Set in the 1890s, Dr. Edwin Walters obtains a mysterious gem from a psychiatric patient at Rockview Lunatic Asylum which has the power to show your life's darkest moment, and then bring you there if you stare too long! Walters researches the terrible history of the gem, and finds more horrors than he could have ever prepared for.Michel Freij is a powerful man. But he wants more. Two hundred kilotons more.Michel Freij is poised to become the next president of Lebanon. The billionaire businessman’s calls for a new, strong regional role for the country take on a sinister note when European intelligence reveals Freij has bought two ageing Soviet nuclear warheads from a German arms dealer. Maverick British intelligence officer Gerald Lynch has to find the warheads, believed to be on board super-yacht the Arabian Princess, before they can reach Lebanon. Joined by Nathalie Durand, the leader of a French online intelligence team, Lynch is pitched into a deadly clash with Freij and his violent militia as he pursues the Arabian Princess across the Mediterranean. Beirut – An Explosive Thriller sweeps through Lebanon, Hamburg, Prague, Malta, Albania and the Greek Islands on its journey to a devastating climax.

After a fierce wind storm passes through a small town. The local café is swept up into the eye of the storm. Inside the haunted Connection Café, a love triangle develops. Maggie longs for Jeff and Gabby pines for Simon. Who knew?This is a short story (2000 words) about a boy from the Edo group of Benin (now Nigeria) who enters the British Army in the 1930s. He gets promoted to the rank of sergeant and celebrates by having his statue made. But for the following generations, working for the British is not cool anymore: all the discourse is about independence. Soldiers like that young boy are forgotten, both in Britain and in their own country. Their statues get melted by the thousands.Nobody cares, and even the Edo language slowly disappears.

High upon the peak of Crater Mountain lives a Legend. Something lurks in the wild. It's large and hairy, walking on two legs like a man, but definitely not a man. It's a savage creature… A Sasquatch!Re-trace the steps of one of history’s mightiest legends, the Sasquatch. Standing a monstrous, fourteen feet tall and weighing nine hundred pounds, Gurchukk is looking for you.High upon the peak of Crater Mountain lives a Legend. Something lurks in the wild. It's large and hairy, walking on two legs like a man, but definitely not a man. It's a savage creature… A Sasquatch!Re-trace the steps of one of history’s mightiest legends, the Sasquatch. Standing a monstrous, fourteen feet tall and weighing nine hundred pounds, Gurchukk finds himself with the responsibility of raising a four year old girl.At the foot of Crater Mountain, in the little town of Seaton Portage, a new comer, Trevor, with his heart full of hopes and dreams for a new and prosperous life, soon finds himself ensnared in a world of terror and discovery as he fights to survive the mysterious creature of Crater Mountain.Share the lives and perspectives of some very earthly characters, along with some not so earthly. Immerse yourself in the Sasquatch mythology with the first installment of this incredible tale.

Part seven of the 'Light & Darkness' series, with songs from end of summer and fall of 2012.ChiarOscuro Episode Two The Winds (Words 5,734)The City of Lemekia, right on the Eastern border of Aludin, faces the tides of war of an old enemy. The city is evacuating with only a few citizens left as tensions rise and soldiers start to strengthen the city. Meanwhile a small group embark on a small mission...SERIESChiarOscuro is an ongoing online fantasy series being published at https://chiaroscuroseries.wordpress.com/. Taking place in an alternate world where humanity is just discovering it's full potential after nearly being brought to extinction five millenia ago, the darkness that once threatened humanity has returned, seemingly with the intention to finish what they failed to do 5,000 years ago.ChiarOscuro is made up of 'Books' each one containing an Episode (these normally span a week or two) and a chapter is released throughout the duration of an episode. The official site will be the first place to find the newly released chapters at first, as well as extra pieces that delve deeper into the lore, world and characters of ChiarOscuro and once the Episode has concluded, it will be shortly be available as a single 'Book' to read in full.So follow a small select few in this time where the world's and humanity's certain is uncertain and travel with them to meet many different cultures, people, beliefs, customs through deserts, mountains, the city of nine walls and even the parts of the world the human eye cannot see...SERIES SUMMARYTaking place in a world where at the dawn of human civilisation, a catastrophe struck nearly bringing humanity to extinction and close to forever changing the world as we know it.They called them Demons, twisted, ruthless creatures with no seemingly other drive than to conquer all those weaker than them as they were the strongest and fittest and Earth seemed close to falling into the hands of these strange beings, who came to our world with no warning and legends speak of skies literally tearing open as Demons invaded our world.However, humanity as it always seems to do, fought back and though most of the people living at that time were forever lost, the Demons were defeated, the remaining leaving this world or scattered as they fled the humans only hours before they had been slaughtering mercilessly.It’s been 5,000 years since those events, though many dismiss the tale as legend and humanity has only recently started picking up again, there have been some strange reports recently across Aludin and with the mysterious Decabia to the east, the era of peace may soon be coming to the end and new heroes will have to answer the call to defend humanity’s flame once again, as they did so 5,000 years ago.

