The River House

Richard Franklin has left his Midwestern roots behind to live on the coast of Maine with his family. But in the autumn of the year 2000, he must return to his Illinois birthplace on a sorrowful journey. His wife Michelle has been killed in New England by a hit-and-run driver who is never found, so back home he comes with her cremated remains, to fulfill a final wish and on her birthday scatter her ashes in the park along the river in Blackwater Valley—simply Blackwater Val to locals—the small town where they both grew up and fell in love. With him he brings his six-year-old daughter Katie who still grieves for her lost mother: Katie, who can sometimes guess who’s going to be on the phone before it rings. Who can stop all the clocks in the house, and break up clouds in the sky with her mind, and heal sicknesses, and who sometimes sees things that aren’t there...people who are no longer alive. All gifts she inherited from her mother. Only something isn’t quite right in the Val. Sinkholes are opening up, revealing the plague pits the sleepy hamlet was built over in the 1830s, when malaria and cholera outbreaks ran riot. Mysterious bird and fish die-offs begin to occur, and Katie can see ghosts of the dead gathering all around. But what she can’t see is the charred, centuries-old malevolence which has been waiting for her, and wants her for its very own. Or the pale Sallow Man who haunts the town’s nighttime streets...or the river witch—another Blackwater Val, of sorts—each of whom will be drawn one by one into the nightmarish bloodletting about to take place. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

[MATURE CONTENT]. His hand shot out and reached beneath the hem of River’s dress with a swiftness that startled her. A yelp escaped her lips as he yanked it upwards, exposing a bare thigh. Shame burned and took over every fiber in her. She shrank back, burying her face in her hands. This was torture. Why was he doing this to her? A sinister scoff escaped his lips. “What's wrong, little one?" he mocked, his face inches from hers. "Scared?" Scared? Yes. But of him? No. Of herself? Hell, yeah. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ River, an omega hybrid who was betrothed to an Alpha’s son since birth does nothing but dream of their future together. Her dream shatters on her 19th birthday when Gonzalo rejects her after revealing he is in a secret affair with her big sister. Heartbroken and betrayed, River attempts to flee to the human world, vowing never to return. However, she is instead snatched by a ruthless vampire who takes her back to his home as a prize. Unbeknownst to her, she carries Gonzalo's child. After years of serving the vampire who falls in love with her along the way, news of rogue attacks forces River to escape back to her pack. Though prepared for questions about her secret child, River isn't prepared for the simmering tension and passion with Gonzalo who is haunted by his past mistake and is desperate for forgiveness. She certainly doesn't expect him to forcefully claim her when she seems determined to hate him forever.

I was a human girl raised in turns by vampires, elves, and werewolves. To repay them, I signed a three-year repayment contract with all three races, dividing my time and service among their leaders. When the vampire count was weakened by sunlight, I cut open my wrist and let him drink my blood. When the elven prince's Tree of Life began to wither, I stepped into the forbidden forest and traded ten years of my life with a witch in exchange for spring water that restored the tree to full vitality. When the werewolf Alpha's wolf spirit grew restless, I searched for the herbs that could soothe him. I always knew my place, and I never crossed the line. The vampire count sneered at me. "Leah, you're more obedient than the blood servants I keep. The moment I summon you, you offer your wrist on your own." The elven prince warned coldly, "This is only a transaction. Once the Tree of Life recovers, you will leave as agreed. Don't imagine I would ever make an exception for you." The werewolf Alpha tossed a check at my feet. "This is your contract fee for the next three years. It's enough to last you a lifetime. Don't forget this. You haven't been marked, so don't overstep." Later, I finally repaid everything and prepared to return to the human world. The vampire count was willing to stand under the burning sun just to make me stay. The elven prince threatened to destroy the Tree of Life if I left. The werewolf Alpha dropped to one knee and presented me with the Luna's crown. In unison, they said, "You're not allowed to marry anyone else."

Love lost! Identity forgotten!! Mira is a final year student in college, according to nature she gave her heart to a man who she loved and trusted so much. It was finally their graduation and she gave her body to the one man she trusted wholeheartedly, but nature strikes back when she gets pregnant. Her father disowned and threw her out of his house, Mira had no other choice but to go to her boyfriend, who she indirectly found out was cheating on her. Heart broken and shattered she runs away with thoughts in her heart and got knocked into the river by a vehicle. Now, she lost her memories after giving birth to her twins, they got separated and taken to a foster home because of mental issues. Few years later, she becomes a paid nanny to the same kids she bore but she knew nothing about it. Will she gain back her memories? Would she find her way back to true love? Let's take a ride!!!

