Mark Twain Library Long Beach

Ryan Carter came to Arkwood University to escape his past especially Jake, the possessive ex who blurred every line between love and control. But his “fresh start” takes a messy turn when he clashes with Daniel Brooks: the cold, perfect, student body VP with too much power and zero patience for Ryan’s sharp tongue. They hate each other on sight. But hate has a way of burning too hot and the line between enemies and something else is thinner than either of them is ready for. What starts as tension becomes obsession. And when the past comes knocking, Ryan finds himself stuck between who he was, who he’s becoming, and a boy he never planned to want.

Struggling to make ends meet while having to care for a sick mother, Lena is forced into a perilous choice: to borrow a large sum of money from Damian, a feared mafia lord with zero mercy in applying his power. The price? Seven years of her life serving him in his treacherous underworld. What starts as a desperate bid for survival soon turns darker. Damian is ruthless, using her as a pawn in his world of power where secrets and loyalty are as fragile as glass. Though many have shared his bed, no one has touched his heart—he views love as a weakness he can't afford. But as Lena's resilience and quiet strength start to crack his hardened exterior, Damian finds himself questioning everything he once believed. Torn by her own fears and his growing affection, Lena has to tread carefully in a world where betrayal hides around every corner. In a place where love's a liability and trust's a death sentence, will Lena be able to survive Damian's shadowed world, or will she lose herself in the process?

Katty and Leonard met twice In the restaurant where Katy was working as a dishwasher machine operator, and they never met again before her stepmother forced her to leave the job for her daughter named Anne, Anne thought It was the supervisor that has the restaurant because of his personality and the way he dresses, and she fell for him, Meanwhile Anne came purposely because of the CEO of the restaurant, Let's read on and see how Katy and Leonard met again, Let's read on and see what later happened between the supervisor and Anne, Let's read on and see what pushed Anne Into desperation, Let's read on and see what later happened between Katy, Leonard and Anne,

Liza is a human female that has no knowledge of the dragons and wolves. She happens to be the mate to both the Dragon King and Wolf king. There was a great war between the shifters with many casualties on both sides. Both sides kept the war hidden from humans and decided it was best to never show their animal side to humans. Dragons are powerful and protected by magic. The King is a powerful CEO. Wolves are strong in numbers but since they aren’t protected by magic they won’t fight a dragon alone. Since the wolves animal forms can go undetected they’ve become the perfect assassin so they run the Underworld Mafia. Liza must decide if she wants to be the wife of a powerful dragon. Or Luna of the underground Mafia. She could also choose both. Will she be able to end the centuries long war and bring peace to the shifter community or cause another war? Who will she choose?

I didn't hide your daughter, you're the one who hide from your daughter, Karic. "Oo nga at di kita masyadong kinilala p-pero pinapasok kita sa buhay ko kahit di ako sigurado, nagtake ako ng risk dahil ang sabi mo mahal mo ako! Gusto kong maranasan magmahal pero binigo mo ako. Nasira ang lahat sa akin, ang pag-aaral ko, ang pangarap ko! Kaya wag mokong sumbatan na para bang kasalanan ko!"

On the surface, Connor Shaw appears to be the coolheaded, celibate follower of the Fyerian faith who lives like a monk. All of Jewelton knows that about him. Behind closed doors, however, he suffers from a severe case of compulsive sexual disorder. According to the traditions of the merpeople, a mermaid like Sylvie Waverly will have to marry the first human she meets and perform the ultimate act of intimacy 999 times. Masquerading as a lovesick doormat, Sylvie does everything she can to marry Connor. However, the only one in Connor's heart is Anna Larson, his first love. Everyone assumes Sylvie will get jealous, but all she wants is to complete her mission as soon as possible and return to her own world. Once Connor has bedded her 999 times, Sylvie leaves him without a second thought. By the time Connor realizes Sylvie is the mermaid who saved him all those years ago and that she alone can cure him of his compulsive sexual disorder, it is all too late.

