An exciting retelling of the biblical narrative of Ruth weaves the Bible story with the ancient legend and tradition of the sages, coupled with a dash of creative fiction to bring the story to life for the modern reader. This is an excerpt from the series The Shepherd KingRuth and Orpah were twin sisters, royal daughters of Moab. They married two brothers, the sons of Elimelekh and Naomi, leaders from Judea. Their life was idyllic, until the brothers suddenly died leaving the three women, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, alone and without support in the world. While Orpah took steps that would lead to a life of degradation, Ruth and Naomi took their own steps towards reparation and redemption. This is the retelling of their journey, as told in the Book of Ruth, and interwoven with legends and traditions of the ancient sages. This novella is an abridged version of part one of the Foundation Stone, the story of the famous battle between Ruth's and Orpah's descendents: Dawid and Goliyath.

The reporter Peter Miller investigates the world of psychics after his brother's death. He wishes to reveal them as frauds but he uncovers a conspiracy that crosses dimensions and threatens mankind.Peter Miller's brother Andy dies under suspicious circumstances. Peter's mother is advised by a psychic named Sybil that Andy's death was a suicide and they should let Andy rest. His mother agrees and wishes to close the police investigation. However, Peter will not let it go and is aggravated by Sybil's interference. Peter thinks the only way to get his brother's case reopened is prove to his mother that Sybil is a sham, so he goes undercover to investigate the world of psychics. The investigation leads him to a psychic development center called Remote View. During this time Peter has a bizarre dream that warns him of an impending danger. While at the facility, he has a dream again but it proves not to be a dream. It is a contact from another dimension telling him about a conspiracy that could ruin humanity and Peter must stop it. One big problem is that the head of the Remote View center is involved with the inter-dimensional plot. Oneiromancy is the divination of dreams and sometimes bad dreams come true. This is a satire but not a comedy.

The year is 2002 and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps. In such an atmosphere, thirty-seven year old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action, his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Iraq War hero, dutiful son, dedicated brother, faithful partner ... or was he?Tom Hubbard is dead. Iraq war hero, dutiful son and brother, faithful husband. Or was he? The year is 2002, and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps: The dead return to the US in secret, while gay soldiers abide by the confines of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. In such a milieu, thirty-seven-year-old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action and his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Along with a flood of curious townspeople, Tom Hubbard’s extended family, boyhood friends and distant lovers gather for a memorial reception hosted by Tom’s emotionally unbalanced mother and prickly sister. Set at the Hubbard’s 200-year-old farmhouse in Newbury, Massachusetts, the drama unfolds in a single afternoon directly following Tom Hubbard’s military burial. In one day, this small town family falls apart and comes back together again in unexpected ways. Long-hidden relationships surface, family secrets are uncovered and the real Tom Hubbard is revealed. New relationships are built—relationships that could not have existed before Tom Hubbard had died and his tumultuous memorial reception had shaken his family to its core.

Introducing The Shaman Of The Earth Maker and the return of The Pearl. “Every sentient species has a secret joy in thinking they are the most creative harbingers of death but each and every one cowers in corners to what the natural order of things can do.”Mayenta has returned once again to the land with no recollection of where she had gone. All she knew was, every time she returned to the vale, she returned lying in the same spot underneath a dogwood tree growing high upon Honor Mountain--and, as usual, she returned naked. What did it mean that she left Paigorya without warning? Where did she go? WHY did she go? And, most importantly, who was she?The Dogwood Tree eBook short story includes a free excerpt from Laurie Y. Elrod's novel, Blackridge-Book One of the So'ladiun.

Balik is an obedient member of society on Space Station Hope: he follows The Council's systems, excels at school and seems happy to follow in his parents footsteps... But, his real life is filled with secrets he can share with no one. As he follows his suspicions about the space station into ever more dangerous territory it seems like his whole world will unravel around him. What is the truth?“I wasted no time looking around the bland plastic space I had lived in all my life. There were no real memories here for me, no cherished moments or things to reminisce over: all that had stopped when I was eight years old and learned that life on the SS Hope was built on lies.”Outwardly, Balik is an obedient member of society on Space Station Hope: he follows The Council's systems, excels at school and seems happy to follow in his parents footsteps...Balik's real life is filled with secrets he can share with no one. As he follows his suspicions about the space station into ever more dangerous territory it seems like his whole world will unravel around him. But, he doesn't understand everything: things are wrong, he is sure of that, he just doesn't know why.When Cassie unexpectedly comes into his life, Balik struggles to find his balance. For years he's investigated the oddities of the world he lives in, but Cassie makes him question things in a different way... Can he believe in this girl who seems so much a part of the system he distrusts? Would she put a stop to his plans to break out if she knew what he was really up to? Balik can't be sure of anything - except the fact that he can't leave her alone.

