Synonym Hoping

Winner of The People Choice Awards (Fiction) 2019 for Best Diverse Books When "Gossip " meets "Pretty Little Liars" and had a kid with "Sherlock Holmes". That kid is "The Bad Nerd Boy". "You know my secret now. That's really bad, Summers." He smirked. That nerd smirked! And call me crazy but at this moment, he looked goddamn hot.      "I won't tell others." I blurted the words out, hoping it gave the assurance he needed so he would let me go because even though he looked damn hot, he also looked dangerous. Trying to stop myself from trembling, I bit my lips.  His eyes caught the movement and he bent forward, filling my nostrils with the smell of dope he smoked earlier. Tilting his head, he clicked his tongue and smiled. "Wrong move." With that, he slammed his lips against mine, knocking all the air from my lungs. He kissed me with no mercy. His tongue slipped at the seam of my mouth, and my mind went blank when I felt the tip of his tongue caressing mine. Pulling away he watched me with a mischievous look on his face as he said, "now I'm going to be yours." * * * Professionally edited by Fernanda Lemos. All Rights Reserved 2018 © agatharoza

After two months of surviving on her own, Kieran returns to Concord, stepping straight back into the suffocating warmth of family love she isn’t sure she’s ready for. Fresh from a funeral and carrying wounds no one fully understands, she’s greeted by watchful grandparents, anxious relatives, and questions about a future that no longer feels like hers to decide. Concord is familiar, comforting even, but it’s also filled with memories she hasn’t healed from. Chief among them is Lucas, the boy who was once her best friend and then, without warning, walked away. No explanation. No goodbye. Just silence that hurt deeper than any fight ever could. His absence lingers, heavy with unanswered questions and unspoken feelings Kieran has never allowed herself to name. Seeking space, Kieran escapes to her favorite spot by the lake, hoping for peace. Instead, fate intervenes. The unmistakable growl of a motorcycle announces Lucas’s return, changed, bigger, sharper, and undeniably no longer the boy she remembers. One glance is enough to shatter the fragile calm she’s built. The past isn’t buried. It’s right next door. As summer begins, Kieran is forced to confront unresolved hurt, broken trust, and the dangerous pull of someone who once knew her better than anyone else. Some friendships don’t end cleanly...and some feelings refuse to stay buried.

"There are only two categories of women I sleep with. The ones I'm paying and the ones I'm dating," Kachi stated. "And I don't fall among the category of women you want to date?" Aria asked in disbelief. "You don't." "You're a real bastard. Why would I agree to sleep with you if I know you have no intention of dating me?" "Because I want you. And I know that you want me too." Aria stared at him, hating that he was right and hating herself for letting it be. From the first time she had met him, she'd known that she would wreck herself to have this man. *** Onyekachi Obiagu is looking for a distraction to ease his already stressful days. Then he met her, Zariah, the girl that always has a response for almost everything he says. He's determined to have her so he proposes a deal she can't possibly refuse. Zariah Okoye is suffering through her days, hoping to one day lessen the mountain of debt on her head. Then she meets arrogant billionaire, Kachi, who proposes a deal that seems to be the answer to her prayers. Secrets, conspiracies and betrayals follow and they have to fight family, friends and foes whilst fighting the attraction brewing between them. Do I need to say more? Start reading ❤️ WARNING: THIS BOOK CONTAINS MATURE THEMES INTENDED FOR AN 18+ AUDIENCE. PLEASE SKIP IF YOU'RE UNDERAGE.

In my previous life, I was taken away by a poor family. My younger sister, Elsa, was adopted by a wealthy family instead. Unexpectedly, Elsa only got to live there for less than five years before getting cast out. She ended up dying on the streets. Meanwhile, I got into the best school thanks to my outstanding grades. Then, I furthered my studies overseas with my adoptive older brother, Flynn Cullen. With my own hands, I built my own business empire brick by brick. Years later, Flynn and I received our parents' blessings and got married. Soon, we had children of our own. I had a happy and smooth-sailing life. Now, I'm reborn. This time, Elsa makes an entirely different choice. She runs into Flynn's arms and greets him in a sweet tone. After taking the adoptive parents' hands, she shoots a smug glance in my direction. "Enya, you should have a taste of the suffering that comes with that wealthy family. I can't bear to spend a moment longer in that cruel place!" I looked at Flynn, hoping that he'd say something. Instead, I saw him shielding Elsa from me protectively. He just looked at me icily. "Don't get close to my sister!" In the end, I walked toward the limo while Elsa watched me victoriously from behind.

"I've seen the way you look at me, I know you want me..." Jackson said while I gasped hard for breathe. He was right, I crave every part of this man but I can't have him. He's not only twice my age, he's also Arlene’s dad. She's my best friend and she would never forgive me… The first time Laura saw Jackson was on her sixteenth birthday. She had gone out with friends, hoping to get over her boyfriend, who just broke up with her. The moment she saw Jackson, she fell in love with him and wanted every bit of him. He seemed to notice her keen perusal too but she was only sixteen, and they were only able to share a few sexy glances. Laura left that night but never forgot him, she didn’t even get his name but his face and aura was registered in her being. Standing before her three years later, the memory and feelings gushed back. She still wanted every bit of him and more but the problem is, he is her best friend's dad, and also twice her age. Their love was against all norms and if made public, would make them face a lot of ridicule and backlash. What will she do? Will she sacrifice everything for true love or will she cave and back down?

