You'd think that life would finally be dealing Mack Smith a kind hand. Living in London, and with the opening of the new improved city version of Clava Books mere days away, things appear to be settling down. Other than the terrible nightmares about dragons, that is. Or the fact that she's being constantly tailed by a string of mages, shifters and faeries, all of whom are constantly demanding her attention. And that's without even bringing the temptation of Corrigan, Lord Alpha of the Brethren, into the equation. Then, when a local dryad asks her for some help, things really start to fire up. There are some long hot summer days ahead. . .

Six men have lived for centuries in the mist of Minyon Dar. Then one catches a glimpse of life beyond, and nothing-- past, present or future-- will ever be the same.Six men have lived for centuries in the mist of Minyon Dar. Then one catches a glimpse of life beyond, and nothing-- past, present or future-- will ever be the same. A short story from the author of 'The Brightest Light'.

True love . . . and an undying obsession Catlyn Youngblood has a secret life. Despite being a natural-born vampire hunter like her two older brothers, Cat has fallen for Jesse--an ageless boy from a centuries-old vampire clan. Cat's job cataloguing rare, mystical texts at a bookstore allows her to meet with Jesse alone every evening. But when girls who look disturbingly similar to Cat start disappearing from town, Cat and Jesse discover frightening clues to their whereabouts within the book collection. Together, they must stop a crazed man from realizing his dark scheme-- one that would claim Cat's life.

New greatly improved Pro Edition! Book One of The Nexus of Kellaran Series. A mighty world of wonder approaches a global war. Young Mark finds himself at the center of an intense whirlwind of adventure, romance, and action that will transform the world of Kellaran in only seven days! A passionately acclaimed High Fantasy Epic! Uses Metric (SI) measurement units. US Standard Edition also available.Book One of The Nexus of Kellaran Series. A mighty world of magic and wonder approaches a global turning point, and a global war. Young Mark finds himself at the center of an intense whirlwind of adventure, romance, and action that will transform the world of Kellaran in only seven days! A passionately acclaimed High Fantasy Epic! Uses Metric (SI) measurement units.New Professionally Published Edition! Features greatly improved cover art and graphics, better maps, new appendices including a recurring character list with descriptions and first appearance notes, proofreading by six editors to eliminate every typo, and professional editing including chapter breaks.Kellaran is a mighty world many times larger than the Earth, its technology is almost entirely magical, and it is home to many modern and advanced societies. The humans, unicorns, dragons, elves, dwarves, giants, gnomes, selkies, and gargoyles each have their own powerful nations, and the precarious peace is about to be shattered yet again.Many fantasy novels have central events that are supposed to affect the entire world, yet they are only described as affecting a part of one continent. Blessings Of A Curse is a story with true global scope; an epic of world-changing events, all interacting in a frantic global crisis.It's a book that is cheering and emotionally uplifting. It seldom seems emotionally dark, though it sometimes deals with tragic events.The magic in the story is self-consistent, and is as consistent as possible with real physics and physical constants.This novel contains adult themes, and deals with issues of sexuality. It is not recommended for those under 14 years of age.Many of the readers of this fantasy series also loved this author's science fiction series. Even many who had never read or enjoyed science fiction before were so impressed with The Nexus Of Kellaran Series that they then tried The Rational Future Series, and loved it just as much. The Rational Future Series; People Of The Tiger, Hunters In The Sky, and Victory Or Extinction are available now.Wayne Edward Clarke has been a professional musician, an inventor, a bio-sociological engineer, a gardener, and an author of fantasy, science fiction, erotica, and non-fiction books. He recently formed a fully staffed publishing company; Wayne Edward Clarke Publishing, which will soon be publishing other new and talented authors. 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, May 28, 2012 By Paulsub63This review is from: Blessings Of A Curse - Metric Pro. Edition (The Nexus Of Kellaran Series)This book was incredible. A I read it, I was immersed in another world. The main character's evolution from a total neophyte to an accomplished master kept me riveted, and I was hooked. I have also read the second book in the series and I am anxiously awaiting the final book.This book, series and author will expand your horizons. Please give the book a try and you too will come to know what makes his writing so addictive. 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best i've had the pleasure of reading, April 16, 2012 By HjÃrtur Þorgeirsson This review is from: Blessings Of A Curse - USA Pro EditionThis is my first review I've done and it's mainly because I haven't felt compelled to until now. Grave unjustice would be done to this incredible author if someone doesn't comment on how f-ing awesome this book truly is. Let me put it this way, only two books have I read that I enjoyed more than this book! Truly a modern masterpiece.5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, September 11, 2012 By brownchr014This review is from: Blessings Of A Curse - USA Pro Edition read the metric version before realizing the usa version was free as well and had to bear through the metric version. Love the book and would have loved chapters, just to be able to give myself a stopping point between reads.

