good books to read 2023

Blanche Lucille Emerson, a relentless and calculating Captain haunted by the loss of her wife, Venus, in a mysterious accident. Now driven by a thirst for vengeance, Blanche navigates a world of secrets, betrayal, and political machinations as she digs into the layers of deceit that surround her family's powerful pharmaceutical empire. Alongside her, Yama Laine, a trusted ally, and Cessair, her estranged sister, reveal their own hidden agendas. Blanche uncovers a vast conspiracy linked to General Grey and an underground organization known as the Black Spectre, which her father, Silas Grey, once controlled. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that not only her wife’s death but also her parents' and countless others' were orchestrated to protect a dark secret connected to her family. As Blanche takes calculated risks and enlists Yama’s help, her plan teeters between survival and self-destruction. Along the way, her encounters with spies like Aracelli and the revelation of her sister Cessair’s resentment deepen the conflict. Old alliances crumble, as personal motivations clash, and long-buried truths about her family and its ties to the Black Market come to light. All the while, Blanche's mind is torn between her mission and her lingering love for Venus. With a final showdown on the horizon, the question remains: Can Blanche take down the enemy and clear her family’s name, or will the weight of the past bury her alive? Catch-22: To Die is To Live Hard is a story of revenge, loyalty, and the heavy price of uncovering the truth.

Dark. Powerful. Dangerous. James Maxwell is one of the billionaire elites who rules Las Vegas City with an iron fist. You’re definitely worth two million, Mia. Think about it. Two million. Five years. Your brother will go free. It’s a contract. Those are the words of the gorgeous billionaire James Maxwell, the man who makes my heart race and my body tremble with longing. I want to refuse his proposal, but how can I? My brother owes him two million, and as dirt poor as we are, there’s no way we can find that much money to repay him. What’s worse, I think I’m falling in love with the man who thinks I’m just his mistress. My name is Mia Donovan, a twenty-two-year-old small-town girl working as a kitchen hand to make ends meet. My world is changing—both for the better and worse. James Maxwell, a gorgeous billionaire with beautiful Prussian-blue eyes, is the man behind this. He makes my heart flutter and my knees shake. When he kisses me, my world melts into a pool of exotic sensation. But his world is dark and dangerous, and being with him is a risk both to my life and my sanity. This is our story.

After being heartbroken at the start of her last year in high school because of her long-time relationship, Sarina couldn’t just stay put and cry inside her home. Her birthday was coming, she was coming of age. She is not going to allow some lousy, cheating bastard will destroy it. That night, she was invited to a party where all of the pack were present. It was too overwhelming and she could feel it was time. Running to the woods, she felt her whole body was changing. Screaming and agonizing in pain, she felt someone’s hand on her waist as he licked her neck aggressively, her body was immediately set on fire. “Mate.” She heard him deeply say. His tone was utterly familiar, and to her surprise, it was one of the Alpha in their pack, Ethaniel Lynx Stephenson. Sarina took in a deep breath, trying to endure the pain coursing through her body like a thunderbolt with a heavy thought in mind. If her mate is the Alpha, then…she would have two mates because they are twins. And they’re her childhood friends!

Ariel Anderson has to become a contracted wife to the most feared billionaire cassanova in the city, Xavier Dunlop, to save her mother's Life. He was prepared to make life uneasy for her in that marriage and he was doing just that. Although Ariel didn't bulge , it infuriated Xavier to go the extreme. Xavier was determined never to fall in love again after his first heartbreak from the woman he thought he loved the most. Will Ariel be able to tolerate Xavier to the end?!, Will they fall in love?! How does all the revealed family secrets affect their relationship?! Don't sweat it!, Join this amazing ride to find out.

I looked at her amused. I got up from my seat and stood infront of her. Not too close, not yet. ''You imagine too much Ms. Vitale. I can assure you that I'm not plotting anything, although I did plan something different". I whispered the last part. ''W-what?'' She asked looking confused. Cute. ''I'm sorry for what happened that day. You are right, I shouldn't have kissed you without your consent.'' I said taking a step forward. ''You are sorry?'' She asked looking surprised. I chuckled. ''Yes'' I said taking another step. She leaned back slightly, it's almost unnoticeable, but didn't move from her place. Trying to look brave huh? ''T-Then why are you doing all this?'' She asked in low voice. I took one last step. We are finally too close. I can feel the heat radiating from her body. I started trailing my fingers from her arm to collarbone, she shuddered and goosebumps erupted on her skin. I leaned down, brushing her earlobe with my lips, making her breath uneven. ''Are you in a relationship Ms. Vitale?'' ''N-No'' Her words came out in a whisper. ''Good.''

