Best Summer Reads 2024 Goodreads

Macie Smith has been married to Edward Fowler for two years—two years of being his housekeeper, tirelessly devoted, and wholly inferior. Two years was enough to grind away every bit of her love for him. Their marriage ends when his first love returns from abroad. Starting from now, they have nothing to do with each other. They don't owe each other anything. "I'm no longer blinded by love, Edward. Do you think I'd spare you a second glance if you were to stand before me now?" … Edward signs the divorce papers without hesitation. He knows Macie loves him more than life itself—how could she possibly leave him? He waits for her to regret everything—she'll come back in tears, begging for him to take her back. However, he realizes that she seems to be serious this time. She doesn't love him anymore. … Later, the truth is revealed, and the past is unraveled. It turns out Edward has gotten Macie wrong this whole time. He panics, regrets, and begs for her forgiveness. He wants a reconciliation. Macie is so annoyed by his behavior that she sends out a notice asking for a husband. Edward is so jealous that he almost loses his mind. He wants to start again but realizes that he doesn't even meet her minimum requirements.

Violet eyes with piercing sight. Mane of gold in pale moonlight. Skin so hard and lily white. Voice so soft, yet filled with might. He comes to me in the dark of night. Flash of teeth, smile so slight. There is no fear, no need to fight. In his embrace, I crave his bite. -S.R. Michele, or Shelly to those closest to her, is a typical 21 yr old, trying to find her way in life. She has good family, a close circle of friends. She's outgoing and friendly, and a bit reckless and impulsive sometimes. And she has certain gifts...when she touches things, she can see into the past, she can feel what was felt by others, and she can sense things before they happen. Ok, so maybe she's not so typical. An impromptu trip to New Orleans, a party on Bourbon Street, and an attempted assault in a dark alley lead her into a world she didn't know existed...but one she's not afraid of. She doesn't know if the violet-eyed stranger that comes to her rescue, and follows her home, is a friend or a foe - and honestly, she doesn't care. Once you've had a taste of the darkness, it's hard to pull away... **** This book was written in the late 1990's - early 2000's, and originally published in 2004, under the title: Diary of a Vampire by S.M. Royston. It was my first book, and it wasn't long until I came to hate it! (Please, don't look it up - I promise you, it's terrible) So here we are, years later, and I've decided to throw out my original work, and re-write it. Because I'm the author, and I can do that. The story, characters, and settings are the same - but the writing style is different, and in my opinion, much, much better. I hope you enjoy it. ****

“Sofia, you're really going through a lot. I wish I could help you out” Lisa said, “That man, he deserves to die!” she pulled Sofia in for a warm embrace. They pulled out smiling at each other.  Sofia sniffed her nose and stood up, heading for her bag laying on top of the mini cupboard. "He gave me a check afterwards," Sofia said. Lisa was bewildered, shocked as hell. “How much?” "Two hundred thousand. He even sent a letter last night, saying I was doing very little paying off the debts.I truly want to pay off this stupid debt, quit this job and have my life back"  Sofia explained with a frown. "What?” Lisa exclaimed. “I am so speechless Sofia. You mean he paid that huge amount of money to you? Wow. Some guts he has there. Did you accept it?”  “No, I rejected it. Two hundred thousand can't restore my dignity. I was ashamed of myself tonight”. “But, how do you intend to pay the rest of the debts?” Lisa asked with concern in her voice. “Sofia, I'm scared for you” Sofia dreaded that thought. Thoughts of how she would raise enough money to clear the debts.  The man she met had this ominous, dangerous aura around him. She silently prayed she  would complete his payment so she could finally get her life back. Sofia's peaceful life became chaotic, the moment her mother was unable to pay the debts she owed the Mafia Lord before she died. She was forced to do his biddings. He was cold and ruthless. She fell in love with him. Now she must navigate a world of danger and deception. But can their love survive the secrets and lies that surround them?

After Mom passed, it was just me and Dad, depending on each other. I’ve always had poor health, and people used to taunt me, calling me a “sickly, doomed child.” He kneeled by my bedside, making a promise. “I swear, I’ll get you the best treatment, no matter what. You’ll never suffer again!” Eventually, he became a powerful CEO, going so far as to buy an entire private villa just so I could recover in peace. However, his assistant assumed I was his mistress.  She came in with a group of security guards and surrounded me. “So, you’re the cripple who’s been seducing Mr. Johnson?” “Let’s see if you can still act high and mighty after I’m done with you!” She kicked over my wheelchair, yanked me by the hair, scratched up my face, and finally cut off my hand. Barely clinging to life, I lay there until Dad came back. She held up my severed hand, presenting it to him. “Mr. Johnson, this was a spy sent by a rival company. I took care of her for you.”

