English writer William Harrison Ainsworth wrote many historical novel. While training as a lawyer Ainsworth met a publisher who brought him into literary circles. Auriol is unique in Ainsworth\'s catalog as the action is fantasy so his supernatural elements can take free reign. Truly a gothic romance creating a nightmarish commentary on society of the early 1800\'s. Kidnapping, confining a lunatic, a two-hundred year old criminal, the eve of discovering the elixir of life and a deserted mansion keep this story alive and moving forward. This is an excellent example of Ainsworth\'s works a book for anyone that enjoys Gothic Fiction. Views: 266
Forks Settlement no longer occupies its place upon the ordnance map of the state of Montana. At least not the Forks Settlement—the one which nestled in a hollow on the plains, beneath the shadow of the Rocky Mountains. It is curious how these little places do contrive to slip off the map in the course of time. There is no doubt but that they do, and are wholly forgotten, except, perhaps, by those who actually lived or visited there. It is this way with all growing countries, and anywhere from twenty to thirty years ago Montana was distinctly a new country. Views: 266
Years later . . . what really happened to Christopher Creed?When Torey Adams posts on his blog that a body has been found in Steepleton—four years after Christopher Creed disappeared—college reporter Mike Mavic sells his laptop and hops a plane to capture the story that will undoubtedly launch his journalistic career. But what Mike finds is a town suffering under a cloud of bad frequency and people with an underlying streak of meanness. To the teens of Steepleton, Chris is nothing more than history—but to Justin Creed, a teen obsessed with his older brother’s memory and balancing on the edge of sanity, discovering what really happened to Chris Creed is a matter of life and death. Views: 266
Cold, ruthless Lord Warhurst needs to distance himself from scandal if he's to marry an heiress and save his decaying estate. But with his unwed sister falling pregnant, and his father's past indiscretions still haunting Leo, scandal threatens to erupt in an explosive way. Especially when he begins to desire strong-willed and low-born Alice Croft, the seamstress to Lord Hawkesbury's Players and the woman helping him spy on his sister's lover. If anyone finds out, Leo's chance of marrying well will be ruined. However the scandal will be nothing compared to what happens when Alice cracks through the hard shell around Leo's heart. Because how can he afford to love a woman who only wants him for the fortune she thinks he possesses? This book was previously published as "Scandal's Mistress". Views: 266
1916. William Grant, an American, joins the British Army during the Great War. He is posted to France, where he witnesses the horrors of war on the front line. During a dangerous night patrol, a captain is murdered, leading to a series of unanswered questions. With only his wits, Grant must solve the mystery while keeping his own skin intact. Will he be a victim of war or just another victim?1916. From the safety of America, William Grant watches helplessly as World War One rages in Europe. Desperate for adventure, the young man travels to Britain to try and join the army. After a harrowing journey, Grant is accepted into a newly-formed infantry regiment. He is posted to the front lines of France, where he must learn to survive the horrors of war. A popular captain is brutally killed, and all the evidence points to murder. Who in the regiment did the deed? With the help of his comrades, Grant must survive the Battle of the Somme and the evil intentions of an unknown murderer, all while trying to earn the love of a beautiful aristocratic nurse. Views: 265
Synopsis: Magick is banned in Thonn's world, outlawed after greedy and power-hungry wizards almost destroyed the entire planet. So imagine his surprise when he spies Eddie de Elder performing Magick spells!A 2500 word Fantasy/Comedy storySynopsis: Magick is banned in Thonn's world, outlawed after greedy and power-hungry wizards almost destroyed the entire planet. So imagine his surprise when he spies Eddie de Elder performing Magick spells!A 2500 word Fantasy/Comedy story--Towards the top of the hill, Thonn passed a wall marking the end of the olive trees. Here the land was untouched - a tangle of bushes, summer grasses and a number of plants with long spiky leaves; leaves which the Wise Elders used for medicinal purposes at village gatherings. Actually, they were leaves which the Wise Elders used pretty well all the time, and the so-called Elders were no longer Wise but Wide-Eyed and Vacant. Thonn had sidled into a downwind position once, and if the smoke was half as strong when inhaled, it was little wonder the Elders sat there gazing into space with rapt expressions on their faces. Views: 265
