Grayslake Public Library Novels & Stories

Seven years into our marriage, Zane Grimes and I remained childless. He once held me close, his voice tender and earnest. "Don't overthink it. I've never cared for children. You're all I want in this life." But on the day his company went public, as the ceremonial bell echoed through the hall, the doors burst open. My sister stormed in, cradling a wailing infant. "Zane, this is your son! How can you abandon us?" Zane's face paled as he turned to me, his eyes brimming with panic and a silent plea. Unbeknownst to him, I had long known about his betrayal and the child.

Lena thought graduate school would be about focus, discipline, and finally proving to herself that she belonged in the world of academics. Books, research, and long nights in the library—that was the plan. Romance had no place in it. Especially not with the one man who should have been completely off-limits. Professor Jace Carrington is everything Lena was warned about. Brilliant. Confident. Dangerous in his quiet control. His lectures command attention, his presence silences a room, and when his eyes find hers across the crowded lecture hall, she feels both seen and undone. He is a man who draws lines with precision—and a man who knows exactly how to make someone want to cross them. What begins as a spark of curiosity turns into stolen glances, late-night office hours, and conversations that blur the line between mentorship and something far more intimate. Jace’s rules are simple: no one can know, and she always has a choice. But rules are easy to write and far harder to follow. The deeper Lena falls, the more she realizes this isn’t just attraction—it’s obsession, it’s surrender, and it’s freedom all at once. Secrets, however, have a way of surfacing, and on a campus where whispers spread like wildfire, forbidden love can burn everything in its path. Lessons After Dark is a steamy, character-driven romance filled with power, temptation, and the dangerous pull of a secret relationship. For readers who crave tension, intimacy, and the thrill of crossing every line you were told not to, this story will keep you turning pages long after the lights go out.

Ava Stone, a scholarship student at the elite Blackwood Institute, had her life turned upside down after a seemingly innocent ride home from Tony Blackwood— the campus golden boy. What begins as a simple favor spirals into a heated, reckless encounter in the back of his luxury car. Two months later, Ava discovers she’s pregnant. The father, the most powerful and privileged student on campus, wants nothing to do with her or their unborn child. Cast aside without remorse, Ava is left staring down expulsion, public scandal, and total ruin in an institution rotten with old money, bloodlines, and merciless classism. In a world built to break girls like her, how long will she survive?

Lorien, the only male omega in his pack, has spent his life being ridiculed. When he discovers that his fated mate is Cassius Blackwood, the Alpha’s son and his worst bully, one night of passion ends in public rejection. Heartbroken, Lorien flees, only to find out he is pregnant with Cassius’ children. Years later, Cassius, now a powerful Alpha and mafia leader, is forced to track Lorien down for reasons beyond regret. But when he learns about the twins he never knew existed, tensions rise as another Alpha, Matthias Delacroix, stands by Lorien's side. Caught between the past and a brewing war, Lorien faces a future he never expected.

Why would the very rich, very hot, very broody author, Blake Shite need a fake date for a month? Addie Noel didn't know, but she needed the money and a vacation from her life sounded good. Besides what could go wrong? All she had to do was pretend to like the rude author in public and enjoy the warm beaches and maybe write a few songs along the way. Between an author with writer's block, an agent with a hidden plan, a dog that steals shoes, an ex with an attitude problem, and too much alcohol things are bound to get interesting. Will Addie be the muse to inspire Blake or will the tension between them be too much to handle?

Melissa Rockwell, an omega in the Packhouse was fated mate with the Alpha’s son, Alfredo. They’ve professed their undying love to each other countless times, and their relationship would be made public once Alfredo becomes the next Alpha of Silverrose Pack. But things took a drastic turn when Melissa got rejected by Alfredo and to crown it all she was also accused of theft and was sentenced to death. A night before she was to be executed Melissa was given a second chance at life when the person she least expect came to her rescue and set her free from the dungeon she was locked in. How will an omega, who is also an orphan survive as a rogue in the wild with nowhere or no one to turn to?

Kelley Alexander gets kicked to the curb from his cushy, billionaire lifestyle at seventeen. Unlikely friendships are forged and a bond for life is created when he teams up with Mason James and Lee Munroe as he shifts from Private School to Public School with his once friends now as his enemies. Family secrets are unraveled and Kelley organizes his new family in a mafia style setting with them as the good guys. Arranged marriages, betrayal, secret pregnancies and rejection features in this novel with the good guys sometimes having to do bad things.The biggest threat usually comes from those we least expect it and Kelley's boundaries will know no bounds.

Alessa Romano is a hired assassin that was paid by La Corona Nera (The Black Crown) to kill boss) of their rival mafia clan, I Signori Della Notte (The Lords of the night), whose name is Marco De Luca. She gets captured by their boss on her first attempt and is held captive by the clan and is offered a contract; she would have to kill the leader of the La Corona Nera, group in exchange for her freedom. In order to achieve that goal, they agree that the have to be come in the public together and get her familiar with the mafia world. They get into a contract marriage that is to last for as long as it takes to bring down their rivals but things being to get complicated as they gradually fall in love and have to fight for their love against all odds.

Lia Andrews was a mystery to most. Growing up with Lung cancer definitely can't be easy for a royal. When Lia attends a public school for the first time in ages , she meets Ace Romano the schools trouble maker but there's always reasons as to why we do the things we do. When Ace lands his eyes on Lia , he can't help himself but feel a possessive side of her. Wanting to protecting her and love her forever. Cherish her as if she was gold . When troubles erupt , Lia has no choice but to crumble and the fear of being alone again drowns her... Could Lia ever have the normal life all teenagers should have?

Caitlin and Caleb find themselves, once again, back in time—this time, in the London of 1599.

London in 1599 is a wild place, filled with paradoxes: while on the one hand it is an incredibly enlightened, sophisticated time, breeding playwrights like Shakespeare, on the other, it is also barbaric and cruel, with daily public executions, torture, and heads of prisoners impaled on spikes. It is also a time of superstition and grave public danger, with a lack of sanitation, and the Bubonic Plague spreading in the streets, carried by rats.

In this environment Caitlin and Caleb land, on the search for her father, for the third key, for the mythical shield that can save humankind. Their mission takes them through a whirlwind of London’s most amazing medieval architecture, through the British countryside’s most breathtaking castles. It takes them back into the heart of London, where they just might meet Shakespeare himself, and see one of his plays live. It brings them to a little girl, Scarlet, who just might become their daughter. And all the while, Caitlin’s love for Caleb deepens, as finally they are together—and as Caleb might just finally find the perfect time, and place, to propose to her.

Sam and Polly have traveled back, too, and as they find themselves stuck together on their own journey, their relationship deepens, as they each, despite themselves, can’t help feeling more deeply for each other.

But all is not well. Kyle has come back, too, as has his evil sidekick, Sergei, and they are both intent on destroying everything good in Caitlin’s life. It will be a race to the finish, as Caitlin is forced to make some of the hardest decisions of her life if she is to save everyone who is dear to her, save her relationship with Caleb—and try to make it out alive.