When the Dark Tree comes, people start dying.Only Mirek, a tired old guardsman in Suridruun, seems to be able to see the Tree and know what it portends. His sole comfort is that the Tree always disappears after a few days, taking with it the murderous rage it instills in the hearts of men.But this time, the Dark Tree is not leaving without him.Finally Bluey surfaced and exhaled. Then Gwendolyn grasped for the surface, coughing violently, clinging to Bluey's neck. Hannah broke down and sobbed, dropping to the ground as she took in the unbelievable sight. I took Mum in my arms and we both cried tears of shocked relief. Bluey had Gwendolyn and they were both safe. He struggled against the current, as he swam in a zigzag, aiming them close to the shore at our feet. I wasn't prepared for what happened next. I will never forget it as long as I live. Bluey shoved Gwendolyn up onto the bank. She was coughing hard. When she got her breath, she screamed at Bluey, tears running down her face. "WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE? NO ONE LOVES ME. I WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF DROWNED!"Bluey dragged himself up onto the bank, picked Gwendolyn up in his arms and held her shivering, frightened frame tight. He spoke softly to her, "I love you, Gwendolyn and I would give my life for you. That's how valuable you are to me and to us."One orphan child's journey through the horrors of abuse and torture at the hands of hatred. The trials and tribulations of a wounded heart and the ever present need to find the safety of a pure father's love. Aunt Tabbie's Wings is a heart warming story depicting the incredible healing and life changing power of Father’s agape love. Come on the journey and be inspired, lay down your life and set a child free. A simply delightful tale of love, adventure, struggle and redemption.

Five dark fantasy and horror stories, all written in 2011 and 2012. Under Glass: horror (mirrors); Warmth in Winter: fantasy (ghosts, spies, soldiers); Sans Merci: fantasy (coffee, betrayal); Over the River: fantasy/paranormal (Halloween); Boon: Horror (zombies, apocalypse, Thumbelina). Cover image: "Window," by Lucrecia Beatrice (www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=24701)Five Stories for the Dark Months contains five dark fantasy and horror stories by Katherine Traylor, all written in 2011 and 2012. 1. Under Glass: A girl discovers the danger of being rude to a mirror.2. Warmth in Winter: A young border guard and a foreign spy must avoid pursuit while traveling through a forest full of hungry ghosts.3. Sans Merci: During a stolen coffee break, a young father meets a beautiful stranger who is much more than she seems.4. Over the River: A young woman wanders to the riverbank on Halloween and is invited to a strange party. 5. Boon: A very dark Thumbelina retelling, inspired by zombies and Norse mythology.

Free introduction to the Verity Series. Verity was orphaned as a teenager. She understand what happened. One minute life was blissfully happy then the next...poof. As an adult she thought she had let her parents go and moved on. Apparently, someone wasn't going to let her. Follow Verity in her struggle and her discovery that she is more than what she thought she was.Free introduction to the Verity Series. Verity was orphaned as a teenager. She understand what happened. One minute life was blissfully happy then the next...poof. As an adult she thought she had let her parents go and moved on. Apparently, someone wasn't going to let her. Follow Verity in her struggle to find information on her parents and her discovery that she is more than what she thought she was.

"Bronwyn looked down at his food as his mother destroyed his manhood by attempting to defend his inexperience."Innocence Shattered. A young man on the verge of seeing a dream come true is crushed by the most unexpected person.Blade of Truth is a short story that ties into the Castle Keepers series.Bronwyn looked down at his food as his mother destroyed his manhood by attempting to defend his inexperience.Innocence Shattered. A young man on the verge of seeing a dream come true is crushed by the most unexpected person.Blade of Truth is a short story that ties into the Castle Keepers series. Many of the characters who appear in it also appear in “Shadows in the Stone” and “Scattered Stones”.Follow Diane Lynn McGyver into the Land of Ath-o’Lea and live the fantasy.

In The Jewel and The White Rose, we follow Violet in her servitude under the Duchess of the Lake. Now we’ll hear the Duchess’s son, Garnet’s, story in this digital novella—a companion story to the New York Times bestselling Lone City trilogy. Garnet, the son of the Duchess of the Lake, has always been a spoiled playboy. But now, for the first time, Garnet is beginning to realize the horrors that his family, and the ruling community, have perpetrated. And he just may be ready to do something about it.

