National Catholic Reporter

"Part One: TakenJessie Coford had a plan: work hard, save money, open her own restaurant. She sacrificed her relationship with the man of her dreams to get it. Then, in the blink of an eye, she lost her job and her apartment and her life crashed around her. Until a letter taking her to Fort Mavis, Texas, and an unexpected windfall.Part Two: TamedShea Prescott was astonished when million Cruz Castillo chose her to design his new home on his ranch. They hardly traveled in the same circles. But Cruz had been hot for Shea since he first saw her and at their first meeting the chemistry between them ignited. Cruz coaxed her deeper and deeper into a whirlpool of erotic sex, awakening latent sexual desires and bringing her orgasms beyond her wildest imaginings. Her body screamed yes at his every touch, but will she say yes to the most important question?USA Today best-selling and award-winning author Desiree Holt writes everything from romantic suspense and paranormal to erotic. and has been referred to by USA Today as the Nora Roberts of erotic romance, and is a winner of the EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice nominee. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The (London) Daily Mail, The New Delhi Times and numerous other national and international publications.Taken by Surprise is created by Desiree Holt, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

My husband, who's a negotiation expert, allows his intern to recklessly anger some criminals. It causes me, the hostage, to suffer severe injuries in the explosion, and my right leg breaks because of it. Yet, my husband once again issues a letter of forgiveness for her. "My wife, as a reporter, ignored warnings and forced contact with the criminals to get the scoop. The main responsibility lies with her. Kimberly, being a newcomer, should not bear major fault." I don't cry or make a scene. I simply pull out a divorce agreement. However, he sneers at me. "I know you're just jealous and want me to comfort you, but don't cross the line." For the past three years, I've brought up the topic of divorce 47 times, and each time, he treats it like I'm just throwing a tantrum. But it's different this time. His name has already been signed on this divorce agreement. As long as I add my signature to it, it will take effect immediately.

Our place was hit by an earthquake. I was crushed by a slab of stone, but my wife, leader of the rescue squad, abandoned me in favor of her true love. She said, "You're a soldier. You can live with a little injury. Felix can't. He's always been weak, and he needs me." I was saved, eventually, and I wanted to leave my wife. I agreed to the chip research that would station me in one of the National Science Foundation's bases deep in the mountains. My leader was elated about my agreeing to this research. He grasped my hand tightly. "Marvelous. With you in our team, Jonathan, this research won't fail! But… you'll be gone for six whole years. Are you sure your partner's fine with it?" I nodded. "She will be. I'm serving the nation here. She'll understand." The leader patted my shoulder. "Good to know. The clock is ticking, so you'll only have one month to say your goodbyes. That enough for you?" I smiled. "More than enough."

A hot billionaire with secrets and the sexy reporter from hell, bent on unravelling them. When the chemistry ignites between them, all is at risk of burning down. Mahi was one step away from unravelling the mysterious secrets about the hot Billionaire banker Kartik who has insulted her on live TV and Mahi was about to get her revenge, fair & square. But before she could dig up his dirty secrets and broadcast it to the whole world, the handsome billionaire knocks at her door with an ultimatum worse than death. His deal was simple- either Mahi agrees to be his wife or he tells the Whole world what kind of cheat she is!

On our eighth anniversary, Claire Young announced that she had already registered her marriage with her childhood friend. She took him home, ordering me around as if it was only natural. "Move to another room. Stan loves sunshine." "Stan doesn't like sweets, so don't bake any when you're at home. He'd be upset if he saw it." I kept quiet through it all and bought a ticket to leave. My friend wanted to help me out of the predicament, but she didn't think it was a big deal. "He's just being dramatic again. Let him be—he'd be caving in just a few days." Everyone laughed at that, and quietly made bets as to when I'd come crawling back to Claire's feet. None of them knew I was already inducted into the national weapons program, and that I was really leaving.

"Twinkle twinkle little star .... how I wonder where you are... my love my love...I am your lover... how I wonder where you are.. " ....she shivered in his calling....the sound of his wings made her body shaken up.....her helpless condition ...his devilish chuckle made the "Hidden paradise" more dark... Raphael Ralph ....the most handsome man among all girls of Australia...his blackish blue eyes , brown hair , heavy brow , pointed nose made him devilish handsome...for every boy he was their idol...for 5 to 50 years old female he was their blind love...Raphael Ralph was the most famous and successful actor in whole Australia movie world...He was the CEO of Ralph Production Company.....He was handsome ,sweet for his fan...But the living Devil for his Enemy...he had Another identity except his acting career...he was the one and only pure blooded president of Vampire Council....behind his handsome face another scary face was hidden... Marriott Keerthi kyler... senior Paranormal reporter of most prestigious newspaper in Australia..calm...cute...decent girl...she was half Bangladeshi and half Australian ...her family stayed in Bangladesh...she was researching on supernatural being for years.... What will happen when she will find out that the Country's most desirable actor was the leader of them ...what will happen when he found out that she was his mate...when she will refuse him ....he will be the most cruelest being for her...The Contract marriage will be their token of new life.....what will happen when he will find out that they were mate in previous life...some mystery will come...some mystery will be solved ....let's see what will happen when both world will be connected by moon Goddess.... #CEO #Bad boy #Vampire #Mate #Contract marriage ...Hate & Love - Dark Hidden Paradise ️

