New York Public Library Ebooks Novels & Stories

Annabel gave everything to her husband: her love and loyalty. But when wealth and temptation appeared, Marcus chose betrayal… Divorced, broken, and humiliated, Annabel thought her life was over — until she met Nathan King, New York’s most powerful mogul, her new boss. As she rises, Marcus begs. As she heals, Gina plots. And as love returns, the past threatens everything. He abandoned her. Her boss claimed her heart. Now everyone wants her back.

This is a poignant and sensory rich coming of age story set in the vibrant, bustling heart of Lagos. It follows Tobi, a young boy trapped behind a barrier of selective muteness, whose internal world is a vivid "library of stories" that he cannot vocalize. ​The narrative explores the transformative power of art and the deep, ancestral bond between Tobi and his Grandpa. When Grandpa gifts him a set of professional art supplies and the secret name Soji ("The One Who Wakes the World"), Tobi finds a new medium for his voice. By transforming a weathered neighborhood shed into a massive, multi textured mural blending brilliant acrylics with the rich fabrics of his heritage. Tobi finally bridges the gap between his silent exterior and his thunderous spirit. Ultimately, the story is a celebration of finding one's "truth," proving that silence isn't a prison when you have the courage to let your colors shout.

To the world, I was Mrs. Ward—the untouchable queen beside the mafia king of New York, Elias Ward. But I knew my husband never loved me. His heart had always belonged to Harper Dinah. His nephew’s wife. And after that nephew conveniently died, Elias brought her into our mansion, “I just want to take better care of her,” he’d said. And his version of “care” was where he’d throw a man out of a party for daring to flirt with Harper and got her pregnant. Elias likes to praise me in public like I was the perfect wife to him. And I was. I helped build his empire. I was the one who smiled and played nice. I made his casino shine while he hid Harper away like she was something sacred. Because of all that praising, one of his enemies set his sights on me. They took me. Sent Elias a message soaked in blood and threats: Back off. Leave New York. Or your pretty wife dies. Of course, Elias didn’t choose to back off.. “Just wait,” he said over the phone, “They won’t hurt you, Noa. You’re leverage. Just hold on until Harper gives birth. Then I’ll come for you.” Eight months of being held in a filthy hole, starved, beaten, degraded. The gang leader raped me over and over again. And still, Elias never came. Finally, I escaped when they were all drunk. Went home, only find my twins sleeping in the maid’s room, eating scraps while Elias was too busy hosting a party for his newborn. I didn’t confront him, just packed my babies and disappear.

Violet Hank Working shift hour at EL ALFA. One of the luxury fashion house based in New York City. She had been working there for one years as a graphic designer. She truly like her current job. But her life turned upside down after an unexpected incident happened when she came across Zaer Walker.

“Can I please have my underwear back?” He looked at the piece of orange fabric bunched up in his hand. “You mean this?” and then he did the most surprising thing. He brought my underwear to his nose and took a long whiff. Maybe it was the way he closed his eyes in blissful satisfaction or the way he half groaned and half moaned, but I was reminded of how he had shed my clothes earlier on and fucked my senses to oblivion. “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you back.” “Why?” I whispered. He crossed the room in large, languid strides and stood before me. “Because I need this as proof that I just had the sweetest fuck of my life, and it wasn’t all in my head.” ********************************************* Iris Carter is a disgraced journalist plagued by a terrible past and just wants to pay off her family's debt. Alessandro 'Les' Scavo is New York's most eligible billionaire bachelor running away from a dark past. He's back in town to bury his father and go back to New York as soon as possible. What happens when he has a one night stand with Iris and becomes obsessed with her? Will he leave her behind and go back to New York or will he embrace his dark past and go toe to toe with Hills' most ruthless Mafia Don over her? What happens when Iris' stumbles upon a deadly secret that can be the downfall of the whole underground crime world and is also the reason why Les left town in the first place? Will she run like she did in the past or will she stay and fight against the powerful organization that destroyed her life and murdered her best friend?

