Sharp Synonym

"Never be vulnerable." Those were the words Adrian Blackwood’s father left him before his death. Now, as the most powerful billionaire in San Francisco, Adrian has built his life around that rule—untouchable, invincible, and ruthless. But what he doesn’t know is that his survival has never been his own doing. Elena Martinez, a humble cleaning manager, has been secretly saving him from the shadows—again and again. And despite his coldness, despite his sharp tongue, she never stops. He doesn’t know her name. He doesn’t know her face. But every time danger closes in, she’s there, risking everything for a man who sees her as nothing. Yet, something unexpected stirs between them—a connection neither of them understands. But what happens when Adrian discovers the truth? When he realizes the woman he’s overlooked holds the key to his life? Will he embrace th8e only person who has ever truly protected him, or will his pride destroy them both? Because secrets don’t stay buried forever. And when Adrian finally uncovers his hidden savior, it might be too late…

For five years, Marco Falcone was the perfect man. Or so I thought. The illusion shattered on the night of our engagement party, when his mistress crashed it, a five-year-old boy in tow. The boy ran straight to Marco, crying, "Daddy! Daddy, I finally found you!" It had to be some kind of sick joke. But then Marco turned to me, his voice stripped of all warmth. "This is my son, Leo. A… mistake Sofia and I made five years ago." "Leo is the Falcone heir. I have to legitimize them. That means I'll be engaged to Sofia first." "But Lydia, believe me, I still love you. We can have our engagement party in six months. You're going to be the Donna of the Falcone family. I expect you to be generous and understanding. This is non-negotiable." I laughed, a cold, sharp sound, and slid the engagement ring off my finger. My eyes scanned the room and locked on the man in the corner—Lorenzo Moretti, the most powerful Don in New York. He held another title, one only I knew: the man who’d been trying to make me his. "Don Moretti," I called out, my voice clear and steady. "I find myself in need of a new fiancé. Are you interested?"

The room is dimly lit, the air is filled with the smell of sex and alcohol; the guy laying next to the girl is panting heavily. She on the other hand is laying next to him, all curled up; soft whimpers are coming out of her lips. The guy wraps his muscular arms around her waist and pushes her a little away from him. She opens her eyes halfway through and stares at the guy, his hair sticking to his forehead due to the sweat; his dark brown eyes are closed. His sharp features are glistening, when the little rays of the sun hits his face that is coming in through the window. Forwarding her hand, she caresses his thin lower lip with her index finger and closes her eyes. "Get out." He says in a harsh tone from beside her. Her eyes flutter open completely hearing his harsh words; she always thinks why he acts so badly with her? Retracting her hand back to herself she sits up, her lower belly aches in the bitter sweet pain. A groan comes out of her mouth and her hands go straight to on top of her lower belly, to caress it. His clothes and hers are scattered around on the floor. The entire room is a mess, the bed sheet is all crinkled; pillows are off the bed.

"It hurts…" Joanna Horton clutched her swollen belly in agony, a deep, wrenching pain twisting through her that words couldn't describe. Terror filled her voice as she cried out, "It hurts so bad… Theo… please, save our baby…" But outside, there was only silence—except for the soft, steady sounds of prayers and chanting from the next room. That was where her monk husband, Theo Brook, was, praying for the soul of his long-dead first love. Ever since Sharon Cooper jumped off that building, Theo had been grief-stricken. He left everything behind and became a monk, never missing a single night of chanting for her. People said he had the heart of a saint, that he was devoted and had never stopped loving her. But they didn't know that just on the other side of that wall was Joanna—his lawfully wedded wife, the one he had once married in a grand ceremony. Joanna was burning up with fever, her eyes barely open, her face pale and tired. A few days ago, she had made Theo angry. Since then, no matter how much she cried out in pain, he ignored her. Another sharp wave of pain hit, and suddenly, a rush of blood spilled from between her legs. The baby inside her stopped moving. She knew then—her child was gone.

"The League of Rogues takes what they want—but have they taken on too much?For too long Miss Emily Parr has been subject to the whims of her indebted uncle and the lecherous advances of his repulsive business partner. Her plan to be done with dominating men forever is simple—find herself a kind husband who will leave her to her books.It seems an easy enough plan, until she is unexpectedly abducted by an incorrigible duke who hides a wounded spirit behind flashing green eyes.Godric St. Laurent, Duke of Essex, spends countless nights at the club with his four best friends, and relishes the rakish reputation society has branded him with. He has no plans to marry anytime soon—if ever. But when he kidnaps an embezzler’s niece, the difficult debutante’s blend of sweetness and sharp tongue make him desperate for the one thing he swears he never wanted: love.Yet as they surrender to passion, danger lurks in Godric’s shadowed past, waiting for him to drop his guard—and rob him of the woman he can’t live without.Warning: This novel includes a lady who refuses to stay kidnapped, a devilish duke with a dark past, and an assortment of charming rogues who have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.The League of Rogues is created by Lauren Smith, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author."

