For almost three years, the Federation and the Klingon Empire, allied under the Khitomer Accords, have contended with the nascent coalition on a predominantly cold-war footing. But as Starfleet rebuilds itself, factions within the Typhon Pact grow restive, concerned about their own inability to develop a quantum slipstream drive to match that of the Federation. Will leaders such as UFP President Bacco and RSE Praetor Kamemor bring about a lasting peace across the Alpha and Beta Quadrants, or will the cold war between the two alliances deepen, and perhaps even lead to an all-out shooting war? Raise the Dawn After the disastrous events in the Bajoran system, Captain Benjamin Sisko must confront the consequences of the recent choices he has made in his life. At the same time, the United Federation of Planets and its Khitomer Accords allies have come to the brink of war with the Typhon Pact. While factions within the Pact unsuccessfully used the recent gestures of goodwill—the opening of borders and a joint Federation-Romulan exploratory mission—to develop quantum-slipstream drive, they have not given up their goals. Employing a broad range of assets, from Romulus to Cardassia, from Ab-Tzenketh to Bajor, they embark on a dangerous new plan to acquire the technology they need to take control of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. While UFP President Bacco and Romulan Praetor Kamemor work feverishly to reestablish peace, Captains Sisko, Jean-Luc Picard, and Ro Laren stand on the front lines of the conflict...even as a new danger threatens the Bajoran wormhole as it once more becomes a flashpoint of galactic history. Brinkmanship The Venette Convention has always remained independent, but it is about to become the flashpoint for a tense military standoff between the two power blocs now dominating interstellar space—the United Federation of Planets and the recently formed Typhon Pact. The Venetan government turns to the Typhon Pact’s Tzenkethi Coalition for protection in the new order, and has agreed to allow three of their supply bases for Tzenkethi use. But these bases—if militarized—would put Tzenkethi weapons unacceptably close to Federation, Cardassian, and Ferengi space. While Captain Ezri Dax and the crew of the U.S.S. Aventine are sent to investigate exactly what is happening at one of the Venette bases, Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise are assigned to a diplomatic mission sent to the Venette homeworld in order to broker a mutually acceptable resolution. But the Cardassian delegates don’t seem particularly keen on using diplomacy to resolve the situation, which soon spirals out of control toward all-out war. . .

    Here in remotest Wyoming, where elk roam the pine forests and cougars prowl the mountains, everyone owns a gun. But when Joe Pickett hears two sharp cracks ring out months before hunting season, it's his job to investigate the first murder he's ever encountered. Battling grudge-holding neighbours, corrupt officials and out-of-town activists, Joe begins to unravel a mystery that threatens the life and the family he loves.Savage Run:Game warden Joe Pickett is called to a bizarre crime scene deep within the forests of Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming. The case is wrapped up too quickly, and Joe's search for the truth leads him ever deeper into the wilderness of the Bighorn Mountains. With two unlikely allies at his side, and two hired killers on his heels, Joe can't avoid the legendary Savage Run - a treacherous, isolated canyon with no crossing...Winterkill:It's an hour away from darkness, a bitter winter storm is raging, and Joe Pickett is deep in the forest edging Battle Mountain, shotgun in his left hand, his truck's steering wheel handcuffed to his right - and Lamar Gardiner's arrow-riddled corpse splayed against the tree in front of him. Lamar's murder and the sudden onslaught of the snowstorm warn: Get off the mountain. But Joe knows this episode is far from over. Somewhere in the dense timber, a killer draws his bowstring - with Joe as his prey...

    Sam and the Devil Dogs may be relaxing in Tarna, but it’s not by choice—they’d rather be employed than resting up. When a dangerous job offer comes from “the old man,” Sam takes the Devil Dogs and their newest recruit, Dawson, on a perilous hunt to capture an unidentified warjack before their rival Steelheads or the horrific Cryx make a claim on the never-before-seen technology.Whether their mission will be worth the risk remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Sam and the Devil Dogs will do whatever it takes to bring home The Devil’s Pay.

     Within minutes of landing on his doorstep, Lanie Weatherford had succeeded in turning Reece Masardi's peaceful, well-ordered world topsy-turvy. Never had he met anyone like her! From her pet miniature horse to her pet causes, this outrageous, unpredictable community do-gooder was all heart -- and all woman... Lanie knew Reece's life had been bumpy lately, and he couldn't seem to bounce back on his own. It was up to lighthearted Lanie to teach him how to laugh again -- whether he was willing or not! But to her surprise, Reece had a thing or two to teach her...about romance. And soon they were sharing more than laughter -- they were sharing love.

    She threw herself into raising her boys and showered them with love. Her sense of betrayal ran deep. After all, Hector had told her they were true mates, fated to be together forever. Now, another man is telling her the same thing. Can she believe in fate again? Can she risk opening her heart once more? She’s here. Catherine. His Catherine, the woman who Julius recognized as his mate on the exact same day she married another man. Lucky Bear Ruth is new in town. After spending years raising her siblings, she is now fulfilling her own ambitions. Training to be a teacher was the best thing she ever did, right alongside moving to Bear Creek. Sure, she’d like a man to share her life with, but if that doesn’t pan out, she is content to be alone. Michael lives a simple life. He might be a lottery winner, which earned him the name, lucky bear, but he knows money doesn’t buy you happiness. It does, however, buy you a large parcel of forest to call home. If only he had a mate to share it with, he’d be the happiest bear alive. Or cubs. And two cubs just walked into his life. Fostered by his best friend, Dean, Jason and Jenny are in need of a permanent home. Could he take them in and give them the life, and love, they deserve? Fated Bear Frankie’s heart isn’t her own. Literally. So how is she supposed to know if the man she’s met is her fated mate, or that of her borrowed heart? Can she trust in fate? Adam always though his fated true mate was dead. He’d built a life on the knowledge that he would be alone forever. Frankie turns all his plans upside down. Yet both of them have inner ghosts. Ghosts from the past that might destroy their future together. Song Bear Elise has known loss. Now she’s ready to love. Moving to Bear Creek was a big decision for bear shifter, Elise. She left behind a life, a career, and a mountain of memories. However, the thought of watching Frankie’s children grow up, and the chance to open a new organ transplant coordination department at the hospital in Bear Bluff, persuaded Elise it was the right decision. Then, on a morning run in the mountains, she hears a song. Not just any song. And not just any singer. Elise lost her heart to Hank Rivera when she was fourteen. He was hers. And she was his. It didn’t matter that every other girl on the planet thought the exact same thing. Then he disappeared. Until now. Could it be that the Hank Rivera truly is hers? Blind Date Bear Tiana is resigned to her life as a single woman after her husband left her years ago. Who has time for a relationship when you have a child to raise and elderly parents to care for? Not to mention her ex-husband who lives in a trailer at the end of the garden. Then she's set up on a blind date by her best friends and her world changes forever. Because her date is a bear shifter and she's his mate. His mate for life and he doesn't intend to ever let her go. When Mason agrees to go on a blind date, he never expects to meet his true mate. But here she is in front of him. Now all he has to do is convince Tiana she has room in her life, and her heart, for a bear shifter in love. Builder Bear After a disastrous first marriage to an abusive husband, Haley is just about getting by. She has built a new life for herself and her two wonderful daughters with the help of her amazingly supportive friends, Tiana and Sorcha.

    

    Funny and touching, these monologues from original live broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion focus on the summer season.Includes: "The Living Flag," "The Tollefson Boy Goes to College," and "Tomato Butt."

    Morgan Trayhern's toughest mercenary is about to find his heart this Christmas when his matchmaking boss puts him in the path of Montana's prettiest widow.

    And the Republic commandos are the best of the best. As the Clone Wars rage, victory or defeat lies in the hands of these elite squads, stone-cold soldiers who go where no one else will, and do what no one else can....Hard Contact: It is three months after the Battle of Geonosis. On the backwater planet Qiilura, a Separatist scientist has created a nanovirus designed to kill clone soldiers, and it will be up to four Republic commandosthe Omega Squadto apprehend her and sabotage her research. When Darman, the squad's demolitions expert, gets cut off from the others during planetfall, he meets up with Etain, a stranded Jedi Padawan who has lost her Master. He expects her to be a competent commander, but that hope vanishes once she admits to her woeful inexperience. A long dangerous journey lies ahead, through hostile territory brimming with Trandoshan slavers, Separatists and suspicious natives. A single misstep could mean discovery...and death. Triple Zero: A year after Geonosis, the Republic commandos are being deployed on missions that take them beyond the battlefield and further into sabotage and intelligence operations in Separatist territory. Now, after a close brush with death, the Omega Squad is sent to the toughest terrain in the galaxy: Coruscant. Teaming up with Etain, now a Jedi General, and their legendary training sergeant Kal Skirata and his Null commandosa secret force even the Kaminoan cloners deem too dangerous to unleashthey pursue Separatist terrorists in the treacherous skylanes and labyrinthine underlevels of the world city. It's a critical mission unlike any they've ever tackledand it will test their courage and their friendship to the limit.

    But a stranger is coming, one who will destroy both peace and balance, and open the galaxy to exploration and conquest. This is where it all begins!

    Here are 25 stories (plus a bonus interview with best-selling author George R.R. Martin) by some of the field's greatest authors. Included are:THE TRUE DARKNESS, by Pamela SargentPERMANENT FATAL ERRORS, by Jay LakeADJUSTMENT TEAM, by Philip K. DickROBOTS DON’T CRY, by Mike ResnickNO GREAT MAGIC, by Fritz LeiberESCAPE HATCH, by Brenda W. CloughBACKLASH, by Winston K. MarksTHE PICK-UP, by Lawrence Watt-EvansPOPULATION IMPLOSION, by Andrew J. OffuttWAY DOWN EAST, by Tim SullivanTHROUGH TIME AND SPACE WITH FERDINAND FEGHOOT: 28, by Grendel BriartonTO INVADE NEW YORK, by Irwin LewisTHEY WERE THE WIND, by C.J. HendersonSTOPOVER, by William GerkenCONSEQUENCES OF STEAM, by Michael HemmingsonOUTSIDE LOOKING IN, by Mark E. BurgessDEAD WORLD, by Jack DouglasNEFERTITI'S TENTH LIFE, by Mary A. TurzilloQUICKSILVER, by Lonni LeesAFTER ALL, by Robert ReginaldTHE BARBARIANS, by Algis BudrysEX MACHINA, by Cynthia WardMONKEY ON HIS BACK, by Charles V. De VetTHE SURVIVORS, by Tom GodwinTHROUGH TIME AND SPACE WITH FERDINAND FEGHOOT: 99, by Grendel BriartonSPEAKING WITH GEORGE R.R. MARTIN: Interview conducted by Darrell SchweitzerAnd don't forget to search this ebook store for "Wildside Megapack" to see more entries in this series, covering classic authors and subjects like mysteries, science fiction, westerns, ghost stories -- and much, much more!

    But when danger looms closer and Kia's life is threatened, Chase will stop at nothing to keep his lovely Kia safe...and burning with desire in his arms forever...