Florian is a Lipizzaner stallion. His life starts as a pampered foal, and he eventually becomes an emperor’s horse. With the death of the Emperor, Francis Joseph, life changes for Florian. The new Emperor does not use carriage horses, only cars or trains, so all the horses of the Imperial Stables are put up for auction. Florian becomes a cab horse, and as the use of the car spreads ever onwards, he is of less and less use.

A classic mystery from Dick Francis, the champion of English storytellers.Ex-steeplechaser Randall Drew is reluctantly off to pre-Olympic games Moscow, as a favour to royalty. One of the blue bloods is destined to compete in the games and there are concerns - both of safety and of scandal - that only Drew, with his racing connections, can clear up. On arriving - speaking no Russian and wishing he were back home - Drew is supposed to identify and contact one Alyosha to clear up the scandal. Instead, he finds himself tailed by the KGB and embroiled in foiling a terrorist plot - or die trying.Home seems an awful long way away - and if he's not careful, he'll be going back in a box . . .Praise for Dick Francis:'As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing'Daily Mirror'Dick...

A new translation of the influential teachings of the great Stoic philosopherDESPITE BEING BORN into slavery, Greco-Roman philosopher Epictetus became one of the most influential thinkers of his time. Discourses and Selected Writings is a transcribed collection of informal lectures given by the philosopher around AD 108. A gateway into the life and mind of a great intellectual, it is also an important example of the usage of Koine or ?common? Greek, an ancestor to Standard Modern Greek.About the AuthorEpictetus (c. 55-135 AD) was a teacher and Greco-Roman philosopher. Originally a slave from Hierapolis in Anatolia (modern Turkey), he was owned for a time by a prominent freedman at the court of the emperor Nero. After gaining his freedom he moved to Nicopolis on the Adriatic coast of Greece and opened a school of philosophy there. His informal lectures (the Discourses) were transcribed and published by his student Arrian, who also composed a digest of Epictetus' teaching known as the Manual (or Enchiridion).

Winning has always come naturally for stud ice hockey defenseman Gus "the Bus" Persson. On the ice or off, he's never had any trouble scoring, racking up goals—and girls. As the best player in his rookie class and the number-one draft pick of the Malibu Suns, he's taking his game to the next level and is justifiably full of swagger. So why does one of the Suns' ice girls treat him like he's invisible? Bo St. James doesn't have time for rookie hotshots who think their gloves don't stink. She knows them, she works with them, she trains them. It doesn't matter that Gus Persson is the hottest newbie she's ever seen. She knows his type. She's got big plans of her own, and she's not going to let some cocky rich kid athlete keep her from her goals. But there's a chemistry between them they cannot deny. A lust that burns so hot, it threatens to melt the very ice on which they make their livings. The game has changed for both of them. Together, can these two...

A Collection of Tales by A Variety of AuthorsFamaron Venge the ruler of Parscan agrees to take care of his friend's kids Ohgood and Ratie begrudgingly. They decide to go to the realm known as the Caristic, to see if Ohgood is the one who can unlock it. The Caristic is a massive wonder and magic filled world inside the world, that was sealed and never to be unlocked unless the right person were to try. And every person on their 18th birthday goes and sees if they are indeed the one. Before long they learn of a coup attempt as Famaron has all he can do to keep himself and Ohgood and Ratie alive. They find deception at every turn with many of his own soldiers being a part of the coup. Famaron uses the bulk of his magical abilities to keep the murderers at bay, as spells take the place of guns. They finally get themselves a dragon to survey the wreckage of what was once Parscan, and everywhere they look death and total choas ensue. It is a time of friends in breathing and no more.

