This is how I planned to spend my fortieth birthday. A mercurial milestone page turning where life should be getting easier. I will not let today get me down even with being tossed back into the cesspool of dating by a cheating ex-husband.“Tra-la-la, forty will be my new twenty-five,” or so I thought until the hottest man on the planet appears through a portal door in my kitchen. Introducing a sultry vampire, a stunningly beautiful Goddess and a pointy-eared alien into the delusional delirium spewing from his luscious lips.“Shayden Reigh, you’re the next contestant on This is Your Life. You’re our new queen and you must save the land of Erigate.”The land of what with the who? These people are speaking but I’m not comprehending what they’re selling.I, Shayden Reigh, armed with nothing more than a smart mouth, sassy wit, a cocky cat who hates me have no clue what in h-e-double hockey sticks I’m doing. But they say I must prepare to fight.The Gods have chosen, armed me with new magic and assigned an ego-driven hot guardian named Luke, who insists only I can tip the scale to victory and save his precious world.No pressure there, right?Magic is real, different realms exist and I’m the most powerful witch in the universe.The Gods set me, a newly single mom, on the path to the throne but I must figure out how to save it first.

    Arden (known to everyone as "Trouble") likes attention as much as the next girl, but this is getting ridiculous. When an insane stranger is murdered at the inn where she works, Trouble becomes the next Soulbearer for the disembodied god of chaos, Loku. Yes, it comes with the ability to channel the god's limitless power, but at the cost of her sanity -- literally. Now she has a sexy but cynical knight claiming to be her protector, a prince trying to seduce her to his cause (and his bed), and a snarky chaos god who offers a play-by-play commentary on it all, whether she wants to hear it or not. To make matters worse, there are plenty of people who would like to see her dead. Follow Arden, Dev, and Kell as they battle necromancers, a jealous god, and foreign invaders, all while balancing the chaos thrown their way by Loku. This edition contains all three books of The Soulbearer Trilogy: A Soul For Trouble A Soul For Chaos A Soul For Vengeance

     Maria Ward. Lover. Hedonist. Countess of one of the richest sectors of the Kingdom. As a matter of honor, she must use everything at her disposal to break the back of the rebellion, no matter what the cost to herself or her love, her husband Count Ward. To save their honor, she’ll have to embark on a series of adventures that will take her to places few have ever gone. To do things that only the most imaginative would even dream of… This, then, is the story of how she, with little more than her wits, and ability in the bed chamber, did exactly that. *Warning: This is an erotic novel based in the world of The Young Ancients. It has a highly charged and graphically sexual content. Reader discretion is advised.

    In most of Norton's works, alienated outsiders undertake a journey through which they realize their full potential. Many planets in the books are Earth-like places, where humans can live without special protection, and have extensive flora and fauna which are described in considerable detail and often have substantial bearing on the plot.On February 20, 2005, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, which had earlier honored her with its Grand Master Award in 1983, announced the creation of the Andre Norton Award, to be given each year for an outstanding work of fantasy or science fiction for the young adult literature market, beginning in 2006. Nobody today is telling better stories of straight-forward interstellar adventure.Included in this volume:Book One: Storm Over Warlock - Stranded on the alien world of Warlock, Shann Lantree's expedition camp has been wiped out by the Throgs, beings so alien that humans have yet to communicate with them. Lantree must quickly learn how to survive under harsh conditions while being chased by the Throgs -- and how to distinguish the real from the dreamed when he meets the mysterious Wyverns. A satisfying and mature novel which readers will seize upon if they want to enjoy a good adventure story...Book Two: Star Born - When the oppressive global dictatorship of Pax took over Earth they put a stop to space exploration. Still, a few rebels escaped in the sleeper ships to found free new colonies -- or perish in the attempt. Those few colonists that reached inhabitable worlds were cut off for centuries, and in that isolation and freedom they developed the mysterious mental powers that "civilization" had all but destroyed...Book Three: Star Hunter - Somewhere on the jungle world of Jumala, there was a man in hiding--a man whose mind had been reconditioned with another's brain pattern and for whom there was a fabulous reward. Star Hunter is a thrill-packed account of that other-worldly game of hide-and-seek between a man who did not know all his own powers and an interstellar safari that sought something no man had a right to find...Book Four: Plague Ship - A fast-moving suspense tale, full of unusual detail and unexpected turns. Several highlights make the book really shine: the sunset gorp hunt on the reefs of an oily sea; a raid on an asteroid's emergency station; and a landing in the Big Burn, resulting in an encounter with the mutant life-forms that reside there...Book Five: Voodoo Planet - Dane Thorson of the space-trader 'Solar Queen' found himself embroiled in a desperate battle of minds between the rational science of the spaceways and the hypnotic witchcraft of the mental wizard that ruled the Voodoo Planet...Book Six: The Gifts of Asti - Varta, the last priestess of Asti, lives alone with Lur, a telepath of the lizardfolk, in Asti's isolated mountain retreat. Decadent Memphir has long since drifted away from the austere paths of Asti, and now the barbarians of Klem are sacking the city, and the smoke of its burning drifts up to the temple...Book Seven: The People of the Crater - "Send the Black Throne to dust; conquer the Black Ones, and bring the Daughter from the Caves of Darkness." These were the tasks Garin must perform to fulfill the prophecy of the Ancient Ones--and establish his own destiny in this hidden land!This are the original and unabridged versions of these tales.

