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The Gifted Ones: A Reader by Maria Elizabeth Romana


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A Tell-Tale Treasure


Megan Marple - 2017
    With her talking pet raven, Poe, and a new kid in town named Bigfoot, she's on the hunt for a treasure that's sure to change their lives. Maybe then she can stick it to all the mean girls in school... Armed with her wits, a couple of shovels, and the map, Edie and Bigfoot try their best to uncover the clues hidden under the blazing Lowcountry sun. But trouble has a funny way of finding Edie, and the only thing that might save her from it is a friend of the ghost variety... *You're reading a prequel to the Tell-Tale Tavern Mystery series, which includes a bonus chapter of "GIN & GHOSTS" (book 1). This is a novella length book that can be read in any order with the other books in the series. It is a clean read, with no graphic violence, sex, or profane language.*

Dead Energy


James M. Corkill - 2018
    “Let someone else save the world from the bad people.” At least, that was his plan.While on vacation sailing the waters of the Puget Sound, he sees a brilliant flash of light from an oil tanker and changes course to help. He discovers there was no explosion, no one on board, and 80,000 tons of crude oil has mysteriously vanished without a trace! His only clue is a dollar size crystal found in the empty hold of the tanker.The Director of National Security, Martin Donner, is his friend, and asks him to help the Coast Guard in solving what starts out as a small problem of stolen crude oil. Initial thoughts are of a major oil leak, but none is found. When the bodies of the crew are found frozen to death on a mountaintop 150 miles away, Alex realizes there is more going on than just stealing oil.The Reverend Menno Simons, an environmental fanatic, leads his followers on a crusade to rid the world of crude oil. His disciples carry innocuous vials of powdered crystal to oil-rich countries to contaminate their supplies.Meanwhile, people in the northwestern states are trying to survive, which has now become the one rule. The AOS, Army of Survival, initially recruits people who wish to learn the skill of survival. Now that skill is becoming a fact of life, and the army starts keeping people against their wills, training them to become soldiers. John Everex, the new leader, is a man on a mission. He rules without compassion and kills without mercy.Harold Woolley is a meek man, with a demanding wife and two teen age children. He becomes caught up in the struggle to survive, and mistakenly ends up at the AOS camp. When his lack of courage threatens his family, he tries to become the brave man needed to get them out of their desperate situation, but after being a coward his entire life, he doesn't think he can change.Things go from bad to worse as more tankers are attacked and their crews killed. The few witnesses all claim to see a bright light and a rainbow effect surrounding the tankers, but how did it happen? The Alaska pipeline and west coast refineries are suddenly empty! Civilization descends into chaos when the lack of fuel keeps basic necessities from reaching the inner cities, pitting human against human in a desperate attempt to survive the madness spreading across the planet. Alex’s only clue is the crystal, which under a high-powered microscope, appears to be alive.A fantastic ride, with thrilling scenarios, exhilarating situations, and nail-biting suspense, by this bestselling and award-winning author. How does Alex stop Menno and his followers before civilization reaches total collapse?Find out by grabbing your copy now!

Girl on a Swing


Bella Roccaforte - 2016
    Wren's life has been spiraling downward ever since. She's trapped in an abusive marriage, her career as an artist has never had a chance to flourish, and all of her hope is gone. If she doesn't break away from all that's dragging her down, she's afraid she'll never escape it.She turns to her lifelong friend, Maddox, the only person who's been there for her through it all. He helps her understand her own strength so she can finally begin making bold changes in her life. But falling in love with him was never part of the plan.When their forbidden relationship jeopardizes everything Wren has worked for, will anyone be left standing by her side?

