Heroes and Villains

      Angela Carter
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Sharp-eyed Marianne lives in a white tower made of steel and concrete with her father and the other Professors. Outside, where the land is thickly wooded and wild beasts roam, live the Barbarians, who raid and pillage in order to survive. Marianne is strictly forbidden to leave her civilized world but, fascinated by these savage outsiders, decides to escape. There, beyond the wire fences, she will discover a decaying paradise, encounter the tattooed Barbarian boy Jewel and go beyond the darkest limits of her imagination. Playful, sensuous, violent and gripping, Heroes and Villains is an ambiguous and deliriously rich blend of post-apocalyptic fiction, gothic fantasy, literary allusion and twisted romance.

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    Deadly Little Secret

      Laurie Faria Stolarz
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Some secrets shouldn't be kept... Up until three months ago, everything in sixteen-year-old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary: decent grades; an okay relationship with her parents; and a pretty cool part-time job at the art studio downtown. But when Ben, the mysterious new guy, starts junior year at her high school, Camelia's life becomes anything but ordinary. Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. She's reluctant to believe the rumors, even when her friends try to convince her otherwise. She's inexplicably drawn to Ben and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she is in danger, and that he can help-but can he be trusted? She knows he's hiding something... but he's not the only one with a secret. From the best-selling author of Blue is for Nightmares comes a story of paranormal romance that's sure to be a thrilling and chilling teen favorite.

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    Do Us Part

      Alessandra Torre
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*Author's Note: This novella is no longer available. I combined all of the Dumont Diaries novellas into a standalone novel, which was rewritten, expanded, and retitled as Trophy Wife. * I have discovered the witch who started this disaster, and her name is Cecile. She is the lock around my husband's heart; she is the barrier between me and everything I ever wanted. I have decided to fight. For his heart, for my father, for the Jimmy Choos that rest on my perfectly manicured feet. The problem with a fight is that there is ultimately a loser. And in a situation like this, she has the advantage and a clear head start. But I am here, and she is not. And I have not shared everything. I have some secrets and some advantages of my own. I will fight to the death, if not of my body, than of my heart. And if my heart is destroyed in this battle, I will find a way to survive. Poor planning may not be the final chapter in my story. Do Us Part is a novella, 16,000 words in length, and was the final volume of The Dumont Diaries, a 4-part series. *

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    Testimony

      Anita Shreve
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At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment. Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with the impact of a thriller. No one more compellingly explores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, the needs and fears that drive ordinary men and women into intolerable dilemmas, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.

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    The Devil's Revenge

      Jennifer Loren
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The argument for my bail begins, and I lower my head until the doors behind me crash open with a thunderous roar. A vibration rushes through my body, I look up at the judge as his eyes widen and a cold silence takes hold of the room. It’s him. I know it’s him. It can be no other. Before I can turn I whisper his name and feel the energy of him blaze up my body as if the simple whisper of his name makes it true, makes him true. As hard as I fight my own curiosity I can’t stop myself, with all the assuredness in my head I still have to prove it to my own eyes. Turning, I slowly raise my head up and look upon the three gentlemen, dressed in dark suits and letting the hoods of their coats fall back and reveal expressions of pure - desired annihilation. But it is he that stands center and strong that confirms my suspicions. It is he that has caused this silence and chocked the breath out of an entire room. It’s as if the air could breathe and it breathes a trembling gasp of his name, with all that laid their eyes on this sight I see. Only I breathe his name and meet his eyes whispering … “I knew you would come for me.” Only God could save me from a certain deadly fate, and so rightfully, he sent the devil to rescue me. The sequel to The Devil's Eyes is action packed while still maintaining the same dark romance and suspenseful tone of the first novel.

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    She: A History of Adventure

      H. Rider Haggard
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A runaway bestseller on its publication in 1887, H. Rider Haggard’s She is a Victorian thrill ride of a novel, featuring a lost African kingdom ruled by a mysterious, implacable queen; ferocious wildlife and yawning abysses; and an eerie love story that spans two thousand years. She has bewitched readers from Freud and Jung to C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien; in her Introduction to this Modern Library Paperback Classic—which includes period illustrations by Maurice Greiffenhagen and Charles H. M. Kerr—Margaret Atwood asserts that the awe-inspiring Ayesha, “She-who-must-be-obeyed,” is “a permanent feature of the human imagination.”

