Sometimes people unknowingly fall into traps and get drowned in despair due to their inner conflict with their conscience. In the pursuit of happiness we often forget what is right and wrong? What then is true happiness- is it chasing after money or is it being close to your loved ones.A son rotting away right in front of his helpless mother. Why can't she stop him from taking drugs? A cop with a dark past on a mission to set things right. Can he stop them? A doctor leading a remorseful life and an irreversible mistake that will haunt him for the rest of his life. A soulless beast molded by unfortunate circumstances alive for just one purpose-destroy the society.A poison is a poison even when taken in smaller dosages and similarly a crime is a crime, there's no such thing as a smaller crime.Every crime has a story behind it. Read this short story filled with emotions and situations that will make you ponder if you are on the right path.

sensible advice and observations from Wonka as his owner continues to face life bravely and alone. aside from beloved Golly and Wonka, a needy cat may yet enter the story, by the back door.Wonka has fought long and hard to be heard and here is his second tale, as he battles to make his Owner listen and take on the right advice. Although tiring and an uphill struggle, he has found time to entertain us with his thoughts and even the arrival of someone new. As yet outside.So, have a cup of tea put your feet up, and let Wonka tell you how to cope and be alright.

"In the Eye of the Storm" is a collection of verse in three sections, from "Demeter's Dance", where aspects of nature are sometimes threatened by neglect or interference and "Breakages" - emotional responses to love and life, to poems prompted by Greece in "Moonbirds and Wild Water." They are hopefully impressions and thoughts of more than merely personal relevance."In the Eye of the Storm" is a collection of verse in three sections. "Demeter's Dance" conveys mysterious or disquieting aspects of nature. In the poem "To Marcus by the Corn", the past one can feel locked beneath the earth of a Suffolk field, seems, momentarily, to uncannily possess the boy walking through the field with the poet.Demeter was the guardian goddess of the land which she let wither while searching for Persephone, her daughter, abducted by Hades and carried to the Underworld. The poem "Demeter" recalls her as a ghost, still wandering the fields and waiting to return. And in "Moon Hare" there is a recollection of the folk belief that a girl left by her lover turned into a white hare!In the section "Breakages", the experience of loss and regret is rife in such poems as "The Dream", conveying the unreachable, in "In Retrospect", comparing a lost love to "dark music in reluctant depths without expression", while turmoil and compassion surface in "The Final Piece", where the element that would complete a person's character, has gone astray.Youthful pessimism persists in "Drowned", bemoaning the loss of our universal soul and "The Butterflies" have but a fleeting beauty.The collection "Moonbirds and Wild Water" is inspired by Greece and her islands - from the birds that sang all night in Skiathos and thoughts on Santorini's volcano, to verse about Crete where I live - from the resilience of her mountain folk to the myth of the Minotaur in the Knossos labyrinth.

Clarice Dupont had no one and loved no one but the man who loved another. Desolate and miserable, she lived her short life.Theophilus Grim and the Fowl of Ruin:Professor Grim believes his Fowl-Fortifying Fluid can enrich a simple pheasant, giving the bird’s meat all of the nutritional value of beef, pork, fowl and venison. But Grim’s effort to spare an undernourished populous from hunger by providing it with higher quality meat comes with great cost, in the form of a dangerous beast that terrorizes London. And what could account for all of the strange behaviors the professor now seems to be exhibiting? The Trying Tales of Chumbles & Grim:Professor Theophilus Grim is a clever scientist and inventor who dreams of making the world a better place through his many inventions and various concoctions. The trouble is, every invention he makes has a way of blowing him up, catching him on fire or causing him a great deal of pain. F. Walter Chumbles, Grim's best friend, is a disgraced former surgeon with a bone saw, a surgeon’s bag and a penchant for Scotch whiskey and declaring Grim dead. Together, the two engage in a series of delightful adventures sure to brighten your day.Set in late Victorian London, The Trying Tales of Chumbles & Grim is a series of surprising novelettes loaded with suspense, clever contraptions, a touch of mystery, a dose of mad science, and plenty of adventure. Dannal J. Newman offers up tasty tidbits of adventuresome fiction sure to delight the senses and satisfy the imagination. Great for ages nine through adult.

