Piper, the daughter of the exiled prince, returns home to be faced with the political strife that sits solely on her inexperienced shoulders. If she is to choose the right heir, she must face her every friend and foe before her time is up, unsure of who is for her and who isn't.Why did I ever take our time in exile for granted? Did I even understand what would happen upon our return to the city? Did I think the Prime Minister would welcome us home with open arms? Would he let us put someone of ours on the throne? Even the King couldn't protect us from that man if he tried.Well, he didn't and when push comes to shove, I am left with the burden of finding the heir Father failed to reveal to me. I still have too much to lose. I just haven't realized how much yet.

"I mean, so what? Order, chaos, order, chaos. We have real problem here!" exclaims one character in Only a Lower Paradise, the comic, profound, and likely blasphemous story of heartache, emotional crisis, and the fickle quest for meaning in our post-post-modern world. The book begins with Martha, a guardian angel, being late for an assignment. What is going on in heaven?If you do not have the abilities to turn cliché gifts into unique gifts, you do not have achoice but to look for something unique. A unique gift is distinctive and can not bematched. Since it is uncommon, this type of gifts is not simple to forget. We cry when welose them or despise the ones who take them away from us. They enter into us and theirmemories are such that we desire to hold on to for life. We hate it when we see somethingthe same as them, due to the fact that we really do not desire them to be compared. Whenother deems them unimportant, we get harmed.

Non-realism. A woman travels deep in her own psyche to answer her philosophical questions.Rene D'Cart has awoken in a dreamland where she must discover the answer to the unanswerable question of "Why?" She travels through many worlds in which she meets with the paramount of many different philosophical pillars: science, spiritualism, religion, and others. But each one brings as many problems as they do solutions, and she must put in on herself to figure out how to find the key to her personal Pandora's Box.

Before the North American Continent was discovered by the Europeans it was populated by tribeslike the Chickasaw and the Creek. This story is about these people and the spirits that often could get their lives in total calamity. Wolf Eyes is a Chickasaw brave forced to deal with his enemy, influenced by evil Spirits that resided in deep caverns of the underworld.Wolf Eyes by C.R. Coburn is an adventure fiction about a Chickasaw village as it would havebeen before the continent was discovered by the Europeans. Research done by studying the writingsof scribes that accompanied Hernando de Soto was used to aid in the portrayal of these ancienttribes. Wolf Eyes is a brave possessing all the courage and stamina needed to overcome enemyinfluenced by demonic forces of underworld spirits. He along with other brave members of hisvillage have their lives put in total calamity by evil members of a Waring tribe. Wolf Eyes hasto rely on spiritual attributes given to him by a spirit wolf to overcome his foes.

*@*@* New 2017 Version! *@*@*In the footsteps of Poe and Montague James, this is a somewhat humourous but chilling ghost story set in the 1880'When Miss Margaret died, Jack and Elizabeth thought they were doing the right thing when they took care of her afairs, but the crotchy old widow had other ideas...even from the graveThis is an example of the stories contained in my book, The Ghostly Victorians (Author's Edition).*@*@*Note To Readers*@*@*‘A Good Deed’ was first published in late 2014. Thank you to the thousands who have downloaded it. This, the 2017 version, has been re-written with ‘a little something extra’ at the end. If you read the original, comments comparing the two would be welcome.

The Hedgehog Princess is about a small girl who escapes the troubles of life, through a love for fairytales, and in particular the story Hans My Hedgehog by the Brothers Grimm.#29 in Best Sellers in Literary Fiction on Amazon (Top 100 Free) in 2012For more infomation on my stories, see www.JosephEdwardRyan.comRichard is asked by his wife to go downstairs and pick up countryside goods from her sister's car. As the husband returns, he finds his wife dead on the floor, with numerous stab wounds. Richard was gone for just a couple of minutes. Who could have carried out the crime in such a short time span? And how? The case has baffled the Latvian police force and, as the last resort, Rebecca presents the case to her former lover Albert - an assassin, who is now serving life sentence in prison. She hopes that his wit and expertise will help her solve the case. Meanwhile, Albert sees this as his chance to improve his shattered reputation and possibly make amends for his past.

