Grayslake Public Library Novels & Stories

Aria Vale never demanded to be wolfless. She just wanted to belong somewhere. Her father disowned her. Her boyfriend, the powerful Alpha Lucian Crowe, kept her hidden for years, promising one day he'd bring her into the light. Her best friend Mara was the only one she trusted. Then, on the night Lucian wins everything, he drags her into the spotlight... only to humiliate her in front of the world. Leaked videos. Public rejection. And a proposal ring slipped onto another's finger instead. Aria runs away from everything, but she doesn't get far and is sold into the underground boxing world as sex slave. She wakes up owned by Ares and Kael Blackthorn, ruthless brothers who despise her for reasons she doesn't understand. They plan to break her. And she plans to survive, until the mate bond hits. Now the men who hate her are tied to her soul, and she's tied to theirs. Revenge against the people who destroyed her life is close. But so is the pull she can't ignore. In a world that eats the weak, sometimes the only way to win is to claim the monsters who thought they'd claim you first.

On the day the SAT scores were released, the police showed up at my front door. They said I had murdered three of the top students in my class. The evidence was conclusive. However, on the day it happened, I had been sitting alone at home, drowning in regret over my poor exam performance. "Worthless girl! Useless burden! How did this family end up with a monster like you?!" My grandmother screamed at me, hurling insults as her fists and kicks rained down. The only thing that could have proven my innocence—the security camera—had been unplugged by her the night before. She said the camera gave off radiation and claimed that we installed it to harm her. In an instant, I became the disgrace of everyone around me. After I was convicted, my parents couldn’t bear the blow. They both took their own lives. As for me? Under the crushing weight of public outrage and endless condemnation, I spiraled into depression and died. Even at the very end, I never understood why every piece of evidence pointed straight at me. Then I opened my eyes again and found myself back on the night before the scores were released.

Scarlett Hayes only wants one thing—to survive her last two years at Westwood Academy. As a scholarship student surrounded by the children of billionaires, staying invisible is the safest option. Especially when it comes to Ronan Whitmore. The school's most feared boy. Ronan is rich, powerful, and completely unpredictable. Rumors follow him everywhere—fights, scandals, and secrets no one dares talk about. Scarlett has spent years avoiding him. Until the day Ronan approaches her with a shocking offer. He needs a fake girlfriend. Just for three months. Public dates, convincing photos, and the appearance of a perfect relationship. In return, Ronan promises to solve a problem that could destroy Scarlett’s future at Westwood. She knows it's a terrible idea. Everyone warns her to stay away from him. But Scarlett quickly learns something even more dangerous than Ronan Whitmore’s reputation. The way he looks at her isn’t fake. And the longer they pretend to be in love, the harder it becomes to remember that none of it is supposed to be real. Because the boy everyone fears might be hiding a truth that could ruin both of them. And if their fake relationship falls apart… Scarlett might become the next victim of the most dangerous boy in school.

Marie Sierran is a soft but strong Christian English teacher, gifted with talents that make her name known abroad. She is accidentally bumped by the prince of Denmark at the Malacañang Palace during their first meeting, making her hate him. On several occasions, they meet and Marie wonders how she falls in love with the prince all of a sudden. She has no knowledge of how kind he is until she observes and experiences it behind the mask of rudeness he shows aside from his handsome face and well-built physique that catches her attention. Marie’s medical records and the lost artifact reveal to the public that causes the Philippines and Denmark had an uphill battle for a long time while she works in the royal country. Break up is made after their engagement as the prince falls on her as well. An accident happens to the prince that makes Marie returns to Denmark despite the humiliation and bullying she faces. The prince did not recognize her when he awakes, but to save the queen’s condition and save the throne, he agrees to the solution to end the war. On the day of their wedding. Before the crowning, an assassination happens to the two that causes their death. After a month, the world shocks when they find an amazing thing happening.

"And if they take me?" His eyes were burning embers of wrath. "Then I will burn the whole damn world to get you back." **** Bianca Fiori has never backed down from a fight. But she faces her toughest opponent yet in the image of her new stepbrother, the don of the entire Italian mafia, who is intent on stoking the fire between them and seems to trigger a burning desire for him in her. Andre DiMarco has never met a single person that pushed his buttons the way his new stepsister does. With a deadly enemy knocking on his door, the last thing he needs is a rebellious airhead to look after and the undeniable desire welling in his stomach at the sight or thought of her is not helping matters. It's not long before they give in to their lust and passion, playing a lethal game where they go at each other's throats in public but tangle in the sheets behind closed doors. With secrets, lies, betrayal and an impending mafia war, things are quickly becoming a bloodbath. When his enemies realize just how soft a spot he has for his new stepsister, they begin to come for her. And Bianca is about to find out just how far her stepbrother will go to protect what's his

