[This story is free as of February 10, 2021] "Move over A Walk to Remember, and make way for one of the most heartwarming stories this side of Wattpad. It's so cute, I could cry (again)." - Grace @ HQ After tragedy strikes, Nolan loses all faith and never expects to love, let alone smile again until Nora-perky and persistent-walks into his life. ***** 15-year-old Nolan Haynes has everything. A loving family, a promising future as a filmmaker, and a pretty cool group of friends. That is until tragedy strikes and he's forced to move towns. Nolan vows never to let anyone in ever again-they always leave. But on a summer day two years later, when the super upbeat, Nora walks to his lunch table-Nolan has to try a bit harder to keep a smile off his face. Little does he know that Nora is fighting a battle of her own, one that no one could even imagine. And as the two get closer, they not only find solace in each other but in God. When Nolan is faced with a situation in which he has to break Nora's trust to protect her, can their budding relationship still stand and will God show up in all of this? [[word count: 80,000-90,000 words]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: This story contains scenes of verbal and physical abuse that may be triggering for some readers. NOTICE: Before the Morning is currently undergoing revisions! A sensitivity reader (someone who goes through your manuscript and assesses representations in your work) identified a number of issues surrounding the Filipino representation in BTM. I'm rewriting with the goal of creating a more authentic and respectful story. I'm sorry for the pain I caused by failing to include accurate Filipino culture and in having written from Nora's point of view.

Deadly assassins Allegra and Ace have been trying in vain to kill each other for years. With a mutual enemy threatening their mafias, they find themselves in an unexpected alliance, and soon discover killing each other isn't the only temptation they need to resist... ****** Allegra Grey is poised to be the next great American mafia leader, and she's more than living up to the name. A skilled assassin, there's only one target who's ever gotten away from her-suave, sinfully handsome Ace De Luca, heir to the Italian mafia and the Greys' biggest rival. When both mafias are faced with a dangerous threat, they're forced to work together to protect their families, and unexpected sparks fly. Allegra definitely isn't one to sleep with the enemy, especially an arrogant womanizer like Ace. But there's an undeniable electricity between them and Allegra's not sure it's all hatred. Ace may be bad news, but Allegra's never been afraid of a little danger. As the fire they're playing with grows to a scorching blaze, one thing is clear: trying to kill each other may have been difficult, but resisting this intense chemistry will be impossible. [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Regina Dionela Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes, violence and gore

❝People like you don't get happy endings, not after that.❞ **** Childhood best friends Étienne LeRoy and Louella Rey were once inseparable-two halves of a perfect whole. Where Étienne was steady, Lou was wild, filling every moment with laughter and light. But that was before. Before Lou disappeared. At twenty-two, Louella has become a ghost of her former self, retreating into a world of silence and secrets after deferring her college dreams. She's mastered the art of blending into the background, hiding the pain she carries like a bruise that never fades. When Étienne returns home after a year abroad, he barely recognizes the girl he used to know. Lou's spark is gone, replaced by hollow eyes and a fragile shell of who she used to be. Haunted by the change and unwilling to give up on her, Étienne sets out to uncover the truth behind her withdrawal. But some truths are better left buried. There's something she's not telling him, something dark-something that involves the one person Étienne trusts most in the world. The deeper he digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes, until Étienne is forced to confront a devastating question: How well do you really know the people you love? **There are serious themes discussed in this book. Please do NOT read if you might be triggered. Your mental health comes first before any stupid book.** Part I is complete. Part II is ongoing. START DATE: 25.03.21 END DATE: 25.06.21 WORD COUNT: 70,000 - 80,000