2013 Nicholas Sparks Challenge (from Debra's Book Cafe)

The afternoon my critical condition notice was issued, Silas Stenson popped a bottle of champagne in the lab. On social media, a photo showed him and Wynter Keller standing side by side in the golden sunset, their white coats bathed in light. The caption read only one line—'Ten years—it finally worked.' Everyone said he was devoted, that he'd spent ten sleepless years trying to save me. When the nurse, her eyes red, showed it to me on her phone, I was staring at the wavering lines on the monitor. No one knew that the drug had already been perfected a year ago. And I was the only candidate who wasn't allowed to receive it.

Married three years. Stood up three years. Today was the last time I bothered showing up. Surprise—he bailed again. Still clinging to hope like a total idiot, I called. One last shot. "A-Aurora, I'm busy. Just wait," he muttered. And then her voice cut in. All breathy and smug: "That old woman can't satisfy you, huh? Paolo, be gentle." Click. Right on cue, Marco Medici—loyal, patient, saint-like Marco—sent his 99th proposal. This time, I didn't leave him hanging. [Want to come over for bollito misto?]

A student on a school camping trip gets possessed by an unknown creature; giving him special abilities and forcing him to its bidding, thus bringing a devastating threat to the camp and its surroundings. Has an elusive evil truly returned? Can the possessed student find a way to regain full control? And what are the origin and motives of the creature? Dive into a world of ignorance, mysteries, and thrills as the Unknown Origins series unfolds. Black River (Apocalypse Uprising) [Major sub-story synopsis] Dolly and her best friend Chesa go on a trip to visit the enchanted river, unaware of the strange happenings in the community living close to it. What will happen if their quest for paradise leads to desperate attempts to survive? and will they ever return home from the nightmare? [sub-stories in this book can be read at anytime the reader wishes, but it is advised to follow the plot sequentially. See note for more information. This book is rated 16+ because of its dark theme.]

After my fiance’s childhood friend found out I was born with a heart condition, she secretly poured a high-dose energy drink into my champagne. The moment I drank it, my heart started racing, and stabbing pain spread through my chest. In a panic, I tore open my only emergency medication, but the water I used to take it had been swapped with strong lemon water. As soon as I drank it, my face went pale. I lost all strength and collapsed to the ground. “Lemon water’s full of vitamin C. It helps with hangovers and keeps you healthy.” Charlotte Whitmore laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. With her arms crossed, she looked at my fiance, Ethan Cross, the boss of the Rolling Stones. “Ethan, your fiancee’s acting is incredible! “I’ve been a doctor for years, and I’ve never seen anyone react like this to a little champagne and lemon water.” I bit my lip until I tasted blood. The pain made my eyes sting, and I clutched Ethan’s leg. “Honey, please, call an ambulance! I can’t take it anymore…” For a moment, his expression wavered, but the guests quickly cut in. “Come on, stop pretending! Nobody dies from a bit of champagne and lemon water.” “Yeah, you’re just jealous Charlotte got promoted and didn’t want to toast to her.” Ethan’s face turned cold again. He yanked my hand off and stepped away. “Charlotte’s a doctor. You’ll be fine with her here.” I stopped begging and texted my father asking for help.

Livie thought she found her forever with long-time boyfriend Abel. Livie and Abel were just meant to be. At the age of eighteen, they sneak off to get married. On the night of their wedding, things go too far. A drunken Abel is tricked by Livie's sneaky cousin, Anna. Anna has been jealous of Livie their entire lives. Determined to wreck Livie's happiness, Anna does a terrible thing. When Livie discovers what Anna and Abel have done, she runs away, stepping out of their lives. A heartbroken Abel moves away when his band becomes an overnight success story. A sick Anna reaches out to make peace with Livie nearly a year later. Livie forgives her dying cousin. Suddenly, Livie is thrust into parenthood by caring for Annas young son, Fin. Fin's famous father adds to the distraction of Livie's new reality. Faced with the truth that it is time for her to move forward in life, Livie reaches out to Abel for a divorce. Unfortunately, Abel causes a stir when he declares he wants their marriage to work out. Livie must learn to navigate her feelings for Abel and her desires for a fresh start. Her fresh start may be with a new man or it may be with a second chance romance.

