Is 'The Painted Drum' Worth Reading?

Liziwe Matiwane is an odd one; a lady who has no interest in marriage, but all the interest in in learning the physician's trade- much to her mother's annoyance. But when she is forced into marriage with a mysterious stranger, her life takes a turn into the murky shadows...

When Lacy tries to break of her forced engagement things take a treacherous turn for the worst. Things seemed to not be going as planned until a mysterious stranger swoops in to save the day. That stranger soon becomes more to her but how will their relationship work when her fiance proves to be a nuisance? *****Dylan Reed only has one interest: finding the little girl that shared the same foster home as him so that he could protect her from all the vicious wrongs of the world. He gets temporarily side tracked when he meets Lacy Black. She becomes a damsel in distress when she tries to break off her arranged marriage with a man named Brian Larson and Dylan swoops in to save her. After Lacy and Dylan's first encounter, their lives spiral out of control and the only way to get through it is together but will Dylan allow himself to love instead of giving Lacy mixed signals and will Lacy be able to follow her heart, effectively Reading Mr. Reed?Book One (The Mister Trilogy)

Verity Sinclair is a gifted contemporary painter trapped in a marriage that has been dying for a long time. But the final blow comes when she catches her husband in bed with her older sister—in their matrimonial home. Humiliated and heartbroken, Verity walks away from the life she once tried to save. Then she makes one reckless decision. She seduces Quentin Langford—her ex-husband’s older brother. The ruthless billionaire with a sinful reputation, a dangerous charm, and a world filled with secrets she never wanted to understand. Quentin was supposed to be nothing more than revenge. One night, no emotions, no consequences. But after the divorce, Quentin offers her a life-changing contract: six months of exclusivity. What begins as desire quickly turns into something far more dangerous. Because beneath Quentin’s cold control is a man capable of giving Verity everything she never knew she needed—passion, freedom, and a love intense enough to consume her completely. But just as she begins to fall for him, the past returns to destroy everything. Her ex-husband suddenly wants her back, claiming he cannot live without her. At the same time, a woman from Quentin’s past reappears, threatening the fragile relationship they built together. Now Verity is caught between the man who broke her heart… and the man who awakened her soul. When forced to choose between familiarity and desire, betrayal and passion, Verity must decide where her heart truly belongs, before love destroys her completely.

When a chance encounter in a dimly lit club leads her into the orbit of Dominic Valente.The enigmatic head of New York’s most powerful crime family journalist Aria Cole knows she should walk away. But one night becomes a dangerous game of temptation and power. Dominic is as magnetic as he is merciless, and behind his tailored suits lies a man used to getting exactly what he wants. What begins as a single, reckless evening turns into a web of secrets, loyalty tests, and a passion that threatens to burn them both. As rival families circle and the law closes in, Aria must decide whether their connection is worth the peril or if loving a man like Dominic will cost her everything.

A week before the wedding, my fiancé, Luke Graham, announced that he needed to marry his first love, Mandy Lynch, before marrying me. “It’s because her mother passed away,” he explained, “and her dying wish was to see Mandy married to a good man. I’m just fulfilling an elder’s final request. Don’t overthink it.” But the company had already planned to launch the “True Love” jewelry line on the day of our grand wedding. Impatiently, he dismissed my concerns: “It’s just a few million. Does that compare to Mandy’s love for her mother? If you’re so eager to make those millions, go find someone else to marry.” Hearing his cold and heartless words, I understood everything. Without another word, I turned and dialled my family. “Brother, help me find a new groom.”

**Completed. This is the second book in the Baxter Brother's series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. Almost ten years ago, Landon watched his mate be killed right before his eyes. It changed him. After being hard and controlling for years, he has finally learned how to deal with the fact that she was gone. Forever. So when he arrives in Washington, Landon is shocked to find his mate alive. And he is even more determined to convince her to give him a chance. Brooklyn Eversteen almost died ten years ago. She vividly remembers the beckoning golden eyes that saved her, but she never saw him again. Ten years later, she agrees to marry Vincent in the agreement that he will forgive the debt. But when those beckoning golden eyes return, she finds she must make an even harder decision.