A fishing boat captain finds what is important in life when his boat sinks. He had promised his wife he would stop fishing when the fishing ran out, but the El Nino brought the tuna close to shore and he rigs out for one last trip.The waters of the cold Pacific hold him in a death grip as the coast guard searches for him.**Please review this book**Jim Bailey hates the spotlight. He hates it. Yet somehow, he always winds up in it. Dodger is his story, the story of a man in love with being in love, in love with being drunk, and in love with the idea of dodging responsibility and real life until the world ends completely. Along for the ride are the object of his affection, Kara, and Paige, the reporter who just won't let sleeping dogs lie and will stop at nothing to get Jim to spill his guts about everything. And so begins the tale of the Dodger...

This religious novel follows the lives of twins Connie and Donnie Slocum, their divorced mother and father, and Connie's romantic interests, Ralph and Larry, as Connie becomes a devout Christian. As Connie walks “in straight paths” after her conversion, even through difficult times, her life and the lives of her friends and family are significantly impacted.Fiery-tempered Connie Slocum is unrelentingly teased by her mischievous twin brother, Donnie, during their growing-up years. Their mother is often frustrated in her attempt to control the constant bickerings and blames her troubles on their father, who left her, when the twins were babies, for his red-haired secretary. Donnie and Connie had a very limited relationship with their father, who later left his secretary for another woman.Embittered by the reverses and heartaches of life, Mrs. Slocum reared her children entirely apart from any church affiliation. But the faithful witnessing of a lay member of a small church. Mrs. Flowers, in their community caused Connie to become interested in spiritual things.Connie's new church interest caused conflicts in her home with her mother and twin brother. It also created difficulty in her relationship with Ralph, Donnie's best friend with whom Connie had become romantically involved. She was unable to interest them in going to church with her, and was discouraged by them from going to her small church. Her differences with Ralph over her church contributed to the breakup of their relationship although they remained friends. In spite of this, Connie continued her spiritual pursuit at the small church and accepted Christ. This led to her ultimately deciding to go to a Bible College with her church friend, Judy, in spite of concerns about the impact of leaving her mother at home. She was also concerned about the cost of her college education, but her prayers resulted in her needs being met in unexpected ways She also met and established a romantic relationship with Larry there even though she stilll maintained some feelings for Ralph.While away from home, Connie remained concerned about her mother and Donnie. She was especially concerned about Donnie's partying and alcoholic tendencies while at college. She continued to pray for their salvation. .She was very encouraged when she received a letter from her mother saying she missed Connie, and promised her that she would go to church with Mrs, Flowers. Shortly thereafter, she received a call from her mother telling Connie she had accepted Christ. Connie was so thankful to hear that her prayers had been answered. Unfortunately, she also found out that Donnie had been in an automobile accident with friend Ralph, and that Donnie was unconscious, in critical condition. Ralph was also hospitalized. Both were intoxicated and driver Ralph had received a DWI citation. Connie was extremely concerned about Donnie since she knew he was not prepared to meet his maker.Connie's prayers were answered when Donnie finally recovered. Connie was able to return to Bible College and was interested in re-connecting with Larry but found out he was dating someone else. Connie was baffled that Larry apparently had no interest in her any longer – she would like to be his “steady girl”. A missionary convention was held at the Bible College, soliciting missionaries for New Guinea. This convention changed Connie's life, as she responded to a call to the mission field in spite of concerns about being away from her family. She remembered her promise to God when she was saved that she would follow Him “in straight paths” - “I'll go anywhere you want to send me”.Shortly afterwards, she discovered that Larry had also responded to the mission call in New Guinea as a result of the missionary convention. This re-kindled the relationship between Connie and Larry. She could now see Larry's love for her in his eyes.Through Connie's experience, she discovered that the straight path of righteousness leads through trials, tests, heartache, persecution, separation, and loneliness. But, on the other hand, in this realistic story written especially for young people, you will discover with Connie that the way to full surrender to God is the only path to true joy, peace, satisfaction and a useful, happy life.

