Anger flares and Love ignites....A bag of gold to pick up a trinket from an old friend, that's what the wizard said, and it didn't sound like such a bad deal until Conraydin found out who his travelling companion was going to be. . . the woman he had assumed dead for the last five years. Anger flares and love ignites in this heartbreaking and magical short story about making your own destiny.A high school student inadvertently discovers that his father is working on a top secret project with the CIA and aliens from another planet. When the aliens discover this serious security breach they insist on Peter Turner's exile to Tarizon. Meanwhile Tarizon is recovering from a series of super volcanic eruptions that has nearly destroyed all life on the planet. Tarizon is slowly recovering ecologically but the political situation is volatile. Videl Lai has become Chancellor in a tainted election. Once in power, he renounces Tarizon's constitution, The Supreme Mandate, and orders the extermination of all non-human life forms. The Loyalist party, however, has been planning a civil war to restore rule under the Supreme Mandate and stop the genocide. The Loyalist Party, however, is weak and there is little hope it will be able to defeat Videl Lai and his formidable army. The only hope seems to be a prophecy that foretells of the arrival of a Liberator from Earth who would lead a revolt to rid Tarizon of a ruthless dictator. When Videl Lai learns of Peter's imminent arrival and the talk that he might be the Liberator, he vows to have him killed the moment he sets foot on Tarizon.

When his friendship with a beautiful princess is threatened by death, Landon of Pana finds himself swept into a war between the creators of the universe and all of human kind. With a dark prophecy shadowing his every move, he must find the strength and power hidden within him to save his friends and fulfill his destiny.When his friendship with a beautiful princess is threatened by death, Landon of Pana finds himself swept into a war between the creators of the universe and all of human kind. With a dark prophecy shadowing his every move, he must find the strength and power hidden within him to save his friends and fulfill his destiny.Eldnium is a harrowing tale, wrought with dark and compelling twists and turns that are sure to keep the pages flying. This is the first book in the opening trilogy of the 49 Gates Saga.

The Keeper-Pedia is a guide book to The Keeper's Universe. The Keeper's Universe is a rich diverse and ever evolving science fiction community of storytellers. This book contains the history of the galaxy as well as essential characters, ships and technology to understand and set stories of your own in the The Keeper's Universe. Learn more at keepersuniverse.blogspot.comA small short story before the resurrection of Tobias in the center point universe detailing four labyrinths from the four housemen each carrying part of the general's sword. For more on the back story of the return of Tobias look at the two other Saga of Heroes books called The Demonic Slave and One Single Moment and the upcoming book of Lily's tale.

This is an excerpt of Jamyria: The Entering (Book 1 of the Jamyria Series)Freshly marked with power upon entering the alternate world of Jamyria, Margo Grisby explores vibrant forests, battles unimaginable beings, and seeks out the world's darkest secrets. Together with her friends, she must find the Witch hidden amidst the forest in the hopes of discovering an escape while outrunning the world’This is an excerpt of Jamyria: The Entering (Book 1 of the Jamyria Series)Freshly marked with power upon entering the alternate world of Jamyria, Margo Grisby explores vibrant forests, battles unimaginable beings, and seeks out the world's darkest secrets. Together with her friends, she must find the Witch hidden amidst the forest in the hopes of discovering an escape while outrunning the world’s creator and her guardsmen. EXCERPT: To look inside this forest is to explore the works of a dream in hard form, granted a chance to see imagination. The colors are hardly hues found in ordinary woods but are more vivid and saturated. The leaves not quite a lime green nor the woodsy hunter green they’re expected to be. Flowers are scattered throughout the branches painted in vibrant neon. Even the cloudless sky is a shade closer to turquoise. It is as if she’s walked into someone’s realism painting in which the artist has slightly mixed the wrong colors, throwing off the whole mood. But — and this realization churns her stomach — this is wrong. This feels like someone has played God, and the forest is the result of not mixing the colors just right. Abnormal plants and trees fill the woods. Spiky bits of moss cling to trees like sea urchins. The tree trunks are more russet than brown, some with unusually smooth bark. Wild-looking flowers wear large, exotic petals. Even little things she notices — the soil she walks on being too fluffy or a patch of weeds she brushes against too slick against her skin — are strangely off-putting.

