Dmitri Kovtun's life was never easy. Once his destiny was revealed then it became a horror. As a mere boy Fate overstepped boundaries not meant to be broken and set Dmitri's life into a flux that he very nearly did not recover from.But Dmitri is far from ordinary. Far from it.In the Meandering Line Dmitri Kovtun was a man on his last legs. As a wolfen, a werewolf, he had been taken as a slave by the evil vampire Blago. Beaten and whipped into submission Dmitri had suffered for nearly three decades beneath the iron talons of this demon nightwalker.Then an outsider came to his aid. Von Trapp, a man who had once been in a similar state of anguish, freed the beleaguered Russian by slaying his cruel master. But what put the brow beaten, alcoholic and depression riddled Dmitri onto this horrible path in the first place?In this companion piece set long before the Meandering Line, the story of where Dmitri began and the choices thrust upon him become clear. Just what tragedies lie in the wolfen’s past that would send him down dark pathways to this terrible future? And what part does Fate itself play in the unfolding life of a wolf who would be King?

A once in a lifetime treasure hunt called The Disneyland Quest. The clues are hidden in plain site as thousands of competitors try to solve the riddles and unlock the vault on Main Street, USA. 15 year-old Dizzy Walker knows more about Disneyland than anyone, but can he solve the clues in time? Follow Dizzy as he leads his family and friends on an adventure of a lifetime in The Disneyland Quest.15 year-old Dizzy Walker and his 6 year-old sister Ana are about to meet their mom's new boyfriend, Steve, and his son, Travis, for the first time. To make the introduction go smoothly, Steve brings Dizzy and his family to his favorite place in the world-- Disneyland. When they arrive at Disneyland, they learn about a once in a lifetime treasure hunt called The Disneyland Quest. Clues are hidden throughout the theme park, leading the Quest participants to the combination of the vault set up on Main Street and the $250,000 prize inside. Dizzy, Ana, and Travis must work together in a race against the clock, thousands of opponents, and the mysterious man in red who follows them throughout the Quest. Friendship, perseverance, and trust are all put to the test in The Disneyland Quest.

What is life? By what traits and attributes is one thing defined as living, and another not? CCD-08, who prefers to think of herself as "Bo", muses on the subject as the civil war for robot independence rages on outside her bakery doors. She wages her own personal fight inside, trying to bring robots and humans together on either side of a table.What is life? By what traits and attributes is one thing defined as living, and another not? CCD-08, who prefers to think of herself as "Bo", muses on the subject as the civil war for robot independence rages on outside her bakery doors. Defeat could mean lobotomy at best, mass decomissioning at worst. Victory will likely only open the way for further battles. Bo, in turn, wages her own personal fight inside, trying to bring robots and humans together on either side of a table. Maybe she can't change the world on her own. But at least she can stop the fighting long enough, courtesy of a hot cup of motor oil on one side and some perfectly prepared cupcakes on the other, for robots and humans together to see that maybe they don't have much to fight about in the first place. Whatever happens next, both sides have to see that they can't coexist without the other anymore if they both want to escape the flames of war.

At only 14 years old, John Malcolm finds school tough taking every hit on the chin (literally). John finally retaliates and the bully ends up violently injured. This attack causes John to go on the run making life even more difficult. On the run - John barely makes it out of his home town when a friendly stranger takes him in. With no escape John endures things that are far beyond imagination.At only 14 years old, John Malcolm finds school tough taking every hit on the chin (literally). John finally retaliates and the bully ends up violently injured. This attack causes John to go on the run making life even more difficult. On the run - John barely makes it out of his home town when a friendly stranger takes him in. With no escape John endures things that are far beyond imagination and holding onto hope keeps him going, or does it? “A bone chilling short story.”About the AuthorGareth Parker - educated at a military boarding school, always telling stories and with a proved vivid imagination finally decided to put pen to paper to create thrilling short stories for eBook readers. Parker - now enjoying the Welsh life in Cardiff works for a blue-chip company, even though he's always on the go spends his spare time enduring creativity for others to enjoy.