The Advantage is the first episode of Reign of Resurgence, the first thrilling volume of the fantasy thriller Kingdom of Destiny short story series. A recent college graduate finds himself in an alternate world he never knew existed. Dealing with castles, kings, and betrayal, he will have to use his considerable wits if he is going to face his fate in the Kingdom of Destiny.A fantasy thriller short story series, the Kingdom of Destiny series will feature three volumes. Reign of Resurgence, the first thrilling volume of the series, is comprised of five episodes. The series sees its launch with this first episode, The Advantage. A recent college graduate finds himself in an alternate world he never knew existed. Dealing with castles, kings, and betrayal, he will have to use his considerable wits if he is going to face his fate in the Kingdom of Destiny.Struggling at a crossroads in his life, Tristan has no idea who or what he wants to be. Until he is mysteriously thrown into the baffling but extraordinary kingdom of Barico. When a sudden and unexpected battle for the crown propels the kingdom into turmoil, Tristan finds himself uniquely qualified to aid the royal family in their Reign of Resurgence. In the city of Lochlain, the heart of Barico, Tristan inadvertently thwarts an assassination attempt. In doing so, he finds favor with the royal family. But when a deep cutting betrayal strikes, Tristan struggles to survive the ripples of destruction.

The novella that begins the Flynn Monroe Series, a set of charmingly gritty space westerns.Flynn Monroe tore himself free from the clutches of an army fighting for a cause he no longer believed in. It was not without a heavy cost. He would give his left foot for the peace and solitude of life on his home planet. Some men were not made for a quiet life. Duty to a friend pulls him into a conflict riddled mining town. The dusty planet too close to its star isn’t worth fighting to save… but lives are. With his brother in tow, Flynn soon realizes the corporation behind the attacks is connected to their family in ways that could spell his demise along with everyone on – or in – the planet.

A short Christmas story that I hope will fill you with the spirit of Christmas.Christmas Eve so still I know, But something’s in the wind, There’s a sense of magic about, It’s now we need our friends.Christmas Eve began no different from any other morning this year. Yawning, I opened the blind to see what the day outside offered. It was cold and dark, a typical midwinter day, with a coating frost covering the ground, my car and a few scattered toys the children had absentmindedly left on the driveway the previous evening. Gazing through the steamed up windowpane, onto the frosty wonderland outside, I felt almost as cold as the weather outside. Grabbing hold of my dressing gown I donned quickly it. Embracing its wonderful warmth, I pulled it tightly closed around me. “That’s better,” I whispered, mindful of my wife and children who were still fast asleep in their beds. Yawning some more, I ambled out from the bedroom, along the hallway then into the kitchen, where I plugged in the kettle for the most important part of the day...

Raife Crenshaw is tasked with taking down the world's most powerful and brutal intellect: Cain, a lab-created monster of a man who's poised to murder tens of millions. But Raife's handlers want Cain brought back alive. Can an ingenious disguise make the difference in time, or will it be Raife's ultimate undoing?They were coming, and no one could stop them.The Yellowstone Caldera has exploded, and survivors who fled the devastation made their way east. Cities such as Atlanta, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. prepared for their arrival. It meant rationing – and rational thought. People on both sides would face tests of their nerve and resilience.Only those with strong nerves would survive.Refugees, a part of David Dalglish’s 2010 anthology A Land of Ash under the author’s former pseudonym, is now complete with its original opening as well as foreword from Dalglish.

Times are tough for 13-year-old Christian Marks. Wanting only to escape his troubled life, Christian takes to the nearby woods with his loyal pet, a headstrong beagle named Barney. But the forest proves no refuge when boy and dog stumble upon a murdered mountain biker, and soon find themselves hunted by a local legend who may be something more than human.Times are tough for 13-year-old Christian Marks. His parents are getting divorced, and even more unsettling, his suicidal father claims to have been issued dire warnings from the afterlife from Christian's recently deceased grandmother. Wanting only to escape his troubled life, Christian takes to the nearby woods with his loyal pet, a headstrong beagle named Barney. But the forest proves no refuge when boy and dog stumble upon a murdered mountain biker, and soon find themselves hunted by a local legend who may be something more than human.

