Dana Point Library Bookstore Novels & Stories

Thirty days. One month. A single, heartbeat-stopping wager. Benjamin Parker was the sun. A golden-haired scholarship recruit with flour on his hands and a heart that he wore—vulnerable and beating—on his sleeve. He spent weeks chasing the school’s "Ice Prince," offering handmade tarts and a smile that could melt the coldest winter. He thought his persistence finally paid off when Jonathan Hayes—the obsidian-eyed, terrifyingly beautiful heir to a tech empire—pinned him against the school gates and claimed him in front of everyone. But the "Golden Romance" was a lie from the very first kiss. Jonathan didn't choose Benjamin because of his heart; he chose him because he was a convenient target for a cruel poker-room bet. The stakes? A vintage motorcycle. The duration? Thirty days of manufactured affection. Now, the countdown is ticking. Between the silk sheets of Jonathan’s penthouse and the shadows of the St. Jude’s library, the line between the game and reality is blurring. Jonathan is the predator who accidentally caught himself in his own trap, growing addicted to the very light he’s destined to extinguish. Benjamin is the lamb who is slowly realizing the wolf isn't just at the door—he’s in his bed. When the moon turns red and the thirty days are up, the truth will do more than just break Benjamin's heart. It will shatter his soul. One month of sweetness. A lifetime of ruin. In the game of hearts, the house always wins... and Jonathan Hayes never plays fair.

My name is Lena, and until last week, my biggest worry was the late return fees at the library where I work. I was ordinary, invisible, and I liked it that way. Then a pack of rogue werewolves attacked me in a dark alley, and two monsters saved my life—or so I thought. The first was Caspian, a vampire prince carved from ice and centuries of solitude. His gaze held no warmth, yet when he looked at me, something ancient and hungry flickered in his eyes. The second was Kael, the Alpha of the Northern pack, all burning muscles and wild possessiveness. He took one sniff of my skin and declared me his “mate” without a second thought. Now I’m caught between a cold, opulent castle and a warm, chaotic pack territory. Caspian’s touch sends shivers down my spine, while Kael’s fierce protection makes me feel safe for the first time in years. They are sworn enemies, bound by a blood feud older than any city, yet both refuse to let me go. But the real danger isn’t their rivalry. Strange things are happening to my body—I can hear thoughts, heal faster, and the full moon sings to my blood. I’m not just a human caught between two worlds. I am the last of the Hybrid Blood, a forgotten lineage that could either unite the species or destroy them all. And the one who controls me, controls the night.

“Open up,” he ordered, and I immediately obeyed. He checked to see if I had swallowed. His eyes blazed as he nodded in approval. “That’s like a good girl.” I blushed at the compliment as I nibbled on my lips, feeling satisfied at being praised washing over my every being. His eyes followed my little action. “What are you to say, pet?” He asked as he began stroking my head. “Thank you, master. “I replied shyly. At this point, I knew that I was too far gone to stop. I enjoyed it way too much—the feeling of being controlled. He burns for her and will burn down the world to have her.

The day I walked into that house, I knew I walked right into hell. The same dude that splashed me water on the streets, turned out to be my step brother at my mom's house. It didn't end there, he had the guts to torment me, broke my violin when I was preparing for my audition and somehow, still saved me. At some point, I don't know what he wants again, but I know he's a psycho for sure. However, everything changed after that night, that kiss and now, I'm left wondering where I stand? I keep asking myself, can I love my own devil?

Lena thought graduate school would be about focus, discipline, and finally proving to herself that she belonged in the world of academics. Books, research, and long nights in the library—that was the plan. Romance had no place in it. Especially not with the one man who should have been completely off-limits. Professor Jace Carrington is everything Lena was warned about. Brilliant. Confident. Dangerous in his quiet control. His lectures command attention, his presence silences a room, and when his eyes find hers across the crowded lecture hall, she feels both seen and undone. He is a man who draws lines with precision—and a man who knows exactly how to make someone want to cross them. What begins as a spark of curiosity turns into stolen glances, late-night office hours, and conversations that blur the line between mentorship and something far more intimate. Jace’s rules are simple: no one can know, and she always has a choice. But rules are easy to write and far harder to follow. The deeper Lena falls, the more she realizes this isn’t just attraction—it’s obsession, it’s surrender, and it’s freedom all at once. Secrets, however, have a way of surfacing, and on a campus where whispers spread like wildfire, forbidden love can burn everything in its path. Lessons After Dark is a steamy, character-driven romance filled with power, temptation, and the dangerous pull of a secret relationship. For readers who crave tension, intimacy, and the thrill of crossing every line you were told not to, this story will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out.

I am looking at it right now, not believing what I see. I decided that I would follow the whole wedding far away from them, almost near the exit, just so that I wouldn't have to exchange ideas with any of them. My mother is holding hands with Daud Lestari, the head of that family of thieves and murderers, smiling in her beautiful white wedding dress. Right behind them is Daud's son, Lanton Lestari, that cursed man. My new half-brother. It will take a while, but he will see who is in charge here. I myself will make it a point to hunt down and destroy every single Lestari there, starting with Lanton, or my name is not Lukman Sari.

"I will be your mistress, Adrian. Just let my family live." Adrian lifted his glass of wine. A faint smile curved his lips. "I thought they would send me the adopted daughter," he said, "I didn't expect you." "Everyone said your brother spoiled you like a princess. Turns out that was just a joke." The tip of the pen paused, stabbing a small blot of ink onto the paper. I signed my name, calm to the point of silence. The contract would take effect in three days. Then, I would cut all ties with the Willis name. I traded myself for the survival of the Willis family and my own permanent release.

I took time out of my busy schedule to come back and celebrate my husband's birthday, only to accidentally learn from my daughter that my husband had been maintaining intimate contact with his first love. My husband still loved his first love and had been secretly involved with her behind my back. Even though I had given him an adorable daughter, his heart was never with me! What's the point of continuing a marriage without love? I chose to leave! But after I left, he seemed like a completely different person, starting to care about me in every way and wanting to win me back! It's too late!

While he searches for justice for the death of his sister, Alejandro, the son of Lorenzo Amato, the head of the Amato mafia clan stumbles upon Arianna, a clueless girl who has no idea what kind of world her parents lived in before their sudden death. Driven by her hunger for revenge when she realises her parents death was not an accident, she uncovers truths that put her in danger, the same that cost her parents their lives. Alejandro hasn’t given up on his pursuit for justice either but is forced to confront budding feelings for his enemy. However, what happens when Arianna’s revenge seems to point her in the direction of Alejandro? Will she be willing to do what it takes or will the heart want what it wants?

I didn't kill my asshole ex-boyfriend. I knew I might've said I would countless times in the text I sent before we broke up, and I wasn't the calmest person. But I really didn't kill him. I, however, am the number one and only suspect of his murder since to everyone else he was a sAiNt. But hey, let's not talk ill of the dead. The point is, I was stuck at the station being questioned about something I didn't do. And I thought it was the worst thing that could've possibly happened to me. That is, until I set eyes on the detective of the case. I may just play along for a while. See where this thing goes....