Best Middle Grade Books Of The 21st Century

Feel the fear and marry him anyways.7 years ago Emilia's whole life turned upside down when she got betrothed to a Mafia boss, Adriano Romano.At first she was the one who always kept her head down and acted on the orders of other people. But she never knew that deep inside she had quite a rebellious spirit, that makes it even more difficult for her to survive in a 'male- dominant' world.A world where everything works as per the rules and regulations of her husband, will she be able to get tamed as a grateful obedient wife or will her rebellious spirit stop her from becoming one?

He slid a paper across the table, his eyes cold. " Sign it." She blinked, confused. "Why?" "It’s our marriage certificate." He spoke as if discussing the weather. "I’ve already signed it. Your turn." Siya froze. **Marriage?** To a man like him? Her? A whore. Pregnant. She looked up at him, pleading. "I-I can be your maid. Do anything. Just… don’t hurt my baby." Her voice trembled, careful, trying to bargain with the devil himself. But Abhimanyu’s gaze was relentless, unmoved. His tone cut like ice. "I want you to sign it right now." Her heart hammered in her chest. "But… how… why me?" She stuttered, breaking. "I don’t want to marry you." She stood, defiance shaking her body. The word **marriage** tasted like ash, reminding her of someone she loathed beyond reason. Abhimanyu leaned in, his smile devoid of warmth. "You **will** marry me. Or…" The room fell silent, thick with the unspoken threat. **The world knows** what he is capable of. "Plea.se," she whispered. Her voice was barely a breath. Siya’s legs screamed to run. But there was nowhere to go. His voice low, lethal. "Listen to me, TweetyBird. If I can save you, I can ruin you too.' His eyes darkened. "Sign it. And you’ll be mine." "Why me?" Her voice broke. ************ Siya laid on the bed on her fours, her hands tied together with a handcuff as Abhimanyu thrusted slowly from her back. He changed their position making her completely under his mercy. As the sun rose in the sky, he uncuffed her. "Scream my name!" He groaned going faster than before. But his pace didn’t slacken at all. He had turned into a needy beast, who was ruining every ounce of sanity left in Siya. *********** ***********

Crystal Santiago was a woman of dual identities. By day, she was a waitress, known for her kind heart and sweet smile. By night, she became Jae, a stripper renowned for her looks and skill. Wherever she went, men would flock to her, completely under her spell. Her long, black hair cascaded over her bare shoulders, framing her seductive red lips and piercing blue eyes. She had the allure of a siren, and it was all too easy for her to trap men in her gaze. But beneath the surface, she was a sweet, down-to-earth girl. Crystal's life was going smoothly until the day she met him. He was powerful, ruthless, and dangerous. He ruled the city with an iron fist, and no one dared to cross them. He approached Crystal one night after her performance, his eyes filled with greed and lust. "You're mine now," he said, his voices dripping with malice. "You belong to me”.

The uprising killed the royal Cardinal family. The Cardinals were magic wielders and had ruled for over five hundred years with an iron fist. Eventually, the humans waged war against wielders and shifters. They overthrew the crown, branding all non-human beings as Unnaturals and leaving them to fend for themselves in a broken world. Ida has spent those last ten years since the uprising sold from one household to another, never able to repay her indenture. The situation, although not ideal, has offered her a second chance at life. A life in hiding was better than no life at all, and she did not wish to suffer the same fate as others of her kind. Sold into the services of Duke Kestrel, she meets a seductive yet mysterious Lord Alexander. Already in his thirties, Xander cares very little for his title and responsibilities. He should have been married years ago, but no woman appears to please him. Many assume he is simply difficult, but not all is what it seems. Xander carries the weight of being a shifter, unable to find his mate in this new kingdom. After a chance meeting between them, Ida becomes overwhelmed by Alexander's mixed signals. She dares not succumb to her inner feelings. Letting Xander in would mean opening up about what she truly is, and she is determined to keep her past hidden. Xander, however, has other plans. He intends to get his mate by whatever means necessary. When both their lives intertwine by fate, a new quest emerges fraught with danger as they encounter all walks of life trying to tear them apart. Can their love survive, or is there a more sinister plot afoot?