Strange spirits share their stories of regret with a new soul ready to enter or perhaps reenter the world. What they share reflect defining moments in each of their lives that prevented them from carrying out their life purpose. In order to find peace they must properly prepare this soul to complete their unfinished work on earth.This is the first book written by this novice writer in 2005. This is experimental work that seek to explain where the bizarre decisions that we make can lead us. These strange characters share their stories of regret with a new soul ready to enter or reenter the world. What they share reflect defining moments in each of their lives that prevented them from carrying out their purpose. In order to find peace they must properly prepare this soul to complete their unfinished work on earth. This mission must be completed so that the elevation of man can begin. But their conflicting philosophies on the world and human existence confuse the young spirit. Since they all make such convincing arguments she is left with the crucial decision of which one to follow. “We all have a story to tell. Personal experience is all that one truly knows. It is with that knowledge that we form our beliefs and values which guides us throughout our lives. Life is a preparation for that one defining moment called death. It is at this moment that we will be confronted with all that we were meant to do. Our life will testify for or against us. Then we will know whether we succeeded in our journey.”

"To Whom It May Concern…You will be escorted off these premises between midnight and dawn on the…"Naturally they weren’t giving him long to decide or prepare; they never got push-back. But, then, he wasn’t like everyone else. Even so, he still had to consider the three teens he was grandfather, and now, father to.He'd gotten his fill of war long ago, apparently the sheriff hadn't. So be it.The old man had lived there, on that plot of farm land, all his life. His parents before that, and on back to the days not but a few generations beyond the original Bay Colony. Well, there'd been the years when “duty-to-save-some-foreign-nation called” and he and the family's men before him had gone off to get shot at and shot up for good old Uncle Sam.To say this official “common wealth” land confiscation was a kick in the teeth, after all that, was an understatement. Its date was hand printed larger, even more neatly, than the rest of it. Oh, and it was highlighted orange. No missing it. And less than three weeks away…But seeing those words in black and white merely added a splash of fuel to a fire that had been kindled in his soul who-knows-how-many “election cycles” ago.He worried most about the two older kids. If the spark of hard-won Liberty was to survive, it wouldn’t be in their travel rucksacks. Nope. It’d have to be the youngest, little Eliza. But performing well in peacetime training, the old man knew, was far different than feeling the pressure of “the day.” She knew some of her stuff, but was it enough to keep her safe?He’d known deep down this day would come. Had hoped, though, he’d been six-feet-under and very cold by then.

Who needs a real therapist when you can purchase the Dr. Frank, Therapy App, created by a world famous psychologist? At least that was Timothy’s thinking. But can artificial intelligence be as emotionally intelligent as human intelligence? Hmmm...you may be surprised! A 10-minute comedy and Boston Theater Marathon finalistThis is a short story in poem format. It's about a girl who is a demon human hybrid who has to save the world.

Some women gotta do what they've got to do!****************************************************Glide through the stories of two different women. Both with mentalities as durable as linen. They went by the names of Dana and Noreen, from opposite sides like dirt and chlorine. One with limited choices, the other one had plenty; unlimited rejoices but the other didn’t have any.But it’s not always the cards you have, it’s about the way you play them. The obstacles they faced without a doubt did not delay them both from working hard to get what they wanted. Throughout the challenges they never got daunted.However, their choices would come back to visit. Their end results would not be exquisite. Their bad decisions led to impediments which sank them to the bottom like sediment.

Learn how Silicon Valley started raising capital. In this book you will see our character Rick transform into the Saintly figure by God and attempt to take his rightful position at the head of God's drug smuggling ring.Half Moon Bay Part IIFREE Adult Coloring Book and bonus fiction within.What will we see now in this crime fiction thriller story.Rick loses his father, and God that uses the Catholic Church to smuggle drugs offers him a job. Will he take it..?He must choose to live the life he used to know or become a Saint in Gods drug smuggling ring.Accept his new life as a Saint and using the Catholic Church as a cover to smuggle drugs into Half Moon Bay, CA.Rick tries to find out what truly has happened to his father as he runs into a Detective that offers him real information on the organization that his os working for.The goal is set to invest into America's future and smuggle a tanker full of drugs into Half Moon Bay during the Super Bowl. All the while trying to elude the FBI, and finding out what really happened to his father.An excerpt from this crime fiction thriller...The moonlight hits St. James softly in the face lighting his way as he walks toward dock number 2311. Over at the dock, the boats are parted with the moonlight as it shines off the darkened water and moves in a dance along with the boats. He looks at the paper from God, and holds his wrist to the scanner at the gate. The dock creaks as he walks toward the Old Endeavor yacht. Sister Maria opens the hatch and looks at him. The moonlight sparkles in her eyes, and they each see each other and smile."I've been waiting on you," Sister Maria says.St. James follows Sister Maria into the living quarters of the yacht. St. Peter smiles and hands him a bible. St. James opens it and reveals a half-pound of marijuana. "Welcome to the family," St. Peter says, with an enlarged smile. The three of them pack bibles filled with drugs into boxes.This is part II of III.Download Now..!

