From the trilogy's darker themes of violence and social control to fashion and weaponry, the collection's exploration of the Hunger Games reveals exactly how rich, and how perilous, protagonist Katniss' world really is.• How does the way the Games affect the brain explain Haymitch's drinking, Annie's distraction, and Wiress' speech problems?• What does the rebellion have in common with the War on Terror?• Why isn't the answer to "Peeta or Gale?" as interesting as the question itself?• What should Panem have learned from the fates of other hedonistic societies throughout history and what can we?The Girl Who Was On Fire covers all three books in the Hunger Games trilogy.

    She just needs to convince him they belong together, and being snowbound in a secluded cabin will make this a Christmas neither will forget. It's "Home for the Holidays" in Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones may long to wrap presents and set up a tree, but this Christmas, an evil vampire and long-buried family secrets will threaten to take a bite out of their holiday cheer.

     Jeaniene Frost's story, One for the Money, features vampires Cat and Bones trying to protect a spoiled heiress with a price on her head and an undead hitman on her trail. Previously published in Death's Excellent Vacation. Also includes the first three chapters from Jeaniene's story in The Bite Before Christmas anthology, as well as a sneak peek at ONCE BURNED, the first novel in the new Night Prince series. Ilona Andrews' story, A Questionable Client, is a prequel to her award-winning Kate Daniels series. In a world beset by magic waves, Kate Daniels works as a mercenary. She is tired, hungry, and there is foul-smelling blood on her boots. All she wants to do is to go home, but when Mercenary Guild offers her a job she can't refuse, she finds herself protecting a man against Russian wizards. Previously published in Dark and Stormy Knights. Also includes first two chapters of FATE'S EDGE, book 3 in the Edge series, and first two chapters of Magic Grieves, a Kate Daniels novella.

    To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance.Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…Nicolai the Vampire was renowned for his virility, but in a twist of fate "The Dark Seducer" had become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remained was a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who could help him.In her dreams, a wanton vampire called to Jane Parker, drawing her to his dark sexuality and his magical realm.But for a human, all was not a fairy tale in Delfina. Jane was the key to Nicolai's memory…but exploiting her meant dooming the only mortal he craved.The Darkest Angel Lords of the Underworld #4.5An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust—until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the pure-hearted Lysander into temptation….The Amazon's Curse Atlantis #5Zane, a fierce vampire warrior, has been enslaved by the Amazons. Nola, a lovely Amazon soldier, has been cursed with invisibility. Now, these two stubborn enemies must overcome the pasts that haunt them and embrace a love that can set them free... (Can be found as a whole novel here)The Darkest Prison Lords of the Underworld #3.5Passion and danger collide in this brand-new, eBook exclusive Lords of the Underworld adventure!Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike's slave. Now, he is her master. And soon these sworn enemies destined to destroy one another will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love...

    Both Vladlena and Nathan are hiding something, but they can't conceal the lust that simmers between them...Darkness Eternal by Alexandra Ivy: After being held captive by one vampire for four centuries, Kata had no intention of taking another one to the underworld with her. Yet even in the pits of hell, there's no ignoring the intoxicating desire awakened by his touch...Kane by Jacquelyn Frank: Kane knows Corrine was meant to be his . . . just as he knows that truly possessing the lovely human is forbidden. But on the night of the Samhain moon, the beast in every demon in stronger than reason, and Kane's hunger is more powerful than any punishment...Dragon on Top by G.A. Aiken: Escorting the highborn Bram through deadly Sand Dragon territory will try Ghleanna's patience...and her resolve. Bram is determined to enhance the journey with a seduction no female could resist...

    A digital collection of all of the books that can be found and read in the epic game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

    John Mortimer died in 2009, but will never be forgotten. While still a practicing barrister, Mortimer took up the pen, and the rest is literary history. His stories featuring the cigar-chomping, cheap- winetippling Rumpole and his wife, Hilda (aka "She Who Must Be Obeyed"), have justly earned their place in the pantheon of mystery fiction legends. The stories became a very successful PBS television series starring Leo McKern as Rumpole.Forever Rumpole brings together fourteen of Rumpole's most entertaining adventures, together with a fragment of a new story. Rumpole is never less than delightful and this new collection is a fitting tribute to an indelible character and his remarkable creator.

    Transmetropolitan combined black humor, political scandal, and moral ambiguity to look into the mind of gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem and The City he inhabits. Aided by his embattled Editor and his two Filthy Assistants, Jerusalem blazes a path through a futuristic world of skyscrapers and technological wonders, dark alleys, and unspeakable depravity.Transmetropolitan: All Around The World is a lovingly crafted and designed tribute to a seminal work. Contributors include: Aaron Alexovich, Stephanie Buscema, Jim Calafiore, Stefano Caselli, Cliff Chiang, Richard C. Clark, Kevin Colden, Molly Crabapple, Camilla d’Errico, Kristian Donaldson, Ryan Dunlavey, Gary Erskine, Richard Friend, Dan Goldman, Cully Hamner, Lea Hernandez, Phil Hester, Rantz Hoseley, Matt Howarth, K Thor Jensen, Seth Kushner, Jonathan Luna, Milo Manara, John McCrea, Moritat, Dean Motter, Darick Robertson, Jimmie Robinson, Stuart Sayger, Tim Seeley, Fiona Staples, Bryan Talbot, Pete Woods, and many, many others.[text from http://cbldf.org/homepage/transmetrop... ]

    . .. Summer Fever by Donna Hill Nina Forbes is excited to house sit in the Hamptons-but her handsome neighbor, Barbados native Ian Harrison, excites her even more. Soon the two are sharing conversation, kisses. . .and sizzling sleepovers. Ian promises to keep in touch after he returns home in the fall. But as the days pass, Nina fears their passion was just summer fever. . . One Hot Summer by Niobia Bryant After a high-profile divorce, event planner Simone "Love" Lovey swears off dating famous people. . .until sexy star athlete Maleek Trenton enters her life. Their romance is bliss, but Love again finds herself amid paparazzi, groupies-and calls from a woman who claims she's involved with Maleek, and has intimate details to prove it. . . Too Hot To Handle by Zuri Day Choice McKinley gets stuck in an elevator during a blackout, on the hottest July 4th ever. That she's locked in with gorgeous Trey Scott only adds to the heat. Soon, relief from the high temperature requires clothing removal and sultry kisses. But Trey doesn't know Choice is his boss's off-limits daughter-and Choice doesn't know Trey is a wanted man. All that will come after the doors open to reality. . .

    Initially created by H. P. Lovecraft and a group of his amorphous contemporaries (the so-called "Lovecraft Circle"), The Cthulhu Mythos story cycle has taken on a convoluted, cyclopean life of its own. Some of the most prodigious writers of the 20th century, and some of the most astounding writers of the 21st century have planted their seeds in this fertile soil. The Book of Cthulhu harvests the weirdest and most corpulent crop of these modern mythos tales. From weird fiction masters to enigmatic rising stars, The Book of Cthulhu demonstrates how Mythos fiction has been a major cultural meme throughout the 20th century, and how this type of story is still salient, and terribly powerful today.Skyhorse Publishing, under our Night Shade and Talos imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of titles for readers interested in science fiction (space opera, time travel, hard SF, alien invasion, near-future dystopia), fantasy (grimdark, sword and sorcery, contemporary urban fantasy, steampunk, alternative history), and horror (zombies, vampires, and the occult and supernatural), and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller, a national bestseller, or a Hugo or Nebula award-winner, we are committed to publishing quality books from a diverse group of authors.

    Robb:Eve and Roarke return to investigate a series of murders connected to a brilliant young surgeon in Chaos in Death.From Mary Blayney:A shopkeeper's solitude is complicated by a magic coin, a daring rogue, and dreams of her late husband, who whispers but one word...wish.From Patricia Gaffney:A lonely woman and a hotline psychic turn their astonishing connection to the other side into an unexpected romance.From Ruth Ryan Langan:The shattered soul of an angry spirit imprisoned in a Scottish manor house could be a young widow's only salvation.From Mary Kay McComas:A young ghost eases his brother's pain and guilt by inviting him into the dreams of an imaginative author of children's books.

    But when one of her clients vanishes for real, Alex fears the worst and embarks on a mission to uncover the truth with the help of an elite forensics team known as the Tracers and jaded, sexy homicide cop Nathan Devereaux. As a grim picture of what really happened begins to emerge, Nathan realizes this investigation runs deeper than they could have guessed. And each step nearer the truth puts Alex in danger of being the next to disappear.UNSPEAKABLE Elaina McCord's dream of being an FBI profiler is threatened by her very first case--investigating a string of murders near a Texas beach resort. Her hunch--met with disbelief by local police--is that these are only the latest offerings from a serial killer who has been perfecting his art for years. Her only allies in a case that's turning dangerously personal are a team of forensic experts known as the Tracers and true-crime writer and irresistable playboy Troy Stockton. A killer is taunting Elaina, letting her know how ruthless he is and how close he's getting. Now it's not just her career that's in jeopardy--it's her life.UNFORGIVABLE A DNA espert, Mia Voss has made it her mission to put away vicious criminals. When her already lousy day ends with a carjacking, it seems like just the icing on top of the cake. But what what Mia thought was a random incident is followed by another sinister episode. Suddenly, she's found herself the target of a sadistic madman. And the only way to protect the people she loves most is to either deliberately destroy her reputation and risk letting a killer walk free or put her trust in Detective Ric Santos, whose turbulent past ruined his chances with Mia in the past. Only Mia can uncover the truth behind the case, but first, Ric will have to get her to entrust him with her secrets...and her life.

    Rita Dove, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and former U .S. Poet Laureate, introduces readers to the most significant and compelling poems of the past hundred years. Selecting from the canon of American poetry throughout the twentieth century, Dove has created an anthology that represents the full spectrum of aesthetic sensibilities-from styles and voices to themes and cultures-while balancing important poems with significant periods of each poet. Featuring poems both classic and contemporary, this collection reflects both a dynamic and cohesive portrait of modern American poetry and outlines its trajectory over the past century.

