What Are Close Reads

Charlotte Jenkins’s biggest regret was ever falling for Zac Cooper, a man as cold as ice. She spent three years chasing him and two more as his wife, thinking she had finally melted his frozen heart. In the end, she realized she had only been fooling herself. Her mother-in-law despised her, her husband treated her like a stranger, and his precious first love kept showing up just to remind Charlotte she was still in the picture. The final blow came when Charlotte caught Zac and Jodie Quinn together at a hotel. Just as her heart shattered, she found out she was pregnant. She didn’t stay to hear excuses. She threw down the divorce papers and disappeared without a trace. * When they met again, Charlotte was a successful single mom with a thriving career and plenty of admirers. In the pouring rain, the man who had once treated her like she was nothing stood in front of her car. He looked humbled at last. In a hoarse voice, he begged, “Lottie, come home with me.” The window rolled down, and a little boy who looked just like Zac glared at him. In a childish but fierce voice, he said, “You want to chase my mommy? You have to get past me first.”

At 16 years old, I travel with my sister, Sarah Barnes, to the remote mountains of Nectar Valley to participate in a program. While herding cattle in the mountains, I fall asleep. In my drowsy state, I hear strange panting and gasps. Thick fog has somehow risen throughout the forest by the time I wake up. Suddenly, Sarah's anxious voice calls out from within the fog. I'm about to respond when someone suddenly covers my mouth with their hand. A voice whispers in my ear, "Don't answer. That's not your sister. It's the Temptress!"

A dream was meant to be only a dream... But what if it always leads you to one thing? One person? That's what happens to Gale Blackwell. After surviving an airplane crash, Gale awake with no memories of his past. The only thing that keeps coming back to him was a dream about a girl's name. In each dream, he would say that he loves her. Everything in Gale's previous life is fading into the darkness - everything but Ava Shelley.

Could you swing along to the flow of fate that purposely designed specifically for you? But what if every beat of your heart is yearning for love? "Am I selfish if I ask you to stay? If I tell you I love you, would you hold me closer?" Taste it. Savour it, but don't you ever claim it. It may be just a trap. Guard your heart.

While taking the high-speed train home, I came across a post online. “My brother-in-law is pushing thirty, but no wedding bells so far. Would it bother you if he came back to visit all the time?” The comments were all over the place. With the post blowing up, the poster started arguing with commenters. “It’s bad enough that he doesn’t start his own family, but he took one of my yogurts. I can’t stand him. “Geez. Does he know nothing about keeping boundaries? I’ve been dying to put him in his place. “I converted his room into my walk-in closet. Well, that should show him for staying here.” At that point, I stopped reading. Since I paid for the family home back then, one room would always be reserved for me. As I stepped off the train, my mother texted me. “I booked you a room at the hotel, Miles. “You might want to skip staying home this time.”

I turned my head and looked at the Alpha, trying to ask him why Kristen was dead. Did they come late? Or, did they just rescue me in time? However, the Alpha’s face was cold as ice. I even felt that he hated me to the core in that instant. He had never looked at me that way. He was always kind to me as far as I could remember. “Lindsay Blackwood, Gamma Jen’s daughter, brutally murdered my sister, Kristen. Is there anything else you want to say before the judgment is served?”

On the day of my birthday, I'm burning with a fever that almost hits 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Because of that, I've called Tristan Graham more than a dozen times. He never picks up any of them. In the end, my dad has to take me to the hospital. When we walk past a corridor, he suddenly stops in his tracks. "Mr. Graham? What are you doing here?" I raise my head to see Tristan and Madison Franklin walking from the OBGYN department. Their fingers are tightly laced together. Tristan is even carrying a bag of medication. Birth control pills as well as ointment meant to be used on private parts can be seen in that bag. My mind goes blank at that moment. All I can do is stare at Tristan. As soon as our eyes meet, Tristan frowns slightly at me, though his gaze only lingers on me for a second before he turns to look at my dad. "I'll be hosting a banquet in the garden tomorrow night. Remember to decorate the garden nicely." Dad quickly accepts the order. "Don't worry, Mr. Graham. When Luna's fever breaks out, I'll deal with this task right away." Tristan is momentarily stunned by Dad's words. When he notices my unnaturally flushed cheeks, he instinctively takes a step toward me. But that's when Madison tugs his sleeve. "Stop wasting precious time on a gardener's daughter, Tristan. Let's go. I'm still in pain, you know." Tristan stops in his tracks instantly. Then, he leaves with Madison. Later on, he pays for my hospital bills. Our seven-year underground relationship that's considered a taboo is also paid off as well.

Kieran Sterling and Arabella Bishop were neighbors fourteen years ago. The gap between them could not allow them to be friends. Their parents were comfortable with each other and often had each other over for dinner. When Arabella's father dies her mom moves all the way across the globe to hide her pain. Fourteen years later Arabella is back in the city and sees Kieran. Although they were never friends they start a new friendship. Kieran begins to fall for Arabella and vice versa. They keep getting into situations that put them together and every time Arabella is distressed and in need, Kieran shows up like a knight in shining armor. The reason why they both hide their feelings and stay away from each other is because of the ten-year gap between them. Can they transcend through their love? Follow the thrilling story of Kieran and Arabella as they face family, society, and the truth of Love.

James Wesley has hated me for a decade after his childhood sweetheart passed away. He requests to be transferred to the frontier the day after we get married. I write him countless letters in those ten years to win back his favor, but his response is always the same. "If you truly regret it, why don't you hurry up and die?" However, after I am abducted, James storms the bandit's hideout by himself and saves me. He suffers multiple bullet wounds, but before he succumbs to his injuries, he uses the last of his strength to slap my hands away. "The thing I regret the most… in this life… is marrying you. If we get a second chance at life… please… don't bother me anymore." His mother, Felicia Axford, sounds regretful during the funeral. "It's all my fault, James. I shouldn't have forced you to marry her…" His father, Jeremiah Wesley, stares at me, his eyes burning with contempt. "You forced Emily to take her own life, and now you also caused my son's death. You're nothing but trouble, so you should just die!" Even Xavier Bowen, our troop commander, who was responsible for facilitating our marriage in the first place, shakes his head and sighs. "I shouldn't have played matchmaker. I let you down, Mr. Wesley." Everyone feels sympathetic toward James, including me. On the night I am discharged from the troop, I swallow some pesticide and die in the middle of an abandoned field. When I open my eyes again, I realize I have returned to the day before my marriage. This time, I am determined to fulfill everyone's wishes.

Eva Vergara is an orphan, craving love and family. She vowed to have a complete and happy family of her own and to never let anything tear her family apart. Then she met Jack Dizon, a charismatic young man with a promise of love and a happy family. But what if her prince charming was an evil incarnate? How can she survive for the sake of her only daughter? Will she have the guts to leave? Marcus Sullivan, Jack's childhood friend. A first-hand witness of Jacks evil. Marcus's sister died because of physical abuse from her husband. Marcus blamed himself. So he saves Eva and promised to love her. Can he keep his promise? Or is it just another nonsense? Norman Rosebush, a Filipino doctor from the states. He decided to come home after his wife cheated on him with his closest friend. What if Norman and Eva's path crossed? Can he save Eva from drowning in pain? Will he successfully show her that life is still worth living?