Set in 1855 London, the murder of the aristocrat William Havisham sends shockwaves through high society, leading authorities to charge the wrong person, Mary Carpenter, with the crime. Her son, Michael, and Havisham's determined granddaughter, Violet, refuse to accept the verdict, convinced that a larger conspiracy is at play. As they investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder, they uncover a corrupt brothel in Westminster that is bribing politicians and high-ranking officials for their own gain. They must unravel whether William was about to expose this scandal or if he was complicit in it. Meanwhile, Detective Bennet initially views the case as an open-and-shut matter but finds his resolve shaken as Violet and Michael's inquiries begin to tug at his conscience. As their paths converge, they must confront the dark underbelly of society to uncover the truth. *** One Chapter Every Monday *** Please leave a comment with any feedback you have.

Blake needs a date to his enemy's destination wedding. And not just anyone-a professional. The billionaire genius behind 215 Tech doesn't have time to nurture a real relationship. He hires Lucy to be his fake girlfriend, but things become real when he discovers she's hiding something from him. After a recent sabbatical, Lucy Nyx has returned to the world of escorting. With a sister to care for, she has no choice but to take the offer Blake puts on the table. When they get to the Malibu wedding, her past rises from the ashes with a vengeance. She just needs to get through the event, but Blake is asking questions she doesn't want to answer. What's more, she's developing feelings for her client. Blake and Lucy navigate a fake relationship, while unknowingly developing a strong connection. But when Lucy discovers Blake's true nature, all bets are off. The twists in their tale truly come from left field. *Left Field is a mature fake dating romance. This is a standalone novel, but features characters from previous installments. It has major triggers, so please message me if you're concerned about content.*

After a near death experience, James Jones, or Jimmy to his friends, begins to see ghosts. While in surgery, he meets Henry Costa, a renowned ghost buster. Henry is dead, but he's about to become Jimmy's best friend. when he's recovering from his surgery, Jimmy learns his sister has gone missing, and may also be dead. Flying off to America, he sets out to find his sister.

When cynical addict Rodion Popov makes a deal with the Devil and wagers his soul, his life takes a turn for the demonically surreal. Thrust into a city of shapeshifting sinners and chaos spirits, he must complete five tasks at the Devil's behest in order to escape the despairing world he lives in. And the Devil? He just so happens to be hell-bent on making sure Rodion fails. Thankfully one of the Devil's minions, Shutka, is not. Out of pity, she joins Rodion, serving him as something between companion and counselor. But as the tasks escalate and the strain on his body and mind intensifies, Rodion finds himself seeking an answer to the question at the heart of his deal, a question Shutka can't possibly help him answer: is it possible to redeem a soul? Honors/Awards: ONC 2024 Honorable Mention ONC 2024 Ambassadors' Pick (Round One) "THE DEVIL COMES TO ANGELOVSK" is featured on: @humor's "dark humor" reading list @humor's "ambassadors' monthly pick" reading list @opennovellacontest's "2024 honorable mentions" and "2024 ambassadors' picks" lists Copyright © 2024 Elle Chaika Open Novella Contest VII (2024) | Prompt No. 32

WE WERE LIARS meets SALTBURN. The Seymour girls are beautiful and blessed: skin like porcelain, hair kissed by fire's breath and privilege without recompense. They were named fir their parents' mothers. Juliette for their mother's and Josephine for their father's. I am the last Seymour girl. But I am a bullet shell. A complete outrage of a human being. My entire existence reads like a Shakespearean insult -- clod of wayward marl. You could say lust is what got me in this mess in the first place. The thrill of wanting something off-limits. And then I burned everything to the ground. If I'm being honest, you shouldn't read any of this. I'm serious. Don't. ➤ Open Novella Contest 2024: Prompts #95 and #60

Charlotte, a young, sickly pianist, is sent to Walnut Grove by her father, believing fresh air will aid her. Charlotte strengthens, becoming a piano teacher for the Oleson children. She finds the family difficult, except Nels Oleson, with whom she falls in love. But is there any future with Nels, being an older, married man, and does he even return her feelings? A slow burn Little House on the Prairie romance fanfic between Nels Oleson and an OC. There's a heavy emphasis on the OC and her own story as she struggles with illness and past trauma. Hope you enjoy!