Book picks similar to
Before by Barry Graham
stuff-i-think-of-as-good-fiction
20th-century-fiction
novella
man
Miles to Go
Laura Anne Gilman - 2013
For the most part, he’s made his own way, first as a member of the NYPD and then – when they started looking too closely at non-humans in the force – as a private investigator, straddling the line between human and fatae (supernatural) in his job the way he does in his lifeHe has a good life, he has good friends, he makes a difference… But he also has a dangerous life. And sometimes – when you’re in the middle of magic - good friends aren’t enough. Miles to Go: It's an ordinary day, another ordinary - for Danny - job, when he's approached by a young woman who has information he needs to solve a case. All she wants to do is help. When a life - or more - are on the line, it's hard to turn that down. But the cost of that information will change Danny's life...forever.[these stories take place after the events of DRAGON JUSTICE (PSI #4) but stand alone]
A Bittersweet Hood Dilemma: A Naptown Love Story
Natavia - 2015
Tokyo is what you call an around the way girl. Life has not been easy for her since she ran away from home to be with, Darrion. Darrion was the love of Tokyo's life. She was his down chick until she finds out Darrion has another life.Tassana is the girl good that wants a taste of hood life. She does anything to live it. She too has another life. She has a craving for dope boys.Kauzie and Tokyo has been friends for thirteen years but he is secretly in love with her. Only problem is he can't get rid of Tassana who is Tokyo's sister.In this twisted hood triangle there is a lot of deceit, lies, and heartache. Two sisters and one man. Who can he choose? Tassana has a plan to conquer all.
Picture Perfect
Heather B. Moore - 2014
But that was over ten years ago, and each is still trying to find that perfect someone . . . if perfect is even possible. In PICTURE PERFECT, Gemma has never done anything out of the ordinary, until her boyfriend Randy starts to ignore her. But even cutting and dyeing her hair doesn’t get his attention. She decides to join her old high school friends for spring vacation, only to be faced with Drew, her best friend who suddenly seems interested in her as more than a friend. Gemma must determine if her heart is on the rebound or if it’s finally met its true match.
Rinpoche's Remarkable Ten-Week Weight Loss Clinic
Roland Merullo - 2016
This time, though, instead of cruising the American road together, Otto Ringling and Volya Rinpoche are part of the famous meditation master's offbeat weight loss clinic, held over the course of ten Saturdays in a New York City yoga studio. "These characters have been alive in my imagination for a decade now," Merullo says, "and I just had the sense that Rinpoche, out of his deep compassion, would try to do something about America's obesity epidemic. I've also been fascinated for a long time by the way addiction works—whether it's addiction to food, drugs, alcohol, sex, work, or anything else—the way it occupies the mind and moves us to do things we know we would be better off not doing. I've always wondered what advice Rinpoche would give on the subject."Known—across twenty books, scores of essays, and twenty-five years of publishing—for being willing to try his hand at an unusually wide variety of themes, subjects, and genres, here Merullo works for the first time in the novella form, putting together a deft, moving, and tightly compressed tale that includes his trademark mix of spiritual inquiry and ordinary human emotions. "This story is about the challenge of losing weight, yes," the author says, "but there's a twist to it at the end, and that opens into a wider territory. I tried to approach it with a full appreciation for the difficulty of breaking old habits, and I gave up a beloved food myself for ten weeks, just to keep things honest."While it does not promise to help readers with their troublesome eating habits or other addictions, Rinpoche's Remarkable Ten-Week Weight Loss Clinic does look at those painful issues from a fresh angle, one full of sympathy and wisdom. It will certainly please lovers of the Buddha Trilogy, and perhaps bring new fans to the hundreds of thousands who've already enjoyed the travels and conversations of Otto and his enlightened teacher.
The Billionaire Broker: A Clean Romance
Deb Goodman - 2019
When Macey Declan inherits her grandfather’s odd, crumbling Irish castle, she not only has to decide what to do with it, but now she’s fighting against the land-grabbing real estate agent across the street. Billionaire Levi Richardson has one more property to secure to complete a years-long urban expansion project designed to bring this sleepy small town into the modern era: the Declan mansion. He needs a wrecking ball and quick. Levi didn’t plan on Macey’s refusal to sell, but when his client increases the offer and Macey is even more determined to keep it, he finds himself switching tactics and helping her paint instead. Uncovering the castle’s old secrets together, Macey and Levi begin to put aside their differences and learn that maybe her grandfather knew what they needed all along.
Naughty and Nice
Belle Harper - 2019
She packed her bags and drove back to her childhood home, a chance to plan out her new single life. Only with her parents gone for Christmas, and her brother wanting to play house with his girlfriend. The only place she could stay was her Grandpa's cabin, so she set up there and waited for the coming snow storm. But that's not all that was coming that night... Darcy didn't expect her old neighbour, her brothers best friend to be standing there. Soaking wet and frozen, with three of his college basketball teammates. Snowed in a small cabin with four huge men... Darcy was ready to start living her single life NOW! **Reverse Harem, One lucky lady and four men. Why choose, Short 15k word Christmas Story**
On Every Street
Karina Halle - 2013
But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.Takes place six years before Sins & Needles. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles and may also be read as a standalone.
Love Renewed (Second Chance With You #2)
Lorana Hoopes - 2018
She waited for him to return, but when the communication stopped, she married another. Unfortunately, that marriage wasn't a good fit. When she is asked to redecorate the Fields' winter lodge, she is hesitant at first, but after being assured Dillon won't be there, she takes the job.Dillon Fields thought he wanted to see the world, but ten years after leaving his hometown, he finds himself unable to commit to his relationship. After a bit of soul searching, he realizes it's because he's never gotten over his high school sweetheart, Kaitlyn. Unfortunately, he has no idea where she is now. He decides to spend the Christmas holiday with his mother at their lodge, but he gets more than he bargained for.Will Kaitlyn and Dillon get their second chance or will the past keep them apart? Find out by clicking above.Second Chance with You is a series written by a group of sweet, clean romance authors connected by the the idea that past loves, broken apart for a myriad of reasons, can be brought back together—some by chance, some by circumstance, some by choice.Love Renewed is part of the Second Chance with You series. All books in this series are standalone and can be read in any order.
The Big Book of Dumb White Husband
Benjamin Wallace - 2012
He's confronted the HOA. He's even taken on Santa himself. He doesn't usually win. These are the tales of the Dumb White Husband and they are all available here in this collected edition.This handsome volume includes:Dumb White Husband vs. the Grocery Store - John would rather sit and watch the game, but his wife needs some things at the store. Can he complete the list and get back in time to see the end of the game?Dumb White Husband vs. Halloween - Every Halloween, Chris has the scariest house on the block and gives out the best candy. But, this year, someone is showing him up and he'll stop at nothing to find out who.Dumb White Husband vs. Santa - Erik has planned the perfect Christmas for his family. The plan is foolproof, bulletproof and flame retardant. Nothing can undo the hours of planning and preparation. Nothing except maybe odd-shaped packages, ill-timed fruitcakes or an errant neighborhood Santa Claus.Dumb White Husband vs. the Tooth Fairy - Erik always has a plan and he's sure he would have figured out the whole Tooth Fairy thing eventually. But, when his three-year-old son takes a frisbee to the mouth, he's forced to speed things up. Between neighborhood kids with big mouths and unhelpful dentists he's going to need to improvise. Will he bend to the pressure of inflation? Will he get caught in the act? And, what do you do with those teeth anyway?Dumb White Husband for President (A novella) - There comes a time in every man's life when he must stand for the things he believes in. John doesn't believe in bagging his grass. So, when a new allergy-prone neighbor gets the HOA to require it, there's only one thing he can do - run for President of The Creeks of Sage Valley Phase II.John, Chris and Erik put aside most of their differences to run a campaign that they hope will see John elected as President and end the meddling of the rule-loving new kid on the block. Will they succeed? It's doubtful.