    But in her court, all is not what it appears to be.2 Alphas: Origins by Ilona Andrews — A woman is kidnapped into a world divided by a superhuman civil war. As the captive of an irresistibly dangerous male, she has two choices: submit and become a pawn, or take hold of her own destiny.3 Nocturne by Sharon Shinn — Accepting a position in a secluded and whispered-about mansion, a woman soon discovers the source of its mystery: the blind, tormented angel who lives there, and whose secrets could now destroy them both.4 Ascension by Meljean Brook — When vampires disappear from a community he's protecting, a world-weary Guardian doesn't know what evil he's hunting, but he'd rather hunt alone than accept help from his ex-lover and fellow Guardian, Radha. But Radha refuses to leave him, because she's determined not just to help him save the community...but to save him.

    Stine turned being the "funny guy" into the best defense against the bullies in his class.Today's top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

    It wasn’t until the 1970s, however, that contemporary queer Native literature gained any public notice. Even now, only a handful of books address it specifically, most notably the 1988 collection Living the Spirit: A Gay American Indian Anthology. Since that book’s publication twenty-three years ago, there has not been another collection published that focuses explicitly on the writing and art of Indigenous Two-Spirit and Queer people. This landmark collection strives to reflect the complexity of identities within Native Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Two-Spirit (GLBTQ2) communities. Gathering together the work of established writers and talented new voices, this anthology spans genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and essay) and themes (memory, history, sexuality, indigeneity, friendship, family, love, and loss) and represents a watershed moment in Native American and Indigenous literatures, Queer studies, and the intersections between the two.Collaboratively, the pieces in Sovereign Erotics demonstrate not only the radical diversity among the voices of today’s Indigenous GLBTQ2 writers but also the beauty, strength, and resilience of Indigenous GLBTQ2 people in the twenty-first century. Contributors:, Indira Allegra, Louise Esme Cruz, Paula Gunn Allen, Qwo-Li Driskill, Laura Furlan, Janice Gould, Carrie House, Daniel Heath Justice, Maurice Kenny, Michael Koby, M. Carmen Lane, Jaynie Lara, Chip Livingston, Luna Maia, Janet McAdams, Deborah Miranda, Daniel David Moses, D. M. O’Brien, Malea Powell, Cheryl Savageau, Kim Shuck, Sarah Tsigeyu Sharp, James Thomas Stevens, Dan Taulapapa McMullin, William Raymond Taylor, Joel Waters, and Craig Womack

    His extraordinary imagination spawned both the Elder God Cthulhu and his eldritch cohorts, and the strangely compelling town of Innsmouth, all of which feature within these pages. Stephen Jones, one of the world's foremost editors of dark fiction, will complete the Lovecraft story in his extensive afterword, and award-winning artist Les Edwards will provide numerous illustrations for this must-have collection.

    #1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh features the Breeds in her story. New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra brings a haunting tale of a fallen angel. USA Today bestselling author Eileen Wilks returns to the shapeshifing Lupi for another magical tale. National bestselling author Kimberly Frost introduces a new paronormal world of muses and vampires.

    Tyra went from dating deadbeats to dating athletes. But living the good life came at a price.... "The Skeletons In My Closet" By: LaShonda DeVaughn, Author of A Hood Chick's Story I & II - They say in order to receive true and real love, we must all take chances. Will Kenneth end up being the real deal? Or will Rita end up regretting her decision in courting a young thug? "Taking Chances" By: Mimi Renee, Author of Deadly Decisions and Pretty Bright - Despite years of women playing games to take her husband away from her, Jai was determined to hold on. Her best friend questions why she puts up with his infidelity. Jai reasons: It's just Something In His Backstroke. "Something In His Backstroke" By: Tysha - Author of The Boss...the story of a female hustler - Fairytales should all have happy endings. Unfortunately, in Zoe's world each ending comes with a tale of lies... "Sleeping With The Enemy" By: Kaie Golson

    . . Yet too few of these tales are known and read today. Alternative Alamat gathers stories, by contemporary authors of Philippine fantasy, which make innovative use of elements of Philippine mythology. None of these stories are straight re-tellings of the old tales: they build on those stories, or question underlying assumptions; use ancient names as catalysts, or play within the spaces where the myths are silent. What you will find in common in these eleven stories is a love for the myths, epics, and legends which reflect us, contain us, call to us-and it is our hope that, in reading our stories, you may catch a glimpse of, and develop a hunger for, those venerable tales.Alternative Alamat also features a cover and interior illustrations by Mervin Malonzo, a short list of notable Philippine deities, tips for online and offline research, and in-depth interviews with two people who have devoted much of their careers to the study of Philippine folklore and anthropology, Professors Herminia Meñez Coben ("Explorations in Philippine Folklore" and "Verbal Arts in Philippine Indigenous Communities: Poetics, Society, and History") and Fernando N. Zialcita ("The Soul Book" and "Authentic but Not Exotic").

    Fortunately, his personal surgeon is sick enough to take the extra steps necessary to make Charles's dream come true.The Grave: Jack starts a series of increasingly unpleasant events when hemakes a pass at suspected "wrong boy", Dave.The Haslet Technique: Lottery winner, Jim Haslet finds himself caught up in a bizarre nightmare when he and his wife are kidnapped by people even weirder than Jim is."Hall of Mirrors is a refreshingly fun experience ... you'll love every strange and grotesque moment!" - Michael A. Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of, "Proverbs for Monsters".

    Age is just a number, and whoever said that full-figured women don't know how to bring fire to a relationship was sadly mistaken.

    It is a product of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group Hot Summer Days event and features authors attending the GayRomLit Retreat 2011 in New Orleans; if you like what you read, come join our group! Read these stories online or download the anthology from ARe. Note: These stories contain sexually explicit content and are intended for adult readers only.J. P. Barnaby – IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT = First LoveL.C. Chase – OPEN TACKLE = Friends to LoversJaya Christopher – CODY AND THE HERMIT = BDSM/CowboysPoppy Dennison – BLINDSIDED = Hurt/ComfortTaylor V. Donovan – HEATSTROKE = AngstRachel Haimowitz – JUNGLE HEAT = MilitaryJambrea Jo Jones – WILD BLUE YONDER = MilitaryLissa Kasey and Xara X. Xanakas – SINK OR SWIM = Established CoupleK-lee Klein – OUTFOXED = Rock StarsMarguerite Labbe – TEARS OF THE SEA = Paranormal/FairytalesClare London – SAY A LITTLE PRAYER = Paranormal/AngelsBelinda McBride – FREE TO FLY = BDSMMichele L. Montgomery – TEARS FROM ABOVE = Paranormal/AngelsCherie Noel – KISS AND TELL = Mild KinkLydia Nyx – MOON OVER MONTANA = Shifter/CowboysM.J. O'Shea – BRIDGES = First LoveS.J.D. Peterson - INNOCENCE TO THE MAX = Paranormal/BDSMDevon Rhodes – HIS LAST RESORT = Coming OutJaime Samms – MOURNING = Hurt/ComfortP.D. Singer – THE BOY NEXT DOOR = Friends to LoversAndrea Speed – MY BLOODY VALENTINE = Paranormal/SorcererDamon Suede – SEEDY BUSINESS = Sci-FiV.J. Summers – LIAR, LIAR = Friends to LoversBryl R. Tyne – ALIPIO = FantasyPiper Vaughn – WANTING = First LoveMissy Welsh – YOU AND BILLION BLUE TILES = First LoveEden Winters – SWEET DREAMS = Coming Out

    Readers cannot resist journeying with her into realms-dangerously dark or illuminatingly revelatory-they could never imagine without her as their guide. From ghost stories in the tradition of M. R. James to darkly poetic tales to moving fictional examinations of the most basic of human emotion-fear, love, hate, loneliness-Monette's pen produces stories that are invariably unforgettable . . .

    a flaming spider who must help stop a goddess from conquering a science fiction convention ... a goblin nursery worker who finds herself trapped in the middle of a war. This collection features five humorous short stories that explore the fantasy realm from the perspective of the lowest of the low, the unlikeliest of unheroes: the goblins.Includes the following stories from the author of the GOBLIN QUEST trilogy:Goblin LullabyThe Haunting of Jig's EarGoblin HunterSchool SpiritMightier than the SwordEach story includes an afterward by the author.

    Four New York Times bestselling authors. One supernaturally seductive town where "Desperate Housewives meets Charmed" (Fresh Fiction). Welcome to Mysteria, Colorado, home to a vegan vampire, a neighborly werewolf, a pair of sisterly witches, a demon nanny, and many more creatures that go bump in the night. Passions run high in this hot two-in-one omnibus edition of Mysteria and Mysteria Lane.

    and reprint of some of Tagore's most famous stories

    They may enforce the rules, but when men in uniform are off duty and under the covers, they're experts at breaking them. In this searingly sexy anthology, popular authors Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, and Karin Tabke present men in uniform-unzipped...Taking the Heat by Sylvia DayIt’s time for protected witness Layla Creed to come out of hiding and take the stan. Layla has only three days to reconnect with federal marshal Brian Simmons—and slake the white-hot lust that has simmered between them for years…Soul Possession – Maya BanksJessie spends a hot night with two sexy-as-sin detectives, only to be accused of murder the very next day. But when Jessie becomes the target of a serial killer, her two detectives will risk everything to have her back in their arms—and in their bed…Karin Tabke’s Wanted follows the X-rated exploits of bad-boy cop Colin Daniels and the soon-to-be-ex-wife of a mob boss. He’s been hired to guard her body, but it drives him to distraction instead, putting his career—and his life—on the line…

    RainSix years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.VAMPIRE LOVE STORYby H.T. NightJosiah Reign is a lover and a fighter. Out for a simple jog, he happens upon a young woman who needs help. So Josiah does what he does best. He takes on her attackers...all five of them, in fact. Little does Josiah know that this one act of goodwill will introduce him to a very strange world, a world of dreams...and nightmares. For this woman, Lena, is not who she seems, and her friends are the stuff of legends. Worse yet, Josiah finds himself falling for not one, but two of these deadly creatures of the night. And as Josiah suffers a devastating loss that rocks his world, he will fight for what he believes in. He will fight for his one true love. And fighting is what Josiah does best.THE VAMPIRES' LAST LOVERby Aiden JamesTxema Ybarra is the most unenviable nineteen-year-old girl alive. Smart, pretty, and athletically gifted, this University of Tennessee freshman should be enjoying college life and her entrance into adulthood. And for a moment she does…until the vampires show up. Born with an unusual ‘twin teardrop’ birthmark on her neck, Txema (pronounced Chema) is one of only a handful of females in the world who bear this trait. It marks her as a vessel of eternal youth and beauty for an elite vampire society determined to protect her precious blood….But it also is the only thing standing in the way of a rogue ‘undead’ nation determined to destroy mankind and usurp the power their sexier brethren have held uncontested for centuries.(Includes a clickable Table of Contents.)

