elements of gothic

Kiara sat at her small kitchen table literally bumping her head into the wood. Several times. Why the hell did she agree to spend four days in a island with loaded snobs she knew nothing about? Of course, she didn’t know exactly what she signed up for before she accepted his offer, but she knew it came from the guy who sent her to jail and said yes anyway. And based on what? A hunch. Something so intangible and arbitrary she would be unable to explain even to her dad, who was always a firm believer in following your gut. But she saw it, right there hiding behind his handsome stoic façade. He was… desperate. --All Kiara has in life is her passion for art. Her career as a circus performer is a constant search for real attention, for people to see through the veil of plain entertainment. Chris Wright is the heir to one of the most profitable construction empires of the city, but to get to the top he needs the approval of his authoritarian father. Who knows what will happen when art meets business and passion meets duty?

This is a standalone book from one of the stories in the book "The Wild Adventures". Nicole Parker is a girl who can be said to have everything. Money, beauty, and brains. She is the only child of the most successful business tycoon in the capital. But despite having almost everything, she lacks in the most intimate relationship comfort and stability. A reason why she became rebellious toward her parents. She wanted to get their attention by doing things that would require their responses. She started bullying people around her. But what happens when a bully gets bullied? Would love be enough to change her? Find out in Nicole and Mike's colorful and steamy love story. "The Queen of Bullies"

Celine and Franco had been married for a year, but Celine was completely unaware of the true reason behind Franco's decision to marry her. Following the passing of Franco's grandfather, he became more distant and cold towards her. Until one day, Franco shockingly filed for divorce and revealed that he had only married her to secure his inheritance from his grandfather. He even went as far as accusing her of being a gold digger and introduced another woman to her. Driven by anger, pain, and resentment, Celine signed the divorce papers and left without taking a single penny from Franco. She wanted to prove that she was not after his money. Just at that time, she discovered she was pregnant, and she made a promise to herself to protect her child from her ex-husband. After dedicating five years of hard work to building her own business, Celine turn up as a successful CEO, a powerful and influential woman known worldwide. She had risen to power and independently raised her son. However, one day, Franco expressed his desire to win her back and be a father to their son. The question remained: would she allow him to enter her life again?, or would she make him suffer for causing her pain?

This is not a stand-alone book. You have to have read book one: Flight of the cardinal. The last surviving member of the royal Cardinal family took flight after the uprising. Princess Cressida Cardinal–now living as Ida- spent the last ten years since the uprising in hiding. During her indenture as a maid in the Kestrel household, she found her fated mate Xander, and together they escaped the clutches of an angry Duke Kestrel, only to tumble into more turmoil. In book one, they uncovered a secret about Ida's heritage while searching for answers to explain her powerful magic. Ida is a hybrid. Part Faith and part magic wielder. This makes her a dangerous weapon that could unleash all hell on earth. But there is a sinister reason why no other hybrids exist. Osprey has now captured Ida and took her into custody within the very castle she used to call home. While in his care, Ida's life is turned upside down, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. As Ida is imprisoned, Xander must hide and bide his time until he can rescue her. He cannot count on the support from the rebellion, as he suspects there is a traitor amongst them. This will cause Xander to embrace his Lycan legacy and set out to find loyal supporters in the last Lycan pack. Alas, time is short when he learns Ida has escaped and found the one who bound her as a child. Will he reach her in time and prevent Ida from losing herself with the torrent of power in her, or will the past repeat itself and bring their entire world into chaos, dooming all humans, shifters, and magic wielders alike? Find out in the last book of this series.

Ivy Grant, a nurse trapped in a marriage to the abusive Caleb Torres, is unaware that her husband is hiding a dark secret: he’s responsible for her parents’ murder, carried out under the orders of Maxwell Pierce, the Blackwood family lawyer. Fate brings Ivy into the life of Adrian Blackwood, a billionaire heir facing a looming deadline to marry or lose his inheritance. After a chance encounter and a passionate one-night stand, Ivy flees when she uncovers disturbing truths about the Blackwood family. Desperate to find her and meet the conditions of his grandfather’s will, Adrian falls prey to a sinister scheme by Dr. Sebastian Cole, who introduces a false heiress to secure Adrian’s fortune. As Ivy returns to expose the deception, a web of blackmail and betrayal forces Adrian into a loveless marriage, while Ivy disappears once more. Years later, Adrian’s life is in shambles until Ivy reappears with their twins, Lucas and Sophia, and a plan to reclaim their stolen future. Together, they must face their enemies and uncover the truth to restore their lives and find happiness.

