Message In A Bottle

I’m the princess of the Moretti family, the Chicago Outfit. But all I ever cared about was sculpting. The day before Thanksgiving, my car died on me. I had to drive home in some beat-up, mud-caked Jeep. The second I walked into the penthouse, some strange woman shoved a pile of silver polish into my arms. She jutted her chin at me. “Get these polished before the dinner party,” she sneered. I looked at her. She was wearing my late mother’s favorite silk robe. This is my house. Who the hell was this woman? And who was supposed to polish this junk? Me? The only princess of the Moretti family? I pulled out my phone. Opened the family's encrypted app. I sent a message to my father, Vincenzo. “Your new pet wants me to polish the silver.”

My husband and I take leave from work to travel to Highland. It's also an opportunity for me to return to my hometown. Unexpectedly, we get into a fight over the itinerary on our first day there. I snap at him when we're standing by the side of the road, but he calms me down. He even coaxes me and offers to pay for a nice meal at a restaurant. When I return to the hotel, I discover that he's run off with my luggage and mobile phone. He even leaves a message telling me to reflect on my mistakes. I borrow a phone to call him, but he doesn't answer. It's freezing in Highland. I'm almost about to die from the frost when I suddenly see sense. I'm not putting up with this anymore!

Annette Vasquez is broken and desperate to talk to Ryan, her ex-boyfriend who broke up with her a month ago. When an intimidating man appears on her door dressed in all blacks, she runs for cover and sends Ryan a text for help. Vicente Di Alberto is the Don of the Italian Mafia, cold, ruthless and untouchable. A strange message pops up on his phone which has him acting on impulse. He hates men who hurts women and he is ready to save and protect the woman calling for his help. Rescued by a sinfully handsome man, Ann feels safe around him until she finds out his real identity and also finds herself married accidentally to the most feared man in Italy. She wants out but Vicente is ready to use the accidental marriage to his advantage.

On the day of my wedding anniversary, I was cleaning my house when I found a picture album. As it turned out, my husband had been religiously taking pictures with the girl of his dreams every year on this precise date. He had been doing it since he was forty years old and he was now sixty years old. His hair had progressed from a jet black to a faded white and yet, he kept up the tradition. There was a written message in his handwriting at the back of the picture that read, “Eternal Love.” Since he doesn't love me, I will no longer bother washing his clothes and cooking for him. I will no longer care for his children and grandchildren. I may have foolishly wasted half of my life, but it was not too late to make a change.

My husband was praised by my friends as the perfect husband in the world. Everyone said he loved me to death and practically put me on a pedestal. Then came my prenatal checkup. My older cousin, Catherina Bow, called him with a farewell message before attempting suicide. Without hesitation, he abandoned me and rushed off in panic. I was six months pregnant at that time. My mother expected me to be the bigger person and “lend” my husband to Catherina, who was depressed. My brother snapped at me, "The only reason you’re still in this house is because Catherina spoke up for you. Whatever she wants, you should give it to her!" I found it absurd. I was supposed to be their family. She was nothing but a cuckoo in my nest. When I finally decided to walk away from all of them, they regretted their actions.

One message changed everything: "The Alpha is coming for you." Elara Vance spent her life sacrificed for her family, nursing her dying mother in the shadows of a pack that forgot them. When she’s sold to the lethal Alpha Silas Vane to pay a debt, she expects a life of servitude. She doesn't expect the soul-searing heat of the Mate Bond the moment they meet. But fates have a cruel sense of humor. A devastating mistake in the marriage contract is revealed. Elara isn't the Alpha's bride. Her sister is. And Elara’s been promised to the Alpha’s sadistic younger brother. Bound by blood, separated by law, and hunted by a bond that refuses to be ignored, Elara must decide either to follow the rules of the pack or burn it all down to claim the man who was always meant to be hers?

On her birthday, Vicky Shaw's beloved husband, Tyler Hart, was found to be having a candle light dinner with his childhood sweetheart. The birthday present he gave her was a text message requesting a divorce.During their three years of marriage, she did everything she could to keep him with her, throwing all the beds in the other rooms when he was not in the house so he had nowhere else to sleep other than with her.After a fateful car crash, however, she had amnesia and was no longer the woman who loved him deeply. When Tyler finally visited her in the hospital, the first thing he asked was to get her to agree to the divorce. The new Vicky agreed immediately.Everyone knew how much the old Vicky loved Tyler. Only Tyler knew he had loved her dearly.

Alina discovers the heartbreaking news that her sister Camille is engaged to her ex-husband Barry upon her return to London after two years overseas. A sex tape of the two is sent in an anonymous message further betraying the trust. In an effort to recover her life and fortune Alina suggests a contract marriage to Dante Navarro, a vicious billionaire who has a personal grudge against Barry. A sincere connection develops between them as they work through their fake marriage, public personas and secrets. They reveal Barry and Camilles deceit as they work together to destroy their schemes. Amidst the turmoil, Alina and Dante face their past traumas which results in an unexpected romantic relationship. In the end Alina regains her inheritance and her authority while discovering true love can find you anywhere at unexpected places.

After wrapping up a book signing out of town, I received a message from a friend on the way home. "This personal trainer is something else. He can do all kinds of things with an exercise ball." He also sent me a Live Photo. In the Live Photo, a woman was lying on an exercise ball, pinned down by a man. Her hair was covering her face. In the Live Photo that was a second long, I heard a familiar moan. I called my fiancée. "Where are you?" Her voice was a bit hoarse, "I'm training with an exercise ball at the neighborhood gym, babe. I have a big surprise waiting for you when you get home." I snorted and said, real slow, "How about I give you a big surprise right now? Open the door!"

The day Stella Jameson was released early from prison for good behavior, my husband Samuel Xenos, who was always so calm and collected, lost control. He did everything he could to please Stella in her bed. He said that our marriage was nothing but fake. He never had any real feelings for me. And that lawsuit, for which he risked his life to win for me three years ago, was nothing but a complete setup. [Zara, the man you love most is just my dog. He comes whenever I call. He has always been like this. He’s no different from Victor back then.] That was the message Stella sent me to taunt me. I wiped my tears and prepared a big surprise for them.