    Eight erotic romance stories in anthology by Shayla Black, Sylvia Day, Karin Tabke, Beth Williamson, Cathryn Fox, Shiloh Walker, Nikki Duncan, and Mackenzie McKade.

    Butcher, Jessica Andersen, and Deidre Knight present a steamy collection of all-new novellas featuring sexy paranormal hunters. With shadowy creatures, intoxicating magic, vivdly imagined worlds, and sizzling passion, this is an anthology no fan of paranormal romance will want to miss.In New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's Ever Night, Rose Pascal is swept into a dark, haunting world every year on her birthday - a world ruled by a warrior king who hunts her kind. Neither of them can deny the passion that soon consumes them both....In Shannon K. Butcher's The Collector, demon hunter Neal Etan sets out to acquire a powerful artifact, but finds much more in beautiful Viviana Rowan. The antique dealer's touch strengthens his magic - and her life may be in Neal's hands if they don't recover the artifact in time....In Jessica Andersen's Crystal Skull, archaeologist Natalie Albright's dig gets shut down amid rumors she has awakened the local demons. But when the terrifying underworld creatures attack, Natalie must team up with her ex to survive. As they fight the ancient menace, they discover a destiny that binds them together - and threatens to tear them apart....And in Deidre Knight's Red Angel, Jamie Angel, leader of the deadly Nightshades, has tracked every kind of monster and demon that roams the darkness, but none of his experiences can prepare him for falling in love with one of the creatures he's trained to destroy....

    It will feature the best sports writing from the website, delivered in a full-color book featuring original artwork and a host of print-exclusives—including original fiction, new writing from editor-in-chief Bill Simmons, posters and pull-out sections, old-school baseball cards and mini-booklets, and a cover that looks and feels like you're holding a basketball. Like its namesake website, Grantland Quarterly will regularly include some of the most exciting and form-pushing sports writers currently plying the trade, including Chuck Klosterman, Malcolm Gladwell, Tom Bissell, Harris Wittels, John Brandon, Anna Clark, Chris Jones, Colson Whitehead, and many more.

    Love with humans is absolutely forbidden, and one man makes certain to uphold this ancient law: Jacob, the Enforcer. . . For 700 Years, He Has Resisted Temptation. But Not Tonight. . . Jacob knows the excuses his people give when the madness overtakes them and they fall prey to their lust for humans. He's heard everyone and still brought the trespassers to justice. Immune to forbidden desires, uncontrollable hunger, or the curse of the moon, his control is total. . .until the moment he sees Isabella on a shadowy New York City street. Saving her life wasn't in his plans. Nor were the overwhelming feelings she arouses in him. But the moment he holds her in his arms and feels the soft explosion of her body against his, everything changes. Their attraction is undeniable, volatile, and completely against the law. Suddenly everything Jacob has ever believed is inflamed by the heat of desire. . . Bring on the night. "Jacqui Frank's Nightwalker series depicts an engrossing alternate world, drawn in prose that is lush and lyrical." --Linda HowardOnly for those I love would I traipse into the merciless Northlands to risk life, limb, and my exquisite beauty. But do they appreciate it? Do they say, "Gwenvael the Handsome, you are the best among us--the most loved of all dragons?" No! For centuries my family has refused to acknowledge my magnificence as well as my innate humility. Yet for them, and because I am so chivalrous, I will brave the worst this land has to offer.So here I stand, waiting to broker an alliance with the one the Northlanders call The Beast. A being so fearful, the greatest warriors will only whisper its name. Yet I, Gwenvael, will courageously face down this terrifying. . .woman? It turns out the Beast, a.k.a. Dagmar Reinholdt, is a woman--one with steel-gray eyes and a shocking disregard for my good looks. Beneath her plain robes and prim spectacles lies a sensual creature waiting to be unleashed. Who better than a dragon to thaw out that icy demeanor? And who better than a beast to finally tame a mighty dragon's heart? NEVER TEMPT FATE It’s been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she’s survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears.For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death.A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil—and a desperate race to save their love…Praise for Alexandra Ivy“Beyond the Darkness kept me riveted! The Guardians of Eternity series is highly addictive.”—Larissa Ione, New York Times bestselling author“Oh, so hot and wonderfully dangerous.”—Gena Showalter on Darkness UnleashedIn this tantalizing collection, four New York Times bestselling authors invite you into the alluring worlds they've created in the Demonica, Guardians of Eternity, Nightwalkers, and Dragon Kin series. Each mesmerizing page will leave you craving more. . . "Vampire Fight Club" by Larissa Ione When a wave of violence forces shapeshifter Vladlena to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice—with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge. Both Vladlena and Nathan are hiding something, but they can't conceal the lust that simmers between them . ....

    It will take every bit of magic simmering beneath her skin for the Stormwalker to survive being “Double Hexed.”From national bestselling author Jeanne C. Stein comes “Blood Debt,” in which bounty-hunter-turned-vampire Anna Strong is visited by three witches who ask her to right an old magical wrong. Anna will have to live up to her last name to make it through alive.

    by post-9/11 policies and actions. Among the narrators:Young men of Arab, Muslim, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent, who were arrested and detained or singled out for voluntary interviews because of their national origin or religion.Scholars who have been blacklisted or subjected to interrogation for their research or writings on Islam and related topics.Muslim women who have suffered from job discrimination, harassment, and assault for wearing a veil or similar head covering.

    Llewellyn's Witches' Datebook puts a wealth of witchy information at your fingertips so you can enhance your skills in fun yet meaningful ways. Cast a simple spell for peace, prepare a delicious batch of Brigid's Blessing Salad or Between-the-Worlds Blackberry Crumble, and keep track of meetings or movie dates.—Moon lore and Esbat rituals, plus Moon phases for successful      spellcasting—Daily planetary and color correspondences to empower your        magical work—Wiccan holidays, Sabbat musings, and tasty seasonal recipes for celebrating the Wheel of the Year—At-a-glance guide to the best days to plant and harvest—Seasonal spells and magical workingsAs always, your favorite authors share their Craft wisdom on a variety of helpful topics. You'll learn the art of "timecrafting"-how to stretch, contract, or bend time to suit your needs; discover how to add spark to any spell with candle magic essentials; find out how to empower your magic with the potent energy of the Dark Moon; and more!13th Year of Publication! Featuring beautiful original artwork by Jennifer Hewitson

    While the effects of 9/11 on these everyday heroes and heroines are indelible, and in some cases have been devastating, at the heart of their deeply personal stories-their harrowing escapes from the falling Towers, the egregious environment they worked in for months, the alarming health effects they continue to deal with-is their witness to their personal strength and renewal in the ten years since. These stories, shared by ordinary people who responded to disaster and devastation in extraordinary ways, remind us of America's strength and inspire us to recognize and ultimately believe in our shared values of courage, duty, patriotism, self-sacrifice, and devotion, which guide us in dark times.

    P. Barnaby – END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (First Love )*Sarah Black – SUCKER-PUNCH (Athlete/Hurt-Comfort )Scarlet Blackwell – BREAKING WAVES (Surfing/Angst )Penny Brandon – FINDING JACK (Cowboys/Mild BDSM )Lee Brazil – BE A BAD BOY (First-Time/Family Drama )Cardeno C. – WOMAN WITH A DILDO (Friends to Lovers )L.C. Chase – OPEN TACKLE (Friends to Lovers )*Kim Dare – MASOCHISM 101 (BDSM/Friends to Lovers )S.J. Frost – A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY (Musicians/Rivals to Lovers )Jeanette Grey – HEART AND SOUL (Friends to Lovers )Jambrea Jo Jones – WILD BLUE YONDER (Military )*Pender Mackie by DOG DAYS OF SUMMER (Blue Collar/First Date )JL Merrow – BEAR NAKED (First-time/Bears )M.J. O'Shea – BRIDGES (First Love )*Neil S. Plakcy – PHOTO BOOTH (Cowboys/FBI )Dustin Adrian Rhodes – STORM OF PASSION (Friends to Lovers )Jaime Samms – MOURNING (Hurt/Comfort )*Justin South – REFLECTIONS (First Love/Hurt-Comfort )Zach Sweets – LUSCIOUS LOVE (Coming out/Food Kinky )Piper Vaughn – WANTING (First Love )*Silvia Violet – TIME TO TELL (Military/Friends to Lover)Deanna Wadsworth – UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (Office Sex )Stuart Wakefield – THE ELEMENTS OF LOVE (Sci-Fi/Ménage )Alex Whitehall – HOLD ME TIGHT (Hurt-Comfort/BDSM Light )Lisa Worrall – JUST ONE KISS (Gay-for-You/Cops )Connor Wright – GONE TO PIECES (Sci-Fi/Mild BDSM )

    * The Rizzoli Bag -- A sad young man in a Roman cafe is offered a once-in-a-lifetime bargain... * Out of the Frying Pan -- The life of a part-time witch working in a shopping mall is turned upside down in a day... * The Queen and the Thief and the Dragon -- A (fairy) tale of the True West, and a young monarch's solution to a thorny diplomatic problem... * Bears -- An ancient sorrow (with a modern twist) wanders through the tumult of a pre-Lenten street carnival... * The Fix -- In the dark guts of Rome's Colosseum, a slave boy with an impossible dream becomes entangled in the machinations of immortals... * Herself -- In the heart of Dublin, something is killing the People of the Hills -- and it's going to take Ireland's only superhero to stop it... * Hopper Painting -- Desolation and redemption in a midnight diner... * The Back Door -- Two terrorists meet in Zurich to carry out a very unusual heist with a confederate who's more dangerous than they imagine......And of course, the title story, beloved and sought after for a quarter century by Young Wizards fans, and finally available in an ebook -- along with the only other Young Wizards short story, Theobroma.

