1965 novel by frank herbert

He never knew how hungry his heart was until he had the taste of her love. He is infernal. She is angelic. Marcello Colombo, the third in command in one of the biggest crime families in New York, is well known for being relentless, cruel, strategic, notoriously violent when it comes to getting what he wants—and for having absolutely no interest in love and commitment. Not until he met Mariana Anderson and suddenly he found himself thirsty for her with an unquenchable desire. As the eldest and unfavourable daughter of her father, Mariana Anderson, was oblivious to her father's crimes until the day she met Marcello, the devil himself. She knew getting involved with a man like him would be dangerous. But who would have known that what fate had in store for her was different and shocking? Not only did he kidnap her and take her as his hostage, he was also going to marry her, and she had no say, but that is not even the worst of what she was going to experience as the wife of a Mafia consigliere. As Marcello began the quest to seek his parents' killer, he was forced to accept a horrible truth, one that would unfold more and more secrets along the way.

Dominic is set to take over as godfather of La Famiglia but when his father is brutally murdered the vultures settle and the seat is up for grabs. Intrigue, murder, and family secrets will unfold in this thrilling dark mafia romance as Dominic takes on the role as the head of the Vittori family. Lovers will become enemies and alliances will be tested. Federal agents are watching him, his family is in danger and old feuds are renewed when Dominic loses someone he loves. There's a thin line between love and hate and Dominic will stand with one foot on either side as he fights to the bitter end to get his revenge. Please note that this book is filled with trigger chapters. Read at your own risk.

"Part One: TakenJessie Coford had a plan: work hard, save money, open her own restaurant. She sacrificed her relationship with the man of her dreams to get it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lost her job and her apartment and her life crashed around her. Until a letter taking her to Fort Mavis, Texas, and an unexpected windfall.Part Two: TamedShea Prescott was astonished when million Cruz Castillo chose her to design his new home on his ranch. They hardly traveled in the same circles. But Cruz had been hot for Shea since he first saw her and at their first meeting the chemistry between them ignited. Cruz coaxed her deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of erotic sex, awakening latent sexual desires and bringing her orgasms beyond her wildest imaginings. Her body screamed yes at his every touch, but will she say yes to the most important question?USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to erotic. and has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.Taken by Surprise is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

After being accused of killing her father, Azura Riverstone runs away from her pack when her mate and husband orders his Gammas to hold her as the captive. Torn between hurt and betrayal from her mate and step-family, she decides to seek the Alpha King for help but the only way to get to him is participating in the Alpha combat where only Alphas are allowed. How will she find the true murderer of her father when her ex finds her and offers a deal which she can't deny?

Book 1 of the Blackfern Werewolf Series. Completed - A fully edited version was put up Jan 2024 - please log out and log back in to read this finalized version. It's hard being a half-blooded werewolf… especially when you have no idea that werewolves actually exist. Clementine – I did not know what to expect when I decided to move with my dad and brother to Blackfern Valley in backyard British Columbia. The first thing I noticed was how ridiculously fit and good looking everyone was. Then I started to notice the odd behaviour, comments and how everyone in the town just seemed to hate me. Well, everyone excluding Liam, he seemed like the only friendly person in the Valley… Liam – I was not expecting my world to be shaken so hard when a half-breed moved into the pack. Half-breeds were extremely rare, and often hunted and terminated by pure-blood werewolves if they do not develop a wolf at sixteen. I thought that when his Uncle Jed's reign had ended, that the hatred would have died with him… I was wrong. They were after Clementine and something inside of me could not let that happen…

The hunt is on… Cara, a shy, friendless librarian doesn’t know why the notorious player Rig Landon has suddenly started paying her attention. After escaping the iron grip of her alcoholic father, she’s at university to learn, not play, and she tells Rig so. Repeatedly. But Rig bet his packmates that he could seduce any human female they choose—and they chose Cara. Cara’s total lack of game puts every one of Rig’s seductive talents to the test. But he’s persistent. And the more time they spend together, the less Rig cares about the bet, and the more he cares about Cara. Which is a problem. Because Rig is carrying a big secret. A deadly secret. Turns out Rig isn’t the only one hunting Cara… Will Rig’s secrets end Cara’s life before he can show her she’s more to him than just prey?

"Ryan we can't do this!" I pleaded, knowing I had already fallen into his temptation. He trailed his thumb softy on my collar bone, our gaze met and I melted instantly in those alluring eyes of his. "Yet, we can't deny our feelings," He uttered huskily and captured my lips with his, every ounce of restraint in me drained off as I succumbed to him. ~~ After two years of living in Bradford, UK with her broken father, Hailey recently moved back to Albany in New York to stay with her mom's remarried family to complete her finals in a new high school in her stepfamily's city. The weather, her stepfamily's lavish and luxurious lifestyle, and most importantly her stepbrother, Ryan, were all troubling for her. Ryan, The handsome, popular, and athletic rich guy of the school was every girl's dream while Hailey thought having a popular stepbrother like him would make her stay a lot easier in her new school, instead it turns out Ryan has made up his mind to wreck Hailey's life to the worst. Soon enough, Hailey noticed that Ryan has been having a grudge toward her for years for reasons she couldn't place her mind on.

Maze’s life was forever changed when she was rescued from the brink of destruction–by the very proponent of that destruction— after her pack was invaded and her parents murdered in front of her. Now older, she begins to realize that her saviour's kindness came with a steep price. Groomed to love and worship only him,and deceived into believing that he was her fated mate,Maze is trapped in a toxic relationship. Stuck in between her gratitude for a man she owed her life and her yearning for a love that didn't hurt,she must confront the dark secrets of her past. Will she find the strength to break free, or will the weight of her gratitude silence her forever?

Once destined to lead his family’s empire, Liam Harrington’s life shattered after a car accident left him in a wheelchair. Abandoned by friends, mocked by society, and betrayed by those closest to him, his bitterness grew as he faced enemies who sought to exploit his weakness. Ava Bennett, the overlooked daughter of her family, dreamed of escaping her oppressive home. But forced into a contract marriage with Liam, she found herself battling not only her family’s cruelty but also those who wished to see her husband fail.

Jayla is an eighteen year old girl in her final year of high school. Tyler is the same age as Jayla, and in his final year of high school, too, only he is a bad boy who goes around sleeping with almost all the girls at school while Jayla is a good girl, a virgin even. On her eighteenth birthday, she bumps into Tyler, and sparks erupt on her skin, making her know that Tyler is her mate. Jayla is overjoyed at finding her mate on her birthday but her joy is cut short when he pushes her to the ground and stalks off like he didn't feel a thing between them. Despite all Jayla's efforts to win Tyler over, he still does not want anything to do with her. Will she give up on their mate bond or will she do anything in her power to get Tyler to acknowledge it? Read on to find out.