Better Homes And Gardens Sweepstakes Winners

Rowan sees beauty in death. The Order he has sworn to obey only sees defilement. As the reviled Caretaker of the Order, Rowan has accepted his role as a dutiful outcast because he believes it is the only way to prove his worth to the man who holds his sisters’ souls as collateral. With his magic and his voice, Rowan can absorb death and transform it, but only in ways the Order deems acceptable to maintain the stability of the reality it claims to protect Order must subdue Disorder. Reality must triumph over illusion. He is tainted and always will be. Rowan has never questioned those lessons, but that changes the night he harvests a crimson soul that is more than human and chooses to keep it a secret. When Rowan’s song transforms that soul into a beautiful and mysterious man he names Wren, he is forced to accept that sometimes duty is a lie and illusion is the only thing you can trust. As the fabric of the Order begins to unwind and a new kind of Disorder takes hold, Rowan will need to choose again, stand with the Order that held him down, or forge a new path with Wren at his side. He may be the only one who can restore balance to the worlds, but only if he can find balance within himself first. ************************************* Updates 3-4 times per week. Note: This story focuses on relationships. I promise an epic romance, lots of swoon-worthy moments, and a healthy amount of fluff. When it does get steamy…you might get burned. Fair warning for explicit content. I don’t shy away from my spice. There are lots of side characters and couples to fall in love with, in addition to the main couple. If you love the idea of found family, you will be happy. This book is set in a non-heteronormative world, so you will see various gender identities/expressions and types of love. ************************************* Excerpt (if you want the full steamy version, you will have to read the book!): Still reeling from the new magic that coursed under his skin and unsure of how to react to the desire that threatened to take control of him, Rowan froze. Wren's hot breath against his mouth sent a jolt of pleasure through his body, and he choked back a groan. A different kind of panic flared in Rowan's chest, burning him as if he were the one on fire. This was what he wanted, what he'd thought about every night since Wren left. But wanting more was one thing. Acting on it was another. He'd spent so much of his life hiding, he didn't know how to do anything else. One corner of Wren's mouth twitched as Rowan pulled away. When he attempted to free himself from Wren's grasp, Wren just hauled him closer. Rowan liked that he didn't have to think about what to do next. His bare chest thudded against Wren's torso, and the heat from Wren's body merged with Rowan's skin, melting him from the inside out. "What did you just do to me?" Wren's deep voice vibrated against Rowan's chest. "The Disorder of your illusion was holding you captive. I…I absorbed it." "Oh? Where did you learn to do that? Have I been gone that long?" Wren's grip loosened slightly on Rowan's wrists as if he was satisfied now that Rowan was practically sitting on top him. Rowan stared at Wren's lips. He opened his mouth to protest, but immediately closed it again. "I know you aren't going to say that I shouldn't touch you." Wren's free hand splayed over the small of Rowan's back. "Not when you started it." Rowan's breath hitched. "No. I'm not going to say that anymore. Not to you." "I thought you were afraid to be touched." Wren's fingers traced a circle over the curve of Rowan's spine as if testing for a reaction. "I know that I'm not afraid of you." Rowan waited for the panic to set in, but all he felt was desire. "With you, I want…" "You want what?" "I want more." Triumph flared in Wren's gaze before he narrowed his eyes. "Really? Then why are you still trying to get away from me?"

"Sissy, I brought you a gift." He shuddered in fear the moment he heard her voice. Whenever he heard her voice, he knew nothing good ever came out of it. "Please, not today." His voice made it obvious he was scared. She laughed, then touched his shoulder. He flinched, but she held him down. "Please." he said in almost a whisper. ***** "HI." she waved at him. "You must be the Riley everyone's talking of, right?" He was left dumbfounded, hearing her say she had heard about him. Everyone who had heard about him made sure to keep their distance, so just why was she trying to start a conversation with him? "If you are doing this to become popular, then you are very well welcome to be my friend. But if you are just naive, I would advise you to keep your distance." he said to discourage her. "We do have something in common. You get bullied, so you hate bullies, while I hate them just because they are bullies." "Hating them does not change the fact that you will get bullied if you befriend me." "Then I will have you watch me kick their asses if they try messing with us." "Are we friends now." she asked after they both laugh at her former words. "We are, as long as you are ready to kick some ass." "Bring it on."

