She had come to Las Vegas, a city of risk, not to gamble but to collect. “Lightning Rider,” by Rick Mofina received Canada's top literary prize for crime fiction, the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Short Story presented by the Crime Writers of Canada. It is one of four gripping tales in his crime anthology, DANGEROUS WOMEN & DESPERATE MEN.MICHAEL CONNELLY selected "Lightning Rider" for inclusion in DEATH IN VEGAS: New Crime Tales of Gambling and Desperation, the #1 Bestselling anthology on Kindle that he edited.About the author:Rick Mofina is a former crime reporter and the award-winning author of several acclaimed thrillers.The International Thriller Writers, The Private Eye Writers of America and The Crime Writers of Canada have listed Rick Mofina's titles as being among the best in the world.His books have been published in some 20 countries and have been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.

    In Volume 4 of True Crime, prepare for crimes like never before, as we examine what makes people snap and commit gruesome, calculated and disturbing crimes that will have you wondering about human nature.Inside these pages, you will encounter some of America's worst excesses in human behavior with notorious criminals like: - Priscilla Ford- Adam Lanza- Michael Kenneth McLendon- Dana Ewell- Christopher Harper-Mercer- And more

    A chance meeting with a lesser mortal, though, will turn her world upside down and force her to see her race and the laws with different eyes. For Hera, knowledge means action, so she sets out to put things right and change her world. Taking place in the World of the Seven Islands almost three years before the events in Rex Rising, this is the story of Hera’s first confrontation with the truth.

    But even the most powerful killers sometimes faced the unexpected, and with it their own possible demise. But with a legendary blade in hand and an unlikely band of allies united, whoever had foolishly attacked the order would pay the ultimate price.

    But after one unexpected, totally hot Friday evening encounter on her office desk of all places, she's convinced that maybe he returns the feeling she's harboured for him in the fifteen months they have worked together.Her euphoria doesn't last for long, though. The very next Monday she watches in shock as he kisses the young woman who drops him off to work at the office and then saunters in looking as though she had kept him up all night.Is there an innocent explanation for the kiss and Stephano's bleary-eyed appearance? Did his father suffer chest pains and have to be rushed to the hospital where the doctors kept him in all night for close monitoring? Or is it just an excuse Stephano's using to cover his night of pleasure with another woman?This novella is 30,141 words in length.

    This hilarious 233 page full-color book contains over 400 of cartoonist, Chad Carpenter's latest comic creations. Consisting of anything animal, vegetable or mineral, but with a decidedly outdoorsy slant, this award-winning comic strip takes an offbeat view of the woodsy side of life. Find out for yourself why TUNDRA is one of the fastest-growing comic strips on the planet!

    While I fully intend to end up in a dive, I think there is only one way to get rid of the pent up aggression I’m feeling.”“Well, considering how you're decked out,” Eric said, “I think you believe we need to work out our aggression?"“What I’m thinking,” John said, “Is that the best way to get rid of aggression is to mess up some people who desperately need to be messed up. So, I’ve had Frank help me locate a few places that need help. Now, we might not make it to all of them, but by the end of the night we will have done some major good, and I’ll start feeling a little Karmic balance restored. If you guys aren’t full up, well, we will just have to schedule it again.” Bellatrix A young woman, a bad boyfriend, a small black female german shepherd puppy.One of these has got to go...The story of Yelena, her relationship with Bellatrix and how they met the Bethany Anne while the two were trying to save her brother from a Wechselbalg.And beer...Let's not forget the beer.For fans of The Kurtherian Gambit series and world. This is set between books 13 and 14 in The Kurtherian Gambit and explains how Ashur's mate Bellatrix comes to be in the group.And why Bellatrix knows how to properly respond to terrorists in outer space. (For those who LOVED that scene!) Challenges Tabitha has one night to challenge her past, and her belief in herself. Normally, a person would fail. However, Tabitha has an ace in the hole. A female vampire with hundreds of years of life and wisdom and she is willing to protect Tabitha and tell her the truth. Whether Tabitha wants it, or not.And whether the Vampire wants to hurt others is not in question. It is what her Queen would expect. And Gabrielle will make it happen, like it or not. "We kind of thought you have covered that with shoes…"Bethany Anne has a challenge for her team, it’s just they don’t know what it is, exactly.At first, the thought of a seedvault doesn't excite the team much. But the Queen has demanded a less stressful, more enjoyable opportunity to accomplish a needed goal for her people. Then, they add inefficiency into the project on purpose.

