As the future prima, or head witch of her clan, Angela McAllister is expected to bond with her consort during her twenty-first year, thus ensuring that she will come into her full powers at the appointed time. The clock is ticking down, and her consort has yet to make an appearance. Instead, her dreams are haunted by a man she’s never seen, the one she believes must be her intended match. But with time running out, and dark forces attempting to seize her powers for their own, Angela is faced with a terrible choice: give up her dreams of the man she may never meet and take the safer path, or risk leaving her clan and everyone in it at the mercy of those who seek their ruin. BAD VIBRATIONS She thought she could see it all… He showed her so much more. Psychic Persephone O’Brien thinks she’s always prepared for the unexpected, but when she reaches out to distractingly attractive ufologist Paul Oliver for help, the two of them soon find themselves drawn into a far-reaching conspiracy that sends them on the run — as well as into each other’s arms. And after Paul is captured by sinister agents, Persephone must join forces with an unlikely group of UFO hunters to rescue Paul and derail an alien plot before it’s too late.  CHOSEN When a fatal fever nearly wipes out the entire world's population, the survivors of what became known as "the Dying" believe the worst is in the past. Little do they know…. In the aftermath of the Dying, survivor Jessica Monroe searches for sanctuary in a world unlike any she's ever known before. As fear and isolation envelop her, Jessica encounters the sensitive and helpful Jace, who she believes is another survivor. But Jace has a past and secrets of his own that's he not ready to disclose. Soon she realizes that the destruction of humanity might actually be the first step in a larger, more complicated plan — a plan that may very well involve her. Struggling to discover her role in a terrifying new world where everything has changed, Jessica must decide who she can trust. But is the price for that trust just too high?

    Merwin --Magic barrel / Bernard Malamud --About marriage / Denise Levertov --from Jane Austen / Virginia Woolf --Princess and the tin box / James Thurber.

    While twisting through one of the narrow underground passageways, Leah’s flashlight illuminates the remains of a violent massacre. Ancient human remains—all slaughtered in a long-ago massacre—cover the cavern floor, along with a number of brilliantly colored, granite crystals. The rare crystals are native to only one place on earth: a frozen mountain range in central Antarctica. Could Native Americans have traveled to the frozen continent of Antarctica 800 years prior to the first known human exploration? If so how? And why? There’s only one person who can get Leah to those mountains in Antarctica: her estranged husband and climbing guide Jack Hobson. At their destination they make a stunning discovery that will change history and science forever. But Leah’s team is far from the only interested party. As her secret makes its way to the highest levels of government, a race to seize the Russian-claimed Antarctic territory brings the world to the brink of nuclear conflict.

    His incredible narrative drive ensnares the reader in a web of everyday surroundings, believable situations and recognizable characters that are eventually caught up in a terrifying noose of monumental evil. Three of King's earlier classics are here together in one volume, complete and unabridged and chilling: the explosive adolescent powers of Carried; the slow, insidious corruption of a small American town by a terrorizing vampire; and the malicious machinations of the Overlook Hotel and the gift of the "shine."

    Together these stories form The Weird, and its practitioners include some of the greatest names in twentieth and twenty-first century literature.Exotic and esoteric, The Weird plunges you into dark domains and brings you face to face with surreal monstrosities. You won't find any elves or wizards here... but you will find the biggest, boldest, and downright most peculiar stories from the last hundred years bound together in the biggest Weird collection ever assembled. The Weird features 110 stories by an all-star cast, from literary legends to international bestsellers to Booker Prize winners: including William Gibson, George R. R. Martin, Stephen King, Angela Carter, Kelly Link, Franz Kafka, China Miéville, Clive Barker, Haruki Murakami, M. R. James, Neil Gaiman, Mervyn Peake, and Michael Chabon.

    In a world of magic, hidden away from those who have no power, Tarian Xannon commands the natural forces of water, air, and fire. As heir to the Dolphin Throne, her job is to learn what it takes to lead—but she'd much rather forget the heavy weight of responsibility in the waves of the ocean. When Tarian is brutally attacked, she faces the shocking reality her talent, while strong, is no match for the demon-like creature. This power play for the throne ignites the Succession Ritual, forcing Tarian to make hard choices about the future of her unborn child, House Xannon, and the very fabric of magical society. As her defenses wane, his attacks grow bolder. All she knows and loves hangs in the balance. Tarian fights not only to keep the throne she thought she hated, but to accept her true place in the world. Will her power be enough? Or are some things stronger than magic?This is an alternate cover for ASIN B00AOSF6T8.

    In this landmark volume, America's preeminent storyteller offers us one hundred treasures from a lifetime of words and ideas. The stories within these pages were chosen by Bradbury himself, and span a career that blossomed in the pulp magazines of the early 1940s and continues to flourish in the new millennium. Here are representatives of the legendary author's finest works of short fiction, including many that have not been republished for decades, all forever fresh and vital, evocative and immensely entertaining.