Lies Before Vows is a gripping billionaire romance about duty, deception, and the unexpected power of love. Damon Caldwell, heir to a vast empire, must marry by year’s end or lose everything. Cold and logical, Damon fabricates a relationship with his grounded, no-nonsense secretary, Sienna Blake, just to escape his family’s matchmaking pressure. Sienna, burdened by family debt, reluctantly agrees—only to find herself thrust into the spotlight as the “secret Cinderella.” As the charade deepens through galas, vacations, and public appearances, real emotions begin to surface. Sienna glimpses Damon’s hidden depth and vulnerability, while Damon falls for her quiet strength and resilience. But their growing bond is tested by a vindictive ex-fiancée, media scandals, and a betrayal from within Damon’s company that costs Sienna her job. When faced with choosing love or legacy, Damon shocks the world by walking away from his empire to win back the woman he truly loves. Together, they rebuild from scratch, creating a company—and a life—based on truth, respect, and love. In the end, it’s not power or wealth that defines Damon’s success, but the woman by his side and the life they chose—together, on their own terms.

Just because I point out a mistake in the intern, Lester Hale's proposal that can cost the company millions of dollars, he feels embarrassed and goes straight to Sandra Wendell, the CEO, threatening to quit. The next second, she storms into my office and starts grilling me. "Couldn't you have spoken to him privately? Lester's young, and his ego's fragile. Why did you have to humiliate him in front of everyone? Don't forget, his dad's a major shareholder. I'm giving you two options now. "One, I'll promote Lester, give him a raise, and you'll become his assistant. That way, I'll agree to officially announce our relationship. Two, keep acting like this, and we break up." When I remain silent, she smirks triumphantly. "I knew you'd never pass up a chance to go public with our relationship. Now, you can clear your office for Lester. Later—" But I calmly cut her off, "Sorry, but I choose the second option, and I'm resigning. I wish you and Lester a happily ever after."

The Dennis Family is one of the most prestigious political families the world has ever witnessed, with the pride and fortune of a thousand generations, riches beyond comprehension, and a high-class reputation. Their most prized possession is their youngest daughter, Olivia. What the world fails to know about the family is that they come from a lineage of powerful witches and black magic. To the outside world, they are saints. To Olivia, who sees them for who they are, they are vile and sinister. She can’t stand the hypocrisy of her ego-driven and bloodthirsty family who only knows how to put a saint image out to the public, and she seeks freedom. She would rather not be the puppet daughter who wears clothes her family picks, waves at all times and smiles when she isn’t in the mood, just to keep the perfect ‘good girl’ image and appear perfect to the public. One night of tasting freedom, and she gets herself into a one-night stand with the Alpha Nathaniel Gray. The last thing she wants is to let her family find out she is pregnant. Sealing her lips shut and going undercover, she runs away from home. And Olivia thought she had little to nothing to worry about. Until she found herself in captivity of the Alpha, whose child she was to bear.

It was about time because my dad got a new girlfriend and said he wanted us to have a meal together to introduce the new woman into our lives. On the day we met, my college roommate saw my chat background, which had a photo of me and my dad, along with a series of transfer records. She lost her mind. She enlisted the support of our other roommates, who rarely paid me any attention and began to attack me, insisting that I was a side chick who deserved to die. I did not expect that my roommate would soon become my stepmom. Before I could explain, she accused me of trying to seduce my dad behind her back, shouting, "Shameless side chick! Going behind my back to seduce my boyfriend! All those times you said you were out studying?! Who knows if you were just meeting up with him?" I was once physically assaulted, stripped of my dignity, and forced to the restaurant for a public confrontation wearing ragged clothes. Then my dad came running to where I was hardly breathing and barely moving on the floor, bruised to the extreme. “Sweetheart, who did this to you?!”

Gabriella Halim woke up in a luxurious room she didn’t recognize. When she looked in the mirror, she nearly fainted. Her face was still beautiful, but… more mature. She was no longer the twenty-year-old girl she remembered—she had become a thirty-year-old woman. Even more shocking, she had been married to Adryan Lewis for five years, a young, ambitious, and notoriously cold politician. Gabby immediately realized one thing: her husband hated her. Cold glares, cutting words, and an impenetrable distance left her bewildered. What had happened in the past ten years? Rather than crying or pleading for love, Gabby chose a different path: enjoying the luxury she now had. A grand house, wardrobes full of designer dresses, and an unlimited bank account. Why bother chasing love when life could be this comfortable? But the world of politics was never simple. Public scrutiny, rival political intrigues, and scandalous gossip forced Gabby to take on a role far greater than that of a mere “trophy wife.” And as Adryan began to notice the dramatic changes in Gabby, the question remained: would his hatred persist, or could it transform into something he never expected?