    This ebook boxed set of bestselling Highlanders, Howlers, and Heros features novels by Janet Chapman, Melissa Mayhue, and Nancy Gideon.Secrets of the Highlander, Thirty Nights with a Highland Husband, Masked by Moonlight

    Born in Lancashire, England, he developed an urge early on to travel abroad, and set his sights on the rough and tumble "wild west" of Canada. Part journalist and part storyteller, he ventured up and down the west coast of the United States and wrote romantic stories of cowboys, gold prospectors and characters of the lush, wild backwoods. This collection of verse contains Service's famous story collections "Songs of a Sourdough", published in 1907 to wide success, "Ballads of a Cheechako", "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone", "Rhymes of a Red Cross Man", and "Ballads of a Bohemian". Service favored simple, rhythmic ballads that allowed the reader to get lost in the colorful descriptions and exciting tales of his imagination, which were inspired by his real world experiences.

    Howard, creator of Conan the Cimmerian, continues with this latest compendium of Howard’s fiction and poetry. These adventures, set in medieval-era Europe and the Near East, are among the most gripping Howard ever wrote, full of pageantry, romance, and battle scenes worthy of Tolstoy himself. Most of all, they feature some of Howard’s most unusual and memorable characters, including Cormac FitzGeoffrey, a half-Irish, half-Norman man of war who follows Richard the Lion-hearted to twelfth-century Palestine—or, as it was known to the Crusaders, Outremer; Diego de Guzman, a Spaniard who visits Cairo in the guise of a Muslim on a mission of revenge; and the legendary sword woman Dark Agnès, who, faced with an arranged marriage to a brutal husband in sixteenth-century France, cuts the ceremony short with a dagger thrust and flees to forge a new identity on the battlefield.Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist John Watkiss and featuring miscellanea, informative essays, and a fascinating introduction by acclaimed historical author Scott Oden, Sword Woman and Other Historical Adventures is a must-have for every fan of Robert E. Howard, who, in a career spanning just twelve years, won a place in the pantheon of great American writers.

    Myth. Warfare. Wonder. Beauty. Bravery. Glamour. Gore. Sorcery. Sensuality. These and many more elements of fantasy await you in the pages of Griots, which brings you the latest stories of the new genre called Sword and Soul.The tales told in Griots are the annals of the Africa that was, as well as Africas that never were, may have been, or should have been. They are the legends of a continent and people emerging from shadows thrust upon them in the past. They are the sagas sung by the modern heirs of the African story-tellers known by many names - including griots.Here, you will meet mighty warriors, seductive sorceresses, ambitious monarchs, and cunning courtesans. Here, you will journey through the vast variety of settings Africa offers, and inspires. Here, you will savor what the writings of the modern-day griots have to offer: journeys through limitless vistas of the imagination, with a touch of color and a taste of soul. Contents:The Soul in the Sword • essay by Charles R. SaundersA Gathering at the Meeting Tree • essay by Milton J. DavisMrembo Aliyenaswa (Captured Beauty) • shortfiction by Milton J. Davis [as by Milton Davis ]Awakening • shortfiction by Valjeanne JeffersLost Son • shortfiction by Maurice BroaddusIn the Wake of Mist • shortfiction by Kirk A. JohnsonSkin Magic • shortfiction by Djeli A. ClarkThe Demon in the Wall • shortfiction by Stafford L. BattleThe Belly of the Crocodile • shortfiction by Minister FaustChangeling • shortfiction by Carole McDonnellThe General's Daughter • shortfiction by Anthony Nana KwamuSekadi's Koan • shortfiction by Geoffrey ThorneThe Queen, the Demon and the Mercenary • shortfiction by Ronald T. JonesIcewitch • shortfiction by Rebecca McFarland KyleThe Leopard Walks Alone • shortfiction by Melvin CarterThe Three-Faced One • shortfiction by Charles R. SaundersGriots Bios • essay by uncredited

    THEY COULD NO LONGER CONTAIN THEMSELVES contains--but just barely--five chapbooks of flash fiction, including the winner of the third annual Rose Metal Press short short chapbook contest, and four of the finalists from the fourth. Dropped toddlers, attempted drownings, juvenile promiscuity, road trips, and inappropriate therapy sessions compose the multi-voiced family portrait in Dear Mother Monster, Dear Daughter Mistake by Elizabeth J. Colen. Yoga stalkers, guns and gold, babies with iron stomachs, drunkards with t-shirt cannons, and warlocks are the stuff of Do Not Touch Me Not Now Not Ever by John Jodzio. Dominatrixes and fetishists, face paint and goo, fierce parental love and perverse longings cohabitate in Evan's House and the Other Boys Who Live There by Tim Jones-Yelvington. Leukemia, meteorites, Wal-Mart, bocce ball, Charlie Brown's clinical depression, the language of talking crows and of Che Guevara's omelets fill the eggs in How Some People Like Their Eggs by Sean Lovelace. And smallstories about pretty girls who sit quietly and behave themselves (or not) populate the pages of Paper and Tassels by Mary Miller.

    This speculative fiction compilation, lyrical and tender, quirky and cutting, weaves the fantastic and the horrific alongside the touchingly human. Perplexing and absorbing, the stories lift the veil of reality to expose the realms of what lies beyond with creatures that shed their skin and roam the night, vampires in Mexico City that struggle with disenchantment, an apocalypse with giant penguins, legends of magic scorpions, and tales of a ceiba tree surrounded by human skulls.

    This is a noir-flavored story about some truly terrible neighbors and why you should always treat a werewolf nicely.A short story from the world of Mercy Thompson.Originally published in Down These Mean Streets

    You are cordially invited on a trip to reclaim those lost and forgotten steam driven futures. Join the Immersion Book of Steampunk for an expedition through a new age of glorious industry. Encounter suffragette air-pirates, the art deco terror of imperial skies, unwrap the bullet-proof magic of a cynical prince, or discover the dark ensorcelled secrets of evolutionary public engineering. Newton and Nostradamus shape these worlds together, and that insistent ticking of a double-escapement could signal the portal to a new life in Her Majesty's Off World Colonies or the countdown of an anarchist's time-travelling bomb.

    Included in this issue:Sledding and Starlings, by Bruce L. PriddyRickman's Plasma, by William MeikleThe Brown Tower, by John PrescottThe Crane Horror, by Bruce DurhamSome Distant Baying Sound, by W.H. PugmireA Different Morecambe, by Simon Kurt UnsworthAllure, by Josh WagnerCockroaches, by Amanda UnderwoodA Meeting on the Trail to Hot Iron, by Joseph S. PulverThings We Are Not, by Brandon H. BellDescent Into Shadow and Light, by W.H. PugmireThe Slickens, by Jeremy RussellThe Town of Autumn (part 1), by Mike DavisAll the God, by Joseph S. PulverDreams of Fire and Glass, by Neal JansonsO, Lad of Memory and Shadow, by W.H. PugmireDragon Star Lucky Food, by John MedailleCurse the Child, by David J. WestThe Case of the Galloway Eidolon (Sherlock Holmes), by Bruce DurhamThe Call of the Dance (Sherlock Holmes), by William MeikleUnearthly Awakening, by W.H. PugmireDarius Roy's Manic Grin, by Brian BarnettUshered on the Win, by Jeffrey J. Taylor and W.H. PugmireThe Wagon's Trail, by Joseph S. PulverThe Audient Void, by Mark LowellIn Phantom Isolation, by W.H. PugmireThe Weird Studies of Harley Warren, by Berin KinsmanSky Full of Fire, by Corinna BechkoThe Lord of Endings, by John R. FultzLoaners, by Aaron PolsonThe Prophecy of Zarah, by Jenne KaivoThe Stranger From Out of Town, by John PrescottDesert Mystery! Gas and Go!, by Ann K. SchwaderThe Tunnel Inside the Mountain, by A.J. French#Dreaming, by William MeikleWhat Dances in Shadow, by Derek FerreiraThe Time Eater, by Adam BolivarElder Instincts, by W.H. PugmireAmong the Dark Places of the Earth, by Julio Toro San MartinStone City, Old as Immeasurable Time, by Kelda CrichJust An Accountant, by Henrick Sandbeck HarksenThe Lovecraft eZine is a monthly magazine featuring Lovecraftian horror and the Cthulhu Mythos. Lovecraft eZine was given a "thumbs-up" by S.T. Joshi, and regularly publishes well-known writers such as Stephen Mark Rainey, W.H. Pugmire, Ann K. Schwader, Joseph S. Pulver, SR., William Meikle, and many more. The goal of The Lovecraft eZine is to provide high quality Lovecraftian fiction at a reasonable price.

    Over the course of eight books she’s fought evil vampires, were-creatures, and some serious black magic. She’s done it all with a sharp wit and the help of a memorable cast of werewolf hunters, psychics, and if-notgood- then-neutral vampires by her side. Kitty’s Greatest Hits not only gives readers some of Kitty’s further adventures, it offers longtime fans a window into the origins of some of their favorite characters. In “Conquistador de la Noche,” we learn the origin story of Denver’s Master vampire, Rick; with “Wild Ride,” we find out how Kitty’s friend T.J. became a werewolf; and in “Life is the Teacher,” we revisit Emma, the human-turned-unwilling-vampire who serves the aloof vampire Master of Washington, D.C. This entertaining collection includes two brand-new works: “You’re On the Air,” about one of Kitty’s callers after he hangs up the phone; and the eagerly awaited “Long Time Waiting,” the novella that finally reveals just what happened to Cormac in prison, something every Kitty fan wants to know.Contents:Il Est NeA Princess of SpainConquistador de la NocheThe Book of DanielThe Temptation of Robin Green Looking After FamilyGod's CreaturesWild RideWinnowing the HerdKitty and the Mosh Pit of the Damned Kitty's Zombie New YearLife is the TeacherYou're on the AirLong Time Waiting

    Who are they and why are they here? Discover the origins of these enigmatic angels manifested on Earth for millennia. Lose yourself in their compelling stories of human salvation and triumph over Evil.**This is an anthology of three short urban fantasy stories that were originally part of an online serial. It is meant to be a companion to the Brethren series, and not necessarily a stand alone, but can be read as such. It brings us closer to three of the nine Brethren, Gabriel, Nathanael, and Cassiel- who they are and what they do. There are more stories to come. There is no romance here, but plenty of hot-blooded angel!

