Are Arranged Marriages Still A Thing

Two women fighting different fates. Freya should be content as Luna of Rising Star but everything about her twisted mate repulses her. Even when she has a chance at happiness she's forced back to where it all began to try and save the people she loves. Including Zeke, her damaged, gruff bodyguard. Zena doesn't give a f--k. Until she suddenly has to, when her coven demands her talents. But her casual attitude has left with her with one unrequited love, one obsessive stalker and a quiet, heartstruck man who will battle everything to prove she's more than a tool for everyone else's Fate. Book 2 of the Shadowlands Series (Can all be read standalone) Book 1: A Damaged Alpha Book 2: The Luna Who Wants Everything Book 3: Resisting the Beta (2024) First Generation: White Forest Pack Series (can all be read standalone) Book 1: A Banished Alpha Book 2: The Luna's Rejected Assassin Book 3: The Beta's Prize

On the first day of her marriage, Lyra Leighton told her CEO husband, Wesley Cheswick, "I don't care if you fall for someone else later. But if she ever shows up in front of me, you'll never see me again." So when he did fall for a schoolteacher, he kept her tucked away. Gave her everything she wanted. Everything except permission to cross Lyra. But the side chick got bold on his affection and ignored the line. She showed up with a baby bump and shoved it in Lyra's face. "Wesley said it himself. He never loved you. He married you for your family's status. Know your place. Get an abortion and divorce him. Now. Otherwise, when Wesley dumps you, you won't get a dime." Lyra smiled and called her father. "Pull the investment from Cheswick Tech. I'm getting a divorce."

Nakauwi si Misha sa pamilya at fiance niya pagkatapos ng halos apat na taong pagkakatulog dahil sa coma. Sa pagbalik niya, kasabay ng pagtuklas ng katotohanan na hindi siya tunay na anak ng kinikilala niyang mga magulang ay nalaman din niyang engaged na sa iba ang lalaking pinakamamahal niya. Sa isang iglap nawala ang lahat sa kanya. Pero isang bagong pangyayari ang dumating sa buhay niya na nag-udyok para hiramin niya ang buhay ng isang babaeng kamukha niya. Hanggang saan siya dadalhin ng pagpapanggap niya? Kakatok ba ang pag-ibig sa puso niya habang nagpapanggap siya?

On the day that was supposed to be my wedding—the bride wasn’t me. The ceremony I’d waited for five years for turned into a joke when Valentina, my sister, walked down the marble aisle in a white wedding dress. Her arm was linked with Luca’s — the man who was supposed to be waiting for me at the altar. “I’m sorry, Bianca,” she said softly. “But you are no longer the bride today.” Then she touched her stomach, eyes gleaming with triumph. “I’m pregnant with Don Romano’s child.” Her words detonated inside my skull, and the whole world went silent. As if afraid I wouldn’t believe her, she lifted something glossy up towards the light. A black-and-white ultrasound image. It read clearly: Gestational age — 12 weeks. My eyes burned, tears stinging as I turned to Luca, desperately searching for anything—a denial, an explanation, regret. Instead, he only sighed, weary and resigned. “Bianca, I’m sorry.” he said helplessly. “Valentina doesn’t have much time left. This wedding… it was her last wish.” “I’ll make it up to you,” he added. “We can have another wedding later.” My father, Moretti, stood behind him, wearing the same stern expression he’d worn my entire life. I have never seen him smile at me, not even once. “Bianca,” he said sharply, “Your sister is dying. Let her have this.” My brother nodded without saying a single word, as if that was enough to be a solid answer. All my life, they had chosen her—her tears, her whims, her needs—over mine. Today was no different. Something inside me quietly cracked. Fine. If no one in this family cares about me, I’ll leave.

