long shadows david baldacci

Amidst the dimly lit room, the tension was palpable as Clyde's vice-like grip closed around Isabella's neck. She struggled to gasp for air, her defiance clear in her eyes. "You are no one for me, do you understand?" Clyde hissed, his fingers digging into her skin. Isabella, her voice trembling but unwavering, met his intense gaze. "And you are the most darkly comedic and nightmarish chapter of my life." Clyde, cruel laughter in his eyes, flung her onto the bed with a brutal force that left her breathless. "Then let's make this chapter even more nightmarish," he taunted, a twisted grin dancing upon his lips. The story takes an electrifying turn when Isabella, longing for a peaceful visit to her grandmother, finds herself back in her home country. However, fate has other plans as Isabella's suitcase, filled with her belongings, gets exchanged with Clyde's bag - full of illicit weapons. Clyde, a dangerous figure entangled in the criminal underworld, cannot allow Isabella to simply walk away after discovering the dangerous secrets within the swapped bag. As the noose tightens, he's left with a limited choices: kill her or hold her captive, forever altering the course of both their lives. Amidst this high-stakes power struggle, a relentless battle for survival and freedom unfolds, painting the pages of this thrilling tale with suspense and danger.

Dina has always lived a complicated life so she doesn't have many friends. Her Dad is in prison, her Mom is remarried, and she spends most of her time in the streets picking pockets. Dina does this for a good reason--for a new life somewhere far away. But as she gets closer to her goal she meets David Choi, the infuriating goody-two-shoes in her new high school. He's perfect in all ways and exactly the kind of guy that Dina can't stand. But for some reason, they can't stay away from each other. And when secrets from their past begin to threaten them, sweet lies are told, and no one knows if they can get over them to finally be together.

As a self-made billionaire, he has built an empire through ventures encompassing real estate, technology, and self-help book publishing. Driven by an unconventional desire to empower thick, chubby women, he devises a contest through his self-help book publishing company. The contest aims to boost their self-esteem and confidence, guiding them to find attentive partners. Little do the participants know, the contest holds a hidden secret—it is designed to train them as BDSM dominatrixes for a potential TV show. Amidst the carefully orchestrated contest, a remarkable woman emerges as the main protagonist. She possesses a captivating blend of confidence and vulnerability, determined to overcome her insecurities. Unbeknownst to her, fate intervenes as she captures the billionaire's attention. As their paths intertwine, a forbidden love story unfolds. The billionaire finds himself irresistibly drawn to her, intrigued by her strength and resilience. In her, he discovers not only a potential submissive but also a soul capable of unearthing his closely guarded demons and secrets. Will she remain merely his dominatrix, or will she become the key to unlocking something more profound within him?Their journey is one of passion and self-discovery, as they navigate the intricate dynamics of power, vulnerability, and trust. Together, they delve into the depths of their desires, challenging societal norms and their own preconceived notions of love and intimacy. As their connection deepens, they confront their pasts, facing their darkest fears and insecurities. In the process, they find redemption, healing, and growth. The TV show project takes an unexpected turn, leading to a powerful and empowering outcome for all the contestants involved." It delves into the transformative power of human connection, proving that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can save us from the shadows that haunt us.

Everly’s family is unique. Her father is a demigod of Death and her mother is a lycan, making Everly and her siblings unique hybrids with intense abilities. Eighteen doesn’t mean much for an immortal, but it does mean freedom. Everly finally gets to leave her coven’s realm and explore the human realm on her own. Determined to prove herself worthy of her family’s name, Everly sets off on a simple mission. Go to the music academy and reap the soul of the phantom that haunts it. It should be simple, but things are far from simple when Everly gets paired with the dark, mysterious, and good looking Sebastian for a performance. Things heat up between them as they rehearse for their roles to perform two songs from a beloved musical that hits closer to home for Sebastian than Ever realizes. What happens when Ever discovers Sebastian is the phantom and a hybrid that should not exist? As their slow burn of desire ignites into burning flames neither can ignore, new challenges come their way. They must work together to save the other spirits being trapped by Sebastian’s wicked half-brother, who is hell bent on revenge.

