This book also contains two short stories, "the door" and "brief love". All of the works deal with lost love or almost loves.

    Finally, a ghost story that reminds you why the basement is so terrifying!’ Brett McNeill of Rue Morgue Magazine ‘Ashforth does Edgar Allen Poe and Bram Stoker proud delivering a solid contribution to the literary movement. It is time that the ghost story made a comeback. With writers like Benedict Ashforth writing Abbot’s Keep, a revival just might be at hand.’ Matthew J. Barbour of Horror Novel Reviews ‘A really entertaining read with a delightful frisson of fear.’ Simon Ball of Horror Hothouse ‘Ashforth builds on the tension and the feeling of unease with each page to revel in a wonderfully tense and unnerving finale.’ Jim Mcleod of Ginger Nuts of Horror ‘Reminiscent of Poe, Abbot's Keep by Benedict Ashforth is a haunting novella with unique form and beautiful prose.’ Michael Bailey (HWA Bram Stoker Award Nominee) ‘. . . an eerie, atmospheric ghost story . . . has a gentle eeriness that keeps the reader wanting to find out more.' Julie K Top 50 Reviewer ‘Perfect ghost story.’ Christine Waddington 'Ashforth successfully builds a dark and relentless dread that steadily creeps through the text. Extremely accomplished.’ L Sharif ‘A gripping read right from the beginning. Couldn't put it down.’ D Boydell ‘I just could not put this story down. I wanted to know what happened as soon as I picked up my kindle. Strongly recommend.’ Mr Tony Cordon ‘The actual writing is wonderful, beautifully descriptive.’ Fiona White ‘I could not stop reading! it was as though I was in a trance, the story is captivating and very original.’ Safa R ‘A fantastic read, lots of twists and turns. Would recommend this to all Mystery readers. A book that is hard to put down.' Ms P Frain ‘. . . great plot and a well developed storyline. It is elegantly told with well built atmosphere and tension . . . a well conceived idea and would make excellent viewing were it ever to be dramatized.’ Cate Hamilton Read over 190 more reviews on amazon.co.uk

    By the time you reach the end you'll be begging for more! With No cliffhangers, no cheating, and plenty of steam this is one boxed set you do NOT want to miss! Book 1 - Ashton Drake Ashton knows he’s in no shape to help anyone. His sanity is hanging by a thread; he’s failing at the job the Drakes sent him to the city to do; and many days he can’t even handle his own dragon. The only time the beast settles is when it sees Makenna, Ashton’s high school sweetheart. The trouble is, Makenna doesn’t seem to want Ashton around. She can’t forget that Ashton left her, and besides she doesn’t have time for an out-of-control Drake, even if she could ever trust him again. Ashton knows what he needs to keep his sanity - he just doesn’t know if he can win Makenna back... Book 2 - Wyatt Drake Wyatt Drake has just broken up with his long-time girlfriend, a woman he’d expected to marry, and a relationship is the last thing he wants. But his dragon is sniffing around a tourist in his hometown—a tourist who discovers more about him in days than his girlfriend did in years—and who seems to like him despite all that, or maybe even because of it. Still, Wyatt isn’t sure he’s ready for another relationship. He doesn’t want a one-night-stand or a short-term rebound girl. He’s looking for commitment. And what kind of stability can he get from a travelling food-blogger he just met? Book 3 - Ryker Drake Mina has always known her place in the dragon hierarchy of Grove—at the bottom. Her king’s court is so far out of her league that she feels like she’s intruding even when she comes to work as a maid at Ryker Drake’s house. The attraction she feels for the rock-blasting, nipple-pierced sweetheart she works for is inappropriate on so many levels. But Mina can’t help herself. Part of her wants to keep away from Ryker to protect herself from the inevitable heartbreak when he's done with her. The rest of her wants to grab onto the happiness of being with him. Even if it can’t last. Can it? Book 4 - Griffin Drake Griffin Drake always gets left behind. While his cousins leave Grove to have adventures, he’s stuck babysitting his increasingly distant and crazy cousin, Jasper, the king of the mountain. When his cousins come home to help, they all find mates, one after another. Griffin is left alone, without even a way to meet a mate. He’s always been bad at talking to women. Then he meets Lilah, who is down on her luck and easy to talk to. He offers her a job as his pretend girlfriend, so he won’t have to live through another family get-together as the only un-paired dragon. Suddenly, he’s not behind at all. Lilah moves in, gets along with his family, and lights up his life. He was sure the universe had forgotten about a mate for him, but now he knows Lilah is the one. All he has to do is convince her it’s not all make-believe. Book 5 - Jasper Drake Cora has made a mess of everything. When she ran from the tyrant who claimed her like property, she’d hoped to start a new life, not a dragon war. Now, she’s exhausted in both body and spirit. Her grand plan has led to fires, battles and an unbelievably close mate bond with the scariest dragon she’s ever met.

    She currently lives independently as a 19 year old in New York City. This debut collection chronicles her experiences with love, travel, and self-discovery in a shifting physical and emotional geography.

