It’s funny; no one ever warns you how hard life can be. People go through tragedies and loss every day, but even when nothing is wrong, sometimes it’s hard. I know it’s hard for me. I don’t blame anyone for what I feel. I’m content with going on with life like a zombie, wondering what the big deal about it all is. Living. Seems kind of overrated, doesn’t it? But then I meet Mason and Calum—and the strangest part is, I think they like me. As in, really like me. And what’s even weirder is that I think I like them. It doesn’t matter, though. Soon enough they’ll get tired of me and they’ll leave. That’s what life is about, right? Disappointment. Mason and Calum seem intent to try to prove me wrong. I suppose I could let them, if I don’t push them away, first. *Sounds of Silence is a standalone ménage romance, and deals with some heavy topics like depression.*

    You'd think she'd recognize evil after staring it in the face all her life, but with me, Cassie's completely blind.She doesn't know this house is a prison. She doesn't know the cartel's got my son. She doesn't know I'm a selfish, desperate, pissed off imposter, and I'll do anything to get my boy home.Dealing in flesh is nothing new. Remorse is a word I never learned. Turning her into a new toy for the savage blackmailing me should be a cakewalk. Except it isn't.There's a deeper, crazier part of me that starts to blaze whenever I see her. I just can't shake these insane fantasies about hauling Cassie to bed and working out the pain, the rage, the insatiable lust, claiming her as mine and nobody else's...No! I need to forget all that and get on with this sideshow. I can't go soft. If I do, the whole damn world's gonna crash down and bury everything I've ever cared about.Note: this is a very dark and gritty romance novel about heartache, redemption, and really hot loving. Bad boys and desperate girls do the kinds of things you'd expect. Merciless love holds back nothing!

    Every day, the same stunning man, riding alongside you. He seems to notice you. You could swear something's there--it almost feels as if he's reaching out... Then, one fine day, you're given the chance of a lifetime: a opportunity to finally strike up a conversation. Do you take it?Wyatt does. And he's thrust into a more beautiful, violent, emotionally-charged journey than he ever could have expected. Only time will tell if his new bond with this beautiful boy can weather the tumult and confusion that accompany early adulthood... “Mikey said things in a way that invoked visions of us spending time together in the future. I considered this while I watched the sun set out my window. Beyond houses, buildings and occasional fields, all of it racing by, I caught flickers of open water and the far-off levee holding it at bay. The next few miles were peppered with conversation borne, still, out of an inscrutable dose of caution and unfamiliarity. How does one coax something from a void? What kind of enigmatic force conjures a friendship between strangers? How fragile those first times together must be, yet with so much depending on them. For one covert second, I swelled with sadness, not just because a continued relationship with this beautifully unchained boy was so improbable, but for the tragedy of all friendships that died in infancy.”

    A horse story like no other.Syeira is an orphaned girl who lives in a magical land. Fate pairs Syeira with Arwin, a wild mare whose two colts have been taken from her by the evil Lord Ran. Syeira pledges to help Arwin, and they embark on a dangerous quest to free the colts. Along the way, they encounter an array of strange and mysterious characters. But Syeira and Arwin must only trust each other --and it is their shared strength and courage that ultimately allows them to defeat Lord Ran and free Arwin's colts.

    I can be anonymous and still be faithful to my deceased wife's memory. At the club, I can give and receive pleasure without guilt or attachment. My mask hides the lies of my past. KamiiMy marriage ended tragically. Since then, the only excitement in my lonely, pathetic, workaholic life is reading erotic novels. However, I now have the chance to be whoever I want to be, where no one knows my past and will never be my future.When their worlds collide, fantasies become a reality by pushing boundaries. The anonymity of Bridge offers protection from painful pasts, cunning schemes and dangerous lies. But when the masks are removed, there are no safewords to protect hearts and lives from buried truths.This is a stand-alone novel.

    She is perhaps the best known and most studied fossil hominid of the twentieth century, the benchmark by which other discoveries of human ancestors are judged.”–From Lucy’s LegacyIn his New York Times bestseller, Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind, renowned paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson told the incredible story of his discovery of a partial female skeleton that revolutionized the study of human origins. Lucy literally changed our understanding of our world and who we come from. Since that dramatic find in 1974, there has been heated debate and–most important–more groundbreaking discoveries that have further transformed our understanding of when and how humans evolved. In Lucy’s Legacy, Johanson takes readers on a fascinating tour of the last three decades of study–the most exciting period of paleoanthropologic investigation thus far. In that time, Johanson and his colleagues have uncovered a total of 363 specimens of Australopithecus afarensis (Lucy’s species, a transitional creature between apes and humans), spanning 400,000 years. As a result, we now have a unique fossil record of one branch of our family tree–that family being humanity–a tree that is believed to date back a staggering 7 million years.Focusing on dramatic new fossil finds and breakthrough advances in DNA research, Johanson provides the latest answers that post-Lucy paleoanthropologists are finding to questions such as: How did Homo sapiens evolve? When and where did our species originate? What separates hominids from the apes? What was the nature of Neandertal and modern human encounters? What mysteries about human evolution remain to be solved?Donald Johanson is a passionate guide on an extraordinary journey from the ancient landscape of Hadar, Ethiopia–where Lucy was unearthed and where many other exciting fossil discoveries have since been made–to a seaside cave in South Africa that once sheltered early members of our own species, and many other significant sites. Thirty-five years after Lucy, Johanson continues to enthusiastically probe the origins of our species and what it means to be human.

