Rice By Manuel Arguilla

A case of mistaken identity. A twisted plan. An unexpected love. Isabella Delgado lives a quiet life as a regular office worker in Manila—routine days, instant coffee, and a heart still nursing quiet dreams. But everything changes when she’s suddenly kidnapped off the street by strangers who mistake her for someone else. Her captor? Lance Alonzo, a cold, calculated billionaire with a broken heart and a twisted agenda: to make Sofia Marie Cruz, his ex-girlfriend who betrayed him, fall in love with him again—only to break her heart the way she broke his. But there’s a problem. Isabella isn’t Sofia. She only looks exactly like her. When Lance discovers the mistake, it’s already too late. Isabella knows too much, and letting her go could destroy his reputation. So he keeps her locked in his private estate—just until he figures out what to do. But as days pass and secrets unravel, Lance finds himself drawn to the very woman he never meant to meet. And Isabella? She may be trapped—but her spirit refuses to be broken. Not by a man with a plan. Not by a heart with unfinished business. What started as a revenge scheme becomes a dangerous game of deception, desire, and redemption. Because sometimes, fate doesn’t make mistakes. People do.

Sa mismong araw ng kasal nila, nalaman ni Luna ang mapait na katotohanan—ginamit at pinakasalan lang siya ni Damon upang saktan ang babaeng dating karelasyon nito. Dala ng matinding sakit at pagkabigo, nagpasya siyang iwan si Damon sa araw ding iyon. Tahimik itong naglaho nang walang paalam. “Hanapin n’yo siya! I want every inch of this estate searched!” sigaw ni Damon habang galit na galit na naglalakad paikot sa marble flooring ng hall, ang mga palad niya'y nakasukbit sa kanyang buhok na tila ba hindi malaman kung ano ang uunahin—ang takot, ang galit, o ang pagkasira ng loob. “Sir Damon,” lapit ng isa sa mga security. “We’ve searched the entire estate… wala po talaga si Ma’am Luna. Even the guard at the back gate said walang nakitang dumaan.” “She can’t just run away with my child!” singhal niya, boses niya'y halos mapunit sa dami ng emosyong nagsasalubong sa dibdib. “Do whatever it takes—bring her back! Now!” Pagkalipas ng anim na taon magmula noong maglaho na parang bula si Luna... "Boss, we found your wife. She just landed at the international airport." "And she’s with three kids... who all look exactly like you." "But there’s another man with them—and one of the kids is calling him Dad."

Lauren Cordelia "Lia" worked as a housekeeper in Aldridge Hotel and Resort in Buenavista, a coastal town where she grew up. Nagawa niyang huminto sa pag-aaral nang isang taon bago mag kolehiyo para makapag-ipon dahil malaki ang sasahurin niya sa trabaho. She never thought that her young heart would fall in love with their new general manager, Evander Aldridge, despite his stern and elusive demeanor towards her. Hindi naman siya umasa na masusuklian ang nararamdaman niya dahil sa layo ng agwat ng estado nila sa buhay but she was wrong because he reciprocated her feelings for him! But their happiness came to an end. Lia left Buenavista without a word carrying his child in her womb and did not show up to Evander again. At ang liit nga ng mundo. Muli silang nagkita dahil ito pala ang golden boy ng lolo niyang mayaman. She had no choice but to see him every day since she became his temporary secretary for three months, and he was the only one who could teach her about the company. Evander is mad at her for leaving him, and she won't be able to escape the punishment of the billionaire she hurt.

William is a young business tycoon. he never really wanted to be in a relationship dahil minsan na siyang naloko. He made himself arrogant para di lapitan ng mga social climber. While Madel, is a young independent woman. Lumuwas ng Maynila para mag-aral. Her mom can support her naman. Pero dahil na din sa kasipagan ay napag-aral nya ang sarili while working in an exclusive bar for rich people. Kayanin kayang palambutin ni Madel ang pusong bato ni William? si William na ba ang unang makaka bihag sa puso ni Madel?

Warning: Rated SPG(R-18) Naalala niya si Drix pati na ang paraan ng pag-angkin nito sa kanya. Na parang kapareho ng ginagawa ng lalaki na ito na nasa kanyang ibabaw. Kasunod niyon ay ang muling pagbabalik ng matinding sakit na pinaranas sa kanya ng lalaki ng iwanan siya nito, na halos ikabaliw niya yata. Bigla tuloy niyang naitulak ang buong lakas ang lalaki sa dibdib nito. Para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig, kaya dagling nawala ang nagliliyab na pakiramdam na nararamdaman niya kanina lang. Gusto niyang malaman kung sino ba talaga ang lalaki sa dilim na kasama niya ngayon, para kasing kay damot ng liwanag ng mga sandaling iyon. Hindi niya talaga maaninag ang mukha ng lalaki. Dahil kung hindi siya nagkakamali na si Drix ang kanyang kaniig ay hinding hindi siya papayag sa mga nangyayari ngayon. Sinaktan siya ng matindi ng lalaki, iniwanan na siya. Kaya bakit siya nito kinuha ng walang permiso? Bakit siya kinidnap? Anong dahilan? Maya asawa na ito, kaya anong ibig sabihin ng lahat? “Sino ka!?” Napakalakas na tanong niya. Halatang nagulat ang lalaki sa biglang pagbabago niya ng mood. Kanina lang ay lubos na siyang nagpapasakop sa kamunduhan na taglay nito. Pero sa isang saglit ay nagawa niyang alisin ang init at palitan ng galit ang nadarama. Hindi rin niya alam kung paano niya nagawa iyon. Nakaangat ang kalahating katawan nito mula sa kanya, pero ang ibabang bahagi ay nananatiling magkadikit. Noon lang niya napansin na nakabukaka pala ang ayos niya, nakaayos ito sa kanyang gitnang ibabang katawan. Naisip niya na kung sasalakayin ng matigas na parte ng katawan nito ang kanyang hiyas ay tiyak na wala siyang kalaban laban. “Sino ka?” Malakas na ulit niya sa tanong. “Alex.” Parang naguguluhang bigkas nito sa kanyang pangalan. “Hindi mo pa ba ako nakikilala?”