A First Shot Fired: Part Five and April installments of Tin Universe Daily all for the low price of FREE!! Plus this month bonus 8 page comic book script story from the unpublished Tin Universe archives.Looking out from the cliff top the day after the dark event, the search for something to cling to goes on. The answer was there yesterday, does it still remain, through all the destruction that rained down? Belief in something small is often the biggest tool to carry and while others succumb to the night that falls in the middle of the day, hidden high at the top of the cliff could be the one thing that everyone is looking for.This was written a long time ago, back in 2001. It is about depression and in the darkest of times trying to cling on to hope, even when everything is hopeless, and inexplicably dark that you can feel no escape.

A sampler of the mystery adventure novels of Richard L. Wren, including two never before published stories and excerpts from his four (thus far) published books.This is a sampler including excerpts from four mystery-adventure novels, and two never before published stories featuring the main characters of the other novels. The author of four novels thus far, Richard L. Wren's main characters are Joshua Rogan (a Park Ranger with championship martial arts skills who solves unusual mysteries) and Casey & Smitty (Casey Alton -- young sailboat captain; Smitty Smith -- semi-retired motorcycle gang leader).Included are the brand new stories "Casey & Smitty Go Fishing (and Catch Something They Don't Want)" and "Yellowstone Justice," featuring Joshua Rogan. Plus, excerpts from the two Casey Alton Mysteries (CASEY'S SLIP and MURDER MADE LEGAL) and the two Joshua Rogan adventures (JOSHUA'S REVENGE and JUSTICE FOR JOSHUA).

When Helen Marshall’s mother is hurt and can’t work and her favorite cousin ships off to fight in World War II, Helen takes a job at a war factory to support her family. When she steps up to help a mysterious German immigrant, she realizes the true sacrifices of war.Based on a true story . . . Until World War II came along, fourteen-year-old Helen Marshall's biggest problem had been her height. Few men in Hayden's Valley, Illinois are as tall as Helen. But when Helen's mother is hurt and can't work and her favorite cousin ships off to fight, Helen must find a way to support both her family and her country. Along with her best friend, Janie, she takes a summer job at a war factory and discovers that not everyone welcomes her enthusiasm.Determined to prove she can handle her new responsibilities, Helen must confront a lazy boss, two older women who try to slow down her work, and townspeople who gang up on one of their own. But when she answers the eerie cries of her mysterious German neighbor, Mrs. Osthoff, Helen learns the true sacrifice of war. And when she keeps a secret for a friend, she realizes that grown-up decisions sometimes have life-or-death consequences.Readers, don't miss the last few pages to learn more about the real Helen Marshall.

Earther forces have begun appearing deep inside New Terran space, raining terror on every planet, settlement, and facility they can find and killing millions along the way. Greatly outnumbered, Assemblage forces have instituted a draft and expanded conscription to the furthest reaches of space, but Major William Anderson has a different plan, a different ideology for dealing with the swarms of EarEarther forces have begun appearing deep inside New Terran space, raining terror on every planet, settlement, and facility they can find and killing millions along the way. Greatly outnumbered, Assemblage forces have instituted a draft and expanded conscription to the furthest reaches of space, but Major William Anderson has a different plan, a different ideology for dealing with the swarms of Earther marines. Instead of brute force against brute force, he wants to build a new kind of unit, something simple but effective, agile but deadly. This is the beginning of that story. Unit 37.

A short story, about 6100 words.Keshawn Bolling lives in a future of total government control. His religion, his education, even the length of his hair are dictated to him, Worse, his own father is one of the enforcers. He wants out; rumor says there is freedom to be had in the orbital habitats. But getting there won't be easy, and freedom is a slippery thing to define...If you don't like insurance companies you should like this story.Then of course there is the question, what is a good thing, and for whom?This story is fun, enjoy it. It's not real life, yet.

