Kaiden enters prison still emotional, loud, and full of life. Saint had already become hardened by years behind bars after being incarcerated at fourteen for protecting his little sister from abuse. Together, they slowly learn that even in a cold, violent environment, love, vulnerability, and trust can still exist. Even hearts surrounded by concrete can still feel something.

Querencia: a place where you feel most at home, where your soul feels safe 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐁𝐱𝐁

"Have you tried turning it off and back on again?" •• Christian Ivonov, CEO of Ivonov enterprises, had always been the best at fucking things up. Whether it be relationships, or company connections, nothing was too far out of his reach to ruin. Alexander Hamilton had always been the best at fixing things. Computers, to be exact. He wasn't sure how Christian got the impression that Alex could fix him too. •• A story in which a what should be anger management patient meets a functioning alcoholic, and they somehow manage to save each other. Book One of The CEO's Trilogy *This book is unedited

Six kids in one house, and somehow he still felt invisible. Taye was always working, always stressed, always trying to hold everything together but never really seeing him. The others were the same. Busy. Distant. Like surviving mattered more than anything else. And maybe it did. But that didn't stop it from messing him up. So he learned quick don't ask for anything, don't expect nothing, and don't let nobody get close enough to leave. That's just how he became Kairo. Rude. Distant. Unbothered. Or at least...that's what everybody thought. Now suddenly, things were different. Taye checking on him. Asking questions. Looking at him like he actually mattered. It didn't sit right. "Where was all that before?" Kairo muttered one night, staring up at the ceiling, phone in his hand but not really looking at it. Because care-real care-was something he didn't know how to trust. And that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part...was him. Kairos best friend. The one person who always stayed. Always showed up. Always saw him even when Kairo tried his hardest to push him away. That was the problem. Because Kairo wasn't supposed to feel like this. Not about him.

Sticking two hot heads who've had it out for each other since day one didn't seem smart. But yet that's exactly what happens. Roman and Will didn't "click" together, the closest they were to having something in common was their swim team and their need to prove each other wrong. This is why they are given an ultimatum: They can give up their swimming scholarships or go to a beach house to mend their relationship. It was simple, they have to spend two months together. No communication with anybody else. Bonding exercises everyday. And absolutely no fighting for two months. Who knows what will come out of this?

Aris' entire life changes when he discovers he has a heart condition that could be fatal if he doesn't receive a transplant. Eager to speed up the process and attempt to go into private hospital care, he takes on all different jobs to put away every penny he has to save his life. When the chance to become a nanny to a sassy five year old girl arises, Aris knows he's out of his depth with lack of experience. But when he finds out the employer is willing to pay fifteen hundred a week, it's an offer he cannot turn down. Nick is a grumpy, single father who cannot juggle the work-life balance. Desperate to find someone to help look after his daughter, Elodie, to give him the chance to launch his new business app. All he wants is someone he can trust. As Aris walks into his life and straight into this job, Nick is adamant he won't last a day with his cheeky daughter who has no filter. But when an unlikely friendship grows and Aris works his way into Elodie's heart, Nick notices something is beginning to spark in his too-despite telling himself to keep their relationship professional. Lines begin to blur with family outings and endless late nights. Aris knows he needs a new heart but he didn't expect Nick to completely steal it instead. TROPES - single dad / nanny - grumpy / sunshine - Aris falls first, Nick falls fucking harder - forced proximity - chronic disease/illness rep - spicy scenes - dual POV

Alex has been looking for a sign from the universe. A sign to tell him that he needs to keep fighting. To live on for his brother who died in a tragic car accident. When Alex stumbles across a man in town wearing a blindfold, holding a sign that says, 'You are not alone. If you need a talk or a hug. I am here.' He takes it upon himself to approach the stranger. Was this the sign he has been looking for? - River has been a mental health advocate for three years. With his own demons battled, he takes it upon himself to support others. More specifically strangers. He has always found peace in helping those who suffer in silence. When River is approached by a man who expresses his depressive tendencies, he decides to take the broken stranger for coffee, out of fear of what might happen if he lets him go. River tells him to offload, release all the sadness and frustration he has into someone who knows nothing about him. But when he leaves, River can't stop thinking about him. It's not until Alex comes back a few months later to thank him for listening when he needed help the most. Alex has a lot to thank for his signs from the universe.

𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑'𝐒 𝐅𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃. 𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐑, 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐔𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐆𝐎. 𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐌𝐘... 𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐇𝐎𝐖, 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑.

love changing people without controlling them.

After twelve years behind bars, Iman has learned to feel nothing. With only six months left on his sentence, the last thing he expects is a new cell mate who forces him to confront everything he buried for so long.