Painted Faces

There are a lot more truths in the books we read, than we’d like to admit. What if a book delves into the lives of the very town you live in? Reveals to you some personal stories of people you know? Or thought you knew. Bookstore owner Kevin Ellison faces this truth when a mysterious book shows up in Through a Mirror, Darkly by Kevin Lucia. Through a Mirror, Darkly is a Supernatural Thriller collection masked as a novel. With elements of mystery, suspense, and otherworldly horror, Through a Mirror, Darkly successfully delves into the worlds of Lovecraft, Grant, and the mysterious Carcosa. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing Arcane Delights. Clifton Heights' premier rare and used bookstore. In it, new owner Kevin Ellison has inherited far more than a family legacy, for inside are tales that will amaze, astound, thrill...and terrify: An ancient evil thirsty for lost souls. A very different kind of taxi service with destinations not on any known map. Three coins that grant the bearer's fondest wish, and a father whose crippling grief gives birth to something dark and hungry.

"Marry my son, Nathaniel Hargrave and after three years divorce him and leave. You can't have children with him." Nathaniel's mother Jessica said to Ava. Jessica manipulated Ava Collins into a contract marriage with her son who is a Playboy. Blogger and YouTuber Ava Collins is forced into a three-year contract marriage with billionaire playboy Nathaniel Hargrave after her family secretly accepts billions from his cold, manipulative mother to save their failing business. What's worse? Ava must marry Nathaniel despite their mutual hatred. Thrown into a world of power, wealth, and deception, Ava faces more than just a fake marriage. A green flag longtime crush, a stalker, exes, the media and the twisted dynamics of the rich world which threaten to unravel everything. As sparks fly and unexpected feelings grow, Ava must confront the one question she never thought she’d ask: When the three years are up... will she still divorce Nathaniel Hargrave?

“That’s a wrap, this little rogue has been sold for eight hundred thousand dollars,” the woman cheered. She came towards me with an evil smirk. “Please,” I whispered. “You’re so tough, dear child, your new master will enjoy taming you,” she grinned before I felt a prick in my neck. “Ow! What did…” I didn't finish my question before a wave of dizziness hit me and I passed out. *** Mia faces a heart-wrenching choice to save her mother. Betrayed by her own family, she finds herself imprisoned and at the mercy of a ruthless captor. But hope flickers in the form of two brothers who come to her rescue, revealing a hidden world she never knew existed. As Mia grapples with her newfound destiny and a forbidden love that could unravel everything, she must outsmart her pursuer and navigate a treacherous path to secure her family's future. Will she escape the clutches of darkness and rewrite her own fate?

At the annual gala, my father had me marry Asher Ziegler, a rising star in the finance industry whom he had groomed. Back then, I, Maddison Gruber, had no idea that Asher was in love with someone else. Sometime later, my father's company is investigated for product fraud, and his company's stock plummets. He even faces criminal charges. When this happens, Asher immediately brings his first love, Cora Singer, home and tells me outright that he is going to make her his legally wedded wife. My mother-in-law admonishes me. "Your family's bankrupt now, and you're completely barren! Why shouldn't my son remarry?" Asher slides a divorce agreement in front of me, his tone condescending. "Sign this, and I can let you stay here and live alongside Cora." But I say nothing. I merely quietly book a ticket to leave this place. In seven days, I will be following my father down south.

Juana Escarzega, a savvy businesswoman, returns to her family's hacienda in the Philippines, stirring whispers of memories, sa paniniwalang ito ang magiging pahinga niya sa mga problemang tiniis niya sa Canada. Amidst the embrace of the cold sea breeze, she’s back to confront the memories she left behind. Especially her forgotten relationship with Izo Eloje Frentones Jr. In the centre of Samar's social whirlwind, old flames flicker, and family ties tighten. Nang magkaharap ang dalawa, tila bumalik ang mga ala-ala at humapdi ang mga sugat na matagal nilang ikinubli. Drawn back by Izo's magnetic pull, Juana faces their shared past, grappling with passion and pain. With the circling rumours and lurking secrets, they must decide. Isugal ang lahat, o baguhin ang tadhana. Against the stunning coastline, they confront their feelings and the harsh world's realities. Can they overcome obstacles and find forgiveness, or will they discover a different kind of love's liberation?