“I didn’t force myself on you, you make it sound like…” “Yes, you did Eric. My body might have been willing, but you know my mind wasn’t, yet you still took me.” She accused. Cat short for Katherine has been Eric's lover! Because honestly she didn't see herself as more and she had finally had enough, she wants more! Eric has been so busy with work and is forever traveling, it's got so bad lately. Cat really feels like she is losing him. She hardly sees him .... Making Cat believe he is getting bored with her. Had she gone past her used by date. So to protect herself from heartache Cat decides to rip the bandaid off first. She tries to end things with him. Eric being the man he is doesn't see the need to end anything. Wants the easy sex she was sure. Even though their encounter had been the longest he had had with any woman.

Two exes—who haven’t spoken in years—are forced to swap apartments for a month due to a housing mix-up caused by a mutual friend. She moves into his stylish city loft; he ends up in her cozy small-town house. At first, they leave petty notes criticizing each other’s lifestyle (like “Who needs this many candles?!” and “Why do you own a sword?!”). But soon, they start rediscovering each other—through texts, video calls, and unexpected visits.

I'm a pet whisperer. During a live stream, a man asks me to help check on his dog. "My precious keeps sniffing me these days. Can you see what's up with it?" I smile and say, "Your dog's just expressing its love for you." After ending the live stream, I immediately call the police. "I want to report a case of body dismemberment." The dog from earlier recently gnawed on a human bone!

It had been the fifth year of my marriage, and I was about to reveal everything to my husband after pretending to be poor for so long. However, his childhood sweetheart had just returned from studying abroad. With a cruel smile, my mother-in-law sneered, "Claire and Thomas are a much better match. "Not like some trash who isn't even fit to show up in public." She and my sister-in-law had waited for the perfect moment, drugging me and teaming up with the childhood sweetheart to accuse me of being a mistress. The result? I had lost my baby. In a single night, I had lost everything. The position as a vice president of a major company, our lakeside mansion, the limited-edition sports cars... I would make sure it was all gone! I would make them beg for my mercy. I would make sure they came crawling on their knees!

On New Year's Eve, my husband, Max Davis, took me to a private dinner hosted by a big industry player. We had barely made our way around the room when a strange woman suddenly shoved me into the pool. When I insisted on checking the surveillance footage and calling the police, Max firmly held me back. He warned me to "remember my place" and not embarrass him in front of everyone. In the brief time I changed into another gown, I returned to find that same woman perched on my husband's lap, her red lipstick leaving traces on his collar. "Max, you're right! That nasty scar on her stomach really does look like a centipede. It's so hideous!" She giggled with mock innocence, adding, "It's been so fun messing with your wife. Next time, can I slap her when no one's looking?" Meanwhile, Max gazed at her like she was the only woman in the world, gently tracing his finger over her nose. "Of course, you can," he replied, eyes still locked on hers. "I'll even tie her hands behind her back for you."

In the neon-lit shadows of Novela, Isabella Hart, a red-haired outcast, is drowning in betrayal. Bullied at school and abused by her family, her world shatters when her boyfriend spreads fake nude photos, driving her into the arms of a mysterious stranger for a reckless one-night stand. The next day, she’s stunned to find him—Sebastian Wolfe, a smouldering history professor and Lycan—standing at her lecture podium, his green eyes taunting her with their shared secret. But her life is about to get even worse as Caleb Reed, a charismatic senior with a demonic edge, who hides a deadly mission behind his seductive smile walks into her life. Both men are mated to Bella by the Moon Goddess, their rivalry igniting a lustful, dangerous love triangle. As Bella navigates forbidden passion and relentless torment, she uncovers a shocking truth: she’s a half-werewolf Moonborn, her red hair a mark of a rare lineage destined to destroy the BloodMoon pack’s evil Alpha, Marcus, and his Beta, Veron—Sebastian’s father. With Caleb’s obsession turning violent and Sebastian’s secrets threatening their love, Bella must embrace her powers to survive kidnappings, near-death ambushes, and betrayals that tear her heart apart. When her long-lost father resurfaces, Bella’s fight for her throne becomes a battle for survival, love, and redemption. In a city where werewolves lurk beneath skyscrapers, Bella’s destiny will burn bright—or consume them all. The Professor’s Mate is a dark, sensual werewolf romance, weaving lust, betrayal, and supernatural intrigue in a novel saga of a common human girl rising from ashes to claim her power as an Alpha in the werewolf realm.