This is the brilliant short story that featured in the back of the special edition ebook of CONN IGGULDEN’S bestselling novel EMPEROR: BLOOD OF GODS.As the effects of age creep up on Augustus Caesar, he is left with the whispers of his wife Livia in one ear and the echoes of his youthful dreams in the other, as he tries to come to the rescue of his beloved grandson, Marcus.

    From ghosts of mind and spirit to exotic paranormal tales, each story in this volume has never before appeared in an anthology. Included are:The Silent Man, by Henry Fothergill ChorleyThe Strange Ormonds, by Leitch RitchieThe Mysterious Wedding: A Danish Story, by Heinrich SteffansThe Burial by Fire, by Louisa Medina HamblinThe Vampyre, by Elizabeth ElletThe Sleepless Woman, by William JerdanA Peep At Death, by Peter Von GeistKillcrop the Changeling, by Richard ThompsonCarl Bluven and the Strange Mariner, by Henry David InglisThe Prediction, by George Henry BorrowThe Story of the Unfinished Picture, by Charles HootenEule: The Emperor’s Dwarf, by John Rutter ChorleyThe Green Huntsman, by Joseph Holt IngrahamA Revelation of a Previous Life, by Nathaniel Parker WillisMoods of the Mind: The Old Portrait, by Emma EmburyA Night on the Enchanted Mountain, by Charles Fenno HoffmanThe Living Apparition, by G.P.R. JamesThe Three Souls, by Alexander Chatrian and Emile ErckmannThe Death Watch, by Luise MuhlbackAn Evening of Lucy Ashton’s, by Letitia Elizabeth LandonThe Haunted Homestead, by Henry William HerbertThe Withered Man, by William Leete StoneLa Malroche, by Louisa Stuart CostelloThe Three Visits, by Auguste VituLieutenant Castenac, by Erckman-ChatrianTorture by Hope, by Villiers de L’isle-AdamsThe Black Cupid, by Lafcadio HearnThe Bundle of Letters, by Moritz JokaiNissa, by Albert DelpitThe Dream, by John GaltAnd don't forget to search for "Megapack" in this ebook store for other volumes in the series, covering such subjects as ghost stories, vampire stories, science fiction, horror, adventure, and much, much more!

    I had a three-day notice to pay rent or quit. The ad was the answer to my problem. Someone needed a party hostess for 24 hours on a private island. With my catering experience and model looks, I could get the gig. But when I set eyes on the man about to fly me to the island, I realized I might have made a mistake. The tall, older, arrogant stranger didn’t just undress me with his eyes, he used me right there on the pavement. Deviant desires seemed to radiate from him. He pulled a black leather dog collar out of his pocket. “Wait. You have to sign this before we do anything. Read it.” He handed me a contract. The wind swept a bottle down the runway and blew my skirt up. It was hard to read with his dark eyes looking right through my underwear and into my secret places. “This is a mistake. I didn’t know the ad meant —.” “You thought you were going to serve canapes on a tray?” He chuckled. “No, Brittani. You’re the main course.” His eyes worked me over again. “And you’re perfect.” He handed me a pen that probably cost more than my laptop. “Just sign at the bottom of the page. Full disclosure, full consent. That’s the way I do business.” “Can I leave?” “Of course you can leave. If you leave now. But you don’t get paid if you leave. Once we get to the island, you’re ours for 24-hours.” He tapped the contract with his long finger. “When your service is over, I transfer $10,000 to your account and send you home.” “$10,000?” I choked on it. That was more than generous. I scanned the contract again. It had long, dense paragraphs of disclaimers and waivers but not much in the way of details. “I’ll be — okay — when it’s over?” “You’ll be okay.” He smiled. I liked his smile. I needed the money. I signed. He put the collar around my neck and buckled it. If you like dark short erotica, kinky alpha billionaires — and no-entrances-barred hard-and-unprotected group interracial action with a white woman at the center, you'll love Q. Zayne's creamy story about Brittani’s scary-hot visit to The Billionaire’s Club. Click Buy and get the adventure! All characters are 18+ and readers should be, too, due to language and sexual content. If you're over 21, enjoy the dash of interracial BMWW romance sparked amid all the juicy action. :)

