Mark Twain Library Long Beach Novels & Stories

They were best friends and even more— or so she thought. Winnie and Jason had a love that felt unbreakable, destined… until he chose power and wealth over her. His betrayal shattered her heart and left her drowning in pain. Now working as a private caregiver for the same Alpha who turned out to be Jason’s brother-in-law, Winnie only wants peace and a quiet life. But fate has other plans. Because the man she’s meant to serve, the Alpha himself, is the same man she once had a passionate moment with. And somewhere between guilt, loyalty, and unspoken desire, Winnie finds herself falling for him all over again. She’s falling for her ex-mate’s powerful brother-in-law. Will she be strong enough to resist the bond pulling her closer to him, or will fate trap her once more in its cruel game of love, betrayal, and secrets?

Pain. That was all I remembered after I lost my mom to a sudden death. I was seven when that happened. And after that, my father took over the house and the company, and married a week later to my mom's best friend, while stating it was for my own good. The world turned their backs on me, calling me trash and a jinx. But that wasn't the worst thing I had to endure. My father drugged and sold me as a replacement for the debts he could not repay. In return, I got stuck in the hands of a ruthless disfigured man, who always hid his face behind a mask. “I'll never let you go, Georgina. You're mine, and the sooner you accept that, the better”. His cold voice echoed in my ears as he grabbed my neck and made my legs become weak. I thought all hope was lost, but I miraculously escaped. … Ha. It's funny how fast time flies. It's been 8 years, and I finally returned to the city that broke me. But this time, I didn't return the same way I had left. I didn't return as the docile fool. Rather, I returned as someone they could not touch. A mother to my lovely twins. And the most sought after miraculous doctor. “My daughter, you're back home. Everyone, she is my daughter”. “My wife, I have finally found you. Return home with me”. They tried to control me again. How sick and irritating. Did they think I was the old Georgina they knew? They are wrong. The old Georgina had died, and this new Georgina had returned to make them pay. I will reclaim everything they took away. The company, the house. Including restoring my mother's honor! I'm Georgina, and you are welcome to my story…

Not wanting to accept her Fate, Annabelle tried fleeing but was caught. Being abducted by werewolves wasn't what she had expected when going into the woods. While making efforts to escape, she found out that she wasn't just kidnapped by a mere human but the leader of the blue sea Pack, Alpha of werewolves. Rejecting and being Marked by an animal was what she never believed would happen. Wondering how she could be marked by her already rejected mate, she tried all she could in order to make him detest her and send her away, but instead of sending her back home he sent her to the Pack house where she started a new life with Emily the Beta's mate. But staying away from her mate after being marked has its problems, and was she ready to bear it? What happens when she tries getting away but ended up getting abducted again by another pack of werewolves who were the rivals of the blue sea pack.

Jason Schwartz had been a close friend of my father's, despite the age gap. The year I met him, I was fearless, the kind of girl who thought nothing could touch her. I bit down hard on the hand he offered me. Jason just laughed. "You're adorable," he said. "Like a little wolf." On my 18th birthday, he shoved me onto the bed, his eyes red, as if he had been holding back for years. "Diana, I've finally waited long enough for you to grow up." He was the one who pulled me into that first flutter of desire, the one who led me across every line I wasn't supposed to cross. I grew into exactly the kind of girl he wanted. The day my father was hacked to death by his enemies, Jason took my hand and stepped into his place without hesitation. When I was pregnant, he brought home a girl covered in blood. "Diana, she's not like you. She's like wild grass, tough and stubborn." He said he admired wild grass. But he forgot something. He was the one who raised me into a rose that only knew the shelter of a greenhouse. Good thing I didn't need him anymore.

“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) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Some people say, high school life is great but for Joycelyn Lopez it was a misery. A young girl, from Pangasinan Philippines who experienced bullying. For her, school is hell because of people bullying her looks and skin ever since elementary, that is why she is full of insecurities in herself... but not until she met Dave, a transferee guy who came from the United States of America A well-mannered, a son of the City Mayor, living in upper-class life and a boy who fall stupidly in love in her. Dave didn’t know he would fall in love crazy to the girl, ever since he was in America, girls are going crazy over him. But when he went to the Philippines, the tables have turned. Of course, Dave shoots her shot to Joy. They became together because they think they would find peace with each other; never thought they will make misery for themselves.

A reverse harem (MxFxM) story. *** They are the Beast, ruling over the earth for thousands of years and are the ultimate Kings. They are invincible, powerful and cold hearted. Their words are the command which no one dared to refuse, their actions are cruel which makes people tremble in terror, their presence itself is enough to make death turn it's way. They had everything one could ask for- power, strength, position, wealth and looks. Yet they were not happy. The only thing they ever wanted in their life was their mate. They knew they are cursed to live without a mate, without their other half but it didn't stopped them from searching for their mate. Then imagine their surprise when one night their mate magically appears in front of them out of nowhere. *** The Beast Kings are the one who are merciless. They are the one who are Savage Beasts. They are the one who are Heartless monsters. They are the one who killed thousands and thousands of people. They are the one who causes fear in people with just the mention of them. They are the one who doesn't have enemies because no one dares to oppose them. They are the one who have strength combined of all the supernatural species. They are the one who are the kings of All. They are the one who are The Beast Kings. They are the one who are searching for their mate ever since they remember. They are the one who will do anything to find her. And she is their Mate. Their little Rose. Their Human Mate.

Vampires and Werewolves? Yeah, they don’t mix. Vampires think they’re superior. Werewolves can’t stand their arrogance. But when Hunters come for both clans, there's only one choice—team up or die trying. As the Alpha’s sister, Aritzea is stuck working with her enemies—the same people who killed her father. And to make things worse? She’s paired with Lucian, the irritatingly lazy, frustratingly charming Vampire Prince who just can’t seem to keep his fangs off her. Oh, and apparently… he’s her mate.