Pulitzer Prize Finalists Novels & Stories

One fateful afternoon; Olivia Strongkins walked into a salon, hoping to score a last minute appointment. Only to discover that despite the signs and all the right props, it wasn’t a hair salon at all. But a front for a drug and all things crime business. As startling a moment it was, her eyes met those of Dominic Salvatore and she saw forever. And therefore began to play a game of hide and seek with the notorious underground crime lord and billionaire. Who was hell bent on keeping her at arm’s length, as a mean to protect her from being used as a pawn by his enemies against him. Until she swiftly entered his heart and world, like she had always belonged there. Leaving him no choice but to claim her, despite the consequences- as his most prized possession.

They called her a burden. His fiancè called her a nuisance. Cecelia Morrow was a pawn of her family, sacrificed for their wealth and power. When she caught her fiancé in bed with her sister, the day before their wedding, her desperate plea to escape was met with disapproval. Forced to choose between a loveless marriage and a life of hate and misery, she made a desperate call to her childhood friend, the one person she knew could help her disappear. He was the king of the underworld, a man who hated women. But tonight, everything changed. Lucien Belucci, the infamous Mafia King, had never met a woman who could tempt him, but on his way to a wedding arranged by his brother, he encountered a runaway bride and for some reason, his man that he could never get up was now hard in anger. So when she demanded for his help, he took the chance. "What do you think about getting married today?" A dangerous alliance. A desperate escape. Their worlds collide in a storm of betrayal and passion. Two souls, bound by circumstance and driven by a need for lust and freedom, find themselves in a deadly game where love and revenge become intertwined. Will their escape lead to a new life, or will they be consumed by the darkness they've unleashed?

“You’re marrying her tomorrow,” Jade said softly. He leaned closer. “You’re the only one I’ll ever make exceptions for….” “You think he loves you?” he spits. “He’s engaged to Amara Quinn. Written in blood and money.” **** Jade Miller has always lived in her sister’s shadow. Scarlett is perfect. Jade is the extra. The invisible one. Until the night she kisses Scarlett’s powerful fiancé, Kain Wolf. It was supposed to be revenge. A distraction. A way to feel seen. But Kain doesn’t kiss back to play. He kisses like a man who claims. And in front of the world, he does the unthinkable: He makes Jade his bride. Except at the altar, Jade learns the cruel truth. She isn’t the bride. She’s the substitute. Now trapped in Kain’s ruthless world of power, secrets, and obsession, Jade must choose: stay the pawn her sister always thought she was or rewrite the rules and take the king for herself. Because in this game of love and betrayal… pawns don’t just play. They conquer with charm.

“Go change.” “And if I don’t?” I cross my arms, frowning at him. His lips curls into a somewhat dangerous smile. “Then I’ll do it for you.” 🌸❧✧❀✧❧🌸 Daisy Ripley has spent her whole life living in her stepsister’s shadow. Whatever Zyla wanted, Daisy was forced to hand over. Her toys, her gifts, and even her first birthday car. But when Zyla announces her engagement to Daisy’s ex-boyfriend and first love, something inside Daisy finally snaps. Still reeling from the betrayal, Daisy agrees to attend a company dinner party… hoping to actually forget, just for one night. Instead, she’s kidnapped. Sold. And delivered straight into the hands of Reis Vireli—the most dangerous mafia boss in Chicago. And one thing you should know about Reis: He never lets go of anything and anybody that belongs to him.

Tristan Hayes' life took a sharp turn, one moment he was on the cusp of his dream then suddenly found himself drowning. Trauma surgeon residency was brutal enough; losing his scholarship was a knockout blow. Desperate, he swallowed his pride and became "Titan" at Club Inferno. Six months, and he was their star, his body a commodity. Tonight was his last dance – he was booked for a bachelorette party for a bride-to-be linked to the Mafia family. He remembered the haze of perfume, the clamor, the hands pulling him closer and the willing mouths tasting him. He remembered the bride, her eyes wide, her laughter turning into moans and gasps. He entertained the women, the night ending with the bride's face covered in his thick sticky seed. After this night, he wanted to close this chapter of his life. He wanted to forget it all. He should have. Tristan awoke in a cold, unfamiliar room, the fear paralyzing. Now, bound and gagged in a concrete cell, the memory was a burning brand. He learned why they called Giovanni Sokolov "The Siberian Winter." Giovanni, a face carved from granite, stood before him. "My bride," Giovanni’s voice was a low growl, "You entertained my fiancée, She died a week ago, trying to run away with a man. Your seed was the catalyst. You helped her betray me." Giovanni leaned closer, his eyes devoid of warmth. "She was running away, Dr. Hayes. You helped her crave forbidden fruit. You opened the door to betrayal." He smiled, a cruel, predatory expression. "Now, you will pay the price of her betrayal. You will take her place... as my companion in bed... my slave and my plaything. Don't worry I'll make you'll enjoy every second of it."

