The Warrior

      Paul Jackson
     The Warrior

The underground sanctuary has fallen, ravaged by famine and war.Our hero’s life is now an uncertain one. He could either stay and fight to the death or venture into the unknown. The Journey to the second city would be fraught with danger. Will his destination prove to be worse than his homeland or will his luck change?Join the desperate warrior as he takes on his perilous trek to find out.The underground sanctuary has fallen, ravaged by famine and war.Our hero’s life is now an uncertain one. He could either stay and fight to the death or venture into the unknown. The Journey to the second city would be fraught with danger. He would have to cross the wastelands, a baron plain filled with killer beasts with cunning traps.He has no way of knowing what fate had in store for him but he would rather take a chance than stay behind and end up feeding off the dead.Will his destination prove to be worse than his homeland or will his luck change?Join the desperate warrior as he takes on his perilous trek to find out.A short story that you will want to read again as soon as you have finished it.

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    The Practical Spy

      Doug Walker
     The Practical Spy

A black eye patch and jagged scar do not make for the perfect undercover spy or a perfect husband. So in the middle of the game, Orson Platt decides that he needs to change the parameters. He hatches a plan to find the perfect mate, someone who could not only tolerate his behavior, but also provide the incentive to create the perfect spy, a practical spy for all seasons.Much feared and never married, disfigured by unsightly scars, Orson Platt sometimes thought he had the soul of a butterfly masked by a rough exterior and ruthless behavior. Midlife found him thinking about his legacy and thinking about how he might change his destiny. He decides he will create a perfect spy. Not in his own image, but in a more perfect image. He finds a woman who will accept him for who he is and who will help him create his legacy. He then becomes the unofficial right-hand man of the female President of the U.S. and runs overseas “errands” for her that can’t be accomplished through official channels. Along the way he encounters resistance and disappointments, but he is determined to follow through on his quest.

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    To Defame, To Devour: The Prequel to a Time-Travel Adventure

      Lewis J Jones
     To Defame, To Devour: The Prequel to a Time-Travel Adventure

Through the dark, poisoned streets of London, a man carries with him a secret that will change the world forever.Its the truth behind the Evergreen family, the first people to have murdered in 100 years.With Travesty Abbey in his sights, where the halls echo with sins of the past, can Ardwick survive the night to tell the family's perilous tale?Discover the beginning of an epic time-travel adventure series in To Defame, To Devour!Their sins will shine forever more in the halls of Travesty Abbey...Through the dark, poisoned streets of London, a man carries with him a secret that will change the world. Ardwick is making his way to Travesty Abbey, to where the abandoned halls echo with sins of the past.Resting upon his shoulders is the secret of the most notorious family of murderers. It is a truth that no one will ever be able to believe, but one that must be told:The Evergreen family are the first people to have murdered in one hundred years.And they are innocent.But the Evergreen family have disappeared. Where have they gone … or more accurately … to when have they gone?To Defame, To Devour is the prequel to An Empire Of Dreams, the first book in a spellbinding time-travel adventure series.Exclusive offer: At the back of To Defame, To Devour you will find the opening chapters of An Empire Of Dreams. Start reading today and discover a spellbinding time-travel adventure!

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    Stranded in Paradise

      Robin Ray
     Stranded in Paradise

In 1960, the seven survivors of a cruise ship disaster discover an uncharted island near the Bermuda triangle which its only two residents-in-exile, Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, call home. One of the survivors, the ship’s German-born captain who is facing a jail sentence back in Florida, must choose between his loyalty to America or gaining riches in helping the ex-dictator develop the 4th Reich.April, 1960. It's been 15 years since the second world war ended and the Third Reich fell. Ex-Nazis were being rounded up one by one around the world, some as far away as Peru, Chile and Argentina. The planet, as a whole, still had a long way to go in terms of prosperity for all, but it was off to a good start because the General of the US Armed Forces during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower, was also the 34th President of the fast-growing US. As fate would have it, Hitler did, in fact, survive the 1945 bombing of Berlin. Holed up in an uncharted island in the West Indies, he would wait there patiently with his wife, Eva Braun, while his minions around the world secretly planned for a new Reich. Seven passengers of a cruise ship that was destroyed by an earlier than expected Atlantic hurricane, accidentally discover the small island where Hitler and Eva live, and loyalties get tested. One of the survivors, the captain, had, at one time, been a Hitler Youth. Now that he was facing a court martial back in Florida, he had no compelling reason to return to the US. Hitler claims he can supply him with riches beyond his wildest dreams if he would side with him. The other survivors have a different agenda - to get off the island in one piece. Will Hitler and the captain get in their way?

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    Poison

      Chris Wooding
     Poison

A brilliant, twisted, spirited anti-fairy tale from the amazing Chris Wooding Poison has always been a willful, contrary girl, prone to being argumentative and stubborn. So when her sister is snatched by the mean-spirited faeries, she seeks out the Phaerie Lord to get her back. But finding him isn't easy, and the quest leads Poison into a murderous world of intrigue, danger, and deadly storytelling. With only her wits and her friends to aid her, Poison must survive the attentions of the Phaerie Lord, rescue her sister, and thwart a plot that's beyond anything she (or the reader) can imagine. . . .

