#Wattys2025 Shortlist Crimson Veil The wedding was just the beginning. When her kingdom falls and her cousins are slaughtered, Meira of Ink and Bone is spared - not out of mercy, but as a weapon. Ryul, the ruthless general turned Emperor, sees in her both a threat to his power and the perfect key to seal his rule. But Meira refuses to kneel. Dragged into a forced engagement, she becomes a pawn in a court of veils, ancient prophecies, and burning secrets. Haunted by visions of a future she cannot escape - one where her body yields to the very man who conquered her world - Meira must decide if she will break... or remake the empire from within. He wants her loyalty. She wants his blood. And the Veil watches them both. A dark, gothic fantasy laced with sensual tension, power plays, and spiritual warfare - Crimson Veil is a slow-burn psychological battle between a cursed bride and the man determined to own her soul.

The complete book is only available on Kindle and can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FS181BKW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2C1BY8TCDSU9G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UYq_PSgfmkivAIc6YRMNNQ.bASV0Mjw-veYDv83E4xEEOQOz5ORQXBkqztBnt-J9BM&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+gathered+fragments+of+us&qid=1758560347&s=books&sprefix=the+gathered+fragments+of+us%2Cbooks%2C46&sr=1-1 I will keep some of the early chapters here live, but the conclusion, changes to story line, and additions will only be available to read through Kindle once published. Until then, happy reading! 🥰 Felicity Barrett thought she had everything: a marriage to a man she loved and a beautiful future. But when years of neglect and unspoken grief collide with her husband's devastating mistake, everything begins to crumble. Caden Barrett has always been the fixer-at work, at home, and in his marriage. But some things can't be solved with late-night apologies or expensive gifts. To win back Felicity's trust, he'll have to face his failures, fight for their future, and learn what it truly means to not only love his wife, but to show that love. Together, they must navigate family turmoil, betrayal, and the painful echoes of the past. Through chaos, heartbreak, and unexpected joys, Felicity and Caden discover that love isn't about perfection-it's about persistence, forgiveness, and choosing each other again and again. This is a story of brokenness and healing, of second chances and the quiet work of love. It is a novel that explores modern marriage, blended families, and courage while asking: when everything shatters, can love be rebuilt stronger than before?

Cassy and Blake stand on the brink of a new beginning, hearts full of hope, ready to carve out a year at university filled with beauty and unforgettable moments. They dream of a year where every moment is steeped in beauty, every memory etched in time, as though the world itself would unfold gently at their feet. But life has other plans. The path they envisioned quickly unravels, giving way to unexpected challenges that disrupt their dreams. What was meant to be seamless becomes a struggle against the unknown, with buried secrets surfacing and the weight of life's trials threatening to overwhelm them. As past wounds resurface, each misstep feels like another blow to their fragile hopes. The road ahead, once promising, now seems uncertain and treacherous. In the face of struggle, the question remains: can they find the beauty they once dreamed of, or will their burdens break the vision they held for their first year? Only time will tell whether they can reclaim what was lost or if the future they hoped for will remain just out of reach. "Prepare yourself-putting this book down isn't an option."

Cassalia Elle Anderson has never been one to gamble with her heart. Love, with all its whispered promises and cruel betrayals, has always been a game she refuses to play. Too much had been lost before, too many scars etched beneath her skin. And yet, two years ago, everything changed. Ben Mills stepped into her life-captivating, impossible to ignore-woven into her world through her best friend, Paul. She told herself it was nothing. A fleeting fascination. But no matter how fiercely she tried to bury it, the ache remained-a slow, smoldering ember she dared not fan into flame. Until one day, Ben said the words she never expected to hear, his confession forcing her to stand at the edge of something she never thought she'd want. Just when she convinces herself to leap, Blake Handerson emerges like a storm, creeping into her thoughts, unearthing buried doubts, and turning her world upside down, leaving her torn between two choices. Love, trust, betrayal-nothing is as it seems. As the walls around Cassy's heart begin to crack, she must face one question: Who truly deserves her heart? "Once you turn the first page, there's no turning back."