What do you do when you’re where you don’t want to be? What do you do when you’re with who you don’t want to be with? What do you do when the law fails you? Whatever it takes. You do whatever it takes…Elisa is fourteen years old. She has an English mother and a Sicilian father. She was born in England but raised in Sicily, and when her parents split up, she returns willingly to England with her mother. This is where the problems start.Unfortunately for her, her father has the law on his side, the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction. And he uses it. The problem is, though, that she doesn’t feel abducted. And how can she have been abducted if her father had paid for her ticket to England in the first place? How can she have been abducted if he’d then sent money every month so she could stay there? You’d think it would be an open-and-shut case, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, the law thinks otherwise. And now she finds herself back in Sicily, back with him, back without her mother. This is her story. This is how she plays the hand an inflexible and unforgiving law has dealt her. Views: 740
Take a walk through the park, meet a beautiful woman, feed the swan and fall in love. What sort of surprises can a simple walk through the park bring?A tale of reality not being what we see at first glance. Love can be manipulated and reality can be manufactured. Our simplest need to love and be loved can be had for a price. The feeling of falling in love may one day be had by paying an admission, drinking something the man at the gate gives you and taking a walk through the park. Claire is waiting! Views: 740
The bond between Dan Louis and Eric Boyle - lifelong friends and aspiring comedy writers - begins to fracture when one of them develops a knack for stealing the other’s ideas.The bond between Dan Louis and Eric Boyle - lifelong friends and aspiring comedy writers - begins to fracture when one of them develops a knack for stealing the other’s ideas. 'Dan And Eric' subtly gathers absurdist momentum before reaching a shocking and darkly funny conclusion. Views: 740
One of the most beloved characters in children\'s literature, Peter Cottontail is up to his long-whiskered nose in rib-tickling escapades in this delightful classic. With gentle charm and humor, famed storyteller Thornton W. Burgess draws young readers into the timeless world of the Green Forest, the Smiling Pool and the Purple Mountains.Warmth and whimsy are the order of the day as Peter discovers the folly of changing his name, outwits the ever-hungry Reddy Fox, manages a number of hare\'s-breadth escapes and finally makes an ill-advised decision to hibernate-as Johnny Chuck and other woodland creatures do. The silliness of trying to do what nature never intended is one of the gentle morals of these adventures that combine the fun of a good story with little lessons about wildlife, the environment and being true to one\'s self.Newly reset in large easy-to-read type, this unabridged childhood classic will delight young readers today just as it did their parents and grandparents. Views: 740
What do you call poetry that rhymes, has rhythm, tells stories (accessible to normal people not just intelligentsia) and runs longer than 20 lines, sometimes far longer? Unsellable in today's market. Also charming, thought-provoking, evocative, even brilliant, the kind of stuff that, if written 150 years ago, would have been taught to you in school. But written today. Sort of.Myths and romance, Armageddon and the occult, teddy bears and fairy tales, anything can be fodder for an epic poem and Stephanie Barr proves that with this collection of poetry from her earliest days writing that is eclectic, quirky, evocative, brilliant but highly accessible while somehow holding to old-fashioned notions on poetry, making it sound as good as it looks. This is poetry made to be read aloud, all but sung. The years seem eons, ages,Since I traveled, young and free,When the songs my harp would whisperWould bring everyone to me.Women young and soldiers agedCame to hear my siren lyre,Came to lose themselves in music,Dulcet sounds of sweet desire.So, if lyric language is your bag, if you still get transported with the poetry of Keats and Poe, but long for messages a little more here and now, this may be the poetry collection for you. Views: 740
Bleu MacAllister is consumed. A horrific childhood incident has caused every decision in her life to revolve around bringing a monster to justice. With years spent studying The Fellowship, an organized crime brotherhood of liars, thieves, and killers, Bleu will rely on her skills as a special agent to cut Thane Breckenridge off at the knees. But walking hand in hand with retribution means risking collateral damage, in the form of Breckenridge’s son Sinclair—until Sin becomes so much more than Bleu bargained for. She’s always known this undertaking would place her life in danger—she never imagined her heart would be as well. Views: 740
