Valentina Reading

Trapped in a gilded cage, a defiant artist becomes entangled with a ruthless mafia Don. Valentina, a talented artist and stripper struggling to survive in the city's underbelly, witnesses a brutal act that plunges her into a world of danger. Captured by Dante Russo, the enigmatic head of the Russo famiglia, she finds herself a prisoner in his opulent mansion. Haunted by a violent past, Dante is a man shrouded in secrets, ruling with an iron fist and a hidden vulnerability. As tensions rise between rival factions vying for control of the city, an unlikely bond sparks between Valentina and Dante. She uses her art to capture the brutality and fleeting moments of tenderness within his world. But their connection is a dangerous dance. Can they navigate a web of deceit and betrayal, or will the city's dark secrets consume them both?

"Why can’t you just leave me alone?" Valentina snarled, breath hitching as she shoved against the bark of the tree behind her. He stepped closer, eyes glowing with an untamed hunger. In one swift, possessive motion, he pinned her hands above her head, his lips grazing the pulse at her neck—dangerously close to the spot only a mate should touch. “Because, little wolf,” he whispered, his voice dark velvet against her skin, “you belong to me—and I’m done pretending otherwise.” _______ Stabbed by the man she once loved and betrayed by the friend she trusted most, Valentina was reborn in the ashes of heartbreak. No longer the obedient luna of the Shadow Crust pack, she rises from the shadows to reclaim her life—and her power. But home is no longer safe. Her pack is in ruins. Her father? Bewitched by a mysterious woman named Carmella. And fate? Cruel, as always. Because waiting for her in the heart of the storm is the man she should never desire—Andres Donovan, the cold and dangerously obsessive Lycan King… and her second-chance mate. He watches her with eyes full of secrets, speaks in riddles that echo of a past she can’t remember, and touches her like he’s been starving for centuries. But as enemies close in, alliances fracture, and war brews over the divine blood flowing in her veins, Valentina must decide: Will she fight fate again… Or surrender to the one man who could ruin her—or save her?

"A book to rival TWILIGHT and VAMPIRE DIARIES, and one that will have you wanting to keep reading until the very last page! If you are into adventure, love and vampires this book is the one for you!"
--Vampirebooksite.com (Turned)

CRAVED is Book #10 in the #1 Bestselling series THE VAMPIRE JOURNALS, which begins with Book #1, TURNED!

In CRAVED, 16 year old Scarlet Paine struggles to find out exactly what she’s becoming. Her erratic behavior has alienated her new boyfriend, Blake, and she struggles to make amends, and to make him understand. But the problem is, she can barely understand herself what’s happening to her.

At the same time, the new boy in school, the mysterious Sage, comes into her life. Their paths keep intertwining, and although she tries to avoid it, he directly pursues her, despite the objections of her best friend, Maria, who has her own eyes set on Sage. Scarlet finds herself swept away by Sage, who takes her into his world, past the gates of his family’s historic river mansion. As their relationship deepens, she begins to learn more about his mysterious past, his family, and the secrets he must hold. They spend the most romantic time she can imagine, on a secluded island in the Hudson, and she is convinced she has found the true love of her life.

But then she is devastated to learn Sage’s biggest secret of all: he is not human, either, and he has only a few weeks left to live. Tragically, just at the moment when destiny has brought her greatest love, it also seems fated to tear them apart.

As Scarlet returns to the high school parties leading up to the big dance, she ends up in a huge falling-out with her friends, who excommunicate her from their group. At the same time, Vivian rounds up the popular girls to make her life hell, leading to an unavoidable confrontation. Scarlet’s forced to sneak out, making matters worse with her parents, and soon finds pressure building from all sides. The only light in her life is Sage. But he is still holding back some of his secrets, and Blake resurfaces, determined to pursue her.

Caitlin, meanwhile, is determined to find a way to reverse Scarlet’s vampirism. What she finds leads her on a journey to find the antidote, deep into the darkest corners of rare libraries and bookstores—and to an ancient discovery she can hardly imagine.

But it may be too late. Scarlet is changing rapidly, barely able to control what she’s becoming. She wants to be with Sage—but fate seems set on tearing them apart. As the book culminates in an action-packed and shocking twist, Scarlet will be left with a monumental choice—one that will change the world forever. How much is she willing to risk for love?

Emma Caldwell's ordinary life as a librarian in Willow Creek is turned upside down when she receives an enigmatic invitation to the reading of a stranger's will at Haverstone Manor. What begins as an inexplicable summons quickly spirals into a labyrinth of secrets, danger, and intrigue. As Emma delves deeper into the manor's mysteries, she discovers she's not the only one with a stake in its secrets. Fellow guests, each with shadowy motives, vie for a piece of the late Lord Haverstone's enigmatic legacy. Amid ancient symbols, cryptic maps, and peculiar artifacts, Emma uncovers the existence of a machine designed to manipulate time itself. Guided by clues left by the deceased lord, Emma must navigate a gothic maze of shifting alliances, hidden chambers, and eerie warnings. Her companions, including a sardonic teenager and a glamorous but cunning relative of Haverstone, are as unpredictable as the dangers lurking in the shadows. When betrayals come to light and an old foe reveals their true intentions, Emma finds herself the reluctant guardian of a power that could reshape existence—or destroy it. As the stakes rise, she must unravel the truth about Haverstone’s experiments and decide whom she can trust, all while racing to prevent the manor’s secrets from falling into the wrong hands. Blending gothic suspense, unexpected humor, and thrilling twists, "Haverstone's Legacy" is a gripping tale of mystery and courage, where every choice could mean the difference between salvation and catastrophe.

