Morgan is a new kind of male hero, imperfect and uncertain, who—like his favorite football team—is fumbling forward into uncertainty. The 2013 Silver Medal Winner for Popular Fiction from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Initially, Chuck worries he’ll never have a relationship again, that he could stand in the lobby of a brothel with a hundred dollar bill plastered to his forehead and still not get lucky. But as his emotionally raw, 365-day odyssey unfolds, Chuck gradually relearns to live on his own, navigating the minefield of issues faced by the suddenly single—new routines, awkward dates, and even more awkward sex. Clown will attract fans of the new breed of novelists that includes Nick Hornby, Jonathan Tropper and Tom Perrotta. Like others in that distinguished group, Robert Steven Williams delivers a painfully honest glimpses into the modern male psyche while writing about both sexes with equal ease and grace in a way that’s both hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. "Williams has written a terrific novel. His book pulls back the curtain on male masculinity--showing us what a guy really goes through when dealing with the difficult mess of his beloved spouse's infidelity and the ensuing divorce. Williams' characters give us the real-deal: a gut wrenching and often humorous look, showing us the everyday horrors of what it's like to start all over again as one approaches middle age." - Suzan-Lori Parks, winner Pulitzer Prize for Drama "Robert Steven Williams has written a novel of tremendous honesty, humor, and insight. His story of Chuck Morgan, cast adrift on the rocky shoals of dating when his wife of twenty years suddenly leaves him, does for men what Bridget Jones's Diary did for women." - Joy Johannessen, editor for Alice Sebold, Amy Bloom, Michael Cunningham and My Year as a Clown "When we first meet Chuck Morgan, he's broken, twisted and confused. And that's what makes him so interesting. Like other intriguing literary heroes, he is at his best after life has knocked him to the ground, forcing him to find a new way to be strong again; damaged maybe, but more confident this time, with a kinder, more open heart." - Jimmie Dale Gilmore, The Flatlanders

    Now an even larger one has been discovered, following the exact same trajectory as its predecessor. Scientists around the world theorize that this can no longer be passed off as mere coincidence—the new contact must be an artificial construct of some kind.With an ambitious plan to build a spacecraft and attempt a manned landing, a crew is formed. Disgraced astronaut Cassie Voges hopes to get selected for one last chance at redemption. Maverick billionaire Toby Merckx wants to beat his rivals to the extraordinary secrets he believes the object may unlock. And its controversial discoverer, Charles Hudson, seeks to escape his past and be remembered for something better.What they find will change humanity forever.

    Take a trip to Oregon and get swept away in the romance of it all as the Blair brothers each find their happily ever after. The Blair Brothers box set is a complete series that contains four full-length, sweet romances by bestselling romance author Brooke St. James.Delicate Balance (Book 1) I knew the Blair brothers. It was impossible to grow up in Astoria and not be familiar with them.There were four boys in the Blair family, and all of them had that certain something. They were smart, athletic, funny, and gorgeous. If I was forced to pick my favorite, it would have to be Henry. He was the wild one of the bunch—a rock star. Literally. He left Astoria years ago to chase and realize his dreams in Seattle. I still saw his younger brothers quite a bit, but it had been years since I'd seen Henry.That all changed one night when the Blair family came into the restaurant where I worked and sat at my table. Henry just so happened to be with them. I always imagined that he might be the man of my dreams, but after that night, I knew it.Cherished (Book 2) I had always dreamed of falling in love. I was ready and eager to find my happily ever after, but there was just one problem. The man I so desperately wanted to fall for was not available. He was taken—spoken for. He wasn't married, but he had been with someone for a long time. It didn’t help matters that she happened to be my friend.Some would say that's how it works, that I really only wanted him because I couldn't have him. That couldn't be farther from the truth. I had fallen for this man years ago, and he had won my heart for so many different reasons. The fact that he was off-the-market had nothing to do with my feelings for him.Did I mention that he was one of the Blair brothers? This made him even more unobtainable. Everyone in Astoria knew and loved the Blair brothers. There were four of them, and they were handsome, kind, driven, and successful. Any of them would have been a great catch. Too bad my heart already belonged to the one I couldn't have.The Whole Story (Book 3)I wasn't the only woman in the world who had been cheated on. I certainly wasn't the only woman who had sworn off men because of it. I was, however, one of the few who was willing to stick to my guns about it. Men would sometimes see that as a challenge, but before too long they would realize I wasn't interested.I planned on staying single forever, and nothing, absolutely nothing could possibly change my mind. Even a chance meeting with someone as wonderful and gorgeous as Max Blair didn't faze me. I wasn't attracted to his looks, fame, skill, or ambition. I was perfectly fine getting to know Max as a person without adding all the complications of dating. Sure, I was a little starstruck at times, but I had that under control. And then again, maybe I was a little attracted to him, too. But who wouldn't be? The problem was that he seemed to like me.Even still, I would stay single forever.Forgetting about Max Blair would be a piece of cake.Dream Chaser (Book 4)I was all set to embark on the most epic adventure of my life. I was ready for anything. My life had been filled with predictability since the day I was born, but that was about to change. I had devised a plan. Over the course of the next five years, I would live in five different cities. I would get to see, taste, and experience things I had previously only read about. I had been preparing for this moment for nearly a decade, and now it was time.Then something happened. A sweet, innocent little old lady said a few words that changed everything. She was aware of my travel plans and she urged me to make a detour. She was convinced there was something and someone waiting for me elsewhere. I thought that was nice and all… but I already a plan, and it did not include a twin named Jasper in Astoria.