Sweet/ wholesome MM love story. Easy reading introduction to the Ridgemont University gay romance series. No adult content. A mystery rocks Ridgemont University, and it's up to Simon Northbrook, ambitious yet shy reporter for the Ridgemont Weekly News, and his handsome and confident editor Ian Peters to figure it all out. But Simon's feelings for Ian might complicate things...Don't allow your fear of the unknown to hold you back from true love...Sweet/ wholesome MM love story. Easy reading introduction to the Ridgemont University gay romance series. No adult content. Focus on slow burn true love story and character building.Simon Northbrook has the smarts, looks, and he is an excellent journalist for Ridgemont University’s Weekly paper. But Simon’s perfectionist nature hides a deep need to be loved and appreciated. Specifically by Ian Peters, his unbearably gorgeous editor. When Simon’s friend Zuko disappears, Simon’s investigation soon reveals that he is on the brink of a scandal that will rock the entire university. Will Simon let down his guard to work with Ian and solve the mystery, or will his fear of love stand in his way?Flirty, fun, and above all sweetly romantic, the exciting new Ridgemont University series follows the exploits of m/m college students. Full of character-driven drama and suspense, and a healthy dose of romance and comedy, the boys of Ridgemont University are sure to steal your heart.Hot Off the Press is a slow burn m/m contemporary college romance novel set in the fictional Ridgemont University. It has lots of flirtation and character development, medium angst, a little bit of heat, and a happily-ever-after ending.

“The Lost Tales of Mercia” is a series of ten short stories set in England near the end of the Viking Age. These swashbuckling tales educate and entertain simultaneously. In this tale, Lord Athelward, an ealdorman who also wants to write history, finds his peace of mind disturbed when a strange woman named Golde and her young son Eadric show up on his doorstep with a ridiculous proposal.Interplanetary transport ship Firebird is on a routine mission, delivering much needed supplies to a mining colony when a freak collusion of accidents plunges the crew in a desperate race against time against the most unlikely of foes to meet in space. Zombies.

Sandip, a communist revolutionary was released from jail after the movement had completely died down and he found the entire world changed and the dream to create a new world ended in utter frustrationThe word Rache, written in blood on the wall at the scene of a murder, marked Sherlock Holmes’ introduction to the world. Published in 1887, A Study in Scarlet presented Holmes as a new type of hero, one who uses razor sharp powers of deduction and minute attention to detail to solve cases too hard for Scotland Yard. Sherlock Holmes’ brilliant insights and quick wit soon made him a legend. Due to his immense popularity, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle went back to his most famous character again and again, writing an additional 3 Sherlock Holmes novels and 56 short stories over the next four decades.This edition is not the original text. Rather, it is a remastered version that strives to make the classic story more accessible. While the vast majority of the text is original, hundreds of modifications have been made to make the story an easier, smoother reading experience for modern readers. We hope these changes will allow a new generation to enjoy the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes.

Holly has spent her whole life trying to change her sexuality. At age 22, she finds herself asking Santa to help her. Through letters to Santa, Holly shares her experiences in coming out, finding love, and most importantly, learning to love herself.After discovering an artifact in Egypt, Johnathan travels to the Gate of the gods in Peru and begins a journey that has waited 25,000 years. It is here, at a remote site in the Peruvian mountains, where Jonathan Willington ceases to exist and Azul the most powerful wizard ever is reborn. What was once a simple life is no more as the former archeologist realizes his true identity and embraces destiny. At the top of Azul’s monster list is an ancient shape shifting god. Now, in our modern day world, Azul discovers that prominent business professionals and politicians still serve the shapeshifter and are leaving a blood trail of misery and death. Humans are no longer the dominant species as they are hunted for food and sport. Even so, mankind is not alone in the fight against darkness and there is hope as the great wizard rises once again in their time of need.

An exciting retelling of the biblical narrative of Ruth weaves the Bible story with the ancient legend and tradition of the sages, coupled with a dash of creative fiction to bring the story to life for the modern reader. This is an excerpt from the series The Shepherd KingRuth and Orpah were twin sisters, royal daughters of Moab. They married two brothers, the sons of Elimelekh and Naomi, leaders from Judea. Their life was idyllic, until the brothers suddenly died leaving the three women, Naomi, Ruth and Orpah, alone and without support in the world. While Orpah took steps that would lead to a life of degradation, Ruth and Naomi took their own steps towards reparation and redemption. This is the retelling of their journey, as told in the Book of Ruth, and interwoven with legends and traditions of the ancient sages. This novella is an abridged version of part one of the Foundation Stone, the story of the famous battle between Ruth's and Orpah's descendents: Dawid and Goliyath.

