Where Is 'Stone Yard Devotional' Set?

“You can play Priest for as long as you like,” he spat, ignoring my protests, “but you will never find salvation.” His words struck like a curse, but that wasn’t the reason my chest heaved, goosebumps littered my skin, and definitely not the reason I felt hot despite the chilling dip from the lake. Ezreal’s eyes widened momentarily, noticing. I winced as his hand shifted, pressing against the stiff betrayal straining against my soaked robes. He stilled for only a second, then a wicked grin overtook his features. “Well, well,” Ezreal drawled, his voice taunting “Look who’s getting excited,” “Stop,” I gasped, squeezing my eyes shut as the humiliation dug deep. “Please….” He leaned forward, his breath hot as his lips ghosted over the shell of my ear. “I will taint you so bad,” he whispered, his hand tightening against my crotch. “So bad you won’t have the courage to stand on the altar you abandoned me for.” ****** At sixteen, Ezreal Vossell took the fall for a murder to protect the only boy he ever loved—Baron Lander, the timid son of the town’s high priest. A known delinquent, the bastard child of the mayor, but the only one who saw him for his true self was Baron. Ezreal made the ultimate sacrifice, and all he wanted in return was Baron’s support. But alas, on the day of the trial, Baron betrayed him, casting him aside to please his father. Ezreal was sentenced to life in prison, his heart shattered beyond repair. Fifteen years later, he was released, but gone was the naive sixteen-year-old. He’s returned as the ruthless leader of a mafia syndicate, and with all the power and wealth at his fingertips, he yearned for one thing alone. Revenge.

There are monsters in this world. And they used to be us. Now it's time to euthanize to survive in a hospice where Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. Post-infection Chicago. Christmas. Inside The Hospice, Emily and her fellow nurses do their rounds. Here, men and women live out their final days in comfort, segregated from society, and are then humanely terminated before fate turns them into marrow-craving monsters known as ‘Smilers.’ Outside these imposing walls, rabid protesters swarm with signs, caught up in the heat of their hatred. Emily, a woman haunted by her past, only wants to do her job and be the best mother possible. But in a world where mortality means nothing, where guns are drawn in fear and nobody seems safe anymore – at what cost will this pursuit come? And through it all, the soon to be dead remain silent, ever smiling. Such is their curse. It won't be long before that snow-speckled ground will be salted by blood. ©️ Crystal Lake Publishing

Elena Moretti has always lived by the rules. Raised in the wealthy, devout heart of Rome, her life is governed by faith, family honor, and the unyielding rhythm of the Angelus bells. But when Rev. Matteo Romano returns from Paris to serve in her Trastevere parish, everything she thought she knew about devotion and desire is thrown into question. Matteo is calm, refined, and seemingly untouchable — yet he carries a quiet fire, a dangerous intensity that Elena cannot ignore. Their connection begins with fleeting glances, subtle touches, and whispered words that blur the line between spiritual guidance and personal temptation. Each encounter pulls them deeper into a forbidden spiral, challenging Elena’s beliefs, igniting desires she has been taught to suppress, and threatening the lives they’ve carefully built. As their clandestine bond strengthens, Elena discovers that desire is far more consuming than faith, and Matteo begins to confront the tension between duty and passion. But in a city steeped in tradition and scrutiny, secrecy is fleeting, and the cost of indulgence is devastating. Sacred Obsession is a story of forbidden longing, dangerous temptation, and the consuming fire of a love that defies rules — a tale where passion and faith collide, leaving hearts exposed and fates uncertain.

The town of M'ri Kassia has been living a life of misfortune after the Kurim, the stone given by their god, Kassia, was stolen and lost by the witches who pretended to be pirates. Reeve, the son of the town leader, travels far and wide to search for it until he finds an unexpected treasure that will change everything he knows about his life and his people.

Seventeen-year-old Caleb spends his days swimming in the abandoned quarry and dodging his alcoholic father. Everything shifts when Eli, the preacher’s brooding son, returns to town after years away. As the boys grow close amid cigarette breaks and stolen glances, they must navigate small-town cruelty, family expectations, and their own fear of being seen. A raw and emotional exploration of first love in a place that offers no refuge

"Shards in Eternity" is a story of passionate and profound love that transcends familial and friendship bonds. At the core of this emotional saga is an intense relationship between two individuals, a love that manifests in various aspects of their lives, be it as partners, family members, or friends. As their love reaches its peak, an unexpected tragedy strikes, jeopardizing the foundations of these relationships. Life confronts them with an unimaginable tragedy as one of the key figures in this deep love faces an inevitable death. This narrative explores how love can flourish in the darkest moments and how the bonds that unite these characters prove stronger than ever in the face of adversity. "Shards in Eternity" is an emotional journey that examines the resilience of love and how it can illuminate even the darkest moments of our lives.