Steeped In Tea

Zoey is hardly what you’d consider princess material. Born in flyover country, she never learned how to curtsy, let alone walk in high heels. And when she literally trips into the arms of a handsome stranger at her friend’s wedding, she thinks she’s finally found love. Freddie Prescott is a charming prankster. Despite his carefree attitude, he pursues Zoey with an intensity that shows he can be serious when he needs to be. And with those rock hard abs and rippling biceps, his pursuit of Zoey is a satisfying one. Without realizing it, Zoey finds herself falling in love. There’s only one problem: Freddie is a prince. Spending a week without Internet access or phone reception has left Zoey in a weird predicament. He certainly left enough hints that he was rich and famous, but he never outright said it. And when the time comes for him to leave their vacation getaway, he asks her to come with him to the kingdom of Paradisa. But Zoey can’t use the right fork, put her pinkie up for tea, or any of the things expected of a princess. Plus, there are those in the kingdom who don’t want an American close to the throne. How can she hope to keep Freddie’s love if she’s a stranger to his royal world? NYT Bestseller Krista Lakes brings you this brand new sweet-and-sexy royal romance. This standalone novel will have you cheering for an American princess’s happily ever after.

"I died with the taste of jasmine and betrayal on my tongue. I woke up with a debt to a monster." Elara Vance was the perfect noble daughter—quiet, dutiful, and blind. She gave her heart to the charming Lord Caspian de Montfort and her trust to her "saintly" step-sister, Lyra. Her reward? A slow-acting poison in her tea and the sight of her husband prying the family signet ring from her cold, paralyzed finger. But death is not the end for those with a soul full of rage. In the misty aisles of the Shop of Lost Regrets, Elara meets the Archivist—a terrifying entity who offers her a second chance. The price? She must return to her sixteen-year-old self and complete a series of increasingly dangerous tasks. If she succeeds, she gets her revenge. If she fails, her heart stops forever. To survive her murderous family, Elara must secure the protection of the only man they fear: Kaelen Thorne, the "Monstrous Duke" of the North. She proposes a marriage of convenience—a cold, blood-bound contract built on secrets and strategy. As Elara and Kaelen journey to the frozen border, they enter a deadly game of cat and mouse. Between the Duke’s ancient curse, Caspian’s obsessive pursuit, and the Archivist’s mysterious demands, Elara must navigate a world where love is a weakness and information is the only currency. In this life, Elara is no longer a pawn. She is the player. And she will burn the kingdom to the ground to ensure her enemies never taste jasmine again.

Erika Regis dreamed of love and belonging, but her world has always been ruled by tragedy and secrets. Forced into a political union with the enigmatic Alpha Diego Di Rocco, she finds herself trapped in a cold, calculated marriage, fighting for acceptance in a pack that sees her as an outsider. But beneath Diego’s icy exterior lies a fractured soul, and as Erika battles to prove her worth, she begins to uncover dangerous truths about her tragic past, a prophecy that ties her fate to the survival of the Lycans, and the strength she never knew she possessed. Their mating ceremony is no fairy tale. Diego’s pack is steeped in tradition, secrets, and rivalries, and Erika is thrust into a world where she is both the object of scrutiny and the pawn in a dangerous game. Diego’s domineering mother, Dunia, and his cunning childhood friend, Lucia, conspire to test her every move, while Diego himself remains an enigma—distant yet magnetic, capable of igniting both longing and despair in her heart. When betrayal cuts deeper than any wound, Erika walks away—not to escape, but to reclaim her own power. Yet destiny has other plans. As enemies close in and war looms on the horizon, Erika must decide if her broken bond with Diego can be mended—or if she’s destined to rise alone. Gripping, seductive, and fiercely empowering, Dark Luna Rising will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-pounding page.

