Hoping Thesaurus

After two months of surviving on her own, Kieran returns to Concord, stepping straight back into the suffocating warmth of family love she isn’t sure she’s ready for. Fresh from a funeral and carrying wounds no one fully understands, she’s greeted by watchful grandparents, anxious relatives, and questions about a future that no longer feels like hers to decide. Concord is familiar, comforting even, but it’s also filled with memories she hasn’t healed from. Chief among them is Lucas, the boy who was once her best friend and then, without warning, walked away. No explanation. No goodbye. Just silence that hurt deeper than any fight ever could. His absence lingers, heavy with unanswered questions and unspoken feelings Kieran has never allowed herself to name. Seeking space, Kieran escapes to her favorite spot by the lake, hoping for peace. Instead, fate intervenes. The unmistakable growl of a motorcycle announces Lucas’s return, changed, bigger, sharper, and undeniably no longer the boy she remembers. One glance is enough to shatter the fragile calm she’s built. The past isn’t buried. It’s right next door. As summer begins, Kieran is forced to confront unresolved hurt, broken trust, and the dangerous pull of someone who once knew her better than anyone else. Some friendships don’t end cleanly...and some feelings refuse to stay buried.

Winner of The People Choice Awards (Fiction) 2019 for Best Diverse Books When "Gossip " meets "Pretty Little Liars" and had a kid with "Sherlock Holmes". That kid is "The Bad Nerd Boy". "You know my secret now. That's really bad, Summers." He smirked. That nerd smirked! And call me crazy but at this moment, he looked goddamn hot.      "I won't tell others." I blurted the words out, hoping it gave the assurance he needed so he would let me go because even though he looked damn hot, he also looked dangerous. Trying to stop myself from trembling, I bit my lips.  His eyes caught the movement and he bent forward, filling my nostrils with the smell of dope he smoked earlier. Tilting his head, he clicked his tongue and smiled. "Wrong move." With that, he slammed his lips against mine, knocking all the air from my lungs. He kissed me with no mercy. His tongue slipped at the seam of my mouth, and my mind went blank when I felt the tip of his tongue caressing mine. Pulling away he watched me with a mischievous look on his face as he said, "now I'm going to be yours." * * * Professionally edited by Fernanda Lemos. All Rights Reserved 2018 © agatharoza

SYNOPSIS Ariana’s life shatters when she discovers the ultimate betrayal—her husband, Lucas, and her best friend have broken the sacred bond of trust. The shock leaves her hospitalized, and upon discharge, Ariana chooses peace over confrontation. Protecting her health and the long-awaited pregnancy she has prayed for, she disappears from Lucas’s life and seeks refuge at her cousin’s home, hoping distance will heal her wounded heart. Despite her pain, memories of love and sacrifice haunt her. Ariana once trusted Lucas completely, even handing over her late father’s properties to him. As grief threatens to consume her, her cousin helps her rediscover joy through a birthday outing that momentarily erases her sorrow. Fate intervenes when Ariana unexpectedly reunites with Alex, her former university lover. Their meeting rekindles old memories and opens a door to new possibilities. As they reconnect, Alex reveals his recent divorce and offers Ariana comfort and understanding she desperately needs. However, just as Ariana begins to feel hope again, her past crashes into her present. Lucas suddenly appears at her cousin’s home and confronts Alex, exposing a mysterious shared history between the two men. Caught between love, betrayal, and hidden secrets, Ariana realizes that her journey is far from over—and the truth threatening to unfold may change her life forever.

"I've seen the way you look at me, I know you want me..." Jackson said while I gasped hard for breathe. He was right, I crave every part of this man but I can't have him. He's not only twice my age, he's also Arlene’s dad. She's my best friend and she would never forgive me… The first time Laura saw Jackson was on her sixteenth birthday. She had gone out with friends, hoping to get over her boyfriend, who just broke up with her. The moment she saw Jackson, she fell in love with him and wanted every bit of him. He seemed to notice her keen perusal too but she was only sixteen, and they were only able to share a few sexy glances. Laura left that night but never forgot him, she didn’t even get his name but his face and aura was registered in her being. Standing before her three years later, the memory and feelings gushed back. She still wanted every bit of him and more but the problem is, he is her best friend's dad, and also twice her age. Their love was against all norms and if made public, would make them face a lot of ridicule and backlash. What will she do? Will she sacrifice everything for true love or will she cave and back down?

Napilitang pumayag sa kasalang hindi ginusto si Maxine para lang mabayaran ang utang ng ama niyang namayapa. Pinakasalan niya ang apo ng isa sa pinakamayamang tao sa bansa, si Carl Sarmiento na isang magaling na negosyante at babaero na nakukuha lahat ng gusto. Tulad ng ibang arrange marraige ay akala niya magiging maganda ang pagsasama nila ni Carl pero nagkakamali siya. Unang araw palang nila bilang mag-asawa ay pinagbuhatan na siya nito ng kamay at hanggang sa magtuloy-tuloy ito na parang normal na lang dito na saktan siya. Wala siyang magawa kundi umiyak at magtiis dahil kung umalis man siya ay hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupulutin. She's crying and hoping every night that one day her husband will change. Pero hindi lahat ng hiling ay napagbibigyan. As she slowly falling for her husband despite of his attitude she discover something that broke her into pieces. Paano kung ang kasal na pinanghahawakan niya ay hindi pala totoo? Anong gagawin niya gayong mahal na mahal na niya ito? And what if she's dying? Anong gagawin niya upang harapin ang hamon ng buhay ng mag-isa?