" Behind Howard's stories] lurks a dark poetry and the timeless truth of dreams." -RobertBloch" ""Howard's writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks." -Stephen King Theclassic pulp magazines of the early twentieth century are long gone, but their action-packed tales live on through the work of legendary storyteller Robert E. Howard. From his fecund imagination sprang an army oflarger-than-life heroes-including the iconic Conan the Cimmerian, King Kull of Atlantis, Solomon Kane, and Bran Mak Morn-as well as adventures that would define a genre for generations. Now comes thesecond volume of this author's breathtaking short fiction, which runs the gamut from sword and sorcery, historical epic, and seafaring pirate adventure to two-fisted crime and intrigue, ghoulish horror, andrip-roaring western. Kull reigns supreme in "By This Axe I Rule " and "The Mirrors of Tuzan Thune"; Conan conquers in one of his most popular exploits, "The Tower of the Elephant"; Solomon Kane battles demons deep in Africa in "Wings in the Night"; and itinerant boxer Steve Costigan puts up his dukes of steel inside and outside thering in "The Bulldog Breed." In between, warrior kings, daring knights, sinister masterminds, grizzled frontiersmen-even Howard's stunning heroine, Red Sonya-tear up thepages in stories built to thrill by their masterly creator. And in such epic poems as "Echoes from an Anvil," "Black Harps in the Hills," and "The GrimLand," the author blends his classic characters and visceral imagery with a lyricism as haunting as traditional folk balladry. Lavishly illustrated by Jim and Ruth Keegan, here is a Robert E. Howard collection asindispensable as it is unforgettable. "Howard had a gritty, vibrant style-broadsword writing that cut its way to the heart, with heroes who are truly larger thanlife." -David Gemmell "For stark, living fear . . . What other writer is even in the running with Robert E. Howard?" -H. P.Lovecraft "From the Trade Paperback edition."

N. D. Wilson, author of Leepike Ridge and 100 Cupboards, returns with an action-packed adventure that will captivate fans of both Percy Jackson and Indiana Jones with lost civilizations, ancient secrets, and buried treasure. For two years, Cyrus and Antigone Smith have run a sagging roadside motel with their older brother, Daniel. Nothing ever seems to happen. Then a strange old man with bone tattoos arrives, demanding a specific room. Less than 24 hours later, the old man is dead. The motel has burned, and Daniel is missing. And Cyrus and Antigone are kneeling in a crowded hall, swearing an oath to an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world's secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals who have terrorized the world for millennia. From the Hardcover edition.

Sparks are going to fly in this new superhero romance from the author of Karma Girl and Hot Mama. Bella would feel better about being born into a family of superheroes if her own superpower was something she could control-or at least use. But static electricity? That's less a power than a jinx. Then she stumbles on two things no supergirl should be without: an ubervillain and a dashing-if shady-stranger named Debonair. Bella's about to learn just how well love and danger mix.

A werewolf with a taste for the forbidden, Erik encounters the ultimate temptation while traveling. The daughter of a powerful rival, Bera is as dangerous as she is alluring. How long can their feral attraction be hidden?Short story of 1300 words or about 5 pages. Also contains a sample chapter of Broods of Fenrir ~3300 words.Kristen's life gets more complicated as she deals with losing the only man she's really ever loved....her father, only to find out that almost everything she has ever known was a lie. Her only ally as she's running to save her life from someone trying to kill her is her father's neighbor, an ex-police officer and writer, who knows just how to get under Kristen's skin. Circumstances push the two together and they learn that they are more compatible than they first thought. This book is a novella, or about 27,000 words, and is filled with love, passion, intrigue and mystery.Sample Preview: Although it was a beautiful autumn day, it felt more like spring as Kristen Casey walked down the sidewalk. The only real difference was that the trees had shed their normal shades of green for more bold and brilliant ambers, oranges and reds. Kristen passed an elderly couple who gave her a sympathetic smile, which she politely returned. It was odd that a place so beautifully landscaped couldn’t be more appreciated by its visitors. The lawn had all been freshly mowed and the scent of fresh-cut grass was in the air. Kristen found herself transported briefly back in time to when she was in elementary school. She would walk from her father’s house everyday to school. For a short-cut, she would cut through an apartment complex where at least twice a week, they were cutting their grass. The smell, to her, meant that spring had arrived. Towards the end of the school year, she would always be so restless because all she wanted to do was be outside, where she could enjoy all that nature offered her. She’d give anything to be that naïve, playfully restless girl once more. But, she wasn’t a little girl anymore. She was twenty-eight, and had learned the hard way that life wasn’t just full of sunshine and rainbows. And nothing demonstrated that better than where she was right now. Even though she was surrounded by sunshine, a bright blue sky, freshly mowed lawn and well manicured topiaries, she was also surrounded by pain and sorrow. Kristen looked around. She had a habit of reading the names and messages on the carved pieces of stone. She could only imagine how many lives were affected by all of the names before her. “I’m here, Dad,” she said as she placed the flowers she had been carrying next to her recently deceased father’s headstone. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletter at PorterlanceBook.com to find out about all the great releases we offer by Rory Chambers and our other best-selling authors, like M.D. James, Matt Zachary, James McCullough, and John Green. Books by Rory Chambers:Dangerous Reunion (Book 1: Class of ’92 Series)Surviving Las Vegas (Book 2: Class of ’92 Series)Secret Obsessions (Book 3: Class of ’92 Series)Class of ’92 Series (All 3 Books)Steel Glances (Book 1: Rocky Mountain Novella Series)Identity Crisis (Book 2: Rocky Mountain Novella Series)Legally Comatose (Book 3: Rocky Mountain Novella Series)Mountain Novella Series (All 3 Books)

Lily is rescued by a mysterious unicorn who shows up during a devastating attack by the untamed Whyre Beasts. All good things come with a price, and she soon discovers that the reason for his intervention was to bring her to the center of the land where she would use abilities she didn't know she had to reseal the curse and calm the beasts. The trick is to stay alive while doing so.The curse of the Whyre has altered beasts for centuries, turning them into mutated and vicious killers. When they attack the kingdom, Lily is rescued by a mysterious unicorn who, instead of taking her to safety, brings her to the place where it all began.Because she is the only one who can seal the curse.Armed with only her mind and a skill she knows little about, Lily struggles to unveil the truth of the curse while fighting to remain alive.

