Home Before Dark Book Reviews Novels & Stories

Patrick and Clare wake up trapped in a basement, a thin wall separating their cells. Their captor is mysteriously absent, which at first seems like a blessing. As more time passes with no food or water, they begin to realize a clock is ticking for their survival.They know their captor is still out there, and it is only a matter of time before he returns.©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Sheila Jenkins was hit by a truck on the fifth anniversary of her wedding. The accident was devastating. Her legs were crushed beneath the vehicle, which rolled over them before finally coming to a stop. Her husband, Joshua Stewart, the man who had been her childhood sweetheart, was so frantic that he gave more than half the blood his body could safely spare, begging the doctors to save her life. When Sheila was finally wheeled out of the operating room, she had not even had the chance to thank him for everything he had done. Still drifting in and out of consciousness, she suddenly overheard a conversation between Joshua and his assistant. "Mr. Stewart, there's still time to save her legs

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 disgrac

A million reasons why we can’t be together, but a billion more why we desire to be. Hikari Yi is a girl of a grim, fatalistic world, the love of a family was never one of her assets. Away from the fallen realm of her father’s menacing territory, she leads an independent life. Little did she know the world she was running away from, was advancing towards her at a pace faster than she was travelling at. Hikari admires a world famous boy band, the ORIONS, consisting of seven members. She somehow receives an offer to look after them as a manager or a caretaker. As unexpected as it looks, it isn't. The more time she spends around them, she grows infatuated with one of the seven. Are the feel

My adopted sister, Jasmine, lost a million dollars in a bad investment scheme. On that fateful day, a disgruntled client showed up before us, furious that his entire life's savings had disappeared overnight and desperate to exact his revenge. When my boyfriend, Connor Sanders, showed up to rescue us, both of us reached a pleading hand to him in fear, but he swatted mine away and snarled, "Rosie, cut the crap! I know you're just faking, and you better stop, or else karma will come back to you! Jasmine has a heart condition, so I'll need to send her to the hospital right away!" Faking it? If only he knew the truth—that the unfortunate daughter born with a congenital heart disease was, in

"Before you go, was there something I could have said to make it all feel better?"- Lewis Calpadi Economic hierarchy strips a twenty three year old accountant, Maria Crawford, of a five year relationship with trillionaire Mama's boy, Dominic Payne. Things get a tad bit dramatic when a body is found in Dominic's trunk and love scores again as Maria does everything she can to prove that her ex is innocent. The Good news; she has a best friend who's a good lawyer and actually the best in the state named Zack Osborn, who lucky for them is in town. The Bad; our lawyer friend once had a bruised cheek courtesy of Mama's boy. With pleas from Maria, Zack agrees to be Dominic's lawyer even as he stil

Before love could lie what is the true face of evil could we face the truth or do we hide behind the what we could see is life that easy

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

Leah had discovered her first real betrayal from the ones she loved the most... or so she thought. Her half-sister, wanted everything she had, but the one thing that was supposed to be hers, was ripped and taken from her too. When a kind stranger comes along, what does she do? Should she continue to seek her revenge or should she give up on the idea altogether? What happens when the stranger finds himself wanting her more and more? Is it fate or just a simple coincidence? One secret, one undiscovered truth, what will happen next? After all, there is pain before bliss...

A sweet, aching, slow-burn romance about first love, second chances, and the kind of boy who never let go of control. ⠀ Lila & Anthony. ✨ High school sweethearts. 💃 Secret dances under gym lights. 🌸 A hand-blown glass lily gifted with meaning. ⠀ He was always dominant. Always the one who led. Even back then, when she didn’t fully understand what that meant. ⠀ Years later, when she’s in college and he’s in the Air Force, fate gives them another shot. But some wounds don’t heal easily. And some love stories don’t follow the rules. ⠀ They loved twice. They broke once. This time… Will it be forever?