Longest Poem written by Parekh contains a Herculean, 7389 words, 46257 characters. Composed in his own inimitable style and with stupendous intensity all throughout, the poem is a royal treatise to the chapters of the English language and is the first of its kind evolved in pure poetic verse till the end, unlike many of its contemporaries.The verses within are humble salutations to the boundless chapters of life and love and are a reflection of the poet’s brain, bizarrely stretched to the most unprecedented limits. Now available in the form of a book, this singular poem is one of the most outstanding example of thousands of similies encompassed under one roof and delivered to optimum effect. The poem continues to be unparalleled in its length and one of the most unflailingly distinctive of its kind in the universal english poetic fraternity. This book aims at eventually arriving at the veritable meaning of the chapter called ‘ Life ‘ – interweaving through countless elements and analogies offered by the creations of God – unfurling each instant around us .

"Thisbe An Extraordinary Cat - Her Adventures Continue..." picks up where the first book finished. It chronicles the final years in the life of that spunky, little cat. She is kidnapped, is featured in a stage production, meets new friends and acquires a new step-sister. She still receives visits from her ghost friends and experiences many exciting adventures. Fun reading for all who love animals!Thisbe An Extraordinary Cat - Her Adventures Continue…picks up where the first book, “The Tale of Thisbe An Extraordinary Cat” finished. This novel chronicles the final years in the life of that spunky, little cat named Thisbe. It begins with a short wrap up of the first book for those who need to catch up as told by Thisbe herself. She is back with her human Mom, Ana, in a strange new apartment in a land called Michigan. Thisbe doesn’t care for the small apartment because she has to hide from the mean old landlady who discovers Thisbe quite by accident. Ana sends Thisbe to a friend’s house for a little vacation to clear the apartment with the landlady. Thisbe has a grand time and meets some new cats. Returning to the apartment, Thisbe suffers from “cabin fever” and escapes one day for a bit of excitement only to be kidnapped by a local boy who is not very kind. It is a frightening and hurtful experience for Thisbe. Ana does eventually find her but Thisbe has learned her lesson and stays safely in the apartment. Thisbe soon discovers Ana packing to move. Joyously they travel to another place that is more animal friendly. Here Thisbe discovers her neighbors after she accidentally falls down a long abandoned heating duct. She is in heaven! She lands in the aviary in the downstairs apartment to befriend a cockatoo, a parrot and two lovebirds. The other animals living in the downstairs apartment consist of two dogs and two cats. Quite a menagerie! After living with just Ana for a while and missing the freedom of Belinda’s house, Thisbe is excited to find some new animal friends. The college where Ana is teaching dance has auditions for the cat in their production of “Bell, Book and Candle” and guess who is chosen? Why of course it’s Thisbe! She has a wonderful and exciting experience on stage.Ana moves again taking a summer job at the Theatre by The Lake and Thisbe enjoys wonderful adventures in a new larger home that has a secret pet door. Here she has freedom to escape the confines of the house without Ana suspecting a thing. She also gets to share a home with a new dog friend while Ana “babysits” a friend’s cocker-spaniel. Thisbe and Ana move again this time back to Massachusetts where Thisbe finally returns to her beloved home at Belinda’s. Ana moved in after her aunt passed away and Thisbe is home but for how long? Will Ana have to move again? When will Thisbe finally settle down? Does she still receive visits from Arturo and now Belinda? Thisbe acquires a new housemate and a step-sister much younger than her. How will that work out? Thisbe still has a few more adventures and where will they take her? This is a heartwarming story for all ages.

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love. It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight," the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires. Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen's Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.