    Bluegrass Symphony deals with cowboys and fallow fields, shapeshifters and rednecks, superstitions and realities in harsh prairie country-and a whole bunch of other things thrown in the mix. In her introduction, Ann Vandermeer writes, "These stories are about more than people just trying to get something from one another. These stories are about power and redemption, transformation, and sacrifice."

    THE STORYTELLERS: The authors come to us from many different genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Christian Horror, Mystery/Thriller, Romance, and Poetic Prose. Expect to find vampires, werewolves, demons, monsters, psychopaths and plenty of feckless victims hankering to be taken advantage of in the worst way. Each tale features one or more feckless characters; someone who just can't seem to succeed, someone who never gets it quite right, or just can't catch a break no matter how hard they try. This book should tickle fancies across the board, and will definitely frighten the sensitive-hearted, so tell your friends. Note: BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW, Content Rated PG-13 for mild language, sexual situations, and violence.

    From Rubén Darío's quest to renew the Spanish language to César Vallejo's linking of religion and politics, from Jorge Luis Borges's cosmopolitanism to Pablo Neruda's placement of poetry as uncompromising speaker for the downtrodden, and from Alejandra Pizarnik's agonies of the self to Humberto Ak'Abal's examination of all things indigenous, it is through verse that the hemisphere's cantankerous collective soul in an age of overhaul might best be understood.A brilliant, moving, and thought-provoking summation of these forking paths, The FSG Book of Twentieth-Century Latin American Poetry invites us to look at an illustrious literary tradition with fresh eyes. Ilan Stavans, one of the foremost scholars of Hispanic culture and a distinguished translator, goes beyond easy geographical and linguistic categorizations in gathering these works. This bilingual anthology features eighty-four authors from sixteen different countries writing in Spanish, Portuguese, Mapuche, Nahuatl, Quechua, Mazatec, Zapotec, Ladino, and Spanglish. The poems are rendered into English in inspired fashion by first-rate translators such as Elizabeth Bishop, Galway Kinnell, W. S. Merwin, Alastair Reid, Mark Strand, and Richard Wilbur.In these pages the reader will experience the power of poetry to account for a hundred years in the life of a restless continent.

    With stories by Jack London, O. Henry, H. Rider Haggard, Alastair MacLean, Talbot Mundy, Cornell Woolrich, and many others, this wide-reaching and fascinating volume contains some of the best characters from the most thrilling adventure tales, including The Cisco Kid; Sheena, Queen of the Jungle; Bulldog Drummond; Tarzan; The Scarlet Pimpernel; Conan the Barbarian; Hopalong Cassidy; King Kong; Zorro; and The Spider. Divided into sections that embody the greatest themes of the genre—Sword & Sorcery, Megalomania Rules, Man vs. Nature, Island Paradise, Sand and Sun, Something Feels Funny, Go West Young Man, Future Shock, I Spy, Yellow Peril, In Darkest Africa—it is destined to be the greatest collection of adventure stories ever compiled. Featuring:Lawless open seasFerocious army antsDeadeyed gunmenExotic desert islandsFeverish jungle adventures Including:The story that introduced The Cisco KidThe complete novel of Tarzan the Terrible

    It is a product of the Goodreads M/M Romance Group Hot Summer Days event and features original stories from 29 authors; if you like what you read, come join our group! Read these stories online or download the anthology from AReNote: These stories contain sexually explicit content and are intended for adult readers only. Mark Alders – PYROGASM (Paranormal/Firemen) Rory Auden – BONDS AND BUBBLE RINGS (Shifters/BDSM) Poppy Dennison – BLINDSIDED (Hurt/Comfort)Megan Derr – PERMANENT EXHIBIT: THE GUARDIANS (Fantasy/Angels) Charles Edward – HEROTICA: PHOTON'S STORY (Superheroes) R.L. Ferguson – RIDING FOR A FALL (Cowboys/Friends-to-Lovers) S.A. Garcia – BOUND TO BE SUITED (BDSM/Humor) S.A. Garcia – A CURE FOR THE KING’S LUST (Wizards/Warriors) David Greene – SNAKE BITE (Adventure/Coming of Age) Kathleen Hayes – BROKEN (Hurt/Comfort) Kayla Jameth – CONTROLLED FALL (Adventure/Nature) K-lee Klein – OUTFOXED (Rockstars/ Established-Couples)Celia Kyle – JOY AND PAIN (BDSM/Voyeurism) Taylor Law – WRONG TURN (Shape-shifter/Coming-out) Elizabeth Lister – THE BEACH HOUSE (M/M/M) Ryan Loveless – TWENTY YEARS LATER (WELCOME HOME TO THE CONQUERING HERO) (Military/Reunion) Selah March – THE SATYR’S LAMENT (Post-Apocalyptic/ Mythology) Michele L. Montgomery – TEARS FROM ABOVE (Angels/Light D/S)Zahra Owens – TRUST (Organized Crime) Sloan Parker – SWEPT AWAY (Established-Couples) Jen Pinto – BLUE FLAMES (Sci-Fi/Masturbation) K.D. Sarge – ROMEO AND JULIAN: A NEAR-TRAGEDY NEAR VERONA (Sweet-No Sex, In-the-Closet) Kate Sherwood – TAKEN (Friends-to-Lovers, Hurt/Comfort) K.Z. Snow – QUIET ERP (Fairies/ Non-Explicit Sex) V.J. Summers – LIAR, LIAR (Goth Club/Friends-to-Lovers)Fae Sutherland – MORE THAN WORDS (Guy-liner/Public Sex) Anne Tenino – WHITETAIL ROCK (Cops/Inter-Racial) Pia Veleno – FREEDOM’S SOUVENIR (Vacation Romance) Eden Winters – SWEET DREAMS (College/Coming-Out)

    Please Don’t Be Upset is a collection of fifteen perfectly rendered stories–lists, instructions, yearnings, confessions, more–stories about imperfect mothers and daughters, women and men, strange stories about folded bodies and stalking deer, stories about the small, heartbreaking ways we fail each other, yet cling so tightly.

    

    The heart of this anthology is these real trail tales, stories taken from PCT hikers: trailside humor and traditions, "trail angels" and "trail magic," encounters with wildlife and wild weather, stories of being lost and found, rescues, and unusual incidents. Revealing a larger context are historical accounts of events such as Moses Schallenberger's winter on Donner Pass and pioneer efforts like the old Naches Road that ended up creating access to today's trails; Native American myths and legends such as that of Lost Lake near Mount Hood; and selections from highly-regarded environmental writers who have captured the region in print, including Mary Austin in The Land of Little Rain ; John Muir in The Mountains of California; and Barry Lopez in Crossing Open Ground. Readers will also enjoy a few more surprising contributions from the likes of Mark Twain and Ursula Le Guin.Organized parallel to the actual sections of the PCt and presented in two regional volumes, The Pacific Crest Trailside Reader and Pacific Crest Trailside Reader 2 volume ebook will entertain everyone from dedicated thru-hikers to lovers of regional lore.Need more from the PCT Readers? Editors Rees Hughes and Corey Lewis are sharing stories from the trail on their website, pcttrailsidereader.com. Submit your own images or stories from the trail, or simply get lost in the tales from other travelers...

    The pieces showcase the leading techniques in contemporary quilting and present an array of themes, including portraits, nature, abstraction, realism, and political commentary. Commentary is provided by renowned curator Martha Sielman, executive director of Studio Art Quilt Associates. Fully international in scope, the book includes quilters from the United States, Canada, France, Russia, Switzerland, South Africa, Italy, England, Australia, the Netherlands, South Korea, Norway, Israel, and Japan. This vibrant follow-up to the hugely successful Masters: Art Quilts stands all on its own as an essential keepsake volume to be treasured or with the first book as an irreplaceable set for a lifetime.

    

    For the first time the short story was to be taught as part of the English syllabus for the Intermediate Certificate. For the first time students of English were introduced to the work of Irish writers such as Liam O'Flaherty, Frank O'Connor, Sean Ó Faoláin, Mary Lavin, Brian Friel and Benedict Kiely. Exploring English has resonated with countless thousands of Irish students. For many it provided a gateway to a lifetime of reading and the enjoyment of literature. For even more it was an icon of their school days with its unmistakeable angular cover design. It is still a cherished possession in many households, taken out occasionally and nostalgically to read a story or two and, perhaps, even the accompanying notes which were so enlightening for some yet challenging for others.The Exploring English short story anthology is now being republished in an exact facsimile of the original. Times have moved on; many authors who were alive forty years ago are no longer with us but their biographical notes have not been changed. This is the book precisely as you will have remembered it. Read once more, and enjoy!

    This year's selections include stories that not only covered the news but also made news, including Michael Hastings's "The Runaway General," which forced the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, days after being published in "Rolling Stone." Readers will also find Jane Mayer's "Covert Operations" ( "The New Yorker"), which exposed the Koch brothers' campaign against the Barack Obama presidency, turning the duo into a powerful symbol of modern, corporatized politics.The anthology contains Scott Horton's investigation into inmate suicides at Guant?namo Bay prison ( "Harper's Magazine"); Christopher Hitchens's wryly moving take on the politics of cancer ( "Vanity Fair"); Jonathan Van Meter's eye-opening portrait of Joan Rivers and her transgressive comedic genius ( "New York Magazine"); and Jonah Weiner's extraordinary musical biography of Kanye West, assembled from the artist's tweets and blog posts ( "Slate"). John Donvan and Caren Zucker describe the world's first autism case in "The Atlantic"; Atul Gawande shares the modern medical profession's poignant struggle with death and dying in "The New Yorker"; and Paul Theroux spins a thrilling tale in the "Virginia Quarterly Review" of a mad collector who acquires works of art only to destroy them. Read together or one at a time, these pieces exemplify the wholly immersive experience of well-crafted magazine writing.

