This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.

    Krampus is. In the days leading up to Christmas, Agent Alice Durand is reassigned to a special case. Children are disappearing all over Washington D.C. This time it’s not the werewolves behind the attack, but a sinister force. Being on the naughty list used to mean losing Christmas presents. Now, you’re lucky if you only lose your life.

    With their power, he can mark his followers and turn them into elite units for his fledgling army.

    But first he must survive his mission inside enemy held Manhattan and face an unimaginable enemy.Since that fateful night more than three years ago, America is at war with an unknown enemy it cannot understand.Lieutenant Tom Riley has only a few days to learn to use his new Personal Battle Tank before he and his team are dropped into Manhattan.The team's clandestine mission can go sour in an instant and then Riley and his team will find themselves in an alien, hostile city unlike anything they have ever seen before.But the lies surrounding the enemy and the mission may prove the deadliest things yet.˃˃˃ An original and daring bookThis is an original and daring book, in which you will see Manhattan as you've never seen it before. Join the team in this one of the kind adventure.'Mechanical' is a military science fiction action thriller from the author of 'Dragon Over Washington', 'The Fire At The Gates' and 'Automatic Rebellion'

    Johnstone, Best-selling western author, John Spiars has created a timeless hero of the old west. The first novel in the Heck Carson Series, Riders of the Lone Star brings the wild and lawless Texas frontier to life. When the Law ain’t enough… He brings Justice. The year is 1852. Settlers on the Texas frontier are at the mercy of hostile Comanche and vicious outlaws, and the only ones holding the line between life and death are a few brave men, known as Texas Rangers. Outnumbered and outgunned, they bring law and order to the untamed land. They face impossible odds with nothing more than grit, determination, and a fast gun. It is this adventure and excitement that lures sixteen-year-old Jesse “Heck” Carson to leave his families ranch to join the fight. Heck quickly learns that this life comes at a price, the cost of which is hardship, danger, and possibly his own life. The bonds of friendship, loyalty, and duty lead him into epic battles that test his courage and resolve, and along the way he learns what it means to wear the star of the Texas Rangers. Excerpts: As fast as he could, he pulled the hammer back and fired, the first Comanche jerked once and hit the ground. The other warrior was no more than two feet away now. Heck wondered if he had another bullet left. Had he fired five or six shots? He couldn’t remember. Saying a silent prayer, Heck pulled the hammer back and looked at his approaching enemy. The point of the warrior’s lance was inches away from his chest when heck pulled the trigger. The barrel of the Walker was almost touching the chest of the charging Indian. Heck heard no sound, but saw the smoke pour out of the barrel and the big warrior dropped to his knees, and fell on top of the young Ranger. Lieutenant Sutter and Corporal Anderson approached the men on horseback, ready to do what had to be done. Looking at the group of riders, however, Sutter immediately recognized he had made a terrible mistake. These men were not military, not even by Southern standards. They were unkempt, filthy, and armed to the teeth. His heart sank as he noticed that most of the detachment were Mexican and their guns were not in their holsters. “What is going on here?” he said, unable to believe what he was seeing. The lead rider smiled and said, “This was even easier than Senor Cortina said it would be. Thank you.” Without saying another word, the man raised his pistol and fired two quick shots, hitting both Lieutenant Sutter and Corporal Anderson between the eyes. The man wheeled around with his rifle as Heck landed on his back, but it was a fruitless gesture. There was a look of pained surprise on the man’s face as Heck covered his mouth and pulled him to the floor. Heck plunged his knife into the man’s chest several times, as he kept his hand over the man’s mouth. After several seconds his muffled cries were silent. John Spiars is the author of the Heck Carson Series. He is a writer and amateur historian with a passion for the history and myths of the "Old West". His hope is to keep alive the western genre for this generation and all of those to come, while both entertaining and educating readers of all ages. He is a native Texan and lives in North Texas with his wife and four children. When not writing western novels, he maintains a blog and Facebook page about Texas history and travel entitled Under the Lone Star.

    She looked exactly like me; a mirror image. I shook my head. “Jesus!”After her parents died in a tragic car crash, Erika moves to London from Dublin to get rid of the bad memories, her frantic nightmares, anddisturbing hallucinations. In time, her life settles into a new routine with Lara, with whom she shares an apartment. They become the best of friends, enjoying London and meeting new people. Life is good.A few months later, Erika meets Ethan who is suave, professional anddependable. A whirlwind romance follows and within a week they aremarried. Soon, Erika starts noticing some unusual incidents; themysterious girl Maya, some cryptic books about secret societies and evena murder.Will she be able to figure out these new mystical events in her life or will they overwhelm her, making her go insane?

    Olivia's chance encounter blurs the lines between shifters, rival wolf packs, and a chance at real love. (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance)

