Professor James Ainsley is a reserved, unassuming professor of English literature. Until one of his students, Samantha Taylor, makes a confession to him.Separated from his friends one fateful beer-party night, college student Peter Orbus stumbles upon a pale young woman in the park. He feels a strange connection to the shy young woman, a connection made stronger when he gives her his favorite sweater and she disappears into the night with it. His search for both leads him into the depths of the dark woods that cover the park where he finds a hidden world of the undead, vampires. It’s a world he must keep secret if he hopes to survive until midterms.But all secrets hold a price. A shadowy terror arises in the sleepy college town and attacks his fellow students. All evidence points to Peter being the culprit, so he must enlist the help of his newfound companions to clear his name and stop the creature before it destroys everyone. Views: 757
Short stories and pieces of writing from the Winter 2014 YPSShort work from contributing members of the Swansea Young People's Writing Squad, run by Jo Furber with the support of Literature Wales at the Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea. Views: 757
Book One of the Ugly Dirt Box Universe. Commander Rylae Westiel is the elven Executive officer of the UCST Corsari, an ambassadorial starship. Her mission to a goblin homeworld to prevent a war turns out to be nothing like she expected. Continuing to learn how to become Captain of her own starship, Rylae has to learn one very important point - goblins won't always be goblins.Book One of the Ugly Dirt Box UniverseCommander Rylae Westiel is the elven Executive officer of the UCST Corsari, an ambassadorial starship. While docked on Terra, the UCST Admiralty receives a declaration of war from the goblin world of Stenchstone. The Corsari is dispatched to Stenchstone with the mission to defuse the situation, which appears easy at first.From the beginning, Rylae is confronted with details which don't add up properly, and the more she digs, the more she finds. Is there really a war starting, or is another agenda unfolding? If she truly wants to be a captain, Rylae has to learn one very important point - goblins won't always be goblins. Views: 757
Gemma sat alone in her bedroom, her favorite teddy bear “Gruff” in her arms. Other toys were positioned on the bed as she played her game "Make Believe" exchanging secrets in a world of her own. A new baby brother changes everything but he took a lot of getting used to.In a time before Knight Graham adventured for the three magical artifacts, a magical kingdom named Daventry was ruled by King Edward.The king ruled with his beloved wife using the three magical treasures which were the all seeing mirror, the all mighty shield and the always full chest.But bad times are upon Daventry as it becomes a Kingdom in Distress, as evil entities spawn their own plans.This book was written by King's Quest fans (the game series which were created in the late eighties), to King's Quest fans, as a prequel to the game series, this book enrolls the events which led to the first King's Quest.Please visit my site and subscribe for any future updates, news and freebies: daventrytales.com Views: 757
Rob works for Global Air Lite and as usual there's nothing happening at the check-in desks. So he decides to liven things up, as usual. With calamitous results, as usual. Laugh out load funny and great a escape from 'normality'.A Bitesize Read: Men at Work - Episode 1. About 1 hour of fun with work colleagues who have nothing in common, except an overwhelming desire to throttle Rob the anarchist! . It's another mind-numbing day for the check-in staff at Global Airlines Lite, until the anarchist Rob discovers the suspect package. Imagine being a fly-on-the-wall as the the day unfolds, and watch Rob set up Major Tom to defuse the bomb and save the day... well, at least that's the plan.The first episode in the Working Man series - let the madness begin! Views: 756
Purple-haired, sharp-tongued Reese MacKay knows all about making the wrong choice; she’s made plenty of them in her twenty-odd-years. So when her impulsive, short-lived marriage ends in heartbreak, she decides it’s time for a change. She moves to Miami with the intention of hitting reset on her irresponsible life, and she does quite well…aside from an epically humiliating one-night stand in Cancun with a hot blond bouncer named Ben. Thank God she can get on a plane and leave that mistake behind her.
Football scholarship and frat parties with hot chicks? Part of charmer Ben Morris’s plan. Blown knee that kills any hope of a professional football career? So not part of the plan. Luckily Ben has brains to go with his knockout looks and magnetism. After three long years of balancing law school with his job as a bouncer at Penny’s Palace, he’s ready to lead a more mature life—until his first day of work, when he finds himself in the office of that crazy, hot chick he met in Cancun. The one he hasn’t stopped thinking about.
If Ben truly were a smart guy, he’d stay clear of Reese. She’s the boss’s stepdaughter and it’s been made very clear that office romances are grounds for dismissal. Plus, rumor has it she’s trouble. The only problem is, he likes trouble, especially when it’s so good-looking… Views: 756
WHEN VIKTOR AND ROMULUS, two peasant boys, dig into their town’s strange past, they awaken the wrath of a mysterious overlord. Their struggle to survive is an explosion of adventure, mystery, and magic. A perilous journey awaits... Winner of 'OUTSTANDING FICTION' at the 2013 S. California Writers Conference.WHEN VIKTOR AND ROMULUS, two peasant boys, dig into their town’s strange past, they awaken the wrath of a mysterious overlord. As the blood brothers struggle to survive, their search for answers takes them through gambling parlors, fortune-teller dens, and moonlit forests full of monsters and men alike. But even with the help of their friends, can they escape the dark experiments that their foe is creating in Staryi Castle? ** THE SILENT DEAL is an explosive mix of mystery, adventure, and magic, whose wide cast includes gypsies, gamblers, fire-jugglers, and thieves. The Card Game awaits… ** WINNER of 'Outstanding Fiction' at the 2013 California Writers Con. Views: 756
"A well-crafted tale of murder begotten by the collision of two incompatible worlds."-Kirkus Reviews
The death of a teenage Amish girl in a cornfield looks like an accident, but sheriff Serenity Adams suspects foul play. To solve the murder, she must investigate the nearby Amish community with the help of a man who was shunned years ago.
