SUMMARY: In Colin Bateman's first novel, Divorcing Jack, a witty Belfast newspaper columnist named Dan Starkey gets drunk, falls in lust, and finds himself helplessly mired in trouble with his wife and the law. Shortly after Starkey's wife catches him in the arms of another woman, that woman is murdered and Starkey becomes the prime suspect. Turns out the deceased woman was related to an important political figure, and now thugs from several of Northern Ireland's factions are out to get Starkey. The columnist decides he must track down the killer in order to clear his own name. During the investigation, he uncovers a scandal that could potentially alter the outcome of the next national election--and destroy the country's hopes for peace. Mostly though, this thriller chronicles the beleaguered journalist's lame efforts to stay out of trouble. Starkey isn't exactly a man of action; in fact, he's a likable character partly because he knows he's a weak man. Late in the book, Starkey sums up his predicament: "The world was still after me, Patricia was still missing, I was still a killer on the run, and I had a disturbing tendency to burst into tears, but I wasn't going to let little things like that get me down." He copes with stress by 1) drinking too much and 2) making jokes. When a nun in a miniature car saves Starkey from a hail of gunfire, for instance, he spends a few moments wondering what the proper name of her headgear is and decides to call it a Godpiece. Dan Starkey makes an entertaining guide to war-torn Northern Ireland, even while he discovers again and again that the pen is not mightier than the sword. --Jill Marquis Views: 61
The first volume in a dramatic and colourful new fantasy series, ‘Shadows of the Apt’, concerns the fight for survival against a menacingly regimented empire.
Seventeen years ago Stenwold witnessed the Wasp Empire storming the city of Myna in a brutal war of conquest. Since then he has preached vainly against this threat in his home city of Collegium, but now the Empire is on the march, with its spies and its armies everywhere, and the Lowlands lie directly in its path. All the while, Stenwold has been training youthful agents to fight the Wasp advance, and the latest recruits include his niece, Che, and his mysterious ward, Tynisa. When his home is violently attacked, he is forced to send them ahead of him and, hotly pursued, they fly by airship to Helleron, the first city in line for the latest Wasp invasion.
Stenwold and Che are Beetle-kinden, one of many human races that take their powers and inspiration each from a totem insect, but he also has... Views: 61
FROM SAYING "BAH, HUMBUG!"
What was a single cowboy to do during the holidays? After five lonely Christmases, Jonah Fargo had no stockings to hang on the mantel and no cheek to kiss under the mistletoe. All he could do was sulk-and scare off the Christmas carolers.
TO SAYING "I DO!"
But then, a miracle came to Montana in the sexy form of Harmony Davis. The angel-faced beauty spread her holiday spirit and Christmas cupids all over Jonah's ranch. He griped, he grumbled-until something utterly incredible happened. Views: 61
A healer with unnatural gifts, Valerian Bright lives with her aunt and pet raven in a cottage in the woods, shunned by the villagers of nearby Greyfriars. Nathaniel Warrington was the new Baron Ravenall, a man of dark secrets aand strong passions, and when he finds Valerian he believes he finds as well the key to his own redemption. Views: 61
FEARLESS MASTER OF THE JUNGLE marks the return of Charole, last seen plunging from a balcony at the end of Sacrifice For The Quagga God. Now she's determined to regroup before once more making a bid for power. Secretly leaving the Mun-Gatah capital she heads owards a quiet village but, on the way, is captured by a band of sea-faring Orientals, the Cara-Bunte. After demonstrating one of her 'terrifier' grenades and giving a display of fighting prowess, she quickly persuades her captors that she'll make a more valuable ally than prisoner.Meanwhile, the newly married Bunduki and Dawn are enjoying the wild freedom offered by Earth's counterpart. The couple move into their tree-house, capture and train a couple of magnificent zebras and deepen their friendship with the Telonga tribe. But the honeymoon period isn't going to last much longer ...The Cara-Bunte want their own 'terrifiers'. But Charole doesn't know how to make the 'thunder-powder' that fills them. At the end of the first... Views: 61
Celibate priest and Oxford scholar Rainulf Fairfax finds himself drawn to a humbly born young woman after he rescues from her vicious overlord. Originally published by NAL. “With Heaven’s Fire, Patricia Ryan establishes herself as a major voice in the medieval romance genre. For originality, drama and passion, Heaven’s Fire can’t be beat.” Romantic Times “In the tradition established by her fabulous Falcon’s Fire, Patricia Ryan continues to write some of the best medieval romance today. Fans of this genre will find Heaven’s Fire is pure reading nirvana.” Affaire de Coeur “A marvelous medieval romance from an incredibly gifted author! A fascinating glimpse of the past as only Patricia Ryan can tell it!” The Literary Times “Lusty and exhilarating, this is medieval romance at its best. Heaven’s Fire is a splendid tale, and Patricia Ryan is a writer to watch.” Patricia Gaffney “An intense tale of deception, religion, murder, and romance materializes in this graphic, well written historical romance. A dramatic tie-in to Falcon’s Fire, this book integrates old and new characters to create a unique love story you will not soon forget. Don’t miss these compelling books.” Rendezvous “A heartwarming, scholarly tale of love, trust and sweet revenge.” Romance Forever About the Author: Patricia Ryan has written more than two dozen novels, which have garnered rave reviews and been published in over twenty countries. A RITA winner (for Silken Threads) and four-time nominee, she is also the recipient of two Romantic Times Awards and a Mary Higgins Clark Award nomination for the second book of her historical mystery series featuring Boston governess Nell