Han Xue Qin lost her family in a car crash. She wonders in her midnight garden in daze. One day at 19, she meet a boy briefly in collage. Again in her adulthood, she met him again in her midnight garden. However he turns out to be the man that her cousin's groom. She retune to hide in her midnight garden but he seek her out to bring her out to the sunlight garden.

After an accidental space warp, Xenos finds himself in a place known as the True Universe—a vast cosmos filled with countless races, yet devoid of humans. Longing for Earth and a home he can no longer reach, Xenos trains tirelessly for billions of years, eventually reaching the pinnacle of what the universe can offer. During his relentless cultivation, he uncovers conspiracies, hidden truths, and the devastating reason why the human race is absent among the many races of the True Universe. The weight of this knowledge pushes Xenos to the brink of despair. Refusing to give up, he resolves to take matters into his own hands to rewrite fate itself. However, the ruling powers of the True Universe catch wind of his intentions and launch a brutal attack. Though wounded, Xenos narrowly escapes. After an arduous journey, he finally returns to Earth—only to discover his home universe has been destroyed. Overwhelmed by grief and anger, Xenos uses his knowledge to travel back in time to January 1, 3038. Now in the past, Xenos must act carefully. Using his Paragon-level cultivation risks alerting other Paragon beings, so he remains in the shadows, guiding humanity from behind the scenes. His mission? To lead the human race on a perilous journey through the planes of existence to the True Universe, where they can reclaim their rightful place among the stars. Will Xenos succeed in his quest, or will the forces of the True Universe crush his dreams? Find out by reading his epic journey—one filled with trials, heartbreak, and the burning hope of restoring humanity’s legacy. From the Author (Comedic Edition): Let’s be real, we’ve all had that “Oh, it’s good, but I’ll bookmark it later” moment. Spoiler alert: you’ll forget. Just bookmark it now, save yourself the regret—and me the anxiety of wondering if you’ll ever come back! #Reincarnation, #TimeTravelAdventures, #PowerfulProtagonist #SectBuilding, #ParallelUniverses, #DifferentRealms, #MultiverseJourney, #AncientMysteries, #AncientRaces, #CosmicBattles, #FantasyWorlds.

Gårdën ōf Édhën: Dîvînë Līnëägë explores the aftermath of the creator’s departure and the rebellion of his once-divine creatures. Twisted into bizarre, supernatural beings, they now inhabit a chaotic realm where survival is a constant battle. Without their creator’s guidance, they grapple with their strange new bodies and an unsettling power to shape even stranger things. As war and mayhem consume the garden, they face a harrowing question: Can they find purpose and unity in a fractured world, or are they doomed to an eternal cycle of conflict and meaninglessness?

Tetsuo Kawaguchi, a young man with a tragic and messed up past that made him unable to express or feel any kind of emotion passed the entrance exams and enrolled into Toshigawa Academy. After playing basketball again in a gym session he felt as if something was slowly changing within him. After various encounters with other like minded people passionate about the sport and his little sister persuading him to play again, Tetsuo joins the team in order to not only play the sport that he loved as a child but also to change.

Five lifelong friends - Benjamin, the extroverted thrill-lover. Brittany, the kind-hearted manipulator of empathy. Jeremiah, the carefree confusion-maker. Karina, the justice-seeking boundary tester. And Sybiel, the cunning go-with-the-flow individual - have always seemed inseparable. When Benjamin proposes a ruthless "game" that challenges their wits and deception skills, the friends are lured into his fiendishly constructed Garden of Lair. This labyrinth of lies, betrayals, and shifting alliances plunges them into a twisted reality where nothing is as it appears. As they navigate the treacherous maze, the true cost of victory becomes clear-the potential destruction of everything they hold dear. In the end, only one can claim the prize, if they're willing to sacrifice. "Garden of Lair" is a haunting tale that probes the delicate threads of human relationships. This mind-bending psychological thriller explores the allure of deception and the extremes individuals will go to shield their darkest truths. Welcome to the Garden of Lair, a den of playful snares where the boundaries between friend and foe blur, and the price of triumph may shatter the very bonds that once united them.

