So they conspire to have her stay with her older stepbrother for the summer in hopes that he'll be a good influence on her and talk her into continuing her education and getting a "real job."Nina hasn't even seen her stepbrother since he left for college. When she's reunited with Austin, she's surprised to discover that he's not the awkward computer nerd she remembers.Austin seems to see her for the first time, discovering that Nina is quite talented and has a future as an artist if he can get her work discovered....while he's busy discovering her for himself as well.

    Now, in this original short story, available exclusively as an eBook, Picoult introduces Serenity Jones, one of the fascinating characters from her eagerly awaited new novel, Leaving Time. Even as a child, Serenity Jones knew she possessed unusual psychic gifts. Now, decades later, she’s an acclaimed medium and host of her own widely viewed TV show, where she delivers messages to the living from loved ones who have passed. Lately, though, her efforts to boost ratings and garner fame have compromised her clairvoyant instincts. When Serenity books a young war widow to appear as a guest, the episode quickly unravels, stirring up a troubling controversy. And as she tries to undo the damage—to both her reputation and her show—Serenity finds that pride comes at a high price.

    Vicki had spent the intermission backstage, chatting with two of her favorite singers who would soon grace the stage once more as the booming baritone Magnifico and his daughter Angelina, a dazzling soprano whose career had reached new heights during these ten, high-profile New York performances.Vicki couldn’t conceal her delight at the absolutely full house. “I guess the new marketing firm really hit one out of the park,” she commented quietly to Martin as the lights dimmed. “All ten performances are sold out!”Her lawyer friend smiled. “It’s the inspired leadership they’ve been getting,” he replied. “New blood, new ideas. It’s just magnificent.” The maestro appeared at the edge of the orchestra pit and received enthusiastic applause. “Although even I would admit that Rossini’s genius might have something to do with it,” Martin said, raising his voice over the audience’s appreciation. “Still, you’ve broken the glass ceiling yet again, I would say. Bravo, Miss Vydra.”“You’re too kind,” she said, patting his hand as the strings stirred in a quiet but ominous tremolo, quickly ushering in a sudden and violent orchestral tutti, brassy and loud, which filled the huge auditorium with the dark ferocity of the storm it depicted. Vicki let the eruption pass through her, finding herself carried by its torrential force, allowing the moment to fill her with an awed respect for nature’s power. She knew that it could not last, and the audience was soon deposited kindly into the peaceful meadow of the storm’s passing. Horn calls signaled the all-clear and, as one can always expect from Rossini, the good humor and delicate, social fun-poking resumed.***Content warning: For adults only!***

    The lump soon morphs into a shape familiar to everyone but her, triggering her curiosity and her father's greatest fears. He frantically tries to intervene, but having a large phantom phallus in a curious maiden's bed is never a good combination.

    She can see ghosts and she helps them with any unfinished business. In this first story, Lottie’s dad brings a dollhouse into the family store. A ghost is attached to it. It doesn’t take Lottie long to connect with the ghost, but when she does, her heart fills with sadness. This is going to be a difficult case for Lottie, but she is determined to help the ghost.

     With the increasing disappearance of miners and a mysterious groan from deep under the earth, rumors begin to circulate of an ancient and deadly curse. When Mason’s friend goes missing, he leads the search for his good friend. He slips and falls, crashing into an old, disused segment of the pit. Surrounded by evil creatures in the pitch darkness, can he find his way out to warn the locals? Or will the monsters escape and wreak havoc before he gets the chance? Enjoy this thrilling page-turner FREE now! **Includes an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the best-selling post-apocalyptic series Resistant!**

    Don't ever come back. Ten years ago, Sophie left home with those words ringing in her ear. She was seventeen and madly in love with a boy her father disapproved of. She still is.Now they're back, ready to make amends, but sometimes pride gets in the way of forgiveness.

    The wind tries first, but however hard it blows it fails to make any progress because the traveller simply buttons his coat even tighter than before. Only when the sun shines brightly does he finally remove it, and the wind roars away in a bad temper.

