DJ´s Daim Stories (Daim/Dajm is a Scandinavian candy bar), the first volume in a planned series. Thirteen flash fiction stories, a collection of cosy and humorous crime, some of which have been published earlier on my blog. A reviewer said: ...much like consuming a delicious plate of tiramisu (with extra cognac or brandy) Views: 27
A client begs Celia Graves—part human, part Siren, part vampire—to help return a genie to his bottle. The attempt makes Celia a target for the currently incorporeal ifrit. If she doesn't give him her body, he'll kill everyone she loves. If she does, he'll use her physical form to free thousands of evil djinn.Celia's not going to hand over her body, but her client tries to trick her into it—so that he can kill the ifrit while it's trapped in her flesh. That doesn't end well for the client. Celia might not get paid for the gig, but she's got to get the ifrit re-bottled before all hell breaks loose—possibly literally!Now written solely by C. T. Adams under the Cat Adams name, All Your Wishes continues this outstanding urban fantasy series with a thrilling new adventure. Views: 27
It's a city of beauty, history...hauntings. And one of the most haunted places in Savannah is a tavern called The Dragonslayer, built in the 1750s. The current owner, Gus Anderson, is a descendant of the original innkeeper and his pirate brother, Blue. Gus summons his granddaughter, Abigail, home from Virginia, where she's studying at the FBI Academy. When she arrives, she's devastated to find him dead. Murdered. But Abby soon learns that Gus isn't the only one to meet a brutal and untimely end; there've been at least two other victims. Then Captain Blue Anderson starts making ghostly appearances, and the FBI's paranormal investigation unit, the Krewe of Hunters, sends in Agent Malachi Gordon. Abby and Malachi have a similar ability to connect with the dead...and a similar stubbornness. Sparks immediately begin to fly-sparks of attraction and discord. But as the death toll rises, they have to trust each other or they, too, might find themselves among the dead haunting old Savannah! Views: 27
Bride of the Outback Rough, handsome cattle-station owner Steve Kinane needs a temporary housekeeper-and Chattie Winslow is perfect for the job. Chattie and Steve try hard to resist the intense sexual chemistry between them. Then Steve discovers the reason for Chattie's presence in the Outback, and he has a proposal to make: a marriage of convenience. Now that Steve knows the secrets Chattie's been keeping, she's forced to become his bride.... Views: 27
He is our sublime master of manners, our "most astute observer of moral paradox among the affluent" (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.), and "one of the essential American writers" (Kirkus). Now, in his fifty-seventh book, Louis Auchincloss delivers a brilliant collection of ten new, previously unpublished, stories; once again, he unfailingly "voices truths with elegant precision" (Publishers Weekly).MANHATTAN MONOLOGUES charts a colorful New York century through a series of personal accounts from the rarefied circle that fills Auchincloss's best short fiction. Here are characters who confidently finesse their way through society's uppermost tiers and yet are just as easily undone by the smallest upset in a day. Like all of Auchincloss's richest creations, they bump up against their consciences, with often surprising results. What, for instance, is a woman to do when she must choose between true love and high society when making a marriage? How can a man stay true to himself, his family, and his country when it goes to war? How can a determined marriage broker salvage matters when the young man she has so painstakingly steered toward a love match becomes charmed by another woman?These tales, and many more, fashion a glamorous, yet all too human, societal portrait -- from the aristocratic loyalties of the early twentieth century to the complicated twists of modern-day mergers and acquisitions. MANHATTAN MONOLOGUES is Louis Auchincloss at his most clever, his most discerning, his best.From Publishers WeeklyAuchincloss mines familiar ground-life in New York's financial and cultural top drawer during the 20th century and its accompanying upheavals-in his 57th book, a collection of 10 previously unpublished stories. Nearly every character is the scion of some great banking family or a partner in one of Manhattan's prestigious law firms, and an air of entitlement weighs heavily on each story, though this is balanced with equal parts humor and pathos. The protagonists' world of elite boarding schools and exclusive clubs is redolent of a not-so-distant past of privilege, but the characters remain endearingly human in their foibles and follies. In "Harry's Brother," awkward Charles Pierce Jr. spends his entire life in the shadow of his roguish, popular younger sibling; a woman's efforts to find a suitable bride for her charming but indolent son backfire in "The Marriage Broker." A longing for romantic love shapes much of the book, as in "The Heiress," the reminiscence of a spirited woman drawn to a suitor "different and more interesting" than the "great man of the future" her father demanded that she marry. By setting these stories against the backdrop of a century, the author traces the evolution of Gotham's upper classes, suggesting continuity even as traditional wealth slowly gives way to the twin specters of globalization and new money. Auchincloss favors stylized writing, shot through with dense, sinewy passages, and even when the dialogue leans in the direction of the archaic, he makes it seem effortless and true. Once again, he lives up to his reputation as one of our great men of letters.Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalThe president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a renowned and prolific writer, Auchincloss (The Rector of Justin) here offers his 57th book. This collection of previously unpublished short stories is all about the high society denizens of New York City during the 1900s. The trials and tribulations of the very rich in their city, country, business, and prep school settings are carefully crafted to show that human interactions and the problems they cause repeat themselves through time and across all social classes. The loveless marriage, the child who does not measure up to parental expectations, the attempts to manipulate the lives of others, and the confrontation of life's hard realities are all examined. The resolution of the difficulties described are largely dependent on the vagaries of human nature and not on the size of the bank account. Auchincloss is urbane, humorous, and somewhat ironic in his storytelling, making this collection a treat to read. - Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Coll. of Continuing Education Lib., Providence Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Views: 27
This is a book of change. The Clan k'Sheyna was successfully moved to its new Vale and Darkwind, Elspeth, Firesong, the 2 gryphons and their children head for Valdemar. There, the evil mage Ancar is threatening to attack because the "borders" protecting Valdemar were brought down by an OLD friend. (Find out who that is by reading). Ancar, who is only a half-trained Master at best, decided to be stupid and try a Gate spell, one which only Adepts can control. During this spell, he managed not to kill himself but the Gate brought him a "present"; The injured, half-dead person that was Mornelithe Falconsbane, a person whom Elspeth and Darkwind though they had already killed....a couple of times! Now Ancar has a new weapon and the Envoys to valdemar must train as many new Herald-Mages as possible. The get a suprise when Karse makes a truce and offers to help...but that's all to the good. There is also another unknown Ally among these people, one who can change the outcome of this battle if he can get control of himself. Views: 26
Only the incomparable Mary Poppins can lead the Banks children on one marvelous adventure after another. Together they meet the Goosegirl and the Swineherd, argue with talking cats on a distant planet, make the acquaintance of the folks who live under dandelions, and celebrate a birthday by dancing with their own shadows. And that's just for starters! Views: 26
