Book picks similar to
Sammy Feral's Diaries of Weird: Dragon Gold by Eleanor Hawken
dragons
4-star
animals-fiction
cryptids
If You Ain't a Pilot...
Ray Wright - 2016
Though competing against one another for the flying assignments of their dreams, like the fearsome F-15 and F-16 fighters, a good mission sometimes takes a backseat to a good party or punch line in this classroom of cut-ups. The high stakes, however, loom over Lt. Wright. In a program where one out of three students fails, not everybody who starts UPT will finish it. And not everybody who does finish will get a desirable flying assignment. Some won’t even escape the Columbus Air Force Base. Will Lt. Wright get his dream assignment flying a C-141 cargo plane based out of beachside Charleston, South Carolina? Or be forced to perpetuate the If you ain’t a pilot… system as the dreaded FAIP (First Assignment Instructor Pilot) in Columbus, Mississippi? Though a military memoir, IF YOU AIN’T A PILOT… is a story of youthful innocence, a happy tale of the best of friends. Beneath the story’s surface layer of how an Air Force officer’s aeronautical rating determines his worth, similar thematic layers unfold around gender, race, and other ways people define each other. At its core, this story is about people, our relationships, and how we choose to treat each other. While 30 years have passed since the memoir’s events—and our aircraft, our enemy, and our pop-culture ties have changed—we still struggle with our differences. IF YOU AIN’T A PILOT taps into the mystic of Top Gun, the satirical wryness of Candide and Catch-22, and the allure of the air-travel genre captured by Mark Vanhoenacker’s recent Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot (2015), Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff, and James Salter’s The Hunters. Set at the end of the Cold War in the heart of Dixie, IF YOU AIN’T A PILOT…crosses Top Gun adrenaline with Pee-Wee’s Playhouse antics at a flight training base where Air Force idealism collides with Deep South heritage. Complete at 142,000 words, this comedic memoir written for a general audience charts the year when a newly commissioned officer is challenged not only by flight school but also by the Air Force dictum If you ain’t a pilot, you ain’t $#!+. That said, the primary mission for IF YOU AIN’T A PILOT...is to make readers laugh. While the story is written for a non-military audience, military pilots, civilian pilots, and any person who ever dreamed about flying as a kid will love IF YOU AIN’T A PILOT….
Mara's Move
Jean C. Gordon - 2012
But with her job as an activity director at a North Carolina mountain resort on shaky ground and her penchant for choosing all the wrong men, Mara's not scoring high in the pursuit of either security or happiness.Alex Price is on the rebound from a broken engagement. Who would have guessed his social-climbing fiancee would drop him, a successful lawyer with his own practice--okay, a successful practice with his two overbearing older brothers--for a back-to-nature forest ranger?When these childhood adversaries meet on the "honeymoon" cruise Alex is now taking alone, they make a pact to help each other ward off unwanted attention from fellow shipmates--a pact that sends them sailing into uncharted waters.
A Scarred Legacy
Suvika - 2015
One of the top neurosurgeons in the country. An exemplary doctor and a loner by nature. His heart was well and truly locked away behind the walls as thick as the Fort Knox. Only the man who raised him as his own knew the reason behind his life’s choices. Having been a victim of horrifying child abuse and having watched his mother bludgeoned to death by his own father, he vowed to himself that the circle of violence would end with him. Your genetics load the gun. Your lifestyle pulls the trigger. – Mehmet Oz He was a loaded gun. And he was determined that there would be no victims like his mother. Or himself. One fine day in walked Saanvi Grover. The vivacious intern who was fifteen years his junior, did the impossible. She infiltrated through the tight secure walls and reached his heart with astounding ease. He fought, he dodged but he was no match to her unconditional love and unwavering faith. Too tempted and too weak to resist, he made her his under the condition that they would have no children, natural or adopted, of their own. But fate apparently had other plans. What would he do? Leave his pregnant wife because he had vowed to protect her and the baby from himself? Or prove that love was stronger than DNA?
The Difficult Life of a Regency Spinster: CECILY
Susan Speers - 2017
Abandoned by the boy she loved, and cast off by her jealous stepbrother, she had little preparation for the shocking events of her banishment. But Cecily rallied to survive danger and tragedy, and made a new life for herself in a seaside village far from home. Now the widow, Mrs. Dove, she earns her living as companion to the invalid daughter of local gentry. One morning, a familiar figure rides into her sanctuary, and Cecily's peaceful life is over.