Before tragedy left her crippled, Artemis “Temi” Sidaris was a world-class tennis player at the height of her career. The sport was her passion, her dream, and all she ever wanted to do. Fighting monsters… was not part of the plan. But when a pair of pointy-eared strangers offers to heal her injury if she’s willing to wield a powerful sword to protect humanity… how can she resist?

Lara is a vampire. Keeping a secret like that – being (sort of) dead – isn’t easy, which is why she came to a Big Box Mega Church in the first place. But now the pastor is preaching on “Monsters In Our Midst” and the congregation is out with pitchforks and torches. Can Lara keep her secret and still be part of the church?This story is a sequel to the book "Night of the Living Dead Christian."Lara, the newest alto in the struggling church choir Sonshine Singers, has a secret. She’s a vampire. Keeping a secret like that – being (sort of) dead – isn’t easy, which is why she came to a Big Box Mega Church in the first place. But now the pastor is preaching on “Monsters In Our Midst” and the congregation is out with pitchforks and torches. Plus, Lara is starting to suspect that the pastor himself is not all he seems, despite the long list of accolades, accomplishments and his slavishly devoted fans. To top it all off, Lara is getting “thirsty” and that long-necked tenor is starting to look like a great big juice box… even worse, the choir's next performance is only three weeks away, and Lara has been “promoted” to soprano. Sounds like a disaster, one way or another, a disaster that Lara is determined to avoid, resist and out-sing. The stakes are high, and the notes are higher, but for the first time in years Lara feels like she has a challenge she can really sink her teeth into.This story is a sequel to the book "Night of the Living Dead Christian."

Something powerful is stirring in the darkness. Something so ancient that even creatures who've been alive for hundreds of years have long since discounted this new threat as nothing more than myth.A chance encounter offers up a possible link to Geoffrey's past, but this time, saving the girl may very well cost Geoffrey his soul.Something powerful is stirring in the darkness. Something so ancient that even creatures who've been alive for hundreds of years have long since discounted this new threat as nothing more than myth.Geoffrey knows even less than most about this rising menace. His memories were all violently ripped away from him, leaving nothing of his past but dreams containing haunting glimpses of a beautiful girl.A chance encounter offers up a possible link to his past, but forces beyond his control are threatening to push him into the middle of a conflict that could sweep away everything, and everyone he’s been fighting so hard to protect.This time, saving the girl may very well cost Geoffrey his soul.Publisher's Note: The Greater Darkness is a dark YA Urban Fantasy book, and is one possible entry point into the books that make up the Reflections Universe. The Reflections Universe is a series featuring vampires, shape shifters, werewolves and more, which has been written so that it can be safely enjoyed by teens and adults alike. The Greater Darkness is followed by A Darkness Mirrored.The Reflections Universe: Some stories are too full epic vampire goodness to fit into just one book!

Continuing on the story from Passion of the Liger: Volume 1. A fantasy adventure novel about a boy who's mother has been turned to stone by a jealous witch.Six-year-old Olympia Octavia Penelope Smith hates her name - all three of them. Of course, finding something else would require an okay by her mom and dad, and that's not something they are likely to support. But nothing can stop her from finding a nickname. So one morning, Olivia sets out to find one. Something short, easy-to-remember, and just right for her. Join Olympia as she visits neighborhood friends in her search for the perfect nickname. This is an "Anytime" story for children because it isn't just for reading at bedtime, but it's great for any time.

Kiya and the God of Chaos is set in Ancient Egypt in an alternative universe where the immortal gods are real. The heroine is a beautiful Theban temple dancer named Kiya. She has the rare ability to sense the presence of gods and becomes involved in an epic struggle with Seth, the God of Chaos, with whom she has an unexpected connection.Kiya and the God of Chaos is set in Ancient Egypt in an alternative universe where the immortal gods are real. The heroine is a beautiful Theban temple dancer named Kiya. She has the rare ability to sense the presence of gods and becomes involved in an epic struggle with Seth, the God of Chaos, with whom she has an unexpected connection.Kiya’s travels take her the length of Egypt. She also crosses the sea to the Minotaur’s maze in Crete and visits the Molloch gold mine in Nubia. Although born a poor peasant girl, she rises to a position of power and privilege. But she learns that money does not bring happiness as she finds love but loses it again. During the course of the book, Kiya matures from a young girl to a brave and compassionate woman, who is instrumental in saving Egypt in the final battle with Seth.Among the memorable characters are Laylos – Kiya’s sharp-tongued aunt; Urshu - the malicious dance master; Ramala – Kiya’s beautiful but fragile mother; Massui – the evil nome lord; Dennu – who turns from a sulky youth to a man of power; Hathor – jealous of Anubis’s love for Kiya and Anubis himself – torn between his human and animal essences.

