Cunning

"Masquerade of the Heart" Sometimes love hides behind the most unexpected masks… After a brutal betrayal and a painful divorce, Ethan Lockwood has lost all faith in love—until he finds solace in the red light district, not in lust, but in quiet companionship. There, he meets Ruby, a mysterious woman behind a masquerade mask who asks for nothing but time. What he doesn’t know is that Ruby is really Minnie Love, a determined law student fighting to stay afloat. As their bond deepens, secrets grow heavier. Minnie becomes Ethan’s fiercest ally in his divorce, all while hiding her true identity. When Ethan’s cunning ex-wife Amanda discovers the truth, she threatens to use it as ammunition. Meanwhile, under his powerful mother's pressure, Ethan finds himself in an unlikely contract marriage—with Minnie. What begins as convenience quickly turns into something real, but neither dares to admit it. When Minnie’s secret is exposed and the world turns against her, she vanishes—until a determined friend helps her find Ethan again, hiding in a remote cabin, wounded and lost. There, truths are faced, love is confessed, and a powerful choice is made. Tangled in lies, love, and legal battles, Masquerade of the Heart is a slow-burn, emotionally rich romance about trust, redemption, and the unexpected places we find home.

STEAMY MYSTERY ROMANCE *** # Billionare fake Identity wife # Fake marraige Elaine Rivera's world shatters when a heated argument with her husband, Ethan Rivera, ends with her returning home to find him murdered. Before she can grieve or process the horror, she's framed and thrown into prison by the powerful Rivera family, who take everything from her—including her beloved daughter, Autumn. Desperate and broken, Elaine stages a daring escape, vowing to unearth the truth about Ethan's death and reclaim her daughter. But on the run from the FBI, she finds herself at the mercy of Lucas Grayson, a cunning detective with his own agenda. Lucas offers her a lifeline: a contract marriage to protect her identity and gain access to the high-stakes world she needs to infiltrate. Under a new identity and armed with relentless determination, Elaine dives into a web of deceit, danger, and betrayal. The deeper she digs, the more she questions everyone around her—including Lucas. As sparks ignite between them, Elaine must navigate a minefield of lies and emotions. When love blurs the line between ally and enemy, and betrayal threatens to derail her mission, Elaine faces impossible choices. Can she trust Lucas with her heart and the truth? Or will her quest for justice destroy them both?

Blurb: What happens when a Queen Serpent falls in love with an Alpha running for the king? Her Nemesis and the creature who killed her husband? Serpent Queen Liza is funny, witty, arrogant, a little stubborn, and a bit short-tempered, but a cunning cobra with a golden heart. A shape-shifter, Queen Liza has been blessed with the power to guise into any living creature. Be it a vampiress or a she-wolf. Twenty and four, she thinks of herself as tough, bold, fearless, and rebellious who is complete as she was. It was until she stumbled into the arms of her sworn enemy. And she likes it. Alpha Ibhaan is the ruler of the Taksh peck. A thirty-something, he is a smart, powerful, intelligent, clever, and drop-dead gorgeous black wolf. His heritage, Taksh Pack, is magnificent. It is developed, rich, and famous among the 49 subcontinents Packs of Chaitali. The wolves are living ahead of time in a super luxurious and comfortable lifestyle with elective democracy. It has everything that Liza’s country lacks. But will she ever be able to cherish it with revenge and desire pumping in her veins? Recently, the government has taken over the Ahi-Empire, the country of serpents co-ruled by Queen Liza and her husband King Maurya, putting a full stop to age-old rivalry, and destroying her world. Will Ibhaan be able to resolve the conflicts between the two races when his conscience is repenting an age-old stigma? Chaitali is not as glorious as it appears on covers of the ‘Wolf-Street’. It has a history comprising a million mysteries.

