Grim Grinning Ghosts

“Confessions Of An Exorcist” Mason Woods is a 40 year old multimillionaire who owns Woods Travel Safe, an airline company in New York City. He lives in New York City with his three-months pregnant wife; Victoria Woods who is a cardiac surgeon and earns a good pay, his two daughters; Audrey Woods and Leslie Woods, ages eight and four respectively. A meeting with a Chinese contractor drags out longer than anticipated and causes him to miss his daughter’s fourth birthday party. Mason Woods comes out of the meeting to see series of calls from his wife. He comes back home and offers to take the family out to celebrate Leslie’s birthday- an attempt to make up for his absent.On their way to a recreational park to celebrate his daughter’s fourth birthday, they were involved in an accident and his pregnant wife and two daughters die at the spot while Mason dies on the way to the hospital. A burial is done and they are laid to rest. But a few months later, Mason Woods returns to life under supernatural circumstances and finds out that everything he owned has been taken by the government being legally dead and also that demons are responsible for the accident which took the lives of his family. He woke up to the realization that demons and ghosts are real and his family died because demons were trying to eliminate him so he won’t have to become an Exorcist. Mason Woods still overcome with guilt and grief in equal measures, leaves everything behind and move to a secluded small town, Vineyard, Utah, where he hopes to begin a new life. A life as an Exorcist. And one day hope to avenge the death of his family and stop anyone from meeting the same fate he

Layla is standing too close to him. She knows it the moment she stops moving, when the space between them shifts from accidental to deliberate. Luca doesn’t step back. He never does. He only looks down at her, dark eyes steady and unreadable, as if he’s been waiting to see whether she’d do exactly this. “You’re doing it again,” he says quietly. “Doing what?” Her voice gives her away—soft, breathless. “Standing where you shouldn’t.” His gaze drops briefly to her mouth. “And pretending you don’t know.” Heat coils low in her stomach. “Maybe I don’t care.” That gets his attention. Something sharp flickers across his expression—control tightening. He reaches out slowly, giving her time to pull away. She doesn’t. His fingers hook lightly under her chin, tilting her face up. The touch is barely there, but it steals her breath all the same. “Careful,” he murmurs. “That’s not something you say to men like me.” “Why?” she whispers. “Because you might misunderstand?” His thumb traces her jaw, deliberate. “No,” he says. “Because I won’t.” His hand stays there, steady, grounding. She feels the restraint in him now—the effort it takes not to close the distance completely. “There are lines I don’t cross lightly,” Luca says. “And once I do, Layla, I don’t step back.” She swallows. “Then why are you still here?” He leans in just enough that his breath ghosts her skin. “Because you haven’t asked me to.”

Oliver Reynald, a twenty-seven-year-old man, disguises himself as a bodyguard for the youngest daughter of the Franklyn family, driven by a desire for revenge, particularly against Lucas Franklyn, whom he believes killed his mother. This long-held grudge leads Oliver to trap the youngest Franklyn daughter, Yoursa, making her fall in love with him. However, one truth Oliver has never known about his mother’s death—and his own identity—is that the mastermind behind her death has always been close by. As Oliver uncovers the full truth about his mother’s demise, his world unravels. As time goes on, Oliver becomes increasingly entangled in Yoursa’s life, and his heart is torn between his thirst for vengeance and the genuine affection that grows between them. Yoursa, initially caught as a victim in Oliver’s sinister plan, feels warmth and protection she has never experienced before. However, the peace they build together is threatened by the dark secrets lurking in the shadows. On their journey to uncover the truth, Oliver and Yoursa must battle the forces that seek to tear them apart, including betrayal from those closest to them. Can Oliver bring justice for his mother while preserving the love they’ve found? Or will his thirst for revenge destroy everything, even the most precious of relationships? In this emotionally charged tale, Oliver’s decisions will shape their futures and test the limits of true love, which may endure even when shackled by secrets and lies. In a world where loyalty is fleeting, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, Oliver must confront the ghosts of his past and decide what truly matters—his quest for revenge or the unexpected love that has blossomed amidst the darkness. Can their love survive the haunting legacy of betrayal, or will it crumble beneath the weight of unforgiven.

