Patrick “Pack” Walsh may not know exactly where he’s going in life, but he’s happy where he is. He’s got a girlfriend who gets him. His single dad is his best friend. After graduation, he has a desk job lined up at the local crossfit gym, maybe he’ll even work his way up to trainer. He can’t see himself ever leaving the small town of Brooksby, MA. And he’s fine with that. Then, on his eighteenth birthday, a letter from Pack’s mother changes everything. Pack hits the road, searching for a mother he’s never known and a family he had no idea existed until now. His journey unearths questions about both of his parents that he never saw coming. And by the end of the summer, Pack has a whole different understanding of his past—and most importantly, where he wants his future to lead.

The Killer Instinct series from New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden continues as an FBI profiler tracks a case that resurrects ghosts from his past Ex-SEAL Tucker Frost knows that the world is full of evil. He saw it in the face of his own brother, Jason Frost, a cold, methodical, sadistic killer. A killer Tucker put down with his own hands in order to save Jason's final victim—Dawn Alexander, the only girl who got away from the infamous "Iceman." It's Tucker's up close and personal experience with evil that's made him perfect for Samantha Dark's experimental profiling division in the FBI. And when women start turning up murdered with the same MO used by the Iceman, Tucker is sent back to Louisiana to investigate. Ten full years have passed since the night that Tucker faced down his brother...and since he last saw Dawn, his one-time lover. But as Tucker and Dawn grapple with a desire that never died, they must...

Some say we’re special, and that’s why we’re kept in seclusion. Others say the opposite: we’re locked away because there’s something wrong with us. But neither of those reasons explains why it is that they come for us only after we’ve passed the age of sixteen. Whether we want to go or not, we are escorted to our destiny, whatever that destiny may be, never to be seen again.Some say we’re special, and that’s why we’re kept in seclusion. Beyond those walls evil lurks and innocent prey would be lost in minutes. Gone. Destroyed. Forgotten. Others say the opposite: we’re locked away because there’s something wrong with us. If we roamed the outside world, we might taint the beautiful ones. A species so pure, that to merely be in their presence is a gift. As for my beliefs…I’m not sure. But I do know one thing: neither of those reasons explains why it is that they come for us only after we’ve passed the age of sixteen. Whether we want to go or not, we’re taken through those iron gates. Escorted away from the only home we’ve ever known, escorted to our destiny—whatever that destiny may be—never to be seen again. The Beautiful Ones is a prequel intended to introduce Lori's newest Young Adult series. At around 21,000 words, this is a short story. This Young Adult Romance contains kissing, cursing and some violence. It is best for ages 14 and up. The Beautiful Ones: PrequelThe Chosen Ones: Book 1 (coming Spring, 2014)

A frantic midnight phone call sparks one man's quest to find his daughter before SHE does.The ringing of the phone alarmed the sleeping man, and the frantic voice of his daughter sent chills through him as he learned the unthinkable: her mommy was trying to find her and kill her. After racing to his daughter's house, he sets out to carefully explore the vaulted mansion and locate his little girl before her mother, his ex-wife, does. She is mentally ill and a most powerful practitioner of ancient rites, leading to a deadly challenge. The man must trudge through the dark house in an effort to elude the woman and save the girl. Will he be successful and save his beloved Lexi, or will both of them fall under the blade of a mother who has gone crazy...

When someone erases her name from a sign up list for skating flower girls, Nancy investigates.

Josh Gunn detests space pirates. When he and his android partner, Cherry Kang, tangle with a bad one, they crash their shot-up spaceship in unfamiliar territory. Struggling to survive, they find a crazy alien who talks to an invisible partner, giant energy eating snakes and a new enemy. This enemy threatens to destroy a planet along with millions of people. Now Josh and Cherry are hunting them.Josh Gunn detests space pirates. He hunts them down and brings them to justice – one way or another. When he and his android partner Cherry Kang close in on one of the worst, the fireworks start. After the big explosion, they wake up in a different galaxy with their spaceship crashed on an asteroid and shot to smithereens. When they get a derelict spaceship ready to fly with parts from their ruined ship and escape, Josh finds something he hates worse than pirates. Josh Gunn and Cherry Kang intend to hunt every last one of them down and make sure they pay.