A young boy caught in the midst of fighting parents and poverty wishes for a different life. Falling asleep with his grandmother's pendant, he wakes to find himself in a strange new land where he can continue to suffer in poverty or become a hero of unimaginable dreams.Thor and his life long friend Balder venture into the realm of the Frost Giants. There they discover a place long hidden from the world of men. a place of mystery, intrigue, and tragedy, when secrets of the past are revealed that, unknown to Thor, will set him on the path of his destiny.

In the aftermath of the fight, Elliot looks back down the road that led to Jaret's election as Mayor. Harlem's Deck goes introspective, with glimpses into the brother's past and a look at the nature of the shallows.For fans of Peter F.Hamilton, Iain M Banks and Jon Courtney Grimwood.In the aftermath of the fight, Elliot looks back down the road that led to Jaret's election as Mayor. Harlem's Deck goes introspective, with glimpses into the brother's past and a look at the nature of the shallows.For fans of Peter F.Hamilton, Iain M Banks and Jon Courtney Grimwood.(...Back cover write up...)The city of Neppon drifts through the shallows, where the walls circling the mortal realm are thin. Here the daemons gather out of the surrounding night, drawn by its promise of candle flame warmth.As the election for the city's mayoral office approaches, one man stands head and shoulders above the other candidates. His reputation? A bastion for everything that is good and honest, in a world beset from all sides by horrors. But Jaret Roscan carries a secret. A secret that could bring ruin to his political career, and chaos to his beloved city.One person carries the key to his salvation. The question is, will they come forward in his hour of need?Harlem's Deck; a story in instalments. Keep your hand close to your chest...

"Ted, Ted, come quickly, I think we did something bad!"..... So begins another day in the lives of best fur-friends, Teddy and Roo; Ted, who wants nothing more than to be a Good Dog, and Roo, who, despite the best of intentions, attracts trouble like dirt. For these two, life in suburbia is anything but dull. A short children's story that will resonate with anyone who's ever owned dogs!"Ted, Ted, come quickly, I think we did something bad!"..... And so begins another day in the lives of best fur-friends, Teddy and Roo; Ted, who wants nothing more than to be a Good Dog, and Roo, who, despite the best of intentions, attracts trouble like dirt. Whether it's tyranical tortoises, midnight soirees under the stars or death-defying leaps from cars, for these two, life in suburbia is anything but dull. A short children's story that will resonate with anyone who's ever owned dogs.

Growing up means learning lots of things - how to tell jokes,how to tie shoe-laces,the importance of telling the truth - but what is that,exactly ? Why can't I be a pirate instead ? And look at what my cat's licking now !Also check out books two and three, now available!Leroux has spent his life having everything handed to him – everything except the hand of the alluring Beauty, which he covets above all else. When Beauty is “kidnapped” by a Beast, Leroux sets out to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his from the frightful monster, but when the unexpected occurs, Leroux discovers that not all monsters take the form of a Beast. A fast-paced, reflective Fairy-Tale retelling, "The Beauty of the Beast" is a dark visit to the land of possibilities, and the first of the Beastly Tales.Read the other Beastly Tales to discover more about the story you thought you knew: A Beast of Beauty ~ Tale #2Beauty Beheld ~ Tale #3

After losing her father, Emma Bennett moves to her aunt’s small town to finish out her senior year of high school. Emma wants to forget the pain and loss of the past few weeks, finding relief in the company of Ben Parker—a local boy whom she has an instant connection with. When Ben seems a little too preoccupied with other responsibilities and has no time for her.After losing her father, Emma Bennett moves to her aunt’s small town of Westport to finish out her senior year of high school. Emma wants to forget the pain and loss of the past few weeks, finding relief in the company of Ben Parker—a local boy whom she has an instant attraction and uncanny connection with. When Ben seems a little too preoccupied with other responsibilities and has no time for her, Emma turns to the town’s hottest flirt—Lucas Crandon—for affection. Unfortunately, she realizes a little too late that, sometimes, bad boys really can be bad for you. Told from Emma and Ben's alternating points of view, Aftermath is a story about love that lasts more than one lifetime. Aftermath has the essential paranormal romance elements and an interesting take on the afterlife. One thing that really intrigued us about this story is Ben's point of view. To Emma, Ben seems like a normal boy, but he's really an undercover agent for the Afterworld's Bureau of Investigation. He's torn between doing his job—kicking butt and taking down evil immortals— and rekindling his lost love. Ben—who died many years ago, has been searching for his wife in the Afterworld for years. What Ben didn't realize is that his wife isn't in the Afterworld. She's on Earth and Emma just happens to be her reincarnate.

