Better Than Before Lynn Painter

I came here on a scholarship. No parents. No safety net. Just brains, bruises, and a shot at a better life. Now they want me on the hockey team? I’ve never even touched a stick. And if I say no—I lose everything. The only thing colder than the rink is how they look at me. The rich girls with their designer skates and perfect smiles. The coach who’d rather pretend I don’t exist. And him—Jaxon Reid, the team’s golden boy, who skates like sin and speaks with his eyes more than his mouth. He thinks I’m a joke. They all do. But I’ve fought for every inch of my life, and I’m not about to back down now. Not when college is the only thing standing between me and going back to nothing. So I’ll lace up. I’ll fall, I’ll bruise, I’ll bleed if I have to. And maybe—just maybe—I’ll learn how to play their game better than they do. Because survival isn’t about being the best. It’s about refusing to lose.

Makayla Stass is paparazzi, well that's until she goes undercover as Mega Superstar Justin Star Ryders assistant in order to do one big story that will propel her into the big leagues with Flair Mag, the Largest Gossip company in hollywood, who are more than willing to hire her, if she gets the story done. All she needs is one story and the pig headed, mentally demented, Justin Star Ryder is the exact celebrity she needs. *** Justin Star is looking for his Cinderella, excuse me Ariel, whatever you call the girl that saves you from drowning then leaves before catching her name or her face. Being one of the most followed Celebrities in the world, with crazy fans and depressed nights, fighting against his anger, alcohol, a dark secret and a sickness he uses against women, Justin finds himself slowly dying on the inside. That's not until one very stuck up, talkative, Nosy, pain in the ass assistant comes in forcing her dark hair and brown eyes smack into his life. Not really wanting someone like that, the two go head to head in a battle of dominance, but it's not before long Justin discovers something about this girl, allowing himself to fall for her, despite his better judgement and warning bells. *** An "I hate you" To "I can't live without you" Story.

What better way was there to get over the betrayal of my fiancé and best friend than spending night stands with a total stranger? Right, so I thought. Totally normal. Only in my own story, the man I had a passionate one-night stand with turned out to be my stepbrother… and the Mafia Don.

Scarlet Quinn's father has sold her in marriage to one of the most ruthless Billionaire in New York to pay off his debt. She is forced to wed but her husband disappears leaving her with his brother whom is tempting her in more ways than she can think to handle. Cillian Doyle is the head of their Dynasty and should know better than to tease his little brother's wife but it doesn't help when she looks at him in that innocent yet sultry way.

Aria could never imagine herself walking down the aisle, flashing a smile, and wearing a beautiful white wedding dress. Never had ever crossed her mind to get married. She's sure and knew it better than anyone. As cliché as it is, Aria's meant to marry the son of her mother's best friend, Ashton. Aside from the fear of commitment, she also doesn't want to be with someone she doesn't even love. After all, she is just a woman who never experienced true love before. Months passed when the preparation for her wedding came. She met Easton, a famous fashion designer in the Philippines. As Easton was taking measures for her gown, he accidentally clasped her two little mountains resulting for Aria to act instinctively and greeting him with a powerful uppercut that made his nose bleed with ketchup. There's no doubt that their expected first encounter was a total disaster. The day of her wedding came, and she finally decided to run away before she could even set foot in the sacred church and taint her soul. At that time, all that she could think of was to run and before she knew it, she finally arrived at her desired destination. . . unknowingly at Easton's wounded heart.

You’ve heard Hades and Persephone’s love story but you haven’t heard it spun like this. Hades is the future leader of the Russian Mafia. His father is set to name him as his successor; but Hades will need to finish one more task before he can take his position as Kingpin. He needs to destroy the Brutt family; specifically Theodore “Teddy” Brutt, leader of the Milieu, and what better way to destroy a man than by kidnapping his newly beloved’s daughter. Persephone wants to escape her reality. She needs to make cash quick and finds herself auditioning at Chesters, a strip club in the middle of town that’s known to draw in the high rollers. When the owner calls Persephone into his office after her audition she’s expecting a job offer, but instead she finds herself kidnapped by an intoxicating man who’s very presence lights her on fire. Will Persephone be able escape Hades’ clutches or will she find herself burning with desire at his very touch?

Lexi has always been different than others. She is faster, stronger, can see better and heals quickly. And she has an odd birthmark in the shape of a wolf's paw. But she never thought of herself as special. Until she gets close to het twentieth birthday. She notices all of her oddities get stronger. She knows nothing about the super natural world or mates. Until the birthmark starts to burn. Suddenly she finds herself involved with werewolves that think she is the prophesied one that is supposed to unite the packs against a vampire that wants her dead. She has to learn how to handle her new powers as well as not one but two mates. One wanted to reject her because he thought she was human. The other accepts her completely. The prophecy says she has to have both. Wha twill she do. Will she accept both or reject one and hope for a second chance mate? Will she be able to handle shifting and her powers before it is too late?

The day I died was Mommy’s birthday. For once, she left me an unusually large slice of cake. I hovered before it, greedy, leaning in to breathe in its sweetness. But the very next second, she handed the cake to my younger sister, Bella Tesla. “Have some, Bella. Better you than that ungrateful girl!” Then she turned to Daddy, who was filming nearby. “You recorded everything, right? When she returns, make her watch it. Don’t let her say again that we play favorites! “Of all things to learn, she learned how to run away from home! “We spoiled her! If she has any sense, let her never come back!” She sneered as she slammed the table and cursed at me, never noticing the panic on Bella’s face as she held the cake. She also failed to notice Bella’s disheveled hair. She noticed even less the dark stains of blood on her sleeve. Blood that belonged to me.

This book is about a woman who has found favor in the eyes of the Gods. The God Minerva grants her with the opportunity to enter a world where she will be able to learn from her past mistakes and become better, bolder and braver than she's ever been. Will she chose to tale the offer? Read to find out

Ralph grabbed one of her thighs and hooked it over his arm as he leaned over her and re-entered her again. "Oh-J-Jesu-" she cried out before Ralph slapped his hand over her mouth. "Tsk-tsk," he hissed. "The gods aren't fucking you. The devil is.” There was no time for her to reply, as Alexei forcefully seized the back of her head and yanked it backwards. "Look how helpless you are... you fucking love it, don't you, wife?" he growled. "Come on, любовь. Beg." **** I loved them more than I hated them. And that scared me more than anything. They came to me in the night, cruel, darkly handsome men from the most dangerous corners of the world in name of helping me in my worst time. I should’ve known better that peace in this world come with a price. Price of my freedom. They tormented me, destroyed me, ripping apart my world with their quest for revenge. Two years ago, I met them. In our first meeting, I was betrothed to them. Now they’ve come to claim me, destroying anyone standing in their way. Even me. I fear them, I hate them and worse of all I couldn’t escape them.