Noah King is back, and he’s not the boy Sienna remembers. Once her childhood crush, he’s now a ruthless billionaire with one purpose—revenge on the family that destroyed his. Sienna is caught in his crosshairs, haunted by the memory of who he used to be, even as she’s dealing with her own wounds. On her 19th birthday, her boyfriend shattered her by leaving—just because he thought she was poor. She swore never to love again. But Noah’s return stirs something she thought she’d buried. Beneath his fury, she senses the boy she once knew, and though she’s afraid of the man he’s become, the spark between them refuses to die. Now, as Noah’s dangerous game pulls her in, Sienna faces an impossible choice: protect her heart, or trust that love might still exist somewhere in the ruins. Will she soften Noah’s vengeance, or lose herself—and him—forever?

College freshman Leesa Nyland has been fascinated by vampires from a young age. Fascinated, however, doesn't mean Leesa believes in their existence any more than she believes in the Volkaanes, people who are said to live for centuries and whose kiss is lethal to both vampires and humans. But when her beloved older brother suddenly disappears, she is forced to confront all these and more. She also has to figure out what to do about her mysterious new boyfriend. She knows Rave likes her a lot, so why won't he kiss her? As Leesa draws closer to finding her brother, she faces some gut-wrenching decisions. Should she risk her mom's life trying to "cure" her? Should she continue seeing Rave, after he reveals his dangerous secret? And most terrifying of all, should she make the ultimate sacrifice — give up her humanity to save her brother?

I was born with a strange condition. I couldn't recognize faces and could only identify people by their clothes. Vincent Lancaster, my boyfriend, never minded. He said it didn't change the way he loved me. That was, until our wedding day. He answered a phone call. His childhood friend, Grace Langley, was in labor, life hanging by a thread, and she demanded he come immediately. My voice shook with despair. "Vincent! If you drive away now, we'll never be husband and wife!" But he left anyway, not looking back. Grace had always loved seeing him in white, so he threw aside the black suit I had sewn for him with my own hands and changed into white. A year later, Vincent returned. By then, my belly was swollen with life, and I was holding onto another man while hosting a baby shower. And the man wore the black suit Vincent had thrown away. Vincent went mad, claiming he was my husband, but no one believed him.

The Luna of the rose clan is giving off for marriage to protect her clan, she beg and illicit relationship with her husband's kingdom. Arcadia is born out of desire between two lovers and she is faces with the same dilemma that fought her mother; Making her prove her worth as the Luna of her kingdom after she Rejects the most powerful Alpha of the land. Alpha mace is the most powerful Alpha that walked the land, youthful and proud and he seeks arcadia hand in marriage but after her rejection, he is consumed by hatred and vows to bring her to dust as he sees her. Although he is oblivious that it is his fate to now down to her. Losing his kingdom comes with mockery and shame, but when he is forced to meet arcadia for help, his pride slowly beg to fade away as he was subjected under her rule. Falling madly in love with her, he does everything to please his queen , but she is only ready to accept him but on one condition. To be her slave forever.

There is a place where names are forgotten, faces are hidden, and only the body speaks. It doesn’t whisper. It moans. It obeys. It disobeys. It begs. You were warned not to touch. But you will. Welcome to Velvet Heat, a collection of 100 dangerously intimate stories that whisper in the dark and bite when you’re not looking. These are not tales of sweet love and gentle kisses. These are fantasies that unravel you..slowly, slickly, and without apology. Behind every silk sheet is a secret. Beneath every command, a dare. And under every moan, a threat. From faceless strangers in candlelit rooms to monsters who taste like sin, this is a world where desire bleeds, power shifts, and no one escapes untouched. Some stories will make you beg. Some will make you scream. And some… will make you wish you never opened the book. Velvet Heat is where you come to lose yourself. But you’ll never leave the same. Only sinners. No safe words. Only consequences. And no promises of love..just obsession, power, hunger… and release.