Hail! Hail!


Harry Turtledove - 2018
     Fresh from Duck Soup (1933), Julius, Leonard, Arthur and Herbert Marx - or as the world knows them, Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo - are transported by a freak electrical storm to Nacogdoches, Texas in the year 1826. Landing in the midst of the Fredonian Rebellion (the first attempt by settlers in Texas to secede from Mexico) and into the company of the only other Jewish person in town, they are in deep dreck. Falling in with Stephen F. Austin and inadvertently filling his head with knowledge of what is to come, our heroes risk tampering with the future of Texas, and perhaps the entire U.S.A., in their quest to return to their own time. Will they find their way back? Or will they be doomed to live out their lives without indoor plumbing?

The City Where We Once Lived


Eric BarnesEric Barnes - 2018
    Aside from the scavengers steadily stripping the empty city to its bones, only a few thousand people remain, content to live quietly among the crumbling metropolis. Many, like the narrator, are there to try to escape the demons of their past. He spends his time observing and recording the decay around him, attempting to bury memories of what he has lost. But it eventually becomes clear that things are unraveling elsewhere as well, as strangers, violent and desperate alike, begin to appear in the North End, spreading word of social and political deterioration in the South End and beyond. Faced with a growing disruption to his isolated life, the narrator discovers within himself a surprising need to resist losing the home he has created in this empty place. He and the rest of the citizens of the North End must choose whether to face outsiders as invaders or welcome them as neighbors. The City Where We Once Lived is a haunting novel of the near future that combines a prescient look at how climate change and industrial flight will shape our world with a deeply personal story of one man running from his past. With glowing prose, Eric Barnes brings into sharp focus questions of how we come to call a place home and what is our capacity for violence when that home becomes threatened.

Forgiving the Billionaire


Macie St. James - 2020
    When Emily's brother, Jeremy, returns home from an extended business trip, Alyssa has to confront her long-buried feelings. Jeremy was her first crush but to him, she'd always been his little sister's best friend. She's never gotten over her hurt that he stood her up for her senior prom.Jeremy Owens barely recognizes the beautiful woman standing in front of him. He'd always thought of her as his sister's best friend, although he'd long suspected she had a crush on him. She's grown into a woman since the last time he saw her, and suddenly his world has been turned upside down.Alyssa doesn't have time to deal with her unresolved feelings toward Jeremy. She's starting her own marketing firm, which means lining up new clients and promoting her best friend's cafe, which is struggling. As co-owner of that cafe, though, Jeremy has a vested interest in its success. He doesn't miss any opportunity to work alongside Alyssa to try to save it.As her feelings for Jeremy start to deepen, Alyssa knows she has to find it in her heart to forgive Jeremy for hurting her so many years ago. But will it be enough to heal the wounds?

The Book of Andy


Timothy Browne - 2021
    We compare our life with the snapshots of happy faces posted on social media and feel terrible about our situation—often hopeless. What if we can live our lives, not defined by the trappings of this world, but by discovering contentment in the simple things and in what we are given?In this modern-day Book of Job, Andy sits at the bottom of life’s pecking order. Working as a honey-dipper (a septic truck driver) and living in a single-wide trailer in small-town Montana, Andy longs for love and a better life. His only solace is found on the wild side of the river amongst the ponderosa and bull trout.But when Andy is granted all that he desires, the peace he once found in his simple existence, and the serenity of dipping a dry fly into the Blackfoot River evaporates. A family secret that seems like a cruel betrayal emerges as a great blessing in disguise.The Book of Andy is for everyone who feels that life has beat them down…for anyone who prays for a breakthrough. Fans of Walter Mitty, A River Runs Through It, and Forrest Gump will enjoy this humorous family saga of finding faith, love, and contentment.

Peace on Earth: An Irma Saves Christmas Novella


Maia Ross - 2019
    Surrounded by seasonal joy - and way too many stuffed Yuletide beavers - at the island house her family has owned for generations, she's all set for the perfect holiday.But when a young friend asks for help with figuring out a financial snafu, her perfect day is in jeopardy. Can Irma - a woman with a yen for strong tea, cardio, and a well-oiled gun - find a thief before the festive season kicks off, or will Christmas be ruined?Peace on Earth is a 30,000 word holiday novella, and is the first book in the forthcoming Beaver Island Mystery series.

