It’s a relationship of convenience at first, but could it become something more? This manga comedy is now a hit streaming anime!Extra-long book includes 2 Japanese volumes!SUMMER ROMANCE FOR NERDSNarumi and Hirotaka’s relationship is going swimmingly, so now the two have a new problem: the rumor mill. The couple is going to have to rely on Hirotaka’s reputation as an undateable gamer to quash the gossip, because it’s shaping up to be a busy summer. There’s a double date with Hanako and Taro at a festival, Narumi’s first try at cosplaying, and even that otaku classic: a hot springs episode. Meanwhile, when Naoya’s incredible misunderstanding about his new friend Ko comes to a head, will their friendship survive?

    All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year.They didn't tell him about the pixies.

    The only insight into her precarious situation is a prompt opening before her eyes indicating that the system failed to delete her.The doggedly optimistic and naive teenager, Naomi, is reborn as a monster into a fantastical world governed by the rigid rules of a suspiciously game-like system; a world full of magic and danger where the familiar mingles with the inexplicable. She finds herself deep in the bizzarre, savage forests of the unclaimed lands where deadly monsters prowl in the shadows just out of sight.After a close brush with death, any hope that this could be a lighthearted adventure evaporates as she feels real pain for the first time. The realization sinks in as Naomi comes to terms with this not being just a game; it’s her reality now.As if coming to grips with the life or death survival situation she finds herself in isn’t enough, the description of one of her skills seems to be speaking to her...

    He can’t tell his best friend, who he’s secretly got a crush on, and he can’t tell his mom, who’s constantly asking why Ryo “dresses like a boy.” He certainly can’t tell Jin, the new transfer student who looks like just another bully… The only time Ryo feels at ease is when he’s wearing his favorite clothes. Then, and only then, the world melts away, and he can be his true self. One day, while out shopping, Ryo sees someone he didn’t expect: Jin. The kid who looked so tough in class has the same taste in fashion as him! At last, Ryo has someone he can open up to—and the journey ahead might finally give him a way to express himself to the world.

    Apart from their foster mom, Miss Janie, they don’t have many fond memories of their hometown. Or of each other. Still, neither can forget the kind woman who opened her home and heart to two teenagers in need.When a private investigator—who just happens to be Miss Janie’s handsome nephew—tracks them both down and tells them Miss Janie is dying, Teresa and Kayla know deep down that they’ve got to be there for her as she had been there for them.With Teresa and Kayla together again under the same roof, old tensions may flare, but with Miss Janie’s help, they might rediscover that home is the perfect place for new beginnings.

    For more than seventy-five years, Betsy, Connie, and Kate Carson have called their mama’s house a home. The three eccentric sisters get by just fine with their homemade jams and jellies, a little moonshine on the side, and big hearts always open to strangers. Like Ginger Andrews.An abandoned teen with a baby on the way and nowhere to go, she’s given a room to call her own for as long as she wants. The kind invitation is made all the sweeter when Ginger meets the sisters’ young handyman, Sloan Baker. But with a past as broken as Ginger’s, he’s vowed never to get close to anyone again. As a season of change unfolds, Ginger and Sloan might discover a warm haven to heal in the Banty House, a place to finally belong, where hope and dreams never fade.

    One she had instilled in not just him but her household staff, her soldiers under her command as a general, and all his siblings.One that called to the familial bonds and the importance of putting those above all else. Second only to the land and the crown.If he was being honest with himself, Phillip valued that code of honor. It was something the Curis family was known for. An honorable military family led by a Duchess, Phillip’s grandmother.That code, the honor of duty, is about to be tested in Phillip.He and it will be put through the forge of conflict and forced to become either hardened, or terribly brittle.On the day of his formal marriage agreement, Phillip’s family is called to war.What would have been a celebration now turns to a swift goodbye as his family rolls into action. Sharpening swords, mending armor, and readying horses to fight for the queen.Being sent off quickly as there was no time to waste.Now Phillip will need to adapt to his new in-laws and family members, a mercantile family of great worth but no noble standing. Their marriage to him will rise them up to the lowest strata of the nobility, but still nobility.At the same time, Phillip will have to navigate through the murky political waters of the new city he’ll now call home. As well as fight to carve out a role for himself that fits his desire.All while hopefully growing to understand his wife - whom he had only just met. A young woman his own age named Alice.Cunning and bright, she’s nearly ready to take over the family mercantile business as a whole.Armed with his intelligence, his uncanny ability to read people, and his stubborn nature, Phillip has to become his own man, and define how his code will fit in his new life.Regardless of what anyone else wants of him.Warning and minor spoiler: This novel contains graphic violence, undefined relationships/harem, unconventional opinions/beliefs, and a hero who is as tactful as a dog at a cat show. Read at your own risk.

    After being released from the hospital, he discovers by accident that he is unwittingly acquiring DNA samples from other people he touches. He discovers a number of shocking facts about himself when a blue box appears in his right eye, Most importantly, he discovers that his health is nowhere near to what he assumed it would be. Can he reverse the negative aspects of his health using these blue boxes somehow? And can he reverse his poor financial situation after his wife took half his pension just before retirement? Biomedical Self-Engineering is a LitRPG slice of life adventure, following Carl as he discovers new ways of living life when he is nearing the end of his own. There are no explicit scenes, no harems, and only one swear word at the very end.

