Reader-response Criticism

Ethan Rivers thought he'd left his past behind—until the boy who broke his heart walks back into his life. Three years ago, Ethan confessed his feelings to Caleb Stone at their high school graduation party. Caleb's response? A cruel, public rejection that left Ethan humiliated in front of everyone. Now a confident junior at Riverside University, Ethan has rebuilt himself. New friends. New life. New rules: never fall for a straight guy again. But on the first day of the semester, Caleb transfers to Riverside. He's different now—quieter, more intense, and no longer the untouchable golden boy. When they're forced to work together on a group project, Ethan tries to keep his distance. But Caleb won't let him. Late-night study sessions. Accidental touches. Lingering stares that make Ethan's walls crack. Then Caleb drops a bombshell: his rejection wasn't real. He was terrified—of his family, of his feelings, of being anything less than perfect. He's been into Ethan all along. Now Ethan faces an impossible choice: protect his heart or risk everything for the boy who destroyed him. Through stolen moments, rain-soaked confessions, and heated arguments that end in desperate kisses, they navigate coming out, family pressure, and the question that haunts them both: Can first love get a second chance?

“I want you back, Lexi,” Ryan confessed with teary eyes and a squinty expression. “Dream on, Mr. Ryan Middleton. I came here for business, and so, let’s face it,” Lexi asserted in a cold voice. Ryan’s heart broke by the kind of response he got from Lexi, his ex-wife. He didn’t need to be told that it was really over because the woman sitting prettily in front of him has built barricades around her heart. . Alexandra Lexi married Ryan Middleton because she thought she could escape poverty, but things went south when Ryan blamed her for trying to break his love story with Jasmine Stevenson. Despite having his baby, Ryan maltreated Lexi, and she endured everything until she couldn’t take it in anymore. Lexi took the bold step and walked out of the marriage. She found out about her real identity on the same day. What would Ryan Middleton do when the same woman he despised returned three years later as the heiress of an elite family and the head of the biggest conglomerate in the country? Would he try to win her back or wallow in his regret? What would Lexi do when she meets her ex-husband, who caused her nightmares in the past? Would her heart soften, or would she take revenge with her newfound power and resources?

"There are only two categories of women I sleep with. The ones I'm paying and the ones I'm dating," Kachi stated. "And I don't fall among the category of women you want to date?" Aria asked in disbelief. "You don't." "You're a real bastard. Why would I agree to sleep with you if I know you have no intention of dating me?" "Because I want you. And I know that you want me too." Aria stared at him, hating that he was right and hating herself for letting it be. From the first time she had met him, she'd known that she would wreck herself to have this man. *** Onyekachi Obiagu is looking for a distraction to ease his already stressful days. Then he met her, Zariah, the girl that always has a response for almost everything he says. He's determined to have her so he proposes a deal she can't possibly refuse. Zariah Okoye is suffering through her days, hoping to one day lessen the mountain of debt on her head. Then she meets arrogant billionaire, Kachi, who proposes a deal that seems to be the answer to her prayers. Secrets, conspiracies and betrayals follow and they have to fight family, friends and foes whilst fighting the attraction brewing between them. Do I need to say more? Start reading ❤️ WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE THEMES INTENDED FOR AN 18+ AUDIENCE. PLEASE SKIP IF YOU'RE UNDERAGE.

When the criminal tortured me to death, I was three-month pregnant. But my husband Mark - the city's most prominent detective - was at the hospital with his first love Emma, accompanying her for her medical checkup. Three days ago, he demanded me to donate my kidney to Emma. When I refused, telling him I was two months pregnant with our child, his eyes had turned cold. "Stop lying," he had snarled. "You're just being selfish, trying to let Emma die." He pulled over on the dark highway. "Get out," he ordered. "Walk home since you're so heartless. " I stood there in the darkness and was kidnapped by the vengeful criminal, whom Mark had once imprisoned. He cut out my tongue. With cruel satisfaction, he used my phone to call my husband. Mark's response was brief and cold: "Whatever it is, Emma's medical checkup is more important! She needs me right now." The criminal let out a dark chuckle. "Well, well... Seems like the great detective values his ex's life more than his current wife's." When Mark arrived at the crime scene hours later, he was horrified by the brutality inflicted on the corpse. He angrily condemned the murderer for treating a pregnant woman so cruelly But he didn't recognize that the mutilated body before him was his own wife - me.

“Miss Mia Bowen, are you sure you want to divorce Mr. Timothy Barrett?” In response to the clerk’s inquiry, Mia nodded calmly. To the world, Timothy Barrett was a celebrated billionaire. But only a handful knew he had a wife—a wife he kept hidden. For the past three years, Mia had played the perfect wife to Timothy—managing his family affairs and keeping a low profile. That changed when his first love, Maya Lane, returned to the country. Again and again, Timothy abandoned Mia for that woman. On their wedding anniversary, he even shamelessly slept with Maya. That was the last straw. Mia decided to set him free. Then she tricked him into signing the divorce agreement. Timothy always believed his wife was an orphan who couldn’t survive without him. What he didn’t know was that her long-lost family had already found her—her three brothers were eager to take her home. Only seven days remained until the divorce became official. In a week, Mia would vanish from his world forever. Later, when she disappeared without a trace, Timothy tore the city apart searching for her. To his shock, he discovered she was the long-lost daughter of the Lane family! He tried to win her back, but her three powerful brothers blocked his way. “Mr. Barrett, stay away from our little princess!”

