Van Horn To Blackwater

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

Willow Howard had a tough life— growing up as the only human in a town full of Wolf Shifters wasn’t easy. Good thing she always had her best friend and crush, Owen around to protect her when things got rough. When she got the chance to leave town for college, she left and didn’t look back—until she got a call that changed her life forever. Now Willow is back in Blackwater, back to being surrounded by shifters, and there’s an unsettling murmur around town. There’s a competition for the next Alpha, and resident bad boy Rune White is top contender. He’s cocky, rude, and downright gorgeous, but being back has ignited feelings Willow forgot she even had. Now it’s Owen against Rune in more ways than one and Willow is thrust into a life she forgot she even had and named as the new Luna of the pack. Pack law is different and Willow finds herself unable to resist the pull of her new mate as secrets about her past start unraveling. Where are her parents? How can she have a mate if she’s not a wolf? Who is Willow really?

Catherine Van Dyke was dumped by her billionaire fiancé, Bruce Hudson, the night before their wedding. After the drama, tears, and a surprise elopement, what happened to Catherine Van Dyke? The stoic blue blood does her best to move on but a broken heart can make a woman limp for years. Catherine takes solace in her work. She has a big trial coming up and she can't let the past – no matter how much it pops up, distract her. Despite being on trial for murdering his wife, Cameron Townsend can't help but find his famed trial lawyer attractive. Catherine is a wonderful escape to forget the past. Yet, the past keeps nipping at their heels. Will Catherine let go of the hurt and pain and accept Cameron's interest in her? Will Cameron be found innocent of the crime he is accused of? Will Catherine and Cameron find a way to look past the hurt and pain they have experienced to find love again – with each other?

Derek Dawson's playboy ways is about to cost him his inheritance. His father is fed up with Derek's exploits being exposed in the society pages. It embarrasses the whole family. Therefore, Derek's father has added a codicil to his will stating if Derek doesn't settle down and get married within a year he will be disinherited. Derek doesn't appreciate being forced into matrimony but what could he do? When Walt Dawson got an idea in his head that was that. So, Derek goes on the hunt to find the perfect society wife. Chelsea Van Dyke has been in love with Derek Dawson since she was a kid. However, she had never been able to get his attention – until now. Derek's sister tells Chelsea about her father's ultimatum to her brother. After years of yearning for him, Chelsea finally has an opening. Her plan is simple. Marry Derek and then get him to fall in love with her. The problem is the plan isn't as simple as Chelsea thinks because her intended doesn't want to give up being a playboy bachelor.

Chastity Van Dyke has found her role in life. She’s going to become a nun. Despite the shock and disgust from her family, Chastity is forging ahead with her plan. Nothing is going to stop her – will it? Because of inconvenient circumstances, Julian Beaumont has to enlist the woman he hates the most to help him schmooze Italian businessmen. Of course, Chastity demands compensation – not for herself but for a small convent in Boston. After agreeing to make a sizable donation to the convent, Chastity helps him. Then it happened. His heart betrayed his better sense. Now, Julian has feelings for the Devil’s spawn. When he tries to express them, Chastity runs away. He knows she has a secret. And whatever that secret is it’s keeping them apart. Once he discovers it, it doesn’t deter him for long. Julian won’t rest until Chastity is his despite what his little harpy has planned for her life. “You’re not tired. You’re leaving because you’re uncomfortable with having a good time with me.” “What? I am not.” “You are to.” Julian let go of her arm. “I never figured you for a coward.” “I am not a coward.” “Then why do you keep running from me?” he asked seriously. “I’m not running from anything. I’m tired.” “Right. Chastity, I’ve decided not to stop.” She didn’t like the determined look in his eyes. “Not to stop what?” “Pursuing you. By the time I get finished with you, you’re not going to be a nun no more than I am.” Ire flared and before she knew it, she whacked Julian on the cheek as hard as she could. Chastity stormed off in a hurry.