    Sometimes they never get over it, destined to be alone for the rest of their lives. And no matter how hard they try, they can’t be happy, because the guilt is enough to kill them too.When my husband dies in a freak boating accident, I’m barely able to function, let alone pick up the pieces of my shattered life. Yes, we had our problems, but I never wanted him to die. My friends tell me it’s time for me to move on and when I finally try to put the past behind me, it comes back to me, shattering everything I thought I knew about my past, my husband and my future.Somebody is lying and will do anything to stop me from finding the truth. But I have to know. Did my husband really die in the waters of Broken Sound?

    In each volume lies a mini-collection of stories which gives the reader a unique peek into the mind of the writer The Google+ Insider's Guide named as one of their top 32 authors to follow.Open the Box of Darkness to delve into a nightmare world of the macabre. Within these pages lurk refugees from a madman's nightmares. From traditional terrors such as vampires and ghosts to bizarre fetish-horrors of the author's own design,this book is for serious lovers of horror.

    Mostly those kind of folks ain’t worth knowing." Nolan Parker rides into Mustang City looking for grazing land of his own. With money in his pocket, he’s in town to buy a ranch.Then he saves a boy's dog from a killer. Now he finds himself embroiled in the beginnings of a range war, battling the hired gunmen of a ruthless rancher. He must make a decision. Stay and fight, or cut and run. Because of a Dog, is a drama of honor, love, hate, and death—a stirring tale of the old west that will keep you engrossed to the very end.

    Armed with skill and wit, magic swords and warhammers, the dynamic pair find themselves in a battle for their very lives in the deep forests of Nalzambor where they encounter an ancient destructive evil they never would have anticipated. It will take more than brawn, skill and magic weaponry to survive the monster that attacks from the shadows and petrifies their bones. MORE...The Quest for the Thunderstone is an epic fantasy/sword and sorcery short story, that serves as an introduction to two vast series of #1 international bestselling books called, The Chronicles of Dragon (10 book series) and The Tail of the Dragon (10 book series), both of which are full and complete. These books are filled with everything that a reader would expect from dungeons and dragons fantasy such as Lord of the Rings, the Icewind Dale Trilogy, the World of Greyhawk, Dragon Lance, and Narnia. In addition to countless kinds of dragons with special powers, master storyteller, Craig Halloran, has a plethora of involvement from races of all kinds, such as elves, halflings, gnomes, goblins, orcs, gnolls, bugbears, ogres, pixies, fairies and titans, bringing in each with a unique personality all of their own. So, give Nath Dragon and the Quest for the Thunderstone a try that is a doorway to the tremendous magical world of Nalzambor.Note: These books are appropriate for fantasy lovers of all ages, recommended for ages 12 through infinity!****************************#1 Free Kindle Short Reads/One Hour Science Fiction and Fantasy/Teen &Young Adult/Literature and Fiction

    Now it’s catching up with her.Wherever Oakland goes, the mystery caller finds her, the one who breathes down the line, who calls her at any time of day or night, who somehow always seems to know where she is.Moving all the way from London, Oakland settled on Liars Island, finally feeling safe enough to put down roots. Running Harborside Books, a quaint little shop by the harbor, she’s content with her quiet life. For the first time since she was seventeen years old, no one has harassed her. Until one day, she picks up the phone and hears that rasping breath one more time. But this time, it’s worse, someone is following her. She finds a threatening note in the bookstore. She’s convinced that there are eyes in the shadows, watching her every move.There is a person out there who hates Oakland O'Neill more than anyone in the world, and that person is on Liars Island, waiting for their opportunity to strike…Welcome to Liars Island… a stand-alone series of interconnected, novella-length domestic thrillers set in the picture-perfect community of Liars Island. Here, nothing is quite as it seems.On this island, families, and friendships are more than meets the eye … secrets, deceptions, and jealousies threaten to ruin everything these influential people have built. But it isn’t only the rich that live here … and power comes in all shapes and sizes. Everyone here is a liar … just how far would you go to get what you want?

    Sent to a parish in England, he makes a decision which has consequences as momentous as his initial mistake. A poignant story of how yielding to impulse can be as devastating as leaving things alone…

    Exclusive Bonus Short Story just for VIP ReadersThe short story of how Baller929 and Ella met (from Baller929's point of view!).