Untamed Hearts
Melody Grace - 2013
Two restless hearts. But what happens when morning comes?A tantalizing new novella from the internationally best-selling Melody Grace. *Untamed Hearts is set 3 years before the events of Unafraid. It can be read before, after, or as a stand-alone novel.*Contains adult material, 17+
Special Delivery
Lia Fairchild - 2011
Flowers had always been a big part of her life. But delivery driver Dave brings more than just bouquets. Can he help Amy find happiness again? Will Amy get even more than she bargained for? Find out in this short story about love, loss, friendship and flowers. If you're looking for a quick read (only 5k words) with a sweet romantic feel, this is for you.
The Killer Inside
Will Carver - 2013
Again and again.And I won't be stopped.Not even when I am locked up.That's not me.I am Eames. And I haven't finished.She knows I haven't finished.Not yet.
Three Days
J.S. Cooper - 2014
What happens at the private club stays at the private club! When Meg Riley lost her job as an attorney, she never thought she'd end up working for a private club. But when she met the handsome and elusive, Greyson Twining, she knew she couldn't turn the job down; even though she didn't really know what the position entailed. Greyson Twining is the owner of the private club and he knows that it's a mistake to hire, Meg. However, there is something about the way she smiles at him that makes him forget his own reservations. And then there's the call from, Brandon Hastings telling him not to hire Meg. A call he should have listened to more closely. As, Meg and Greyson embark on day one of training, neither of them realize that there are secrets about to come out that will completely alter both of their lives.
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Michael Ledwidge - 2002
Decorated NYPD Officer John Coglin always thought his picture on the front page of the newspaper would be one for the scrapbook.That was before he had the bad luck to be forced into a witness-free, kill-or-be-killed confrontation with a drug-dealing thug. It's of no help to him that the incident took place during the run-up to a bitter mayoral election campaign, and that his adversary was sixteen years old and black.Now, instead of another commendation, Coglin is staring down the barrel of a media- and politics-stoked murder rap.But on the eve of his sure conviction arrives a fateful telephone call.It's not the governor, but his long-lost uncle, Aidan O'Connell.A veteran of the IRA and a recently released guest of San Quentin Penitentiary for armed-to-the-teeth robbery, Aidan offers his nephew a pardon that has nothing to do with lawyers.Coglin is about to find out that the type of amnesty Uncle Aidan is proposing is the kind that involves a beautiful but dangerous Mafia widow, a car trunk full of M-16s, and thirty million dollars in jewels smack dab in the middle of Rockefeller Center."Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" is a highly entertaining, deliciously gritty, super-fast thriller that takes us on a cutthroat ride into an urban realm where criminal intent collides head-on with the vagaries of fate and the inscrutabilities of the human heart.
His Hostile Takeover
Fiona Murphy - 2014
It doesn’t matter that now at twenty four he still treats her like a kid sister, Ellie still loves him. So why did her body go haywire when she first met Dmitri Markhoff? Dmitri was taking over the company she had worked so hard to keep going, Ellie wasn’t part of the bargain. Okay, she needed the job as a personal assistant he was offering and it was only for three months. That was more than enough time to save money so that once the three months was up she could support herself while she found another job. When the three months was up she would be back in Alexandria and back near Greg. She loved Greg. Hormones and never having been touched was all that was making her feel the way she did about Dmitri. She was sure of it. Besides all of that, men as gorgeous as Dmitri Markhoff didn’t look twice at women like her, who wore a dress size in the double digits, they went for models that were a size zero. Dmitri Markhoff is a ruthless corporate raider and had long given up on soft feelings for women. He enjoyed their bodies and paid for it in diamonds and other trinkets. All he wants is Elise’s lush body that has the kind of curves that should come with a warning sign, love isn’t something he’s looking for. When he figures out that Elise is untouched his body goes into overdrive. Even though he’s aware keeping her is wrong when all he wants is sex, he’s having the hardest time letting her go. 18+ Mature This is a standalone novella at 37,274 words. This is an erotic romance so please be aware it is graphic in nature before purchasing.