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

    It just meant starting over where no one knew him. He didn’t care how hard the road was, he was free to live his life, his way. Janet Holly couldn’t pass up a promotion, even one that took her to the other side of the world. This wasn’t just another job, it could be the start of a new career. Without friends or family there to distract her, nothing should prevent her from proving she was an asset to the Hendersons. Yet when their paths cross, fate seemed to have other plans for them. Vinny’s secret is revealed and Janet finds herself being torn in two. Will they deny their attraction or will they follow their hearts and give into the sparks waiting to ignite and consume them both?

    

    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.

    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.

    Dubbed Billionaire Bachelor Cove because of the resident's single status and income portfolios, The Cove is the perfect place to hide away from the world. But, as the residents soon find out, they can't hide from love. Her Counterfeit Wedding to the Billionaire When Koven Kent, self-made billionaire, discovers a bumped and bruised car in The Cove and learns that Jamon’s distant cousin from Texas has arrived to mooch off her billionaire cousin, Koven is immediately on guard. He’s is ready to send this gold digger on her way—until he meets Sky. Sky Bowen is put off by Koven’s offensive remarks. She’s a biochemist and excited to take on a new job in Jamon’s lab not some freeloader here to take advantage of her cousin. She tells Koven off and vows to keep her distance. However, one night in Vegas, after an extra dose of potent cough syrup and a run in with Sky’s ex, Koven and Sky find themselves at a drive through chapel. Ten minutes later, they’re man and wife. The marriage is a limited time business agreement and Sky knows the cash pay off will be worth tolerating Koven, at least for a little while. However, pretending to love a handsome billionaire becomes easier as she gets to know him, which creates another problem altogether. When Koven and Sky admit their feelings, outside forces seem determined to keep them apart. Is Koven and Sky’s love strong enough to conquer her past and his father’s scheming? Or will they concede, what was between them was counterfeit after all?

     Shay Greene’s specialty is rescue and recovery, and she’s damn good at it. When the country’s wealthiest woman hires her to find a stolen pearl necklace known as The Mermaid’s Lament, Shay is plunged into a world of jealous goddesses, their half-human demigod offspring, and long-standing feuds. Petty rivalries have a nasty way of escalating in that world. The dangerous lengths the goddesses go to one-up each other leave Shay wondering if the goddesses are completely sane. Even the demigods have more power than she is used to dealing with. Shay doesn’t have much time to learn how to beat them. If she doesn’t recover the Mermaid’s Lament by the looming deadline, it will cost her everything she loves.

    Now, she's back in town to renovate her old family home, which will feature in the magazine where she's employed as a journalist. Making the rundown house sellable, will allow Charlotte to sever all ties with her tragic past and finally move forwardwith her life. That is until the one person she'd spent all these years trying to forget is contracted by her magazines editor to help her complete the job.Will Beckett's no longer the twelve year old kid who used to play practical jokes on her, tease her and make her belly laugh. Now he's a ruggedly handsome, sweet talking, successful builder. Despite Will's wholesome country charm and sexy smile, that makes Charlotte’s heart skip a beat, she's determined to concentrate on the job at hand and protect her heart at all costs.Will never thought he woud see his best friend again, but now she's back, as stubborn and strong-willed as ever. Her return reminds him all over again of everything she lost because of him, and he desperately wants her forgiveness. As they reacquaint with each other Will becomes just as determined to reunite their friendship as he's set to win her heart.Can Will break through Charlotte's wall of defence or will his heart be broken again?

    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.

    A broke, big-hearted retail associate. Unexpected consequences. Anna Sharpe has suffered too much loss. In spite of that, she's still hopeful and believes in Christmas miracles. Her retail job has been a second home even though she could, and should, make more money somewhere else. The holiday season at Montgomery's Department Store is fun and she's looking forward to another year of joy at work. Michael Montgomery has also suffered loss. As the sole owner of the legacy left to him by his father and grandfather, he feels pressure to grow his business. But things in his comfy corner corporate office aren't so rosy. Struggles from within and worries about profits make him realize he needs to make some changes. He hears he's out of touch. One snap decision should help him remedy that problem. Going undercover, he poses as a new associate in his flagship store. Thinking he'll get insight into the business that will help him make better decisions, he's shocked at some of what he learns. But the biggest surprise of all is Anna Sharpe. He never saw her coming. Will Michael's secret be the thing that drives Anna away even though it's the very thing that brought them together?

     My father is dead. That much I know. What I didn't know, was what my father did for a living. I thought he was just a run of the mill lawyer. I was wrong. My father had an entire life I never knew about. One filled with half-truths and plenty of deception. Nolan Weston is the key to unlocking the lies. Nolan worked for my father. He was his right-hand man, the one he entrusted with everything. That would include being the executor of my father's massive estate that I just so happen to be the sole heiress to. I should hate Nolan. He's cold. Arrogant. And he's hiding something. But I don't hate him at all. I'm drawn to him. After a snowstorm in Tahoe traps us inside my father's luxury digs, the forced proximity opens up the floodgates of our desire. "It was one of the moments in my life I knew I would remember always. And that as much as I didn't want to feel like I belonged to anyone, at that moment I was completely his, for as long as he wanted me. He might one day be done with me, but I would never be done with him." Nolan wants to teach me how to please him. I want to learn how to trust him. But as I've learned, nothing is as it seems. And the man I want to trust might just be the man I need to run from. WARNING: This is a steamy romance involving an older, experienced alpha male and the young girl he wishes to own. There are twists and turns and it will leave you gasping for more. (This book was previously published as NECESSARY LIES)

    God will open your eyes to certain deep truths, which will completely transform your life and make you exceptional.This topic is so uncommon that many people spend their entire lifetime without knowing anything about it. Yet, such knowledge determines a lot of things.The truth, however, is that what we are considering in this chapter cannot be found on the surface of the scriptures. They are like hidden treasures tucked away in some chests. Hence, we shall examine some of the deepest scriptures ever found in the word of God.These deep Scriptures can make a great difference between living or dying, enjoying victory or suffering defeat, living under abject poverty or enjoying stupendous wealth. In fact, what you are going to discover in this book will determine a lot of things in your life in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. You will discover the secrets of doing exploits for God and reigning in the realm of the supernatural.By the time you learn how to pray in line with what you will discover, every area of your life will move forward by fire.

    It seems like she’s always been attracted to the kind of man who’s bad for her. In fact, it’s been one textbook bad-boy after the next, and it’d left her feeling so defeated that she decided quit dating altogether…for a whole year!Until she met Eric. Good, stable, boring and dependable Eric. He loves her way more than she loves him and it feels good to be on the other side of the equation for once, even though the sex is not the best…but that’s not all relationships are about are they?She’s finally getting her life together and things are going great…but then the universe decides to throw her a curve ball when her teaching assistant quits and is replaced by James Sumner. He’s tall, dark and handsome…covered in tattoos, listens to punk rock and wears a leather jacket. He’s everything Hayley’s been avoiding…so why can’t she stop thinking about him? She wants to put him out of her mind because she knows that Eric is the right man for her…...or is he?The feeling is definitely mutual because James can’t seem to stop thinking about Hayley either. Their attraction is undeniable. When a friendship starts to blossom between them, Hayley begins to doubt everything she knows. Is James really the kind of bad-boy who’ll break Hayley’s heart? Is she meant to be with Eric? Is she meant to be alone?

    

    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.