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Silver Lace & Golden Gates
An Anthology of Short Stories Across Love, Loss, Horror & Heart.
Not every gate leads to heaven…
Step through the gates, and you’ll never know what world you’ll land in.
From blood-spattered horror to heart-pounding romance, from twisted thrillers to absurdly delightful tales that make you snort-laugh in public, Silver Lace & Golden Gates is a genre-blending collection that refuses to play by the rules.
Penned during C.K. Smith’s academic years, these twenty stories reflect a writer honing their voice—sharpening it with every scream, swoon, and ridiculous twist. Whether you crave eerie small-town secrets, chaotic love affairs, or just a good story about a guy who maybe shouldn’t have opened that door… there’s something for every kind of reader behind these pages.
It’s raw. It’s playful. It’s dark and dreamy and ridiculous all at once.
And it’s 100% C.K. Smith.
Not every gate leads to heaven…
Step through the gates, and you’ll never know what world you’ll land in.
From blood-spattered horror to heart-pounding romance, from twisted thrillers to absurdly delightful tales that make you snort-laugh in public, Silver Lace & Golden Gates is a genre-blending collection that refuses to play by the rules.
Penned during C.K. Smith’s academic years, these twenty stories reflect a writer honing their voice—sharpening it with every scream, swoon, and ridiculous twist. Whether you crave eerie small-town secrets, chaotic love affairs, or just a good story about a guy who maybe shouldn’t have opened that door… there’s something for every kind of reader behind these pages.
It’s raw. It’s playful. It’s dark and dreamy and ridiculous all at once.
And it’s 100% C.K. Smith.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
4 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
C.K. Smith
8 books47 followersAuthor also writes as Dina Ezzeddine
C.K. Smith is a Canadian writer and the celebrated author of The Haunting of Aberdeen Manor series, a chilling collection that promises to leave readers breathless with suspense and captivated by dark romance. Blending spine-tingling horror with irresistible spicy romance, C.K. Smith creates stories that haunt the mind and stir the soul.
Her latest work, The Aberdeen Manor trilogy, is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. Each book in the series is crafted to send shivers down your spine, perfect for horror enthusiasts who crave a touch of the forbidden in their reads. From eerie halls to forbidden desires, this series is an unmissable journey into the depths of fear and passion.
Drawing inspiration from literary legends like Stephen King, C.K. Smith has a unique gift for weaving intricate tales that explore the shadows of human emotion. Her work is a testament to her love for storytelling, delivering an experience that lingers long after the final page.
When she isn’t crafting her next haunting narrative, C.K. Smith enjoys immersing herself in the beauty of Canadian landscapes and discovering the extraordinary in everyday life. With every story, she invites readers to step into her world of thrilling terror and sizzling romance—where the line between fear and desire blurs.
Discover the world of C.K. Smith, where every book is an unforgettable escape. Follow for updates on her latest releases and insights into her creative process. For fans of Stephen King, dark romance, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this is an author you don’t want to miss!
C.K. Smith is a Canadian writer and the celebrated author of The Haunting of Aberdeen Manor series, a chilling collection that promises to leave readers breathless with suspense and captivated by dark romance. Blending spine-tingling horror with irresistible spicy romance, C.K. Smith creates stories that haunt the mind and stir the soul.
Her latest work, The Aberdeen Manor trilogy, is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. Each book in the series is crafted to send shivers down your spine, perfect for horror enthusiasts who crave a touch of the forbidden in their reads. From eerie halls to forbidden desires, this series is an unmissable journey into the depths of fear and passion.
Drawing inspiration from literary legends like Stephen King, C.K. Smith has a unique gift for weaving intricate tales that explore the shadows of human emotion. Her work is a testament to her love for storytelling, delivering an experience that lingers long after the final page.
When she isn’t crafting her next haunting narrative, C.K. Smith enjoys immersing herself in the beauty of Canadian landscapes and discovering the extraordinary in everyday life. With every story, she invites readers to step into her world of thrilling terror and sizzling romance—where the line between fear and desire blurs.
