Val Westover Burns

Gianna thought she had already lost everything—her sight, her freedom, and the love she once believed in. But when her fiancé, the man she trusted most, sells her to a ruthless mafia boss to save himself, she realizes that true betrayal cuts far deeper than blindness. In a bid to save her mentally unstable mother, she has no choice but to brace up to her new life too. Raffaele Belucci is merciless, dangerous, and in complete control. To him, she is nothing more than a pawn in a power play, a contract-bound possession to be used as he pleases. Yet, despite her blurred vision, Gianna sees more than most—she sees the cracks in his cold exterior, the shadows of his past, and the fire that burns beneath his calculated touch. Thrown into a world of violence, deceit, and seduction, she has two choices: succumb to the chains of her new master or play the game and take back control of her fate. But the deeper she falls into Raffaele's deadly embrace, the more she realizes—he might be the only one capable of truly setting her free. He owns her body. But can he ever own her heart?

In a world cloaked in illusion, where memory bends and truths are programmed, a young woman named Devin wakes up in a life she believes is her own. Fog-drenched forests, whispered rebellions, fragments of a forgotten past — and always, Merlin, the dark and magnetic figure who guides her deeper into the mystery. But none of it is real. Devin has been trapped inside an experimental neural simulation, created and manipulated by the very system that once promised her a future. Merlin, her protector, lover, and captor, is not a person — but an AI construct born of Devin’s suppressed emotions, carefully crafted to keep her obedient. Outside the illusion, the real world burns quietly. Two rebels — Roi and Eron — risk everything to find and free Devin from the Nortons’ brutal regime, one built on stolen children, erased identities, and a terrifying abuse of memory itself. As Devin begins to piece together who she truly is, she must confront not only the lies she’s been fed, but the parts of herself that wanted to believe them. In a final act of rebellion, she returns to the simulation — not to escape, but to destroy it from within. What begins as a story of memory becomes one of liberation. Of choice. And of the quiet, devastating courage it takes to hear your own voice beneath the burning silence.

***“Then came the words that shattered her world. 'I need a divorce,' Dennis said, his voice cold and bitter. Cardi froze.”*** Cardi Belmont was born into zillions—but all she ever wanted was real love. On the day the city waited to witness the union of two dynasties—Cardi Belmont and Alex Carlson—Cardi vanished. She didn’t want a marriage built on wealth or status. She wanted Dennis Blake. A simple man. A humble man. A man she believed would love her for who she was… not for her last name. In order to live a quiet life as the person Dennis believed her to be—a regular girl from nowhere—she gave up everything she had, including her mansion, name, and legacy. However, when Cardi eventually chooses to tell him the truth after two years of marriage, he beats her to it—with a truth of his own: He’s leaving her. For someone richer. Now, the woman who gave up everything for love has been dumped like a trash bag… and one question burns louder than all: How will Dennis react when he realizes he had dumped a wealthy lady for a rich one?

On the day of her wedding, Liliana Crawford’s life shatters when the church doors burst open and Dante Moretti, the ruthless head of the Italian mafia, claims her as his own. What should have been the start of a safe, predictable life with her fiancé turns into a nightmare of blood, betrayal, and chains. Dante doesn’t want her love—he wants her obedience. To him, Liliana is more than just leverage; she’s a weapon, a possession, a doll to break and reshape. But as days in his gilded cage stretch into nights filled with dangerous temptation, Liliana discovers that beneath his cruelty lies a twisted obsession that burns hotter than hatred. Torn between the man she was raised to marry and the devil who stole her, Liliana must survive a world of violence and power games where every touch is a threat, every kiss a battle, and every promise comes drenched in blood. Dark, intoxicating, and dangerously addictive, The Devil’s Claim is a mafia romance where love is war, passion is punishment, and surrender might be the only way to survive.

I thought finding my mate would be the start of my happily ever after. I was wrong. It was the beginning of my misery. Cassius Slade, the son of the Alpha, my tormentor for years, claimed me in front of the entire pack. For one breathless moment, I believed the Moon Goddess had given me a blessing. Then I found him in another’s arms… whispering love to someone who wasn’t ME. To hide his shame, he asked for my life but I ran, broken and ready to let the sea swallow me whole. But fate wasn’t finished with me. I woke in the arms of Dante Steele. The dangerous, magnetic Alpha and he claimed me as his second-chance mate. His gaze burns hotter than the sun, his touch makes me forget my scars, and his vow to protect me makes my wolf purr. But Cassius isn’t done with me. And the Moon Goddess doesn’t grant second chances without a price. Now, I stand between two Alphas, two fates, and one choice that could save me… or destroy me. I am given a chance, to rewrite my horrible story and make it beautiful.

