Help Wanted

Vanessa’s life was falling apart. Her marriage has failed, her company made her redundant and the lease on her apartment is up and the landlord plans to sell. Fed up, miserable and alone, she buys a country manor and vows to start a new life. When she arrives, she discovers a house almost in the same condition as her life. The roof needs fixing, the plumbing is older than some countries and the draft blowing up her skirt seems to be the only thing brave enough to go near her lady parts for years. Then comes Clay. Gorgeous with smouldering green eyes and a V that can make any girl forget the rest of the alphabet, but 15 years younger than herself. Clay seems to be the handyman she needs to get everything sorted, including between the sheets. But with the town gossip ladies against them due to the age difference and Vanessa’s ex dead set on destroying her, could handyman Clay be the fresh start her heart desperately craves?

Amara has a life built on Survival. Between the club, bills, and caring for her sick mother, she doesn't have room for anything else. So when her friend Davina offers her a quick, easy job— a fake date with a billionaire — she thinks it's just another paycheck. But meeting Dorian Wellington changes everything. Calm, controlled, and impossibly wealthy, he seems untouchable, yet there's a quiet pull between them that neither can explain. When he sees her later at the club, everything he thought he knew about her shatters. Curiosity turns to intrigue, and intrigue slowly becomes desire. Their worlds begin to collide in ways neither of the expected — Fake dates, private moments, and unspoken tension that grows with every encounter. But secrets and walls run deep and Amara has more to hide than he could ever imagine. Can two people from such different worlds find trust, love and a way to let go …. before it's too late?

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Who pulls the trigger with their eyes closed? Perhaps someone as crazy as me. That was in beginning of my trouble. The look in Dante's eyes sent chills down my spine, I wanted him to look at me differently, but in his eyes I could see that he wanted nothing more than for my blood to be spilled, the darkness in his eyes seemed untamable, but not for me, I was going to tame that darkness even if it was the last thing I do. Soon he would only have love for me in his eyes, soon.

During the long holiday, to accommodate the travel plans of my hospital director wife, I—someone who hadn't taken a single day off all year—begged and groveled, burning through every last bit of goodwill in my department just to scrape together seven days of comp time so I could go with her. But I waited at the airport from morning until night. After a hundred ignored calls, she finally rang me back, her voice totally casual. "The signal's a nightmare out at the scenic area. I forgot to mention—Julian booked the tickets a day early by accident, so we're already at Tamoe Mount! Since you missed your flight anyway, just go back to the hospital and cover some shifts. It's the hospital's busiest time. Didn't you say everyone in your department was upset about you taking time off? Go make it up to them." On the other end of the line, the wind was howling. Her young colleague, laughing brightly, jumped in. "Hey, Rita, I had no problem switching my shifts. I guess he just slacks off too much—no wonder nobody likes him." Not only did she not stand up for me, she actually agreed. "You hear that, Kevin? Learn to play nicer with your coworkers. Stop obsessing over fun all the time. Then later, it'll be easier for me to push through your raise and promotion." I didn't argue or make a scene. I just said "Got it," hung up, and walked straight to the hospital run by her biggest competitor. "Are you still looking for a vice director? I work hard, I don't need weekends off, and as long as I get normal comp time, I'm good."

Alyssa, a young chef, lives in New York City, where she meets Damon, while jogging in the park. Their connection is instant, but fate seems to conspire against them, and they part ways, each thinking they'll never see each other again. However, their paths cross again at a party for the anniversary of her father and his wife , where Damon mistakes Alyssa for someone else, while having a passionate kiss with her. As the truth comes to light, Alyssa discovers Damon's true identity: her stepbrother. As they go through this complicated reality, Alyssa and Damon must confront their feelings for each other. But Damon harbors dark secrets tied to his mafia dealings, which threaten to tear them apart. Will he find a way to open up to Alyssa, or will their love remain hidden in secrecy?