On the night of her eighteenth birthday, June’s world doesn’t just shatter, it awakens. She thought she was an ordinary girl on the brink of graduation, adopted and unremarkable, carrying only unanswered questions about her past. But when the moon rises, so does the truth: she is a werewolf, heir to a bloodline steeped in ancient magic and bound by destiny. Thrust into a hidden world where power is currency and secrets are lethal, June finds an unlikely ally in Killian, a formidable wolf whose loyalty is as fierce as his strength. Their search for answers leads them from shadowed forests to the sands of Egypt, where a mystic oracle guards prophecies older than empires—and where June’s lineage is whispered as both salvation and doom. Along the way, they cross paths with a vampire tailor whose enchanted needles stitch more than fabric, weaving protection, deception, and fate itself. But even his magic cannot shield June from the greatest revelation awaiting her: a queen returned from the dead, risen to reclaim a throne drenched in blood and moonlight… and tied irrevocably to June’s own heritage. As the Council of Twelve tightens its iron claws around her, June must unravel the truth of her origins before it consumes her. Every step draws her deeper into a destiny she never asked for but can no longer escape. Her lineage is her power… or her execution.

Just one second before Alpha Daniel’s fated mark burned into my skin, a sharp voice pierced the air at the bonding ceremony. “Stop!” Jessica, Daniel’s first love, stumbled forward, her belly swollen. “Are you all really going to let this vicious woman become your Luna?” she cried, pointing at me with trembling hands. “She’s been torturing me for months! She poisoned my tea, left knives at my door, and tried to force me to abort Alpha’s pup!” My mind went blank at her sudden, fabricated accusations. “What? I didn’t—” Before I could finish, Jessica lunged toward me. Acting on instinct, I raised my arm to block her, but she collapsed heavily to the floor. “My pup!” she shrieked. “Daniel, look! She’s trying to hurt us again! Call the enforcers to arrest her!” In the next heartbeat, Daniel rushed forward, shielding Jessica in his arms without hesitation. He looked at me, his gaze cold and disappointed. “Rosie, why couldn’t you just behave? This pup is our pack’s heir!” Around us, the elders exchanged dark, knowing glances, silently condemning me. With no way to prove my innocence, I was sentenced to three years in the nightmare Silver Prison. Whips, hunger, endless violence… Eventually, I learned what Daniel really meant by “behave”. But why was he the one who regretted it?

In the coastal quiet of Baler, a studio is born—not of architecture, but of intention.* Founded by Yam, a poet whose words cradle pain gently, and Franc, an artist who paints tenderness into walls, the studio becomes a refuge for those learning to stay—with grief, love, longing, and themselves. As visitors arrive, they leave behind more than footprints: a sigh recorded in bamboo, a poem tucked into the “Found Letters” shelf, a mural painted in crooked lines. Through zines, tea, silence, and sketchbooks, the studio teaches softness as revolution. Ren creates the *Window of Soft Returns*, an installation of anonymous voice recordings—each whisper forming a community of echoes. Drew builds the *Staircase With No Wrong Turns*, inviting people to walk through emotions without shame. Franc offers brushstrokes as brave work, and Yam curates writing circles that map healing in half sentences. Together, they host festivals that feel like hugs, and they begin traveling their archive, letting softness cross oceans. Even those who once left—like Miguel—return, discovering that some doors never truly close. Others, like Tala, capture the studio’s sound and turn it into a podcast of breath and becoming. Over seventy chapters, the studio transforms into something larger than itself: a mural of memory, a sanctuary for second chances, a place where return is sacred and voice is proof of survival. In the final bloom, the studio stands not as a monument—but as a reminder: > *“Staying isn’t easy. > But chosen together, > it becomes home.”*

Princess Layana's birth was a mystery and her heritage a secret. Despite the luxurious life of a royal, she simply wished for a life away from the cage-like palace. Declan of House Storm was the sole survivor of a massacred clan, an event that gave birth to the darkness within him. Fuelled by hate, rage and betrayal he wants nothing but to get revenge on the royals that slaughtered his family. What will happen when the shielded princess with a heart as pure as the first ray of dawn meets the heir whose soul is shrouded in a blanket of darkness. Will he set her free from her shackles? Will she be able to lead him to the light before it’s too late? When the first whispers of darkness spread from the borders, they are brought together to protect the kingdom.Beware the prophecy decreed a long time passed for it may hold their world in its balance. -------- “It seems Lord Declan holds more ignorance than he is aware, we are women with emotions, wishes and hopes that we put behind us for the betterment of the kingdom,” Layana said her eyes flashing “Do enlighten me, what exactly can the precious jewels of the kingdom do for its people?” Declan mocked arrogantly. “Jewels? You compare us to items devoid of emotions, but yes, like jewels, we will be given away to the highest bidder. So before assuming princesses are simply there to play dress up and have tea parties, remember our lives are not simply fun and games!”