After my parents died in a car crash, my cousin stole the compensation money and moved overseas to start a business. My aunt begged me on her knees not to call the police. Then, she locked me in a dark basement for three months. I was close to breaking down and ending my life when Julien Lawson, the neighbor’s son, broke down the basement door and saved me. “Joyce, what they did is unforgivable! They stole the compensation money for your parents’ deaths. You were going to use it to open your own studio! “Marry me. I’ll protect you.” He was the only person who cared about me after my parents died. I was so grateful that I married him and had his child. I worked three jobs during the day to help support the orphanage that Julien ran. At night, I took care of our child and created design sketches. But no matter how hard I tried, none of my work was ever accepted. Even though Julien told me to keep at it, I felt discouraged and thought of giving up on my design career to focus on our family. One day, our child was sick. I went to take over the shift from Julien when I overheard him talking to my aunt on the stairs. “Julien, it’s been ten years. Joyce’s designs are getting better and better. She even passed the first round of the national competition. Are you really not going to tell her about the next round?” my aunt asked. Her voice trembled. Julien said coldly, “For years, I’ve been sending Joyce’s design sketches to Mindy to copy and enter in the competitions or publish as her own. “To help Mindy’s career, I can’t let Joyce move on to the next round. “Joyce has talent. If people notice her, she’ll be a threat to Mindy’s career!”

The top businesswoman and national socialite Feng Yan died at the hands of her own sister. She thought this would be the end of her, but it seems the god doesn’t want her to die in vain. Unexpectedly, she transmigrated in a novel world with a lame-childish-unreliable (omitted 100 abusive words…) system. Only to find that she a cannon fodder set up so small that her existence is just to show off the female leads kindness-naivety etc. The original owner of the body was also called Feng Yan, with a completely different life. She and her brother were kidnapped and sold by traffickers in a poor village, while she was only 7 years old. When the Feng family finally found her, she was already 18 years old. Her father accused her of not dying outside and her twin sister said “A poor village bitch like you is not qualified to even hold my shoe; you want to be my sister”. While her fiancée who she dated for four years said “Sorry, Feng Yun. I always liked your sister, you will find a better person than me but you’re can’t live without me. Let’s break up”. Seeing this white lotus bitch female lead + a scumbag, Feng Yun could only say “A bitch and her dog, such a perfect couple”. It was said that the top actress Feng Yan has a gorgeous smile and is a total face control. Watch Feng Yun and her system taking revenge destroying the plot, while being chased. Feng Yun says to her system “Hey, didn’t you say the villain’s an old man with a potbelly. Why the hell is that I see this XXX handsome man chasing me, and why is he so sticky? Shouldn’t he be behind the female lead now? You give me away”.

This story is about Throng Jade, a bully and son of the owner of the school, Jade Integrated National High School. And Peyn Aguilar, a late comer in the school, sleepy head, a hot headed person and the girl that always tripping/ bullying of Throng. Then months passed, principal make an punishment for them to do and follow. Until, one day Peyn comforted Throng from his break up then Throng wants to pretend Peyn to be his fake girlfriend to make his ex-girlfriend go away from him. Until that pretending knows everyone, knows that Throng and Peyn already become friends at the age of 10 and above at all they know that Throng Jade has a disease called Morgellons Disease (MD) where his family keep it on him many years. Is Throng survive of his disease after a years of fighting, the trials and challenges he faced? Is he having a second life or it just a miracle to make right his bad doing in his past life?

When my daughter, Ruth Jensen, says for the tenth time that she wants a different mother, I don't get angry. I just calmly ask her who she wants instead. She blurts, "Vivian." She means Vivian Green, her tutor… and also the woman my husband has never been able to forget. At Ruth's birthday party that day, she even openly thanks Vivian, saying Vivian takes care of her like a mother. Looking at Ruth's young, innocent face, I finally understand that she doesn't like me. So, I stop caring for her and my husband the way I used to. Instead, I turn around and join a classified national project. Rather than wasting time on people who aren't worth it, I'd be better off serving my country!