He flees … and plunges headlong into an epic quest of even greater danger. Talon, ruthlessly pursued by the warrior band, returns to the land of his birth. He finds it threatened by an army. The mountain fortress that guards the narrow pass into the realm is undermanned. Worse, the kingdom’s soldiers are fighting a battle on another front. There are no reinforcements. The fortress will soon fall. When it does, the enemy will ravage an entire kingdom. Talon risks his life to bring word to allies who might help. But to reach them, he must somehow pass through the very army set to destroy his homeland. He begins the quest, but the warrior band has not given up the hunt. Nor is the invading army led by a man, but by a sorcerer ready to risk anything for victory. Talon is beset by enemies at every step, including a creature of dark power that stalks him. The road to safety is long, and the hope of success is short. Yet, in the darkest hour of his life, he finds an unexpected ally. A girl of striking courage helps him, and he falls in love with her. But if his quest fails, only smoke and ash will remain of the future they might have shared. This boxed set contains the entire Swordmaster trilogy, previously released as Fortress of the Forgotten. This is a remastered and expanded edition.

    The girl was new. She hadn’t been there for the past three days the way that everything else had. I was sitting under a tree looking out at the ocean. It was probably the Pacific Ocean. I didn’t know for sure. When she got closer, she called out, but not loudly. It sounded something like, “Aquilala soma towatsina.” Or something like that. I didn’t understand a word of it. It was a nice language though. I liked the sound of it. She looked like some kind of cave girl, fur bikini and everything. If she didn’t try to kill me, maybe I’d at least have some company. This was weird. I was calmly accepting, and maybe actually embracing the idea that I was stranded on the edge of a jungle with no way home. Maybe there was a village with a telephone on the other side of the trees. In a way, I hoped not. I felt happy to see her, but not exactly excited. It wasn’t like I thought, “Oh my gosh, I’m rescued!” It was more like, “Hey, she’s kind of cute. Nice bikini. Nice tan too.” When she was about 50 feet away I stood up and stepped onto the sand.

    With an absentee mother and alcoholic father Logan has the weight of the world on her shoulders. All Logan can really count on are her crazy ass friends Margo, April and her secret crush Ameer Sanchez to keep her sane. Ameer Sanchez is a young rich, and in demand. With a small circle that consists of his best friends Jacob and Daniel, he doesn’t need much else to hold him down, well except for that special someone. He's fine as hell and on his way to living out his dreams. He also has everything he wants and can have any girl he wants but ever since he laid eyes on Logan he knew that he had to have her. Unfortunately, for this bunch, life isn’t always as simple as it should be. Ameer is struggling to keep his head right, and do right by Logan but life keeps getting in the way. Keeping his past in the past is not working out as simple as he thought it would be. Friendships and relationships are challenged, and some may not survive. Not to mention that the streets are invading their circle with a vengeance. Roman is the plug that Jacob and Daniel work for and he has an offer that they can’t refuse, even if they should be running from it. With Roman about to step down will the guys step up and take his place or will unforeseen circumstances make it impossible. Will Ameer be able to handle a relationship and running the streets? Will Logan be understanding of his constant demanding schedule? Will outside forces as well as, the ones closest to them try to tear them apart? And ultimately, is being Addicted to the Hustle really worth it?

    Set after a bank begins implementing a new retail banking strategy, we follow Teresa García Ramírez de Arroyo, a director general in the Mexican government, who has received some disturbing news.A whistleblower has emailed Teresa with troubling news about a mistake in the loan default calculations and reserve ratios. The numbers do not add up.The book loosely uses the logic and financial analyses in A Typical McKinsey Engagement.Our business books are different.Most people learn business because they are forced to, for their careers or to earn a larger salary. Most business books are, consequently, boring and dense. They have little incentive to be interesting because they have a captive market. Many avoid a business career because the books are presented as a hurdle to be overcome. We wondered what would happen if we made business books interesting, so people chose to read them? Would we draw more people into business? Would we generate more enthusiasm and excitement for business at a younger age?This book teaches advanced business concepts through a compelling storyline. This new genre of our books is written not only for people already interested in business but also for people who may not realize they have an interest or talent for business. Clients always request gift ideas for their children, spouses, friends, and families to get them interested in business and critical thinking. In part, this is our response to those requests.We want you to learn advanced critical thinking without realizing you are learning. We hope you will enjoy it, too.We believe the more people who find business interesting and choose to learn business, the better it is for everyone. Businesses will have a larger pool of employees from whom to select and more of the right people will be choosing the discipline to improve humanity versus simply to make more money.Imagine the advantage your children will have if they learned critical thinking in high school, or even before high school? Imagine if you had that advantage? Imagine if you had learned strategy alongside science and math in high school? The possibilities would be endless. It all starts with the right books. And it’s never too late to start.If learning is engaging, it will stop being a chore.

    

    What will happen with Tru and the baby? Will she tell Sincere about their daughter or will he find out on his own? With new significant others in the picture and drama in the streets, will Tru and Sincere finally get it together? Or will they keep running away from the love that they both share? Follow them as they struggle with love and trust.

    My job wasn’t quite done, yet. I still had to make Luchi and Luna something to eat before it was time for us to call it a night. I had worked a twelve-hour shift at Thornton’s. I was thankful when seven o’clock hit. Thanks to my sister and granny, I had a great support system for the twins. Their father hasn’t been much of any help since I got pregnant at seventeen. I wasn’t pressuring my kids’ father Lance to help too much with them, because anytime he came around, he was a huge pain in my ass. The only good thing that came out of me and Lance’s relationship were Luchi and Luna. I was a single mother, struggling, but by the grace of God, I always found a way to get by. I lived in a three-bedroom house, thanks to being on section 8, I got a decent amount in food stamps, although I worked like a slave at Thornton’s, and I’ve had the same Blue Toyota Camry since I was seventeen, but it was getting me and my babies where we needed to go, so I couldn’t complain. “Are you tired, mama?” Luna asked, climbing in my bed. My eyes were getting heavy, but I needed to make sure my babies were straight before I could close them. “Yes, my Luna, my feet are killing me, but it’s all worth it knowing, I can buy you everything you need.” I tickled Luna’s belly. “Mama, while you're in here playing with Luna, I’m in the other room hungry.” Luchi said, walking into my room. It was clear to me he had an attitude. “Luchi, your hot dogs are on the stove now.” I explained to my child, as if he was my parent and not the other way around. “Hot dogs? You’re not going to fry me some chicken?” “No, Luchi, I’ve been standing on my feet all day. I’m tired. I’m off tomorrow. I promise to make you a nice meal. Tonight, it’s chili dogs on the menu.” “Man, okay.” Luchi climbed into my bed with an attitude. “Mama, can we watch Home?” Luna asked, curling up under me, resting her head on my breasts. “Naw, man, I’m tired of watching that movie. That’s all you want to watch.” Luchi yawned, curling under me as well. “Sorry, Luna, I agree with your brother. Let’s give Home a rest tonight.” “Okay.” Luna pouted. Kissing her forehead, I took in my kids’ features, and my babies looked nothing like me. Everything about them screamed Lance. My skin was the color of a Hershey bar, but the twins inherited their daddy's light-skinned complexion. Luna had long curly hair that I often styled in a bun on the top of her head. My baby had the most beautiful smile that could melt even the coldest heart. My Luchi was the most handsome little boy I had ever laid eyes on. I knew he would break many of hearts one day. Although I struggled day-to-day, I made sure my kids never went without, and I made sure their wardrobe was the latest. At six, Luchi already thought he was a trendsetter. I kept his curly fro tapered on the side. My handsome baby rocked a big diamond in his ear. Luchi's vision wasn’t quite a hundred percent, so he wore glasses. At first, he hated the thought of wearing glasses until I bought him a pair of Ray Bans. I didn’t have much in this world, but my twins were everything to me. Watching the twins sleep peacefully under me, my eyes slowly closed. Sliding myself and the twins under my cover, I tried to get as comfortable as possible in my bed, the best way I could with my two little tiny monsters glued to me.

    Unable to care for him any longer, and wanting to hide the fact that she was dying from cancer, his mama sent him away, hoping to save her son from a life of trouble. Determined to get back to his mother, Khaution deals with the abuse he faces in foster care, but when his mother dies before he can get back to her, he turns to a life of crime to survive. Not knowing who his father was, Khaution hits the streets as Savage, and it’s not long before he ends up in jail. During a ten-year bid, he is suddenly released early from jail by none other than his father! Things between the two start off strained after not having him around in his life, but eventually, the two create a bond. A bond that enables them to take over the city of New York. But it comes with a price that Khaution wasn’t ready to pay, nor did he know he had to pay! With a queen on his arm that he doesn’t want, Khaution meets the mysterious, Autumn Kennedy. Never being in love before, he wants nothing more than to smash and walk away. However, Autumn pulls him in a way he didn’t see, and he finds himself in love for the first time. But Sybil is not going to let the empire and her king go so easily, and she gives him an ultimatum that he agrees to in order to spare Autumn. But what Sybil failed to remember was they called him Savage for a reason! In the end, she pushes him into making a decision that sends him on a path of truth that he wasn’t expecting. Savage by name and savage by nature. Follow this man as he embarks on a world of love and lies; some more devastating than others!

    Their babies. The stories of friends that all unexpectedly became a Viking’s bride. Book 1 – The Viking’s Bride I tried to run. But there’s nothing he won’t do to have me. I was forced to marry a ruthless Viking Warlord. Now, I’m carrying his twins. Grim is big, fierce, and handsome beyond words. But he's a killer, feared by all. I can’t believe my father would force me to marry this barbarian. Could a man like that ever love anyone, let alone me? We’re from two different worlds. Being with him in fantasy is far different than reality. A happy marriage seems impossible. So, I ran. But he found me, put me over his shoulder. And brought me back to be his bride. I hate how his gruffness makes my body yearn. I hate how his touch drives me wild. But what if there's more to him than a broken and vicious warrior? Could I get the happily ever after I've dreamed off? Or will I always be his captive bride? Book 2 – The Viking’s Wedding Big, gruff, dominant… and utterly dangerous. Einarr Thor is a beast of a man. A beautiful savage. And not to mention we’re different in every way. The fierce Viking Warlord wants me to be his bride. And there’s nothing he won’t do to have me. Book 3 – Beowulf’s Claim I was left in the woods unconscious, on the brink of death. He brought me to his cabin and saved me. I became a caretaker to an orphan boy that he was raising. But when I recovered my memory and discovered his dark secret, I ran. I don’t care that he’d search the world for me. I’d never be Beowulf’s Claim. Book 4 – The Viking’s Captive I’m the daughter of his enemy. In one night, I became his captive Princess. A way for him to beat my family. Who is he? Trident’s a man that takes what he wants. A gorgeous, giant brute. At every turn, I fought him. But there’s a side of him that only I know. A protective side that made me safer than I’ve ever felt before. I fell for all of him. I couldn't deny him any longer. Marrying him and giving him my innocence is insane and forbidden. Once our families find out about our news... It could end this feud or destroy us all.

    But the Kansas territories are a difficult place, and Letty has to do what it takes to survive. Now, she’s the last saloon girl in the rough-and-tumble town of Lizard Flats, a place where happily ever after’s are nothing but a dream.

    Wealthy, talented and gifted with prodigious abilities, there is is little doubt that he is blessed. However, recent events appear to suggest otherwise. Verre is a vast place with daemons and cultivators aplenty. Their schemes and secrets are legion. Valerian finds himself skirting the fringes of some of the greatest his land has to offer and unfortunately for him, he is being inexorably drawn in. There is only one way to keep afloat; grow, train, survive!

    Numbering four hundred thousand strong, soldiers of the Red Army pour across the borders of the Soviet Union’s small neighbor. Outnumbered and outclassed the world expected Finland to quickly succumb to the Communist juggernaut. Hale grew up farming, and hunting the frozen forest of his northern home. Taught from a young age by his father to hunt and trap, Hale has grown into master woodsman. Not yet twenty summers in age, he is most at home in the wilderness. Utilizing his gifts, especially his uncanny aim with a rifle, he has helped put food on the table and to earn a living by selling valuable pelts. When invasion threatened, he put his growing love for Nea on hold, and answered his nation’s desperate call to stem the Soviet tide. Now alone in Finland’s vast southern forest, he hunts prey of a different kind. Will his skills and the rifle his father gave him be enough against the countless numbers, tanks, and air craft of the Soviet Union?