In the chaos of war, some battles are fought with steel -- others with the soul. Admiral Arden Lexington was raised by vengeance. After witnessing pirates slaughter her family, she devoted her life to hunting them down as part of the International Pirate Hunters Fleet -- a powerful naval militia loyal to no crown, only to the Admiral who leads them. Hardened, brilliant, and feared across the sea, Arden is a force few dare challenge. But when a man from her past-Master of Arms, James Morgan -- is pulled from the wreckage of a sunken ship and placed under her command, Arden's world begins to fracture. The boy who once slipped into her heart has returned a man -- and with him, a quiet defiance against the life she's sentenced herself to. He doesn't judge her past-he dares her to imagine a future beyond it. As enemies gather and betrayals surface, Arden must decide what kind of legacy she wants to leave behind-one carved in vengeance, or one built on hope. Volume 1: Arden Lexington, The 8th Admiral of the International Pirate Hunters' Fleet, is the first novel in The Admiral Chronicles: a gripping, slow-burn romantic adventure steeped in loyalty, power, heartbreak, and the high price of freedom on the open sea.

Seth, a 17 year old city kid, has his life turned upside-down when his grandmother passes away - willing the Bennett house, in a town called Ravenbrook, to him and his mother. His mother, Alice, left town when she was his age, barely pregnant with him, and has been protecting him from that town and its secrets. Once in Ravenbrook, Seth quickly learns about his fathers mysterious death which was covered up by his family; the rich and powerful Prescott's, who seemed to have the entire town under their spell. Seth eventually learns about the secrets the Prescott family have been keeping - secrets of witches, chov'hani, and rougarou - and has to come to terms with how this legacy shifts his identity and his future. But, will his power be strong enough to protect the ones he loves? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: This is the preliminary version for Beta Readers. Please feel free to comment constructive feedback here or via email. This is the first book in the Ravenbrook series. Full Series: - of Water and Wonder - of Air and Illusion - of Earth and Essence - of Fire and Fury ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Follow on Instagram/Facebook/X/Tik Tok for more Ravenbrook content! Author Website: www.drlouisleclercq.com Spotify Playlists: Soundtrack - https://tinyurl.com/Ravenbrookbooks

[2025 WATTYS SHORTLIST] New session equating to new section, getting kicked out of the one batch to another, that's how Adaira's every year in high school goes. Bad grades, teachers at throat, reputation in dust, friends nonexistent- all the usual. Well, it's the final year. Her plan? Keep her head low, force through the shitty academic life and get into whatever university that accepts her so that she can escape her home. Easy! Except this boy sitting next to her this year... doesn't really seem to agree. [First Draft. Unedited version. STC.]

When a scandal forces hockey star Amelia Bennett into a fake relationship with guarded photographer Harper Lane, neither expects the headlines, or the feelings, that follow. What starts as a PR stunt begins to spark into something real, threatening to expose more than just their hearts. *** She's the world's best hockey player. She's a heartbroken photographer with nowhere else to go. And they were never supposed to fall in love. At 24, Amelia Bennett is the most talented hockey player on the planet-chaotic, impulsive, and the last Bennett standing without a ring on her finger. After a very public scandal threatens her sponsorships and reputation, the team's PR crisis plan is simple: clean up her image fast. Step one? A fake relationship. Something that should be easy, right? Harper Lane has no interest in fame, or falling for another golden boy-or girl-with a spotlight stitched into their skin. After catching her long-term boyfriend cheating, she's sworn off chaos and charm. But when her best friend Audrey begs her to stay with Millie temporarily, Harper finds herself in the middle of a media storm-and somehow agreeing to pretend to be Millie Bennett's girlfriend. It's only for the cameras. Just long enough to fix Millie's image. Just enough to keep Harper's ex boyfriend off her back. But fake smiles turn into real moments. Cold shoulders warm under shared blankets. And the girl Harper was warned about-the reckless, beautiful mess, is nothing like the one who makes her tea when she's anxious and kisses her like she means it. In a house built on secrets, one accidental love story is about to mak

For 17-year-old Nyx Madden, stealing shadows is second nature. This rare power allows her to control the person whose shadow she holds. And, since she's been on her own for the past five years, it's her only chance at survival. But Nyx's life in the shadows is jeopardized when she is visited by Victor, the enigmatic leader of the criminal underworld. Somehow, he discovered that she is the faceless Shadow Thief, Itoria's most wanted criminal. If he reveals her identity, she'll be hanged. Victor strikes a deal with Nyx. He'll give her more gold than she knows what to do with in exchange for the shadow of Itoria's Silver Prince, thus nicknamed for his fickle nature and careless wealth. Nyx readily agrees, as this may be the last shadow she ever has to steal. And, considering the Silver Prince's rotten reputation, Itoria can only improve with him out of the way. In order to take the prince's shadow, Nyx must uncover his greatest fear and confront him with it. She infiltrates the castle, where she discovers that nothing in Itoria is as it seems, including the prince himself. Stuck under his dying father's thumb, the Silver Prince has little freedom-but his selfish, callow nature might be hiding a golden heart. With her identity hanging in the balance, Nyx finds the fate of the entire kingdom in her hands-and her own heart in the hands of the Silver Prince.

