Garden Roses

Welcome back to Clifton Heights. Sheriff Chris Baker and Father Ward meet for a Saturday morning breakfast at The Skylark Diner to once again commiserate over the weird and terrifying secrets surrounding their town. Sheriff Baker shares with Father Ward the story of a journal discovered in the ruins of what was once an elaborate koi pond and flower garden, which regales a tale of regret, buried pain, and unfulfilled debt: “Sophan” – Jake Burns has always been a bit...off. Rude, awkward, sometimes brutish, he's tolerated by Nate Slocum and his friends because he hits a mean line drive, and because they all know but don't discuss the abuse he faces at the hands of his troubled father, a Vietnam veteran consumed by his demons. But Jake is suffering something far worse than domestic abuse, and when Nate discovers what, he faces an impossible choice: help Jake and put himself in the path of evil, or abandon him, only to damn himself in the process. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Clair is an omega maid in the Vulcan pack. She never aimed for anything except doing her job diligently as the maid she is. Things, however, took a different turn when she met this handsome man in the garden admiring flowers. Her wolf never called out to him as her mate, but there's something strange which keeps drawing her to him whenever they meet. Unfortunately, he's the Alpha of the Nightingale pack, a pack known for its immense wealth and powers, and he is in an arranged marriage with Roxanne, the Alpha's daughter and the lady she serves. Knowing this, Clair decides to get rid of whatever feelings she has for him since he's far above her level, but hell breaks loose when she is to go to the Nightingale pack as Roxanne's personal maid. To worsen it, Clair is further placed in a dire situation where she is subjected to having a one-night stand with this Alpha. What will happen after this one-night stand with the man she's always been in love with? Will things turn out for good?

A few weeks before our wedding, Rodney Luther's stepmother, Jessica Flaine, posts a photo on her social media. In the photo, she's wearing the wedding dress I picked out, holding a bouquet of red roses, and shyly leaning toward Rodney, asking for a kiss. The caption reads—"Dreams fulfilled." I don't call Rodney in tears or throw a fit like I used to. I simply like the post and leave a comment. "Screenshot sent to Rodney's father." Not long after, Jessica deletes the post, and Rodney's phone call follows immediately. "Ivana, you're being so petty! The rest of my days belong to you. It's only today that I'm fulfilling a small dream of Jessica's. Hurry up and explain things to my dad! "Come on, be good. I've got a gift for you." A scoff escapes me. "Rodney, do you hear me clearly? Go explain it to your father yourself!"

I am an Omega, the lowest rank in the wolf packs, the rejected, the despised. I never bother about being an Omega or serving my fellow wolves as long as my family is right beside me. My bed of roses turned into a bed of thorns when I clocked eighteen. I discovered that my mate is the beta, and he has pronounced rejection upon me. My heart is torn and my life has turned complicated. Is this how it feels to be rejected by your mate? ***** Being an Omega is bad, isn't it? Getting rejected is worse, is it not? And getting accepted by a cursed Alpha is the worst of all, don't you think? After Elena gets rejected by the Beta because of her status, she accepts her fate and decides to move on despite knowing how painful it will be, she crosses paths with the Alpha and he declares acceptance upon her. When Elena uncovers the mask behind the acceptance by the Alpha, will she choose to remain rejected by the Beta or accepted by the Alpha?

Heiress Danielle Dawson has it all. A mansion, fleet of exotic cars, a live-in chef, housekeepers, a fortune that can feed nations and a dad that indulges her every wish. All these, and she is still empty. When her father, greedy for more power and wealth, arranges her marriage to the powerful Valentino empire's heir, Danielle, a believer in love marriages, fights it at first but later gives in and decides to let destiny take it's course; but being betrothed to Adrian Valentino is not the bed of roses she is used to. With great power comes great responsibility and millions of enemies after your downfall. Adrian need not fret as his betrothed is more than ready to fight his battles and slay his demons; but how can you love someone who doesn't believe in the emotion, and how do you save someone that doesn't want to be saved? That too when you begin to discover your own demons?

