Wilson waits for his freedom while monsters growl within the prison walls. Unnatural darkness shrouds the prison since the murder of his prophet Luke Turner. He smiles though his cellmates plan his murder. For his prophet's tattoos snake upon his skin, promising that death will be but a short sleep before he awakes a free man. Wilson's faith cannot suspect that prophets keep unspoken motives.Wilson Greene waits for his freedom while monsters growl within the walls. Deep, unnatural darkness shrouds the prison since the Brotherhood murdered his penitentiary prophet Luke Turner. Wilson sits in that darkness and waits for the blades his prophet promised would be plunged into him. He smiles in the dark though his guards and cellmates plan his murder. For his prophet's tattoos snake upon his skin, dark runes shifting in the shadows and promising that the death soon to be delivered is but a temporary sleep before he awakes a free man. The teeth of Wilson's bracelet rattle. Luke Turner has harvested all of Wilson's faith, and that prisoner with the ink shifting beneath his skin has no reason to suspect those tattoos mark him for a terrible warden waiting beyond those prison walls.

Who needs monsters when you have your fellow humans to worry about? Pirates are the bane of interstellar travel. So when Lora wakes up in a low-ox hold with the bodies of her crew, it’s pretty clear what happened. But why is she still breathing, and wearing an emergency mask that’s not hers?Who needs monsters when you have your fellow humans to worry about? Pirates are the bane of interstellar travel. So when Lora wakes up in a low-ox hold with the bodies of her crew, it’s pretty clear what happened. But why is she still breathing, and wearing an emergency mask that’s not hers?Cosmic Justice is part of a series of thrilling, short genre stories. They can be anything from science fiction, to horror, high fantasy and detective noir. Most will be stand-alone stories, so you don’t have to worry about reading them in order. The description will tell you what to expect in each case, so just pick one that tickles your fancy.This is a short story. A neat, complete package of excitement and thrill that you can read in the time it takes to travel the average commute. Perfect when you’re looking for a dash of entertainment or distraction in a busy schedule. Or when you love stories and spaceships.

A girl who believes in fairytales goes in search of her sister who was shipwrecked off a cursed isle. In the wilds of the deep blue sea, she soon discovers that some legends have a ring of truth to them.The twenty-two poems in this collection are, with two exceptions, recent compositions. The poems tackle a variety of subjects, including: nature at it's best and worst; the retrograde loss of memory in the aged; theology; the circular nature of history; and the problem of whistling mailmen.The poetic forms range from tightly controlled meter and rhyme to free verse and even experimental forms, such as those used in "Mine Enemy Sleep" and "Writing a Poem".The author has found inspiration in many poets past and present, but is not tied down to a particular type of poetry. He prefers, rather, that the form should emerge from the theme and the narrator's voice.

Colonizing the moon is hazardous work...made more dangerous by political bickering back on Earth. Now Jack Chang must face either the starvation of the colony he leads, or the deadly terror threat posed by his former Marine buddy who's trying to extort the government and keep the colony alive. Some choice.With the advent of the timequake ships, mankind spread so rapidly out into the galaxy that chaos and corruption soon became the order of the day. So Union Fleet was formed to defend and protect mankind from his worst enemy — himself. To keep the peace, Union Fleet enforced the laws on all of the planets of the Union. For the most part, the people of Union Fleet were good and decent folks. For the most part, this all worked just fine on all of the civilized planets, but in the outworlds … well, that was another story. In the outworlds, where civilization was thin, evil thrived. Pirates plied their ancient trade in the outworld spaceways.Even so, the pirates were not the worst that mankind had to face. The Jatarian Alien Group was mankind's worst nightmare. But there was one ship that fought them off and saved the people of Benara-3 -- the Crystal Dragon. It defeated the whole Jatarian battle group and sent what was left of them back to their own with a message -- don't come back!Created with alien technology, this ship single-handedly did what a whole fleet of Union starships could not. But that was a long time ago. The people of Benara-3 forgot and went on with their lives. Corrupt Union Admirals tried to confiscate the Crystal Dragon to steal its secrets. When it slipped their grasp, in spite, they declared it an outlaw ship. As time went on, everybody forgot the Crystal Dragon and got on with their lives.But the Jatarians did not forget ...

