Norton Critical Editions Novels & Stories

The woman destroying my marriage suddenly moved into my home. ~~~ Anabel gave Miles Wilson everything until she discovered he was having an affair with his brother’s wife. Before she can recover from the betrayal, tragedy strikes the Wilson family, and the woman responsible suddenly moves into her home carrying secrets capable of destroying the entire family. Humiliated and abandoned, Anabel walks away with nothing but her pride until she meets Dmitri, a powerful man with dangerous secrets of his own. But as buried truths begin unraveling, Miles realizes too late that he never stopped loving his wife. The question is… will Anabel still want him back?

“Bro, it’s not a big deal. I’m just fucking her.” My heart stopped. Kendall’s voice replied, “But man, what would people think if you made her your girl? That’d be crazy work.” “I’m not stupid,” Jalen said flatly. “I’d never make her mine. It’s only sex, nothing more. And honestly? It’s not that good anymore. I was gonna let her down easy before break.” ...... Aria, a plus-size beauty, thought her scholarship and condo arrangements were a dream until she met her roommate, Talia. Rich, spoiled, and instantly cruel, Talia made Aria's life miserable. Talia’s new boyfriend, Jalen, was the campus golden boy. When Aria and Jalen were paired for a project, they clicked in ways neither expected from late night talks to shared secrets and undeniable sexual chemistry. On Halloween night, during an all campus party, Aria sees Talia cheating on Jalen. One emotional night led to an affair that changed everything… until Jalen says some really damaging words to his roommate that were unforgivable and also heard by a once happy but now upset Aria. Disappointed, fed up, and heartbroken, Aria leaves campus and never looks back. TEN YEARS LATER Aria returns for the ten year reunion, confident, stunning, and a self-made CEO. Jalen is still gorgeous… but stuck in a miserable marriage with Talia. She ignores him. Talia tries to humiliate her. Aria wins the room. As she leaves, Jalen kisses her. She lets herself feel it, then slaps him and walks away. THE BUSINESS MERGER Jalen’s cruise line needs Aria’s brand to revamp their image. She agrees, reluctantly. Now they’re forced to work side by side, trapped between old wounds and new sparks. Some love stories never die. But some can burn you twice.

Elara is a talented florist who never imagined her life would change overnight. When she unexpectedly becomes the bride of Adrian Hale, a captivating billionaire who is protective, intense, and emotionally unavailable her world is turned upside down. Just as she starts to navigate his luxurious and high-stakes world, a shadow from Adrian’s past returns: Lydia, a jealous and cunning woman determined to disrupt Elara’s life. As Lydia’s schemes escalate, from near-miss attacks to cryptic threats, Elara must rely on her intelligence and courage to survive. Adrian watches over her with relentless intensity, his jealousy and protectiveness a constant presence, challenging Elara in ways she never expected. Caught between a dangerous rival and the magnetic pull of her husband, Elara must prove she’s more than a pawn in a billionaire’s world. Will she survive Lydia’s manipulations and win Adrian’s trust and heart in a game where love, danger, and power collide?

"Give me 30 days to make you fall in love. Let me marry you." Alyssa bit down her lips. Harrison zeroed his eyes on her lips. "30 days and if you fail, you'd do whatever I want?" "YES!" Christmas takes a wild turn when Alyssa Rodriguez finds herself in a marriage with multi-billionaire Harrison Alexander the Fifth. At first it's silly, because she just met him. Who marries a stranger? But after the massive betrayal of her fiancé and her step-sister, Alyssa would do anything to fill the hole in her heart. Then it becomes a wild game of romance, tension, mini golf, beachy escapades, secret babies, and the ultimate clash of clans. Experts say you can't form a long lasting relationship in just one month. However, Alyssa sets out to defy the impossible. And Ultra billionaire CEO Harrison? He hates Christmas, romance, and everything love related. But this particular Christmas Holiday would turn out to be quite memorable.

Amelia Carter has always believed that some lines exist for a reason. At twenty-one, she is focused on finishing university, working late evenings as a library assistant, and keeping her life quiet and predictable. Love is the last thing on her mind until Ethan Brooks walks into her world and turns everything upside down. Ethan is confident, guarded, and completely forbidden. Their connection is instant, undeniable, and dangerous in ways Amelia never expected. What begins as harmless conversations and stolen glances slowly deepens into something intense something neither of them should want, yet cannot resist. As emotions grow and boundaries blur, Amelia is forced to confront a painful truth: the heart does not obey rules. With secrets threatening to surface, loyalties tested, and consequences closing in, loving Ethan may cost her everything she has worked so hard to protect. Love They Shouldn’t Have is a slow-burn, emotionally charged forbidden romance that explores desire, restraint, and the aching question of what happens when loving the wrong person feels more right than anything else.