WARNING: Not suitable for young readers or sensitive minds. Some parts contain graphic sex scenes, adult language and situation intended for mature readers only. TESSIMOND COUSINS SERIES #2 Bilang isang nag-iisang anak ng pamilya Fortezo, si Myca ay nakatakdang ipakasal sa mapipili niyang lalaki sa magaganap na isang salu-salo kasama ang kanyang buong angkan at malalayong kamag-anak. Hindi siya kailanman naniniwala na magkakaroon siya ng magandang buhay kapag naikasal siya sa lalaking pinsan niya sa malayong kamag-anak tulad ng paniniwala ng kanyang pamilya. Kaya tumakas siya at itinago ang sarili sa isang pribadong isla. Akala niya ay hindi na muling paglalaruan ng tadhana ang kanyang kapalaran. Tiwala pa naman ito na makakaya niyang baguhin ang desisyon ng kanyang mga magulang kung mananatili siya sa islang iyon nang ilang araw. Pero isang matipunong lalaki ang nahanap niyang nakahiga at walang malay sa tabi ng dalampasigan ng kanyang isla na pinaniniwalaan niyang nalunod. Paano kung paglaruan ng tadhana ang buhay nilang dalawa? Paano kung ang simpleng paghanga lang ni Myca sa lalaki ay mauwi sa ibang bagay? Paano kung mamarkahan siya ng lalaking ito?

“Get on your knees, my little pet," Jerome growled, his voice rough with command. His fingers tangled in my hair, guiding me down as my pulse roared in my ears. The heat of his body pressed closer, and I trembled not from fear, but from the dark thrill of surrender. "Show me how hungry you are." Rachel is a college senior studying art and design, and her life feels dull and uninspiring. She has been dating Jack since freshman year, but their relationship is lukewarm he doesn’t ignore her, but he doesn’t truly care about her either, especially since he’s always eyeing her best friend, Jessica. Rachel feels stuck in a routine, going through the motions without any real passion until everything changes when her drawing teacher gets into an accident. The school brings in a substitute Jerome, a young, breathtakingly attractive artist who immediately commands the room. Rachel tries to ignore the way her body reacts to him, but the pull is too strong. His gaze lingers on her a second too long, his voice sends shivers down her spine, and when he gets close, she can’t think straight. She knows it’s wrong teachers and students can’t be together but she can’t resist. Then she discovers Jerome’s secret he’s a werewolf, part of a powerful pack with three other dangerously seductive men Dante, Kade, and Elias. They’ve been watching her, waiting, and now that she’s near Jerome, their instincts take over. They growl, they claim, and Rachel, despite her fear, finds herself drawn deeper into their world. Drawn into a world of forbidden desire, Rachel surrenders to a passionate affair.

The night before the annual gala, my wife promised me a big surprise. But the very next day, she publicly quintupled the marketing manager's bonus. To me, she just gave a curt nod and a half-hearted "keep up the good work". When I questioned her decision, she brushed it off casually. "You've racked up some impressive wins in court. I'll give you that, but let's be real. Without Kevin hyping you up, you'd never have hit top-tier status. Plus, what's mine is yours. Why nitpick over a bonus?" The room buzzed with anticipation of my explosion. But I held my tongue till the gala ended. The next morning, I marched into her office and slapped my resignation letter down on her desk. "Might as well tack my salary onto Kevin's. Consider it my wedding present to you." She erupted, branding me as narrow-minded and dooming me to the unemployment line. She conveniently overlooked my track record as a powerhouse attorney. For that alone, elite firms were lining up to recruit me.

MARKED is book #4 in a new paranormal romance series by bestselling author Bella Lore, whose series MY TRUE MATE and THE ALPHA’S MATE have over 500 five-star reviews. “I couldn’t stop reading.” --Amazon review (My True Mate) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ When her father suddenly dies, Winter Grace, 17, is forced to fly across the country and attend a mysterious prep school, an ancient castle in a fog-covered island on the coast of Maine. Nothing here is what it seems, and it isn’t long before Winter, feeling a surging power for the first time, realizes that she is not who—or what—she thinks she is. But when Winter feels an inexplicable crush for an elusive and dangerous boy at the school, she realizes a greater destiny is at play. She knows the relationship might destroy them both—yet she also knows that they can never be apart. In MARKED, it is time for Winter to return on the epic quest back to save her school—but first, it is time for her to now sacrifice it all, and find—and save—her lost love. Creating an unforgettable world of vampires, werewolves, shifters and magic of all sorts, a world of fantasy, love and sacrifice, MORTAL will take you to another place, rife with shocking twists and turns. Fans of books such as Vampire Academy and Twilight and Crush are sure to fall in love! Future books in the series are also available. "The story was very well written and was unique as compared to other shifter stories.” --Amazon review (The Alpha’s Mate) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Excellent from start to finish and leaves you wanting more.” --Amazon review (My True Mate) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