    Assigned by her teacher to define what “happiness” means to her, Nanoka tries to find her place in the world by exploring her relationships with these three strangers, and through them, comes to know herself.

    A series of mysterious paintings and beautiful embroidered pictures hint at a love story over sixty years old, but Kate needs to know how the story ends!As Kate and Jack delve deeper into the vintage romance, they find that not only do their own lives share uncanny similarities with their 1950s counterparts, but also the two of them are becoming closer.But as the two couples' stories unfold over six decades apart, can Kate and Jack put right a wrong that's remained a secret since the 1950s, and will both couples end up with the happy ending they truly deserve?

    One afternoon, however, she is kidnapped by a group of self-proclaimed fashion mavens calling themselves "Paradise Kiss". Yukari suddenly finds herself in the roller coaster life of the fashion world, guided by George, art-snob extraordinaire. In a glamorous makeover of body, mind and soul, she is turned from a hapless bookworm into her friends' own exclusive clothing model.20th anniversary edition of Paradise Kiss features all 3 volumes of the original release.

    For those who have no place in this world. And all too often this is true for animals, cats, dogs, who do not understand that "their" people do not love them as unconditionally as they love them.But nothing in life is without hope. Where one life ends, space is created for another. And sometimes even one is saved.In Anglo-Saxon countries, many animals end up in animal shelters, and many of them are euthanized. This practice has led the author Jenny Jinya to draw an internet comic. First "Good Boy", the story of a small dog, then "Black Cats". At the same time, Jenny's comics also show that death is not our enemy. That sometimes he can even be a welcome friend.

    Reaping and sowing. Redemption through growth.Matt is running from a life that he no longer wants, and he's found a solution. By logging in to the newest game, Livia, he gains chances that he can't get anywhere else. Matt chooses to cut out a new life for himself on the edge of civilization, by venturing to the frontier town of Tallrock. As soon as he gains his class, the newly minted Cycle Mage has one goal: farming.Now known in-game as Kastigan, he gains a starting bonus parcel of virgin land that he will need to convert to farmland from the ground up. Kastigan needs to decide what to grow, what animals to raise, and who to hire; all while dealing with a Legion Commander who hates him for no apparent reason, surviving in the wild land where monsters roam freely, and uncovering lost relics from a forgotten time.If he succeeds, he will create a new home for himself. If he fails, he will lose not only his farm, but all the workers, crops, and beasts that he has spent every last penny to acquire.

    Ryoma had never had a blessed life, but after his death, three great gods sought his cooperation and reincarnated him as a child in another world with swords and magic!Receiving a most cordial and divine welcome from the gods, Ryoma decides to live leisurely on his own in the forest for the time being. Working diligently at magic and hunting, Ryoma’s greatest passion comes to be researching his tamed slimes?! Training a variety of slimes (some newly discovered), the curtain rises on this easygoing life fantasy celebrating a second life with kind people in another world!

    What he misses is being alone with his wife. With Valentine’s Day around the corner, he can’t think of a better gift than a vacation to the exclusive island of Eden where sensuality reigns. But no sooner do they arrive than he realizes something is bothering his beautiful wife. Can he seduce Lexie into a revelation, and if so can he handle what she has to tell him that will upend their already chaotic life? *A complete stand-alone for people who haven’t yet read GOING DOWN EASY but a special treat for those who want to revisit a favorite couple.

    They don't know much, but they know what love is.Foxes in Love is a heartwarming and humorous collection of comics exploring family, life, and relationships, told by two foxes living their lives together.

    Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds.As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats.With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.The House That Walked Between Worlds is a compelling and original fantasy novel of multiple worlds and beguiling mystery in the tradition of Ursula Le Guin and Diana Wynne Jones.

    Zombies are here. Will Raven and her misfit friends survive?Raven Murphy is a prepper, but not for the same reason most other folks do it. She’s the reason her ex-boyfriend went to jail. If he ever gets out, she’ll need to grab her sister and head off grid. In the meantime, she’s a top-notch auto mechanic with an entire arsenal of her much loved firearms in the closet of her trailer. She’s ready to go to war with the ex if she ever needs to. The people in her trailer park in Fox Lake are a unique community. A little quirky, and some are downright weird, but for Raven, they’re family. But when a plague hits the country, victims of a creepy virus, are headed toward them, Raven teams up with pals, including a couple of ex-Army guys, to protect her neighbors. Whatever’s coming, the good, the bad, or the undead, Raven and her gun-shooting, bomb-making, booby-trap-setting team aren’t going down without a fight.