    

    Literature GuidesCreated by Harvard students for students everywhere, SparkNotes is a new breed of study guide: smarter, better, faster.Geared to what today's students need to know, SparkNotes provides:chapter-by-chapter analysisexplanations of key themes, motifs, and symbolsa review quiz and essay topicsLively and accessible, these guides are perfect for late-night studying and writing papers.

    In fact, its normally ruddy tones had disappeared. Now there was a dull grayness to the skin. His lips were the color of old plums.Which was when the first chill winds of disquiet blew inside her. "Pinky?"Nothing.She grabbed his jaw. His face was cold to the touch. She turned his head from side to side. And then Keely Delmonico-the former Rachel Fisk of Bismarck, North Dakota-backed away from the bed and tried to catch her breath.For call girl Keely Delmonico, having a client die was a new one. Now she has to avoid the cops and all their nasty questions. She manages to get out of the fancy hotel free and clear. But lurking in the shadows is another danger, a deadly one-a killer who is determined to make Keely's next step her last call. From "one of the top authors in the crowded suspense genre" comes a taut novel of murder and mystery set in Los Angeles and the bright lights of pre-pandemic Las Vegas.Rated PG-13: The material in the book would have been acceptable in a 1960s cop show like Mannix or Mod Squad or Hawaii Five-O.

    Get five feel-good, satisfying, and uplifting cowboy romances in this Christian holiday collection. You'll get lost in ranch life, with sexy and sweet cowboys, swoon-worthy, faith-filled romance, and the perfect love story to curl up with as you sip a cup of hot cocoa in front of the fireplace! Her Cowboy Billionaire Best Friend: A cowboy returning to his hometown—and the best friend he left a dozen years before. This Christmas, can they build a family and find their happily-ever-after? #1 bestseller in Clean & Wholesome Romance, #1 bestseller in Christian Romance, #1 bestseller in Christian Westerns Cheering the Cowboy: A cowboy with anger management issues, the woman whose ranch he "stole," and their chance to get everything they want for Christmas...including each other. Her Last Cowboy Christmas: She's tired of having her heart broken by cowboys. He waited too long to ask her out. Can Lance fix things quickly, or will Amber leave Last Chance Ranch before he can tell her how he feels? The Sleigh on Seventeenth Street: A cowboy with skills as an electrician tries a relationship with a down-on-her luck plumber. Can Dylan and Camila make water and electricity play nicely together this Christmas season? Falling for His Next-Door Neighbor: Two next-door neighbors vying for the same job this Christmas...who will win? And who will lose their heart?

    It's also a joy to read about a strong woman with a big job and fiery opinions, a nice antidote to the sugary sweet sort of chick lit.' DAILY MAILKate King is furiously flailing to keep afloat. As her team bicker, finger-point and cheat their way through rumours of sackings and site closures, her ill-tempered husband is becoming increasingly embittered and secretive. Kate knows she must address his petulant question: "Surely there's more to life than this?" but all her energies are required to dodge the corporate bullets constantly fired in her direction.Under pressure from an attractive, younger colleague, Kate is also concerned by her sudden invisibility to the opposite sex and the alarming appearance of back fat. Disturbingly, beige knitwear has started to call to her from the shelves of M&S.Growing more and more suspicious of her husband's activities, pressure builds on Kate both at work and at home until her turbulent year reaches its climactic end. Can she continue to balance precariously between work and marriage, or is one end of the scales going to hit the ground with a resounding thud?

    The First Phone Call from Heaven is a compelling, emotional read with a mystery that will keep readers intrigued and eager to see the story to its finish. Albom wraps the story up in a surprising way, giving readers a satisfactory yet thought-provoking conclusion. The novel is more sentimental than it is intellectually stimulating, but it does lead readers to question what makes a miracle, and question the importance of faith. Although it deals primarily with Christianity, people of all faiths will find that the story resonates with them. The First Phone Call from Heaven features relatable characters, each coping with the loss of a loved one. As you will learn in this review, Albom's writing style is simple and to the point, making it an easy read that will appeal to anyone looking for an inspirational novel. This review also gives you commentary from literary experts to help you understand where this novel succeeds, as well as where it falls short.

    Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre, competing with each other. Peacock Plume and Tyrant Spear, each with their own style. The youngest Sword Crafting Master on Earth had been reborn from another world. With Nine Suns Divine Stove and a scroll of Divine Equipment, he was like a fish in water, standing at the pinnacle of the martial way. The strongs were like the forest, he was the master of ups and downs!