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    Pirates Versus Ninjas

      Andy Marlow
     Pirates Versus Ninjas

“Jack the Boy’s life was now in the hands of the mad man who had just held him so tightly, the strange ghost of the seas with beard as blue as the waters he sailed upon."When Jack betrays his captain and steals his booty, he provokes the final phase of a war which has spanned eons: the war of Pirates versus Ninjas. Who will win? Or do they both face doom at the end of a reptilian foot?“Jack the Boy’s life was now in the hands of the mad man who had just held him so tightly, the strange ghost of the seas with beard as blue as the waters he sailed on. To have deceived him now would cost him the air in his lungs; even if he did lead Captain Bluebeard into a successfully orchestrated ninja trap, his last act before meeting his end at Eastern hands would be to take the Boy down with him, to deprive him of life just as he was suffering the same. It would not do to disappoint his Captain.”When Jack the Boy betrays Captain Bluebeard and steals his booty, he provokes the final phase of a war which has spanned eons: the war of Pirates versus Ninjas. Which side will win? Or, as the enigmatic Liu predicted, do they both face doom at the end of a reptilian foot?

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    Time Holes: 13

      Chris Tinniswood
     Time Holes: 13

One Hole in time.Two Points of view.A whole world of trouble.Dare you enter Number Thirteen?" The notion that he had travelled in time was both alarming and thrilling, but there had been no time machine, no pimped-out DeLorean DMC-12 in which to ride. He’d only walked through that abandoned house."Going back in time 13 minutes was a neat trick for Austin Baker. It allowed him to get to school at the same time he left his house. But when Jordan Baxter followed him into Number 13, he disappeared completely.Where (and when) Jordan went is a mystery that Austin is compelled to solve. It will take him on the strangest and most dangerous journey of his life...

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    The Footprint

      Nathanael Green
     The Footprint

Samuel follows the footprints of a dangerous creature that does not belong in Michigan. When his friends abandon him, Samuel must pursue his discovery on his own.From the 2013 upcoming "Insights" anthology of short stories come a Christmas tale. One of a family fractured, of love, reconciliation and forgiveness.NOTE: I have changed the cover image to this one after the review below. I had no idea it was from a movie (which I haven't seen) so I have changed it. Cheers

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    Recall to Arms

      Frank Perry
     Recall to Arms

A young Pentagon Intelligence Analyst discovers a terror plot against the United States. Working with agencies to stop it, she becomes attracted to a young Army officer. Together, they try to stop the attack.A young Army officer becomes severely depressed and quits the military after experiencing a horrible event as a counter terrorist operator and can’t rationalize ever leading soldiers in action again. He seeks obscurity as a civilian, taking menial jobs with no plans for his future. Then, a nuclear terror threat in the United States forces him back into service, supporting law enforcement as an advisor about an old adversary. He meets an attractive young intelligence analyst assisting the FBI. The emergency that brings them together also creates a barrier to any personal relationship. When the danger escalates further, they may never have any chance to be together.

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    Half Brains, Sacred Water book 1

      Charles Kaluza
     Half Brains, Sacred Water book 1

“Half Brains” the first book of the Sacred Water trilogy, is set in a pre-industrial world. The people face extinction because their only source of iodine, the Sacred Water, is being stolen by an unknown enemy. My story opens with Daniel, the young Healer from the Forest, knocking timidly on a door in the Northern Palace. He had been summoned to evaluate the king’s daughter who“Half Brains” is the first book in the Sacred Water trilogy. In this book the world of Daniel and Heather is introduced as well as the importance of the Sacred Water, which contains iodine which prevents the development of deformed babies. These iodine deficient babies are referred to medically as cretins, but in the world of Daniel and Heather they were called half brains. Their status was as sub-humans and slaves. One of these half brains is Betty, who is blessed with a way of knowing things and becomes instrumental in protecting the Sacred Water.Others had learned of the power of the Sacred Water and tried to capture the source, which was located in the Forest—which is as much a living thing as it is a place in the mountains. It is the efforts of Daniel and Heather with those of the Forest who defeat those who would have captured the spring of their Sacred Water. Not only those of the Forest but also those of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were dependent upon this single source of iodine.This series developed from my own interest in diseases of the thyroid, which was a major portion of my medical practice. The early descriptions of the Africans brought to this country as slaves contain drawings of their coarse facial features and descriptions of their slow mental status. It turns out that the majority of those captured into slavery were from the iodine deficient areas of Africa. Many of our prejudices, like those explored in this trilogy, were based on medical issues which could have been easily solved had the knowledge been available. This book is written for young readers of all ages who are interested in science and medicine.