    "When one door closes, another opens." "There's always a silver lining." "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." But, what if you're the lemon?After crashing and burning at his job in the Palliative Care Unit, a young nurse takes a cross-country road trip, hoping a break from his routine will be the transfusion he needs to heal his bruised heart. What he doesn't expect is to fall head over heels in love with a chance met acquaintance, a man who lives in the moment, treating each day as an adventure.An idyllic afternoon in a field of poppies leads to confessions by both men, but can their relationship survive the return to reality? Are the poppies a symbol of death, or a sign of rebirth?This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

    It is an enormous place that takes up five city blocks and has more than two million square feet of space, filled with treasures everywhere the eye can see. There are exquisite vases, jewelry, tapestry, baseball cards, Egyptian mummies, sculptures, and furniture, and many of the most famous and recognized paintings in the world, from Van Gogh to Rembrandt, Monet, and El Greco. But this famous institution, which attracts four million visitors a year, is not just about objects. This is a place that is supported and maintained by people, which is what this wonderful book celebrates. In the fifty-two interviews in "Museum," we meet some of the people who have given their lives to making the Met the success that it is. We are introduced to curators with endless knowledge who look after the collections; as well as cleaners; florists; police and security staff who maintain and secure the building; plus the philanthropists and millionaires who donate their money for new and wonderful art works, including well-known people like Henry Kravis and Annette de la Renta. Danziger has a rare touch for getting just the right detail, and these interviews are informative, moving, and compulsively readable. Oral history at its best, "Museum" will appeal not only to the millions who visit the Met every year, but also to anyone with an interest in museums and art.

    Her curvy body dressed as a she-devil, her normally sane self agrees to try and gain access to the mysterious playground that is the third floor.Velvet Ice Trainer Master Sinclair is ready to drag the curvy little she-devil back down the stairs where she belongs, but finds himself drawn to the fascination on her face as she explores the scenes going on around her. Enthralled, Sin knows she's a born submissive, but his attraction to an obvious novice is a big no-no.When Kendra gets herself into trouble with a more experienced Dom, it's up to Sin to come to her rescue, and he isn't about to let her go. She came to explore a night of wild fantasy – Sin is just the man to show her the delights of Velvet Tricks... and Sinful Treats!

    Based on Slater’s journal entries, Notes from the Larder is a collection of small kitchen celebrations, whether a casual supper of grilled lamb, or a quiet moment contemplating a bowl of cauliflower soup with toasted hazelnuts. Through this personal selection of recipes, Slater offers a glimpse into the daily inspiration behind his cooking and the pleasures of making food by hand, such as his thoughts on topics as various as the kitchen knife whose every nick and stain is familiar, how to make a little bit of cheese go a long way when the cupboards are bare, and his reluctance to share desserts.

    So when a rumor surfaces that Granger's son Jonathan might be gay, Drew finds himself in the middle of a potential scandal. Under the guise of an interview about Jonathan's new job teaching in an inner-city school, Drew's job is to find out if the rumors are true. Drew's best friend Rey is also Jonathan's cousin, and he arranges the meeting between Jonathan and Drew that changes everything. After just one interview, it's obvious to Drew that the rumors are true, but he carefully neglects to mention that in his article. It's also obvious that he's falling for Jonathan, and he can't stay away after the article is published. Still, Jonathan is too afraid to step out of the closet, and Drew thinks the smartest thing might be to let him go-until Jonathan shows up drunk one night at his apartment. The slow burn of their attraction doesn't fade with Jonathan's buzz, but navigating a relationship is never easy-especially in the shadow of right-wing politics.

    

    If a man finds me in his shadow, he better say his prayers. If a woman is lucky enough to find herself in my bed, she better hold on tight for the hottest night of her life. She won’t get another one.I had no desire to change. Until the day she walked into the bar.Caitlyn O’Connor was just another client. But one look at her luscious curves, and I knew I had to have her. I wanted to see those plump, soft lips moaning my name as I took her like I knew she needed.One touch was all it took. And for once, I wanted more.She’s got a psycho ex-husband after her, and a kid stuck in the middle of it. With nowhere to run, I’ll be the man she needs me to be. I’m cocked and ready to shoot.But there's a problem; her ex wears a badge. I lay a finger on him, and we’ll have the entire NYPD up our asses.But I’ve sworn to protect her and I don’t break my word. I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt her.I’m addicted to her touch and I’m not letting go. Cocky Prick is a full-length standalone romance with an HEA. No cheating, and no cliffhanger.

    Natural enemies form an unlikely bond, but the peace between them cannot last.The Scourge--an ancient organization bent on conquering supernaturals--need a born vampire for their labs. Franklin needs to rise in the ranks to live up to his family name. Gianni is caught in the fray. Where shame and betrayal loom large, can a vampire and a slayer find love, or will one have to kill the other to survive?Slay My Love is a gay paranormal romance with a slow burn and an enemies to lovers trope. Content includes passionate scenes and violence. Intended for mature readers. 56,000 words, standalone, no cliffhanger ending, HFN

    Will he find closure or will he give first love a second chance?Coming back to Tahoe was a mistake. At least, that’s what Carson Keaton thinks the minute he returns to his hometown. When he ran away seven years ago, he left everything behind, including Brand West, the only person he ever loved. Not that he had a choice. But now that the danger has passed, he returns home to reclaim Brand. The biggest question is, is it too late?Brand West is a paramedic with a broken heart. Just after high school graduation, the love of his life hopped a Greyhound to Hollywood, leaving without explanation. Now, seven years later, Brand is determined to forget about Carson by throwing himself into his career, his community, and—thanks to his best friend playing matchmaker—a hot new lover. But now Carson’s back in town, as irresistible as ever, leaving Brand with two choices: find closure and move on, or give first love a second chance.