Just when you thought you knew everything about a certain fairy tale, here comes a take on the story fit to baffle even renowned scholars in the genre, along with most everyone else. Take another jaunt into the land of Foible where most anything can happen, and often does, but be warned, this tale should not be read by those who take themselves, or their literature, too seriously.Not content to merely toy with Princesses and Heroes, now a classic fairy tale has been corrupted for reasons we cannot begin to fathom. Take a look at 'Sleeping Beauty' as you've never seen the tale before. In another lighthearted and amusing romp through the world of Foible, poking fun at modern culture and fairy tale requisites alike, this little story is sure not to leave you snoozing like the unfortunate heroine.

Janet Gordon, a new, young professor in the Biology Department at Essex University struggles with her research on a cell growth factor and the mysterious death of the Principal of her University. She is helped in the latter concern by her good friend and landlady, the wise and knowledgeable Kay McKay.Using poetry as a mean to give an insight into the working dynamics of the family, how throughout our lives we are affected by the past, where do we go from there, the ways in which we choose to let that past shapes our future are all a part of this collection of acrostic poems.

Three mortals are chosen to participate in the Tournament of the Gods, but with a malevolent force in the background plotting their demise, they may not have what it takes to survive.The mage known as Braim Kotogs is the first human to return from the dead, a fact which brings him more attention—and trouble—from mortals and gods alike than he wants. He doesn't remember who he is or much about his past, nor is he interested in winning the Tournament of the Gods. But when a mysterious assassin nearly takes his life, Braim must enter the Tournament in order to survive and learn the identity of his assailant. As the princess of a powerful nation, Raya Mana believes that she is destined to win the Tournament and become the new ruler of the world. But when she is assigned to a bracket that she loathes, Raya must deal with shattered expectations, in addition to an anonymous letter writer who claims to know all her darkest secrets. Carmaz Korva has known only poverty and hopelessness his whole life, having grown up on an island that the gods have abandoned. But when he is offered the chance to enter the Tournament of the Gods, he sees an opportunity to restore his people to their original glory while remaining ignorant of the tragedy that awaits him at the end. And with a mysterious and malevolent force plotting their destruction in the background, winning the Tournament of the Gods may be the least of their troubles.

On his last day before retirement, Senior Sergeant Gordon 'Laney' Lane is walking the beat he used to walk. He has an appointment with death.It is Senior Sergeant Gordon 'Laney' Lane's last day at work before retirement. He has had a full life of watching changes occur with not only the police department, but in his life; not all of which are good. He is walking the beat he used to walk, back in the day when cops used to 'walk the beat,' in the rain, remembering his life to that point.'Laney' has an appointment. An appointment which, to him, will right a wrong; a serious wrong. He will avenge a life lost too young, that must be done, on this his last day.

