Driven to absolute financial desperation, Clarissa offers up for sale the one thing that will earn her all the money she needs – her body. But when you do a deal with the Devil, nothing is ever quite what it seems, and the ruthless man who buys Clarissa doesn’t want her for himself. He bought her as bait. To earn her money Clarissa must first use her body to trap BDSM Master, Nick Edge – and immerse herself in his world of sexual submission. But betraying the man she learns to call Master comes with a cost far greater than all the money Clarissa stands to make.

Jay McInerney's first novel since the best-selling The Good Life a sexy, vibrant, cross-generational New York story -- a literary and commercial read of the highest order. Russell and Corrine Calloway seem to be living the New York dream: book parties one night and high-society charity events the next; jobs they care about (and actually enjoy); twin children, a boy and a girl whose birth was truly miraculous; a loft in TriBeCa and summers in the Hamptons. But all of this comes at a high cost. Russell, an independent publisher, has cultural clout but minimal cash; as he navigates an industry that requires, beyond astute literary taste, constant financial improvisation, he encounters an audacious, expensive and potentially ruinous opportunity. Meanwhile, instead of seeking personal profit in this incredibly wealthy city, Corrine is devoted to feeding its hungry poor, and they soon discover they're being priced out of their now fashionable neighborhood. Then Corrine's world is turned upside down when the man with whom she'd had an ill-fated affair in the wake of 9/11 suddenly reappears. As the novel unfolds across a period of stupendous change--including Obama's historic election and the global economic collapse he inherited -- the Calloways will find themselves and their marriage tested more severely than they ever could have anticipated.

The stories In Persuasion Nation are easily his best work yet. "The Red Bow,"about a town consumed by pet-killing hysteria, won a 2004 National Magazine Award and "Bohemians," the story of two supposed Eastern European widows trying to fit in in suburban USA, is included in The Best American Short Stories 2005. His new book includes both unpublished work, and stories that first appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, and Esquire. The stories in this volume work together as a whole whose impact far exceeds the simple sum of its parts. Fans of Saunders know and love him for his sharp and hilarious satirical eye. But In Persuasion Nation also includes more personal and poignant pieces that reveal a new kind of emotional conviction in Saunders's writing. Saunders's work in the last six years has come to be recognized as one of the strongest-and most consoling-cries in the wilderness of the millennium's political and cultural malaise. In Persuasion Nation's sophistication and populism should establish Saunders once and for all as this generation's literary voice of wisdom and humor in a time when we need it most.

Erotic romance author Shaundra Morrison thought there was nothing in the world her handsome white boss Harper Kehoe could offer her to get her on a plane bound for Tokyo, including free use of his body for the duration of the trip. Becoming a member of the mile high club intrigued her but not enough to conquer her fear of flying. Harper Kehoe had money, power, and everything his heart desired except for the affections of his best selling author Shaundra Morrison. He jumped at the idea of forming a partnership with Japanese mogul Goro Niigata because to Harper business came before pleasure. And what a perfect way to have both than by inviting Shaundra and three of his other successful authors to accompany him to Tokyo to promote the opening of NIKII Publishing. So what if it meant having one of his doctor friends prescribe Shaundra a sedative to knock her sexy ass out for twenty-five hours. Shaundra wasn’t too keen on the idea of being drugged just to fly halfway around the world to help Harper promote his new business, until her senior editor showed Shaundra a picture of Aomori, a group of four J-Pop singers who Mr. Niigata managed and planned to use to help promote his new business. All it took was one look at those beautiful faces, sexy young bodies, and all that long black hair to get her to reconsider. The worst thing that could happen to her would be she’d be turned into a junkie before she returned to New York. The dampening of the panties between her legs assured her that it would be well worth it.

The wait is over. dig into the feast. . . In the town of Morganville, vampires and humans live in relative peace. Student Claire Danvers has never been convinced, though, especially with the arrival of Mr. Bishop, an ancient, old-school vampire who cares nothing about harmony. What he wants from the town's living and its dead is unthinkably sinister. It's only at a formal ball, attended by vampires and their human dates, that Claire realizes the elaborately evil trap he's set for Morganville.

“Pretty, overdressed, jewel-bedecked Octavia Bassett," of Nevada, is one of the most fascinating characters that Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett ever drew. The story of the visit of this dashing young American girl to her father's sister in the staid, respectable, ultra-conservative English village of Slowbridge, and of the consternation which she produced in the society of that place by her frank speech, her dazzling toilets and her unconventional ways, is told with uncommon freshness and spirit in ‘A Fair Barbarian’. The sharp contrasts suggested by the presence amid the stiffness and primness of Slowbridge society of this breezy, brilliant, self-possessed young beauty, whose mother was an actress in San Francisco, whose father is a silver mine owner and who has passed a portion of her life in the mining camps of Nevada, are made the most of by Mrs. Burnett.

