Frozen Courage

…Moved by her plight, I made a firm decision. "I will help you," I said, looking into her eyes with sincerity. But it came with a condition, and I wanted her to be aware of it. There were always strings attached to this world. Her question lingered in the air. "What conditions?" Abebi asked, seeking clarity. I took a deep breath, "You will give me your body. You shall become my mistress." "I will think about it." She said as she sermons unbelievable courage and looks at me straight in the eye for the first time since our conversation. "I need to go now." "Where do you think you are going? Our deal starts now." I grabbed her hand, preventing her from further moving close to the door. "If you want to live, you better start undressing yourself," I ordered. I watched as he obediently obeyed my instructions… ******* {Strong female lead & originally mafia novel} In the gritty underworld of crime and desperation, a young girl named Abebi found herself trapped in a web of darkness. With her father's debts looming over her family, she had no choice but to step into the dangerous world of the mafia.

Paige North got a contract to get married to her high school crush, Cedric Brooks, a contract she willingly agreed to in hopes that the marriage would make Cedric love her.  But the marriage didn't turn out the way Paige would have wanted because of misunderstandings on both their parts.  Cedric travelled three months after their marriage leaving Paige with no words only to return three years later demanding divorce which Paige rejected.  Paige's mother got into an accident that caused her to need urgent surgery. Paige has nowhere to access money from, all her parent's accounts and properties have been frozen, leaving her with only the option of the compensation money that Cedric offered to her in favor of her agreement to divorce him. She takes him up on the offer and agrees to divorce him and get the money, which comes as a shock of disappointment to Cedric who was still in love with her. The agreement doesn't go as planned because now, Cedric is offering Paige another contract. 

"After witnessing his parents’ doomed love affair, serial playboy Ash Younger decided long ago that love was not meant for him. With his charm and good looks, he’s never lacked for beautiful women. He may push numbers as an accountant by day, but by night, he’s only interested in having a woman in his bed. Yet the night he encounters a mysterious—and gorgeous—widow who doesn’t immediately fall under his seductive spell, Ash realizes he wants her more than he’s ever wanted another woman. Following the loss of her husband two years ago, Violet Fielding wants to focus on two things: her jewelry business and beginning her life anew in the small town of Fair Haven, Washington. She doesn’t have time for men or romance, and she certainly doesn’t have time for a man who’s a well-known playboy and younger than her. Violet already found the love of her life in her husband, and after his death, she knew she could never love anyone again. But when Ash kisses her, all of her plans and promises are turned upside down. A passion stronger than either Ash or Violet could imagine envelops them both one night—and that night changes everything. As old heartbreaks threaten to tear the couple apart, both must find the courage to see that, of all things, love is worth a second chance."

England, 1876. Twenty-year-old Maraina Blackwood has always struggled to adhere to the restrictive standards of Victorian society, denying the courage and desire that burn within her soul. But after a terrifying supernatural encounter, Maraina's instincts compel her to action. Maraina soon discovers a plot to unleash a new world—one of demonic aristocrats, bloody rituals, and nightmarish monsters. Putting her upbringing aside, Maraina vows to fight the dark forces assuming control of England. But as her world transforms, Maraina finds that she too must transform...and what she becomes will bring out all that she once buried. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

“Please, don’t marry him. I love you. How am I supposed to live without you?” Williams’s voice broke as he pleaded, desperation seeping into every word. Slowly, deliberately, Elodie slid the engagement ring off her finger. Without hesitation, she hurled it at him, the sharp metallic sound of it hitting the ground cutting through the air like a knife. “Get lost, Williams,” she spat, her tone icy. “I never want to see your face again.” Williams stared down at the ring, the very one he had chosen with so much love and care, now lying discarded like it meant nothing. Without another word, he turned and walked away, his steps heavy. He didn’t look back, and with every step he took, the distance between them felt insurmountable. As his figure disappeared from view, Elodie stood frozen, her body trembling. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over, and she collapsed to her knees. The ring, still glinting faintly on the ground, caught her eye. With shaking hands, she reached for it and cradled it in her palm. Her sobs grew louder as she pressed the ring to her lips, her tears soaking into her skin. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible through the sobs. “I’m so sorry, Williams.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the struggle for dominance, Elodie Richards unknowingly becomes a pawn— an object of a cruel joke that shattered her once blissful life. Falling prey to an evil scheme, she let go of the one thing that mattered most in her life; Williams Storm. When the truth comes to light, will Elodie be able to right her wrongs and win back the heart she shattered into pieces, even when Williams' once–loving eyes are filled with nothing but contempt for her?

