gem inlaid gauntlets

From New York Times bestselling author Krista Lakes comes a sexy standalone novel about a billionaire and the indecent proposal he gives the local barista. Billionaire CEO Jackson Weathers needs a family for a PR boost, and I've signed a contract agreeing to give him one. A doting girlfriend in public. A wedding ceremony to invite all the socialites to. And finally, a baby for him to parade around, to show he's really a wholesome, down-to-Earth man. I've tried to remain cynical about it. He's going to make all my dreams come true. So what if it's supposed to be a loveless marriage? Only, his tenderness in private has me hooked. The way he kisses me drives me wild. When we make love, I lose myself to him. His body feels like it was meant to be on top of mine, like we fit together like two puzzle pieces. I can't help but begin to fall for him. I can't tell him, or I risk losing everything. And nobody else can find out about our little "arrangement" or it will destroy his reputation. Still, I feel like I have to know how he feels, before the marriage, before the baby, before I give my entire life over to him. Is it still just pretend?

It all seemed like a naughty prank at first. You know, the 'disappearing' trick lovers usually pull on each other to see who misses the other most? Yes, that was what Katniss thought at first until months passed and still, Noah was absolutely no where to be found.... Witty, beautiful and bubbly. Just a few adjectives to describe Katniss Costello's interesting and charming character. A young lady who had it all; from affluent parents to wealth and popularity to a quite amazing love life she shared with Noah Rogers, her then soon to be husband. Her life seemed to have come to a shattering halt after reality dawned on her that Noah might never return. She barely talked. Barely smiled. Barely went out, always bed ridden, gloomy and depressed. Void of all emotions. Indeed the shadow of her previous self. Her parents took advantage of the absence of her fiance and deemed it fit to have her married off to a proud, rich and arrogant son of their friend. She strongly opposed to the arranged marriage for few wisps of hope that he might return still laid in her heart. It was the motivation and inspiration she had to wait for him and when he does return, she'd still be here...waiting. When the pressure from her parents was getting too tough and unbearable, she wanted to get rid of it all, get rid of the emotional pain, get rid of the weight that was becoming far to heavy to carry. All she wanted was freedom, but there was only one way to do that... That night, underneath the Blue Moon, standing on the deck above the Ballad River where she wanted to end it all, there she met Asher Holden and that was the onset of her rollercoaster love life.

Dugem bukan sembarang dugem. Ini hanyalah sebutan untuk seorang duda ganteng yang meresahkan. Diniyati Basuki adalah seorang gadis kuliahan. Dia jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama dengan seorang pria dewasa yang memiliki wajah dan tubuh sempurna. Tanpa malu, Dini memperkenalkan dirinya sendiri. Ternyata pria tampan itu merupakan tetangga baru Dini yang tinggal persis di sebelah rumahnya. Namanya Alex Dixon Normansyah, seorang pria blasteran Indo-Amerika dan merupakan seorang duda beranak satu. Sayangnya, cinta Dini tidak direstui oleh Xena, putri semata wayang Alex. Namun, hal itu tak menyurutkan semangatnya. Apalagi Dini bisa menjadi lebih dekat dengan Alex yang ternyata adalah dosen di kampusnya. Perbedaan usia dan status mereka juga ditentang oleh orang-orang terdekat. Lantas, apakah perjalanan cinta mereka akan berlanjut saat mereka akhirnya memiliki perasaan ingin saling memiliki satu sama lain?

