The Ezra Klein Show Reading List: Books Recommended By Guests On The Podcast (part 1 Of 3)

Blurb "You’re mine, even if I have to ruin the world to keep you." **** Alicia’s life as an Omega has always been one of suffering—mocked, abused, and treated as less than nothing by her Pack. But when her parents are captured and executed by the merciless Alpha Caspian, her world shatters completely. In a cruel twist of fate, she is sold at a slave auction—only to be purchased by the very man who destroyed her family. Now, she belongs to him. Alpha Caspian is a monster, feared by all. Ruthless, dominant, and unyielding, he takes what he wants without remorse. And what he wants is Alicia—his new plaything, his personal slave, his bed warmer. She hates him. She fears him. But her wolf… her wolf craves him. Every touch sends fire through her veins. Every command makes her body tremble—not just in fear, but in forbidden desire. Caspian enjoys her torment, but even he can’t ignore the electric pull between them. As their twisted connection deepens, lines blur. Is this still hatred? Or is it something far more dangerous? When the Pack discovers their Alpha’s obsession with a lowly Omega, betrayal strikes, war looms, and Caspian must make a choice—between power… and her.

R18 Helen Zachary’s life had always been tranquil and quiet, until one fateful windy evening. She was on her way to her boyfriend’s place to surprise him for his birthday when an unexpected event occurred. She found a young man covered in blood on the road. Helen wanted to help him, so she stepped out of her car and approached him, only to discover that it was a trap. He had pretended to be lifeless so as to make her feel pity for him. Helen was battered by the young man that night, and his companion raped her. Anger was the theme of the day, and she pledged to exact vengeance on the young man, known as Steven Alfredo, a Mafia boss. Steven had just escaped from prison, and he takes delight in seeing others suffer, but after meeting Helen for numerous times, he resolved to be a different person. ‘However, what happens when Helen confuses Steven’s twin brother for Steven? And if his twin falls for her, will she reciprocate the feelings and abandon her plans to exact revenge on Steven?’ ‘And what happens if Steven also falls for her? Who would Helen choose? Steven, his brother or her boyfriend?’

To pay for her brother's medical bills, Elizabeth Hubbard became tycoon Ronald Marquez's paid booty call. After collecting enough money, she left, trying to bury the shameful past. Two years later, however, he showed up at the hotel where she worked as a manager. She was forced to be his personal butler, catering to his every need. Again and again, he lent a hand when she needed help the most. Before she knew it, she was captivated by his charm.

Vampires and Werewolves? Yeah, they don’t mix. Vampires think they’re superior. Werewolves can’t stand their arrogance. But when Hunters come for both clans, there's only one choice—team up or die trying. As the Alpha’s sister, Aritzea is stuck working with her enemies—the same people who killed her father. And to make things worse? She’s paired with Lucian, the irritatingly lazy, frustratingly charming Vampire Prince who just can’t seem to keep his fangs off her. Oh, and apparently… he’s her mate.

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT! Celeste Barlowe had lived in the dark for a decade since her father died in a car accident. Her father treated her like a princess while he was alive, but once he died, she was treated like a rug. Not until she met Elias Turner, the man everyone fears for his uncommon green eyes and what he's capable of. She doesn’t realize, however, that the man has many secrets besides his frightening emerald eyes. He's a monster. But that doesn't take away from the fact that he was the one who saved her. Celeste lives with Elias and has no idea she'd fall in love with him until she discovers his greatest secret, which has something to do with her.

To pay for the sins committed by Luisa Duarte against his family, Edmund Stark approaches her sister, Isabella, with a hidden agenda. He traps her into a forced marriage contract, but things don’t quite go as he planned. Will they be able to fix their differences and enjoy their marriage or would they end up getting a divorce? ~ “I told you before, you’re mine! You’ll marry me and bear my children and you’ll be my property until the day one of us dies!” He growled, running out of patience. “Am I to be your possession, your prisoner?” She glared at him with all her might. “Call it as you wish! You have nowhere to escape to!” He declared before pulling her into his lap, holding her tightly in his arms. He crashed his lips against hers, forcing his tongue in her mouth. Against her will, her body loosened in response, she lost the ability to breathe. She could not hear, she could not see, she could not feel anything else, except Edmund taking her mouth like a drowning man in need of oxygen. ‘Isabella is fucking mine! My woman! Nothing is going to change that!’

