Book picks similar to
Balance by Janelle Stalder


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Born Sinner


S.L. Jennings - 2016
    Statistically, I wasn’t supposed to survive these streets past the age of eighteen. Fate had a different plan. I was bred for one purpose and one purpose only: to unleash death and destruction on my world. My thoughts are power. My words are weapons. Evil created me then grace tried to save me. But first… they tried to kill me. They call themselves the Se7en. They are sin and salvation, and everything we’ve feared from the beginning of time. And their leader is the deadliest of them all. He doesn’t lose. He doesn’t compromise. And most importantly, he doesn’t distract himself with mortal weakness. Not until me. Kill one to save a million. That’s what he told me when he took me as his prisoner. Kill one to save a million. That’s what he’s been trying to tell himself ever since he took me into his arms.Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ASIN B01K6HQY8S here.

The Hundredth Queen


Emily R. King - 2017
    He got a revolutionary.As an orphan ward of the Sisterhood, eighteen-year-old Kalinda is destined for nothing more than a life of seclusion and prayer. Plagued by fevers, she’s an unlikely candidate for even a servant’s position, let alone a courtesan or wife. Her sole dream is to continue living in peace in the Sisterhood’s mountain temple.But a visit from the tyrant Rajah Tarek disrupts Kalinda’s life. Within hours, she is ripped from the comfort of her home, set on a desert trek, and ordered to fight for her place among the rajah’s ninety-nine wives and numerous courtesans. Her only solace comes in the company of her guard, the stoic but kind Captain Deven Naik.Faced with the danger of a tournament to the death—and her growing affection for Deven—Kalinda has only one hope for escape, and it lies in an arcane, forbidden power buried within her.

Break My Fall


M. Mabie - 2018
    The second time was for Myra." For twelve years, I lived alone in my cabin, building a life with my two bare hands. I was free from their rules, their policies, and their lies. They are a cult. My father is their leader. To protect my brother's widow, I'm making her my wife. It's her only way out. But drawn to the purity in her deep blue eyes and the innocence of her gentle voice, I wonder if I'm not the biggest monster of them all. I have to save her from them and myself. Because every second I spend with this timid woman, I fight the urge to claim her. Own her. Make her truly mine. And I know it's wrong. I will break her fall—if I don't break her first.

Dark Wish


Yumoyori Wilson - 2017
    Every day, I prayed before the Starlight gods, asking for their divine assistance in accomplishing such a difficult task. Being an experiment for as long as I can remember, my hopes of obtaining freedom have diminished, drastically. The disappointment haunted me, as myself and my spirits struggled to survive. I had no hope left, believing my final plea fell upon deaf ears, yet again. But what happens when my prayers are finally answered? I’m thrust into fulfilling a destiny, with the help of six star knights. Suddenly, I am no longer experiment 555, but the stolen princess of Heila. Freedom, how you have teased my troubled soul. May the Starlight gods guide me and my knights, on this path towards the unknown. ~In Stars We Trust~ Dark Wish is an extraordinary new paranormal reverse harem series. Recommended for 18+ audience, containing mature sexual content and strong language.

Deliver Me from Darkness


Tes Hilaire - 2012
    A protector. But now he lives in darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up at his doorstep.COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOORShe is light and bright and everything beautiful—despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is his. He may not have a soul, but he can't deny his heart.

Praying for Rain


B.B. Easton - 2019
    People like Rainbow Williams. Rain isn’t afraid of dying. In fact, she’s looking forward to it. If she can just outrun her pain until April 23, she’ll never have to feel it at all. “Supplies. Shelter. Self-defense.”Wes Parker has survived every horrible thing this life has thrown at him with nothing more than his resourcefulness and disarming good looks. Why should the end of the world be any different? All he needs are some basic supplies, shelter, and a sucker willing to help him out, which is exactly what he finds when he returns to his hometown of Franklin Springs.As society crumbles, dangers mount, and secrets refuse to stay buried, two lost souls are thrust together in a twist of fate—one who will do anything to survive and one who can’t wait to die. Perhaps, together, they can learn how to live.Before their time runs out.

The Chronicles of Fire and Ice


L.L. Hunter - 2012
    *Is love stronger than race?The world is changing as we know it, the human race is dwindling, but so are the angels. In order to preserve their bloodlines they have bred with humans, creating a new race called Nephilim. But there is one race that is more endangered than humans or Seraphim, Archangels.As most people believe the Archangels have become extinct, rumours surface of a Legend; that a baby was born out of flame, the offspring of an archangel.Dyston Blackbell is tasked to find and protect this child. He sends her strange dreams in hope that she will find him. When he discovers that she has enrolled at his family’s angel academy in Melbourne, he will do anything to protect Scarlett. But when he finds himself falling for her the Heavenly realm rejects him thus turning his wings black.But 21-year-old Scarlett Porter realises that being half Archangel has some advantages. She has developed a unique trait, one that marks her as an Archangel. Will she keep it to herself or use it to fight back?When an old enemy resurfaces, The Lucifites, Scarlett discovers that Dyston’s older brother Lakyn is at the helm of their sinister plans; to destroy the Nephilim race or use Scarlett for their own selfish purposes when they find out who she really is.And when Lakyn discovers that Scarlett had only seduced him to rescue Dyston from his prison in the Realm of Light, it sends him on a journey of self-discovery and destruction. One that sees him venturing farther off course than his father would like. Will he choose a new life of love or his old life of darkness?

