Testing Waters Novels & Stories

Who would expect a story titled ANTIMAGIC to be about wizards, mystical creatures and fantastic, unusual adventures? Yet, it really is ... It's even more than that. You'll see if you read the story, that there is, beside all this, a spell, mightier than the strongest spells ever, even than Abracadabra. Yes, Antimagic is the most powerful magic of all known and unknown in the wizards' world, because it's a spell that can stop any magic, no matter how powerful it is. The narrative in Antimagic story will succeed not only in helping the children's minds to imagine fantasy worlds or to create their own stories with fairies, princesses, famous wizards or knights, because they already know how to do it, but it will develop even more their thinking and desire to KNOW. Reading this book they'll see and understand what all wizard students got after their decision to study magic at the famous and old Elmbridge School of Magic. What they all got is that they'll become skilled and wise wizards and magicians only through study and long and painstaking search for knowledge. And even more than that, this book will help grown-ups too to remember to dream again, because we, grown-ups, kind of forgot to do that. Therefore, dear readers, young or grown-ups, enjoy the lines of this book and discover with Elizabeth Catherine Edwards and her friends the mysteries of magic. Go through wonderful events with the heroes of this book, more or less unusual, strange. Swim with her friends in the mysterious waters of the Purple Oasis. Run with them from the dangers that are all over the Ancient Forest and into the maze beneath Elmbridge School of Magic. Admire together imposing creatures such as ogres, carticors, fantastic hybrid mole-elephant-badgers, lycanthropes and many others interesting as well.

Zara James thought she had it all—a promising journalism career, a passion for uncovering the truth, and the guts to expose the powerful. But when her exposé on a corrupt politician backfires, her world comes crashing down. Blacklisted, penniless, and humiliated, Zara is desperate to rebuild her shattered life. Enter Adrian Cross, a tech billionaire with a reputation as ruthless as it is alluring. Adrian’s empire is on the verge of collapse, thanks to a scandal tied to his enigmatic and estranged brother, Nathaniel. Desperate to salvage his public image, Adrian offers Zara an irresistible deal: become his fake fiancée, and he’ll give her the exclusive story that could redeem her career. It’s a win-win—or so it seems. Thrown into a world of glittering galas, high-stakes boardrooms, and shadowy secrets, Zara quickly realizes Adrian is hiding more than just a tarnished reputation. Beneath his icy exterior lies a man haunted by betrayal, bound by dark ties to his family’s criminal empire. As their staged romance starts to feel dangerously real, Zara finds herself torn between her growing feelings for Adrian and the truth she’s determined to uncover. But Adrian isn’t the only one with secrets. Ethan Blackwood, a charming stranger who sweeps Zara off her feet, has his own hidden agenda—one that ties him to her worst enemy. Caught in a web of lies, power plays, and dangerous alliances, Zara must navigate the treacherous waters of love and ambition. When betrayal strikes from all sides, Zara faces an impossible choice: trust the man who’s kept her in the dark or risk everything for the one who might be playing her.

In a world where power is forged from ruthlessness, Mario reigns as the unyielding mafia king. When tragedy strikes and he loses a sister to cold-blooded murder, he takes Gia, the daughter of his enemy, hostage—not just to punish her father, but to bind her heart to his in a twisted pact sealed with marriage. Gia finds herself trapped in a life she despises, harboring a deep-seated hatred for the man who stole everything from her. Yet amidst the darkness of captivity, a flicker of something unexpected begins to ignite between them. As the walls close in and the intensity of their shared space compels them to confront their feelings, Gia finds herself torn between escape and the emotions that bind her to Mario. As she plots her escape, a secret unfolds—one that will change everything. A baby is growing within her, a symbol of both uncertainty and hope. With the stakes higher than ever, Mario must decide if he can truly win her heart after the pain he has inflicted or if he is doomed to forfeit love in pursuit of his revenge. Will Gia and Mario discover a way to heal their broken past? Can their shared destiny be forged from the ashes of betrayal? As they navigate the treacherous waters of their intertwined fates, brace yourself for a gripping tale of resilience and the profound power of love that might just redeem them both, if only they can find the courage to embrace it. *** "I'm sorry... That guy meant nothing to me." My voice trembled. "I don't care if it meant nothing to you. I don't want another man's hands on you," he said firmly. I nodded, "Yes. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." "It can't happen again, Gia, because you are mine."