    She has no idea how she got there, and notices changes in herself that she cannot explain. Haunted by unsettling dreams of her past, she sets out to escape, joined by Eric, who finds himself in the same predicament. Standing in their way is a madman, and his band of willing followers, with a mind set on murdering their unwelcome visitors. An eccentric hermit who has been living there for years offers them refuge, but they must deny his generosity. Escape is their only option. Yet, they discover this deceptive paradise is harder to leave than they had ever imagined. One mystery leads to another, until their escape throws them into even greater danger as Abby’s frightening past finally catches up with her. Her escape is only the beginning.

    As the daughter of a legendary warrior, Kelyn is brave and strong, but when she begins a journey to locate her father, she encounters some difficult situations involving witch hunts and magic.

     Stacy Brighton left her hometown on the coast of Maine ten years ago for bigger and better things and never looked back. But when her father dies unexpectedly, she’s forced to return. She won’t spend a minute longer than she has to, though. That town is full of bad memories and she doesn’t want to see any of the people she left behind, especially not Reid Callahan. Reid Callahan never wanted anything more than to live his life in Rocky Point. He loves the simple, small-town life and has proudly grown his small lobstering business into one of the premier restaurants in the area. He’s made a good life for himself but something seems to be missing. And when Stacy comes back to town, he knows exactly what it is. Too bad Stacy has no intention of staying… or does she? Even their growing attraction might not be enough to soothe old wounds and when their worst fears take root, one of them may have to sacrifice everything they thought they wanted in order to give their hearts another chance.

    His daughter and two sons, scattered across the world, do what they must to stay alive and unmask the assassins. But each of them also has a life-path on which their father set them, destinies entangled with both ancient enemies and inscrutable gods.The Emperor’s Blades — Three siblings: Kaden, the heir to the Unhewn Throne, has spent eight years sequestered in a remote mountain monastery. An ocean away, Valyn endures the brutal training of the Kettral. At the heart of the empire, Adare hunts those who murdered her father.The Providence of Fire — Kaden infiltrates the Annurian capital, while Adare flees the Dawn Palace in search of allies to challenge the coup against her family. As armies prepare to clash, the threat of invasion compels the rival forces to unite. Unknown to Adare, Valyn has allied with the invading nomads.The Last Mortal Bond — The ancient csestriim are back to finish their purge of humanity; armies march against the capital; capricious gods walk the earth in human guise, but the imperial siblings at the heart of it all soon understand that there may be no reconciling their conflicting visions of the future.

    The fae have escaped into the mortal world. And Tabitha's the only one who can stop them... Set in post-technology Britain and based around Celtic myth, The Court of the Faerie Queen is a romantic fairytale adventure of a young woman’s quest to discover who she really is. The River Witch When strange monsters rise from the river to attack her people, Tabitha’s sent on a desperate journey to seek aid from the fabled Iron City.Armed with only the stone necklace her mother left her and a book of fairy tales, Tabitha faces a world full of dangers, both human and fae. When a trio of mischievous sprites and a handsome, charming wanderer offer to join her, Tabitha’s only too willing to accept their help.But Tabitha’s about to learn that not everyone is quite who they seem... The Iron Court Tabitha is confident that Lysander can help her find the fabled Iron City. With him by her side, she's sure they'll find the help she needs to defend her village from the fae.Lysander, on the other hand, is desperate to keep Tabitha from ever reaching the city. He's determined to hurry her as far away from the ruthless Iron Court as he possibly can.But neither of them knows that the Iron Court is already hunting them... The Queen's Court Tabitha's convinced that the answers she needs can only be found in the Otherworld. And when she and Lysander meet a mysterious, handsome faery who promises he can take them straight to the Queen's Court, it seems like all her wishes have come true.But it quickly turns out that the Kingdom of Faerie isn't quite what she expected it to be...Tabitha and Lysander don't know who or what to trust any more. And the closer they get to the Court of the Faerie Queen, the darker and more wicked Faerie seems to grow... If you enjoy Holly Black's dark faerie stories, the sense of adventure in Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse, and Juliet Marillier's romantic mythology, then you'll love the River Witch series. This omnibus edition includes the first three books in the River Witch series (The River Witch, The Iron Court, and The Queen's Court), plus exclusive content including a brand new map showing Tabitha's journey across Bretan, a guide to faerie etiquette, tips on defending yourself in case of a faerie invasion, a magical recipe for recreating Tabitha's river at home, and a sneak preview of the first few chapters in the fourth book in the series.