The Hotel of Horrors
Kate Howard - 2012
Scholastic's books are the #2 Scooby licensed product in the world!Jinkies! The kids from Mystery, Inc. are spending the night in an old-fashioned castle. Scooby and Shaggy can't wait to get medieval. They even dress up as knights in shining armor.But when the two buddies hear there's a vampire haunting the place, they decide they'd rather flee than fight! Can Fred, Velma, and Daphne stake the vamp and save their friends?
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
H.L. Burke - 2015
Whiskers is a pampered palace pet, a kitten enchanted to never become a cat. Princess Clarice loves him, for in the entire kingdom, there is no other kitten as cute or as clever. He leads a life of cushions and cream until a wizard's "gift" results in his banishment. Determined to make it back to the princess he loves, he escapes into the wilderness where he discovers the lair of a dragon.Grandious, the dragon, doesn't care about anything besides himself. He wants to be left alone with his treasure. However, there is something about Thaddeus that has him entranced. He finds himself opening his home and his heart to the little cat. Thaddeus is a small creature in a big world. Between him and his beloved Princess stand conniving wizards, would-be-step-mothers, and rampaging rats. However, when danger threatens both Clarice and Grandious, Thaddeus won't allow his size to get in the way of saving his friends.
Return of the Dragonborn: The Complete Trilogy
N.M. Howell - 2018
The complete trilogy: Marked by Dragon's Blood Fueled by Dragon's Fire Called by Dragon's Song Marked by Dragons Blood: Descended from dragons. Condemned to death. Driven underground. Andie Rogers is no stranger to secrecy. After watching her dragonborn mother get taken away at a young age, she has had to learn to use her sorcery inherited from her father to disguise all trace of her own dragon’s blood magic. Now, no longer a child, Andie must attend the University, center of all magic and government in Arvall City, to learn to wield her magic and become a fully-fledged sorcerer. But Andie has another goal in mind. Dreams of her tormented ancestors calling out to her have haunted her since she was a child, and Andie knows she must answer their call and discover the truth. But she must do so in the magical capital in the world, surrounded by powerful sorcerers determined to uphold the lie at all cost. If they discover that she carries the blood of the dragonborn, death with be swift and her people will never get a chance at redemption. Will Andie risk everything to shatter the lies that the world has been fed for so many years? Will she set her people free? Fueld by Dragon's Fire: The dragons have returned. The world still wants them dead. The ancient dragonborn people have returned to Shaeyara, and with them came the dragons. But the celebration of their return is short lived as they soon discover they are not welcome. The world is at war. After living underground for eight months, Andie and her followers have had enough. It is time to return to the surface to find her people, and together they must stop the lies and prove to the world who the true monsters are: The University that has had the world in its clutches for centuries. The only problem is those who survived from the University have already convinced the world of their evil and will stop at nothing to have them destroyed. But with the peace of their world at stake, Andie and the dragonborn must band together to reunite the war-ravaged world before it’s too late. Only, with a traitor in their midst, the task is proving more difficult than Andie could have ever thought. Called by Dragon's Song: Dragonborn and sorcerers unite in the face of war. Arvall has finally accepted the dragonborn and their dragons, and the University is finally set to re-open in a time of relative peace. But in not so distant lands, the enemy prepares to strike. For where one hopes for peace, two more hope for revenge. Revenge on the dragonborn and their dragons, and the magic born to their blood. So long as the enemy lives, the world cannot find peace. Uniting with the citizens of Arvall, Andie and the dragonborn face their most dangerous enemies of all. And their existence in the modern world hangs on the outcome of the war.
The Sweetest Taste of Cyn
Kimberly Brown - 2021
Together they have two beautiful children and live quite a comfortable lifestyle. While Drew has always felt like she was it for him, Cyn has not and seemingly will not fully commit to him. Time after time, she has rejected his attempts to be a family. Ever persistent, Drew continues to be the man he has always been in hopes that one day Cyn will finally accept him whole-heartedly.Harboring years of pain from the abrupt departure of her estranged father, the only thing she has committed to was guarding her heart from the only other man she has ever really loved. Cyn is terrified of suffering the same fate as her mother, being heartbroken, left alone, and struggling to raise her children by herself. When a car accident lands her father right at the hospital where she works as a trauma nurse, Cyn must come face to face with the very source of her pain.In confronting her father, will she finally be able to let go of her hurt and allow herself to fully love Drew, or will her past hurt continue to be the deciding factor in their ongoing relationship?
