52 Book Club 2025: #22 - Found Family Trope

Dash is no stranger to pain, but he learned from a young age to conceal it from the world. He grew up watching his parents fight, his mother crying herself to sleep while his father drowned himself in booze. That’s not the life he wants for himself. Dash swore off women right there and then, but growing up, his hormones played a significant part in turning him into a man-.  Dash is a single billionaire with a gigantic dark secret. He is the Underboss of the biggest Mafia in New York City. Dash likes to sleep around, and rarely sleeps with the same girl twice, but his sense of humor and his charismatic smile make every girl bow at his will until he meets the only girl who won’t look twice at him.  Grace is Dash’s polar opposite, but opposites attract and Dash can’t stop thinking about the girl he saved the night he covered his twin brother’s . The girl who was dancing on the table trying to strip her clothes, and ended up in his arms. The same girl that emptied her stomach all down his new leather jacket.  Getting to know Grace and trying to seduce her will be Dash’s biggest challenge, bigger than taking down the Italian Mob that is threatening their power in New York. How serious will Dash be about Grace when he sees a target on her back? Will he be able to put her above everything and everyone, or will go back to his old self not caring about anyone else? This is the second book of The Legacies Series. You can read this book as a stand-alone, but for better comprehension, it is advisable to read the first book of the series. “The Reaper CEO” 

16 year old Scarlet Paine finds herself changing in mysterious ways. She is becoming sensitive to light, able to read peoples’ thoughts, and is faster and stronger than she’s ever been. She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her, and tries to ignore it. But she can only dismiss it for so long.

Caitlin Paine, her mom, knows too well what’s happening to her daughter. She underwent the same transformation to vampire once, centuries ago. But now, in the present day, as a mere human, she has no memory of it. All she has is the journal she found in the attic—her mysterious vampire journal—telling of her exploits in another time and place, and of the vampire race being eradicated. But was there one exception to the rule? Could it be that Scarlet, her daughter, is the last remaining vampire on earth?

As Scarlet tries to fight who she’s becoming, she also tries to fight her intense feelings for Blake, a boy in her grade who she has a crush on. She can’t tell, though, if he’s into her, and with the big Halloween dance just days away, the pressure is on. She would do anything for Blake to ask her. But Vivian, the meanest of the popular girls, is also on Blake’s radar, and she’ll do anything to make Blake hers—and to make Scarlet’s life a living hell.

Luckily Scarlet has her own clique of friends to back her up, including her best friends Maria and Jasmin. They, too, have guy troubles—but it isn’t until Sage appears, the mysterious new boy, that her friends become obsessed. Scarlet finds herself attracted to him, too—and is surprised when it is her, of all the girls in the school, that he pays attention to. But her mind is set on Blake, at least for now, and she continues to hope he’ll ask her to the dance.

Just when it seems that Scarlet has what she wants, her body changes. Soon it may be impossible for her to be near her fellow humans. Soon, she may have to choose between her desire to live and her desire for love.

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!

Twenty-four-year-old Serenity Parker had always been in love with her older brother's best friend, Alexander Dawson who was two years older than her. Soon she found out that he was too interested in his underground fight clubs and boxing matches to care about her.  Alexander Dawson, being an orphan struggled to survive in the initial years of his life. Serenity, being the daughter of a billionaire hotelier and his best friend's little sister was forbidden for him.  With his bad reputation at the Underground fighting circuit, Serenity was forced to give up all hopes of Alexander when her brother broke all contacts with him after a vicious fight. However, after five years, when her brother patched up and invited Alexander to his wedding, what would be Serenity's reaction? What would she do when she comes face to face with her only love after five years?  Read this powerful and roller-coaster love story full of twists and turns that will surely capture your heart.

She has no memory of him. Yet she dreams of him. The mind might forget but the heart will always remember. All his thoughts were of her. The beloved that he once left to save from himself. Too long have they suffered in silence. Will love conquers all when all has been forgotten?

Once bitten twice shy, wasn't that what they always say about love? Eliza lost her heart to someone while she was at university. She was always the responsible child but a very secretive one. Her secret made her lose all beliefs in love until the right man came along. Mansour grew up thinking he was an Al Fahezi until what he thought was his brother got married. The secrets behind his identity made him question all he knew about his life. Will he come to terms with his origins before he can claim the woman he loves or will secrets ruin them both?

Bonnie Walton had a crush on Jude Ashford since the first time she saw him when she was twelve and he was twenty-two. Jude is her brother’s best friend. He was always indifferent towards Bonnie until the summer she turned fifteen and he caught her reading a smut book and promised it was their little secret. Over the years, her feelings for Jude developed from a crush into a burning, heart-wrenching desire.  After years of not seeing each other, she can no longer hide her feelings for him on her eighteenth birthday, and their attraction ignites. They have the most lustful and sinful that leads to Bonnie losing her vCard to Jude.  Jude Ashford is the synonym of perfection, CEO of Ashford Publishing. He never steps out of line, being the most respectful man on the face of the earth. Jude always tries to be away from the spotlight his name brings.  What will happen when the woman that broke his heart ten years ago reappears in his life engaged? Will Jude be able to fight the jealousy he feels and allow her to find happiness with another, or will he fight to be with her?  Now that Bonnie is back in New York and living with her brother, Will Jude, and Bonnie be able to keep their hands to themselves? Or will their red-hot scorching desire for each other to get them to be together and reveal their attraction? Even if it means losing their best friend and brother’s support?

The gang heads back east after the potion Elsa prepared for Bruce in Phoenix didn’t quite do the trick in curing him of werewolfism. As the full moon approaches, Bruce and Tatyana head back to his cabin to await news from Dan and Shen, who are diligently searching for a professor who might be able to help them. They don’t find the professor, but they do find Magdalena, a hot and sexy vympire from the planet Vympirus, and Garth, her trusty lycanthrope guard. Sparks fly when Magdalena and Dan connect. They pair up in more ways than one when both Tatyana and Shen are captured by remnants of the mutant vampire den they’d destroyed in Las Vegas. Horror of horrors! These grotesque creatures not only survived but they’ve got dens throughout the country and they want Tatyana for their queen!Garth shares a secret with Bruce on how to keep his need to change during the full moon at bay and they’re off to rescue Shen and Tatyana. Elsa joins in the search... and its a good thing, since the vampires recruited their own magician. Will they rescue Shen and Tatyana before it’s too late?

Twenty-two-year-old Alyssa Van Every is in a dilemma. Her close friend, Sienna, is marrying billionaire, Lucas Donnelly who, along with his brothers, happens to be her older brother, Alex's sworn enemy. She escapes to Preston Island to attend the wedding without informing him only to collide with Lucas’s hot, fiery and arrogant brother, the twenty-three-year-old, Nicholas Donnelly. Sparks immediately fly between them but Alyssa refuses to acknowledge them fearing her brother's wrath. The wedding is over and Alyssa tries hard to forget the mysterious Nicholas Donnelly but can he forget her? Can he ignore the attraction he feels for her, feelings that have resurfaced after ten years? What will Allyssa do when she is stalked by the man who has been invading her dreams since the day she met him? What will she do when she is whisked away to a deserted island by the unpredictable Nicholas Donnelly? Can she tame her heart or surrender to the sinful temptations? Read this third book of the Temptation Series to find out!

After everything their relationship has encountered, the Alpha and Luna of Prime pack can finally have the peace and love they deserve. But... There is always a but. New faces and old acquaintances will invite themselves into Aiden and Ashira's life. Will they let fear break them or is their love still the strongest of all? Find out... Read more. (This is the second book of Call Me Alpha.)