In the previous story, Carla suspected her husband Steve was having an affair with Jim's girlfriend Jessica. She enlisted the help of Jim Money to discover the truth.Sometimes, the truth can set you free. And sometimes..The truth can have you RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE!In the previous story, Carla suspected her husband Steve was having an affair with Jim's girlfriend Jessica. She enlisted the help of Jim Money to discover the truth.Sometimes, the truth can set you free. And sometimes..The truth can have you RUNNING FOR YOUR LIFE!In Bon Appétit, Jim and Carla learned the true nature of Steve and Jessica's relationship. NOW THEY'RE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVESThe truth turned out to be far more sick and more sinister than either Jim or Carla could have ever imagined. And now, with the truth in hand, the pair must run if they want to live to see another day.THIS IS THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE JIM MONEY STORIES.Here are the other stories in chronological order:Bon Appétit EscapeOn the RunJamesBUSTED: a Prequel to the Jim Money StoriesABOUT THE AUTHOR:Former professional poker player Glenn Gamble is an author from Chicago, IL who doesn't have one of those inspiring stories where he goes to the state penitentiary to discover his gift for writing amazing stories. Instead, he worked on his craft during long romantic dates at Starbucks and Panera Bread with his laptop and a story. His inspiration came from friends who encouraged him to pursue his dreams to become a writer. Without a prison sentence, Gamble has managed to pen A Thousand Chances, Bon Appetit, Escape, On the Run, James, and Busted; and is currently writing future installments of both the Jim Money and Darius Blaylock Poker Series.In his spare time, Gamble likes to watch Chicago Bulls games, drop twitter bombs from the sky, slam facebook with status updates, and bet on low-stakes rat and roach races taking place in various public housing project apartments across the United States.

My poems about the rapture, salvation,and Bible prophecy.Meri and her friends Jethro, The Tackling Dummy, Wut, and Perfit have crossed over The Mistercald River and go by The Land of Falling You. It's snowing, and sometimes snow falls in the shapes of giant snowflakes, sometimes in the shapes of houses, and sometimes even exactly like YOU if you happen to be passing by or go inside. Imagine copies of YOU falling down as snow! The Land of Raining Faces is nearby, so you may even see your own face made of raindrops. The visitors see other fascinating lands. In The Land of Buffalo Unicorns, they meet Jethro's mother, Meridia. She's extremely friendly---and pleasingly flamboyant! She especially loves hats. She loves Perfit's beautiful yellow hair and wants a wig just like it! They meet Minglemint and Globe, who are also Buffalo Unicorns. As the five friends are flying back across The Mistercald River with their flying wands, suddenly Pumphrey The WaterSpout rises out of the water below them. At the moment he's an enormous whirlpool! He's immediately pleased by the novelty of having company up in the air, where he's usually so lonely. He can't resist approaching. But Perfit is blown out of the saddle and Jethro begins to fall downward toward The Land of Wrong Kites. He has only seconds to live. Here comes the grass! He can see dummies running toward the site of the expected crash. Him! When they reach The Land of Loving Yellow, suddenly Perfit disappears. Someone else loves her beautiful yellow hair. In fact, everyone in the whole Land!

An unscrupulous, greedy lawyer, blunders into Christmas with the wrong attitude, in this lighthearted romp. A nitwit lawyer, and maybe the Grim Reaper, usher Fenrick through a series of humorous, life threatening events. They and a loved one make him confront his "heart condition," leading to a change of heart. Genre: Comedy, Christmas StoryTypes: Like Scrooged Length: NovellaAge: 13 or overAn unscrupulous, greedy lawyer, blunders into Christmas with the wrong attitude, in this lighthearted romp. A nitwit lawyer, and maybe the Grim Reaper, usher Fenrick through a series of humorous, life threatening events. They and a loved one make him confront his "heart condition," leading to a change of heart.Genre: Comedy, Christmas StoryLength: NovellaThis story contains some language and themes that some would find objectionable for themselves or for children under 13.If you liked Scrooged, A Christmas Carol, The Nightmare Before Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, Family Man, and Mr. Destiny - people needing a change in their life - you might like this story.