Eerie and gruesome describe the dark confession of the office manager, who tells you why he kills an obnoxious employee. If you wish to enter the secret thoughts of the Office Manager as he prepares his forbidden deed, read on carefully.Eerie and gruesome describes the dark confession of the office manager as he confesses why he must murder an obnoxious hillbilly at a Los Angele's warehouse. If you wish to enter the secret thoughts of the Office Manager as he prepares his forbidden deed, read on carefully.

What would you do if you were adopted by a dragon? When ten-year-old orphan James nearly drowns in a bog, he finds himself rescued by Farloft, a centuries old dragon with a glittering collection of treasures and an even richer collection of stories. But, dragons and boys are not meant to live together – or are they? When Laval – a wizard harboring a secret hatred for Farloft finds out about James.What would you do if you were adopted by a dragon? When ten-year-old orphan James nearly drowns in a bog, he finds himself rescued by Farloft, a centuries old dragon with a glittering collection of treasures and an even richer collection of stories. But, dragons and boys are not meant to live together – or are they? When Laval – a wizard harboring a secret hatred for Farloft finds out about James, he sees his chance for revenge.

Bartender Rob Loughran noticed that most of the jokes he heard at work were about women. So he wrote them all down and published them in "THE OFFICIAL "I HATE WOMEN" JOKEBOOKHis wife and five daughters think he's an idiot.Bartender Rob Loughran noticed that most of the jokes he heard at work were about women. So he wrote them all down and published them in "THE OFFICIAL "I HATE WOMEN" JOKEBOOKHis wife and five daughters think he's an idiot for telling jokes like:What’s the best thing to do when you see your wife staggering around on your front lawn?Shoot her again.Why do women rub their eyes when they wake up in the morning?Because they don’t have any balls to scratch.A man walks into a bar and orders a Tanqueray Sapphire martini. He slams it down, looks in his shirt pocket and orders another. He repeats this five times, then asks for the tab. The bartender totals it up and says, “Why do you examine the contents of your pocket after each drink?”“I have a picture of my wife in there. When she starts looking good I go home and fuck her.”Did you hear about the new morning after birth control pill for men?It alters their blood type.An old man walks into a bar and the barkeep says, “What’s new?”The old guy says, “I think my wife died.”“You think?”“Yeah. The sex is the same but the dishes are piling up.”Why are there 7.2 million abused women in the United States of America?Because they never shut the fuck up.What’s the main difference between a blonde cheerleader and a bowling ball?You can only fit three fingers in a bowling ball.“Please deliver the moped,” said Ron to the salesman, “with a note that says, Happy Birthday from your Husband.”“A little surprise for the wife?” asked the clerk.“Hell yes, she’s expecting a Mercedes.”Why don’t they let women swim in the ocean?They can’t get the smell out of the fish.

"An intriguing monster."Troy Slushy's exposure to his life-decimating job, depressed wife, and crumbling home encourage his desire for a life in perpetual darkness. It becomes his objective to destroy the bright, menacing beast that removes him from the ecstasy of his dreams, only to expose him to all of these worthless possessions. Troy Slushy declares that his mission is to destroy the sun.Every morning the sun rises, waking Awful, Ohio, overlooking all of its residents, guiding them towards another productive and profitable working day. The economy is strong and the money is abundant, all of which are offered to whomever produces and profits the most product. The masses rejoice daily over the informed opportunity, with the exception of Troy Slushy. Troy Slushy wakes every morning to the intrusion of the sun abruptly charging into his home, removing him from his enchanting dreams. The sun exposes his collection of worthless possessions, his depressed wife seeking salvation, his withering home struggling for support, and the life-decimating job that is undesirably forced upon him daily. This is Troy Slushy's existence in Awful, Ohio, and because of this exposure to this monotonous misery, Troy's enemy is the sun. Heavily sedated by a dream-enriched epiphany, Troy removes his concerns for the demands and priorities of Awful, Ohio, replacing them with the objective of permanently removing the sun from his existence. He gathers his wife and begins a quest to save them both from their sun-exposed lives of suffering in Awful, Ohio, concocting plans and blueprints of various sun-destroying methods. Unfortunately for Troy, this proves to be easier said than done. But luckily, Troy discovers that perseverance is much more eminent in accomplishing a goal than feasibility, as he is able to assemble a massive scheme to achieve perpetual darkness, but not without affecting Awful, Ohio and all of its production, profits, and population.

