Other Stories of the Four Million: A Madison Square Arabian Night; The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball; The Pendulum; Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen; The Assessor of Success; The Buyer from Cactus City; The Badge of Policeman O'Roon; Brickdust Row; The Making of a New Yorker; Vanity and Some Sables; The Social Triangle; The Purple Dress; The Foreign Policy of Company 99; The Lost Blend; A Harlem Tragedy; The Guilty Party — an East Side Tragedy; According to their Lights; A Midsummer Knight's Dream; The Last Leaf; The Count and the Wedding Guest; The Country of Elusion; The Ferry of Unfulfilment; The Tale of a Tainted Tenner; Elsie in New York; and the title story. Views: 8
Unpublished author and reluctant amateur detective Jennifer Marsh doesn't know how she keeps finding herself in the middle of a murder. Okay, the first one was her fault (she framed herself) but this one is just bad luck: catching her good friend, Emmie Walker, standing over her dead ex-husband, Edgar, holding a bloody knife.Jennifer's sure Emmie is innocent. She's a sweet senior citizen who is way too smart to do something so stupid. So what if she has motive (her former husband was loaded and she'd gain ownership over his successful chain of restaurants) and opportunity (found holding a knife over his body)? She's not the only one.Edgar Walker was not a nice man. People were probably standing in line to murder him. The question is who got to him first?With help from her quirky writer's group, gorgeous, cranky reporter Sam, and her own fictional heroine Maxie Malone, Jennifer's determined to get to the bottom of this... before Emmie's convicted based on Jennifer's own eyewitness testimony. Views: 8
Alien in Chief is the latest adventure in Gini Koch's rollicking and snarky Alien series and the thrilling sequel to Alien Separation. Views: 8
Join bestselling authors Jennifer Crusie, Victoria Dahl and Shannon Stacey for three SEXY stories about finding the one you love.SIZZLE by Jennifer Crusie Business takes a backseat when successful ad executive Emily Tate meets Richard Parker. He's an accountant who's been sent to keep her in line and under budget in her ad campaign for a sensual new perfume called Sizzle. And if Emily's not careful, she could well melt in Richard's hands.TOO FAST TO FALL by Victoria Dahl For Jenny Stone, driving is her escape—from her past, her problems, her quiet life in Jackson Hole. But after Deputy Nate Hendricks stops her—again—for speeding, she could lose more than just her license. She could lose her heart. Nate seems to think that Jenny should replace her love for fast driving with something even more…heart pumping. And despite her need for speed, Jenny's never been one for defying the law.ALONE WITH YOU by Shannon Stacey When waitress Darcy Vaughan's friend asks her to help out with the launch of a fledgling restaurant, she's happy to oblige. Little does she know the owner is Jake Holland, the perfect guy who slipped through her fingers after their one night of passion. But for Darcy and Jake, one touch was just not enough.About the AuthorJennifer Crusie has written more than fifteen novels and has appeared on many bestseller lists, including those of Publishers Weekly, USA TODAY and the New York Times.Victoria Dahl lives with her family in a small town high in the mountains. Her first novel debuted in 2007, and she’s gone on to write seventeen books and novellas in historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance. Victoria's contemporary romance, Talk Me Down, was nominated for both a RWA Rita Award and the National Readers' Choice Award. Since then, her books have been nominated for two more Rita Awards, and she hit the USA Today Bestseller list with the anthology Midnight Kiss.New York Times bestselling author Shannon Stacey lives with her husband and two sons in New England, where her favorite activities are writing stories of happily ever after and riding her four-wheeler. The Stacey family spends many weekends on their ATVs, making loads of muddy laundry to keep Shannon busy when she’s not at her computer. However, she prefers writing to laundry and considers herself lucky she got to be an author when she grew up. Visit her at www.ShannonStacey.com. Views: 8
The Dragon Healer of Tone is an epic fantasy about the life of Terra, the human whose fate is tied to the Dragon World of Tone’s future. Many seasons ago, a great wizard started a war that drove the humans to the misty valleys along the coast. Terra was the first male born with the magic of healing for hundreds of sets of seasons. He is the hope of the world, even though few know of his existence. As a child, he was taken from his family and was raised by the great coastal dragons. Only the dragons and a few others that have been awaiting his birth know of him and his powers. Even they have no idea of the enormous capabilities he possesses. Terra and his dragon, Fienna, whom he loves above all others, must save themselves from the dangers of outside powers that would either control or destroy them. Not least of these powers is the Black Solan, an insane witch bent upon their destruction. The two must survive, as well as build a life together, in a world of unknown enemies. Views: 8