    

    One incredibly cutthroat world. Welcome to the Jungle. As America’s sweetheart, Brittany is perceived as the "good girl." The sort to bring her Bible to a photoshoot... only to garner the attention of a most unlikely suitor. Until one mistake irrevocably changes both of their lives forever. Fortunately, both now and then, Brittany has wonderful support systems, including her tribe. The leader of the tribe and a model who’s fought every battle and obstacle in the industry, Zoe, knows her worth. Until a sex tape scandal rocks her world. She sees no choice but to put her trust in the one man she shouldn’t, to make it all go away and help her succeed. Unfortunately, not only is he mired in New York’s underbelly, he wants repayment... with interest. Namely, her hand in marriage. Despite her seemingly perfect life, Everlee has problems of her own. Not only has her world-renowned photographer husband been cheating, but it’s actually much worse than that. The things surrounding what he’s done are so dark and dangerous, Everlee’s life may actually be in jeopardy. And then there's Danica, cold, dead in the ground Danica. Some secrets stay hidden while others are just waiting to be discovered- hers has the power to alter the industry forever. In the world of the Fashion Jungle, it’s easily eat or be eaten… but, if you make it out alive, you just might have a story to tell - though it will likely be one of secrets, lies, deceit, and loss. Strap on your stilettos, it's about to get wild. Based on true stories and events.

    But Frieren will long outlive the rest of her former party. How will she come to understand what life means to the people around her?Decades after their victory, the funeral of one her friends confronts Frieren with her own near immortality. Frieren sets out to fulfill the last wishes of her comrades and finds herself beginning a new adventure…

    Or multiple boyfriends. ★ Updates every Friday! You can also find me on twitter/instagram (@refrainbow)Found on Webtoons.com

    She's been a daughter, a wife, and a mother, but now she's becoming the person she wants to be. Newly divorced, she's learning to trust her own heart and is excited by the possibility of a new life. Is she brave enough to take the plunge?Jennifer Kinney is a free spirit who lives life with an open heart, but she's been hurt along the way. Even though she knows true happiness comes when you believe in renewal and possibility, the lessons she's learned have been hard, and learning to trust again takes time. When their worlds collide, both women learn they should always trust their instincts, their closest friends, and their hearts in order to achieve true happiness.

    I especially didn’t expect to be carried off by a wolf and given into the care of a one-armed former knight! Now I’m trying to repay him by rebuilding the family inn and healing his arm with alchemy. But the more time passes, the more it becomes clear to me that I’m not actually human…

    Through stories. Because books didn’t judge. Books weren’t angry she was alive. Books never expected her to be anything but who she was.As she grows up, her beloved library becomes her true home.So when the library is designated part of President Roosevelt’s Packhorse Library Project, Lena is determined to get the job of bringing books to highlanders, believing she’ll finally be free of her mom forever.But earning the trust of highlanders is harder than she imagined, and her passion for books might not be enough to free her from her chains.

    Particularly when it's your last.Adam had a good life: a job he enjoyed, a nice house, a loving partner and a bright six-year-old daughter. Then he cheated on his partner. Then she kicked him out of their home. And then he was given approximately twelve months to live.Despite the devastating news, Adam is determined to turn his life around before it finally runs out. Help comes in the form of an ex-junky, a cantankerous train driver, a nun experiencing a crisis of faith, and a teenager intent on losing her virginity - all living on borrowed time, all desperate to feel alive before their time is up.Praise for Andy Jones:'What happens the morning after the night before, when the night before was when you did the most reckless thing of your life? I loved Andy Jones's stylish portrayal of four people who make way too much history in one night, and just couldn't put it down until I found out the fate of each of them' Catherine Isaac'Andy Jones continues to be one of my favourite authors' Bella Magazine

    I’d been deep undercover for nine months.Nine months away from the self-made family I’d been accepted into.Nine months of losing myself in a world I’d grown up in.Nine months of forgetting who I was.But all it took was one action to springboard me back into the real world.Belle wasn’t meant to walk into the club of a cartel boss. She wasn’t meant to fall into my arms—literally.But there she was, the girl I’d known since she took her first breath. The girl who had grown into a woman people couldn’t take their eyes off.I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought I was protecting her from the evil surrounding us.I thought kissing her and getting her out of there was the only option to keep her safe.It didn’t matter that her lips pressed against mine roared a fire to life within me.It didn’t matter that there was a twenty-two year age gap.It didn’t matter that she was my bosses daughter.All that mattered was that she was safe.Until she wasn’t. I vowed to protect her with my life.I promised she wouldn’t get hurt.But I hadn’t factored her feelings into it.Belle was forbidden fruit I hadn’t been able to resist, and now there was no going back.Bonds weren’t meant to be broken, but ours had been torn apart irrecoverably.

    

    But he was finding it a poor painkiller.Tyler Collens has seen grief and loss in his years of experience as a paramedic—but he never expected it to touch his life in such a personal way. The death of his wife eighteen months ago shook his steady world and changed him in more ways than he can count. Time and routine have steadied his feet, and he looks toward the future as he raises his infant daughter—but the past has a tighter grip on him than he knows. Alyvia Emmerson has never been certain of who she is or where she belongs. Her dad’s abandonment as a teen broke a fragile piece of her heart, but ten years later, she has moved on. Living on her own, she at last has a project to devote herself to: revitalizing a shabby bookstore. But she didn’t count on her dream job revealing the shattered pieces of herself she thought mended long ago.In this sophomore novel featuring beloved characters from Live Without You, Sarah Grace Grzy explores themes of grief, hope, and second chances in a story that touches both the heart and spirit.