I thought the worst part of my life was over when Lucas Mattfield divorced me and dissolved our bond. I thought I'd be free. I was wrong. After enduring two years of abuse at the hands of the future Alpha of Red Ridge, I’m left bruised and broken. Betrayed by my mate, my pack, my best friend, and even my own father, I’m nothing more than a discarded Omega, sold to yet another man. A rogue Alpha in a town I’ve never heard of - Haven's Crest. Alpha Johnathan Banks — tall, commanding, and impossibly handsome — offers me a new life and the chance to be his Luna. With his dark eyes and rugged charm, he’s as dangerous as he is captivating. The town is breathtaking, the people are friendly, and everything seems perfect. But something dark and dangerous lurks beneath the surface, and I don't know who I can trust anymore.

For thousands of years, the tale of the Lycan beast who lurked the forbidden forest had been told. Every five hundred years, six females were allegedly sacrificed from the wolf village to the beast and it was rumoured that their bodies were left to rot at the entrance of the forest for all to see. Many times, this tale was retold to scare the young wolves from venturing into the forest and keep them in check, because no one wanted to be a scapegoat in the hands of the unforgiving and murderous beast. Nola Reynolds has always been a headstrong fiery pure blood who has always believed there was no Lycan beast and all the tales about him were just made up myths and fairy tales, aimed at scaring the younger ones. Little does she know that one night was all it was going to take to change her life forever. Things take an unsettling turn for Nola when she, alongside five other girls, are chosen on the night of the full moon. She is faced with the most shocking revelation of her life standing before her, in flesh and blood— The Lycan Beast. Is it her fate to run away and free herself from the hands of the predator, or does she have to give in to her sweet, twisted story of beauty and the beast?

Barrett, alone and hurt. Everything she has worked hard always ended up in vain. The day she has ever awaited would be the biggest tragedy of her life. As she traveled alone in the mountains, the fangs that almost bit her bare neck didn’t bother her. And finally, as she fell on the high cliff where only the hard waves hit the spike stones, her body was wrapped in cold scales that embodied death. The moment she met him, everything rings danger in her head ,"You smelled great and desirable, won’t you be my mate? “ this handsome gentleman grins and confidently grabs her wrist in order to capture and make no escape. As she stared deep into his eyes “Don’t stare too much, I might hold on to you for the rest of your life.” he inches closer and the deep golden emerald eyes that mesmerize her more as if enslaving her very own soul.

Late at night, when I think I'm alone, I feel his breath on the side of my face, and I know--he's watching me. Ever since I moved into this ancient mansion to take care of my sick aunt, I've been experiencing strange things. When I discover she has a boarder, a mysterious, sexy artist who lives on the third floor, I think some of that is explained. The bumps in the night. The whispers from the shadows. But once Dalton and I are properly introduced, the strange occurrences don't stop. If anything, they are amplified. When I close my eyes at night, it's his face I see. It's his hands I feel. It's his lips I taste. The more I get to know him, the more I realize I don't know him at all. Dalton's not the kind of man that buys a woman flowers and makes her feel all warm and fuzzy. No, he's the kind of man your mama would tell you to run from. Cold. Dangerous. Complex. And now that he wants me, I learn he is more than that. Possessive. Controlling. Diabolical. I should leave this place before it's too late, but I know I can't. Whatever it is that's sunk it's fangs into him, it has me, too. He has me, too. For better or worse. 'Til death... Whispers of the Devil is a dark romance which some readers may find disturbing. Proceed with caution.

Axel died after stepping on a banana peel and hitting his head. Fortunately, he was given a second chance and reincarnated into a world where magic and swords existed. However, to his surprise, his summoner was nothing but a SWORD ... well, a sword-form evil goddess who was the enemy of the entire world! What choice would Axel make next? [Meganovel Winning Contest] [Monthly Boosting Contest] [1st Winner - 'Ground of Horror']