All Dana Devlin wanted was to get the stain out of her favorite shirt. Was it her fault the only other guy in the Laundromat on Christmas Eve just happens to be the most eligible bachelor in all of Snowflake, South Carolina?This 5,880-word short story is 36 pages long.The young elf Minervar has quite naively jumped at the opportunity of adventure. But what self-respecting, talented young novice wouldn’t? Especially if they had a muscle bound guardian and teacher called Jondris along for the ride. Whilst on her day off, enjoying a quiet ale in a tavern, Minervar has a chance meeting with a kinswoman, the stunningly beautiful, but mysterious God-fearing ranger from the wilds, an elf called Serinae and her business partner Teouso. This human stranger from the east badly in need of a dentist who is a man but has an uncanny knack fighting as a large canine. Well, events quickly start to take an interesting turn. They are joined by a wise-cracking, ale-swilling professional soldier, a vacationing dwarf called Łĩnwéé who has big attitude and a liking for freshly poached eggs and dragon scales. They find themselves rescuing Tnie from a lynch mob. They don’t know it at first but Tnie is a fugitive, on the run from the authorities after intentionally destroying part of his home city (the uninhabited part luckily!) to save it from an invading army, an ancient force that has already caused much destruction back inages past.The companions discover at a high-society dinner party, hosted by the last remaining member of an ancient elven guild of academics, that their world is under threat. Natural cataclysmic events are on the increase (some would call these ‘Twists of Eternity’). Not only that, but they also find out that some of their group are unintentional refugees and not from the world they live in at all. With more questions than answers, they set out to learn what they can from the elder races, for each has knowledge and skills necessary to rescue the planet from certain doom. The only problem is, they are missing a member. They need a representative from the murderous war-loving race of the ognods, a race of giants from the north that all the other races hate and fear, with good reason. If that’s not sufficient to put a damper on the proceedings, it becomes apparent that other unrelated dark forces are trying to hinder them, even stop them altogether. Dark forces that are uncomfortably linked to the history of the elven race and more personally to Serinae’s own mysterious past.Wrongs are righted, lessons are learnt, battles are fought. Strange lands are travelled both within the world and without. Strange creatures discovered and avoided, especially the ones that dig tunnels using their naturally generated atomic energy (good for instantly heating water for tea though!). The company perseveres. They must discover their own secret past to save their precarious future. Finally with the help of a gargantuan technological marvel that runs on ‘chips’, designed and installed by a mysterious and extinct race of beings with a history more ancient than the planet itself, they succeed. The companions, although changed by their epic discoveries and experiences forever, put the world to rights. As for Minervar, well, she may just learn many things about herself along the way.

Rachel worries dating her boss is a bad idea, but soon this is least of her worries. When two dead bodies are found in their apartment building, Luke is the main suspect. Has Rachel misjudged him?A continuation of Lightning Strikes, a free short story from Prism Book Group. Bonded by a harrowing cat rescue, Luke and Rachel are instant friends, but they can’t deny their attraction despite their business relationship. Rachel worries dating her boss is a bad idea, but soon the least of her worries. When two dead bodies are found in their apartment building, Luke is the main suspect. Has Rachel misjudged him?

This is a story about Kedor (Kellin's younger, ekhono brother) after The Rose Throne ends, and before the next book begins.It is the hottest day in the summer of 1965 in Jackson, Mississippi. The March on Washington and the words of Martin Luther King JR ring loud and clear in the town, yet crowds have congregated around the town square with only hatred on their minds.They are determined to remove a 12 year old black boy who sits at the foot of the town monument, a stone sculpture he is determined to paint. A sculpture began by his father who perished at the hands of the KKK weeks earlier.In this short story, on this hot, sweltering afternoon, hatred and prejudice will attempt to deny the love of a son to honour the memory of his father, but this 12 year old has only one purpose. To remain there and finish the work. “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches

AJ was just a teenage girl living in the shadow of her older sister. When death takes her sister's life she is forced into the light. Finding her own way of self and love.Would you brush your toes over the edge of the bridge? Dangling a foot or two. How coincidental it looked, how easily lives were embezzled on the rocky area lower to my stance. Scrabbling from our clench, an angel, is exposed of her wings in momentary flaw, soaring below the light of day. If perhaps the summer outing occurring as an idea of my own, I solemnly would be the collapsed daughter. The first-born sister sniveling only momentarily. Living carelessly with her one true love by her side, fanatical even through eternity. The good succumb early. Operation on Earth complete, encouraged to a more chic location. My adolescent soul chock-full of rueful fire. One moment leading you to maroon hopeful optimisms of tomorrow. Not one person identifies the vivacious commotion concealing my sanity. I AM A PERSON TOO. Comforts viciously torn from the light of today. Excusing one. Jenks, opening the curtains to show me the sunlight. The gloom becoming portions of fuzziness.

Kidnapped by cruel fate... *Secuestrado por sino cruel* After her parents are killed in a truck accident, Delia Yebarra's life is turned upside down. At fifteen, she leaves the rural Mexican village where she grew up and embarks on a new life in America. Coming to her wealthy aunt Isabella's huge estate in Palm Springs, California, should be a dream come true for a simple country girl like Delia -- so why does it feel like a nightmare? A prisoner of destiny... *Un preso del destino* Her aunt refuses to acknowledge Delia's heritage, relegating her to servants' quarters with a licentious language tutor intent on exploiting a beautiful young foreigner. Her cousin Edward is kind, but cousin Sophia is cruel, manipulative, and resentful of Delia's smoky Latina looks. And just when Delia tries to embrace the life of a real American girl, a heartbreaking chain of events sends her spiraling back to a Mexico she hardly recognizes.... Will Delia find a place to call home?

Love can exit your life as quickly as it enters it, shattering your heart in the process. It's been a year since my husband was taken from me in a tragic accident. I thought it would kill me. Now, I think I'm ready to start healing. My mother says my idea of taking a solo cross-country road trip is crazy, but I see it as my road to recovery. Along the way, I'll have to deal with the poor choices I've made since Ricky died. I'll have to overcome the terror that his death has caused me. I'll have to find my balance again. And once I meet Luke and his young son, I'll have to decide if I can take the risk to do more than exist and learn to love again.

Politics have never been October “Toby” Daye’s strong suit. When she traveled to the Kingdom of Silences to prevent them from going to war with her home, the Kingdom of the Mists, she wasn’t expecting to return with a cure for elf-shot and a whole new set of political headaches. Now the events she unwittingly set in motion could change the balance of modern Faerie forever, and she has been ordered to appear before a historic convocation of monarchs, hosted by Queen Windermere in the Mists and overseen by the High King and Queen themselves. Naturally, things have barely gotten underway when the first dead body shows up. As the only changeling in attendance, Toby is already the target of suspicion and hostility. Now she needs to find a killer before they can strike again—and with the doors locked to keep the guilty from escaping, no one is safe. As danger draws ever closer to her allies and the people she loves best, Toby will have to race against time to prevent the total political destabilization of the West Coast and to get the convocation back on track…and if she fails, the cure for elf-shot may be buried forever, along with the victims she was too slow to save. Because there are worse fates than sleeping for a hundred years.

When a Six saved Kale's life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she'd lose the one thing she'd give anything to keep... And as if it's not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems. After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice--surrender to Denazen for the cure...or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn't involve being bagged and tagged--or losing someone she loves--Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there's a traitor among them. Jade. Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there's any hope of proving Jade's guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

Lang Leav presents a completely new collection of poetry with a celestial theme in The Universe of Us. Planets, stars, and constellations feature prominently in this beautiful, original poetry collection from Lang Leav.  Inspired by the wonders of the universe, the best-selling poetess writes about love and loss, hope and hurt, being lost and found.  Lang's poetry encompasses the breadth of emotions we all experience and evokes universal feelings with her skillfully crafted words.

Bertrand William Sinclair was a Canadian novelist known for a series of westerns set in the United States, and also for a series of novels set in his home province of British Columbia.