Lamb to the Slaughter is a story about the intertwining lives of three unlikely people in an Indiana Amish Community and the devastating results when a rebellious teenage girl is found shot to death in a corn field during the harvest.
Serenity Adams is the newly elected young sheriff in the country town of Blood Rock and besides dealing with the threatening behavior of her predecessor, she now has a dead Amish girl on her plate. At first glance, the case seems obvious. The poor girl was probably accidentally shot during hunting season, but when the elders of the Amish community and even the girl’s parents react with uncaring subdued behavior, Serenity becomes suspicious. As she delves deeper into the secretive community that she grew up beside, she discovers a gruesome crime from the past that may very well be related to the Amish girl’s shooting. Serenity enlists the help of the handsome bad-boy building contractor, Daniel Bachman, who left the Amish when he was nineteen and has his own dark reasons to help the spunky sheriff solve the crime that the family and friends who shunned him are trying desperately to cover up. Serenity’s persistence leads her to a stunning discovery that not only threatens to destroy her blossoming romance with Daniel, but may even take her life in the end. Views: 756
Eile and Sunny of Team Girl love to go pub-crawling in the Dreamlands, especially when a mysterious patron offers them adventure and financial reward. However, trouble follows them like a love-starved puppy, and this Friday night will be anything but relaxing. This is a short story.Eile and Sunny of Team Girl have been lured to a slum tavern with an offer of adventure, sweetened by a rich advance in gold. When they arrive, however, they quickly discover that the deal isn't kosher, and they refuse the offer. Afterwards they decide to enjoy a relaxing evening just having fun.Unfortunately, trouble always seems to follow them like a love-starved puppy, and if two bruisers have their way, this Friday night will be anything but relaxing. Views: 756
When outlaws stole a thousand Texas longhorns, the rustlers' main problem was what to do with the slow-moving cattle. Johnnie Bell’s problem lay in getting them back. The army couldn’t help — they had marauding Cheyenne to deal with. Texas Rangers had no jurisdiction once the cattle were over the border. Fortunately Johnnie had the help of Comanche friends, and a certain feisty widow woman.Hot lead flew, and blood flowed freely in 1859. The Cheyenne were raiding. When outlaws gunned down two sleepy cowpokes, and rode off with a thousand Texas longhorns, their main problem was what to do with the slow-moving cattle. Johnnie Bell’s problem lay in getting them back. The army couldn’t help — they had the marauding Indians to deal with. Texas Rangers had no jurisdiction once the cattle were over the border, and other settlers had their own homes and herds to guard. Luckily for Johnnie, he had two Comanche friends with points to prove, and along the way he met up with a feisty widow woman, who had lost both husband and herd to the self-same rustlers. Views: 756
Earthrise is out of control and heading the wrong way. The command structure has collapsed and gangs are starting to roam the space station. If that wasn’t bad enough Jennifer has betrayed Mathew’s trust, and the fox has been given permission to look after the chickens.Sycko is a loser: he can never hold on to a job for more than a few weeks, he’s got no girlfriend, no one knows how he scraped through school and he’s just been fired again. But when his friend Judas, who realizes that Sycko has his final pay along in cash, takes him to a seedy bar that also runs a brothel upstairs, Sycko gets into a chance encounter with Jeremiah, Master of the Temple. Master Jeremiah decides to take Sycko to his Temple where he has the chance to completely change his life. Little does Sycko know that lurking beneath the attractive surface of the Temple dark secrets are hidden. Suspenseful, sinister and dark humor capture the frightening reality of a young man descending into religious fanaticism. Views: 756
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Karin Slaughter, author of the bestselling Will Trent novels, is widely acclaimed as “one of the best crime novelists in America” (The Washington Post). Now she delivers her first stand-alone novel: an epic story of a city in the midst of seismic upheaval, a serial killer targeting cops, and a divided police force tasked with bringing a madman to justice.
Atlanta, 1974: As a brutal murder and a furious manhunt rock the city’s police department, Kate Murphy wonders if her first day on the job will also be her last. She’s determined to defy her privileged background by making her own way—wearing a badge and carrying a gun. But for a beautiful young woman, life will be anything but easy in the macho world of the Atlanta PD, where even the female cops have little mercy for rookies. It’s also the worst day possible to start given that a beloved cop has been gunned down, his brothers in blue are out for blood, and the city is on the edge of war.
