A short story. A sunny summer holiday. A few days relaxing in the corner of the bar terrace and observing a mixed bunch of guests.**Catch is a novella. It will take most readers 1 or 2 hours to read.**When eighteen-year-old Miranda chases a purse snatcher on the Las Vegas Strip, the last thing she expects is for the pursuit to turn into an extended game of hide-and-seek. All Miranda wants are the old black and white photographs buried at the bottom of her purse. They’re the only things she has left of the grandmother she never knew. But how much is she willing to put on the line to save them? And is it possible she’s falling in love with a thief? Views: 691
Nothing lasts forever. Even attack dolls eventually outlive their usefulness, but what happens to them then? When Trevor and his friends are menaced by a new threat, one which strikes to the very heart of their powers, they face a difficult choice. Is it finally time for the Primes to say goodbye to the attack doll? Is this . . . The End of Lily Lee?Twenty-one-year-old Trevor Chiao is Prime Blue; he is a member of the fabulous Primes, a group of seven men and women whose mission is to protect the Earth from Enclave, an alien organization bent on taking over the world. Protected by a blue force shield that enhances his strength and speed and keeps his identity secret, he travels all over the world with his fellow Primes, battling monsters, Zoinks, and the mysterious Lily Lee, a beautiful Asian woman who refers to herself as . . . the Attack Doll. Nothing lasts forever. Even attack dolls eventually outlive their usefulness, but what happens to them then? When Trevor and his friends are menaced by a new threat, one which strikes to the very heart of their powers, they face a difficult choice. Is it finally time for the Primes to say goodbye to the attack doll? Is this . . . The End of Lily Lee? Views: 691
The Night Horde used to be sure of their place in this world. Now, following a harrowing confrontation with the vicious leader of a notorious drug cartel, they are weakened in body and spirit, and they no longer have the unwavering support of the citizens of Signal Bend. They must fight to reclaim the goodwill of their town and their own sense of purpose.Justin “Badger” Ness is struggling both physically and mentally with the price he paid for his place in the brotherhood of the Night Horde. That which gives him the most strength is becoming his personal demon. He is in danger of losing sight of what is good and real in the world.Adrienne Renard is lost between the life she thought she wanted and an endless world of possibilities. The stepdaughter of Showdown Ryan, the club VP, comes to Signal Bend out of concern for her friend, worried about Badger’s increasing distance, but she stays to find her own place in a life she never knew she wanted.Together Badger and Adrienne learn that trust—in each other and in themselves—is where strength truly lies. Without trust, there can be no atonement, no forgiveness. It’s a lesson the Night Horde and the town of Signal Bend must learn, as well.Leave a Trail is the final volume in the Signal Bend Series. It is a story of struggle and recovery, of loss and gain, of hope and perseverance, and of the abiding power of real love.Also included in this volume: The True Seed, a novella and epilogue to Leave a Trail and to the Signal Bend Series itself.Note: explicit sex and violence. Views: 691
“Naomi loves you, Saul … She loves you in a way that neither you nor I can truly understand – in a way that only someone like her is capable of loving. But because of who she is, a world like ours can only destroy her. And because of what you are, her love will cause you pain unlike anything you have ever felt before..."The dystopian image of a world order built on perpetual war is Bo Jinn's backdrop to the story of Saul Vartanian; a veteran of the warzones, scarred both physically and emotionally by battles fought, and by the perverse order of the UMC to which his life and soul have been committed, and from which there is no escape. Saul’s struggle takes a dramatic turn, however, when he comes upon a figure of innocence and purity utterly alien to the world that bore him. Orphaned by the ever-growing blight of war and the spread of so-called “martial order”, little Naomi becomes Saul Vartanian’s last vestige of hope and his final redemption for a past long forgotten. . . Views: 691
The One Armed, Three Legged Chair, a fantasy adventure that will transport you into a world only dreamed of. After magically giving Zair. a brave and curious bird the power of speech, the Omach brings an old rickety chair to life. Shortly afterwards, the Omach is confronted with his mysterious past along with an angry wizard determined to destroy the chair at any cost!The One Armed, Three Legged Chair, a fantasy adventure that will transport you into a world only dreamed of. There you will meet the Omach, who will entrance you with his 'wizardarious' concoctions and incredible creations. After magically giving a brave and curious bird named Zair the power of speech, the Omach brings an old rickety chair to life. Not content with that, the chair demands a mouth, an ear and an eye... Thus begins the adventure of their lives. The Omach is confronted with his mysterious past along with his evil brother, an angry wizard determined to destroy the one armed, three legged chair at any cost. Banding together, the Omach, Zair and the other birds from the meadow battle the dark forces and the power of the bleeding heart. After facing fire, death and destruction, the power of love and brotherhood prevails. Peace comes to those who need it most and beauty is restored to what was once dead and ugly! Views: 691
