EARLY DAYS. The three girls were called after flowers. This is how it came about: When Primrose opened her eyes on the world she brought back a little bit of spring to her mother\'s heart. Mrs. Mainwaring had gone through a terrible trouble—a trouble so dark and mysterious, so impossible to feel reconciled to, that her health had been almost shattered, and she had almost said good-bye to hope. The baby came in the spring-time, and the soft, velvety touch of the little face, and the sight of the round baby limbs, had made Mrs. Mainwaring smile: had caused her to pluck up heart, and to determine resolutely to take this new blessing, and to begin to live again. The baby came in the month of March, just when the primroses were beginning to open their pale and yet bright blossoms. Mrs. Mainwaring said that the child was a symbol of spring to her, and she called her Primrose. The next girl was born in Italy, in the middle of a rich and brilliant summer. Flowers were everywhere, and the baby, a black-haired, dark-eyed little mite, had a starry look about her. She was called Jasmine, and the name from the very first suited her exactly. The third and youngest of the sisters also came in the summer, but she was born in an English cottage. Her mother, who had been rich when Jasmine was born, was now poor; that is, she was poor as far as money is concerned, but the three little daughters made her feel rich. She called the child from the first her little country wild flower, and allowed Primrose and Jasmine to select her name. They brought in handfuls of field daisies, and begged to have the baby called after them. The three girls grew up in the little country cottage. Their father was in India, in a very unhealthy part of the country. He wrote home by every mail, and in each letter expressed a hope that the Government under which he served would allow him to return to England and to his wife and children. Death, however, came first to the gallant captain. When Primrose was ten years old, and Daisy was little more than a baby, Mrs. Mainwaring found herself in the humble position of an officer\'s widow, with very little to live on besides her pension. In the Devonshire village, however, things were cheap, rents were low, and the manners of life deliciously fresh and primitive. Primrose, Jasmine, and Daisy grew up something like the flowers, taking no thought for the morrow, and happy in the grand facts that they were alive, that they were perfectly healthy, and that the sun shone and the sweet fresh breezes blew for them. They were as primitive as the little place where they lived, and cared nothing at all for fashionably-cut dresses; or for what people who think themselves wiser would have called the necessary enjoyments of life. Mrs. Mainwaring, who had gone through a terrible trouble before the birth of her eldest girl, had her nerves shattered a second time by her husband\'s death; from that moment she was more ruled by her girls than a ruler to them. They did pretty much what they pleased, and she was content that they should make themselves happy in their own way.... Views: 284
Discover the magic of New York Times bestseller Melissa Foster's writing and see why millions of readers have fallen in love with the Love in Bloom series. Seaside Summers is a series of stand-alone steamy romances with beautifully flawed and fiercely loyal, alpha heroes and smart, sassy heroines.Friendships and family abound during this fun-filled weekend of love, laughter, and happily ever afters! Spend the evening catching up with our Seaside friends in this Valentine's Day celebration and fall in love with our newest Seaside couple, Brock and Cree!What's more romantic than finding your forever love on Valentine's Day?They say opposites attract, but for former boxing champ and gym owner Brock Garner, having the beautiful dark-haired, tattooed, combat-boot wearing pixie Cree Redmond flitting around his club has nearly driven him mad. Brock has wanted Cree since the first time he saw her, and when he learns she has the singing voice of an angel, it... Views: 284
What's worse than being possessed? Repossessed . . . Laurel thought seeing her mother possessed was bad, but she finds it hard to keep up her spirits when Thelma is struck by lightning and possesses a man with a less than wholesome reputation. There will be grave consequences when Thelma, who is not in her own body, is the main suspect in a murder, and Ian goes camping. Will Thelma give up the ghost? Will Laurel solve the murder in due corpse? It's a dead certainly that this is the new paranormal . . . Repossessed is Book 6 in this USA Today Bestselling series. Views: 284
A dozen astonishing mysteries from the case files of scientific detective Craig Kennedy Whenever the New York City police department encounters a mystery so strange it seems impossible to solve, they head to Columbia University in search of Professor Craig Kennedy. When he’s not lecturing students on the science of chemistry, Kennedy uses his superlative intellect and his facility with the latest technological advancements to capture the city’s most diabolical villains. In “The Confidence King,” he matches wits with a thief whose counterfeiting skills extend from paper currency to fingerprints. In “The Firebug,” Kennedy stops an arson epidemic by means of sophisticated handwriting analysis. And in the title story, the surprise antidote to a case of cyanide poisoning turns out to be as dangerous as it is effective. First appearing in the pages of Cosmpolitan magazine, scientific detective Craig Kennedy was so popular during the early twentieth century that he became known as the “American Sherlock Holmes.” This ebook features a new introduction by Otto Penzler and has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices. Views: 284
This classic text presents one of the exciting episodes in the career of the famous detective Hemlock Holmes, a Sherlock Holmes parody, as recorded by his friend Dr. Watson. Views: 284
Can be a standalone
Jet Madden is notoriously good in bed. It’s not a fact I can confirm through experience, but, according to the lust-driven grapevine at Whitney Briggs University, he’s a sexual force to be reckoned with—many, many times in a single savory night.
