Barnes And Noble Desert Ridge Novels & Stories

All Brielle Taylor wanted was to deliver a late-night cake and keep her dying bakery afloat. What she got was public humiliation at the hands of Damian Sterling, New York’s most powerful billionaire and her worst nightmare. But one reckless night later, her life changes forever. She disappears. He forgets her. Or so she thought... Until he shows up weeks later, demanding answers. Demanding ownership. Now she’s pregnant. He’s offering a contract. Live in his mansion. Carry his child. Obey his rules. She should say no. But someone just burned her bakery to the ground... and Damian may be the only man powerful enough to protect her. Only, his reasons for keeping her close aren’t as noble as they seem. He doesn’t want her heart. Just the baby. But what happens when the coldest man on Wall Street falls for the woman he tried to tame?

Selina Okoye lost everything when her father was falsely accused of fraud by Raymond Bellington—the powerful CEO of Bellington Holdings. The scandal sent her family into ruins and took her father’s life. Years later, Selina is forced into a strategic marriage to Adrian Bellington, Raymond’s only son and heir to the same empire that destroyed her family. Cold, calculated, and quietly noble, Adrian agrees to the union for his own reasons—an inheritance clause that demands he marries before taking over the company. Determined to never forgive the Bellingtons, Selina plans to endure the marriage for the sake of her family’s survival and leave when the time is right. But Adrian is nothing like his father. And as cracks form in her hate, feelings she thought were impossible begin to grow. Just when trust begins to bloom, Selina uncovers a dark family secret—one that threatens to break everything they’ve started to build. Can two enemies-turned-strangers find love in a marriage built on pain? Or will the past destroy their future before it even begins?

Austin Chandler is a man of grace and honor who descends from a noble lineage with an influential background. Because of that, he's put on a pedestal and is revered by all. The four-year relationship he has with Natalie Sherman proves to everyone that she's the love of his life. But a "cheating" scandal forces them to break up in the most humiliating manner. Five years later, as soon as Austin and Natalie are reunited with each other, he wastes no time in pinning her against the wall. Immense hatred swirls in his eyes the whole time. "Since you've already disappeared from my world, you should've put more effort into covering your tracks. Don't ever let me see you again." Natalie replies crisply, "Fine." While Austin has nothing but hatred for her, he still goes nuts and loses control over her as well. When the truth finally breaks, so does his heart. "Marry me, Natalie. Whatever your struggle is, let me carry it with you."

"Aasif," I whispered, my voice shaky with desire. He didn't reply. He only held me tighter, his strong arms a band around my waist. His kisses grew more intense, all I wanted was him, His touch, his scent, him inside me. I was teetering on the edge, yet he held back. He held us back. He pulled away; his breathing as erratic as mine. His voice was rough, filled with an intense battle of restraint and desire   "This is just for curiosity's sake, right?" His voice was deep, husky, a sensual murmur against my skin that made my pulse race even faster. Gabriela a young nurse from a small Mexican town, shoulders the world as she strives to provide for her ailing mother and little sister, Maria. An unexpected opportunity emerges when she's offered a job at a prestigious hospital in Al-Qamar. Thrust into the vibrant but unfamiliar world of the Arabian desert, Gabby grapples with her new reality. But Gabby's life takes a dramatic twist when she crosses paths with a charismatic yet arrogant billionaire Sheikh. Their worlds collide in a whirlwind of opulence and high-stakes power dynamics, their association marked by the Sheikh's emotionally barren, benefit-based approach towards relationships. A tragic accident abruptly turns the tables when the Sheikh suffers memory loss, casting a shadow of uncertainty over Gabby's future. The once arrogant billionaire stands before her, a man without a past, unraveled and vulnerable. As Gabby is pulled into a vortex of caring for the man who once saw her as a mere commodity, she grapples with the strange affectionate ties that emerge. With a newfound bond budding and the Sheikh's memory threatening to return at any moment, Gabby is walking on a tightrope of emotions, what happens when the Sheikh's memory returns?

For five years, I've been the perfect Luna in the eyes of Ian Stormfang, the Alpha of the Shadowmoon pack. But then, he starts favoring an Omega called Perla Blackwood and allows her to carve her name beside the silver moon tattoo over his heart. That tattoo had once been the mark of the vow he made with his soul to love me forever. The members of the pack mock me for being naive in love. They are all waiting to watch me lose control in hysterics. Perla even sends me a message, urging me to step aside. She writes, "Alpha Ian says he's bored of you. Even in bed, you only know two positions—front and back. I'm right, aren't I, my noble Luna?" I do not bother to reply at all. Instead, I send a message to the rogue at the border. I text, "Help me leave the pack and make sure Alpha Ian can never find me again."