    MilmoreThe Beast Within by Hannah HowellThe Vampire Hunter by Heather GrothausLaird of Midnight by Victoria Dahl"New York Times" bestselling author Hannah Howell, Victoria Dahl, and Heather Grothaus offer three unforgettable stories set in the Scottish highlands, where forbidden longings take over. . . "The Beast Within" by Hannah HowellGybbon MacNachton spends his days searching for the Lost Ones--demons with the powerful MacNachton bloodline who are being hunted by those who want to destroy them. When he stumbles upon Alice Boyd, living like a wild animal in the forest, she stirs a primitive lust deep within him--a lust that can only be sated by their explosive union. . .Hidden in the shadowy caves and caverns of the Scottish Highlands, secret vampire clans wage dark battles both deadly and passionate. . ."Dark Embrace" by Hannah HowellWhile searching for his clan's demon Lost Ones, Raibeart MacNachton encounters an ethereal beauty running for her life. The decision to play hero is easy; fighting the urge to ravish the enchanting Una Dunn is more difficult-especially when Raibeart learns they share a powerful connection."The Guardian" by Michele SinclairIn this sizzling new collection, three women fall under the spell of three irresistible vampires who promise to satisfy their every desire. . ."Highland Blood" by Hannah HowellWhen Adeline Dunbar finds an abandoned baby on her doorstep, she sets out to find his clan. Attacked by a group of demon hunters, Adeline tries to flee her rescuer, vampire Lachann MacNachton. But escaping Lachann proves useless--as does denying the primal hunger he stirs deep within her. . .

    Off The Record is seriously cool.’ - Howard Linskey, Author of The Drop, named in The Times best reads of 2011'Buy this NOW! It's a great collection of stories from a great selection of writers. And it's for charity.' Paul Johnston, Author of the Matt Wells, Alex Mavros, and Quintilian Dalrymple series.38 writers, 38 short stories based on classic song titles...The best writers from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, come together to produce an anthology of short stories, with all proceeds being donated to two Children's Literacy charities.In the UK, National Literacy Trust. In the US, Children's Literacy Initiative. Stories from - 1.Neil White - Stairway To Heaven2.Col Bury – Respect3.Steve Mosby – God Moving Over The Face Of Waters4.Les Edgerton - Small Change5.Heath Lowrance - I Wanna Be Your Dog6.AJ Hayes - Light My Fire7.Sean Patrick Reardon - Redemption Song8.Ian Ayris - Down In The Tube Station At Midnight9.Nick Triplow - A New England10.Charlie Wade - Sheila Take A Bow11.Iain Rowan - Purple Haze12.Thomas Pluck - Free Bird13.Matthew C. Funk - Venus In Furs14.R Thomas Brown - Dock Of The Bay15.Chris Rhatigan – Shadowboxer16.Patti Abbott - Roll Me Away17.Chad Rhorbacher - I Wanna Be Sedated18.Court Merrigan - Back In Black19.Paul D. Brazill - Life On Mars?20.Nick Boldock – Superstition21.Vic Watson - Bye Bye Baby22.Benoit Lelievre - Blood On The Dancefloor23.Ron Earl Phillips - American Pie24.Chris La Tray – Detroit Rock City25.Nigel Bird - Super Trouper26.Pete Sortwell – So Low, So High27.Julie Morrigan - Behind Blue Eyes28.David Barber – Paranoid29.McDroll - Nights In White Satin30.Cath Bore - Be My Baby31.Eric Beetner - California Dreamin'32.Steve Weddle - A Day In The Life33.Darren Sant - Karma Police34.Simon Logan - Smells Like Teen Spirit35.Luca Veste - Comfortably Numb36.Nick Quantrill - Death Or Glory37.Helen FitzGerald - Two Little Boys38.Ray Banks - God Only KnowsWith forewords from UK writer Matt Hilton, and US writer Anthony Neil Smith

    It was pointed out during the proofreading and editing process that the table of contents included more words (nearly 800 at last count) than any of the individual stories. It was an interesting observation, but it proves a point. A well-written, complete story can be told with very few words. So, here it is in all of its nightmarish, ghoulish glory, Frightmares: A Fistful of Flash Fiction. It is packed with 129 tales that will rattle your bones, cause you to ponder your future, make you lose some sleep and, yes, even bring a smile to blood-smeared lips. The creation is sewn up tight and ready for a jolt of lightning to bring it to life. And, yes, that time has come, my friends. "It Lives!"

    Their war to free this strange new world from oppression won't be easy: Arrayed against them are the four tyrannical First Men--masters of magic and technology alike--the dreaded Sorcerers of Mars! BLACKTHORN: THUNDER ON MARS is a post-apocalyptic adventure saga in the spirit of "Thundarr the Barbarian" and "John Carter of Mars," featuring original stories by New Pulp luminaries Mark Bousquet, Joe Crowe, Bobby Nash, James Palmer, Van Allen Plexico, Sean Taylor, and I. A. Watson, and illustrated by Chris Kohler. "Original, entertaining, action-packed!" --Wayne Reinagel, author of the Pulp Heroes and Modern Marvels novels.

    Adele Nadeau and Ian McCauley love hockey, and its history, but are leery of love given their own romantic pasts. They each take a chance on the other, but history seems set to repeat itself. But Halloween is coming, and all sorts of things can happen.Game MisconductWhen a trade brings JR Ryder back to the East Coast, he's ready to reclaim what he lost: Tabitha Daniels. Lucas Samson, JR's former teammate, has his own ideas about that. For Tabby, it's down to the Devil she knows, or the Ranger she doesn't.Tip of the IcebergRosana Leighton doesn't get out much, preferring the company of her books over people. Then hockey player Matt Robinson moves in next door and their instant attraction starts to draw her out of her shell. She confesses things about her past to him that she's never told another man and the passion that grows between them is almost an unstoppable force. Can Rosana get past her less-than-stellar experiences with men and give Matt a real shot?Uncovering the IceVanessa is a romance novelist but in her spare time, she indulges in her passion for hockey by penning hockey-themed erotica that she posts to an erotica website. When her hockey crush, Sean Bertrand, stumbles upon her stories and reacts negatively, she thinks he's nothing but a crazy person. Their correspondence goes on and against the odds, they get to know each other, even like one another. Will the passion in Vanessa's stories translate to real life or will the fantasy fall flat?

    P. Barnaby – END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (First Love )*Sarah Black – SUCKER-PUNCH (Athlete/Hurt-Comfort )Scarlet Blackwell – BREAKING WAVES (Surfing/Angst )Penny Brandon – FINDING JACK (Cowboys/Mild BDSM )Lee Brazil – BE A BAD BOY (First-Time/Family Drama )Cardeno C. – WOMAN WITH A DILDO (Friends to Lovers )L.C. Chase – OPEN TACKLE (Friends to Lovers )*Kim Dare – MASOCHISM 101 (BDSM/Friends to Lovers )S.J. Frost – A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY (Musicians/Rivals to Lovers )Jeanette Grey – HEART AND SOUL (Friends to Lovers )Jambrea Jo Jones – WILD BLUE YONDER (Military )*Pender Mackie by DOG DAYS OF SUMMER (Blue Collar/First Date )JL Merrow – BEAR NAKED (First-time/Bears )M.J. O'Shea – BRIDGES (First Love )*Neil S. Plakcy – PHOTO BOOTH (Cowboys/FBI )Dustin Adrian Rhodes – STORM OF PASSION (Friends to Lovers )Jaime Samms – MOURNING (Hurt/Comfort )*Justin South – REFLECTIONS (First Love/Hurt-Comfort )Zach Sweets – LUSCIOUS LOVE (Coming out/Food Kinky )Piper Vaughn – WANTING (First Love )*Silvia Violet – TIME TO TELL (Military/Friends to Lover)Deanna Wadsworth – UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (Office Sex )Stuart Wakefield – THE ELEMENTS OF LOVE (Sci-Fi/Ménage )Alex Whitehall – HOLD ME TIGHT (Hurt-Comfort/BDSM Light )Lisa Worrall – JUST ONE KISS (Gay-for-You/Cops )Connor Wright – GONE TO PIECES (Sci-Fi/Mild BDSM )

    This title presents a collection of stories featuring hot-blooded, hard-hearted kings of the desert who have chosen their queens!

    The rights have been reverted to the authors.

    Sure to fuel debate for years to come, The Vintage Book of American Women Writers offers an epic overview of the canon in one readable, entertaining, and provocative volume.

    Its editorial emphasis is on realistic stories that reflect high standards of scientific accuracy, imagination, and lively articles about current research on the frontiers of real science. A recurrent theme in both fiction and provocative opinion columns is the human impact of science and technology. Analog has won numerous Nebula, Hugo, and other awards acknowledging it as a leading periodical in the field.Analog is home to many bestselling authors, including Robert J. Sawyer, Michael F. Flynn, Stephen Baxter, Catherine Asaro, and Harry Turtledove, Joe Haldeman and Ben Bova.Analog Science Fiction and Fact features 8 single issues and 2 double issues each year in January/February and July/August.

    Three years later, Alejandro is a changed man and he's deliberately lured Isobel back to Brazil because he knows she bore his child! Virgin Mistress, Scandalous Love-Child In the seductive heat of Carnaval in Rio, Ellie succumbs to her charismatic boss Diogo. But having taken her virginity, the Brazilian billionaire keeps her at a distance - until he discovers she's pregnant! The Surgeon's Runaway Bride Walking away from her husband Roque Aguiar Da Costa was the hardest thing Jewel had ever done. But now Roque has come to the Amazon rain forest, claiming that he is her boss and she is still his wife. His seduction is a taste of heaven...

