the hard thing about hard things

Each time my husband touches my body, I lose my control. When he puts his lips on mine, I burn in passion and I want him to keep loving me like this. when his rough fingers touch my curvy body, I become restless, and moan his name, but He does not take my name but his ex's name. My name is Jasmine Smith, the secret wife of Asia's biggest mafia king Eric Varghese. It is said that Eric Varghese is a psycho. He took the life of his lover with his own hands, just because she attempted to escape from his prison. Who would to get close to a devil like him? He left me no other choice for the sake of that 4-year-old innocent girl, Ryle Who was imprisoned in that monster's house. In order to save her I willingly married this monster. Rumours fly about his cruelty, especially towards the women in his life but I'm his possession now. His secrets might hold the key to my past but at what cost?

Selena's life changed for the worse when her boyfriend, aunt, and cousin joined together to damage her position among the elite and take away her chance to become the CEO of her father's company. When they succeeded in ripping her world apart, Selena vowed to have her revenge one way or the other.Then she meets an alpha as stubborn as she is and accidentally becomes his mate.Is he the help she needs to get her payback or will he become another pain in her neck?"So what do you plan to do with them?" Gabriel asked."I want them all to pay with their wealth, happiness, and bodies!" Selena answered in tears, but Gabriel understood the hate in her words, and he loved it. Gabriel was a bit worried that the things he had planned for the Adler family may affect Selena's emotions negatively. But since he knew that they were now on the same page, he did not intend to hold back on the punishment that he originally planned for each of them. "Thank you for trusting and telling me. Since you are now my omega, your wish is my command.""Wait, what do you mean?" Gabriel did not answer. He stood up from his seat, approached Selena, and gently kissed her on her forehead before leaving the room.

Blanche Lucille Emerson, a relentless and calculating Captain haunted by the loss of her wife, Venus, in a mysterious accident. Now driven by a thirst for vengeance, Blanche navigates a world of secrets, betrayal, and political machinations as she digs into the layers of deceit that surround her family's powerful pharmaceutical empire. Alongside her, Yama Laine, a trusted ally, and Cessair, her estranged sister, reveal their own hidden agendas. Blanche uncovers a vast conspiracy linked to General Grey and an underground organization known as the Black Spectre, which her father, Silas Grey, once controlled. The deeper she digs, the more she realizes that not only her wife’s death but also her parents' and countless others' were orchestrated to protect a dark secret connected to her family. As Blanche takes calculated risks and enlists Yama’s help, her plan teeters between survival and self-destruction. Along the way, her encounters with spies like Aracelli and the revelation of her sister Cessair’s resentment deepen the conflict. Old alliances crumble, as personal motivations clash, and long-buried truths about her family and its ties to the Black Market come to light. All the while, Blanche's mind is torn between her mission and her lingering love for Venus. With a final showdown on the horizon, the question remains: Can Blanche take down the enemy and clear her family’s name, or will the weight of the past bury her alive? Catch-22: To Die is To Live Hard is a story of revenge, loyalty, and the heavy price of uncovering the truth.

For years, Erin has grappled with guilt since her high school classmate passed away. Under the influence of the friends she trusted, Daryl faced challenges that resulted in his tragic demise. Seven years later, Erin did not expect that fate would punish her further. In her stepfather's will, he decided that all their wealth would go to the Arvesso family, the same family that had lost a member before. Erin now found herself caught up in this arrangement. Perhaps that was her punishment—to be the wife of Orion, someone who harbored intense resentment towards her. She believed he would let go of the past once they were married. However, it turned out that before becoming her husband, he had played the role of a protective brother. He agreed to the marriage to torment her.

MICHELL BLAKE THOMPSON IS A CERTIFIED PLAYBOY. GIVEN HIS LOOKS AND CHARISMA, NAKUKUHA NIYA ANG LAHAT NG BABAENG GUGUSTUHIN NIYA. AND THEN ONE DAY, SHE SAW A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY AND HE WAS ATTRACTED TO HER IN AN INSTANT. SINUNDAN NIYA ITO WHEN SHE SAW HER AGAIN AND MUCH TO HIS DISMAY, MAY ANAK NA PALA ITO. A SINGLE MOM TO BE EXACT! ALMIRA MAGALLANES IS A SINGLE MOTHER NA GAGAWIN ANG LAHAT PARA SA ANAK NIYA NA MAY SAKIT. TINANGGAP NIYA ANG TRABAHO BILANG ASSISTANT NI MICHELL AT DOON NIYA LUBUSANG NAKILALA ANG PAGKATAO NITO. MAGAGAWA BA NIYANG TANGGAPIN ANG ALOK NI MICHELL SA KANYA NA MAGING BED WARMER NITO LALO PA AT NASA PANGANIB NA ANG BUHAY NG ANAK NIYA? WILL MICHELL FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE TO HIMSELF THAT HE FELL HARD FOR THIS WOMAN NA INIWAN NA LANG SIYA BIGLA AFTER THAT SPECIAL NIGHT NA PINAGSALUHAN NILA?

