Harry Potter Opening Lines

Damon Carrington is used to having his every desire fulfilled. But there's one thing he craves above all else… his little stepsister. Having her would be taboo, twisted and sick, which is exactly what makes it so utterly irresistible to Damon. Since her arrival, Lily Jensen's sweetness and innocence has captivated Damon. But he's not the only one affected. His brother, Aiden Carrington, wants Lily just as much. For a long time, they thought they could get whatever they wanted out of her. They played around with her as if she was a new toy for them to use and abuse. Then discard. But Lily is no longer the sweet girl she once was. Their corruption transformed her into a woman consumed by a desire for revenge. Now Lily is determined to destroy the Carrington brothers, just as hard as they destroyed her once. As the lines between love, lust, and vengeance blur, the stage is set for a twisted game of betrayal and desire where no one will emerge unscathed.

"In the dark underbelly of the city, where loyalty is a luxury and power is a deadly game, two souls collide in a fate-bound dance. Aurelia Montez, a 24-year-old restaurant owner with a heart of gold and a spirit of steel, is forced to make a Faustian bargain with the ruthless city lord, Baron Lupo Bianchi, to save her family from the merciless wrath of the mafia. Baron, a 250-year-old bloodthirsty werewolf in disguise as a 35year ruthless mafia with a penchant for destruction and a heart consumed by grief and anger, sees Aurelia as a tantalizing target for torment, her resemblance to his traitorous lunar mate a constant reminder of his pain. As their paths entwine, a spark of humanity awakens within Baron, threatening to disrupt his cruel plans and transform his malevolent nature. But will Aurelia's determination and resourcefulness be enough to tame the beast within, or will the darkness consume them both? Dive into a world of loyalty, power, and redemption, where the lines between good and evil blur, and the fate of two souls hangs in the balance."

BLURB “One night. One mistake. A lifetime of consequences”. ***************************************************** Rachel’s reckless abandon with enigmatic billionaire Ethan ignites a passion she’s never known before. But their passionate evening welcomes three new lives. Determined to protect her unborn children from Ethan’s world riches and fame, Rachel vows to keep their existence a secret—at all costs. As she navigates to keep her children hidden and safe, fate intervenes, bringing them together once again through a contract that draws Rachel into Ethan’s world of wealth and power. Rachel finds herself yet again in the tycoon’s seductive charm and merciless control. But as their paths entwine, the lines between love and obsession blur. Will Rachel’s determination to keep her kids hidden be enough to withstand Ethan’s formidable power? Or will the billionaire’s unyielding grip tear her world apart? Tagline: “One night changed everything.”

An arranged marriage. A dangerous attraction. A love triangle with secrets that could burn everything down. Lorraine Withmore and Dexter Grayson have been rivals since highschool, a clash of ambition, pride and unspoken tension. When their families arrange a marriage to merge their corporate empires, it turns into the perfect recipe for disaster and chaos but business is business and none of them have a choice, they agree to the loveless union but behind closed doors their hate for one another intensifies. However things begin to change when Mateo, cousin to Dexter and soft spoken to the core, continues falling in love with Lorraine and the jealousy he wasn't aware of awakens something fierce, possessive and obsessive. He might have never wanted a wife, she didn't want to fall in love but both of them would do anything to keep whatever they cherished even if it meant crossing unimaginable lines to get it. In love someone always loses, but what if it's your mind, your freedom or worst of all…your heart?.

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

Mom cleared her throat and said, “I have an idea.” I frowned. “What are you talking about, Mom?” “I’m talking about I have an idea.” She stood up and leaned on her desk, saying, “We will hold the Queen’s Guard Tournament.” “I still don’t understand, mom.” “I propose a tournament with several tests, games, balls, bullfights, interviews, dates and parades. I suggest we go wild with different activities that guarantee the election of the new alpha kings.” “Okay… I’ll take the bait. Who will participate?” “Anyone who is an alpha or some equivalent to that. We put their names inside the sky crate so that destiny can choose the 20 lucky ones who will compete for the love of the future sovereign. The three winners will be crowned the alpha kings of the south, east and west. Obviously, the north is occupied by Alonso.” “And what will happen to Sokaris? He’s mine too, mom!” “I wouldn’t worry about him, Maddie. In my dreams, I saw him putting on a great show.” “What will happen if my other fated mates show up?” “Destiny will take care of it, Maddie. Your mates will be selected. But to win, we must give our enemies a mirage of hope that makes them believe they can govern.” “And in the end, they will be exposed to everyone, without us having to intervene,” Mom nodded, with a triumphant smile. I sighed. “If this is our best option, then let’s use the ball that is already being planned as the tournament’s opening event.” Mom nodded. Dad slapped his hands together and said, “Well… we have a tournament to plan and a lot of announcements to make. Let’s get started!” ________________ Reverse harem / 4 fated mates / Magic / Royal Lycan Family / Vampires