From the author of SOPHIE'S WORLD, 'A masterful mixture of fantasy and reality...a simply wonderful read' SHE. Panina Manina, a trapeze artist, falls and breaks her neck. As the ringmaster bends over her, he notices an amulet of amber around her neck, the same trinket he had given his own lost child, who was swept away in a torrent some sixteen years earlier. This tale is narrated by Petter, a precocious child and fantasist, and perhaps Jostein Gaarder's most intriguing character since Sophie. As an adult, Petter makes his living selling stories and ideas to professionals suffering from writer's block. But as Petter sits spinning his tales, he finds himself in a trap of his own making.

Once upon a time... as a fair maiden lay weeping upon a cold tombstone, her heartfelt desire was suddenly made real before her: tall, broad of shoulder, attired in gleaming silver and gold, her knight in shining armor had come to rescue his damsel in distress... Abandoned by a cruel fate, lovely Dougless Montgomery lies weeping upon a cold tombstone in an English church. Suddenly, the most extraordinary man appears. It is Nicholas Stafford, Earl of Thornwyck…and according to his tombstone he died in 1564! Drawn to his side by a bond so sudden and compelling it overshadows reason, Dougless knows that Nicholas is nothing less than a miracle: a man who does not seek to change her, who finds her perfect, fascinating, just as she is. What Dougless never imagined was how strong the chains are that tie them to the past…or the grand adventure that lay before them.

Trenton, New Jersey, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has inherited a “lucky” bottle from her Uncle Pip. Problem is, Uncle Pip didn’t specify if the bottle brought good luck or bad luck. . . . BAD LUCK: Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs. GOOD LUCK: Being in the business of tracking down people, Stephanie, Lula, and Connie have an advantage in finding Vinnie. If they can rescue him, it will buy them some time to raise the cash. BAD LUCK: Finding a safe place to hide Vinnie turns out to be harder than raising $786,000. Vinnie’s messing up Mooner’s vibe, running up pay-per-view porn charges in Ranger’s apartment, and making Stephanie question genetics. GOOD LUCK: Between a bonds office yard sale that has the entire Burg turning out, Mooner’s Hobbit-Con charity event, and Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle, they just might raise enough money to save the business, and Vinnie, from ruin. BAD LUCK: Saving Vincent Plum Bail Bonds means Stephanie can keep being a bounty hunter. In Trenton, this involves hunting down a man wanted for polygamy, a turnpike toilet paper bandit, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles. GOOD LUCK: The job of bounty hunter comes with perks in the guise of Trenton’s hottest cop, Joe Morelli, and the dark and dangerous security expert, Ranger. With any luck at all, Uncle Pip’s lucky bottle will have Stephanie getting lucky--the only question is . . . with whom? Sizzling Sixteen . . . so hot, the pages might spontaneously combust!

Now available in one volume, two classic Janet Evanovich romances, which feature Elsie Hawkins—the prototype for fan favorite Grandma Mazur in the wildly popular Stephanie Plum novels **  BACK TO THE BEDROOM ****  She was the mysterious woman in the long black cloak. He was the sexy guy next door. They shared a common wall between their Capitol Hill townhouses and not much else—until disaster scored a direct hit on the mystery woman’s bedroom and the sexy guy’s heart. He baked her a cake, she learned to throw a football, there were some misunderstandings in the living room, some mishaps in the yard, and some romantic moments everywhere... THE ROCKY ROAD TO ROMANCE**** When the delightful, daffy Dog Lady of station WZZZ offered to take on the temporary job of traffic reporter, Steve Crow tried to think of reasons to turn Daisy Adams down. Perhaps he knew that sharing the close quarters of a car with her for hours would give the handsome program director no room to resist her quirky charms. He always favored low-slung sports cars and high-heeled women, but that was before he fell for a free spirit who caught crooks by accident, loved old people and pets, and had just too many jobs! Loving Daisy turned Steve’s life upside down, especially once he adopted Bob, a huge dog masquerading as a couch potato…

“Funny, perceptive, and moving,” raved USA Today of the first  novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares, author of The Here and Now. Some friends just fit together. Once there was a pair of pants. Just an ordinary pair of jeans. But these pants, the Traveling Pants, went on to do great things. This is the story of the four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who made it possible.  “An outstanding and vivid book that will stay with readers for a long time.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred, Flying Start  “The loving depiction of enduring and solid friendship will ring true to readers.” —The Bulletin, Recommended  “A feel-good novel of substance.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred “Uplifting.” —Seventeen Pants = love. Love your pals. Love yourself. From the Trade Paperback edition.