Loriah Dee has never truly belonged. Orphaned young, with no family, she clings to the only thing that feels like home—music. Winning a scholarship to one of the country’s most prestigious universities is her one chance to chase her dream of becoming a singer. But campus life brings more than sheet music and rehearsals. It brings Draco Thorne. Draco is the heartthrob of the university—, devastatingly handsome. Only a select few know that he is a werewolf, destined for a Luna chosen by his powerful family. But from the moment he sees Loriah, he wants her. At first, she is just a distraction— a dazzling freshman with innocence in her eyes and the hottest body he has ever seen. Winning her over proves a challenge. Desperate to have her, Draco lies to gain her trust. Slowly, she lets him in. But Loriah’s world comes crashing down one night while working at an upscale restaurant. There, she sees Draco seated at a lavish family dinner, surrounded by wealth and privilege, a stunning fiancée at his side—his future wife. In an instant, every lie begins to unravel. She quietly begins to piece together the truth. Bit. She discovers the deception, the secrets, the double life he has woven around her. She has given everything to him. Her first time, her first kiss, her trust. She had bared her soul to him. But he had left her with nothing else to give, trampling on her love and leaving her to gather the pieces of her soul. By the time Draco realizes Loriah is not just another girl, but the only one he has ever truly loved, she is already gone. And he is left with nothing but regret, longing, and the hollow echo of the song she carried into his life.

"Marry me." He said with a straight face, casually, as if he was talking about the weather. "You're joking right?" "Why would you ask me that kind of question?" He frowns "It's because you sound ridiculous," she bit out harshly. "You know what's more ridiculous?" he smirked darkly, showing his straight white teeth. "A lifetime of debt." Emily breathed harshly, knowing Sebastian as she has for four years, he could be brutal when he doesn't get what he wants, she had never been on the receiving end of his competitive side when it comes to closing deals, yet here she was facing him, chills running down her back, heart beating fast as if she ran a marathon. She was terrified of what the future holds.

When D.C. lawyer Hannah McCrae heads home for her brother’s wedding, she’s dragging a lot of baggage along with her—and she doesn’t mean suitcases. Betrayed personally, and humiliated professionally, the last thing she wants is a new man. That’s fine with square-jawed, rugged contractor Calder Blue. He and Hannah may be wildly attracted to one another, but all he wants is to build the town’s hotly contested new yacht club and mend a centuries-old family feud. Yet thanks to resentments old and new, day after day the pair wind up tangled in each other’s business—and maybe soon in each other’s arms. Every bride needs something “blue”… Includes a delicious wedding cake recipe!

She is a nerdy Omega everyone picked on. He is the bad boy Alpha who hated her. Until fate changed everything. Lily Mittens had always kept her head down, hiding behind books and oversized sweaters, secretly crushing on Joe Wellington, the rude, arrogant future Alpha who never even looked her way. So when the Moon Goddess marks Joe as her fated mate, Lily is excited, but Joe doesn’t want a weak Omega for a Luna. But Lily is no ordinary wolf. She has a power that could change everything but she doesn't know it yet. Will Joe see the real Lily before it’s too late? Will Joe Wellington accept her as his fated mate? Find out in this story!

This book is for the people who feel as if they are alone. This book isn’t just about a love story but also about trauma that comes with wanting to be loved. I don’t condone anything that this book is about. This is awareness. Somewhere in this world this happening to so many people. This is for them. For them to know you aren’t alone, you are heard, and it is NOT your fault. These topics need to be talked about. You will fall into their lives, feel connected to at least one of these characters. And some you will despise. You will see everyone’s point of view and what they think. Giving you breaks from certain characters. I hope you love and see the potential within this novel. And if you have triggers, please don’t read. This book is filled with triggers to help people see that they are heard! To spread awareness! With much love- Marie Dallas ❤️

During summer break, I took my son, Luke Thorne, diving at our private beach. Ralph Foster, a hotshot TV actor, suddenly showed up with a whole entourage and barged in. "This is a private beach that Gloria personally secured for me to entertain VIPs. You two nobodies had better get lost right now!" He threw his weight around and even dragged my wife, Gloria Stokes, out as a threat. When he learned who I was, he went a step further and mocked me as a kept man living off my wife. I actually laughed. I was the head of the Thornes, the most powerful family in Frenkinston. Since when did I become some freeloading, useless husband? On top of that, Gloria's film studio and every bit of her backing came from me. But when Gloria arrived, she sided with Ralph and actually tried to force Luke to put on a show for some sleazy investors. Sneering, I made a call that only the head of the Thornes had the authority to make. "Shark Vanguard, clear Crescent Bay. Now."