    

    Many more innocents are marked for death. And he's closer to the elusive mastermind than the FBI. Tommy must overcome his own criminal past to stop him before the biggest slaughter yet.Do you like tough, charismatic protagonists?Do you like stories about dark secrets?Do you like gritty suspense with shocking twists?Then you'll love Sky's Shadow by Ted Galdi, an Amazon #1 bestselling author who's won Reader Views and Readers' Favorite awards, and been featured by FOX, ABC, and iHeartRadio.Tommy's unique skillset of grit and deception is unlike anything you've seen. Start your thrill ride alongside him today.This crime thriller is perfect for fans of Michael Connelly, John Sandford, and David Baldacci.

     The Ultimatum Bride: “I’m giving you two months to settle down. Find yourself a respectable wife, stop the brawling and be the man I know you can be. Otherwise, I will tell Darrel to expect a wedding for his daughter soon.” “And if I refuse to marry Elsie?” George West’s eyes narrowed into tiny slits. “Then you will be written out of my will.” Jesse West is faced with an ultimatum. Unwilling to marry Elsie and steadfast against losing his right to inherit the Circle W, he must think quickly. His best option seems to be sending away for a mail-order bride. Faith Donovan vowed never to marry. Years of witnessing her parents' abusive marriage soured her against such a union, but when she can't find employment, she answers an advertisement for a mail-order bride and hopes for the best. When she discovers her new husband has a reputation for the very things she feared, her hopes are crushed. Yet, something about Jesse draws Faith to him. Can they look beyond their pasts and forge a future filled with love? Serving With Love: After her unscrupulous stepfather accuses her of being a thief, a horrified Katie hopes to hide out until she can prove otherwise. But slipping into obscurity in a small Texas town isn't so easy. Not with Texas Ranger Ward Alston on her tail. Ward's used to getting his man—or woman. But he's not used to the accused being so resolute in her innocence or so beautifully appealing. As he uncovers the truth, Ward realizes this Harvey Girl isn't all she seems. Together, can they evade danger and obey the law of their own hearts? Hearts to God: Orphaned as an infant, Madeline Snow grew up in the Shaker community—the perfect place to learn reverence, hard work, and a love for God that surpasses the need for an earthly family. But the difference between what the Bible says and what the Shakers taught was too much for Madeline, so when she came of age, she left the safety of her home for a new life with her much older sister. Madeline had been trained to grow herbs and make medicine by the best herbalists in her community, but in the wild Oregon Outback finding a husband is the only proper occupation for a single lady. Madeline left the Shaker community, but her devotion to God and the principle of celibacy, are unchanged. Finding a husband to direct her life is her last priority. But her sister and guardian is just as stubborn as Madeline. Madeline will marry, whether she wants to or not. Unfortunately for Madeline, finding a husband isn’t simply a matter of falling in love. Some men are off limits, no matter how they make your heart thunder. Free to Heal: Kane Calloway swore he’d never let anyone close to him again, that way he’d never feel the pain of loss. Living a life of reckless abandonment has brought him face-to-face with his demons—no more running. Either he gets married, or spends time in jail—neither sentence is appealing, but if he stays out of jail, he can at least help keep two small children from going hungry. Newly widowed, Faith Masterson is struggling to keep up with chores while tending to her two daughters. Without help, which she can’t afford to pay for, she and her daughters will surely starve by winter. After hearing about a new government program for women in her situation, she decides it is worth trying for the sake of her children.