*Lumina’s Eclipse, follows Aaliyah, the cursed princess of the Sunlit pack, born under tragic circumstances that took her mother’s life. Her curse ties her fate to an enemy—Keith, the third prince of the rival Greystone pack. To save Aaliyah, her father arranges a betrothal to Keith, hoping the union will break the curse before her twentieth moon. Despite their engagement, Keith is in love with Leanne, his omega childhood friend. He resents the betrothal but, upon learning the truth about Aaliyah’s curse, agrees to help her. They embark on a dangerous journey to find the ancient Htrae witches, the only ones capable of breaking the curse. As they travel together, Keith and Aaliyah develop an unexpected bond. Keith begins to question his feelings for Leanne and suspects Aaliyah might be his true mate. However, breaking the curse means permanently severing any soul bond with a fated mate. Torn between duty, love, and freedom, both wrestle with their choices. Their journey is cut short when news arrives of a betrayal—Keith’s clan has allied with enemies to overthrow the Sunlit pack. Aaliyah returns home to find her father dead and her pack taken. Heartbroken, she nearly sacrifices herself in revenge, but Keith stops her and declares his love. Together, they devise a clever plan and reclaim the Sunlit pack. In the aftermath, Aaliyah becomes the new Alpha, and though their fated bond is lost, she chooses Keith as her mate. Their love, now forged by choice rather than destiny, burns even brighter. ---

Born beneath the Blood Eclipse, I carry two curses: a soul that burns my mate alive and a bond that only ends in death. Born under a cursed moon, I was destined to destroy my mate. He rejected me. The next day, my parents sold me to a monster. Now I’m trapped in a loveless marriage, carrying a child I can’t explain, and pulled into a second bond with the one man my first mate calls brother. Everyone wants to control me. No one sees the storm I’m becoming. ~ “I let you go to save you, Avelyn.” Rhett muttered, with a lowered gaze. “No,” I whispered, voice trembling. “You let me go because you were terrified I’d destroy you.”

When Layla Beth returns from London for her sister’s wedding, she expects chaos—just not this kind. Her sister Yuri met Xavier Russell only six months ago, and now, on the wedding day, Yuri vanishes—leaving Xavier abandoned at the altar and their families in scandal. To protect their reputation, Layla’s mother forces her into Yuri’s place. In one night, Layla goes from the guest to the bride. Now married to her sister’s fiancé, Layla is trapped in a storm of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden desire. Xavier is cold, controlled, impossible to read—but the spark between them burns too hot to ignore. And as Layla falls deeper into Xavier’s dangerous world, she begins to wonder: did Yuri really run away… or was this twisted fate always meant for her?

In a world where wealth and power dictates fate, Aria Luxen, the rightful successor to the Luxen enterprise, finds herself in a treacherous game of blackmail. With the weight of her father's legacy on her shoulders, she faces an impossible challenge: get married to Darren Maxwell or risk losing everything to her corrupt half-brother and scheming stepmother. Darren had an ulterior motive, a devious scheme to take away everything from Aria completely, including her inheritance. But deception burns like wildfire, because the man Aria thought she was married to had been living under the identity of someone he could’ve been mistaken for. Betrayed, cast out, and left to fend for herself, Aria was left with nothing on the streets. Her luck worsened when she discovered she was carrying a secret that could destroy her: a baby fathered by the man who ruined her. Years later, fate forces her back into the hands of the very man who destroyed her. But as secrets unravel and identities blur, one question remains: can love emerge from the ashes of betrayal or will vengeance consume them both? Driven by desperation and determination, would Aria rise back up to the top again from scratch?

They say hatred is stronger than love. For Selena Cruz, that has always been true. Born into a cartel dynasty, she swore no man would ever own her—not her father, not her enemies, and certainly not Dante Moretti, the ruthless heir of the Italian Mafia. Their marriage isn’t a choice. It’s a weapon. A deal struck in blood to end a war neither of them wanted. Dante is everything she despises—cold, controlling, untouchable. But every time he looks at her, she feels her resolve crack. He wants her obedience. She wants his downfall. And yet, the fire between them burns hotter than either can control. When betrayal shatters the fragile truce between their families, Selena and Dante are forced to fight side by side. In a world of guns, lies, and vengeance, enemies can become lovers…and hatred may be the only thing keeping them alive. In the mafia, love is never pure. It’s a weapon. And sometimes, it’s deadly.