Make sure to wrap up in a blanket by the fire as you begin to fall in love with a picky little kitten who likes her gifts to look perfect, a hyper little puppy that simple cannot settle down for bed, a happy hopping bunny that learns the joys of sharing, and an itty bitty mouse that learns to appreciate all that his parents provide for him.Inside four original Christmas poems all staring soft and cuddly baby animals await you. Make sure to wrap up in a blanket by the fire as you begin to fall in love with a picky little kitten who likes her gifts to look perfect, a hyper little puppy that simple cannot settle down for bed, a happy hopping bunny that learns the joys of sharing, and an itty bitty mouse that learns to appreciate all that his parents provide for him. These short, simple to read poems will fill anyone with the Christmas spirit with their good messages, lovable characters, and feel good endings. There once was a little white cat.She loved Christmas, there’s No question bout’ that.She liked very much her tall Christmas treeWith presents as far as the eye could see.She loved all her gifts sitting neat in a row.She loved all her gifts topped with a colorful bow.Reds, Greens and purples, Silvers and GoldWrapped up the boxes with paper so bold.The white cat named Minnie looked on in aweAt all of the boxes and bags that she saw.But was Minnie happy? No not one bit,Because only one present is all she will get.

The prizewinning historian and bestselling author of D-Day and Stalingrad reconstructs the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, in this riveting new account On December 16, 1944, Hitler launched his ‘last gamble’ in the snow-covered forests and gorges of the Ardennes in Belgium, believing he could split the Allies by driving all the way to Antwerp and forcing the Canadians and the British out of the war. Although his generals were doubtful of success, younger officers and NCOs were desperate to believe that their homes and families could be saved from the vengeful Red Army approaching from the east. Many were exultant at the prospect of striking back. The allies, taken by surprise, found themselves fighting two panzer armies. Belgian civilians abandoned their homes, justifiably afraid of German revenge. Panic spread even to Paris. While some American soldiers, overwhelmed by the German onslaught, fled or surrendered, others held on heroically, creating breakwaters which slowed the German advance. The harsh winter conditions and the savagery of the battle became comparable to the Eastern Front. In fact the Ardennes became the Western Front’s counterpart to Stalingrad. There was terrible ferocity on both sides, driven by desperation and revenge, in which the normal rules of combat were breached. The Ardennes—involving more than a million men—would prove to be the battle which finally broke the back of the Wehrmacht. In this deeply researched work, with striking insights into the major players on both sides, Antony Beevor gives us the definitive account of the Ardennes offensive which was to become the greatest battle of World War II.

In the follow-up to his National Translation Award-winning collection The Undiscovered Chekhov, translator and scholar Peter Constantine brings us more little-known work from the legendary author's early days as a magazine writer, pseudonymously turning out pieces for Russia's small middle class.  These stories are fresh, yet mature, snapshots of the style with which Chekhov would come to be associated, both uproariously tragic and darkly comic, and lit from within by a deep fellow feeling for all of humanity. As his readers have come expect, Constantine has translated this work with a masterly command of both languages' subtleties, capturing the shadings and intricacies of Chekhov's writing that flash and recede like sunlight on an orchard, offering Chekhov's tough and amused perspectives on daily phenomena like love, aging, class, and work. With moments that seem to presage the most contemporary writing, Chekhov's Little Apples reveals one of the world's greatest writers as we have rarely seen him, an author both deeply of his times and far ahead of them.

10 stories narrated in verse for those with a love for poetry.So many stories to be told and so many words to do it in. Not every story need be in prose, with sentences and paragraphs and an intro-body-conclusion structure. Some stories are better this way- narrated in verse and sang as poetry.

In this not-so-serious retelling of the Phantom of the Opera, Christine Daaé, a rather bratty girl who lives to become a diva, is horrified to discover that her mentor, whom she believed to be an angel, is really a monstrously-disfigured man. But as she works to accomplish her goals of fame and fortune, she realizes that it is really her genteel fiancé, Raoul de Chagny, who is the true monster.Christine Daae's sole goal in life is to fulfill her late father's dream by becoming a famous singer, and attaining wealth, power, and glory for herself. But she isn't a very good singer, and her career as a ballerina at the Opera Garnier isn't going anywhere. That is, until she meets the Angel of Music, who agrees to teach her to sing.Erik, the self-styled Phantom of the Opera, cursed his lonely and pointless life until he found Christine, who desperately needed a musical instructor. Despite her bratty and demanding nature, he is overjoyed that his years of study in the musical arts will finally be useful to someone.Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny is a foppish nobleman trying to cram as many seductions as possible into the three months before his wedding. After seeing one of Christine’s performances, he decides that she will be the perfect final seduction of his bachelor career.As Christine works to achieve her dreams, her struggle between love and greed, beauty and ugliness, kindness and hauteur, sets Paris ablaze.