    This is strong stuff, no holds barred and no punches pulled. You wouldn’t want to be sharing the last bus home with these people.Gone Bad has the distinctive flavour of north east England and gathers together 18 titles, mixing ‘flash fiction’ pieces with longer reads. Within the pages you can meet a murderous little boy, a psychotic Scouse backing singer, and a wannabe crime fiction writer with a penchant for hands-on research. Add to that a dishonest lottery winner, predatory girlfriend, long-suffering private detective and would-be rapist and you’re starting to get the lie of the land.Praise for Gone Bad:This was a terrific read. Highly recommended to any crime, drama, or thriller fans. (Smashwords)Julie Morrigan is a rare find, tight smart prose used to tell dark, wildly entertaining tales of the darker side of the street. I WANT MORE. (GoodReads)Judging from this collection, it's safe to say that from the dark and gritty depths of urban noir a new queen has risen. (GoodReads)

    These are roll-on-the-floor-funny, embarrassing and just plain crazy stories that your female friends have told you compiled into one handy book. Except that these stories are well articulated by an imaginative and excellent writer and they have all the guilt, shame and modesty removed from them.

    Some fantasy, some science fiction, and a whole lotta love.=========The sales of The Heart of Dog are funding critical medical testing and treatment for a dog who is as much a web personality as he is my beloved companion. (Connery's longstanding Twitter & LiveJournal accounts are both "ConneryBeagle.")The Heart of Dog includes my various doggie stories written & published in SF/F anthologies, and that's all it was initially meant to include--until my dog-loving writer friends heard about it. In short order, I had suddenly nine more stories, all from wonderful authors (go ahead, check them out at the end of the book!).Friends of Connery: Jeffrey Carver, Julie Czerneda, Tanya Huff, John Mierau, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Roberson, Kristine Kathryn Rusch, & John Zakour (x2!); graphic artist Pat Ryan, and production assistant Tom Powers.... (Read more) If you've downloaded this book, thank you. The sales of The Heart of Dog are funding critical medical testing and treatment for a dog who is as much a web personality as he is my beloved companion. (Connery's longstanding Twitter & LiveJournal accounts are both "ConneryBeagle.")So here's to my dog-loving friends, and here's to ConneryBeagle, for being a dog of such heart and joy that readers are already offering words of encouragement, spreading the word, and--hopefully--enjoying this anthology. And, of course, here's to all the readers who have picked up this book simply because they love the heart of dog.

    This water-themed collection features locked room puzzles, police procedurals, cozy characters and hardboiled detectives. With a pool of motivations ranging from greed and revenge to loyalty and justice, these stories will lure you in with killer hooks and fishy characters.Come on in, the water’s fine. But be careful, or you might find yourself sleeping with the fishes.INTRODUCTION, by Chris RoerdenTHICKER THAN BLOOD, by Leslie BudewitzTHE SECRET OF THE RED MULLET, by Nancy AdamsACCIDENTS HAPPEN, by James Montgomery JacksonIDENTITY CRISIS, by Diane VallereSLEEPING WITH THE FISH, by KB IngleeFEEDING FRENZY, by Patricia WintonSASE, by Karen PullenNEW AGE OLD STORY, by Sarah E. GlennTHE SHADOW OF THE RIVER, by Gigi PandianTHE TURKEY HILL AFFAIR, by Warren BullSOMETHING FISHY, by Peggy EhrhartTHE TRUCK CONTEST, by Kaye GeorgeAMAZING GRACE, by Betsy BitnerA MURDER RUNS THROUGH IT, by Annette DashofyDEAD-EYE GRAVY, by Krista DavisTHE PROFESSOR’S BOOKS, by Gloria AldenKOI PALACE, by Heidi SaundersSOMETHING FISHY THIS WAY COMES, by Deborah J. BenoitPALACE ON THE LAKE, by Daryl Wood GerberFATAL FISH FLOP, by Beth GroundwaterTHE FRAIN LEGACY, by Darlene RyanTHE CRITIQUE GROUP, by Patricia Gulley"

    Honor, duty, courage, passion . . . the men of the Navy SEALs are a special breed of hero, and in these stories by eighteen top romance authors the SEALs are celebrated not only as symbols of devoted service to their country but as the kind of man every woman wants to love. They'll rescue a damsel in distress and her lap dog, too. They'll battle hometown dramas and international bad guys. When it comes to giving away their hearts, they'll risk everything. All proceeds from sales of SEAL of My Dreams goes to the Veterans Research Corporation, a non-profit fundraiser for veterans' medical research.Among them, the authors of SEAL of My Dreams have won dozens of writing awards including multiple RITAs from Romance Writers of America. Their nearly 600 published novels have sold at least 25 million copies worldwide. The SEAL of My Dreams roster includes many of the best-known authors in modern romance fiction. In addition, many have strong family connections to the servicemen and women of our nation's military, and many specialize in novels featuring heroes and heroines from all branches of service. Visit the authors at www.sealofmydreams.com.Contents:Foreword by Robyn CarrComing Home by Jami AldenBaby I'm Back by Stephanie Bond -- Southern Roads #3.5SEALed Fates by Kylie BrantGoing Dark by Helen BrennaFinding Home by HelenKay DimonSEALed With a Kiss by Cindy Gerard -- Black Ops #6.5Panama Jack by Tara JanzenWrapped and SEALed by Leslie KellyWorth the Risk by Elle KennedyTwenty-one Hours by Alison Kent -- The Dalton Gang #0.5Not Waving But Drowning by Jo LeighHer Secret Pirate by Gennita Low -- Crossfire #4 SEALed by Fate by Marliss MeltonSigned, SEALed, Delivered...I'm Yours by Christie RidgwayDog Heart by Barbara SamuelWhirlwind by Roxanne St. ClaireHolding On by Stephanie Tyler -- Hold Trilogy #3.5Letters to Ellie by Loreth Anne White

    Twenty six original tales of horror by established masters of terror and talented new voices lie within this Lexicon of Fear. Beware the dark power of words in BIBLIOPHOBIA... a carnival double act made in Hell can be found in the clown cemetery in COULROPHOBIA... an artist loses his power to create ice sculptures because of his fear of cold in FRIGOPHOBIA, but that is the least of his problems as his therapist suffers the same phobia...The fear of open spaces manifests itself in KENOPHOBIA, a tale of the ultimate emptiness - the Great Void that awaits us all... the fear of beautiful women is fully justified in VENUSTROPHOBIA, a tale of futile defence against the Succubus... but beware: the cure may be worse...Denying yourself a place in Heaven is one way to avoid JESUSPHOBIA, but the only alternative means Hell to pay... a playwright fights his fear of the colour yellow by creating an unusual addition to his Dramatis Personae in XANTHOPHOBIA... a Witchfinder's fear of open water will only be relieved by imbibing one of two deathly fluids in AQUAPHOBIA... and a widower follows the age-old advice of turning to face your fear in QIQIRN, only to uncover the true nature of an Inuit dog spirit that carries the essence of cold terror from its ancient homeland into the realm of human grief...Open the pages. It is time to learn your A to Dread...

    Russell B Farr collects 32 stories of horror and dark fantasy that acknowledge the undead as ineradicable members of Australian society.

    This stunning collection brings together the best work, in both black-and-white and color images, of over 50 different artists from all over the world.

    It is time for the villains’ story.Craving a little blood or perhaps some horrific death? Slake your gruesome thirst for vicarious thrills with five chilling stories that go inside the twisted lives of serial killers and beyond to the dark, disturbing company of demons. Turn the pages and delve into the dark and murky world of evil.The Tales:A woman wakes up afraid, alone, and in complete darkness.A collector of hearts stalks Valentine’s Day.One man on the edge of being London’s most famous serial killer.Hell has a bounty hunter.Demon vs. knight with one soul as the prize.Killers and Demons, where the macabre murderers don’t get caught and evil triumphs.Come watch the blood drip slowly, sweetly from their fingers.

    This anthology, revised and greatly expanded since the groundbreaking first edition, features poetry by sixteen of Ireland’s finest poets: Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Eavan Boland, Eva Bourke, Medbh McGuckian, Kerry Hardie, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Mary O’Malley, Rita Ann Higgins, Paula Meehan, Moya Cannon, Katie Donovan, Vona Groarke, Enda Wyley, Sinéad Morrissey, Caitríona O’Reilly, and Leontia Flynn.

    To date, this content has been curated from Wikipedia articles and images under Creative Commons licensing, although as Hephaestus Books continues to increase in scope and dimension, more licensed and public domain content is being added. We believe books such as this represent a new and exciting lexicon in the sharing of human knowledge. This particular book is a collaboration focused on Short story collections by Stephen King.

    Miller's stories everyone does ... A married man who is a king in cybersex chat rooms, a woman torn between her boring fiance and a hot anonymous affair, a professor fighting off seduction by a biker chick, a lonely man held hostage by a lascivious ex-lover, a housewife infatuated with her daughter's tennis pro, a straight man tempted by a gay friend ... everybody in Sex and Love wants to burn a little hotter. Real people. Powerful writing. An intense, erotic ride that has the novel feel of one breathless journey.

    warning of the beginning of the end. The living have been twisted beyond recognition, into foul, demented creatures of fury and depravity. The dead are rising to join them. And the last diner at the end of the world is almost out of coffee...The Dead are on the rampage in Las Vegas. A Pirate sails the halls of an uptown office building. An irate punk rocker visits a southern-fried eatery and gets nothing that he ordered. Chupacabras rain down guts and gravitas in West Texas. A janitor for the Galactic Empire goes job hunting. New and previously published stories from one of today's rising stars of genre fiction, Axel Howerton, author of HOT SINATRA and co-founder of the annual Coffin Hop online horror extravaganza.*Now with four additional stories.

    LGBT Studies. The first anthology of its kind, with poets representing several countries (the United States, Singapore, Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Japan and elsewhere), COLLECTIVE BRIGHTNESS gathers over 100 established and emerging contemporary LGBTIQ poets writing from and about various faiths, religions and spiritual traditions. Says Rigoberto Gonzalez of National Book Critics Circle, "COLLECTIVE BRIGHTNESS sheds a shining light on a journey that no longer takes place in the dark. The glory of holding Kevin Simmonds's anthology in one's hands is that it burns as the sacred text of our queer times: heavy with burden, luminous with hope."

