Burt Ward

To the world, I was Mrs. Ward—the untouchable queen beside the mafia king of New York, Elias Ward. But I knew my husband never loved me. His heart had always belonged to Harper Dinah. His nephew’s wife. And after that nephew conveniently died, Elias brought her into our mansion, “I just want to take better care of her,” he’d said. And his version of “care” was where he’d throw a man out of a party for daring to flirt with Harper and got her pregnant. Elias likes to praise me in public like I was the perfect wife to him. And I was. I helped build his empire. I was the one who smiled and played nice. I made his casino shine while he hid Harper away like she was something sacred. Because of all that praising, one of his enemies set his sights on me. They took me. Sent Elias a message soaked in blood and threats: Back off. Leave New York. Or your pretty wife dies. Of course, Elias didn’t choose to back off.. “Just wait,” he said over the phone, “They won’t hurt you, Noa. You’re leverage. Just hold on until Harper gives birth. Then I’ll come for you.” Eight months of being held in a filthy hole, starved, beaten, degraded. The gang leader raped me over and over again. And still, Elias never came. Finally, I escaped when they were all drunk. Went home, only find my twins sleeping in the maid’s room, eating scraps while Elias was too busy hosting a party for his newborn. I didn’t confront him, just packed my babies and disappear.

The past never stays buried forever... The past caught up with Harper Carrington in the cruelest way. After tragedy summoned her home to Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains, she was confronted with another twist of the knife – Wyck, her first love who abandoned her fifteen years before and disappeared off the map. Wyck Ward never planned to see Harper again after her powerful father exiled him from Carrington Ridge. Consumed by the desire for revenge, Wyck spent over a decade systematically destroying the man's corrupt legacy. But with his enemy suddenly dead, Wyck realizes his all-consuming vendetta could cost him what his fractured soul needs - Harper. Join Harper and Wyck as they discover if some hearts are too damaged to ever mend or if even the coldest embers can flare back to life when two fractured souls find the pieces they’ve been missing. If you enjoy small town, second chance romances with complex characters, all the feels, a side of steam, and lots of twisty mountain roads, you'll love this first book in the new Carrington Ridge series.

The day before Henry Baker and I are supposed to marry, my mother sedates me. She makes my twin sister marry Henry instead. A few years later, the company Henry established turns into a thriving empire. My sister, Diana Halliwell, flourishes with him. While I was at the lowest point in my life, my childhood friend, Jorge Ward, proposed. It's only after marriage that I realize he's worthless. Diana and Henry attend various parties. They enjoy delicious food and wear expensive clothes. Meanwhile, I end up exhausted after having to cook and clean for my family. One night, Mom speaks softly to Jorge when she thinks I've fallen asleep. "I was worried she would find out the truth about what happened back then, but it seems she's too dumb to notice anything." Jorge laughs. "You're a genius, Erica. You laced Laura's water with sleeping pills so Diana could marry Henry on her behalf. I'm glad to see how happy Diana is now." Mom sighs. "I just feel bad for you. You've always liked Diana, yet you're forced to live with a wash-out like Laura…"

After six months of working together Chase Ward, an attractive and successful lawyer and his secretary Christine Morrison are constantly at each other's throats. Chase is torn between his growing attraction for Christine and his need to be better than his father. To make matters worse his rival is Mason Pritchard, his former friend and colleague. Christine seems indifferent to both of them, but Chase is adamant to not to let Mason win this time. He takes Christine with on a trip to London. The company's private jet crashes during a storm and Chase and Christine survive. But will they survive the dangers that await them on the seemingly deserted island?