    Justin is an edgy movie director on the verge of winning a major award. He’s arrogant, rich and hot AF. And he needs the illusion of a perfect little wife to break into Hollywood’s elite inner circle. I melted the first time I saw him walk into the restaurant I work in. With his tall athletic build, dark stubble and beaten leather jacket. I moved to this town with dreams of making it big as an actress. 5-years later I’m a single mom who is just a cliched beat-down waitress with tarnished aspirations of stardom. Acting like I’m in love with him is easy… too easy. The way he looks at me, touches me, protects me. I’m falling hard for my fake husband, which wasn’t part of the deal. He’s a notorious player with a line-up of aspiring actresses at his beck and call. This feels real though. Maybe I’m different? This might be the role of a lifetime, in more ways than one.

    The teaching of poetry languishes, and that region of youthful neurological terrain capable of being ignited only by poetry is largely dark, unpopulated, and silent, like a classroom whose shades are drawn. This is more than a shame, for poetry is our common treasure-house, and we need its vitality, its respect for the subconscious, its willingness to entertain ambiguity, its plaintive truth-telling, and its imaginative exhibitions of linguistic freedom, which confront the general culture's more grotesque manipulations. We need the emotional training sessions poetry conducts us through. We need its previews of coming attractions: heartbreak, survival, failure, endurance, understanding, more heartbreak.—from "Twenty Poems That Could Save America"Twenty Poems That Could Save America presents insightful essays on the craft of poetry and a bold conversation about the role of poetry in contemporary culture. Essays on the "vertigo" effects of new poetry give way to appraisals of Robert Bly, Sharon Olds, and Dean Young. At the heart of this book is an honesty and curiosity about the ways poetry can influence America at both the private and public levels. Tony Hoagland is already one of this country's most provocative poets, and this book confirms his role as a restless and perceptive literary and cultural critic.

    The details are exquisite and take one back to beloved books of childhood such as Little House on the Prairie while at the same time providing full grown-up fare for history buffs. Wry humor and insights are deftly woven throughout, making the reader smile precisely because the author is not trying to do anything but authentically tell her story. And a wonderful story it is.” Kate Turpin

    Sawyer had been training his whole life to make the cut to be considered a warrior when his plans go astray, Sawyer is found to have magic. While the talent is not unheard of in Haven it becomes clear Sawyer is much better than his well bred peers, when war starts looming many will find out why Sawyer is the Mage of Mages.

    

     While the characters are fictional, the battle was very real and when it was over 70 Americans were killed in action, 420 were wounded and 633 North Vietnamese were confirmed dead. Matthew Kendal, a pastor’s youngest son from a white middle-class California background, enlists in the army and volunteers for service in Vietnam to avenge his brother’s death; a Green Beret sergeant killed in 1968. During training Matthew becomes close friends with John Adams, a tough-skinned Afro-American youth from the poorer neighborhoods right outside our nation’s capital, and Jose Martinez, a street wise Chicano from East Los Angeles. Together they experience the rigors of Airborne training and journey to Vietnam to become Screaming Eagles, of the 101st Airborne. Placed in 2nd Squad, the story follows the actual events surrounding D Company during the intense battle for Hill # 937, which would later be known as the “Battle for Hamburger Hill”.

    His last memory is putting the landing gear down. The NTSB and news media blame him and the deceased first officer Ned Partin for the accident that killed thirty-eight, and burned or severely injured ten. Bill knows from experience flying with Ned that they would have prevented the accident. While recovering from his debilitating injuries, Bill investigates why data that would exonerate him has disappeared. Why hasn’t the NTSB figured out there was something wrong with the rudder? And why does his airline’s management thwart his attempts to prove he shouldn’t be blamed? Those who caused the accident will go to extreme lengths to assure Bill does not uncover their secret agenda.

    And then, very suddenly and without warning, there were three. Even though the fourth person hadn't made any noise at all in several months, the room got very quiet when she was gone. For a long time after that, we sat in silence, in the dark, each of us wondering what this meant for her and for us, and which of us would be the next in the box.NEVER GET IN THE CARFor years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the 'Never List': a list of actions to be avoided, for safety's sake, at all costs. But one night, they failed to follow their own rules.NEVER GO OUT ALONE AFTER DARKSarah has spent ten years trying to forget her ordeal. But now the FBI has news that forces her to confront her worst fears.NEVER TAKE RISKSIf she is to uncover the truth about what really happened to Jennifer, Sarah needs to work with the other women who shared her nightmare. But they won't be happy to hear from her. Because down there in the dark, Sarah wasn't just a victim.NEVER TRUST ANYONE

    She was a young slave girl. He was an African warrior purchased at a slave auction with the intent he would father a new breed of stronger slave. Despite all odds, a language barrier and the disapproval of her family and friends, the two fight for a life together.

    She spends most of her job traveling from city to city, training staff members on how to use the company system. She’s great at her job, but she’s struggling to find a balance between work and home life. Determined to create a more stable environment, through email she asks her boss to cut down her traveling, but he refuses. She’s never met the man, but already she can’t stand him. It’s at a conference not long after that she ends up in bed with a handsome stranger, only to find out that it was her boss. What happens when you’ve slept with the enemy? Find out in this steamy employee, billionaire boss romance by Alicia Beckton of BWWM Love.

    ASIN B08TRNQJXK moved to the most recent edition