American University Library Databases

Airin, faced with an unexpected pregnancy from a brief en counter with a man named Zidan, navigates the challenges of single motherhood when Zidan disappears upon learnin g about the pregnancy. Determined, Airin decides to raise her child alone while co ntinuing her studies. Despite facing judgment and pressur e at her university for bringing the baby to classes, Fachri, a young lecturer, consistently supports her and even helps care for the baby during lectures. Over time, their bond deepens, and Airin sees Fachri as a w arm and caring figure. Likewise, Fachri admires Airin's intel ligence and independence. As Airin contemplates choosing Fachri as the father figure for her child, Zidan unexpectedly reappears in her life. No w, Airin faces the difficult decision of choosing between Fa chri, who has been a constant support, and Zidan, the biolo gical father of her child.

I get sent away to the countryside because my parents fear that I'll use my privileged background to lord over others. In turn, they're taking in Tina from that family to the city for her upbringing and schooling. In the countryside, I get up at 4:00 am daily to feed the pigs, then it's a grueling three-hour trek through the mountains to school. I'm also barely surviving due to constant malnutrition. I reach out to my parents for a mere 300 dollars for tuition, only for them to accuse me of spending recklessly. In the meantime, they're donating an entire building just to secure a spot for Tina at her preferred school. I finally make it into Tina's high school and earn a guaranteed university admission spot, only for my parents to order me to hand it over to her as they unleash their fury on me, yelling, "You're clearly bad to the bone, always trying to take things that belong to Tina." "Tina almost gave up on life because of what you did. You're indebted to her for the rest of your life." They, using their parental rights, forfeit my guaranteed university admission spot to fulfill Tina's wish. They then transfer all company shares and real estate to her for her future security, while the whole family makes arrangements to move abroad together. I take in everything before me, no longer feeling hurt. I calmly pack my belongings and walk away from the place where I don't belong.

Joy, a young girl who longs for love and a stable home life, is at odds with her father and resentful of her new nanny. Beatrice, a kind-hearted university student seeking a summer job, steps in to care for Joy and brings a ray of hope to their household. But when Joy's estranged mother returns and Beatrice finds herself caught in a love triangle with George, Joy's father, and his best friend Joel, tensions rise and relationships are put to the test. As the secrets and betrayals come to light, Beatrice must decide if she can forgive and move forward, or if it's time to leave the past behind. "The Nanny's Summer" is a heartwarming story of family, love, and the power of forgiveness.

Isabella is a story of a young african american girl Isabella Gomez ,who is born into a world of drugs ,guns, threats and cold love . She has no control over the happenings in her life . She falls in love with a rude, sexy, powerful, billionaire ,ACE . Ace a powerful CEO , who doesn't believe in love , makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her other than return the favor of her father . They both have alot of things in common, betrayal, rejection and abuse . Would Ace be able to resist forever ? Or would Isabella back down if she finds out who Ace is ? .

Alice is the Don of the Russian Mafia. In a world full of evil, she fought her way to the top and became the most respected woman in the whole of Russia. People shivered in fear when they heard her name. She was the law herself and no one dared to go against her, except one person. Her father. He was her worst nightmare. He agreed with the American Mafia to marry her off to their Don. Matt Salvador on the other side didn't care about the marriage. All he wanted was to make his Mafia the strongest. He has never seen his supposed fiance before but he heard a lot about her. Toiling with the idea of breaking her, what happens when the two of them meet? Will they find love or kill each other?

Being a fresh university graduate, all that Claire needs is an adventure of a lifetime. Her life as a beautiful Rapunzel in the castle is something any woman her age would desire to have, but she knows what's hidden behind her exorbitant smile. But everything changes on one stormy evening.He'll appear like a knight in shining armor, and then he'll stay like a King of her heart. Healing and destroying her at the same time will become his ability, but eternity with him will become her heartfelt wish, even though her question remains unanswered--Is it love?

Noah Stark was the very bane of my existence. The first time I locked eyes with him my heart fluttered, but in that very second he ruined the hero complex I had of him. My stupid body didn’t get the memo and stress been obsessed with him since. I thought I would be rid of him in university, but here we are. Caroline Lockwood. The star of every single dream I’ve had since freshman year of high school. She tried to ruin everything for me. College is where I’ll get my revenge. But she avoids me like the plague, usually what I want I get. But care? I’ll bring her to her knees. Pierce her heart, and make her fall in love with me. Make her bleed. For me. All for me. Just to leave her in my dust, broken, like me.

All her life, Maxine lived in the shadow of her glamorous stepsister, Coreen. So, at age 18, she was awkward, nerdy, and wolf-power-less, making her an easy target for mockery. She gets the dare to kiss Alph Damore—the handsome alpha of Hanton University—at Coreen's party, and her world spins 180 degrees. Just after this, Maxine's family is evicted on a falsely accused infidelity charge. Months later, her life is going to turn another turn when her mother brings home her new stepfather—Alph's father. The different world to which she is cast, one of power and money, is not what Maxine had expected; now, she will have to contend with Coreen's envy and take up the role of half-sister to Alph. Problems ensue when she learns that Alph has been her fated mate all along. Is Maxine able to sail through this turbulent new life and the hidden bond between her and Alph, or will the chaos consume her? Will she ever find the wolf inside herself that turns everything favor to her?

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Celeste knew both happiness and sadness, but she had never lost hope, until the time when she lost her dad and her world came crashing down. What was the point of hoping and wishing, when everything she wished for would slip away right from her hands, like water running down her fingers? Pain and depression in itself are unbearable, but what would happen to a person if they have to deal with financial stress too? Celeste had to juggle not only schoolwork but also juggle three different jobs. With great difficulty, she was able to finish her bachelor's, and now she was finally able to get into her dream university for her master's. All this while she thought being far away from home would somehow take her troubles away too, but that wasn't the case. She had a looming 1-year student loan and was barely getting by with a full-time degree. And that's when she was forced to do something that she didn't really think she would have to do. She found herself browsing through what it would take to be a sugar baby and was mortified that it required the sugar baby to have consensual sex and her graysexual ass could never. She was saved from the nightmare when she met a mysterious rich boy/man who was willing to act as her sugar daddy, well not really. Gabrielle a boy of just 23, and an owner of a multi-millionaire company. He had money and everything nice right at his feet. But just like Celeste, he was a broken boy too, craving for a family that was already 6 feet under the ground. And who knew that both of them would find each other and maybe just maybe they would find what they lost all hope for.