'The two dozen authors collected here span the 19th century, from La Harpe in the aftermath of the Revolution to Huysmans' fin de siecle decadence. Poe, Hoffmann and the English Gothic novel all fed the imagination of the French fantasists, who frequently added a touch of Gallic wit to the heady brew of vampirism, ghostly gore and sexual misbehaving. Hale provides a scholarly introduction to this highly enjoyable selection of strange tales.' Scotland on Sunday 'Stories like Eugene Sue's wickedly funny cautionary tale of how a brush with Rousseau can lead to an unpleasant end show that the French macabre is worthy of attention for its irony and humour. There are contes cruels, frenetiques and fantastiques by Baudelaire, Maupassant and the Marquis de Sade. But some of the best tales are by writers, now forgotten, who used E.T.A. Hoffman, Edgar Allan Poe and the English Gothic novel to create a uniquely French genre.' Isobel Montgomery in The Guardian 'For those who know their frenetique from their fantastique, there's plenty of deliciously morbid stuff here, from Eugene Sue's Candide-like satire A True Account of the Travels of Claude Belissan, Clerk to the Public Prosecutor to Catulles Mendes's sexually overheated The Penitent and the Marquis de Sade's surprisingly chaste Diorci, or The Vagaries of Chance, one of the nineteen stories being published in English for the first time.' The Irish Times 'Hale's inspired selection - he includes little-known pieces by Sade, Baudelaire, Dumas and Maupassant, as well as stories by unjustly forgotten writers such as Catulle Mendes, Jean Pichepin, Charles Nodier and Petrus Borel - not only makes this an invigorating collection to read, it virtually redefines the boundaries of the French horror genre.' Brendan King in The Times Literary Supplement Views: 13
In his heartbreaking yet hopeful fourth novel, award-winning author Willy Vlautin demonstrates his extraordinary talent for illuminating the disquiet of modern American life, captured in the experiences of three memorable characters looking for meaning in distressing times.Severely wounded in the Iraq war, Leroy Kervin has lived in a group home for eight years. Frustrated by the simplest daily routines, he finds his existence has become unbearable. An act of desperation helps him disappear deep into his mind, into a world of romance and science fiction, danger and adventure where he is whole once again.Freddie McCall, the night man at Leroy's group home, works two jobs yet still can't make ends meet. He's lost his wife and kids, and the house is next. Medical bills have buried him in debt, a situation that propels him to consider a lucrative--and dangerous--proposition.Pauline Hawkins, a nurse, cares for the sick and wounded, including Leroy. She also looks... Views: 13
Although Ophelia Garrett loved Cade Scott first, it was her sister he married and took home to his plantation. When Ophelia receives word of her sister's murder and Cade's arrest, she travels there on a mission to learn the truth. She soon finds the halls of Almenara are haunted by secrets, peril, and quite possibly her sister's ghost. Despite the cold, angry man Cade has become, Ophelia's heart refuses to believe he is a murderer. Vowing to do everything she can to prove his innocence, Ophelia must open wounds she'd hoped were long healed and face the feelings that still burn between her and Cade. As everyone looks to Cade as the suspect, evil haunts the dunes and halls of Almenara, bringing death to two more young women and forcing Ophelia to confront the danger.
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Adrielle Pyper knows how to plan a wedding, and she is especially good at pleasing bridezillas. But when her biggest client and best friend is murdered just three days before the wedding, Adri's world falls apart. She moves to the resort town of Sun Valley, Idaho, and starts from scratch. Thanks to Adri's impeccable taste and unique style, she lands two celebrity clients, and her business seems headed for success—that is, until someone vandalizes the specialty wedding dresses she imported from overseas. The race is on to uncover a secret hidden within the yards of satin and lace before Adri becomes the next victim.With a delightful blend of mystery, toe-curling kisses, humor, and spine-tingling thrills, Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things is a romantic suspense novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Views: 13
THE MAN OF HER DREAMS?She prided herself on her logic and quick wits--so why, when wearing her grandmother's ring, did Claudia Westfield have visions of an incredibly sexy, utterly captivating man? Determined to solve the problem, Claudia tracked down Hayden Bedford--her dream come to life!Or was he? Her visions showed a man with an incredible yearning in his eyes--and Claudia seemed only to irritate Hayden! But as they searched for the truth, Hayden's glances turned to passion--and with the realization that Hayden closely resembled his grandfather they began to wonder if this time their love might stand a chance.... Views: 13
Cassidy Hastley was at her last year of senior school.Her life was perfect,she had a boyfriend,she was good in school and was very reserved. She always wanted to do everything in the right way including wanting to have her first sexual experience with a person she really loves. This until she meets him ,Mr Spencer,arrogant and sexy. He'sjust gorgeous.The only problem is that he is her teacher.Can she keep her feelings for him a secret? Can this love win against all odds?** Views: 13
I know who you are.When Riley first gets the postcard tucked into her bag, she thinks it's a joke. Then she finds a birth certificate for a girl named Jane Elizabeth O'Leary hidden inside her baby book.Riley's parents have always been pretty overprotective. What if it wasn't for her safety...but fear of her finding out their secret? What have they been hiding? The more Riley digs for answers, the more questions she has.The only way to know the truth? Find out what happened to Jane O'Leary.Praise for Truly, Madly, Deadly"A fast-paced thriller." —Kirkus Reviews"What a ride! Full of twists and turns—including an ending you won't see coming!" —April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die Views: 13