    The temple on Anseahla has summoned him at last to pick up his new kits, an errand he decides will be an excellent opportunity to have some alone-time with his partner, Jahir. But his partner is now an imperial prince-consort, and Vasiht'h himself has more responsibilities than he anticipated, and it isn't long before their private getaway turns into a huge production. And that's before the children join the party! But becoming a father is only one of the changes that Vasiht'h must accept as he moves into this newest phase of his life. For the longest time he's thought of himself as living in an Eldritch shadow. If he wants to thrive--if he wants to lead his contingent of Glaseah to a fuller life themselves--he has to accept that sometimes a supporting role is just an excuse to stay out of the limelight.... Heartskein is a cozy science fiction novel and returns to the dreamhealers in their new roles as powers in the new Eldritch Empire: Jahir is now a married man and a prince, and Vasiht'h an administrator, a lord, and a father! But no matter what changes, some things stay the same: like a bond of love stronger than wars and unconquered by time. Come unwind, and meet the babies!

    Zhen finally finds a career in photography. Will he ever be able to open up about his past?Sam and Zach have settled into Salwa. But when the heir to the infamous Faris family appears. Will things be flipped upside down?Stay hungry for more intrigue with Buuza!

    Whether you’re planning to make a permanent move to homeschooling or you’re temporarily balancing it alongside paid work, Extraordinary Parenting shows that you don’t need a huge house, endless free time, or a host of expensive resources to unlock your child’s potential.Instead, this straightforward and empathic book will teach you to:— Deepen your connection with your child to create an attachment that promotes learning and openness.— Build strong, adaptable family rhythms to provide your child with security and stimulation every day, every month, and every year.— Create a calm, simplified home environment which will encourage deep play and independence — whatever your living situation.— Discover enjoyable ways of learning together as a family, identify your child’s interests, and use traditional teaching materials in a creative way.— Take care of your own needs as a parent, in order to become the parent your child needs.Based on years of research and hands-on work with parents, this book will reassure you that, whilst extraordinary times call for extraordinary parenting, you can be sure that you are up to the challenge.

    

    Three gods request his cooperation in their divine plot, which requires him to reincarnate in another world as a young boy! Equipped with magic, young Ryoma undertakes a carefree existence in the forest, leisurely learning more about his new abilities and surroundings. And when he encounters slimes like those in video games from his former life, Ryoma uses his newfound magical powers to get creative with his research! Will the gods get more than they bargained for in Ryoma?!

    He’s even less pleased when he realizes the cat in question is a large grumpy thing with razor-sharp claws and no regard for personal space.When Darren deploys the puppy dog eyes, though, Andreas is powerless to say no, so they’re on kitty detail… and despite his best efforts, Andreas is a sucker for the critter shedding all over his apartment and stealing his husband’s affection.It’s only for two weeks. Plenty of time for the cat to get on his nerves, but not nearly enough for her to trick him into falling in love with her. Right?This 15,000 word short story is Bad Behavior book 6, and is best read after Protective Behavior.

    Welcome to the family.Masaki lives as a house-husband in the Fujiyoshi household with his loving, breadwinner husband, Hiromu, and their two-year old Hikari, who is just too cute for words. Full of doubt, the support of his family in their day-to-day lives carries Masaki through to a place of accepting himself for the Omega that he is.Embracing the good times and the bad, all to be a better today than they were yesterday.

    Lottie will beat Evelyn at her own good-girl game, unveiling Miss Perfect’s sinister side in the process.Taking life more seriously starts as fun, but soon offers its own rewards . . . so long as Lottie can manage gorgeous Sebastian’s sudden interest, Jude acting weird, and the discovery that she might actually be good at something.Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a story about family, friends and embracing who you are. Even if that person is kind of weird.

    But when a sudden schedule change reveals a secret he hadn't meant to share, is there anything she can do to make things right? Or is their window friendship broken beyond repair?

    Take a three-week vacation in the summer. Fly to the Canary Islands, meet up with friends and help sail their new catamaran across the Atlantic. As it turns out, the vacation needs to be extended. Meeting up with friends is not so simple and the last part of the plan…The story follows the tried-and-true monomyth plot structure. In the departure part of the narrative, the protagonist lives in his ordinary world and receives an invitation to go on a long distance sailing trip. At first he is reluctant, but a friend and mentor persuade him to go for it.The initiation section begins when he arrives in the Canary Islands, where he faces tasks and trials. Later when far offshore, he reaches the central crisis of his adventure—the storm—where he and his friends are pushed to their limits. For days, they sail through the storm and later are rewarded with perfect weather conditions as they make their passage across the mid-Atlantic. The protagonist then returns home with a greater appreciation of his ordinary world.Written by an author with undoubted credentials, the intriguing tale offers interesting tidbits along the way. The book's foreword is a fitting endorsement written by renowned boat designer John Shuttleworth, an expert in the field.

    Bagge combined his cartoony drawing style with uncomfortably real Gen X characters, and the comic books resonated with readers. Book One (Hate 1-15), focuses on young Buddy Bradley's travails in early 1990s Seattle. Book Two focuses on Buddy and his girlfriend Lisa Leavenworth's move back to Buddy's native New Jersey (and a switch from black-and-white to full color). Book Three features the final arc of Bagge's magnum opus, as Buddy and Lisa become parents (and buy a garbage dump). Each volume, along with the slipcase, contains new covers, endpapers, title pages, and other surprises by Bagge.