Anais Vale vanished three years ago, breaking the terms of a legally binding marriage contract with billionaire CEO Cassian Vale. To the world, their short-lived marriage was a mystery. To Anais, it was survival. But when a mysterious legal summons pulls her out of hiding, she’s forced to return—not as a woman in love, but as a wife under obligation. Cassian, ruthless and unreadable, never divorced her. Their original contract still holds, and now he wants her back—if only to fulfill the remaining years and protect his corporate empire from a hostile takeover. Emotion is not part of the deal. But the contract hides more than just legal conditions. It conceals a past filled with betrayal, a family legacy steeped in secrets, and a shared history neither of them fully understands. Anais returns as a woman determined to endure it quietly. But things change quickly: she discovers Cassian’s health is failing, that someone wants her dead, and that her own tragic past may be connected to his family’s crimes. As the truth unravels, Anais is forced to confront who Cassian really is—and who she must become if she wants to survive in his world. Along the way, both begin to transform. Anais, once passive and self-effacing, begins to find her voice and strength. Cassian, seemingly heartless and stoic, is forced to feel and face the consequences of his past. Their story is a collision of control and vulnerability, love and guilt, power and protection. What begins as a contract slowly becomes a reckoning—and a second chance neither of them expected. But second chances come at a cost. And not every ending is fair.

Warning: Incēst story, if it is not a cup of your Tea, feel free to drop it. You guys are warned As Ederic's life takes an unexpected turn with the arrival of his so-called biological dad and the discovery of his second mother, he finds himself in a new family dynamic. Among all the changes, he becomes infatuated with Aaron, his elder brother, seeking his attention and admiration. This admiration slowly transforms into love, with Ederic's heart blooming for Aaron. However, their relationship is far from smooth sailing. Aaron, initially not accepting of Ederic's arrival, becomes a source of bullying and hostility. Ederic endures his elder brother's torment, longing for his affection and attention. The dynamics between them are complicated, with a mix of love and hate intertwining their interactions. Tragedy strikes when Ederic's mother passes away, leaving him devastated. To overcome his depression and seek a fresh start, he is sent abroad for his studies. Despite the physical distance, his love for Aaron remains strong throughout the years. Their love-hate relationship takes a significant turn on the night of Ederic's 18th birthday when they both lose themselves in the moment. After that fateful night, something changes within Aaron. The hate he once held for Ederic transforms into an obsession, consuming his thoughts and actions. On the other hand, Ederic's love for Aaron also turns into an intense obsession, fueling his desires. The question arises as to whether their obsessions will overpower their love or vice versa. It is a precarious balance, and the line between love and obsession becomes increasingly blurred. As their story unfolds, they must confront the consequences of their emotions and navigate the complexities of their relationship.

In the cold, sunless Silver Peak Pack, power is everything, and Maya Ashley has none. To the rest of the wolves, she is a "runt"... a lowly servant who cleans the floors and cooks the meals. But Maya is hiding a secret that could get her burned alive: she is the world’s only Vampire Werewolf Hybrid. The pack is ruled by Alpha Kael, a warrior who is slowly losing his mind. Kael suffers from ‘Killer’s Fever,’ a violent madness that turns Alphas into feral monsters. No medicine can help him, except for one thing: Maya’s blood. For months, Maya has been secretly drugging Kael’s nightly tea with drops of her own blood. It is the only thing that keeps the Alpha sane, but it has created a dangerous side effect: Kael has become physically addicted to her presence without knowing why. As the Blood Moon approaches, Maya’s clock begins to tick. Ancient lore states that on this night, a hybrid must choose a side. If she mates with a wolf, her vampire half dies; if she mates with a vampire, her wolf side is lost forever. The stakes explode when Prince Victor of the Vampire Kingdom arrives at the borders. He doesn't want a wife; he wants to eliminate the ‘hybrid mistake’ to prove his strength. He publicly exposes Maya’s fangs, turning her own pack against her. At the same time, Maya discovers a heartbreaking truth: her own mother was the witch who cursed Kael with madness as revenge for an old war. Now, Maya is trapped between a Prince who wants her dead and an Alpha who is addicted to her blood.