Bertahun-tahun lalu, disebuah negeri bernama Wynstelle, terjadi sebuah penghianatan keji yang dilakukan oleh putra pertama dari Raja ke-3 negeri tersebut. Raja Aldric yang merupakan Raja ke-3 sempat membuat keputusan untuk membebaskan negeri itu dan membiarkannya berdiri tanpa Raja. Hal tersebut dikarenakan sebuah ramalan yang menyebutkan bahwa ada salah satu keturunannya yang mempunyai aura kegelapan yang begitu pekat, dan bahkan bisa merubah kesucian negeri itu hanya dengan kalimat manisnya yang berbisa. Karena dibuatnya keputusan itu, Orazio--putra pertamanya yang seharusnya menjadi Raja selanjutnya tidak terima hingga berakhir memenggal kepala Sang Ayah dengan tangannya sendiri. Setelah meninggalnya Raja Aldric, ia akhirnya mengklaim Batu Permata Bintang menjadi miliknya. Alhasil, Ramalan itu menjadi nyata. Negeri yang mendapat kutukan akan kehilangan warna disaat Batu simbol dari Wynstelle itu jatuh ke-tangan yang salah pun terjadi. Namun disamping ramalan itu, ada juga sebuah ramalan yang mengatakan akan ada keturunan lain yang membawa cahaya terang yang akan melenyapkan kegelapan. Anak itu lahir dari sepasang suami-istri seorang peri dan seorang siluman naga. Sedangkan beberapa hari sebelum peristiwa itu, seorang anak berdarah peri dan siluman naga pertama lahir dari putri kedua Raja Aldric, atau sebut saja adiknya sendiri. Orazio yang mengetahui hal itu pun berusaha melenyapkan anak itu. Namun, kekuatannya dengan kekuatan siluman naga sepadan, hingga membuatnya sulit untuk mendekati anak itu. Kekacauan tak bermoral yang terjadi ini mengakibatkan renggangnya hubungan antara kaum peri dan kaum siluman naga. Hingga melebernya larangan tegas dari kaum siluman naga yaitu; tidak boleh ada satupun kaum naga yang berhubungan dengan kaum peri. Hal itu tentu membuat Andrio--menantu Raja Aldric meninggalkan istri serta putranya. Karena kesepakatan suami-istri itu, Anak itu tumbuh bersama manusia dan akan ia kembalikan ke dunianya kala usianya sudah cukup. Hal itu tentu saja tak jauh dari takdir Felix yang sudah digariskan untuk melenyapkan sang pembawa kegelapan.

It's been seventeen years since Bai Qingqing and her spouses left their mark on the World of Beasts, her human knowledge forever changing the Second Great City. The world itself is vast and wild, with more beasts and threats than Qingqing had ever had the time to encounter. As unique as a human transmigrating in their world, another mystery has been born - a fox female with the ability to shift into a beast like the men have been able to since the beginning of time. Is she a bad omen, or a miracle? Join Shuule and her mates as she navigates her own adventure, becoming loved, strong, threatened and hunted, as the city and its citizens try to reconcile what it means to be both human and animal.

Karina's world shattered when she discovered her husband's infidelity and his desire for a divorce, leaving her adrift and unsure of her next steps amidst the judgment of his family. Summoning her courage, she signed the papers and departed, her destination uncertain. Fortune intervened as Karina reunited with her long-lost family, inspiring her to embark on a journey abroad. Six years elapsed before she returned, transformed into a formidable woman unrecognizable from her former self. As Karina embraced her fresh start, fate intervened once more as she unexpectedly crossed paths with her ex-husband. Would this encounter stir up old emotions, or would it unveil an unforeseen twist in the tale, leaving her adversaries stunned?

Unknowingly born a vampire Emiry is a normal teen who has no idea of the powers she holds within. Powers that placed in the wrong hand could cause destruction to the world. Emiry is in fact a normal teen just as anyone else on the verge of finishing school and dealing with long time bullies along the way. Her life turns upside down when a new boy, a very charming one at that transfers to her school last minute. And not just any new student but one that unlocks desires she never knew existed. Those desires start trouble she never imagined she would face. Yet an obstacle is placed in her way with a certain bully who starts to torment her in a different way causing confusion. What happens once she finds out who she really is? Will the world survive once everything comes to light?

Perfect is boring. What's life without our secrets? It's what makes us who we are. But, Janelle doesn't know that. She has a perfect life. She's the best fashion designer . She has the sweetest parents, the best Nanny, her friends are to die for and the love of her life is one of the city's most eligible bachelors. But did everything have to fall apart when she least expected it? Perfect isn't normal, after all.

Pregnant with Grayson Godwin's child, Amberleigh Dubois is left reeling from the shock of his dramatic rescue and all the dark secrets it brought to light. Grayson Godwin is an angry man, hellbent on a mission to bring down those responsible for his beloved brother's death. His best friend Leo Clemonte is hellbent to keep the billionaire from an even earlier grave as Grayson goes down a dark road of vengeance. Further complicating matters, is Amber's growing feelings for Grayson even though her heart now belongs to Leo. Amber will have to make a choice between two men she loves. That is if any of them even survive this deadly game they are playing with the Van Tessins. Life's not a fairytale, it's time for Amber to arm up and fight for her happy ending.

Amberleigh Dubois never expected to find herself in this position twice, pregnant and alone. But she should've known the billionaire's offer was too good to be true, two million dollars to have his child. Following Grayson Godwin's shocking shotgun engagement, she returned back to the Cobra Club to try and pick up the pieces of her life. At least until a familiar face shows up. Leo Clemonte just may prove to be her happy ending to this dark fairytale after all. But then comes the call that changes everything, Grayson abducted, held for a hefty ransom. And just like that Amberleigh finds herself entangled with the billionaire once more. To find him before it's too late will take no princess. But a girl born and raised in The Fringe. But does a girl like her ever really get a happy ending?