    Maggie Dove thinks everyone in her small Westchester County community knows everyone else’s secrets. Then murder comes to town.When Sunday School teacher Maggie Dove finds her hateful next-door neighbor Marcus Bender lying dead under her beloved oak tree—the one he demanded she cut down—she figures the man dropped dead of a mean heart. But Marcus was murdered, and the prime suspect is a young man Maggie loves like a son. Peter Nelson was the worst of Maggie’s Sunday School students; he was also her late daughter’s fiancé, and he’s been a devoted friend to Maggie in the years since her daughter’s death.Maggie can’t lose Peter, too. So she sets out to find the real murderer. To do that, she must move past the grief that has immobilized her all these years. She must probe the hidden corners of her little village on the Hudson River. And, when another death strikes even closer to home, Maggie must find the courage to defend the people and the town she loves—even if it kills her.

    The author, who lived through the atrocities mentioned in this book, paints a vivid, if disturbing, image of child abuse and how it affects the psyche as one grows older. What begins as abuse leads quickly to suicidal thoughts and loss of control. Lost In Thought is the unbelievable true story of a child who was in this predicament. His mother, who was hooked on prescription pills, sexually abused him for years and convinced him that nothing was out of the ordinary. Family members knew of the horrifying situation, yet did nothing to stop it. He distanced himself from his family as he grew older only to become more of an outcast. This is the powerful true story of a man who was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome on the Autism Spectrum in his mid-twenties, overcame adversity, and took back control of his life before it was too late.

    Yves Malroux assail her at every turn, Mary-Beth puts her wedding plans on hold. The man would probably not even remember the plump nerd she was three years ago before she lost her illusions faster than her pounds. Regardless, to be able to marry her fiancé without reservations, Mary-Beth needs to confront her past and flies to France for a summer training program in surgery with Yves.But Yves never forgets an organ he removed from a patient or a woman he dated. And he never forgot the pretty student of Harvard Medical School who has turned into a stunning beauty and seems in serious need of coaching about spicing her serious life with some fun and passion. While too many questions still swirled in her mind, her jealous fianceé summons her back home. Will Mary-Beth let her heart decide who’s her right man? Will Yves break his no-strings-attached rule to offer love and commitment?* * * *“Mona Risk writes heroes with heart, heroines with spunk, in stories and settings that are simply unforgettable.” Roxanne St. Claire, NY Best Selling author.“Mona Risk knows how to pull a reader into the minds of her well-crafted characters. Her work takes us on a journey be it local or overseas.” Night Owl Reviews.Dear Readers, I hope you enjoy my new novel and leave a review. Thank you.

    Good luck is his to command, but it comes at the cost of any place to call home or people to reckon as family. Resigned to die and shunned by all, he is forced to sail every three days, until he begins to dream of a special woman. Treated by our youth-oriented society as invisible and sexless, Emily Pawes is ready to move on with life. She attends a pirate festival, hoping to recapture the make-believe magic she knew as a young woman. Lucky to win an interesting bit of booty at a brick-a-brac stand, she finds herself transported by the Kraken's mirror through a magical portal to a land of Hollywood piratitude, where swashbuckling heroes own iPods. With little choice, Emily embraces the madness. Playing pirate has to be safer than falling into the arms of handsome Captain Silvestri, right? When they meet, sparks fly, passion flares. He needs her to be free, but more than that, he needs her to be whole. Setting sail and uncertain of who actually controls the wheel, they seek ways to defeat his curse of good luck and discover the Kraken's mirror has plans for them. Will Emily stay in this pirate haven to fight alongside him or will he lose her because of his curse?

    Don't miss this prelude to the biggest comic event of the year! This special story recaps the key moments leading up to the start of BLACKEST NIGHT and will give readers everything they need to know about the Green Lantern universe, their ongoing War of Light, and their dark days ahead.