“It's good to see you.” Armando's tone was rusty as he whispered in her ears. “It's not every day, I get to see such beauty.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It's a pain in the ass to see you.” Leonor was struggling against the chair she was strapped with thick ropes. “I was not born with enough middle fingers to let you know how I truly feel.” She spat. __ Armando, a heartless, ruthless, Italian Mafia King who is as cunning as a fox, as dangerous as a mastermind criminal, the leader of his gang, and a brutal loan shark continues his risky adventurous life. He holds Lenore captive, until her brother can pay back his debt, but deep down, he hopes for the opposite. Leonor is a beautiful young girl who lives a peaceful lifestyle. One that guarantees her safety and peace until the mafia leader captures her. Something about Armando intrigues her. The charisma and the danger of hanging with a bad boy keep her wanting more. Will she fear him like others do, or teach him that there is more to life apart from being brutal? And will he ever learn to love? However, there is a personality clash which would later result in constant fights and the need to be heard. WARNING: The contents of this book is extremely matured.

“Either you make me forget, Lucas. Or I'll find someone who will." For a moment, he doesn't move, and I think he's going to push me away. But then, something shifts in his eyes and he closes the distance between us, his lips capturing mine in a heated kiss. Amelia's life takes a drastic turn when her boyfriend of two years, Ethan, who she discovers is also her mate, rejects her just days before his coronation—a coronation she meticulously helped organize. In an attempt to escape her painful reality, Amelia's best friend takes her out to celebrate her birthday. But fate intervenes when Amelia sees Ethan with another girl. Heartbroken and frustrated, she turns to liquor to numb her pain. In her intoxicated state, Amelia encounters Lucas, Ethan's cousin and the heir to the throne. They share a passionate night, and Lucas, both mysterious and cunning, proposes a contract marriage to make Ethan jealous and secure his position as Crown Prince. Amelia finds herself torn between two powerful men: her ex-boyfriend, whom she thought was her soulmate, and the Crown Prince, who challenges her in ways she never expected. As the contract marriage begins to feel more real, the tension escalates. Both Lucas and Amelia struggle with their deepening feelings, navigating a complex web of love, power, and betrayal.

Seraphina Nightbane was never meant to survive. Every fated mate she’s ever had is dead. Gone without a trace. Nobody. No scent. No answers. Now, no wolf dares to claim her. No pack will take her in. Because the message is clear—whoever mates her is as good as dead. But the Council doesn’t believe in curses. They believe in power. And an unmated she-wolf with no allegiance? That’s a threat they refuse to ignore. So they give her a choice. Take a mate. Or be exiled. But this time, she refuses to let fate decide for her. This time, she signs a contract. One deal. Four Alphas. A bond that never should have existed. Kieran Stormclaw—The ruthless Alpha King who doesn’t believe in love. Caspian & Cian Moonshadow—Twin Alphas, one cold and cunning, the other wild and unpredictable. Ronan Darkmoor—The cursed prince who looks at her like he already knows how this ends. She expects a political arrangement. A necessary evil. Nothing more. Then the first body appears. A wolf, slaughtered and left at her doorstep. A message written in its blood. "Your mate will die, just like the others." The curse isn’t done with her. The prophecy she’s spent her life running from is waking up. And the deeper she’s pulled into their world, the more she realizes— One will betray her. One will die for her. And one will try to kill her. She was never meant to have a mate. So why does fate refuse to let her go?

Emma Caldwell's ordinary life as a librarian in Willow Creek is turned upside down when she receives an enigmatic invitation to the reading of a stranger's will at Haverstone Manor. What begins as an inexplicable summons quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets, danger, and intrigue. As Emma delves deeper into the manor's mysteries, she discovers she's not the only one with a stake in its secrets. Fellow guests, each with shadowy motives, vie for a piece of the late Lord Haverstone's enigmatic legacy. Amid ancient symbols, cryptic maps, and peculiar artifacts, Emma uncovers the existence of a machine designed to manipulate time itself. Guided by clues left by the deceased lord, Emma must navigate a gothic maze of shifting alliances, hidden chambers, and eerie warnings. Her companions, including a sardonic teenager and a glamorous but cunning relative of Haverstone, are as unpredictable as the dangers lurking in the shadows. When betrayals come to light and an old foe reveals their true intentions, Emma finds herself the reluctant guardian of a power that could reshape existence—or destroy it. As the stakes rise, she must unravel the truth about Haverstone’s experiments and decide whom she can trust, all while racing to prevent the manor’s secrets from falling into the wrong hands. Blending gothic suspense, unexpected humor, and thrilling twists, "Haverstone's Legacy" is a gripping tale of mystery and courage, where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and catastrophe.

