the new china playbook beyond socialism and capitalism

Su Jianan was marrying the love of her life. It all seemed picture-perfect, except for a few catches. One, it was a marriage of convenience. Two, she would be divorced after two years.With her well-being under threat, Su Jianan had only one choice to keep herself safe: marrying, and pretending to be loved by a powerful man capable of protecting her. Conveniently, her soon-to-be husband was Lu Boyan, a man she had been secretly in love with for fourteen years. She went along with the marriage, knowing full well that her love was one-sided.Or was it?Business tycoon Lu Boyan had known Su Jianan ever since she was ten. Back then, the death of his father had plunged his world into darkness, and Su Jianan’s presence had brought a new ray of light into his life. Now, it was his turn to protect her. He would marry her to keep her safe. But two years later, he would divorce her: it would no longer be safe for her to remain by his side.What fate awaited Su Jianan and Lu Boyan? Would their marriage mark the beginning of a happily ever after? Or would it lead to heartbreak and sorrow? Would their marriage outlast the two years? What kind of secret was Lu Boyan keeping?Follow along the twists and turns of this slow-burn, action-packed love story!

I find out I'm about two months pregnant before my wedding. Luke Logan drunkenly caresses my belly and half-jokes, "I'm not ready to be a father, Summer. Can we not keep the baby?" My heart is calm. I say softly, "Sure." In my past life, I insisted on keeping the child. Meanwhile, Riley Richards had an accidental miscarriage, making it difficult for her to conceive again. Luke held a grudge against me for that and treated me coldly after we married. As for the son that I put one foot in the coffin to bring into this world, he, too, cried and fussed. He wanted Riley to be his mother. Later, I got into an accident and suffered from significant blood loss. However, Luke and our son merely hurried past me to be with Riley as she went into labor. I slowly bled to death on the floor above, while Luke and our son celebrated the birth of Riley's child on the floor below. Now that I've been reborn, I won't lose sight of myself and take the wrong path again. I call Eric Nottingham. "I'll join the expedition team to Glacia."

Lies, deceit and darkness lead Esmerelda on a journey through dimensions where she faces a world she never knew existed. Dark lords, aliens, and vampires await as she struggles to save her friend from the vampires by aligning with aliens who she later learned were cannibals! Through it all, she's finally reunited with Lance... but what about Killian? The thrills, suspense, and romance continue in "Beyond the Portal", book 3 of the Esmerelda Sleuth, Paranormal Investigator series.

“My last day?” Ashley echoed, fear creeping into her voice. “What do you mean?” “Look at me!" Adam shouted. "Do you think I deserve an obese woman like you?” He spat, his face contorting with disgust. “Me?” she finally managed to whisper, her voice shaking. Betrayed by her husband and sister on her birthday night, pregnant Ashley Smith is left for dead. Fueled by anger and a thirst for vengeance, this dead girl is back with a new face and identity, but her quest for revenge might not be as simple as she thought, plus her ex husband likes the body of this new woman and wants her. Will she be able to get her revenge or will she lose it all again? And what happens when Prince charming comes her way after she'd sworn never to give love another chance?

“When you’re done shedding your tears, don’t forget to close the door behind you.” Those cold disdainful words shattered Starr’s world. Fleeing the scene of her lover’s betrayal, she is left ruined and wrecked by the man she once trusted, who now lies in bed with another woman, indifferent to the pain he has caused. Starr had poured her heart and all into building a life with Charles, only to discover that her love and sacrifices were used to build a life that she was never included in. Betrayed and broken, she learns that Charles only saw her as a way out of poverty and a means to support his true love and their unborn child. Determined to reclaim her life and shut out the pain, Starr seizes an opportunity to start over in France, taking a job offer from her boss that promises a fresh beginning. But as she navigates this new chapter, the wounds of her past linger. Can Starr truly move on and find the love she deserves, or will the scars of betrayal keep her heart closed forever?

Lily is a human adopted by a family of werewolves. Her father, the alpha, asks her to help the legendary James Lacrosse investigate the death of two of the pack's teens and the attempted kidnapping of another.      James Lacrosse is famous for his monstrous shift. When he was thirteen he was kidnapped and missing for two years. He thinks the deaths and the kidnapping are linked to what happened to him when he was taken.     Can they figure out who is behind this before someone else suffers James's curse.

After three years of marriage, James Chancer’s high school sweetheart came back to town. The same day, Sarah Sanders found divorce papers on her desk from the man she'd given her heart to for the past three years. Outside the courthouse, James poured his heart out to his first love,"I never even touched her in all these years. It's always been you." That was the final straw for Sarah. Writing off their marriage as a complete waste, she dove back into her career and became more successful than ever. That's when everyone finally realized what James had thrown away - Mrs. Chancer wasn't just a pretty face, but a wealthy powerhouse. A true catch in every sense. Three months later, James called her in the dead of night, his voice thick with regret, "Sarah, I made a huge mistake..." All he heard was her drowsy voice, “Zac, who's calling?" The man beside her ended the call with a smile, pulling her closer for a kiss, "Just another spam call, babe."

— In the dazzling world of the uber-rich, Alessandra Knight, a billionaire with a heart as deep as her pockets, finds herself drawn to a place she'd never imagine visiting - the bidding bar. Across town, Mia Davis, a young woman forced to sell herself to save her ailing mother, prepares to step onto the auction block, her heart heavy with desperation. In a twist of fate, Alessandra outbids a room full of eager men for Mia. The question on everyone's lips: Why would a billionaire buy a girl from the slums? As their worlds collide and a bond forms, they must navigate the treacherous path of societal norms and their own burgeoning feelings. Is this a game of power, a quest for redemption, or the beginning of a love story that defies all odds? Dive into this tale of love, sacrifice, and the true value of the human heart. Uncover Alessandra's plan and the lengths she's willing to go to in this riveting story of unexpected love. —

Warning: This book contains explicit dark content, dark romance if you’re not in for a ride, please skip!! (Tales of a masseuse) Strictly 18+

Esmeralda's revenge is ignited when she catches her husband cheating with her best friend. She discovers she was drugged and compelled to sign a paper declaring the transfer of will from her to husband.In a bid to flee from an assassination attempt,she gets involved in accident and finds herself in a strange environment. She spends the next few years of her life orchestrating a plan for her revenge under the protection of her saviour.She appears three years later with a new identity and meets with her ex-husband's business rival for a beneficial collaboration. As lies,deceits and revenge entwines,can Esmeralda let go of her past and find love or will her obsession for revenge force her into a life of regret and lonliness?