It’s Alice Mongoose’s first Christmas in Hawaii. She misses her family and is resigned to spending the holiday alone. Alistair Rat would love to spend Christmas with his best friend Alice, but he’s afraid that Alice has more exciting things to do than spend time with a solitary rat. Fortunately, the outspoken Cordelia Canetoad knows just what to do! It’s Alice Mongoose’s first Christmas in Hawaii. She misses her family and is resigned to spending the holiday alone. Alistair Rat would love to spend Christmas with his best friend Alice, but he’s afraid that Alice has more exciting things to do than spend time with a solitary rat. Fortunately, the outspoken Cordelia Canetoad knows just what to do! The Alice Mongoose and Alistair Rat stories are classic tales of friendship, beloved to this day by children of all ages. Alice Mongoose’s recent renaissance may be credited to the efforts of Mary Pfaff’s granddaughter, Dorothy Pfaff. A new generation of parents and children have come to appreciate the books’ unselfconscious multiculturalism, sensible life lessons, and positive main characters.This reissue of the Alice Mongoose stories is faithful to the original printing and in keeping with Dorothy’s memories of her grandmother reading to her.Also by Mary Pfaff: Alice Mongoose and Alistair Rat in HawaiiAlice Mongoose and Alistair Rat have a RestaurantAlice Mongoose, Alistair Rat, and the Big Sign

**From the author of *Naughty Bits*, “one of the best authors of erotica,”* comes *Naughty Wishes Part IV: Soul*, when the hunger for ultimate fulfillment between three young lovers comes to a breathtaking climax...** It’s everything their hearts desire—but Samantha, Geoff, and Chris crave even more. With their feelings for one another out in the open and explored beyond their wildest dreams, other questions must be faced. Is it really love they feel? Or have they just been blinded by a relationship as intense and extreme as it is so profoundly intimate? For Sam, Geoff, and Chris the world of Dominance and submission is more nuanced than they imagined, and they are far more vulnerable than they believed. Now, while looking for answers to a lasting happiness amid their deepest emotional and sexual needs, Sam, Geoff, and Chris discover how much innocence they’ve yet to shed. Because they’re about to make a play for the most unrealized fantasy of all...true love. **Includes a teaser for *Unrestrained*** ** ** **Praise for Joey W. Hill** “This is one hell of a writer.”—Angela Knight, *New York Times *bestselling author “Everything Joey W. Hill writes just rocks my world.”—Jaci Burton, *New York Times *bestselling author “When a reader asks me to recommend an author that authentically relays the Dom/sub relationship with all of its physical and emotional facets, my first response is always Joey W. Hill.”—Fiction Vixen *Risqué Reviews **

It was Patrick's idea that they should have the tennis party weekend. After all, he had the perfect setting - the White House. Bought out of his bonuses as an investment salesman, it was complete with stable, cocktail bar, jacuzzi, shell-shaped bedheads and, of course, the tennis court (towered over by an authentic Wimbledon-green umpire's chair). He hadn't actually told Caroline, his brash and beautiful wife, what the real reason for the party was. And if she suspected that he had a hidden agenda, she managed to hide it in a cloud of Pimm's-induced laughter. She was glad to welcome Stephen and Annie, their impoverished former neighbours, less glad to see newly wealthy Charles and his aristocratic wife Cressida, and barely able to tolerate the deadly competitive Don and Valerie. As the four couples gathered on the sunny terrace, it seemed obvious who was winning in life and who was losing. But by the end of the party, nothing would be certain. As the first ball is served over the net it signals the start of two days of tempers, shocks, revelations, the arrival of an uninvited guest, and the realisation that the weekend is about anything but tennis. A funny, cutting, penetrating and perceptive novel from a brilliant writer.