Hard Times by Charles Dickens. Hard Times - For These Times (commonly known as Hard Times) is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book surveys English society and satirises the social and economic conditions of the era. Hard Times is unusual in several respects. It is by far the shortest of Dickens' novels, barely a quarter of the length of those written immediately before and after it. Also, unlike all but one of his other novels, Hard Times has neither a preface nor illustrations. Moreover, it is his only novel not to have scenes set in London. Instead the story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial Coketown, a generic Northern English mill-town, in some ways similar to Manchester, though smaller. Coketown may be partially based on 19th-century Preston.

After making a diplomatic pact with humankind and the other leaders of the Elder Races, Pia Cuelebre, mate to Dragos Cuelebre, Lord of the Wyr, reluctantly heads to Hollywood to spend a week with the Light Fae Queen, Tatiana, before the busy Masque season hits New York in December. Dragos has never let the lack of an invitation stop him from doing anything he wanted. Unwilling to let his mate make the trip without him, he travels to southern California in secret to be with her. But when an ancient enemy launches a shattering assault against the Light Fae, Dragos and Pia must intercede. The destruction threatens to spread and strike a mortal blow against all of the magically gifted, both human and Elder Race alike. Working with the Light Fae to neutralize the danger, Dragos and Pia find their deepest vulnerabilities challenged and their most closely held secrets threatened with exposure. PIA DOES HOLLYWOOD is the second part of a three-story series about Pia, Dragos, and and their son, Liam. Each story stands alone, but fans might want to read all three: DRAGOS GOES TO WASHINGTON, PIA DOES HOLLYWOOD, and LIAM TAKES MANHATTAN.

Winner of six Nebula and two Hugo awards for her fiction, Connie Willis is acclaimed for her gifted imagination and bold invention. Here are eleven of her finest stories, surprising tales in which the impossible becomes real, the real becomes impossible, and strangeness lurks at every turn. The end of the world comes not with a bang but a series of whimpers over many years in "The Last of the Winnebagos." The terror of pain and dying gives birth to a startling truth about the nature of the stars, a principle known as the "Schwarzschild Radius." In "Spice Pogrom," an outrageous colony in outer space becomes the setting for a screwball comedy of bizarre complications, mistaken identities, far-too-friendly aliens--and even true love.  From the Paperback edition.

Sophos, under the guidance of yet another tutor, practices his swordplay and strategizes escape scenarios should his father's villa come under attack. How would he save his mother? His sisters? Himself? Could he reach the horses in time? Where would he go? But nothing prepares him for the day armed men, silent as thieves, swarm the villa courtyard ready to kill, to capture, to kidnap. Sophos, the heir to the throne of Sounis, disappears without a trace. In Attolia, Eugenides, the new and unlikely king, has never stopped wondering what happened to Sophos. Nor has the Queen of Eddis. They send spies. They pay informants. They appeal to the gods. But as time goes by, it becomes less and less certain that they will ever see their friend alive again. Across the small peninsula battles are fought, bribes are offered, and conspiracies are set in motion. Darkening the horizon, the Mede Empire threatens, always, from across the sea. And Sophos, anonymous and alone, bides his time. Sophos, drawing on his memories of Gen, Pol, the Magus and Eddis, sets out on an adventure that will change all of their lives forever.

Under the rule of a usurper king, the realm of Skala has suffered famine, plague, and invasion. But now the time for the rightful heir has come, a return to the tradition of warrior queens. And the Lightbearer’s prophecy is to be upheld at last: so long as a daughter of the royal line defends and rules, Skala will never be subjugated. Now a mystical fire has burned away the male body known as Prince Tobin, revealing Princess Tamír, a girl on the verge of womanhood–and a queen ready to claim her birthright after a life in disguise under the protection of wizards and witches. But will her people, her army–and the friends she was forced to deceive–accept her? Worse, will the crown’s rival heir, friend to Tobin, turn foe to Tamír, igniting civil war in a fierce battle for Skala? From the Paperback edition.