"W-what the fudge am I gonna do?” Citrine found herself in a panic as she saw the blood flowing in Rivers"s stomach. “Don"t you dare die on me! I'm telling you River!"She hasted in a very panic tone because she can’t afford to see a person dying in front of her. P-pwede tumahimik k-ka?” Nahihirapang salita ni River sa kanya habang sapo-sapo nito ang kanyang tiyan na may tama ng bala. Kinuha nito ang kanyang kamay upang ipangtakip sa sugat nito na mas lalo niyang ikinataranta. “F-fuck! Come on, Ill take you to the hospital! "She shouted when she felt his body was hot. Sinapo pa niya ang noo nito but River refused to be touched. She was stunned to speak again when she noticed how River gave him a look while breathing heavily. “Kapag pumunta tayo ng hospital, Tatakasan mo ko, Hindi pwede. D-dito ka lang," Sagot nito habang tinitiis ang sakit. River was one of the members who tried to kidnapped him. In his state, she could easily leave him and escape but how could she leave the person who also tried to keep her safe? She was about to move her hands when she felt River had passed out. She slowly moved near to his heart to check if there is any heartbeat. Muli siyang nag-panic ng hindi niya maramdaman ang tibok ng puso nito kung kaya't napahawak siya sa magkabilang pisngi nito at tinignan ang nakapikit na binata. She automatically pressed her lips against him to give him a CPR but he wasn't moving! She was lost when she suddenly felt his lips was moving and there! She just kissed her hot kidnapper! How on earth and heaven that this gorgeous, fine young man, good-looking and stud-muffin guy became her kidnapper?

[MATURE CONTENT] Every night, he snuck into her bedroom and gets intimate with her. She wasn't his mate, neither was she his Luna who had just been newly crowned. She was his slave. Yet, he discloses the fact that he felt lust for her, disregarding the fact that he had a Luna. She had once asked, "Are you in love with me?" River was breathless when she puffed those words out, her heart threatening to burst through her ribcage. "Oh, River, my love. What I feel for you is more than love. It can never be put in actual words." He had responded, running his finger down her face, caressing it softly. His touch was tender, yet River was quaking in fear as she gazed up at him. "And, if I don't end up having you by the end of the day, I'd kill you," he continues, brushing a thumb against her trembling lips. "and, kill myself." However, he wasn't the man for her. They both had their mates. And worse, he was a man who had contributed to her agony. She had once been the Alpha's daughter, living a glossy life, but Alpha Ryker had waged a war against their Pack, riding them of every single thing they owned and forcing River to relocate to a new Pack as an Omega subjected to bullying. How will River accept her fate of being the obsession of ruthless Alpha Ryker, who had caused the ruin of her father's Pack and made her into an Omega?

He rejected her to chase power. She gave herself to a stranger... and woke up marked by fate. Ryker, the mate River Moonstorm thought she was destined for, tossed her aside — choosing his best friend instead, all to earn a spot in his dream biker club. Broken and drowning in betrayal, River finds herself in a bar, face-to-face with Orion — mysterious, magnetic, and oozing danger. One drink turns into a night she can’t forget. One touch unlocks a part of her wolf she’s never known. But Orion isn’t just a dark escape. He’s the star of the Sexy Groove Bikers Club — and he’s hiding secrets that could turn River’s world upside down. Can she handle the fire he ignites in her? Or will falling for Orion burn her all over again?

Aaro has grown up in a special school with her sister, waiting to escape. But just before her eighteenth birthday, Aaro is bought by an Alpha as the new Luna for his son, Storm. Aaro has hidden her identity for years and is waiting for the right time to reveal who she really is. Will she be able to escape Alpha Storm, find her sister, get back home, and claim her rightful place as the Alpha of the Iron River pack? This is the third book in the Iron River series, but you can read it as a stand-alone novel.

My mom kindly took in the daughter of her deceased friend. Unexpectedly, the girl smoked, drank, fought, and refused to improve. She even fell madly in love with the school bully and jumped into a river to prove her love for him. My mom tried to save her, but the girl pushed her head underwater. The girl was rescued and embraced by the bully, but my mom drowned. Reborn, I stopped my mom from jumping in, but she shoved me into the river, shouting, "Why isn't it you jumping in?"

I did three things when I had made a decision to leave Alpha James. The first thing I did was throw all the precious gifts he had given to me. The second thing I did was secretly donate the wooden house he had built for our future and tear up the ceremonial dress that was custom-made for me on our marking day. The third thing I did was go to the Northern Territory to guard our pack, so I cast all ties with the entire pack and disappeared into the tribe. What he didn’t know was that I had quietly planned my departure while he was out hunting and spending countless nights at the Moon River with Doris, his childhood sweetheart. I became the ideal Luna he was hoping for, considerate and tolerant. Later, he lost control and asked me: “Why aren’t you angry? Don’t you love me anymore?” I lowered my head in silence and announced my decision to leave after seeing the ambiguous messages Doris, James's sweetheart, had sent to me.