18,000 words (72 pages)— Appearances can be deceiving… To Rolf, Mirabay is the city of dreams. Called the Jewel of the West, it is the place of kings and heroes and great deeds. The chance to visit is not an opportunity Rolf is willing to miss. At first glance, the city is everything he expects, but with an appearance and accent more suited to the Marches rather than the refined salons and sophisticated ballrooms of the city, he is met with the prejudice reserved for those from the rural provinces. Dreams and preconceptions rarely meet with reality, however and as the city begins to lose its lustre for Rolf, those he thought him an uncouth blow-in from the Marches learn the error of their ways.

    Qualify for the Culling. Find a woman. Win the presidency.It was a carefully cultivated plan that dictated all his life’s decisions . . . until two women upend everything.Twenty-one years after his parents won the presidency, a Culling is called. James has waited his entire life for this moment, a chance to carry on his parents’ legacy. Meanwhile, whispers in Denver of an “Heir’s Curse” make a Reed winning the presidency seem impossible. A presidential heir has never won a Culling before, but there has also never been a Culling where three heirs could qualify. James and his siblings are determined to break the so-called curse and prove them all wrong.But when forced to choose between the easy love that could secure the presidency and a difficult one, what will James do?*This is book 1 of 4 in the spinoff for The Culling series.

    Only a zombie infested wasteland remains. Warlords and worse rule over the remains of humanity in a cruel new world where only the strong survive. Nero travels the wasteland in a souped-up V8 charger, barely hanging on as he moves between the scattered remnants of humanity. In return for food and supplies, he offers his services fighting zombies and raiders for those who can pay. Arriving at the Watchtower, Nero meets the abused slave girl Nyx. A beautiful young woman, she’s skilled in the use of a sword - yet held captive by the tower's ruler. When the Watchtower is attacked, events begin to spiral out of control, and Nero discovers the secret Nyx has been hiding from her master. Now he must choose between the life he knows alone in the wastes, or helping the fascinating but vulnerable Nyx, and changing his life forever. What would you do? DISCLAIMER/TRIGGER WARNING: This book contains graphic sex, slavery, violence, girls with no pants on, zombie slaughter and V8 carnage.

    After a non-life threatening accident as a child, he hasn't quite developed like other boys his age. A group of older classmates take advantage of George's nature and force him into a situation that leads him to discover some interesting things about himself.

    No autopsy is performed.The body of a young nun is discovered near the Vatican. The verdict, death by poisoning.Present Day:Dominic Quinn returns to Ireland to attend his father's funeral. His sole inheritance, a mystery dating back two thousand years. His only clues, a few enigmatic words that others would prefer to stay buried - at any cost. Surrounded by lethal enemies, Dominic is drawn into the shadowy world of Vatican covert operations. He travels to Rome to unravel the secrets of a first-century manuscript, reputedly written by the Virgin Mary. What he finds will challenge everything he thought he knew about his past, the origins of Christianity, and the nature of the universe itself.And, beneath the Vatican, in an unexcavated region of the necropolis where the tomb of the Virgin Mary is rumored to reside, the evil that pursues him will clash head on with the divine.Stephen Marley, a member of International Thriller Writers, is a British author and video game designer. He has had eight novels and a number of short stories published, including a revised edition of "Mary Messiah." His third novel, "Mortal Mask," was acclaimed a 'masterpiece' in the Clute/Grant The Encyclopedia of Fantasy.

    

    To escape from it all... but fate has other plans. Harvey Bennett is no stranger to tragedy. He's searching for something. But he's not sure what. Life, unfortunately, keeps getting in the way. When tragedy strikes Harvey during a family camping trip, he does the only thing he knows how to do: he runs away. The Icarus Effect is a coming-of-age story set in the woods and backcountry of the US, following the saga of a young man who just wants to find his place in the world. He's alone, scared, and stubborn. The runaway bestseller The Enigma Strain and the follow-up series of Harvey Bennett Mysteries has fans asking the question: "who is Harvey Bennett?" How did Harvey Bennett go from reclusive park ranger to head of the Civilian Special Operations? Now, discover the answer: Introducing the newest in the Harvey Bennett universe: the Harvey Bennett Prequel series. If you like authors like Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, and Matt Reilly, you'll love Harvey Bennett. Start reading The Icarus Effect today!

    But are they really ready for the wild ride ahead?Featured Books in this collection: The Shifter's Shadow (Shifters Of The Seventh Moon #1)Jack Warren doesn't expect Thea Redgrave to come striding into his life. And damn, if he's prepared for it. Or for the paranormal transformation that's in store for him when he attempts to save her life.The Shifter's Embrace (Shifters Of The Seventh Moon #2)With a demon on their tails, the group finds themselves in the spooky swamps of the Everglades, fighting for their lives. Jean Luc and Celia find themselves fighting their unlikely desire for one another, fearful of a love that will change both of them irrevocably.The Shifter's Seduction (Shifters Of The Seventh Moon #3)Tre has told himself a million times that he’d never be good enough for Caroline, that is, until Arturo takes an interest in her himself. Tre finds himself having to rise to the occasion and see if he can make Caroline love him before she falls in love with the evil Arturo.The Shifter's Desire (Shifters Of The Seventh Moon #4)The group of the Seventh Shifter series are all present and racing the clock and racing the demon. It’s all they can do to fight against the darkness and tumble hard into love.This steamy paranormal shifter romance collection contains strong sexual themes/language and is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