    Originally published as articles in the Writers' Forum magazine, these tales tell of the author's adventures when he meets his Guru, a fabulous and wise Being who appears in many guises and who guides his pupil in the sometimes bewildering ways of creative writing. Each story covers an aspect of creative writing such as If you are a writer, no matter how famous, Likely Stories can be a course of study or a source of inspiration on creative writing; or simply a treasure trove of entertaining tales and words you've never heard of. Originally published as articles in Writers' Forum magazine, these tales tell of the author's adventures when he meets his Guru, a fabulous and wise Being who appears in many guises and who guides his pupil in the sometimes bewildering ways of creative writing. Each story covers an aspect of creative writing such as character, dialogue, atmosphere, writers' block, vocabulary, etc. Tales...;...in Which my Guru Startles Me by Discussing Dialogue.; ...in Which An Eskimo Adds to my Knowledge of Character.; ...in Which My Unconscious Mind makes Writing Easier and Better.;...in Which I Learn that Furniture alone doth not an Atmosphere make.;...in Which I Lose Financially but Gain advice about Prepositions. Whatever they are.

    But Rashad plans to collect his payment by claiming her as his wife! Maribel was a shy virgin till she was swept off her feet by Greek tycoon Leonidas Pallis. Their night of passion left her unexpectedly pregnant. Now Leonidas plans to use every means to make the mother of his child his. Impoverished and vulnerable Kathy knows that Sergio Torrente's out of her league but she can't help succumbing to the passion that burns between them. And she's just as powerless to resist Sergio's next demands!

    Riding the wave of Julia Talbot's Bloodrose series, the multi-author Cereus: The Building features paranormal romance Sean Michael, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga. Julia Talbot's It's Elemental features construction contractor Chayton, a werewolf who thinks demon decorator Kenny is a little fussy, and a lot hot. They argue about everything from feng shui to sex. Will they be able to resolve their differences? The Third Course, by BA Tortuga, tells the story of Marco and Stephan, werecats, pridemates, and chefs who meet their match in head-bartender, Faelan, who just happens to be a growly, sexy Top. Finally, Sean Michael's Smoke and Gold follows the head dominant of the club, Zee, who's dealing with trying to get his playrooms just so and trying to figure out maddening dragon, Daniel, at the same time. Who can resist loving a dragon?

    “In some places the autumn of 1924 may have been an unremarkable season,” wrote Arna Bontemps. “In Harlem it was like a foretaste of paradise.”Harlem Renaissance: Five Novels of the 1920s leads off with Jean Toomer’s Cane (1923), a unique fusion of fiction, poetry, and drama rooted in Toomer’s experiences as a teacher in Georgia. Toomer’s masterpiece was followed within a few years by a cluster of novels exploring black experience and the dilemmas of black identity in a variety of modes and from different angles.Claude McKay’s Home to Harlem (1928), whose freewheeling, impressionistic, bawdy kaleidoscope of Jazz Age nightlife made it a best seller, traces the picaresque adventures of Jake, a World War I veteran, within and beyond Harlem.Nella Larsen’s Quicksand (1928), is a poignant, nuanced psychological portrait of a woman caught between the two worlds of her mixed Scandinavian and African American heritage.Jessie Redmon Fauset’s Plum Bun (1928), is the richly detailed account of a young art student’s struggles to advance her career in a society full of obstacles both overt and insidiously concealed.Wallace Thurman’s The Blacker the Berry (1929), is an anguished, provocative look at prejudice and exclusion as it tells of a new arrival in Harlem searching for love.Each in its distinct way testifies to the enduring power of the Harlem ferment.Often controversial in their own day for opening up new realms of subject matter (including intergenerational conflict and color prejudice within the African American community) and language (infusing a wealth of argot and previously unheard voices into American fiction), these novels continue to surprise by their passion, their unblinking observation, their lively play of ideas, and their irreverent humor.

    This anthology includes a novella prequel to the acclaimed Rats Bats and Vats, and a novelette set in the same universe some years later.

    If white people are pleased we are glad. If they are not, it doesn’t matter. . . . We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how, and we stand on top of the mountain, free within ourselves.” Hughes was just one of the novelists who transformed American literature with sometimes startling explorations of fresh subject matter—including such controversial themes as “passing” and color prejudice within the black community—and a defiant insistence that African American writers must speak for themselves.Four Novels of the 1930s captures the diversity of genre and tone nourished by the Harlem Renaissance. Together, these novels form a vibrant and contentious collective portrait of African American culture in a moment of tumultuous change and great promise.Langston Hughes’s Not Without Laughter (1931)—the poet’s only novel, is an elegiac, elegantly realized coming-of-age tale suffused with childhood memories of Missouri and Kansas—follows a young man from his rural origins to the big city.George S. Schuyler’s Black No More (1931), a satire founded on the science-fiction premise of a wonder drug permitting blacks to change their race, savagely caricatures public figures white and black alike in its raucous, carnivalesque send-up of American racial attitudes.Considered the first detective story by an African American writer, Rudolph Fisher’s The Conjure-Man Dies (1932) is a mystery that comically mixes and reverses stereotypes, placing a Harvard-educated African “conjure-man” at the center of a phantasmagoric charade of deaths and disappearances.Black Thunder (1936), Arna Bontemps’s stirring fictional recreation of Gabriel Prosser’s 1800 slave revolt, which, though unsuccessful, shook Jefferson’s Virginia to its core, marks a turn from aestheticism toward political militance in its exploration of African American history.

    It's also true that few of us would choose to become a ghost, dolefully watching the comings and goings of the living, unable to touch, to breathe, to feel them in a physical way. But, if given the chance to become a vampire, I think most of us would bite. Vampires make our pulses quicken: whether they are the velveteen figures of Anne Rice or Bram Stoker, or the violent monsters of Stephen King, we don't care. Not the hunters. Not the hopefuls. The real, blood-drinking, neck-biting fiends. Vampires are timeless because they are immortal. And the vampires in these pages may just come back to bite you in the end. These are stories you can really sink your teeth into. Promise.Voices Carry (TOM WORTMAN)Fountain of Flesh (NICKY PEACOCK)Dawn Hunter (EARL PARRISH)Green Eyes and Chili Dogs (KEVIN DAVID ANDERSON)Cosmina (CHRISTOPHER LEPPEK & EMANUEL ISLER)Rite of Passage (LORI MICHELLE)7 Hours (MAX BOOTH III)Liquid Blue (DREW WILCOX)Ordering Out (KENNETH W. CAIN)To The Last Drop (ERIC GRAWE)Sekhmet’s Daughters (C. W. LaSART)Entangled (JENNIFER LEFSYK)The Spy Who Bit Me (LORELEI BELL)An Unusual Occurrence at Pointe Laurent (MARYKATHRYN GELISSE)Tough Love (DAVID THOMAS)The Taste of Love (RENEE PAWLISH)State of Grace (TARA FOX HALL)Transmogrify (RICHARD THOMAS)The Key to Happiness (PENELOPE CROWE)

    These are obvious concepts when spelled out in clear cut settings. Because of this, how one goes about subverting the norm (as a traitor or revolutionary) is based on what the norm is. What is normal in one society can be, and often is, taboo in another society. This allows tales of subversion to be subtle, blatant, personal, communal, and endless in variation. - from the Foreword by Jennifer Brozek

    The only survivor of a war struggles to return to a home that doesn't exist anymore. A rebel leader loses everything she fought for and must start from scratch. A hero who has fought for her village her whole life must retire into obscurity without ever being known for her deeds. A starship returns to an Earth that is much changed, yet too much the same. A soldier is haunted by the very thing that saved his life. And King Arthur returns in Albion's hour of need.Dark fantasy. Urban fantasy. Political intrigue. Science fiction. From the horrific to the heartwearming. Introducing 19 pulse-pounding tales, by luminaries and great new voices. Co-edited by Gabrielle Harbowy and Ed Greenwood. Featuring an introduction by Susan J. Morris. Cover art by Scott Purdy.The anthology features new fiction by Jay Lake, Todd McCaffrey, Julie Kagawa, and an all-new Jig the Goblin story by Jim C. Hines.table of Contents:A Place to Come Home To by Jay Lake and Shannon PageThe Evil That Remains by Erik BuchananFull Circle by Steve BornsteinLessons Learned by Peadar Ó GuilínBrine Magic by Tony PiThe Legend of Gluck by Marie BilodeauOne and Twenty Summers by Brian CortijoThe Blue Corpse Corps by Jim C. HinesAshes of the Bonfire Queen by Rosemary JonesKeeping Time by Gabrielle HarbowyScar Tissue by Chris A. JacksonCoward by Todd McCaffreyNine Letters Found in a Muddied Case on the Road in Baden, Germany by Xander BriggsThe Once and Now-ish King by J.M. FreyHis Last Monster by J.P. MooreDark Helm Returns by Ed GreenwoodMirror, Mirror by Phil RossiKnights and Beans by Julie KagawaOathbreaker by Erik Scott de Bie

    She has been playing with the idea of publishing the work of her friends and students together for years. In this genre-bending anthology, 38 writers from around the world, invite us into the realm of LOVE MAGICK- as they understand it. This is a book of stories and poetry told through the lens of fantasy, magical-realism, contemporary fairy tales, erotica, sci-fi, even horror- beautiful work that seeks to understand both the magical aspects of love and the love aspect of magic. How does love change us, for better or worse? This anthology is a kaleidoscope for the senses, like LOVE MAGICK, it is nothing you'd expect, and everything you might hope for.

    Waxen Wings: The Acta Koreana Anthology of Short Fiction from Korea offers a diverse sampling from a century of modern Korean short fiction, beginning with stories from two early masters (Yi Hyos k and Ch'ae Manshik) and ending with works by four of the most imaginative contemporary writers (Kim Y ngha, Ha S ngnan, P'y n Hyey ng, and Kim Chunghy k). In between are the two writers who are primarily responsible for the visibility enjoyed by Korean women fiction writers today (O Ch ngh i and Pak Wans ), and a writer, Kim W nil, who has made it his lifework to address the territorial and spiritual division of the Korean peninsula. The title of the anthology, from Ha S ngnan's 1999 story, suggests the transcendental qualities of the finest Korean short fiction."

    A collection of short stories involving the paranormal.

    Within this 'Virgin Lesbians' collection are the titles "Brianna', 'Brianna's Fantasy', 'Practice', Lexie's Lesson', and Teaching Lexie