Barely Synonym

***What happens when a girl falls in love with the one person she's not supposed to?*** "You and me, and never us: a complicated series of almost-interactions." It's the summer before college and Kara is forced to spend the holidays with her new family. Little does she know, a lot can happen in one hot summer. The moment Kara lays her eyes on Ryder, she knows she's a goner. She has never met anyone as sexy, fun, and liberating. But she's made a promise that she won't give herself away before marriage. The moment Ryder lays his eyes on Kara, he knows his life wouldn't be the same again. He has never met a girl so pure and genuine. He's made it his life mission to be with her, for better or for worse. "If God is love, you're my religion." Sometimes we can't choose who we fall in love with. Kara and Ryder's love for one another is the kind of love that only comes once in a blue moon, but unfortunately, they can never be anything more than a brother and sister. All that love, yet it is barely anything at all...

Mature Content! Trigger warnings, violence and smut “I'll make you crave the darkness and beg for my salvation," he growls, his voice laced with both danger and desire. My eyes blazing with defiance, meets his gaze head-on. “I won't be owned by anyone, especially not a dangerous man like you.” my voice waver, barely a whisper. In the gritty underbelly of the city, where power, danger and secrets collide, an unlikely connection blooms amidst darkness and despair. Romeo Valentino, a dominant force in the mafia world, battles his inner demon, his alter ego seeking control. When he lays eyes on the enigmatic Julia, a fire ignites within him, compelling him to possess her, body and soul. Julia, a woman shrouded in mystery, harbors her own scars, her path intertwined with Romeo’s in unexpected ways. Drawn to his power and dominance, she fights the magnetic pull between them, even as her heart begs for his touch. As their paths entwine, passion blazes between them, fanning the flames of a love that could destroy them both. Will they find solace and salvation in each other's arms, or will their dark secrets tear them apart?

One night changed everything for Violeta Rivers. Once celebrated as her pack's beauty, her step-sister's cruel betrayal left her scarred and shunned. Sold to the notorious Lycan Theron, Violeta discovers a bitter irony: this ruthless, unforgiving man is her destined mate. Yet instead of the sacred bond she dreamed of, he refuses to claim her, keeping her as nothing more than his plaything—until she carries his child. When Violeta finally summons the courage to escape her tormentor, tragedy strikes. She loses not only her unborn child but also her place in the pack when Theron's fiancée frames her for an unforgivable betrayal. Hunted like prey, she barely escapes with her life. As she recovers Violeta discovered she is a powerful healer, but with her new-found powers and identity comes a shocking twist. As secrets unravel and new enemies rise, Violeta must seek vengeance on those that had hurt her. But she is met with an unexpected encounter when the very mate that had destroyed her is determined to reclaim what he had once lost. Can Violeta open her heart again for the man that had crushed them?

The last thing Miranda thought when she responded to a prison pen pal request was to find true love. Joel, well, he was only hoping to pass time and maybe if he was lucky, he'd find someone to have a little fun with after doing ten years of hard time in the state penitentiary for a crime he committed when he had just barely turned eighteen years old. He had been hardened by the things he'd seen and the experiences of imprisonment and no longer believed in lovey dovey fairy tales or happily ever after. So hardened in fact, that he knew women only led to one thing-trouble. Not even a good girl like Miranda would break him ever again. Not with her long dark hair, those hypnotizing amber-eyes, and definitely not those full lips that would look so good…nope, nope, nope. What neither one expected was to find the perfect balance of emotional and physical attraction. Can Miranda's persistence and commitment soften and heal Joel's untrusting heart or will Joel break Miranda in ways she has never experienced before? This is the first book of three in the Locked-Up Lovers series. Enjoy!

“Do you regret it?” he whispered, as he pushed my night gown above my breasts. My heart pounded as his fingers trailed down my skin, stopping just above the lace on my thighs. “I should,” I said barely above a whisper “But I can’t.” His lips curved into a wicked smirk and his hands tore my pants into shreds. “Then say it, Elise. Say you’re mine.” And I did, knowing that the man I’d just given myself to… might be the reason my mother was killed. Elise Anderson never believed in love after betrayal destroyed her world. Her fiancé and best friend planned to kill her for her inheritance, and she swore never to be weak again. So she made a deal with the devil himself, he was a man called Ravien Drayton, Verya’s most ruthless billionaire. It was supposed to be a contract marriage, as it escalated from kissed to steamy nights And when secrets began to unravel, Elise discovered the man she loved was her stepbrother, and the son of her mother’s killer. Now she’s trapped between vengeance and desire, torn between the truth that could destroy them… and a love that refuses to die.