The inspiring story of three Poor Indian Graduate Students (also called "PIGS") who arrive in America with little concept of the challenges they will face. Based on true experiences, the novel depicts the struggles, hopes, love, friendships, success, and the indomitable spirit that resides in the hearts of immigrants who strive to make a better life for themselves and those they love.The inspiring story of three Poor Indian Graduate Students (also called "PIGS") in their early twenties who arrive in America with little concept of the challenges they will face as they make their way in a strange new land that offers both extraordinary opportunities and devastating heartbreak. Vijay was only a boy when his father heroically lost his life during the 1993 Hindu-Muslim riots in Bombay. From the time of his death, Vijay knew that he would travel to America one day in order to fulfill his father's dreams. But he never could have imagined that America might have its own plans for him, or that the dreams he had for himself could change so unexpectedly. For Lakshminarayanan, coming to America was both an escape from the fate that awaited him in India and an opportunity to save his family from an impoverished life that threatened their very survival. He had to make his plans work no matter what the personal cost, as his future was not the only one at stake. Raj was reticent about his past, secretive about his present, and never discussed his future. But he was certain of his destiny, and every decision in his life up until this point had been made with a singular goal in mind, a goal that had nothing to do with earning money, obtaining an education, or building a successful career. But all he had was a faded photograph, a CD of grainy images of 9/11, and admission to a prestigious American university. He wasn't sure it would be enough, but he couldn't turn back now. The lives of these three boys become immutably intertwined as they embark on a journey that will alter their beliefs about themselves and each other, and irrevocably change the lives of those around them. This is a story of struggles, loss, hope, love, friendship, success, and the indomitable spirit that resides in the hearts of immigrants who share a common ambition, endure a common struggle, and strive to make a better life for themselves and those they love.

A novella examining the relationships between devil-may-care Connor, his younger brother, August, and their mother, Vada as Connor and Vada travel from California to Washington to find August after he runs away from home.When his younger brother August runs away from home after a disastrous argument with their parents, Connor is the only person not worried. After all, August is known to take off without notice all the time, and he always comes back.However, August doesn’t show up again until two months later, having drunkenly fallen from the Young Street Bridge in Aberdeen, Washington.Connor and their mother travel from California to pick up the teenager, unaware that the next twelve hours will cause them to reexamine their own lives and strained relationships, all while Connor and August’s time together leads to a reconnection between brothers and a revelation that Connor never saw coming.

Every day, thousands of people board an airplane without a second thought. However, sometimes, life has different plans. Flight 437 is such a story. On a flight from Paris, France to New York City, the crew and passengers find themselves trapped on a flight none of them expected. As events unfold, they soon realize they are no longer headed to their intended destination, but somewhere unknown.Every day, thousands of people board an airplane without a second thought. Their minds are full of where they’ve been and their destination. However, sometimes, life has different plans.Flight 437 is such a story. On a flight from Paris, France to New York City, the crew and passengers find themselves trapped on a flight none of them expected. As events unfold, they soon realize they are no longer on the planned flight, but are now, in fact, headed to an unknown destination.

Outside the safety of confinement Trae Lae learns hands-on experiences being an adult in modern society. Struggles to let the past remain behind her she concentrates on performing as part of the team. Back and forth motions bring her to a whole new level of acceptance. College in due course calls to her. Off she flees to the next adventure on the map marked with an X.The Circus in Me confronts a girl’s outcast journey. Amish to the bone, born and bred to be as such, Tracey Aliza discovers a magical land outside of her traditional community. On a quest for solitude amongst the vagabonds. She comes as a drifter transforming into a better version of oneself called by the name Trae Lae. Outside the safety of confinement Trae Lae learns hands-on experiences being an adult in modern society. Struggles to let the past remain behind her she concentrates on performing as part of the team. Back and forth motions bring her to a whole new level of acceptance. College in due course calls to her. Off she flees to the next adventure on the map marked with an X. Welcome to BYU-Idaho! A Mormon college located on the southeastern region of the great potato state. Trae Lae traces a path in-between a religion she was forced to vacate and another indulging her capacity to a newfound faith that contradicts her soul further. The journey grimy and gray toward the new beginning of endearment. On a mounting podium to seize control of the wild beast conformity. She becomes an acquaintance of a young man by the name of Briggs who is also in torment of historical demons. Their lives intertwine into courses neither of them accused as possible. One girl’s bonnet for another man’s briefs. Do our conclusions meet requirements previously posted? Turn the pages to find out if Trae Lae and Briggs can find a way out of fate’s fortitude. With every whimsical there is a wish, with every star there is a shine, where there is a shunned Amish girl there is bonnet about to be burned.