Forget Me Not


Stacey Nash - 2014
    But when Anamae discovers a brooch identical to her mother's favorite pendant, she unknowingly invites a slew of trouble into their world. They're not just jewellery, they're part of a highly developed technology capable of cloaking the human form. Triggering the jewellery's power attracts the attention of a secret society determined to confiscate the device - and silence everyone who is aware of its existence. Anamae knows too much, and now she's Enemy Number One. She's forced to leave her father behind when she's taken in by a group determined to keep her safe. Here Anamae searches for answers about this hidden world. With her father kidnapped and her own life on the line, Anamae must decide if saving her dad is worth risking her new friends' lives. No matter what she does, somebody is going to get hurt.

Melancholia


Elle Casey - 2013
    No matter where he goes or what he does, he leaves misery in his wake. Sadness and negativity are his constant companions, influencing others around him until they cannot bear to live.But then Rae shows up in his life, and everything changes. Darkness cleaves to light. Anger yields to joy. The question is whether she'll be his salvation or his destruction.Content Warning: Sexual situations, foul language, and general smartassery.Euphoria (Duality Series, Book 2) is the next book in the series.

Hidden Wings


Cameo Renae - 2013
    But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

Falling for Them Volume 3


Amy Sumida - 2017
    Making their debuts are J.L. Akins, HK Khan, Desi Lin, TB Mann, and ZL Morris. Codename: Goldilocks by Amy Sumida Find fourteen missing women and apprehend an entire werewolf pack. No problem. It's just another mission for SCCIT agent Tempest Alexander, Codename: Goldilocks. At least, that's what she thought. Then she met the Medvedev brothers and all thought went out the window. Her Reasons by J.L. Akins Joey has learned the art of being invisible. With an abusive father at home and a bully at school, her goal is to fly under the radar. So why are the new guys suddenly determined to get to know her? And why does she suddenly want to be seen? Ivory’s Familiars by Montan Ash Ivory isn’t expecting the immediate and intense attraction to not just one, but all three of her new bodyguards. Seth, Ronan, and Vaughn are deliciously distracting. But distractions are the one thing she can’t afford, for one tiny slip could expose her for what she truly is; a witch. Sanguine by HK Khan Vampires 'came out' nearly a century ago, and have convinced the world that they are model citizens. There are official 'donors', and everything seems on the up and up. But that's not necessarily the case. There's a black market trade for blood slaves, where they try to strip you of everything that makes you human...even your name. Claiming Flame by Desi Lin Life isn’t easy, especially when Sera has to change schools every year. Add to that a dorm matron with a vendetta against her and life just about sucks. The only upside are the three boys who refuse to leave her alone, despite her prickly personality. But can Sera learn to let them in? Savor Life by TB Mann A chance encounter and a medical emergency bring Aria, Chad, Doug, and Jason together for their ten days of fun in the sun. Love is in the air, but can it really work when four are involved? Or are they doomed to suffer more loss in their lives? Benji’s Decision by ZL Morris After Benji and his best friends, Shayne and Morgan, rescue Arlia at their local club, they form a friendship with her that soon develops into love. But will the three friends follow their hearts or will they decide their friendship is too important to risk over a girl?

Where Demons Fear to Tread


Stephanie Chong - 2011
    Clair dares to enter Devil's Paradise nightclub on a mission—to retrieve the wayward Hollywood "It Boy" she's assigned to protect. But she's ambushed by the club's owner, arch demon Julian Ascher. The most powerful demonic entity in Los Angeles, Julian is handsome as sin, a master of temptation who loves nothing more than corrupting pleasure-seeking humans. He won't release the lost soul Serena is supposed to guard. Unless she accepts his dangerous wager…....After the disastrous way his human life ended, Julian vowed that no woman would get the better of him again. Yet this sexy-sweet angel, smelling of fresh ocean air and happiness, triggers centuries-old feelings. Now, their high-stakes game of seduction, where angels fall from grace and where demons fear to tread, will lead them either to an eternity in hell… or a deliciously hot heaven.

Going All The Way


Cynthia Cooke - 2016
    She has been burning the candle at both ends and has the scorch marks to prove it. She returns home to San Francisco to focus on her artwork, relax, and hang out with her friends. A stress-free life. Until a man moves in next door who pushes all her buttons. Between Ryan and his dog, Riley, life is anything but peaceful. But it sure is a whole lot more fun.

Mortal Scream


L.B. Carter - 2020
    It's the most important lesson... and I failed.Living life on the move and under the radar, you'd think I'd know not to scream when witnessing a murder. It should be a no-brainer, but my mouth didn't get the memo, drawing the cops to the wrong conclusion: me. And the deaths don't stop there.When I foresee the demise of one of the officers, my open trap catches the attention of one of the scariest gangs in the whole prison. But they're not concerned with me -- they want the guard.They say they're a supernatural team tasked with overseeing the mortal sentence of convicted criminals... and apparently, I'm just like them. A Harbinger of Death.I thought getting locked up was the worst my life could get. Lesson learned.***For fans of Dannika Dark, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Burn Notice comes a gritty NA tale of self-discovery, mysterious pasts, and slow-burn romance with snarky shifters, gorgeous Egyptian gods, and quirky creatures of Greek and Celtic mythology.***

Exposed


Deborah Bladon - 2014
    She planned her life out with precision and she refuses to be deterred from her course. She knows what she wants and that is to honor the person who lost their life to save hers.When Hunter Reynolds steps into Sadie's world, she is knocked off of her axis. He's bold, charismatic and intense. She's committed to not let him lead her off her prearranged path but he's persuasive and a little fun never hurt anyone, right?As Sadie sets out on a journey to pull back the layers of Hunter's emotional façade, she begins to question the very heart that beats within her. Will shedding her own inhibitions help Sadie to accept the man she craves or will everything change once all is exposed?