I borrowed it from a friend who's a mega-fan. She had a sticky-note inside the front cover with a reading order and a family tree. I've never needed a family tree for a thriller before. I took that as a 'yes.'
Honestly, who cares? If the book is good, it's good. If it's bad, being part of a 'universe' won't save it. I judge every story on its own merits. This one had sharp dialogue and a killer twist in chapter nine that worked perfectly without any prior knowledge. That's what I remember, not some fictional corporate timeline.
My book club read it, and half of us had read the earlier works, half hadn't. The split in reactions was fascinating. The veterans kept talking about character arcs and payoff, while the newcomers focused on the prose and the immediate romance subplot. Both groups liked it, but for almost different books.
My copy has a 'Also by This Author' page that lists two distinct columns: 'The Arcanum Series' and 'Standalone Novels.' 'Best Laid Plans' isn't in either column; it's listed separately under 'The Rook City Novels.' So it's its own thing, a new series starting up.
My two cents: even if it's technically standalone, most books exist in a 'universe' these days. The author's other books are set in the same town, or feature the main character's cousin, or share a fictional coffee shop. It's a marketing tactic, but also a comfort thing for readers. So the answer is probably 'yes, sort of,' but the degree of connection varies wildly.
2026-07-22 19:13:06
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A Long-Planned Love
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When our marriage contract expired, I found out I was pregnant.
Charlie Newman’s voice was icy.
"If it’s a boy, we’re even."
I asked quietly, "And if it’s a girl?"
He paused–then said coldly, "Then we keep trying until you give me a son."
I sighed.
Three years of marriage couldn’t compete with the need for an heir.
However, one night, when I went downstairs for water, I saw him kneeling in the attic, eyes devout, voice trembling.
"Merciful God, please grant me a daughter. If you hear my prayer and make my wish come true, I will give generously to your church and serve you faithfully all my life."
Charlotte Hartwell built Hartwell Industries from the ground up. Every late night, every sacrifice, and every success made the company more than a business—it became her life’s work. So when the powerful Blackthorne Global offers to buy her company for the fourth time, Charlotte is prepared to do what she’s always done.
Say no.
Darrien Blackthorne isn’t used to hearing that answer. As CEO of one of the world’s most influential corporations, he’s convinced Charlotte’s company deserves the resources to become something even greater. He isn’t trying to destroy her dream—he wants to help it flourish. But the more time he spends with the brilliant, fiercely independent entrepreneur, the less certain he becomes about where business ends and something far more personal begins.
Caught between them is James—a man whose connection to Charlotte is deeper than either of them realizes. As long-buried secrets begin to surface, strange coincidences become impossible to ignore, and an unseen force quietly weaves their lives together. What began as a corporate acquisition soon unravels into something far older, far more dangerous, and far more magical than any of them could have imagined.
With betrayal hiding behind a trusted smile, loyalties tested at every turn, and destiny refusing to be ignored, Charlotte must decide whether protecting the company she built is worth risking the future she was never meant to face alone.
Some lives are changed by choice.
Others were Entangled by Design.
Isabella Bennet finds herself in a contract marriage with Alexander Steele as a solution to help her late father’s architecture company. But there is only one rule, Isabella must not get pregnant.
The marriage goes smoothly till Isabella eventually gets pregnant and plans on confessing to Alexander despite the cost up until a stranger from the past interrupts her with the sole purpose of coming into their lives to cause confusion and destruction.
Will Isabella be able to keep this contract marriage afloat despite her pregnancy? Who is this stranger and why does he want to destroy Isabella and Alexander’s lives? Find out as we dive into the captivating story of ‘Fates Entwined’
After given a scholarship to attend a school for rich kids, sixteen years old Ivory Casper finds herself in trouble when all the kids she manages to befriend ends up in "unfortunate accidents"
Mumbai. The city of dreams. Shining bright with impressive skyscrapers, glamorous filmstars, and glittering malls. Standing tall on the shimmering coast of the Arabian Sea. Everywhere Sun hits here, this city dazzles. But beneath this warm dazzle, there is another Mumbai. The cold Mumbai. The dark Mumbai. The stronghold of the mafia. Where narrow alleys are splattered with gun-powder and blood. Where lives are discarded like tissue papers. Where an obscene amount of money circulates unaudited. And since years now, this formidable underworld is under Lala Amarnath Vaghela's thumb. The powerful mafia kingpin who started his ascent from the slums of Dharavi years back, today he controls most of the Indian subcontinent's illegal dealings and organized crime with an iron fist.
But not without help.
Kunal Ranjan Vaghela. Lalaji's grandson and his heir apparent. Apple of his grandfather's eyes, he is calculative, sly, and cold-blooded.
Samar Jagtap. Lalaji's ruthless and cunning protege. Indispensable, he is as unapologetic as they come in this business.
Everything is working smoothly in Lalaji's world. Like a well-oiled machine. Or is it? Because apart from sharing Lalaji's trust, apparently these two capable young men also share an undisguised hatred for each other. Not above playing dirty in this high-stakes arena, both are merely bidding their time to tear one another down. But no matter who emerges the winner out of the two, there is someone who will only lose. A torn heart that refuses to take sides. A girl who dared to love them both.
Stubborn and loyal-to-a-fault Maahi.
Full name Maahi Ranjan Vaghela. Kunal Vaghela's beloved baby sister. And the beautiful confusion of Samar Jagtap's life.
Preston High was supposed to be my chance at a better life. Instead, I’m the scholarship girl, the outsider everyone whispers about. Every hallway stare reminds me I don’t belong.
I’ve spent my life surviving, not feeling. Love? I don’t even know what that means.
Then Asher sees me, the quiet boy with kind eyes who makes me feel safe for the first time. But just as I start to breathe again, Adrian crashes in, the arrogant bad boy who rules the halls with his smirk and dares me to feel things I don’t understand.
Two hearts. Two risks. One choice.
Preston High is testing more than my strength… it’s testing my heart. And when the truth finally forces me to choose, one question remains: will I discover what it means to be loved, or will I lose myself trying?
The prequel is fan service. Well-written, compelling fan service, but fan service nonetheless. It was written because readers demanded more backstory for a popular character. It was never meant to be the foundation of the series.
Build the foundation first with the original books. Then enjoy the fan service as a delightful bonus that adds color to what you already know and love.