Judge A Fish By Its Ability To Climb A Tree

Isabella Marino has spent her life toeing the line between duty and desire, torn between her family’s expectations and her dream of freedom. When her father arranges her marriage to Leonard Ricci, the most powerful and ruthless mafia boss in Italy, she’s thrust into a world of power, violence, and deception. She knows Leonard’s reputation—a man feared by his enemies, respected by his allies, and untouchable in the criminal underworld. But as their marriage forces them into each other’s lives, Isabella soon discovers the man behind the ruthless façade—a man scarred by betrayal, driven by loyalty, and desperate to protect the empire he’s built. In the shadowy world of mafia politics, where trust is a rare commodity and enemies lurk at every corner, Isabella and Leonard must navigate a dangerous game of power and survival. As secrets unravel and bloodlines are tested, Isabella faces an impossible choice: follow her heart and risk everything, or remain loyal to a family that sees her as a pawn in their game. But Leonard has his own battles to fight, and in a world where love is a dangerous weakness, the only thing more treacherous than their enemies is the growing connection between them. Power. Betrayal. Love. When the stakes are life or death, can two souls caught in the crossfire find a way to save each other, or will they be torn apart by the very forces that brought them together?

Lily Romano, 22, lives a quiet, painful life under the roof of her alcoholic father—once loving, now a stranger. She clings to the hope that he’ll change, that her mother will return, and that life will somehow make sense again. But everything shatters one night when she comes home to find her father bloodied and surrounded by strangers. In a desperate act, he sells her to Dante Moretti, a powerful Mafia boss. Without warning, Lily is dragged into a dark, dangerous world she doesn’t understand. But amidst the chaos, something unexpected blooms—feelings she never thought she’d have for a man like Dante. Now, Lily must fight to survive, guard her heart, and uncover the secrets buried in the shadows of the Moretti empire. Will love save her or break her beyond repair?

Pinakasalan ni Stella si Charles sa tulong ng abuelo nito dahil sa pagmamahal. Lahat ay gagawin niya upang mahalin din siya ng binata. Naging makasarili siya at inagaw ito sa babaing tunay nitong mahal.Sa loob ng tatlong taon, ang akala niya ay nagkaroon na siya ng puwang sa puso ng asawa. Ngunit lahat ng sakripisyo at pagpababa sa pagkatao ay hindi nagbunga ng maganda. Matapos pirmahan ang divorce paper, umalis siyang baon sa puso ang lungkot at saya.Sa paglipas ng panahon, her true identity was exposed. But her soft heart was totally gone. Sa muling pagtatagpo ng kanilang landas, maibabalik pa ba ang dating Stella?

Ruthless and unforgiving, Steven Blackwood, the Alpha of the Oakwood pack. He poses as a human and lives in the modern world as the CEO of Blackwood Clothings. Everything seems perfect until the Moon goddess rejects the mate selected by Steven. He is reminded of a promise he made in his childhood to wed a human girl— a commitment he had completely forgotten about regarding his first love. Optimistic and carefree, Ashley Green is a woman whose main objective is to earn enough money to cover her mother's hospital expenses. She dreams of living a joyful life with her. Ashley’s uncomplicated world shatters when her long-lost childhood sweetheart appears at her door with a marriage proposal. How will Ashley cultivate her relationship with the ruthless Alpha who masquerades as a human CEO? As Ashley finds herself compelled to marry the merciless Alpha CEO, she hopes to discover kindness in his unforgiving nature. Amid struggles and power conflicts, hidden truths are revealed as love begins to blossom.

I thought my life was already a disaster— In my father's eyes, only my perfect sister mattered. I was always the forgotten second daughter. My sole comfort was my upcoming wedding to the man I loved. Until the night before my wedding, when everything changed. "You're going to take your sister's place and marry the most dangerous mafia don in New York." I had to pretend to be my sister and fool a man who could end my life without hesitation. Most importantly, a car accident two years ago had left him blind and wheelchair-bound. He couldn't even make love, yet he demanded I bear him an heir. However, when I'm straddling his powerful thighs, when he takes me night after night and fills me so completely that I'm left trembling and breathless... my legs give out beneath me. I'm the one who's truly powerless. The disability and blindness were all part of his elaborate deception. When my sister returned, filled with regret and determined to expose my identity and reclaim him, I thought I would lose my life for deceiving the mafia don. "You thought you could deceive the devil himself? You've been mine since that first night." His fingers find places that make me arch and beg. His mouth claims every inch of my skin. His touch fills me so completely I forget my own name.