A collection of poems about love, faith, strength, and life that everyone can relate to.Caelfel Gyssedlues is a young she-elf at seventy-six years old, the youngest known elf in her woodland city. A highly skilled archer, she was picked to join a certain hunting party to defend their forest from goblins. All is well until she chances upon Feraan, the most hated elf of the Honey Water Empire. She breaks royal decree by saving his life and finds herself constantly at odds with her people and a dangerous tracker. She is often forced to defend herself and her family simply because of her decision. Meanwhile, she finds herself becoming closer to Feraan, perhaps even falling in love, but the longer she knows him, the more apparent it becomes that Feraan's enemies reach beyond their elvenkind. Soon those enemies come searching for him too, putting Caelfel's life in even more danger.

Learn the one secret that billionaires have been hiding from you for centuries now. Included is everything there is to know about the real Illuminati. Plus, this book gives you the only feasible way to become rich today and forever. Learn the secret of the secret. Learn the secret of the Illuminati.The only way to become incredibly rich and sit in your underwear on the beach all day, is to write conspiracy theories. That's right. There is no other way...unless you want to work for an evil boss. All those other gurus have been lying to you. You know why; to keep you a slave in your own mind. And to keep you buying their books.All is revealed in this book. Which is free, by the way.By publishing this book and exposing their secrets, the writer is probably already in the torture chambers of the Illuminati right now. So the only thing you can do for him is to at least download his book and read every word in it. And then spread the word.Remember, all I can offer is the truth. You are not going to like it, but swallow the red pill and see how deep the mole hole really goes...If, after reading this book, you are not at least a multi-millionaire by twelve o clock tomorrow, write me an email immediately. I promise I will feel so bad for you, that I will go out and spend five hundred dollars on myself. I will then sent you the photos of me enjoying myself to make you feel better.What are you waiting for...

Egypt nowadays, and how different stories of several foreigners that come into a cafe could interlink with each other ..Taking place in modern Egypt, a group of seemingly unrelated strangers end up through different circumstances in a weird cafe called Bianca, we get to see the story of each and every one of them, and as time proceeds, we find that they are related in the most weird ways you can imagine.. We get to know each one of them deeply, get to touch their souls, their fears, and their grudges..!! Things get steamy as the events proceed, and the interlinks between the characters and each other start to unveil, till the shocking ending comes .

Originally published in 1986 in the Vintage Contemporaries paperback series—and reissued now in hardcover alongside his masterful new novel, Empire Falls—Richard Russo’s Mohawk remains today as it was described then: A first novel with all the assurance of a mature writer at the peak of form and ambition, Mohawk is set in upstate New York and chronicles over a dozen lives in a leather town, long after the tanneries have started closing down. Ranging over three generations—and clustered mainly in two clans, the Grouses and the Gaffneys—these remarkably various lives share only the common human dilemmas and the awesome physical and emotional presence of Mohawk itself. For this is a town like Winesburg, Ohio or Our Town, in our time, that encompasses a plethora of characters, events and mysteries. At once honestly tragic and sharply, genuinely funny, Mohawk captures life, then affirms it. From the Hardcover edition.

First found contentedly chatting in their London clubs and shopping at Fortnum's, the cozy bachelors (as any Spark reader might guess) are not set to stay cozy for long. Soon enough, the men are variously tormented — defrauded or stolen from; blackmailed or pressed to attend horrid séances — and then plunged, all together, into the nastiest of lawsuits. At the center of that suit hovers pale, blank Patrick Seton, the medium. Meanwhile, horrors of every size plague the poor bachelors — from the rising price of frozen peas ("Your hand's never out of your pocket") to epileptic fits, forgeries, spiritualists foaming with protoplasm, and murder. And every horror delights: each is lit up by Spark's uncanny wit — at once malicious, funny, and deadly serious.

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Lionheart comes the dramatic sequel, telling of the last dangerous years of Richard, Coeur de Lion’s life. This long-anticipated sequel to the national bestseller Lionheart is a vivid and heart-wrenching story of the last event-filled years in the life of Richard, Coeur de Lion. Taken captive by the Holy Roman Emperor while en route home—in violation of the papal decree protecting all crusaders—he was to spend fifteen months chained in a dungeon while Eleanor of Aquitaine moved heaven and earth to raise the exorbitant ransom. But a further humiliation awaited him: he was forced to kneel and swear fealty to his bitter enemy. For the five years remaining to him, betrayals, intrigues, wars, and illness were ever present. So were his infidelities, perhaps a pattern set by his father’s faithlessness to Eleanor. But the courage, compassion, and intelligence of this warrior king became the stuff of legend, and A King’s Ransom brings the man and his world fully and powerfully alive.

