Nick Joaquin Short

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

According to my mother, the men who were loved by the daughters of the Granger family were blessed with fortune beyond belief. In exchange, however, the women of our family were cursed with short lives, not being able to live past the age of 30. Only by having their husbands willingly agree to share their lifespans with them on their wedding day could they return to normal. I didn't want to die young, so I started picking out a husband ever since I was a child. I saved the brooding young boy next-door who was being bullied. I stayed by his side as he went from rags to riches, becoming one of the rising stars of the business world. On the day of our marriage, however, he abandoned me at the altar and went straight to his first love, the woman who used to bully him in the past. While I was searching for a new husband, he had the gall to threaten me with his status. "Penelope, don't push it. You're really testing my patience." Little did he know that he only had his fame and fortune because of me.

Dennis was born into a powerful family of were witches but gave up her position to become Alpha so her boyfriend Leo, could take charge. Betrayed by her boyfriend and father, she watched her mother's family get burned. About to kill Leo, Dennis is then killed by her stepsister. Given a second chance at life, she decides to get back at them and revenge is the only thing on her mind till the moon goddess does a fate twist and bestows her with a mate. Nick Carter is a legend. Everyone knows him but only a few can describe the man. They say he lives off the life of other wolves. Some say he uses his heavenly beauty to trick ladies and eats them. Being a brutal entity with cold-blooded eyes, Dennis sees him as a flaw in her revenge plan and rejects him as her mate but the man becomes consistent and continued to lurk around her. Sparks fly and burning gazes are exchanged but will Dennis and Nick find a happy ending? Or will their fate be torn apart when they both find out monsters from their past that would bring chaos to their relationship and everything they hold dear?

I’d just wrapped up a short trip with my daughter, Elara. On the way back, I figured I’d swing by the Hale, our family’s casino, to check in on my son, Cassian. Maybe grab dinner together. I didn’t expect to be mistaken for his latest fling. Correction: not mistaken—accused. Violently. “You think you can just waltz in here like some queen?” she hissed. “I’m the woman Cassian loves! What kind of whore are you? And is this your bastard daughter with him?” She locked us in the basement. No phone. No light. Just concrete walls and the stench of mildew and madness. Then came the fists. She slapped me across the face—again and again—until my skin stung and my ears rang. When that didn’t satisfy her, she pulled a gun and aimed low. The bullet tore through my knee. I bit back a scream, shielding Elara with my body. “You need to die, whore,” she spat. One of her men hesitated, “We should at least tell Mr. Hale first. If we are going to kill these two in his casino.” Lila of course said no. But that man brought Cassian anyway. My son stepped into this dark little room like it was any other Tuesday—until he saw me. His whole body went still. The blood drained from his face. And then, in the smallest, most broken voice I’d ever heard from him, he whispered, “Mom? What are you doing in my basement?”

Jackeline Moon (Jack for short) was born with a fate that would change the whole world. At a young age, she experienced the cruelty of the world and matured more quickly than anyone around her age. To hide and seek the truth about herself and to get revenge for her family, she built her prestige and gained immense power whilst disguised as a man. She was now a strong female wolf with no need of another’s protection. But that was until she meets Alice, an unforeseen surprise, a mate that she never thought she’ll have. What sparks would arise between them or would they reject one another. As the story between the 2 builds up, an unforeseen darkness approaches them.

After I became pregnant, my figure changed, and my face grew puffy. My fiancé began to treat me with a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of disdain. When the baby was five months along, it happened to be Valentine's Day. That day, he finally agreed to take our wedding photos, something I'd been hoping for. But just as we arrived at the bridal studio, his phone rang. "Mike, I just got back to the country. My friends are hosting a gathering, and everyone's bringing their boyfriends. Could you come and pretend to be mine?" It was a few short sentences, yet it completely altered the expression on his face. He turned abruptly, stepping out of the studio with a look of urgency. "Lucy's back. I have to go see her," he said. Hearing those words, a fire of rage ignited inside me, one I couldn't suppress. "For her? You're going to leave me here alone?" I demanded. "Do you even know how long I've been looking forward to today? It's Valentine's Day, and instead of staying with me, you're going to be with her?" His impatience flared visibly as I stood my ground. Without a word, his hand pushed me aside, and he strode out of the shop. "We can take wedding photos any day. I'm the only one Lucy has in this country. I have to go see her," he said. Then, gripping my wrist with alarming force, he shoved me, sending me sprawling to the floor. Without a backward glance, he got into his car and drove off. I felt a sudden, wet heat flowing from my lower abdomen. Pain surged through my stomach, sharp and unbearable, as my consciousness started to fade. A wave of despair and terror consumed me. Someone. Anyone. Please save my baby.

Jacke, an archdemon and crime boss, is loyal to his family and seemingly no one else. Alexandria is the Alpha to the Wolves of La Muerte, and one of the only female Alphas known in the world of werewolves. Fate pairs these two in a way that would seem to be their undoing, with Jacke being cynical and mistrusting towards Alex's claims that he is her mate, and Alex being determined to no end other than having Jacke by her side. Will Jacke bring down his walls to let Alex in, and trust that she won't betray his faith or fall short and leave both of them in shambles?

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT (18+) This book is a collection of steamy short romantic and erotic stories that will awaken your inner desire. Great for readers longing for a hot, seductive and sensual read. Each story offers a captivating retreat into a space where eroticism and desire reigns free. Tell me which story captures your attention. This book is strictly for matured readers.

Three college girls Trish, Emma and Connie enjoy their friendship despite their different characters. Their life takes a twist one night when a handsome stranger Nick walks into their lives and steal the hearts of two of the girls. Nick wants Connie and this creates a war among friends. Schemes to destroy her life begins. Emma fakes her disappearance, seduces Connie's stepfather all this in an effort to destroy her. Trish create fake stories about Connie to destroy a relationship that she thought existed between her and Nick. Nick wants Connie but not for the reason her friends thinks, he wants her to pay for the colapse of Nick's brother Brian's business and his disappearance. Connie denies but Nick has evidence, photos of her and his brother. Connie's voice is ignored and she suffers blows from every direction driving her homeless. Brian resurfaces and every secret comes tumbling down like dominos. Connie has a twin and the mother she thought was hers is actually her aunt. Brian turns out to be her father and Nick apologies to Connie and they start their life on a new clean slate. Emma's affair comes out and her mother suffers a heart attack and Trish realizing that she might have judged her friend harshly leaves the country. Connie finally finds closure and peace.

"Rolling my eyes, I turn to see an extremely handsome man with short, styled, black hair staring back at me. His eyes are so dark brown that it appears that they are black. Even though I usually don't like men with a beard and mustache, he looks so hot with it, that I would melt in his hands if he touched me. This man oozes sex from every pore of his body. So much so, that when he accidently brushes my cheek with his hand, goosebumps instantly form on my arms. When I continue to stare at him, I notice that he glances down at my dress and just stares. Realizing why, I try to fold my arms across my chest, but he is standing so close, I can’t move without touching him." Dani as her family calls her lovingly, has always been the quiet mousy type.  She lives her life through books, while everyone else lives their lives to the fullest.  Always watching the world around her, she never quite is able to command the attention of anyone except for her friends and family.  When she finds out that she has to get a job to survive, she goes to the city and ends up working under Mr. knight.  Getting more than she bargains for, in the end is she naughty or nice?