“You are so hot, doll,” He gruffed. “I have no idea how I managed to hold on for a fucking week.” “So you find me attractive?” I half-moaned and half-asked. “Attractive is an understatement,” Niccolo mumbled against my tit. “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Pleasure tinged with elation simmered within me at his response, causing my panties to become more saturated with addictive lust. “I want to eat you out, doll,” Niccolo uttered, as he removed his mouth from my breast. “Will you let me?” + When Talia Wilson’s dormitory is suddenly gutted by fire, she is forced to stay with her father’s hot, younger friend, Niccolo Gonzalez. There, she familiarizes herself with the walking sex dream of a man, who she has secretly loved since she saw him at her eighteenth birthday dinner, three years ago. Based on Niccolo’s casual demeanor, Talia convinces herself that he doesn’t feel the same way about her and nothing scandalous could ever happen between them. However, what she doesn’t know is that beneath Niccolo’s suave facade lies his intense sexual longing for her. What happens when alcohol mixes with their passionate desires for each other one night, causing them to surrender to their forbidden attraction toward each other? Will they forget about it or will they continue playing a wild game of lust?

After I announced my exit from the music industry, the public response was overwhelmingly positive. The only person who voiced his objection was my girlfriend's rumored lover, the up-and-coming songwriter Lucas Zacker. He put on a show of sincerity in front of a crowd of reporters. "It's all a misunderstanding. Matthew is an irreplaceable talent in the music industry. I sincerely hope he returns to the stage." I shut off my phone and turned a blind eye to his public plea. In my past life, one of my songs had been identical to his supposedly original single. As such, netizens accused me of plagiarism, cursing me and wishing death upon my family. Frustrated, I posted the entire creation process online, but it couldn't stand up to the timeline. His new song had been released ten minutes ahead of mine. Just because of the ten-minute difference, netizens sent me photoshopped mourning portraits of myself and even went so far as to come to my house and vandalize it with paint. The relentless cyberbullying went on for years, and it drove me into a deep depression. My parents exhausted their life savings trying to clear my name, only for crazed fans to set our house on fire, causing my parents to burn to death. In the end, when his song won an award, I jumped off a building. But who would have guessed that when I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the very day the new song was set to release.

“For better or worst, for richer or for poor, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” How long would you hold to the vow you promised to each other in front of God when you’re the only one’s fulfilling it in the first place? Because of an accidental pregnancy, Ann and Clayton found themselves in a messy situation. Wala mang nararamdaman si Clayton para kay Ann, dahil sa pamimilit ng ina ng lalaki, nangyari ang isang kasal na pareho nilang hindi ginusto. Paulit-ulit mang sabihin ni Ann na hindi niya rin gusto ang kasal, Clayton thinks otherwise. He felt that she really got herself knocked up to trapped him with her. Hurtful words, alienation and cold treatments were the response Ann got from her husband. But for their son’s sake, she stayed with him, wishing that someday, Clayton could learn to love them. She could tolerate everything just to have a complete family for her son. But one day, Ann found herself running away from him and she didn’t have the choice but to break the vow she never thought she would do in order to heal her soul that Clayton shattered... because in the first place, Clayton’s heart is not for her. And when Ann decided to leave, that's when Clayton had a change of heart. Can they have the shot of second chance or it will remain as a broken vow?

"You make it so difficult to keep my hands to myself." He snarled the words in a low husky tone, sending pleasurable sparks down to my core. Finding the words, a response finally comes out of me in a breathless whisper, "I didn't even do anything..." Halting, he takes two quick strides, covering the distance between us, he picks my hand from my side, straightening my fingers, he plasters them against the hardness in his pants. I let out a shocked and impressed gasp. "You only have to exist. This is what happens whenever I see you. But I don't want to rush it... I need you to enjoy it. And I make you this promise right now, once you can handle everything, the moment you are ready, I will fuck you." Director Abed Kersher has habored an unhealthy obsession for A-list actress Rachel Greene, she has been the subject of his fantasies for the longest time. An opportunity by means of her ruined career presents itself to him. This was Rachel's one chance to experience all of her hidden desires, her career had taken a nosedive, there was no way her life could get any worse. Except when mixed with a double contract, secrets, lies, and a dangerous hidden identity.. everything could go wrong.

Warning: This story contains scenes of triggers. Contains scenes of rape and sexual abuse. Reader discretion is advised. The author also does not condone nor glorify any of the scenes listed. Proceed with caution. *** Alana's world comes crashing down when her pack is attacked and her father, the Alpha is killed, and her mother gets abducted by another who happens to be her true mate. Her life drastically changes from being the daughter of an Alpha to being the slave of the triplet Alphas of the Blood Rose Pack. She lives a life of torment and sexual torture until the night she became eighteen. Alana believes her redemption will come when her wolf finally awakens. And when the time comes, in all happiness, Alana decides to escape in the middle of the night and never to return to the pack. But when she opens the door to her room, she's met by the triplets, who, unfortunately, her wolf calls out to as her mate. “No! It can't be, it just cannot be!” “What cannot be? It is what it is!” “No! I, Alana Reeva, reject you, Aiden, Caden and Jayden as my mate!" This is shocking, as none of the triplets expected Alana to be that bold to reject them. What will it be? Do you think the Triplets will accept her rejection and let her go? Let's find out.