Lillian has lost Ivan, her eight-year-old son, to mysterious predators from the dark-magical Forest of Bann. Her only chance at recovering him is to venture in after him, armed with only a half-hexed staff, a spell book, and her wits. But when she finds the chronaqua (timewater) - she may be able to save more than just her son...This short story is the first in the Greta Gecko mystery series. It introduces the main character Greta as well as her best friend Norman. The story begins with Greta and Norman deciding to visit Greta's father at Macamya Bay University. Things don't always go smoothly as planned.

David Brown is a lonely 70 year old man driving into the country to fish in a trout stream behind the house he grew up in. A place he hasn’t seen in a half-century or more. But of course, there’s more to it than that. While fishing, he notices something that he should have found when he was a child, and it opens up a whole new range of regrets to David… and magical opportunity.John Mortenson is a highly intelligent but poor student at an Ivy League university. One day, when he returns to his dorm, he sees a note taped up to his door. It's an invitation to a philosophical discussion. Participants will be paid! Being in dire need of funds and a lover of philosophy, he decides to go. This may turn out to be the worst decision he's ever made.(This story was inspired by the true story of Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, and the mind control experiments he was subjected to as a young Harvard student.)

The world can be a very strange and alienating place. Jen has known this all her life, and at last she may have found someone else who knows it too. But time is fleeting, as Jen is all too aware, and no matter how desperately she wants to prevent its passing, it seems she never can. Perhaps the answer lies within the grandfather clock…The Rise of Germania ~ The Warlord has stolen the greatest treasure that the 5th Worlde has ever known, and he flees the Oriental Empire, heading homeward. Empress Wu is perusing her former lover, who is accompanied by a ragged Holy Man, a Templar Knight, and the Brothers Polo.In Germania, Old King Henry, the Lion of Bavaria is murdered. His wife, Matilda, The Holy Roman Empress plots to cease the throne and use the might of Bavaria to reclaim her title as the true Queen of England, and of its empire.However, she has not allowed for the ambition of the Head Eunuch and Volker, the chancellor, who intend to usurp the power and rule through the puppet prince.Yet the Warlord and his hedge priest have plans of their own.Milo and his brother Ziggy, are poor Bavarian country boys, fresh from the battle of Bronhöved, they are now caught up in the High Fuhrer's war, as the Unification of Germania begins.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair (1847), a panoramic portrait of English society. Thackeray began as a satirist and parodist, with a sneaking fondness for roguish upstarts like Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon in Barry Lyndon (1844) and Catherine in Catherine (1839). In his earliest works, writing under such pseudonyms as Charles James Yellowplush, Michael Angelo Titmarsh and George Savage Fitz-Boodle, he tended towards the savage in his attacks on high society, military prowess, the institution of marriage and hypocrisy. His writing career really began with a series of satirical sketches now usually known as The Yellowplush Papers, which appeared in Fraser's Magazine beginning in 1837. Between May 1839 and February 1840, Fraser's published the work sometimes considered Thackeray's first novel, Catherine. His other works include: The Fitz-Boodle Papers (1842), Men's Wives (1842), The History of Pendennis (1848), The History of Henry Esmond, Esq., (1852), The Newcomes (1853) and The Rose and the Ring (1855).

A charming rogue From the moment Summer O'Connor laid eyes on him, she knew she was in trouble. Everything about Cameron Lassiter screamed success-from his perfect suit to his perfect smile. Summer knew all about guys like him. What she didn't know was that the high-powered attorney had a soft spot for people in trouble. Cam was more than happy to work with the beautiful social worker on a difficult case. Unfortunately Summer had a strict rule: Never mix business with pleasure. But the drop-dead gorgeous Lassiter with a heart of gold had a way of charming a woman once he got her in his arms...