The TankTops are short stories or extracts from longer books where you can be introduced to the author’s writing style, and see if you are interested in reading more of his books. We call them TankTops because they’re smaller than normal books. And of course, when you go in the “think tank”, you can read them in one sitting without making people mad at you for taking too long.A young man lands himself in jail in an unfamiliar town only to find himself incarcerated with a mysterious woman and a whole lot of destiny.

Before a new race of super-humans can save the world, they first have to be saved themselves by a group of ordinary soldiers. These ordinary soldiers, known as the Eine, must fight off a powerful and seemingly invincible foe, their pasts, and their doubts about the future in an impossible struggle against the odds.Due to the surprising popularity of my first three short books of poetry, I am releasing this early. It is a book of sonnets exclusively, thirty-nine of them, written over the years. I have culled the best of them from the 150 or so that I have written. They range from the very eclectic to the very romantic, some negative, some positive. Please feel free to review the book, I would love to hear what you think!

A tale of a brother's dedication set in the time period of the Irish rebellion of the 1900s.A tale of a brother's dedication set in the time period of the Irish rebellion of the 1900s.A sort-of a Irish ghost story told to me by my mother who lived her life in Ireland. This story involves a brother and sister who dedicate love and caring towards each other.

Pat O’Leary, Max Priestley, Georgina Greene and Charlene Anderson are the Team of Four. They’ve been deep sea diving in the Pacific, climbed the temples of Yucatan, trekked the icy wastes of the Himalayas, and ridden camels across the Gobi. This time they confronted a mystery on the rain swept coast of England, a mystery that spanned two centuries. This time they went treasure hunting in Cornwall.Pat O’Leary, Max Priestley, Georgina Greene and Charlene Anderson are the Team of Four. They live in Murwillumbah on the north coast of New South Wales, and attend Year 8 at Murwillumbah High School. They’ve had many adventures. They’ve been deep sea diving in the Pacific, crawled through the caves under Eight Mile Plains, climbed the temples of Yucatan, and visited the pyramids of Egypt. They’ve explored the ancient monuments of Italy, trekked the icy wastes of the Himalayas, and ridden camels across the burning sands of the Gobi. But those are other stories. This time they confronted a mystery that was more than two hundred years old. This time they went treasure hunting in Cornwall. “Well me lads and lassies, that be a right long story” said Barney. “And I be right puzzled, and not a little affrighted too, fer ‘tis early te be seein’ this I be thinkin’. And I tell ye this! That light is mebbe no light. That light is mebbe the Ghost o’ Smugglers Run. He be lookin’ fer the sailors that be lost in the storm. He be takin’ the careless, and he give none back. And the rocks he be standin’ on? Why they be The Rocks o’ Gold.”The Team of Four have stumbled across a mystery on the rain swept coast of Cornwall. With Pat’s Dad in the lead, and their friend Barney Applegate at their side, the Team set off to solve the riddle. The riddle of the Rocks of Gold.“They were ‘in the cut’, deep in the heart of the Maw, when the wave broke over the stern of the dory. Kegs of rum were swept past them and they were buried in water and foam. Purtaph was flung overboard with a scream. Jim felt his Dad’s strong hand close around his arm for a moment before it was swept away. Jim felt the boat surge forward, fully submerged, as the wave took it through the Maw. He was underwater and choking. He struggled to swim to the surface but the boots and the oilskins seemed to drag him back. He felt darkness closing over him and he thought of his brothers and sisters and the school they would never have.”Using all their wits, the Team and Dad and Barney search for clues. Their search takes them into the mighty Atlantic, where they fish off the wrecks of the Annie Rose and the U467; to the dusty bookshelves of Looe, where Dagwood Dogs and stale scones abound; and to the rocky slopes of Long Nose Point, where the broken timbers of the Powder Mill tell a dark history.Will the Team solve the riddle? Or will the Ghost of Smugglers Run once again be victorious, shrouding its secrets forever in the icy mists of winter and the crashing waves of the Rocks of Gold?

