Barely Tolerable

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?

Warning: Not a standalone book. Book 2 of The Southern Werewolves Pack “Do not grieve at my grave for I am not there.” Cohen Kingsley, the former Alpha of the Southern Werewolves Pack, returns to his pack in an effort to find the body of his mate, Mira, who died nine months ago. Accompanied by his pack, family, and friends, Cohen sets out to find the missing body of his mate. Soon, he realizes all those things he learned about his mate, he's barely scratching the surface. Mira's life was more than just being tortured and experimented by her step brother, Damien. Without knowing the consequences of involving himself and everyone into her past life, Cohen put everyone at risk. Their investigation about Mira's missing body soon comes fruitful and at the same time, trouble follows. He realizes that there is still another big threat lingering around. A bigger threat than the battle against Damien Kincaid. But, it's already too late to back out as they're all already involved deeply into the mess. With the help of his allies, old and new, they unearth the oldest secret of all. The existence of the world's oldest species that nobody knows has ever existed.

Selene Whitmore has known only pain. Half-blind, mute, and scarred from years of torment, she has spent her life as a captive, treated as nothing more than a possession by the ruthless rogue, Sebastian Kane. She stopped screaming long ago. She stopped fighting. She stopped hoping. Until the night Alpha Killian Blackwood slaughters her captors and finds her trembling in the dirt—his fated mate. Killian is a warrior, feared and respected, but nothing prepares him for the fragile girl who flinches at his touch. He swears to protect her, to give her the freedom she’s never known. But his pack whispers—how can a broken, silent human be the mate of a powerful Alpha? Selene tries to disappear into the shadows, but fate won’t let her. Neither will Killian. Because Sebastian isn’t done with her yet. When warnings turn into attacks and the past refuses to die, Selene must make a choice—remain the powerless girl she was or become something no one ever expected. Can Killian convince her to trust him before it’s too late? Or will Sebastian drag her back into the darkness she barely escaped?

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!

Her ordinary life shatters when a brutal attack reveals a hidden world and a powerful Alpha who claims her as his fated mate. But Olivia is no ordinary human, she's the legendary Alpha Lost Heir, whose parents, the strongest in the werewolf continent, were murdered by Ronan's own family for their power and inheritance, orchestrating Olivia's "adoption" as a calculated scheme. Now burdened with an ancient prophecy and a terrifying elemental power she can barely control, Olivia finds herself bound to the son of her parents' killers,a man she might see as a brother, and also a man who is also the best friend of the Alpha she truly loves from another pack. As a consuming darkness, the Shadow Wielders, rise, draining life force and corrupting the land, Olivia must confront the horrifying truth about her lineage. Guided by a conflicted Ronan, whose own loyalties are torn, she must decide if their fractured bond can truly lead her to confront the enemy's insidious power at its source. Can Olivia harness her untamed elemental force and overcome the ultimate betrayal, or will the encroaching shadows and the weight of her past consume everything she loves, including her chance at true belonging and vengeance?

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.

***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...

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.

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?