What secrets lurk in a family's past—and how important are they in the here and now?Sudha Murty's new book comprises two novellas that explore two quests by two different men—both for mothers they never knew they had.Venkatesh, a bank manager, stumbles upon his lookalike one fine day. When he probes further, he discovers his father's hidden past, which includes an abandoned wife and child. Ventakesh is determined to make amends to his impoverished stepmother—but how can he repay his father's debt?Mukesh, a young man, is shocked to realize after his father's death that he was actually adopted. He sets out to find his biological mother, but the deeper he delves, the more confused he is about where his loyalties should lie: with the mother who gave birth to him, or with the mother who brought him up. The Mother I Never Knew is a poignant, dramatic book that reaches deep into the human heart to reveal what we really feel about those closest to us.

Sam Dryden, retired special forces, lives a quiet life in a small town on the coast of Southern California. While out on a run in the middle of the night, a young girl runs into him on the seaside boardwalk. Barefoot and terrified, she’s running from a group of heavily armed men with one clear goal—to kill the fleeing child. After Dryden helps her evade her pursuers, he learns that the eleven year old, for as long as she can remember, has been kept in a secret prison by forces within the government. But she doesn’t know much beyond her own name, Rachel. She only remembers the past two months of her life—and that she has a skill that makes her very dangerous to these men and the hidden men in charge. Dryden, who lost his wife and young daughter in an accident five years ago, agrees to help her try to unravel her own past and make sense of it, to protect her from the people who are moving heaven and earth to find them both. Although Dryden is only one man, he’s a man with the extraordinary skills and experience—as a Ranger, a Delta, and five years doing off-the-book black ops with an elite team. But, as he slowly begins to discover, the highly trained paramilitary forces on their heels is the only part of the danger they must face. Will Rachel’s own unremembered past be the most deadly of them all?**

A recognized master fantasist, Tanith Lee has won multiple awards for her craft, including the British Fantasy Award, the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement, and the Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Horror. Raldnor, Storm Lord and chosen hero of the goddess Anackire, has passed into legend after bringing peace to the land of Dorthar. But after twenty years, that tenuous peace is threatening to dissolve. Contentious forces are brewing, working through subterfuge and overt war to see the new Storm Lord displaced. Kesarh, prince of Istris, has grand ambitions. Though he is only a lesser noble of Karmiss, his shrewdness and cunning ensure him a stake in the tumultuous fight for sovereignty. If he succeeds, he may yet win the power he craves—and an empire to rule. But his plans are not infallible—a daughter, conceived from a forbidden union, could prove to be his downfall. Ashni is a child not quite human, altered by the strange...

Megan Warden, Seattle’s devoted Enforcer of the Cascadia pack, knows that she has a mate. Somewhere. She’s just never found him. Then there he is at her cousin’s wedding. Megan isn’t just drawn to the werewolf's masculine, head-spinning scent—she’s consumed by it. He seems so perfect, there has to be a catch… With a successful practice in Las Vegas, Dr. Shane Rosario has lived outside the pack since he was born. Raised to hide his wolf in shame, he always assumed he’d marry a human. Until Megan. Shane thrills to the ease with which she wears her wolf, and he craves every inch of her. But the idea of forever could be impossible. He’s not willing to abandon his human life—even for a mate. Something’s got to give. Because this time, even destiny may not be enough to bind them.

From the author of Gigi comes this tale of 33-year-old Renée Néré, recently divorced and seeking a new life as a vaudeville performer. Maxime, a wealthy playboy, tempts her from the path of independence with the comforts of love and marriage. From the physical and psychological distance of a provincial tour, Renée reflects upon the conflicting needs of security and freedom. "The Vagabond, one of the first and best feminist novels ever written, is that rare thing: a great book which is also inspiring," declared Erica Jong. This vivid portrait of life in the Parisian music halls of the early twentieth century was drawn from the author's personal experiences. Colette's 1910 novel mirrors her own adventures as an itinerant dancer as well as her struggles to maintain a balance between social respectability and artistic freedom. This edition features an authoritative new translation of her story as well as an informative Introduction by Stanley...

