With his elegant prose, distinctive imagination, and deep empathy, the bestselling author of The Crimson Petal and the White once again dazzles us in three novellas. "The Courage Consort" tells of an a capella vocal ensemble sequestered in a Belgian chateau to rehearse a monstrously complicated new piece. But competing artistic temperaments and sexual needs create as much discordance as the avant garde music. In "The Hundred and Ninety-Nine Steps," a lonely woman joins an archaeological dig at Whitby Abbey and unearths a mystery involving a long-hidden murder. In "The Fahrenheit Twins," strange children, identical in all but gender and left alone at the icy zenith of the world by their anthropologist parents, create their own ritual civilization.
In each of these novellas, Michel Faber creates a unique, self-contained world, where the perennial human drama plays out in all its passion and ambiguity. Views: 527
This is how it began. . . It is the year 2524. Harvest is a peaceful, prosperous farming colony on the very edge of human-controlled space. But we have trespassed on holy ground--strayed into the path of an aggressive alien empire known as the Covenant. What begins as a chance encounter between an alien privateer and a human freighter catapults mankind into a struggle for its very existence. But humanity is also locked in a bitter civil war known as the Insurrection. So the survival of Harvest's citizens falls to a squad of battle-weary UNSC Marines and their inexperienced colonial militia trainees. In this unlikely group of heroes, one stands above the rest. . . a young Marine staff sergeant named Avery Johnson. Views: 527
1942: Boldly advancing through Asia, the Japanese need a train route from Burma going north. In a prison camp, British POWs are forced into labor. The bridge they build will become a symbol of service and survival to one prisoner, Colonel Nicholson, a proud perfectionist. Pitted against the warden, Colonel Saito, Nicholson will nevertheless, out of a distorted sense of duty, aid his enemy. While on the outside, as the Allies race to destroy the bridge, Nicholson must decide which will be the first casualty: his patriotism or his pride. Views: 527
Hayley Foster had an imaginary friend growing up like most children.
Unlike most other children though, her imaginery friend turns out to be real when he suddenly returns to her life after eight years.
Her imaginery friend Alex, is in fact, her guardian angel. But his sudden reappearance soon turns out to be the first of a series of strange events and happenings in the city of Glasgow.
Join Hayley and Alex on an adventure of mystery, intrigue, comedy and demons as they try to unravel the truth about what is really going on in Scotland's second city, while Hayley tries to work out the questions she's dying to know - is she going mad? And where has Alex really been all these years?
But her journey may lead her to the most important answer of all; who she really is. Views: 527
Max Smith, a clockmaker's assistant, is far from Edwardian London, in a world destroyed by war - 100 years in his future! Held captive by the despicable Beau Riche, King of London, Max is caught up in the world-conquering machinations of Ben Landon, Envoy of the Protestant-Moslem Republic of Texas.Armed with the mysterious Eye of Time he must decide whether to save the world... or destroy it!Eight short stories covering the range from mythical through fantasy to inter-dimensional, and more! Thought-provoking commentary on altruism, greed and politics. Witty, pithy and pointed, these stories will please many different tastes. These previously unpublished stories include: Death and Taxes, Captive Audience, A Walk on the Wind, The Book of Fate, The Castle-O-Lantern, Catspaw, Hunting Licence, and Involunteer. Views: 527
Mike Smith's life was crap, living all alone, years after his wife had died and his children had grown up and moved away. Then he saw the commercial for the Daffodil. Far more than other robots, the Daffodil could become anything and everything he wanted it to be. Mike's life is about to change.Lucinda Brant's sweeping family sagas are a perfect reminder of why I fell in love with historical romance —Cheryl Bolen, NY Times bestselling authorSet in the opulent world of the aristocracy and inspired by real events, Midnight Marriage delivers another lavish 18th century Lucinda Brant experience—heart-wrenching drama with a happily ever after.1760s England and France. Julian and Deb are hurriedly, and secretly, married off as teenagers. Julian is then banished to the continent. Deb is returned to the nursery, told her midnight marriage was just a bad dream from the effects of laudanum. Nine years later, Julian returns incognito to claim his bride before a debonair rival can seduce her into bigamous wedlock. But Julian’s calculated deception puts his marriage and future happiness on the edge of ruin.