When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne receives an anonymous invitation to Wintercroft Hall—a decaying mansion on a fog-shrouded island—he is promised the story of a lifetime. But upon his arrival, Elliot finds himself among six strangers, each with their own shadowy past. Their enigmatic host, the frail and reclusive Vivienne Ashworth, claims she has summoned them to reveal a deadly truth about the Ashworth family legacy. Before she can confess, Vivienne collapses, and chaos ensues. A violent storm traps the guests on the island, and the discovery of a gruesome murder sets paranoia ablaze. As Elliot uncovers cryptic messages, hidden rooms, and a chilling photograph that ties him to the Ashworth family, he realizes that nothing about this gathering is random. With the mansion’s dark history unraveling and secrets surfacing at every turn, Elliot must confront the ghosts of his own past to survive. But the deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes—someone inside Wintercroft Hall is playing a deadly game, and not everyone will make it out alive. When disgraced journalist Elliot Dorne is invited to the remote and crumbling Wintercroft Hall, he’s promised the story that could save his career. But the mansion’s sinister halls conceal more than just secrets—they harbor a legacy of betrayal, murder, and lies. Elliot is joined by six strangers, all summoned by the enigmatic Vivienne Ashworth. Frail and reclusive, she claims to know the truth about their darkest sins. Before she can reveal anything, a violent storm cuts them off from the outside world—and the first body is discovered. As cryptic messages and chilling clues emerge, Elliot realizes that his connection to the Ashworth family runs deeper than he could have imagined. Someone in Wintercroft Hall knows the truth about his past, and they’ll stop at nothing .

N.B This is the second Book in the Bonnet Family series but can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the first book first Title: My Mate's Betrayal And Rejection ** Karen Lukeman has spent her life as an omega—unseen, unheard, and utterly disposable. When her arrogant first mate, Alex Scott, cruelly severs their bond before it even began, she flees, determined to carve out a new life far from the humiliation and heartbreak. The Shadow Moon Pack offers her sanctuary, a place to bury her pain and embrace her gift as a healer. But the moment she crosses paths with Jackson Bonnet, the young Alpha King with a reputation for not taking no for an answer, her world tilts on its axis. Having being raised in a loving home with siblings and parent who live for each other, Jackson dreams to find a mate he can completely dot on. The moment their eyes lock, the mate bond ignites with an intensity that terrifies her. Karen is determined to resist, convinced love is just another kind of surrender. But Jackson refuses to let her push him away. He’s a king who is determined to love what he wants, and what he wants is her—body, soul, and the shattered pieces of her heart. But as their passion deepens, so do the threats. Alex, consumed by regret and a twisted obsession, will stop at nothing to reclaim what he threw away. Rival packs circle like vultures, hungry for the power Karen possess, while dark secrets claw their way to the surface, threatening to destroy the fragile trust between Karen and Jackson. Karen must decide: Is she strong enough to claim her destiny? Or will the ghosts of her past devour her future before it even begins?

"I told you five years ago, Richard—your Omega is dead. I’m just the man paid to keep your father’s heart beating. Don’t confuse a business contract with a deathbed confession." Five years ago, Joshua Harrington was the "discarded runt" of the Harrington Pack. On a rain-slicked highway, his Alpha husband, Richard, made a choice: he saved his "fated mate," Bianca, and left a pregnant Joshua to plummet over a cliffside. The world mourned the weak Omega. The Pack moved on. Richard lived with a hollow chest and a "fated bond" that felt more like a cage than a blessing. But ghosts don't always stay buried. When the Harrington Patriarch is struck by a lethal silver-poisoning, only one surgeon in the world can perform the impossible: Dr. J, a cold, clinical genius who smells of sterile steel and holds the life of the Harrington lineage in his hands. When Dr. J walks into the boardroom, Richard’s wolf howls in recognition. But the man standing there isn't the submissive boy who used to wait up for him. Joshua is icy, powerful, and utterly indifferent to Richard’s Alpha command. He has a secret in the city—a son with Richard’s eyes and a "Silver-Rank" aura that could topple the Pack’s entire hierarchy. Richard wants his husband back. Joshua wants a divorce settlement. As the truth about the "fated mate" bond begins to unravel, Richard realizes he didn't just lose a spouse—he betrayed the True Blood heir. Now, the CEO Alpha must become a beggar, chasing a man who no longer needs him, in a world where a scalpel is deadlier than a claw. He left him to die. Now, he’ll have to learn how to live for him.

In a world where love and betrayal walk hand in hand, Shattered Promises unravels the haunting story of a woman whose heart became both a weapon and a wound. Alina Carter thought she had everything — a passionate love, a promising future, and a man who swore the stars would always belong to her. But when his lies shattered her world, all that remained were broken promises and the echoes of a love she no longer recognized. The night she discovered his betrayal was the night her innocence died — and something darker was born within her. Years later, Alina has rebuilt her life, or so it seems. Behind her composed smile hides a storm of pain, guilt, and vengeance. When fate brings her face-to-face with the ghosts of her past — and a stranger whose presence feels dangerously familiar — she’s forced to confront not only the man who ruined her, but the woman she has become. Every secret has a cost. Every lie leaves a scar. And every shattered promise demands a reckoning. As Alina’s world spirals into a web of deceit, obsession, and passion, she finds herself torn between the darkness that seeks revenge and the light that offers redemption. But can love be reborn from the ashes of betrayal — or is she destined to destroy the very thing she’s trying to save? Shattered Promises is a gripping suspense thriller laced with forbidden desire, twisted secrets, and emotional intensity. It explores how love can heal or haunt, and how sometimes, the heart’s most dangerous enemy is the truth we refuse to face. In a story where trust is fragile and loyalty comes at a price, Alina must decide: will she be the victim of her past