A free collection of contemporary and sf/fantasy short stories from author James Comins. In "The Soft Operative," a corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee. In "Four Seasons of a Man," a Vietnam war vet's life is seen in four vignettes. In "Matt and Maggie," a punk couple live through a suicide attempt. Twenty stories and poems and poem-story-things.A free collection of contemporary and sf/fantasy short stories from author James Comins. In "The Soft Operative," a corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee. In "Four Seasons of a Man," a Vietnam war vet's life is seen in four vignettes. In "Matt and Maggie," a punk couple live through a suicide attempt. Twenty stories and poems and poem-story-things.1. The Soft OperativeA corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee.2. The Silent PastureBeauty and the beast sit in the garden of Eden.3. Maxwell's DemonFlash fiction for a New Scientist writing contest.4. Red Sox YankeesA city erupts in a riot.5. The Old Open DoorA poem based on "St. James Infirmary."6. The Woman on the Other SideA story about Alzheimer's.7. Four Seasons of a Man: Spring8. Four Seasons of a Man: Summer9. Four Seasons of a Man: Autumn10. Four Seasons of a Man: WinterVignettes of a Vietnam War veteran's life.11. A Guide to the Apocalypse, by Henrietta Stevensen, Age 46A satiric look at Internet conspiracy theorists and zombie-obsessed loons.12. Who's Afraid of the Big Beowulf?A prose poem mashup of Little Red Riding Hood and Beowulf.13. MoonwalkThree kids lost in the guts of the Space Elevator.14. The Sky Fell. . . and what happened after.15. PlacesGesture drawings in words. Not quite a poem, not quite stories. Prosody.16. The Coffin WormsA poem of the horrible things that happen after you die.17. The Death of Piers Plowman, or, The Barley-ChildA metaphor from The Angelus of Millet.18.The SingsongerNo idea. I think it's funny, anyway.19. The Rise of Arch-Lord EvilThe origin story of the big evil badguy from every video game and fantasy story.20. Matt and MaggieTwo punk kids deal with a suicide attempt.

Poems and rhythmic prose, each of these reflections tell a story about love, life, joy, happiness, fact. fiction, depression, and inspiration. Some are serious, some are just for fun, some rhyme, some don't, but they are from my creative heart.It all began when Rey found a black crystal ball inside the old relic. Taken out of the blue by the mysterious power of the crystal, he finds himself in the world called Terra, a world where the civilization shaped by magical orb called Sphere.Two decades have passed after the fall of the Dark Lord and Spheria at the time of peace since then. But now the unknown menace spreads in the Kingdom of Ishtar, on the west a mysterious army called Phantoms swept one village to another, took their peoples and leaved the place into desolation. His unexpected meeting with Scarlett, a royal guardian, has brought him into a mission to investigate this mysterious incident. Along with Aska of the Volk Tribe, a tribe who can transform into wild beast and Eorin, a girl skilled in crafting magic they went into a dangerous journey; hunts by assassins and dragon rider, fought against Gargantua, an abominable giants from nameless realm and battles against the Phantoms.On the journey they found that the old enemy began to rise and the old horror will spread upon the world.

A collection of free verse poetry, mostly whimsical, usually uplifting, occasionally angry, and hopefully insightful. There are a total of eighteen poems with topics ranging from the wonder of a blank page, the joy of living in a city, the problems of being raised in the 1970's, the long and short of married life, and forgetting your phone number.Behold ye readers, here lies a story filled with mystery and magic, concerning a soul searching for just a little acceptance in the world. Though it may be short, it is poignant nonetheless.An old witch, a young girl, a spell and a strange tower. All of these elements come together in the latest short story from the brother-sister duo EriQ & Jeanett LeRouge. Growing up as bitter rivals, one day these two decided that instead of using their talents to combat one-another, that they would instead combine their fabulous powers to create things of wonder and beauty.