The Nook Santa Barbara

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

Eighteen year-old Bryle Cassius Muerte is a trouble-maker and reigning King of Jerks at Fleur University. Baliw lang daw ang magkakagusto dito dahil sa sama ng ugali ng lalaki. Tamang-tama namang ipinaganak na yatang siraulo si Geneveva "Bebang" Dela Fuente. Siguro dahil sa sobrang pang-aaping naranasan niya kamay ng Tita Pots niya, lumuwag na yata ang turnilyo niya sa utak. "Hindi siya Prince Charming, Bebs! Diyos ko, demonyo 'yang lalaking 'yan," protesta ng kaibigan niyang si Luna. Ayaw nito kay Bryle para sa kanya. Napangisi siya, ngising baliw. Eh, ano naman? Hindi rin naman siya santa santita. Bagay na bagay sila ni Bryle kung ganoon. Pero gustuhin pa kaya niya si Bryle 'pag nalaman niya ang misteryong bumabalot sa pagkatao nito? Because Bryle keeps a dark secret, so dark even real monsters shakes in fear.

"Say that again, Freya. I dare you to look me deep in the eye and tell me that you don't want me and wouldn't rather want me buried deep inside you tonight. Under this stormy, cold weather instead." He taunted, his gaze lingering on me like an hungry predator as he took calculated steps towards me inside my bedroom. "Come on, say it. Say you don't want my hands roaming up and down your thighs like before, Freya. Tell me you don't want to relive those memories again with me..." The closer he got, the more harder my nipples got. "Screw you, Ethan!" I sneered. "That's not the question, Freya." ~~ Freya Smith, a nineteen year old worked as a maid for the Slades— a well known business Empire in the country. One day, Ethan, the eldest son and future heir of the Slade's empire came home one holiday and their path crossed— sparking the beginning of a forbidden teenage love affair. Freya discovered she's pregnant with Ethan's child after he had left. Freya received a letter from Ethan telling her she was merely a trophy to him and one of the many girls he could have anytime he wanted and that it's better she aborted the child or have it taken care of all by herself and of which he would never be a part of. She was also tagged a destitute who could never amount to nothing in her entire existence and beyond. Now, seven years later and Freya is an independent woman, controlling several popular jewelry businesses and engaged to the country's wealthiest man's son while the Slades drown in bankruptcy. Will Freya's thirst for vengeance be quenched? or will Ethan trying to gain custody of their child now by nook and cranny be her greatest battle yet?

Antonio 'Tony' Santa De Leones. The CIA's black sheep. Foul mouthed. Rude. Known for his penchant for pretty little things. A weakness, they said. But Tony beg to differ. Suspended and very bitter. He flies to Italy. Spends one night drowning his regrets in the arms of a beautiful stranger. A man. A mistake? No. Not a mistake. Then, Tony's past comes knocking. His real past. The CIA found out, that he came from a long line of Mafia royalty. Also a black sheep to that family. The CIA wants him to go undercover in the very mafia he was born into—the family that disowned him. The legacy he buried. And their bait? Reinstate his rank. Reclaim his pride. And what will he get in turn? A chance to burn his bloodline from the inside. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds out. The mysterious one night stand? His name was Angel. The prized possession of a rival mafia leader. And the key to everything. Tony should just act. Use Angel how he see fit. Then discard him. But he's already addicted. Obsessed. And in the criminal underworld where loyalty is a lie and love is a weakness? Obsession can be deadly.

Después de cinco años de relación, mi novio, abogado, canceló nuestra boda… ¡52 veces! La primera vez, me dejó plantada en la playa porque su pasante —una joven que trabajaba con él en el bufete— cometió un error llenando unos formularios, y él volvió corriendo a la oficina. La segunda, justo cuando estábamos por casarnos, se enteró de que otro abogado estaba haciendo pasar un mal rato a la misma pasante y se fue a «ayudarla», dejándome sola ante las risas de todos los invitados. Desde entonces, no importaba cuándo planeáramos la boda, ella siempre tenía un nuevo problema urgente que lo requería. Hasta que un día, me harté. Con el corazón roto pero la frente en alto, decidí terminar con todo. Y ese día que me fui de Santa Lucía del Valle… Él se volvió loco, buscándome por toda la ciudad.

An argument broke out between Gama, Audie, Sierra, Barbara and Giorgio. Audie asked Gama to divorce Sierra. This is because Gama has fallen into poverty. After all, his company went bankrupt three years ago. Audie doesn't even care about Gama who once helped him pay off his debts due to gambling losses. Sierra, who was initially determined to get a divorce, suddenly changed her mind. Her decision sparked a heated argument between Sierra, Audie and her sister Barbara. Tired of their treatment, Gama felt it was time to make Sierra happy, so he made a big decision. Gama made an appointment with a woman named Lopiuy in a dark and empty alley. Gama Immanuel Featherston, commonly called Gama, is the sole heir to the Featherston family with hundreds of trillions in assets and owns the largest and most influential company in E'Ador. Gama initially refused to become the heir because he was still disappointed with the actions of the Featherston Founder who had expelled him and his mother. Gama harbored pain over the accusations against his mother. Eventually, her mother died by . Gama was determined to investigate the case of his father's death and punish the culprit severely. So how will Gama and Sierra's household fare? Can Gama find the culprit who has driven him out of the Feterson residence?