SYNOPSIS Ariana’s life shatters when she discovers the ultimate betrayal—her husband, Lucas, and her best friend have broken the sacred bond of trust. The shock leaves her hospitalized, and upon discharge, Ariana chooses peace over confrontation. Protecting her health and the long-awaited pregnancy she has prayed for, she disappears from Lucas’s life and seeks refuge at her cousin’s home, hoping distance will heal her wounded heart. Despite her pain, memories of love and sacrifice haunt her. Ariana once trusted Lucas completely, even handing over her late father’s properties to him. As grief threatens to consume her, her cousin helps her rediscover joy through a birthday outing that momentarily erases her sorrow. Fate intervenes when Ariana unexpectedly reunites with Alex, her former university lover. Their meeting rekindles old memories and opens a door to new possibilities. As they reconnect, Alex reveals his recent divorce and offers Ariana comfort and understanding she desperately needs. However, just as Ariana begins to feel hope again, her past crashes into her present. Lucas suddenly appears at her cousin’s home and confronts Alex, exposing a mysterious shared history between the two men. Caught between love, betrayal, and hidden secrets, Ariana realizes that her journey is far from over—and the truth threatening to unfold may change her life forever.

We were on our way to celebrate our son’s birthday when we got into a car crash. When I woke up, I looked at my family gathered around my hospital bed and cracked a joke: “Sorry, but who are you guys?” I held back a smile, curious to see how they'd humor their "amnesiac" patient. Would my mother grab my hand in a panic? Would my husband look at me with worry? Would my son rush over, crying and calling me Mom? What I didn't expect was for them to freeze for a moment—and then, almost in unison, let out sighs of relief. My mother was the first to speak, her tone unmistakably lighter, as if a huge weight had been lifted. "If you don’t remember, it’s probably for the best. This is Lindsay—your sister, she’s my daughter. You were adopted." My husband then pointed at me and said to our son, "You should call her Aunt Wendy." Before the shock could even sink in, I watched the child I'd fought so hard to protect turn and throw himself into the arms of Lindsay. "Mom! I played outside all day. I missed you so much!" So that was the truth. My amnesia was exactly what they'd been hoping for. In that case, I didn't need this made-up life anymore.

The dying heir to Silverbay's showbiz empire suddenly announces he'll select a bride at random from the city's prominent families, hoping the marriage can bring some luck and save his life. On the night before my own wedding, his men arrive and inform us that the Simmons family has been chosen. My parents have just three days to deliver a daughter to him. As soon as my sister, Roxanne Simmons, hears the news, she breaks down in tears and rushes to my fiance for help. When he sees her crying, Clinton Whitfield drops to his knees in front of me, under everyone's gaze. "Mr. Sterling enjoys tormenting virgins. If Roxanne marries him, who knows what he'll do to her? "But you're already past the marrying age, so he won't be interested in you. Please, help Roxy this once!" He looks away, his voice heavy with guilt as he continues, "Besides, he doesn't have much time left. When you return, I'll marry you." Tears well up in my eyes. I ask, stunned, "And what if I don't want to?" Clinton's gaze turns cold, his earlier guilt replaced by ruthless intent. "Then I'll make sure you go to him myself." I laugh bitterly as a chill runs through me. "Fine. I'll go instead."

When I open my eyes again, I notice that I'm lying on the bed of my archnemesis, Ashton Ford. Ashton calmly puts on his clothes before tossing a card at me, telling me to get out. He then looks at the caretaker stationed by the door and asks helplessly, "Is Sunny still throwing a tantrum? Tell her that we're going to be engaged soon. She can't leave women in my bed just because she's angry." I'm about to say something when a stream of comments appears before my eyes. "Here comes another one hoping to sleep her way into a prestigious position. Mr. Ford only loves Sunny. If she didn't comfort him, he might have taken his own life after what happened to Elizabeth a long time ago." "Can the author stop trying to force these flings onto him? It wasn't easy for Sunny to achieve success after taking over as the female lead. I want to see them live a sweet married life." "Unless Mr. Ford's dead first love, Elizabeth Miller, comes back to life, no one can possibly touch Sunny's position in Mr. Ford's heart." Confusion is written all over my face. I'm Elizabeth Miller. Since when did I become Ashton's first love?

Napilitang pumayag sa kasalang hindi ginusto si Maxine para lang mabayaran ang utang ng ama niyang namayapa. Pinakasalan niya ang apo ng isa sa pinakamayamang tao sa bansa, si Carl Sarmiento na isang magaling na negosyante at babaero na nakukuha lahat ng gusto. Tulad ng ibang arrange marraige ay akala niya magiging maganda ang pagsasama nila ni Carl pero nagkakamali siya. Unang araw palang nila bilang mag-asawa ay pinagbuhatan na siya nito ng kamay at hanggang sa magtuloy-tuloy ito na parang normal na lang dito na saktan siya. Wala siyang magawa kundi umiyak at magtiis dahil kung umalis man siya ay hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupulutin. She's crying and hoping every night that one day her husband will change. Pero hindi lahat ng hiling ay napagbibigyan. As she slowly falling for her husband despite of his attitude she discover something that broke her into pieces. Paano kung ang kasal na pinanghahawakan niya ay hindi pala totoo? Anong gagawin niya gayong mahal na mahal na niya ito? And what if she's dying? Anong gagawin niya upang harapin ang hamon ng buhay ng mag-isa?