Ann Patchett's "52 All-time Favorite Books From The Year I Turned 52"

From Bully to Lover He spent years tormenting her. She spent years trying to forget him. But fate has a twisted sense of humor... and a dangerously possessive heart. Violet "Vee" Rivers grew up in the shadows—quiet, smart, and the constant target of one boy’s cruelty. Xavier "Zay" Knight was her worst nightmare: cold smirks, cruel words, and the kind of intense gaze that left her burning with humiliation... and something else she could never admit. For years, she believed he hated her. For years, she hated him right back. Now in college and far from the small town that raised her, Vee is finally free. New city, new campus, new beginning. But her fresh start shatters on day one—when she sees him. Older, sharper, hotter. And still watching her like he owns her. Zay never forgot her. Never wanted anyone else. And he sure as hell didn’t let her go. When he sees another man getting too close, Zay snaps—and makes his first move. What starts as obsession turns into a dangerous game of seduction, secrets, and surrender. Vee is no longer the scared girl from the past—but Zay isn’t the same boy either. He’s darker now. And he doesn’t just want her. He wants every piece of her—mind, body, and soul. She may hate him… but she won’t be able to stop herself from loving him. Even if it destroys them both.

THIS BOOK IS A LITTLE DARK, A NOVEL OF REVERSE HAREM, WHERE THERE ARE SCENES OF BETRAYAL, SURPRISE, RAPE, WHOEVER IS WEAK FOR THAT, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T READ IT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A young woman who was unaware of the power she possessed, without realizing it, ended up gaining space in hearts where no one could enter. It wasn't intentional, because what she didn't know is that it was a two-way street, as she also ended up feeling attracted to them. By five men completely possessive and obsessive about her. He couldn't deny what he felt for them, even though he was just a simple employee in that place. But, that's not what she would be to them. Not just any simple maid. But yes, their woman.

Elena has a nerdy side during the day and embraces a different role as a stripper at night. At Dreamville High School, the school she attends, Elena is known for being reserved and keeping to herself. Mac Lee bullies Elena because of her dual persona, targeting her for being different. Mac Lee was known as a popular playboy in school and had a reputation for not respecting boundaries when it came to women. What happens when the popular playboy meets up with Elena at a club, which he honestly believes is a stripper known as Diamond Foxx?  Would their tale be the same as that of the school? Would Mac find a way to charm the popular stripper's heart when she refuses to offer her service? And what would Elena do when she discovers that the wealthy Billionaire to whom she has been offering her services was Mac Lee, her bully. ? Will that be the end of the both of them or beginning of their story?.

“Congratulations, Catherine. You've just become my fiancée.” A sultry smile curved Hunter Thorne's lips as he watched me with his predatory gaze. He was the future Don Cartelli, the purest embodiment of danger, and I was about to become his wife. How was I supposed to know that the hot stranger I kissed in the club was one of the most fearsome men in New York?! Once I realized my mistake, I chose to stay away from him. My fate, however, had other plans… When my quiet little world began to fall apart, this notorious Mafia boss became my only salvation. I needed money and protection, and he needed a wife. This was supposed to be a simple deal, but nothing is ever simple with Hunter Thorne. He's the devil incarnated, and I've just entered his hell. This devil craves my body, heart, and soul… and I'm seconds away from surrendering every last piece of me.

"There's something so fascinating about your innocence," he breathes, so close I can feel the warmth of his breath against my lips. "It's a shame my own darkness is going to destroy it. However, I think I might enjoy the act of doing so." Being reborn as an immortal isn't particularly easy. For Rosie, it's made harder as she is sentenced to live her life within Time's territory, a powerful Immortal known for his callous behaviour and unlawful followers. However, the way he appears to her is not all there is to him. In fear of a powerful danger, Time whisks her away throughout his own personal history. But going back in time has it's consequences; mainly which, involve all the dark secrets he's held within eternity. But Rosie won't lie. The way she feels toward him isn't just their mate bond. It's a dark, dangerous attraction that bypasses how she has felt for past relationships. This is raw, passionate and sexy. And she can't escape it.