Sweeney, which she wrote under the name P.B. Ryan. Pat’s Evil Twin, Pamela Burford, is also a published romance novelist. ReviewWhen Rainulf Fairfax first meets Constance of Cuxham, she is a raven haired beauty in the first stages of the pox. Rainulf is a teaching priest tormented by self-doubt and trying to leave the priesthood. He is drawn to the attractive, clever young woman. He does what he can to ease her suffering and returns to Oxford thinking she will recover from her illness. He is grief stricken when he finds out she died-- and overwhelmed with relief when Constance arrives in Oxford calling herself Corliss and dressed as a man. He offers to help her-- but for a man seeking the chancellorship of Oxford, it's in his best interests if everyone believes Corliss is male. Corliss is on the run from Sir Roger Foliot-- an evil man who seeks to make her his mistress willingly or not. In the past, she has had the protection of first her elderly husband and then after his death, a kindly priest who wanted more from her than housekeeping. Corliss is tired of selling her body for protection and she seeks the safety of men's clothes and Oxford. But Sir Roger has sent someone after her-- a man named Pigot. Corliss has never seen him but she has seen his work-- mutilated women who are returned to Sir Roger so he may do what he wants with them. Corliss is determined not to let this happen to her. At Rainulf's insistence, she moves in with him and assumes a life as a young man and a very talented book illuminator. Rainulf has been celibate ever since he took his vows eleven years ago. Now an ex-priest, he is determined to maintain his celibacy in order to become Chancellor. But his attraction to Corliss grows as he gets to know her. Corliss is determined to never marry again, never to allow a man to have power over her. But Rainulf is different-- he respects her feelings and doesn't try to control her. He seems to care about her-- but it is foolish of her to have feelings for him when they can never be together. A marvelous medieval romance from an incredibly gifted author! A fascinating glimpse of the past as only Patricia Ryan can tell it! Suspenseful and passionate! Heaven's Fire will leave you breathless! Patricia Ryan creates memorable characters that will warm your heart, and sensual tension that will raise your temperature! Fans of medieval romance will not be disappointed with Patricia Ryan's newest book! Heaven's Fire is a page turner up until the nail biting end! Treat yourself to something special by Patricia Ryan!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times Views: 61
A distant, remote scientific expedition taking place at the North Pole is invaded by a space alien who has reawakened after lying dormant for centuries after a crash landing. A cunning, intelligent alien who can shape-shift, thereby assuming the personality and form of anything and anyone it destroys. Soon, it is among the men of the expedition, killing each in turn and replacing them by assuming their shape, lulling the scientists one by one into inattention (and trust) and eventually, their destruction. The shape-shifting, transformed alien can pass every effort at detection, and the expedition seems doomed until the scientists discover the secret vulnerability of the alien and are able to destroy it.According to science fiction historian Sam Moskowitz (1920-1997), Who Goes There? had a autobiographical impetus: Campbell's mother and aunt were identical twins and enjoyed teasing him in a game of substituting one for the other while in his care when they were infants an... Views: 61
Someone in a peaceful Pennsylvania town has a brutal murder on his conscience......but who and why remain a mystery— until Meg Kessinger moves in. The house she's inherited from an aunt is dilapidated, but she adores it— and sets about restoring it with the help of a hunky, laid-back lawyer; a handsome, witty artist; and the secretive husband of her new girlfriend down the road. But soon Meg's rustic rhapsody is blighted by telltale traces of an unseen intruder's search for...what? Her determination to piece together rumors about the sexpot who lived there before her, and the convenient death of an old lady with a twitchy heart, will drag her into a perilous undertow of greed, cunning, and desperation that could turn her dream house into a waking nightmare... Views: 61
For William, life was as wicked and malicious as the beast he was trying destroy. Decades spent living a life of extravagance, domination and ravenous hunger haunted him. But when you live forever, the past never stays buried. Views: 61
A searing new collection from the inimitable Amelia Gray.A woman creeps through the ductwork of a quiet home. A medical procedure reveals an object of worship. A carnivorous reptile divides and cauterizes a town. Amelia Gray's curio cabinet expands in Gutshot, where isolation and coupling are pushed to their dark and outrageous edges. These singular stories live and breathe on their own, pulsating with energy and humanness and a glorious sense of humor. Hers are stories that you will read and reread—raw gems that burrow into your brain, reminders of just how strange and beautiful our world is. These collected stories come to us like a vivisected body, the whole that is all the more elegant and breathtaking for exploring its most grotesque and intimate lightless viscera. Views: 61
Eden has burned. Every island in the archipelago has gone up in flames, and thousands are dead. Also dead? The dreams of eternal life for hopefuls around the globe. And one man is the target of their ire. After finding his brother, Ephraim Todd got more than he bargained for. Now he's fighting for his freedom, along with his sanity—desperate to prove his innocence and show everyone he isn't crazy. But when no one will back up his story—and the evidence that will prove his innocence has disappeared—Ephraim is forced to take matters into his own hands and find the one thing that can prove his innocence, despite the insurmountable odds against him. Can he find the answers before his mind finally cracks and crumbles to nothing? Views: 61