The Clark dynasty had spent five years searching for the perfect match for their son, Edward. Their wait wasn't in vain after an unexpected opportunity came from where they least expected, from the royal family. The Royal family, King Harry and Queen Evelyn who have ruled the kingdom for many years with pride, now found themselves in bankruptcy after making bad financial investments. Very desperate to save their kingdom, they struck a deal with the Clarks, who own a multi-billion dollar networking company, with a deal. Damian Clark, the shrewd patriarch, saw more than just a business deal. This was his chance to raise his family's social status. With a well worked out plan, responded to the royals' offer with an audacious proposal: an arranged marriage between his Son Edward and Princess Vanessa. Edward, once married and deeply in love, had suffered a tragic accident that left him with dissociative amnesia. His past, including his former marriage, was erased from his mind – a convenient circumstance for his parents who had never approved of his previous union. Princess Vanessa, an ambitious young lady seeking for a life outside the palace, found herself captured by duty and circumstances. The love for her people is forcing her to consider a loveless union with a man she barely knows. Edward and Vanessa agreed to the arranged union, despite the storm awaiting them. With Edward's forgotten past threatening to resurface, ready to tear apart the thread binding this union, duty, and  unplanned affection. Will the ghosts of Edward's lost memories destroy any chance of happiness for the couple? Or will Vanessa's selfless love for her kingdom pave the way for an unexpected romance? In this high-stakes game of love, power, and duty, the past and present collide. Can love conquer all?

Willow Grant has spent nearly a decade in Manhattan, building a life of logic, skyscrapers, and safety. She traded the wild air of Redwood Bay for the steady pulse of the city and found a man who offers her a quiet, uncomplicated love. She’s no longer the girl who wept on a cold floor; she is older, watchful, and finally in control. But when a family engagement demands her return to the territory, she discovers that some ghosts don't stay buried—they grow teeth. Seven years ago, he let her run. Now, he’s done waiting. Roman Vale is no longer the boy she once idolized. He is the Alpha of the Vale Clan, a lethal tactician who rules the northern territories with a heart of flint and a gaze of stormy gray. He has spent years in the shadows, expanding his empire and purging anyone who dared touch what belonged to him. He has stayed silent. He has stayed celibate. But he has never let go. From the moment Willow steps back onto his soil, the hunt is on. Roman doesn't want a civil conversation or a polite reunion. He wants the woman who was promised to him in the moonlight. He wants to tear down the walls she built in the city and remind her that no matter whose hand she holds, her wolf only howls for one man. As a dangerous conspiracy threatens the Grant lineage, Willow is forced into Roman’s orbit for protection. But in the corridors of the Vale Compound, the greatest threat isn't the enemies at the gate—it’s the suffocating, magnetic heat of the man who calls her Rosebud while looking at her like prey. The rose has finally bloomed. And this time, the Alpha is playing for keeps.

Richard Franklin has left his Midwestern roots behind to live on the coast of Maine with his family. But in the autumn of the year 2000, he must return to his Illinois birthplace on a sorrowful journey. His wife Michelle has been killed in New England by a hit-and-run driver who is never found, so back home he comes with her cremated remains, to fulfill a final wish and on her birthday scatter her ashes in the park along the river in Blackwater Valley—simply Blackwater Val to locals—the small town where they both grew up and fell in love. With him he brings his six-year-old daughter Katie who still grieves for her lost mother: Katie, who can sometimes guess who’s going to be on the phone before it rings. Who can stop all the clocks in the house, and break up clouds in the sky with her mind, and heal sicknesses, and who sometimes sees things that aren’t there...people who are no longer alive. All gifts she inherited from her mother. Only something isn’t quite right in the Val. Sinkholes are opening up, revealing the plague pits the sleepy hamlet was built over in the 1830s, when malaria and cholera outbreaks ran riot. Mysterious bird and fish die-offs begin to occur, and Katie can see ghosts of the dead gathering all around. But what she can’t see is the charred, centuries-old malevolence which has been waiting for her, and wants her for its very own. Or the pale Sallow Man who haunts the town’s nighttime streets...or the river witch—another Blackwater Val, of sorts—each of whom will be drawn one by one into the nightmarish bloodletting about to take place. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing