His teenage friend Claire is an ace with numbers, and is always eager to help him with his homework. Max adores her, and loves when she visits him in the old house on Hollow Street. Claire can also weave a ghost story like no one else. But her favorite tale always sends chills down his spine, and hits a little too close to home...

    Introduction by Robert Silverberg. Afterwords by Norman Spinrad, Vonda N McIntyre, Robert Sheckley, Philip Jose Farmer, Thomas M Disch, and Edward Bryant.

    military. He's about to get his wish.  The government knows that a massive solar flare could plunge the entire world into darkness for decades to come, but few believe it will ever happen. The governor of Texas is hoping it won't, but planning that it could. She implements her brainchild, the top secret Operation Nightshade, and Gabe suddenly finds himself chosen to train for the end of modern society.  When the government learns their darkest fear is about to become a reality, Gabe can't warn anyone of the impending disaster—but he can stock his shelves and do everything in his power to ensure his neighbor, Lenora Diaz, will survive as long as possible.  Gabe must race against a cataclysmic solar clock if he hopes to be in position when the blackout descends.

    never before released Christian Christmas romances by bestselling inspirational authors! COME TO ME JOYFUL by Leah Atwood: When faced with the possibility of losing a loved one, Kate's insecurities resurface. Will she allow Luke to love and support her or will she push him away? MISTLETOE AND MOCHAS by Lynnette Bonner: After not contacting Chelsea Tan for weeks, Cannon Jones steps into her coffee shop and asks to spend time with her. She’d love nothing more than to remain as frosty as the Seattle air the week before Christmas. The problem is, her heart keeps growing warmer with each mocha he buys. CHRISTMAS STAR SAPPHIRE by Hallee Bridgeman:Christmas is a time of family and tradition, but Joe Westcott has determined to stay alone and single. Madeline Viscolli comes into his life and causes him to start reevaluating what he considers important. A Christmas Eve funeral brings everything to a crest and Joe and Madeline are forced to make a choice that will affect their entire future. A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS by Kimberly Rae Jordan: Over the years, Rose Collingsworth has watched her aunts and uncles fall in love and marry, but now she wants that for herself. Too bad the man she's set her sights on is more interested in keeping his distance. CHRISTMAS BELLS ARE RINGING by Lesley Ann McDaniel: Shelby Hughes finds a bag containing five beautiful hand-painted Christmas bells on the cream and sugar table of her coffee shop. No one comes back to claim it, so she decides to do a little detective work. Does she dare hope that it will lead her to the stranger with the magnetic green eyes? BROKEN HOLIDAY by Ginger Solomon: She takes refuge from a sudden winter storm in his barn. He wants her gone. But they're stuck, just how God planned it. GIFTS OF LOVE by Carol Moncado: Samantha Dean tries to avoid Vince Roberts as much as possible. When he volunteers them to plan the faculty Christmas party - and help out a newly widowed friend - she finds herself spending all her free time with him...whether she wants to or not. POLES APART by Marion Ueckermann: Writer’s block and a looming Christmas story deadline force romance novelist Sarah Jones to Lapland to fuel her muse. Substitute Santa Niklas Toivonen wants to help Sarah write her own happily-ever-after.

    These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction.But The Curiosities is more than the stories. Since 2008, Maggie, Tessa, and Brenna have posted more than 250 works of short fiction to their website merryfates.com. Their goal was simple: create a space for experimentation and improvisation in their writing—all in public and without a backspace key. In that spirit, The Curiosities includes the stories and each author's comments, critiques, and kudos in the margins. Think of it as a guided tour of the creative processes of three acclaimed authors.So, are you curious now?

    Stacey Tanner flees a stalking psychopathic ex-boyfriend and confronts all of her worst fears in one fateful evening.

    While urging Titus to become a believer in Jesus Christ, they manage to smuggle him out of Iran to freedom in Turkey.Will it help him deal with his past?Returning to the States, he discovers his Iranian mission failed because of political infighting within the Agency. In a hot-tempered outburst, he delivers a scathing indictment against the Deputy Director of Operations, and, as a result, the deputy forces Titus to take a year's medical leave in Oklahoma.How will it change his future?Before leaving Langley, Virginia, Titus learns he's been targeted by a Hezbollah assassin hired by the Iranians. Now, while trying to figure out what it means to be a follower of Christ, he must decide if the Iranian couple he meets in Norman, Oklahoma has ties to the man who's trying to kill him, and if Nikki Saxon, a local detective with an intriguing past, can be trusted with his secrets.

    With her partner Kevin off on assignment, she’s lured into taking a case involving a missing fisherman. Nothing about the man’s disappearance is as it seems. Although Julie is no stranger to the dark currents that churn below the surface, can she count on her friend Jimmer, and her lover Tony Martinez, to keep her from getting in too deep?