I loved Alpha Lucien Grey with all my heart. From the moment I first saw him, I was drawn to him. However, I always knew the one Lucien loved was someone else. Her name was Summer White. I thought I’d be like one of those tragic side characters in romance stories—forever on the sidelines, watching the man I loved build a life with another woman. However, everything changed three years ago when Summer ran away on the night of the marking ceremony, saying she wasn’t ready to be claimed. Lucien had to make a decision and announced he would find a new partner. So, I stepped forward. Wearing a dress that didn’t quite fit, my hands trembling, I stood in for Summer. That day, Lucien and I formed a bond as mates. For the past three years, Lucien had treated me with warmth and kindness. He was gentle and thoughtful. He took care of me in every way. However, just over a month ago, Summer came back to our pack. On the night of our anniversary, she got drunk and called Lucien in tears, sobbing that she regretted everything. Lucien’s hands were shaking so hard he almost dropped his phone, but he didn’t hang up. He just stood there, torn. When his eyes met mine, full of confusion and pain, I took his hand—still trembling—and said softly, “Go to her.” The moment he left, I filed the mate-bond termination papers at City Hall, requesting to break the bond. After all, these years of stolen happiness were never really mine to keep. It was time for me to leave, too.

A girl who grows up not knowing anything about mother’s love and tries her best to win the love of her father who is the only family she has. But alas, her father is a man who believes and act like His business is one and only the best thing in the world. Every decision she makes is only to impress him. Now it is going to change when a special person enters her life and decides to save her. Please note that he is not perfect. He is actually one among the people who mistook her actions. The actions which she did to just be able to experience the Father’s love, which she thrives from the time she was just a kid. Is it too much to ask??? Will she goes to deep ends to get that love from her father? OR Will this new person saves her or will she builds a wall making him unable to reach near her?

Lucinda gets rejected by her mate, Alpha Killian after their first night. Heartbroken, she leaves, only to be captured by some men who think she's one of their runaway prostitutes. They bring her to a nightclub, where she is drugged and made to entertain the werewolves around. During the dance , she catches the attention of the Lycan king, Darcus.

Heloise, the Brook family's adopted daughter, was merely a pitiable tool they used to shield their biological daughter, Coral, from harm. She suffered abuse in the Brook household from a young age and was eventually discarded and left to fend for herself in the harsh and hellish slums of BlueWolf Mountain, teeming with mentally ill, disabled, and sinister individuals. Then one day, Reginald Wordsworth, the enigmatic and domineering CEO of the PHOENIXFELL Empire's first conglomerate, Reginald Wordsworth chose her, and brought her out of the slums. Her fate took a dramatic turn as she embarked on a quest for revenge. She pretended to be a mental patient and engaged in a battle of wits with Reginald, unraveling the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic head of the first financial conglomerate. At the same time, Reginald also discovered that she was not an ordinary person. ******** she had ever been penniless, but Reginald, the big cheese, was irresistibly drawn to her and highly pampered her. ******** " Heloise, an abandoned baby, a dirt poor!" Someone said before he saw Heloise signing dozens of real estate agreements, while dozing off. " Heloise, has no backing. Why is she so arrogant?" Someone said, and then he saw Phoenixfell's first conglomerate's tycoon Reginald Wordsworth publicly announced his marriage to Heloise. "Heloise, I know, she couldn't give birth a long time ago!" Another person said, and then he was beaten by Wordsworth's little young master, "Mommy can't give birth, so where did I come from?"

“Ano ba ang pagmamahal? Saan ba nakakahanap nito?" Bigo sa pag-ibig si Katherine dahil sa mga pagkakamali na nagawa niya sa nakaraan. She was the ex-wife of Governor Adam Sebastian Dela Vega. Pero dahil sa mga maling desisyon niya ay naghiwalay sila at nakagawa siya ng isang malaking pagkakamali. Ang pagkakamali na habang buhay niyang pinagsisihan. Kaya nawalan na siya ng pag-asa na may magmamahal pa sa kanya. Hanggang sa dumating ang isang lalaki. Ang lalaki na hindi tumigil na i-persue siya. Ang lalaking magpapaniwala sa kanya na masarap pa lang magmahal. Ang pagmamahal na nasa tamang oras at panahon. Pipigilan ba niya ang kanyang sarili o hahayaan niya ang sarili na sumaya?