Laiza Danford has lived her entire life at the beck and call of her family, enslaved by the desire of their love attention. Always being compared and living in the shadows of her twin. Detested by all even by the one she hoped will be her escape from her damned fate only for every thing to blow up in her face, pushed to death she promises to come back to destroy.

"You are Alice!" She doesn't know what her name is, but she's sure that it is not what they claim. Waking up in the middle of an unpleasant place, and then meeting an unpleasant child then finally calls her to a name she's familiar with but has a different feeling over it, she claims, "I'm not Alice!"

Anna never had a perfect life she grew up an outcast raised by her grandparents in a small mountain town. Money was always tight, and life was not easy. Bullied and beaten by the local kids for being a poor hillbilly, she swore she would become something more one day. Now Anna is a successful kick ass lawyer, married to a handsome man, mother to a gorgeous son, and living in the house of her dreams. But the perfect life Anna has worked so hard for crumbles when she catches her husband in bed with her best friend. His cold indifference is the final betrayal. Vowing for revenge, she wastes no time filing for divorce. But what next? Determined to start over but with nowhere else to go Anna reluctantly accepts her brother’s invitation for her and her young son to return to their small hometown for Christmas—a place she vowed never to set foot in again. When legal matters arises she accepts the challenge head on, knowing it could be a win that would improve the towns folk respect for her and her own career. Little does she know that she will be faced with a blast from her past she would rather have left behind. Will she climb out of the storm stronger and better proving all the naysayers wrong? Or will she be distracted by the all new temptation in the form of the devilish handsome Ethan whose intentions seem genuine, but Anna just can't shake the feeling that there is something wrong. Is her prince charming too good to be true? And what will happen when her ex-husband suddenly realizes he wants his family back??? READER FEEDBACK "I love these long chapters" "It's a very captivating book. I love it so far." "I'm really enjoying the story!!" "Beautifully written" "Thoroughly enjoying this " " So excited for the next chapters" " How many chapters are planned for this book. I'm loving it so far." WARNING This book contains lengthy chapters, several plot twists, and scenes that will have you laughing, crying, and screaming in outrage. Enjoy xx

With unknown history Mikeru Gebara is trying to piece everything together in order to achieve his goal. Having The same dream every night, he must uncover the mystery of this supernatural phenomenon using logics and technology that his time possess.

Zach is a normal college student who wishes to stay away from people, he considers them to be a hassle as he likes to have hassle-free days as to avoid such conundrums he usually just plays games on his free time and one such game changed his life forever. *INCOMPLETE *GAVE UP

" Please, May I know what the name is? you look 'stressed and pale'... and I would like to get you something to eat. " No! I objected to his request... &quot, oh really....no one ever rejected my offer...and what did they call you?.... I mean , your name ? " I am Rosemary but you can call me 'Rosie'... i said flatly Rosie is the third born of her mother. she got three elderly ones and three younger ones. she from a polygamous home. her mother was so loved by her father before death took her father. Her eldest siblings marriages is not a place called home because their homes is full of acrimony and that made her so scared of marriage. she has seen and heard of broken homes and even witnessed some occurrences. with the death of her father and acrimonious home of her eldest siblings with the biggest mistake made by her eldest brother made her to be pressured by her mum to get married to a wealthy man so that the standard of living in the home would be elevated. Rosie is a virgin that has never been touched by any man. she is so scared of marriage and even delving into relationships. but with the happenings at her family home, made her to disguised herself at school and don't even look like a virgin even if you are told. she is one of the most beautiful young lady in her family. she have a brief bow legs and some distinct features about her that made guys to approach her. people thought she was philandry because of different guys tripping into her school hostel to get to know her but with this act, she was in search of a heart called home while keeping her virtue. sex before marriage is out of her style. until she met this young charming looking dark guy named JERRY! who won her heart with just a helping heart and who was also in search of a peaceful home to build up with the right woman. follow me and see how destiny brought them together!