Blast


David Hodges - 2017
    But her dreams are cruelly shattered by a bomb blast that leaves her badly scarred. Suddenly her career’s in ruins and her long-term boyfriend is gone. Plagued by the paparazzi, she flees to Cornwall where she meets and falls in love with her handsome neighbour, blind crime novelist, Alan Murray. As a new life starts to fall into place, her former boss threatens to tell Alan about her past indiscretions unless Lynn agrees to become one of his porn stars. She refuses and is miraculously saved from exposure when her boss ends up taking a dive off a cliff. Relief doesn’t last long though as a series of unsettling incidents, leads Lynn to suspect that her novelist lover may not be all he claims to be … David Hodges’ latest crime thriller, Blast, again delivers the gritty realism that only an experienced ex-copper can provide. Praise for David Hodges… 'Extremely well-written and passionately described crime-scenes' - Mid Somerset Series 'Hodges uses the experience of 30-plus years in the job as an anvil of solid fact to beat out pacey tales of "canteen culture" cops' - Cheddar About the author: David Hodges is a former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, and is a prolific writer and the author of eight other crime novels, plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. He lives with his wife, Elizabeth, on the edge of the Somerset Levels where he can fully indulge his passion for thriller writing. He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association, The Crime Readers’ Association, The Society of Authors and International Thriller Writers Inc.

Heart of a Billionaire 1: Tempted by the Boss


Danielle Jamesen - 2015
    A college graduate, Adrienne thought she had met the love of her life, Thomas, and together they would form the family of her dreams. Instead, it comes crashing down around her. Adrift, Adrienne does her best to get a life together to raise her daughter. When a chance at a dream job lands in Adrienne’s lap, she jumps at the chance. But to be a billionaires assistant one needs to remember to always be organized, always be on top, and never ever fall in love.

Death Notes: The Beginning- Book 0


James Hunt - 2016
    And she won’t stop until the scales of justice are balanced. No matter how hard she tries, Homicide Detective Adila Cooper can’t outrun her past. Buried in her work, she soon finds herself pulled into a killer’s world that she’s never experienced before. With opposition from both sides of the law it’ll take everything she can to end these seemingly senseless murders.

A Bride For Gil


Dusty Richards - 2015
    But when the foreman drops dead of a heart attack and the owner picks Gil to take his place, his world turns upside down. One day life is simple. The next he’s running the outfit and married to a woman who has never known affection. Between wild horses, outlaws, rustlers, an ambitious young landowner with a mean streak, and the flirtatious wife of the ranch owner, it’s no easy task Gil faces. But with his new bride beside him, he’ll take the TXY to new heights of success… or die trying!

Beach Town Boogie


Bart Hopkins Jr. - 2015
    But things have gotten a bit more complex lately. This week she's been stalked, attacked, and embroiled in a murder investigation. And it's only Thursday.

FOOD TRUCK MYSTERIES: Books 1-5 (A Cozy Mystery Bundle)


Chloe Kendrick - 2016
    She has no idea how cutthroat the food industry can be. She meets a Basque chef whose interest in her is overshadowed by his desire to possess the food truck, which he insists Maeve’s aunt promised to leave to him. And when the owner of a rival food truck is decapitated and served up like a gruesome new dish, Maeve becomes embroiled in a mystery that may cost her the food truck, the chef, and her life. MURDER IN THE SPOTLIGHTWhen food truck owner Maeve Kinkaid and her chef, Land Mendoza, sign up to participate in a food truck reality show, they get more than they bargained for. It’s bad enough that the producers try to force a romance between them, but then the competition gets vicious when a prankster starts playing tricks on the contestants. LEFTOVERSFood truck owner Maeve Kinkaid can’t stop thinking about the unresolved murder of Linda Zoz. Maeve scrambles to unwrap some clues, but what she finds is a lack of witnesses and a pile of corpses. She has to get to the bottom of this hotpot of mystery before she becomes the next victim in a devilish conspiracy. THE REAL GYROWhen a new food truck opens near Dogs on the Roll, Maeve is worried about the effect it’ll have on her business. She wishes the owner would just go away, but that doesn’t mean she’s happy when they’re found murdered in their locked truck. DEAD GIVEAWAYWhen Maeve moves into a new apartment, she’s startled to find a chest freezer waiting for her. What she finds inside chills her to the bone. And her blood runs cold when she learns that the previous tenant in her apartment disappeared without a trace.

