Gardner-webb University Library Novels & Stories

My husband and his beloved mistress died together in a car accident. They left me with a pair of illegitimate children. Eighteen years passed in a blur. I poured my heart and soul into raising those children until, at last, they earned admission to Corvell University, the country's top university. But on the very day they received their acceptance letters, my 'dead' husband returned. And beside him stood his mistress. She clutched my husband's arm and beamed at me. "Thanks to your tireless care, my two sons finally made it into Corvell. If not for you, the two of us wouldn't have been free to live so happily together all these years..." Later, my husband demanded a divorce. He wanted to marry his mistress and reunite their perfect little family of four. I didn't cry, nor did I rage. I only smiled and said, "Sure."

Synopsis - Isabelle Ellwood, a plain, fuller-figured 19-year-old, hides her poetic soul and dreams of teaching behind dry wit, overshadowed by her beautiful sister who is counted as a family jewel for her grace and beauty and an ambitious father dreaming of snagging a royal title. When Prince Sebastian Nathaniel Winthorne, a bold, dark, and formidable warrior-king at 30, announces a bride-selection season at Cresthaven Palace, Isabelle dares to hope—not for love, but to glimpse the scarred-handed savior of her childhood. Unbeknownst to her, and him, he’s Sebastian, whose commanding presence and passionate heart blind him to her worth, fixated instead on the angelic Amelia Everhart, Isabelle's dearest friend. A secret library meeting shatters Isabelle’s illusions: Sebastian seeks her help to woo Amelia, praising her mind yet oblivious to her love. Their friendship deepens—his admiration grows, her longing festers—culminating in a rain-soaked confrontation where the lavender and breeze ignites his primal desire, clashing with her insecurities. Public scorn and familial cruelty drive Isabelle to flee, forcing Sebastian to confront the void she leaves. As time apart unravels his obsession with Amelia, he pursues Isabelle, his awakening raw and relentless. Their reunion at a glittering ball sparks a dance of resentment and longing, leading to a climactic confession where love triumphs over doubt. Isabelle’s journey from invisible dreamer to empowered princess, and Sebastian’s shift from idealized obsession to soul-deep love, crafts a tale of unseen hearts finding their place—a fiercely unique love story for readers craving wit, angst, and romance. In the opulent yet unforgiving world of Regency-inspired Eldoria, The Crown's Wrong Kiss weaves a slow-burn romance of unrequited love, repressed desire, and transformative self-worth.

Juliette...! You can fall for anyone...but him. I repeated it a hundred times in my mind. No...! Not that way...! Don't look at him...! Suppressing my untamable desires to see him, I had been struggling hard. Why is life so complicated? Why out of all it has to be him? *** Juliette Stanford, a university student, had a crush on her new, handsome and charming professor for not long but that crush became a tangled love when he turned out to be her brother-in-law-to-be. It was a one sided love and she tried hard not to get deeper in her fantasies as there was nothing mutual and he was the one in the forbidden sides for her to fall in love. But...! Nothing goes as the will...! She thought it was only her who was struggling until the day of her sister's engagement when he suddenly grabbed Juliette in his arms and announced that he loves her...!! Wait...! What happened...!!

"Mine." I heard as I felt two sharp fangs biting my neck. I didn't know that at that moment, I was CLAIMED by the ALPHA of DARKNESS. --- They called me cursed. They bullied me. Spat on me. Blamed me for every misfortune. Until one night, they killed my family and threw me into the cave that reeked of death. I thought I was alone. I thought I would die in the dark. But something was already there—watching, waiting, hungry. When my blood spilled, he came out of the shadows. His fangs sank deep into my neck, and with a voice that made my soul tremble, he whispered one word. “Mine.” Years later, I tried to escape my past. But at the university, three Alphas appeared. And the King of Alphas—the untouchable Campus King—looked at me with the same hunger. Because he was the monster in the darkness. And I was never meant to be free.