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    Naero's Run

      Mason Elliott
     Naero's Run

2595: Ten years after The Fourth Spacer War with the rival GigaCorps. Naero Amashin Maeris works in her Clan's merchant fleet, dreaming of her own ship and developing psyonic powers without going nuts. After tragedy strikes her Clan in the Unknown Regions, enemy agents stalk her, believing she holds the key to secrets priceless and deadly: lost tek data from an ancient, godlike alien race.2595: Ten years after The Fourth Spacer War with the rival GigaCorps. Naero Amashin Maeris works in her Clan's merchant fleet, dreaming of her own ship and developing psyonic powers without going nuts. After tragedy strikes her Clan in the Unknown Regions, agents from the Corps stalk her, believing she holds the key to secrets priceless and deadly: lost tek data from an ancient, godlike alien race. Soon she's caught up in a white hot intrigue of raiders, assassins, and warring interstellar spies and navies. Even worse, the greatest threat might yet lurk deep within herself. And Naero's Run has only just begun to heat up.

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    Clarissa Oakes

      Patrick O'Brian
     Clarissa Oakes

The 15th installment in the Aubrey/Maturin series. This splendid installment in Patrick O'Brian's widely acclaimed series of Aubrey/Maturin novels is in equal parts mystery, adventure, and psychological drama. A British whaler has been captured by an ambitious chief in the Friendly Isles (Tonga) at French instigation, and Captain Aubrey, R.N., is dispatched with the Surprise to restore order. But stowed away in the cabletier is an escaped female convict. To the officers, Clarissa Harvill is an object of awkward courtliness and dangerous jealousies. Aubrey himself is won over and indeed strongly attracted to this woman who will not speak of her past. But only Aubrey's friend, Dr. Stephen Maturin, can fathom Clarissa's secrets: her crime, her personality, and a clue identifying a hightly placed English spy in the pay of Napoleon's intelligence service. In a thrilling finale, Patrick O'Brian delivers all the excitement his many readers expect: Aubrey and the crew of the Surprise impose a brutal pax Britannica on the islanders in a pitched battle against a band of headhunting cannibals.

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    Thief's Deception: A Short Story

      T. B. Wright
     Thief's Deception: A Short Story

Jameson Longe is a forty-something, over-the-hill soldier of fortune (re: mercenary) with early signs or arthritis, a vanishing hairline, and a sharp, cynical attitude. There isn't much he won't do for money. Two parts action and one part dark humour, THIEF'S DECEPTION is the first in a series of short stories surrounding the exploits of this aged veteran.Jameson Longe is a forty-something, over-the-hill soldier of fortune (re: mercenary) with early signs or arthritis, a vanishing hairline, and a sharp, cynical attitude. There isn't much he won't do for money. Two parts action and one part dark humour, THIEF'S DECEPTION is the first in a series of short stories surrounding the exploits of this aged veteran.When Jameson is hired to aid in a train heist, everything seems normal. But, as often happens in his line of work, things are not what they seem. Armed guards, backstabbing bandits and more explosives than ever, this job could prove to be Jameson's last.4,409 words.

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    Please Take Care of Bethany

      PC Brian Wilkinson
     Please Take Care of Bethany

Brian, an amateur military enthusiast now tells the story of his father ‘Brian Bulls-eye Wilkinson’, and his personal quest for the truth. ’Brian Bulls-eye Wilkinson,’ the best rear-gunner in the sky. PC Brian Wilkinson is a pseudonym of British singer/songwriter: Jonathan R, P. TaylorBrian, an amateur military enthusiast now tells the story of his father ‘Brian Bulls-eye Wilkinson’, and his personal quest for the truth. A father who he had never known. Romance, patriotism and espionage, a forgotten hero of the second world war, and a father who saved the world.Brian had been a serving police officer for his entire life until he retired in 2010 at the age of sixty. Brian, an amateur military enthusiast now tells the story of his father ‘Brian Bulls-eye Wilkinson’, and his personal quest for the truth. A father who he had never known. Romance, patriotism and espionage, a forgotten hero of the second world war, and a father who saved the world, ’Brian Bulls-eye Wilkinson,’ the best rear-gunner in the sky.Police Constable Brian Wilkinson was born on Merseyside in 1945. Brian and his wife Doreen both grew up together as post-war children in Liverpool on the North-west of England where they married as childhood sweethearts in 1963. Sadly following Doreen’s prolonged illness and battle against cancer, Brian was widowed in 2004.

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    The Defender: Elderwood

      Robert Collins
     The Defender: Elderwood

Allan flees Elderwood City because he killed the rich man who murdered his sister. He hides in the ruins of an ancient castle. He discovers the castle was the stronghold of one the legendary mages of yore.Allan learns that the magic never went away, only diminished due to overuse. He has the gift of using magic to cast spells. But what should he do with his new-found skill?Allan flees Elderwood City because he killed the rich man who murdered his sister. He hides in the ruins of an ancient castle. He discovers the castle was the stronghold of one the legendary mages of yore.Allan learns that the magic never went away, only diminished due to overuse. He has the gift of using magic to cast spells, reading the tomes of the long-dead mage. But what should he do with his new-found skill?Allan decides that he will fight the injustices that threw him and his sister onto the streets, and ultimately led to her death. He will disguise himself as The Defender, and fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.Allan returns to Elderwood City. He finds that his battle will be against more than common criminals and the idle rich. Corruption goes to the heart of His Lordship’s Manor, and is spread throughout the city.Can Allan handle his new powers, and succeed as a masked hero? Can he inspire hope, or is the darkness too entrenched to be defeated?

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