When Katie O'Roark receives an invitation from the One Last Wish Foundation to spend the summer at Jenny House, she eagerly says yes. Katie is ever grateful to the anonymous "JWC," the person who gave her the gift that allowed her to receive a heart transplant. Now Katie is asked to help others who, like herself, are facing medical odds against them. Being a "Big Sister" to Amanda, an eleven-year-old victim of leukemia; Chelsea, a thirteen-year-old candidate for a heart transplant; and Lacey, a fifeen-year-old diabetic who refuses to face her problems, is a challenge. As the summer progresses, the girls form a bond of friendship as they behave "just like healthy kids." When a crisis occurs and one of the girls does not get to fulfill her dreams, the friends are devastated. The girls vow to gather each summer, so long as one of them is alive, in honor of their dreams and of a friendship strong enough to endure beyond this life. From the Paperback edition.

A celebration of curiosity, compassion, and the surprising power of fear, based on the New York Times bestselling author and renowned professor’s 2015 commencement address at Syracuse University. “Being smart and rich are lucky, but being curious & compassionate will save your ass.” Every year there are one or two commencement speeches that strike a chord with audiences far greater than the student bodies for which they are intended. In 2015 Mary Karr’s speech to the graduating class of Syracuse University caught fire, hailed across the Internet as one of the most memorable in recent years, and lighting up the Twittersphere. In Now Go Out There, Karr explains why having your heart broken is just as—if not more—important than falling in love; why getting what you want often scares you more than not getting it; how those experiences that appear to be the worst cannot be so easily categorized; and how to cope with the setbacks that inevitably befall all of us. “Don’t make the mistake of comparing your twisted up insides to other people’s blow-dried outsides,” she cautions. “Even the most privileged person in this stadium suffers the torments of the damned just going about the business of being human.” An ideal—and beautifully designed—gift for a graduate or for anyone looking for some down-to-earth life advice, Now Go Out There is destined to become a classic.

* Today is officially the worst day of my life… * I woke up five hours late after a reckless one-night stand with the sexiest, cockiest, and most arrogant man I’ve ever met. (And this asshole actually left a note: “I think you were lying to me about being “experienced” last night. You orgasmed three times, and that was before we made it to your bedroom. I also find it hard to believe you “usually wear silk or lingerie.” Your drawers are all full of cotton granny panties--The best man you’ve ever fucked… ) My top two PR clients left me for my number one competitor, my roommate accidentally bleached my best suit, and my favorite coffee shop was shut down for “health concerns.” Still, none of those things dimmed my excitement for what was supposed to be the best four o’clock signing session of my career. I was on the verge of signing the highest paying client in my company’s history, taking on a so-called “impossible” job that no publicist had been able to handle. But at four o’clock, there was no athlete, television personality, or celebrity who showed up. Instead, that sexy, arrogant one-night stand stepped into my office with his familiar panty-wetting smirk and introduced himself as my new, *cocky client... *

Inventive, outlandish, and tender fairy tales from a bestselling author The fantastic has always been at the edges of Heather O'Neill's work. In her bestselling novels Lullabies for Little Criminals and The Girl Who Was Saturday Night, she transformed the shabbiest streets of Montreal with her beautiful, freewheeling metaphors. She described the smallest of things—a stray cat or a second-hand coat—with an intensity that made them otherworldly. In Daydreams of Angels, O'Neill's first collection of short stories, she gives free reign to her imaginative gifts. In "The Ugly Ducklings," generations of Nureyev clones live out their lives in a grand Soviet experiment. In "Dear Piglet," a teenaged cult follower writes a letter to explain the motivation behind her crime. And in another tale, a grandmother reveals where babies come from: the beach, where young mothers-to-be hunt for infants in the surf. Each of these beguiling stories twists the beloved narratives of childhood—fairy tales, storybooks, Bible stories—to uncover the deepest truths of family life.

