’ new nutritionist.
Unofficially, I’m the daughter they thought died in a fire twenty years ago.
I came back to destroy the family that betrayed me.
Instead, I found three dangerous men waiting for me.
Christian — my sister’s fiancé, who touches me like sin and obsession.
Ryder — the man I once loved, now loyal to the family I came to destroy.
Logan — the bastard heir who sees through every lie I tell.

In this house, desire is deadlier than revenge.
And the closer I get to the truth, the more I risk losing myself to the men who could ruin me first.