New York Public Library Desk Reference 5th Edition

It was our wedding anniversary when my husband's high school sweetheart posted a sonogram picture on her social media, with her captioning a public thank-you to my husband: [Thank you to the man who's been there for me for ten years, and for giving me a son.] The room spun, and anger surged through me as I quickly commented: [So, you're proud of being a homewrecker?] Almost immediately, my husband called, his voice full of rage. "How can you think such disgusting things? All I did was help her with IVF, fulfilling her dream of becoming a single mom. "And by the way, Ruby only needed one try to get pregnant, while you’ve been through three rounds with nothing. Your body is useless!" Just three days ago, he told me he was going abroad for business—ignoring my calls and messages the entire time. I thought he was just busy. However, it turned out he was with her, attending her prenatal checkup. Half an hour later, Ruby posted again, showing off a table full of delicious food. [I got tired of French food, so Ash made me all my favorite dishes. He’s the best!] I stared at the pregnancy test in my hand, the joy I had felt earlier now completely gone. After eight years of love and six years of swallowing my pride just to keep the marriage alive, I’m finally ready to let go.

On the run from her adoptive father for five years after being sold to the Russian mafia, Lianna took refuge in the states. She thought New York City was a safe place for her, that it was her ticket out of the mafia world. Little did she know that it’s swarming with people much vile than the place escaped from. This city will pull her deeper into the underworld. ~~ "I'm not her." He stood up from his chair abruptly that it fell behind. It took him three strokes until he was holding my neck, lifting me, and pinning me on the wall as he choked me. He breathes the smoke in my face but I was losing air in my lungs to inhale it. "I've searched for you and you're giving me this crap?" he hissed in my face. "Try something else, Alexa, or I'll bury you alive." He let go of my neck, I gasped for air as my lungs took all the air it needed. It's better if he ends my life anyway. I thought to myself. "Where is it?" he asked as he stood beside the table. "Where is what?" He lifts a tattered knife in his hand as he walks slowly to where I stood now. "I'll carve my name in your chest if you don't stop acting dumb, Alexa." He traced the neckline of my dress with his knife. The pointed cold blade sent shivers all over my being. "Where did you bury my father!?" ~~ [Mature Content] Photo credits to Nikola Jovanovic

I made my way directly to the library with the present I had for Asher all nicely wrapped up, ready to be torn open. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. When I arrived at the library, no one was there. I sat there for a whole 20 minutes waiting for Mr. no show. I felt stupid for thinking he would actually come. I got dolled up for no reason at all. Maybe I’ll still meet my mate today. Then it won’t be for no reason. I got up from the table seat and went into the hall, hearing a lot of whispers regarding my new appearance. Some asking if I’m a new girl, others saying I’m trying too hard and others saying I look drop dead gorgeous. I didn’t know how to feel about myself. As I was wandering around the halls waiting for school to start, a smell hit me like a truck. It filled my lungs and took over my mind. It was the smell of after the rain had fallen. Petrichor. "Mate", I growled. I let the scent lead my feet to where my mate was. I was so excited and my palms are sweaty. It led me to the janitor’s closet and before I opened it I heard a moan. I put my ear to the door and heard shuffling. “Hurry Saige, I smell my mate, I can’t let her meet me like this.” I know that voice my heart skips a beat, fear and anger covers my heart like a blanket. It can’t be. It can’t be. There’s no way.

Jane Biller has always been an outsider, born wolf-less into a powerful werewolf family. She hopes to find acceptance and love at the mating ball, but her encounter with Alpha Richard Brown turns into a nightmare when he publicly rejects her, branding her as weak and unworthy. Humiliated and heartbroken, Jane faces a brutal reality: the one she longed to be her savior views her as a burden. Years later, Jane returns, transformed with her own wolf and newfound confidence. Richard, filled with regret, tries to win her back, but Jane has found a new mate who values and respects her. Torn between her past and present, Jane must decide her future. Will she choose forgiveness and second chances with Richard, or build a new destiny with her current mate?

On Victoria’s 20th birthday she receives unsettling news: her father agreed to marry her to one of the most dangerous mafia leaders in the country. She has no say in the matter, there is no escape from this marriage. Her new husband, Dimitri Ivanov, is cruel, cold and controls her every move. Victoria has never been more frightened of anyone in her life, but she is going to have to learn to survive in the world of crime that she is now part of.

Chloe's underclass mother is married to a billionaire, and she transfers to an elite school to become the first female werewolf warrior.But her origins make her a thorn in the side of the school's four ruling brothers.They have to take a little baby girl, less than a year old, to school.But the baby girl resists everyone ...... except Chloe.So Chloe, a new adult, is forced to become the baby girl's nanny and live in the bullies' dormitory?