I had been secretly in love with my childhood friend for nine long years. When we finally got married, my family and friends thought I was the happiest person in the world. After I became pregnant, he used the excuse of "helping an old classmate" and invited the most beautiful girl from our class into our home. During the worst of my pregnancy, when nausea and exhaustion hit hardest, he took her to the hospital, made crafts with her, and watched sunsets with her. He even had the guts to accuse me of being small-minded and petty and acting like a bitter, jealous wife. Only then did I realize that it was just my foolish fantasy that I lived my dream of marrying my childhood sweetheart and had a happy life. I let go of the love I had for him and of the future I thought we would share. Now, however, he was the one who regretted it.

THE TASTE OF LOVE By Yeiron Jee Nica Joy Rodriguez - she does not want affection and care. She has a bad reputation for being wicked and cold-hearted even to his own father. "Who cares?" her motto in life. Chrismith Yuchan - his passion in life is playing guitar and singing. But he had to let it go for the sake of his family. Above all, he wants to teach a lesson to someone who thinks highly of herself. But, it all changed when he met her in person. Will Chrismith succeed in taming a girl he can compare to a wild animal? Can a song soften a heart full of anger and fear to love and be loved?

Aida Sagar has known her fair share of challenges. At twelve year’s old she lost her mother in a car crash, that she was also fatally injured in. What she couldn’t understand is how she returned from the potential peaceful realm of the moon goddess and subsequently her family’s and pack’s treatment of her since that life changing moment. Having attacked her brother’s mate, the pack Luna, Aida was sentenced to a punishment worse than prison…training with the notorious Royal Lycan warriors. Starting a new life, she becomes a popular addition to the team but not all appreciate a Pack Princess’s Alpha blood status. After being shot at by silver bullets and undercovering a rebel plot to poison trainees to control lycans through witch craft, Aida makes some very powerful friends but also powerful enemies. The Lycan Prince Lance claims to be her fated mate, but Aida knows for a fact that having died, any mate bond would have been severed in that moment. But perhaps the moon goddess doesn’t hate Aida after all. Perhaps Aida will learn that nature has a balance and a price must be paid to maintain that balance.

Grace Hammond lost the most important person in her life, her grandmother, Juliet. Left with little beyond a failing farm and not much clue how to run it, she's trapped-- either she gives up three generations of roots and leaves, or she finds some help and makes it work. When a mysterious letter from Juliet drops a much needed windfall in her lap, Grace knows she has one chance to save the only place she's ever called home and posts a want-ad.The knight that rides to her rescue is Robert Zhao, an Army veteran and struggling college student. A first generation Korean American, Rob is trying desperately to establish some roots, not just for himself, but for the parents he's trying to get through the immigration process, a secret he's keeping even from his best friends. Grace's posting for a local handyman, offering room and board in exchange for work he already loves doing, is exactly the situation he needs to put that process on track.Neither is prepared for the instant chemistry, the wild sweet desire that flares between them. But life in a small town isn't easy. At worst, strangers are regarded suspiciously, and at best, as profoundly flawed-- and the Hammond women have a habit of collecting obscure and ruthless enemies. Can their budding love take root in subtly hostile soil and weather the weeds seeking to choke them out?

Elora was the daughter of the former beta who was brutally burnt alive by the Alpha because he was trying to expose the inhumane behaviour that kept happening in the silvermoon pack. He was framed and killed for treason, soon after Elora and ber siblings were taken in as slaves They were mistreated and left to starve, until she realises she was the mate to the next in line to be the Lycan Alpha, Ethan but she was nothing more than a play toy. After many mistreatment by the young Alpha, he rejected her but the pain in rejection hits deeper than ever. Elora sought for a different life for herself and her siblings and when they tried to escape one of them died in the process. it was Ethan that took the shot and she swore on revenge. will she be able to go on with her revenge when there was a new chance of a good life?

My parents take me to court to get my heart and save my adoptive sister. The judge uses advanced technology to extract our memories. A jury of 100 people decides the verdict. If my parents win the case, my organs will go to them. They think I won't dare to show up for the trial because they think I'm evil. However, everyone is overcome by tears when they see my memories and the truth of what happened!