Kristof is the Alpha of White Claw Pack and heir to the Kingdom of the Grey Moon. He finds his true mate one night in a werewolf owned nightclub, a human named Aláine. She is everything he would want in a mate and future Luna, but he has to take the relationship slowly, so he doesn't scare her away. Aláine will have to deal with becoming a werewolf and abduction by an evil and crazed werewolf before finally taking her place as Luna. She will need to look within herself and find that inner strength to overcome all of this and more. Background: In this world, werewolf law states that only humans who are fated mates may be turned into werewolves and only with consent. There are three Kingdoms in the world and are ruled by those who are direct descendants of King Leto. Only these direct descendants have white fur tinged with a golden colour. There are some pure wolf-born packs who refuse to mate with humans for they feel it will dilute the pureness of that line. If they find that their fated mate is a human, they will either reject or kill that human, and choose another mate. Werewolves have three aspects: They appear human, but still have wolf-like powers. They are usually taller and stronger than most humans. They have a Lycan aspect and a wolf aspect. Both of these aspects are large creatures.

During their seven-year relationship, Claudia Maureen Tiongco thought that Preston would be her husband, that he would fulfill her dream of becoming a wife but she was disappointed. Unexpectedly, Preston's attitude towards her changed especially when she met Penelope, his assistant. Claudia tried to understand everything, even seeing the two happy was something she endured because of her deep love for Preston. Every time she saw Preston treating Penelope well, it hurt her so much. But not everything ended there. Claudia saw that leaving Preston and moving to his rival company was a good opportunity to start a new lifestyle but she's wrong. Preston followed her wherever she went and forced her to pursue him again. Will her heart remain hard or will she let him be imprisoned by lies again?

Book 2 Two years after the death of her mate, Lamia has returned to MacTire and built herself an empire. A war is coming, one that threatens all the kingdoms. she needs to work with all kingdoms to defeat the evil that threatens to change the way of life for shifters and mankind alike. When she crosses paths with the ruthless and cold King of the bears, who is holding her beloved father prisoner, she finds herself challenging him for her father’s life. There’s just one problem. Lamia isn’t a fan of bear shifters and he’s her second chance mate. With no other choice she makes a deal with the ruthless king, she is dead set on rejecting, but first she has to survive the storm that’s coming. Mathias Artos, the unforgiving and cold blooded King of the bears and ruler of Lonely City, a place where the scourge of the realm come to find respite, fortune and misguided happiness, was never destined to find another mate. He wasn’t interested in taking a chosen queen; he preferred his harem of women. Until, the Moon Goddess sent him a she-wolf he didn’t want her nor need. Or so he thought. When an old ally of the bear-shifters helps them discover who they really are, can they work together to take on the powerful man who is behind the army that is sweeping the realm and wiping out whole packs? When past and present collide Lamia and Mathias are forced to work together to unite all shifters in a bid to defeat the evil that is coming for them. Can Lamia and Mathias survive each other and work together to bring down a common enemy, or will their pride get in the way becoming their downfall.

Nelika, daughter of Alpha Zero and Luna Jasmin of the cold mountain pack is the apple of everyone's eyes. But unlike the girls her age she chooses to train on how to become a warrior wolf better than joining the girls in school or the pack. Just like her father, she is strong and she knew that he will be proud of her if she could lead the pack one day. However, Alpha Zero has a different plan for his daughter especially when Luna Jasmin bore the next heir of the Cold mountain pack. How will Nelika prove her worth as the daughter of an Alpha, and how will she refuse if her father asks her to be nice to Alpha Xander? The Alpha of the West that her father admires and she truly hates. She doesn't care if the she-wolves on their pack fantasize about him all the time. Alpha Xander is not her type nor will she be nice to him, she is the next leader of the cold mountain pack and she intends to do well with or without her father's help. Yet fate has a better plan for her and that involves the Alpha she dislikes.

Vernice Zhōu- Isang babae na may pusong lalaki, isang anak na naghahangad ng attention mula sa kanyang ama. Isang tao na labis na kinasusuklaman ng kanyang angkan dahil sa pagiging babae nito. Naging nobya niya ang kababata na si Marjorie at halos buong buhay niya ay inilaan sa nobya. Isang matinding kasawian ang natamo ni Vernice ng matuklasan na niloloko siya nito at pumatol ito sa totoong may sandata. Sadyang malupit ang mundo para kay Vernice dahil pagkatapos siyang lokohin ng girlfriend ay natuklasan niya na ipinagkasundo siya ng kanyang pamilya sa isang mayaman na negosyante, bilang kabayaran sa utang ng pamilya at anya upang mawala ang kamalasang idinulot niya noong isilang siya sa mundo. Kung kailan handa na sanang tanggapin ni Vernice ang kasal ay saka naman nangyari ang hindi inaasahan. Isang gabing pagkakamali na siyang sisira sa marriage agreement ng kanyang pamilya sa pamilyang Hilton at siguradong tuluyan na siyang itatakwil ng kanyang angkan…