    This is simply common sense. And yet, that's exactly where Sakuta runs into one in the wild. More bewildering is who the bunny girl is: Mai Sakurajima, an upperclassman and well-known actress currently taking a break from industry work. Wanting to find out more about the mystery surrounding Mai (and maybe get a little closer to her in the process), Sakuta launches an investigation to figure out what's making this bunny girl invisible to everyone around them.

    I'm an expert at introversion and cheesecake eating. (#skillz) I'm trying to become a writer, but gathering inspiration = social interaction, so... no. The world's best mail carrier suggested I get a pen pal, so this is the story of that pen pal experiment and the beautiful way it opened my eyes.Merry Christmas and much cheesecake to you!Sincerely, JemThis lighthearted novella is inspired by Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster and originally appeared in the anthology A Very Bookish Christmas.

    Between basketball, part time jobs, and an uncertain future, something was missing. And that thing was music. With his days in senior year running out, Dai swears a heartfelt vow: “I’m gonna be the best jazz player in the world.”But what do you need to be the best? Talent? Effort? A lucky break? Or maybe just a deep, pure love for music, and too much stubbornness to know when to quit.Winner of The Shogakukan Manga Award and the Japan Media Arts Festival Grand Prize for Manga!

    In this life, however, all he wants is to master magic!When he learns that he has no skills at all in this life, he gets left behind by his family. With no magic spells, most would assume he'll never be able to cast even a single spell, but Soma isn't ready to take "no" for an answer...

    The pair immediately find themselves in trouble over Astria's summoning.What's more, Lesti is at the bottom of her class and has almost no power of her own!On top of all that, she seeks to use Astria's potential to turn society in this new world on its head.With a new body and abilities that she doesn't understand, will Astria be able to grant Lesti's desire?A new adventure full of magic, friendship, and whiskers begins!

    Coming of age while coming to terms with their detached parents, unrealized dreams, and the backdrop of the war in Vietnam, the threesome push past childhood into their teenage years with the shared baggage of a generation—one that is caught up in the lingering innocence of a private world until outside events cast that world in a different light, and the three measure their days by measuring each other: whether in wit, complicity, or hurtfulness. In the years that they are together, men walk on the moon, students are shot at Kent State, and of their three military fathers, only one returns from Vietnam.An extraordinary debut novel, Sybelia Drive is a story told through layered, kaleidoscopic images and unforgettable language.

    Someone is getting in a box, but you’ll have to read on to see who it is.The scene takes place after Storm Forged (Death Before Dragons Book 6) but there are only a couple of mentions of things that happened in Book 6, so you can also read The Box before reading Storm Forged.

    And with her, the only fragment of comfort left Lena’s life. Without Aunt Melba Lynn, Lena doesn’t have a choice but to spend her days alone, surviving while Mom spends her days away.Unless the stranger in town can provide a solution.A short story prequel to "A Strand of Hope" by Amanda Tero.

    Unremarkable. Unhinged. Un…stoppable?He made my daughter's life, my life, a living hell and got away with it. Broke the rules and stayed smug, hiding behind his tiny tribe, like he was untouchable. I hate him with a passion. It's the only emotion I have left. Hatred.And while the police said they could do nothing, I realised that I could do something. Because they taught me, indirectly, how to exact my vengeance.They say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Make that woman a mother and hell shall look like a pilot light, against a mother’s inferno. And a mother who no longer has her child? A woman with nothing to lose?Satan would bow to her.WARNING: 18+ contains dark themesAuthor note:This story is told from differing points of view and so there is a limited amount of repetitive text.

    They have each taken different paths in life, made different choices, and started (or not) their own families. The series moves back and forth between the 50s and the present day, telling the tragic-comic tale of our time, with all of its social, political, and cultural upheavals!Beautifully written and gorgeously illustrated, The Old Geezers Vol 1 features two complete stories: “Alive and Still Kicking” and “Bonny and Pierrot”, plus bonus material. An international bestseller, regularly topping the graphic novel bestseller lists across Europe — with hundreds of thousands of copies sold. A movie based on the series also came out in 2018, with a sequel in development.

    She's spent the summer after her senior year listening to her depressing vinyl record collection and isolating herself from her friends, so it's not much of a surprise when no one shows up to the graduation party Emma throws the night before leaving for college; no one but Daisy Lycroft, a ninety-year-old stranger with mild Alzheimer's who escaped from her retirement home in the middle of the night.When Emma leaves to drive Daisy home, the two end up on an unexpected all-night road trip, complete with Canadian whiskey, Billy Joel mixtapes, romantic interludes, near-death experiences, and lots of impromptu dancing, causing them to find some much-needed companionship in each other, and revealing that they have a closer connection than they ever could have expected.

    The Best of Archie series is back, and it will make the greatest gift of all!