CORDUROY MANSIONS - Book 3 In the Corduroy Mansions series of novels, set in London’s hip Pimlico neighborhood, we meet a cast of charming eccentrics, including perhaps the world’s most clever terrier, who make their home in a handsome, though slightly dilapidated, apartment block.  It seems the universe itself is conspiring against the residents of Corduroy Mansions, as they all find themselves struggling with their nearest and dearest. Oedipus Snark’s mother, Berthea, is still at work on her scathing biography of her son—the only loathsome Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament; literary agents Rupert Porter and Barbara Ragg are still battling each other for first crack at the manuscript of Autobiography of a Yeti; fine arts graduate Caroline Jarvis is busy exploring the blurry line between friendship and romance; and William French is still worrying that his son, Eddie, may never leave home, even though Eddie’s got a new wealthy girlfriend. But uppermost in everyone’s mind is William’s faithful terrier, Freddie de la Hay—without a doubt the only dog clever enough to have been recruited by MI6—who has disappeared while on a mystery tour around the Suffolk countryside. Will Freddie find his way back to Pimlico? Is Corduroy Mansions starting to crumble? Readers will be captivated once again by McCall Smith’s genius for storytelling, his insight into his beautifully crafted characters and his eye for the quirky details of modern life. From the Hardcover edition.

Epiphany, 1193. Eleanor of Aquitaine sits upon England's throne. Her beloved son Richard Lionheart is missing, presumed dead - and the court whispers that her younger son, John, is plotting to seize the crown. Meanwhile, on the snowy highroad from Winchester, a destitute young man falls heir to a blood stained letter, pressed into his hand by a dying man. The missive becomes Justin de Quincy's passport into the queen's confidence - and into the heart of danger, as he pursues a cunning murderer and jousts with secret traitors in Eleanor's court of intrigue and mystery . . .

The Boggart is back for a new adventure of magic and mayhem from Newbery winner Susan Cooper. Magic is in the air when Allie and Jay Cameron visit their ancestors’ ancient Castle Keep in Scotland, tucked in its unspoiled loch. The twins wake the mischievous shape-shifting Boggart and his infamous cousin Nessie, of Loch Ness fame. But a summer of fun-loving trickery with the Old Things is invaded by a dangerous real estate developer called William Trout. Trout has big plans for a luxury resort on the loch, and little care for its people or the law. Bulldozers get to work. The future of the loch, its seals, and all its beauty are threatened. The twins and Angus Cameron, their grandfather, mobilize to save his shop and the loch, but it’s soon clear they will need help of a different sort… In a race against time, the Boggarts recruit help from other Old Things of Scotland: hair-raising creatures of the Wild Magic. But are the Blue Men of the Minch and the Nuckelavee too terrifying for humans to handle? How can they drive out the invader? What’s certain is that Mr. Trout is in for a wild ride in this comical, page-turning adventure from Newbery Medalist Susan Cooper.

From the New York Times bestselling author of NOS4A2 and Horns comes this award-winning collection of short fiction. Imogene is young, beautiful . . . and dead, waiting in the Rosebud Theater one afternoon in 1945. . . . Francis was human once, but now he's an eight-foot-tall locust, and everyone in Calliphora will tremble when they hear him sing. . . . John is locked in a basement stained with the blood of half a dozen murdered children, and an antique telephone, long since disconnected, rings at night with calls from the dead. . . . Nolan knows but can never tell what really happened in the summer of '77, when his idiot savant younger brother built a vast cardboard fort with secret doors leading into other worlds. . . . The past isn't dead. It isn't even past. . . .