Critical 소설 & 이야기

When the House Fell Silent is a gripping and emotional family saga that delves into the lives of five siblings — Abby, Aubrey, Tshepo, Mathapelo, and the youngest, Gail — after the sudden death of their father. The novel explores the struggles of grief, the challenges of responsibility, the shadows of abuse, and the weight of family expectations. As the siblings navigate the complexities of marriage, work, and personal trauma, their mother emerges as a steadfast pillar, guiding them through turmoil while facing her own battles as an unemployed matriarch. With in-laws disputing the will and old family wounds resurfacing, the narrative captures the resilience, heartbreak, and courage required to survive. Told with intensity and sensitivity, this novel is a tale of love, loss, and the enduring strength of family bonds. Through trials and triumphs, When the House Fell Silent is ultimately a story of hope, healing, and the voices that must rise to reclaim a family’s future.

Arla-Rosa gave her heart to the wrong man and paid the ultimate price, her life, and the lives of her unborn children. Betrayed by her family, ruined by love, discarded like trash, she was left to die in the cold, her trust shattered and her spirit broken. But death was not her end. It was her rebirth. Waking six months before the night of her greatest betrayal, Arla is no longer the naive, trusting girl they destroyed. This time, she sees the daggers hidden behind smiles, the poison laced in sweet words. This time, she has no intention of forgiving. No plans to surrender. No mercy to spare. Armed with the knowledge of what’s to come and a heart forged in fire, Arla-Rosa is ready to play their games... only now, she is writing the rules. And when the final reckoning comes, they will learn one brutal truth: The phoenix does not forgive. It burns.

Serena Voss walked into Nate Calloway's office to beg for more time on a loan. She walked out as his fiancée. The deal was simple. Sixty days, one role to play, and every debt her family owed would disappear. No feelings. No complications. Just business. But Nate had been looking for her for ten years. And Serena had no idea why. The more time they spend together the harder it becomes to pretend. But when secrets buried between their families long before either of them were born come tearing into the open, Serena starts to wonder if any of it was ever really her choice — or if she was always just the last piece of a plan someone else made decades ago.

“I’ve got you,” His free hand finds my waist again, keeping me anchored. “I won’t let go unless you tell me to.” My breath hitches but I don't move away, still fixing my gaze back at him. Water droplets cling to his eyelashes and his hair is slicked back from his face, his blue eyes reflecting the moonlight. Fuck. He looks so dreamy and beautiful and utterly unguarded with me. I wonder if I look the same to him too. Gently, the water laps at our shoulders, cool against my heated skin that is burning for his touch. Our eyes are still locked on each other, our faces merely inches apart. I want him. I want him so much that I don't want to stop wanting him. This pull between us has tortured me long enough and for so long, I have fought it. Restrained it. But now, I am done fighting it. Without warning, I cup his face and crash my lips to his mouth, shutting my eyes and damning the consequences. He takes in a sharp breath, an adrenaline of desire rushing through me like wildfire at the sound before he pulls me flush against him, his lips kissing me back with a hunger that instantly fuels the fire blazing through my veins. My hands move up and fist into his wet hair, tugging at the strands and drawing out a pleasurable groan from him. He wants me. He craves me just as much as I crave him. And I am glad we're both on the same page of this temptation. ~ They stole my powers, murdered my loved ones, and killed me. But now, I am back for vengeance—and the Lycan Prince is mine!

She never wanted to fix him. He was chaos, destruction, a man who wore his scars like armor. And she? She was the fool who dared to love him anyway. Revansh Malhotra was everything Aarini Joshi should have stayed away from—reckless, heartless, and incapable of love. But somewhere between his cruel smirks and broken promises, she saw a glimpse of the boy he once was... and the man he could become. "I don't want to fix you, Malhotra," she told him once. "But I wish to love you so fiercely, so fearlessly, that you won't have a choice but to change—for yourself, and for me." In a world where love is often a battlefield, Aarini chooses to fight not with anger, but with unwavering devotion. But some wars aren't meant to be won. Will her love heal a heart that’s forgotten how to feel? Or will she end up shattering herself in the process? A story of raw love, heartbreaking choices, and the painful beauty of believing in someone who refuses to believe in themselves.

Josef Hadrian is the young 18-year-old Crown Prince if the Austrian Empire. Despite his weak stature and illness, he is determined to rule just as his father did, but with a twist. The young prince loves being with the commoners and is constantly curious about their everyday lives and joining them in their endeavors while keeping an eye on the whole land. Striving to change the eyes of the world about his family, he ascended not one throne, but several thrones, including that of Hungary, he stood on the ready to face he hardships of ruling an Empire head on.

