The Black Obelisk

Life in a small German town during the great inflation in 1923. A continuation of "The Road back." Entertaining, philosophical and funny: Remarque at his best.
Views: 706

Branna

Branna Murphy is a survivor, a wife, a friend, a sister, and a soon-to-be-mother. She doesn’t have time to linger on anything, especially on a silly argument about how many children she will bear. Ryder Slater is a hardass, a husband, a friend, a brother, and a soon-to-be-father. Unlike his wife, he has nothing but time to argue his case about how many children they will have… until that time is threatened to be taken away from him. A surprise honeymoon deep in a beautiful forest for a secluded getaway was supposed to be fun, romantic and peaceful – until the storm of the century hits and both Branna and Ryder face a new enemy that has means to harm their family. Mother nature. Branna is consumed by her love for Ryder, and will fight to the end to keep her family safe. Branna treasures Ryder, and what Branna treasures, Branna defends.
Views: 706

Blues for Mister Charlie

In a small Southern town, a white man murders a black man, then throws his body in the weeds. With this act of violence--which is loosely based on the notorious 1955 killing of Emmett Till--James Baldwin launches an unsparing and at times agonizing probe of the wounds of race. For where once a white storekeeper could have shot a "boy" like Richard Henry with impunity, times have changed. And centuries of brutality and fear, patronage and contempt, are about to erupt in a moment of truth as devastating as a shotgun blast. In his award-winning play, Baldwin turns a murder and its aftermath into an inquest in which even the most well-intentioned whites are implicated--and in which even a killer receives his share of compassion.
Views: 706

Life = Death - volume 3 - Poems on Life , Death

This Book which has 50 differently titled Poems , is actually volume 3 of the Book titled – Life = Death – Poems on Life , Death ( 1200 pages ) .This enigmatic collection of poems explores and equates the boundless possibilities of life and death and delves into each intricate inexplicability of survival. Parekh's roving philosophical eye brings the unconquerable richness of life to the fore and yet at the same time explicitly highlights the veracity of 'death' as the absolute certainty of every existence. The poet joyously celebrates the occasions of both life and death with equal panache in each poetic stanza sewn with the uncanny mysteries of this Universe. The poems within immortalize both life and death as the ultimate victories and the two most contrastingly amazing and divine sides of creation. Catapulting the reader to the threshold of ultimate ecstasy; they bring about an impromptu twist with the closure of breath and what lies beyond. This charismatically woven collection of poetic verse would equally enamor the narcissist as well as the simple humanitarian to the core.This book is a humble attempt to enlighten the readers with the equality of life and death-and to live in both of them to the most unparalleled fullest. Embracing only the religion of humanity, as the Lord has commanded every living being on earth. You cant die in life and cant live in death-each of these components are irrefutably equal in every respect and should be worshipped with due obeisance.
Views: 706

Tiger Rag

The acclaimed author of Veronica and A Trip to the Stars returns with a dazzling new novel based on one of the great legends of musical history. New Orleans, 1900. The virtuoso cornet player Charles “Buddy” Bolden invents jazz, but after a life consumed by tragedy, the groundbreaking sound of his horn vanishes with him. Rumors persist, though, that Bolden recorded a phonograph cylinder, and over the course of a century it evolves into the elusive holy grail of jazz. Florida, the present day. Dr. Ruby Cardillo’s life is falling apart. Her husband, a prominent cardiologist, has left her for a twenty-six-year-old. Her daughter, Devon, a once promising jazz pianist, has recently finished an enforced stint picking up trash along the interstate after a drug conviction. Ruby’s estranged mother has just died, but not before conjuring up ghosts that Ruby thought she had put behind her long ago. After a long career as a well-respected anesthesiologist, Ruby suddenly jumps the tracks, forgetting to eat and sleep, indulging her every whim, wearing only purple, consuming only bottles of 1988 Château Latour. Then Ruby enlists Devon to accompany her on an impulsive road trip to New York, and both mother and daughter get more than they bargained for, discovering that their own shrouded family history is connected to the tantalizing search for Buddy Bolden’s long-lost cylinder. Ranging from turn-of-the-century Louisiana to Roaring Twenties Chicago to contemporary Manhattan, Tiger Rag is at once a moving story of loss and redemption and an intricate historical mystery from one of our most brilliant storytellers.
Views: 705

