Long Shadows David Baldacci

Natalie Taylor has one goal when she signs up as a companion at Dreams: to make a shit ton of money and get out fast. She's not looking for adventure or hoping for love and romance. But days into her moonlighting job, her quiet determination is shaken when she confronts her biggest problem yet—Levi Van Holt, heir to a mega-billion hotel chain and CEO of a gaming startup. Levi is everything she wants in a man. Gorgeous, wealthy and generous to boot. There's just one problem. He's her new boss... Harbouring a dark secret and nursing wounds from his past, Levi has one rule and one rule only for his companion: no falling in love. But with his desires continually tested, the more time he spends with Natalie, it doesn't take long for both their lives, real and secret, to converge, the lines between illusion and reality begin to blur, and the temptation to break his only rule becomes harder to resist. © 2022 Val Sims. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author and publishers.

When Brigitta discovered her husband's appalling betrayal involving her stepsister and best friend, her world crumbled. Her subsequent divorce led her to a local bar, where a chance encounter with a charismatic stranger resulted in a passionate night. Five years later, she found herself back in her hometown, with five beautiful children and an ailing grandmother in desperate need of medical care. In the face of these dire circumstances, Brigitta made the drastic decision to impersonate her stepsister and enter into a marriage with Ragnar Marshall, the seemingly ill and vegetative son of the notorious Wigglesworth family. Her surprise was palpable when Ragnar was revealed as the continent's wealthiest CEO, a man whose features mirrored her children's. Yet, disturbing rumors about Ragnar compelled her to shield her children from him. How long could she keep them hidden, especially when the children were so determined to make Ragnar Marshall their daddy?

"Sign the contract before I change my mind since buying a woman is not difficult. Furthermore, this deal is worth 45 million dollars, and your entire life has scarcely seen it," William Mackenzie said as he threw papers on Monica's face. “Will you ever love me again?" Monica said with a melancholy voice. "Love is nonsense! I'm not into love. I am only offering you this contract because you are incapable of harming me. Even if you do, you will not live this life. Now accept it, or get out!" William crudely said. Monica was a lovely and vivacious child who lost her parents at a very young age. Her sorrow began when she moved in with her aunt. She served only as her aunt's housemaid. She fell in love with an ordinary man who gave her hope that there was someone in this harsh world who would love and look out for her until she learned that the man she loved had recovered his memories. Her beloved was leading a false life. And now he was unfamiliar with her and abandoned her because she was poor, and he had no feelings for her anymore. William Mackenzie was the richest tycoon who thought of money and power, but more importantly, he desired vengeance on those who tried to kill him, causing his memory loss for seven long years, and now he was back in business. ★★★

She’s fifteen years younger and his Beta’s last daughter. Can she really be the one he has been waiting for all these years? Lucas Cameron is the Alpha Lord, the Alpha of Alphas, his mother is Lycan Royalty, there is no more powerful werewolf in the world. He is also unmated. Until his 33rd birthday, which happens to be Kelly Killgon’s, Beta Max Killgon’s youngest daughter, 18th birthday……………. . . Not long after they are mated strange, dangerous, deadly, and unbelievable events start to take place. Can the Alpha Lord and his young mate overcome or at least survive all the roadblocks ahead? Who is doing this? Why? When Lucas’s intelligence, strength, and patience are pushed to the edge, will Kelly be his saving Grace or his greatest liability?

I take a step back, ready to change course and leave, but the Lycan King closes the distance between us. He’s dangerously close to me now, his body in full display and sending my whole body aflame. The familiar heat between my legs starts to appear. “Where are you going?” he whispers, his breath hot against the top of my head. “Are you really trying to leave?” I don’t say anything. I can’t. All I can think about is how his length would feel like inside me, and that’s not something I want to linger on right now. I need to focus. He laughs softly. “I know you feel it too. There’s no denying it. You’re mine.” * * * Outcast. Freak. Cursed. These are things that Beta heiress Valeria Ross is used to hearing. After all, with her otherwordly appearance, and her cursed white wolf, she’s bound to be set apart from everyone else. So much so that even her mate who promised her eternal love casts her aside, choosing her much better stepsister as a partner. Deciding that things should end on her terms, she decides to flee her pack. Only to run into the arms of the Lycan King, Ares Ryder, who’s spent centuries looking for his mate and finally found it in her. Now Valeria is faced with a hard choice. Will she stay in the shadows of her family, forever tormented with the sight of her mate with her sister? Will she exchange that hell for a softer one, a life with a cruel King who’s known for collecting women like trophies?