In a world where the moon's gaze reveals the hidden truth, two extraordinary women embark on a forbidden love that defies all odds. Anya, a fierce and mysterious werewolf, has concealed her true identity from everyone she holds dear, including her lover, Maya. Unbeknownst to Maya, Anya has been chosen by the alpha of her pack to be her soulmate.  As Maya uncovers the shocking secret, fear and astonishment collide within her heart. But love, relentless and unyielding, compels Maya to delve deeper into Anya's world, discovering the true essence of her soulmate and forging an unbreakable bond. Their love becomes a beacon of strength and defiance against the confines of their society. However, destiny has another surprise in store for Anya. Hidden within her lies the key to unlocking her primal powers, destined to make her the first alpha female of her pack. Yet, how can she ascend the throne when a ruling alpha stands in her way? And what of her supposed soulmate, who walks the path of humanity rather than the moonlit realm? Now, Anya must navigate the treacherous waters of power, love, and prejudice, as she strives to claim her rightful place as alpha. As two opposing factions despise her very existence, she finds herself at the centre of a war that threatens her kind and challenges everything she stands for. With courage as her armour and love as her guide, Anya must unravel the secrets of her power, unite her fractured world, and defy the odds stacked against her. In this breathtaking tale of forbidden love, mystical forces, and epic battles, the ultimate question remains: can Anya and Maya triumph over hatred and forge a future where their love and acceptance can reign supreme?

In a world where destiny is written in the stars, the Moon Goddess holds the power to bind hearts. Selene, a young werewolf, finds herself at the centre of a controversial love triangle. Kidnapped by a vengeful Lycan Lord who is responsible for the massacre of her family, Selene's life takes an unexpected turn. She is rescued by the enigmatic Lycan King just before her eighteenth birthday. Her physical and mental strength have been obliterated at the hands of her abuser and she needs time to heal. But fate hasn't finished dealing her hand. A cruel twist is in store for Selene. As her wolf form awakens she discovers her true identity. She is destined to be bonded to not just one, but two powerful men. The ruthless Lycan King and the High Alpha who rules over the six werewolf packs of the South. As she grapples with her own desires and the complexities of her newfound bond, the High Alpha's attention is captured by Nerissa. She is a captivating Siren with her own agenda, who is being hunted by a ruthless gang of bounty hunters called the Siren Sisters. With the moon goddess's plans in jeopardy, Selene embarks on a soul-searching journey, fighting against the prejudice and doubts of a supernatural world that questions the legitimacy of her controversial fated mate bond. Moonbound Destiny: The Lycan king and his two Alpha Mates, is a spellbinding werewolf fantasy brimming with passion, intrigue and the eternal battle between love and duty, good and evil. Selene must navigate the treacherous waters of desire and acceptance, while the world around her teeters on the edge of chaos. Will she find the strength to embrace her fate and unite a divided supernatural world or will the forces conspiring against her love tear everything apart.

Cynthia, a billionaire lawyer renowned for her unyielding advocacy for women's rights, has spent her career fearlessly battling injustice in the courtroom. Her impressive track record of victories has earned her a reputation as a force to be reckoned with, and her name is synonymous with courage and determination. But when her own marriage implodes, Cynthia finds herself in the uncharted territory of being a defendant. The very laws she has spent her career defending seem to be working against her, and she is forced to navigate the treacherous waters of her own divorce. As she struggles to protect her rights and her reputation, Cynthia begins to question everything she thought she knew about the justice system. Is it truly impartial, or are there hidden biases and agendas at play? Can she trust her own lawyers, or are they just looking out for their own interests? As the stakes grow higher and the battle for her rights becomes increasingly intense, Cynthia is forced to confront the darkest corners of her own psyche. What secrets has she been keeping from herself, and from those around her? What lies has she been telling, and what truths has she been avoiding? Can Cynthia emerge from this crucible with her rights intact, or will she become the latest casualty of a system that seems designed to destroy her? Will she be able to reclaim her reputation, or will she be forever tarnished by the very laws she once fought to uphold? The outcome is far from certain, as Cynthia embarks on a perilous journey of self-discovery and redemption. Will she find the strength to overcome the obstacles in her path, or will she succumb to the crushing weight of her own doubts and fears? Only time will tell.

Delia Mathers has the perfect life; loving parents, a beautiful relationship with her boyfriend Zack, supportive friends— up until one fateful night when an unfortunate attack unravels the world as she knows it and chaos unleashes in her life.  Suddenly, she discovers everything is not as she thought it was; she’s a werewolf, her boyfriend is a 400yr old vampire, her human parents adopted her after her wolf pack was destroyed in a past conflict and she has to leave the only life she's ever known to go along with the Alpha of the new pack she must now belong to as a newly burgeoning wolf.  Graeme Buchanan, Alpha of Rosewood pack, has way too much on his hands to deal with a newly turned mutt like Delia. Yet as Alpha of the largest pack in Sterling city, it's his duty to make sure she is integrated seamlessly with the rest of the other wolves, especially since she hasn't lived with her kind before. The events surrounding her change are suspicious, but he can't just put his finger on why. The last thing he needs is the pesky little mate call that springs between them once Delia undergoes her first shift. He can't take Delia as his mate; she's too young, knows next to nothing about being a wolf, much less a Luna. To make everything worse, she’s a mutt that will weaken his pureblood line, there’s no way anything between them can ever work. He isn’t willing to let her go though, no matter how hard her obsessive Vampire boyfriend tries to hold on.  It takes a while for either to realize just how deep the dangerous waters lie. Can they overcome both friends and foe in this dangerous dance between the blood and beast?