Faustine already has a deep admiration for Darius before being betrothed to him. She is also aware of Darius' secret affair with her cousin—Kristie. Therefore, before their betrothal party takes place, Faustine isn't surprise when Darius ran off with Kristie. Faustine would have been willing to accept the bitter truth, but a tragedy soon overthrows her peaceful life. Faustine catches Kristie cheating to Darius. Fearing her secrecy, Kristie gets into her car and argues with her. However, it's only a brief period of time when they little argument led a dreadful car accident. Faustine barely survives, but Kristie tragically dies. Faustine soon falls victim to an erroneous accusations. Darius blatantly blames and accuses her for deliberately killing Kristie. But their marriage continues partly in accordance with Darius' evil scheme. Faustine is aware that she is now doomed to suffer, and that her little fantasies of him has gone into a dramatic tale of torment. It also the decisive moment when she realizes that she ain't Belle who tames a beast; she creates a beast.

"Do not dare to act like my wife..."He grabbed her forearm and hushed dangerously into her ear. Cold shiver ran through her veins as she closed her eyes to let the forming tears cascade down her eyes. "But..I am your wife."she stuttered. "Yeah a wife who took her sister's place to dig on my money, Rain Anderson."He jerked her with such force that she stumbled and fell on the sofa behind her. She squeezed shut her eyes and let the remaining moisture release her eye sockets. She had suffered his insults and abuses for long two years for a promise which she gave to her parents and sake of the holy vows she took with him but finally her last string of patience broke. She couldn't let him play with her self respect. She wiped her tear stricken face and stood up to match his level.It was the time when she must face him to save their marriage and give him a taste of his own medicine if she wanted to get her love and self respect back. "Its Mrs. Rain Blackwood,Mr. Nicholas Blackwood now whose bitch of a sister and your fiancee ran away on the day of your marriage with her boyfriend and I had to take her place to save our families' reputation.So, better you keept it in your mind before judging my character. "She breathed out and left her husband, Nicholas Blackwood in complete shock. He stood there like a stone statue as it was the first time she rose against his tortures.

A female who knows nothing about her true nature. A ruthless, feared, and wounded tribrid Alpha male. Jasmine lives a life any poor normal human would, up until she meets Noah, the Tribrid Alpha who at the first meeting turns her entire life around. He holds her captive with all means at his disposal, his power, dominance, and erotic appeal. He steals her from her planned-out life and she is a willing captive entranced by his ability to make her inhibitions disappear. With his unwavering support, she faces horrifying, appealing, and vicious situations whilst meeting friendly, and powerful people. She finds her inner essence, births her hidden god form, and becomes the key to the unsealing of an entire world. But with great power comes great responsibility, will she be able to overcome the ever-rising conflict, battle her mate's past, and live up to the potential of being the Luna she was predestined to be?

Annalise's loveless marriage where her hard work and sufferings were never appreciated crumbled when she faced a series of tragedies: her son's death, murder charges, and a cold divorce paper thrown at her the very day she lost her son. Annalise was cast aside and denied even the solace of attending her son's funeral, thrown out of the family she had hoped would accept her one day. Her journey towards transformation began when she found an unexpected strength within herself during the trial of despair and soon she was known across the world… The once-upon-a-time useless daughter-in-law is now the heir of the trillion-dollar medical Empire! The unwanted becoming wanted by many, even by her ex-husband and family. A determined Annalise emerged from the wreckage of her broken life and ventured into her family's traditional medicine business. She had no idea that there would be many obstacles in her path as the unexpected heir of the Smith family; to them, she was just another block, and they would stop at nothing to get rid of her. With new friends, love, and flows of enemies, would Annalise withstand the heavy blows of different nemesis or will she break and leave her fortune?

Orphaned at age eight, May Obsidian hates nothing more than vampires. But what happens when she wants to escape her wolf family for a while and runs headfirst into a feud with a vampire that has a vendetta against the Obsidian wolf pack. With bigger issues at play around campus, will both of them be able to work together to put an end to the attacks on students or will their feud be all-consuming that one of them ends up dead before the first semester is through?—–——————————————————PLEASE READ TO LOVE A BEAST FIRST TO AVOID CONFUSION.