Natalie Spencer, a 21-year-old girl lived happily with her parents and cousin brother Sean in Las Vegas but she lost her parents in a sudden tragedy which forced her to come down to Seattle, and live with her Uncle and Aunt. Max Spencer, Natalie’s Uncle is a cunning Man and has his eyes on his brother’s property, whose Natalie was the sole heir. Due to Natalie’s father’s will, the property will come under her husband’s name and she can only get married once she turns 23. So, her uncle tortured her for 2 years, kept her hostage in his house, and fixed her wedding on her 23rd birthday to a boy Named Ricky, who is a nonsense person and has bad intentions for Natalie. But Natalie ran away and reached California seeking help from her childhood best friend Nancy and her boyfriend Caleb where she Met Mason Rhodes Mason, who is the best friend of Caleb, lost his Father in an accident and his Mother couldn’t take it and fall sick. Just for her sake, Mason married Natalie, who also needed a husband to get a hold of her Father’s property and get rid from her uncle. Both got married and fell in love with each other. Mason and Natalie’s relationship is jeopardized when Natalie’s Aunt and Uncle re-entered her life and some horrific truth about the past was disclosed.

I was an unfortunate omega, auctioned off like a lamb, sold to a ruthless Alpha billionaire named Dominic Bloodhound. I was meant to be nothing but a plaything, a pet. Except, Dominic didn’t treat me like any of those things, he barely even looked at me, but my mother was right… all Alphas are the same, cunning, ruthless, and devoid of emotion. Dominic never bought me out of the sheer kindness of his heart, he bought me because of the witch doctor he’s been hunting in secret, and I couldn’t let him use me to hunt my own bloodline. Now standing there after barely having escaped, he looks down at me with his gold eyes gleaming. “Join me,” he said simply. “And help me bring Dominic to his knees.” I take his hand, ignoring the voice in my head, screaming that I’m making a deal with the devil. “Then let’s destroy Dominic Bloodhound.” The enemy of my enemy is supposed to be my friend, right? **** Lyra Graves strikes a dangerous bargain with an Alpha, but as she dives deeper into the world of deception, forbidden attraction, and mysterious power, there’s only one question that haunts Lyra’s mind. What if the real monster isn’t the Alpha she seeks revenge against, but the one she’s slowly falling for? An Omega with everything to lose. An Alpha with everything to prove. And a bond that refuses to die. Flip the page and jump into the town of Ravenshire, where it all began...

Life was tough for Svetlana Kozlovsky already courtesy to Bratva who was on a hunt to find her dead or alive but she apparently hadn't seen the worst of it yet. Well, until she met Luca Alessio Giannini, Don of the Cosa Nostra, faked being his arranged fiancé and becoming pregnant with his imaginary baby... Svetlana Yulia Kozlovsky 23-year-old, Second generation heir of Russian Mafia syndicate: Frivolous, scheming and clever as she is, her heart is plated in gold. Through series of bad childhood experiences molded her to be her caution self, she is a surgeon by profession with traumatic practice experience as a disciple of a mad doctor. Love and trust doesn't come easy to her. Luca Alessio Giannini 29-year old, head of the Italian Mafia. Apparently the CEO of Multi-Billion Company, he works in black and white trades. To the world he is self-made jolly playboy billionaire but under the veil he is cunning, promiscuous and when provoked a cold-hearted killer. Bored of every person meeting him with servitude, he immediately get attracted by the ice-cold Russian beauty who doesn't bat her eyes twice at him. With her devil-may-care attitude and aloofness to his charm, she is quick to catch the eyes of the Mafia King and he wants her. And nothing stops him from getting what he wants, not even the Raven head beauty who has his heart in her clutches.