1 The Bastard Stepchild - George R.R. Martin 2 Death by Dahlia - Charlaine Harris 3 The Bleeding Shadow - Joe R. Lansdale 4 Hungry Heart - Simon R. Green 5 Styx and Stones - Steven Saylor 6 Pain and Suffering - S.M. Stirling 7 It's Still the Same Old Story - Carrie Vaughn8 The Lady is a Screamer - Conn Iggulden 9 Hellbender - Laurie R. King 10 Shadow Thieves - Glen Cook 11 No Mystery, No Miracle - Melinda M. Snodgrass 12 The Difference Between a Puzzle and a Mystery - M.L.N. Hanover13 The Curious Affair of the Deodand - Lisa Tuttle 14 Lord John and the Plague of Zombies - Diana Gabaldon15 Beware the Snake - John Maddox Roberts 16 In Red, with Pearls - Patricia Briggs 17 The Adakian Eagle - Bradley Denton

     Dive into the holiday spirit this season with fifteen bite-sized paranormal shorts full of mystery, danger, humor, and romance. Experience the wonder as you journey alongside werewolves, vampires, djinn, monsters, fae, hellhounds, witches, druids, and one seriously pissed-off fairy godmother. From New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling authors, every selection in this rare, limited edition set will keep you spellbound from page one. But make sure you've been good and your stockings are hung with care, because this Christmas there's no telling what's coming down the chimney. Including: Yule Moon by Aimee Easterling Miami Twist by A. Blythe Fall by Demelza Carlton Frost Bitten by Katie Salidas The Angel and the Beast by C.N. Crawford Santa Meets Mrs. Claus by J.L. Hendricks The Witch of Christmas Present by Katerina Martinez A Stone's Throw Christmas by Hailey Edwards Simon Says by Rachel McClellan Frost by K.N. Lee Druid Spirit by Amy Hopkins Matchsticks by May Sage Bloody Jolly Christmas by Rick Gualtieri Heart of Ice by Erin Bedford Kris Kringle Rides Again by P. Joseph Cherubino Grab Magic & Mistletoe today and enjoy the holidays with not just one good story, but fifteen!

    RainSix years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire. Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and stay out of the light of the sun. Now working the night shift as a private investigator, Samantha is hired by Kingsley Fulcrum to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head.VAMPIRE LOVE STORYby H.T. NightJosiah Reign is a lover and a fighter. Out for a simple jog, he happens upon a young woman who needs help. So Josiah does what he does best. He takes on her attackers...all five of them, in fact. Little does Josiah know that this one act of goodwill will introduce him to a very strange world, a world of dreams...and nightmares. For this woman, Lena, is not who she seems, and her friends are the stuff of legends. Worse yet, Josiah finds himself falling for not one, but two of these deadly creatures of the night. And as Josiah suffers a devastating loss that rocks his world, he will fight for what he believes in. He will fight for his one true love. And fighting is what Josiah does best.THE VAMPIRES' LAST LOVERby Aiden JamesTxema Ybarra is the most unenviable nineteen-year-old girl alive. Smart, pretty, and athletically gifted, this University of Tennessee freshman should be enjoying college life and her entrance into adulthood. And for a moment she does…until the vampires show up. Born with an unusual ‘twin teardrop’ birthmark on her neck, Txema (pronounced Chema) is one of only a handful of females in the world who bear this trait. It marks her as a vessel of eternal youth and beauty for an elite vampire society determined to protect her precious blood….But it also is the only thing standing in the way of a rogue ‘undead’ nation determined to destroy mankind and usurp the power their sexier brethren have held uncontested for centuries.(Includes a clickable Table of Contents.)

    Unknown to even her closest friends, Zoe is not entirely human. She's a werewolf and a daughter of the "Fangborn," a hidden race of werewolves, vampires, and oracles.Zoe's attempt to rescue her cousin leads her on a quest for artifacts—including Pandora's Box, an object of world-ending power. With the fate of humanity in the balance, Zoe will be forced to renew family ties and pit her own supernatural abilities against a dark and nefarious fo.At once captivation, deftly worded, and character-rich Seven Kinds of Hell expands vampire legend and werewolf noir in both intensity and charismatic bite.

    FinnJessica AspenR.K. CloseJennifer Rose McMahonKim CarmichaelAlyssa DrakeCarmen FoxTara WestCK DawnMelinda R. CordellJ.N. Colon

    When teens receive a government-sanctioned pharmaceutical cocktail during school, paranormal abilities begin manifesting... making the teens more powerful than the adults.After Caleb discovers he has the rare, Affinity for the Dead, he must do whatever it takes to hide it from a super-secret government agency whose goal is exploitation. Caleb seeks refuge in his new girlfriend, Jade, until he realizes that she needs as much protection from her family, as he does from the government.Suddenly, Caleb finds that hiding his ability while protecting Jade and his friends is a full time job; can he escape the government, protect Jade and lose the bullies that are making him miserable? (App. 119,000 word count.)DEATH SPEAKS:Caleb's in high school now and thinks the chaos of last year is behind him. Unfortunately, a serial killer is on the loose and children are his victims. Caleb agrees to help the police apprehend the murderer...until the killer takes notice of Caleb and his paranormal friends.Carson and Brett remain the bullies they always were and their posse continues to grow. How long can the two groups stay out of each others' way before there's a firestorm of retribution...The Government Graysheets continue to keep tabs on Caleb's every move while Jade's family threatens their relationship. Can they still be together even when events threaten to tear them apart? (App. 92,000 word count.)DEATH INCEPTION:Kyle Ulysses Hart and his team of scientists mapped the human genome in the year 2010. As Brain Impulse Technology came online... so did the long arm of the United States government. A covert, military-driven regime was born with genetic manipulation the key to future widespread control. When pharmaceutical laboratories, funded by the Graysheets, discover a way to unlock paranormal potential through compulsive inoculation, their exploitative dream is realized.Clyde and Caleb's lives are predestined to intertwine as they cross paths, his history becoming Caleb's future.A lone teenager named Jeffrey Parker, falls prey when he manifests the rare, Affinity for the Dead. The Graysheets abandon all pretense of stewardship, ripping him from his family for their nefarious purposes. Can Jeffrey remain who he was destined to be in an environment exclusively built for mass control? (App. 24,000 word count._

    Some do it every day, although very few stop to listen for a reply. Lizbet Wood does, and this is just one of the things that set her apart. She really doesn’t understand how different she is until violence shatters her solitary existence. While Lizbet seeks to understand why mother sought refuge on a deserted island in the Pacific Northwest, she comes face to face with the dangers her mother tried, but failed to escape. When her mother is gravely injured, Lizbet is forced from the island and thrust into a world even more complex and threatening than she could have ever imagined. A world where the animals have no say…or do they?

    The pack is waiting for you. Will they howl in desire? Will they growl and assert their dominance? Featuring the following books: J.K. Harper - Guardian Wolf (Black Mesa Wolves #1) Being a Guardian for the Black Mesa Wolf Pack meant everything to Lily Bardou. Until the night she made a fatal mistake. Since then, she's kept her wild side tightly leashed, denying her responsibilities to both her pack and her own sensual needs... Until Kieran Rendall stalks into her life... Kieran’s wanted Lily for two long years, and he's finally done waiting. Convinced she’s part of his destiny, he's back in town with a plan: to help Lily let go of the past - and to unlock her caged passions! J.K. Harper - Alpha Wolf (Black Mesa Wolves #2) As a Guardian climbing the ranks in the Black Mesa Wolf Pack, Sara Kenyon's life is ideal. A sexy firecracker, she's never regretted her carefree love-'em-and-leave-'em attitude. But when her one-time fling, smokin' hot Rafe Bardou, wants the only thing she can’t give him - commitment - she starts to question if freedom is everything she desires... Rafe's patience is legendary. Yet for all his strength and control, Rafe craves something he can't have: free-spirited Sara as his mate. Her red-hot kisses have eluded him for over a year, but he can't stop thinking about how they once tangled the sheets together. Now he's out of time. Her commitment to him is essential - not only for his own happiness, but for the future of the Pack! Losing control isn't an option. But it may be the only way to convince this sweet vixen he's her alpha wolf! Warning: hot springs and a dark alley are both defiled in this story. Read at your own risk. Amelia Faulkner - A Wolf In Geek’s Clothing Sometimes the wild doesn’t call; it screams! Ryan Miller works an IT Helpdesk by day, but his nights have become filled with wild dreams so vivid that they leave him drenched and hungry. He’s losing his grip, and the only thing he can cling to is the predator’s eyes he remembers every morning! Sauri Whitepaw is a wolf on the run. Exiled by his pack, badly wounded, he flees to the only territory not patrolled by shifters: the human city at the foot of the mountains. It is a frightening place his people have never seen up close, but if he is to survive another night he must dive into it head first! When Ryan and Sauri’s paths cross, Ryan sees the primal stranger from his dreams and the foundations of his world are shattered. Can Ryan accept his new life and the Alpha Sauri was born to become? Andie Devaux - Claiming Their Royal Mate; Part One (Claiming Their Royal Mate #0.1) Daniella Clark has never fit in - a fact she’s always blamed on being adopted. But when her body is overtaken by a need so fierce it defies human explanation, she turns to the one man she instinctively knows must have the answers she seeks - her sexy-as-sin neighbour. But his explanation isn’t one she can easily accept, and it means her sexual heat won’t go away without his help! But it turns out her neighbour isn’t the only male she has to worry about. The prime of his people has laid claim to her. And though he radiates sexuality in a way that makes her mouth water, he’s more beast than man. With one weretiger charged to protect her, and the prime's plan to claim her for his own, Daniella must fight to maintain her sense of self, even while they fight for her! J.E. Keep & M. Keep - Her Master's Corruption (Her Master #2) In his torture, she found peace! Lhea was once an innocent, curious faerie. But she'd wandered too far into the forbidden forests, stumbling upon a wicked elf who tainted her with his corruption... But even in darkness, there can be love, and so when the two are wrenched away by the forces of good, Lhea has to return to her Master. Her soul cries for him, and his for her, and nothing will keep them apart. Even if he has to take on the form of a werewolf to rescue her! Harmony Raines - Soul Of The Dragon (Her Dragon's Bane #1) Forced to offer herself to a dragon to save her sister, curvy Serena finds their first encounter confusing, and intimately satisfying... Yet she has learned to trust no man, they hurt and control you, and this beast of a dragon can't possibly be any better. Or can he? Can it be possible that the creature she has been taught to fear, is the one she must learn to trust? Unfortunately there may be no choice for Serena, because she soon realises she can't save everyone. Serena is faced with a stark choice, gain control of the dragon, or lose her sister forever! Oh, and there's just the small matter of the dragon child she might already have conceived... J.M. Klaire AKA Jamie Klaire - Alphas Divided; Part 1 (Alphas Divided #0.1) Emma is a typical cop's daughter, who is very rarely held accountable for her actions, until the day she gets caught shop lifting with her best friend and partner in crime, Kate. Desperate to turn the girls back towards the straight and narrow path, their fathers send them to live with Emma's deceased mother's "people"... Emma is first shocked to learn that her mother has "people", and then she is even more surprised to learn those people... aren't completely human! Thomas is the ageing Alpha of a hidden werewolf pack, whose two sons, the mysterious Elam and the dark and sexy Galen, soon find themselves enamoured of the two new women, vying for the position of Alpha, and starting to uncover the secret of Emma's mother's past! Scarlett Grove - Touched By The Dragon Lord; Part 1 (Braving Darkness #1.1) In a post-apocalyptic world, ravaged by radiation, a group of mutants gather together on a San Diego farm. Xavier, their dragon shifter leader, wants to keep them safe at all costs. He interrogates Circe, the witch he imprisoned for threatening to bring down the wrath of the alien invaders! As soon as they touch, more than sparks fly. Both dragon and witch will never be the same again. They must come to understand their metamorphosis and how their budding symbiotic relationship can help free Earth from the vampire-aliens who threaten to destroy the last of human civilisation! Melanie Marchande (Writing as Lillian Danté) - Fountain Of Love; Becoming His Mate (Douglas Mountain Shifters #1) He was the best mistake she ever made… …and he might just be the death of her! Many years ago, Heather threw a coin into the old fountain and made a wish. She wished that the man of her dreams would come and sweep her away, far away from the home where she’d always felt ignored and unwanted. Now, she’s grown up, and she’s learned better. You can’t count on anybody to make your future better. You can only build it yourself! And you especially can’t count on Cole Jackman! It’s been nearly a decade since their tumultuous high school romance, but Heather can’t quite shake the memories. And when Cole stumbles back into her life, she learns that she still can’t control herself around him. But she’s no naive little girl anymore, and now, Heather sees something she missed before: Cole’s hiding a great big whopper of a secret. Something dark. Something dangerous. Something… furry! As Heather uncovers the truth, she finds herself caught in a centuries-old conflict that puts her on centre stage. Her dual destinies - one as Cole’s mate, and one as his sworn adversary, have made her enemies on all sides. And to make matters worse, she just can’t seem to keep her hands off of him. Can she find a way to tame his wolfish nature, and bring peace to the Douglas Mountain clan before it’s too late?

    P. Kelner, editors of Home Improvement: Undead Edition? Your worst school nightmares—taking that math test you never studied for, finding yourself naked in school assembly, not knowing which door to enter—will pale in comparison to these thirteen original stories that take academic anxiety to whole new realms. In #1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris’s story, "Playing Possum," Sookie Stackhouse brings enough birthday cupcakes for her nephew's entire class but finds she's one short when the angry ex-boyfriend of the school secretary shows up. When her guardian, Kate Daniels, sends her undercover to a school for exceptional children, teenaged Julie learns an all-new definition of "exceptional," in New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews's "Magic Tests." For those who like fangs with their forensics, New York Times bestselling author Nancy Holder offers "VSI," in which FBI agent Claire is tested as never before in a school for Vampire Scene Investigation. And in New York Times bestselling author Thomas Sniegoski's "The Bad Hour," Remy Chandler and his dog Marlowe find evil unleashed in an obedience school. You'll need more than an apple to stave off the creatures in these and nine other stories. Remember your first lesson: resistance is fruitless! Includes stories by: ILONA ANDREWS, AMBER BENSON, RHYS BOWEN, MIKE CAREY, CHARLAINE HARRIS, DONALD HARSTAD, STEVE HOCKENSMITH, NANCY HOLDER, FAITH HUNTER, TONI L.P. KELNER, MARJORIE LIU, JONATHAN MABERRY, THOMAS SNIEGOSKI

    They know just the right spell to kill a man with one kiss—or raise him back again. And they’re not afraid to exact sweet revenge on those who dare to cross them. But what if you’re the unlucky soul who falls victim to a conjurer’s curse? And if you had the power to cast a magic spell of your own, would you use it?In this bewitching collection, nine of today’s hottest paranormal authors tell all-new, otherworldly tales.  Spellbinding stories featuring bigfoot, albino vampires, professional wizards, resurrected boyfriends and even a sex droid from the twenty-third century named Silicon Lily.  But as our conjurers are about to discover, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hexed.  And sometimes, even the best spun spells can lead to complete and utter mayhem. Includes:Retribution Clause by Ilona AndrewsBigfoot on Campus by Jim ButcherHolly’s Balm by Rachel CaineSnow Job by Carole Nelson DouglasOutside The Box by P. N. ElrodHow Do You Feel? by Simon R. GreenThere Will Be Demons by Lori HandelandCherry Kisses by Erica HayesThe Arcane Art of Misdirection by Carrie VaughnLength: 13 hours and 8 minutes

    These days, women are quite capable of solving their own problems and slaying their own dragons (or demons, as the case may be).In this all-new anthology, Kerrie L. Hughes and New York Times bestselling author Rachel Caine have collected original stories from thirteen of today’s most exciting urban fantasy and paranormal authors. Each story features a strong heroine who kicks butt and takes names in a dangerous world and makes that world a better place for everyone in it—except the bad guys, of course. And if she finds a bit of romance along the way, well, a little heat warms the heart and sharpens the mind…just as long as the man can keep up. Includes: Shiny by Rachel CaineIn Venito Veras by Karen ChanceHunt by Rachel VincentMonsters by Lilith SaintcrowVampires Prefer Blondes by P.N. ElrodNine-Tenths of the Law by Jenna BlackDouble Dead by Cheyenne McCrayA Rose by Any Other Name Would Still be Red by Elizabeth A. VaughnSuperman by Jeanne C. SteinMonster Mash by Carole Nelson DouglasWanted: Dead or Alive by L.A. BanksMist by Susan KrinardBeyond the Pale by Nancy Holden

    A series of strange encounters, and her relentlessly curious nature, lead her into the woods where she meets a destiny that has been chasing her since birth. She is unknowingly brought into a world of demons that is fraught with turmoil and deadly power struggles. Lord Balthazar, a demon prince trying to hold his new kingdom together, seizes on the opportunity and takes her hostage. Alexandra’s strong willed, defiant personality not only gets her into heaps of trouble, but also manages to gain the unlikely affections of the demon lord that holds her captive. As time begins to run out for both of them, sacrifices must be made that are to neither one’s liking, and by the time they realize what they truly want, it may be too late.

    There was a time when humans would not tolerate having vampires and other creatures in their midst, stealing their young and killing their fellow human beings. These humans took care of business with pitchforks, sharpened stakes, and fires. As the centuries passed, the supernatural creatures learned that they needed to hide in order to survive. As they did, humans evolved, and after a few decades, humans no longer believed the tales from mythology and folklore. Then the creatures became more bold again, showing themselves when they should have stayed hidden.In 1945, the assistant director of the FBI suffered a horrible tragedy, which he learned later was supernaturally related. He created a small branch of the Department of Justice called the Bureau of Supernatural Investigation – the BSI. Little did he know that there were already men and women policing the world of the supernatural – or the “Fae.” The only difference was that this other group had a huge advantage over the humans running the BSI; they were also immortal, just like the creatures they policed. Should the BSI and the Immortals work together to keep the peace?Follow agents and Immortals from the four supernaturally busiest places in the country – San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, and Washington D.C. and watch the BSI evolve.Vampires, shapeshifters, succubae, and Immortals. What is the Justice Department hiding?BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation is an Enchanted Immortals novella, approximately 36,000 words, with an excerpt of Enchanted Immortals at the end. This novella may be read in any order in the series.

    Two handwritten words near the top haunt her. "Little Bird." Her mother's nickname for her. Only, Franki's mother disappeared without a trace exactly three years ago to the day. Who sent this dark gift? Franki's need to answer this question will lead her to the doorway of a strange, dangerous, and sexy new world. A world her mother went to great lengths to keep hidden. A world someone desperately wants Franki to discover. See the world of Peachville High Demons series from the eyes of a brand new, kickass heroine. You do NOT need to have read the original Peachville series to understand this one!Sacrifice Me is a serial new adult paranormal romance with twists and turns that will pull you in and keep you guessing until the last installment. There are six episodes total.Unlike the Peachville series, this is NOT a young adult story. Due to some language and sexual situations, it is appropriate for readers 16+

    They live in caves beneath the acropolis, without economic resources and according to rules imposed on them by the Olympians. They are forbidden from turning humans into vampires, which happens when all of the blood is drained; however, they are allowed to drink from a willing mortal. Some mortals are willing because a vampire bite will infect the body for six hours, and, during that time, the mortal has the powers of flight, invisibility, strength, speed, x-ray vision, and mind control. Such great power can become irresistible, though dangerous and addicting to mortals.As seventeen-year-old Gertie, studying abroad from New York, uncovers the unfathomable secrets of this ancient city, she unwittingly becomes a catalyst in an uprising led by Dionysus, the god of wine and lord of the vampires.