They wanted her to become the new Tsarina, but Natalie had other plans. Now she finds herself in the heart of the Kremlin, trying to hide her true identity. In this sequel to ‘Lady In Waiting’ the tension explodes into terrifying action. All protection lost, and deceived by her own mother, Natalie must again cross Russia searching for her beloved Max, relentlessly pursued by unknown assassinsThey wanted her to become the new Tsarina, but Natalie had other plans, and when the soldiers came, she sacrificed herself to their guns. Now she finds herself in the heart of the Kremlin, trying to hide her true identity.In this sequel to ‘Natalie Tereshchenko, Lady In Waiting’ by emerging author Elizabeth Audrey Mills, the tension explodes into terrifying action.With the protection of the convent taken from her, and the discovery that she has been deceived by the woman claiming to be her mother, Natalie must wait in Moscow for her beloved Max to arrive, so they can continue their escape to England. She takes a job as secretary within the new Communist government, knowing that her life depends on keeping her connections with the dead royal family a secret.When Max does not arrive, she must again cross Russia searching for him, relentlessly pursued by unknown assassins. She cannot survive alone, but how can she tell who her true friends are? Views: 739
A young girl has survived the concentration camps of the horrible Vacont, and now she has to find some way to adapt to what most people consider normal life. A story about getting over the pain that life gives us, friendship and most importantly, hope.Written by 16 year old Aura Redwood for an English project that ended up being a lot longer than it needed to be.Four decades had passed since the last Relic war ravished the oppositional lands of Windpass Isles and Gaedia – a war that ceased in a bloodied truce.Drewth is a Light Elemental and Commander knight under Western Gaedia’s lordship, Syndirin - a high wizard and the king’s Arbiter. Syndirin, with questionable and unclear motive, promotes Drewth as his apprentice, and commences the personal training of Drewth in the ways of magic. Drewth then becomes the unwitting subject of Syndirin’s experimental meddle with the mythical powers of Darkened Light, despite the danger, and despite what sacrifice.Torius, a castle knight in Southern Windpass Isles kingdom and Mundane-born, is taken captive by a conspiratorial clique under Lord Syndirin, where he discovers from these captors their insidious campaign to rekindle the long dead Relic war, in pursuit of Relic’s power.Enflamed by an unforgivable betrayal of Syndirin, vengeance transforms Drewth forever within – his Element undergoes a rare alteration, he turns renegade to Gaedia, and allies with Torius, the escaped prisoner of Syndirin’s clique. Together they battle for their lives out from the now enemy territory of Gaedia.They find themselves fatefully party to a band of peasant prisoners with rare abilities invoked from the trials they face in their likewise escape from the treasonous Arbiter, Syndirin.And if odds turn to favor in their fight for survival, there is still threat to hand of a devastating magic war, a campaign in itself to acquire both kingdom’s all-powerful Relics in the wake of their mutual destruction. Views: 739
Office politics and sex make for uneasy bedfellows as Jennifer, a twelve year veteran, is about to find out. It’s an age old story, a powerful man exchanging position and prominence for sexual favors. Same old, same old... Unless, Jennifer can turn the tide and change the story?Just a little…Haunting – These tomes of terror will stay with you long after you put your book down and go to bed for the evening. They’ve been known to burrow themselves into a reader’s imagination and are capable of warping dreams into twisted, unspeakable nightmares.Just a little…Unique – These aren’t your standard horror stories. Don’t think this collection will include tales of haunted mansions, or blood sucking vampires. Expect one-of-a-kind takes on every gothic ghoul and hideous monster you read about in this book.Just a little…Frightening – Prepare yourself for some of the most chilling flash fiction ever penned. The mad genius, Vincent V. Cava, has done it again with the latest entry in his creepy catalogue. Do yourself a favor and leave the lights on when you read it.Just A Little…Terrible Views: 739
Before Sun Tzu's profound manuscript, the Art of War, became the legendary and renowned work of strategy, tactics, and human relations, he must present it to the king of a powerful state. It proves to be a deadly task. Sun Tzu must duel a great swordsman, and also, wager his life on a challenge issued by the king. Ultimately, the day will end in bloodshed.After much time and toil, Sun Tzu completes his profound manuscript, the Art of War. However, before it is to become the legendary and renowned work of strategy, tactics, and human relations, Sun Tzu must find a powerful patron to recognize its value and utilize it for the betterment of the common people. When Sun Tzu brings his scrolls to the royal palace in the State of Wu, he finds, he must prove his prowess as a warrior by dueling the realm’s greatest swordsman. And on top of that, he must put his life on the line to meet a deadly challenge from the king. Ultimately, the day will end in bloodshed. Views: 739