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She's content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry's mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother's past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

Warning: Dream So Dark is book 2 in this series and darker than book 1. Child trafficking is mentioned though not graphic. No explicit explanations but themes of sexual violence and healing after are explored. Thank you for considering my book for your next read. He was created to be a messenger and guider of dreams. He has traveled the earth for centuries upon centuries fulfilling his purpose. Until her. Serenity crept into his existence as seamlessly as the dreams he wove and just as effortlessly, she stole his heart. Their future is still unclear, but Dair knows he doesn't want to spend even another hour without her. Meanwhile Emma Whitmore, a brilliant young girl whose overcome so much at her tender young age was dropped in both their laps, but for what purpose neither is certain. Taken from the people she's grown to love and put in a home with a man who has no love to give, she fights to survive. She just has to hang on until she can be returned to the adoptive family who has already claimed her. Three lives, unsure of what is to come, fighting the darkness that is closing in all around them. If they are to have any future together, then evil cannot prevail. But at what cost to them?

In his black-walled fortress at Inuyama, the warlord Iida Sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard. The youth Takeo has been brought up in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual people who have taught him only the ways of peace. But unbeknownst to him, his father was a celebrated assassin and a member of the Tribe, an ancient network of families with extraordinary, preternatural skills. When Takeo's village is pillaged, he is rescued and adopted by the mysterious Lord Otori Shigeru. Under the tutelage of Shigeru, he learns that he too possesses the skills of the Tribe. And, with this knowledge, he embarks on a journey that will lead him across the famed nightingale floor—and to his own unimaginable destiny...

A powerful, affecting and hilarious deep-dive into human behavior in an intimate and epic story of science, society, sex, and survival, set in the early 1990s, from one of the greatest American novelists today. It is 1994, and in the desert near Tillman, Arizona, forty miles from Tucson, a grand experiment involving the future of humanity is underway. As climate change threatens the earth, eight scientists, four men and four women dubbed the “Terranauts,” have been selected to live under glass in E2, a prototype of a possible off-earth colony. Their sealed, three-acre compound comprises five biomes—rainforest, savanna, desert, ocean and marsh—and enough wildlife, water, and vegetation to sustain them. Closely monitored by an all-seeing Mission Control, this New Eden is the brainchild of eco-visionary Jeremiah Reed, aka G.C.—“God the Creator”—for whom the project is both an adventure in scientific discovery and a momentous publicity stunt. In addition to their roles as medics, farmers, biologists, and survivalists, his young, strapping Terranauts must impress watchful visitors and a skeptical media curious to see if E2’s environment will somehow be compromised, forcing the Ecosphere’s seal to be broken—and ending the mission in failure. As the Terranauts face increased scrutiny and a host of disasters, both natural and of their own making, their mantra: “Nothing in, nothing out,” becomes a dangerously ferocious rallying cry. Told through three distinct narrators—Dawn Chapman, the mission’s pretty young ecologist; Linda Ryu, her bitter, scheming best friend passed over for E2; and Ramsay Roothorp, E2’s sexually irrepressible Wildman—The Terranauts brings to life an electrifying, pressured world in which connected lives are uncontrollably pushed to the breaking point. With characteristic humor and acerbic wit, T. C. Boyle indelibly inhabits the perspectives of the various players in this survivalist game, probing their motivations and illuminating their integrity and fragility to illustrate the inherent fallibility of human nature itself.

The truth about Stacey is that she has diabetes. Nobody knows... except her friends in the Baby-sitters Club. But even they don't know the real truth about Stacey. Stacey's problem is her parents. They won't admit she has the disease, and they drag her to practically every doctor in America! Seeing so many doctors made Stacey lose one friend, and she won't let it happen again. Especially now - when the Baby-sitters Club needs her more than ever.