    Night. Four hundred years into the future, in a dystopian world inside a sphere city called VAMPIRE NATION, there are only three choices for humans: be turned into a vampire at the age of eighteen, become a breeder, or become a feeder slave. On the eve of her required turning ceremony, Ariana Waters has second thoughts about becoming a vampire. She won’t be able to bear natural daylight anymore...or have children. And she will not only be bound to obey their vampire creed, she might be expected to participate in genocide. She’s desperate to find an alternative to the legal agreement she’s made. However, her delay or departure from her agreement to turn could get her and her whole family executed for treason. Her best friend is a vampire. Her worst enemy is a vampire. And her allies are few and far between. Who can she trust? When the family’s feeder human becomes worn out and is replaced by a handsome young man with the kind of strength she’s never seen in anyone, her heart tries to rule her head. Complicating matters is a male friend whose romantic pursuit of her is one week from his own scheduled turning. She’s torn asunder by the strict laws where vampires rule humans, spies are everywhere, and punishment for lawbreakers is swift and final. As Ariana encounters dark secrets about vampire society, time is running out before her turning ceremony. Will she find a solution to her dilemma, will she turn, or will she destroy everyone she loves? It’s not just her own life at stake... **Acclaim for the novels of H.T. Night** “H.T. Night is a riveting storyteller, capturing the essence of the vampire genre.” —April M. Reign, author of Dividing Destiny “The Werewolf Whisperer is a wonderful story that incorporates friendship and love with a lot of great vampire action.” —Summer Lee, author of Angel Heart “A hip and timely vampire novel filled with real characters and some of the coolest vampires since The Lost Boys! You’re going to love Night’s completely original take on the supernatural.” —J.R. Rain, author of Moon Dance “Bad Blood is fast, hilarious and sexy. Rain, Nicholson and Night just might have created the coolest vampire since Kiefer Sutherland. The Mount Shasta setting is dreamy. The cult is deliciously creepy. And Spider is as sexy as they come. I was pressing the ereader’s ‘forward’ button so fast that I broke it. Let’s hope we hear more from Spider.” —H.P. Mallory, bestselling author of To Kill a Warlock

    A long life of death and fighting will wear on anyone. When Cassel brings light to a lonely life of darkness, she can no longer resist the temptation. But Yrlissa is not a typical assassin, and her past life, long forgotten, will threaten her present.

    Being an avid RPG player, Ed excelled at logic and reason, and when he enters the afterworld, he is met with a figure who offers him an appealing proposition, to reincarnate as Edward MacAra, a black magic user. The only stipulation, Edward must save the universe from being taken over by the Demon Lord, Abraxas. Abraxas is thought to be dormant, but he is slowly taking over the surrounding villages, and Gilmore is next. Ed risks losing his own soul in the process if he is not able to prevent Abraxas from claiming the universe. After deliberation, Ed reincarnates to the village of Gilmore as Edward MacAra, an 8-year old boy. Does Edward have what it takes to become a black magic user? Find out if Edward can save the village of Gilmore in Reborn: Apprentice.

    

    After the founder of the Institute of Archaeology learns that Chione’s dreams might be connected to events in Egypt, he accepts an offer to examine a mysterious site in Valley of the Queens. After they discover an ancient burial site, spells encoded into the hieroglyphs on the tomb’s walls transport Chione and her former boyfriend, archaeologist Aaron Ashby, 3,500 years into the past: to ancient Egypt. There, they learn of Tutankhamon and Tauret, a priestess in Pharaoh's Court. Meanwhile, the other team members are affected in unfathomable ways by the Ka: the spirit of the entombed. Chione and Aaron learn that Tauret plans to provide Tutankhamon with a living heir... and that they have been chosen to play a crucial part in completing their destiny.

    Her first case is to discover why a mysterious object was left behind at a jewelry store break-in. But when it turns into a murder case, Harley will need all her skills to find the killer and uncover the secret of the artifact. With the help of her new friends, an inquisitive cat, and two dashing men, Harley faces a race against the clock to catch a murderer.MURDER ON THE PAGE - Harley Hill Mysteries, Vol.2When Harley and her partner Cordelia are tasked to find a rare diary belonging to Queen Elizabeth’s closet confident, John Dee, they think it will be a routine case. But before they start their investigation into this ‘Doomsday Diary’ they discover a murder!A MYSTIC MURDER - Witches of Hemlock Cove, Vol.1Grace Angelo, born and bred in the small coastal town of Hemlock Cove is a retired detective… and a witch. She works with her two elder sisters at their old guesthouse converted into a bakery — until the body of the local bar owner is discovered inside their oven. Faced with mounting bills and no way to fulfill the contract for a huge banquet, Grace has her work cut out for her.

    Nobody knows how the fire was started but it ignited quickly. Too quickly. In ten years the truth has never been discovered... Saderia is a curious 10 year old tiger Princess who feels things deeply. Her Aunt Cia and Uncle Jash have taken over the duties of Queen and King and raising Saderia since her parents died in the fire. Her aunt and uncle don't understand Saderia, which she resents. But Saderia starts having dreams about the past; dark, disturbing dreams. She has to know the truth. Could her parents have been murdered? Then she finds herself surrounded by more secrets when she discovers a dangerous, ancient royal secret relating to her ancestors. At the same time, strange things start happening in the usually peaceful forest. Hard times and disappearances create fear and desperation. Out of the shadows comes a dark, mysterious lion named Dastarius to offer his services and play the hero. But his past is just as shadowed and uncertain as the King and Queen's sudden fiery death. Saderia doesn't know who or what to trust but she is desperate to find the truth about the past. She's willing to do anything to get it.

    Marydyth Shalina Forlan Zel’Karyn was gifted with remarkable speed and reflexes, which she turned into sword skill few could match. Wielding the dragon blood sword, Sang Del Dracl, Marydyth made a name for herself with the Army of Coravia. But it was a name she wasn’t happy with; Mary Death. Marydyth is forced to flee to Evandia and embraces her fate. Now a lady of Evandia, Mary Death retires to a life of leisure in the palace of King Oradan. But retirement is not her fate. Made a Royal Guard in honor of her service to the kingdom, Marydyth continues her legend as a sword instructor. But she is still one of the most deadly swordswomen to have ever lived, and that skill is needed to protect her new king and kingdom. And protect them she will, even unto her own death.