A collection of poetry found under lovers nails or stained against your pillow case - highest ranking - #3 poems - #9 in poetry - All rights reserved - © Ruby Smith @desp-erate 2014 Cover by @-grxnge

A series of my random poetic endeavours

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]]

Nandini Varma owns the only bookstore in town and is content with hiding her awkward self behind bestsellers. What she doesn't know is that her favorite author has moved near her, and that perhaps she could finally have a love story of her own, even if it's an awkward one. ***** Ryan Callahan wants to move on from his writing career and just work for the police. It's hard though, when the town's book lady happens to be a huge fan of his. She's smart, funny, beautiful, and kind - a lethal combination. He wants to get to know her more, but something seems to be holding her back. Who is this mysterious woman that Ryan can't stop thinking about? Content/trigger warning: This story contains themes of sexism and verbal abuse. [[word count: 70,000 - 80,000]] Cover designed by Joe Resch

these poems are for the lonely, forgotten, the lost poets at three am, and everyone else in between cover credit: -sidjenkins

Ara, the only woman left alive after a plague, is searching for a way to save humanity. She thinks there isn't a man she can trust, until she meets Kaden. ***** A plague has swept over the Earth, killing the majority of the population and every female. Except one. Ara witnessed the horror and destruction, but for the last three years she has survived. Now, desperation and hunger force her out of the mountains and onto a dangerous path; across the flooded downtown and through the gangs of survivors is hope. Ara's father spoke of a clue that could save not just her, but humanity. Then she is captured by a group of men. Despite the seeming kindness of Kaden, a young man her own age, Ara doesn't know if she can trust them. Then again, there's no way she can cross the plague-ridden city on her own. Men. Monsters. Is there a difference? This is the story of The Last She. (This book contains all of The Last She Series - Book 1: The Last She, Book 2: The Last City and Book 3: The Last Creation) [[word count: 250,000-300,000 words]]

poetry by a person that's afraid of people. 12/23/15- #1 in poetry

Connor and Vince fight their forbidden attraction as they attempt to rescue themselves and fellow residents of the underground Refuge facility from a toxic breach. ***** Connor Nichols spends his days alongside several young cadets training to become a future peacekeeper of the underground Refuge facility, but his nights are spent dreaming of his forbidden romantic past with best friend Vince Moore. Risking his quality reputation among Dr. Randolph and the leaders, he pursues a secret relationship with Vince until a sudden toxic breach threatens to poison the occupants of the facility and places Vince in immediate danger. To give him and Vince a fighting chance at a solid future together, Connor puts his life and love on the line to expose the truth about the toxins, the leaders, and the history of the Refuge. ***** CONTENT WARNING: Contains some language, mild violence & mild sexual references. ***** Copyright © 2021 by Leslie Lee Sanders

Max has spent the past several thousand lifetimes as a Reaper among humans and, despite the pleasures of a tidy country home with a well-dusted library and a finely tuned Harley, he's starting to get bored. His best friend gives him some advice: "Drink some scotch. Bed a woman. Join a rock band. Get it out of your system, and get back to your dutiful service." Max tried, but he ended up getting drunk, marrying the girl in Vegas, and accidentally triggering a chain of events that could end with the destruction of the human race. Now he needs to make things right again but the Reaper quickly learns that the magic of being human comes with one grim reality.