Tana is a fire dragon, one of only four Elemental Dragons left in the world. For nearly a year she has been fighting in the Arena, a supernatural gladiator fighting ring where you fight to the death. Most die in their first competition. Others survive a couple of weeks. Only a few have survived this long. She has hidden her true identity from everyone. If they knew what she was, her fate would be worse than the arena. Cedric is an Alpha werewolf. When he was captured by hunters, he assumed his pack would find him quickly and free him and the other shifters. When they never come for him, he is forced to fight for his life in the Arena. It is here that he meets Tana. They form a bond and help the other survive. Cedric is sure that Tana is his mate and assumes that she is an Alpha werewolf. When they finally get their chance to escape, Cedric identifies Tana as his mate and in a night of passion, he marks her. Only, when he sinks his teeth into her neck, he feels power like he has never felt before and he realizes she is no werewolf. Confused and angry at what he considers a betrayal, he leaves, only to return to find her gone the next morning. One night of passion was all it took for Tana to become pregnant. After being rejected, she goes to the city and makes a new life. For five years she has avoided werewolf packs, hoping to never see Cedric again. But he has been searching for her since the night he left. What will happen when business brings them together and he finds that Tana has a daughter? Will he accept her or will he reject her again?

Though she was taken in by the Lynds as an orphan, Tina Lynd is constantly bullied and harassed—her elder sister stole her boyfriend, her younger sister framed her for crimes she didn’t commit, and her adopted parents are marrying her off to a fifty-year-old man!Nonetheless, since things couldn't get any worse, Tina used her last shred of courage to provoke the most feared man in the imperial capital: Samuel Langford. Soon, the entire city knows that the Langfords are welcoming the arrival of a new daughter-in-law, who is pampered by Mr. Langford to the ends of the earth!Tina’s scumbag former flame is left bawling while her family is left regretting their life choices, even as Samuel proceeds to destroy every living being who has bullied Tina…Months later, Tina tries to run away while heavily pregnant, only to be repeatedly captured by Mr. Langford.Overbearing as ever, he wrapped his arms around her waist as he whispered, “Tina Lynd! You’re not getting away for the rest of your life—not after you got under my skin!”(Sweet Love 1v1)

After Blair saved the injured and amnesic Mable, she pestered him with a thick face and repaid him with her body.However, throughout their two years of marriage, Blair always turned his nose up at her.“You don’t deserve to like me!”So, Mable came to her senses and decided to start life anew by returning to her original self.After the divorce, Blair found that his ex-wife, whom he cast aside like old shoes, had transformed into an impressive big shot.Wealthy families revered her as their queen, while mysterious hidden families respected her as their lady.Ace mercenaries worshipped her as their mistress, while medical leaders regarded her as a legend.Even the world’s richest man would confess to her in fancy ways on live stream every day…“Mr…. Mr. Fowler, Madam—”“Wants to see me?”“No, the prince of Fargen, the richest man in Tolfiend, and major-general of Sorolen are all on their way to propose to Madam!”Blair slammed the desk and stood up. He dialed the phone and said, “Mabes, let’s remarry…”“Remarry? You’re not worthy!”

"You have two options, Mira," he whispers harshly, "sign the bloody papers or watch all you've worked for go up in smoke." I look up at him, trying to surpress my mounting anger. "I will have you know, Mr. Mason Lachlan, that I am not a pet that can just be bought." I lift my chin. "I will sign your contract, but I will never be yours. My body might be yours to do as you please, but that is all you ever get." His beautiful, smoky gray eyes narrow to slits. "I accept your challenge then. I will have you begging for my love at the end of two years. And I will very much enjoy rejecting you at the end." *** Often referred to as the Dark god of the business world, Mason Lachlan is the most powerful…and dangerous, personality in New York City. Arrogant, ruthless, dominant, and filthy rich, he loves his women like he loves his cars – fancy, eye catching and utterly disposable. But nothing is more dangerous than being wanted by this man. Once he sets his sights on something…or someone, he pursues it with unflinching determination. And he has his eyes on Mira Fernandez. He wants her with a burning passion that could rival Hades. A hostess by day, a stripper by night, and a thief by midnight, Mira is one stubborn young lady on a mission. What happens when she is not so keen on being the arm candy of New York's most eligible bachelor? What happens when a predator refuses to let go of his prey? She can run, but she cannot hide. She belongs to the Dark god now, a property of Mason Lachlan. His dangerous obsession might as well be her destruction.