Lake Veronica

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

In a world of shifting loyalties and hidden truths, Sophia, a young orphaned werewolf, finds herself torn between her destiny and her principles. When she discovers that she is the fated mate of the cruel and powerful Alpha Zaine, she vows to never accept him. Believing herself to be an omega, Sophia has witnessed first-hand, the alpha's mistreatment of her fellow omegas. Little does she know that she is the rightful heir to a prestigious werewolf pack, and that Alpha Zaine's father provided sanctuary to her family in their time of greatest need. As Sophia grapples with her conflicting emotions, Alpha Zaine sets out to prove his worthiness to her. He strives to rectify his past actions, learning to control his frustrations and implementing reforms within his pack. Together, they embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption, challenging the norms of their world and fighting for justice and equality. Zaine faces challenges from his most trusted friends and Sophia must contend with the unwanted attention of the Alpha of her birth pack. Every sign seems to lead them down diverging paths, but the moon goddess knows what she is doing by binding the two of them together, doesn’t she? Amidst a backdrop of ancient werewolf rivalries, dangerous secrets, werewolf hunters, and unexpected alliances, Sophia and Zaine navigate a treacherous path towards love, acceptance, and forgiveness. Will they be able to overcome their differences and forge a bond strong enough to withstand the trials ahead? In this captivating tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption, they must confront their pasts and embrace their combined destinies to create a brighter future for themselves and their kind.

Christine comes home early from college to find that her mother shacking up with a vampire. After the initial shock, she is adamant to move to the coven where her new stepdad plans to change her mother into a vampire. Christine is skeptical, she is there to protect her mother from the dangers of a vampire because she doesn't believe in love. No, her love had cheated on her just weeks ago after she walked in on them doing it on their bed. Now Christine is stuck in a vampire coven, with other guys and girls who are experiencing the same thing she is. One of their parents changing into vampires all because the vampires say there is a 'soul bond' that connects them. Sebastian is hunting for his second chance mate after his first mate was killed before he could officially make her his. It has been five hundred years and he's lonely, tired of being alone. He isn't sure if he will find his second chance, but fate has brought him to the Black Raven Coven which looks like it straight out of 1950s America. What will happen when these two quite different individuals meet?

After I turn five years of age and have my very own phone, I start receiving strange messages every single day. For some reason, the sender keeps referring to me as their mom. At 3:00 am, they send me another message. "Mom, I saw you in my dreams again. The rain is seeping into the attic. My stepmom told me to use a rag to soak up all the water, but the rag is too small. Even though I tried to wipe it up all night, it still wouldn't dry. Mom, I'm so cold and hungry. I miss you so much…" I tilt my head, looking at the rain pouring outside the window. I then earnestly reply, "Don't be scared, sweetheart. Where are you right now? I will bring you something yummy!"

My mom treated me like the dirt beneath her shoes but worshiped my cousin like a queen. Since I could walk, I had scrubbed clothes and cooked meals, but I would still be yelled at or smacked if I messed up. On the contrary, my cousin twirled in princess dresses and played the piano. She was cherished by my aunt and uncle like she was the center of their world. Then came the day everything changed. At my cousin's birthday party, my mom got drunk and spilled the secret—she switched me and my cousin at birth. It turned out that I wasn't her daughter; I was my aunt's daughter. I was over the moon. Finally, I thought I'd found my real family, people who might actually care about me. But when I told my aunt, she just smirked. "You think I didn't know? I don't want you. You'll never be my daughter." Her words hit me like a bucket of ice water. I couldn't understand. Why didn't anyone want me? But that day, I made a vow—I'd never beg for anyone's love again. Years later, when I got into Mayward University—the best educational institution in the country—I threw two DNA test reports on the table in front of them. For the first time, they both looked terrified.

The aloof CEO and his childhood sweetheart bring the tragic novel's female lead to an orphanage to adopt a child. All the children pounce on the childhood sweetheart, saying, "Mommy, pick me! Pick me!" The viewers' comments come flooding in. "She can't birth her own child, and now even the orphans don't want her. The tragic female lead is truly pitiful, humiliated by both her husband and his childhood sweetheart!" "The childhood sweetheart keeps winning—spoiled by the CEO, and the orphans scramble to call her 'Mom.' The female lead is nothing but a piece of decor." "It's not tragic enough! Make her even more miserable! It's even better if she cries on the spot so that later, when the CEO recalls this scene, he'll have to work double time to win his wife back!" I glare at the comments, feeling so mad that my short legs push me forward, landing me right in front of the ignored female lead. I tug at her sleeve. "Missy, can you make stew?" The female lead freezes up. "I… I can." My eyes light up with joy. "That's it then! That's exactly what I love. I'll go with you!"

The day before New Year's, my younger brother announced he was bringing his girlfriend home for dinner. Excited, I drove my new car to pick them up, taking my daughter along with me. However, as soon as his girlfriend got in the car, her face darkened. "Henry, you didn't tell me your sister was staying at your place—and with a kid!" she snapped. I frowned and was about to explain when my brother quickly interjected, "She's not staying. After dropping us off, she'll be heading to a hotel." Only then did his girlfriend's expression ease. I swallowed my discomfort and asked my brother what he was planning. He leaned in with a conspiratorial grin and said, "Sis, don't cause any trouble for me, okay? My girlfriend is the daughter of the Cromwell Group's CEO!" My eyes widened in shock. Was not the Cromwell Group the same company my ex-husband had just handed over to me as part of our divorce settlement?

I was the broke scholarship kid, stuck sharing a room with Sherry, the spoiled heiress. From day one, she was all fake smiles and "let's be besties." She'd take me out for fancy meals. She even introduced me to Kenneth—her rich childhood buddy. It was fine—until Kenneth and I started dating. That's when the claws came out. One day, she "accidentally" dumped hot soup all over herself and claimed I'd done it on purpose. Then she demanded I pay her back. I gave her every cent I had, but it wasn't enough. Next, she accused me of stealing her wallet. The school bought it. I got written up, everyone turned on me, and Kenneth? He dumped me with, "You're just an ugly duckling trying to be a swan." I couldn't fight back. Humiliated, alone, and dragged through online hate, I dropped out. Then I let the river take me. And then—I woke up. Back to the moment Sherry introduced me to Kenneth.

River Davis was a confident girl with shy tendencies, who wanted to enjoy her last summer before going to college at Princeton in the fall. Jace Durand a young artist on the rise from London, at the age of 19, didn’t know what hit him when he saw the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. Love and happiness is all they knew for three long months, until a plane crash and 4 years apart changed everything.

If she ever had a name, she didn't remember what it was. Cursed as a child to pay for her selfishness and pride, she was doomed to live out the rest of her life as a wolf. This was fine until local packs relented to let her live her life in solitude. It was fine until she forgot who she was and became a lonely she-wolf fending off every male in the territory. It was fine until she met him, the prince from the royal family ruling over her land. The stupid man found himself in danger and if she didn't save him, the entire royal army would be slaughtering all life in her beloved forest. So she saved him. And how everything she ever knew about who she was and who she is, is being questioned. Her body is beginning to change randomly into a human form she doesn't recognize. There is a glimmer of hope for a human life again, but does she want it? She was happy with who she was, wasn't she? And then, Prince Philip's older brother, Morgan, gives her a name... Aria. And he talks to her as if he understands her every thought. With emotions swirling, threats to her life, and a potential to love a man who is betrothed to another, Aria must decide between a human fate or eternity as a wolf.