Issues, is the first puppy perspective tale of a dog whose unrelenting hard life leaves him begging for death. Can he find a reason to live in a world of human cruelty? Contains scenes that some may find to be uplifting.Issues, is the first puppy perspective tale of a dog whose unrelenting hard life leaves him begging for death. Can he find a reason to live in a world of human cruelty? Contains scenes that some may find upsetting and spiritually uplifting. Issues offers a unique insight into the canine mind. A first hand account of a dog's individual journey, as told in his own words. This tale is one that may upset some people and is not recommended for younger readers.Issues is part of 'Death Row Rejects'. ISSUES.

In this collection of slice-of-life short stories, three protagonists find themselves in sticky situations, whether it's blind dates, walking through hot deserts, or being stranded. Now it's a test to see whether or not these three can overcome these predicaments or to be overcome themselves.In TICKING, Jack, a cautious workaholic, takes a chance and agrees to a blind date. Discovering his date, Felicia, is extremely beautiful, his paranoia starts to fade. However, not all is what it appears in this seemingly normal scenario. They both have something to hide and such secrets could spell trouble for both him and Felicia.In SUMMER HEAT AND LEATHER SEATS, our unnamed protagonist runs away from home to pursue his dream, but quickly discovers the road to get there isn't as smooth as he would've liked. Roaming through the desert with few resources, he is forced to hitchhike. Eventually picked up by a trucker, our protagonist soon finds himself in a situation that could change his perspective on life whether for better or worse.In 1978, Kyle makes his way home from a flea market when his car suddenly breaks down. Out in the middle of the highway with no proper tools, he finds himself shit out of luck. Fortunately for him, help comes along the way. Two men bond over their experiences as they get to work.

One reckless fighter. One night of passion he can't forget. The battle between sex and love is fierce and unrelenting. And love is about to knock him on his ass. Reckless Love* can be read as a standalone novel, but is a follow up to the New York Times and USA Today bestseller Hard to Love*. Long Version: Cage fighting always came first for him… Ian’s life is full of sacrifice. His intense training schedule means brutal workouts, no drinking, and worst of all, no pussy. But it’s all worth it because he’s about to go pro. When a tempting young nurse starts working at his gym, he can’t escape the dirty desires clouding his mind, and it’s driving him crazy. He’d love a taste, but he needs his focus now more than ever. She’s kept her heart on maximum-security lockdown… Growing up in foster care, MacKenzie learned early on that love was something other people experienced, something she’d seen but never felt. When she meets sexy cage fighter, Ian, she expects nothing more than a one-night stand, but he walks away before they seal the deal. Now she’d like to forget the night they almost hooked up. But she’s just taken a job working at his gym, and despite her efforts to move on, his allure is overpowering. When Ian gets injured, they begin working together on his rehabilitation, and their one-on-one physical therapy sessions are so hot they sizzle, leaving them both desperate for more contact. The battle for their love is about to become a fight to the finish.

From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice comes a powerful exploration of regret, forgiveness, freedom, and what it means to be alive. An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago. Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce—his divorce. He knows his left arm will go next. Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it. When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late. Poignant and powerful, Every Note Played is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.

Sebastian “Bash” Kane is ready for a mate. He’s been fighting for his lumberjack crew of bear shifters to lift the ban on women in the trailer park, and his alpha has just given him the go ahead to find the woman of his dreams. But when he meets a shy newspaper editor in a diner, it becomes clear that finding a mate might not be so easy. Emerson Elliot is only looking for a friend, and even if she feels like so much more, Bash can’t push her. He knows she’s the one, but he’ll have to be a patient hunter if he wants to keep an intelligent, curvy beauty like her. Emerson Elliot is looking for friends. She’s back in her hometown where everything is different, and working from home isn’t helping her meet people. But when Bash sits down beside her at a diner, she knows the fates are messing with her. She’s been carrying a crush for the handsome, fun-loving bear shifter for years, but their timing couldn’t be worse. Her life is taking a hard right turn, and she can’t afford to fall in love until her future is all sorted out. Unfortunately, big changes are coming to Boarland Mobile Park, and if she doesn’t make up her mind about Bash soon, she might lose his offered place beside him forever. Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language, and piles of sexy shifter secrets. Intended for mature audiences.