When Daryn claimed she was seeing visions during her sophomore year of high school, no one believed the truth. She wasn’t losing her mind; she was gaining the Sight—the ability to see the future. Daryn embraced her role as a Seeker. The work she did was important. She saved lives. Until Sebastian. Sebastian was her first—and worst—mistake. Since the moment she inadvertently sealed him in a dark dimension with Samrael, the last surviving demon of the Kindred, guilt has plagued her. Daryn knows Sebastian is alive and waiting for help. It’s up to her to rescue him. But now that she needs the Sight more than ever to guide her, the visions have stopped. Daryn must rely on instincts, intelligence, and blind faith to lead the riders who are counting on her in search of Sebastian. As they delve into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems and where Samrael is steadily amassing power, Daryn faces the ultimate test. Will she have to become evil to destroy evil? The very fate of humankind may rest in the answer.

Joanna Emerson, a trained nursery nurse, is hired as a nanny, albeit reluctantly, to the infant heir of a cosmetics fortune. She then becomes caught up in a complex kidnap plot. She is also an expert in codes and her purpose is to gain an insight into the opposition plan? But how does kidnapping further anyone's interests? Commencing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the story moves quickly through locations, as with many of Dunnett's stories. On this occasion Joanna ends up on a crippled yacht off the coast of Yugoslavia. As always, both behind and aside from the plot and it's inevitable conclusion is enigmatic portrait painter, yachtsman and former spy, Johnson Johnson. Bullets are flying, most of them in Joanna's direction. Just how can this end?

Most people on the planet Kegan don't want to have anything to do with the rest of the galaxy. But when a young potential Jedi is discovered there, Qui-Gon Jinn, Adi Gallia, and their apprentices, Obi-Wan and Siri, are compelled to visit this strangely isolated world. They are not welcomed with open arms. Instead, Qui-Gon and Adi find themselves caught in a web of deception while Obi-Wan and Siri are imprisoned in a school where thought is dictated, dissent is forbidden, and detention is permanent. On this planet, the Jedi must fight for truth...even though nobody wants to face it.

Alt Cover for ISBN 9780375898983 can be found here With over one million copies sold, this series of modern classics about the charming Penderwick family from National Book Award winner and New York Times bestseller Jeanne Birdsall is perfect for fans of Noel Streatfeild and Edward Eager. When summer comes around, it's off to the beach for Rosalind . . . and off to Maine with Aunt Claire for the rest of the Penderwick girls, as well as their old friend, Jeffrey. That leaves Skye as OAP (oldest available Penderwick)—a terrifying notion for all, but for Skye especially. Things look good as they settle into their cozy cottage, with a rocky shore, enthusiastic seagulls, a just-right corner store, and a charming next-door neighbor.  But can Skye hold it together long enough to figure out Rosalind's directions about not letting Batty explode?  Will Jane's Love Survey come to a tragic conclusion after she meets the alluring Dominic? Is Batty—contrary to all accepted wisdom—the only Penderwick capable of carrying a tune?  And will Jeffrey be able to keep peace between the girls . . . these girls who are his second, and most heartfelt, family? It's a rollicking ride as the Penderwicks continue their unforgettable adventures in a story filled with laughs and joyful tears! From the Hardcover edition.

A sequel to critically acclaimed THE NEDDIAD told from the point of view of Ned's friend, Iggy La Brea Woman is missing. Valentino, too. The ghosts of Los Angeles are disappearing right and left! Iggy Birnbaum is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, no matter what Neddie Wentworthstein and Seamus Finn say. There’s just the little matter of traveling to another plane of existence, first…and then, of course, not pissing off a witch once she gets there. From L.A. to Old New Hackensack, fans of The Neddiad will be delighted to join up with Iggy, Neddie, Seamus, and the usual apparitional entourage for another weird and wonderful adventure by Daniel Pinkwater. As Neil Gaiman said about the first book: "it's funny and tender and strange and impossible to describe. What Pinkwater does is magic and I'm grateful for it." THE IGGYSSEY is vintage Pinkwater: laugh out loud funny, incredible characters, dialogue, humor. And like THE NEDDIAD, this book will be similarly illustrated throughout by Calef Brown.