A gripping story of danger and heroism by New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury. Sheriff's deputy Alex Brady and his K-9 partner Bo, are on a mission to protect the people of Los Angeles. Domestic terrorists are trying to make this the worst fire season in California's history. Can Alex stop this senseless destruction in time, or will he lose himself in the process?

What if you never knew your parents? What if population control was the only way a society could survive?What if it was all a lie...?A New Adult Romance Story***Due to sexually graphic content and language that some may find offensive, this book is intended for mature readers only******This new series follows the original series, Fifty Recipes For Disaster***Jenny has hit a slump. After losing her child and being in an abusive relationship, she finds herself in a rut. Day in and day out, she does the same thing, slowly losing herself.A random encounter with an old high school friend changes Jenny’s course. Before she can overthink it, she is jet setting off to Hollywood to restart her life. Determined to turn a new leaf, she moves in with Kathy, her high school friend, and decides to get into acting. But things quickly grow complicated. Torn between her feelings for her agent, Jon, and Rich, a charming bad boy who has ties in the movie industry, Jenny works through her past demons to try to get a grip on her present.As Jenny struggles to learn the lesson that in Hollywood not everyone is what they appear to be, she tries to become a person that she can be proud of. Will she be able to find love and success in Hollywood? Or will Jenny be dragged down by her past forever?Download the story to find out what happens.

A collection of award-winning flash-fictions gathered together from the competitions run to celebrate National Flash-Fiction Day 2012.25 wonderful stories from Tania Hershman, J Adamthwaite, Angela Readman, Martha Williams, David Hartley, Chris Bridges and more.We have crime, we have fairy stories, we have happy, sad, emotional and funny. What more could you want?Melba has always wanted to play the slide trombone, but she's too small. Her grandmother wants Melba to play a musical instrument more suitable for a girl -- like a flute or violin -- but Melba loves the way a trombone looks and sounds. Tired of waiting around until she's big enough to play a trombone on her own, Melba finally decides to take matters into her own hands with humorous and unexpected results.

Chaos erupts in the Australian outback when terrorists blow up a controversial uranium mine and kill the Australian Prime Minister. Jake Stafford, an Australian trade official, rescues the Japanese Prime Minister and becomes involved in a cauldron of espionage, political intrigue and corruption which will shake the core of governments in Australia, Japan and China.After negotiating a defence and trade treaty, the Australian and Japanese Prime Ministers launch the opening of a controversial new mine to supply Japan with uranium. The mine is subject to widespread protest as it is located on aboriginal land in Australia's world heritage listed Kakadu National Park. In an assault that shocks the world, a terrorist group blows up the mine causing chaos and killing the Australian Prime Minister. The main target of the terrorists, the Japanese Prime Minister, is injured but is rescued by an Australian trade official, Jake Stafford. They escape into the national park with the terrorists in hot pursuit.A few days later, an aboriginal activist and friend of Jake's father, is arrested as a suspect in the attack, but on his release from prison is killed by a hit-run driver. Jake gets involved at his father's request and discovers evidence of a conspiracy involving the development of the mine. Jake realises that the information has explosive implications and fears for his own life. With the help of a beautiful Japanese woman and a journalist friend he sets about exposing corruption and espionage at the highest level of governments in Australia, Japan and China. This international thriller set in the Australian outback is full of political intrigue and suspense and occurs at a time when tensions between Japan and China are at a flash point. Jake's quest to find the truth not only endangers himself but also those close to him and brings about a chain of events that will change his life forever.

Gabriel and Betty have both dealt with a lifetime of bad relationships…until they find themselves thrown together in the shadow of a lightning strike!“Betty” is the story of their romance, and a prequel to The Adventures of Gabriel Celtic series.Synopsis: Magick is banned in Thonn's world, outlawed after greedy and power-hungry wizards almost destroyed the entire planet. So imagine his surprise when he spies Eddie de Elder performing Magick spells!A 2500 word Fantasy/Comedy story--Towards the top of the hill, Thonn passed a wall marking the end of the olive trees. Here the land was untouched - a tangle of bushes, summer grasses and a number of plants with long spiky leaves; leaves which the Wise Elders used for medicinal purposes at village gatherings. Actually, they were leaves which the Wise Elders used pretty well all the time, and the so-called Elders were no longer Wise but Wide-Eyed and Vacant. Thonn had sidled into a downwind position once, and if the smoke was half as strong when inhaled, it was little wonder the Elders sat there gazing into space with rapt expressions on their faces.