Discover the world of C.K. Smith, where every book is an unforgettable escape. Follow for updates on her latest releases and insights into her creative process. For fans of Stephen King, dark romance, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this is an author you don’t want to miss!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 13, 2026
This is a collection of short stories that I truly enjoyed! Some of them will pull at your heartstrings. Not gonna lie I cried reading some of them!
Some of these will leave you thinking about choices you made in your life and maybe even reassess decisions you’ve made. Some of them will def make you tear up. She brings out hard topics in a way that you didn’t realize until you stop and think about the story you just read.
A beautifully written anthology
This was very well done and CK’s writing is always on point.
Some of these will leave you thinking about choices you made in your life and maybe even reassess decisions you’ve made. Some of them will def make you tear up. She brings out hard topics in a way that you didn’t realize until you stop and think about the story you just read.
A beautifully written anthology
This was very well done and CK’s writing is always on point.
February 15, 2026
Silver Lace and Golden Gates is a romantic anthology that brings together a variety of stories centered around love in its many forms. While romance isn’t typically the genre I gravitate towards, I decided to give this collection a chance — and I’m glad I did.
One thing I especially appreciated was the inclusion of darker or horror-leaning stories in between the more romantic ones. As someone who usually prefers crime, fantasy, and thriller elements in their reads, those moments gave me the breathing space I needed before diving back into something softer and more love-focused again.
Anthologies are always a great way to discover new voices and storytelling styles, and I believe readers who enjoy romance (with a touch of the eerie here and there) will find something to love within these pages, just like I did 🌹♥️
One thing I especially appreciated was the inclusion of darker or horror-leaning stories in between the more romantic ones. As someone who usually prefers crime, fantasy, and thriller elements in their reads, those moments gave me the breathing space I needed before diving back into something softer and more love-focused again.
Anthologies are always a great way to discover new voices and storytelling styles, and I believe readers who enjoy romance (with a touch of the eerie here and there) will find something to love within these pages, just like I did 🌹♥️
February 4, 2026
This is a fantastic anthology by C.K. Smith, with each section divided into multiple short stories. It’s not only fun but incredibly engaging. My absolute favorite section was Curtain Call, especially the story “The Standing Ovation.” And “I Accidentally Married My Uber Driver” was absolutely hilarious.
Well done on this one, C.K.! I really appreciated the ARC. Even though there were a few minor errors that were fixed in the second upload, I loved it. Truly a great read, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
It’s a wonderful mix of romance, comedy, thrillers/horror, and a touch of paranormal with some ghostly moments sprinkled in.
—Sophia
Well done on this one, C.K.! I really appreciated the ARC. Even though there were a few minor errors that were fixed in the second upload, I loved it. Truly a great read, and I highly recommend it to everyone.
It’s a wonderful mix of romance, comedy, thrillers/horror, and a touch of paranormal with some ghostly moments sprinkled in.
—Sophia
February 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ARC Review
This is a fantastic collection of short stories — perfect for those moments when you only have a few minutes to read. Each piece is quick, engaging, and easy to slip into, with most sitting around the 3–7 minute mark.
Despite their length, I genuinely enjoyed every single story. Each one felt complete, purposeful, and well crafted, offering something different while still tying together nicely as a collection.
A brilliant set of bite-sized reads that left a big impression. Highly recommended and an easy five stars.
This is a fantastic collection of short stories — perfect for those moments when you only have a few minutes to read. Each piece is quick, engaging, and easy to slip into, with most sitting around the 3–7 minute mark.
Despite their length, I genuinely enjoyed every single story. Each one felt complete, purposeful, and well crafted, offering something different while still tying together nicely as a collection.
A brilliant set of bite-sized reads that left a big impression. Highly recommended and an easy five stars.
February 7, 2026
these stories were so good never knew where they would go. my favorites were story 30-50. All were good but those were my favorite! this is an amazing author
February 11, 2026
This grips from the first story, hilarious yet chilling, fun, each short story was read within 5-8 minutes, perfect quick reads.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews