velvet and veneer

Researching and finding cures for illnesses is what Dr. Evan Kidd is passionate about. When he’s asked to help determine what’s making the children of Felis Forest sick, he can’t resist the mystery or children in need. Evan accepts, and even understands, why Rene has to follow him around town. It’s not every day a human is allowed in the “cat people only” town. But being attracted to someone who doesn’t seem to trust him, much less like him, brings back painful reminders of his past.<br><br>Rene has plenty of his own baggage, and having to shadow a human -- who happens to be a doctor -- isn’t helping. Evan challenges all Rene’s carefully crafted defenses and makes him dream of a life out of the shadows. If they can survive all the obstacles while uncovering the truth, they might just discover they aren’t so different after all.

[When Prejudice Collides with Fate: Whose Trap Is This Mismatched Marriage?] Qin Ran had always believed that a man still trapped in the arranged-marriage circus at thirty must be either emotionally stunted or physically defective. But the universe had a wicked sense of humor—because the man waiting at Table 11 was a walking contradiction. Lu Sheng was a paradox of elegance and danger. His charcoal suit sculpted a body built for both boardrooms and back-alley brawls. When his gaze locked onto hers, the sharp lines of his face seemed to carve shadows into the air, the room suddenly heavy with the scent of cedar and unspoken threats. “I’m sorry, I think I’ve mistaken the table—” “Sit.” His voice cracked like a whip, freezing her mid-retreat. The glint of his platinum watch mirrored her death grip on the handbag strap. “If we’re both puppets in this family farce… let’s at least make it mutually beneficial.” Three days later, the marriage certificate seared her palm like a brand. She’d told herself this was a calculated escape from her brother’s suffocating household—until their wedding night, when the fresh scar snaking across his ribs screamed of bullets, not business deals. And when Lu Sheng shrugged off his shirt, water sluicing down the defined ridges of his abdomen, his smirk was pure sin: “Clause Three of our contract, Mrs. Lu—no coveting Party A’s assets.” She backed him against the glass wall, her fingers skating over the corded muscle of his spine. “Mr. Lu… does that clause include your six-pack?” [High-Stakes Romance | Marriage of Convenience | Enemies-to-Forced-Allies] — A billionaire with a bulletproof reputation and a vault of secrets. — A razor-tongued medical intern with a talent for unearthing truths. As lies ignite and bullets fly, only one rule remains: In this game of hearts and gunpowder, the first to fall… loses everything.

Jade Onyx was an eighteen year old young lady living in Green Sand, Velvet - a country which had several conflicts with Monad. Jade has two older brother, Judah and Gerome. Gerome was taken in to the family after the death of his parents in a war, Jade was secretly in love with Gerome for years. After winning SOAR tournament, the cronies were supposed to meet up in Seven, the capital city for another round of celebration. Everyone was in great shock when they heard that Gerome went missing after a plane crash, caused by a Monad spy during his training session. At the same night, Monad had taken an ugly turn by launching an attack, creating a catastrophe to the capital city. Fortunately, Velvet was able to force Monad to retreat. But they were sure, Monad is going to strike again soon. Therefore, Jade and the cronies set out to search for Gerome, and also for the person who can help Velvet, for they know they don't stand a chance against Monad should they launch another attack. Discover actions, adventures and love throughout the story of Velvet.

Aurora Sinclair has spent her life trapped under her father's cruel control, groomed för a fate she never chose. Lucian Vale was hired to kill him. But the moment he sees her, everything changes. He no longer wants just blood-he wants her. Twisted in obsession and bound by desire, their love is anything but pure. And when vengeance ignites, they'll either burn together... Or destroy everything in their wake.

When Patrick Holt’s ex-boyfriend Clay Teal asks him to serve as the best man in his wedding to the man he left Patrick for, Patrick initially balks at the request. Even though he and Clay have been on fairly good terms since their breakup, Patrick is still bitter about the way Clay dumped him.<br><br>But after Patrick’s new boyfriend convinces him that being a part of Clay’s wedding would help to resolve the years of “issues” between the two men, Patrick reluctantly agrees.<br><br>In the weeks leading up to the big day, Patrick discovers he’s having a very hard time dealing with Clay’s upcoming nuptials. He also finds himself thinking more about his failed relationship with Clay and the events that led to their breakup. And, at the center of it all, was one lovely blue velvet jacket.<br><br>Will the same problems follow him into his new relationship?