    Brandon survived, but still bears the emotional scars. Eighteen months later, he has withdrawn into himself, convinced he’ll never be able to trust another man.Devin Macadam, fresh out of law school, has an exciting new job. He is also on the lookout for just the right guy, someone to take care of and love. When Devin shows up for the first day of work at his new office, he meets Brandon, a legal assistant there. Sparks fly, but Brandon is paralyzed by fear and isn’t about to give another man the power to hurt him again. Devin, never one to give up easily, doesn’t want to take no for an answer. Both men feel the magic, but can their relationship ever get past the friend zone? Too Close to the Flame is a dark-to-light, sweet romance featuring out and proud gay men, lots of feels, steamy love scenes, and a wonderful happy ending. The book is approximately 86,000 words and has X-Ray enabled for your reading pleasure.Trigger Warning: Too Close to the Flame contains specific memories of physical abuse.

    He’s an upbeat independent thinker, proud fashionista, and like the rest of us, is just looking for a few friends to call his own. Acception may be Arcus’ story – but it’s all OUR stories too - and it is for anyone who’s ever struggled to fit in, find love, or thought that High School was pretty much the worst thing ever invented.

    Yet somewhere between busy streets there's a mysterious cat cafe that can only be found by weary souls. What's on the menu? A delicious cup of coffee, specially brewed for each customer...by a cat barista!

    Daughter Emily is being bullied online.Best friend Nikki is holding a huge secret. And why is husband, Chris, receiving so many text messages lately?Their teenage children are glued to technology, be it PlayStation, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat . . .The two women hatch a plan: for three weeks, both families will stay in a rustic, remote coastal camp with no phone reception. While the teenagers struggle to embrace this new world of self-entertaining in the rugged bushland, the adults are trying to maintain a certain facade. Soon, around the flames of the camp fire, their tiny white lies might just begin to be exposed.

    To him, it represents the murders of his parents and the menacing danger that surrounds him in the cutthroat criminal-controlled section of Kalsyia’s biggest city. He also intensely fears the police, having witnessed an incident of brutality. Life for him is one eternal round of fear and anxiety.When a traumatic event occurs involving his adored older brother and a red pickup truck, Jay finds an additional reason to hate the colour red. And when he is attacked, accidentally runs into a group of policemen, and is caught, Jay is certain that death is imminent. But to his astonishment, he is instead freed and placed in a foster family. Officer Randall was one of the officers who caught him, but he is kind and understanding, and his wife is very sweet. But Jay still fears them and is hesitant to allow them into his heart. And he is particularly afraid of the Randalls’ adopted son, Orlando, who vividly reminds Jay of his worst abuser. But as time stretches on, and Jay gets to know the Randalls and Orlando better, he begins to wonder… perhaps not everyone and everything is the same. Can he learn to love and trust these people, in spite of what similar persons did? Can the colour red come to mean more than death and danger?

    Sometimes sweet, sometimes sour, and always relaxing, this is a fluffy office romance about a powerful yet gentle superior (who’s occasionally a picky eater) and his cute and earnest subordinate (who’s a silly young Gemini).

    

    Just because Futuba is short and looks young doesn’t make her a kid, and just because she spends so much time with Takeda doesn’t mean she sees him as anything but an annoying senpai…or does she?!

    Who was the mysterious Anna? What brought her west? And what connection does she have to the strange name carved into the log? A peek into Anna's diary reveals a few answers but even more questions. Is there anyone who can show them the truth of Woodbreak?

    But is Christmas even real, or is it just another fairy tale? When a stranger turns up on her doorstep offering to help her, can she trust his kindness? This is a heart-warming story about family, a first Christmas, and how God’s plan is always perfect in the end.

    Ever since that day, Sorawo's life as an exhausted university student changed forever. In the Otherworld, a place full of mystery that exists alongside our own, dangerous beings like the Kunekune and Hasshaku-sama appear--despite only being spoken of in ghost stories on the internet. Toriko and Sorawo set foot into this abnormal world for research, for profit--and to find a missing person that is near and dear to someone's heart. A tale of two girls' bizarre exploration and survival, brought to you by an up-and-coming Sci-fi author!

    “Christmas.”From the outside, the snow-globe world is a picture postcard of Christmas joy and peace. A world of snowflakes and church-bells, of happy people and cozy churches nestled into their wintry world like merry children cuddled to sleep in their downy beds at night.But are there aching hearts concealed beneath the dancing flakes or drowned by the chiming bells? Are there hidden sorrows that even Christmas cannot efface? And are those sorrows the secret behind Mia Allonby’s tired sigh, Ashton Melbrook’s stern reserve and Mrs. Cavendish’s sad smile?Is there any way to reconcile heartache and Christmas? And is there, after all, a special, secret blessing which sorrow can bring to the celebration of One who came to heal the broken-hearted?

    Free from the wearying monotony of marking until the early hours and swallowing the disappointment of trying to educate disinterested young minds, she embraces her new life.Still in the throes of grief, having recently lost both of her parents, Sophia is delighted by the daily visits of Mr Portobello, the shop’s former occupant, and their unexpected friendship blooms into something beautiful. In the process of learning about the eccentric eighty-year-old, Sophia learns as much – if not more – about herself. Mr Portobello makes her question her life, her choices and even how she grieves for those she has lost.This new story with a warm vintage feel brings to mind the age-old saying: Be careful what you wish for…

    After a game update, Yuna receives a way-too-cute bear outfit that’s super overpowered! There’s no way Yuna would ever wear something that embarrassing, but after being sucked into a fantasy world, she might not have a choice!

