{WATTYS 2020 WINNER} {FEATURED BOOK} Paris, 1663. 500 girls selected by King Louis XIV embark on a journey across the seas from their homeland. Each is given a dowry, and the expectation that they are to marry a French settler, in order to increase the population of New France. They are the historic Daughters of the King, or "les filles du roi." Eighteen-year-old Celeste Dubois is a free-spirited, educated and headstrong girl. She comes from a wealthy Parisian family that has squandered their money and is subsequently forced to journey to New France. However, Celeste doesn't plan on marrying a complete stranger. She hopes to use the dowry and the free voyage as a way to escape the poverty and social ranks of Paris. Matters are complicated when against her will, she falls in love. Romantic, kind and stunningly beautiful Lorraine Leblanc is a girl from a large family with children to spare. Unlike Celeste, she happily dreams of the day she will meet her future husband in New France. When she marries a mysterious widower with two young children of his own and still reeling after his broken heart, she realizes that married life isn't all she had hoped it would be, and begins to question her new husband's complicated past. - Wattpad Picks Blast to the Future Past list 2018 - The 50 Best Wattpad Stories of 2018/19 by Design Wizard - 2018 Youngblood Awards Winner (Romance) - 2018 True North Awards 2nd place for Historical Fiction and 2nd place Truly Canadian special category award - Featured by Wattpad Historical Fiction profile under Kings, Courtships and Empires, Young Adult Fiction profile under Love, Actually and Romance profile under Time will Tell *Please be aware that since this book covers the colonial period, it does contain sensitive themes of racism and violence that readers will find disturbing. There are resources at the back of the book that prompt further learning in the Historical Notes section.*

It doesn't matter how she ended up in this four-walled room. What matters is she gets out. ***** After a night out in New York City, Liliana Rossi wakes up in a windowless room with no recollection of how she got there. And she's not alone. The dark and tattooed Mateo Aguilar is also held captive. As the two struggle to survive and hatch an escape plan, they also struggle with growing attraction toward each other, facing Lili with the biggest question yet: is Mateo the reason she's here, or the one who's going to save her? ✨ Wattys 2018 Shortlist & Featured Story ✨ Content warning: this story references themes that readers might find triggering, including drug use and sexual assault. [[word count: 60,000-70,000 words]] Cover designed by Stefanie Saw

*Heighest ranking 26th in Love, 1st in General Fiction, and 1st in Tragedy, as well as no#1 in mystery* When you're the most feared and powerful Italian Mafia Boss, you cannot have the world know of your existence or of any personal ties you may have. Otherwise bad things tend to happen, and this man learned that lesson the hard way. Now, he refuses to allow anyone close to him, much less get anywhere past his cold exterior. Their story wasn't meant to begin like it did. They weren't meant to meet the way they did. After all, she was only a university student and he was a ghost. Nonexistent, a rumor, a story you told your children at night. But when the most unforeseen circumstances cause their paths to cross, not once, not twice, but thrice--an encounter that ends with the vow of discretion and avoidance. They have no choice but to acknowledge they have to stay away before one of them gets hurt. Which is exactly what happens. This causes another encounter between the two, but this time with a promise of safety and security, because he owes her his life. *** "I say what I mean, and I do what I say." He assured in a low rumbling voice that had her transported back to older times. "And when I say I will keep you safe, believe me, that not even a hair on your head will be touched." (The full story can be found on the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NPSKL6W)

When 26 year old Maya moves to her new house in Portland, she expected to be greeted with friendly people. Having a new job and meeting new people seemed exciting, it was a fresh start for her. But a fresh start isn't always the best decision.