G.A. Henty was a 19th century British novelist known for historical action and adventure books, many of which were best sellers in his day. Even today, classics like The Dragon & The Raven (1886), For The Temple (1888), Under Drake's Flag (1883) and In Freedom's Cause (1885) are still widely read.

What if making accidents happen was your job. If you liked this short story please check out Shane's new full length novel Apocalyptica - Rogue Memories!!!What if making accidents happen was your job. Follow Mr Smith as he goes about his daily work.If you liked this short story please check out Shane's new full length novel Apocalyptica - Rogue Memories!!!

The Talisman takes place at the end of the Third Crusade, mostly in the camp of the Crusaders in Palestine. Scheming and partisan politics, as well as the illness of King Richard the Lionheart, are placing the Crusade in danger. The main characters are the Scottish knight Kenneth, who is the fictional character of David Earl of Huntingdon, who did in fact return from the third Crusade in 1190, Richard the Lionheart, Saladin, and Edith Plantagenet, a relative of Richard.

Milt Dale is the Man of the Forest. Living alone in a camp in the wilderness called Paradise Park, he prefers the company of bears, cougars, and wolves to that of the surrounding ranchers and troublemakers. But one day he overhears a conversation that changes his life and convinces him to leave his wild paradise to save a young woman from certain doom. The pioneer spirit runs in Helen Rayner’s blood, but it may not save her from the nasty end that tough guy Snake Anson has planned for her. To get his hands on her uncle’s ranch, he needs to get rid of Helen—by any means necessary. But luckily for Helen, the Man of the Forest is not about to let that happen.

Ethan Prescott didn't set out to have a horrible holiday. Instead, he was looking for an idyllic getaway with his girlfriend in Montana. But from the beginning nothing went right, and especially not the fact that he fell in love with a local. Now his life is in a tailspin as he tries to figure out not only what he wants, but how to have it all. And with a little help from the Kings, maybe he can.For years, Ethan Prescott has heard about the beauty of Montana from his Manhattan boss, Belle Landry King, and so he decides to visit and see for himself. But his ideal Christmas in the country is nothing like he envisioned. His girlfriend has turned into a nightmare diva and his hosts are sick. And then there's PJ. Ten years his junior and totally wrong for him, he still can't get her out of his head. Now with the Kings all sick, it's PJ and Ethan to the rescue.Ethan's can't stop himself from falling in love, but nothing works out as planned, especially when competition for PJ arrives in the form of Grant Honeywell. When Ethan's girlfriend adds her own cruel twist of fate, his love for PJ seems doomed. But what's the point of a Montana Christmas without a few miracles? And if the Kings have their way, they'll give fate a nudge in the right direction.

"I can't even begin to express how much I loved this book!" ~Night Owl Reviews~"Once you pick it up, be prepared to not be able to put it down." ~Amazon review~"OMG! I love this book. I could not put it down. Can't wait for the second one to come out!" ~Amazon Review~Seventeen-year old Sarah’s life is turned upside down when her single mom is sent to jail. She’s forced to move, leaving behind everything she’s ever known, including her best friend Sydney. Lost and bitter in a new school, her one goal is to save money and move back home. Then she meets Angel Moreno.Enigmatic but gorgeous, Angel is almost too good to be true. Except for one thing, his archaic belief that guys and girls can never be “just friends”. The problem? Sarah’s best friend Sydney is not a girl.With their unexpected romance intensifying to places neither ever experienced, how long can Sarah keep Angel in the dark? And how will he react when the truth finally comes out?

Darkness Rising 1: Chained is the first book in a ground-breaking new epic fantasy series. When tragedy awakens the sorcery within the serving girl, Emelia, she is propelled into an incredible journey in the company of two theives. But in the Dead City and ancient evil awakes, who will threaten the whole of Nurolia. And Emelia may hold the clue to his destruction... or his success.Wild magic comes at a cost... that of the mind.Emelia dreams of escape from her life of servitude. She dreams of magical powers; she dreams of dark things. When tragedy awakens the sorcery within her she embarks upon an epic journey in the company of two charming thieves.In the Dead City an ancient evil awakens. The Lord of the Ghasts covets a magical Prism, the clues to which lie with Emelia. And when he begins to share her dreams, surely it is only a matter of time until she succumbs to his power?Darkness Rising Book One - Chained is the first book in an exciting new epic fantasy series combining traditional heroic fantasy plotlines with modern dialogue and thrilling characters. Available for the first time free on Smashwords, readers have given excellent reviews:'Ross M. Kitson has built a complex and convincing world here. Frankly, I wouldn't recommend just picking up just the first book, or even the first two books. Get all three, because you'll be chain-reading them.' D Brzeski (British Fantasy Society)'A finely crafted and unique fantasy novel which had me hooked from the first page. Packed full of action, drama and humor this is a must for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy.' G.Turner 5 stars'this is an excellent start to the trilogy - richly imagined, well written and thoroughly absorbing. I loved all the main characters, with their quirks and complexities and quarrels and insecurities, and I loved this beautifully detailed world, which feels completely real. A very enjoyable read, and I look forward to the rest of the series.'Pauline Ross 4 stars

