52 Book Club 2024: #1 Locked-room Mystery

As a child, an innocent, our imaginations run wild. We pretend to be knights or princess', magicians or mythical creatures. Then as we age our imagination is tamed by the laws of science and everything we are taught to believe as truth. We as a race of humans can not fly or wield a wand. Dragons and mermaids don't exist. Fire burns, ice freezes, what goes up must come down. These are but a few of the truths that exist in our world, but like so many others they are false. My world was turned upside down on my 21st birthday, everything that was a truth turned out to be a lie. The world we live in, isn't what we believed it to be. My name is Alexi Drovnic, and this is my story.

My name is Ryan Knox. I thought I was finally free of my past. I left my old life behind, reconnected with my family, and made all the right choices. It was supposed to make me happy until I found out I’m the only one who can save a world I didn’t even know existed. My dreams weren’t just dreams. They were the place I fell for someone I had no right falling for. Now, I need to harness an unknown power inside of me. The objective is clear—save the Fae realm. Secrets will need to be uncovered. Enemies will need to be reasoned with. And my heart will need to stay out of it. There’s just one problem. The evil we need to fight is none other than my twin sister.

Alexandros I am the third son of the billionare, Greg Ruffalo. Ever since i was young, I could get whatever or whoever I wanted. Everything to me is just like a toy that I can play and dispatch it after i get tired of it. But then everything changed when I first saw her, The image of her face, Her pinkish lips, The warmth of her body in my arms And I want her... But she doesn't want me. And I'll do everything just to have her. Elaine Kayod dito, kayod doon. Hindi uso sa akin ang pahinga lalo na't sa akin nakaasa ang pamilya ko. Pero kahit dalawa na ang trabaho ko ay hindi padin sapat ang nakukuha kong sahod. Kaya ng magkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na makapasok sa Millionare Men's Club, isang private club na para lang sa mayayaman ay ginawa ko ang lahat para makapag trabaho sa loob dahil malaki ang sahod. Trabaho lang ang habol ko, Pero hindi ko akalain na magugulo ng isang lalaki ang tahimik kong buhay.

Lilith POV A pair of cold, bloodshot eyes stare back at me; if eyes could , I'm sure I would be dead by now. No wonder this place looks so familiar; it is because it's the mansion belonging to my owner, the man I was sold to, "Don Air." My orb fell on Flora, who was kneeling on the floor. Her hair was messy, and I could see bruises from her shoulder down to her arms, making me wonder what happened to her. "I gave you a to do, and you messed it up, huh?" The cold voice of Don Air was forwarded to Flora. He stomped his feet on her body continuously, and her screams and cries filled the atmosphere, bringing nothing but horror. "Master, please! Oh, please!" She cried in pain as she continued to get hit; her body was somersaulting on the floor. I look around the large sitting room, wondering why nobody is helping by stopping this cruel master or even pleading on her behalf, but I see few with pitiful expressions. My gaze met the man known as Thierry, the man's son. For awhile, I forgot he even existed. I got a sharp glare from him, and I looked away. "Please?  "If you are sorry, then you will not think of ruining my business, you good for nothing harlot," he yelled at Flora before leaving the girl. "You!"  His voice thurd in my ear, and I cringe in fear as goosebump from fear clouded my body. He was walking towards me with such a dominating and dangerous demeanor. "Argh!"  I was pulled by my hair and flung to the wall barely. I felt a liquid running down my head down to my nose—it's blood!

Life comes hard and fast for Kendra and her family in a dystopian world that is struggling to recover from a nuclear war and is now under the rule of an alien government. Unaware of the impending alien invasion, a group of scientists -which included Kendra's parents- were ordered to create a zombie virus and set it loose on Russia. The intention was to subdue Russia and then release the cure, but the alien attack took them unawares and the scientists and their cure disappeared, leaving the virus to run rampant. Having been inoculated against the virus, Kendra's aunt is one of these scientists who has kept her identity a secret for fear of being made a slave to the alien government. When a village that is connected to the people who moved underground for survival kidnaps Kendra in hopes that they can harvest any memories of her parents discussing the cure while she was a mere infant with the use of an experimental machine, her aunt must decide about coming forth with her identity. In the meantime, along with dealing with the ever-rising population of zombies, the alien regime -which considers humans a delicacy for their dinner table – sets out to correct and purify the human race from those who were mutated in some way by the nuclear explosions. Rex is one of those humans. He is also Kendra’s lover. “Where Zombies Walk” is Book One of Kendra’s Journey in a world that offers steamy romance, nail biting peril, and thrills, and a paradise-like sanctuary within its core. All she has to do is make her way there.

