But dreaming is as close as she has ever come to the happiness she longs for. Devastated by childlessness and divorce, she is isolated and deeply depressed. Then a package arrives on that fateful birthday. Inside is a picture straight out of her dream, a package of... tea? And a letter signed with her name: Emma Rae Wright. Add to that a phone call from a lawyer in California, and Emma is catapulted into a journey across country and across decades. How does a confirmed recluse juggle attractive men, priceless Russian jewels, ageless relatives, angry fathers, and tea that has rather... curious properties? From her grungy Michigan apartment to sun-dappled redwood forests, from a dead-end job to a partnership in an exotic and unusual company, Emma's life gets tangled beyond recognition. Desperate to make sense of ever more baffling circumstances, Emma is forced to face her own inner demons as well as the extraordinary legacy left behind by a woman who disappeared without a trace over ninety years ago.

    These are not the hands of a working man. These are not the eyes of a pampered son. The tears glazing their enchanted depths look out of place. Each drop is an oddity that never sees the light of day. I blink when his tears burn my eyes. They make my heart hurt for reasons I can’t explain. This is what it feels like to be turned out. And when I think I can’t take anymore of this pleasure that feels like torture, he joins our bodies with the sweetest kiss that I will ever kiss. With the softest lips that I will ever touch. This is deeper and far more erotic than sex. We are making love. His tears glisten in the firelight when he smiles and collect on the tips of his ridiculously long lashes. Tears that are more precious than the diamonds they mimic. My heart beats in answer to the call of whatever is happening in his heart that makes my lover want to cry. Maybe the way I kiss him. And touch him. And hold him is filling in the aching crevices of his broken heart. The way that being with him fills in mine. There is pain in healing. And maybe. Just maybe. They are tears of joy because this is the start of something beautiful.

    All of us who were abducted as children from earth are...or at least those of us who are still alive. When my best friend's ship crashes into a prehistoric jungle planet, I do what I do best: I survive. And I protect and train the only other survivor from the crash—young half-dragon, half-human child. For five years, we've hunted gigantic beasts and scavenged man-eating plants. Then, an imperial ship crashes, and we're no longer alone. This dragon prince warrior is used to women falling at his feet. With a body like that, I can't blame them, but I have more important things on my mind than getting it on with a huge, muscular, alpha alien. If he thinks there's going to be anything between us other than a shaky truce until we escape this lethal planet, he's got another thing coming. I've never worn a collar. I refuse to be any royal dragon's slave, and I'd rather die than be one of their “mates.” I'm fighting for my freedom, nothing else. But when a slaver ship crashes, we're no longer just fighting for our lives. It will take all my strength and guile to fend them off and protect the little girl I've come to love as if she were my own daughter. The dragon prince has sworn to help, but his power comes with a price. He doesn't want a truce. He wants me.

    When the war ended, the government erected a wall to divide the surviving states from the destroyed ones. I never expected to leave my town, but unlike those who volunteered to go to the wall, I wasn’t given a choice. Kobal I’ve spent my entire life with one mission… reclaim my throne from Lucifer and fix what the angels tore apart when they cast him from Heaven.I’ve never been closer to my throne, yet I find myself risking everything because I can’t stay away from her… the woman who might be the key to destroying Lucifer.  Book 2: Carved River As the perilous journey across a country I believed destroyed begins, I no longer know who I am or what I’m becoming. With every passing day, my abilities grow stronger, as does my fear of what comes next.Kobal With an unknown number of enemies between us and the gateway, protecting River proves to be more difficult than I anticipated, but I won’t stop until I destroy Lucifer and reclaim River’s heart. Book 3: The Road River Standing at the entrance to Hell, two things are evident: I have no idea what I’m doing, and the gateway is not closing.Kobal  I expected River to be at my side if we entered Hell, but now she’s gone in without me. It’s only a matter of time before Lucifer learns of her arrival in my world and sends his army after her. Book 4: Into Hell River When I find myself face to face with Lucifer, I realize what he wants from me could annihilate Hell and Earth.Kobal As the battle for Hell rages, the line between enemies and allies blurs. I will do whatever it takes to protect River and destroy Lucifer, but with everything around us unraveling, many will be lost. Find out who will survive in the epic conclusion to The Road to Hell Series. *** Due to sexual content, violence, and language, this book is recommended for readers 18+ years of age.***

    Nearly a century ago it was the site of a gruesome murder which, to this day, resonates within its decaying walls.COMPASSION. REDEMPTION. IF SHE CAN FIND ONE, SHE CAN DELIVER THE OTHER.Tilly Bright is a girl with an extraordinary gift, one which she never wanted and which she has spent a lifetime trying to suppress. At twelve years old Tilly vowed she would never again set foot in her grandmother’s farmhouse. Never again would she allow her sensitive mind to be attacked and manipulated by the vengeful, hate-filled spirit that inhabits it. He is called The Shadow. Nothing remains of his humanity except for the rage that consumes him over his long-ago death.Upon her grandmother’s passing, however, Tilly has no choice—she must go back. Halloran Farm is now hers, as is a significant inheritance which is meant to help her restore the crumbling Victorian to its former beauty. It is what Gram wanted. And Tilly is no longer a frightened child unable to cope with a gift she does not understand. To fulfill Gram’s wishes, she will have to find within herself the strength to confront The Shadow. When she does, she will have to reconsider everything she thought she knew about her gift, about the dead, and about The Shadow himself.Even the most hateful spirits deserve compassion. For through it, they may find their way to redemption.

