halifax ranch prize for fiction

To escape a poisonous snake, Milo Hartley must beg a lion to save him. “Milo, crawl here. Show him who you belong to!” _Nero Hartley “Well, stay still. Be a big boy, for once. Tell him who you will choose.” _Salvatore Portello, looking at Milo, who sat on his lap, his large hand gripping Milo’s hip possessively. *** Milo is cursed. Since he was seven years old, he has seen the exact day people will die. After his family died in an accident he predicted, he was sold to the Hartley family as an omen of bad luck. For thirteen years, he lived as a toy for the sadistic Nero Hartley, enduring constant humiliation. Now, Nero is trading him to Salvatore Portello, a ruthless Mafia boss who just killed his own uncle to take the throne. To escape Nero’s obsession, Milo risks everything. He kneels before Salvatore and begs for protection. Milo doesn’t know which is more dangerous: the snake or the lion. But now, both have claimed him. One with a dark obsession, the other with a lethal protection. ⚠️ Warning ⚠️ What to expect: -R18+ -Graphic violence and humiliation in the early chapters and recur throughout the story. -Sweet and dark romance between our leads. -Kink: BDSM play mostly consensual. -Smut, explicit adult content that is part to the plot.

Kelly Moran is a bestselling author of enchanting ever-afters. She gets her ideas from everyone and everything around her and there's always a book playing out in her head. No one who knows her bats an eyelash when she talks to herself. Kelly is a RITA® Finalist, RONE Award-Winner, Catherine Award-Winner, Readers Choice Finalist, Holt Medallion Finalist, and landed on the "Must Read" & "10 Best Reads" lists at USA TODAY's Lifestyle blog. She is a proud Romance Writers of America® member, where she was an Award of Excellence Finalist. Her books have foreign translation rights in Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands. Kelly's interests include: sappy movies, MLB, NFL, driving others insane, and sleeping when she can. She is a closet coffee junkie and chocoholic, but don't tell anyone. She's originally from Wisconsin, but she resides in South Carolina with her three sons, her two dogs, and a cat. She loves hearing from her readers. www.AuthorKellyMoran.com Nearly the last remaining member of Olivia Cattenach's family has just died overseas and left her overcome by grief. But when a soldier shows up at her ranch with a final message from her brother, she finds new purpose. Nathan Roldan is as formidable as they come. Bulging muscles and inked to boot, he looks like every bit the bad boy he claims to be. Except, under his shuttered gaze and behind his walls lies a gentle giant. Determined to carry out her brother's wishes, she chips away at Nate's layers and discovers more pain than any person should ever have to endure. And a passion she never dreamed was possible. He's not the hero she thinks he is... Nate's mistake got a fellow comrade killed, and a deathbed promise to take care of the guy's sister lands him in Wyoming with the hope of redemption. But he wasn't expecting...her. Beautiful, witty, and sweet, Olivia is everything he doesn't deserve. Born a nothing, he'll die a nothing. Though guilt is a living thing, temptation is too hard to resist. Somehow, she's unleashing his restraint and unearthing feelings he buried long ago. He wants her. More, he's worried he needs her. She's trying to save him, but when she learns the truth, he'll lose the only happiness he's ever known. "An emotionally raw story with beautiful prose. A compelling read." ~Katie Ashley, New York Times & USA Today Bestseller

[Mature Content] Pollyanna, haunted by her father's mysterious suicide and the rumors of a family curse, faces strange encounter in Dunecliff city. After a disillusioning relationship, she doubts true love exists, until mysterious messages and near-death experiences disrupt her life. When her ex-fiance is murdered, Pollyanna seeks solace in her hometown, Aleyska, only to uncover her father's hidden secrets. As she grapples with her newfound identity as part of a "pack" and the enigmatic title of "Luna," it was confirmed that she indeed has no Luna wolf. In the midst of making the public announcement, Pollyanna is confronted by a stranger with a chilling claim. "Get her bags," a commanding voice pierces the air, freezing Pollyanna in shock. "I'm here to collect my mate." Mate? Pollyanna's world spins as she faces the unsettling prospect of multiple Alphas vying for her allegiance. How did her life spiral into such uncertainty?

Luna, the daughter of the most prideful king in the entire empire, is the ideal woman, the beautiful decoration that all noble women should strive to be. And secretly, she is also the perfect man, devoted completely to the sword and the defense of her kingdom, masquerading as the king's only son so that she can learn the masculine arts, when in fact she has no siblings. However, her entire life is upended when the emperor's son finds his way to their little corner of the world, and she ends up lost in an entirely new political scene that makes what was in her hometown considered the epitome of manners look like a crude imitation. With wolves surrounding her, both literally and figuratively, Luna must either fight to the top or sink to obscurity. And it all depends on the whims of one single man. That is, until she begins to discover her true purpose...

