/0/25358/coverbig.jpg?v=dcc1dc8fdfaa483e2548d50bcd8c649e)
When small town librarian Maryanne learns that she is the temporary guardian of her best friend's toddler, she is ready to take on the responsibility of parenthood. However, when she discovers that she must co-parent Riley with Max, the charming billionaire playboy who broke her heart all those years ago, she is horrified. They have one year to decide who will be the better guardian; Max has one year to prove his love to Maryanne. As Max and Maryanne work side by side to create a loving home, Maryanne will see a new side of Max and realize just how badly she wants to change the past. Her Billionaire and Her Baby is created by Sierra Christenson, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
As the cold winter air rushes through the quiet library, rustling pages of a few open books, Maryanne shivers, her body tightening up. She presses the start button on her key fob to make sure her car is running. Shaking the chill off, she releases her tied up hair from her dark scrunchie, allowing her pale locks to fall down around her shoulders. After running her hands through her hair, she pulls on a black beanie and shrugs on her winter jacket.
Maryanne sighs, dreading the walk from the door to her warm car. After she places the strap of her purse around her shoulders and tries to pick up her car keys with her gloved hands, she walks away from her desk.
"Have a good night," Jessica calls out to her, her glasses slipping down her thin nose as she looks up from her paperwork.
"You too. Don't stay too long." Maryanne smiles softly before bracing herself against the mid-January air.
She all but bolts to her warm Toyota, groaning out a sigh once she is out of the freezing wonderland. She shakes her entire body, trying to warm up.
"I hate winter," she mumbles taking off her gloves in order to grab her phone from her pocket. She has three missed calls.
"That's odd."
Maryanne only ever leaves it on silent while she is at work, but rarely will she ever receive a call, especially not three. As she clicks on the voicemail, another call from the same number pops up.
"Oh," she slides the answer button to pick up the call and brings the cold phone to her ear. "Hello?"
"Maryanne Johnson? This is Edward. I am from the Edenville Hospital." The smooth voice on the other end of the line trembles, and Maryanne can sense anxiety that reverberates through her own body.
"Is everything okay?"
A large stone forms in her stomach and only continues to grow. She swallows passed the lump in her throat as her heart begins to quicken and her mind races.
Who could it be? Who does she even know nearby? Most of her family is on the other side of the country.
"I am so sorry. I am calling because you are listed as the emergency contact for Miss Lucy Morgan."
Maryanne's entire body turns upside down, flopping. Her vision blurs as her mind shuts down.
"Miss Lucy was involved in a head on collision with a drunk driver. Her and her passenger were dead on impact," the voice, Edward, continues solemnly.
No, no. "This can't be happening," Maryanne whimpers. Tears stream down her cheeks, but she tries to bite her lip in order to control herself.
Her entire body vibrates with the grief wracking her chest. A sob seeps through her defenses. Her only friend. The only one that understand her. She is gone. What is she going to do?
One thought rushes through her mind even as her car shuts off and the cold winter bites at her soul, "Where is Riley?"
>><<
Maryanne holds down tears for the hundredth time that day, gripping her steering wheel. She stares up at the apartment complex before her. She is not sure she is ready to venture into their home. Their space. Since neither of them have much family nearby, she was asked by Lucy's mother if she could box up all of her things and send them to her. Her mother did not want to cross the threshold of their apartment.
Well, neither did Maryanne, but she couldn't say no to the grieving mother.
Pausing before she drives away, she grabs her phone on the passenger seat that has begun to vibrate violently. Blinking away her tears, she reads the name on her screen before answering.
"Hello?"
The voice that echoes through the phone is soft and kind, "Good morning, this is Dianne from Social Services."
"Oh, good morning, how are you?"
"I am doing great, how are you?"
"Oh, holding up," she swallows passed the lump in her throat.
Dianne continues, but now her voice is more gentle, careful. "I was just calling to see if you have some time this afternoon to come in and sign some paperwork? There is some information we have to go over as well."
Maryanne's heart skips a beat. That's right, she will be signing for Riley today. Hopefully she will be able to bring her home. "Yes, of course. I am off today. I can come in."
"Perfect. There are some issues we have to figure out," Dianne states.
"Like what?" What could be an issue in this situation?
"Your name is not the only one in the will."
What? "Really? Who else would be written in?
"Greg wrote that he wanted his cousin to take care of Riley."
"Who?"
Wait, did Greg have a cousin nearby? Yes, he did. Lucy mentioned him before. What was his name?
