Bible Reads

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

A decade of planning culminates in a nearly bloodless coup in the Kingdom of Aleghor. King Benedict takes the throne with the intention of eradicating the corruption which was synonymous with the rule and name of his predecessor, King Atomas. It is a task that proves to be harder than overthrowing the kingdom itself and while Benedict sometimes compromises his values while acting with the best intentions, his actions will take their toll on himself and those who support him. When loyalties start to fall into question and control starts to slip away from Benedict, how far will he go to ensure the survival of his dream to eradicate the corruption and bring peace to all men in the kingdom? How far and long will the loyalty and love of his supporters last? This fantasy is set in a city against the backdrop of a city similar to Pompeii and the volcano, Vesuvius. A character similar to Samson in the bible helps to create an epic fantasy story including romance and tragedy. With the events similar to the life of Samson described in this novel, do not expect this story to be religious. It isn't. It is also only one part of the overall story. It is also not a retelling of the end of Pompeii.

Olivia has spent her entire life in Bremia avoiding the war and dreaming of a life away from conflict. She reads of times when fighting is not commonplace and wars not a constant. The country of Bremia has been plagued with war for decades with no peace in sight. One day, she finds herself in the midst of an attack with bullets flying and explosions crumbling the walls of the city. In a desperate attempt to save her sister from an oncoming attack, she throws herself at the mercy of the warrior. She finds herself staring at a man whose very existence will change her fate forever. Will the forces of evil keep them apart, or will the forbidden love find a way?

The bible says that faithfulness comes from a place of trust and loyalty. Does it mean that love can be taken out of consideration? Gertrude Ava Clementino does not love her husband but she is faithful. They have been married for three years. She is the only one who can tame Damien Altos Ignatius, a cold and ruthless business tycoon. He loves her. She is sure of it. She feels it but unfortunately could never reciprocate it. With Damien's fire burning love, Gertrude promises to be faithful in return. For this is the only thing she is capable of doing. But until when? How long will it last? Mapaninindigan niya pa rin ba ito lalo na sa muling pagbabalik ni Ryker Artemis Gamba, the notorious bad boy from her past who wasn't afraid of breaking the rules? Ang lalaki na minahal niya talaga nang totoo. Will she choose to remain faithful? Or will she finally give in to temptations and go back to her wicked ways for love?

I'm an heiress who's been bound to a gossip system. Everyone reads my mind on my first day back home after being reunited with my family. "Mom sure has done a good job of maintaining her beauty. It's no wonder she became an OnlyFans streamer after divorcing Dad." My mother is about to berate me for something, but she pales and stops when she hears my thoughts. I glance at the fake heiress, who's weeping pitifully. "My, she's pregnant. Is it John's or Zach's?" My two brothers exchange odd looks. Then, my father arrives. I cluck my tongue. "Oh, it's Dad's."

On New Year's Eve, I prepare a feast. The clock strikes twelve, but my husband, Vincent Porter, still isn't home. My daughter, Lorelei Porter, tugs at my sleeve and holds up my phone. "Look Mommy, Daddy is at this lady's house!" Vincent has posted an update on Twitter. He is with Christine Snow, his childhood sweetheart. They are smiling at the camera, with a boy who looks about ten standing between them. In front of them sits a swan-shaped cake. The caption reads, "The most special day for the most special you." My heart sinks into my stomach. A marriage that came later in life can never compete with a pair of childhood sweethearts. I accept defeat.

Just when things have been doing good for Hailey, her life is changed by single gunfire. It was the night after the top of the criminal organization jumped from a building, and because of this, the top brass of the criminal organization have been scattered in different parts of Manila. Hailey just happened to walk past by a convenience store when she saw a short-haired man in a three-way suit killed someone by simply being on their way. Since Hailey is a witness, the man whom she saw murdered someone cannot just let her go, and the next thing she knew, she was lying down in a king-size bed and as she looks around the room, a long-haired man is sitting right across her direction while siping at the glass of bourbon he was holding as he reads the newspaper with a gun as his reading pointer.

The rumbling of the thunder and the rain kept pouring in torrent as Martina knelt in front of the man she called her husband and beside him was the only person she had ever called friend. With blood dripping down from her white nightwear and sweat glistening her forehead despite the cold weather, tears were streaming down her eyes. The two people in front of her looked like the devil she has watched from movies when she was just a child and the much talked about demon from her Bible stories. This was the longest night of her life, how she wished everything would end and she would wake up in her big comfy bed back at her father’s mansion but here she was, kneeling in front her own husband begging for her life while her best friend just sat there with a glass of whisky in hand. Martina was left wondering if it was not too cold for whiskey at this time. Five years later, she is reborn as the youngest and richest CEO and guess what??? Her ex husband is her cousin and she will be married to the richest and the most dominant man in America.. revenge is sure to be served hot.

Just a few days before my wedding, I accidentally come across a post while scrolling online. The title reads, "To the guy getting married in this city, your fiancée's already cheated on you." Curious, I click in to see the gossip, only to realize I'm the one being talked about. A deep male voice plays in the video. "I heard you're getting married?" The woman in the frame, bare-backed and trembling, chokes back a sob. "After you left, I realized you're still the one I love most. I'm done with him. Take me away, please!" The moment I hear her voice, it feels like someone punches me straight in the chest. Then I notice something on her wrist—the luxury couple's bracelet I gave her just yesterday. And in that instant, I feel like the biggest joke of all. Turns out the fool was me.

This Thanksgiving, Elmer Fuller finally agrees to go on a trip with me. But when I wake up in the hotel, I don't see him anywhere. I spend the entire day desperately searching for him, only to stumble across a social media post from his first love. It's a selfie of her and Elmer having a cozy family dinner with her parents. The caption reads, "Someone's finally meeting the parents on Thanksgiving night. Mom and Dad can stop pressuring me to get married now!" Around her neck is the scarf my mother knitted for me before she passed. I left a comment. "Stop using my things to flirt with my husband. Take the scarf off—you can have him." Not long after, she posts an update. The scarf is shredded into pieces and tossed into a dog bed, with the caption, "What trash—too filthy even for a dog!" Elmer likes the post.