A stranger to her own existence, Kayla moves to a small town with the hope of finding comfort in a fresh start. But as she steps inside the unfamiliar classroom on the first day, standing in front of the class is a mysteriously familiar face, one that rouses memories of a time she believed had gone by. With past baggage catching up in the most intrusive ways, she stumbles upon unexpected comfort of friendship, unconditional love of found family, and a beautiful yet complicated bond between two hesitant souls. "This book was like a warm hug, and I might believe in love again." "I would give everything, especially my soul, to have the opportunity to read this book for the first time again." ────── CW: Substance abuse, harsh language, sexual content, mention of self-harm and suicide. ────── Started in January 2018. Re-published in November 2022. First draft finished in April 2023. ────── Copyright 2018 © Renee Steinberg All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced, copied, translated, or republished in any form without the author's permission, except for brief quotations or reviews with proper credit.

✪ TAMED • WRITTEN IN TAGLISH • SAPPHIC ROMANCE Zamantha Karssen Abvelino is a sponsored student, concealing her talent and struggling with a deflated self-concept. Her world flips on its axis when a formidable teacher, feared by all, enters her life and brings a brand new set of barriers. Professor Rhio Ritchel Sandoval is an untamed authority on academia. As a brilliant and celebrated teacher, she commands the attention of every student who crosses her path. With a razor-sharp intellect and a personality as complex as the subjects she teaches, Rhio is an enigma. Fate has a curious way of interweaving the most improbable strands, and such is the case for these extraordinary women. The once-uncontrollable forces that defined them are tamed, giving way to a passionate and unpredictable romance that defied all odds. Their love affair is a dance of self-discovery, one that is as electrifying as it is daunting. As they learn to tame their steps, they become more empowered and emboldened, trusting in the unexpected twists of destiny.

For love, would you play the role of the hero or the villain? An unmasked serial murderer is on the run, and killings are taking place all over the country. What a bad moment for a girl named Skylar Millie Parker to return home after four years in Canada, quitting a well-paid job. Unexpectedly, something happened on her way home when she met someone who would eventually lead her to an even better job opportunity from a prestigious family. Skylar accepted it without having a hint of the bigger trouble that would appear in her life in the form of a person; a woman named Hera Cythera Arentsvelt. The stories about Cythera intrigued her, even without personally seeing the infamous head of the family as she's always locked in her room. Quiet and mysterious, hauntingly playing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. But then the time finally came, and something unexplainable changed inside Skylar the moment she saw the woman behind that name... "I remember vividly the first time I laid my eyes on you. You were wearing your purple robe with the same color as your eyes. I suddenly felt like everything around me had stopped, and you were the only one moving. Slowly taking the steps down the grand stairs. It felt like my breath got stuck in my throat, my heart pumping more blood than it should, and my head whispered to my ear...she looks ethereal." Ngunit ano nga bang malaking gulo na dala ng dalaga sa buhay ni Sky? At ano ang katakot takot na sikreto nito ang siyang tuluyang magpapabago sa buhay niya at sa mga tao sa paligid niya? Worse than that, it looks like Cythera knows something about the infamous serial killer in town... But is she the killer? Anong kaya mong isugal para protektahan ang taong pinaka importante para sayo? Disclaimer: This story is written in Taglish (Tagalog-English)