Red Flood tells the story of a boy's journey through post-apocalyptic America.In the distant future, mercenary Samuel Parker is hired to help out an underground organization on a planet he's never been to. Kreft Way, the representative of these people is faced with unexpected problems brought on partly through his own group's lack of proper planning. Views: 691
Years ago, Adella Lancaster witnessed the brutal murder of her and brother by a gang of notorious thieves who claimed revenge on her father. Suddenly, responsible for two younger sisters, Adella narrowly escapes danger and begins a new life in a new town, claiming new identities. Seven years later, a man rides into town from where her family was killed, bringing back long suppressed memories and emotions. Gage Grayson has always tried to walk the straight and narrow, but now he is feeling punished for some unknown reason when the obstinate, and beautiful, school teacher, Adella, is constantly thrust in his path. He repeatedly stumbles across her in dangerous situtations with no choice but to aid her. Despite a tendancy to clash, Gage quickly realizes Adella isn't the only one in danger...for he's in danger of losing his heart to her. As they battle their feelings for each other, they both try to track down the gang of thieves to put an end to their reign. One way or another, someone is going to end up hurt...or dead. Views: 691
Read the story of relations between the earthly girl and the celestial guest on the pages of this book.Have you heard about angels? And what if one of them will come to you in a dream, and then will appear in reality. And what this meeting prepares for you? Can angels love? And, if so, whether they can fall in love with a human? An unforgettable meeting opened for Nastya the way to heaven and brought her into the spiritual world of our planet. And who is the mysterious Teacher and his 13 friends?Read the story of relations between the earthly girl and the celestial guest on the pages of this book. Views: 690
Zhara, the First. Elysia, her clone. On the surface, they are identical. But looks can be deceiving.
When Zhara plays, she plays to win. She thought she had escaped the horrors of Doctor Lusardi's cloning compound. But the nightmare is just beginning. Elysia has taken everything from Zhara-a softer, prettier version of herself and an inescapable reminder of all she's failed at in her life. Now the man Zhara loves has replaced her with Elysia. Zhara will get her clone out of the way, no matter the cost.
Elysia has finally learned the truth: she has a soul. Her First is alive. She knows it hurts Zhara to see her with Alexander, but she can't give him up. The genetically-perfected Aquine has chosen as her as his life mate, and their days together are limited.
Elysia can't remain in the Rave Caves off the shores of Denesme forever. Revolution is brewing on the island paradise. Hundreds of soulless clones remain imprisoned like Elysia once was, slaves to the whims of their owners-wealthy human inhabitants of the island. As a group of clones and humans, led by Alexander, plot an insurrection that will turn Denesme's world upside down, Elysia knows her place is fighting by his side. Terrible sacrifices must be made to defeat Denesme's twisted regime. But even the greatest losses cannot prepare Elysia for the ticking time bomb built into her own programming... Views: 690
In this prequel story to the So Not Super web series, we find out how Captain Famous became Captain Famous and how he and Samantha ended up together.A beautiful young dancer’s performance at the royal banquet has pleased her king. To show his gratitude, he offers her the fruits of his kingdom. She may have anything.Anything her heart desires.The King cannot refuse when the dancer asks for a night in his bed. Though it is the first time he will betray his marriage, he feels no guilt for he knows the Queen is, at that very moment, in the arms of another.But this tryst is not as it seems, for the Queen and her lover lust only for the reins of the kingdom. That night, they have set in motion a plan to murder their ruler and steal his throne.The King learns of this plot, but far too late to stop it. The assassination might succeed, but for the actions of a surprising ally, his new bed mate.The beautiful dancer, too, is not as she seems. She alone holds the power to save her king from the traitors, and to restore his kingdom to him. She will do this by presenting him an offer of her own. He may have anything.Anything his heart desires.Originally written as a single chapter in the Wither the Waking World novel The Death You Deserve, Betrayal is a glimpse into the origins of the cursed land of Illengaard, known as the Kingdom of Teardrops. Views: 690
