Train hard, win worldwide swimming championships, and go for the gold in the next Olympics.But while celebrating a successful swim meet at his hotel bar, he meets a mysterious woman named Laila. Not only is Laila beautiful, but she’s smart, witty, and charming. So when she brazenly invites herself up to his room, he jumps at the opportunity to spend the night with her.He gets far more than he bargained for when she bites his neck and abducts him to the hidden vampire kingdom of the Vale, changing his life forever.If he can even call it a life anymore…Discover how Jacen became a vampire prince in this exclusive prequel novella to the Dark World: The Vampire Wish series by USA Today bestselling author Michelle Madow!

    Hamilton and author William McCaskey. In this anthology, science fiction and fantasy authors have woven together brand-new stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deeds, humour, love, sacrifice, dedication and following our joy can ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last: A child’s wish for her father comes true. The end of the world has never been so much fun. Conquering personal demons becomes all too real. It’s not always about winning; sometimes it’s about showing up for the fight. It’s about loving your life’s work, and jobs that make you question everything.Contents: Foreword Twilight Falls [Joe Ledger • 10.1] / Jonathan Maberry Not in this Lifetime / Sharon Shinn Mr. Positive, the Eternal Optimist / Larry Correia No Greater Love / Kacey Ezell Broken Son / Griffin Barber Heart of Clay [Dan Shamble, Zombie PI • 6.5??] / Kevin J. Anderson Reprise [Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter • ??] / John G. Hartness Asil and the Not-date [Mercy Thompson • 17.5 / Alpha & Omega • 5.5] / Patricia Briggs In the Dust / Robert E. Hampson Fallen / L. E. Modesitt, Jr. Working Conditions / Patrick M. Tracy Last Contact / M. C. Sumner Ronin / William McCaskey Skjoldmodir / Michael Z. Williamson and Jessica Schlenker Bonds of Love and Duty / Monalisa Foster Zombie Dearest [Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter • 26.5] / Laurell K. Hamilton About the authors About the editors.

    She gets her wish when rumors spread about strange creatures seen in the night, and one of the regular diners tells her a haunting story.Misty offers to help him, and before she knows it one trouble leads to another and she's entwined in a web of death and undeath. The undeath is a handsome and mysterious stranger, and the death might be her own. She'll have to use all her wits to get her out of this mess, and with most of her blood intact.Check out the other books in the series:Midnight CustomerTrouble For Two: Coming soon!

    In "Seeing Eye" by Patricia Briggs, a blind witch helps sexy werewolf Tom Franklin find his missing brother—and helps him in more ways than either of them ever suspected. And in Jim Butcher's "Last Call," wizard Harry Dresden takes on the darkest of dark powers—the ones who dare to mess with this favorite beer.For anyone who's ever wondered what lies beyond the limits of reality, who's imagined the secret spaces where witches wield fearsome magic, come and drink deep. Let yourself fall under the spell of this bewitching collection of short stories!

    Since then, many have reinterpreted the ever-versatile vampire over and over again—and female writers have played vital roles in proving that the vampire, as well as our perpetual fascination with it, is truly immortal. These authors have devised some of the most fascinating, popular, and entertaining of our many vampiric variations: suavely sensual . . . fascinating but fatal . . . sexy and smart . . . undead but prone to detection . . . tormented or terrifying . . . amusing or amoral . . . doomed or deadly . . . badass and beautiful . . . cutting-edge or classic . . .Blood Sisters collects a wide range of fantastical stories from New York Times bestsellers Holly Black, Nancy Holder, Catherynne M. Valente, and Carrie Vaughn, and critically acclaimed writers Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Tanith Lee, all of whom have left their indelible and unique stamps on the vampire genre. Whether they are undeniably heroes and heroines or bloodthirsty monsters (or something in between), the undead are a lively lot. This anthology offers some of the best short fiction ever written by the “blood sisters” who know them best: stories you can really sink your teeth into.Introduction: “Welcome to My House! Enter Freely and of Your Own Free Will!” by Paula Guran“A Princess of Spain” by Carrie Vaughn“Shipwrecks Above” by Caitlín R. Kiernan“The Fall of the House of Blackwater” by Freda Warrington“In Memory of …” by Nancy Kilpatrick“Where the Vampires Live” by Storm Constantine“La Dame” by Tanith Lee“Chicago 1927” by Jewelle Gomez“Renewal” by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro“Blood Freak” by Nancy Holder“The Power and the Passion” by Pat Cadigan“The Unicorn Tapestry” by Suzy McKee Charnas“This Town Ain’t Big Enough” by Tanya Huff“Vampire King of the Goth Chicks” by Nancy A. Collins“Learning Curve” by Kelley Armstrong“The Better Half” by Melanie Tem“Selling Houses” by Laurell K. Hamilton“Greedy Choke Puppy” by Nalo Hopkinson“Tacky” by Charlaine Harris“Needles” by Elizabeth Bear“From the Teeth of Strange Children” by Lisa L. Hannett“Father Peña’s Last Dance” by Hannah Strom-Martin“Sun Falls” by Angela Slatter“Magdala Amygdala” by Lucy A. Snyder“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black“In the Future When All’s Well” by Catherynne M. Valente