    All three books of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy combined into one volume.Mortal Obligation (Book 1): Ree will face the darkest form of betrayal before the year is out. Seventeen year old Ree McKenna has three goals: get through high school, convince her crush she is more than his best friend's little sister, and save money for college. Fate, though, has other plans for her. After the untimely death of her older brother, Ree is haunted by dreadful nightmares and terrifying visions. To make matters worse, Ree has started to suspect that something dangerous is stalking her from the shadows.A night full of frightening surprises leaves Ree with unsettling news. Gifted by the gods with unusual powers, she must devote herself to a battle that could very well lead to not only her death, but the demise of everyone she knows and loves. After all, Ree is the only mortal standing between the Earth and utter darkness.Mortal Defiance (Book 2): One short week turned Ree McKenna's life upside down. Not only does she have the weight of the world on her shoulders, but she still has to juggle homework, a job, and a curfew. While Ree tries to find her footing amidst the chaos, the Dark Ones and their champion are busy hunting down any humans that have a touch of the gods running through their veins. Allies have turned into foes, and enemies have become stronger.The world is growing darker, but the passion between Ree and two irresistible guys blazes hotter. Romantic ties from a past life will threaten to break Ree away from the love of her life and will cloud her judgment. In order to follow her heart, Ree will break rules put in place by the gods, risking her life and the lives of her friends in an act of Mortal Defiance.Immortal Grave (Book 3): While darklings ransack the city, Ree and her friends will learn the depth of the gods' manipulations. Unsure of who is really on their side, Ree must accept her destiny and assume the role of leader. The stakes are higher than they've ever been. Death is waiting for them in every shadowy corner. People will die, love will be tested, and the fate of the world will be decided--one way or the other.No more running.No more hiding.The final battle is here.

    After all, he needed that kind of wife to help him escape from his sordid past.Celeste Martin made a deal with Solomon. She'd be his ugly wife. All she wanted in return was his name. She was in love with her sister's fiance and he would be the only man she'd ever love.Solomon had no idea that he'd find his wife fascinating. Celeste didn't know that one taste from her husband's lips would have her wanting more. Yet many strange women were between them.Could Solomon ever escape from his past?Could Celeste ever love her husband?

    But the slick stranger who seduced her into letting a movie be made about her experience has turned abusive, and she’s on the run to Canada, never suspecting that the handsome, grieving billionaire she’s about to meet will change everything. Harcourt Raymondson has spent a year mourning the loss of his wife and son. Fighting a plot to force him out of the company he built from the ground up, he almost cancels his interview with a young artist about a project on his property ... but her beauty sparks to life feelings he’d thought were gone forever. From the moment they meet, forces too strong to resist wrap Sabrina and Harcourt in a web of passion, cruelty, and deception. With a psychopath on their trail, the billionaire and his reluctant shaman must rely on their unexpected bond to survive, and she must access her mysterious gifts ... to uncover the truths haunting them both and to save precious lives.

    The man in question is Marco Romano, a tall muscular handsome Italian man who thought that he left his life of crime behind in Italy when he quit his mob ways. Now, they must hide out together while dodging their growing sexual tensions between them. Can she hope to tame this wild man while running for their lives? Is it even worth her trying? Find out in this brilliant new BWWM by Samantha Daily of BWWM Love.

    To date, this content has been curated from Wikipedia articles and images under Creative Commons licensing, although as Hephaestus Books continues to increase in scope and dimension, more licensed and public domain content is being added. We believe books such as this represent a new and exciting lexicon in the sharing of human knowledge. This particular book contains chapters focused on Novels by Charlaine Harris, and The Southern Vampire Mysteries.

