Book Reviews Los Angeles Times

Fate has entwined the lives of Bianca and Niko through a reluctant, forced marriage, thrusting her into a world she never imagined. As she navigates the complexities of her new life, Bianca feels herself gradually succumbing to the enigmatic devil she is bound to call her husband. Niko, has magnetic presence and piercing gaze, possesses a rare ability to dismantle her carefully constructed defenses, awakening within her a whirlwind of emotions she never knew existed. In this tumultuous sea of conflicting feelings, Bianca is left to ponder a haunting question: what does one do when escape feels impossible, and she finds herself hopelessly in love with a man whose very essence is shrouded in danger, offering no assurance of her safety? ***THIS IS BOOK TWO IN THE DEVIL'S SNARE SERIES*** ***Book One is : His Pretty Little Liar - The Devil's Snare - Book One***

Nasa gitna ng pagbabago si John Enriquez mula sa kaniyang pagiging babaero nang biglang dumating sa buhay niya ang babaeng inakala niyang pang habang buhay na. Ngunit nang malaman niya na ang edad pala nito ay kalahati ng edad niya ay agad niya itong nilayuan. Si Leila Mercedez, isang babaeng may malaking pangarap sa mundo ng pag-arte. Gumuho ang matayog niyang pangarap matapos niyang malaman na siya pala ay nagdadalang tao. Nabuntis siya ng lalaking naka-one night stand niya. Ang lalaking inabandona siya matapos na gamitin. Dahil masyado pang bata si Leila at hindi siya pwedeng umuwi sa kanila, hinanap niya ang lalaking naka-disgrasya sa kaniya. Halos magmakaawa siya rito na panagutan ang dinadala niya. Tiniis ni Leila ang lahat ng pagtataboy ni John sa kaniya alang-alang na lang sa batang dinadala niya. Minahal niya ito sa kabila ng pagiging malupit nito sa kaniya. Nagsama sila sa iisang bahay para lang sa bata. Hanggang isang araw ay natutunan ni Leila na mahalin ang sarili niya. Nagsumikap siya na makamit ang pangarap niya at tinanggap na anak lang niya ang kayang mahalin ni John at hinding-hindi mangyayari na makakamit niya ang pagmamahal nito. Paano kung kailan nakahanap si Leila ng bagong pag-ibig ay saka naman niya malalaman na mahal pala siya ni John? Ano ang gagawin ni John para mabawi si Leila? Ang anak ba nila ang magbubuklod sa kanilang dalawa?

Mula sa masakit na karanasan sa unang pag-ibig, tatlong taon ang lumipas nang mapagpasyahan ni Celestine na ituon na lang ang sarili sa kompanyang naman mula sa nagretiradong ama. Sa mga papeles at tanging sa trabaho na lamang niya ibinuhos ang buong atensyon upang makalimutan ang masalimuot na karanasan mula sa dating nobyo na nangloko at ginamit lang siya para sa pera niya. Hindi naging madali para sa kaniya ang lahat ngunit minabuti niyang huwag nang pagtuunan pa ng pansin ang paghanap ng lalaki na para sa kaniya o kung meron ba talaga. Ngunit nagbago ang lahat nang makilala niya ang isang lalaki na bigla na lamang sumulpot sa kaniyang buhay. Hindi niya inaasahan na makakatagpo ng isang gwapo at matipunong nilalang na kahit ang ipis ay maaring mahumaling rito. Sa bawat araw na magkasama sila sa isla ay hindi mapigilang mas nahulog pa ang kaniyang loob sa lalaki. Paano na niya mapipigilan ang malalim na nararamdaman gayung alam naman niyang hindi rin magtatagal ay maghihiwalay rin sila ng landas dahil aalis rin siya sa lugar na iyon matapos magbakasyon? Kakayanin niya kayang mawalay sa piling nito o hahayaan na lamang ang kung anuman ang nararamdaman para sa binata?

This is the first book in an 8 book series of hockey romances. All 8 books have an underlying theme of ‘life after loss’. My first book is about Natasha, a librarian in her 40s who lost a sibling as a teenager and never healed, preventing her from ever finding/committing to love…and the hockey coach who is twice divorced and has given up his dreams of ever finding his match and having a family-until he meets Natasha…. Will Coach Alex's love (along with his superior skills in the sack) be enough to break down the walls Natasha has held firm for over two decades? The 8 books go through the different players of the team, all having their own versions of loss to overcome, with the captain (Adam) being married to a woman (who happens to be a teacher at Natasha's school) who has a terminal illness and will eventually commit suicide in book 6 and the series ends with Adam's own second chance love story….

Lizette Steyn is searching for her place in a dangerous world. Tired of betrayals, she runs from the one man who craves her love. The Kenyan bush and a new job as a flight attendant is a reprieve from reality - until reality hunts her down. Professionally, James “Johnny” Cane is a military beast, but his personal life is a mess. After Lizzy walked away, he pined from a distance. When fate throws them together, Johnny rushes to his challenging woman’s side. It could mean getting his heart broken again—and protection isn’t enough. When a mastermind terrorist captures Lizzy, Johnny and his MIT2 team race to find her before it’s too late. (Preferable to read Book One first - Siren in the Wind.)

Note: This is Book 2. Do not flip the pages of this book if you haven’t read Book 1, which is My Dark Past. “Can true love mend all the heartaches brought by the painful past?” The story follows the life of Diane after knowing the truth behind her forgotten past. How will she opt to continue living her life if the man whom she has gotten rid of—chooses to stay beside her?

This is book 2 in the Royal Wolf Of Zidiah series. This book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone. Sara believed she was human until one night five months ago when she transformed into a wolf. Sara kept the secret from her adoptive parents until one night, she shifted in front of them. After being thrown out of the family home, with no friends and nowhere to go, in Sara's mind there is only one option, to end it all. Leander is a powerful Romerian Alpha Prince, with abilities some would shy away from. Having known Sara was his mate for the past five months, he's yet to retrieve the girl. With all that went on with his sister Lilly, Leander had no choice but to stay away. However, Leander isn't about to let his mate get away from him. With secrets unfolding, will Sara be able to cope with this new life as a shifter? Will life with an Alpha Prince be all it's cracked up to be?

Emma and Luca have spent the past six years apart, during which time their mutual trust has progressively diminished. However, a significant life event has brought them together once more: their parents have orchestrated their marriage. This matrimonial union is strategically devised to unite their opposing mafia families, presenting itself as the most formidable business arrangement of the century. Conscious of the ramifications of defying their parents' mandates, both Emma and Luca acquiesce to the matrimonial contract with apprehension. Yet, beneath the facade of compliance, they each harbor profound sentiments for one another, emotions that have remained suppressed over the years. Will they succeed in transcending their animosity and rekindling their affection before external forces orchestrate their separation? Only time will unveil the outcome.

Nakipaghiwalay si Oliver Kim sa girlfriend niyang si Serenity Oh. Sa uri ng trabahong meron siya, natatakot siyang malagay lang sa kapahamakan ang buhay nito. Pero nang muli silang magkita, pareho lang pala ang mundong itinadhana sa kanilang dalawa.

Having dated for five years and been married for seven, she had never missed his birthday in the past 12 years. The 12 gifts from previous years were carefully placed in the storage closet. However, this year's birthday gift...