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    Gone to Soldiers: A Novel

      Marge Piercy
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Ten characters, from occupied France to the Pacific Theater and from the frontlines to the home front, are profoundly changed by the events of World War II in this New York Times bestseller Epic in scope, Marge Piercy’s sweeping novel encompasses the wide range of people and places marked by the Second World War. Each of her ten narrators has a unique and compelling story that powerfully depicts his or her personality, desires, and fears. Special attention is given to the women of the war effort, like Bernice, who rebels against her domineering father to become a fighter pilot, and Naomi, a Parisian Jew sent to live with relatives in Detroit, whose twin sister, Jacqueline—still in France—joins the resistance against Nazi rule. The horrors of the concentration camps; the heroism of soldiers on the beaches of Okinawa, the skies above London, and the seas of the Mediterranean; the brilliance of code breakers; and the resilience of families waiting for the return of sons, brothers, and fathers are all conveyed through powerful, poignant prose that resonates beyond the page. Gone to Soldiers is a testament to the ordinary people, with their flaws and inner strife, who rose to defend liberty during the most extraordinary times.

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    Kristy and the Snobs

      Ann M. Martin
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Kristy's mom got married again last summer and now Kristy and her family in a new neighborhood. The kids aren't very friendly. In fact, they're... well, snobs. They criticize Kristy's clothes. They make fun of the Baby-sitters Club. And worst of all, they laugh at Louie, Kristy's pet collie, who's going blind. Nobody does that and gets away with it! Kristy's fighting mad-- and she's not going to put up with it much longer. If anybody can beat a Snob Attack, it's the Baby-sitters Club. And that's just what they're going to do.

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    The Untamed MacKenzie

      Jennifer Ashley
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A WOMAN OF BREEDING MEETS A MAN OF NO STANDING… To redeem her family’s disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor. But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society. The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady. Fellows is Louisa's only hope of restoring her family's honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder… Includes a preview of the upcoming novel, “THE WICKED DEEDS OF DANIEL MACKENZIE”

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    Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

      Harriet Jacobs
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Writing as Linda Brent, Harriet Jacobs's unflinching, powerful narrative of her life as a slave in North Carolina, and of her eventual escape and emancipation, is a damning account of the evils and brutality of slavery. This Enriched Classic Edition includes: •A concise introduction that gives the reader important background information•A chronology of the author's life and work•A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context•An outline of key themes and plot points to guide the reader's own interpretations•Detailed explanatory notes•Critical analysis and modern perspectives on the work•Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book•group interaction•A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experienceEnriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.

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    The Midwife's Confession

      Diane Chamberlain
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Dear Anna, What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry— The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle—her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family—described a woman who embraced life. Yet there was so much they didn't know. With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives - and the life of a desperate stranger - with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

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    A World of Worlds

      ASMSG Authors
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Eighteen authors of the Writer's Circle of ASMSG, pour their hearts, souls, and imaginations into stories of Other World Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Paranormal. Become lost in these genre-bending works and discover gems of short fiction by new authors. From space opera and alien worlds to wizards, warlocks and genies, there's a little something for everyone.Eighteen authors, representing dozens in the Writer's Circle of ASMSG, pour their hearts, souls, and imaginations into stories of Other World Sci-Fi, Fantasy and paranormal. Become lost in these genre-bending works and discover gems of short fiction by new authors. From space opera to alien worlds to wizards and warlocks, there's a little something for everyone.DINO’S PAPERS—Alan HardyCOG—Bryan P. ClarkSHIMMER IN THE DARK: BRIDGE BUILDER—Ceri LondonTHE LAIR OF THE WITCH QUEEN—Christian W. FreedSOULMATCH—Drew AveraSHARPIES AND DULLARDS—E. Rose SabinTHE BAD SEED—Erin McDowellTHE CAT WORE ELECTRIC GOGGLES—Ian HutsonTHE SURVIVOR—J.C. HarkerAETERNAE NOCTIS—Jade KerrionTHE LAST OF THE JINN—K.N. LeeBOONE’S JOURNEY—Kirstin PulioffTHE SECRET SIGNAL—Matthew KadishEXPECTATION—Michael BarnettAGE QUEST—Michael K. EidsonEXCEPT THE DUST—Robert CarterBITTER PROPHESY—Susan HawthorneGUIDING STAR—Teresa GarciaVisit ASMSG (Authors’ Social Media Support Group)www.asmsg.weebly.comCover Art by ASMSGStone Arch by:https://www.public-domain-image.com/architecture-public-domain-images-pictures/walls-public-domain-images-pictures/stone-arch.jpg.htmlCosmic Metropolis background,X-ray: NASA/CXC/CfA/R. Tuellmann et al.; Optical: NASA/AURA/STScIhttps://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2009/n604/Caelicorn Creations on Deviant Art,https://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/