**Synopsis** At Thornfield University, freshman Zina Davies struggles with her classes and feels lost in the whirlwind of campus life. When she learns she’s failing a course, she turns to Kane, a handsome and aloof senior, for help. Initially hesitant, Kane agrees to tutor her, and as they spend time together, an unexpected connection blossoms. However, their budding romance faces obstacles, including a jealous senior, who has her sights set on Kane. As Zina navigates her feelings for Kane and the challenges of college, she must find the strength to overcome her struggles and fight for their relationship. Can love truly flourish amidst rivalry and self-doubt?

The story revolves around Sandra, a young woman who finds herself in a complicated situation. She's being pursued by James, a wealthy and charming man who's determined to win her heart. However, Sandra's feelings are torn between James and Damola, a man she's recently met and has a strong connection with. As the story unfolds, Sandra tries to navigate her relationships with both men, while also dealing with the challenges of her new life with James. Despite her growing feelings for Damola, she's drawn to James's charm and wealth. Throughout the book, Sandra's emotions are put to the test as she struggles to make sense of her feelings and loyalties. The story is filled with drama, romance, and unexpected twists, keeping the reader engaged and curious about what's to come.

In a world where power and passion collide, Serena Vale is a woman on the brink of losing everything. Betrayed by those she trusted and burdened with the weight of her family's crumbling legacy, she has no choice but to accept an offer that goes against everything she stands for—a contract marriage to the ruthless billionaire, Adrian Blackwood. Adrian is a man who always gets what he wants. Cold, calculating, and dangerously irresistible, he needs a wife to secure a high-stakes business deal. Serena is the perfect candidate—beautiful, poised, and desperate enough to agree to his terms. One year. No feelings. No complications. But from the moment she signs her name on the dotted line, the rules begin to blur. Desire ignites. Temptation lingers. And the more Serena fights it, the deeper Adrian pulls her into his world—a world filled with luxury, secrets, and a passion that threatens to consume them both. As their fake marriage turns into something neither of them expected, Serena realizes that Adrian is keeping secrets of his own. And when the past collides with the present, she must decide whether to walk away or risk it all for the man who was never supposed to own her heart. Will their love be nothing more than a sinful promise, or will it become the one thing that could save them both? —

In the glimmering world of billionaires and island paradises, Elysia is torn between a past love that haunts her and the dark allure of Rafael, a powerful man who craves more than just control. Their escape to a remote paradise reveals the passionate, unrelenting tension simmering beneath the surface, where desire and power intertwine. As Elysia battles her own resistance, she finds herself helplessly drawn into Rafael's dangerous game-a battle of wills where surrender might be the only option. Will Elysia escape the velvet prison of her own desires, or will Rafael's dominance claim more than just her body?

Whispers in the Velvet Shadows This heart of Ilyana nightrose, a heart that has survived a lifetime's worth of lies and loss, was looking for safe haven in eclipsia's magical forest, which keeps its secrets wrapped in whispers dark as the shadows. In her ancient forests, hauntingly beautiful ruins, there was something even more than quiet in the night. She discovers a world dancing on the verge of darkness and light. The road that Ilyana is destined to tread converges with the enigmatic, mystery-ridden stranger. He throws her into a mess of peril and intrigue she can't quite wriggle free from - a threat and a protector in the same person. Forbidden emotions toss and turn between them, but Ilyana has to find her way through this labyrinth of old powers, hidden realms, and curses left and right, which could easily alter her course in life. As the truth unravels, she becomes inexorably tied to starfall realm and forces that seem to threaten all she holds dear. It is her courage, love, and strength that will be put to the test as she learns of powers within herself and a delicate balance between ruin and redemption. It's time for Ilyana to make up her mind whether she would accept the darkness within her or become the light that dispels it all through betrayal, moral dilemmas, and long-buried secrets. Every choice has a price, and even love is a dangerous weapon in eclipsia forest and starfall realm. This is a mystery, romance, and transformation journey into the heart of the unknown, where nothing is as it seems and the greatest truths are hidden in the shadows of whispers in the velvet.