Some cases never leave you.
 
For John Rebus, forty years may have passed, but the death of beautiful, promiscuous Maria Turquand still preys on his mind. Murdered in her hotel room on the night a famous rock star and his entourage were staying there, Maria's killer has never been found.
 
Meanwhile, the dark heart of Edinburgh remains up for grabs. A young pretender, Darryl Christie, may have staked his claim, but a vicious attack leaves him weakened and vulnerable, and an inquiry into a major money laundering scheme threatens his position. Has old-time crime boss Big Ger Cafferty really given up the ghost, or is he biding his time until Edinburgh is once more ripe for the picking?
 
In a tale of twisted power, deep-rooted corruption and bitter rivalries, Rather Be the Devil showcases Rankin and Rebus at their unstoppable best.

Twenty hours of grim, gray day, leeching shadows from their corners. The feeling like a buzz in your teeth. The scrape of bone on bone...Paul Gallo saw the report on the news: a mass murderer leading police to his victims' graves, in remote Dread's Hand, Alaska.It's not even a town; more like the bad memory of a town. The same bit of wilderness where his twin brother went missing a year ago. Except Danny isn't one of the victims, not that the cops can discover.All they've found are superstitious locals. A line of crosses to keep what's in the woods from coming out.As soon as he sets foot in Dread's Hand, Paul can see no one's telling all they know. But Danny didn't just wander four thousand miles to that cabin in the woods, dark and grimy and stained with blood. He was called.And whatever called Danny is calling Paul too...Praise for Little Girls"Best horror novel of the year."—Hunter Shea"Much more...

Internationally best-selling crime writer Val McDermid is one of the most dependable professionals in the mystery and thriller business, whose acutely suspenseful, seamlessly plotted novels have riveted millions of readers worldwide. In her latest, "The Skeleton Road," she delivers a gripping standalone novel about a cold case that links back to the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. In the center of historic Edinburgh, builders are preparing to convert a disused Victorian Gothic building into luxury flats. They are understandably surprised to find skeletal remains hidden in a high pinnacle that hasn't been touched by maintenance for years. But who do the bones belong to, and how did they get there? Could the eccentric British pastime of free climbing the outside of buildings play a role? Enter cold case detective Karen Pirie, who gets to work trying to establish the corpse's identity. And when it turns out the bones may be from as far away as former Yugoslavia, Karen will need to dig deeper than she ever imagined into the tragic history of the Balkans: to war crimes and their consequences, and ultimately to the notion of what justice is and who serves it. "The Skeleton Road" is an edge-of-your-seat, unforgettable read from one of our finest crime writers."Val McDermid . . . has the ruthless psychological scalpel that forms part of the equipment of all good novelists, whatever their genre. And, fortunately for us, she knows just how to use it."--The Guardian (UK) on "The Retribution" 

Sarah Robinson is deeply troubled in the wake of her dad's second marriage. She now has to deal with a new stepmom and two stepbrothers, Marco, who is her age, and Nacho, who's younger. Even though they've all moved from Texas to California to start life as a new, blended family, none of the kids seem remotely happy about it.Sarah's dad and stepmom then decide to take the whole family on a special vacation in order to break the ice and have everyone get to know one another. They'll fly to Tahiti, charter a boat, and go sailing for a few days. It'll be an adventure, right? Wrong. Dead wrong.

We all went down to the tar-pit, with mats to spread our weight.' So begins 'Singing My Sister Down', Margo Lanagan's internationally acclaimed, award-winning short story.Singing My Sister Down and Other Stories brings together ten celebrated short stories, along with three new ones, from the extraordinarily talented author of Tender Morsels and Sea Hearts.A bride accepts her devastating punishment. A piece of the moon is buried. A ferryman falls into the Styx. Wee Willie Winkie brings a waking nightmare. A new father dresses a fallen warrior princess. A sniper picks off clowns one by one. Margo Lanagan's stories will stay with you, haunting you with their quiet beauty and fine balance.