Scarlett; Minutes after I had given birth to his kids, he walked into the ward and announced our divorce, claiming that I betrayed him. Accused of infidelity, I was heartbroken when he chose to disbelieve me even when it was obvious that I was framed. Despite giving birth to his twins, I was forced to part with one of my children. As if that wasn't enough, even my own family discarded me, revealing that I was adopted. In a state of irreparable heartbreak, I managed to flee to New York with my remaining child, eager to start afresh. But that decision I made changed my life forever. I uncovered my true heritage and it turns out I'm a part of Hollywood royalty, a celebrity heiress with a legacy of stardom. One stunning twist threw everything off balance. I crossed paths with Ethan once again and this time around, he's desperate to correct all his wrongs. But can I ever forgive him? Ethan: Despite our marriage being arranged, I've grown to love Scarlett. I've come to develop feelings for her, but she ended up betraying me. I divorced her and took my son away from her but I regret my actions. I searched the entire city for her but my efforts to find her were futile. My son was desperately sick and needed a maternal figure. With no other option, I had to agree to Jasmine's proposal so we could provide the parental support he needed. Just as I thought she'd vanished from my life forever, she walked into that event, and the revelation of her true identity left me stunned – a famous celebrity and the long-lost heiress of the iconic Scott family. Now I want her back but will she ever forgive me? Or will I lose her forever?

Frans Rudiart was heartbroken and pretended to be a lectu rer to ward off his sadness. However, his status as a lectur er unexpectedly led him to marry Veronica, a student who was the subject of ridicule on campus due to her overweig ht body. What is their story?

My sister, Yvonne Jones, tried to murder the childhood friend of a rich heir in order to seduce him. Yvonne poisoned the woman's drink and pulled out her oxygen tube after she was sent to the hospital. When the rich heir arrived in a rush, Yvonne cried in his arms daintily. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. I failed to protect her." I witnessed everything in the ward but didn't say a word about it. In my previous lifetime, I stopped Yvonne from poisoning the woman. I knew the rich heir would never let her get away with it if he found out about it. Yvonne was forced to give up her plan and even praised me for my foresight. However, she ended up poisoning me instead and stabbed me in the heart with her dagger when I got dizzy. "This is your fault! Die! If you hadn't stopped me, Sean Graham would've been mine!" When I opened my eyes next, I had returned to the day of the poisoning.

Welcome back to Clifton Heights. Sheriff Chris Baker and Father Ward meet for a Saturday morning breakfast at The Skylark Diner to once again commiserate over the weird and terrifying secrets surrounding their town. Sheriff Baker shares with Father Ward the story of a journal discovered in the ruins of what was once an elaborate koi pond and flower garden, which regales a tale of regret, buried pain, and unfulfilled debt: “Sophan” – Jake Burns has always been a bit...off. Rude, awkward, sometimes brutish, he's tolerated by Nate Slocum and his friends because he hits a mean line drive, and because they all know but don't discuss the abuse he faces at the hands of his troubled father, a Vietnam veteran consumed by his demons. But Jake is suffering something far worse than domestic abuse, and when Nate discovers what, he faces an impossible choice: help Jake and put himself in the path of evil, or abandon him, only to damn himself in the process. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

The last thing Lark Ward wants to do is return to Lovell. In a small town that keeps a big secret and memories of her unhappy childhood.For the sake of her aunt, she returns to where those who call themselves her family live, but they are not. They do not recognize her as their own, but one of them saw her as his mate. But she's not one of them. How to break the imposed connection? Will she be able to ignore someone else's life? Can he escape fate?

I double over in pain after assisting Adrian Randall with a late-night operation. He immediately carries me to a ward to check on me. However, before he can do that, he receives a call from a patient and hurries off. That night, I miscarry. When I come out of the operating theater, I see his childhood friend's social media update. She's shared a photo of her baby bump. "He hurried to come to my side just because I was lost. You have to treat Adrian well in the future, my darling!" I rub my belly, which throbs with a dull ache. I don't cry and demand an explanation from Adrian as I would have in the past. Instead, I like the post and apply for a position on the Borderless Medical Assistance Program. The day I leave, the high and mighty Dr. Randall looks at me with red-rimmed eyes. He asks, "How can you bear to leave me behind?"