All Jason wants is someone to watch the kids until his wife gets home. The new nanny--her protective instincts honed with canine genes--seems the perfect solution. But the honing is more than Jason can handle, and he's about to lose his family to a new Alpha.What makes a monster? Big Teeth? Huge Claws? Unfortunately for Jason he gets both when we becomes a lycan, the original werewolves. Not monsters that howl at the moon just people living in fear. Humanity has become exceedingly good at hunting them down and with the tensions with the new werewolves, shape shifters at an all time high things look bleak. Only an Umbrian may be strong enough to fight back, to reunite the two races but they have long gone, the last a child lost is their only saviour, a child that may just have been found.I would like to add that this is just rough writing and a couple of error may appear and any feedback would be really appreciated

Children Under the Stars follows, Elliot Marisol, a probation officer in Missoula, Montana. Elliot is assigned one of the biggest cases to come across Missoula in a long time. The client is an alleged cult leader, Ricky Freemon. A mysterious man known for "signs and wonders." The community wants Ricky to leave, but something about him draws Elliot in closer.Children Under the Stars follows, Elliot Marisol, a probation officer in Missoula, Montana. His days have grown lonely and uninspired. But, a single question continues to haunt him every day. What is home? With no answer satisfying him, Elliot tries to forget and focuses on his newly assigned case, one of the biggest to come across Missoula in a long time. The client is an alleged cult leader, Ricky Freemon. A mysterious man known for “signs and wonders” and doing only what his “Father” tells him to do. The community wants Ricky to leave, but something about him draws Elliot closer. What Elliot doesn’t realize is that Ricky has the answer to his burning question.

The only way that Robert Alphonse Moore could continue to live would be to have his brain transplanted into the body of a healthy person. Benny Harris, was willing to provide his body - at a price. procedure was illegal but money talked. Robert had been told that hew would still be Robert with the except that his brain would reside in a healthier and younger body. But did Robert remain Robert?Robert Alphonse Moore was ill and told he would die within six months. The only way that he could continue to live would be to have his brain transplanted into the body of a healthy person. Benny Harris, was willing to provide his body - at a price. procedure was illegal but money talked. Robert had been told that hew would still be Robert with the except that his brain would reside in a healthier and younger body. But did Robert remain Robert after the operation?

These three stories have been published before, but these are extended versions of the stories, with extra thrills and dangers added to make them more enjoyable.In the story Pirates Treasure, two young boys find a treasure map, and they decide to search for the hidden treasure. The map shows that it is under an old ruined church, unfortunately danger awaits them, and they are transported back to another time where they find that they are prisoners of a black hearted pirate captain.In the story The Haunted Abbey, a young girl decides to go out for the day with her father, however, she soon finds herself in a nightmare world. She is transported to an abbey in medieval Britain. Here she has to battle her fears and an evil wizard to free a young boy, who also happens to be a ghost, from the wizard`s evil clutches, and before the wizard catches her.In the story Sucked through a Wormhole, two boys have won a trip in an aircraft that is supposed to take them on a short flight above and around their home town. Instead they are sucked through a wormhole to another planet. There they have to endure many trials to survive while they search for help, help to send them both back home.

As alien occupational forces leave Earth, a rebel saboteur uncovers an alien assassin cleaning house during the withdrawal, but the situation grows complicated when she realizes the secrets he's killing to protect are her own.The war is over but our problemshave only just begun.The Sarcodinay were humanity’s benevolent masters, galactic guardians who saved us from apocalypse and claimed us as their long-lost children—and like any stern parent, they expected their children to behave.We didn’t.A century of violence and conflict followed as humanity tried to overthrow its rulers, but when the Sarcodinay suddenly and without warning announce their surrender, the rebellion is left scrambling for a way to deal with an outcome no one could have predicted: victory.Brash, unorthodox, and brilliant, Lieutenant Mallory MacLain has always been tolerated because of her successes against the enemy, but now faces an uncertain future with a government that no longer has a place for rebels. When Mallory witnesses the assassination of an important Sarcodinay official, she finds herself chasing a murderer that no one seems to want her to stop, and uncovering a truth about the war that could jeopardize the lives of thousands of people......including her own.

A Story of Life is a richly layered poetic fable in a fantasy island setting about a young girl’s coming of age as she experiences the transformation of society’s innocence. A poetic journey, written in short chapters, perfect for reading on mobile devices."She read the strange signs, and the first cloud in a long time appeared on the blue sky."If you like the book we'd appreciate a review.A Story of Life is a richly layered poetic fable in a fantasy island setting about a young girl’s coming of age as she experiences the transformation of society’s innocence. A poetic journey, written in short chapters, perfect for reading on mobile devices.If you like the book we'd appreciate a review.Karmen enjoys a peaceful childhood on a small island, whose sky, like her demeanor, is a pristine blue with never a cloud in sight. One day her reality takes a sudden turn. Though she must leave home, she embraces the responsibility to use her power for the greater good. New growth and beauty are left in the wake of her constant travels. One day, Karmen risks her life for love and nearly dies. The consequences of her choice force her from the sanctuary she helped to create. After an awakening, she exists in a harsh civilization where innocence is but a distant memory. Will she be able to adapt to her new surroundings? Or will she perish along with the splendor she once knew?"She read the strange signs, and the first cloud in a long time appeared on the blue sky. Slowly the boats turned and set sail home, or the place which once had been her home."