From the NYT Bestselling author of The Manhattanites series and for fans of such films as Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Wild Things comes a ménage romance posing the question; can two men share the same woman forever? They are the best of friends and the greatest of lovers. Two men and one woman, searching for fortune and fame, bound together by an eroticism their money and power can’t buy them. Luigi, the romantic alpha hunk. Rocco, the exotic bisexual. Jemma, the insatiable beauty who possesses them both. From their first rendezvous in Milan, the three set out on a wicked course, jet-setting from the kinky underground sex clubs of Berlin, to the lavish palaces of Moscow, to New York’s high society in pursuit of pleasure. They have only each other to care for. That is…until a baby comes along and changes their destiny. But which of them is the father? And will they continue their poly relationship or give in to convention?

An antique dealer's revelation about a former queen's priceless heirloom starts Nancy on a trail of exciting adventures. Madame Alexandra, now living incognito in River Heights, asks Nancy to find her missing grandson. With only one clue to go on -- a faded photograph of the prince at the age of four -- the young detective begins her search, which rapidly involves her in a series of dangerous and harrowing adventures. When Nancy needs help, she calls on Bess, George, Burt, Dave, and her special friend, Ned. How Nancy's discovery of the heirloom's secret unmasks a slick imposter and reunites the long-separated family climaxes this suspense-filled mystery story.

The Mystery of the Singing Ghost *  * Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather, and are excited because their cousins are moving to Greenfield. The Boxcar Children decide to fix up the house that cousins Joe and Alice have bought. There’s just one problem. It seems to be haunted—by a ghost that sings! Is someone trying to keep Joe and Alice from moving in?  The Mystery of the Mummy’s Curse *  * Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny used to live alone in a boxcar. Now they have a home with their grandfather, and they’re about to meet a mysterious mummy! The Greenfield Museum is holding a special exhibit all about ancient Egypt, and the main attraction is a 4,000-year-old mummy. The Aldens are helping the museum curator set up the exhibit and learning all about life in ancient Egypt. But ever since the mummy arrived, nothing’s gone right for the museum or its workers. The longer the Aldens are around the mummy, the more things go wrong. As the children search for the cause of all the bad luck, everything points back to the spooky sarcophagus. Has the museum been struck by the curse of an ancient mummy? The Aldens are about to find out, whether they’re ready or not!  The Mystery at Skeleton Point *  * When Grandfather’s friend bought Skeleton Point, she invited the Alden children to help her fix it up. But this empty mansion is even spookier than it looks. The man who used to live there studied bones—and the house is filled with skeletons! Then the mansion’s valuable statues begin to disappear. Could the Skeleton Point ghost be causing mischief?

By the time Phil Chase is elected president, the world’s climate is far on its way to irreversible change. Food scarcity, housing shortages, diminishing medical care, and vanishing species are just some of the consequences. The erratic winter the Washington, D.C., area is experiencing is another grim reminder of a global weather pattern gone haywire: bone-chilling cold one day, balmy weather the next. But the president-elect remains optimistic and doesn’t intend to give up without a fight. A maverick in every sense of the word, Chase starts organizing the most ambitious plan to save the world from disaster since FDR–and assembling a team of top scientists and advisers to implement it. For Charlie Quibler, this means reentering the political fray full-time and giving up full-time care of his young son, Joe. For Frank Vanderwal, hampered by a brain injury, it means trying to protect the woman he loves from a vengeful ex and a rogue “black ops” agency not even the president can control–a task for which neither Frank’s work at the National Science Foundation nor his study of Tibetan Buddhism can prepare him. In a world where time is running out as quickly as its natural resources, where surveillance is almost total and freedom nearly nonexistent, the forecast for the Chase administration looks darker each passing day. For as the last–and most terrible–of natural disasters looms on the horizon, it will take a miracle to stop the clock . . . the kind of miracle that only dedicated men and women can bring about. From the Hardcover edition.

She lay beside him, staring blankly at the ceiling. The deed was done. They were mated. It didn't matter that she had no love for him nor he for her. Political alliances were more important than feelings, or so she had been told. That fact was cold comfort right now as her heart broke within her. Elise had no idea when she came home that day that she'd end up mated to a complete stranger. A new Alpha and the need for an alliance between packs have made her a pawn.