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    One False Note

      Gordon Korman
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THIS JUST IN! Amy and Dan Cahill were spotted on a train, hot on the trail of one of 39 Clues hidden around the world. BUT WAIT! Police report a break-in at an elite hotel, and the suspects ALSO sound suspiciously like Amy and Dan. UPDATE! Amy and Dan have been seen in a car . . . no, in a speedboat chase . . . and HOLD EVERYTHING! They're being chased by an angry mob?!? When there's a Clue on the line, anything can happen.

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    Sweetness

      Lindsay Paige
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Emily wished she was invisible. But after moving to a new town with her dad, a charming boy makes it impossible for her to disappear. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, Emily soon finds herself drawn to the safety of Jake's world.Emily wished she was invisible. But after moving to a new town with her dad, a charming boy makes it impossible for her to disappear. Despite her feelings of unworthiness, Emily soon finds herself drawn to the safety of Jake's world. Good looking and the star of the hockey team, Jake has a lot going for him. What most people don't see is the difficult life he has at home. When quiet Emily steals his heart, Jake vows to help her discover she is worthy of love. Just when the two of them realize the sweetness of their relationship, they are put to the test. Only together can they overcome their haunted pasts to fight for a future together.

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    On a Winter's Eve

      Chris L. Adams
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No one knew where they came from - a parallel world, another dimension - maybe the Abyss. They'd preyed on the inhabitants of the backwoods settlement for years, wiping out entire families, their numbers seeming augmented each time they returned which was always in the winter. But when they came this time - they picked the wrong cabin...Once upon a time… on a cold and dreary winter’s night…For many the frightful remembrances of an awful event suffered during youth fade with time. For others, however, the dreadful scene swells with passing years, driving sanity from its path.Decades after a night of terror an old man, his mind teetering on the ragged edge of madness by his childhood recollections, determines to face his fears by awakening the world to the monstrous visions that haunt his dreams.Now he sits down to pen a strange narrative describing an event his family suffered while living in an isolated cabin during a blizzard on a night of soul-wrenching horror.Inspired by a desire to write a story that was a melding of pulp icons H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, this short story was conceived with the intent to capture the building of horror of which the Man Who Was Providence was so capable, while simultaneously mating a Lovecraftian plot to a hero that might have been penned by the same hand that hammered out stories such as Red Nails and Almuric.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This quick read is a short-story.

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    Little Black Dress

      James Patterson
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James Patterson’s BookShots. Short, fast-paced, high-impact entertainment. Can a little black dress change everything in her life? Magazine editor Jane Avery spends her nights alone with Netflix and Oreos – until the Dress turns her loose. Suddenly she's surrendering to dark desires, and New York City has become her erotic playground. But what began as a fantasy will go too far... and her next conquest could be her last.

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    Knave's Wager

      Loretta Chase
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"I need no further proof that you are despicable!" Lilith Davenant's sensibilities were appropriately offended. How dare the brazen Lord Julian Brandon kiss her when he knew full well the man she was to marry was in the next room! It mattered not that the cad was handsome, charming and witty...unlike the staid, auburn-haired young widow's fiance. Lilith's repute meant all. Never did she imagine the blackguard's amorous pursuit was the result of a wager to sully her flawless reputation. Nor did she dream that one day she would yearn for Julian's irresistible embrace-and that a reckless gamble would cause the notorious rake to lose his heart...just as Lilith discovered her own!

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