1914. An alien invasion decimates London, forcing a pair of reluctant soldiers to lead a ragtag group of refugees out of the city and to safety through a country that they no longer recognise. Along the way, they encounter horrors of both a terrestrial and extra-terrestrial nature, encounters which bring about an end to everything that they've ever known."We called them Martians for they had no other name. When they bore down upon us in droves from on high, they offered no treatise, no declarations, and certainly no gentleman's agreement. Had they called out to us, we would have responded, would have bartered, bargained or surrendered. Instead, the only sounds uttered unto us were the clicking of multiplicitous claws, sinewy carapaces sucking and frothing as they slid together like fleshy armour, and the vague sound of chittering when they moved."1914. An alien invasion decimates London, forcing a pair of reluctant soldiers to lead a ragtag group of refugees out of the city and to safety through a country that they no longer recognise. Along the way, they encounter horrors of both a terrestrial and extra-terrestrial nature, encounters which bring about an end to everything that they've ever known. Equal parts action and philosophy, their story is not a celebration of war, nor of the soldiers themselves, rather it concerns that inner darkness that lies under the surface of all authority, and the resulting effect upon society when the true horror of humanity, unburdened by any sense of propriety, awakens in violent fashion.

Christian Fiction. Neal's father was killed during the 9/11 attacks in New York. Rose hasn't ever met her father. They're both staying with their grandparents while their mothers try to mend. They are drawn together by a tiny white creature which is neither bird nor bug. It lures them to a hole in the fence where they get a glimpse of God's garden.This story is meant for kids who have been separated from a parent, especially through death or divorce. It takes place soon after the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.Pops and Meemaw are caretakers of a dilapidated mansion and its enormous garden, which is hidden behind a tall privacy fence. None of their grandchildren are allowed to enter the garden, but no one will tell them why. Though they can look down on it from the third floor balcony, the garden has so many trees and bushes, they can never discover whatever they aren't meant to see.Ten-year-old Rose is living with Pops and Meemaw while her mom is in the hospital. Rose has never met her dad, and now she is afraid her mother isn't ever going to come back for her.Eleven-year-old Neal is staying with his grandparents next door. Neal’s father was one of the policemen who died on 9/11. In need of solitude, his mother has gone to California, hoping Neal and his Missouri grandparents will be a comfort to one another.Rose arrives home from school and finds that her cousin Alexandria has come to spend the long weekend. The two girls catch Neal gazing at the garden through a hole in the fence. He admits that he has been stalking some small, white, winged creatures. Are they birds or bugs? The children can never get close enough to say for sure.

The three short stories in this LGBT collection explore the concepts of love, acceptance, and finding comfort.Exploring the concepts of love, acceptance, and finding comfort, this LGBT collection features three short stories: Walled In, The End of Vacation, and Dragons Don’t Have Mustaches. Walled In: A naïve gay man helps his partner build a brick wall and realizes, upon its completion, they forgot to add a door. This story takes place in an alternate universe. The End of Vacation: A young adult, American tourist meets a charming Frenchman on his way to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Dragons Don’t Have Mustaches: An ignorant family struggles to understand the transgendered, youngest child.