The day my world crashes around me, I’m shuttled off to live with the ratted, tatted, roided-up hulk. Regardless of the fact, I’ll do anything to keep my distance from that egotistical, giant ball of muscles. The last thing I want is to become another notch on that totem pole of seduction he keeps tucked in his pants. The very last thing I want is to befriend or, God forbid, fall for Hollow Brook’s resident wick dipper.
But that sheet rock chest, those steel cut abs—a girl can only hold up her resistance for so long before she slowly goes insane. I’m trying to resist him, really I am, but I have to see if those rumors are true.
Each night I dream of falling asleep in Jet Madden’s arms, and each day I pretend as if I loathe his existence. It’s all a lie. We’re a lie. Staying away from Jet Madden is proving impossible. My body demands to collide with his, even if all it will ever amount to is our dirty little secret.
Dirty Kisses
He’s afraid to get too attached.
She’s afraid of losing control. Views: 283
Tall Chambers has just prevented a terrorist attack when he gets a call from the White House. What the President wants him to do next may not be possible but Tall has to try. Innocent lives are at stake. A Mini Novel in 5 chapters.Tall Chambers leads a secretive agency which tracks terrorist groups. If a group has definite plans to harm innocent people, the agency steps in and stops them by whatever means are necessary. Tall and his agency first appeared in the novel Justified Action. In this Mini Novel, Tall gets an assignment from the White House. The President wants him to rescue hostages held by a terrorist group for ransom. Tall knows it will be nearly impossible to free the hostages, but he's the only hope they have. Views: 283
The imprisoned assassin Albert is introduced to a problem by a returning inmate. Someone has been purposefuly vandalising cars that are parked in the inmate's neighborhood, but nobody seems to understand why... Nor can anyone catch the vandal.Peace of a nice, quiet neighborhood is interrupted by a vandal, who goes to great lengths to demolish other people's cars. Nobody feels safe and everyone suspects one another. Who does it? And why? Inmate Albert is looking to find that out as he chats with one of the victims - a small-time thief nicknamed 'The Crutch.'This is the second short story of the 'assassin Albert' collection. Views: 283
FBI handler Meg Jennings and her K-9 partner, Hawk, are drawn into a case that involves a fortune in uncut gems, and an enemy whose power and ruthlessness know no bounds . . . Diamonds are no one's best friend when the jewels in question are smuggled conflict gems. Meg Jennings and her Labrador, Hawk, have undertaken many search-and-rescue missions, but this case has an unusual twist. A Philadelphia syndicate is importing diamonds from war-torn African nations and selling them with fake certificates to Stateside dealers. Agent Finn Pierce of the Organized Crime Program is embedded with the syndicate, but being caught with a wire or tracking device would mean instant execution. If Meg, her partner Brian Foster, and their dogs can track Pierce to a deal location, they can break the smuggling chain while maintaining Pierce's cover. With the syndicate monitoring every move, it's a risky operation with more players than Meg and Brian first... Views: 283