     For ten long years young Dirk Blackthorn has followed his drunken father from one city to another, always having to cheat and steal for his next meal, and never knowing what the future might hold. A magician turned con artist, Dirk’s father Thad has taught him everything he knows. After being driven out of just about every southern city in Agora, they have come to Kell-Torey in search of a new beginning. With winter on its way, and all but a rusty coin spent on his father’s drinking, Dirk must make full use of his skills if they are to survive the harsh northern cold. As Thad descends deeper into his drunken delirium, Dirk becomes determined to make a name for himself in the city’s criminal underworld. Featuring two of Legends of Agora’s most beloved characters, Blackthorn Rising is a fast-paced coming of age tale wrought with sword and sorcery, it is a story of failure and triumph, and a testament to the unrelenting spirit of defiance and adventure within us all. FROM THE EDITOR Blackthorn Rising is a book that sticks with you. Michael Ploof’s stimulating prose and evocative cast of characters are incapable of boring you on any single page. The plot is sharp, charged with dark wit, adventure, intrigue, and emotion. Enjoy Dirk Blackthorn’s bumbling journey to manhood as he rises to become a great thief, and an even greater man. I loved every minute of editing this tale, and I know you’ll love every minute of reading it. --Holly M. Kothe, espressoeditor.com

    The children will smile on Christmas morning at all costs. Even if Kris has to die to try to make it happen.Someone has set a trap for Kris Kringle. The problem is, Kris is willing to go anywhere to get those gifts to the children.Including to his dark place.This time, even Kris is surprised by who helps him.Be careful, world. You don’t want to piss off Saint Nick.

    Everything he has known from a middle class upbringing in Maryland has gone with it. He career begins now in Navajo Nation as liaison between the FBI and the Navajo Nation Police - and no one from the Academy is here to hold his hand!

    But Alison and her team know better. Trouble’s always coming for a Brownstone. Good thing she has an answer for them. Brownstone Security’s reputation is spreading, which means more jobs for the growing team. But more money means more mayhem looking for them. Can the team dig deeper and pull out another win? A Brownstone Solution: What could be harder for Alison than hunting magical beasties? Meeting Mason’s parents. Now she knows what Mason felt like meeting her father. Well, that was James Brownstone, so… maybe not.No time to ponder impressing the parents anyway – she has other issues to deal with.And an unknown person has reached out to Tahir and Hana about Omni’s owner. Something smells a bit fishy about the whole situation – and it’s not Omni being a fish. Keep Your Enemies Closer: Alison bloodied the Tapestry, but has she defeated them? With her foes operating under the radar, Alison thinks she has time, but when the mysterious magic-enhancing drug Ultimate arrives in Seattle, she is faced with a shocking conspiracy that might reach from Las Vegas to Seattle. Sadistic wizards willing to experiment are flocking to town. Rise Up: It’s hard to plan a wedding when the bad guys just won’t take a hint. Invite only… Brownstone Security is hired for what should be a relatively simple job. Nothing about the job is as it seems and Alison ends up working with the FBI’s first witch on the case. Dark Reunion: Sometimes even a Brownstone needs to get away from it all. Did the bad guys not get the memo? Alison Brownstone is on vacation. Do not disturb. Oh they disturbed.But when your mom is Shay Carson and she makes two requests of you, you take them seriously. 1. Go on a father-daughter bounty hunt. 2. Go on vacation. How can Alison say no? She can’t.Two Brownstone’s on a bounty. That dude’s going down hard. It’s not like Seattle will burn down because Alison isn’t there, right? Drow Conqueror: Alison Brownstone is a Drow Princess with no ordinary powers. Time to remind a few people just what that means. Kick ass, don’t bother taking names. Alison is in Mongolia to rescue Mr. D’s nephew, but things aren’t adding up. Are the other Drow trying to off Alison and her team to secure their succession? Drow Triumphant: It’s the beginning of the end. The other Drow princess and queen just don’t know it… yet. It’s business as usual for Brownstone Security. Drow threats or not, they still have work to do.

    Will it be with Breena?This is a novelette introducing a new werewolf mythology based on the concept that werewolves have fairy blood in them in order to help them shift. This is their magic.

    Thad and his companions must brave the wrath of the scions if they have any hope of saving their land from becoming a desolate waste.

    That all goes out the window the night Mars, god of war, demands her grandfather abandon her and return to Olympus for the brewing war. Now Old Vulcan is racing around the world and across higher planes with Sehkmet to gather allies, leaving Linn and an old immortal friend to protect the farm and the very special litter. But even the best wards won't last forever, and when the farm goes up in flames, she is on the run with a daypack, a strange horse, a sword, and an armful of kittens. Linn needs to grow up fast and master her powers, before the war finds the unlikely refugees...