A Very Funny Murder Mystery


Paul Mathews - 2018
    And when Lady Peculiar’s butler – a part-time comedian – is found drowned in his own mango chutney, Detective Inspector Clinton Trump comes blundering onto the scene – ready to shun logic, breach protocol and trust in his own gut instincts. What will South East England’s greatest detective uncover? Is her ladyship a murderess? Was the killer a comedy rival? Or are darker forces at work in this particular corner of Brokenshire? Join our self-proclaimed British detective genius, as he races against time to solve this very funny murder mystery – so he can play golf at the weekend! The first novel in the ‘Clinton Trump Detective Genius’ series This riotous English detective spoof is murderously good fun from first page to last, as Inspector Trump and his unwanted sidekick, Constable Dinkel, encounter a procession of crazy comedy characters in the Great British countryside. Stuffed solid with British humour (or ‘humor’, if you’re one of the many American tourists who visit Upper Goosing), its mix of black comedy, British farce, funny one-liners and downright silliness is guaranteed to generate tremendous titters across the very civilised world.More amateur sleuth than professional investigator, Clinton Trump will bring a smile to your face like no other Trump has before, or probably ever will. So, jump aboard the Trump detection train, blow your Clinton trumpet and join the movement – Make Murder-Mystery Great Again! A Word from Detective Inspector Clinton Trump: “Greetings from Upper Goosing – the murder capital of Europe. You’ll find the scenery, tea rooms and cake shops are well worth the risk of a premature, grisly death. But before purchasing this novel, please note that it only employs British English, as spoken by Her Majesty the Queen. I don’t want anyone griping about me saying ‘per cent’ instead of ‘percent’, ‘metre’ instead of ‘meter’ or ‘tea’ instead of ‘coffee’. If you must grumble, please do as the English do and complain only to yourself. And if you’re planning on enjoying a cup of Earl Grey with this quality e-book, please remember: it’s tea first, milk second. Finally, don’t be afraid to laugh thunderously when reading this novel. Just don’t laugh yourself to death – we have enough fatalities around here as it is. Thank you.”

Na Akua


Clayton Smith - 2016
    But when Grayson Park's bride leaves him at the altar, a solo trip to paradise seems like just the thing to take him far from his troubles. Then he meets the beautiful and enigmatic Hi'iaka, and his troubles just begin--because when she's abducted by the sinister Kamapua'a, a savage creature bent on draining her life by the light of the full moon, she calls on Grayson to rescue her. With his loyal, new-found Hawaiian friend Polunu as his steadfast guide, Grayson sets out on an incredible adventure that pits him against the very gods of Hawaiian mythology and leads him to the heart of Pele's volcano, into the ocean to find the mythical Hook of Maui, and through the strange and brutal upcountry fleeing from demonic mo'o sent to destroy him. But there are only two nights left before the moon becomes full, and Grayson is running out of time to save Hi'iaka...and himself.

Office Wars: The Mailroom Clerk


James G. Patton - 2017
    He sleeps in a real bed and eats real food and only jumps into Neuroma to work. All he wanted was to log in, work and log out and live in general obscurity. Getting the attention of a CEO, meeting a stranger in real life, and forced to play in a secret game of corporations were not penciled into his calendar. While that was bad, he started to question whether Odditek was still in control, or had their complacency created the noose tightening around their neck. Bran was not yet aware of the choice before him. He could no longer stand back and watch, and he had to pick a side and fight before he lost the ability to choose. Would he recognize the inevitable in time? Was it possible to make a ‘correct’ choice, or had the lines blurred so much that hero and villain were indistinguishable? This novel is part of an Odditek series and is a LitRPG novel. I realize it’s the first Odditek series, but more are coming. This series started as a companion series to a book called Lantern Online. I wanted a way to build up the world as it now exists, and to explain what Odditek is. Neuroma and Nerves are mentioned in Lantern Online, and I felt all that information was taking away from my story and is mostly not relevant, but good to know information. I took a lot of it out and added it to this series. Anyway, out of that came Office Wars. I hope it's different than most LitRPG you will read, and brings another dimension to the genre. Explicit language! I will not lie, there is a satirical nature to this story, and a lot of the language and scenarios are morally questionable on purpose. In this story and I use a lot of curse words and controversial commentary. Just look on Facebook or any half a dozen social media sites, and you will see similar language, conversations, and other nonsense. If we all moved into a digital world, this is how I view that world.

Is This Me?


Tricia Copeland - 2015
    What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?” Can Amanda find her way out of her contrived world?

When Destiny Sings


Judith Cuffe - 2020
    . . revealing a terrible secret that changes it all.In 1960s Ireland, Maggie Treacy has never felt she belongs. Determined to change her life, the transformation doesn’t come without cost, but she isn’t going to let anything stand in her way. Never comfortable with losing control, most of her stories gather more legs than a spider. She cuts her family off in hope of a better life, not really thinking much beyond the wedding and the big house. An ideal vicar’s wife? You decide . . .Felicity, Maggie’s daughter, endures a lonely and neglected existence. She longs for the simple life that her mother left behind. A prisoner in her own life, she yearns to escape, to be part of the life that she looks out at. Will she find the love and sense of belonging that she’s always been denied?Felicity’s daughter, Ann, otherwise known as Bella, is lost. A spectator in her own life, she doesn’t know who she is any more. Married into a wealthy Dublin family, she has everything she ever wanted, except the love she once knew. When her husband turns out not to be the man she thought he was, battling her demons, she seeks to uncover the truth about the past, always lurking in the shadows.Their lives had seemed so perfect until they weren’t. Can Bella evolve beyond the secret that has torn them all apart? Will she ever look at things with fresh eyes and a new understanding?An entertaining read that transcends time with history repeating itself, proving it’s not our circumstances that define us but the power within to change.

