Zadie Smith Review

“We…shouldn’t be doing this,” Stacey moaned as she felt Noah’s lips kiss the side of her neck. “Tell me to stop, and I will,” he whispered. “I’m twelve years older than you; what would the world say?” “I don’t care what the damn world says. The only thing I care about is the woman in front of me.” He kissed her on that same sensitive spot on her neck. “So I say again, Professor, tell me to stop and I will.” ****** 32-year-old Stacey Smith's life comes crashing down when she discovers her husband's betrayal. Seeking comfort, her best friend drags her to a club where she ends up having a one-night stand with a stranger. Stacey is shocked to realize the guy she slept with is one of her students, the popular star basketball player of her school, 20-year-old Noah Baker. What happens when an unlikely romance blooms between the two? In an era of scrutiny and criticism, how would they handle the world's reaction to their unusual love? And with Noah’s future hanging on the line, her ex-husband and a new love interest her age after Stacey, would they be able to overcome all the challenges they face, or would they cave in and walk different paths?

"Say that again, Freya. I dare you to look me deep in the eye and tell me that you don't want me and wouldn't rather want me buried deep inside you tonight. Under this stormy, cold weather instead." He taunted, his gaze lingering on me like an hungry predator as he took calculated steps towards me inside my bedroom. "Come on, say it. Say you don't want my hands roaming up and down your thighs like before, Freya. Tell me you don't want to relive those memories again with me..." The closer he got, the more harder my nipples got. "Screw you, Ethan!" I sneered. "That's not the question, Freya." ~~ Freya Smith, a nineteen year old worked as a maid for the Slades— a well known business Empire in the country. One day, Ethan, the eldest son and future heir of the Slade's empire came home one holiday and their path crossed— sparking the beginning of a forbidden teenage love affair. Freya discovered she's pregnant with Ethan's child after he had left. Freya received a letter from Ethan telling her she was merely a trophy to him and one of the many girls he could have anytime he wanted and that it's better she aborted the child or have it taken care of all by herself and of which he would never be a part of. She was also tagged a destitute who could never amount to nothing in her entire existence and beyond. Now, seven years later and Freya is an independent woman, controlling several popular jewelry businesses and engaged to the country's wealthiest man's son while the Slades drown in bankruptcy. Will Freya's thirst for vengeance be quenched? or will Ethan trying to gain custody of their child now by nook and cranny be her greatest battle yet?

Investigative journalist Justine Sky will go to great lengths to find out the truth. Even if it means rubbing elbows with the city's most feared billionaire. As a prime time crime solver, she’s tackled a great deal of scandals during her career, but nothing could prepare her for a life with Bentley Thomas. Because of his criminal past and merciless ambition to get to the top, Bentley has been the scapegoat for the people of Westlake, Texas. With all fingers pointing to him as Ivy Smith’s slayer, Justine becomes hellbent on exposing him. After pulling strings to get an invite into his mysterious world of luxury, Justine enters, thinking she'll be met by a cold and vicious mobster. Instead, he reels her in with soft charm and a passion that catches her off guard. Their chemistry is automatic, and Bentley is more of a hopeless romantic than she ever thought he could be. However, even though he's quite the charmer, Bentley does harbor secrets of his own. When Justine learns that he might have been the last person to see Ivy alive, her doubt settles in once again. It's her relentless fight for the truth and growing love for Bentley that makes her dig deeper. Only to find out that the killer is someone she knows very well. As the danger of the investigation sneaks closer, Justine is caught in a deadly game of ransom, and Bentley doesn’t hesitate to risk everything he has to save her. In a world full of lies, secrets, and betrayal, she has to trust someone. But is Bentley her most dangerous enemy, or the only one who has been telling the truth?

Elsa Rein, a young heiress born with a silver spoon, fell helplessly in love with her college mate, Jason Stone, who filled the cold void her parents created in her heart. Her father was strongly against her relationship with Jason and insisted on her getting married to a wealthy scion, Marcus Smith to form an alliance and gain affluence, but she defied her father and left to marry her fiance. He cheated on her with his ex four years later, and she left without having a second thought, only to be disowned by her father on her return. Frustrated and dejected, Elsa tried to regain fragments of her broken self only to get entangled with a cold and ruthless billionaire, Lucas Arthur. Torn between protecting her already broken heart and her undying love for Lucian and his coldness, she's stuck in a dilemma that leaves her with the choice of giving in to her desires or fighting fate.

Catherine Smith was born into untouchable wealth, a girl with everything except the freedom to love by choice and not demand. When she falls for Elijah Blakes, the quiet, kind man who works at the repair shop, she thinks she’s found the one thing money can’t afford: real love. But Elijah is hiding a secret. He’s not poor. He’s not powerless. He’s the estranged heir of a rival empire— and he’s been pretending to be someone else to keep her close. When her powerful parents discover their forbidden relationship, they break them off mercilessly. Catherine is forced to marry into a loveless engagement. Elijah, heartbroken, disappears and marries someone else. Years later, fate brings them back together. He’s colder now. Married. Untouchable. But the fire between them never died. And now, with everything to lose and nothing left to hide, the only question left is: Will she risk everything again for a man who lied to win her heart or—will love truly the only thing they can’t afford?