Loric was the only Omega son of powerful pack Alphas. People imagined his life would be easy, born with a golden spoon in his mouth, everything smooth for him. But his life was nothing less than hell. He didn’t have any rights over his own life. Still, with one promise made to his father, he went to university, where he met a beautiful senior Omega, Eli, whose boyfriend, Rylan, was the heir of another powerful pack. Things turned chaotic when Loric found out that his father had arranged his marriage with Rylan, the very same man who was his senior’s boyfriend. Loric had fallen for Rylan at first sight, but he had buried his feelings deep in his heart. But Rylan will hate Loric to death because of him; he wasn't able to marry his boyfriend.

They say it takes two to tango. A relationship needs two people to make it work. But what if I tell you that it's not just one who caught her interest, but four hot men? She's into four damn handsome men, each with their unique personality. "They call them the Four Hotties, but I call them temptation, secrets, and the kind of love that's worth every risk," Via remarked with a smirk. Her motto in life echoed through the air, "Date more, find joy, don't stick to one boy." Does that make her a selfish whore? Hell no! There are plenty of men in this world, and the supply isn't running out anytime soon. Via Rosalind Hawthorne, a cheer captain at Woodbridge University finds herself caught in a problem that will bring her closer to four hotties. Which leads her in making the operation make the four hotties obsessed with her.

Clive Hawkins, who had been giving me the cold shoulder, posted on X. [First 100 likes get a breakup cash giveaway.] In no time, it had 99 likes and reposts. I knew he was waiting for me to give in, just like how I begged him to delete it during the ten times we fought before. But this time, I reposted it myself and wrote, [Count me in.] Then, I blocked him on every platform. Three days later, his sister messaged me. [Clive saved you a front row seat. Stop hiding and come back. As long as you show up, he's willing to forgive you.] I glanced at the plane ticket on my desk and replied. [I'm busy.] I really was busy. I’d been admitted to graduate school at Redstone University, and my flight was leaving that night for orientation. From then on, we would be separated by thousands of miles, never to see each other again.

Noah Stark was the very bane of my existence. The first time I locked eyes with him my heart fluttered, but in that very second he ruined the hero complex I had of him. My stupid body didn’t get the memo and stress been obsessed with him since. I thought I would be rid of him in university, but here we are. Caroline Lockwood. The star of every single dream I’ve had since freshman year of high school. She tried to ruin everything for me. College is where I’ll get my revenge. But she avoids me like the plague, usually what I want I get. But care? I’ll bring her to her knees. Pierce her heart, and make her fall in love with me. Make her bleed. For me. All for me. Just to leave her in my dust, broken, like me.

Sirena Reverie, a fourth-year university student, finds herself forced into an unexpected arrangement with James Andreas Scout, an arrogant CEO and her former betrothed. Two years ago, their engagement fell apart when Sirena refused to marry him, put off by rumors of his womanizing lifestyle. She despises playboys, and James’s reputation is anything but clean. However, fate seems to pull her back into James’s orbit. When her father passes away, Sirena is left with insurmountable debt, leading to the loss of her family’s luxurious home and the collapse of their company. Just when she has nowhere to turn, James appears, offering his help. But he’s not James Andreas if there isn’t a catch—he’ll cover her debts and invest in her father’s company, on the condition that Sirena becomes his bedroom partner. Will Sirena accept James’s proposal, and if she does, where will their tumultuous relationship lead?

She is Nasha Atlas, the first of her name; optimistic laced with beauty and brains. Getting admission into the University of Cambridge, to study her dream course, was her greatest desire; it came cos whatever she desires, she gets. But how did she feel when her boyfriend who she wants to share in her joy, betrays her by sleeping with another woman? Would she breathe fresh air when she became a prime suspect in the murder of her new neighbor? Would George Powers: a strict officer et billionaire be able to find out who the culprit is when he fell in love with the suspect and make love to her at a supposed investigatory dinner night? And amid the many deaths, would his prowess as a detective be proven? What happens when Nasha's ex-billionaire lover keeps coming back when she already has a new love life? Would she revenge or accept him back?