Caitlin Van Dyke is at a crossroads. She’s thirty-two years old and she’s never been married, has no career, or a real life by the world’s standards. Caitlin is determined to find herself and figure out what she wants out of life. So, she made an impulsive purchase online – a fixer-upper in Key West. While there she plans to discover herself and try new things. Before she leaves she attends her sister, Catherine’s wedding. During the reception, her boyfriend, Hector Beaumont, proposes to her. Caitlin explains where she’s at in her life and tells him she’ll think over his proposal while she is away. Caitlin had planned to be alone to find herself on the tropical island – and to renovate her new purchase. But when she arrives, she discovers that the fixer-upper is in worst shape than she had thought. She has no choice but to hire a handyman. A.J., lone wolf, drifter, and he lives on a boat but he came highly recommended. So, Caitlin hired him not knowing that doing so would turn her life upside down. Their attraction is too strong for them to deny. Their chemistry boils over during Hurricane Bart on a private island. After two or three weeks of bliss, Caitlin decides she has to return to the real world – without A.J. After returning to New York, Caitlin accepts Hector’s proposal. Her mother can’t wait to start planning wedding weekend events Van Dyke style. Everything is going according to plan until A.J. pops up in New York at a dinner Caitlin is hosting under his real identity. Pregnant and engaged, what is a girl to do when her summer lover shows up, demanding that she be with him?

Judy’s fated mate rejected her to marry the Lycan Chairman - Gavin’s daughter. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he ruined her family and tried to make her his secret mistress! Judy’s response? “I’d rather sleep with your father-in-law than ever be with you!” Gavin is known for his power, wealth, and being the ultimate playboy who never sleeps with the same woman twice. But Judy’s about to break all his rules… again and again.

Prepare to indulge yourself in a world where intimacy, and lust have no boundaries and intense sexual fantasies come alive. This is an intense erotic bookset, containing ten short stories of irresistible steamy, raw, and naughty stories. This compilation will keep you on your toes, offering a steamy escape into a world where sexual pleasure knows no bounds and raw desires are swiftly fulfilled. Warning: 18+ only. It unapologetically contains very dark, raw, and mature content, it's not advisable for underage readers.

As the wife of the Colombian cartel heir, Krystal Serrano is a symbol of diplomacy and control. Dressed in silk, wrapped in silence, and displayed like a crown jewel at the center of power. But behind the flawless smile lies a woman raised not just to survive, but to rule. When her husband's betrayal ignites a war with the Italian mafia, Krystal is taken. Kidnapped and hidden away by Zachary Romano, the young, ruthless Don who solves problems with bullets and buries questions with bodies. He thought he had captured a soft, obedient mafia wife. What he brought home was a storm in heels. Krystal doesn't beg. She doesn't break. Her silence provokes, her lips taunt, and her gaze slices deeper than any blade. Inside the stone walls of his private villa, control begins to slip. Hatred turns into tension. Tension burns into obsession. And in their world, love always comes with blood on its hands. The ring on her finger still binds her to a man who believes she belongs to him. But what happens when a woman like Krystal meets someone dark enough to understand her, broken enough to match her, and reckless enough to want her? Because there's a difference between loving a woman like Krystal… And trying to own her. And Zach Romano is about to learn—only one man can stand beside her. The rest will be buried.

Until today, no one had ever looked at her and thought she was perfect. Laura Elizondo is a delicate woman with an auburn hair, has previously interacted with her father’s colleagues, but she is left speechless by the stunning man named Alejandro Baldassarre. But after being married for almost a year and a half already, Laura witnessed how her husband has become as cold as ice. Laura desperate to leave a relationship that has shown to be as cold and nasty as it is doggedly passionate, planned to file for a divorce. However, Alejandro makes Theresa promise something before he will fulfill her wish and that is to give him: a son. She hated everything that happened so far. The most incriminating thing is that Laura knew how her father’s nasty behind-the-scenes schemes were the reasons of Alejandro’s unfair treatment of her. So Laura has to dig deep to find some empowering information about her spouse, who refers to her as his beloved, even so with such frigid regard. Only to find herself be in a space of such entanglement that makes it harder for her to cut ties with Alejandro.