For years, Madelyn's worst fears have only resided in her head, feeding off her heightened sense of her surroundings and unfortunate experiences and accidents in her past. That's why her schooling is more than just assignments, tests, and high school drama. The Eralyn Academy of Secondary Education provides her with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to develop her special ability. It's her safe haven, a place where she can strive to one day control her ability and anxiety - at least, it is until things take a deadly turn. When Madelyn is dared to sign up for the school's joke of a dating app, she reluctantly complies. But when she arrives on the first date, she realizes that she's been matched with a dead man. Caught up in an investigation and ruminations running wild, Madelyn seeks to uncover who the real murderer is in a desperate attempt to outrun one increasingly deafening thought: Is she a killer? *Open Door Awards 2024 - Honorable Mention for Mystery/ Thriller 3x Featured: @Fright @Mystery & @Action Trigger Warnings: Themes of death, anxiety/ ocd, and ptsd.

✨Shortlisted for the WATTYS 2025!!✨ Lesley and Nick Livingston leave the hustle and bustle of the big city of New York. Trading in the daily sky-scraper sightings and the sounds of blowing car horns for serene days and quiet nights in the small, tranquil town of Arcaden in upstate New York. But little do they know, beneath the glistening waters lies a dark secret, a haunting mystery that is waiting to be unraveled. Their lake house was supposed to be a dreamy haven of relaxation and peace. Until the somber history of the house begins to awaken with the spirit of a dead soul. The daughter of the previous owners, Leah Meyers, supposedly drowned there. This tragedy doesn't deter Lesley, though; she's hopeful she can turn the lake house into a charming and cozy home. However, very eerie occurrences begin to unfold right before her eyes. Lesley senses an ethereal presence, and soon she is visited by a ghostly figure whom she believes to be Leah Meyers herself. Lesely feels unsettled, and her sanity slowly begins to fray. Her once promising photography career spirals toward collapse. Things go from bad to worse when Nick goes missing, leaving Lesley to grapple with both the haunted lake house, the strange ghostly sightings around Arcaden and Nick's disappearance. The clock continues to tick, and time is slowly running out. Will Lesley unravel the mysteries that are lurking beneath the lake house? And will Nick be found before it's too late? FEATURED: @Mystery (Amateur (Sleuth)) @Fright (Creatures & Zombies)

Set in a charming, rural Japanese village, Hana and The Dragon follows Hana, a curious and spirited young girl living a peaceful life surrounded by familial warmth and deep culture. As her village prepares for the annual summer festival, Hana becomes fascinated by local legends about a mysterious dragon rumored to dwell in the nearby Shimizu-gawa river, a guardian figure who hasn't been seen for many years. Driven by her curiosity, Hana uncovers subtle yet puzzling clues suggesting that the dragon might soon return. Unusual occurrences in nature further heighten her suspicions, signaling significant changes in the mortal and supernatural worlds. Determined to unravel the mystery, Hana embarks on an adventurous journey into the heart of her village's history. Along the way, she learns of deep connections linking her family and her community, to the legendary dragon itself. With a thoughtful blend of fantasy, Japanese local folk religion, Japanese Chūbu region cultural traditions, and coming-of-age themes, Hana and The Dragon beautifully captures the essence of family bonds, the importance of bravery, and the richness of cultural legacy through the eyes of an adventurous young protagonist.

Huge news! My story has been shortlisted for the 2025 Watty Awards! Thank you to everyone who's read and supported me along the way. Don't forget to vote for me from September 22-28. Just making the cut was my birthday wish. To all who join me, I can't wait to read the other entries. And for those who didn't make it this time, keep writing! People need to read your story. There is an audience for everyone. Take it from the guy who has been working towards this day for 64 years. check out my FaceBook page for a few excerpts and insights: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581292790967 Laugh and cry over the gayest Odd Couple you'll ever meet! Wendell Kingston is a fiftyish bachelor with a series of failed romances. After heart surgery, he enters cardiac rehab and meets Ben Carver, a young lothario with a congenital heart defect. For Wen, it's love at first sight. For Ben it's flirting to give Wendell a confidence boost. Ben doesn't do love, but he also doesn't know the extremes Wendell is willing take to win him over. Unfortunately, Wen's sister, Dorothea, disapproves. She has set her brother up with her assistant, Penny, to fulfill a necessary provision in their father's will in order for Wendell to receive his full inheritance and control of their family's fortune. Will she keep them apart? Or will it be Wen & Ben forever? Featured on @Wattpad Community Pride Recommendations June 2025. 😁 #Wattys #ShortListed #HumbledandHonored

[Slow Brew Series 1 of 2] [Completed] Look, I didn't mean to embarrass myself the first time I walked into Brewing Grounds. Or the second. Or...every other time since. But something about the place-and the barista with the messy ponytail and the glasses that she pushes up her nose-makes me forget how to form actual sentences. Bea. Her name's Bea. She spelled mine wrong on my cup the first day (Ell-yot Hayul), and now I'm kind of obsessed. Not with her. With medium lattes. With her handwriting. With the little hearts she scribbles on my cups. Okay... maybe a little bit with her. The point is: I'm a walking disaster around her, and I'm pretty sure she knows it. And okay, maybe I started showing up every morning at exactly 7:30 just to see her. And maybe I've been reading up on how to flirt because I thought that might help (it hasn't). But honestly, what's the worst that could happen? I embarrass myself again? (Already done that.) Spill coffee on my tie? (Happened last week.) Accidentally fall in love with the barista who writes flirty notes on my coffee cups? Oh, wait... [1 of 2: Slow Brew Series] Dual POV | Romantic Comedy | Coffee Shop Romance | Slice of Life 18+ for suggestive dialogue, some steam (nothing too explicit) 🏆 1st Place - Pimp My Romance Awards 2025 🏆 1st Place - Pink Watty's pINKspire Awards 2025 "Best Dialogue"