    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

    No one knows it better than Taimin. Crippled, and with only his indomitable aunt to protect him, Taimin must learn to survive in a world scorched by two suns and frequented by raiders.But when Taimin discovers his homestead ransacked and his aunt killed, he sets off with one mission: to seek revenge against those who stole everything. With nowhere to call home, his hunt soon takes a turn when he meets a mystic, Selena, who convinces him to join her search for the fabled white city. Taimin and Selena both need refuge, and the white city is a place where Taimin may find someone to heal his childhood injury.As they avoid relentless danger, Taimin and Selena attempt to reach the one place that promises salvation. And they can only hope that the city is the haven they need it to be…

     Paws, Claws & Aww's is a collection of steamy paranormal romance stories hot enough to melt your digital reader. Powerful, sexy, protective and romantic - this collection of stand-alones and series starters is full of sexy, paranormal, Alpha male shifters, witches and mage's to scratch your itch and make you howl! Featuring: Alana Hart - Saving Her Bear (The Bears of Blackrock #1) Never go home again! That's what Mom said - and stay away from that Fenn boy! How could Catherine Calhoun listen when that 'Fenn boy' has haunted her mind - and heart - for ten years? When Catherine finds herself in trouble, it's not the town of Blackrock or the family she left behind so long ago that calls her back. It's him. It's that Fenn boy. The boy whose kisses are her happiest memory. Yet, John Fenn has secrets - the kind that come with sharp claws and teeth. Even a bit of fur couldn't lessen the magic of his kisses, but there is darkness in Blackrock - the very thing that once tore her away from her true love. Will her return be enough to save John from becoming that darkness' next victim? Julia Leijon - Grizzly Guardian Still reeling from her sister's murder, Merryl retreats to Oregon with her nephew Sam. Building a new life for the pair of them is almost enough to distract her from her grief, especially when she faces the problem of how to help Sam learn what it is to be a bear shifter. With nowhere else to turn and no idea what to do, Merryl turns to her impossibly sexy and unattainable crush, Daniel. Daniel just wants to enjoy small town life after a violent past, but if anyone can see through his gruff facade and battle scars, it's Merryl. Helping Sam discover the cub side of his nature helps Daniel rediscover what it means to connect with those around him. For the sake of Merryl and Sam, Daniel will even return to his harrowing FBI work to help solve the murder and find them some peace. Despite a strong mutual attraction between them, a major obstacle blocks their way, and it's one that Daniel can never let Merryl know about: while his human side wants to support her as a friend while she puts her life back together, the bear in him knows with absolute certainty that he has found his fated mate. Knowing how many emotional burdens Merryl is already coping with, Daniel carries this heavy secret alone. But can Merryl convince him that she's tougher than he thinks, and can make her own choices? After each enduring so much cruelty and hardship at the hands of an unkind world, are the two of them still capable of love and trust? Liv Brywood - Midwinter Night's Alpha (Sexy BBW Pagan Holidays #6) His wickedly sexy tongue explored every inch of her trembling lips. Katelyn knows that returning to West Yellowstone for this year's centennial Yule celebration is probably a huge mistake. But after being gone for five years, she misses her old coven. It should be easy enough to avoid her ex-boyfriend, Devin. After all, werewolves usually hibernate during the winter. So when the BBW witch runs into him not five minutes after getting into town, she's convinced she's cursed. She knows better than to trust his rugged good looks and washboard abs. His silver-tipped tongue has ruined her life once before, and she refuses to make the same mistake twice... even if he does look hotter than a gushing geyser. Emma Alisyn - Alphonso's Baby (Clan Conroy Brides #2) Bear shifter Alphonso shunned his mate to protect her from his dark past... but when he discovers her six month old baby is his, will he take the risk in order to raise their child? Always looking over his shoulder for enemies, Alphonso pushed curvy Tamar away after their one, blazing hot night together. "I'm not relationship material, Tam. Don't get stars in your eyes." Only that one night resulted in a secret child, a beautiful baby girl Tamar has been hiding in plain sight for six months. Waiting patiently for him to see the goshdarnit light already. When he discovers her deception, Alphonso knows he has a choice to make. Continue to allow his past to dictate his future, or take a chance on true love and family? Tamar isn't certain her childhood love Al will ever see reason- she knows he did some bad stuff. Especially when that bad stuff shows up in the form of a curvy, exotic ex-girlfriend looking for protection. Tamar isn't going to roll over and play dead, though. She's Head Sow in these parts and no one - not the mysterious beauty, not her father's disapproval, and certainly not the enemies waiting in the shadows to strike - are going to claim what belongs to her without a bloody fight. Terra Wolf - Leaping Through Time (Soul Mate Bureau #2) William has the money to find his mate, but does he have the time... The crazy, old witch says she can send the wealthy, leopard shifter back in time to meet his mate, for a hefty fee. He'll have one week to find her or lose her forever. In a foreign land and a foreign place where his money is useless, he'll need his own wits and animal instincts to find the woman of his dreams. Constance is a woman in a man's world... She makes armour for the gladiators in a world where the men are