“I will make you suffer, mate. I’ll break you until the only escape you have is to end your own life,” he hissed, shoving her backward. “Undress, get on the bed, and be on all fours!” •••••••••••••• Benita was considered a burden and was never loved because she weighed a few pounds more than what was considered the perfect slender figure. Her younger sister, Nina, was the apple of everyone’s eye, the opposite of Benita. Nina had it all—a beautiful face, a slim body, and she was even dating Nathan, the soon-to-be Alpha. Everyone believed Nina would be his mate and the pack’s future Luna. But fate had other plans, as on the day of the mating ceremony, it wasn’t Nina but Benita who was revealed as Nathan’s mate. Nathan, furious and disgusted, was forced to accept her. Nina, devastated, fled that same night, only to fall from a cliff, her body lost, presumed dead. Nathan blamed Benita for ruining his perfect life and sought revenge. He turned his pain into a cruel revenge, subjecting her to a life of a slave. When Benita discovered she was pregnant, she fled, fearing Nathan would kill the child, unaware that Nathan’s feelings had started to change, though he would never admit it. Five years later, their paths crossed again. This time, Benita was no longer the broken girl the pack hated; she had made a name for herself as a renowned healer, and men now sought her out. But Nathan wasn’t about to lose her again. He’d let her slip through his fingers once, and this time, he would do anything to claim her. And as if fate hadn’t twisted enough, her sister, long thought dead, came back from the grave.

BOOK THREE of COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE: After a bitter betrayal, he refuses to trust hunters, but a certain huntress catches his eye... Greg Claw's bonded mate did the unthinkable, conspiring against him and his family during their time together, so she was punished with death. Now he knows never to trust a hunter. This includes the newly appointed Chief Octopus, Sushmita. But the more he's around her, the more intrigued he gets. The longer they work together, the more he can't deny the connection growing between them. It's not a bond, but there's certainly something. Sushmita has her own secrets and motives for everything she does, and choosing this profession is no exception. Greg finds himself caring about her… for her. When her former lover waltzes in, Greg wonders if this ex is what stands between him and Sushmita. One thing's for sure, with threats pressing in close, danger lurking in the shadows, and things not appearing to be what they seem, Greg has to do everything within reach and beyond to protect everything and everyone he holds dear, which - oddly - includes her. *** BOOK ONE: The 5-Time Rejected Gamma & the Lycan King BOOK TWO: The Rogues Who Went Rogue

Yvonne Jamison wants to get married after being with Jared Ford for seven years. She prepares her own wedding dress, but he doesn't pop the question. On the day they're scheduled for a pre-marriage medical checkup, she waits for him at the hospital from day to night. Yet, he's busy throwing a celebration for his new secretary. The secretary shares a social media update and tags Yvonne in it. The update comes with a photo of a diamond ring from Jared and a suggestive caption. Yvonne doesn't cause a fuss. She likes the update, quits her job, and goes home for a blind date. Jared is unfazed. He's sure she won't actually leave him. "I'll just give her the cold shoulder for a few days to teach her a lesson. She'll be back soon enough." However, the days pass, and Yvonne doesn't return. Jared loses his cool. For the first time ever, he submits to Yvonne. "Have you had enough of this tantrum? Come back if you still want to marry me. This is your last chance!" "Mr. Ford, Ms. Jamison has already met someone else on a blind date." Later, Yvonne shares a photo of her marriage certificate on her social media. Jared, who has always been arrogant and aloof, loses his mind. He kneels outside her house in the rain for three days and nights. "Please come back to me, Yvonne!" The door opens, and a man clad in nothing but a towel around his waist emerges. He says hoarsely, "My wife has fallen asleep from her exhaustion. Please leave, Mr. Ford."

What would you do if your world suddenly turned upside down? How much can you sacrifice just to win back the one you love? Amanda ‘Mandy’ Collins, a young beautiful girl who loves to play with every man’s feelings, was forced to marry the son of her mother’s best friend, Andrew Bradford. She hated the idea but later on agreed as her mother fell ill. Andrew Bradford is the most perfect man every girl would ever meet. He is a rich and handsome billionaire who was secretly in love with Mandy even before their marriage. One day, the situation suddenly reversed. Andrew became cold towards Mandy and brought a woman into his mansion. While Mandy realized that she fell in love with Andrew when she felt hurt and jealous by the presence of his other woman. How long could Mandy hold onto her feelings after this playful twist of fate?

"A fated mates style novel, with a deliciously dark twist." He was a cold, dangerous man with the darkest of secrets. He had accepted being alone centuries ago, and ever since, hadn't dared hope to find anyone strong enough to embrace the darkness within him. Hope only led to torment. Until her..