The Face of Another

Like an elegantly chilling postscript to The Metamorphosis, this classic of postwar Japanese literature describes a bizarre physical transformation that exposes the duplicities of an entire world. The narrator is a scientist hideously deformed in a laboratory accident–a man who has lost his face and, with it, his connection to other people. Even his wife is now repulsed by him. His only entry back into the world is to create a mask so perfect as to be undetectable. But soon he finds that such a mask is more than a disguise: it is an alternate self–a self that is capable of anything. A remorseless meditation on nature, identity and the social contract,* *The Face of Another is an intellectual horror story of the highest order.
Views: 705

Love Forever

A love story that will bring tears in your eyes. like every love story this too has a boy and a girl falling in love with each other but there is something more to it here. Some magic that will take you on a love ride. A sweet tragic love story that will leave you with a smile and teary eyes.A love story is like a recipe that has the same ingredients but not necessarily tastes the same always. Every love story is different in some or the other way and so is this one. Based on events from true incident, this is however a work of fiction. A sweet love story about a boy who is dying of cancer but falls in love with a girl he had a crush on in the past. Can he tell her the truth? Can they fall in love? Read to find out.
Views: 704

The Golden Key

In the dark of night, the Servant Girl is summoned to the Throne Room of the King where she is gifted with the mysterious Golden Key. With her Companion, she will unlock doors of discovery and journey to 'great' and 'unsearchable' places. Her story is a parable of prayer inspired by the sermons of Charles H. Spurgeon and expanded upon in the second half of this life-changing little book.*** This is a short story. It's not a full book. It's only 7000 words, plus samples of the Reed Brothers series. ***Sean has been in love with Lacey for as long as he can remember, but she has pushed him firmly into the friend zone and plans to keep him there. Or so he thinks.Lacey did put Sean in the friend zone, but now she's ready for more. Only he won't make a move. Lacey enters a contest in which a kiss from her will be the prize. Can Sean win the contest? Can he win the girl?
Views: 704

The White Tiger

A stunning literary debut critics have likened to Richard Wright's Native Son, The White Tiger follows a darkly comic Bangalore driver through the poverty and corruption of modern India's caste society. The white tiger of this novel is Balram Halwai, a poor Indian villager whose great ambition leads him to the zenith of Indian business culture, the world of the Bangalore entrepreneur. On the occasion of the president of China's impending trip to Bangalore, Balram writes a letter to him describing his transformation and his experience as driver and servant to a wealthy Indian family, which he thinks exemplifies the contradictions and complications of Indian society.
Views: 704

