52 Book Club 2025: #22 - Found Family Trope

Mia hasn’t had an easy life growing up in a trailer park with an abusive father. But after her father is arrested, she’s finally free. She moves in with her older brother who officially takes custody of her and for a moment she finally believes everything will be okay. That’s until she discovers her brother has a dark secret he has been keeping from her. Him and his friends are part of an illicit underground fighting ring. As Mia is accidentally thrust into this world, she soon catches the eyes of the infamous and ruthless fighter Kaden Scott, who is known for his undefeated record. Even though Mia wants no part of this life, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kaden and his mysterious, fast paced life. And against her brother’s wishes, she can’t seem to get enough of him and the danger that lurks around him.

I was treating some friends to dinner at the private club my cousin owned. When we wrapped up, I waved over a server. "Just put it on Nick's tab." The server nodded, but a manager I'd never seen stepped in to block her. Wearing a smile that never reached her eyes, she said, "Sir, Bosco is a members-only establishment. We don't offer tabs." I felt a flicker of irritation. "I'm the owner's cousin. Just let him know." She let out a sharp, mocking laugh and slapped a bill onto the table. Eighty-eight thousand. Exclusive suite atmosphere maintenance fee, ten thousand. High‑end social network filtration fee, twenty thousand. Spontaneous entertainment ambience enhancement fee, fifteen thousand. And a mess of other miscellaneous charges. Since when did Nick's place dare to bleed customers dry like this? "What's wrong? Can't pay and now you're trying to name‑drop?" She looked me up and down with an arrogant tilt of her chin. "I've seen plenty of our boss's relatives. Not one of them is as broke, pretentious, and shameless as you." Right in front of her, I dialed Nick and put the call on speaker. "Ten minutes," I said. "Make sure she disappears from my sight. Otherwise, I'm revoking your authorization for this club."

Blanche Lucille Emerson, a relentless and calculating Captain haunted by the loss of her wife, Venus, in a mysterious accident. Now driven by a thirst for vengeance, Blanche navigates a world of secrets, betrayal, and political machinations as she digs into the layers of deceit that surround her family's powerful pharmaceutical empire. Alongside her, Yama Laine, a trusted ally, and Cessair, her estranged sister, reveal their own hidden agendas. Blanche uncovers a vast conspiracy linked to General Grey and an underground organization known as the Black Spectre, which her father, Silas Grey, once controlled. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that not only her wife’s death but also her parents' and countless others' were orchestrated to protect a dark secret connected to her family. As Blanche takes calculated risks and enlists Yama’s help, her plan teeters between survival and self-destruction. Along the way, her encounters with spies like Aracelli and the revelation of her sister Cessair’s resentment deepen the conflict. Old alliances crumble, as personal motivations clash, and long-buried truths about her family and its ties to the Black Market come to light. All the while, Blanche's mind is torn between her mission and her lingering love for Venus. With a final showdown on the horizon, the question remains: Can Blanche take down the enemy and clear her family’s name, or will the weight of the past bury her alive? Catch-22: To Die is To Live Hard is a story of revenge, loyalty, and the heavy price of uncovering the truth.

For billionaire lawyer Cynthia, the courtroom is her domain. She's a fierce advocate for women's rights and has won countless battles against injustice. But when her own marriage implodes, she finds herself in the unfamiliar role of defendant. Can she navigate the treacherous waters of her own divorce and emerge with her rights intact?

I was once a beggar on the street until I met him, Zero. He took me, fed me and clothed me. He convinced himself I was a damsel in distress. But what if I tell you I was once a beggar by circumstance, but when I got older, I remained one by choice. Zero thinks his love for me will change the direction of my bullet, but what he doesn't know is that his love for me will only delay the expiration date. Follow the lives of the Satan Sniper's as they learn about love and the women who will own them.

You’re not a bad person, Mercy. I know that.” “How do you know?” she asked, challenging him. She stared into his eyes and asked again. “How do you know, August?” “I know because….” He stopped. The words weren’t coming out of his mouth. He knew he wasn’t going to be able to answer that question with mere words. August leaned toward her, stopping just short of meeting her lips with his. He couldn’t just kiss her without her permission, but how could he blurt out the question? He couldn’t, so he waited. Mercy’s long eyelashes brushed his face as she held her breath. He moved a fraction of an inch closer to her, and Mercy lifted her face, moving toward him. His lips brushed hers, and then there was no reason for words. She just knew. *** A lost woman in the woods... Memories that won't return... A past that must be found before love can remain. Alpha August Reeves finds a beautiful woman injured in the woods. When she awakes, she remembers nothing. Her mysterious powers tell him she's a special shifter, but when others come looking for her, he realizes it's not her powers that make him special to her. Can August keep Mercy safe and help her discover her past so they can build their future together?

I was in a temporary shock from an allergic reaction. The two guys I had grown up with didn't even look my way. One of them was busy helping Vivian Byrd carry a pile of gifts, while the other was snapping pictures of her at some popular social media spot. It was a stranger passing by who called an ambulance and got me to the hospital, saving my life. The next day, Vivian called, her tone almost smug. "Trish, Zeke and Hendrick were so exhausted after shopping with me yesterday. I heard you threw a tantrum and ended up in the hospital. Should I come visit you?" I simply replied, "No need." Zeke Benson and Hendrick Peay were my childhood friends. They once treated me like I was everything to them—promising to pluck the moon and stars from the sky and to protect me forever. But ever since Vivian came into the picture, their world no longer revolved around me. I thought for a moment and then dialed my mother's number. "Mom, I'll accept the marriage arrangement."

From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes, comes a sexy standalone novel about the baddest bad boy doctor and the sweet little nurse that he falls for. When I left my small hometown years ago, I never expected to come back. I certainly never expected that when I did, I'd be working for him. He's the town's doctor. He's supposed to be a respectable member of society, a pillar for the community. He's supposed to have come a long way from the bad boy who rode a motorcycle in high school. But he hasn't. One glance from those lustful eyes looking at me tells me that he has the same voracious appetites that he did when we were younger. Only it's not quite the same stare. It's more urgent. It's more intense. I'm not the same nerdy girl who tutored him. I've grown up, developed fertile curves that I know he finds irresistible. In this small town, rumors travel fast, and the family doctor can't be seen as a player. So he does try to resist. And I do too. But with every smoldering glance and moment of sexual tension, we find our barriers breaking down. After a stressful night of touch-and-go baby delivery, a moment of elation overcomes our inhibitions. It seems like maybe we'll need to confront those rumors sooner rather than later, especially before I begin to show the results of that night. Can I give this doctor the family he has always desired?

In an unexpected circumstances, twenty-one-year-old Gianna Harrison is asked by her father to marry Adriano Altamira the sexiest yet ruthless man alive. Will this sudden decision be their new phase of life? Will it keep them apart or will they pull through their journeys to survive the difficulties life throws at them and come out unscathed as they explore a blossoming steamy romance?

Lorryce is a simply charming young lady who just wants to enjoy her University life in peace. But the Universe has a different way to spice and shake things up for her. What would a brief but blissful encounter mean for her? How could a Heartbreak Prince change her life? And how could she ever let go of a memory that keeps on haunting her mercilessly? This story is a written in Filipino and English.