Five original tales set in a shared urban future--from some of the hottest young writers in modern SFA strange man comes to an even stranger encampment...a bouncer becomes the linchpin of an unexpected urban movement...a courier on the run has to decide who to trust in a dangerous city...a slacker in a "zero-footprint" town gets a most unusual new job...and a weapons investigator uses his skills to discover a metropolis hidden right in front of his eyes.Welcome to the future of cities. Welcome to Metatropolis.More than an anthology, Metatropolis is the brainchild of five of science fiction's hottest writers--Elizabeth Bear, Tobias Buckell, Jay Lake, Karl Schroeder, and project editor John Scalzi---who combined their talents to build a new urban future, and then wrote their own stories in this collectively-constructed world. The results are individual glimpses of a shared vision, and a reading experience unlike any you've had before. Views: 7
Journalist Sadie Bliss is on a mission to prove herself as a world-class reporter.But three things stand in her way…Dangerously mouthwatering photographer Kent Nelson—he's far too brooding and arrogant.A road trip across the Outback with the above distraction—did she mention she doesn't do sleeping under the stars?An insatiable longing to throw her rule book out of the car window… Because what happens in the Outback stays in the Outback. Right?About the AuthorAmy is an award-winning author who has written thirty-one romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon in both the Medical and RIVA/KISS lines. She's sold over a million books and been translated into a dozen languages. Amy works part time as a PICU nurse. She's been married for 22 years and has two teenagers. She lives on acreage on the outskirts of Brisbane but secretly wishes it was the hills of Tuscany.Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Kent Nelson stood staring across the view of Darling Harbour, his gaze following the line of the iconic white sails of the Sydney Opera House. He stood with his back to the woman swinging idly in her chair, his good leg planted firmly in front of the other as he leaned into the hand resting high against the floor to ceiling tinted window.'So, let me get this straight,' Tabitha Fox said, tapping her pen on her desk, her bangles jangling, as she too admired the view. Not the one she was used to seeing when she looked towards her windows but a mighty fine one nonetheless. 'You want to drive several thousand kilometres to take a few photos?'Kent turned, his ankle twinging as he rested his butt against the glass, and folded his arms across his chest. 'Yes.'Tabitha frowned. She'd known Kent a long time, they'd been to uni together about a thousand years ago, even shared a bed for a while, but since the accident in Afghanistan he'd been practically invisible.Until he'd turned up today wanting to take pictures any staff photographer could take.'Okay…why?'Kent returned her curious gaze with a deliberately blank one of his own. 'I'm your freelance photographer—it's what you pay me for.'Tabitha suppressed a snort. His official status might be freelance photographer for the glossy weekend magazine Sunday On My Mind, but they both knew he'd 'declined' every job offered and, she'd bet her significant yearly salary, probably hadn't taken a photo since the accident.She narrowed her eyes at him as she tried to see behind the inscrutable expression on his angular face. 'There are these things called planes. They're big and metal and don't ask me how but they fly in the air and get you to where you want to go very quickly.'A nerve kicked into fibrillation along his jaw line and Kent clenched down hard. 'I don't fly,' he pushed out through tight lips.The words were quiet but Tabitha felt the full force of their icy blast. Cold enough to freeze vodka. She regarded him for a moment or two as her nimble brain tried to work the situation to her advantage. She drummed her beringed fingers against her desk.An outback road trip. Local people. The solitude. The joys. The hardships. The copy laid out diary style.And most importantly, breathtaking vistas capturing the beauty and the terror in full Technicolor shot by a world-renowned, award-winning photographer on his first job since returning from tragedy in Afghanistan.For that reason alone the paper would sell like hot cakes.'Okay.' Tabitha nodded, her mind made up. 'Two for the price of one. Journey to the Red Centre stuff—the most spectacular photos you can take.''As well as the Leonard Pinto feature?'She nodded again. 'Might as well get my money's worth out of you. Lord knows when you'll grant us some more of your time.'Kent grunted. Tabitha Fox was probably the most business-savvy woman he'd ever met. She'd built Sunday On My Mind from a fluffy six-page pull-out supplement to a dynamic, gritty, feature-driven eighteen-page phenomenon in five years.He lounged against the glass for a moment. 'Tell me, I'm curious. How'd you get him? Pinto? He's pretty reclusive.''He came to me.'Kent raised an eyebrow. 'A man who shuns the media and lives in outer whoop-whoop came to you?'Tabitha smiled. 'Said he'd open up his life to us—nothing off limits.'Kent fixed her with his best 'and pigs might fly look. 'What's the catch?''Kent, Kent, Kent,' she tutted. 'So cynical.'He shrugged. After spending a decade in one war zone or other, cynical was his middle name. 'The catch?' he repeated. 'Sadie Bliss.'Kent frowned. The journo on the story with the most spectacular byline in the history of the world? 'Sadie Bliss?'Tabitha nodded. 'He wanted her.'Kent blinked. 'And you agreed?' The Tabitha he knew didn't like being dictated to. She especially didn't like relinquishing her editorial control.She shrugged. 'She's young and green. But she can write. And, I—' she smiled '—can edit.'Kent rubbed a hand along his jaw. 'Why? Does she know him?''I'm not entirely sure. But he wanted her. So he got her. And so did you. She can…' Tabitha waved her hand in the air, her bangles tinkling '.navigate.'Kent narrowed his gaze. 'Wait. You want her to travel with me?' Three thousand kilometres with a woman he didn't know in the confines of a car? He'd rather be garrotted with his own camera strap.Not happening.Tabitha nodded. 'How else am I going to get my road trip story?'Kent shook his head. 'No.' Tabitha folded her arms. 'Yes.' 'I'm not good company.'Tabitha almost burst out laughing at the understatement. 'In that case it'll be good for you.' 'I go solo. I've always gone solo.''Fine,' Tabitha sighed, inspecting her fingernails. 'Sadie and her staff photographer can fly to Pinto and get the job done in a fraction of the time and at half the cost and you can go back to your man-cave and pretend you work for this magazine.'Kent felt pressure at the angle of his jaw and realised he was grinding down hard. He'd already burned his bridges at a lot of places the last couple of years. He was lucky Tabitha was still taking his calls after the number of times she'd covered for him.But days in a car with a woman whose name was Sadie Bliss? She sounded like a twenty year old cadet whose mother had named her after one too many fruity cocktails.'I do believe,' Tabitha said, swinging in her chair as she prepared to play her ace, 'you owe me a couple.'Kent shut his eyes as Tabitha called in his debts. 'Fine,' he huffed as he opened them again because he wanted—needed—to do this. To get back into it again.And he did owe her.Tabitha grinned at him like the cat that got the cream. 'Thank you.'Kent grunted as he strode to her desk, barely noticing his limp, and sat down. 'Do you like his nudes?'Tabitha nodded. 'I think he's sublime. You?'Kent shook his head. 'They're all too skinny. Androgynous or something.'Tabitha rolled her eyes. 'They're ballet dancers.'Leonard's nude of Marianna Daly, Australian prima ballerina, had won international acclaim for his work and hung in the National Gallery in Canberra.'Well, they're not Renaissance women, that's for sure.'Tabitha raised an elegantly plucked eyebrow. 'You like Rubenesque?'Kent grunted again. 'I like curves.'Tabitha smiled. Oh, goody. She picked up the phone her gaze not leaving his. 'Is Sadie here yet?' She nodded twice still spearing Kent with her Mona Lisa smile. 'Can you send her in?' she asked, replacing the receiver before the receptionist had a chance to respond.Kent narrowed his gaze. 'I don't trust that smile.'Tabitha laughed. 'Suspicious as well as cynical.'Kent had no intention of subjecting himself to her Cheshire grin. He rose from the chair and prowled to the window, resuming his perusal of the view as the door opened.Sadie checked her wavy hair was still behaving itself constrained in its tight ponytail as she stepped into the plush corner office, determined not to be intimidated. So what if the legendary Tabitha Fox could make grown men weep? She'd given Sadie the job and, lowly cadet reporter or not, she knew her big break when she saw it.Even if Leo's agenda was questionable.'Ah Sadie, come in.' Tabitha smiled. 'I'd like you to meet someone.' She nodded her head towards Kent. 'This is your photographer, Kent Nelson.'Sadie turned automatically, her gaze falling on broad shoulders before her brain registered the name. She blinked.The Kent Nelson?' she asked his back, the image that had affected her a few months ago revisiting.Kent shut his eyes briefly. Great. A groupie. He turned as Tabitha said, 'The one and only.'Sadie was speechless. Multi-award-winning, world-acclaimed photojournalist Kent Nelson was coming with her to the back of beyond to take photos of a reclusive celebrity?She almost asked him who he'd pissed off but checked her natural urge to be sarcastic.Kent was pretty damn speechless himself as one look at Sadie Bliss blew his mind. And his was not a mind easily blown. Tabitha was smirking in his peripheral vision so he hoped he wasn't staring at her like a cartoon character whose eyes had just popped out on springs because, try as he might, he was powerless to pull his gaze away from all those curves.Curves that started at her pouty mouth and did not let up.Sure, she'd tried to contain them in her awful pinstriped suit but they looked as if they were going to bust out at any moment. They looked as if they had a mind of their own.Bliss? Very appropriate. A man could starve to death whilst lost in those curves and not even care.Great. Just what he needed. Three days in a car with a rookie reporter whose curves should come with a neon warning sign.Sadie looked at Tabitha with a scrunched brow. 'I'm sorry, I don't understand…Kent Nelson is the photographer on my story?''We-e-ll-ll…' Tabitha wheedled. 'Plans have changed a little.'Sadie could feel the pound of her pulse through every cell in her body as a sinking feeling settled into her bones.They wanted to take her off the story.Give it to someone else.Sadie cleared her throat. 'Changed?'She was determined to act brisk and professional. She might not have scored this story on merit, but she intended to show everyone she had the ... Views: 7
Come on up to the attic Come up if you dare Climb up the rickety ladder— Come up and see what's there... Ben H. Winters brings the fear factor to this collection of thirty spooktastic rhyming stories about witches, zombies, vampires and more! Featuring eerie illustrations by Adam F. Watkins, this book is perfect for nights around the campfire and slumber party ghost stories. Be sure to keep a flashlight close! Views: 7