A NOVEL ON STOCKHOLM SYNDROME BOOK OF A THREE BOOK SERIES *TRIGGER WARNING* This book contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing… and also slightly annoying. “Miss. Iris, do you believe she has a point?” she asked and returned to her seat once again. “I don’t think so, her father and uncle deserve to go to jail.” My answer extracted a smile from her like she was proud of my response. “My name is Christine; I am a renowned medico-legal psychotherapist. Been in the business for over twenty years and that is what a case of Stockholm syndrome looks like. In my years of experience, we see situations similar to this but its our job to help the victims realize” “Wow…” I started, really amazed at what she had said and what her work entails. I was only concerned why they locked me in a room with a psychotherapist “it must be difficult at times” I added. “yeah, its difficult every time” she laughed “but today isn’t about me, I have a question for you.” There was a brief pause in between before she carried on “Does Hunter deserve to go to jail?”

She was just a girl who wanted her fairytale wedding night. Isabella got engaged to Xavier Gustavo, her long term crush, but she was a poor country side girl, her world is totally different from that of Xavier. Getting into the Guastovo family was not all roses as she thought, she was constantly maltreated and humiliated by the Guastovo's whenever Xavier was absent. The night came, the night that ruined everything for her as she fell victim to circumstances, leading to an unwanted pregnancy two days to her wedding. She was abandoned at the alse by Xavier in front of the press as he couldn't keep to his promise of standing by her, at of humiliation of being gested as the abandoned bride she decided to commit suicide vowing to come back as a wealthy heiress in her next life but was Saved by an unknown…. She's back, no longer as Isabella Santos the poor wretched girl but now as Mrs Bella Houston most popular and wealthy model, she swore to get back at the Gustavo's for hurting her……

A NOVEL ON STOCKHOLM SYNDROME BOOK 3 OF A THREE BOOK SERIES *TRIGGER WARNING* This book contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing… and also slightly annoying. “Miss. Iris, do you believe she has a point?” she asked and returned to her seat once again. “I don’t think so, her father and uncle deserve to go to jail.” My answer extracted a smile from her like she was proud of my response. “My name is Christine; I am a renowned medico-legal psychotherapist. Been in the business for over twenty years and that is what a case of Stockholm syndrome looks like. In my years of experience, we see situations similar to this but its our job to help the victims realize” “Wow…” I started, really amazed at what she had said and what her work entails. I was only concerned why they locked me in a room with a psychotherapist “it must be difficult at times” I added. “yeah, its difficult every time” she laughed “but today isn’t about me, I have a question for you.” There was a brief pause in between before she carried on “Does Hunter deserve to go to jail?”

"You are just someone who was forced on me and nothing else. An ugly-duckling like you, will never be love by me." His words were like a sharp sword that pierced my heart deeply. He was mentally hurting me. He did not have to act like that to remind me who I was.  ~Months later~ "I deserve this." He said in a tone that held agony.  "But please, don't leave. I'm sorry for everything." His eyes dimmed and his voice cracked. "Please. I need you." His grip only tightened. ~"~"~"~"~"~"~ Linda Foscar has been secretly in love with Daniel Anderson for years. It was love at first sight. So, when she got the chance to spend the rest of her life with him, she instantly grabbed the opportunity. Nevertheless, she forgot that along with roses, are the thorns. In a marriage with full of lies and misuderstandings, how will she fight for her love? -Betrayal does not come from enemies. -Secrets are yet to be revealed. -Two main leads, several rivals. -A blackmailed son, an unwanted bride and a mistress

Imagine standing in your white dress, 20 minutes to your wedding and your boyfriend of 4 years and supposed soon to be husband walks in and tells you it was all a mistake and he doesn't want to marry you anymore. You're devastated, because everyone is in the hall waiting for you, both the same people that have mocked you for being in a relationship that was heading nowhere; you should have listened to them. Now you run out crying, after begging him in tears to please consider taking you back (I'm such a fool) You're in the garden crying and you meet his hot half brother and you both share his cigarette. Now he has a proposal. To save you from shame and for personal reasons for him; He's asking you marry him. But it doesn't end there, because you never knew that he was in the Mafia, a top ranker at that, and he has obsession issues. He will literally kill anyone he dares to look at you, he will protect you, even take a bullet or two for you, but there's a catch. You must not fall in love with him. Sounds crazy right? Well let's go