men and the women are their objects. Constance has long since given up on love when just getting through a gruelling day is challenging enough. When the gorgeous, but wild eyed and crazy, fool in the silly clothes tells her stories of whisking her away to a future of leisure and money, all in exchange for one night of mating, she can't help but want him to not be lying. Another suitor pursues William and isn't willing to share... The beautiful and wealthy Fiona tries to distract William off the trail of his fated mate with her womanly ways and won't take no for an answer. When William is forced to unleash his leopard to try survive, Constance realises that she's unknowingly craved a man like him all along. Will the two of them have enough to survive the past, escape to William's present, and show Constance a future she never thought possible? Tina Talon - Bad Boy Wolf Joshua is a love 'em and leave 'em type of fellow. That is until he bumps into Meagan and everything changes. Meagan isn't used to shifter men and their lustful appetites and stormy tempers, but falls for Joshua anyhow. Can the two of them make a go of it, despite everything that could keep them apart? Christy Rivers - Real Men Are Bears After catching her boyfriend with another woman in their bed, Jess Perkins is blind with rage. The only thing she can think of doing is to take a long drive through the Washington wilderness. Eventually, she finds herself in the small town of Douglas, where the only place that's open is Uncle Ray's Bar and Grill. Jess, a struggling alcoholic, knows she shouldn't stop where temptation lurks. But there's no harm in walking in and ordering a harmless little burger... Thomas Hannity grew up listening to stories about fated mates, but he knows they're only fairy tales. His last relationship was with a human, and it ended badly. When he unexpectedly runs into his ex at work, it sends him into a spiral, and the only balm for his ache is a nice, strong drink at his favourite bar. It's a night just like any other... until a curvy, dark-haired girl wanders in from the cold. A girl that Thomas feels the sudden need to protect the moment he sets eyes on her. She's an independent city girl with a dark past. He's a bear shifter who no longer believes in love. Logically, they make no sense together. But destiny often isn't logical at all. Kellan Larkin - Alpha's Soulmate (Alphas' Fated Mates #1) M/M Gay Shifter Mpreg Romance He took my chin and pressed his lips to mine. Bliss overwhelmed me. This was utterly divine. Tucker's an Omega wolf recovering from a traumatic past. He ran away to Lake City to pursue his passion for journalism. While he knows it's also time to find his Alpha, he's distrustful and wary of emotional intimacy. That changes when he meets Clay. After a broken engagement with an ex-fiancé who stalked and threatened him, Clay buried himself in his work, founding a successful tech company. Now he's ready to move on and find his fated mate. But it turns out his ex isn't quite ready to let him go... When demons from the past threaten to disrupt the pair's growing relationship, Tucker and Clay find that they'll have to fight for their love. We’re going to start off fresh and build something together. We can do this, Tucker. You and me. Tessa Thorn - Dating The Billionaire Dragon (Mail Order Mates #1) "So, you’re the kind of lady who isn’t afraid to find out what a dragon’s like in the bedroom, huh?" Tina Valdez is the curvaceous, successful owner of a boutique bakery and a respected member of her community. There's just one thing missing - a man to share it all with. That changes when she meets real estate tycoon Blake through the shifter dating service Mail Order Mates. Blake the dragon shifter is sweet, sexy, and dominant in the bedroom. And he treats her like the goddess she is. But when anti-shifter prejudice threatens her business, she has to make a hard decision. Can she have it all? Or will she have to choose between her home and heritage and the promise of a new future with Blake? J.S. Wilder - Beared To Him (HoneyPoint Town #1) This is Part one of a Three Part series about HoneyPoint Town. Raine Wilson wants one thing: marriage. Her ex comes back into town after a mutual friend dies and after finally moving on with her life after six years. She finds it hard not to resist temptation to fall for the one that broke her heart. Joe Carlton wants one thing: to avoid his true form. Having to go back home after six years. He can’t resist but show his true form when he sees the luscious curves and earthy brown skin of his mate in the arms of another man. There’s a war coming to HoneyPoint Town and none of the locals know it until Joe starts to fight for the love he once lost. Erica Summers - The Dark Mage's Girlfriend What do you do when your crush turns out to be a Dark Wizard, summoner and binder of demons? Amy works at a supermarket while studying for college. One normal day, she finally gets her chance to ask her crush and neighbour out. She runs after him just as her shift ends. But, in a narrow street, a surprise awaits. The dreamy, aloof man who comes to the shop everyday, whenever she works, turns out to be a mage, and a dark one at that. Can Amy find love or will she be swallowed by his darkness? Kit Fawkes - Playing With Fire (Elementals #1) Curvy fire elemental witch Serafina’s hot temper gets the best of her, leading her to make a mistake during a vengeance spell that accidentally summons a high-level demon to do her bidding instead. Liam appears to help her undo what she’s done, and she’s drawn to the mysterious Guardian of the balance between light and dark magic. He’s intent on tracking down the demon, but her heart isn’t in stopping the vengeance curse just yet. Their attraction is mutual, but will Serafina and Liam find a way to make their relationship work, or will it flash and burn out after the mission binding him to her is complete, and he no longer has a reason to stay?