The Frozen Crown


Greta Kelly - 2021
    A stellar read that I thoroughly enjoyed." -- Emily Duncan, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Saints A princess with a powerful and dangerous secret must find a way to save her country from ruthless invaders in this exciting debut fantasy, the first novel in a thrilling duology packed with heroism, treachery, magic, and war.Askia became heir to the Frozen Crown of Seravesh because of her devotion to her people. But her realm is facing a threat she cannot defeat by sheer will alone. The mad emperor of the Roven Empire has unleashed a horde of invading soldiers to enslave her lands. For months, her warriors have waged a valiant, stealth battle, yet they cannot stop the enemy’s advancement. Running out of time, she sets sail for sun-drenched Vishir, the neighboring land to the south, to seek help from its ruler, Emperor Armaan.A young woman raised in army camps, Askia is ill-equipped to navigate Vishir’s labyrinthine political games. Her every move sinks her deeper into court intrigues which bewilder and repel her, leaving her vulnerable not only to enemies gathering at Vishir's gates, but to those behind the palace walls. And in this glittering court, where secrets are worth more than gold, Askia fears that one false step will expose her true nature. For Askia is a witch gifted with magical abilities—knowledge that could destroy not only her life but her people. As her adversaries draw closer, Askia is forced to make an impossible choice—and no matter what she decides, it may not be enough to prevent Seravesh’s fall.

Princess Floralinda and the Forty-Flight Tower


Tamsyn Muir - 2020
    Each flight contains a dreadful monster, ranging from a diamond-scaled dragon to a pack of slavering goblins. Should a prince battle his way to the top, he will be rewarded with a golden sword—and the lovely Princess Floralinda. But no prince has managed to conquer the first flight yet, let alone get to the fortieth. In fact, the supply of fresh princes seems to have quite dried up.And winter is closing in on Floralinda…

Rosa's Castle


Deanna Edens - 2016
    An investor in the growing railroad industry, he played host to US presidents. And when he fell in love, he fell hard. Rosa Pelham was almost two decades younger than Suit, who courted her unsuccessfully for five long years. Then, in 1883, he found the chink in Rosa’s romantic armor. She dreamed of living in a castle. Suit vowed to build her one if she accepted his proposal. He was as good as his word, and Berkeley Castle became part of West Virginian history. Some say the story of Rosa and her castle ended badly, with heartache, financial ruin, and insanity. Some darkly hint that vengeful ghosts now walk the halls of Berkeley Castle, tormented by secret misdeeds. Others tell a different tale—one of love and courage in the face of changing fortunes. Rosa’s Castle tells this tale—a dazzling “what if” based on one of America’s most striking love stories. As for ghosts…well, not all are vengeful shades. Some haunt out of love for those they left behind.

Spark


R.K. Close - 2020
    But trying to stay out of the spotlight and track a killer may bring their own secret into the light.When a beautiful reporter starts digging into the deaths, Liam tries in vain to keep his distance. He's strangely drawn to the one woman in town that he should avoid at all costs.Jessica, a tenacious young reporter, is looking for her big break and exposing the mysterious deaths for the murders they are might be the catalyst to launch her career. But what is Captain McKenzie hiding behind his permanent scowl—reserves only for her? If she could stop losing herself in his captivating blue eyes, she might get some answers.While Jessica is determined to find the truth, Liam is challenged with the task of protecting the unsuspecting woman from a vampire who is hell-bent to make her acquaintance.

Cyberionage


Michael P. Elias - 2013
    Special Agent Moti Kidron is in a race against time to infiltrate and locate the nuke deep behind enemy lines. A page-turning cyber war thriller aiming to block imminent nuclear holocaust in the Middle East.From Hezbollah controlled Lebanon thru Silicon Valley to the White House situation room - this debut novel is carefully researched, deftly plotted and will keep military thriller and techno geeks glued to every page. This action packed military thriller pits allies, the worlds top intelligence agencies and special forces against each other here the "technological edge" plays a key role protecting global interests. A decorated special ops soldier and Mossad cyber hacker, Moti Kidron, is in a race against time to find a rogue Iranian nuke while keeping the United States at bay without disclosing the scope of his infiltration into the core of their networks.The Israeli Mossad has embarked on the most widespread global cyber espionage program that infiltrates the United States CIA and NSA's most coveted PRISM systems. A secret artificial intelligence super computer secretly infiltrates the core ofthe NSA's networks enabling a predictive system to monitor and track nuclear proliferation programs around the globe.Nuclear holocaust is imminent in the Middle East. The Mossad and Israeli prime minister have proof that a rogue nuclear attack originating from Iran is hours from launch. The countdown results in a 4 way nuclear showdown that includes the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran.