Pretty Things

Pearl, a beautiful teenager, was completely swept off her feet by three handsome brothers - Eden, Nathan, and Kyle. She couldn't believe how gorgeous they were, and found herself falling deeply under their spell. As she got to know them, she started doing things she never thought she'd do, just to get their attention. But what Pearl didn't know was that these stunning brothers weren't what they seemed. They were actually vampires who survived on human blood. Eden, the charming and seductive brother, had a hypnotic gaze that could lure anyone into his trap. Nathan, the dark and brooding brother, possessed supernatural strength that made him a force to be reckoned with. Kyle, the mysterious and elusive brother, had the ability to manipulate the shadows, making him a master of stealth and deception. As Pearl drew closer to the brothers, she found herself torn between their unique charms. But as she delved deeper into their world, she realized that she was in grave danger. Would the brothers notice her and spare her life, or would their encounter seal her fate? And most importantly, who would ultimately win her heart?

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Autumn Shade only wants one thing: to get away and live her own life. Tired of being forced by her father to take on the business, and follow in his steps, she leaves. She wanted to show her father that she was capable of making her own decisions and not screwing up. But just when she successfully leaves, she's caught up in another whirlwind which threatens to deem everything she'd known a lie.Justin Black and his friends see Autumn and they find that she was perfect for what they were planning, given that it was her father they wanted to take revenge on.Autumn learns a shocking truth about a scandal involving a murder and her father, and persistently denies it. But apparently they have proof.All Autumn wants to do is the right thing. If her father is innocent she gets to say 'I told you so' and if he's really a cheating murderer then she does what's right and gets out of this mess once and for all.But as usual, things get complicated. Actually, feelings get complicated, because the longer she stayed, the closer the broken boy held her.© 2020 by Everleigh Winters

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

After Father's death, everything falls apart. My stepmother seizes the inheritance and leaves us with nothing. Just when I think we can finally breathe, fate hits us harder—Dongju's accident leaves him clinging to life. With hospital bills piling up, despair becomes my only currency. Then, the President Director makes an offer I can't refuse: money for Dongju's treatment, in exchange for marrying his son, Byun Baekhoon—a man whispered to be gay, and heir to one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country. I sign the contract with trembling hands, thinking it's just a business deal. But Baekhoon isn't who I expected. Behind his cold eyes and calculated words, he hides something darker—something dangerous. And the more I try to survive this marriage, the more it feels like I'm burying myself alive.

Vance My heart races as I think about the mess I've gotten myself into. I did something unforgivable, something that could ruin my friendship and my reputation. But I couldn't resist the temptation when my best friend's daughter came to me with a proposal that would change everything. She wanted me to take her virginity, and I almost said no. Almost being the key word. Her innocence and desire were too much for me to resist. And then, she came to me again, needing comfort in her time of need. I held her close, feeling the sexual tension between us grow with each passing moment. And now, I'm in deep trouble. Her father will be devastated when he finds out that his little girl is no longer pure and even worse when he discovers that it was his best friend who deflowered her. But I can't let her go now. I've claimed her as mine, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep her by my side. Because when I took her virginity, I made a vow. She's mine forever.