Sun on the Rocks - The Vanity Ring

Following indications of the Enlightened Dragon Society, Clarity Nice notices that the wife of billionaire Dao Bin, Elsie Chu, has purchased an expensive ring, linked to her smartphone. On her own, Clarity finds the role of this luxurious vanity ring, and how knowledge on immortality will be sold with a Health phone built by Dao Bin, Chinese General Tian Yazhou, and conglomerate Owens & Owell.Rejected by socialite Shalia Owell, who has discovered Clarity's false identity as Herbaline employee Darcy Emmers, Clarity becomes agenda and damage control assistant of Elsie Chu, the wife of Singapore billionaire Dao Bin, owner of wireless and telephony company Hunan Enterprises. Disenchanted by a rocky marriage and the lack of influence she has on the business matters of her husband, including the new health phone project to sell longevity services, Elsie Chu has purchased an expensive ring sold by a luxury jeweler, labeled 'Rose Property', which has some wireless equipment built into it to protect her privacy. Convinced that she can take part in her husband's business, she instructs Clarity to spy on Dao Bin and his moneytician Lim Li, to know more about her husband's activity.Sent to the Chinese Embassy and to the Branch of a private bank in Singapore, the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation, Clarity finds out that Chinese Military officials, led by Western Military Command Theater General Tian Yazhou, have agreed to fund part of the health phone project. Her loyalty siding with the monks of the Enlightened Dragon Society, who are protecting their dossier on immortality, Meridian 57, from Taoist Professor Chang, and from his White Tigress, Madame Wa, an expert of esoteric sexuality, Clarity stays close to Elsie Chu, to find out the storage location of rare earth metals which will be used to assemble the new health phone.Clarity becomes a confidant of Elsie Chu, who has begun instruction as a White Tigress, following the esoteric teachings of Madame Wa. But the cheeky doyenne does not trust her esoteric teacher completely, and she uses her ring in order to stay in touch with a secretive group which keeps her away from sexual esoteric practices, the Privilege Club. The secretive club is the group who issued the vanity ring of Elsie Chu, and instructs her to stay away from Madame Wa and instead carry out the filming of an adult film, 'Golden Lamp of Casa Mollino', to vent out the impulses of her outrageous libido.Enmeshed in the filming of Casa Mollino, which is used by Elsie Chu to involve prominent members of Singapore high society in the funding of her husband's health phone project, Clarity is drawn into the ploy of Elsie Chu. Alone and without any immediate support, she must face the shrewd delegate sent by General Tian Yazhou, Economic and Commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Singapore, Jiang Xiong, and the moneytician of Dao Bin, Lim Li, in order to protect the core of Meridian 57, uncover the identities of those behind the vanity ring of Elsie Chu, and find out Taoist knowledge on immortality assembled by Professor Chang, which will be sold with the Hunan health phone, through a joint venture between General Tian Yazhou, Dao Bin and Owens & Owell.
Views: 704

Ruined & Redeemed: The Earl's Fallen Wife

A heinous crime. A valiant hero. An undeniable temptation. LADY CHARLOTTE FRAMPTON is dead…at least, that is what everyone believes. Fleeing from her life-shattering past, Charlotte reinvents herself as Lotte and becomes the companion to a viscount’s sister. All she is hoping for is a simple and quiet life in the country, away from the demons that still plague her. However, her safe haven is threatened when a visitor arrives one day. SEBASTIAN CAMPBELL, son to the EARL OF WESTON, failed in the most miserable way…and his sister had to pay the price. At his wits’ end, he seeks advice from an old friend, and as though fate chose to intervene at last, his path crosses that of a young woman with soulfully deep eyes. The pain and regret he sees in them echo within his own heart, and Sebastian knows without a doubt that he has found his other half. Can Sebastian convince Charlotte that it is never too late for forgiveness and love? *This USA TODAY bestselling tale of Sleeping Beauty and her prince shows that no matter how broken you are, you can always find healing through the unfailing love of another. If you like marriage of convenience stories with a touch of mystery, a dash of humour as well as heartfelt emotion, then you’ll love this instalment of Bree Wolf’s emotionally charged Love’s Second Chance Series. Buy RUINED AND REDEEMED, grab a cup of tea, settle into your favorite reading spot and start this swoon worthy romance now!* Love's Second Chance Series 1 Forgotten & Remembered - The Duke's Late Wife (Rosabel & Graham) 2 Cursed & Cherished - The Duke's Wilful Wife (Anna & Edmond) 3 Despised & Desired - The Marquess' Passionate Wife (Ellie & Frederick) 4 Abandoned & Protected - The Marquis' Tenacious Wife (Henrietta & Connor) 5 Ruined & Redeemed - The Earl's Fallen Wife (Charlotte & Sebastian) 6 Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife (Beth & Tristan) 7 Deceived & Honoured - The Baron’s Vexing Wife (Madeline & Derek) More to follow: 8 Sacrificed & Reclaimed - The Soldier's Daring Widow (Meagan & Edward) (Bonus Novella) A Forbidden Love Novella Series 1 The Wrong Brother 2 A Brilliant Rose 3 The Forgotten Wife 4 An Unwelcome Proposal 6 Hearts to Be Mended To Follow: 7 Winning her Hand 8 Conquering her Heart
Views: 704

Guitar Heroes

An urban fantasy short story. Screaming Machinery are a rock band. But their fans don’t realise they are also mighty heroes, regularly saving the world with magic and sword.They are called upon when their city comes under threat. Eighteen murders take place, each a node in a vast rune drawn across the city in blood. Something is coming through and it's up to Screaming Machinery to stop it...Screaming Machinery are a power-trio from Manchester, playing gigs to rapturous crowds. But what their fans don't realise is that they are also mighty heroes, regularly saving the world with magic and sword.They are called upon again when Manchester comes under dire threat. Eighteen murders take place, each a node in a vast rune drawn across the city in blood. Something very large and powerful is coming through and it's up to Screaming Machinery to try and stop it ...
Views: 703

Wrong All Along

Jill Sherer and her friends spend the summer after their freshman year of high school in a sun-splashed daze of romance and excitement. But as they make their way through sophomore year, mistakes, missed opportunities, and carefully-ignored signs come back to haunt them.Freshman year is over. Summer is here. Jill and Hillary aren’t fighting anymore, Lorylyn is back with Brady and happier than ever, and Jill has her new best friends Hilton and Todd too – Hilton, whom she endlessly admires and wants to be more like, and Todd, with whom she’s crazily in love. After a somewhat rollercoaster year, things are looking pretty great. And on the last day of school, Hilton tells Jill an outrageous, stunning secret about her relationship with Reed, then at Landon’s party that night, Jill gets to kiss Todd in spin the bottle. And just like that, the tone for the summer is set. Sunny days on a sparkling blue lake...an overnight stay in a hotel with the boys...trips to Cedar Point, the Bahamas, and California...the thrill of romance in the air...sneaking out late at night...one girl’s “first time”...wild nights at Landon’s. The lingering high off all of it. Giggling, stories, excitement, inside jokes. Anticipation of what’s to come. For Jill, Hilton, Lorylyn, and Hillary, it’s their dream summer. Everything is picture-perfect; nothing can go wrong.But for some of the girls, what’s to come is nothing they would have wanted to anticipate. For things haven’t been as perfect as they’ve seemed. It’s just that the girls have ignored the signs. Signs they could have seen all along, had they been willing to look. But desperate to believe in the glimmering illusions of the summer, they close their eyes to what they don’t want to see, what they don’t want to believe. To the ominous gut instinct that everything is just a little too perfect, a little too good to be true. To the foreboding premonition that it won’t last, that control is somehow slipping away. Because everything that seems too good to be true...probably is.
Views: 703

The Help Clinic

Scott Markham has no recollection of events leading up to his arrival at The Help Clinic. It is Spires’ job to help him to remember, but perhaps Scott doesn’t want to do that. Perhaps the reality of his situation is too much for Scott to bear.Please review my free story.In the sixth episode of Earth, Book One of The Hrwang Incursion, the stakes are higher for Eva as she tries to insinuate herself into the Lord Admiral’s inner circle. Other survivors prepare for war. Wolfgang’s newly found sniper skills are tested and 1804 learns the fateful outcome of its decision.Acting President Hollis takes an experimental rocket the aliens missed into orbit to discuss terms, while Stanley continues to feel helpless and stuck at Hearst.Don’t miss a single episode! Each one can be downloaded for free at www.smashwords.com.
Views: 703

Little Lies

In this riveting prequel to her novel Little Mercies, New York Times bestselling author Heather Gudenkauf explores how even the smallest lies can have far-reaching consequences. When the body of a woman is discovered in a local park—with her bewildered four-year-old son sitting beside her—veteran social worker Ellen Moore is called in to assist in the police investigation. Positioned beneath a statue of Leto, the goddess of motherhood, the crime is weighted with meaning and, Ellen discovers, remarkably similar to one from a decade past. Ellen's professional duty is to protect the child, but she's not equipped to contend with a killer. As she races to connect the dots, she knows her time is running out. And the stakes are high: if she fails, another mother is sure to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Views: 703