The Duchess of Cosway yearns for a man she has never met . . . her husband. Married by proxy as a child, Lady Isidore has spent years fending off lecherous men in every European court while waiting to meet her husband. She's determined to accept him, no matter how unattractive the duke turns out to be. When she finally lures Simeon Jermyn back to London, his dark handsomeness puts Isidore's worst fears to rest—until disaster strikes. The duke demands an annulment. Forsaking his adventuresome past, Simeon has returned to London ready to embrace the life of a proper duke, only to find that his supposed wife is too ravishing, too headstrong, and too sensual to be the docile duchess he has in mind. But Isidore will not give up her claim to the title—or him—without a fight. She will do whatever it takes to capture Simeon's heart, even if it means sacrificing her virtue. After all, a consummated marriage cannot be annulled. Yet in forcing Simeon into a delicious surrender, will Isidore risk not only her dignity—but her heart?

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga. Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell.

Welcome to Elephant Small Vol 3. This is the third in a series of five ebooks that cover five years of original verse previously published on my weblog 'Elephant Small'. Vol 3 covers edited highlights from the years 2008 & 2009.May contain the off rude word.

Second Officer John Blake can't believe his eyes as his friend and fellow officer arrives to greet him out of sleep mode. The unusual thing is he is supposed to be dead.Second Officer John Blake can't believe his eyes when Dave Calloden meets him as he exits sleep mode aboard the star ship. Dave seems the same but for one thing, John was told by the computer that Dave had died earlier.

When the land of theBots and Humans collide there will be a big bang, war ensues for the ownership of the Bots land by a King name Alfred and a powerful wizard by the name of Whisker. Whisker will capture the king's only son Prince Harry,who will inherit his thron and his wars,whisker will use Prince Harry as ransome to get king Alfred to stop the war aganist the landThe TWO opening novels from New York Times bestseller Maggie Shayne’s TWO most popular series! The Oklahoma All-Girl Brands, Book 1: THE BRANDS WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS:When good girl Maya Brand, eldest of five and the pillar of the family, has a moment of weakness and a one night stand with a drifter, she finds herself pregnant with a naked ring finger. Most Big Falls, Oklahomans think it must be a case of immaculate conception. But the drifter returns and trouble follows. So do an early labor, a freak storm, and a Christmas you will never forget.The Texas Brands, Book 1: THE LITTLEST COWBOYUpright and Honest Sheriff Garrett Brand is furious with the younger brothers he’s raised when he finds a baby on the doorstep one hot Texas morning…until he sees the note with his own name on it. A motherless baby boy, a soft hearted rancher, an overprotective family, and a woman in deadly trouble spell heartwarming emotion, spine tingling passion, and breathless romance.The Brand Family…A Miracle in Every Story!

Sweet Clean Historical Cowboy Romance.Declan O'Bryan left Ireland to settle in Montana. The only thing missing from his life now is a wifeMargaret McGreggor, answers an advertisement for a wife so that she can get out of her sister's cramped apartment and start a new life for herself. Can Declan and Margaret find love?Sweet Clean Historical Cowboy Romance.Declan O'Bryan left Ireland to seek his fortune in the New World, but the journey was long for a man without a penny to his name. It took years of back-breaking work as a sailor and a journeyman for him to finally reach Montana, and to have enough money to his name to earn the title of proud homesteader. There's only one thing missing from his life now, and unlike the boys in town, he's not convinced a man should find a wife in a catalog, the same way he buys a plow.But for Margaret McGreggor, answering an advertisement for a wife is the only way she can get out of her sister's cramped apartment and start a new life for herself. She came to America for adventure and opportunity, and marrying a stranger just might provide her with both.

Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.In rescuing three young women from psychotic Draggers, Tom Cain lost two crewmates, his berth on the airship Myrmidon and he very nearly lost his life, but that’s just the beginning of his problems. The four teens recover the abandoned airship Hecate, and flee in her, only to find a stranger named Ishara is stowed away.Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.This is a free download, all I ask in return is that you come back here and give a review when you've read it.

Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.Ever since her sixteenth birthday, strange things keep happening to Seraphina Parrish. Unexplainable premonitions catapult her to faraway cities. A street gang wants to kill her, and a beautiful, mysterious boy stalks her.But when Sera moves to Chicago, and her aunt reveals their family connection to a centuries old, secret society, she’s immediately thrust into an unbelievable fantasy world, leading her on a quest to unravel the mysteries that plague her. In the end, their meanings crash into an epic struggle of loyalty and betrayal, and she’ll be forced to choose between the boy who has stolen her heart and the thing she desires most.Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.

When the chips are down, and they certainly are in these desperate times; friends and family stick together. Julie finds this out in an unlikely fashion. As the economy is crumbling around them, people are forced to make hard choices as to where they want to make their stand. They also must choose who to stand by. Julie's life is about to change, but not without a little help from a friend.When Victor Frankenstein crafts his infamous creature in Mary Shelley’s masterpiece, he creates something that is a patchwork not only of men but of ideals, of emotions. Out of many, he is one. Indeed, this anthology you read now is something similar, though I do say quite a bit more pleasant to encounter than the fruit of Victor’s labors!What precisely does the word creature conjure in the imagination? Something frightening? Something unknown? The authors of the stories you are about to read had this question to consider and not one of them came up with exactly the same answer as another of their collaborators. The initial reaction to such a question might be to recoil, to think of something unsettling or scary. But then one must consider the creature itself. How does it react to its state of being? It’s surroundings? Does it enjoy killing men or does it loathe violence? Is it predator or prey? Do humans simply fear it or try to combat the creature themselves?It’s the reaction that makes the creature, not the state itself of being an outsider to mankind. You will read in these pages about various supposed monsters, and they all behave differently. The creatures in these stories are everything from horrifying killers to sympathetic lovers to misunderstood beings trying to fit into human society, each one with its creator’s personal stamp placed upon it. This anthology was born out of a desire to come together as authors, out of a sense of community, and the reader can certainly feel this as well. Despite the occasionally-gruesome or unsettling subject matter, this is a labor of love, we promise!The idea to create a compilation was posed by author B.C. Sirrom on the Paranormal and Horror Lovers group on Goodreads in May of 2012. The idea took off immediately, with eight writers contributing to the work and several others offering to help with editing and cover art. But what was to be the topic of such an anthology?After much deliberation, the topic of creatures was chosen, an emphasis placed on the unique and the cultural. The rules were simple: the story must be in the paranormal or horror genre and between five and ten thousand words. While mature content was allowed, it was not required, and contributors had to be willing to assist with editing. With the ground rules in place, the authors set out to craft their tales.This specific topic is one that not only fit the overall theme of the group itself, but also one that allowed the authors room to breathe, room to create and thus, room to craft a collection of well-fitted stories that will entertain, thrill and horrify.No matter what the word ‘creature’ initially brings to mind for you, the reader, that is only the beginning

When Nell Sely moves from sleepy Dorset to Hampstead she leaves behind a childhood of dull teas and oppressive rules for the freedom of the big city. Naive and only nineteen, she becomes embroiled with the wayward John Gaunt and falls in with London's bohemian crowd. In this city of seductive, shifting morals, smoke-filled jazz-clubs and glamorous espresso bars, Nell must master her new found independence and learn to strike her own course.

Bess has landed a job at the Razor's Edge dance club, and she's invited Nancy to check it out. With a wild young crowd, crazy costumes, and a handsome DJ spinning the tunes, it's the kind of place where anything can happen--and soon does. First, the blackout, followed by a scream; then comes the shocking discovery: Bess has disappeared!

