Grayslake Public Library

SLOANE HOLBROOK is a thirty-five-year-old copywriter whose only commitment is to sarcasm, but every major holiday turns her into a single, pitiful spectacle for her judgmental family. Her solution? JACKSON, a charming, commitment-phobic Australian golf coach who needs a distraction just as badly as she does. They forge the "Holidate Pact" a year-long contract to be each other’s flawless, platonic plus-ones for every major event, with one rigid rule: zero feelings. But when a New Year's Eve kiss designed for public consumption feels startlingly real, Sloane and Jackson realize surviving the holiday calendar is easy; surviving the relentless, rule-breaking, undeniable attraction might be impossible. They signed up for a cynical transaction, but what happens when their fake relationship becomes the most honest thing in their lives?

My movie star husband's girlfriend suspected I was the other woman. She confronted me in public, beat me until I lost my child, and even left my face scarred beyond recognition. "You shameless homewrecker! How dare you seduce someone else's man—and even get pregnant?" she screamed in rage. "I'll send you and that child of yours straight to hell today!" And as for my husband, he didn't even spare me a glance. All he cared to say was, "Why did you bother hitting her yourself? Did your hand hurt?" But when he finally discovered that the woman his girlfriend had scarred and caused to miscarry was me, he lost his mind.

Dainelle Jones is just your average girl. She graduated college with a biology degree, and plans to go to grad school the following august to finish her studies to become a physical therapist. she was a part of sorority in college, with her best friend, Scarlet. Dainelle doesn't realize whats is going to happen during her summer vacation in Italy. But she won't ever be that average girl again. -------------Nicola Rosi isn't your average man. He never went to a public school in his life, always home schooled by a tutor. He was born into a wicked way of life and is content with it. Always being feared and getting to tell others what to do. Until he stumbles upon a certain girl who changes his perspective of life.

She signed her freedom away with a trembling hand and a heart full of rage. Two years as Lucien Cross's contracted wife, playing the role of loving spouse while he remained her enemy behind closed doors. Mara Quinn made a deal with the devil to save her family. He married her to claim his inheritance. Their marriage is a battlefield, their home a cage gilded in wealth she never wanted. But hate burns hot—and somewhere between the fights and the forced proximity, between the public kisses that mean nothing and the private moments that mean everything, the line between enemies and lovers begins to blur. She promised herself she'd walk away when the contract expired. He promised himself he'd never care. They were both wrong.

When Aria Collins’ father desperately needs an expensive experimental cancer treatment that she can’t afford, she becomes desperate and forms a contract with CEO Alexander Blackwood: She will be his wife for three years in exchange for him giving his medical care and his financial security. What it really is business -- separate bedrooms, public appearances and a marriage of convenience. As Aria moves from being a part of Alexander’s elite business venture to being part of him, the lines between performance and reality begin to blur. When feelings neither of them bargained for to start to open up, they need to decide whether to live up to the contract’s terms or risk everything in search of something bigger than convenience. In this marriage of convenience, convenience was never meant to become love

My name is Mara Park, and I am a twenty-three-year-old fresh graduate taking up business administration from a public school in my province.  I don't know that when you graduate from a public school, especially when your school is unknown to anyone in a big city, even though you have a diploma, it is hard to find a job, most of all when you don't have any work experience. I am an orphan and living alone. No one will provide for my needs if I don't find a job. I know no one in this place. No, I have one. I smiled, Jared. He has been my boyfriend for almost four years now. I didn't tell him I followed him after my graduation. I wanted to surprise him after I found a decent job. The last time I talked to him, he told me he was working at a big company as a finance manager, and I'm so proud of him. So here I am, struggling to find a job. I disregarded my diploma and applied as a waitress in a diner near the Fernandez Corporation building, hoping one day I could snatch a job in that company, even if it was just as a receptionist. It would be a huge achievement for me. I'd been working in the restaurant for a month when I saw an older man pass out near my workplace. He begged me to bring him home because he had forgotten where he lived and his name. I couldn't bear to leave him alone in the middle of the night, so I brought him home, and my life turned upside down after that when I found that he was the grandfather of the owner of Fernandez Corporation. That led me to find out my real identity.

In a tale of revenge, rebirth, and romance, Ashlyn Knight rises from the ashes of public humiliation to become one of the most powerful figures in the business world. After being betrayed at her wedding by her fiancé Christopher White and his mistress Penelope, Ashlyn transforms through a strategic marriage to mysterious billionaire Richard Walker, who shares a connection to her past life as a military commander named Hannah. Ashlyn methodically dismantles the White and Knight families' empires, revealing dark secrets including Penelope's involvement in her mother's death and Christopher's illegitimate status. Her revenge plot takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she's actually Steven White's granddaughter through his illegitimate daughter, giving her a legitimate claim to both family empires. Richard, initially a partner in her revenge scheme, proves to be more than just an ally. Their marriage of convenience evolves into a powerful love story as they discover their shared past lives - he was a fellow commander who failed to protect Hannah in their previous existence and has spent this life making amends. The story climaxes at the International Business Summit, where Christopher's desperate attempt to destroy the couple backfires spectacularly. Multiple confrontations lead to Penelope's arrest, Christopher's imprisonment, and the public recognition of Ashlyn's birthright. In a dramatic moment, Richard renews their vows, transforming their tactical alliance into a declaration of true love. The narrative concludes with Ashlyn and Richard's unified empire becoming a model of ethical business leadership. They establish a foundation in her mother's name, helping others who face similar injustices. Their story becomes legendary in both business and social circles, proving that the sweetest revenge isn't just in destroying enemies, but in building something greater from the ashes of trauma while finding true love along the way.

I manage to drag Jared Sheppard from death's door. Since then, I've accompanied him from his poorest times all the way to the current moment, when he's now worth tens of millions of dollars. On the day his company goes public, he gets engaged to another woman. "Gabrielle, she's different from you. She's an actual princess of the elite. I need to give her an official title, so I can't fool around with you anymore." I never bothered defending myself. It's time for this farce to end, anyway. After all, there's still a man waiting for me at home, who's been calling me his princess since I was a little girl.

I never expected my boss to blackmail me into marriage. Ethan Sinclair the cold, calculating billionaire who never cracks a smile holds a secret over my head, forcing me into a fake marriage to secure his family’s inheritance. I hate him for it, but I need the money to save my brother’s life. The rules are simple: play the devoted wife for a year, follow his lead in public, and stay out of his way behind closed doors. But as sparks fly and buried secrets unravel, I realize Ethan isn’t just ruthless, he’s hiding something even more dangerous. The closer I get, the harder it becomes to remember this is all just a contract. Because falling for the devil was never part of the deal.

Aria Brooks thought she was living the dream—married to a successful businessman and finally escaping her tragic past. But her world comes crashing down when Ethan serves her divorce papers at their anniversary party, humiliating her before their friends and family. Thrown out into the rain, she’s rescued by none other than Julian Huxley—her ex-husband’s billionaire rival. Julian offers Aria a shocking proposal: a contract marriage. In exchange for acting as a mother to his daughter and accompanying him on his public endeavors, he will cover her mother’s medical bills and provide financial security. Hesitant but desperate, Aria agrees. But as she navigates the dangerous waters of their agreement, she begins to uncover secrets that threaten her newfound stability—and her heart.