Gabriella's 24th mission was to catch Silent Thief—the criminal that is so impossible to catch, as the police and detectives had a very hard time arresting him. While on her mission, Gabriella lost 300 million dollars so her mom made a deal with her that if she's going to get married, she'll give her 300 million dollars back as a wedding gift. Gabriella immediately accepted the deal and met the person her mom chose to be her husband. The man looks nice and decent. He's also kind and a gentleman so she have no problem marrying him, as she also badly wants to get her 300 million dollars back... But as she started living with the man, Gabriella starts finding him suspicious. What would she do if she found out that her husband is actually Silent Thief? Would she blab him to the police and say that he isn't the thief who stole jewelries and paintings, but the thief who stole her heart?

Sofia Cruz is a loving granddaughter and sister to her family; she worked hard in their province to give them a comfortable life. But she left her place because she was promised to have a better job in Manila. However, what she didn't know, she was only tricked by the person who recruited her and turned out to be sold to a businessman who owned a bar. When she entered the bar, there she met Howard, the man who was willing to buy her for three million pesos just for a night. Will she agree? Or she will reject the man's offer. Aside from that magkakaroon sila ng kasunduan hanggang nasa poder siya nito hindi siya pwedeng lumabag sa mga kasunduan nito isa na dito ang bawal siyang ma in-love sa lalaki. Kaso dumating ang araw na unti-unting mahuhulog siya sa lalaki kaya lilisanin niya ang Mansyon at magpapakalayo layo. Sa pagbabalik niya malalaman ng lalaki na nagkaroon pala sila ng anak at malalaman nito ang tunay na dahilan nang pag-alis niya.. May pag-asa pa bang maging masaya ang dalawa na nagsimula sa isang kasunduan lamang..

18 year old Caitlin Paine finds herself uprooted from her nice suburb and forced to attend a dangerous New York City high school when her Mom moves again. The one ray of light in her new surroundings is Jonah, a new classmate who takes an instant liking to her. But before their romance can blossom, Caitlin suddenly finds herself changing. She is overcome by a superhuman strength, a sensitivity to light, a desire to feed--by feelings she does not understand. She seeks answers to what’s happening to her, and her cravings lead her to the wrong place at the wrong time. Her eyes are opened to a hidden world, right beneath her feet, thriving underground in New York City. She finds herself caught between two dangerous covens, right in the middle of a vampire war. It is at this moment that Caitlin meets Caleb, a mysterious and powerful vampire who rescues her from the dark forces. He needs her to help lead him to the legendary lost artifact. And she needs him for answers, and for protection. Together, they will need to answer one crucial question: who was her real father? But Caitlin finds herself caught between two men as something else arises between them: a forbidden love. A love between the races that will risk both of their lives, and will force them to decide whether to risk it all for each other… "TURNED is an ideal story for young readers. Morgan Rice did a good job spinning an interesting twist on what could have been a typical vampire tale. Refreshing and unique, TURNED has the classic elements found in many Young Adult paranormal stories. Book #1 of the Vampire Journals Series focuses around one girl…one extraordinary girl!...TURNED is easy to read but extremely fast-paced....Recommended for anyone who likes to read soft paranormal romances. Rated PG." --The Romance Reviews

EXTRACT.... *** He pushed me to the wall as he pinned my hands above my head. "Alpha Na..na." He placed his hands over my lips as he slowly started to kiss my neck. "It’s Nathan to you." "This is wrong; I’m already married to Alpha Damian." I tried saying something, and just then, he pulled away from me. "I don’t care. We’re mates, and so what if I had rejected you then? I want you back now, Isabella." He told me. *** When Nathan Grayson found out an omega, a lowly wolf, named Isabella was his mate, he rejected her immediately. To him, such a powerful alpha as himself couldn’t be mated to an omega, and as a result, he kicked her out. Sometime later, he is on the verge of losing his wolf, and only one person can help: his rejected mate, Isabella. He wants her back, but there’s one problem: she is now married to the deadliest alpha of all time, alpha Damien.

WISH is book #1 in a new series by #1 bestselling author Morgan Rice, a USA Today bestseller and critically acclaimed author of the fantasy series The Sorcerer’s Ring (over 3,000 five star reviews) and the vampire fantasy series The Vampire Journals (over 1,500 five star reviews). Mistfalls Wilderness Camp is an awful place, a series of islands in the rainy Northwest, populated by delinquents and outcasts from their families. It is supposed to be a remedial place—but Taylor soon learns something else is happening here. They are training the kids here for something. But what?These kids are all different, not normal somehow. And as Taylor herself goes through changes she doesn’t understand, she can’t help but wonder: is she different, too? But when a mysterious boy comes along, unlike anyone she’s ever met, Taylor is shocked at the power of her crush, and ready to risk it all for him.But will their forbidden love take them both down for good?Weaving a world of fantasy, love, destiny and sacrifice, WISH is a page-turning vampire saga, one that will whisk you away to another place and make you fall in love with a bold new heroine as you turn pages late into the night. With shocking twists and turns at every corner, you will not put it down. Fans of books such as Crush, Twilight and Vampire Academy are sure to fall in love!Future books in the series are also available.