It was supposed to be a holiday to fix the cracks in our fractured family. I knew the seven days would be endless, but I never imagined that one of us would only survive for six of them… As I carry my case into the charming and rustic cottage and smile at my sister-in-law, Kelli, I allow myself a moment of hope. Perhaps this holiday will force our family to address our long-held grudges and leave with the promise of a happier future.

Fifteen years ago Carrie Martins walked into the woods with three children. They were never seen again and she was convicted of their murder. Dr Ethan Quinn has always been fascinated by the case. Now he has the opportunity to talk to her in his new role as prison psychiatrist. Carrie is up for parole and he's going to be responsible for recommending it or not. Her presentation changes every time they meet and Ethan isn't sure who the real Carrie is underneath the masks she wears. What is she hiding from and why is she so reluctant to talk about what happened to those children?

Most of the successful private prospectors who’d struck it rich during the California and Nevada gold rushes during the mid- to late-1800s, had journeyed westward with a specific plan from which they never deviated. Upon achieving their pre-defined goals, they packed up and returned to their original homes in distant regions of the United States. There were also plenty of others, who’d been unable to pull the plug after striking it rich, believing their lucky streak to be a never-ending one.

There she lay in all her glory...it was her: Dalia from the Wild. As she lay upon the manicured turf eating a fresh peach under a heavy tree, my mouth salivated as she sexily consumed her delicacy.

When an unusual chain of drownings occurs in Upper Mystic Lake, two families are pitted against one another as they attempt to lay the blame for the loss of their only begotten children, at the feet of the other family. The Shakespearian tragedy forces everyone to reassess their own culpability as well as their way forward, while attempting to find closure.

A secret hidden for 40 years is about to come out. The man at the centre of this secret discovers from his dying adoptive mother that he has a family he knew nothing about. With nothing to go on, he is determined to find them whatever the cost. However, the more he learns, the more dangerous his quest becomes. But when he finds out the truth it is so shocking and scandalous, it may well cost him his life and the lives of his family.

When Barney, a clever little dachshund, looks for a place to escape the chaos created as movers load the family's belongings into a moving truck, he discovers a box of warm laundry fresh from the dryer, and burrows himself comfortably inside it. After a refreshing snooze, he awakens to find that his makeshift doggy bed has been loaded onto the truck, and he is already on the way to Denver, Colorado. Although the rest of the family intended to follow the moving truck, when they were unable to locate Barney, they remained in Pueblo, Colorado.

Although Alex had no idea which of his yet-to-be monumental achievements would be the one to launch him on his road to success, that was of little concern to him because the path was irrelevant, as long as the destination fulfilled his desire: to be famous. As Alex reaches for his goals of fame and fortune, he finds love along the way, but there are those who live to turn his dreams into a nightmare that even a classic muscle car—known as The Black Phantom—cannot outrun.

When Holly Kelly moves from Miami to the lavish Laguna Palms neighborhood, seeking community and friendship-with her husband and rambunctious triplets in tow-she finds it in spades. She is soon drawn into the intimate lives of almost everyone in their beachfront cul-de-sac, especially her three new ride-or-dies: Gina, Greta, and Chloe. But when the neighborhood's holiday fruitcake exchange takes a dark turn, the bodies start piling up. The deaths seem like accidents-at first.

A short story by L Nembhard: In the sunny tranquillity of her uncle's garden, eight-year-old Lilly uncovers an old, buried doll that whispers unexpected words. As the doll's presence disrupts their lives, Lilly's family is left questioning its origins. What secrets lie behind the doll's eerie whispers? Can they unravel the mystery before it consumes them? With each strange occurrence, they're forced to confront the chilling possibility: is the doll merely a toy, or something far more sinister?

Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of best-selling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read.

Five Years Earlier: Henry Dunne knows three things: that agreeing to host this raucous house party was a terrible idea, that he absolutely cannot show up to his nursing shift tomorrow with a hangover, and that the beautiful redhead in the corner will be sleeping in his bed tonight.

Ryder, Garrett, Kenzo, and Diesel - The Vipers. Their deals are as sordid as their business, and their reputation is enough to bring a grown man to his knees, forcing him to beg for mercy. They are not people you mess with, yet my dad did. The old man ran up a debt with them and then sold me to cover his losses. Yes, sold me. They own me now. I’m theirs in every sense of the word. But I’ve never been meek and compliant.

Obituary writer Nadine Barbault doesn’t mind being called “Lady Death”. It suits the ice queen persona she’s cultivated to survive the fast-paced Toronto Herald. So when Nadine learns that famous (and reclusive) author Dot Voline has died, she doesn’t hesitate to run the obituary…only to discover that Dot is very much alive. Nadine’s screw-up has brought Wesley Chen of the rival Spear no end of joy—she’s been a thorn in his extremely ambitious side for years. But the renewed interest in Dot also surfaced chatter about a mysterious past scandal.

Hockey coach Ashley Jaswal doesn't take nonsense from anyone … except her overbearing and superstitious family. They believe she's a good luck charm for her brother Jas, the newest Vancouver Canucks draft pick, forcing Ash to attend all his games as he rises up the NHL ranks, sacrificing her personal life (not that she has one—who decided hockey season needed to be 10 months long anyway?). Ash also clashes with Jas’s teammate, Canucks captain Devin Snyder.