"I can’t be with a woman who already has a child for another man,” Bryce said, with a serious expression. At that moment, Avy's heart shattered into pieces. This is what she is afraid of. The fact that she will be rejected, all because she is a single mom with a son. She watched Bryce as he walked away from her without looking back. Had she been lying to herself all along when she believed Bryce loved her? She had been so sure he was going to accept her and her son, but it turns out it was all her wishful thinking. ****** Avyanna becomes a mother at the age of 18 to an unknown father. For this reason, she lived a life of solitude with her son. Her family is disappointed in her for breaking their hearts by being pregnant for a man of an unknown origin. Just when she decides to be a single mom forever, someone comes into her life (Bryce). She finally changes her mind about not wanting to be with a man, but ends up disappointed when Bryce makes it clear he can't be with a single mom. Avyannna decides to move on, but soon discovers a terrible secret about the man who hurt her, and that secret threatens not just her peace but her life as a whole.

Dwyne, a self-supporting medical student, has just joined the hospital as the youngest intern. But she met with an unexpected situation on her first night shift alone--she’s targeted by a handsome man who looked very dangerous. Is he a gangster? Dwyne thought, judging him by his demeanor. He always wore a black suit and sunglasses. Sometimes even at night. And he's got a gunshot wound on his body. A gunshot! It terrified Dwyne.  She wanted nothing more to do with such a dangerous man, but it looked as if the man was haunting her. She began to meet him frequently. Or rather, he was literally everywhere！ The hospital where she works, the coffee shop where she has a part-time job, the bar where she helps out on a temporary basis... And it seemed like everyone knew him. Is he famous?  It's not just outside Dwyne met him everywhere. Her home was no longer a sanctuary for her alone either. The door to her apartment seemed to be a useless decoration to him. She sometimes finds a bouquet of flowers on the coffee table in her house, while a couple of times she's even found himself suddenly showing in her room. Yes, whenever he wanted to see her, he never made an appointment. It absolutely wasn't a funny joke or a pleasant surprise for her. Dwyne was tired of the boring banter, she just wanted to get through her internship and become a qualified doctor, but she was always surrounded by a gang of menacing men in black suits. Annoyed, she blurted out that she didn't have any feelings for him and she didn't want to see him anymore. She didn't expect that, her wish came true. For the next week, month, and then until a year, she never saw the man in her sights again. Her life went back to the way it was. Though, it was ever so slightly boring. Until that day... When they meet again, it's him lying bloody and dying in the operating room. Dwyne realized that she had never forgotten him. During the time she took care of him, she learned his name and got to know him a little more. Geez, it turned out that he's not only a gangster, but a formidable Mafia Boss! However, when Dwyne moved to this town three years ago, she also hid her true identity. This, after all, is not a life that belongs to her...

WARNING; This story contains mature contents not suitable for readers under 18 and may be triggering to others. Dark themes like BDSM, dub con, drug abuse and human trafficking and others are mentioned. It has a happy ending, but the journey will not be a pretty fairytale that's why it's dark romance. If you choose to read further, please don't complain and I hope you enjoy my story. Thank youuu!!! * All she wants is a better life, but she keeps going from frying pan to fire. From an abusive father, to a human trafficking syndicate just to find her lost sister. A man whose name was whispered in fear among the most feared becomes her saviour. Their only history was a night of no holds barred pleasure after she was rescued by him in a dirty alley on a cold November night. He says he’s not a hero, and everyone calls him dangerous. But he was the only safety she had ever known. ~ "I want you on my bed at all times, always ready for pleasure. I want you to only think about how good I make you feel, and I want you to scream my name so loudly you’ll lose your voice. That’s what makes me a villain. I want everyone to hear and know that you’re mine, only mine. I am not a hero, and you don’t need a hero. A hero would sacrifice you for the greater good, I would burn the world for you. All you need to do is ask.”

“Please don’t kill me.” She pleaded in a slightly cracked voice. I pursed my lips, thinking hard about what to do with her. “Kill her, and let’s get out of here.” Lorenzo urged but I shook my head and lowered my gun. She was too beautiful to die just like that. ~•~ Ava Martinez’s world is shattered when a mafia boss, Ruiz Giovanni, brutally murders her family and kidnaps her. Ava’s feelings for Ruiz are complicated and her desire to escape is matched by her forbidden attraction to the man who destroyed her life. Will Ava find a way to escape or will she fall in love with the person who murdered her family?