Best Crime Novels 2020

In ‘need’ of a wife because of his mother’s persistence nagging Ryder begs his best friend who is anti- marriage to help him pretend to be his fiancé for the next 6 months

She thought she was safe in his world. She was wrong. When her curiosity pulls her into danger, he knows there’s only one way to protect her—by keeping her close. Too close. She’s off-limits, but the temptation is impossible to resist. Every glance, every touch ignites something darker, something undeniable. Now, enemies are closing in, and the line between protection and possession is disappearing. Once he claims her, there’s no turning back. In his world, rules don’t exist—and she’s about to find out just how far he’ll go to make her his.

I was born just one minute after Tiara, but the world treated that one minute as if it lasted a lifetime. She was the star. I was the shadow. She was flawless. I was the afterthought. She was loved. I was forgotten. Even by Reagan de Russo, heir to the wealthiest family in the country and the man I had secretly loved for the past ten years. But to him, there was only Tiara. And when he proposed to her, I knew my quiet little dream had finally died. Until that day came. The day Tiara left him at the altar. The day the world stopped turning for just a second. The day the man who had never even glanced my way, turned to me and asked me to take her place. I knew what I was. An escape. A damage control. A backup plan. But my mother was dying. My family was drowning in debt. And I... I was too tired of being strong. So I said yes. We married. Without love. Without a future. Just a one-year contract and a life of make-believe in front of flashing cameras and watching eyes. But the longer I stayed by his side, the harder it became to tell what was real and what was just part of the performance. Because for the first time... Reagan saw me. But can love truly grow from the ruins of lies, old wounds, and the shadow of a woman who’s always been his first choice? Or will I always be… only the second best?

What do 26 years of friendship, plus 26 years of pent-up, sexual frustration, and one drunken, exciting, night on the beach get me? I just found out I'm pregnant with my best friend's baby... How the hell am I supposed to tell him that we're having a baby together? How will he react, and will he want this blessing just as much as I do? What's even worse is our parents have started to date each other... What does that mean for Cole and me?

“Let’s make a deal. Papayag ka sa kasal—just for show. Para kay grandpa. Name only, no real marriage. No interference in each other’s lives. Kapag gumaling si Lolo, magdi-divorce tayo. Bilang kapalit, bibigyan kita ng financial compensation.” Napamaang si Nathalie. Compensation? Hindi niya naituloy ang pagtanggi. Naalala niya ang kapatid niyang naghihintay ng pambayad para sa gamutan. Isa pa, kaya naman talaga siya pumunta sa Zamora ay para humiram ng pera. Nakita ni Cedric ang pag-aalinlangan niya. Dagdag pa nito, “As long as you agree, kahit magkano—ikaw ang bahala.” Tahimik na nagbilang si Nathalie ng hininga. Ilang sandali pa, tumango na siya. “Okay, I agree.” Bahagyang ibinaba ni Cedric ang paningin, tinatago ang malamig na ngiti sa kanyang mga mata. ‘Isang babaeng kayang ipagbili ang kasal para sa pera… how cheap,’ naisip niya.

My entrepreneur boyfriend and I had been living in a tiny rental, eating bread every day. Then one day, I saw his name on the Young Entrepreneurs List. Not only was he the CEO of my company's biggest competitor, but he was also worth over 100 million.

I spend three torturous years in a dark underground cell after taking the fall for Cole Greyhouse, a member of the nobility. He once held my hand tightly and tearfully promised that he would wait for me to return. Then, he would take my hand in marriage. However, he doesn't show up on the day I'm released from prison. I head to the palace to look for him, but all I see is him with his arm around another woman. He also has a mocking smile on his face. "Do you really think a former convict like you deserves to become a member of the royal family?" Only then do I understand that he's long since forgotten about the three years he was supposed to wait for me. I'm devastated, and my heart dies. I accept the marriage my family has arranged for me. On the big day, Cole crashes my wedding with his comrades and laughs raucously. "Are you that desperate to be my secret lover, Leah? How dare you put on a wedding gown meant for a royal bride to force me into marriage? You're pathetic!" Just then, his uncle, Fenryr Greyhouse, the youngest Alpha King in Lunholm's history, hurriedly arrives. He drapes a shawl around my shoulders and slides a wedding ring onto my finger. That's when Cole panics.

"Emine, that filthy child isn't mine. It should be aborted. Tell the doctor not to use anesthesia, let her feel the pain, when it's done, send her to the cemetery to accompany my love." Aiden commanded with a chilly voice. Emine was an poor girl who lived with her father and step family . She had a sister who suddenly went missing on her wedding day. Clark's family couldn't bear any humiliation and so she was replaced. After the wedding, her sister appeared and accused her of kidnapping her. She claimed Emine kidnapped so she could get married to Aiden Clark, the most handsome powerful man in the country. One day, her sister invited her to meet her at the bridge, Emine went to meet her and as they were still talking she suddenly jumped into the water. Aiden who just got there witnessed this scene and accused Emine of pushing her sister in the water. Aiden ordered Emine to abort the child and she begged him but he didn't listen. She was taken to the hospital and the doctor asked for her husband The doctor told Aiden, it was not advisable for the child to be aborted because she might die in the process. Aiden became angry and strangled the doctor. He said he didn't care about her miserable life. Emine's swore to avenge her child the pain she had gone through. She was saved by a mysterious man who trained her to be an assassin. After her return, she sent a package to Aiden and inside the package, a couple of words were boldly written on a plain sheet which says ," THE GAME HAS JUST BEGUN.

Isang masayahin at palakaibigan na dalaga si Bella. Matalik niyang kaibigan na lalaki si Vin simula pagkabata. Magkapitbahay lamang sila at madalas na magkasundo sa lahat ng bagay. Naging magkaklase sila ni Vin simula elementarya hanggang high school. Sobrang close nila sa isa't isa kaya madalas silang magkasama. Ngunit pagdating ng college ay kinailangang umalis ni Vin upang mag-aral sa ibang bansa. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ni Bella na nagmula si Vin sa mayamang pamilya kaya hindi na sya nagtaka nung kinailangang umalis ni Vin upang mag-aral sa ibang bansa. Lumipas pa ang mga taon ay bumalik na si Vin sa Pilipinas at nalaman eto ni Bella. Nang magkrus ang kanilang landas ay nagtaka si Bella kung bakit parang iba ang pakikitungo ni Vin sa kanya at madalas ay iniiwasan pa nga siya. Doon na nalaman ni Bella na may nararamdaman na pala si Vin sa kanya. Higit pa sa matalik na magkaibigan. Sobra ang tuwang nadama ni Bella dahil napagtanto nyang mahal na rin nya ang binata. Ngunit isang araw ay napalitan ng lungkot ang saya na nadarama ni Bella nang makita nya si Vin na may kasamang ibang babae, si Nicole, at napag-alaman nyang ikakasal na ang mga eto. Labis na nasaktan si Bella. Akala nya kasi ay si Vin na ang nakalaan para sa kanya pero may ibang plano pala ang tadhana para sa kanila. Magagawa pa kayang ipaglaban ni Bella ang pagmamahal nya kay Vin? O hahayaan na lamang nya etong magpakasal sa ibang babae.

Mia and Ethan are best friends. When they start to feel the mate bond at a very young age their parents intervened confusing them. Right before their 18th birthday they meet again. But outside forces threaten to break their bond again. Will the two mates finally get their happily ever after or was their relationship just never meant to be.