Jonah’s new twin must time travel and face off against his siblings’ worst enemy in order to save the future—and his family—in the eighth and final book of the New York Times bestselling The Missing series, which Kirkus Reviews calls “plenty of fun and great for history teachers as well.” After traveling through history multiple times and finding out his original identity, Jonah thought he’d fixed everything. But some of his actions left unexpected consequences. His parents—and many other adults—are still stuck as teenagers. And now Jonah has a new sibling, an identical twin brother named Jordan. As odd as all this is for Jonah, it’s beyond confusing for Jordan. How does everyone in his family have memories of Jonah when he doesn’t? How can his annoying kid sister Katherine speak so expertly about time travel—and have people from the future treating her with respect? A few rash moves by Jordan send them all into the future—and into danger. What if he’s also the only one who can get them back to safety, once and for all?

Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: Don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip. They’re searching for one fair day—a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that—a deep secret she has never shared with anyone. **  The Miles Between explores the wonder and magic of a very real world where chance, mystery, and secrets abound.

Greyson McCarty is hiding big secrets and doing his best to stay invisible in the Red Havoc Crew. By his own choice, he is at the very bottom of the crew, but when he enlists the help of a shifter matchmaking service to find a mate, the one he’s given makes it hard for him to hide what he really is. Genevieve is smart, and funny, and the most interesting woman he’s ever met. Too bad she’s not a panther, and the wrath of her people could mean the end for Greyson and his C-Team crew of misfit shifters. Genevieve Taylor is desperate to find a place that makes sense to her. On the run from her last crew, she needs to find a man who is big and bad enough to keep her safe, and she’ll use any means necessary—even a shifter matchmaking service. Falling for Greyson would be a bonus, so when she meets him and there is an instant spark between them, she can’t help but hope she’s found her match. But there’s more than meets the eye with the quiet panther shifter, and she’s beginning to suspect he’s not as reserved as he seems. Maybe that’s a good thing though, because she’s being hunted by a ghost from her past, and now it’s not just her life at stake. Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language, and piles of sexy shifter secrets. Intended for mature audiences.

The second book in the trilogy that launched one of the most important fantasy writers of our time. It is a time of darkness, dread, and ultimate testing for the realm of Osten Ard, for the wild magic and terrifying minions of the undead Sithi ruler, Ineluki the Storm King, are spreading their seemingly undefeatable evil across the kingdom. With the very land blighted by the power of Ineluki’s wrath, the tattered remnants of a once-proud human army flee in search of a last sanctuary and rallying point—the Stone of Farewell, a place shrouded in mystery and ancient sorrow. An even as Prince Josua seeks to rally his scattered forces, Simon and the surviving members of the League of the Scroll are desperately struggling to discover the truth behind an almost-forgotten legend, which will take them from the fallen citadels of humans to the secret heartland of the Sithi—where near-immortals must at last decide whether to ally with the race of men in a final war against those of their own blood.

Toby Maytree first sees Lou Bigelow on her bicycle in postwar Provincetown, Massachusetts. Her laughter and loveliness catch his breath. Maytree is a Provincetown native, an educated poet of thirty. As he courts Lou, just out of college, her stillness draws him. Hands-off, he hides his serious wooing, and idly shows her his poems. In spare, elegant prose, Dillard traces the Maytrees' decades of loving and longing. They live cheaply among the nonconformist artists and writers that the bare tip of Cape Cod attracts. When their son Petie appears, their innocent Bohemian friend Deary helps care for him. But years later it is Deary who causes the town to talk. In this moving novel, Dillard intimately depicts willed bonds of loyalty, friendship, and abiding love. She presents nature's vastness and nearness. Warm and hopeful, The Maytrees is the surprising capstone of Dillard's original body of work.

