Showing results by author "C. De Melo" in All Categories

Carlo meets the famed nun, Sister Giulia di Marco, and her confessor, Father Aniello Arcieri, a few years later, while restoring an altarpiece in a church. The charismatic pair gradually draw the lonely artist into their scandalous Confraternity of Carnal Charity, whose wealthy noble acolytes believe divine glory can be achieved through sexual ecstasy. Unable to continue living a lie, Carlo confesses a big secret to Sister Giulia. The crafty nun wastes no time assigning the novitiate a prominent role within the cult, which soon captures the attention of the Holy Inquisition....

The only clue to Nicodemus' past is the ruby crucifix found in his swaddling clothes when he was abandoned at a monastery. The boy grows up to become a fierce Templar who fights for God, but the gruesome carnage of battle weighs heavily upon his conscience. His faith is further tested by Gweneth, the woman who haunts his thoughts and stirs forbidden desires. Set in 12th-century England, Forbidden is a compelling tale of sibling rivalry, greed, deception, and a knight's honor.

Sabina Rossi's forced marriage comes to an abrupt end during the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy. Wealthy beyond her dreams, the young widow is free to pursue her passions - with the utmost discretion, of course. The patriarchal society of Florence is full of secrets, and women who don't follow the rules suffer dire consequences. An unexpected betrayal leaves Sabina facing a potential scandal. Now, she must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and save her reputation. 

Under the guise of "Beto", 17-year-old Isabetta Bastian runs her father's successful shipping business. Her older brother sails their commercial galley between Venice and Lisbon, exporting luxury textiles and importing exotic spices obtained by the Portuguese. A heinous crime shatters her ideal life, and a risky attempt to save the family business ends in failure. Now, she is forced to live with the harsh consequences. 

CIA meets MAFIA in this gritty romance.... Ex-CIA agent, Alexa Richards, attempts to outrun her painful past by returning to the only place where she has ever experienced real happiness: Florence, Italy. Fond memories of traveling through Tuscany with her late grandmother dissolve in the face of a local Mafioso's unexpected offer.

Celeste is devastated when she learns of her arranged marriage to the notorious Ferrante degli Spini. Raised in a convent by the esteemed Sister Assunta, she has little contact with the outside world. Moved by love for her ward, the crafty nun convinces Celeste's only friend, Valentina, to assume the identity of the bride. Marriage to the harsh nobleman poses difficult challenges. Ferrante's friend and mentor, the fascinating Prince Raimondo di Sangro, offers the naïve Valentina valuable insight on how to overcome these obstacles.

18th-century England: Devastated by the sudden murder of her parents, Kate Lancaster vows to find the killer with the help of Christopher Bradshaw. Her heart races whenever the handsome nobleman is near, but his overbearing wife is constantly playing the matchmaker with their foppish son. Kate and Christopher try to resist the temptation of their mutual attraction while striving to solve a perplexing mystery: Who wanted the Lancasters dead and, more importantly, why?  

Veronica moves from Lisbon to Providence to escape her past and begin a new life as a research assistant at Brown University’s Portuguese Department. When she sees Victor on stage for the first time, his unnatural gaze immediately sparks an intense déjà-vu. Could the spellbinding musician be connected to her strange recurring dream of a past life in Renaissance Europe? Set between present day US and Portugal during the Age of Discoveries, The Watchers is a thrilling tale of love, humanity, and the mysteries of our universe. 

Angelique meets a renowned vampirologist in Budapest who is currently researching the mysterious caves in which Prince Vlad Tepes III had been imprisoned. Despite not having revealed her true nature to the mortal, Damien opposes the friendship. More than that, her lover’s constant criticism is causing a strain on their relationship. A shocking betrayal leads to the discovery of a deadly plot. Angelique is forced to warn her coven and face her sire, Arsham. The arrogant vampire prince confesses dark secrets and bestows precious gifts, prompting her to question her existence.

Angelique is forced to wed a monster in exchange for a noble title. The Duke of Annecy is cold and cruelly sadistic, making the young duchess's life a living hell. On a fateful summer night in the lavish palace of Versailles, she meets an exotic courtier whose glittering dark eyes promise more than mere temporary relief from a loveless marriage. Angelique is offered the gift of immortality by the ancient vampire prince, and she accepts it with open arms.

Renowned healer Lisbeth Vos concocts a cunning revenge against her childhood friend Hannah Brouwer for a wrong committed decades ago. The audacious scheme requires a marriage between Lisbeth's granddaughter and Hannah's widowed son. Desperate for her grandmother's attention and approval, Mila agrees to wed a man she doesn't know.

Zoe Adams wakes up in a hospital and is stunned to learn that she has been cryogenically frozen for almost two decades. To her surprise, her husband, Michael, is America's number one hero. Not only did he fund the cure for the deadly Pod Virus, which she had contracted, he also succeeded in saving her life. She is 137-ZOE, the 137th human to survive such a harrowing ordeal. Although this earns her instant celebrity status, something doesn't feel right.

Lily Healer is a reclusive girl with incredible spiritual power. Mass hysteria and terror sweeps through her community in the year 1692 when the village children complain of being tormented by witches. The arrival of Marcus Wiseman, an intimidating Puritan nicknamed the "Hammer" (Malleus Maleficarum), strikes fear into the hearts of many. His mission is to help the reverend find those who have signed the Devil's Book. 

Agata flees from Verona to Venice with nothing but the clothes on her back. Accused of witchcraft, she prefers to risk the unknown than face the terrifying charge. Determined to secure her financial and social future, she aids the Veronese warlord Cangrande I della Scala in committing vile acts that will earn her a place in Hell. Although she is handsomely compensated, she wants more - and she'll do whatever it takes to get it.

Allegra Castagno harbors a secret so big that it can ruin her life and her father's reputation. Exceptionally talented, yet banned from the Florentine guilds, she devises a clever ruse in order to secretly ply her beloved craft. In time, the exquisite jewelry designs of "La Castagna" are being praised in noble courts from Venice to Rome.

The Elders say Abigail committed suicide, but Tamar secretly harbors doubt. They were best friends, two high school seniors looking forward to the future.... Now, she's gone. Could Abigail's death be linked to that forbidden book from the Old Days? Why did she have to read that stupid thing, anyway? Haunted by these questions, Tamar eventually learns the shocking truth from an Apostate who passes along the notorious book. As suspicion mounts against her, Tamar must do the unthinkable to avoid Abigail's grim fate.

2115 Post-C: Humanity has been saved from the brink of extinction by Centurions. Extraterrestrial overlords impose androgyny and control reproduction through strict methods. AI world government, constant monitoring, and the ability to manipulate time are the results of advanced alien technology.