Long Shadows David Baldacci

When I was five months pregnant, I was kidnapped by a group of thugs. They used my phone to call my brother, Jeremy Wirkola, and my husband, Grant Sanders, to demand a ransom of ten million, but no one answered. I was tortured and assaulted until I was barely alive. When I was finally rescued, Jeremy cried and promised to avenge me. Grant was in tears too. He vowed to get me treated. However, while under the haze of anesthesia, I overheard Grant's cold voice outside the door. “Jessie is waiting for a bone marrow, but don’t forget to remove Ashlyn’s uterus. Just tell her the injuries were too severe to save it. Oh, and get the best surgeon for her. She’s afraid of pain.” His assistant hesitated. He was clearly uncomfortable. “Mr. Sanders, isn’t this going too far?” Grant paused for a second before he replied firmly. “She refused to donate her bone marrow to Jessie and even used the baby as an excuse. She’s selfish. Besides, if we don’t do this, how can I bring back Jessie and our child into the family? As for Ashlyn, she’s my wife. I’ll make it up to her for the rest of my life. She used to bully Jessie with her status, which resulted in Jessie suffering from depression and almost killing herself. It’s time she paid the price for it.” As I listened to his heartless words, something inside me shattered completely. Since they had chosen to sacrifice me for Jessie, let them have what they wanted then.

Chuck Bassett, heir to an Urbington East fortune in Nuvark City, has dated 42 girlfriends—all foreign, all in white dresses, every single one with a mole at the corner of her eyebrow. People joke about his obsession, saying he'll never get over his first love, Lylith Fowler. Then, Lorrie Scarrow shows up. She's sharp, short-haired, hates dresses, and her eyes are clear and bright. She's nothing like the women he's dated before. Chuck buys her a private island. When she mentions how much she loves the stars, he fills the sky above their estate with millions of drones, crafting a shimmering galaxy just for her. He even gets her initial tattooed beneath his collarbone. Everyone is amazed. Chuck has finally moved on from the past. Even Lorrie starts to believe it. Until she spots him in the red-light district, shelling out a fortune to book a hostess for a whole month. The woman has short hair and a button-down shirt. She looks just like Lorrie. Chuck's friends are floored. "Have you lost your mind? Lylith changed her look, and now you're after someone who looks even more like her? Remember how she dumped you for that wealthy foreign businessman when she thought you were broke? "She only came crawling back after she found out you're the heir to one of the Four Great Families. You've always said there's nothing you hate more than women like that!" Chuck knocks back the shot. "I hate her, and I love her. She pulled me out of a fire ten years ago. No one else can ever replace her in my heart." "And what about Lorrie? You proposed to her! She gave up a career at one of the world's top design firms for you. Aren't you worried she'll walk away when she finds out?" Chuck leans back on the couch, his expression cold. "I won't marry a traitor. Lorrie's pure, innocent—the closest thing to how Lylith used to be. So I'll still marry her. She loves me too much to walk away." Unseen in the shadows, Lorrie stands frozen, her heart plummeting. Turns out, she's just another her.

Zoe Reed’s life shattered the day Alpha Philip’s darkness ripped her family apart. Barely escaping with her life, a cryptic heirloom, and her mother’s dying words, Zoe returns to Nighthaven Academy, a school for supernatural beings, with one goal: vengeance. But as she uncovers the truth about her unique bloodline, she realizes she’s more than a werewolf - she’s also part witch, marked by ancient magic that could save her world… or destroy it. Amid the chaos, Zoe finds her heart caught in a battle as fierce as the one for her life. Dominic, a brooding and fiercely loyal werewolf, stirs something wild in her soul. But then there’s Cassius, an enigmatic vampire with a haunting past, whose intensity pulls her toward the darkness she fears and the power she craves. Both men understand the shadows she walks better than anyone, yet their loyalties threaten to unravel everything Zoe is fighting for. As the danger surrounding Nighthaven deepens, Zoe must confront secrets that link her family’s murder, Alpha Philip’s rise, and a prophecy that could bring about the end of the supernatural world. In a battle of light and darkness, love and betrayal, Zoe is forced to make impossible choices: Will she embrace her legacy and fight for justice, even if it means losing those she loves? Or will the pull of forbidden love and untamed power consume her? Shadow of Heart: The Awakening is a spellbinding journey through a world of ancient rivalries, forbidden romance, and the unyielding power of the heart. Fans of gripping supernatural dramas, star-crossed lovers, and fierce heroines will be captivated by this tale of resilience, passion, and the fight for destiny.