Alicia was once a woman who lived in the shadows—overweight, insecure, and hopelessly in love with Ford Collins, the cold and calculating billionaire who viewed her as nothing more than an obligation. Their marriage was a cruel twist of fate: a one-night mistake, a pregnancy, and a contract to protect Ford’s pristine reputation. For Ford, Alicia’s soft heart and imperfect body were a constant source of disdain. He mocked her, belittled her, and made it clear that she would never be enough—not for him, not for anyone. When Ford finally walked away to reunite with his glamorous ex-fiancée, Alicia was left broken and humiliated, carrying the scars of his rejection. But heartbreak has a way of transforming people. Years later, Alicia returns—not the shy, overweight girl Ford once dismissed, but a confident single mom and stunning woman with a sharp tongue and a steely resolve. Now, it’s Ford who’s haunted by regret, unable to ignore the woman he let slip through his fingers. Can Ford prove he’s a changed man and win back the wife he never deserved? Or will Alicia’s newfound strength and desire for revenge keep him at arm’s length? What happens when the man who destroyed her heart becomes the one begging for it?

The city never slept , but I did probably to much. But it was the only place where I could tell myself what I was going through was just a dream . My therapist said the nightmares were trauma resurfacing , I called them what it was a curse something I’ve never been able to get out of my head , not since I was young , wolves with eyes like molten gold , the smell of the earth and pine , voices calling my name from the darkness . It something I’ve always tried to shake off but failed , I didn’t believe any of it… not until tonight . “ what’s happening to me “ i whispered “ your remembering ayla “ “ I’m the other half of you “ she said so gently , “ the part that’s been sleeping for to long , my name is nala we are the Moon Heir , the last silver wolf of our bloodline “ The light surged through me, and I screamed not from pain, but from release. Every part of me that had been silent for years was awake. And beneath it all, I felt him. Kael’s heartbeat, steady and fierce, calling to mine across the miles. The mate bond pulsed once — sharp, electric, undeniable. He’s coming for us, Nala murmured. He heard you. And even through the dizzying rush of magic, I smiled. “Then let him find me.”

He moved too fast—Maya could barely keep up. She thought he’d be rough, especially after all her teasing, but the bed beneath her was soft. “You…” One second Dae was above her, the next he was between her legs. Fabric tore. Cold air kissed her exposed skin. She gasped. “I’m going to eat you,” he said, dead serious. His once-dark eyes now glowed scarlet, his teeth sharp, inhuman. If he were anyone else, she’d be screaming. “You can scream.” He remind her. With one flick of his tongue, he was tasting her. “I’m going to eat you,” he warned again. “Please…” she gasped. “I want it.” ⸻ After witnessing a ghoul brutally devour a man, Maya West knows one thing: ghouls are monsters. Flesh-eating, merciless zombies. Dae-Soon is a ghoul—and he’s unapologetic about it. Rich, famous, and irresistible, he could have anyone. But when Maya storms out of his concert in disgust, he’s hooked. She hates his kind. He doesn’t care. He wants her—and he’s going to have her.

He pressed him against the door, breath hot, voice ragged. “If you don’t want this… tell me to stop.” A pause. A heartbeat. “I can’t.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Some obsessions aren’t meant to be touched. Some men aren’t meant to be loved. And some desires don’t care. This collection isn’t about perfect love. It’s about the one you weren’t supposed to want— Another man. Your brother’s best friend. Your enemy’s son. Your professor. Your fake fiancé. The man who shouldn’t look at you like that. The man you can’t stop wanting. Every story is a man falling for another man when he shouldn’t—and doing it anyway. Fast-paced, emotionally sharp, and dangerously seductive, every story in Burnt Offerings dives headfirst into the hunger we deny, the rules we break, and the lovers we were warned to stay away from. Some affairs stay in the dark. Others start wildfires. This isn't a love story. It's all the ones you swore you’d never tell. All of them about men who should have walked away from each other… but didn’t.

Nataliya Barsukov was raised to obey, molded by the iron fists of her father and brothers to be the perfect wife in a world ruled by men. But when she turns eighteen, she breaks their chains—and seizes their empire. Now, as the ruthless and enigmatic Queen of the Russian Mafia in Los Angeles, Nataliya rules her city with an iron will and a twisted code of honor. Those who know her identity are either fiercely loyal… or dead. Ryan Taylor is an undercover cop, fresh to LA and burning with purpose. His mission: infiltrate and dismantle the elusive mafia queen’s empire. But when he meets Nataliya—a woman as sharp as she is stunning, with the fire of a warrior and the grace of a dark Snow White—his world starts to blur. As Ryan is pulled deeper into her world, he begins to question everything. Nataliya doesn’t sell drugs to kids. She doesn’t traffic innocents. And the organs she harvests? Voluntary. In her own brutal way, she’s cleaning the streets more effectively than law enforcement ever has. Now Ryan must face the truth: justice isn’t black and white, and the real villains might be the ones wearing badges. Torn between duty and the woman he’s falling for, Ryan must decide—will he betray the queen… or fight for her?