Thrown out of an abusive home, Suki pretends to be Devin's girlfriend while she stays with his family. But what happens when pretend feelings become real? ***** With nowhere to go after being thrown out of an abusive home, Suki asks Devin, a complete stranger, if she can stay the night with him. But what was supposed to be a short-term solution quickly turns into an open-ended promise: if Suki pretends to be Devin's girlfriend to ward off his pushy (if loving) mother, then she can live in his spare bedroom until she sorts out her life. But what happens when pretend feelings become real? Will Suki be able to overcome the fear and pain in her past in order to heal and fall in love? [[1st Place, The Rarity Awards, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, Skull Awards, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, The Royalty Awards 2017, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, The Gold Awards 2017, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, The Holo Awards, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, The Z Awards, Romance Category]] [[1st Place, The Purple Awards, Romance Category]] [[word count: 70,000-80,000 words]]

Frizzy haired and overweight, sixteen year old Elizabeth Summers hears ghosts. She also reads people's auras and sees when something bad is headed their way. Unfortunately, she can't choose which ghosts visit her psychic hotline or when her paranormal abilities are triggered. Since dealing with otherworldly spirits won't help her gain social acceptance in her high school, she hides her psychic gift. Reluctantly, Elizabeth starts exploring her psychic skills, and Dresden's paranormal activity when handsome Australian loner, Dylan Grant, asks her to help him find out what happened to his missing sister. As the summer heats up, Dylan begins to see Elizabeth in a different light than the overweight, psychic girl he corralled for her paranormal abilities. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Excerpt from Ghost) "There's a spell on this book." Madame Regina frowns, her brow creasing in concern. "No, not a spell. It's a curse!" Alarmed, I feel the temperature of the room plunge as our breaths collectively plume into the frigid air. The unnatural cold feels as if someone's opened a large freezer door. I can't stop shivering. Madame Regina makes a strangled cry of distress, her voice growing urgent. "Demons are trying to come through. Whatever happens, don't break the circle." Dylan and Jerry look terrified as the delicate tea cup sitting by Jerry's hand starts rattling uncontrollably. Glancing down, I check to see if he's touching the china, but both of his hands are lying flat on the table. Everything's shaking as if we're in a seismic earthquake. "In the name of Christ, I exorcise you from this room!" Madame Regina shouts the command as the feet of the table rises two inches, then crashes back to the floor. Shaking pictures on the wall start rattling, adding to the mayhem. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My beautiful new cover is by @SashaLeighS. Check out her amazing story, "Casting Power" a Wattpad featured story, #1 in Hex, and chosen for Wattpad's Up and Coming List!

Sherwood Institute for the Magically Afflicted. A refuge for those seeking remedy from curses, hexes and other fantastical ailments. In one night, Ariel Winters went from socialite wannabe to cursed freak. Her heart is turned to glass by a vengeful witch and she is shipped off to Sherwood Institute to find a cure. While receiving treatment, she meets a demonic mobster with anger issues, a timid girl who grows a fish tail when water touches her skin, a beast boy who is kinder than his brutish appearance... As time passes, these damaged people slowly wind their way around her fragile heart. Can Ariel learn to trust them enough to let them into her heart? Or will her new found friendships shatter it before a cure can be found? This will be book 1 in what is tentatively titled The Sherwood Chronicles. Copyright © Melissa Lucas 2013 All Rights Reserved. No part of this literary work may be reproduced or used without written consent from the author. The images in the cover do not belong to me and all rights go to their respective owners.

They met in December.