A few nights in nature take a nasty turn for Nancy and her friends in this sixth book of the Nancy Drew Diaries, a fresh approach to a classic series. To celebrate her birthday, George is taking Nancy and Bess on a three-day bike tour around the scenic Mystic Lake. They can’t wait to spend time exploring the gorgeous landscape by day and camping under the stars at night. What they didn’t count on was sabotage! First someone steals food and supplies from their packs. Then tour guide Caitlin vanishes overnight, and the entire group finds their tires slashed to bits. Now Nancy is cycling for clues instead of soaking up the scenery. Can Nancy track down the culprit before she and her friends are lost in the woods forever?

Kevin Hearne creates the ultimate Atticus O’Sullivan adventure in the grand finale of the New York Times bestselling Iron Druid Chronicles: an epic battle royale against the Norse gods of Asgard. Unchained from fate, the Norse gods Loki and Hel are ready to unleash Ragnarok, a.k.a. the Apocalypse, upon the earth. They’ve made allies on the darker side of many pantheons, and there’s a globe-spanning battle brewing that ancient Druid Atticus O’Sullivan will be hard-pressed to survive, much less win. Granuaile MacTiernan must join immortals Sun Wukong and Erlang Shen in a fight against the Yama Kings in Taiwan, but she discovers that the stakes are much higher than she thought. Meanwhile, Archdruid Owen Kennedy must put out both literal and metaphorical fires from Bavaria to Peru to keep the world safe for his apprentices and the future of Druidry. And Atticus recruits the aid of a tyromancer, an Indian witch, and a trickster god in hopes that they’ll give him just enough leverage to both save Gaia and see another sunrise. There is a hound named Oberon who deserves a snack, after all.

Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers’ case, make that two. The exceptional new thriller from the writer whose books are “pure reading pleasure” (Booklist) The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen for their body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes those parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of them are a great deal more extreme than others -- as Virgil is about to find out. Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship wi th his girlfriend Frankie has been getting kind of serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets a lot more complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched. For another…she thinks Virgil’s kind of cute. “You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.” “She carries a knife?” “No, but I do.” * Forget a storm – this one’s a tornado.

The diaries of Lord Grandrith, the legendary Apeman, Lord of the Jungle and bastard son of Jack the Ripper. Blessed with unnatural long life, his power brings with it a gruesome side effect - one shared by his nemesis, the formidable Doc Caliban, Man of Bronze and Champion of Justice. But these two titans have more in common than they could ever have imagined. Who are the dark manipulators of their destiny? A brand-new edition of the controversial novel.

After a fierce battle, Erin of Elliath and her comrades have brought hope back to the Servants of the Bright Heart. The throne of Marantine has been reclaimed, and a new king rules the last remnants of Lernan's people. Within the lands of the Dark Empire, however, the power of the Bright Heart grows dim. The last stronghold of the Light, the well of Lernan's power, is quickly draining in the shadow of the inexorable forces of Darkness. The High Priests compete for supremacy, and even the nobility of the Dark Empire has begun to feel the burden of their never-ending war. The First of the Sundered, Lord Stefanos, has returned, once again walking the night and devouring the innocent in mourning for his lost beloved—Lady Sara, Erin of Elliath. Erin is determined to free the Light and release her long-dead friends from the purgatory of the Dark Heart. She must once more journey into the heart of the Dark Lands to confront the legacy of Lady Sara and the inevitable destiny of the lines, forcing her toward a final confrontation with her most formidable and ancient enemy—the man she loves.

One night, when I am old, sick, right out of semen, and don't need things to get any worse, I hear the noises growing louder. I am sure they are making love in Zenab's bedroom which is next to mine. Waldo, a f�ted filmmaker, is confined by old age and ill health to his London apartment. Frail and frustrated, he is cared for by his lovely younger wife, Zee. But when he suspects that Zee is beginning an affair with Eddie, 'more than an acquaintance and less than a friend for over thirty years,' Waldo is pressed to action: determined to expose the couple, he sets himself first to prove his suspicions correct - and then to enact his revenge. Written with characteristic black humour and with an acute eye for detail, Kureishi's eagerly awaited novella will have his readers dazzled once again by a brilliant mind at work.