Joy. Meaning? A great pleasure or happiness. For Joy DeVries, her great pleasure comes hand-wrapped with secrets and murder. Joy DeVries grew up a childhood star, and it came with as much baggage and scars as one would imagine. Nowadays, she's known as Joy Daisy, a kids show TV legend, and that's all she'd prefer people to see. If they look any closer, they might get a glimpse of the lust-driven, alcohol-consuming, unhinged woman she really is. However, Detective Colin Rooker is determined to get to know the woman behind the make-up and frills. He's taken with her, and she's intrigued by him. The only catch to this whirlwind romance? Detective Rooker is chasing a serial killer. And she's closer than he thinks. *** February 2021 Wattpad Editor's Pick! Open Novella Contest III Accolades: *Chosen as an Ambassador's Pick in Round 1!* *Round Two Winner!* Round 1 Milestone: Chapter three Round 2 Milestone: Chapter eleven Round 3 Milestone: Chapter twenty-one *** My entry for the Open Novella Contest III. Prompt #4. Because sometimes when I set out to write a nice fluffy contemporary romance... this happens. CONTENT WARNING: Mature rating for sexual situations, drug use, violence, murder, death, gore... **BLANKET TRIGGER WARNING** If you're offended or triggered by anything, ever, then you probably shouldn't be reading this.

"The Caregiver and the Mob Boss" ❦ Avelina makes her money by taking care of those who can't take care of themselves. When she is handed a case about a man who had needed a personal caregiver, she accepts. One thing Avelina never anticipated was the dangerous lifestyle he lived. Not only that, but she didn't expect for him to be so incredibly good-looking. Adrik Zolotov, the Russian mobster that everyone called "Mad Hatter". His insanity and crave for blood left him the most feared man of all. All he wanted was power and those around him to fear him. For a man recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, everyone believed him to be emotionally incapable of ever loving anyone. . . Imagine their surprise when he meets Avelina. ❦ "Mr. Zolotov, I have to make sure you bathe before I leave. It's apart of my jobs protocol," she said softly. The truth was that he made her feel nervous. There was so much coldness and evil in his eyes, it left a chill to run down her spine. "Fine," he stated before walking over to his bathtub. Her eyes followed his movements as he pulled off his shirt causing her to lick her lips and quickly look away. She could hear the sound of more clothes falling onto the ground until the sound of water running littered her eardrums. "You assist when asked, isn't that right?" He asked. Slowly, she opened her eyes to see that he had already gotten into the shower. "Yes," Avelina answered. "Bathe me." ❦ Dangerously far from cliché

Deadly assassins Allegra and Ace have been trying in vain to kill each other for years. With a mutual enemy threatening their mafias, they find themselves in an unexpected alliance, and soon discover killing each other isn't the only temptation they need to resist... ****** Allegra Grey is poised to be the next great American mafia leader, and she's more than living up to the name. A skilled assassin, there's only one target who's ever gotten away from her-suave, sinfully handsome Ace De Luca, heir to the Italian mafia and the Greys' biggest rival. When both mafias are faced with a dangerous threat, they're forced to work together to protect their families, and unexpected sparks fly. Allegra definitely isn't one to sleep with the enemy, especially an arrogant womanizer like Ace. But there's an undeniable electricity between them and Allegra's not sure it's all hatred. Ace may be bad news, but Allegra's never been afraid of a little danger. As the fire they're playing with grows to a scorching blaze, one thing is clear: trying to kill each other may have been difficult, but resisting this intense chemistry will be impossible. [[Word count: 100,000 - 150,000]] Cover designed by Regina Dionela Content/trigger warning: Contains mature themes, violence and gore

Orphic (adj.) mysterious and entrancing; beyond ordinary understanding.

It started on Wattpad but now is EVERYWHERE! with a published book, a captivating Webcomic on WEBTOON, a published graphic novel, and an upcoming film adaptation by Wattpad WEBTOON studios in Partnership with Stampede. Read, scroll, or watch - Enjoy this romance in any way you like. Stay tuned for film release updates! Basketball star Caleb Lockhart had it all - until a chance encounter with a mysterious woman in red changed everything. For the first time in his life, Caleb wanted something; something he could never have. ***** College heartthrob Caleb Lockhart is the last person a girl like Veronica Strafford should be involved with. Intelligent and ambitious, with good reason to be cynical of the world, Veronica refuses to be the campus player's next conquest, even after a chance encounter sparks an undeniable attraction between them. But with nowhere to stay, and running from recent tragedy, Veronica finds herself leaning on someone else for the first time. Caleb has never wanted something like this before and he's determined to pursue her, even as the secrets of their pasts threaten to break them apart. Book 1 in the Red series

[THIS STORY IS FREE WITH EXCLUSIVE BONUS CONTENT] A fake relationship, a diabolical plan and a threat to the human race. The only thing that ties them together is an eighteen year old girl's choice, that could change the course of everything. *** Every year five hundred children are abducted from planet Earth and taken to Pluto to serve as slaves to aliens who are far superior to the human species. When a slave turns eighteen they are allowed to choose their fate for the rest of their lives. They are only given three choices; remain a slave, become a fighter or serve as a Plutonian's lover. For the past eleven years, Aria has spent every second waiting for an opportunity to escape and when she's offered a dangerous but rewarding arrangement by a prominent Plutonian, she is quick to agree. But when the lines between love and hatred blur, will Aria ever be able to escape or will her risky circumstances kill her first? Editor's Picks 2021 *Winner of the Spotlight Awards* *Highest rank so far: #4 in Aliens #1 in dystopian #3 in romance (10/2/21) Cover by @Greenteadragon

(This story will be free on October 4th!) Determined to protect her family from a government set on exterminating them, Willow flees the city into a chemical swamp full of mutated wildlife. Season 1 of Toxic Nature ****** The world has changed, and so has Willow. A government formed by good intentions and a dying planet is killing everyone. The criteria needed to stay alive gets more stringent every day, and Willow barters her soul to keep the ones she loves safe. But when two children are sentenced to die, she risks it all to save them. Willow and her family make the deadly decision to run to the one place the officials won't follow. The bayou. Deemed uninhabitable after the dumping of mysterious, neon-green chemicals, Willow has no idea if they're running toward salvation or a slow, painful death. But just like the rest of the world, the swamp has changed. When fish have fangs, alligators talk, and a wild man named Croc maneuvers like a beast, Willow will learn what it truly means to be human. Toxic Nature Book 1 This story is now available on YONDER, your next-generation reading app from the Wattpad family. Join me on YONDER today! Find it now in your app store. Wattpad Featured Editor's Picks! Highest Ranking #1 in Paranormal. #9 in Romance. #2 in Dystopian.