"Max Ryder, the maternal cousin of Greg Ryder."
Maryanne's heart drops as memories fill her mind.
Max Ryder.
The billionaire cousin that owns an expanding company and lives in an expensive penthouse in the city. The one that Maryanne went out with five years ago, but very briefly. The man that broke her heart. He is the one that Greg chose to take care of Riley?
With the world crumbling apart during another war, Eliana is tasked to bring two nations together through marriage. Plans change drastically when her caravan is attacked by assassins and she is forced to go on the run. While fleeing assassins, Eliana will meet Jasper, a young werebear searching for the love of his mate. As Eliana discovers that her lineage holds a dangerous secret, she will be faced with the magnetic attraction she feels for Jasper, a member of the race responsible for killing her mother. The Princess and Her Werebear is created by Sierra Christenson, an EGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Rena got into an entanglement with a big shot when she was drunk one night. She needed Waylen's help while he was drawn to her youthful beauty. As such, what was supposed to be a one-night stand progressed into something serious. All was well until Rena discovered that Waylen's heart belonged to another woman. When his first love returned, he stopped coming home, leaving Rena all alone for many nights. She put up with it until she received a check and farewell note one day. Contrary to how Waylen expected her to react, Rena had a smile on her face as she bid him farewell. "It was fun while it lasted, Waylen. May our paths never cross. Have a nice life." But as fate would have it, their paths crossed again. This time, Rena had another man by her side. Waylen's eyes burned with jealousy. He spat, "How the hell did you move on? I thought you loved only me!" "Keyword, loved!" Rena flipped her hair back and retorted, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, Waylen. Besides, you were the one who asked for a breakup. Now, if you want to date me, you have to wait in line." The next day, Rena received a credit alert of billions and a diamond ring. Waylen appeared again, got down on one knee, and uttered, "May I cut in line, Rena? I still want you."
"Never let anyone treat you like shit!" I learned that the hard way. For three years, I lived with my in-laws. They didn't treat me as their son-in-law but as a slave. I put up with everything because of my wife, Yolanda Lambert. She was the light of my life. Unfortunately, my whole world came crashing down the day I caught my wife cheating on me. I have never been so heartbroken. To have my revenge, I revealed my true identity. I was none other than Liam Hoffman—the heir of a family with trillions of dollars in assets! The Lamberts were utterly shocked after the big reveal. They realized what fools they had been for treating me like trash. My wife even knelt down and begged for my forgiveness. What do you think I did? Did I take her back or made her suffer? Find out!
Darya spent three years loving Micah, worshipping the ground he walked on. Until his neglect and his family's abuse finally woke her up to the ugly truth-he doesn't love her. Never did, never will. To her, he is a hero, her knight in shining armour. To him, she is an opportunist, a gold digger who schemed her way into his life. Darya accepts the harsh reality, gathers the shattered pieces of her dignity, divorces him, takes back her real name, reclaims her title as the country's youngest billionaire heiress. Their paths cross again at a party. Micah watches his ex-wife sing like an angel, tear up the dance floor, then thwart a lecher with a roundhouse kick. He realises, belatedly, that she's exactly the kind of woman he'd want to marry, if only he had taken the trouble to get to know her. Micah acts promptly to win her back, but discovers she's now surrounded by eligible bachelors: high-powered CEO, genius biochemist, award-winning singer, reformed playboy. Worse, she makes it pretty clear that she's done with him. Micah gears up for an uphill battle. He must prove to her he's still worthy of her love before she falls for someone else. And time is running out.
They don't know I'm a girl. They all look at me and see a boy. A prince. Their kind purchase humans like me for their lustful desires. And, when they stormed into our kingdom to buy my sister, I intervened to protect her. I made them take me too. The plan was to escape with my sister whenever we found a chance. How was I to know our prison would be the most fortified place in their kingdom? I was supposed to be on the sidelines. The one they had no real use for. The one they never meant to buy. But then, the most important person in their savage land-their ruthless beast king-took an interest in the "pretty little prince." How do we survive in this brutal kingdom, where everyone hates our kind and shows us no mercy? And how does someone, with a secret like mine, become a lust slave? . AUTHOR'S NOTE. This is a dark romance-dark, mature content. Highly rated 18+ Expect triggers, expect hardcore. If you're a seasoned reader of this genre, looking for something different, prepared to go in blindly not knowing what to expect at every turn, but eager to know more anyway, then dive in! . From the author of the international bestselling book: "The Alpha King's Hated Slave."
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."