A Regency-era tale of a duel, a dilemma and undeniable desire...The Duel was meant to be like any other-avenge a lady's honor and win the day. But from the moment Keene Davies raises the cursed pistol, its clear it will ruin his life. His shot goes awry, his father's threatens to cut off Keene's inheritence if he doesn't marry a scandalous little hoyden named Sophie.Lamont like many eighteen year olds living in 2057 Boston has a convertible podcar, a girlfriend, and three good buddies. Unlike his peers he lives in a Genetic Research center, has a genetic mental disorder, and can shoot lightning out of his blade-staff. Lamont’s secure world is turned upside down when Grid-One, a podcar traffic relay station is hit by terrorists known as the Hakim killing one of his mentors along with thousands in a nationwide tragedy. The team vows revenge and is sent on their first mission to recapture the relay station. In the resulting battle his team is decimated by an unknown sun weapon. He and the only other survivor, his shy friend Mark are thrown into further disarray as they learn of two other Superion teams like theirs were also developed by the secretive Foundation. Fearing that they may be targeted for extermination they escape to the lunar resort of Nuevo Vegas. They both find jobs and are mentored by Jerry Hornish and Edwin Edwards, but both of these men have their own secrets and ties to the Foundation. As other Superion team survivors show up a makeshift team is formed they are mere pawns in a plot by a rival Foundation faction trying to wrest control from the true leader Osiris, an immortal alien who is reincarnated upon death. Are the inexperienced team members ready to take on their battle-hardened renegade predecessors? Will young Osiris arrive in time to help them?

Some Christmas Stories that we can all relate to.Christmas. It means something for everyone. Like, seeing your family again, vacation from work, falling in love, having some excuse to bum around, food…Holiday food that’s always big and scrumptious, gifts…Well, you receive a lot when you’re young—you should give a lot when you get older. It’s one big happy season. And at the same time, it’s one of the saddest times in the world. Some people get depressed, some people just want the holiday to pass by. Ironic, but very true. Especially when you’re the Iron lady who in reality is still so fragile about a guy she never really got over with… Or when you’re in a “friends with benefits” situation… Or someone who opted to spend the holidays alone in Maldives. Maybe, you’re a singer in a smoky room. Or maybe, you’re the one who already had everything but realized you weren’t ready for it. Christmas. We all have our stories.

**Do you love hunky vampire warrior types? Then the Flame Series is just right for you! Vaughn, a powerful vampire serving as a Border Patrol officer for his corrupt world, falls for a dangerous witch who alone is the key to saving his long lost sister…** New York Times bestselling author, Caris Roane, presents AMETHYST FLAME, the second book in the Flame Series. In this story, vampire Officer Vaughn of the Crescent Border Patrol gets called to a triple homicide in a deadly place called the Graveyard. When he finds that Emma Delacey has been summoned to the same crime scene, warning bells sound. He’s tried to suppress his desire for the beautiful witch knowing nothing good can come of a relationship in the alter world of Five Bridges. But her auburn hair and glittering green eyes call to him as no woman has since he became an alter vampire. As an evil wizard hounds them both, Vaughn must come to terms with his deepest fears especially when Emma proves to be the key to saving his sister from a madman’s torture. AMETHYST FLAME is a standalone story with no cliffhangers. It’s a passionate, hot, paranormal romance, featuring a vampire and a witch set in the urban world of Five Bridges.

Haze Welch used to serve his country in the Special Forces. Now he's relegated to babysitting spoiled heiress Leighton Machus, the party girl with whom Haze had a one-night stand four years ago. A one-night stand he hasn't been able to get out of his mind since. Despite her behavior, he can't help but think there's more to Leighton than what she portrays. And there's definitely more to the situation than meets the eye. I couldn't get her out of my mind, but to save her life, I just might have to. With Leighton in danger, Haze must decide what's more important: his feelings, or her life. Don't miss book 2 in HERO, the steamy second installment of MS Parker's first military series.

Dougal Owens has served on the front line of The Dragon Wars for sixteen years. The last thing this Alpha werewolf expects is his mate to drop in with a plan to end the war. Together, they will battle to save the Wolves or die trying.