Once And Forever: Virtually Impossible Part 31

"Please tell me you're joking."

"I don't mean like that," she said, her lips warming my ear. "But I kind of love the idea that I can keep you there for as looong as I want, and no one can do anything about it."

That sounded perfect.

"Pack your bags, everyone. We're going to the Maldives."

there was a woman who lived in a gla.s.s box, believing she would remain there for the rest of her days to pay for mistakes of long ago. And there she stayed until she met a man who had been living in another cage built by his and the hands of others. Wall after wall after wall. Until it was impossible for anyone to get through. But when he heard the woman's true voice, he knew her to be good and kind and caring. And because his desire to reach her was so great, he broke down wall after wall after wall of his prison.

And though she feared him getting too close, she knew he would never be able to see through her gla.s.s, and thus he would never see what a horrible thing she was. But the man wasn't content to stand outside her cage, knowing she was suffocating within it. So he began to chip away at the mirror. Day by day, hour by hour, he toiled.

And when he finally got through, he didn't think her ugly, he thought her the most beautiful thing his eyes had ever seen. To help her understand her beauty, he brought her to the other side of the gla.s.s and stood beside her. Piece by beautiful piece he showed her that she was no longer the woman she had been, and no longer deserved to be punished.

And when she looked at the gla.s.s from the outside, she saw the man holding the hand of a woman she didn't recognize. Only understanding after she looked down and saw that the hand the man held was hers...and he would never let it go.

Afterword.

Thank you so much for reading Virtually Impossible. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review.

Seriously, for authors, reviews are like gold or little blue boxes from Tiffany's (although we'll take those too).

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Immaterial Defense.

(Once and Forever #3).

~ Coming late 2016 ~.

Available for pre-order now on some retailers (others to come soon) Book three in this contemporary romance series is a twist on The Emperor's New Clothes, and this is how Sara's fairytale begins...

Once upon a time there was a woman whose life had been blessed from the moment of her birth. She wore beautiful gowns, and went to fancy b.a.l.l.s, and danced with handsome princes, and hated every second of it. For though none but the woman knew it, these things were not real but imagined. And the reason she understood this was because she wasn't real either, having been unmade in a single moment in time...by an enemy she hadn't foreseen...in a way that left her body wounded and her soul scarred.

So the woman began a new life, apart from all others, even while surrounded by admirers, for she knew they were admiring someone who wasn't real, whose truth couldn't be seen by their eyes. Though outwardly people still believed her to be beautiful and blessed, inwardly she knew it wasn't true. And though her appearance and wealth continued to bring compliments and accolades, she saw what none other could-that for the rest of her nonexistence, she would be invisible to all...

Seriously, folks, this one breaks my heart. Can't wait to share Sara and Declan's story with you.

Oh yeah, and I should probably mention...

Deeper Water.

A Carson and Laney novella.

~ Coming soon ~.

No, a novella continuing Carson and Laney's story wasn't in the original plan. What can I say? I'm weak and gave into peer (reader) pressure. The fact that I absolutely loved writing this couple and didn't want to say goodbye to them yet might have also had something to do with it...possibly. But I prefer to blame other people since I'm not 100% sure about that last part.

Plus, stay tuned for my twists on The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, Rumplestiltskin, Cinderella, Peter Pan, and the Princess and the Pea.

Also by Lauren Stewart.

Paranormal.

Unseen, The Heights Vol 1.

Job security isn't something Addison is all that concerned with. Death, however? Yeah, death is a major concern.

While a prophesied war brews in the Heights, Addison and Rhyse must decide which carries more risk-trusting someone who could destroy you or trusting someone who could love you?

Unearthed, The Heights Vol 2.

What would you give up for freedom? Even if it wasn't yours?

Two people from opposite sides of a war will discover the price of freedom and what they're willing to pay for it. But in the Heights, nothing is ever fair. For something they both want, one of them will pay with their eternity.

The Heights not only protects the secrecy of vampires, shifters, demons, angels, and other supernaturals, it protects the humans unaware of the world hidden within their own. This series is a mixture of urban fantasy and paranormal romance with multiple interlocking stories and characters and plot lines as well as different races of supernatural beings, each with their own cultures, hierarchy, and attributes. It's not a series about only two people, or three, or even four. This is a world in which everyone will have to pick a side.

The Hyde Trilogy.

Try the first book in this bestselling urban fantasy series for FREE.

Hyde ~ Jekyll ~ Strange Case.