“Look at you, so wild and vulnerable,” he said gruffly and gripped a handful of my hair and pulled it backward, causing my head to tilt back while his other hand was cupping my breast.    I gasped at his sudden roughness.    “You’re driving me crazy, Dani. You’re a good distraction. I’d never been so distracted like this that I lost focus with my master plan.” *** TERZO When I took someone’s life, I knew there was no going back. To seek redemption and save my sister from marrying an evil like Francesco Giordani, I have to find his runaway daughter. The job should be easy— bring Dani Souls home by any means necessary. But when life takes an unexpected turn, it’s not always in the right direction. I find myself drawn to her. Seeing her terrified of me, I take it to my advantage. I didn’t give her many options: marry me or marry another monster. My only issue is that she doesn’t know I killed her brother. *** DANI When a tall, dark, and mysterious man steps into my life, I know he’s a made man— extremely dangerous. In a moment of weakness, I shot him.  For someone like Terzo Siciliano, a ruthless, unforgiving, and incapable of emotions, whose surname is feared by many, I should be dead by now. Instead, he plays his cards right and lures me into a trap— a marriage for my protection, or he owns my life. While our families are on the verge of a raging war, I feel helpless to resist his devilish charm. But I don’t know which feels much worse, me treading on dangerous waters or uncovering his deceit?

In the dangerous world of organized crime, love is a luxury few can afford. But for Andrea Lopez, the daughter of a powerful mafia family, it's the one thing she craves most. Despite her kindness and resilience, past traumas have left her wary of opening her heart. When fate brings her face-to-face with Stefano Costanzo once again—her best friend's brother and the ruthless don she's always longed for—sparks fly, and old wounds reopen. Stefano, a cold and ruthless mafia don, lives a life devoid of emotional attachments, harboring a secret pain known to few. Yet, seeing Andrea again after so many years reignites emotions he thought long buried. As they navigate the treacherous waters of their shared past and uncertain future, they're drawn inexorably together despite their best efforts to resist. But their reunion is not without peril. Stefano's dangerous world threatens to consume them both, and Andrea must confront not only her own demons but also the demons of the man she loves. Can they find redemption in each other's arms, or will their love be their undoing?   *** “Why the hell did you just do that?” I demand, my anger rising. “I’m trying to protect you,” he says, his eyes blazing. “Protect me from what? A good friend?” “He’s not who you think he is. I don’t trust him.” “You don’t trust him, or you’re worried he’ll take me away from you?” I challenge. Stefano’s eyebrow arches. “You think I’m worried he’ll take you away from me?” He leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “Oh, luce del sole, no one can take you from me. You’re mine.”

She gave her submission to a stranger. He was never a stranger at all. Vivian Ashworth is the perfect executive assistant. Polished. Professional. Unflappable. Nobody knows about her secret life: the anonymous platform where she kneels for a Dom who calls himself Sir. For six months, he's commanded her through screens and encrypted messages, pushing her limits, learning her body, knowing things about her desires she's never told anyone. By day, she works for Alexander Kane—CEO of Kane Industries, demanding perfectionist, the kind of boss who makes assistants cry and competitors tremble. She hates him. She respects him. She definitely doesn't dream about him. Then Alexander says four words that shatter her world: "Or should I say... Velvet?" Her anonymous Dom. Her impossible boss. The same man. He's known who she was from the beginning. Every confession she typed in the dark. Every fantasy she whispered through her phone at 2 AM. Every time she begged for permission to come. He was testing her. Training her. Waiting. Now he wants to formalize everything. A contract. Total power exchange—at work and in his bed. No more hiding. No more pretending. Complete submission in exchange for complete care. She should refuse. She should run. She should report him to HR and never look back. Instead, she's kneeling in his penthouse, reading the contract, and realizing her body has already signed. But Alexander has enemies. His bitter ex-submissive knows their secret and wants revenge. The lines between professional and personal are blurring dangerously. And Vivian is discovering that surrender isn't the same as weakness—it's the most terrifying kind of strength. The contract is about to become a problem. Will she sign away her heart along with her submission? Or will the man behind the mask prove that control and love aren't mutually exclusive?