The passionate story of Tessa and Hardin continues as family secrets, deep betrayals, and career opportunities threaten to tear them apart.

This is the sequel (continuation) of After. Hardin and Tessa's relationship will be tested in ways she never expected, but he knew of all along.

Tessa Young is an 18 year old college student with a simple life, excellent grades, and a sweet boyfriend. She always has things planned out ahead of time, until she meets a rude boy named Hardin, with too many tattoos and piercings who shatters her plans.

In the desert, an instant turns life into death and hate into love. In the desert, everything is different. Boundaries break down, and you find yourself doing things that you would never, ever have imagined. Lilly Linton finds this out the hard way: in the shadow of the pyramids, she and her boss, cold, calculating Mr Ambrose, must face death and danger together. Is the desert's heat enough to melt the cold heart of Britain's richest financier? WINNER of the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD in the Wattys 2016 Sequel to Robert Thier's #1 Hit 'Storm and Silence'

"It is your choice," he said, stepping so close to me that our lips were almost touching. "Either do what I say - or get another job." My heart stood still as I gazed up into his deep, dark, dangerous eyes... In a world where women's only role in life is to sit at home and look pretty, Lilly is determined to fight for her freedom. There's only one problem: a powerful man blocking her way.

"Please don't leave." he pleaded. His once arrogant, obnoxious, confident gaze looked so vulnerable, helpless and most of all like the young little boy I once knew. "I have to, I've warned you time and time again you will regret your playboy ways one day and it seems that day has come." I said softly looking into his lost looking, soft orbs of blue and grey. Meet Carly Isabelle Edwards, once was a rebellious badgirl now is the passive good girl who only worries about her grades and getting into a renowned college. When she moves back to California with her mom, she meets her once sweet, naïve and caring childhood friend after almost four years; to only find out that he had grown to be the biggest, obnoxious playboy. Despite tons of arguments, fights and banter Carly and Mason are still best friends. Carly, however hates Mason's playboy ways and tries to change him but fails because of Mason's non-belief in real relationships and love. Carly's days of just worrying about school are gone. Her life has started revolving between relationships, feelings, love, hatred, old crushes, her past and even death. Will Carly succeed in changing Mason's point of view or will it be too late when he realizes it himself?

Ashtyn Montgomery has been hailed a celebrity in her world. Blessed with a sensational voice and a body that can grace the dance floor, she had a very bright future as a performer. But, she wanted to leave that world to pursue a different career path. In order to do that, she hid her voice to work in one of the most prestigious event management companies in Perth, Hart Enterprises. Things get rather exciting, and uncomfortable, when she crosses paths with Rhys McLaughlin, the heir to the company. In an ideal scenario, this chance meeting would have been perfect for Ashtyn. Only problem was: Rhys does not want her in his world. Copyright © 2012 September by ThoughtsOnPaper™ / C.J.S.L.L. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this story or portions or ideas thereof in any form whatsoever. No part of this story, idea may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, reposting, or otherwise, without the written and signed permission of the author.