Dagmar has been living with her grandparents for most of her twelve years. Going to bed one night she awakens and finds herself not in her bed but in a different realm. She embarks on a journey of learning and discovery.A dream which is not a dream. Dagmar learns of her true identity and begins a journey of discovery in another realm and filled with magic ..... A slight breeze made the heads of the flowers bob as if they were nodding in acknowledgement of the child’s passing feet and the leaves rustled like sand paper rubber together. Sunlight was diffused by the trees which were reaching to the sky and gave the ground a mottled look where the grass was sprinkled with sunshine. The girl wandered along admiring the pretty flowers and their wonderful colours and smells which such a welcoming spring fragrance. Stopping and squatting down to examine more closely a shrub with stunning flowers that were shaped like small dark pink frilly dresses with tiny yellow slippers that hung gracefully from green leaved branches the girl smelled a wonderfully gently perfume which she could not place, shrugging her shoulders she wandered further along. Looking left and right Dagmar saw flowers with large emerald green leaves and milky yellow flowers which had an overpowering smell it caused the girl to sneeze. Small crimson blossoms dotted bushes with lime green leaves and petite birds flitting about in continual movement with fleeting glimpses of a kaleidoscope of colours. Bushes with large emerald green foliage which created recesses carpeted with deep green moss dotted with tiny mauve flowers with a butter yellow centre. Looking around the girl saw ash trees with their silvery bark and small grey leaves and evergreens and their jade green needles, Oak trees with rough dappled brown bark towering over the rest. Fallen tree trunks covered in various types of moss with teeny tiny flowers with a diversity of colour giving it a look of a blanket covering a resting person. Underfoot small twigs and dry leaves snapped and crackled as the child wandered releasing the smell of decaying plant matter, which was giving the whole area a very rich earthy scent that the girl absolutely loved. Inhaling deeply with eyes closed Dagmar stood, face raised to the sky, arms outstretched as if in prayer. Feeling totally at ease and blissfully happy the girl began to skip through a small section of the woodland humming snatches of tunes. As she came to a small clearing, she could hear the sound of water and decided to follow the noise. It took her no time to locate the source of that sound; it was a small creek which was meandering gracefully through a clearing with new lush green grass on both sides of the banks. Many beautiful spring flowers were sprinkled around making dots of colour through the green of the grass. The girl dropped down to have a closer look at all the pretty flower buds, on hands and knees she crawled around sniffing scarlet, lilac, azure and snowy white blossoms, some had no scent yet others had a subtle hint as yet others had a very strong fragrance. Unable to resist the girl picked some of the flowers, to give to Titania later when she returned to the ancient tree, using long strong blades of grass to wrap the bouquet and hold it together. Following the creek Dagmar skipped over rocks and logs stopping to watch frogs jumping and dragonflies skimming the surface of the gently flowing water. The flash of movement in the water indicating that something lived there made the girl stop, carefully placing the bouquet on a rock, she gingerly stepped closer to the water’s edge screwing up her eyes to squint against the suns glare into the water looking for the flash of scales.

Elusive Bride is a love story about a gutsy young woman, Ava Andrews, who runs out on her groom at the church and lands up miles from her home faced with some life changing decisions. The story will leave you cheering for Ava to make the right choice when she begins her new life with her new found friends.Elusive Bride is a love story about a gutsy young woman, Ava Andrews, who decides on her wedding day she can't go through with the marriage. When she leaves a church filled with family and friends and tells the limo driver to "just go" she has no idea she will land up in a near-by town at a neighborhood bar, befriended by Weston Morris, a local veterinarian and all-around good ole boy. Will Weston convince Ava to go back and work things out with her fiancé or persuade her to hang around his hometown and start a new life? A life that includes him and his young son, Toby. Elusive Bride will hopefully convince you that sometimes even when you think you have it all figured out there is still time to change your mind.

**Book 1 of 3 in the Planet of Riches Trilogy** For someone who’s been in college as long as I have, you’d think I’d be used to people by now. And for the most part I am…until I met Meredith. Meredith was annoying on too many levels to count and was just too self-centered to live. Not that I had plans on killing her because I didn’t. Instead, I planned to ship her away to a slave planet.**Book 1 of 3 in the Planet of Riches Trilogy** For someone who’s been in college as long as I have, you’d think I’d be used to people by now. And for the most part I am…until I met Meredith.Meredith was annoying on too many levels to count and was just too self-centered to live. Not that I had plans on killing her because I didn’t. Instead, I planned to ship her away to a slave planet where she’d spend the rest of her life toiling away in inhumane conditions. Poetic justice as I like to think of it for all she’d ever done to me.But as I dug into her history, and present, I found out that she was looking for the Planet of Riches, a mystical planet which generations of people have been searching for.A planet I’d just started searching for.If that wasn’t bad enough, she was dealing with the Planet Mafia, the biggest and most organized mafia in the universe.Could I use this association to my advantage or would I end up disappointed?Would I find the Planet of Riches or end up as lost as all the others who’d searched and found nothing?What secrets did this planet have just waiting to be revealed?**This is Book 1 of 3 in the Planet of Riches Trilogy**Book in the Trilogy:Planet Secrets (Book 1)Planet Mafia (Book 2)Planet of Riches (Book 3)

The acclaimed author of Little Big Man is at his most unusual in this retelling of the Greek Oresteia trilogy through the lives of a seemingly ordinary small-town American family. When a returning WWII hero is murdered by his adulterous wife and her lover, his son Orrie slays them both in this darkly intriguing and mysterious work.

In Eat the cookie...Buy the shoes, well known authorand speaker Joyce Meyer brings the issue of balance in our lives to the forefront. Not diminishing the importance of discipline, she lets us know that every once in a while it's okay to get off our structured regimen and enjoy a cookie, buy that pair of shoes you've been eyeballing, or even both!