This is a short work of historical fiction. From the beginning: “Evil tidings have their own trick of spreading abroad. You cannot bury them. The news which had come secretly to Venice was known from the Giudecca to Madonna dell'Orto in two hours. Before noon it was in Murano. Young Zuan Gradenigo, making his way on foot from the crowded Merceria into the Piazza di San Marco, ran upon his friend, the young German captain, whom men called Il Lupo—his name was Wölfart—and learned, what almost every other man in the city already knew, how Lewis of Hungary, taking excuse of a merchant ship looted in Venetian waters, was on his way to a second invasion, and had given over the Dalmatian towns to the ban of Bosnia to ravage. The two men were still eagerly discussing the matter and its probable outcome, half an hour later, standing beside one of the gayly painted booths which, at this time—the spring of 1355—were clustered about the foot of the great Campanile, when a servant in the livery of the doge touched young Zuan's arm and, in a low tone, gave him a message. Gradenigo turned back to the German. "My uncle wishes to see me at once in the palace," he said. "If you are not pressed, go to my house and wait for me there. I may have important news for you." Then, with a parting wave of the hand, he went quickly across the Piazzetta and under the gateway to the right of St. Mark's. At the head of the great stair two men were awaiting him, and they led him at once through a narrow passage with secret sliding-doors to an inner cabinet of the private apartments of the newly elected doge, his uncle, Giovanni Gradenigo. The doge sat alone in a great carven chair before a table which was littered with papers and with maps and with writing-materials. From a high window at one side colored beams of light slanted down and rested in crimson and blue splashes upon the dark oak of the table and what lay there, and upon the rich velvet of the doge's robe, and upon his peculiar cap of office. He was not a very old man, but he was far from strong. Indeed, even at this time he was slowly wasting away with the disease which carried him off a year later, but as he sat there, bowed before the table, he looked old and very worn and tired. His face had no color at all. It was like a dead man's face—cold and damp. And yet, although he was ill and seemed quite unfit for labors or duties of any sort, he was in reality an unusually keen and shrewd man, capable of unremitting toil. There burned somewhere within the shrunken, pallid body an astonishingly fierce flame of life. He had been elected to office hard upon the Faliero catastrophe partly because his name was one of the very greatest in Venice—two others of his house had worn the cap and ring within the century past—but chiefly because his sympathies were as remote as possible from the liberal views of the poor old man who had preceded him. He was patrician before all else, and fiercely tenacious of patrician rights—fiercely proud of his name and possessions. He did not move as his nephew entered the room, only his pale eyes rose slowly to the young man's face and as slowly dropped again to the table before him. Young Zuan pulled forward one of the heavy, uncomfortable chairs of carved wood and sat down in it. He was wondering very busily what his uncle wanted of him, but he knew the old man too well to ask questions. Besides that, it would not have been respectful. Presently the pale eyes rose again. "You have—heard?" asked the doge, in his thin voice.”

A kiss that came too late. A month that slipped away while he waited for the end of the world.There are only old men and boys left to defend the city. All the others have gone. In the quiet moments before the final battle, it's too late to worry about what might have been.

The Trail of the Goldseekers - A Record of Travel in Prose and Verse is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Hamlin Garland is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Hamlin Garland then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

Selling more than 65,000 copies and topping bestseller lists around the world--including Spain, Germany, Italy, and Latin America--this novel tells the engrossing story of one man's quest for love and for his soul."Allende is one of the most important novelists to emerge from Latin America in the past decade." "--Boston Globe"

This omnibus collection includes all of the author’s early poetry as well as the Four Quartets, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, and the plays Murder in the Cathedral, The Family Reunion, and The Cocktail Party.

Two estranged sisters, one a rare book dealer, the other a cattle rancher, meet again after fifteen years.Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build her career as a buyer for a large used bookstore. So far she’s been able to keep her drinking problem at bay, but everything changes when she lands a DUI on her thirty-third birthday.When she’s accused of a crime she didn’t commit at work, she has nowhere to turn. She yearns for her estranged family, especially her younger sister May whom she hasn’t seen for fifteen years. Now the owner of a failing cattle ranch in Elk Valley, Colorado, May couldn’t possibly want a relationship with the big sister who didn’t even say good-bye all those years ago, could she?Soon Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her abusive ex-boyfriend, and God. Could the Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for, or will May’s new-found faith give her even more reason to reject Christy?Thicker than Blood is Book #1 in the Thicker than Blood series. All books stand alone entirely and can be read independently of each other, but for the best reading experience, we suggest reading them in order:Book #1: Thicker than BloodBook #2: Bound by GuiltBook #3: Ties that BindBook #4: Running on Empty

After a sea operation gone wrong, Navy SEAL Rita Sawyer awakens to find herself still clad in her wetsuit and in a cage with a bunch of Vikings staring at her, including one very tempting warlord. Steven of Norstead has been in a cold, dark mood for many weeks. But perhaps this unusual woman, with her sharp tongue and irksome ways, could be the one to light his fire.