Girl at the Window


Declan Conner - 2017
    Only this family’s past is darker than most18-year-old Clara is trapped in an abusive life by her Pa who is hiding a dark secret. Home schooled and with no outside social contact – constantly on the move – she wishes him dead.After they move to a small town, local youths vie for her attention against his wishes. When her Pa is found murdered by the town sheriff, the circumstances point firmly to Clara as the guilty party. Assigned to the case, a personal conflict causes Detective Alana Bossé to dig deeper. As her suspect list grows, it looks as though there is a slim chance that Clara could be innocent.But is everything as it seems? Or should they lock Clara up and throw away the key?

Picking up the Pieces


Shelby Reeves - 2015
    Now seventeen, Kaylee’s still living with the unbearable guilt from that night. Things now seem to be looking up for Kaylee. She has Alexis Collins, her best friend who is practically her sister, and Riley Thompson, her boyfriend who is the star running back on their high school’s football team. Kaylee is starting to see that Riley isn’t all that great, but is it too late?Adam Thomas has everything a teenager could wish for, two loving and caring parents, friends, a nice truck, and a starting spot on the school’s varsity basketball team. Now he just wants the perfect girl and he has his sights set on Kaylee.After Adam takes her home one night he has no intentions of staying away, but Riley has different plans and he is not about to let her go.Kaylee’s life is once again turned upside down and this time it’s more than just her that she has to worry about.Can Adam help Kaylee wash away the guilt she carries around and get her to see that she can trust him? Can he make her see that she is not alone? As more secrets are revealed will she finally let Adam in so he can protect her?

MAYA: Symbiogenesis Book One


Pete Barber - 2016
    The last-resort treatment transforms Maya's genetic fingerprint. While Lauren struggles to disguise the reason for her daughter's miraculous recovery, Maya develops unique abilities that may signal a new, more hope-filled future for humankind, or perhaps sound its death knell.

The Dog Who Ate The Airplane (Adam & Bagel, #1)


Edward Coburn - 2012
    Forced back to the United States by the resurgence of his mother's cancer, he decided to take a job as columnist for the Tweet; the newspaper purchased by his long-time friend Larry Archibald in the small West Virginia town of Canary Corners. He moved into the Canary House, an apartment house reputed to have resident ghosts. His next door neighbor Livinia Blossom told him the story of Canary House and introduced him to her grandniece, Marti, who quickly became his semi-constant companion. What Adam didn't realize was how soon his investigative and finder skills would be called into play to solve a murder. He was also unaware of how much assistance his dog Bagel, and the clues he provided, would be during the investigation.Authors note: This book series will never have any curse words (not one), any overt sex (the most is the occasional smile, wink and maybe slight innuendo), or overt bloodshed (someone is always murdered, but, as the reader, you only find out after the fact. You will not be a witness to the murder).Mine are "Gentle" books that a young person can read and pass to a parent without embarrassment or a parent can read the book first and then pass it to a young person.

Grammy's Secret Recipe


C.C. Dragon - 2015
    Divorced, she's already earned her amateur sleuth badge by proving her super rich ex-husband cheated on her (and getting her share of the money per the pre-nup). A prize-winning cook and blue ribbon baker, she was a fabulous wife and hostess but now she's starting over.It’s fun to be home with friends and family but even quiet little towns have problems. Secrets and lies make people do desperate things-small towns just hide them better. When someone steals Grammy's precious family recipe book, Stacey must track it down or never hear the end of it. That book means the world to the family and, since cooking is Stacey's future, no one is going to steal her family's culinary heritage and get away with it!

Soul Stealer


Joseph J. Bailey - 2015
     The legions of Chaos have overrun the world. Uërth is in ruins. With the Heavenly Host’s fall, Angel Swords rained from the heavens, littering the world in what was. Only the most honorable and purest of heart are able to take up the Angel Swords and wield them against the throngs of Chaos. These mighty Empyrean Knights are all that stand between Uërth and annihilation. Saedeus is neither pure of heart nor honorable. Nor does he wish to wield an Angel Sword. He just wants to be left alone with his mushrooms. And his pet rock. But he might not have a choice. When he inadvertently takes the soul of a dying Empyrean Knight into himself, his world, and his obligations, grow forever larger. With the help of his pet rock, the spirit of a heavenly knight, and the sword of a fallen angel, he might be able to make all the difference. If he doesn’t die first.