    

    

    Handsome, witty, brave, and strong, he's everything she is not. But of all the people in the world, he treats her like she's truly special.When a routine day takes a startling turn, Allissa learns that her Daddy's love goes far deeper than she ever imagined. Why would he give up so much for her? Does she truly have worth beyond what she sees? And could there be more love waiting for her, even if she's just Allissa?

    As he wrestles with a bleak present and a grim future, an unexpected encounter with a girl and her kitten changes everything. But will his improvised rescue end in disaster, or does God have other plans?A short story

    Or even that her diseased leg was just amputated. She’s worried about getting well enough to see the purple bedroom her daddy painted for her birthday—the birthday she spent undergoing chemo.Chad Bailey is more than content with the world-traveling plans he and his wife have in place. What started out as posting their travel vlogs on YouTube for their niece, Harper, to watch during her chemo treatments exploded into an immensely popular channel—and it’s still growing.When a single phone call changes everything for both Chad and Harper, YouTube is the last thing on his mind as he faces the biggest decision of his life.With their world full of questions and pain, can a little purple paint mend the fragments of their lives? (A short story)

    It would be the colour of peace.”It has been ten months since Jay came to live with the Randalls. The frightening colour red has disappeared from his life, and the peaceful colour blue is everywhere he looks.Then his birthday party is crashed by the unexpected return of his unknown foster brother, Geraldo. And as Jay struggles to grow accustomed to him and the changes his return brings, The Brothers strike massively at Kalsyia, defying the authority of the government.As the situation gets worse and everyone becomes more and more distraught, Jay finds himself challenged harder than he ever expected to be. When he is beaten to his knees and brought face to face with his limitations, he begins to wonder… what is his trust in? Where is God when things are hard? Can he ever find true peace in the midst of all this chaos and terror?

    

    And so is the kind surgeon who insists on treating her like an equal instead of a servant.When a particularly disastrous day rocks their world, is there anything Blenwyn can do to protect the family she loves as her own? Can she somehow stop the children's headlong rush into danger? And when a hand is reached out to help her, will she choose to trust her head or her heart?A novelette (approximately 1 hour average read time)~~~The Quiet Valor series follows a diverse group of women seeking to live with strength and courage in a torn and broken world. Because its author can't do anything the easy way, she describes its genre as Victorian era kingdom adventure with a dash of sweet romance and just a hint of steampunk.

    At least that’s what everyone tells her. It could be because it’s days before Halloween, literally the worst holiday on the entire planet. And it doesn’t help that her super-hot ex-boyfriend, Lucas, is determined to convince her otherwise by making her take part in “festive activities.” Apparently carving pumpkins is going to magically change her mind about the holiday? Yeah, right.But Blaire has never told anyone the truth of why she hates Halloween, or the truth about her and Lucas’s break up. Being around him is so much harder than she thought, especially when it looks like he’s starting to move on.And when she gets a letter in the mail from someone who broke her heart, can Blaire overcome the negativity threatening to drown her? Or will her bitterness and secrets push everyone she loves away?

    What has become of the bloodthirsty bunnymen? Could Shea dethrone Yue and win the coveted title of Number One Waifu? Who will prevail in the cutthroat contest to be Best Girl?! These questions and more may (not) be answered as the gags continue!

    Goro, a gynecologist and a massive B-Komachi stan, finds his life turned upside down when his newest patient turns out to be B-Komachi member Ai-chan herself! Despite the industry seeing children as a idol's death sentence, the 16-year-old Ai still desperately wants to give birth. So under the cover of secrecy, Goro helps the young idol with her prenatal care... only to be attacked and killed the night she's due to give birth. Reincarnated as one of her newborn twins, Goro (now Aquamarine Hoshino) gets to spend 24 hours a day in the arms of his favourite idol! But can a ditzy young idol with a life full of lies make a good mother? And what of Ruby, his suspiciously verbose sister?

    Fresh from a messy, public divorce from her hockey player ex, the twenty-six-year-old fashion designer temporarily trades New York for London to heal and embrace her freedom. Her vow? To protect her heart, steer clear of relationships, and say yes to flings without strings. She throws herself into designing upcycled dresses and exploring London with her sister. But Leia’s carefully curated plan encounters a flirty complication with an irresistible British accent.Wealthy, charming, and devastatingly attractive, Tarquin Balfour istired of meaningless hookups and dates that go nowhere. For years, he has played the bon viveur with reckless abandon, throwing decadent parties, sleeping with a parade of women, and diving into extreme sports around the globe. But now the young property developer wants more. He craves love and commitment, to prove his kind heart matters more than the abundance of zeroes attached to his bank balance. Struggling with undiagnosed depression, Tarquin worries he’ll never find The One…until he meets his princess, a fashion designer named Leia.Afraid of falling in love and fearful of being alone, Leia and Tarquin enter into an entanglement that threatens to hurt them both.

    Sagara Sousuke isn't your typical high school student. He reads military enthusiast magazines; he responds to questions with "affirmative;" he brings grenades to school in his bag. Though everyone at school takes him for a hopeless military geek, Chidori Kaname thinks there might be something more to him. When their plane is hijacked in the middle of a field trip, Kaname's instincts will prove correct: Sousuke is an elite, mech-piloting mercenary... and he's here to protect her!