A poetic tale of life's journey through the perspective of adults, seniors and what awaits us when the race comes to an end.Consisting of fifty original poems and illustrations, this chapbook draws to light the experiences of how life is viewed from an artistic and creative point.

The third and final volume of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s celebrated Emily trilogy, *Emily’s Quest* is a vigorously drawn study of a woman coming to terms with love and her own ambition. In no other novel did Montgomery explore more fully the beauty, complexity, and wonder of love. In every detail, this mature novel, by one of the world’s best-loved authors, captures the drama and confusion of a young life on the brink. Along with *Emily of New Moon* and *Emily Climbs*, *Emily’s Quest* is an honest and poignant portrait of a singular woman.

A plus-sized woman finally gets the man of her dreams in this sexy contemporary romance from *New York Times *bestselling author Bella Andre. *An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied...* Lily Ellis has curves -- soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she's always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her adventure begins when the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway, Travis can't believe it's the same Lily he's always known -- and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Travis's name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she's nothing like his past lovers. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings, Lily partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily plays a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an all-consuming ecstasy or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?

Who’s Your Man of the Month? When a group of fiercely determined friends realize their beloved hang-out is in danger of closing, they take matters into their own hands to bring back customers lost to a competing bar. Fighting fire with a heat of their own, they double down with the broad shoulders, six-pack abs, and bare chests of dozens of hot, local guys who they cajole, prod, and coerce into auditioning for a Man of the Month calendar. But it’s not just the fate of the bar that’s at stake. Because as things heat up, each of the men meets his match in this sexy, flirty, and compelling binge-read romance series of twelve novels releasing every other week from New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner. “With each novel featuring a favorite romance trope—beauty and the beast, billionaire bad boys, friends to lovers, second chance romance, secret baby, and more—this series hits the heart and soul of romance.” — New York Times bestselling author Carly Phillips

Detective Alex Cross is in love. But his happiness is threatened by a series of chilling murders in Washington, D.C., murders with a pattern so twisted, it leaves investigators reeling. Cross's ingenious pursuit of the killer produces a suspect-a British diplomat named Geoffrey Shafer. But proving that Shafer is the murderer becomes a potentially deadly task. As the diplomat engages in a brilliant series of surprising countermoves, in and out of the courtroom, Alex and his fiancee become hopelessly entangled with the most memorable nemesis Alex Cross has ever faced. Pop Goes the Weasel reveals James Patterson at the peak of his power. Here is a chilling villain no reader will forget, a love story of great tenderness, and a plot of relentless suspense and heart-pounding pace. To read Pop Goes the Weasel is to discover why James Patterson is one of the world's greatest suspense writers.

Kalliope lives with one purpose. To inspire. As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real. Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal. Her presence may inspire genius. But it breeds madness, too.

Juliet Marillier continues the epic fantasy begun with" The Dark Mirror, " which" Interzone" called: "A fascinating evocation of life in Pictish England and an emotional roller coaster of a story." King Bridei is a man with a mission. His wish to unite his kingdom seems almost within his grasp but there are forces working to undo his dream. He sends Faolan, his most trusted advisor (who is also a master assassin and spymaster) out into the world to ferret out the truth of who is friend and who is foe. Along the way Faolan will uncover many truths. Some may hold the key to Bridei's future. But more important, they may unlock the secrets that Faolan has held deep within his soul for decades. And offer him the chance of redemption.

In this novella from the world of Erin Hunter's #1 nationally bestselling Warriors series, discover how Goosefeather learned of his dark and terrible future. Goosefeather is destined to be a medicine cat unlike any ThunderClan has ever known—but will he ever come to terms with a gift that feels like a curse? Warriors: Goosefeather's Curse also includes a teaser to Warriors Super Edition: Bluestar's Prophecy.