Her whole life Jordan wanted to belong. Adopted as a baby by a wolf family, she dreamed of the day that she would be able to run with them. That is all she wanted, but when she finds out it is impossible she is destroyed.What she does is immerse herself in finding out why. Through a website, she finds more than just answers. Questions arise about her birth parents, when Jordan seeks answers from the only place that she can, her adoptive family. When she finds that they have lied to her, Jordan turns to the only two people she can trust. Romy and Larkin are cat shifters. They find Jordan’s website and for some reason find an instant connection. For months, they chat back and forth until the men can’t wait anymore. She is their mate, they are sure of it. The only problem is that someone else has taken an interest in her too. Will they make it in time to claim their mate?From the AuthorWe noticed that it says epilogue at the beginning! Will be fixed immediately. Sorry about the typo! About the AuthorContest Starts March 1st You can enter daily by using the submit button that I will have on the contest page.Also, I am requesting that you each submit one paragraph on why you like to read. And a reveiw that can be posted on any of my books.I have an editor that will read and pick the winning essay.MUST BE A MEMBER IF MY WEBSITE AND WIN A KINDLE FIRE OR A 100 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO ANY SITE YOU PURCHASE BOOKS [email protected]

Francis Edmund Town Fowler was a British-born author and journalist who later played a significant role in the early development of Australia's literary culture.

Imagine all your life you were surrounded by poverty.... When a life changing proposition is imposed on Marcus Williams he reluctantly makes a decision that would forever change his life.Imagine all your life you were surrounded by poverty.... When a life changing proposition is imposed on Marcus Williams he reluctantly makes a decision that would forever change his life. Leading into a life of blood mischief and crime, would his journey through the cold and gritty streets of Chicago end tragically? Or would he beat the odds and prevail? Experience these events at your own risk as you enter The Holy City .

Following is a translation from the writings of my mother, her trip to scotland.But it is more then a travel guide to scotland.It is a sumptuous saga unleashed through meditating mountains, talking rivers and wailing remains of "once splendid mansions". And most importantly it is a moment lived to the fullest and the feelings of heart truely felt by a mother and the sweetest human.Meet Laurence Swift - inept, incompetent, idiot. When the fate of the world hangs in the balance due to the mysterious discovery and subsequent theft of Pandora's Box, he's probably the last man you would want to save the day. Yet somehow, by a miraculous turn of events that includes Dinosaurs, the Tour de France and a dartboard, Laurence Swift turns out to be the only man who can prevent the world from being totally annihilated by a ruthless megalomaniac. Action, adventure, romance, comedy, it's all here in Laurence Swift & The Search For Pandora's Box.

Until now, the most important thing in 14-year-old Cornelia Drake’s life was maintaining her rightful place just outside the most popular clique at Storm River High School. But when she is sentenced to community service for writing a racial slur against a Muslim teacher, Mrs. Hakim, Cornelia’s world comes crashing down. Join her on this journey of self discovery and tolerance.Until now, the most important thing in 14-year-old Cornelia Drake’s life was maintaining her rightful place just outside the most popular clique at Storm River High School. But when she is sentenced to community service for writing a racial slur against a Muslim teacher, Mrs. Hakim, Cornelia’s world comes crashing down. She is forced to join Mrs. Hakim’s writing club, Writers on the Storm, where Cornelia is introduced to a group of extraordinary people from all walks of life, including Admeta Vasquez, a classmate who makes no bones about despising Cornelia. When the two rivals become unlikely friends, they are thrown a curve ball when they discover that Mrs. Hakim has breast cancer and may not make it. Cornelia is forced to choose between her precious clique and her new found friends. She can take the easy road or stand and fight alongside the teacher she once despised.