Tangled: What Would You Do For Love: A Standalone
Kaylyn - 2021
Dragon's Gap: Set Includes Stories 4-5 Plus Love's Impulse
L.M. Lacee - 2018
Lacee's second omnibus edition in the popular fantasy-romance Dragon's Gap Saga. Ash & Olinda's Story To lose a whole life and not know why changes Olinda's perspective on who, and what she is. Discovering that myths and legends from the pages of fantasy are true, and you yourself are a myth, defies logic! For Olinda this is no story. - One day she was a grief stricken daughter coping with the loss of her beloved mother. - The next day she is running for her life, and keeps on running for three, long fraught with danger, months. - Until she finds Dragon's Gap, a place of safety and peace. Ace & Harper's Story Once upon a time a Fire Dragon was promised a shadow... It is now time for Ace Battle to go home to Dragon’s Gap after months of fighting and finally conquering his war against the darkness of despair and the betrayal of his father. He needs to rejoin his extended family, friends and to bath in their love and calmness of his home. Oh! And there is the little matter of winning his shadow's love. Seriously? What could go wrong! On returning home with only one look Ace knows he has met his shadow, artist Harper Easton. The trouble is Harper comes with baggage, lots and lots of baggage. Love's Impulse Fin Slorah has come home after hundreds of years to discover his family did not all perish in the house fire as he was lead to believe. His niece Ella is alive and bonded to Keeper Kingsley. Youngest brother of the Dragon Lord. Now he is home he has to find his place among his nieces new family and within Dragon’s Gap. Which is easier than courting his shadow, wily wolf June Bradly. June is in love. She wants dragon Finlay Slorah desperately. Her wolf pines to be mated to the cautious male but he has rules and conditions. It is enough to make a grown wolf scream or in June’s case run away, thankfully a retrieval is needed and she is available and willing. Sadly all does not go well and June once more finds trouble. What Amazon readers are saying: 5 stars.....Wonderful stories Love this whole series. Characters are fun and flawed which let them feel more real.\ 5 stars.....Great read I liked the story line and also the way it all came together. Characters in all books went great together 5 stars.....Great series! This is a great series! Looking forward to next book! Longer, please! Read in unlimited! 5 stars.....Wonderful story telling that makes you want to visit Dragon's Gap! The wonder of discovery, love of books and adventure all wrapped up in a tale of magic and love found. We have fairy queens and dragon warriors mixed up with damaged hearts and surprising loves. It's entertaining reading at it's best. 5 stars.....Dragon's Gap A Novella:: Love's Impulse This is another very entertaining read. I love this author, and have read all the books that are out in this series. I understand she is only planning one more story in this series, I am hoping she will change her mind.
Three Women & A Murder
Chitrangada Mukherjee - 2020
Leaving behind three distressed women. The shocked mother, Sagota. The hapless wife, Kalpana. And the paranoid paramour, Shayantika.Sukanto wasn’t brutally murdered. On the contrary, he was found dead in his study, sleeping peacefully. His autopsy report too indicated organ failure. And, Sukanto left an intriguing letter under his favourite crystal jug, which reads like a suicide note.Baffled and clueless the about-to-retire Superintendent of Police, Mr Roy after spending months on the investigation reluctantly closes the case in absence of evidence. Even though his colleague Inspector Malakar is unconvinced.This is when the three women narrate their stories of loving, hating and wanting Sukanto.Only one of them is a killer.But the question is who and why?
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Andrew Peterson - 2008
Janner Igiby, his brother Tink, their crippled sister Leeli are gifted children as all children are, loved well by a noble mother and ex-pirate grandfather. But they will need all their gifts and all that love to survive the evil pursuit of the venomous Fangs of Dang who have crossed the dark sea to rule the land with malice and pursue the Igibys who hold the secret to the lost legend and jewels of good King Wingfeather of the Shining Isle of Anniera.Andrew Peterson spins a quirky and riveting tale of the Igibys’ extraordinary journey from Glipwood’s Dragon Day Festival and a secret hidden in the Books and Crannies Bookstore, past the terrifying Black Carriage, clutches of the horned hounds and loathsome toothy cows surrounding AnkleJelly Manor, through the Glipwood Forest and mysterious treehouse of Peet the Sock Man (known for a little softshoe and wearing tattered socks on his hands and arms), to the very edge of the Ice Prairies. Full of characters rich in heart, smarts, and courage, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness presents a world of wonder and a tale children of all ages will cherish, families can read aloud, and readers’ groups are sure to discuss for its layers of meaning about life’s true treasure and tangle of the beautiful and horrible, temporal and eternal, and good and bad.
The Summer I Shrank My Grandmother
Elvira Woodruff - 1990
The set includes everything for mixing up magic formulas, and guarantees that each child using the set can make a wish that will come true.Nelly adores her grandmother and mixes up a formula that makes her young again. But to Nelly's amazement, her grandmother continues getting younger and younger. Luckily Nelly's cousin Ben is on the way. Will they be able to save Grandma before she shrinks into nothing?Proof!