Shining Girls

Four teenagers embark on a journey and face a harsh world of adulthood, only to realize that despite differing backgrounds, their experiences bear notable parallels. Their journeys are marked by deception, hidden family secrets and trials that could jeopardize everything they stand for. Axl is from the wrong side of the tracks, living a less privileged life. He has an unshakable bond with North, who is at the top of the elite ladder. Aspen befriends Merit and pulls her into their circle, both girls coming from a wealthy background. When Axl becomes an unwavering source of support and comfort, the roles are reversed and the decisions made by each of them will shape their futures. The only difference between them is that Axl has nothing to lose. Their lives are impacted by the actions and choices of their parents. It’s a slippery slope as they try to navigate the precarious position of importance and try to avoid the enemies they never knew they had.

He is a 10 but he is a decade older than me, my brother’s best friend, a therapist who wants to counsel me and... he likes to hurt little girls like me. “What were you doing this morning?” “I was meditating.” He is right. I am a terrible liar. Aiden raised his eyebrows. “Is that so?” He waited for my answer, crossing his arms over his chest. I got distracted by the way his biceps bulged. He noticed me staring. I glanced down at my lap, twiddling my thumbs. “Y-yes, Doctor Aiden, I was meditating and I-I focused on my breath like you taught me—” “Why are you lying to me, Ivy?” My head snapped at him. “I-I am not lying.” Aiden tilted his head and my throat went dry when he said, “Then why did I hear your voice moaning my name when you orgasmed with your fingers inside you?" He is her first love. She is his best friend's little sister. Will a chance reunion lead to true love? I was a good girl. An honor student. A dutiful daughter, sister and a sweet girlfriend to my boyfriend until I found him in my best friend’s bed. I didn’t want goody-two-shoe nice boys who gave me empty promises. What I wanted was a man who wouldn’t hurt me. When I found my brother’s best friend, Aiden Stone, with only a towel around his hot Greek body dripping wet from a shower, I decided that what I wanted, what I had been wanting for years, was him. The only problem? He is a decade older than me, my brother’s best friend, a therapist who wants to counsel me and... he likes to hurt little girls like me.

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.

Some people say, high school life is great but for Joycelyn Lopez it was a misery. A young girl, from Pangasinan Philippines who experienced bullying. For her, school is hell because of people bullying her looks and skin ever since elementary, that is why she is full of insecurities in herself... but not until she met Dave, a transferee guy who came from the United States of America A well-mannered, a son of the City Mayor, living in upper-class life and a boy who fall stupidly in love in her. Dave didn’t know he would fall in love crazy to the girl, ever since he was in America, girls are going crazy over him. But when he went to the Philippines, the tables have turned. Of course, Dave shoots her shot to Joy. They became together because they think they would find peace with each other; never thought they will make misery for themselves.

"Dammit! I said stop! “He grabbed my arm, grinding me to a sudden halt. When I turned around, his lips were pulled into a thin line stretching all the way to the edges. The playfulness was gone from his eyes, aggravation slipping in its place. "Why should I stop Tan? So you can try to get me into your bed like those girls you sleep with every day?" I questioned, pulling my bare arms around myself to shield myself from the cold chills. "Because I don't want you here Holly. I want you gone, far away from RCU. I don’t want to see your face or be anywhere near you," he blatantly pointed out, no hint of remorse in his voice. "Excuse me?" Was he being serious right now?

Lydia Martins, the smart kid at school, is the constant target of bullies like Emily, the wealthy businessman's daughter, who torments Lydia for getting perfect grades. After Lydia aces another test, Emily and her friends confront Lydia in the bathroom, calling her "Teacher's Pet" and accusing her of only succeeding because of the handsome, young Mr. Derek—the new English teacher. The girls tease and bully Lydia, claiming she's sleeping with Mr. Derek for good grades, before dumping a bucket of water over her head. Humiliated, Lydia soon finds photos from the incident circulating online with vile captions calling her a ‘Slut’ and the ‘Teacher’s Pet’. Enraged, she hatches a plan not to get back at her bullying classmates but to target Mr. Derek instead. She decides that if she can get him fired, the torment over her grades might finally stop.

Jayla is an eighteen year old girl in her final year of high school. Tyler is the same age as Jayla, and in his final year of high school, too, only he is a bad boy who goes around sleeping with almost all the girls at school while Jayla is a good girl, a virgin even. On her eighteenth birthday, she bumps into Tyler, and sparks erupt on her skin, making her know that Tyler is her mate. Jayla is overjoyed at finding her mate on her birthday but her joy is cut short when he pushes her to the ground and stalks off like he didn't feel a thing between them. Despite all Jayla's efforts to win Tyler over, he still does not want anything to do with her. Will she give up on their mate bond or will she do anything in her power to get Tyler to acknowledge it? Read on to find out.

[I don't want to die, but I'm tired of picking myself up every time I fall. Won't you please carry me?] Emilie is bullied because of her selective mutism. The popular girls at her college think she is a freak who won't survive the real world since she won't speak up for herself. One day, they steal her clothes at a pool party and force her to venture out dressed in only a towel. She knocks on a random door without knowing it's Brandon Brooks's home. He is the most popular guy at her college - rich and attractive - and she is convinced he won't help her. Brandon thinks she is a loser like everyone else, but there is one thing Emilie doesn't know about him: he isn't heartless.

My sister and I were both blessed with naturally fertile bodies. My sister married a poor farmer in our village and gave birth to five sons. Their family thrived and escaped poverty. I married the wealthy ranch foreman, but only had daughters. My husband resented me for embarrassing him and beat me and our girls to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the matchmaker came. I watched coldly as the ranch foreman unexpectedly chose my sister with the limp, and I realized he had also been reborn. He thought marrying my sister would guarantee him sons, unaware that he had a genetic condition preventing him from having boys. I pointed to the quiet, thin educated youth in the corner and declared: "I will marry him!"

“I like pretty little girls who obey instructions before complaining. They don’t get to be punished.” His stubble brushed against my face and a low moan escaped me. Damn him! “Stay like this. Don’t move an inch.” What? “And for an entire week, this would be the only piece of material you get to put on.” Again, what?! ~+~ Camila Rose Frost, a club stripper, never expected her life to take such a turn. When he abusive boyfriend and boss entered into a contract with the enigmatic business tycoon, Lorenzo King Calloway. What starts as a business transaction quickly spirals into something far more intense. Bound by a contract and drawn into King's world, Camila finds herself struggling between separating from king to saving herself from his obsessed lover and a growing affection for him.