CALYX RAIDER-A gentle sounding name but he was dangerously attractive.  He always got girl's hope up.  He always every girl fantasize about him.  He always captured every girls heart. Always.  But he always left you hanging in the end Just ordinary days but for Margux, isn't because she's found out that her long term boyfriend cheated on her and got married to her college friend. She meets Calyx, the handsome man next to her in the seat. But self-confidence and self-conceitedness are overflowing. What's more, he has the courage to confess that he likes her and wants to have a one night stand...

Sarah said, “I…i..i like you ….um…will you go on a date with me?” I give him that rose. He frowned, then looked at the rose, and then looked at my face. The atmosphere was as if someone had dropped an atomic bomb. I didn’t dare look at his face because my face turned red with shyness. I am freaking blushing for no reason. Then I heard his laugh. I was confused, and then I heard the whole class laughing. I touch my face with confusion. I look at him, and he is laughing so hard. What have I done? This is confusing. He took the rose from my hand, crushed it, and threw it on my face. Yes, my face... Nicholas said,“Did you see your face? You nerd, I will date a girl like you... ******************* This is the story of Sarah, who had a crush on the wealthiest and most well-known boy at her school. When Sarah found the courage to tell Nicholas she was in love, he ridiculed her and turned her down. Then, Sarah's life took a complete turn for the worst. Her family was destroyed as a result of this insignificant deed, and she lost the most important part of her life. Despite the ups and downs in her life, she managed to keep things moving in the right direction. However, Nicholas re-entered her life and fell in love with her, but it was too late, for Sarah's love had turned into hatred. But he is Nicholas Hill; he won't give up easily. He falls hard for her and won't let her go easily.

After running away from home seven years ago to escape a loveless arranged marriage, Kyra Wilder has finally mastered up the courage to be back in her small town of Ruthwell in Washington DC. She’s ready for a second chance with her parents and the people who used to be her friends back in high school and most of all, she’s ready to tell her parents that she’s about to become a bride. But the small town she lived in hasn’t changed all that much in the past seven years and no one seems to have forgotten her betrayal, or seems anywhere near ready to forgive her for her past mistakes. Everywhere she goes, she’s met with hostility and anger and it’s thinning out her chances of redemption ever second. Now, how does she tell her parents and her friends that not only has she moved on in her life, further than anyone had ever anticipated, but she’s happy and successful in what she does? And amid all the truths and revelations, how does she tell everyone that she isn’t marrying a man, but the woman of her dreams?

"Merciless and driven, billionaire Anthony Bertram built his company from the ground-up, dedicating every waking moment to creating one of the most powerful corporations in the world. The last thing he has time for is romance. He almost lost everything when his first marriage fell apart. Disillusioned from his divorce, Anthony knows from experience that love only makes you weak. When a mix-up results in a woman showing up at his supposedly private cabin during his vacation, all of his plans are completely upended. This woman is just what he doesn’t need: beautiful, spirited, and so maddening that suddenly all Anthony wants is to make her his. A free-spirited artist and activist, Thea Younger wants to leave the world a better place. When she arrives at the cabin she’s booked for a much-needed vacation and finds Anthony Bertram there—a man who represents everything she’s against—she refuses to let him intimidate her into leaving. When bad weather forces the pair to stay in the cabin together for a week, though, Thea soon discovers that the man behind the mask is no heartless monster. Anthony is all flesh-and-blood man, and one whose kisses she can’t resist. Desire flames between them until they both surrender to exquisite temptation. But as secrets loom over Thea, she must look inside her heart and find the courage to take a chance on love."

Humanity is on the verge of extinction. "I am willing to sacrifice myself, my love, and re-establish Earth as a safe haven for human beings in order to save mankind," a group of five gifted young scientists pledged. Kavya's life is turned upside down when she discovers her planet is being controlled by Xenomorphs from another planet. What's worse, they've been ruling over them for 50 years and are extremely powerful supernatural beings. She decides to form an underground Human Armies Organization with her team members to fight them, but the chances of victory is 1%, and a lot of courage is required to do so secretly in their world system. "How will KAVYA and her team members deal with the impending disaster of war?"