Cynthia, a billionaire lawyer renowned for her unyielding advocacy for women's rights, has spent her career fearlessly battling injustice in the courtroom. Her impressive track record of victories has earned her a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and her name is synonymous with courage and determination. But when her own marriage implodes, Cynthia finds herself in the uncharted territory of being a defendant. The very laws she has spent her career defending seem to be working against her, and she is forced to navigate the treacherous waters of her own divorce. As she struggles to protect her rights and her reputation, Cynthia begins to question everything she thought she knew about the justice system. Is it truly impartial, or are there hidden biases and agendas at play? Can she trust her own lawyers, or are they just looking out for their own interests? As the stakes grow higher and the battle for her rights becomes increasingly intense, Cynthia is forced to confront the darkest corners of her own psyche. What secrets has she been keeping from herself, and from those around her? What lies has she been telling, and what truths has she been avoiding? Can Cynthia emerge from this crucible with her rights intact, or will she become the latest casualty of a system that seems designed to destroy her? Will she be able to reclaim her reputation, or will she be forever tarnished by the very laws she once fought to uphold? The outcome is far from certain, as Cynthia embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her path, or will she succumb to the crushing weight of her own doubts and fears? Only time will tell.

Damien Sterling is evil. He is so evil he wants me to pretend to be his fiancee before he can help me find my missing sister. The same woman he claimed to be his first love. "Call it what you may. I'll only help you if we work together on something." Me? Work together with Damien Sterling? "What do we work on?" "You mean, what are we working on?" A beat of silence. Then, he spoke. "We are going to get engaged. I mean, you're going to act like we are engaged. For six months." "Ha!" I cackled, face blank of expression. Then, a burst of laughter escaped me. While he watched me like I was crazy, I just kept on laughing. "Are you crazy? I'll be playing house? With you?" "I'm serious." While playing house with the billionaire devil, I must let go of my dream to be the top investigative journalist of Westmore Times and avoid falling for my missing sister's first love. Will this be possible when we are stuck in the same building, filled with heat and forbidden passion crackling between us?

⚠️WARNING: This book contains explicit sexual content, possessive and toxic male leads, manipulation, emotional abuse, and disturbing themes that may be triggering to some readers. This is nothing like healthy love. ¥¥¥¥ I loved Tyler Beaumont for twelve years. Years of hoping and waiting, believing that one day, he would finally choose me. So when my parents told me I was being arranged to marry into his family… I thought it was fate. I thought I had won. But I was wrong, because the man waiting for me at the altar isn’t Tyler. It’s his brother, Grayson Beaumont. The one I never heard of—the one with cold eyes, a cruel mouth, and a hatred for me sharp enough to bleed. I don’t know what I did to deserve it. I don’t even remember. But he does. He remembers everything. He didn’t marry me for love, because from the moment I became his wife, he made one thing clear—I would pay for a past I don’t even remember. “I tried to forget you,” he tilted my chin, staring directly into my soul. “But watching you love him? That was the first time I understood what hatred really feels like.” And Tyler? The man I spent twelve years loving? He won’t let me go. “I don’t need you to choose me,” he whispered. “I just need you to understand… no matter whose name you take, you will always be mine.” Two brothers. One filled with hatred. The other with obsession. And me? Caught between a past I can’t remember…and a truth that could destroy us all. Because somewhere between lies, desire, and betrayal, I realize the most dangerous thing of all: I was never meant to love the right brother.

Elizabeth Adams has never made room for love. At twenty-nine, she believes success comes first and feelings only complicate the future she’s worked so hard to build. But in Paris—after a failed blind date and a moment of unexpected vulnerability—Elizabeth meets a woman who makes her forget every rule she’s ever lived by. Their connection is instant, electric, and deeply intimate. One night. Two women. A memory that refuses to fade. When a small lie shatters the illusion, Elizabeth leaves Paris convinced it was a beautiful mistake she’ll never repeat. Back in South Africa, she tries to move on—until the woman she left behind shows up, carrying the same longing Elizabeth can no longer deny. As their bond deepens, a devastating truth is revealed: the woman Elizabeth loves is her mother’s long-lost first love. Caught between desire and loyalty, Elizabeth must decide whether love is worth breaking her own heart—or her mother’s.