Phoebe Andrews has been running from her past for the last five years—hiding in her busy life in the big city, and avoiding going home at all costs. Avoiding seeing him again. The first guy to break her heart. When her family begs her to come home for Christmas, Phoebe can’t say no. Maybe going home, and facing her past, will help fill the empty hole in her heart. Afterall, there’s nothing like a few holiday games to help spark her love for the season again. Spencer Larson has been keeping a secret for the last five years. A secret that drove the girl who stole his heart out of his life.

She knows everything about you… but can you trust her? I walk in to my interview with Ava Green and carefully hand over my application. It’s all made up, of course, but Ava doesn’t have to know that. There is so much worry in her blue eyes. Her phone pings with constant messages and a small stain marks her crisp shirt. Breakfast with her two little girls before heading out to this high-flying job every morning can’t be easy. Ava needs me, I think. More than anything.

Georgia Harris was eight years old when her mother tried to kill her. For twenty years she’s been haunted by one question… Why? Why would a mother want to erase her only child from this world? It’s been nearly a decade since Georgia walked the haunted halls of her childhood home–vowing to hold onto the one promise she made herself. A promise to never return. Until her father falls ill, and Crane Manor comes calling–and she can’t refuse the summons.

My first mistake was raising my daughter to be just like me… His death is reported on the morning news. The man my daughter’s been dating. Dead. Gone… I blink slowly–once, twice, three times. The hair on the back of my neck rises as I grip my coffee harder. My breath comes in short bursts. I didn’t even know he existed until recently. Leah doesn’t tell me anything anymore. But I found the letters she hid. I know she fell head over heels for him. That he broke her heart.

Vanessa thought she found her soulmate in August. Mind-bending sex. Soul-baring conversations. Safety and acceptance and being seen. Perhaps too perfect? Yes. August is married to his college sweetheart, Cassidy. When Vanessa gets pregnant, August manipulates Vanessa into getting an abortion with promises of a future together, but dumps her soon after. Vanessa plots her revenge, kidnapping August’s baby, Daisy, from her nursery.

Tamsin is being haunted by unwelcome visitors in her house she calls The Guests. Nobody knows about their presence but her. After confiding in her husband, he left, and she won’t make that mistake again. But now her relationship with her teenage daughter Summer is starting to suffer. As each day passes, the presence of The Guests becomes harder to bear. They have infected her life and Tamsin needs help. But just what do they want from her?

Jody, Ari and Carla have won golden tickets to the summer’s hottest music festival, which promises to be full of glamour, mystique and lots of freebies. But, arriving on the sun-drenched shores of a private Greek island among influencers and celebrities, the trio are dismayed to find the small festival site far from the beacon of music, art and ‘immersive experiences’ they were promised. Disappointed but not deterred, they vow to make the most of the trip.

Aspiring investigative reporter Des Cleary had dreams of a better world—one more accepting of people like him—when he broke the story of Orion Broderick’s relationship. A story that kicked Orion out of the soccer halls of fame and sent him careening into obscurity. Racked with shame, Des abandoned his own career for good.

I made a mistake that might have ruined someone's life. I've moved to Sydney to avoid the glares and the questions from the people back home, but there's one thing I can't run from--the guilt and pain that follows me relentlessly. All I can do is dull it with alcohol and casual sex. But then my new boss, Mr Dark and Delicious, deserted me, mid kiss, with my skirt hiked up and my shirt discarded on the alley floor. I should hate him—him and the secrets he's keeping. But I can't stay away. Because the pain and guilt he's hiding mirror my own.

All Jolene Carter has ever wanted is a bakery of her own. There's only one problem. Her father, Robert Carter, is a world-renowned art thief and she's, well, sort of his protégé. But he's promised her this next job in New York will be their last, and she won't let anyone get in the way of her dreams...especially not the distractingly delicious FBI agent hot on her tail.

Outwardly, the Lawrenson’s life looks picture perfect: two beautiful children, financial security, and a newly renovated home in the Yorkshire countryside. Carly and Fletcher have promised each other a fresh start. However, their marriage is still plagued with tension, mistrust and jealousy.

I knew him only as Van Gogh. A tortured artist who owned the night as he moved through the shadows, cloaked in hate and madness. He was a vicious vigilante—a serial arsonist who thrived on the fear he triggered with a single match between his tattooed knuckles. We were told to lock our doors and stay inside. I wanted to. I really did. But then I saw his eyes, burning like embers as he watched me through the smoke. And like the flames at his feet, I delighted in his attention. I became his muse. His passion. His obsession. His perfectly flawed flower. But that was years ago.

I haven’t been back to Eos since I first met my step-sister, Lex. It’s been twenty-five years since that summer. Since we went from strangers to sisters. Since Abigail went missing. Since we told the first lie. Now we’re back together on the island. So much has changed since we were teenagers. We’ve both tried to move on from the past – from each other. But the island won’t let us escape our secrets. Only me and Lex know the truth about Abigail. We’ve been living a lie for so long. And if the truth comes out – neither of us will survive it…

My bride. The daughter of my enemy. She's nothing more than a part of my revenge. I'm the one who holds her life in my hands. As well as her body. And soon, her very will. Yet, she refuses to break. This woman disarms me, not with weapons but with words. And not with a fist, but with a simple kiss. But a match made in hate can have no other ending except war.

When Jesse Lightning meets Minnie Byrne, he is having a bad day. Reeling from the effects of a very bruised heart, the last thing Jesse wants is a new friend. But Minnie is hard to say no to, and reluctantly Jesse realises that her impetuous playfulness might do him good. So when Minnie suggests they go on fortnightly platonic dates with no strings, no promises, no expectations beyond good company, Jesse agrees before he has a chance to think too deeply about it.