HER A mystery. So very complicated. An enigma. A puzzle with so many missing pieces. Add one of the above ingredients into my plate and call me intrigued. Enter him. He is all of them and more...much more. He claims to be a monster. He doesn't believe in redemption. He is too vague and too dark for me to read. But it's my job now. To help him, figure him out, to find all of his missing pieces, arrange them together and finally obtain the final picture. It's my job, to find his deepest darkest secret. It's my job, to unravel the beast he claims to be and finally see the man behind. HIM Lost. I've been lost for way too many years. I thought it was over. I wanted it to be over. I had nothing to live for anymore. I've killed, I've destroyed and obliterated. It was enough. My role in the story should've ended there. I was too big of a monster to be tamed. Too dangerous to be kept alive. Enter her. Too loud. Too obnoxious. Too naive. Innocent, so very innocent. So intent on aiding me, redeeming me. She is unaware, she is opening a door that was shut down with a broken lock. I am scared. Terrified even. She is too white against my inner darkness. Too pure to be tangled with the devil living within me. We don't mix. We should never mix. Instead of pulling me out of that room, she might just get herself stuck inside as well. She wants to unravel the beast and meet the man behind, but I am scared that if she succeeded, she'll find nothing behind.

His eyes darkened as he leaned closer, placing a finger on my mouth. “Uh-uh, what did I say you call me when we're alone?” My body tingled with heat. “Daddy?” “Urgh…” A guttural groan tore from his chest. “Yes, baby?” My mind spaced for a second and Andre took advantage of that, tucking his hands under my legs and carrying me bridal style. “Andre, what are you doing?!” I shriek, dangling my legs in the air. “Finishing what we started, baby.” he chuckled, heading straight for the front door. I shook my head in bemusement. His daughter just found out about us and his brain goes straight to sex? Men… I wasn't any better though as I just waited for him to cross that threshold and pounce on me, instead of dissuading him. He strode over to the loveseat couch, sliding me down his body before pushing me back to the couch. Propped up on my elbows, I looked up at him with hooded eyes, only for the the door knob to flip. My eyes widened and instantly, I jerked up to my feet, coming to stand behind Andre. I had no idea who it was as Claire would have just barged right in. The door opening seemed to take several minutes but in reality, it was only seconds. It swung inwards to reveal Leila, the last person I was expecting to see. She took one look at us and wasn't in the least bit surprised. “So it's true?” Those cold grey eyes moved over to me. “You're the whore that's fucking my husband?”

“I reject you, Avery Miller…” “Don’t bother saying it. I gladly accept your rejection, Alpha Luca. What exactly do you want from me? If laying down my life will make you happy, then so be it!” “What use is your life to me? I want you to agonize for the thousands of souls slaughtered during that raid and spend the rest of your days redeeming the atrocities you and your father committed! I, Alpha Luca, will make sure you regret the day your existence ever crossed mine.” Just when it seemed the Moon Goddess had finally granted them their happily ever after, a brutal truth surfaced: the massacre of the D’Addario family decades ago was orchestrated by none other than Avery Miller’s father…the very man Alpha Luca once called father-in-law. Luca thought his vengeance was complete when he stripped Avery of her love and her wolf, when he broke her spirit and forced her to watch another woman become his Luna. But fate has a wicked sense of humor. Years later, the Moon Goddess intertwines their destinies once more. Only now, Avery is no longer the fragile, obedient mate he once knew. She’s a powerful business tycoon, a devoted mother to his children, and a woman who refuses to be tamed. Can she forgive the man who shattered her world, or is she opening herself to another heartbreak? And if forgiveness is possible, is she willing to risk her heart and her children’s future for a second chance with the Alpha who once destroyed her? “Come back to you? A second chance? Please. I’m worth more than a stepping stone.”

From a stall in the office restroom, I overhear someone badmouthing me. Henry Fielder, the intern I've been mentoring for three months, grumbles, "The guy's got zero people skills. He's a total fossil, like a robot stuck in one mode." I'm about to push the door open and jump in when someone laughs and piles on. "The paperwork is incomplete. The receipts aren't compliant. I can't reimburse it without a manager's signature. We could recite his canned empathy lines in our sleep!" Once they're gone, I quietly head back to my office. Later, Henry drops a thick stack of expense reports onto my desk. "Quit waving the rulebook and rejecting everyone's reimbursements." I skim the fake receipts, and for once, I don't call him out. Instead, I give a thin smile and say, "I have a headache. I can't make out the words."