    The children doesn't even know what Christmas is about. Is Frank's shortcut a chance to "go tell it on the mountain"?

    She certainly didn't expect to find her face plastered on every storefront–or the crowd of eager young children who seem to think her synonymous with the season itself.But will their holiday joy be enough to revive her own? Or is their beloved Miss Christmas gone forever?

    It’s been easy to evade the young men of her church so far, but Joe is different. Can Ella keep avoiding the ever-persistent Joe, especially when she knows her own heart is pulled toward him? Can she trust Joe and, more importantly, can she trust God? Is she willing to face her fears or will she continue to run, breaking more hearts than one?

    These online entertainers have seen a surge of popularity, capturing the hearts of millions across the internet.But none of them have quite become as much of a household name as Kizuke Yai, the so-called 'Queen of VTubers.'Takashi, an average high-school student, is one of her biggest fans. He always tunes in to her broadcasts, and he might even have a little crush on her...Kizuke Yai is the real deal, an actual cute girl behind the screen, at least according to the rumors... But reality is often disappointing.The Queen of all VTubers is actually Takashi's dad.The hapless youngster stumbles upon his old man's dark secret, and soon finds himself flung into a nightmarish world of virtual song, dance, and endless cringe.Will Takashi succeed in getting his dad to quit, or will he find himself drawn deeper into the booming virtual scene despite this disillusionment?

    Nobody knows the truth about his childhood growing up in an abusive home, the eating disorder that threatens to take his life, the obsessive thoughts about death that play like a movie in the back of his mind, and the sexuality he hides.Nobody until he meets Colt, that is.Police Constable Colt Williams is the only person ever took the time to look past the lies and see Rhett for who he really is: a damaged, beautiful young man desperate for love and acceptance. When Colt steps in and tries to get him help, Rhett makes a choice that takes him further away from life than he’s ever been before.With his world turned upside down and his secrets laid bare for all to see, Rhett realizes it’s only by facing death that he can learn what it truly means to be alive.

    She'd rather kick back and lie around the house all day…or so she thought, until she ended up living with an older man—her manager, Takano-buchou—and going out with a younger man…who happened to be a rising star of the interior design world!Hotaru breaks up a fight between Takano-buchou, the object of her desire, and Makoto-kun, her jealous ex-boyfriend. She never thought she'd live to see the day…and if that wasn't surprising enough, Makoto-kun tells her he wants to get back together! But she's hardly got time to catch her breath before Takano-buchou proposes to her!! Is this all a dream…or has this old himono been swept up into a fairy-tale romance?!

    Can she move beyond her inner turmoil? Will she be able to write something that gives hope?

    Unbeknownst to Jayson, her death breaks any and all Hexes, Charms, Spells, Wishes and Curses she casted while alive! This causes a dark entity and Witch eating Jester named Rowan No End to rise seeking revenge!It's up to Jayson to right Agatha's wrongs but in doing so he will reconnect with an estranged flame named Prince Nathaniel Echoes, face a Magical Assassin, deal with the ghosts from his past and uncover a truth that he was not expecting!All leading up to a twist that will change Jayson's world forever!If you're a fan of Charmed, Dante's Cove, Once Upon a Time or fairytales in general, then you will enjoy this book!(Note: This book features a Main Character that identifies as an Asexual as well as other characters who identify as LGBTQ+.)

    

    And just like anyone obsessed with their hubby, she loves generating a bashful reaction or two out of him. But more often than not, Kouki ups the ante and does things -- whether wittingly or not -- that make Juri coo with affection. In this second installment, we join the two lovebirds on a relaxing day off. It's more adorable moments with these irresistible newlyweds!

    Caleb can’t seem to focus on anything, and acts paranoid at the slightest thing. Will his cousin, Robert, be able to find out the cause of his trouble? Or will he have to call for backup?

    What do an overly-edgy hero, codependent vampire, masochistic dragon, and hulked-out rabbit girl get up to in their downtime? Find out what Hajime and the gorgeous heroines of Arifureta do in between their adventures in this over-the-top collection of new 4-panel manga!

    But it's precisely because of all that that she's never had a boyfriend...men find her too unapproachable, or beg her to be their mistress, in the S&M sort of way. But when she meets a young coworker, Hasegawa-kun, she happens to find out that they have more in common than just their job, including secrets...

    Caring for them is harder than she ever imagined. She’s confronted daily with memories she would rather forget and her own prejudice. No matter what, she is determined to give her two nieces the best Christmas she can.Molly hasn’t seen her aunt Lacie in a long time, but she is determined to be glad, like in the book Pollyanna. It isn’t as easy. She misses her parents, her home, the mission her parents worked in, and her friends. She cannot understand why Aunt Lacie doesn’t like to talk about her father, but she will do whatever she needs to make a new start for her and her sister.

    A brant from northern part of China got seperated with its flock while migrating to the south for the winter, where he meets a sparrow and become friends with him.

    Stuck in a hospital bed, Ria is sure this will be the worst Christmas ever. But will it? Can the gang find a way to put a smile back on Ria’s face?

    But with her black hair and her apartment-building home -- not to mention her older brother and two living parents -- she despairs of ever meeting her aspirations. But could she be more like her heroine than she believes?