Marissa and the traders arrive on the planet Ninovan to trade for crystals. A simple trade but nothing is simple on Ninovan. They find there is no trading at the spaceport. Instead, the crew must travel to a native Trade Center. The natives hate offworlders. Xeres want something from the natives. Marissa finds herself caught between the natives, the military, Xeres, and the rest of the traders.The big corporations have a monopoly on the lucrative planetary trade along the densely traveled trade routes. The Celeste travels on the fringes with the lucky exception of a trade permit recently acquired by the captain. He refuses to tell how he managed to obtain the permit just as he refuses to tell his sources for the cargoes. Thus, it is no surprise that traders consider the Scheralt system as dangerous and a morass for ships. The captain outlines the trade to be a simple short stop. The Celeste is to trade ore for crystals. Problems arise before the crew even lands on the planet. With magnetic storms capable of destroying the ship, Captain Jerupt must drop the crew then break orbit moving to the star system’s perimeter to avoid the magnetic stormsAfter landing, the crew finds they must travel to the native's trade centers to trade for the crystals. The transportation is primitive riding on animals unpleasant normally but exhausting for the crew caused by the planet’s gravity being nearly double the ship's gravity. The trade will just take longer to complete but more than just trade is being plotted and everyone has a separate agenda.The starport commander under the guise of improving port and native relations plants a spy with the traders. Xeres Corporation manipulates and bribes the traders into spying for them. Xeres Corporation wants to learn the shielding manufacturing secretes and to takeover the natives processing plants. The natives, Klarn, will not trade with the Xeres Corporation or cooperate on any level. The other faction is the Kirch. The Kirch came into existence from the Klarn that Xeres forced to work in their plant. They avoid offworlders and hate all offworders wanting them eliminated from the planet.Celeste's crew finds themselves caught in the middle of a power struggle. Xeres Corporation is more than willing to kill to achieve their goals. The natives are defending their sovereignty. The commander wants promoted off the planet and is willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve her goals. The Celeste's crew wants to live long enough to get off the planet. Who will win? The power struggle divides the crew and tests their loyalties. One thing is for certain, trade is not anyone's primary goal. Views: 357
The second book in The Kingdom of the Lost series.
Adventure and danger follow Bily, Zluty, Redwing and the Monster as they cross a desert and journey through high stony mountains in search of a new home.
A magical new series for younger readers from the award-wining author of Little Fur. Views: 357
Quiet was once more restored at Saint Syphorien, and Va-bon-train received from Blanchet the explanations necessary to establish the good conduct of his nephew. "But where, in the name of Fortune, did you meet with him?" continued Blanchet. "He would never tell me.""What, Gervais!" said Va-bon-train, "will you not acknowledge me for your uncle?" Michael, transported with joy, once more threw his arms round the neck of his friend, and Va-bon-train afterwards received the acknowledgments of his nephew\'s grateful affection. "Now then, what is to be done with Matthew," said Va-bon-train—"now that he has got rid of his old toad?" "He cannot live alone," said Gervais, casting down his eyes."Well, then, let him come with me," continued Va-bon-train; "Martin will, at all events, be learned enough to carry a part of my baggage, which is becoming too heavy for Medor. I will teach Jacquot many capital things, and we shall get on very well together."These words rendered Gervais completely happy, and the gratitude inspired by his uncle\'s kindness towards himself, was far exceeded by what he now experienced, on account of his father. They went for Matthew to the tavern, where they found him still drinking, the longer to defer the moment of payment. This difficulty was removed by his brother, who thenceforth considered himself as charged with his care. The arrangement was proposed to him, and he accepted it, just as he would have done, had he been sober, only that he repeated a little oftener, and with rather more emotion than usual, "You, Vincent, know very well, that I at least am an honest man."They had a joyful supper that night, Medor remaining at the side of the table, with his head upon his master\'s knee, which he left only to give a slight caress to Michael, or a look and a wag of his tail to Gervais. The following day, before their departure for Lyons, Gervais received from the generosity of his uncle, the pair of stockings, the shirt, and the two handkerchiefs, necessary to complete his outfit, and had the satisfaction of arriving with him at the workshop of Master Blanchet, not as a poor boy, received almost as an act of charity, but as a good workman, countenanced and recommended by respectable relatives.He has justified their hopes and his own, having become Master Blanchet\'s head workman; he is about to marry his only daughter, and his father-in-law, rich enough to retire, has given up to him a business, which Gervais will not allow to decline under his care. Matthew, who only needs guidance, contents himself with being a little merry after his first meal, and a little sleepy after the last. He hopes to spend[Pg 36] a peaceful old age with his son, while Va-bon-train, who, without being old, is also anxious for repose, has purchased a small property, married again, and given up his marionettes and the faithful Medor to his son Michael. Matthew has generously added the ass, and Jacquot, and has announced for Gervais\' wedding-day, "a performance for the benefit of friendship, in which is to be seen the wonderful dispute between peerless Jacquot and the incomparable Scaramouche."Popular Tales : Scaramouche, Cecilia and Nanette, Three Chapters from the Life of Nadir, The Mother and Daughter, The Difficult Duty:Moral Doubts, Caroline; or The Effects of a Misfortune, New Year\'s Night Views: 357
Logan Green is back in Bliss, but only for a few weeks to help out at the sheriff’s office. Everything changes when Seth Stark strolls into town with Georgia Dawson on his arm.
Seth’s arrival is anything but a happy accident. He always dreamed of a big house on the river and a wife he could share with his best friend, Logan. After building a software empire, his only goal has been to make that dream come true. He just needed the perfect woman.
Georgia is still haunted by the dark, troubled Dom who saved her life. She can’t get Logan out of her head. Her boss brought her to Bliss to help him outfit his new summer home, but when Logan Green walks through the door she discovers Seth has something different in mind.
Seth has a plan for their mutual happily ever after, but he never dreamed that coming home would put all their lives in danger.
[Siren Ménage Everlasting: Erotic Consensual BDSM Cowboy Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, spanking, sex toys, HEA] Views: 357
A collector of antiquities gets more than she bargained for when she receives a gift from a former romantic rival that begins a horrific series of events.A 300-line poem about a man who decides to visit such a graveyard in October near midnight, in hopes of seeing a ghost. He stumbles across the field as a storm approaches.I've got to tell you that he sees only parts of what might be a ghost - not a very satisfying result, and then retreats to his car. That's all. Yet this is one of the finest and most affecting modern poems for reading out loud. It will haunt you. Views: 357
This collection contains prose written by Chris Forshner before 2010 with introduction by Kai Kiriyama. The book is split in to two sections, completed works come first and are followed by "scraps".Just for Button: Cleaning out the AtticThis collection contains prose written by Chris Forshner before 2010 with introduction by Kai Kiriyama. The book is split in to two sections, completed works come first and include:Interview with Goldy (Life as a Goldfish)Open Letter to the Suicidal (Poem)One Gnome to Change the World (Dramatic Monologue)The Last Case (A detective's visit to an asylum)The Listeners (Inspired by the Walter de la Mare poem)Chapter 31 The Grapes of Wrath (Intercalary Chapter)The Truth of it All (a fantasy tale of dragon slaying)Tortured Dreams (a fantasy tale starring an Elven ranger)The second half is "scraps", which includes unfinished works (including the A Bloody Mess urban fantasy series) and other bits that aren't connected to anything in particular. This section includes:A Bloody MessThe Stake is Mightier Than the LaptopDangerous DescentThe Masque of TheophaniaA Spritely SituationChildren of the Night (the formation of a vampire clan)Foot Prints in the Snow (Flash Fiction)Tiv's Tale (Flash Fiction)Twisted Strands of Fate (fantasy) Views: 357
Doris Kearns Goodwin, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of Team of Rivals, captures the Progressive Era through the story of the broken friendship between Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, culminating in their running against one another for president in 1912. Views: 357
Book Two in The Littlest Missionary Series, Jael now must learn a few things from the Bible before she can go to Australia. In this adventure, she learns all about God's ten commandments.Monsters haunt her dreams, but humans are her worst nightmare...Just as Emma Kincaid came into some disturbing empathic powers, she lost her mother in a car crash. She is also pretty certain she's being followed, maybe even hunted. But, is it the shadowy creatures that haunt her nightmares or the mysterious guy, shrouded in darkness, who just enrolled at Jefferson High? Views: 357
This sixth volume of Tales of the Shadowmen is dedicated to simpler horrors and theatrical villainy. Tremble as you face the terror of Fantômas, the villainy of Madame Atomos, the sorcery of Leonox, the unspeakable King in Yellow and the insanity of Alphaville! Fortunately for us, and for the world, there are always stalwart heroes rising up to stem the tides of darkness and restore peace and order to the world. Chevalier Dupin! Harry Dickson! Mowgli! Arsène Lupin! The Scarlet Pimpernel! Raffles and mamy more are there, to confront crazy sorcerers and ravening zombies, mad scientists and giant rats, evil computers and Hindu death cults, Martians and monsters! This anthology of all-new stories, featuring Heroes and Villains from Pulp Literature, edited by JM & Randy Lofficier, combines the talents of renowned authors such as Xavier Maumejean (The League of Heroes), John Peel (Doctor Who, Star Trek), Brian Stableford (Inherit the Earth), William P. Maynard (Fu Manchu), Bradley H. Sinor, Win Scott Eckert, with a new generation of gifted storytellers such as Emmanuel Gorlier, Michel Stephan, Rick Lai, Travis Hiltz and Frank Schildiner. Views: 357
Descended from the Hawaiian royal line, Jonathan Napela became one of the first—and most influential—converts to the Church in Hawaii. A man of intelligence, social status, and wealth, he used his considerable position to further the gospel in his native land. He developed a lifelong bond of brotherhood with Elder George Q. Cannon, helping to translate the Book of Mormon into Hawaiian and establish a gathering place for the Hawaiian saints in Laie, Oahu. But when his beloved wife, Kitty, was stricken with leprosy, Jonathan made the defining decision of his life. He would leave his life of privilege to become her caretaker and spend the rest of his life on Molokai, the island of lepers. To those who suffered similar heartbreak and banishment, Jonathan's self-sacrifice became their lifeline. Based on true story, this is an extraordinary novel of a man who chose love in the face of death. Views: 357
If you had it all, what would you do? At the age of 20, Daria felt he had everything and nothing. To outside observers, he had it all: a loving family, a beautiful girlfriend, materials riches, and a family business waiting for him to assume leadership, but there was a gnawing feeling that something was missing. When Daria's friend dies at the age of 21, he is shaken at the roots. Witnessing death for the first time, he questions every aspect of life including the origins of suffering and happiness. He wonders why he is following the herd in a life-consuming race towards emptiness. Hungry for meaning, he leaves everything he's ever known to expose himself to the reality of the world through his own experience. His journey takes him on an expedition through the countryside of Mongolia where he learns of generosity, surfing the coasts of Bali, experiences the essence of martial arts from Aikido masters and back-country snowboarding in Japan. Views: 357
1571. Chained to a slave galley in the heart of the Mediterranean, it seems that English adventurers Ingoldsby and Hodge might have finally run out of luck. But as former Knights of St John, they’ve survived worse, and while the men around them drop dead at their oars, they’re determined to escape.
Two unlikely English heroes are swept up in an epic and bloody sea battle that will change history. PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS CLASH OF EMPIRES: THE RED SEA. Chained to a slave galley in the heart of the Mediterranean, it seems that English adventurers Ingoldsby and Hodge might have finally run out of luck. But as former Knights of St John, they've survived worse, and while the men around them drop dead at their oars, they're determined to escape. By a miracle of fate, they find their way back to dry land and freedom - but unable to return home. With the Ottoman Empire set on strangling the crusading Christian power before it can take root, hostilities between East and West - Muslim and Christian - are vicious and deadly. And as the sun rises on one day in October, five hours of bloodshed will change the course of history. Once again, the two Englishmen find themselves living on borrowed time... PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS CLASH OF EMPIRES: THE RED SEAReviewNapier is good at evoking the adrenaline rush of all the fighting and swordplay, but excels even more at creating characters who seize the reader's attention and imagination. SUNDAY TIMES The gory historical details is absorbing as Napier invites the reader to travel with these comrades in arms. BIG ISSUE About the AuthorWilliam Napier is the author of the Attila trilogy and the Clash of Empires series. Views: 357
A guard who barters people's lives for pie, a computer programmer who can't get away from a persistent program, and others all find a place in this collection of short stories featuring worlds that have gone wrong.Troubled teens go missing every day. The police often brush them off as runaways. When one of these teens turns up, muttering and rambling about how her boyfriend was eaten, she is taken to the psych ward and her warnings are ignored. But the Order of St. George listened. Tom Reidy and his fellow monster hunters scour the city in an attempt to find out what terrible fate has befallen the teens. Will the answers be found beneath a fetid corner store?A FREE short story in the Reidy Chronicles. Views: 356