A Fantasy World of beautiful Demi Human monster girls working on a ranch alongside Hildegarde, the owner of the Ranch and a certified Rancher, Breeder, and Hunter! Join Hildegarde on her journey to build up her dilapidated Ranch on the edge of the Frontier, create a thriving farmland, house many different species of Demi Humans, and of course... breed quite a few of them too~! Sustaining herself and her partners, can Hildegarde survive by herself out on the edge of the Frontier, where monsters and bandits roam around freely looking to prey on the weak? Author's Note: THIS IS FUTANARI, YURI, AND FEMALE ONLY!!! This is a smut book alongside being a Survival/Farm Sim/ Life Sim type of novel, so understand that there will be sex, breeding, pregnancy and more; additionally, the Demi Human's are treated like a different race compared to Humans, and as such it may be uncomfortable for some to read about. There WILL be some scenes that will likely bring up that discomfort, as well as other discomforts, but there won't be anything incredibly dark within the novel, so don't worry about that; besides that, yes, this novel will have a story alongside the 'plot', so I hope I can do well with that too lol~! Come on in, enjoy, and if this doesn't sound like something you would like to read, please, don't force yourself; I want to value your time as much as I value my own. PLEASE do not spam comments, don't be rude for the sake of being rude, and do not feel the need to announce your own departure; if you have criticisms, I am open to hearing them because that is something I can improve from, but being rude and not offering criticisms is not welcome.

Erus has royal blood, but his own father treats him like a monster. To the King, Erus is just a savage creature who needs to be controlled. The people also branded him Tyrant. Growing up hated and alone, Erus only wanted one thing, a place where he truly belonged. ​To prove himself, he entered a deadly trial where the winner earns a title and a spot serving the King. He was even desperate enough to try making a deal with the God of Death just to win. But then Cana showed up and completely changed his path. Instead of a dark pact with the underworld, an accidental "Master-Slave" contract bound them together. Erus is the Master and Cana is the servant, but their connection is way deeper than a simple spell. ​As they fight through the trial, Erus realizes he isn't the only one with terrifying power—Cana’s abilities might actually be stronger than his. They share a bond that goes back to a past someone tried desperately to bury. Now, they have to survive a trial designed to kill them while facing enemies who are just hiding behind their own fear. ​In the end, what’s more important: the title that was stripped away, or the memories that were erased to keep the truth hidden?

Bucky, the eldest of the three Ray brothers, watched the easy way Colt and Hedli moved around each other, a quiet contentment settling over his younger brother that Bucky hadn't seen in years. He was genuinely happy for them, but a familiar ache stirred within him. After his last relationship ended, he'd resigned himself to being the perpetually single brother, convinced that love wasn't in the cards for him. He was stuck in a self-imposed limbo, torn between the faint hope of finding someone and the strong pull to just stay single forever. Meanwhile, Ali arrived in town, a fresh face with a determined glint in her eyes. She was looking for ranch work, specifically. The Triple R Ranch's "Help Wanted" sign in the feed store caught her attention, and a small smile touched her lips. Ali wasn't just proficient; she was meticulous. Every task she was given, from mending fences to doctoring livestock, she tackled with an almost fierce dedication, intent on conquering it and ensuring it was done perfectly the first time. The Triple R was exactly what she'd been looking for. What Ali didn't know yet was that the Triple R was home to more than just hard work. She didn't know about Bucky, the oldest brother, battling his own internal demons about love. Will Ali take the job, pouring all her energy into proving herself on the ranch, or will the magnetic pull of Bucky's quiet intensity shift her focus from work to winning his hesitant heart?

If an Evil God offered to save you— At the cost of betraying all of humanity. Would you accept? The year is 2040—the world is collapsing. Gods are awakening, monsters roam the lands, and civilization enters its twilight. Tang Ping, a jobless youth, enters into a pact with a girl who calls herself an "Evil God." They have no intention of saving humanity. Instead, they decide to build a new nation—one that reigns supreme over the entire world. While nations continue their petty struggles for hegemony, the history books of the future have already recorded: "That was the year humanity missed its final chance to stop Him." (Note: 1. The original work was written in Chinese and translated into English by the author using software like GPT. Please bear with any awkward phrasing! 2. This novel will be serialized on platforms such as Webnovel, Royalroad, and Honeyfeed.)

Sick of the city life, Qi Fan returns to his hometown island and ends up with an Island Management System. He starts with a special prize that helps him not only to have underwater night vision and breathing, but he also attracts ocean life. In the day, he takes a boat out to catch lobsters and fish marlins. At night, he dives into the deep sea to search for mysterious treasures. On the weekend, he takes a fishing boat far out to tease the turtles and look for blue whales. Once he’s earned enough, he’ll make his hometown rich by developing a holiday resort city. The beaches would be full of tourists enjoying the sun, sand, and bikinis…

After being found and brought back by her wealthy family, Arabella Donovan has an unexpected awakening and discovers that the world she lives in is a mishmash of popular story tropes. Her eldest brother is the tragic guy in a melodramatic, angsty novel; Her second brother is the cannon fodder in an showbiz power-fantasy novel; Her third brother is the scapegoat who ends up with a criminal record in a doting teen romance; Her fourth sister is the vicious villainess in a 'real vs. fake heiress' story; And even her parents are just antagonistic background characters in some sweet, middle-aged romance. Arabella Donovan: This family is a complete collection of misfortunes. The word 'tragic' doesn't even begin to cover it. Her family, after hearing all of her inner thoughts: "..."