The world was full of magic until it was not. When the young Empress of Aurora suddenly died a century ago, so too did the world's magic. Since then, the ghost of that power has been slowly fading away from the bloodlines of the empire's nobility with each generation, growing duller like the once vivid colors that paint every building within the city of Prism. Most families are but pale imitations of what they once were and those still possessing powerful abilities are few and treasured. The Salazars' power has faded to a mere trickle. Now, the responsibility of marrying well has fallen on the shoulders of Felix Salazar's well-tailored suit. Despite him having no ability whatsoever, his family has somehow managed to arrange his marriage to the widowed and older daughter of the prominent Van Brandt family, which boasts several powerful magicians within their bloodline. His bride to be, however, is mediocre at best both in looks and ability, and to make matters worse, she refuses to speak to him. The tragic death of her first husband has seemingly left her mute. Felix quickly learns to ignore his incredibly quiet and strange new wife and focuses on enjoying the life of an aristocrat's husband, contenting himself with spending his new family's oodles of money. Until...the night he finally hears her speak. And when she does, her voice is like fire and brimstone, as startling and vivid as the red of her family color. Magic, she reveals, is not just fading with time. Someone...some...thing is stealing it and finding their identity may also lead to that of her first husband's killer. With all of the power she contains, Eleonora Van Brandt means to take back everything the thief has stolen, but with one dead husband already beneath her belt, Felix isn't too sure helping her would prove good for his health let alone this new marriage. Written for NaNoWriMo 2020

A sexy surfer helps a depressed lawyer recover from depression and sexual repression. *** She follows all the rules. He's going to teach her how to break them. After a heartbreaking tragedy, successful attorney Amelia Crowley has numbed herself to the pleasures of life, clinging to a specific set of rules, finding strength in order and organization. When she meets easy going surfer Ryan Fielding, that organized life is turned upside down by a sea of washboard abs and sun-kissed hair. Sexy and charismatic, Ryan looks for pleasure however he can find it in an effort to silence his own inner demons. Until Amelia crashed into his life the only thing he chased was the next wave. Refusing to break their connection and determined to break through her carefully crafted walls, Ryan sets out to throw out every rule in her book and show Amelia that pleasure can't be planned. Can Amelia let Ryan take the lead or will she cling to her rules and wipe out their chance at love?

[2013 Watty Finalist] Thea Gibson lives a normal life. She waitresses at her local bar, pays her bills on time, has a secret crush on Detective Josh Cooper and let's her friend Shae drag her to parties when she'd rather be curled up at home buried in the latest paranormal fantasy. In one night though, her life becomes a paranormal fantasy when she is attacked by Titans and saved by a man claiming to be Hermes, Messenger of the Gods. Hermes tells her she is a reincarnated deity, with latent powers she must remember so she can return the recently escaped Cronos back to Tartarus. Thea refuses to believe such nonsense but with the strange things happening around her, Thea begins to discover that fantasy is more closer to reality than she once thought... Note: Some myths have been altered for this story. Please do not presume to correct them as they are altered for the purposes of my story. Forsaken Deity Copyright © Melissa Lucas 2013 All Rights Reserved. No part of this literary work may be reproduced or used without written consent from the author.

Katalyna Heart's whole world has just been flipped upside down. After the death of her mother she is forced to move to a different country with a family she never knew she had. To say adjusting to her new surroundings is difficult is an understatement of the highest degree. Especially when a certain Sebastian Taylor takes an unexpected and eager liking to her. On top of all the emotional stress, this town and it's residents hold a secret that will alter her life in a way she never dreamed possible.

Ambrose. The name is not only feared, but shunned and reviled. He's a monster sentenced to a life of desolation and loneliness, and no one but his tormentor knows his whereabouts - at the bottom of the ocean. A creature of the sea cursed because of one simple mistake... Mari. Her life was a small happy bubble until it's popped by the finding out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her - just as the cruise ship she's on starts to sink! She's sure that death is near until she drowns upon an underwater cave...and a hulking man with swirling eyes. Seeing a chance to escape, Ambrose forces the terrified Mari to help them both, but not before ultimately changing her life...and her legs. Their worlds turning upside in the matter of minutes, Ambrose is on a mission to clear his name and Mari's on a mission to return to land. But how can she do that when she slowly starts to fall for the dangerous, damaged man who only wants to be free...and heal her own heart in the process? THIS IS A FREE SAMPLE

She's on the run... They have to have her... because with twins she'll have twice the protection, twice the security and double the pleasure. This story is a spinoff of sorts to the "Lone Wolf' and "Hunting the Hunter' stories. Some of the same characters will be in this story as well.

In which survival is put through the ultimate test. It is said that the supernatural world was like a thin sheet of glass - for it was far too harmonic; far too fragile for those to wreak havoc upon. Albeit, there was a hybrid that could shatter it with the touch of her finger, with the air of her presence. She was a crack in that glass, threatening to welcome all darkness that crawled from the grim abyss. She didn't ask for this. She didn't ask to be indomitable. She didn't ask to be perfect. And she certainly didn't ask to be hidden for her life sake. But yet she was, being a werewolf-angel, after all. Despite the many odds that are against her, she strives with a strong and unwavering spirit to survive in a world devoid of love. With a secret past, her life remains a true mystery to others. But this was all going to change. Meet Charlotte Taken, and this is her story. (Cover by 17Serenity) (Trailer by niamh1864)

!!!!STORY MOVED TO AMAZON EBOOKS~ ONLY 4 CHAPTERS AVAILABLE!!!!Ellie Coleman comes from the poor side of town. When she becomes best friends with Knox Hendrix, quarterback at Ole Miss and the pride of Stanford her life changes. Used to being ignored by the town and her parents she finds herself opening up to Knox and his family. When Knox has to leave for school he asks her to go with him. Ellie refuses after a talk with his mother that destroys her illusion of her friends acceptance of her. She leaves to make it on her own, sick of her parents and her home town. Four years pass and she fights her way to get a job as an intern at ESPN television, while studying journalism at a local college. When Knox comes to the station for an interview he sees the girl who ran away with his heart. When she sees him she ignores the pain of his betrayal does her job. What happens when she discovers that the thing that kept them apart for four years was a lie? (slowly being edited) :) © All Rights Reserved. 2013. cover done by @KellyLM

Reed Hadley would gladly spend her day holed up in her room with her dog, watching horror movies or surfing the internet on her trusty laptop. Too bad she is the daughter of one of the biggest matchmakers in the business. As soon as Reed started to develop into what scientist dubbed an adolescent, her mom has been sitting her up on dates, which seem to go wrong every time. Reed is done with these dates, and she realizes that the only way to get her mom off her back is to find a boyfriend. When Reed is partnered with bad boy Parker Hunt on a school project, they can't stand each other. However, Reed and Parker quickly realize they need each other; Reed needs Parker so that her mom will stop with the blind dates, and Parker needs Reed so his jealous ex-girlfriend will leave him alone. So, this odd pair strikes up a deal. For appearances' sake, they're an item. Behind closed doors, they may fight like children, but Reed and Parker have managed to fool the people they need to. However, can a fake relationship stay fake forever?

It's the college life for Holly. Time for new experiences, new friends, old friends, and another handsome teacher. Well, professor, this time. Much to Jeremy's annoyance. Chris seems okay with it. That is, until suddenly it seems there might be someone who could actually take Holly away from him... Book 1: A Proscriptive Relationship Book 2: A Surreptitious Relationship Book 3: An Everlasting Relationship