Emma Caldwell's ordinary life as a librarian in Willow Creek is turned upside down when she receives an enigmatic invitation to the reading of a stranger's will at Haverstone Manor. What begins as an inexplicable summons quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets, danger, and intrigue. As Emma delves deeper into the manor's mysteries, she discovers she's not the only one with a stake in its secrets. Fellow guests, each with shadowy motives, vie for a piece of the late Lord Haverstone's enigmatic legacy. Amid ancient symbols, cryptic maps, and peculiar artifacts, Emma uncovers the existence of a machine designed to manipulate time itself. Guided by clues left by the deceased lord, Emma must navigate a gothic maze of shifting alliances, hidden chambers, and eerie warnings. Her companions, including a sardonic teenager and a glamorous but cunning relative of Haverstone, are as unpredictable as the dangers lurking in the shadows. When betrayals come to light and an old foe reveals their true intentions, Emma finds herself the reluctant guardian of a power that could reshape existence—or destroy it. As the stakes rise, she must unravel the truth about Haverstone’s experiments and decide whom she can trust, all while racing to prevent the manor’s secrets from falling into the wrong hands. Blending gothic suspense, unexpected humor, and thrilling twists, "Haverstone's Legacy" is a gripping tale of mystery and courage, where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and catastrophe.

He kissed her in the shadow. It was mind-blowing, passionate, hot and daring. Ngunit hindi inaasahan ni Miranda na ang lalaking kinaiinisan ay siya palang nakasama niyang nagtampisaw sa kama nang tanggalin na niya ang piring sa kanyang mga mata. It was supposed to be his fiance', Fiore. His three years boyfriend whom she thought she had given her virginity. Instead, she was mistakenly devirginized by his fiance's bestfriend, Xylon Diaz. Kaya ganoon na lang ang galit ni Fiore sa kanya at wala nang kasalan na magaganap. Abot hanggang kailaliman ng lupa ang naging galit niya kay Xylon. Ngunit mapipilitan siyang pakisamahan si Xyle dahil na-stranded sila sa ancient country house na nasa gitna ng kakahuyan. Hanggang naramdaman niyang iba na ang gusto ng katawan niya. Nais pa niyang hagkan siya ni Xyle at maulit ang nangyari sa kanila. Sa pagbabalik ni Fiore, kailangan niyang mamili. Ang lalaking pinangakuan niya ng kanyang puso o ang lalaking ibig ng katawan niya.

Tia's life was forever changed the night she met her mate, beta of the rival pack, Kael Cameron, under the moonlight. As they navigate their forbidden bond, a mysterious string of disappearances threaten the fragile peace between the packs. Forced to join forces, Tia and Kael must confront their own demons and the treacherous landscape of their pasts to uncover the truth and protect their people. But can their love be strong enough to overcome the secrets and hurt that have divided their packs for so long?

Beatrice is back to face her greatest threat since. . .well, the last time! In Cooper’s Cove a hapless team of archaeologists unleash the vengeful spirit of a 16th Century witch on the sleepy seaside town of Dorsal Finn. Hexes and curses fly as Beatrice and her friends must find out what links the appearance of this incredible foe and The Spirit of the Ocean, a super-yacht hosting the biggest celebrity charity event the town has ever seen. As the population of Dorsal Finn succumbs to witchcraft, so Beatrice must gate-crash the party with her motley-crew of friends and allies in the hope of stopping the witch's sinister plan, and save everyone from endless oblivion. . . Again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Izobel Rodriguez, a hybrid, has always been unsure of what she will become. For years, she discovered she possessed greater strength, power, and abilities than her siblings. Coming from a line of descent powerful families of vampires and werewolves, they were always in hiding, their story was never told and they must never be discovered. Until she met Ethan, their annoying neighbor, who awakened her inner self, making her fall in love. Only then does she realize that the connection Ethan and she created brought disaster and jeopardy to the secret they have been protecting for a very long time.

Mark Alvarez spent his childhood as the unwanted werewolf of the Delphic Pack; growing up he was excluded and had no ally or friend to call his own, and parts of his memories missing since the age of seven. With many behavioral issues he remained on the outskirts of the pack, until the night his wolf awakened on his eighteen birthday. A truth long buried resurfaced, bringing with it recollections buried deep in his psyche. Mark awoke to flashes of a deep-seated secret that overturned his life, haunted by the memories, Mark ended up consumed with thoughts of revenge and hatred. A rage further made complicated with the unexpected pleasure of meeting his mate; Blake Worthington. With tempers running high, repressed emotions resurfacing and enemies closing in, Mark and Blake circle each other in a dramatic retelling of Love, Passion and Misunderstandings afoot, and a Dark Entity dogging their steps, the two find themselves thrown into a blood spilled destructive course of secrets and mystery. Editor: B.Leena & Sahiba

Blurb: Lily Rose, a creative and independent artist who has faced numerous challenges in life, finds herself in a predicament where she is named the sole beneficiary of the vast empire of Richard Thompson, the great billionaire, who happens to be the only uncle to Alexander Thompson. Alexander Thompson had longed for the CEO position in his uncle's empire and was both livid and dumbfounded when he found out his uncle had chosen an unfamiliar stranger over his own nephew. Driven by the desire to understand this unexpected decision, he embarks on a mission to find Lily. As they confront each other, intense emotions surface and they must face their true feelings. Will this task prove easy for them or will they find it impossible to overcome the barriers created by wealth and privilege?.