Sophia, the author hidden behind the mysterious pseudonym S. Bennet, has always preferred the safety of the shadows over the glare of the spotlight. Her world is the one she created in her successful fantasy novels, where her main character battles dark forces, and where she, shielded from prying eyes, feels invincible in the sanctuary of her home. Her life revolves around her virtual friend Stardust, her agent Amanda, and most importantly, her two friends Sarah and Anna.
But when Hollywood seizes her work to turn it into a hit series, Sophia's almost solitary world is shattered. Andrew Emerson, the hottest actor of the moment, demands in an interview to meet her in order to grasp all the subtleties of Sozakdam, the hero he's set to bring to life on screen. While flattered, for Sophia, this meeting is akin to climbing Mount Everest. Insurmountable. It would be like bursting her bubble, confronting her overwhelming shyness, and most of all... facing the charismatic Andrew.
But what is the star truly hiding behind his request? And more importantly, how far is Sophia willing to go to protect her anonymity and preserve her fragile balance? Caught between fascination and fear, she will have to confront her demons. Will she remain in the shadows of S. Bennet?
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]