Kate isn’t the only woman on the force who’s feeling the heat. Maggie Lawson followed her uncle and brother into the ranks to prove her worth in their cynical eyes. When she and Kate, her new partner, are pushed out of the citywide search for a cop killer, their fury, pain, and pride finally reach the boiling point. With a killer poised to strike again, they will pursue their own line of investigation, risking everything as they venture into the city’s darkest heart.
Relentlessly paced, acutely observed, wickedly funny, and often heartbreaking, Cop Town is Karin Slaughter’s most powerful novel yet—a tour de force of storytelling from our foremost master of character, atmosphere, and suspense.
Features a preview of Karin Slaughter’s next novel, Pretty Girls
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“Karin Slaughter is simply one of the best thriller writers working today, and Cop Town shows the author at the top of her game—relentless pacing, complex characters, and gritty realism, all set against the backdrop of a city on the edge. Slaughter’s eye for detail and truth is unmatched. . . . I’d follow her anywhere.”—Gillian Flynn
“Cop Town proves Karin Slaughter is one of America’s best writers. . . . She pulls her readers into a twisted tale of mystery and keeps them fascinated from start to finish.”—The Huffington Post***
“Stunning . . . Karin Slaughter breaks new ground with this riveting story. If you haven’t yet read her, this is the moment.”—Michael Connelly
“Compulsively readable . . . will have your heart racing.”—*O: The Oprah Magazine
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“Intense . . . engrossing . . . evocative . . . [Karin Slaughter’s] first stand-alone novel [has] a gritty, action-packed plot and strong, believable characters.”—Associated Press
“Slaughter graphically exposes the rampant racism, homophobia, and misogyny of cop culture in the 1970s. . . . Winning leads, the retro setting, and a riveting plot make this one of Slaughter’s best.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Superb . . . explosive . . . [Cop Town] is sure to win over readers new to Slaughter’s work while reminding old fans of her enormous talent.”—Library Journal (starred review)
“Evocative writing . . . amazing characters . . . with edge-of-your-seat suspense and a riveting plot . . . Slaughter’s first stand-alone book is a knockout.”—RT Book Reviews
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From the Paperback edition. Views: 755
Janus is a lawman who enforces society’s most sacred law--the law that every citizen must be Equal in every possible way. But when Janus falls in love with a woman who’s broken the most sacred law he begins a transformative journey of self-discovery that makes him question the society in which he lives.Janus is a lawman who enforces society’s most sacred law--the law that every citizen must be Equal in every possible way. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. But when Janus falls in love with a woman who’s broken the most sacred law he begins a transformative journey of self-discovery that makes him question the society in which he lives. Now he must choose between love and duty. Will he bring the woman to justice? Or will he join her and become a lawbreaker himself? Views: 755
Britt-Marie can’t stand mess. A disorganized cutlery drawer ranks high on her list of unforgivable sins. She is not one to judge others—no matter how ill-mannered, unkempt, or morally suspect they might be. It’s just that sometimes people interpret her helpful suggestions as criticisms, which is certainly not her intention. But hidden inside the socially awkward, fussy busybody is a woman who has more imagination, bigger dreams, and a warmer heart that anyone around her realizes.
When Britt-Marie walks out on her cheating husband and has to fend for herself in the miserable backwater town of Borg—of which the kindest thing one can say is that it has a road going through it—she finds work as the caretaker of a soon-to-be demolished recreation center. The fastidious Britt-Marie soon finds herself being drawn into the daily doings of her fellow citizens, an odd assortment of miscreants, drunkards, layabouts. Most alarming of all, she’s given the impossible task of leading the supremely untalented children’s soccer team to victory. In this small town of misfits, can Britt-Marie find a place where she truly belongs? Views: 755
Rocking Horse Ranch desperately needs cowboys, and Violet Kilburn and her two younger sisters agree to marry mail-order husbands to fill the void. But their guardian, Cornell Pollard, doesn't approve. When the sisters bring their intended grooms home, he makes life difficult for the three couples. The sisters' plan goes terribly wrong, and their budding romances face the ultimate test.A historical western cowboy romance about a mail order bride.This first episode of The Montana Brides introduces Violet, Iris and Rose Kilburn, Heiresses to the Kilburn family cattle fortune. Rocking Horse Ranch runs five thousand head of cattle but all the ranch hands are getting old. The sisters need someone to run the ranch, so the eldest sister Violet hatches the idea of getting mail order husbands for the three of them. There’s only one problem. Cornell Pollard, the sisters’ guardian and the executor of their estate, doesn’t approve. Violet must challenge Pollard and her own role as his ally to find love and gain control over her own life.The sisters pick up their prospective grooms from the train station and bring them back to the Ranch. The men stay in a neighboring house until the minister comes at the end of the week to marry them all. Things quickly start to go wrong. Everybody starts butting heads, and Violet finds herself embroiled in a family drama the likes of which Rocking Horse Ranch has never seen before. Will Violet’s plan to get married end in disaster, or can she and her sisters find love with a group of strange men? Are these men what they appear to be, or is something more sinister at work? Views: 755