Firefighter Tyler wakes to find he's no longer part of the living, nor has he "passed through the light" to Heaven, he's somewhere in between. What he encounters as he tries to find a way to contact Maggie, turns out to be the last thing he expected. Join Tyler as he meets up with other spirits, Markus and Holly, as they journey to what can only be described as "Unearthly Realms."It wasn't the last minute call to a kitchen fire that almost ruined Tyler's one year anniversary dinner with his wife Maggie. It was the fact that he took his eyes off the road for a split second as he was rushing home. Firefighter Tyler wakes to find he's no longer part of the living, nor has he "passed through the light" to Heaven, he's somewhere in between. What he encounters as he tries to find a way to contact Maggie, turns out to be the last thing he expected; demons, bigfoot, aliens, underwater base, and underground city. Join Tyler as he meets up with other spirits, Markus and Holly, as they journey to what could only be described as "Unearthly Realms."

In 2217, an unknown race of aliens attack Tellus, an alternate/parallel version of Earth. After a brief invasion attempt, the aliens, nicknamed Scalies, are pushed back. A Rift in space is left by the aliens leading to another system.In 2217, an unknown race of aliens attack Tellus, an alternate/parallel version of Earth. After a brief invasion attempt, the aliens, nicknamed Scalies, are pushed back. A Rift in space is left by the aliens leading to another system. Twentyish years later, a united humanity has built their first large warship, the Prime Meridian. After being augmented by two newly built gunships, they leave to investigate the other side of the Rift. A mysterious chain of events occurs causing the Prime to limp home, missing one of her gunships. An inquisition is launched by the Grand Marshal of the Space Service to determine the role that Lt. Aros Drogen played in the chaos.

BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS... Darcy Patel is afraid to believe all the hype. But it's really happening - her teen novel is getting published. Instead of heading to college, she's living in New York City, where she's welcomed into the dazzling world of YA publishing. That means book tours, parties with her favorite authors, and finding a place to live that won't leave her penniless. It means sleepless nights rewriting her first draft and struggling to find the perfect ending... all while dealing with the intoxicating, terrifying experience of falling in love - with another writer. Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, the thrilling story of Lizzie, who wills her way into the afterworld to survive a deadly terrorist attack. With survival comes the responsibility to guide the restless spirits that walk our world, including one ghost with whom she shares a surprising personal connection. But Lizzie's not alone in her new calling - she has counsel from a fellow spirit guide, a very desirable one, who is torn between wanting Lizzie and warning her that... BELIEVING IS DANGEROUS. In a brilliant high-wire act of weaving two epic narratives - and two unforgettable heroines - into one novel, Scott Westerfeld's latest work is a triumph of storytelling.

In the latest Novel of the Elder Races, two souls who have long buried their passions are about to be consumed… Ever since their scorching affair ended years ago, Julian, the Nightkind King, and Melisande, daughter of the Light Fae Queen, have tried to put the past behind them—and distance between them. But when a war breaks out between Julian and Justine, a powerful Vampyre of the Nightkind council, they find themselves thrown together under treacherous circumstances… Kidnapped as leverage against Julian, Melly is convinced that her former lover won’t be rushing to her rescue. But when Julian gives himself up to save her, they both end up Justine’s captives. Armed only with their wits and their anger, Melly and Julian must work together to escape. But will they be able to ignore their complicated history, or will the fiery passion that once burned them blaze again?

Here is the complete collection of fiction by H. P. Lovecraft. The Stories included are: The Nameless City The Festival The Colour Out of Space The Call of Cthulhu The Dunwich Horror The Whisperer in Darkness The Dreams in the Witch House The Haunter of the Dark The Shadow Over Innsmouth Discarded Draft of "The Shadow Over Innsmouth" The Shadow Out of Time At the Mountains of Madness The Case of Charles Dexter Ward Azathoth Beyond the Wall of Sleep Celephaïs Cool Air Dagon Ex Oblivione Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family From Beyond He Herbert West-Reanimator Hypnos In the Vault Memory Nyarlathotep Pickman’s Model The Book The Cats of Ulthar The Descendant The Doom That Came to Sarnath The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath The Evil Clergyman The Horror at Red Hook The Hound The Lurking Fear The Moon-Bog The Music of Erich Zann The Other Gods The Outsider The Picture in the House The Quest of Iranon The Rats in the Walls The Shunned House The Silver Key The Statement of Randolph Carter The Strange High House in the Mist The Street The Temple The Terrible Old Man The Thing on the Doorstep The Tomb The Transition of Juan Romero The Tree The Unnamable The White Ship What the Moon Brings Polaris The Very Old Folk Ibid Old Bugs Sweet Ermengarde, or, The Heart of a Country Girl A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson The History of the Necronomicon