augustine brannigan

Freya’s life has always been simple — slow mornings in her grandparents’ warm, quiet house, playful banter over breakfast, and endless conversations with Luna, her inseparable best friend. Her mother lives far away with a new family, but Freya has never felt unloved; her grandparents’ care is enough to fill every gap. But as her final school year unfolds, the world she thought she knew begins to shift. What starts as a school project with Luna becomes a doorway to unexpected adventures, new connections, and emotions she never anticipated. Between balancing family expectations, facing her own insecurities, and exploring the fragile threads of young love, Freya finds herself caught between the comfort of the familiar and the pull of a future she can’t quite imagine yet. A story about friendship, belonging, and the quiet moments that change everything — perfect for readers who believe love can be found in the most unexpected places.

When shortstop Mike Watson catches his Junior Varsity teammate Robby Brown slipping a tube of ChapStick into his pocket at the store, he doesn't know what to think.<br><br>Mike has had the hots for Robbie since the two boys started high school and finds it difficult to talk to him without feeling awkward and stupid. But he has to say something. What if someone else saw and Robby gets in trouble?<br><br>Does Robby make a habit of stealing things? Has Mike’s perception of his friend been wrong all these years? Is the ChapStick a cry for help or a way of getting Mike’s attention? Mike is determined to find out.

Talia Andrews a private investigator, is excited about her new client, but when she takes a picture she shouldn't have, all hell breaks loose. Will she survive or will she lose everything she holds dear?

Author's Note This drama was the first book I ever wrote, almost two decades ago. It was written when I was still learning and developing my writing skills. As I prepared this book for publication, I made a personal decision to publish it in its original form. I did not edit, rewrite, or correct the manuscript because I wanted readers to experience the story just as I wrote it many years ago. You may notice grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, or other imperfections. They are part of this book's history and remind us that every writer begins somewhere. Rather than hide those early mistakes, I have chosen to preserve them as a record of my growth as a writer.

Nick Claus is your typical party boy and strip club owner of the top club in New York City. He is rich and handsome, and everyone wants a taste of the hottest club owner. He lives life carefree and to the fullest, even with his sex life. He has multiple playmates, as he would call them some boys and some girls. He likes to give punishments, and much as he receives them. Sex is like candy to me. Some nights I like chocolate; other nights, I want something fruity, Nick’s words himself. Sexy three sums and nights with Nick’s favorite playmate Dan, everyone’s sexual fantasy will be meant. It will make you desire more and more. Holly is Nick’s friend and the bartender, he likes to punish her, spanking her with wipes, and she loves it. Will their relationship turn into something more even when Nick vows to never be into a relationship? Kris Kringle reveals to Nick that he is, in fact, his son. Kris is the caretaker of the Northpole, aka Santa Claus. What happens when Nick visits the Northpole teaching the elves a sexy thing or two. Naughty, naughty Nick becomes the ultimate bad boy on the Naughty list.

Author: In another lifetime, August was a punk kid running a writing-themed e-zine in 2002 and participating in online survivor writing contests; these days, she’s a punk pseudo-adult with an office job and a studio of her own. Meet Pitney Scolan. Pit, for short. He’s a decorated general and a venerated leader of the sprawling human race. He’s protected his species' colonies from vicious native animal populations and hostile alien life. He’s fiercely introverted, and he’s really looking forward to retiring on his personal planet in the very near future. Except…now he has to be a dog. A daugment, to be specific: a cybernetically enhanced canine, previously the doting pet of Pit’s biggest rival, General Tristan. It’s the only way to escape certain assassination. So Pit grudgingly allies himself with a pair of well-meaning scoundrels and sets sail for seedier space in hopes of escaping Tristan’s clutches. What he finds instead is a galactic conspiracy to force him to make friends.

The year was 2002. In a hospital in Seoul, a four-year-old girl was rushed into emergency care after being struck by lightning. Although doctors performed immediate surgery, her chances of survival remained slim. The girl lay unconscious in her hospital bed for a long time. However, when she finally woke up, nothing was the same as before. Her name was Go Nau Rin, meaning 'Warm Rain from Heaven.' Just like her name, she was truly lovely—one who grew up giving love to others and being deeply loved in return. Now, children call her a monster or a witch, and even adults look at her with eyes full of resentment and fear. Yet, no emotion ever flickers across her face. She never cries—she only laughs. It is hard to tell if she is truly void of emotion or simply a very skilled actor. Some call her a demon. Others see her as an angel, a pillar of strength to lean on. Her life was never as peaceful as a gentle, warm rain. Instead, it was filled with days as fierce and wounding as a violent storm. But just as the sky clears and the sun rises after a heavy downpour, moments of light and beauty continued to exist in her life.

Char-aught, a lowkey way of avoiding half-meant jokes.

Before marrying Silas, Joyce had only met him three times. A marriage of convenience, a secret agreement, for a term of three years. She's fresh off a heartbreak — the man she chased for years told her they "weren't a good match." Silas has his own baggage: rumor says he's still hung up on a white moonlight who happens to look just like Joyce. So that's all she is. A substitute. ** In the second year of their marriage, on Joyce's birthday, she drank too much and, in front of everyone, tugged on his tie, pinning him underneath her: "You look... a lot like my husband." The Thorne family's second master, known for being rational and unfeeling, was flustered by her that night. He leaned in close to her ear and coaxed in a low voice, "Be good." The next day Joyce woke up to find her lips were swollen. This… Who did this! When she went to question him, she discovered Silas's lip was bitten. He stared at her and said slowly, "You crossed the line first." ** The scandal leaked. At a party, her ex-boyfriend stepped in: "She's mine. Who dares talk?" Then Silas walked in. The room went silent. "Yours? Since when?" "Joyce, tell me. Whose are you?" So much for the secret marriage. So much for being a substitute. This was supposed to be fake… wasn't it?

Fu Xiaoxiao transmigrates into a book and immediately faces the crisis of being sent to the countryside. As the unloved middle child, her younger sister is the one meant to go — but her mother transfers her job to the sister instead. A disaster of a start. To avoid being sent away, she has to marry within seven days. She meets a few ordinary men and decides she'd rather go to the countryside. Then she runs into a neighbor who's also looking for a spouse — and his conditions are surprisingly good. A dowry of three hundred? Bicycles and a radio? Just take care of the kids, and separate rooms are fine? The others may pass, but she won't. Every day is a battle of wits with the two kids. Life is eventful, she gets a salary every month, and the boss is never home. Absolutely perfect. Except... wasn't this big shot supposed to be infertile? Then why does he keep strutting around naked in front of her? She has professional ethics. She won't be seduced by a good body. Hmph. Men only slow down her sword swing. Lu Feng grits his teeth at Fu Xiaoxiao, who remains completely unmoved by his countless attempts to seduce her, and traps her in his arms. "Boss, let's talk this through. I know forty a month is a bit much — how about... five less?" Trapped in his embrace, Fu Xiaoxiao thinks he's unhappy with her high salary and starts bargaining. "I'm giving myself to you for free." Lu Feng grinds out through clenched teeth. This woman has no heart. "...Can I say no?" Fu Xiaoxiao swallows, staring at the washboard abs so close. "Such a good deal — are you sure you don't want it?" Lu Feng squints, tempting her. "Fine." A fool turns down a bargain.