    Yet it seems that her life is filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her adoptive father refuses to say anything about her origins. And when Nara is invited to the town’s announcement ceremony, which tests youths for magical gifts, he forbids her from revealing her powers.The poor village of Dimmitt has not announced a gifted youth for decades. But when Nara discovers that the town priest has been keeping secrets of his own, she draws upon her hidden magic to correct the injustice. Her rash decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a quest for the divine. But will the truth she reveals set her people free? Or unlock a curse that could spell her doom?

    Recently returned from big city life, and in an attempt to reconnect with her roots and restart her life, she takes up the job of school baker at the esteemed Chiswick Park Academy. Further turning her back on her recent past and following her true aspirations as an amateur baker, stars seem to finally align in Ginger’s life.When a mysterious invitation to a bake-off challenge for a new TV reality show comes up, Ginger takes the opportunity to further cement her presence in the small town. She still has a month until her new job starts, so what harm could possibly be done?As the contestants gather at the highly gated Manor, things take a bloody turn, and all of a sudden ten strangers will need to work together to get out of their host’s murdering sight.Can Ginger solve the mystery and save her life in time? Will her natural instincts protect her from the mansion’s death traps?Find out in this page-turning mystery full of wild turns and family secrets that will rock Little Chiswick to the core, and announce the arrival of a new amateur sleuth in town!*If you like quirky characters, witty dialogue, heart-wrenching twists and turns, and lots of mystery, then you’ll love “The Way the Cookie Crumbles”

    No one knows what classic rock songs will come out of the jukebox when a coin is inserted, but every now and then, the jukebox will play a song that casts a spell on two bar patrons—a song that will change their lives and open their hearts to love. Antiques dealer Diana Simms is engaged to her longtime boyfriend when she finds herself inside the Faulk Street Tavern. The song “Changes” emerges from the jukebox and enchants her. It also captivates Nick Fiore, a local guy who’s arrived at adulthood the hard way, after a tour through the juvenile justice system. Now he’s dedicated his life to helping other troubled kids. He has no business even looking at a beautiful, well-bred woman wearing a diamond engagement ring. But once they’re bewitched by the jukebox, he and Diana must change their lives, their goals, their dreams…and their hearts.

    Yet, Selena has always felt as if she doesn’t belong and is counting the days to graduation and her freedom from the small town that makes her feel so out of place, when the arrival of a stranger turns her world upside down. Selena will learn just how different she is and the truth of where she comes from. A lost princess, they call her, the catalyst for a war involving a world that she was taken from as a child. An evil queen obsessed with her own beauty with a plan to enslave the human race.…the notion seems so silly, yet Selena knows in her heart that it is true. Then there is Titus, the shape shifter whose blue eyes and claims of destiny hold her heart captive. Can Selena find the strength to do what she must while following her heart?

    But there’s a bullet out there with his name on it…Covert operative Czerny Clark has had his fill of black-ops and bloodshed. After an assassination mission ends in chaos, he vows to hang up his holster. But when his former partner disappears while tailing a Russian explosives expert, Clark picks up his guns and dives back into the life he thought he left behind.Following a trail of bodies to Central America, Clark will stop at nothing to free his colleague. But while he’s busy squeezing the trigger on his rescue mission, a plan for a devastating act of terrorism brews in the wings.Can Clark neutralize a madman before thousands of innocents die?Sanctioned is the heart-stopping first book in the Blackthorn spy thriller series. If you like gritty heroes, pulse-pounding plots, and top-secret twists, then you’ll love R.A. McGee’s blood-soaked tale.

    Barely avoiding their pursuers, the two friends escape with nothing but each other, and the stories of the past they grew up with. Stories that might hold answers, if they turn out to be more than just legends.Still hunted, they set out for Kyona’s infamous mountains, assisted by Elnora, an unlikely rescuer with mysteries of her own. They hope to find answers, perhaps even the dragons of legend, whose magic might be the key to restoring Kyona’s ancient bloodline.But the mountains hold more than just magic—they hold a secret that none of the friends are prepared for. And Calinnae’s response, as much as Jonan’s, will decide whether the kingdom stands or falls.