Books

Young Adult Novels, inspired by sculptures created by artist Steven Lee Smeltzer and written by Wray Ardan

SWEET DESIRE, WICKED FATE

Filled with danger, humor, and the intoxicating passion of first love,
Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate is the first book in a Young Adult, romance, horror trilogy.

Sweet-Desire-Wicked-Fate

What Jaden learned:

1.  Forgiveness must be earned.

Despite their differences, they were family, and as her grandmother Jin would say, their lives were tightly knotted together like an Asian ikat weaving. Sneering at Jaden, Ava reclaimed her normal combative self. “You should be begging for our forgiveness you little—”

2.  Fear enables bravery.

Jaden heard a frenzied beating of wings that was quickly drowned out by Briz’s screams of agony.

“NOOO!” Jaden howled. “No. Not Briz!” Her body jerked forward, and she was rushing toward her fears into the dark room.

3.  Indian actor and film producer Shah Rukh Khan was right. There is no right time and right place for love…it can happen any time. 

Jaden gave her head a slight shake. Briz was nothing more than a crush. Their bond was intense because it was based on fear…well, fear and lust. Not love. It made sense that after weeks of thinking you might die, all of your senses—appreciation, infatuation, passion—would be heightened…but love?

Jaden softly called Briz’s name. Again, a muffled ringing guided her forward. She wanted to cry out for help. But there was no one. This was it. She was the rescuer, not the one to be rescued.

Discovering long lost relatives can be a real nightmare. Do you know who or what you’re related to? Jaden Lisette never imagined she might not live through the month to see her sixteenth birthday, or that befriending reclusive triplets and a withdrawn, introverted man could be her only chance of survival. Days after coming to Louisiana, Jaden falls for gorgeous, blue-eyed Briz Nolan. Then she falls into a living nightmare when she discovers a side of her family that she never knew existed. There’s now where to run. To survive, she must kill.

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IMAGINE JADE GONE

If you like original fantasy creatures, dark suspense, and
simmering chemistry, you’ll love
Imagine Jade Gone, Book 2 of the Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate Trilogy

Imagine Jade Gone

What Jaden knew for certain:

1.  Buried family secrets can be deadly when uncovered.

The hairs on Jaden’s arms rose as she saw the jug’s strange contents slowly unfold. Tiny limbs stretched, bony fingers moved the ceramic shards off a distorted face, and citrine-colored eyes sprang open. Jaden’s body went rigid. She sucked in a ragged breath as wiry tendrils lashed out from the malformed thing and plunged their sharp tips into Jaden’s ankle.

2.  She wanted Briz.

The innocent girl Jaden had been earlier today, trembling from her first kiss, was nowhere to be found. Now she wasn’t feeling the least bit pure or virtuous. Taking hold of Briz’s shoulders, Jaden drew him closer, letting her lips fondle his. This time he didn’t stop her.

3.  The American poet e.e. cummings was right. It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

Jaden softly called Briz’s name. Again, a muffled ringing guided her forward. She wanted to cry out for help. But there was no one. This was it. She was the rescuer, not the one to be rescued.

The bayou holds terrors that can devour her alive. After barely escaping a horrifying pack of hybrid mutants, all sixteen-year-old Jaden Lisette wants to do is put the deadly ordeal behind her, especially now that her future includes Briz Nolan. But falling in love may not be their fate. When a new deadlier species of creatures is set loose, Jaden and Briz’s chance of survival quickly becomes as murky as the bayou water surrounding them. This time, every last ounce of her strength and courage may not be enough to save the ones she loves…or herself.

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THE EXPERIMENT

A Violet Novella

A prequel to the Young Adult Romance, Horror trilogy
Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate

Hiding from the world was the only life Violet had ever know. What other choice did a genetic experiment who happened to resemble a fairy have? If found, she would be killed and dissected. Wouldn’t she?

After a lifetime of living in the shadows, Violet was about to find out. Thrust into a world beyond the four walls she’d always known as home, Violet has to fend for herself. Staying out of sight is vital to her survival, but maybe being found is just what Violet needs to discover herself.

 

As the title says The Experiment, A Violet Novella is a prequel to the Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate trilogy. Unlike the trilogy, The Experiment is not a horror novel, but, as an ARC reader said, “…it is a captivating, gripping and heartfelt tale.”

Purity ~ Poison

IJG-rose+hornet

Good ~ Evil

Novella

Love ~ Hate

Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate ~ 5 Stars, Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers’ Favorite

Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate by Wray Ardan is a young adult novel that combines various genres into one book: teenage love and romance, drama, thriller, fantasy, and horror…presented in a gripping way, and is guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their seats. The characters in this book are well thought out, and it is a delight to meet some really unique and original characters along the way. I also enjoyed the romantic element of the teenage couple in the book. Jaden, as the central protagonist, is immensely likeable and one automatically finds oneself rooting for her. Overall, Wray Ardan has written a compelling story with superbly drawn teenage characters, and ones that young readers will especially connect with. An enjoyable read!

Imagine Jade Gone ~ 5 Stars, Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite

I was impatient to read Wray Arden’s second book, Imagine Jade Gone from the trilogy, Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate. It’s just as gripping as Book 1, which I suggest reading first if possible. This book has never-ending, spine-tingling drama. The author’s writing format continues its strong, imaginative flow that makes this story fascinating. The creatures’ descriptions and their actions are very repulsive, but these make the story even more intense and thrilling. It’s obvious a lot of time and inventive thought went into this book, and it connects to Book 1 so precisely. I’m still convinced that a horror movie can be made, now having perused two novels from Wray Ardan’s Sweet Desire, Wicked Fate series.