Ilang taon na nagdusa si Erin sa konsensiya nang mamatay ang kaklase nila noong high school. Nang dahil sa udyok ng kanyang itinuring na mga kaibigan, tinanggap nito ang dare dahilan para ito mauwi sa trahedya. Pitong taon pa ang lumipas at hindi niya inaasahan na lalo siyang parurusahan ng tadhana nang ilagay ng kanyang stepfather sa last will and testament nito na mapupunta ang lahat ng ari-arian nila sa mga Arvesso—ang miyembro ng pamilya na namatay noon—at kasama siya sa mga kasunduan. Iyon na nga siguro ang parusa niya ang maging asawa ng taong matindi ang pagkamuhi sa kanya, si Orion. She believed he would let go of the past once they were married. However, it turned out that before becoming her husband, he had played the role of a protective brother. He agreed to the marriage to torment her.

Si Talya Cacho ay ang bata na ibinenta kay Geralt Monro, ang pinuno ng pinakamalaking Italian mafia sa Asia. Makalipas ang ilang taon, pinili ni Geralt si Talya para iregalo sa kanyang nag-iisang tagapagmana, ang kanyang nag-iisang anak na si Oliver Monro. Patuloy na pinaglilingkuran ni Talya ang kanyang malupit at malibog na pangalawang amo, si Oliver Monro, hanggang sa mahulog ang loob nito sa kanya. Ngunit may sikreto si Talya na isa talaga siyang sikretong espiya na itinalaga ni Geralt para sa kanyang anak. Dahil sa miscommunication at pagtataksil ng ilang miyembro, mananaig kaya ang tunggalian? Matatapos na ba ang palitan ng putok? Matatanggap kaya ni Oliver Monro na si Talya ang nakatanim na bala para sa pagbagsak ng mafia, paano na ang pag-ibig na nararamdaman ng dalawa?

22-year-old Serena is a student at the University of California Art Institute. She has an uncontrollable desire for sex and would offer it as a price to get anything she wanted. She meets Vincent, a young billionaire, playboy, and crypto investor at a club and they both have a one-night stand. Unknown to her, Vincent is her new boss at her new job. He makes her fall head over heels for him, using his charm to manipulate her. 28-year-old Vincent is a dropout from the University of California Arts Institute. He made his money through crypto and forex trade. He meets Serena in a club and they both have a one-night stand. Serena turns out to be his new Secretary, but Vincent uses the opportunity to get closer to Serena, manipulating her for his sexual gratification while having true in-depth feelings for her. Will Serena's sexual history ruin her chance for real love? How long will Vincent manipulate Serena for his sexual gratification? Will she escape the grips of Vincent, or will she find solace in their twisted sex life?

When a child mysteriously disappears from a small town and even his mother seems indifferent, it’s time for the new sheriff to step in. Meet Chris Baker, the new sheriff of the quiet Adirondack town of Clifton Heights. As one inexplicable case after another forces him to confront the townsfolk in The Skylark Diner, it’s the furtive Gavin Patchett that hands Chris a collection of not-so-fictional short stories that tumbles him into a world of monsters, ageless demons, and vengeful citizens. As Chris reads through the stories the veil starts to lift, and he soon questions what is real and what’s not, and whether he really wants to know. Nothing will ever be the same again. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

The things we want are so very rarely the things we need. Clifton Heights, a modest Adirondack town, offers many unique attractions. Arcane Delights sells both paperbacks and hard-to-find limited editions. The Skylark Diner serves the best home-cooked meals around, with friendly service and a smile. Every August, Mr. Jingo’s County Fair visits, to the delight of children and adults. In essence, Clifton Heights is the quintessential small American town. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone is treated like family. It is quiet, simple, and peaceful. But shadows linger here. Flitting in dark corners, from the corner of the eye. If you walk down Main Street after dark, the slight scrape of shoes on asphalt whispers you're not alone, but when you look over your shoulder, no one is there. The moon shines high and bright in the night sky, but instead of throwing light, it only seems to make the shadows lengthen. Children disappear. Teens run away. Hunters get lost in the woods with frightening regularity. Husbands go mad, and wives vanish in the dead of night. And still, when the sun rises in the morning, you are greeted by townspeople with warm waves and friendly smiles, and the shivers pass as everything seems fresh and new... Until night falls once more. Handy's Pawn and Thrift sits several blocks down from Arcane Delights. Like any thrift store, its wares range from the mundane to the bizarre. By daylight, it seems just another slice of small town Americana. But in its window hangs a sign which reads: We Have Things You Need. And when a lonely traveling salesman comes looking for something he desperately wants, after normal visiting hours, after night has fallen, he will face a harsh truth among the shelves of Handy’s Pawn and Thrift: the things we want are rarely the things we need. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing