No checks. 2) There is only one Master and one pupil. 3) No woman will ever be trained in Sinanju.Sunny Joe Roam will throw the last two rules out the window in order to fulfill his tribe's oldest commitment. He will train both Stone Smith and his half-sister Freya Williams in the deadly art of Sinanju, ushering in a new era for the tribe. But will the lethal brother-sister duo be enough to help their new boss Benjamin Cole stop the Great Mexican Ninja Army from invading the southwestern United States?

    Margot's beautifully painted, contemporary mermaids are caught in the nets of their own comical dilemmas, circling the heart's fishbowl of romantic longings and in the murky depths of deep emotion. Whether it's the value of cultivating an inner water garden or coping with crow's feet and fish tails, Margot offers advice and an enchanting way of hydrating your weary mermaid soul. Coy, sweetly mischievous, and a pinch sagacious, this is a book that, like a good glass of wine, can be enjoyed multiple times, sipped on, or downed in one reading.

    Follow the tale of Icarus. And that of the father who tried to save him ... but brought his life to an end.You will come to love him. Then you will watch him fall. Live the tragic story as you never imagined possible.

    Some would say that any story of water is always a story of magic, and others would say any story of love was the same …’The River Wife is a simple and subtle story of love. The river wife—part human, part fish—has a duty to tend the river, but instead falls in love with a man. The age-old rhythms of her life irrevocably alter as he trespasses further and further into her heart at a time when she questions her birthright. Tender and stunningly beautiful, The River Wife speaks of desire and love, mothers and daughters, kinship and care, sacrifice and wisdom. It is completely captivating.

    The remarkable reality of this wondrous character is not what you might expect: it is a perilous adventure full of the kinds of frightful and extraordinary things you read about in farfetched novels authored by dusty old professors with extremely vivid imaginations. The difference here is that this is not fantasy. Through an extensive, quite dangerous and very expensive venture I have catalogued all the details; thus it is in the following pages that I am able to present, quite faithfully, an accurate narrative of the birth and marvelous triumph of that indomitable spirit who has, through the ages, been the bearer of gifts and magic for young and old and who will always be the greatest champion of that most miraculous of holidays which happily never fails to fall on the 25th of December. Before I continue, however, I must provide a clear warning: the true story of Santa Claus is perilous, indeed. There are no frolicking reindeer, no jingling elves, no tidy ribbons or bows... Santa was a hero, and as such his tale is epic. So if you want to avoid being frightened nearly out of your wits then do not proceed. But if it is your wish, I respectfully give you the true story of Santa Claus.From internationally bestselling author B.C.CHASE comes an imaginatively fantastical take on the man in red featuring fiery dragons, swashbuckling swords, and of course elves. This not-to-be-missed tale of courage, determination, and selfless love has been critically acclaimed as an instant classic destined to be passed down for generations to come.This tale is allegorical in the spirit of The Chronicles of Narnia.

    T. R. Pearson's "A Short History of a Small Place" was hailed as "an absolute stunner" (Jonathan Yardley, "The Washington Post") and its hero, young Louis Benfield, was dubbed "a youth not as wry as Holden Caulfield, but certainly as observant, and with a bigger, even sadder heart" (Fran Schumer, "The New York Times").Now, older but not necessarily wiser, Louis Benfield returns in "Glad News of the Natural World." In order to get a sense of the larger world, he has moved to New York City from his hometown of Neely, North Carolina. Louis is a modern-day Candide, looking for love and experience in all the wrong places. However, when tragedy strikes, he finds the maturity to be more than man enough for the job.Whether catching up with Louis Benfield and the denizens of Neely or meeting them for the first time, readers will find "Glad News of the Natural World" hilarious and heartbreaking, warm and wise.

    An ancient secret. A bond that will change them forever.Failed ballerina Ella Lewis has just landed a job in an industry she knows nothing about. The goal is simple: build a normal life and keep her father happy. So when construction worker Dax Coburn enters the scene, six-foot-three of pure complication, she knows she should steer clear. The mystery shadowing him sets alarm bells ringing, yet she’s drawn to him in a way that makes no sense. As Ella gets to know the cryptic man, she discovers a secret that threatens to unravel her tidy life.Dax knows getting involved with a human is a bad idea. So why can’t he leave her alone? Gifted, funny, and alluring as hell, Ella Lewis is beautifully packaged trouble. As if he doesn’t have enough reasons to stay away, she’s just landed a job at the very company he’s vowed to destroy. Now his secret’s out, his pod exposed, and he must figure out if Ella is the mate he’s been waiting for or his path of ruin.If you love a paranormal bad boy, soul mates, and sharp dialogue, then this high-emotion romance is for you.Breathing Water is a standalone paranormal romance containing language and themes intended for mature readers.

     UNCHAINED (Book 1) Callie Penrose is a middle-class, Midwest American girl, and a wizard in training. She works for the Vatican Shepherds – an elite group of twelve warrior priests who travel the world smiting whatever offends them or their Good Lord.One problem. Callie isn’t a huge fan of churches… Not even a minor fan, really.But when a Heavenly spear enters an auction in Kansas City, Callie is forced to step up as an interim Shepherd, and her first night on the job puts her in a bidding war against the infamous Nate Temple – the billionaire wizard from St. Louis. And when demons, shifter bears, vampires, and Nephilim attack the auction for the spear, Nate and Callie are forced to join teams, and one-time foes become hesitant allies.Callie must learn where she stands as a wizard. Will she hide behind a man, or light Kansas City afire with a name of her own? And will she finally come to appreciate God? Or will the demons and monsters in the shadows take her for themselves?Because Callie soon learns she isn’t just a wizard, and it was never just about the spear. Monsters have evidently been hunting Callie her entire life, and now, they’ve finally found her… RAGE (Book 2) Ever since Callie – the Vatican’s rookie monster hunter – killed a demon a few weeks ago, Kansas City’s been eerily quiet.But she soon learns it’s just the calm before the storm.Because werewolves begin abducting young women in Kansas City, and a new church opens its doors, pronouncing death to all idols, including these ‘make-believe’ monsters and wizards.But when one of their congregation is disemboweled by a monster on the steps of the church with the phrase God is dead painted in blood, someone in the church decides to take a lesson from the Salem Witch Trials… And the police seem to be helping.Callie must catch the killer before Kansas City erupts in civil war. A civil war she inadvertently started.But she’s being stalked. By something unseen. More than one something… And with so many new faces coming to Missouri – gods, legends, and nightmares – Callie begins to realize it’s all someone’s sick idea of a game.And that Hell never really left Kansas City. Or Callie Penrose. WHISPERS (Book 3) The Vatican is broken… And Callie’s hearing Whispers in the dark corners of her mind…One of the Vatican’s most infamous Shepherds has been murdered, and Callie’s friends are the prime suspects. To prove them innocent, Roland and Callie must risk their very souls…Because Callie can’t reveal that she’s hearing strange Whispers when she uses her magic, or that she’s harboring an Angel’s Grace. And if the Shepherds discover the hellish bargain Roland made, the streets of Rome will flow with blood as brother turns against brother.And with the Antipope pressuring the Vatican for change, and Nate Temple arriving unannounced to demand an audience with the Shepherds, things couldn’t get any more chaotic.Until Callie learns of an ancient order of traitors hiding in the Vatican, and they’ll do anything to bring it down – brick by brick.

    New powers. Old enemies. Elora enters the dark world of secrets from her parents’ past, and in the midst of discovering her new abilities and learning how to use them, she will be forced to fight battles she’s unprepared for in a war that supposedly ended twenty-two years ago. Old enemies forge new friendships, leaving Elora lost and unsure who to trust, until a cocky vampire walks back into her life with a gift and a clue that will set the end of everything in motion. The final chapter in the two-book Dark Secrets spin-off series, BOUND.

    His parents are long dead. His mother, a circus mermaid who made her living by holding her breath, drowned in the very water his house overlooks. His younger sister, Enola, ran off six years ago and now reads tarot cards for a traveling carnival.One June day, an old book arrives on Simon's doorstep, sent by an antiquarian bookseller who purchased it on speculation. Fragile and water damaged, the book is a log from the owner of a traveling carnival in the 1700s, who reports strange and magical things, including the drowning death of a circus mermaid. Since then, generations of "mermaids" in Simon's family have drowned--always on July 24, which is only weeks away.As his friend Alice looks on with alarm, Simon becomes increasingly worried about his sister. Could there be a curse on Simon's family? What does it have to do with the book, and can he get to the heart of the mystery in time to save Enola?In the tradition of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian, The Book of Speculation--with two-color illustrations by the author--is Erika Swyler's moving debut novel about the power of books, family, and magic.

    Based on an actual 19th century legal case, join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they journey to America to solve the Adventure of the Greenbriar Ghost!

    But instead of using magic to transport himself to his new lands, Minalan decides to leave cross-country, in a wagon with his father. Down the Bontal River, Min and his dad make a stop at Robinwing, get snowed in at Barrowbell, and enjoy a few days as guests of Baron Astyral. Along the way Minalan comes to terms with many things in his life, and with his father's advice and some introspection he prepares for the great challenge ahead in distant Vanador. No one knows what the future holds, but as the stakes for Callidore grow higher, and weigh more heavily on Minalan's shoulders, it might be possible for Min to find inspiration on the Road to Vanador!

    Her brothers are missing. Her father is gone. The adventurous party girl is fighting just to keep her family from falling apart, all while avoiding Egan, the guy who committed the one crime she can’t possibly forgive. But when she receives a message that changes everything, Ina suddenly finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy more horrifying than she could have imagined. One that strikes at the heart of her kingdom, and one that could destroy her family once and for all.An Awakened Fate Novella that follows Return, Book Three of the Awakened Fate series. Abide is a 25,000 word / 70 page novella.The Awakened Fate Series#1 - Awaken#2 - Descend #3 - Return#3.5 - Abide: An Awakened Fate Novella#4 - Arise#5 - Become

    David Kreutzer just wants his wife's vision to stop failing before she goes blind. And then one day, their lives are changed forever when they suddenly find out that they have the ability to heal the sick with a single touch. With gifts so amazing, why does the mysterious stranger lurking in the shadows want to destroy them both, by whatever means necessary?

    One species is found to be an extreme danger to itself and others – Humanity. Evidence for the continuation of the species hangs by a thread. Jake Connolly, talented up and coming LA lawyer, has a hidden psychic side long suppressed. When a series of intense visionary experiences threaten to derail his life, he is dragged unwillingly towards mysterious events deep in the Mojave Desert. What he discovers there changes him forever, and will affect the lives of everyone on the planet.As the world watches its destiny unfold, humanity is forced to fight for its survival in a Galactic court and justify its existence to far superior beings.A mystical, innovative, and intelligent novel that asks the biggest questions of all.Where are we from…where are we going...how much have we truly evolved?…Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ASIN B079QTKPML here.