“You will once again be reminded why Lucinda Brant’s books are such a treasure.” —SWurman, Night Owl Reviews 5 STAR Top Pick“Twists, turns, dramatic revelations, and some enjoyable chaos make this a book that keeps the reader turning pages. Highly recommended!” —Fiona Ingram, Readers’ Favorite 5 STAR Medal WinnerSeries-starter second book in the highly acclaimed ROXTON FAMILY SAGA (follows first book prequel NOBLE SATYR)100,000 words, about 400 standard pages (not including bonus material)Non-explicit, mild sensualityAccolades2016 B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree2016 Readers’ Favorite Audiobook Silver Medal Winner2013 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award FinalistConnecting BooksMany readers enjoy Lucinda Brant's books as part of a wider series since her characters inhabit the same meticulously-researched 18th Century world with people and events cross-referenced throughout. Should you wish to read each series in chronological order, here is the sequence:Roxton Family Saga1740s NOBLE SATYR (Renard and Antonia)1760s MIDNIGHT MARRIAGE (Julian and Deb)1770s AUTUMN DUCHESS (Antonia and Jonathon)1770s DAIR DEVIL (Dair and Rory)1770s PROUD MARY (Mary and Christopher)1780s SATYR’S SON (Henri-Antoine and Lisa) In progressSalt Hendon Series1763 SALT BRIDE (Magnus and Jane)1767 SALT REDUX (Antony and Caroline)SALT HENDON COLLECTION — boxed set with bonus novella SALT ANGELAlec Halsey MysteriesSpring 1763 DEADLY ENGAGEMENT (Country house murder and mayhem)Autumn 1763 DEADLY AFFAIR (A poisoned vicar and the mysterious Miranda)Winter 1763 DEADLY PERIL (Bloody intrigue abroad)Summer 1764 DEADLY KIN (Evil lurks in Edinburgh) In progress Views: 526
Betrayal changes everything.The veil between realms is threatened by an unknown force, Silas vanishes without a trace and Nivian is tasked with putting a stop to it and finding their Fate Keeper. But a greater threat looms. A betrayal Nivian doesn't see coming, puts everyone's loyalty into question and threatening to destroy, not only the fragile alliance the Reapers and Hunters have formed, but everything they've worked so hard to protect.Nivian's heart threatens to get in the way of her duties as she struggles to face her feelings for Kain, the man who once her mortal enemy, is now someone she can't seem to resist. Her only hope of success lies with him, yet guilt causes her to hesitate when she can least afford to.As the veil starts to crumble, Nivian must race against time and draw upon everything she has to save the Balance before the world becomes a literal hell on earth… But will it cost her more than... Views: 526
With a deadly monster hot on his heels, Gareth flees through the streets of Chicago. It's taking all of his shamanic abilities just to keep him from death. And then his salvation arrives, but it may be too good to be true.Magic is alive and well throughout the world. It's always been there, and it still is; just waiting for those willing to see it. For most it is but a passing dream, too elusive to grasp, but for those who look closely it comes roaring into their lives with the strength of inevitable permanency. Long ago a mighty spell was cast. Merlin, the greatest magician to have yet lived, summoned forth a single drop of blood from each living human, and upon this ocean of blood he cast a potent curse with the greatest of intentions. His spell changed the nature of mankind's interaction with the arcane forever. With this curse he insulated the species against the very fabric of the arcane. Future generations became all but impervious, and oblivious, to the effects of magic. In time all that was magic became forgotten by the masses, and it had to be discovered anew by each magician as the generations rolled by. But once the magic was touched it shattered the protections upon that individual, and brought the pervasive realities of the unbelievable into stark view all around them. A new community of magicians, in all their varieties, began to form throughout this new world. They formed out of necessity for survival. With the entrance of magic into their lives, so too came the monsters. This is a series of short stories delving into the adventure and mystery of modern magic. Stories that take us from university teaching wizards with their logically precise incantations, into the art-fueled magics made by clerics of faithful dreaming, through the ranks of druids wielding the powers of life in environmentalist activism, past the potion brewing shamans with their storefronts of homeopathic medicines, and to the contraptions and creations of mechanically-minded enchanters. Trolls roam state parks, imps battle in the sewers, bodies claw their way out from cemeteries, and gods walk the streets. There's an entire world of magic out there. A dream just waiting for those who will look, and make it real again... Views: 526