The new Leverage Novel in the series that includes The Con Job and The Zoo Job The rich and powerful take what they want. We steal it back for you. THE BESTSELLER JOB ** After bestselling author Gavin Lee is killed by a hit-and-run driver, his estranged brother Brad appears out of nowhere to claim the estate, cutting off Gavin’s girlfriend and secret collaborator, Denise. Luckily, Denise knows Gavin had a good friend in Eliot Spencer. It’s not money Denise is worried about. Gavin had intended to donate much of his profits to human-rights organizations, and Brad has no plan to honor those wishes. So the team sets out to use Brad’s own greed to get him out of the picture. But soon Denise notices she’s being followed. Is it Brad? Her boyfriend’s mysterious informant? Or his killer? Whoever it is, Nate and the crew will have to read between the lines if they’re going to close the book on this case. Based on the hit TV series Leverage!

A world on the brink of war. All Avaline Hall wants is to enjoy her senior year at Blythewood Academy, the boarding school where she’s been trained to defend humankind from forces of dark magic. But when Ava is shown a glimpse into the future in the enchanted Blythe Wood, she discovers that the evil Judicus van Drood is rallying nations into a war that seems destined to destroy both the human and faerie worlds. Only Ava and her allies have a chance at stopping van Drood, but how many must die in the process? And how can Ava and the boy she loves be together when everything around them is falling apart?

Stephen Longacre, good for nothing playboy, is given an ultimatum by his wealthy father. Unless he rises to a certain challenge, his father will disconnect him from his world, and that includes paying for his lavish lifestyle. Longacre finally takes his life seriously as he finds his voice in a turbulent time, filled with hatred and violence.

Which is more dangerous: being an international spy... or surviving high school? Maggie Silver has never minded her unusual life. Cracking safes for the world's premier spy organization and traveling the world with her insanely cool parents definitely beat high school and the accompanying cliques, bad lunches, and frustratingly simple locker combinations. (If it's three digits, why bother locking it at all?) But when Maggie and her parents are sent to New York City for her first solo assignment, her world is transformed. Suddenly, she's attending a private school with hundreds of "mean girl" wannabes, trying to avoid the temptation to hack the school's elementary security system, and working to befriend the aggravatingly cute son of a potential national security threat... all while trying not to blow her cover.

A delicious and classic country-house mystery. Well, country-castle. The lord of the manor is Sir Henry Ancred, a celebrated Shakespearian actor who has arranged to have his portrait painted by none other than Agatha Troy, wife of Inspector Roderick Alleyn. She's rather glad to be stepping out of Alleyn's shadow, so much so that when Ancred is killed at his own birthday party, Troy at first tries sleuthing on her own. But she's got a family full of suspects to contend with, and is pleased at last to hand things over to Alleyn, who had been, as one review put it, "detained by World War II."

Slut. Hooker. Whore. The taunts never bothered me. They only see what I allow them to see, and a Las Vegas stripper is the perfect cover. My life had direction. I had a mission—until the man I needed vanished and is presumed dead. It’s time to move on—give up the dream for revenge—and no one shows me that more than the mop-headed fighter with eyes the color of the ocean. If anyone can teach me just how sweet life can be, it’s him. But first, I’d have to let go. Mase. Baywatch. Mayhem. I’m known by many names, but there’s only one that stirs panic and worry in my gut every time I’m called it. Brother. I’ve bailed him out of trouble for years, so when he turns up in Vegas and asks for me, I’m prepared for the worst. And the worst is exactly what I get in the form of a lilac-eyed beauty named Trix. She’s everything I hate about Vegas: a stripper, loose with her body and her morals. But there’s something about her, a complexity that she buries deep, and I’m determined to uncover it. The deeper I go, the less I understand. When I finally learn the truth, we engage in a battle where life and death hang in the balance. Fighting could kill us both, but if we win, forever is the prize.