This is a story of Esmeralda Puccho, the daughter of Anthony and Griselda Puccho. Esmeralda grew up with her Aunty, Martha, after her homeland was destroyed by the war and her parents left with nothing to take care of her. On her twenty one birthday, Esmeralda was married off to a very strong and ruthless Mafia lord, Gustavo as a Collateral for a failed business between her Aunty and Gustavo. Her life came in a harrowing moment of self defense when she was faced with a life threatening situation at the hands of her abusive husband, Gustavo. Esmeralda was confronted with a new set of challenges, determined to provide for her triplet sons and establish her own Identify. Will Esmeralda be able to fulfill this amidst the stumbling blocks and challenges? The answer all in the chapters. Happy reading!

"Sign this!" pleaded Sebastien, who handed Chloe a document. "Divorce papers?" Chloe asked after reading the paper she had to sign. .... "You're going to regret treating me like this, Sebastien Jones." "Why would I regret leaving you, when I have Jennifer Logan by my side? You're just trash compared to Jennifer." ... After sacrificing a year of her marriage, Chloe finds herself divorced by Sebastien, her husband, who prefers a model. However, Sebastien has no idea that Chloe is the granddaughter of a wealthy tycoon. Seeking revenge, Chloe agrees to her grandfather's terms to marry Alexander Volkovich. Chloe returns as a rich woman who will take revenge for the betrayal she has received. Like she said she would make Sebastien regret ever treating her badly. But what if that revenge leads to another?

Rohama Avencia, a teen-age girl, who lived a life for her, was too plain. Nothing sparked interest, like a textbook dull and arid. The cycle continued; the events were constant. Thus, she was labeled as someone boring. Lacking social life, reading alone was the only hobby whom she felt could reinvigorate her soul. The love of science made her function based on facts and numbers. Unfortunately, with an incident she couldn't fathom, she was stucked in a world she never knew existed. It was too real to be a dream. Hoping to find answers, she was pulled deeper to the secrets of the unknown world.

Financial reporter Zoey, known for her pride and icy beauty, and with a formidable business acumen, finds herself at the center of a scandal on the very day she and financial tycoon Barlen are to get their marriage license. An insider exposes her, claiming that she loves only Barlen's wealth and that their marriage is merely a product of her exquisite acting skills. Unaware of the brewing storm, Zoey and Barlen are in the midst of obtaining their license when the news breaks. Barlen, upon reading the revelations, 'borrows' Zoey's phone and promptly turns it off, facing the onslaught of public opinion with firm evidence in hand. Surrounded by media reporters, Barlen is bombarded with questions about his perspective on the scandal. He deliberately twists the narrative: "My wife, she doesn't just love my money. Could she possibly love someone else's?" The reporters press on, clarifying their query: "Do you mean she only loves money, not you as a person?" Barlen remains composed: "She loves my money, and I love her as a person. Is there a problem with that?" In a single sentence: He redeems her with all his love and warmth. How could I not be enamored with someone like you?

This book contains graphic violence, explicit sexual content, scenes of coercion and assault, and intense emotional trauma. It is not for the faint-hearted. If you are sensitive to dark, disturbing, or triggering content, please proceed with care. This is a tale of obsession, survival, and forbidden craving, unfiltered, and haunting. Reader discretion is not just advised, it’s essential. *** He bought her to break her. But she just might be the one to break him. Sold to the cruelest Alpha in the land, Valentina is nothing more than an Omega, broken,owned. Ryker wants revenge. Her parents took his sister’s life, and now he’s taking hers, piece by piece. Every punishment is fueled by his pain. Every glance hides a fury and something far more dangerous: desire. But Valentina isn't the girl he expected. And Ryker isn’t the monster he pretends to be. As secrets unravel and past sins resurface, Valentina must decide if freedom is worth the cost or if the chains she wants to escape are the very ones tying her to a love she was never meant to find.

⚠️ Warning: descriptive sexual acts, please refrain from reading this if you're below 18, forbidden love, sex. control, manipulation. He leaned in closer, his breath warm. "Is that what you call it when you wear that skirt?" he asked, his hand sliding down my back. "Or when you bend over, letting me see?" I struggled to find words to protest, but my body was reacting to him. "Please," I whispered. "We can't." He held me firmly, his gaze intense. "Can't or won't?" he asked. "I see it in your eyes, Emma. You want this." I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. "Mr. Hathaway, please," I begged, feeling confused by my own feelings. He leaned in closer, his breath hot. "Call me Alex," he said softly. "We're not at work anymore." Hearing his name sent a rush through me. Alex. It reminded me of the attraction I had been fighting. His hand moved up my thigh, and I couldn't help but respond. I moaned softly. "You like that?" he asked, his voice thick with desire.