"Part One: TakenJessie Coford had a plan: work hard, save money, open her own restaurant. She sacrificed her relationship with the man of her dreams to get it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lost her job and her apartment and her life crashed around her. Until a letter taking her to Fort Mavis, Texas, and an unexpected windfall.Part Two: TamedShea Prescott was astonished when million Cruz Castillo chose her to design his new home on his ranch. They hardly traveled in the same circles. But Cruz had been hot for Shea since he first saw her and at their first meeting the chemistry between them ignited. Cruz coaxed her deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of erotic sex, awakening latent sexual desires and bringing her orgasms beyond her wildest imaginings. Her body screamed yes at his every touch, but will she say yes to the most important question?USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to erotic. and has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.Taken by Surprise is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

CONTENT WARNING: Please note that this book contains sensitive themes and includes explicit scenes, making up approximately 20% of its content. It is intended for mature readers only. _ "Teka lang, Sir! A-Ano kasi eh..." Napangiwi si Mahal habang naghahagilap ng mairarason dito sa lalaking ito na binili siya sa Auction. "Are you kidding me? 'Teka lang?' Are you sure that's really 'teka lang?" Napayuko na lang siya dahil sa pagalit na natanong ng lalaki. Halatang napipikon na sa kaniya. Inilapit pa nito ang mukha sa kaniya para iparamdam sa kaniya ang inis nito at nagsalita, "Remember, I paid a hefty 10.5 million at the auction just to purchase you. You wouldn't have even set foot in that auction if you hadn't given your consent. So now that you're under my ownership, don't think you can fool me with your usual 'teka lang, sir' tactics kasi kabisado ko na 'yan." Para siyang tinanggalan ng utak na nakatunganga sa pinagsasabi nito na ang tanging naintindihan lang ay ang salitang, 'kabisado ko na 'yan.' Ano naman ang alam niya sa English kasi tulog naman siya lagi sa subject na iyon noong nag-aaral pa siya. Para naman huminahon ito, nagsalita na lang siya. "Ahm...wag ka na magalit sir, maghuhugas lang naman ako. Ayaw mo naman ng mabaho, diba?"

Love does not appear with any warning signs. You fall into it as if pushed from a high diving board. No time to think about what’s happening. It’s inevitable. An event you can’t control. A crazy, heart-stopping, roller-coaster ride that just has to take its course. Hazel was rejected by someone she loved and was told that he would be engaged to her deadly foe. In great despair, she went to a bar and met this handsome guy (Zac). They drank a lot and played games. Under the influence of alcohol, they got married. However when they came back to her senses, they decide to make things right, but it's hard to get a divorce now because she wants to use the dramatic yet genuine marriage to keep her proud in front of her deadly foe. Zac on the other hand was the future heir to one of the richest and prosperous families. Although he was endowed with an otherworldly handsomeness, he was known to be as cold as ice and had a natural dislike for women although they always craved after him like bees to a honey pot. But for some unknown reason, he finds something unique about Hazel which he can’t explain. Perhaps, it were her eyes which were limpid and pure like autumn water and sparkled like azure pools in the morning sunlight… Would it be possible that they fall in love with each other in the future? Take part in this amazing piece, and experience a story filled with various mysteries and incredible twists as she uncovers the mysteries surrounding Zac who decides to hide his identity and tremendous background in order to win her heart genuinely.

Born under the silver glow of the moon, Liora was marked with a mysterious birthmark and a destiny she could neither understand nor escape. Raised in the Beta household, her life was one of cruelty...scorned by her stepmother Mariseth and tormented by her sister Ravena, whose envy grew sharper with every passing day. Liora’s only solace was Kaelen, the Alpha’s son, her childhood sweetheart and the secret keeper of her fragile hope. But everything shatters on the night of the shifting ceremony. While Ravena blooms into a powerful wolf, Liora collapses under the weight of the Moon’s power, left motionless and declared wolfless. Whispers spread like wildfire, unwanted, useless, broken. Yet, Kaelen’s lingering affection keeps her spirit alive… until the truth claws its way into the light. The Moon Goddess has chosen. Drawn by an irresistible bond, Kaelen and Ravena discover they are mates, bound by fate itself. To Ravena, it is triumph at last, the ultimate way to crush the sister she loathes. To Kaelen, it is torment; his heart burns for Liora, yet the pull of destiny ties him to another. And to Liora, it is the ultimate betrayal: abandoned by the one she loves, broken promises and hunted by the jealousy of her sister. But Liora’s birthmark holds secrets far greater than anyone realizes. A destiny tied not just to a pack, but to the balance of wolves and the Moon itself. As love turns to obsession, and envy turns to violence, the question lingers: Will Liora rise from the ashes of rejection to claim the power meant for her, or will the wolves who betrayed her destroy her first?

Dorian’s eyes darkened with something dangerous as he watched her reaction. “You think you can stand on your own?” he whispered, his voice low and thick with intent. “ If you think is possible then, Prove it, little hybrid.” Before she could respond, his lips descended on hers. The kiss was fierce, almost punishing, as though he was trying to dominate her through sheer force. But what surprised Irwin more was her own response. Her body acted on its own, her lips moving against his, her hands gripping his arms as if she couldn’t bear to let go. Dorian groaned softly as his hands roamed down her body, pulling her closer. His touch was rough, possessive, and yet it ignited something deep within her that she had never felt before. Irwin gasped as he kissed her harder, his hands sliding under her clothes, brushing against her skin.