Over a hundred years in the future, Ted Anderson, a 42-year-old information specialist from the American States, gets drawn into a dangerous interstellar conflict to liberate Earth from a hostile alien invasion.Over a hundred years in the future, Earth has fallen under the invasion of a hostile alien race—the Drevi. Half the population has been captured as specimens, while the rest are fighting for their lives in a resistance movement that has achieved more defeats than victories.Ted Anderson, a 42-year-old information specialist from the American States, thought nothing could save him from his new life. In spite of being an aide to a leading Drevi scientist who treats him well, he is reminded every day what he truly is. A specimen. An Inferior with no future.Then two strange new aliens arrive as representatives of their government, wanting to free humanity from the invading force. And all of Ted’s dreams come true. He’s on a starship, shooting through space at speeds he had never before imagined. And most of all, he is free again.Now Ted is drawn into a dangerous conflict to save all he knows and loves. But the fate of more than just humanity might rest on his shoulders.In this stunning new science fiction epic, author Karen Lofgren weaves a tale of the human condition, and how even in the darkest of times, it can shine through into the future.Cover image courtesy of NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI AURA)-ESA Hubble Collaboration. This publication is in no way endorsed by NASA. Views: 738
Short Story. Will a sorcerer’s gift truly prove powerful enough to break the fae curse or will Keiranna be doomed to remain in exile as a monster forever?Short Story. Keiranna is the last of her clan cursed to survive in a hellish land of exile. When a mysterious messenger offers a way to lift the sorcerer’s curse in exchange for her protection, Keiranna must decide if risking her life is worth his dubious promise of freedom. After all, the messenger’s magic stone might indeed prove strong enough to break the curse, but it is also powerful enough to attract the attention of every twisted fae creature in the Split. And Keiranna is only the first to catch the relic’s scent. Views: 738
This book contains six of the eighteen fairy tales from Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book (1889). The stories have been rewritten sentence by sentence to make them accessible to 21st century American children. The 6 stories include Toads and Diamonds, Beauty and the Beast, Snow-white and Rose-red, Why the Sea is Salty, Felicia and the Pot of Carnations, and Hansel and Grettel.This book contains six of the eighteen fairy tales from Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book (1889). The stories have been rewritten sentence by sentence to make them accessible to 21st century American children. The 6 stories include Toads and Diamonds, Beauty and the Beast, Snow-white and Rose-red, Why the Sea is Salty, Felicia and the Pot of Carnations, Hansel and Grettel.The great beauty of Andrew Lang’s Blue Fairy Book, originally published in 1889, is that it brought together many different fairy tale traditions. There are stories written by Charles Perrault and Mme d’Aulnoy, collected by the Grimm brothers and Asbjornsen and Moe, and translated from the Arabian Nights. It is a very rich collection of fairy tales.However, the stories are written in a language that is outdated and in places inaccessible to modern American children (and even their parents). To remedy this problem, I have thoroughly edited half of the stories contained in Lang`s book, keeping the stories as intact as possible, while revising every sentence so the stories can once again be read with pleasure by children. Views: 738
Darker than vampires. Hot, immortal passion. A tragic love story.Calli's memory returns when she falls in love with the monster who took it from her. Nycholas wants just one thing before his final darkness falls: three nights with Calli.A woman's memory returns when she falls in love with the monster who took it from her.Calli tattoos her skin to fill the holes in her memory, thanks to an accident that left her mind damaged and empty. But a nasty encounter with a fired employee leaves her in the arms of her unlikely savior: Nycholas, a predatory, serpentine Vesper on the run from his brutal master.Nycholas’ clandestine world holds the secrets to mankind’s origin and survival… but he only wants one thing before his time is up: a few colorful nights with Calli, the fragile, tattooed, human woman he pursued and saved.The more Calli learns about Nycholas, the more her own darkened memories return to her. Despite her haunted past, she loses herself to passion and desire with her immortal captor.Now, Calli must overcome the demons of her past, or allow Nycholas to kiss her memories away and spare her the trauma of loving a doomed immortal. But each choice comes with dire consequences – some that endanger not only herself, but her family as well. Views: 738
