Book Review For Things Fall Apart Novels & Stories

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Jada prayed and asked God to provide a miracle that would be a solution to her family’s problems. They had always been poor, but this was the worst situation they had ever been in. Her father had to be taken to the hospital two weeks ago, and she had become the sole provider for their home. Marilou had given them what money she had that she could to help, but she wasn’t exactly rolling in money herself. The young girl had a huge responsibility placed upon her shoulders, but she was determined not to lose their home or have the children sent to foster care. She had been waiting tables and using her tips to buy gas and groceries, but it was barely enough most days. Her paycheck had not been enough to pay all the bills since her father had let them get so far behind. Mrs. DeRoya cleared her throat, signaling that she would answer the girl. “Miss Pence, I only had one child, my son Brayden here. My husband was also an only child. So, unless Brayden produces an heir, our bloodline here in the United States is lost. What we need is a surrogate to carry the child. If you sign the contract, when the child is born you will receive one million dollars to take your siblings and go have a good life,” she said, staring at her without emotion.

Two teenagers from two different social classes discover their feelings for one another when a strange viral disease outbreak forced them to mingle in quarantine.

Revenge was her only reason for living. Alice wanted them to feel the same pain she endured. Her heart died along with him the day he died. She would never love another. She was trained to have no compassion and to show no mercy, but what will happen when Alice finds out everything she was told was a lie? What will she do when her whole reason for living changes? Kevin was adopted by the most feared mafia leader. When he came of age he took over from his adoptive father. He kept his promise he made her when they parted. He searched for her as he promised, but what happens when he found her and finds out she is their clans sworn enemy and not the same girl he used to know what will he do?

On the eve of a surgery, I voluntarily resign from my position as lead surgeon. My colleagues sneer behind my back and mock me openly. "And this guy's supposed to have a PhD from abroad? Looks more like he bought a degree from some no-name university." "Can't even handle a challenge without running—what kind of doctor is that?" In my last life, I gave up competing in a general practitioner skills competition to take on this very surgery. But because the other lead surgeon violated protocol during the operation, it ended in a serious medical accident. My sister, the head of the department, pinned all the blame on me. Even my girlfriend stood firmly on their side, accusing me of incompetence. Overnight, I went from being a respected medical PhD to the disgrace of the hospital. I couldn't prove the mistake wasn't mine. I was fired and faced criminal charges. My parents, once so proud of me, pointed at me in rage. "We don't have a son who plays god with people's lives!" Crushed by shame and despair, I spiraled into deep depression and jumped from the hospital roof. But now, I open my eyes again. I'm back—back to the night before the surgery.

Hary, an arrogant CEO, is forced to kidnap Ana, a girl whom he failed when he participated in the selection to become a household assistant in his family's house, Mr. Wijaya. He forces Ana to get married right away. Ana was forced to comply with Harry’s wishes because her parents came and gave their blessings on her marriage. At the party, Arjun, who often visits Ana's restaurant, comes and congratulates her, saying that he will try to win over the girl who has stolen her heart from her husband. How is the continuation of Ana and Harry's relationship? Can they maintain their household?

New book: Alpha's moonborn mate is OUT now. Read it today8-) ____ Trap. That's what he assumed he was setting for her! Max stokes. The heir to a billion dollar fashion empire has never been seen crushing over a girl as much as he was doing to Stella Miller, the newly retained employee. Stella had never anticipated to catch the CEO'S eyes like that either. However, there was a fire of revenge burning under the back of his impressive eyes that was supposed to burn her! 'He thought it was him who was playing her but he didn't know, she had many more secrets darker than his own.' *Contains mature stuff. Read at your risk*

"Darby.” My name comes out as a low snarl and I struggle to think. “I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Alpha.”"That's how I like you.” This almost purrs. He shifts his weight to the thigh between mine, brushing against my clit and I tremble as agonizing pleasure spirals through me. His nostrils flare with his next breath and the purr is a low sensual growl. “The better to see to every pleasurable need you have.”Big bad devilishly sexy wolf. Oh shit.

.. his fingers were assaulting my hole while I stood there, side of my face pinned to the locker, ass in the air taking it like slut, howling deep in my throat. “You like it huh?” His voice was deep, raw, no warmth, a near growl, movements quickening. “You like offering me your whole to do as I please” he whimpered and I felt three fingers slip in. My back arched so hard, tensing in place, my eyes rolled to the back of my head, saliva drooling from my mouth, guttural moan echoing in my throat. “Now I just have to wreck you” he murmured through gritted teeth and with that, he roughly nudged my stance wider. My cock dangled, precum leaking from my tip... This collection is not about love. There are no soft confessions, no forever promises, no gentle hands reaching for something pure. These stories are built on raw hunger...men consumed by obsession, dominance, and the need to take what they crave without apology. Inside these pages are ruthless encounters between men who don’t believe in romance. Men who use bodies like addictions. Men who pin, command, consume, and leave bruises where tenderness should have been. Desire here is violent, intoxicating, and shameless. Every touch burns with greed. These are not stories about soulmates. They are stories about dark locker rooms, sweaty midnight encounters, rough mouths, possessive grips, filthy whispers, and desperate cravings that refuse to stay hidden. Men giving in to temptation with no guilt and no restraint. Men chasing release like starving animals, devouring each other simply because they can. No hearts. No healing. No salvation. Just sweat, tension, sin, and the dangerous thrill of men who know exactly what they want from other men and take it hard, fast, and without mercy.

After I join a new company, I keep running into problems—not from people, but from the company's equipment. The fingerprint scanner fails to recognize me every single time, and I have to submit a manual attendance appeal almost daily. When I ask the admin to change the device, they respond with thinly veiled sarcasm. "Everyone else clocks in just fine. Why are you the only one with so many issues?" The air vent above my desk blasts cold air directly at me. My hands and feet are freezing every day. I ask to switch seats. My manager looks at me like I am making things up. "Everyone else sits there without a problem. How come the AC only blows cold air when you sit there?" One strange incident after another makes it impossible for me to function at work. When I get home, I complain to my boyfriend and say I want to quit. He shuts down the thought immediately. "You're making almost 60 thousand dollars a year before benefits, with weekends off and paid leave. Where are you going to find a job like that?" I think about it and realize he isn't wrong. Just as I decide to stick it out, the company elevator malfunctions. I fall from the 33rd floor and die. In my final moments, I can't understand it—why does every piece of equipment in the company seem to target me alone? All the devices are newly installed. All my coworkers are people I have just met. I have no grudges with anyone. There's no reason for someone to sabotage me from behind the scenes. When I open my eyes again, I am back at the company. It's my very first day on the job.