Everybody Reads

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

A boy stuck between who he was, who he has become & who he could be. Plinio Murray or as he prefers to be called, Nio, is a bully. He picks fights with anyone for no reason. He is cruel. His face is scarred. He is savage. His hits nearly killed a boy last year. He is ruthless. His pockets are brimming with illegal money. He is the one of whom everybody is scared. His grades are failing. Not that he gives a shit but Mr. Harrison has tied him in a study session the school's sweetheart. Famous by the nickname Angel, Celeste James is everybody's favorite. With her quarterback boyfriend Kevin, they are the golden couple of the high school. Beginnings of the study session are rough and pretty electric. Already caught in between her secrets, Plinio is nothing but a headache. Just when she decides to end the study sessions with him, Celeste learns that perhaps Plinio isn't much hopeless after all. Can a bully always hurt others and not get hurt on the way? After all what goes around comes around. Twisted truths, cheating partners and a gradually blossoming love; maybe there isn't much difference between who is beautiful and who is battered.

Olivia has spent her entire life in Bremia avoiding the war and dreaming of a life away from conflict. She reads of times when fighting is not commonplace and wars not a constant. The country of Bremia has been plagued with war for decades with no peace in sight. One day, she finds herself in the midst of an attack with bullets flying and explosions crumbling the walls of the city. In a desperate attempt to save her sister from an oncoming attack, she throws herself at the mercy of the warrior. She finds herself staring at a man whose very existence will change her fate forever. Will the forces of evil keep them apart, or will the forbidden love find a way?

I'm an heiress who's been bound to a gossip system. Everyone reads my mind on my first day back home after being reunited with my family. "Mom sure has done a good job of maintaining her beauty. It's no wonder she became an OnlyFans streamer after divorcing Dad." My mother is about to berate me for something, but she pales and stops when she hears my thoughts. I glance at the fake heiress, who's weeping pitifully. "My, she's pregnant. Is it John's or Zach's?" My two brothers exchange odd looks. Then, my father arrives. I cluck my tongue. "Oh, it's Dad's."

Everybody said my life was over after Brad Coleman called off his engagement with me. I had been with him for five years. The things I had done to pander to him had left my reputation in tatters. Nobody was willing to be with a woman like me anymore. After word started spreading within our social circle that Brad had gotten a new lover, everybody was waiting for me to go crawling back to him. However, what they did not know was that I had volunteered to take my younger sister's place and go to a faraway city, Clason City, to get married. Before I got married, I returned the treasure box that Brad had given to me. The coupon for a free wish that he had given me when he was younger was still in it. I left without leaving anything behind. However, one day after a long time, Brad suddenly thought of me. "It's been a while since I last heard from Leah Young. Is she dead?" he said. Meanwhile, I was awakened by kisses from my new husband. "Good girl, Leah. You promised me to go four rounds. We can't go any less…"

On New Year's Eve, I prepare a feast. The clock strikes twelve, but my husband, Vincent Porter, still isn't home. My daughter, Lorelei Porter, tugs at my sleeve and holds up my phone. "Look Mommy, Daddy is at this lady's house!" Vincent has posted an update on Twitter. He is with Christine Snow, his childhood sweetheart. They are smiling at the camera, with a boy who looks about ten standing between them. In front of them sits a swan-shaped cake. The caption reads, "The most special day for the most special you." My heart sinks into my stomach. A marriage that came later in life can never compete with a pair of childhood sweethearts. I accept defeat.

Emily Harlow never agreed to be sold on national television, until her mother signed her up for The Marriage Lottery, a ruthless show pairing society’s “undesirable” women with husbands willing to take them. Alone, in a torn gown, under blinding lights and a nation laughing, Emily opens her only offer and reads the name aloud. Damien William Hardy. The audience erupts in disbelief. A joke, they say. A mistake. Because what would a man like him ever want with a leftover woman? Damien Hardy did not choose Emily Harlow. Her presence is an intrusion into his plans, his reputation, his bloodline. He will break her, piece by piece, until he uncovers the secret she’s hiding. And yet… against all odds, she has claimed the most eligible man in the country. But can she keep him?

Kaia Dorchner is areas of strength for an autonomous lady who just needs opportunity for herself. Marriage season is coming and the main way that she will get her opportunity is to wed somebody. Lev Laurier facilitated a get-together where every single young fellow and ladies assembled to find their match. Considering a similar objective, Lev likewise needs to get hitched this season. In the midst of the group, they chose to profess to cherish one another and made a trick about wedding only for their own advantage. Can they trick everybody around them? Or on the other hand will there be love?

**Contain mature scenes not suitable for young readers** A strong-willed, independent Haley Santorini started having the life she wanted. Her name began to make a splash in the fashion industry as a fashion designer. But her world tumbled down when her dad was accused stealing money from his ruthless hotel employer. Wesley Finn, known for being arrogant and clever billionaire. He's a devilish handsome beast that everybody don't want to messed-up with. Even given a name as "Territorial Billionaire" by the New York press. He's very possessive, manipulative and intimidating.

Atlas burnam, the golden boy of the town; Smart, handsome and incredibly athletic…everybody adored him. So what happens when Skylar Gilliard, the one girl in the entire town who never really got the appeal of fawning over the golden boy, finds herself as his caretaker because of a stupid mistake? Well things were bound to get messy that was obvious…but boy did Skylar never imagine that Atlas Burnam would completely turn her world upside down and forever change the way she saw the world.