    Reid's chief suspect, a ruthless financier, always seems to be one step ahead of him. After one of his men is murdered, Reid suspects he's got a traitor in own camp. When Reid's wife, Anne, becomes deeply embroiled in the investigation, things get dangerously personal. The cold Glasgow spring isn't the only thing chilling Anne's blood when she leaves California to try to save her marriage. The estate gardens she's renovating are owned by her husband's enemy, her sister-in-law is trying to get her killed, and her efforts to help Terrence plunge-and her unborn child-deeper and deeper into peril.

    Dozens of warmongering ogres. Hundreds of dynamite-wielding gnomes. And one normal guy in the middle of it all. Bad mornings. We've all had 'em. But what if you woke up in a post-apocalyptic land filled with wizards, dragons, and ogres? Not only that, but you woke up as a prisoner of a clan of mages who don’t even speak your language? What if these guys expected you to know magic, but left you to figure out for yourself how to cast it? These are the problems Isaac must solve. And what's he going to do when death knocks on his door? He's going to blast a fireball through the letterbox and send death running. But first...he just needs to learn how to even cast a fireball. Follow his journey through a land filled with creatures that want to kill him, and watch as he refuses to let them. Accompany him into a land of mystery and danger, where life is tough and learning spells and skills takes work. A land where Isaac is determined to stop being the prey and become the predator. This is his journey to make allies and friends in this new world. A journey through battles against slaver ogres and wingless dragons and gnome dictators. Through experimentation and adaptation, where he learns that killing one enemy helps him against the next. It’s also his journey to find a warm, comfy bed. This is the tale of a someone who used to be a normal guy. It's Isaac’s tale of adapting to a world where everything is worth killing. Over 500 pages of fast-moving fantasy, set in a brutal apocalyptic world. This is a mesmerizing story about one guy's quest for power and survival, with light litrpg/game-like elements and a focus on him learning how to use magic. 'Amazing - I love it because of how original it is. This is a hidden gem. The story is good and I'm enjoying the style.' - Early Reviewer 'A breath of fresh air. Isaac is not some over-powered or genius guy. He is just a dude trying to survive in the cruel world he was thrown in, and he is trying to make head and tail of what is going on.' - Early reviewer 'Enjoyable - I especially like the rationality of the main character and how he approaches problems. Unique, definitely worth reading.' - Early reviewer.

    Races operating within their own planetary systems are to be left alone until they begin to develop the ability to travel at FTL (faster than light speeds). When the ability to travel at FTL becomes apparent, one of the members of the Federation is nominated to help ease the newcomer through the Galactic citizenship process. Unfortunately, not all the galaxies systems belong to the Federation, and some of those systems are much less than friendly. The last several decades have seen the development of war like societies that systematically loot developing planets. They take the water, and other precious resources, including slaves, leaving the remaining native inhabitants a barren planet. Without resources the population simply dies a slow death. The Egolari are here because we, meaning the people of Earth, happen to possess a skill set and an aptitude that is critical to the needs of the Federation. The major problem within the Federation is that virtually all the members have, for centuries been living in peace. They have developed a society that is not well suited to counter the growing violence presented by the nonaligned races. In short, they have no way to protect themselves, let alone protect the fledgling races just arriving on the galactic scene. Enter Earth. Of all the emerging races to become future galactic members, one has a superior potential to face the violence threatened by the nonaligned races. You guessed it, Humanity. The Federation realized that to continue to function as an organized galactic society, they would have to develop a military arm that could provide the Federation and emerging systems the protection of a fleet of space vessels and marines. Humanity was the race most capable of leading the development of that military organization because we had not progressed so far that our war like tendencies had begun to erode. Although we were not yet ready for galactic membership, we were a necessity that could fill the need, thus we were getting a crash course in how to travel the galaxy, protecting ourselves and the Federation with the full expectation that we would go where no human has gone before, and kick some alien ass.

    He's a charismatic police officer married to a gorgeous school teacher named Lauren and life is filled with love, fame, and tight-knit friends. But after their children disappear, a perfect marriage slowly begins to crumble.Desperate for answers, Josh travels down a dangerous path fraught with betrayal and lies. A calculated killer discovers his dark secrets and he'll stop at nothing for revenge. Left with no other choice, Josh must reveal his troubled past, which shatters the lives of those closest to him.Once Josh discovers the shocking truth about his missing children, nothing will ever be the same.

    Given a scholarship to a prestigious academy, where he can learn magic, as well as other useful things, he must struggle to fit in with the nobles and high folk that live work and study there.All of that changes in an instant as intrigue, danger and assassins suddenly start to hunt him.For, you see, Tor Baker isn't just some boy from the deep woods. He's much more than that. If he wants to live to find out what that is exactly, he's going to have to become a thing no one would have ever expected.The greatest Wizard of all time.