On Christmas people should be with their loved ones in the safety of their homes, but I don't have any loved ones, and I'm in the one place that I hate, where I swore never to come back, afraid that I'll get even more broken, and it seems that the more I try to get away, the more obstacles I encounter. "I know a shop not very far from here, and they have the best mechanics in town. If you want, I could come with you and give you directions, I'm heading that way anyway, and for your kindness, I'll make your biggest wish come true," Said the old crazy Santa that jumped in front of my car out of nowhere. "Can you teleport me from here? In another city, country, even on a deserted island? Anywhere but here?" I know that it wasn't nice of me to be sarcastic, but he's the reason why I have to prolong my say here. "No." His short answer was said in an amused tone of voice, but I don't find anything funny right now. "But that's just because that's not your biggest wish." He states it as a fact as if he's never been more sure of anything in his life. I bite my tongue and pray that I won't see the two people I used o love the most, and which now, I despise the most, the two people responsible for my nightmares and my broken being.

Bago ang kasal, nahuli ni Mithi ang fiancé niya na nagtataksil sa kaniya. Sa isang hotel room kung saan doon sana gaganapin ang unang gabi nila, ay nakita niya si Luis na may ibang kasiping. “Kasalanan mo rin naman dahil nagpaka-feeling santa ka. Ikakasal ka na sa akin pero ayaw mong haIikan kita o ayaw mong pumayag makipagsex sa akin. Mithi, lalaki ako at may pangangailangan rin ako.” Ang sinabi ni Luis na tila ba ay naging kasalanan pa niya ang lahat. Sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, may isang lalaki ang biglang dumating sa kwarto kung saan sila nagtatalo. Lalaking handa siyang sagipin para hindi siya mapahiya sa maraming tao. “If you can’t cancel the wedding then papakasalan kita. I’ll be your groom.” Natigilan silang lahat matapos iyon sabihin ng isang estrangherong lalaki. Dahil wala na sa sarili, isang tango ni Mithi ang isinagot niya. Isang tango na siyang naging ganti na rin sa fiancé niyang nagtaksil sa kaniya. Agad siyang kinaladkad no’ng estrangherong lalaki paalis ng hotel. “S-Saan tayo pupunta?” tanong ni Mithi “To the mayor’s office. Let’s get married!” Sagot nito na taimtim na nakatitig sa kaniya.

On Christmas Day, eight months pregnant, I struggled through the kitchen,cooking for my husband and his secretary. When I finally sat down, hoping to taste a piece of turkey I didn’t even get during Thanksgiving, my husband shoved me aside like I was nothing. He slid the turkey in front of his secretary instead. “Alison,you’re already so fat. Stop eating. Let Daisy have it—she deserves to enjoy your cooking.” Daisy，chewing on the turkey I had painstakingly prepared, had the audacity to mock me under the guise of playing truth or dare with my child. “So, what do you think your mom looks like?” “Mommy looks like a fat pig on a farm!” “Her stretch marks? They’re like disgusting worms crawling all over her. Even Santa would run for his life!” Their laughter erupted like daggers piercing me from all sides. Humiliation and rage burned through me as my dignity was stripped bare. I demanded an apology from that vile woman, but my husband—my husband!—turned his cold, cruel face toward me and said, “Get out of here.” Pregnant, exhausted, and humiliated, I stood there in shock. Then I snapped. I grabbed the Christmas cake and turkey and threw them in the trash. I walked out without looking back. This wretched family doesn’t deserve a second of my effort or a single ounce of my love!

This story takes place in the same universe as my other story, Little Red Riding Witch. This is the story of a one-night stand that turns into a fated/forbidden romance. Sammy and Delilah spend a weekend in bed one summer only to have Delilah disappear without a trace. 4 years later, Sammy receives a scholarship and entrance college. When he gets there, he will discover that his professor is his one-night stand. Things immediately heat up between the two of them as they are both drawn to one another. Sammy also meets a nice girl, Stacy Monroe. This will create a love triangle between Sammy, Delilah, and Stacy. Delilah also gets blackmailed by a coworker putting another wedge between her and Sammy. They will connect, break up and reconnect throughout the book as they discover truths and come to an understanding. People Sammy knows will begin dying around Santa Cruz. Delilah will tell Sammy the truth about her nature, but he won't believe her until his family reveals that they hunt monsters like her. His family is part of a secret society of demon hunters who are descended from the archangel Michael. Sammy is a special hunter, The Innocent, who can call the fiery blade to smite demons. Behind the scenes, there is a secret benefactor working to bring Sammy into this world of supernatural creatures. They are the ones who paid for his school tuition and set him up to be reunited with Delilah. They are part of a cult that wants to bring about the end of everything and sees the union between Samson (a descendent of Angels) and Delilah (a demon succubus) as the way to make this happen. Their future child holds the key to our future. A fated romance with a dark twist.