The pursuit of the Cornerstones has begun…The companions have stolen two of the four precious Cornerstones, artifacts of unbelievable power, from the Nekdukarr Iveron Darkmist. Furious at this interruption of his plans to use the Cornerstones to wage war, the Nekdukarr will stop at nothing to get them back. So while the companions pursue the last two stones, Darkmist and his assassins pursue them.But Iveron is not the only ambitious member of Clan Darkmist. Lysethra and Calmarel, matriarchs of the clan and Iveron’s sisters, have discovered that he will soon possess a source of incalculable power. With this might behind him, they have no illusions that their brother will confine his conquest to the surface world. Their hearts are as dark and twisted as his own, and they have a secret: Jundag, who fell under the Nekdukarr’s blade in Zellohar. But death is no refuge from the servants of the Dark Gods, and the Sisters Darkmist weave Jundag’s tortured mind and soul into their web of intrigue.As the armies of light and darkness gather for the impending battle, one thing is clear—whomever possesses the Cornerstones will decide the fate of the world. Views: 265
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. Views: 265
Poems from August to November, 2011A collection of micro non-adventures of Agent Smith, a low profile police detective, known at the precinct for his lack of contributing anything really useful there. And so his superior, Captain Wright, invariably puts Smith on his most uninteresting cases where results don't matter much. These very short bits are regularly interspersed with longer, unrelated short tales where humoristic weirdness prevails. Views: 265
Untitled* is the story of a young man, born and raised in an affluent community who, seemingly overnight, decides to give up on everything that his parents have decided is the path for him and pursue his own destiny. It's the story of a boy who believes that his talent will take him places more far reaching than "the right thing" ever will and how he manages to survive the harsh criticisms and realities of the music industry. Views: 265
Until now, the most important thing in 14-year-old Cornelia Drake’s life was maintaining her rightful place just outside the most popular clique at Storm River High School. But when she is sentenced to community service for writing a racial slur against a Muslim teacher, Mrs. Hakim, Cornelia’s world comes crashing down. Join her on this journey of self discovery and tolerance.Until now, the most important thing in 14-year-old Cornelia Drake’s life was maintaining her rightful place just outside the most popular clique at Storm River High School. But when she is sentenced to community service for writing a racial slur against a Muslim teacher, Mrs. Hakim, Cornelia’s world comes crashing down. She is forced to join Mrs. Hakim’s writing club, Writers on the Storm, where Cornelia is introduced to a group of extraordinary people from all walks of life, including Admeta Vasquez, a classmate who makes no bones about despising Cornelia. When the two rivals become unlikely friends, they are thrown a curve ball when they discover that Mrs. Hakim has breast cancer and may not make it. Cornelia is forced to choose between her precious clique and her new found friends. She can take the easy road or stand and fight alongside the teacher she once despised. Views: 265
The last thing fifteen-year-old Flora Fontain wants to do is spend her summer vacation stuck in a tent with her overprotective parents. But since her parents trust her as much as they trust a cat burglar at the moment, Flora has no choice but to suffer through the boyfriend-less summer of her discontent from the back of a rented SUV--until fate tosses a sexy, sophisticated gypsy boy into her path.The last thing fifteen-year-old Flora Fontain wants to do is spend her summer vacation stuck in a tent with her overprotective parents and angst-ridden brother, especially when she should be in Europe with her best friend Jessie—sipping espresso, posing for cutesy tourist pics, and hunting for hot Italian (or French, or maybe even English) stud-muffins. But since her parents trust her about as much as they trust a cat burglar at the moment, Flora has no choice but to suffer through the boyfriend-less summer of her discontent from the back of a rented SUV, until…Fate tosses a sexy, sophisticated gypsy boy into her path, making Flora wonder if destiny might know best after all. That is until destiny screws up, big time. Because just as Flora falls head over heels, an unexpected turn of events threatens to land her in the slammer—or worse, separate her from the man of her dreams. Views: 265
Where the Silver Ranch trail branches from the state road leading down into Bullhide, there stretch a rambling series of sheds, or “shacks,” given up to the uses of a general store and provision emporium; beside it is the schoolhouse. This place on the forked trails is called “The Crossing,” and it was the only place nearer than the town of Bullhide where the scattered population of this part of Montana could get any supplies. Views: 265
