Summer Reading Challenge

*Book 2* Mei Liu learned suffering from an early age. After experiencing great loss, she spent years enduring abuse at the hands of a sadistic pack of wolves, while hiding her identity. All until the day she was saved by her fated soulmate arriving at her doorstep. Mei was finally free, loved and accepted, with her happily ever after on the horizon. But an unknown enemy has been searching for her and once he finds her he has no intentions of letting her go. Dark secrets will be revealed, and she will be pushed beyond her limits. Can she rise up and fight back and become the strong woman she was destined to be? Or will it all be too much for her to handle? A Queen Among Snakes is the second book in the Queen Among series. Each story is set up in the previous book, so reading the books in order is recommended. Here are the books in the series: A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1 Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2 Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel A Queen Among Blood - Book 3 Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4 Dark Invocation - A Queen Among Darkness spin-off A Queen Among Tides - Book 5 Valor, Virtue, and Verve - A Queen Among Tides Prequel Spin-off A Queen Among Gods - Book 6 A Queen Among Tempests - Book 7

One vampire. One Vampire hunter. A forbidden bond. Isabelle Howell seems like your average everyday girl, but I'll let you in on a little secret. She's actually a Slayer and a very good one at that. She spends her nights tangling with the somewhat unsavoury supernaturals that roam the earth, feasting on innocents. Committed to her job and unknown hero to the average humans who walk around blissfully unaware. Isabelle is over the moon when she is given a high priority assignment, something she has waited for, for so long. The chance to prove she can handle herself, the chance to work her way up to the elite team and go on the really dangerous assignments. Her target, you ask? Cassius Lockwood. Powerful pureblood vampire. As handsome as he is cruel. The blood- fiend, well known for his merciless ways. His reputation doesn't put her off if anything she finds the challenge exciting. That is, however, until she has him (or who she thinks is him) cowering before her. At a time where she should be thrilled, it just isn’t right and what he says to her will haunt her for the rest of her days.

I am a first-time writer so please enjoy... Ciara isn't your average werewolf; she's a chemically and magically altered therianthrope or a multi-shifter. Wolf, bear, owl, mouse and fox. Ever since she was found in a laboratory when she was a child by the Alpha of her pack, her shifter abilities have prevented her from getting what she truly wants... Freedom and love. When the Summer Moon Festival is held at her pack, Ciara's world is turned upside down by the people who supposedly care about her and when she finds her mate, things start taking a turn. However, he isn't just any werewolf, he is the future Alpha King. The Alpha of War. Alpha Mars doesn't want a mate, but his parents are forcing him to take a chosen mate. He is determined to leave the Summer Moon Festival without a mate. However, when he meets a corky, she-wolf with a sassy attitude, he can't stay away from her. But both Ciara and Alpha Mars intend to secretly reject the other... eventually... What happens when the mate bond is stronger than their own individual plans? What will happen when Ciara's past comes back? Will Alpha Mars accept Ciara's secrets?

Fate tends to give you things that you don’t wish for. She has her cruel way of testing your tolerance, your faith and your strength. Summer Laurent wished to lead a normal life, as normal as a person with past trauma could lead, but bumping into Dorian King changes all that. Her past chases her and haunts her everywhere and soon she finds herself entangled in the world of the supernatural which was more horrifying than the human world.

Reid Thomas is known for having a revolving door of females in his bed and for not wanting a mate. He's even created rules for himself to follow so he doesn't fall into the trap of a committed, long-term relationship. But when he loses a bet to his best friend, he's sent on a blind date. There, he meets Taryn Campbell, a feisty warrior with a personality to match, who has him questioning his strict rules. After all, aren't rules made to be broken? This is Book 2 of the Crescent Lake series. It can be read as a standalone, however, for context and an introduction to the world and characters, it is recommended that you read "The Alpha's Pen Pal" before reading "The Beta's Blind Date."