"You are so beautiful," A man's husky voice says. He pushes a piece of hair out of my face behind my ear as he kisses my forehead. Electricity surges through my body. Warmth begins rushing over me. I try to look up to see his face, but it's blurry. "I want you…” He whispers in my ear as he gently licks and nips at it and begins kissing down my neck while caressing my breasts. He's making me wet and all I want is for him to never stop. "Take me," I moan, completely surrendering my body to this man and his touch. Arianna Erickson is the last of her bloodline, a direct descendant of the Moon Goddess. You'd think with such prestige to her name, finding her mate would be a walk in the park. WRONG. After multiple failed attempts year after year, the pressure is on as her 21st birthday approaches. She's racing against time, and risks being stripped of her title for it to be handed over to her cousin, Alpha Fenry Magnus. Will she be able to find him before her 21st birthday or will she be too late? Ares Cain Martin is the future alpha of the Freedom Ridge Pack and has been tasked by his father, Alpha Lucian, with finding his mate. His father expects him to start a war to fight for his claim to the throne; the same throne an undeserving she-wolf stands to inherit. As they both search for their mate, tragedy strikes, secrets are uncovered, special abilities are discovered, relationships are formed, and they begin to explore realms with mysterious creatures that could become their enemies or allies. Will their paths collide? Will they be on opposite sides? Or will their quests lead them to a future they never imagined?

In her past life, Kelsey turned Tyler’s marriage proposal down, which was brought on by one of the many manipulations by her cheating man and half-sister. Eventually, Tyler tragically breathed his last while protecting her. Despite his noble act, Kelsey lost her life and her family. Granted a second chance at life, she returned to the time she and Tyler were first intimate. Kelsey decided to tie the knot with Tyler and stand at the height of power to get even with the deceitful couple. The only way forward was to hold onto her dear husband. Alas, the man, who loved and catered to her every whim in her previous life, built walls around his heart. Yet, he was open to intimacy. “I want to share a bed with you tonight, babe,” Kelsey expressed.Tyler grabbed her fidgety hand. “Are you sure?” He would not give her another chance to back out once the decision was made. Tyler would always and forever stand behind her in every life.

Ash Parker is a rare scholar at elite Saint Blaise's Academy (SBA). She's a good kid, just trying to get by in school, despite being a social outcast among her affluent peers. Just before her 18th birthday, a sudden transformation turns her life upside-down. Her werewolf blood is awakened and she gains the ability to shapeshift into a terrible beast. Hunter Guzman is a handsome boy who's popular at the Academy. As the sole heir of a rich and powerful clan, he's got everything going for him: killer looks, athleticism, charisma, and influence. He's also secretly a werewolf, descended from a strong, noble line of Lycidae. The two accidentally encounter each other on a hunt and form a fast bond. Ash thinks that being with Hunter will help her understand and control her newfound abilities. On the other hand, Hunter thinks that he and Ash are the One True Pairing that will save the Lycans from extinction. Is there a middle ground for two wolf kids trying to navigate love and transformation?

'Rosanna, I'm sorry' 'I can't let you go' 'You are mine' 'You belong to me' 'Your every breathe is mine'' 'I love you' 'Please love me sweetheart' 'I'll do anything' After the humans lost the war, the kingdom of Peon was ruled by the werewolves. Humans were slaves and the werewolves were among the nobles and the royal family. Rosanna was a human slave who worked in the home of the marquis. She was sold at a young age and separated from her family. She was never interested in catching the eye of a noble or enjoying luxury. She just wanted to open up a shop at the border of the kingdom and see her family again. But to do that, she needed her freedom. However, her dreams shattered as she was discovered to be the mate of the king, Alexander Peon. There was no way he would be letting her go. Her life was now tied to his. She has two choices. fight for the liberation of her race or enjoy life as the queen of the entire kingdom.

I'm going to die. In the eyes of the underworld, I was a sinner. My death would be a final, cursed dishonor. But even with the Ricci family in ruins, I was still the noble Principessa. The Ricci pride in my blood would not allow my body to fall into the hands of a rival Family. Humiliation. Desecration. Photographs flaunted for all to see. I didn't much care if my body became a trophy to celebrate their victory. But if the world knew the last of the Ricci bloodline had become a plaything for our enemies, it would be a disgrace to the entire Family. After weighing my options, I dragged my broken body to the turf of my ex-boyfriend, the man I'd left seven years ago, now the Don of the Falcone family. "After I die, I need you to handle my body." He was silent for a long moment, then let out a cold laugh. "Of course. I'll sink you in the Hudson River with a tombstone tied to your feet, engraved with the name of your filthy family."