The dying heir to Silverbay's showbiz empire suddenly announces he'll select a bride at random from the city's prominent families, hoping the marriage can bring some luck and save his life. On the night before my own wedding, his men arrive and inform us that the Simmons family has been chosen. My parents have just three days to deliver a daughter to him. As soon as my sister, Roxanne Simmons, hears the news, she breaks down in tears and rushes to my fiance for help. When he sees her crying, Clinton Whitfield drops to his knees in front of me, under everyone's gaze. "Mr. Sterling enjoys tormenting virgins. If Roxanne marries him, who knows what he'll do to her? "But you're already past the marrying age, so he won't be interested in you. Please, help Roxy this once!" He looks away, his voice heavy with guilt as he continues, "Besides, he doesn't have much time left. When you return, I'll marry you." Tears well up in my eyes. I ask, stunned, "And what if I don't want to?" Clinton's gaze turns cold, his earlier guilt replaced by ruthless intent. "Then I'll make sure you go to him myself." I laugh bitterly as a chill runs through me. "Fine. I'll go instead."

Rodrigo was lost for words, staring at her naked body, the only piece of cloth on her body, was the nude-colored lace G-string covering her pretty pussy. Rodrigo ran his hands through his hair, biting his lower lip, staring at the gorgeous woman standing in front of him. He was pulled by his thoughts by Reyna’s sweet, melodious voice. “Rod, I meant what I said. I want you to make love to me. You've been my first in everything, my first kiss…”, she slowly touched her lips, “my first orgasm…”, she ran her finger along her panties. “I want you to be my first… I want to lose my virginity to you, tonight…” she trailed off, she lowered her head feeling shy and unsure. Reyna Vasquez comes back to America after five years of being overseas. She comes back wanting a fresh start. Hoping to put behind her the nightmares of the last few years. Those years she wants to erase from her memory. She lost everything five years ago including the love of her life Rodrigo Rayes. Find out what happens when Reyna is forced to work for Rodrigo. Will the nightmares about her life overseas come to light? Will the secret of who she really is be exposed? Find out if Reyna manages to find her Prince Charming, if there is a happy ending waiting for her at the end of the story....

When I open my eyes again, I notice that I'm lying on the bed of my archnemesis, Ashton Ford. Ashton calmly puts on his clothes before tossing a card at me, telling me to get out. He then looks at the caretaker stationed by the door and asks helplessly, "Is Sunny still throwing a tantrum? Tell her that we're going to be engaged soon. She can't leave women in my bed just because she's angry." I'm about to say something when a stream of comments appears before my eyes. "Here comes another one hoping to sleep her way into a prestigious position. Mr. Ford only loves Sunny. If she didn't comfort him, he might have taken his own life after what happened to Elizabeth a long time ago." "Can the author stop trying to force these flings onto him? It wasn't easy for Sunny to achieve success after taking over as the female lead. I want to see them live a sweet married life." "Unless Mr. Ford's dead first love, Elizabeth Miller, comes back to life, no one can possibly touch Sunny's position in Mr. Ford's heart." Confusion is written all over my face. I'm Elizabeth Miller. Since when did I become Ashton's first love?

“You must be fooling yourself if you think I would accept being mated to a filthy, wolfless omega like you. Let’s cut to the chase and get to it. I, Xavier, future Alpha of Crystal Pack, reject you as my mate.” Xavier said and threw me to the ground. “Pathetic!” With one last disgusted glance, he left the room. *********** Abused and disregarded by the entire pack members, her adoptive parents, and her twin sister, who loathes her. Ariana endured all of this, hoping for a better life when she finally meets her mate. But when she is rejected by the one person she has waited for all her life, Ariana is heartbroken and plots to escape and start a new life of freedom, but fate has other plans for her. When Alpha Arthur comes to trade for omegas, and Ariana is brought forward as the last omega, she discovers she has been given a second chance mate. Arthur, the ruthless Alpha King who doesn’t believe in love but sees it as a weakness to his legacy, and a fragile, wolfless omega who happens to be his mate and maid. Can these two ignore the pull that keeps drawing them closer? Can Ariana break through the cold-iced heart of Arthur and bring warmth into it? Arthur is related to Ariana’s painful past. Will she claim her rightful place as his Luna at Shadow Howl Pack or let the consequences of their past destroy her forever?

Kayla, a shy and introverted music major, is starting her first year of college with a mix of excitement and fear. With a scholarship in hand, she is finally able to pursue her passion, but she finds herself completely alone. Having bounced from foster home to foster home, Kayla never really belonged anywhere. Her unique colored eyes made her the target of teasing, and years of trauma have left her struggling with anxiety and PTSD. Her past has kept her from forming meaningful connections, and the idea of love and support feels like an impossible dream. Meanwhile, three powerful mafia kings—known as 'The Kings'—are on a mission. These blood brothers, triplets bound by a pact made in their youth, have searched tirelessly for their one true queen. Known for their brutal and ruthless reputations, the trio is feared across the world. Despite their many enemies, they have always had each other's backs, and they share everything—everything except the woman they were destined to love. After years of failure in their quest, they decide to take on roles as professors, hoping to finally find the one they've been searching for. When they meet Kayla, broken and vulnerable, will they be able to heal her heart and help her find the strength to open up? Or has her past scarred her beyond repair? What they don't know is that Kayla's story is more tangled than they ever imagined, and the truth about her origins may be more dangerous than they could ever have predicted.