    Ella had sworn to watch over her father and care for him. But then her father had married anew. Her stepmother and two stepsisters took sharp delight in causing Ella grief from morn to eve. They bullied her, called her Cinderella, and treated her as little more than a slave in her own home. It took all of Ella's courage to swallow the insults and to honor her word. Now the crown prince had returned home from the battlefront, and a ball was announced to celebrate his arrival. All eligible young women from the entire kingdom were invited to attend. Ella had but one desire left. To see the king's gardens one last time before she fled home. It would be a final way to commemorate her beloved mother before considering her vow's terms to be complete. She had no idea what waited her on that arched stone bridge ... * * * Cinderella - A Retelling with Strength and Courage is Book 1 of a gently cliff-hangered short story series. The series honors the original intention of the Grimm Fairy Tales - to present women of strength and courage tackling challenges which seemed insurmountable. With each new book a new heroine is interwoven into the story. The series sequence leads up to a happily ever after ending. The series is clean romance and is suitable for teens and up. Half of all author's proceeds benefit battered women's shelters. I publish my books one at a time to get feedback and suggestions as I go. If you prefer to read your stories complete, you are welcome to wait until the sequence is complete and then buy the box set. Either way, you support the cause! I have been working on these stories for many years. As fairy tales are so integral to so many young girls' lives, it was critical for me to do my very best to present each heroine in a way which honored her strength and showcased her ability to stand on her own. I feel strongly that no woman should ever sit around waiting for a man to "rescue" them. They should not endure abusive behavior in the hopes that a man will change or magically become that prince. Be the change you wish to see in the world. I have a library of over 300 books running the gamut from medieval romance to cozy mystery, from mythology to fairy tale to Biblical retellings. Most of my series benefit battered women's shelters. Please contact me with any questions!

    Sweet friends but stubbornly independent. Fluffy little murder balls with jellybean toes and razor-sharp claws. It's easier to answer what cats aren't than what they are.In this purr-fect collection, awesome authors pounce upon the challenge of the mysterious cat like the elusive little red dot it is. Curl up with sixteen stories all featuring our furry, frisky, fabulous feline friends. Inside, you'll find adorable house cats, majestic big cats, and imperious cat-dragons. You'll meet cats who are their owners' protectors, who help them find true love, and who tackle the challenges of caring for their clumsy human companions in hilarious, heartwarming, and harrowing ways. This fifth anthology from the Fellowship of Fantasy features new and returning authors, dedicated to giving you the best in cat-related fantasy fiction.

    With her long hair and bright eyes, she is beautiful, but she can see in the dark, hunt better than any farmhand and communicate with the creatures of the forest. One day in the woods, Irina meets the ancient wise-woman Raizel, who reveals the truth: Irina is a princess, the long-lost daughter of King Harmon and Queen Chloe of Ragnor. Unsure of her place, Irina returns home, only to find her kingdom threatened by a wicked magician intent on revenge. Yet in the coming days of battle, could it be that a princess with the courage of a warrior and the instincts of a wolf is exactly what Ragnor needs?

     Favorite Classic Fairy Tales Retold in Simple Language! Having raised three children and spent countless evenings and weekends with her 5 grandchildren and their neighboring little friends, Beatrice Wood knows exactly what it means to be a busy parent. She advises parents that no matter how busy they are at work or at home, they ought to spend a little quality time with their children every day. Reading a story to them for 5 or 10 minutes is a wonderful way to do this. In this Book Series you will find her personal collection of 32 famous fairy tales and stories from around the world, voted by her children and grandchildren to be the family’s most favorite. Fairy tales from the greatest storytellers that have ever been as well as folk tales and lesser-known stories from unknown authors. These family favorites were shortened and re-written in a simple language that kids will understand. Moreover, all 4 books of the collection have illustrations to keep children's attention. 4 Good Reasons to Buy this Book! This book contains some of the most favorite classic fairy tales which are: Shortened to 5-7 minutes in length, for the busy mom or dad’s convenience. Formatted for ease of use on your Kindle. Appropriate for ages from 6 to 12 and also very pleasantly readable for grownups! Rewritten in a simple and attractive style, but still containing words that will encourage your children’s vocabulary development. Contents: THE FISH AND THE RING RIQUET WITH THE TUFT (THE UGLY PRINCE) RUMPELSTILZCHEN THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS THE FROG PRINCE THE ROSE TREE THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA THE GYPSY QUEEN Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ with illustrations! Buy Now with 1-Click! More Books in the Fairy Tales Collections 5 MINUTE BEDTIME STORIES FOR CHILDREN VOL.1 --> http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00W22Q7WO Contents: HOW THE OLD WOMAN GOT HER WISH THREE SILLIES THE MILLER, HIS SON AND THEIR DONKEY ARMADILLO’S SONG JACK HANNAFORD TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO LAZY JACK THE STORY WITHOUT AN END THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES WHAT WE PLANT, WE WILL EAT Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ <

    This collection from Australia and around the world gives us stories that are sad and happy, thoughtful and humourous, but always abounding with the author's trade mark generosity of spirit. Families, friends, lovers and the lonely, all are drawn with affection and wisdom.* Elsa makes a Christmas wish at the Statue of Liberty which comes true in a most unexpected way.* Amy opts for the simple life when Dan bites off more than he can chew.* Frankie uses an unexpected trip with Robert to find out what she really wants from their relationship.* Victor, a self-confessed hopeless romantic, accompanies a friend to Australia with no thought of love on his mind.* Nick and Janet meet at the Sydney Fish Markets...everything seems perfect, what could go wrong?* Victoria imagines what it would mean to her widowed father to join her in his beloved Paris for a weekend.* Bran enters a competition to broaden his horizons.

    

    But Commonwealth operative Simon Kovalic knows nothing ever goes to plan. So, when a duplicitous bounty hunter lives up to his reputation, Kovalic’s ready—just maybe not ready enough.Now he and his team must get offworld, before their enemies catch up with them…

    Something faster than any human and deadlier than any tiger.Meanwhile Amazon Hunt, aged twelve, is recruited from England by Tracks in America, ready to take off at a moment's notice to rescue wild animals under threat - no matter how great the danger.Now Amazon and her thirteen-year-old cousin Frazer must brave the Russian wilderness to save the Amur leopard, before a blazing forest fire wipes out the race - for good . . .'The good old-fashioned adventure romp brought up to date without losing the fun or the thrills.' Independent'A pacy read aimed at 9-12 year olds with a taste for adventure' We Love This BookAnthony McGowan is a multi-award-winning author of books for adults, teenagers and younger children. He has a life-long obsession with the natural world, and has travelled widely to study and observe it. He has also written feature articles and travel journalism for The Times, Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard and Mail on Sunday.

    He's already as unhappy as he is obnoxious. What he doesn't realize is that his life is about to reach a new low. His boss is ready to fire him and his wife to leave him. When a disturbing stranger asks for his New Year's resolutions at a party, Sam throws everyone into hysterical laughter when he blurts out, "I want the body of an athlete and I want everyone to respect me." At midnight the stranger slaps him on the back, Sam has a sharp pain in his chest, and for the entire year, he cannot do anything that violates his New Year's resolutions. Hilarity follows as family, friends, enemies and co-workers try and figure out what the world happened to Sam. And while Sam eventually figures out what his problem is, it takes him a while longer to realize exactly what he needs to do about it. # OF PAGESApproximately 325 pages. OTHER BOOKS BY DIANE DARCY:Serendipity, She’s Just Right, Once in a Blue Moon, The Christmas Star, A Penny for Your Thoughts.

    Everything he does is precise, from the way he washes his face in the morning, to the way he completes his homework – without complaint, without fuss, without prompt.Zib is also an exceptional child, because all children are, in their own way. But where everything Avery does and is can be measured, nothing Zib does can possibly be predicted, except for the fact that she can always be relied upon to be unpredictable.They live on the same street.They live in different worlds.On an unplanned detour from home to school one morning, Avery and Zib find themselves climbing over a stone wall into the Up and Under – an impossible land filled with mystery, adventure and the strangest creatures.And they must find themselves and each other if they are to also find their way out and back to their own lives.

    Queen Ruby & Princess Snow: This mixed-up fairytale is an original short story. It has no ties to any of my fairy tale adaptations; however, for a similar tale, check ouy "The Unicorn Procession" in the freebies section of my website.Before the Bond: This short story is set centuries before the events of Red Rope of Fate and gives you a glimpse of how the humans of Calnor and the Lesser Elves of Lessa became allies.

    These stories contain a wealth of wonderful characters and ideas, all with the colorful, dreamlike quality of the very best fairy tales. Illustrations.