Mark Twain Library Long Beach

"Our heart beats only with their permission." For as long as she can remember, the bookworm Synecdoche Rochet, 23, has lived a simple life in Maharlika Nation—hiding in the grasses and grains of District G to avoid the terrifying power of the Embassy and its ruthless Ambassador. In a dytopian world that is controlled and opressed, Synecdoche Rochet embarks on a mission to get back their rights on their district's valuable resources—the grains. When she discovered her intellectual ability, she found herself drawn to the charismatic Giovanni, the long-lost Ambassador's previleged son together with other intelligent students, Ulap, Token and Keithwarth. They found themselves being the tributes on the 2nd Maharlika Spelling TwistBee—trapped in the Word Arena. An annually commemorated survival game where each district will represent 1 letter in the Alphabet, spell the given English words not verbally, but by brutal killings of other competitors who have letter tattoos on their arms. The rules are to Spell and Kill. Within the killer's reach, the team-up of Synecdoche, Giovanni, Ulap, Token and Keithwarth isn't a coincidence, it's a conspiracy. What if Synecdoche's age will be reversed? Will they use their intelligence for vengeance? Will they compel love and trust to survive the battle royale? Is their life the price or the prize? "Even the shortest word has the longest meaning. Spell the words and kill with swords!"

"I will not promise you a happy life once you agreed to this union." Isang Arranged Marriage ang kinasangkutan nila Lumiere Jane Ramirez at Drake Achyls Hernandez matapos ang kanilang Senior Highschool. Isa itong Promise of Union ng dalawang pamilya at sa kanila ito maisasakatuparan. Habang naghihimutok sa galit sa pagtutol si Drake ay kaiba naman kay Lumiere dahil ito ay matagal ng may gusto kay Drake. Akala niya isang fairytale, kapag naikasal ka sa taong matagal mo ng gusto pero mas lalong naging cold, indifferent at malupit sa kaniya ang lalaki to the point he handed her a divorce. Namatay ang lolo ni Lumiere at sinisi niya ang lahat kay Drake. Nais na niyang iwan ito at hindi na magpakita pero nagkita sila sa isang bar. Nakita ni Drake na nakikipagsayaw sa iba ang kaniyang asawa. Sa unang pagkakataon ay inuwi siya nito sa condo para komprontahin. Dahil sa kalasingan ay nauwi ang lahat sa isang mainit na gabi. Kinabukasan ay nakita ni Lumiere ang divorce agreement at pinirmahan niya ito dahil hindi naman niya kayang pilitin ang lalaking mahalin siya. At ang nangyari kagabi ay dahil lang sa kalasingan. It was just a s*x. Umalis si Lumiere at hindi na muli pang nakipagkita kay Drake. After 5 long years, nagkita silang muli ngunit siya ay nobya na ng kaniyang pinsan na si Orphen. Lalo siyang nagalit ng malaman niyang may anak na ang mga ito. Pinilit niyang bawiin si Lumiere at nagsimula ang bawat dagok sa kanilang buhay. Isa bang sumpa ang Promise of Union o kailangan lang nilang mapatunayan na para talaga sila sa isat-isa.

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. ✧✧✧ "Why is it hard for you to give up that office, Dr. Abernathy?" inis na tanong sa kaniya ni Dr. Carterson na anak ng Chairman—ex boyfriend niya 12 years ago. "Mahalaga sa akin, of course! At bakit ba gusto mo iyon?" tanong naman niya. "Ako lang dapat magtatanong," angal naman nito. "Bakit nga mahalaga?" "Regalo sa akin ng kuya mo iyon noong intern pa lang ako at ikaw na ang nagsabi na kapag regalo dapat iniingatan. Kaya ibalik mo sa akin ang opisina ko!" "Paano ba iyan? I hate to think that it's a gift from Jaxon, you're not going to like what I'm going to ask for." Nainis siya pero pinili niyang kumalma. "Then tell me, gagawin ko." "You sure?" "Why not? As long as hindi naman nakakamatay yan. Hindi mo naman ako uutusan na uminom ng lason o púmàtày ng pasyente di ba?" Tumaas ang sulok ng labi nito. "Okay...then take off your panty and give it to me." Napanganga siya. "W-What?"

What if isang araw magising ka na buntis ka na pala? Nabuntis ka na hindi mo alam kung paano? Paanong nangyari kung isa kang birhen? Never been touched, never been kissed and never ever had s*x? Is it impossibe? Meet Edelyn Sanchez, a common teen girl who love to read books. She is a type of a girl na hindi palagala, walang interest sa pag-ibig lalo na sa mga lalaki at laging nakatuon lamang sa kaniyang pag-aaral dahil sa iniingatang scholarship. Her life went well, not until something strange happened to her. Nagising na lamang siya na hindi niya naiintindihan ang mga ginagawa niya. She's not stupid, she knows kung ano'ng nangyayari sa kaniya but there's a big question mark on her head. Bakit nangyayari to sa kaniya? Is it impossible to got pregnant if you are one hundred percent holy? If she's pregnant, then who's the possible stranger father?