I shook my head as a dark chuckle escaped my lips. “I’m not her, Dimitri, can’t you see it? I will never be her,” My voice shook as I spoke, tears threatening to spill. Dimitri ran his fingers through his hair in distress. His usual cold demeanor slipping away as he walked towards me and grabbed me by my shoulder. I felt his fingers on my chin, forcing me to look at him. I swallowed. “You don’t understand, Dimitri,” My voice came out as a whisper. “You are in love with that woman. Not me. It has-it has never been me,” “I know who I want, Val and that person is you,” *** For years, Valeria Moore had lived her life as a substitute lover to Dimitri. She believed one day, he would see her for who she is and not as his lost mate who had the same face as her. But when Dimitri announced his engagement to Summer Wood, Val knew she couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to cut all ties with him but now, Dimitri wasn’t ready to let her go. Not when he just realized she was pregnant for him.

Presley Brookmore was bullied by her older half-brother Odin and his two best friends Cruz and Anderson, all of her life. They made it their life mission to humiliate her at every turn. Was it her fault her father carried on an affair with her mother who got pregnant with her and wrecked Odin’s idyllic life? She didn’t think so but apparently, Odin and his cronies did, and so they bullied her at every turn. When an opportunity to get back at Odin’s best friend Cruz Hawley presents itself in a serendipitous moment, she doesn’t let it slip away. Taking full advantage of the fact as a billionaire, an attractive one at that, all eyes are on him and people are snapping photos and videos of the celebrity in the restaurant, she makes a scene straight out a daytime soap opera. Cruz Hawley returned to Vancouver with the intent to take his billion-dollar medical equipment company to the next level. When his childhood best friend’s younger sister pops out of the woodwork and not only destroys his chance at a connection with a client, but makes him a social media sensation, his businesses take the hit. Cruz is going to teach the troublemaker a lesson but it’s his heart on the line when he finds himself looking forward to every challenge she is presenting. It’s win, lose, or draw and as a former Olympian, there is no way he can lose. Let the game of hearts begin. Winner takes all.

Lots of people are asking so here it is: Branston high series order - Jake, Nathan, Shane, Luke, Billy Thank you all so much for reading! ~~~~~ Jake has one goal in life - protect his brothers and keep his family together. He has to find a job, earn his keep. He doesn't have time for trivial things like friends and girlfriends. Kim wants freedom, adventure and excitement. She's not interested in living a life of regrets or what if's. A chance encounter with the stoic and mysterious new guy in school, has Kim adamant to bring a little joy to his life, even if he doesn't think he wants it.

They say promises are made to be broken and people who have committed mistakes should be given second chances. Just how many broken promises can a loving heart take? And how many second chances can a wounded heart give? ~~ Barbara ‘Bobbie’ St. Clair has it all. The fame, the looks, the riches… the boy. Although this was her status in life, Bobbie never lacked compassion and kindness for other people. These qualities draw people closer to her. However, after the death of her grandparents, Bobbie’s life took a complete turn. Loneliness and grief became her biggest challenge, but with the help of Jake West, she survived and came out stronger. He became her buoy that kept her afloat. Although a bad boy and playboy in people’s eyes, Jake West devoted himself to his family and to his girl. Apart from his love for football, he made sure to put the people he loves first before his needs. Never in his wildest dream that he thought would he need to choose between these two. When life’s biggest game was laid in front of him, it’s time to choose between playing and quitting. How will Jake keep Bobbie from sinking when he, himself, will drown in his family’s dirty secrets? ~~ [Mature content] Cover by DOBOLYU V

My whole family could hear my thoughts. Twenty years after I was abducted, I finally reunited with my family. However, they used the thoughts they could hear to find out my bank account's passwords and PIN codes, all so that they could steal my savings. When they knew I was being stalked by a pervert, they offered me up on a silver platter just for the money he provided. I ended up getting locked up by the pervert and tormented to my death. When I opened my eyes once more, I found myself back to the day when it all began. I was going rabid deep down. 'Did Mom not use all of my money to support Mr. Warner next door?' 'Should I tell Mom and Dad that Alex is actually gambling instead of going to work?' 'I think Dad is attracted to Alex's girlfriend. What do I do?' This time, I want to see them turn against each other and reap the consequences of their own actions.