The year is 2002 and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps. In such an atmosphere, thirty-seven year old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action, his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Iraq War hero, dutiful son, dedicated brother, faithful partner ... or was he?Tom Hubbard is dead. Iraq war hero, dutiful son and brother, faithful husband. Or was he? The year is 2002, and the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are in their infancy. The military favors policies that keep the truth under wraps: The dead return to the US in secret, while gay soldiers abide by the confines of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. In such a milieu, thirty-seven-year-old Lieutenant Tom Hubbard is killed in action and his remains are returned to the small New England town he turned his back on years earlier. Along with a flood of curious townspeople, Tom Hubbard’s extended family, boyhood friends and distant lovers gather for a memorial reception hosted by Tom’s emotionally unbalanced mother and prickly sister. Set at the Hubbard’s 200-year-old farmhouse in Newbury, Massachusetts, the drama unfolds in a single afternoon directly following Tom Hubbard’s military burial. In one day, this small town family falls apart and comes back together again in unexpected ways. Long-hidden relationships surface, family secrets are uncovered and the real Tom Hubbard is revealed. New relationships are built—relationships that could not have existed before Tom Hubbard had died and his tumultuous memorial reception had shaken his family to its core.

Growing up means learning lots of things - how to tell jokes,how to tie shoe-laces,the importance of telling the truth - but what is that,exactly ? Why can't I be a pirate instead ? And look at what my cat's licking now !Also check out books two and three, now available!Leroux has spent his life having everything handed to him – everything except the hand of the alluring Beauty, which he covets above all else. When Beauty is “kidnapped” by a Beast, Leroux sets out to reclaim what he feels is rightfully his from the frightful monster, but when the unexpected occurs, Leroux discovers that not all monsters take the form of a Beast. A fast-paced, reflective Fairy-Tale retelling, "The Beauty of the Beast" is a dark visit to the land of possibilities, and the first of the Beastly Tales.Read the other Beastly Tales to discover more about the story you thought you knew: A Beast of Beauty ~ Tale #2Beauty Beheld ~ Tale #3

"An intriguing monster."Troy Slushy's exposure to his life-decimating job, depressed wife, and crumbling home encourage his desire for a life in perpetual darkness. It becomes his objective to destroy the bright, menacing beast that removes him from the ecstasy of his dreams, only to expose him to all of these worthless possessions. Troy Slushy declares that his mission is to destroy the sun.Every morning the sun rises, waking Awful, Ohio, overlooking all of its residents, guiding them towards another productive and profitable working day. The economy is strong and the money is abundant, all of which are offered to whomever produces and profits the most product. The masses rejoice daily over the informed opportunity, with the exception of Troy Slushy. Troy Slushy wakes every morning to the intrusion of the sun abruptly charging into his home, removing him from his enchanting dreams. The sun exposes his collection of worthless possessions, his depressed wife seeking salvation, his withering home struggling for support, and the life-decimating job that is undesirably forced upon him daily. This is Troy Slushy's existence in Awful, Ohio, and because of this exposure to this monotonous misery, Troy's enemy is the sun. Heavily sedated by a dream-enriched epiphany, Troy removes his concerns for the demands and priorities of Awful, Ohio, replacing them with the objective of permanently removing the sun from his existence. He gathers his wife and begins a quest to save them both from their sun-exposed lives of suffering in Awful, Ohio, concocting plans and blueprints of various sun-destroying methods. Unfortunately for Troy, this proves to be easier said than done. But luckily, Troy discovers that perseverance is much more eminent in accomplishing a goal than feasibility, as he is able to assemble a massive scheme to achieve perpetual darkness, but not without affecting Awful, Ohio and all of its production, profits, and population.

Children Under the Stars follows, Elliot Marisol, a probation officer in Missoula, Montana. Elliot is assigned one of the biggest cases to come across Missoula in a long time. The client is an alleged cult leader, Ricky Freemon. A mysterious man known for "signs and wonders." The community wants Ricky to leave, but something about him draws Elliot in closer.Children Under the Stars follows, Elliot Marisol, a probation officer in Missoula, Montana. His days have grown lonely and uninspired. But, a single question continues to haunt him every day. What is home? With no answer satisfying him, Elliot tries to forget and focuses on his newly assigned case, one of the biggest to come across Missoula in a long time. The client is an alleged cult leader, Ricky Freemon. A mysterious man known for “signs and wonders” and doing only what his “Father” tells him to do. The community wants Ricky to leave, but something about him draws Elliot closer. What Elliot doesn’t realize is that Ricky has the answer to his burning question.