Some families run from their past. The Hawkins siblings hunt it down. Katherine Hawkins never asked to grow up in a world where demons were real and survival meant learning how to fight them. Alongside her brothers—William and Alex—she’s spent years tracking the things that live in the dark. But when an old exorcism tape surfaces and names from a forgotten case start resurfacing—Malcolm Smith, Matthew Conner, Gabriel Spender—their past begins catching up with them fast. Secrets their father kept buried are beginning to unravel. And the deeper they dig, the clearer it becomes: the monsters they’re chasing now are connected to something older, something unfinished… something personal. Now, with danger closing in and trust wearing thin, the Hawkins siblings must head straight into the heart of a mystery that could shatter everything they thought they knew—about their family, their history, and the war they were born into. Because sometimes, the real fight doesn’t start until after the ghosts come back.

Claire Smith has everything money can buy, except freedom. As the pampered daughter of one of Las Vegas’s wealthiest families, her life has always been dictated by her father’s ruthless expectations and his obsession with powerful alliances. But Claire has sworn she’ll never fall into his carefully arranged traps, never marry the men he chooses, never play the dutiful daughter he wants her to be. Then comes Carlos. The blind date that wasn’t supposed to matter… the man who made her feel seen, desired, alive. But before she could dream of a future with him, he shattered her world, ghosting her, breaking her heart, and leaving her with nothing but rage. Fate, however, is cruel. After a near-fatal accident, Claire wakes to find out the man who saved her life is the very one she swore to hate: Carlos. Now he’s everywhere, hovering, tempting, and invading her every breath. Is he her savior? Or her ultimate destruction? One thing is certain: Claire is about to discover that some scars don’t fade… and some obsessions refuse to die

“How could you both do this to me?” Matilda's voice trembled as her eyes darted from her best friend to her husband, whose sweats were dripping, obviously from the adulterous act he just committed. Her disappointed self wanted to hear an explanation, an excuse, or something and wished all was just a mistake but..... “You came in just in time.” He uttered with no iota of remorse as he fixed his pants and belts. “What? Eduardo!” “You've seen and heard it all, so what now? Want me to start telling some boring story and silly excuse? Hell no, young lady!” He raised a brow, and Matilda couldn't believe her eyes and ears. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After being betrayed by those she loved and trusted so much, Matilda Smith wished nothing but to vanish from the face of the earth. Her five years of marriage was ruined in a single day by those she thought were on her side. But they didn't end there. Despite taking everything she had inherited from her family, they still wanted her dead. And that was when their paths crossed. Xander Hamilton, authoritative, charismatic, confident, and ruthless, was the sole heir to the number one company in America and a rival to many businesses. ~~~Extract~~ “Please, help me. I'm willing to do anything. Just help me get revenge and my inheritance back.” “Your life became mine from the moment you witnessed that man's death. What makes you think I'll help the life which I want to end badly even at this moment? I just need two reasons.” He smirked dangerously. His presence screamed danger, yet she was drawn to him like a magnet. However, will she be able to face the danger in his world? What if their destinies have been intertwined from the beginning?

Kidnapped. Betrayed. Desired. When Kendra's life shatters after a cruel betrayal by her own sister, she’s forced into the ruthless world of Julio the Mafia King dangerous, dominant, and heartbreakingly alluring. But as sparks fly between captor and captive, dark secrets begin to unravel. Behind the power and passion lies a twisted web spun by Olivia Smith and Richard Sulley two smiling faces hiding deadly motives. As Kendra navigates a world of deception, loyalty, and forbidden love, she must choose: surrender to her fate or rise and reclaim her power. Love was never supposed to be part of the deal… But neither was betrayal

While her husband stayed in the hospital beside his mistress, Alessia was in his enemy’s bed—naked, breathless, and moaning his name. Alessia never planned to be the woman who used sex as revenge. But when fate shoved the truth in her face that the man she loved was sharing his heart and bed with someone else, she didn’t cry. Instead she made a plan. She walks into the office of his coldest rival, Miguel Smith, and make him an offer no man expects. “Sleep with me,” Miguel has a rule; no married women. Especially not the wife of the man he hates most. But the moment he sees Alessia, something shifts. She’s fire wrapped in ice, and one night isn’t nearly enough. Now he’s hooked—on her lips, on her body, on ruining her husband, and making her his. Again and again. And when her husband tries to crawl back into her life, Miguel makes one thing crystal clear: Alessia is his now… and he doesn’t share.