    In happy-ever-after endings, ghosts come to life so that lovers can be united in the flesh.Contains the following novellas/short stories:The Chinese Bed by Anna CampbellOld Salt by Carolyn CraneHaints and Hobwebs by Jennifer EstepHat-Trick by Gwen CreadyGhost of Blackstone Manor by Donna FletcherSeventeen Coppers by Jeannie HolmesYours in Eternity by C.T. AdamsThe Lovers by Julia LondonA Single Girl's Guide to Getting Ahead by Liz MaverickJonquils in the Snow by Annette BlairThe Heart Thief by Cindy MilesGhost in the Machine by Dru PagliassottiThree Little Words by Christie RidgwayGhost of a Chance by Caridad PineiroIn His Hands by Sara ReinkeCan You Hear Me Now? by Sharon ShinnThe Storm by Linda Wisdom>>>--4EVR---> by Holly Lisle

    LansdaleFiction: Sylgarmo’s Proclamation by Lucius ShepardInterview: Hap and Leonard by Joe R. LansdaleReview: The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz ZafonReview: Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link (Viking)Review: Best Served Cold By Joe Abercrombie (Orion)Interview: Chameleonic Conversations - An Interview with Alexander C. Irvine by Nick GeversInterview: Feeding the Tree - An Interview with Caitlín R. Kiernan by Anita Niker

    A shift in the balance of power. And one reject.Malik Demonbreun, the rejected heir of the Southern Vampire Realm, is thrown in the center of a deadly controversy, which may cost him his life. Again.Malik sleeps during daylight and drives a wrecker at night. When his father forces him to return home, he becomes the focus of a deadly bid for a change of leadership within the realms. With no idea who is friend or foe, Malik searches for a way back to his disavowed life. But each step he takes moves him closer to his father's throne. A throne that Malik has never wanted.He had no claim to riches in the reject life. But at least he wasn't living in a sick game of fifty ways to kill a vampire. He never thought he'd miss licking the blood from the seats of wrecked vehicles. One thing was for sure, rich or reject, Vampin' Ain't Easy.Start this gritty and humorous series, Legend of the Vampire Reject, with Vampin' Ain't Easy by Kimbra Swain, author of the Fairy Tales of a Trailer Park Queen series. This is book one of four in the series plus a prequel which can be found in the Urban Magic Anthology.

    Together, we decided that the epilogue would be better served by posting it on its own page on my website – a page dedicated to answering the “What’s next?” question.Read the epilogue here:http://larissaione.com/blog/not-the-end/

    UNIMPRESSED. AND TOTALLY UNDEAD.Eric's got issues. He has short-term and long-term memory problems; he can't remember who he ate for dinner yesterday, much less how he became a vampire in the first place. His best friend, Roger, is souring on the strip club he and Eric own together, and his girlfriend, Tabitha, keeps pressuring him to turn her so she can join him in undeath. It's almost enough to put a Vlad off his appetite. Almost.Eric tries to solve one problem, only to create another: he turns Tabitha into a vampire, but finds that once he does, his desire for her fades—and her younger sister, Rachel, sure is cute. When he kills a werewolf in self-defense, things really get out of hand. Now a pack of born-again lycanthropes is out for holy retribution, while Tabitha and Rachel have their own agendas—which may or may not include helping Eric stay in one piece. All Eric wants to do is run his strip club, drink a little blood, and be left alone. Instead, he must survive car crashes, enchanted bullets, sunlight, sex magic, and werewolves on ice—not to mention his own nasty temper and forgetfulness.Because being undead isn't easy, but it sure beats the alternative.