Nicholas learns the secret of Basilisk, but will a machine be enough to face the Marshal and the might of the Drakken alone.The gods have played the Great Game for eons, and worlds have hung in the balance. Some worlds have survived, some have been destroyed, and some of the playing fields have existed in a draw. The last game nearly brought about the destruction of man and god alike, requiring drastic measures to reset the board. Now, the current iteration of the Great Game draws to a close, the winner nearly decided. All the gods have played their parts, save one. The God of Chaos has been unbound, the rules granting him one last move... But this particular god hates doing what is expected.

This is a book for all ages, for Sunday school teachers, and anyone who wants to read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in a clear form. The first part is told by young Christian himself, as he leaves the City of Destruction to reach the Celestial City, and encounters lions, giants, and a creature called the Destroyer. Christiana follows along later, and tells her own story in the second part.This book for all ages is a great choice for young readers, as well as for families, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who wants to read John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in a clear form.All the old favourites are here: Christian, Christiana, the Wicket Gate, Interpreter, Hill Difficulty with the lions, the four sisters at the House Beautiful, Vanity Fair, Giant Despair, Faithful and Talkative – and, of course, Greatheart. The list is almost endless.The first part of the story is told by Christian himself, as he leaves the City of Destruction to reach the Celestial City, and becomes trapped in the Slough of Despond near the Wicket Gate. On his journey he will encounter lions, giants, and a creature called the Destroyer.Christiana follows along later, and tells her own story in the second part. Not only does Christiana have to cope with her four young brothers, she worries about whether her clothes are good enough for meeting the King. Will she find the dangers in Vanity Fair that Christian found? Will she be caught by Giant Despair and imprisoned in Doubting Castle? What about the dragon with seven heads?It’s a dangerous journey, but Christian and Christiana both know that the King’s Son is with them, helping them through the most difficult parts until they reach the Land of Beulah, and see the Celestial City on the other side of the Dark River. This is a story you will remember for ever, and it’s about a journey you can make for yourself.Chris Wright is the author of over thirty books, starting with young fiction for an English Christian publisher in 1966. He has written both fiction and non-fiction, mostly with a Christian theme, for a variety of publishers. Chris is married with three grownup children, and lives in the West Country of England where he is a home group leader with his local church.

Special Christmas Preview Edition of the novel 'Dream Myself Alive' by Brian Lovestar, featuring a brand new exclusive Christmas chapter, an extended author preface and a preview of the original novel 'Dream Myself Alive' itself. When you go to sleep, where do you really go?* Special Christmas Preview Edition of the novel 'Dream Myself Alive' by Brian Lovestar, featuring a brand new exclusive Christmas chapter, an extended author preface and a preview of the novel 'Dream Myself Alive'. When you go to sleep, where do you really go?Zachary Knight is an anarchist, an atheist and a man in mourning. He loses the love of his life Kelly in a tragic road traffic accident, but finds it doesn’t necessarily mean he has to say goodbye forever. With the help of scientist Dr. Stefan Irving, he soon masters an art in which he can be reunited with her in an alternate reality he never knew existed. But was Kelly’s death really an accident? And with a possible killer on the loose - and secrets and revelations being unearthed - it seems there are dangerous consequences involved with entering this new and exciting world, from which there may be no return.

Hundreds of years have passed since the human race moved underground. SusCom and the S.S. Congress have been lying to the people. The world above is no longer desolate. Samuel Aldare is the only one who knows their secret. He knows it, because for the past two years, he has been living on the surface.Hundreds of years have passed since the human race moved underground. SusCom and the S.S. Congress have been lying to the people. The world above is no longer desolate. Samuel Aldare is the only one who knows their secret. He knows it, because for the past two years, he has been living on the surface.***This is a short story, not a full length novel.***

Novella, originally written as a blog serial. When Alex, an idle college student, tries to rescue his drunken professor from drowning, he finds himself in another world, which resembles old adventure tales and silent movie serials. Now Alex must rescue his professor from more than muddy water.The Case of the Misplaced Hero was originally written as a twice-a-week serial for the Daring Novelist blog. Here is the whole story collected into one novella-length volume -- 42 episodes, plus the teaser episode that leads into the next story.When Alex was a child his eccentric aunt gave him a ring and told him that one day he should go jump in a lake. He never knew what to make of that, and never tried doing it, until one day at college, he tries to rescue his drunken professor from falling in a river. They both plunge in... and come up in a very different river, in a land that reminds Alex very much of the stories his aunt used to tell: a world like old adventure books and silent movie serials. It's a dream come true, except that his drunken old professor gets himself lost and arrested. Alex must find and rescue him, and return him home, before the old fool gets shot as a spy.