Adih, the Seventh Prince of the Radiant Kingdon, is set to explore the Realm of Magic, Hellish Abyss, and High Heaven to find the epitome of his potential. However, along the way, he needs to collect Male Partners for his... Dual Cultivation Method?!? Join Adih as he seek love, lust, and power! ...... The story is written in First POV. This is a BL Dual Cultivation novel. Lots of seggs happening here, tread carefully. No 17 below!

Ten years ago, twenty-six prodigious heroes were summoned from another world to defeat the Demon Lord, a battle they won, cementing their status as legends. However, their victory came at a cost-Elianor, one of their own, was mysteriously murdered. Distrust and grief tore them apart, and the once-united group disbanded, each hero walking a separate path, leaving the past buried. Now, a decade later, a dark prophecy looms once again. The world calls for its heroes, but they are no longer the same. Shin Hiiro, an average mage and former companion, is sent to reunite the fractured group. As he tracks down each hero, he finds that time and tragedy have changed them-some have embraced power, others have vanished into obscurity, and a few harbor dangerous secrets. With every hero he encounters, Shin begins to unravel the truth behind Elianor's murder. Old friendships are tested, and loyalties blur as Shin realizes that the heroes who once saved the world might now be its greatest threat.

A group of explorers soon make it to a mysterious island proud to be the first humans to get there, but their happiness was cut short the group was separated by mysterious oddities. They now must fight monsters left to right and try to escape this island alive and well under the help of a young demon to stay alive. Their young sensei will teach them how to survive, and kick the butts of whoever opposes them. ** The novel was inspired by a song called; SODIKKEN - HANSEL, while I was walking home from school. (人*´∀｀)｡*ﾟ+

With only months to live, Meisen abandoned the bustling city, seeking peace in a quiet forest—but instead found something far more terrifying. A shadowy figure, silent and relentless, consumed him, draining his life as he screamed for another chance. Just when everything faded to black, he woke—alive, but in a strange new world. Reborn into a world where magic holds power, Meisen’s new life is only beginning.

Sometimes home can be in people but what if home leaves.What if home doesn't find the same warmth and Safety in you?

Main: The villain Setting: Nature Repeating: Heart-broken Plot: Anger leads to murder Point of view: Christianity Characters: Unpleasant

Reborn as a orphan girl , unloved by her family and continuously tested by fate and family . Her fiancé never wanted to marry someone like her , always depending on him . will she be able to get what she want ?? A salvation from hate and a journey unfolding many opportunities to create the world she want.

Yatim piatu di usia muda, Layla Llewellyn merasa seperti gadis paling beruntung di dunia setelah dia tinggal bersama pamannya Bill, seorang tukang kebun yang tinggal di perkebunan Arvis yang indah di Berg Empire. Bagi Layla, Arvis tampak seperti surga; Ia suka menjelajahi hutan yang luas, selalu membawa buku catatannya untuk mencatat satwa liar yang ditemuinya. Dia sangat menyukai burung-burung, mengamati mereka dengan kagum saat mereka menetas dan tumbuh dari anak ayam berbulu halus menjadi burung yang cantik. Duke Herhardt, penguasa Arvis yang muda dan tampan, juga tertarik pada burung―dan Layla. Tapi bedanya, dia tertarik pada burung karena dia suka memburunya... dan dia tertarik pada Layla karena dia suka membuatnya menangis. Jika seekor burung cantik terjebak dalam sangkar emas, mana yang akan ia pilih: kehidupan mewah atau kebebasan? PERINGATAN: Cerita ini mengandung gambaran pelecehan, trauma anak-anak, penyalahgunaan zat, dan kekerasan seksual yang mungkin membuat sebagian pembaca kesal.