    H.: Sons and LoversLawrence, D. H.: The RainbowLe Fanu, Sheridan: In a Glass DarklyLewis, Matthew Gregory: The MonkLewis, Sinclair: Main StreetLondon, Jack: The Call of the WildLovecraft, H.P.: At the Mountains of MadnessMann, Thomas: Royal HighnessMaugham, William Somerset: Of Human BondageMaupassant, Guy de: Bel-AmiMelville, Herman: Moby-DickPoe, Edgar Allan: The Fall of the House of UsherProust, Marcel: Swann's WayRadcliffe, Ann: The Mysteries of UdolphoRichardson, Samuel: ClarissaSand, George: The Devil’s PoolScott, Walter: IvanhoeShelley, Mary: FrankensteinSienkiewicz, Henryk: Quo VadisSinclair, May: Life and Death of Harriett FreanSinclair, Upton: The JungleStendhal: The Red and the BlackStendhal: The Chartreuse of ParmaSterne, Laurence: Tristram ShandyStevenson, Robert Louis: Treasure IslandStoker, Bram: DraculaStowe, Harriet Beecher: Uncle Tom’s CabinSwift, Jonathan: Gulliver's TravelsTagore, Rabindranath: The Home and the WorldThackeray, William Makepeace: Vanity FairTolstoy, Leo: War and PeaceTolstoy, Leo: Anna KareninaTrollope, Anthony: The Way We Live NowTurgenev, Ivan: Fathers and SonsTwain, Mark: The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnVerne, Jules: Journey to the Center of the EarthWallace, Lew: Ben-HurWells, H. G.: The Time MachineWest, Rebecca: The Return of the SoldierWharton, Edith: The Age of InnocenceWilde, Oscar: The Picture of Dorian GrayXueqin, Cao: The Dream of the Red ChamberZola, Émile: Germinal

    Welcome to the night shift...The omnibus edition of Jill Kismet contains: Night Shift, Hunter's Prayer, Redemption Alley, Flesh Circus, Heaven's Spite and Angel Town.

    Offered for free by Apple and Touchstone, a trademark of Simon & Schuster Inc., contains selections from the two books mentioned in the title.

    But beneath her empire's seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder--intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companions Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she'd never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.Sworn To TransferEighteen-year-old companion trainee Ciardis Weathervane has won the friendship of the royal heir and saved his claim to the throne. Yet her interference in the inheritance rights leaves more harm done than good. The Ameles Forest lies unprotected and it's inhabitants are dying.As humans begin to die in gruesome deaths, the Emperor dispatches the royal heir to the forests with the solution to the kith concerns.With enemies closing ranks in Sandrin, Ciardis can little afford to leave the city's nest of vipers to take on a new task. But she's given no choice when her loyalty to the crown and courts are called into question.To keep the Companions' Guild happy and the favor of the Imperial Court, Ciardis will be tested in frightening new ways, especially when she's faced with an obstacle that could risk the lives of her friends and the family she never thought she had.Sworn To ConflictCiardis Weathervane fought for the living dead and won. But worse than taking on a mass murderer, was her discovery that she had been deceived by her friends. Now she needs to not only fight a war in the North and survive, but also decide where she stands in the midst of competing sides.A threat to all she holds dear lies in the North and her heart is not the only thing she might lose. A massive army awaits in the mountain pass, surging closer to the gates of the southern lands. Nothing the Algardis army has done so far has dissuaded their march forward and Ciardis finds out that her powers to enhance are needed now more than ever.As she faces her greatest fears on the battlefields and her heart is torn between her love of Sebastian and loyalty to her family, Ciardis must choose her fate carefully. For in her path, lies the destiny of the empire.GET ALL THREE BESTSELLING NOVELS in one Digital Box Set.

    To help teachers decide if Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is right for their students, we’ve created this free e-book that features sample chapters from the book and a teaching guide.