Kate's journal begins with a very simple entry. "I like pizza and ice cream and going on dates and watching funny movies. I like to swim and text on my phone and go skiing in the winter. Oh, and there's one more thing you should know about me. I just killed my baby." Join Kate as she struggles with the aftermath of having an abortion, and the nightmare she never dreamed would follow.Casey Dover is a daughter of San Francisco mayor Frank Dover. She lives a life as a wild teenager where clubbing, drinking and sex is part of her life. She knew she was different but she didn't take it too serious about it, not until she found out the secret of her past, when her father finally told her. She didn't know anything about it, her parents kept it silence until the night she was abducted, the truth stab her heart when finally she get to know what lies hidden within her family.

Tom Collivander, nephew of the legendary wand maker Garrick Collivander, joins Hogwash in his 5th year as a transfer student from Durmprang. He's exceptionally talented but mostly unheard of. Albus Dumby takes advantage of the oppourtunity and uses Tom as a spy in his master plan to rid the world of Lord Moldywart.Tom Collivander, nephew of the legendary wand maker Garrick Collivander, joins Hogwash in his 5th year as a transfer student from Durmprang. He's exceptionally talented but mostly unheard of. Albus Dumby takes advantage of the oppourtunity and uses Tom as a spy in his master plan to rid the world of Lord Moldywart. Along the way, Tom has to deal with the idiot boy that is Harry Trotter and becomes best friends with the most unlikely creature imaginable.This book is a clear parody of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I just created it for fun. I'm not trying to make any money or devauled the original works in any way.

Paul Murphy has had his house blown up, his wife killed, his job gone, and he hits the road walking with the clothes on his back. He is picked up by a man and woman who is heading for a safe compound in Colorado, but is that a safe place? Please review this free storyThank youThe authorYou’re walking down the street, all alone, in the dead of night. Darkness swallows everything around you except for the one streetlight that illuminates a small patch of the sidewalk. You begin to get the feeling that something is following you, so you start moving faster. You don’t run but you quicken your pace, just to be safe. That’s when you hear a low growl that makes all of the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up. You turn around, regretting the decision immediately, to see a bear standing before you about to swallow you whole. Ha. I’m just kidding, that would be ridiculous…it’s really a werewolf. My life hasn’t changed: I hunt down horrifying monsters, that haunt you in stories and your dreams, and kill them, then I look for the next monsters terrorizing people and kill them too. It is a dazzling lifestyle. But now there are ancient creatures no one even knew existed rising from the depths of who knows where. Whatever the monsters are gathering for is going to happen soon and it is not going to be pleasant.I might be able to stop the horror that is coming to us, but I might not. I guess the only way for you to find out is to read this. Beware, however, for my stories are not for the feint of heart.This book is a collection of short stories that were originally posted on my blog. You can visit there, cjpikebooks.wordpress.com, for more hunting.

Based on the Shunned short story series.Shy seeks work as a huntress to provide for the winter for herself and her adopted mother Faith and finds herself entangled with a deadly dragon. Shy wears a metal veil that hides a grim secret given to her at birth and along with her weeping sword named Tear, she seeks her destiny.Is this a book for you?IT IS NOT FOR YOU if you look for fast pacing action, profound mystery, a Harlequin love trip or the recounting of world war 2 battles. It is just not what I did.IT IS FOR YOU if you want to travel in history with a book that pays great attention to details (smells, dresses, food, the way of thinking of the time). The story is about a French family divided by war in the town of Lille. The place is important because the town reacted differently than the rest of France. People from Lille believed that they would become part of Germany and were therefore much more resisting fascism than the rest of France. The two heroes, one French, one American travel in Portugal, Spain, Britain and Ireland, as each country had its special political flavors and problems during WW2. The heroes have in common a very unhappy childhood. Many unhappy kids never become happy adults. How does it go in this story?