long shadows david baldacci

Birthdays are supposed to be fun and pleasant. That has always been the case for Leilani Miller, a naive young lady, brought up in an orthodox home. On her 25th birthday, she agrees to try something new. This new adventure leaves a long lasting imprint on her. One wild night of passion leads to years of regret. Now, Leilani is a single mum. That's not all, her hot baby daddy wants her.

Natalie Taylor has one goal when she signs up as a companion at Dreams: to make a shit ton of money and get out fast. She's not looking for adventure or hoping for love and romance. But days into her moonlighting job, her quiet determination is shaken when she confronts her biggest problem yet—Levi Van Holt, heir to a mega-billion hotel chain and CEO of a gaming startup. Levi is everything she wants in a man. Gorgeous, wealthy and generous to boot. There's just one problem. He's her new boss... Harbouring a dark secret and nursing wounds from his past, Levi has one rule and one rule only for his companion: no falling in love. But with his desires continually tested, the more time he spends with Natalie, it doesn't take long for both their lives, real and secret, to converge, the lines between illusion and reality begin to blur, and the temptation to break his only rule becomes harder to resist. © 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publishers.

When Brigitta discovered her husband's appalling betrayal involving her stepsister and best friend, her world crumbled. Her subsequent divorce led her to a local bar, where a chance encounter with a charismatic stranger resulted in a passionate night. Five years later, she found herself back in her hometown, with five beautiful children and an ailing grandmother in desperate need of medical care. In the face of these dire circumstances, Brigitta made the drastic decision to impersonate her stepsister and enter into a marriage with Ragnar Marshall, the seemingly ill and vegetative son of the notorious Wigglesworth family. Her surprise was palpable when Ragnar was revealed as the continent's wealthiest CEO, a man whose features mirrored her children's. Yet, disturbing rumors about Ragnar compelled her to shield her children from him. How long could she keep them hidden, especially when the children were so determined to make Ragnar Marshall their daddy?

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? Will Ami settle for a foreigner who she feels treasured her more?

I take a step back, ready to change course and leave, but the Lycan King closes the distance between us. He’s dangerously close to me now, his body in full display and sending my whole body aflame. The familiar heat between my legs starts to appear. “Where are you going?” he whispers, his breath hot against the top of my head. “Are you really trying to leave?” I don’t say anything. I can’t. All I can think about is how his length would feel like inside me, and that’s not something I want to linger on right now. I need to focus. He laughs softly. “I know you feel it too. There’s no denying it. You’re mine.” * * * Outcast. Freak. Cursed. These are things that Beta heiress Valeria Ross is used to hearing. After all, with her otherwordly appearance, and her cursed white wolf, she’s bound to be set apart from everyone else. So much so that even her mate who promised her eternal love casts her aside, choosing her much better stepsister as a partner. Deciding that things should end on her terms, she decides to flee her pack. Only to run into the arms of the Lycan King, Ares Ryder, who’s spent centuries looking for his mate and finally found it in her. Now Valeria is faced with a hard choice. Will she stay in the shadows of her family, forever tormented with the sight of her mate with her sister? Will she exchange that hell for a softer one, a life with a cruel King who’s known for collecting women like trophies?

What would you do if your world suddenly turned upside down? How much can you sacrifice just to win back the one you love? Amanda ‘Mandy’ Collins, a young beautiful girl who loves to play with every man’s feelings, was forced to marry the son of her mother’s best friend, Andrew Bradford. She hated the idea but later on agreed as her mother fell ill. Andrew Bradford is the most perfect man every girl would ever meet. He is a rich and handsome billionaire who was secretly in love with Mandy even before their marriage. One day, the situation suddenly reversed. Andrew became cold towards Mandy and brought a woman into his mansion. While Mandy realized that she fell in love with Andrew when she felt hurt and jealous by the presence of his other woman. How long could Mandy hold onto her feelings after this playful twist of fate?

She’s fifteen years younger and his Beta’s last daughter. Can she really be the one he has been waiting for all these years? Lucas Cameron is the Alpha Lord, the Alpha of Alphas, his mother is Lycan Royalty, there is no more powerful werewolf in the world. He is also unmated. Until his 33rd birthday, which happens to be Kelly Killgon’s, Beta Max Killgon’s youngest daughter, 18th birthday……………. . . Not long after they are mated strange, dangerous, deadly, and unbelievable events start to take place. Can the Alpha Lord and his young mate overcome or at least survive all the roadblocks ahead? Who is doing this? Why? When Lucas’s intelligence, strength, and patience are pushed to the edge, will Kelly be his saving Grace or his greatest liability?

"Sign the contract before I change my mind since buying a woman is not difficult. Furthermore, this deal is worth 45 million dollars, and your entire life has scarcely seen it," William Mackenzie said as he threw papers on Monica's face. “Will you ever love me again?" Monica said with a melancholy voice. "Love is nonsense! I'm not into love. I am only offering you this contract because you are incapable of harming me. Even if you do, you will not live this life. Now accept it, or get out!" William crudely said. Monica was a lovely and vivacious child who lost her parents at a very young age. Her sorrow began when she moved in with her aunt. She served only as her aunt's housemaid. She fell in love with an ordinary man who gave her hope that there was someone in this harsh world who would love and look out for her until she learned that the man she loved had recovered his memories. Her beloved was leading a false life. And now he was unfamiliar with her and abandoned her because she was poor, and he had no feelings for her anymore. William Mackenzie was the richest tycoon who thought of money and power, but more importantly, he desired vengeance on those who tried to kill him, causing his memory loss for seven long years, and now he was back in business. ★★★

How long have I waited for this day to come? How long have I dreamed of this? The day I meet her, I'm going to make her mine, cage her up if that what it takes to keep her with me.Max (my wolf ) was jumping with joy as he had finally found his mate. He wanted her to fondle him like there's no tomorrow. We were jumping with happiness, but something triggered us.Someone was taking her away from me. He was dragging her.......

From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sexy standalone novel about the baddest bad boy doctor and the sweet little nurse that he falls for. When I left my small hometown years ago, I never expected to come back. I certainly never expected that when I did, I'd be working for him. He's the town's doctor. He's supposed to be a respectable member of society, a pillar for the community. He's supposed to have come a long way from the bad boy who rode a motorcycle in high school. But he hasn't. One glance from those lustful eyes looking at me tells me that he has the same voracious appetites that he did when we were younger. Only it's not quite the same stare. It's more urgent. It's more intense. I'm not the same nerdy girl who tutored him. I've grown up, developed fertile curves that I know he finds irresistible. In this small town, rumors travel fast, and the family doctor can't be seen as a player. So he does try to resist. And I do too. But with every smoldering glance and moment of sexual tension, we find our barriers breaking down. After a stressful night of touch-and-go baby delivery, a moment of elation overcomes our inhibitions. It seems like maybe we'll need to confront those rumors sooner rather than later, especially before I begin to show the results of that night. Can I give this doctor the family he has always desired?