'Seventeen Syllables': Hisaye Yamamoto

"HIS" is a gripping tale that delves into the tumultuous relationship between Sophia Bennett and Chase Romano, a man entrenched in the world of organized crime. Set against the backdrop of danger and desire, the story unfolds as Sophia, an innocent eighteen-year-old, becomes embroiled in a web of deceit and passion after witnessing a murder orchestrated by Chase, the infamous leader of the Italian mafia. Sophia's life takes a drastic turn when she is kidnapped by Chase's cousins and taken to his opulent mansion, with the intention of silencing her forever. However, Chase spares her life under mysterious circumstances, but on the condition that she remains captive within the confines of his estate. As Sophia grapples with her captivity, Chase's suppressed feelings for her begin to resurface, leading to a series of intense and often tumultuous encounters. Despite Sophia's attempts to escape, she finds herself drawn to Chase in unexpected ways, eventually culminating in a secret marriage and the revelation of her pregnancy. However, their happiness is short-lived as Chase's indifference towards their unborn child drives a wedge between them, leading to a tragic loss that shatters Sophia's world. Determined to move on, she severs all ties with Chase and attempts to rebuild her life. But fate has other plans as Chase resurfaces, reigniting old passions and forcing Sophia to confront her feelings once again. As she navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and betrayal, Sophia must ultimately decide whether to embrace the past or forge a new path forward. Filled with twists and turns, "HIS" is a captivating journey of love, loss, and redemption that will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

In the middle of Tokyo’s relentless rush, two strangers cross paths—by accident, in the most ridiculous way, and at the most unexpected moment—yet it feels as if the universe had quietly arranged it all. What follows are hesitant steps, faltering words, and small messages that slowly create a warm, quiet space between them. Tokyo Love Letter: Hibiki is a story where silence speaks, where ordinary days suddenly begin to matter, and where someone appears out of nowhere… only to become a place to return to, and a space to simply be oneself. This isn’t a story about falling in love quickly, but about feeling it grow—quietly, unexpectedly—through coincidences, through distance, and through the little things we never meant to hold on to.

>>THIS BOOK IS IN INDEFINITE HIATUS<< Aurelie Mistal, called by her nickname Aurie is a simple, average girl with hidden talents who had experienced working for a very long time being a cast member from a famous amusement park from the Philippines. After leaving the path of a fairytale-like life, she decided to join the real world of music wherein she found herself joining the infamous MBS Asia Inc. - an international talent agency where youths were scouted and trained to be future artists as they grow up. Upon exploring, Aurie continually experiences good and bad situations, and even encounters deep secrets with unbelievable revelations within the hallways of a musically inclined building, hiding from the shining and sparkling gold furniture and pure white walls. She is also slowly becoming part of every artists' lives, mostly her most admired artist, Ryota Morii who doesn't acknowledge her presence and becomes irritated by just seeing her around. Until, more ideal guys started invading her life which eventually ended up trying to steal her from Ryota, with all having the same reason: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. Will Aurie be able to hold her feelings just for Ryota or will she give chance to others who won't seem to stop pursuing her?

Although Kate Hopkins and I have been in a relationship for ten years, our love for each other has never faded away in the slightest. In the past, she has declared on a podium that she will always stay devoted to me. Naturally, I've always thought that she'll be my soulmate in this lifetime. Three years ago, Kate was transferred to a research station in Althoria. When I head over to visit her, I witness her wrapping a naked young man up with a blanket. After choosing to believe Kate's side of the story, I return to the country and do everything I can to take care of her mother while waiting for her return. Little do I know that this is just a huge lie. Just like that, my ten-year relationship has gone down the drain. Ten years seem like a short time—as short as a cicada's lifespan while it chirps through the summer. The polar night might seem like a long time—so long that a passionate relationship carved into my flesh and bones can be erased. But no matter how long the night is, there will always be an end to it. When dawnlight shines onto my world, it still remains intact even at Kate's absence.

On the night of my wedding, my best friend's younger brother wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked me, “It’s a little big. Can you handle it?” I stared at his perfectly defined abs, my mind going completely blank. “What?” He repeated, “Can you handle it?” My voice jumped an octave from my panic. “Aren't we supposed to take things slow? Isn’t this way too fast?” That night, the sound-activated lights in the house flickered on and off until dawn. Meanwhile, my ex-husband was squatting downstairs. His eyes were swollen red from crying, but I did not even spare him a thought. Back then, when I agreed to let him proceed with a fake wedding with his childhood sweetheart, Miles Carter thought our cold war was over. When he explained things to me, he said, “Vivian and I will only be married on paper. The ceremony is just to satisfy my mom. I swear, when this is over, we’ll live as a real couple.” I remained silent. I just stared at the countdown on my phone, counting the days until I could finally leave. He did not know that the moment he tricked me into signing the divorce papers, our marriage had already ceased to exist.

When retired 80s rockstar and Casino owner, Jake, sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in Mississipi, he didn't believe it was real. One by one he's watched hounds pick off his friends one by one. Now they've come for him. Shortly after her husband's death, Nadia discovered her husband was in the mafia and his death was not an accident. But why did they have him killed? The answer lies in a forgotten briefcase and his best friend, Jake, who happens to be her rockstar crush from back in her younger days. Now Nadia and Jake must fight the demons for their lives and the casino as they slowly fall for each other.