    Dangerous first love. This is where it all begins...The mansion on top of Benson Hill has stood empty for years. But one day it seems to be occupied, and its mysterious, handsome inhabitant Alexander Sterling becomes the source of much talk around town. Raven, a vampire-obsessed Goth-girl who has always considered herself an outsider in 'Dullsville', is determined to uncover the truth surrounding the secretive Alexander. As she gets to know him, and their spark intensifies, Raven finds herself in some unanticipated situations. Vampire Kisses: The Beginning captures the thrill of a most unusual romance.Also available by Ellen Schreiber:Vampire Kisses 2: Kissing CoffinsVampire Kisses 3: VampirevilleVampire Kisses 4: Dance with a VampireVampire Kisses 5: The Coffin ClubVampire Kisses 6: Royal BloodVampire Kisses 7: Love BitesOnce in a Full Moon

    Each book has a happy ending. There are no continuations. Each book features a different couple and can be read in any order.* “People die or leave when you need them most. Nothing is ever certain. Nothing is ever sure.” – Kailor Smith When Kailor Smith’s mother dies, her life crumbles. Completely. Still looking out for her in death, Asia sends Kailor on a journey of self-discovery. The journey, meant to be a six-month path of fun and finding purpose, leads Kailor to Finley Trails where she temporarily lives with her brother Kai… and his best friend and bandmate Zion Johnson. Zion Johnson is convinced that he has only two things to offer the world – his music and his manhood. Nothing more, like love, but definitely nothing less. After losing his parents at a young age, he’s convinced it’s his job to protect every damsel that comes his way. Even his best friend’s sister. No matter how much his best friend wants him to stay away. As Kailor and Zion’s paths collide, they find themselves on a journey of healing and love together. There’s just one problem; their union is forbidden. Not only could their relationship destroy Zion and Kai’s friendship, but it also has the potential to ruin their band and all of the success they’ve built. The odds are stacked against them, and for a while they are even at war with their own feelings, but Kailor and Zion must choose between love or the numbing pain they have both accepted as their truths.

     She leaves her crazy family and heads off to college with dreams of becoming an architect. However, as her mother Dana always says, "Love has a way of changing your plans."   Handsome Caucasian student teacher Tucker Bradley walks into Leila's life and turns it upside down.  He is exactly what Leila needs but not at all what she's looking for.  Leila has to deal with a steady stream of Tucker's ex-girlfriends.  She struggles to hold on to her dreams without letting go of her first love. (Edited 07/04/2012)

     Bridge Hollow is famous for its strange happenings and shifter legends, but skeptic Amanda just wants to chill out for the summer and catch her breath after a particularly rough breakup. But of course anything she gets involved in is bound to be “complicated”, and this town – and town alpha Dean - are no exception. From a wildlife die off to the volatile locals tempers flaring at the slightest provocation – there is definitely something strange going on in this paranormal tourist trap. As Dean pulls his pack together to avert a firestorm, will Amanda be his 'ace in the hole' or a weakness he can't afford? From here we are launched into the start of an adventure that will span 5 books…and five hungry alphas, and the 5 women they mate as they all fight to unravel the mystery of Bridge Hollow…and ultimately fight for all of their own very survival… A town of mysteries and the answers to some of these questions await you... This Collection includes: Alpha Daddy Bear Forbidden Alpha Bear Alpha Protector Wolf Fated Mate Daddy Bear Claimed by the Alpha Dragon Also included is a short preview of Her Keeper Bear... This story contains no cheating, no cliff hangers, and of course has a HEA! ; ) Warning: This ebook contains mature themes and language and is meant for 18+ readers only.

    Innocent women need to watch out for the ruthless alpha males in these novels. From forced marriages to embracing past battle scars, there are a lot of hurdles to be overcome in these stories. Find out what happens when you stalk a dangerous dragon shifter in exchange for free cookies. Worse yet, what happens when the only way to escape terrorists is to run into the arms of a terrifying giant? This box set includes three Onyx Dragons and an exclusive bonus short story. ONYX DRAGONS: MALACHITE Dragon shifter CEO, Malachite, has no choice but to marry a human. If not, then he’d have to return to his home planet. Could his mysterious intern, Cheryl, be the one to produce his dragonlets? Cheryl sets his soul on fire, and she needs to respond to his marriage proposal. Will she say yes? ONYX DRAGONS: PYROCHLORE Stalking the dangerous dragon shifter may not have been the smartest idea. Pyrochlore is a bad boy dragon VP and Amy has been studying him through binoculars. It was the only way for the starving student teacher to get free cookies. It’s hard for Amy to maintain her focus, especially when Pyrochlore whisks her away to Vegas for a very indecent proposal. ONYX DRAGONS: KYANITE Kyanite’s hardened scars make him a monster. Perhaps, that’s what nursing intern, Laura, likes about him. She has embraced the dragon shifter security chief. Her understanding of the hard and terrifying giant is deepening. No wonder she runs into his arms when terrorists target her, but can she really trust her instinct and let the warrior into her heart? The drama is never-ending, and the only way to escape it is to let it abduct you first. It also includes the happily ever after stories "Mal's First Birthday," "Pyro's Wedding Day," and "Kyan's Housewarming Party" as well as the bonus story "The Ultrasound" that's exclusive to this boxed set.