The Complete Hyde Series Box Set.

"...my favorite series of the year...a perfect blend of what makes a book go down in history."

- Ohhh My Shelves.

Dark and light, good and evil-mankind's universal struggle.

But what if you're not a man? Or can never allow yourself to be kind? What about on those nights when you're not quite human?

Two people bonded by a curse of heredity and the manipulation of an unknown ent.i.ty. When the truth leaves them nothing to hold onto, they will be forced into a partnership neither expected...or wanted.

Because in life, who you trust is as important as who you are. And when you can't even trust yourself, sometimes the only person you can rely on is the last person on earth you should be falling for.

All three full-length novels are intended for adults because of very naughty language, biting sarcasm, and descriptive love scenes. They are not a retelling of the cla.s.sic story. Not even close.

Second Bite.

A second chance...

A second lifetime...

Can Daniel overcome two lifetimes of guilt and be the man Olivia needs? Or will both of them lose everything?

Get Second Bite for FREE when you sign up for my newsletter!.

Contemporary Romance.

Darker Water, Once and Forever #1.

Some fairytales begin with a kiss...

Two people want the same thing--a commitment to nothing more than great s.e.x in a bunch of different positions. Simple. Enjoyable. A win-win. Problem is, those two people have families and fears and pain that spill into every moment of their lives, control what they do and who they are. And if either Carson or Laney can't free themselves from the past, they'll both be pulled under by it.

Virtually Impossible, Once and Forever #2.

Love before first sight...

Hayden and Andi need to wake up to understand how perfect they are...for each other. If they can't, any chance either of them have of finding a happily ever after will be virtually impossible.

Once and Forever is a series of standalone romances inspired by the themes of cla.s.sic tales and legends. Because while fairytales aren't real, love is.

Humorous Mystery.

No Experience Required.

a Summer Rains mystery.

After leaving the hippie commune she grew up on, Summer Rains set a modest goal for herself: earn enough money to live a normal life in the real world.

Maybe she was aiming too high.

This novel is a fun comedic-mystery, similar in tone to the books of Janet Evanovich, Meg Cabot, and Stephanie Bond. Also available as an audiobook.

There will be more.

Much more. More in The Heights, Once and Forever, Summer Rains, a spin-off of the Hyde series, an as-of-now unt.i.tled YA paranormal series, and a billion more projects all impatiently waiting their turn. So stay in touch to find out what's next.

Acknowledgments.

To my Stewartists, readers, bloggers, and friends, including the magnificent Nadine Colling and Aestas Cross: Last year was a very difficult one. I'm not sure I would've made it if I hadn't had you at my back - encouraging, supporting, and nagging me. Thank you for making this series so much more than I ever thought it would be, for sharing Darker Water with others, and for allowing me to be a part of your lives.

To my incredible therapists/critique partners, Christina McKnight and Olivia Rivers: Your talent is only surpa.s.sed by your kindness. This book wouldn't exist if not for you.

To Katy Regnery: When you first contacted me, I thought you were a little nuts. Now I know you're a lot nuts, in all the best possible ways. Thank you for your advice, support, and friendship.

To my incredibly talented and patient graphic designer Amanda Simpson who puts up with way too much of my crazy: Sorry. :) That apology goes out to my editors, Jen Blood, Ch.e.l.le Olson, and Anja Pfister, too. I should probably warn you that my next project will be coming soon.

Oh, and Amanda? Make sure my room is ready.

A Note from the Author.

Anyone who's ever been to YouTube knows that good things rarely happen on a dare. This series is the exception.

You see, when I fall in love with my characters, I have a hard time saying goodbye until I've tortured them through at least a few books. But, one day, a close friend wondered aloud if I could ever just get to the d.a.m.n happily-ever-after in only one book. Since I wasn't sure myself, I decided to take that challenge, and Darker Water was born. It was so much fun that I decided to keep going, wrote seven more fairytale beginnings and plotted out stories to go with each.

So Once and Forever will be a series of at least seven standalone novels. Each story uses a theme or symbol from a fairytale, but only as a starting point.

Because while fairytales aren't real, love is.

About the Author.

Lauren Stewart lives in Northern California with two of the most amazing children that the world has ever seen. She reads almost every genre so, naturally, her writing reflects that. With every book, every story, you'll find elements of other genres-fantasy, mystery, romance, paranormal, suspense, YA, women's literature, all with a touch of humor because what doesn't kill us should make us laugh.

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