    1. A Questionable Client (Kate Daniels, #0.5) by Ilona Andrews: Kate Daniels guards shifter Saiman, less trustworthy than the enemy.2. Even Hand (Dresden Files, #11.6) by Jim Butcher: "Gentleman" John Marcone, Chicago's most dangerous crime lord, fights water demon with defenses against White Council wizard Harry Dresden. 3. The Beacon by Shannon K. Butcher: Hereditary fighter faces monster that killed his father and town, with a little girl that attracts said monster. 4. Even a Rabbit Will Bite by Rachel Caine: Liesl trains the new Dragonslayer before she faces the last dragon.5. Dark Lady (Vampire Files, #12.75) by P.N. Elrod: Vampire nightclub owner Jack Fleming promises radio to resident ghost.6. Beknighted by Deidre Knight: Artist tries to free knight painted in real gold.7. Shifting Star (Signs of the Zodiac, #4.6) by Vicki Peterson: Skamar, Tibetan for star, newly created tulpa, fights another vicious male of Tulpa. 8. Rookwood & Mrs King by Lilith Saintcrow: Vampire private eye is hired by wife to kill the woman's vampire husband. 9. God's Creatures (Kitty Norville, #0.8) by Carrie Vaughn: Cormac follows a werewolf to convent school.

    Again.Harper has accomplished a lot over the years. She's fallen in love, gotten married, and raised a supernaturally gifted baby, all while running the most successful PI business in the state. She'd mention her hot-as-hell dhampyre husband Noah Riddick, too...but that'd just be bragging. It's not like challenges haven't presented themselves, either. Vampire serial killers? Yep. Caught a few of those. Supernatural mafia? Shut that down ages ago. Hostage negotiations? Fuhgedaboudit. So when someone near and dear to Riddick's heart is targeted by a maniacal military asshat intent on building an army of genetically engineered super-soldiers, Harper knows she'll have to fix things once again. Especially since the asshat in question just happens to be her father ...But it's not long before Harper and Riddick realize the military is the least of their concerns, and if they aren't careful, they just might trigger a paranormal apocalypse. Can Harper and her band of semi-magical misfits save the world--or will this be the end of Harper Hall Investigations (and life as we know it)--once and for all?NOTE: This is a crossover novel, and while it could be read as a standalone, it definitely works better when read as part of the Harper Hall Investigations series. Here's the reading order:Book 1: Semi-CharmedBook 2: Semi-HumanBook 3: Semi-TwistedBook 4: Semi-BrokenBook 5: Semi-SaneBook 5.5: Semi-Obsessed

    He’s engaged to the Illuminator’s sister Jenna, has a Fallen Angel bodyguard, and plans on adopting the cutest five year old anyone’s ever seen. If that isn’t enough to keep anyone busy, now Joseph’s home is under attack by reporters and protestors. After a frightening incident that leaves his house in ashes, he decides he’s had enough. Joseph’s ready to begin his life, but he can’t until the threat of the Empyrean Guard is neutralized. It’s war.

    In an example of art echoing life, Tony landed a job as production assistant for the syndicated TV show Darkest Night, a series about a vampire detective. And except for his unrequited crush on the show's handsome costar, Lee Nicholas, Tony was pretty content.Until everything started to fall apart on the set.It began with shadows­­--shadows where they didn't belong, that almost had an existence of their own. Tony tried to ignore it--until he found Nikki Waugh's body, and felt the shadow's touch, and a stunt crash went wrong for no discernible reason--and Tony knew that he had to find out what was threatening everyone on the set.

    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.