A Tale of Art and Obsession - Historical Novel Society Indie Novel of 2015 Longlisted Includes Book Group Discussion Guide Light, Descending brings to life Victorian art and social critic John Ruskin (1819-1900), a passionate and tormented genius whose career as art critic, social reformer, and benefactor and nemesis to some of the greatest names of 19th century art ended in near-universal public acclaim and madness. Octavia Randolph, author of the best-selling The Circle of Ceridwen Saga, portrays Ruskin's artistic genius, political struggles, and frustrated private passions in a vivid and haunting recounting of the great man's life. From his life-long defence of the painter JMW Turner, to Ruskin's unconsummated marriage to Effie Gray, to his patronage of artists Dante Gabriel Rossetti and his fiancée, Lizzie Siddal, and Lizzie's death by self-administered drug overdose; to Ruskin's love affair with the teenaged Rose LaTouche, and her early... Views: 690
For a thousand years, Commander William Johnson has guided the humans toward joining the Coalition, an alliance of advanced civilizations in the galaxy. Soon after they finally do, the Kaitians--the servant species of the long-extinct Hwzeenn--launch an all-out assault against other species in the galaxy with only one goal: extermination.For a thousand years, Commander William Johnson has guided the humans toward joining the Coalition, an alliance of advanced civilizations in the galaxy. Soon after they finally do, the Kaitians--the servant species of the long-extinct Hwzeenn--launch an all-out assault against other species in the galaxy with only one goal: extermination. In order to survive, William and others in the Coalition must find a way to stop the Kaitian attack before it’s too late. “It's either them or us. And I'd rather it'd be them, even it means a seat in hell for us.”The Kaitian War is the fifth story from the Strangers’ Universe and it’s a direct sequel to Truths, Half-Truths and Lies. Views: 690
A man receives a bus ticket in the mail from his dead mother. The ticket says Route Zero: Home. Everything in his life from his mother's death up to this point has been as dull as cinder blocks and just as dirty. Should he take the Zero bus? What waits for him at the end of the line?The calls only come when I’m at work. They start as vibrations in telephone wires, igniting under bird feet perched high above the freeway, metal boxes sending electric spider webs into the ground, crackling beneath dead bodies rotting six feet under corn fields, faster and faster into the dark abyss of sewer pipe acid trips and up into my fifth floor apartment, jangling in the handset of my telephone, waking the crack heads next door. I imagine the phone ringing once, twice, a million times before my answering machine picks it up with a click, recording silence for five long seconds before clicking to a stop and rewinding in the dark of my living room. Lights come on in the apartments around mine, but I’m not home. I’m never home anymore. I haven’t been home in years. Views: 689
When David Gascoyne celebrated his seventeenth birthday in Paris in 1933, he already had a poetry collection and a novel to his name. He spent much of the next few years in the French capital associating with Eluard, Dalí, Ernst, Breton, Péret and other surrealists. By the age of 20 he had firmly established himself within the movement with the publication of his groundbreaking A Short Survey of Surrealism and the poems of Man’s Life Is This Meat. In 1938 Hölderlin’s Madness marked his move away from surrealism in ‘a renewal of vision’, followed by his milestone collection, Poems 1937-1942. After the war Gascoyne revisited Paris, publishing A Vagrant and other poems in 1950 and Night Thoughts, the acclaimed BBC radiophonic poem for voices and orchestra, in 1956. Despite several breakdowns he continued to write, particularly during the latter years of his long life, producing few poems, but many translations, reviews and literary criticism, memoirs and obituaries. Even so it was his contention that he was ‘a poet who wrote himself out when young and then went mad’. This self-deprecating judgement could not be further from the opinion of those who know his work and value his achievement. This New Collected Poems, compiled by Gascoyne’s friend and editor Roger Scott, comprises work that the poet chose to preserve, together with uncollected and unpublished material; all meticulously researched from notebooks and manuscripts held in the British Library and internationally in academic institutions. It falls to present-day readers of Gascoyne’s poems to experience the impact of his work, to recognize its significance in twentieth-century literature, and its continuing relevance. Views: 689