I am the most hated wolf in the Crescent Claw Pack. Branded curses. Shunned for the sins of my bloodline. But fate is cruel. During the Moon Rite, I didn’t find one mate. I found two. Caelum Veylor—billionaire Alpha, cold as steel, who swore my family ruined his life. Darius Thornveil—war-Alpha, ruthless and untamed, who lost his brother because of me. They despise me. They reject me. Yet the bond refuses to break. Dragged into their world of power and vengeance, I’m forced into a dangerous game where obsession burns hotter than hatred. Their touch makes me weak, their wolves refuse to let me go, and secrets from the past whisper that my curse is more powerful than anyone knows. Two Alphas. One cursed mate. And a prophecy that says I’ll either unite them—or destroy us all.

In an alternate universe reminiscent of the Regency era, Isabella unexpectedly appears on the doorstep of Damian’s estate with shocking news: his late brother had a three-year-old daughter, Jane, born to Isabella’s now-deceased sister. Having taken on the responsibility of raising her niece after her sister’s passing, Isabella is determined to secure a proper future for the child. Stunned by the revelation, Damian offers Isabella and Jane a place in his estate, ensuring the girl receives the care and upbringing she deserves. Initially hesitant to leave behind the life she knows, Isabella ultimately agrees, realizing it is in Jane’s best interest. As they navigate their new life together, an undeniable bond begins to form between Damian and Isabella. However, their growing affection is soon threatened by a buried secret from Isabella’s past—one that could shatter their relationship and jeopardize Jane’s future. Now, Damian and Isabella must overcome the trials ahead to protect those they hold dear and fight for the love they never expected to find. “Fate: Sweet little cheat” is a tale of unexpected twists, the power of love, and the strength of forgiveness, set against a backdrop of elegant balls and the rigid social norms of an alternative Regency era.

On the night of her bridal shower, Amara Collins thought she was about to begin a happily-ever-after. Instead, she was betrayed by the two people she trusted most—her best friend and her fiancé. Drugged and humiliated, she wakes up in the bed of a stranger… a stranger who changes her fate forever. That man is Damian Blackwell—the elusive, cold-hearted billionaire who hasn’t let anyone close since his parents’ death and his uncle’s cruel betrayal. Known in the business world as a ruthless genius, Damian hides a secret: his rare condition makes him allergic to human contact… until Amara. For the first time in years, her touch doesn’t burn him—it heals him. Damian doesn’t believe in coincidence. To him, Amara is more than a woman—she’s his cure. His salvation. And he’s not about to let her go. So when the broken bride tries to run from him, Damian makes her an offer she can’t refuse A marriage built on secrets, obsession, and dangerous desires. But can Amara survive loving a man who sees her as the only antidote to his pain? And what happens when her betrayers return, determined to ruin the fragile bond between them?

At sixteen, Seraphina Thorne watched in silence as her father nearly beat to death the boy who loved her a servant’s son who dared to reach too high. Cast out into a raging storm, eighteen-year-old Elias disappeared that night him… along with her only chance at love. Ten years later, he returns as a ruthless billionaire. And this time, he owns everything. After quietly crushing the Thorne empire under a staggering 10-billion-dollar debt, Elias offers Seraphina one cruel choice: become his contracted surrogate… or watch her family fall. Trapped and humiliated, Seraphina endures his cold control until she discovers she’s carrying twins. But survival has a price. Threatened by his dangerous fiancée, Seraphina makes a devastating choice: she leaves her newborn daughter behind to fulfill the contract… and vanishes into the night with her hidden son. Years later, she returns as Madam S powerful, untouchable, and ready to destroy the man who once broke her. But revenge turns complicated when buried truths surface. Because Elias was never just her tormentor. He was the boy her family destroyed first. Now, with love, hatred, and two children caught between them… Who will break first?

“What if I choose not to?” I asked. “You don't want your little secret to get out, do you.” he raised a brow. “No, I don't.” I said, dropping my head. “Good.” he said, and snapped his fingers. A young man walked up to our table with a briefcase in his grip. Conrad received the briefcase from him, and placed it on the table. He unlocked and turned it to me. In the briefcase were wads of cash. “I believe this is good for a start.” he said. “Also, I'll help you get rid of that scar on your face. So what do you say? Do we have a deal or not?” ********************* One minute, Lauren was preparing to leave home for her friend's birthday party. And the next? She is a murderer. Faced with the chance of spending the rest of her life behind bars, she's approached by Conrad Anderson — son of the man whom she murdered. He offers her a deal: help him get some information from the CEO of Beamers Industries — Thomas Roy, by becoming his secretary and he would keep her secret safe with a promise to help her get rid of the scar on her face. But when she realizes that she's nothing but a pawn in Conrad's game of revenge, would she terminate the deal, and suffer for her sins, or would she help him get the information which he needs to ruin Thomas's life completely?