A struggling Internet entrepreneur, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter, a wife of an impressionable state senator, and a famous voice over actress find themselves caught in a web of espionage and intrigue that threatens their lives and those of everyone they know. When the undercover agents first approached Melanie Tyler and Kathleen O=Brian the night of their 30th high school reunion, the women could never have imagined that their innocent game of playing spies from a 60=s television show would become a real life confrontation with one of the most insidious criminal minds of their generation. Melanie "Mel" Tyler and Kathleen "Katie" Conner have been best friends since kindergarten. As teenagers, their favorite television show was The Man from U.N.C.L.E. The girls even had a hidden room where they kept files on various schoolmates. But after graduating from high school, everyone in the graduating class went their separate ways. Mel's voice-over talent landed her a high-paying job in Los Angeles while Katie married her high school sweetheart, James O'Brien, now the youngest member of the Minnesota State Senate. Mel and Katie find it difficult to believe that they are about to attend Abbeyville High School's thirtieth reunion. Seeing most of their former classmates should be fun, but there are a few that the ladies hoped would not attend. Unfortunately, the three worst do make an appearance. Charles Haussman and Eric Kramer were bullies back in school and they have not forgotten how the ladies once bested them. Then there is Wyatt Gaynes, the jock that Melanie had a crush on - along with many other female students. A novel of romance and adventure for Baby Boomers, fans of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and anyone who has ever attended their high school reunion!

Jade Gold, the youngest daughter of the sword-wielding Gold family, is given a task. Before she can inherit her position in the palace as Imperial Advisor, King Greyson sets her out with a task: and that is to conquer evil and save the world... Only that it isn't that simple. She has to round up a few mercenaries and build her army... Because contending with a few hundred-year-old Witch's adversaries isn't something that any person can do. The optimistic runaway prince, Roc Chadwick and his best buddy Sky Yale, an amnesiac martial artist he saved, are among the finalists for the inexperienced Jade's mercenaries, but what will happen when both men vie for her affections? Will Jade choose to ignore her feelings for duty, or will she be torn between both men? Read on to find out!

Jadeshola Badmus is not your regular female lead. She's Outspoken, Brilliant, Sassy, beautiful, intelligent and is the president of the Literary and debate team. What's more, she comes from a very wealthy family and is the head girl of her school, Lakeview High, one of the most prestigious schools in the country. The only bad luck for her comes in the form of the golden star boy of the school, Uthman Gbadamosi, her arch rival in debating, the school's head boy, football team captain and the crush of many girls in school except Jade of course. The two are thrown together after a brief encounter and they found themselves developing feelings for each other admist family breakdown, friend's betrayal, failed tests and missed opportunities. This book basically follows the lives of the finalists at Lakeview High as they maneuver their way to become better adults in the seemingly ugly world.

“He dared fool me like this? Send such me a wolfless creature and call it a prize? You are no prize? You are an insult!” ** Feyre, an outcast due to her lack of abilities, is chosen as a Warprize to the ruthless Lycan King, Xaden. Despite her hopes for a new beginning, she encounters Xaden's cruel nature firsthand. Being wolfless ignites Xaden's rage, and Feyre becomes a powerless pawn in his lavish but oppressive world. Stripped of her dignity and subjected to his desires, she's reminded constantly of her worthlessness. The choice of life or death is in Xaden's hands, leaving Feyre trapped in a nightmarish existence. Would she ever be saved from his cruel hand? Or would she be able to fight her way out?

BookD Bestselling McMurtry'sand ultimatintroductioLonesome novel at lasA love storoutlaws, wmost enduSet in the lmore. It is of the AmeAugustus Mdanger togthe romantdriven, demobsessed wtwo men coother, if noCall's dream-- Lorena, tsurvives on-- Elmira, tto become Descriptiowinner of the s epic novel comtely resulted inn by the authoDove, by Larryst of the Ameriy, an adventurwhores and ladiering of our natlate nineteentha drive that reerican Dream --McCrae and W.gether without tic, a reluctant manding man, with the dreamould hardly be othing else. m not only dragthe whore withne of the most the restless, relpart of the greon1986 Pulitzer Pmbined flawlesn a series of fouor, Lonesome Dy McMurtry, theican West as it re, an Americanes, Indians andional myths. h century, Loneepresents for ev- the attempt t F. Call are forever quite undrancher who ha natural authoof creating hismore differentgs Gus along inh the proverbiaterrifying expeluctant wife of eat Western adPrize, Lonesoms writing with aur novels and aDove is reprintee author of Terreally was. n epic, Lonesomd settiers -- in aesome Dove is tverybody involvo carve out of mer Texas Ranerstanding (or has a way with ority figure wits own empire, at, but both are n its wake, but l heart of gold,eriences any woa small-time Adventure... me Dove is an Aa storyline