Breijelle Clein is really living the best of her live. Having a supportive friend and family but her dad wants her to marry the billionaire man. Vrion Pskear, a billionaire. He doesn't want to marry a woman he doesn't know but he can't do anything because he wants to do that for his parents. In their long association in the same house, the two gradually fall in love with each other

Adrianna is an ordinary college student who's trying to get through her life by working part-time. Isang araw ng pagdalaw niya sa kaniyang ina ay kinagiliwan siya agad ni Madam Polly, ang ina ni Axl Genesis. She offered her to work for Axl. Ang akala niyang masaya at simpleng unang araw sa trabaho bilang secretary ni Axl ay nauwi sa isang pangyayari na lubos niyang pinagsisihan. She became a witness of a crime done inside the Genesis Office. And became the suspect for it. She did everything to prove that she's innocent. In the end, she has to stay with Axl, in his condo unit so she can prove she is innocent. Axl made sure she's safe as a witness and secured as a suspect as well. And he made sure she stays with him while the investigation is on going. The investigation and Adrianna's work with him was a rollercoaster ride. Unti-unti niyang nakilala si Axl. She found out why Axl became aloof, she found out why it was hard for him to trust people. Hindi nagtagal, nalaman niyang nahuhulog na rin siya rito. With her status in life and Axl's wealth, alam niyang imposible silang dalawa. She left for Axl's sake, to save his name and his family. But Axl didn't want it that way. He's willing to fight for her, he's willing to face all the problems as long as she's with him. Adrianna realized that she can do the same, that she can protect him and love him while they're fighting for each other. They are willing to prove that there's no such thing as meant to be, that there's no such thing as destiny, because you can be with someone as long as you want to be together. We create our own destiny.

I was in the middle of believing that romantic relationships are fleeting and unreliable. My family's situation proves it. But. . . “You're gay?” After a long time of process, disguise, and plan, I thought I wouldn't fall. “Hindi ako mahuhulog sa 'yo, baka ikaw pa ang mahulog sa akin.” As time passes, true love can manifest in unexpected forms. “You prove me wrong Kaizen.” And proving that love knows no boundaries. — Vaniah Feumi Dellona Got Married with a Gay Billionaire

Si Clover ay isang babae na hindi nalalayo ang estado ng buhay sa iba. Gaya ng mga kabataan ngayon ay nahilig din ito sa social media, partikular sa Facebook site. Kabilang din ito sa mga taong naging sikat sa social media dahil halos araw-araw ay humahakot ito ng daang-daang likes. Marami na rin ang sumubok na ligawan siya sa kanyang Facebook account, ngunit palagi niya itong nire-reject. Para sa kanya ang mga lalaking nakilala lang dito ay hindi pwedeng seryosohin, puro landi-landi lang.Pero tila parang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin at timpla ng kape ng makilala niya si Percy na parang may extended brain orb sa ulo, in short, abnormal, at palaging nanggugulo.Habang tumatagal ang communication nilang dalawa, ang akalang landi lang ay tila ba nag-iba.Is it possible to fall in love in social media?Kung sakali man, may kasiguraduhan kayang magtatagal ang relasyong binuo nila?

Limang taon ang lumipas mula nang magkalamat ang pangako nilang panghabambuhay—pag-ibig na nauwi sa paglayo at pagdurusa. Ngayon, muli silang nagtagpo. Mapapawi kaya ng panahon ang sakit ng nakaraan, o mananatili itong sugat na hindi na maghihilom? Para kay Angela, tapos na ang kanilang kwento, kwentong ayaw na niyang balikan pa. Pero para sa bilyonaryo, “As long as it’s you, there will be more chances.”

Tyron Madrigal is a successful businessman with a reputation for being strict and cold-hearted. But when he returns to the Philippines to fix some urgent businesses, he meets a woman named Katlyn Buendias who challenges everything he thought he knew about himself. As he struggles to resist the temptation to be with her, he realizes that he may have finally met his match in this fiery and unpredictable woman. Will Tyron be able to tame his own desire and claim her as his own, or will she prove to be too much of a temptation to resist? "He always Tempting to see her, Tempting to be with her, Tempting to her, Tempting to mark her as mine, and She's my Temptation." -Tyron Arlo Madrigal