"She's his enemy, his downfall—and his one last chance at love. After Adam Danvers lost his wife in a tragic accident, he stopped believing in love. Instead, Adam has focused solely on running his family’s struggling vineyard in the small town of Heron’s Landing. When Joy McGuire, a beautiful and clever journalist, moves to the sleepy town, suddenly Adam can’t control his intense attraction to her. She’s witty; she pushes his buttons. He wants to shake her as much as he wants to kiss her. But Joy is a journalist, and Adam hates them all on principle. He saw firsthand how a journalist’s lies destroyed his late wife. Yet as Joy proves that she’s nothing like the writers he’s known, Adam can’t help but give in to exquisite temptation. Soon a conflagration ignites between Adam and Joy. Yet as secrets unfold, Adam must trust in love or lose the woman who’s awakened his slumbering heart. This title was previously published as Seduce Me Sweetly. It’s been rereleased with a brand-new look and with lightly edited content."

BREE LEV. I thought it stands for something simple until I heard his deep soulful voice. A single hello was all it take for him to have my undivided attention. Akala ko hulog siya ng langit. Isang anghel na magsasalba sa akin. I was all wrong. He's a fallen angel with dark blue eyes and cold leather-covered hands. A man mantled with power and veiled with sin. We're opposites. I'm weird and a social butterfly. He's terrifying and brooding. A lone wolf. I love pinks and swirls. He prefers pointed knives and black guns. Darkness seems to be his fave companion and death his pastime. I, on the other hand, will always choose life. He told me to stay away from him. Guess, you know by now, that I did the exact opposite, right? I stayed 'cause I want him so bad, it hurts. I, Bree De Veyra, daughter of one of the families of The Council, lay my life to the head of the Foedus Corp– Lev Petrov. My father's sworn enemy. The master manipulator and my protector. Or my destroyer? LEV Three years ago, one phone call, two minutes. I swore I will kill her. Four weeks before her 16th birthday, I did the unthinkable. I destroyed her trust and left her. Broken and beyond repair. Twenty-four hours before her 18th birthday, nagbalik ako para bawiin s'ya. Twelve hours after I abduct her, we exchange I dos. Eight seconds after our first kiss, I know I will protect her with my gun and with my life. I, Lev Petrov, Heir to a fallen empire, vows to avenge Bree from all of the people that wronged her. It will be my life's mission until the last drop of my sinful blood...I will never let them rest in peace.

In a bid to be with his true love Octavius, prince of Camelorn, finds himself seeking favors from the gods. But when the attention of one goddess becomes an obsession things change for the worst. Ashterah, goddess of war of the would do anything to be with Octavius, even if it meant stealing his humanity and destroying his marriage. Cleopoda, born of the gods but hidden among men is considered a curse when she looks like neither Octavius nor is wife Emilia. This destroys Octavius' marriage and trust in the very woman he had once loved. The truth behind Cleopoda's birth is unknown but according to Camelorn, she is Octavius' punishment. Cleopoda now rejected by the both the gods and man must try to survive in the unending hatred she is surrounded with. She must survive to know her true origin and take revenge on those who have made her life miserable.

Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test Test

My boyfriend’s mistress played the role of a sweet, clueless beauty, but behind the facade, she swapped out my skis before the competition, leading to my tragic death.   In my final moments, her venomous words echoed in my ears. “With you gone, no one will ever underestimate me again. Your boyfriend, your place in the club, they’ll all be mine! “Be a dear and just die for me, won’t you?”   Unbearable resentment and fury burned like wildfire in my chest.   When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the starting line of the competition.