For centuries, the villagers have whispered of Solas, the forgotten moon god imprisoned in a cave deep within the ancient forest. Solas's wrath has been a force of terror, barely contained by the magical runes that bind him. Every decade, a bride is sent as a sacrifice to appease his fury, only to be met with a swift and merciless death. But this decade, something is different. Solas's powers are growing stronger, and the bonds of his prison are weakening. As another bride offering day approaches, Solas is ready to kill once more. But when he meets her, he is thrown off balance. This bride doesn't tremble in fear like the others. She comes to him not with the desperation to survive, but with a quiet resolve to die. Her defiance infuriates him. Solas decides he won't kill her right away. Instead, he will break her will, torment her until she begs for death, and only then will he deliver the final blow. But as he begins his cruel game, Solas finds himself unexpectedly drawn to her resilience and strength. In this battle of wills, who will emerge victorious—the god of the moon who wields power over the elements, or the mortal bride who refuses to bow to his wrath?

Jeanne Blanchard’s world shatters after the loss of her first child. As grief consumes her, so does the growing distance between her and her husband, Edgar De Villiers. Once loving and devoted, Edgar now barely acknowledges her, and the weight of blame from those around her becomes unbearable. On their fifth anniversary, when Edgar doesn’t even show up, Jeanne knows—his love is gone. Then, by chance, she meets Hector Éclair. Charming, attentive, and everything Edgar no longer is, Hector becomes the light in Jeanne’s darkness. With him, she rediscovers warmth, passion, and the love she craves. When she learns she is pregnant, she leaves Edgar behind—only for him to realize, too late, what he has lost. But Jeanne’s new beginning comes with a dangerous twist. The man who healed her heart is not just any man—he’s a ruthless mafia lord. And while Edgar, a dedicated policeman, may have failed her in love, he will not fail in his duty. Now, Jeanne is caught between two powerful men—one who let her slip away, and one who may never let her go.

Just after stepping out of the shower, I received a private message from my so-called uncle, Hank Shephard—a distant relative I barely ever spoke to. "Francis, that new car you posted looks impressive. Perfect for William's wedding!" I hadn't even figured out how to reply to that out-of-nowhere comment when another message popped up. "Your cousin William is getting married next month. Just treat your car as his wedding gift." The entitlement in his tone made my head hurt. I didn't bother arguing and closed the chat window. Apparently, he did not think there was anything wrong with what he had said. Messages kept coming. "Don't worry, your uncle won't let you suffer a loss. "When it's your turn to get married, I'll have William drive that car as your lead wedding car. It'll make you look good." I stared at the screen in silence. That was the moment I realized—Some people don't just feel entitled to your belongings. They believe your life exists to serve theirs.

After two years of marriage, I believed I was living the dream—until the day I gave birth to our long-awaited heir. The house was filled with joy as my husband's family arrived, bearing gifts and ready to bestow a name upon our child, as tradition dictated. But the happiness of the day shattered in an instant when my husband walked in, hand in hand with his childhood sweetheart. In front of everyone, he announced not only our divorce but also his engagement to her, as if I had never mattered. *** "I’m divorcing Stacy," Jason announces, his voice unwavering, "to marry Nicole Cruz, my childhood sweetheart." He points to the woman standing before him who smiles and waves at everyone in the room. My world tilts on its axis. The words echo in my mind, louder and louder until they drown out everything else. What is going on?? "But why?" I whisper, my voice barely audible, even to myself. I'm unable to believe his betrayal. Jason doesn’t even glance at the child in my arms. "Because this has been a long time coming, Stacy. I’ve only stayed this long out of obligation and not love."

Sebastian's voice came from behind her, low and knowing. "You want to get back at them, don't you?" Kaira's gaze remained fixed on the disappearing figure of her sister, her emotions simmering just below the surface. She hated how easily Sebastian read her, seeing depths others missed. "Yes," she confessed, her voice laced with venom. "I want them to feel the same pain I feel." Sebastian stepped forward, his eyes locking onto hers as he gently wiped away the tears threatening to spill. His touch was soothing, but his words sparked a fire within her. "You can't take them down in your current state," he said, his voice soft but resolute. "But I can. I can make them pay, princess." Kaira's focus snapped to his, curiosity igniting in her eyes. "How?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Sebastian's smirk was a slow, deliberate curve of his lips. "Marry me," he said, the words dropping like a bombshell. Kaira's eyes widened, shock etched on her face.