Lost in the rain and out of gas on a back road in Kentucky, the Wroe Family takes refuge in a house where no one is home...but the ghosts. Slamming doors, strange crying and objects appearing and disappearing lead to the discovery of secret passages and a budding romance. But can they thwart the intentions of an ex-friend bent on arson and murder?Carpenter Ed Wroe, betrayed and wrongly accused by an ex-friend, Norman Jones, decides to move his family from North Carolina to Kentucky. Lost in the rain, they run out of gas on a backroad and take refuge in a haunted house. Slamming doors, strange crying, and objects that appear and disappear lead to the discovery of secret passages and the surprising identity of the home's former owners. Twin four-year-old Andy and Candy make some discoveries of their own. A romance blooms between neighbor, Johnny O'Reilly and Ed & Penny's seventeen-year-old daughter, Chrissy. But when ex-friend Norman Jones shows up again, will Johnny be able to thwart his intentions of arson and murder?

Two factions of children in separate schools find themselves at odds. One is humiliated but rises to take vengeance on the other. It was war. And the children loved it.Emily Moore never thought passion for antique jewelry would reveal a secret past, heritage to a hidden world, and the responsibility of securing a powerful amulet.With the glass people hot on her heels, Emily protects the amulet containing their stolen magic. If that isn’t enough, she must decide if she can trust David, her once abusive boyfriend and the only one to help secure the amulet.Along with Gabe and the Blackbirds, Emily searches for the fabled Pandora’s Lock—the only way to contain the glass people. Seeking the Alfheim’s and a renegade pirate’s wisdom, the Blackbirds discover Pandora’s Lock is something constructed—a portal, but something must lure them to their prison—bait—Emily’s amulet and a guiding light—David who was poisoned by his father and on the verge of transforming into a glass person.With Eutopia’s Wall nearly complete, Atlantis on the threshold of destruction, Emily holds everything on a slender chain—including bringing her mother back from the grasp of the glass people. In the end, Emily is faced with one final choice…live in the Eutopia—the world she came from, or Atlantis—the world she come to love.

When Arabella and Mariana Gray are presented with an invitation to assume residence in their landlord's grand country estate, a decision must be made. It isn't as simple a matter as it seems.The Invitation is bonus material—the first five chapters of the original version of Cry of the Peacock—reworked to be told as a short story.Arabella and Mariana Gray are presented with an invitation to assume residence in their landlord's grand country estate. Mariana considers it the opportunity of a lifetime, while Abbie fears being beholden to her landlords, toward whom her parents had long held resentment.When the invitations is refused, and the sisters go instead to live with an aunt in London, will they regret their decision or find purpose to their lives they had never expected to know? The question is the same for both sisters. The answer, however, is vastly different.The Invitation is bonus material—the first five chapters of the original version of Cry of the Peacock—reworked to be told as a short story.

Skip Ralstat is a man so steeped in grief that life seems no longer possible. After the death of his wife and child, Skip blames himself. He has given up his friends, his job, and even his home. Now, homeless, he survives on the mean streets of Albany. He knows he can't go on, that life must end. But will it? Come join Skip on his most unusual road to redemption.Skip Ralstat is a man so steeped in grief and despair that life seems no longer possible. After the death of his wife and child, Skip blames himself. He has given up his friends, his job, and even his home. Now, homeless, he survives on the mean streets of Albany. He knows it can't go on, that life must end. But will it?Come join him on his most unusual road to redemption. The salvation of one life...lies along this road.Let the healing from "The Santa Shop" begin.Come laugh and cry with “Maine’s Other Author”(TM), the master of emotional stories—Tim Greaton.

FPM comes visiting with her pre-conceived notions on male nudity and female nudity, with hilarious results.They had the perfect life. They shared the same dreams. They envisioned the same future. But then their jobs got in the way. Their communal interests parted company. They gradually grew apart. After an accidental discovery caused by a simple fast food delivery, things changed dramatically. His suspicions about his wife have now become an undeniable reality. The result? A marriage is in trouble. A life together may be coming to an end. It is time to make a move.

Get Ready for a dramatic visual. Get Set for the authors’ film treatment based on their novel, The Architecture of Time. Go for this rollercoaster read.As a fealinn, Eilwen has a natural affinty to nature, but when one of the tempermental eagles of Gaspar leads her to a hole the eagle's True-bonded Eaglekin has fallen into, Eilwen puts old animosity aside to try and save him.