"It is the shop of memories. Its stores are what moments we collect through our lives, those which gather dust or glory on the shelves of our mind. Some are forgotten, some boxed away; some touted as the very best of our life. Every article has meaning, every clipping, sensation. The store changes for each person. What will you see on its shelves? What will you find in its intimate interior?""It is the shop of memories. Its stores are what moments we collect through our lives, those which gather dust or glory on the shelves of our mind. Some are forgotten, some boxed away; some touted as the very best of our life. Every article has meaning, every clipping, sensation. The store changes for each person. What will you see on its shelves? What will you find in its intimate interior?"This is a story that wishes to be true.In this new short story by Alex Hurst, the meanings of the words we use for loved ones are explored, as well as the value of the memories we hold dear. After death, a woman peruses the aisles of her life's memories, recalling the lost, forgotten and cherished moments of her life. She is allowed to take one item with her when she passes on, and the path to that choice is one of love, happiness and heartbreak.2nd edition now includes an afterword by the author, corrections to the Kindle formatting, as well as formerly missing front matter. None of the story's content has changed.Approximately 3,500 words.

Some non-traditional poems for people in newly in love, still in love, or about to marry.William Lay of Arkansas, to important to stay on the farm, has given himself the nickname of "The Arkansas Kid". He will attempt to live up to the name and reputation he created. He rides into a north Texas town and picks an old west, stand in the street and shoot it out with the sheriff.

The Alden children are going back in time by helping at an old Victorian house that has been turned into a museum. But rumor has it that the place is haunted by the spirit of the practical joker Horace Wagner! Is there really a ghost?

The Aldens discover that many people are obsessed with the bookstore their grandfather just bought in New Orleans.

A short dramatisation of a legend from Ancient Greece, the story of how the spider was created.-Rydia, Daughter of Mist-Though instantly overcome by Rydia's beauty and spunk, the Prince of Eblan has never confessed an attraction. Rydia is the perfect match for his rebellious attitude, ditching dirt and smart-ass quips and taking the same . . . but has never admitted to a fluttering heart. Now they have given themselves one last chance for a no-holds-barred admittance.-Kain, A Hero's Destiny-Kain. A soul manipulated to dark deeds, forever separated from the honor he one time cherished as a dragoon knight. How have these dark deeds tortured an honorable soul? How has this betrayal affected what could have been a hero's future? Silence surrounds him, feeding the darkness and manipulating a lonely spirit troubled by a strange past. But though evil has an uncanny instinct about weaknesses, honor and love have a way of finding even the smallest strength.

Captain Lacey accepts a position at the Sudbury School to find the person behind a series of malicious pranks. But when the mischief takes a deadly turn, Lacey must teach a murderer a lesson.

A Princess ruling on a cold, dark world, longing for a male to love her A Warrior dreaming of a female he can love and protect A perfect match? Maybe not…he's a Giant. Can Alanah and Bram overcome their emotional and physical differences to be together? Read Taming the Giant to find out…

White Crest is ultimately a love story devoid of explicit sexual content, that involves intrigue, suspense, danger and a bit of supernatural assistance. Mackenzie Mason is a single, stressed-out professional woman who takes a vacation. While on that vacation, she makes a new friend, deals with a stalker and works a jigsaw puzzle with extraordinary properties that changes her life forever.White Crest is a work of fiction that is in essence, a love story that involves many twists and turns. Mackenzie Mason is a single, stressed-out, professional woman in desperate need of some time off. She finally takes the long needed break and while on that vacation, makes a new friend, deals with a stalker and works a jigsaw puzzle with extraordinary properties that changes her life forever. She also finds a way to light the dark loneliness of her life. It is difficult to nail down an exact genre, because of the several literary tactics employed. As stated, it is ultimately a love story devoid of explicit sexual content, that involves intrigue, suspense, danger and a bit of supernatural assistance. To quote Betsy Palmer, (retired celebrity), "It was an exceptionally descriptive book that once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was done."

At the boundary between one year and the next, a young woman discovers an ancient secret with the power to change her life forever.‘Now is the darkest time of the night; the darkest time of the year…’The festival of Longest Night is Bryony's favourite time of year. However, this year will be different from any other, as a newcomer to the village reveals something that will change her view of the world - and herself - forever.

A small collection of short stories written by David Grewcock; including two first Chapters of the novels "The Floods of London" and "The Navigation Watch" available through Kindle publishing.A digest collection of short stories written by the author for the readers enjoyment, but also as an introduction to the first two novels in his "Black Crane" collection (available through Kindle and in hard copy).The intention of this collection is also to provide an inspiration that anyone can write a book if they challenge themselves.