Lesley Perkins escapes into New york to start a new life with a total different identity. Away from her past life of pain. Living in Newyork, she encounters Gary Gauthier, a rich Newyorker. Newyork's idol and she began to fall helplessly for him. Tried as much as she could, she couldn't stop her little heart from falling in love with him. Little did she know that tragedy will struck, little did she know that her past life will catch up with her. Threatening to tear her apart from her new life of love and happiness, threatening to crush her.... _

After years of being in love with her husband, Evelyn Summers faces a shattering betrayal when his ex-girlfriend, Jade, returns and manipulates her way back into his life. When Evelyn learns she’s pregnant, she’s ready to fight for their marriage ,until her husband accuses her of cruelty and sides with Jade in a public scandal. Heartbroken, Evelyn files for divorce and disappears, leaving behind her old life. Three years later, Evelyn returns to New York as a renowned doctor and single mother. Her life takes a dramatic turn when her ex-husband, Landon Byers, is rushed to her hospital after a severe accident. Landon, now filled with regret, is stunned to see his ex-wife transformed and with a child who bears a striking resemblance to him. Determined to win Evelyn back, he begins to pursue her, unaware of the dangerous schemes Jade has set in motion to keep them apart. As Landon grows closer to Evelyn and her daughter, secrets from the past start to unravel, and a passionate rivalry emerges between him and Evans, a compassionate cardiologist who’s fallen for Evelyn. When Evelyn and her daughter are kidnapped by Jade’s criminal associates, Landon and Evans work together to rescue them, uncovering the truth behind Jade’s lies. In a climactic rescue, Evelyn must confront the trauma and betrayal of her past, ultimately choosing the man who will fight to protect her and her child. Filled with suspense, betrayal, and a second chance at love, Reclaiming Evelyn is a journey of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of true love.

"Are you sure you want this?" The witch slid the vial across the table. "Once I cast the unbinding spell, your Fated Mate connection will dissolve over ten days. On the tenth day, it's permanent. No reversals." I didn't hesitate. "Your name?" She picked up her pen. "Mara Voss." Her hand froze. Everyone in New York's vampire community knew that name. Conrad Levin — the Prince of the New York Dominion, an eight-hundred-year-old monster who had never shown a flicker of attachment to anything — had three years ago announced to the entire supernatural world that he'd found his Fated Mate. A human girl carrying the rarest blood type in existence. Golden blood. Her name was Mara Voss. I held out my wrist. The witch began her work. I opened my phone and booked a one-way ticket to Prague. Departing in exactly ten days. This time, Conrad would never find me.

Everyone said I was Domenico Calvetti's most obedient woman. On our first wedding anniversary, he flirted with a pair of twins at the gambling table. He had lipstick smeared all over his shirt. I smiled and wiped it away with a silk handkerchief, but he swatted my hand aside. "Don't kill the mood." In the third year, the star performer from the club he ran showed up at my door with a gun pressed to my temple, demanding to take my place. Without flinching, I disarmed her using the technique he taught me and disposed of the body myself. Behind me, he held his new lover and laughed softly. "Lucia, you always know what to do." In the fifth year, he blew up the library my father left behind just to make his new flame, Marilena Rossetti, smile. That library was my mother's favorite spot when she was alive, and it held the only photographs of our family of three. The explosion made me the laughingstock of the city. People whispered, "Signora Calvetti can't even protect her own memories." Everyone believed I could never leave the Calvetti family or Domenico, but they forgot how this all started. Back then, he rescued me from my adoptive father and fell in love with me at first sight. He knelt and begged to marry me, swearing he would protect me from blood and pain for the rest of my life. For ten years, I held onto those empty words. At our tenth anniversary party, his hundredth mistress arrived. Alice Russo, fresh out of college, held a glass of red wine and poured it down my gown while Domenico watched. "Signora Calvetti, this dress is so old. Given your position, you should be wearing something better." Everyone at the party waited to see my humiliation. Instead, I lowered my eyes and dialed Domenico's father's number. "Father, the ten-year agreement is over. I won't be Signora Calvetti anymore."

Two of New York’s most powerful Cosa Nostra dons, Vincent Luciano and Nick Valentino, made a brutal wager over me. The terms were simple: whoever won my heart first would win the right to marry Seraphina Moretti, the sole heir to the Moretti crime syndicate. The ruthless Vincent swept me into his Fifth Avenue penthouse, lavishing me with luxuries all of New York would kill for. Cold, reserved Nick played the lovesick fool, kneeling beneath the moonlight over the Hudson to swear he’d give me a safe life, free from this world’s bloodshed and chaos. I said yes. But the second we stepped into Vincent’s oak-paneled study, Nick’s warmth turned frigid. “Vincent, we had a deal. I’ve won the Moretti marriage.” In my past life, I was discarded by both men, betrayed by my family, and left to die of a forced heroin overdose. Now I’ve been reborn. And this time, I still said yes to Nick’s proposal... But everything would be totally different.