The Darkness is being manifested by an unknown enemy, and prophecies of a war start coming true. The Protectors of the throne have been preparing for war for over 1300 years, but everyone is still wondering if the prophesized royal will emerge in time to protect the Osvald Kingdom. Rolf, a Regent Prince, has been hiding the fact he is a member of the Protector Family so he can earn his rank in the Lycan Army without the privilege he was born into. His world is turned upside down when he meets his mate and must decide if she is worth the exposure. Thyra has one mission in life, to avenge the slaying of her pack that happened five years ago. She doesn't have time for the pull she feels toward another soldier in the Officer Leadership Academy. Will he understand that her oath has to come before the distraction he brings? Or will she have to submit to him just so she can keep looking into his amber eyes...

“I, Xavier Bellator, reject you Jane, as my mate. By the divine creed that is my word, I rebuke all bonds that tie my soul to yours.” These are the very words that Jane’s mate whispers into her ear as he is sleeping with her. And before she can recover from this blow, he proceeds to sleep with another woman… right in front of her. Rejected and broken, Jane runs away from the pack. But how could a weak Omega such as herself ever hope to survive in a cruel world filled with monstrous werewolves, bloodthirsty vampires, and evil witches? However, a freak combination of coincidences make Jane realize that she is not as weak as she thought she was. In fact, she just might belong to an ancient and powerful race. Follow Jane on her journey of self-discovery, strength and healing. Throw in a powerful and possessive Lycan and you have one hell of a love story. Oh and let’s not forget revenge! A story is never complete without sweet, sweet, vengeance…

When Andres returns to the country and gets back with his longtime love interest, his former girlfriend, the only woman he had ever loved, he's determined not to let Naomi go again. They start having a secret affair, despite Naomi is married to his uncle, Colbert. ... Andres couldn't help but wonder why Naomi got married to his uncle, despite knowing how much he hated him. Andres couldn't help but also wonder why Naomi was enduring Colbert's maltreatment towards her. Why couldn't she just divorce Colbert and come back to him if she claimed she loved him? Only Naomi and Colbert knew the reason. The ultimate secret. What will happen when the secret comes to light? Will it ruin Naomi's secret relationship with Andres? Will she be able to get back her freedom from the hands of Colbert? Will this secret ever be out? This secret has the power to build or to destroy everything. Will it destroy their love? What could this secret be, that would make a woman get married to her worst nightmare and endure series of torture? Andres' hand grabbed Naomi's waist. "Only a cheap slut will dump her fiance for a wealthy old man," he said huskily. She bit her lips as she stared at him. There was nothing but sadness in her empty eyes. Fuck! He was supposed to be mad at her, but her innocent eyes and irresistible sexy body made him do otherwise. Want her in his bed...

Buku ini juga dikenal dengan judul "The Rustling Autumn Breeze Knows My Heart". Untuk dapat menyelamatkan nyawa ibunya 5 tahun yang lalu, Sally Jacob pergi kepada seorang pria dan memutuskan untuk tak akan pernah melihat anaknya setelah proses persalinan. Lima tahun kemudian, seorang anak yang menggemaskan merengek-rengek meminta ciuman sayang, pelukan dan tidur dengannya. Sally Jacob memberikan apapun yang diminta anak laki-laki mungil ini dengan senang hati.

Selene a brave female werewolf having a birthmark from an Alpha bloodline and the last of her kind, who never knew of her true identity but worked as a maid with Mr Orion a ruthless alpha werewolf who wasn't interested in finding a mate but kept countless lovers, He later happened to be Selene's mate, a twist of fate. _____ " Selene, your birthmark... is a sign of your destiny. It's only given to the children of an Alpha werewolf blood" She smiled again, her eyes glinting with a knowing light." Ah.. But that's where you're wrong Selene. you'd see what you're truly capable of and when you do, you'll join us as of our own" I felt a shiver run down my spine as she straightened up, her eyes never leaving mine. what did she mean? What was I capable of? And what did she mean by "join us"? I was human, not a werewolf. But the mark on my arm seemed to be pulsing with a strange energy, as if it was trying to tell me something.

Please be advised, words and scenes can be very, very steamy. This book is a collection of wild erotic adventures and fantasies. Adventures to some and fantasies to others. Sex is delicious. No one in their perverted mind will claim otherwise. So when a chance for a too good to be a true moment of one's life knocks at its door or when what happened a while ago was something you would never think it would have happened, some people grab these chances, while some regret it for a lifetime not indulging. A one-night stand or a quickie with a consenting individual is an easy fix.