In this two-volume selection of Ursula K. Le Guin's best short stories—as selected by the National Book Award winning author herself—the reader will be delighted, provoked, amused, and faced with the sharp, satirical voice of one of the best short story writers of the present day.Where on Earth explores Le Guin's earthbound stories which range around the world from small town Oregon to middle Europe in the middle of revolution to summer camp.Companion volume Outer Space, Inner Lands includes Le Guin's best known nonrealistic stories. Both volumes include new introductions by the author.This volume includes the stories: Brothers and Sisters (1976, Orsinia)A Week in the Country (1976, 2004, Orsinia)Unlocking the Air (1990, Orsinia)Imaginary Countries (1973, Orsinia)The Diary of the Rose (1976)The Direction of the Road (1974, 2002)The White Donkey (1980)Gwilan’s Harp (1977, 2005)May’s Lion (1983)Buffalo Gals, Won’t You Come Out Tonight (1987)Horse Camp (1986)The Water is Wide (1976, 2004)The Lost Children (1996)Texts (1990, Klatsand)Sleepwalkers (1991, Klatsand)Hand, Cup, Shell (1989, Klatsand)Ether, Or (1995)Half Past Four (1987)

    In "A Most Blessed and Auspicious Occasion," a young couple planning a wedding is forced to deal with interfering relatives dictating the appropriate number of ritual goat sacrifices. "Missed Connection--m4w" is the tragicomic tale of a pair of lonely commuters eternally failing to make that longed-for contact. The members of a rock band in "Up-and-Comers" discover they suddenly have superpowers--but only when they're drunk. And in "The Serial Monogamist's Guide to Important New York City Landmarks," a woman maps her history of romantic failures based on the places she and her significant others visited together.Equally at home with the surreal and the painfully relatable (or both at once), Bob-Waksberg delivers a killer combination of humor, romance, whimsy, cultural commentary, and crushing emotional vulnerability. The resulting collection is a punchy, perfect bloody valentine.

    and for a limited time. Relax this summer with a tall glass of iced tea and a collection of inspirational romance novels! Come to Me Alive, a celebrity-meets-small-town-charm romance by Leah Atwood Bryce Landry and Sophie Thatcher are two strangers, opposite in every way, until a chance encounter brings them together. Neither can deny the pull between them, but as the weeks and months pass, they discover that finding each other was easy, but holding on will be a different story. Christian romance at its best! Wild Mint Tea, a farm-living romance by Valerie Comer Local foods chef Claire Halford hosts weddings on Green Acres Farm, but the first bride comes with a ruggedly handsome brother. Noel Kenzie’s reforestation company provides him the means to enjoy a globe-trotting life... until he's captivated by a certain chef who's firmly rooted in one place. Yes, Christian romance can deal with real-world issues while lifting your spirits! Catching Serenity, a beach romance with a twist by JoAnn Durgin Serenity McClaren's world collapsed five years ago and she returns to South Carolina to find the answers. Child psychologist Jackson Ross discovers the truth, but by telling her, he risks losing everything—including Serenity—in this heartwarming Christian romance novel. Marrying Kate, a marriage-of-convenience romance by Kimberly Rae Jordan When Jared proposes marriage to Kate, it’s for the sake of their orphaned nieces and nephew. Though Kate hopes for more, their chance at love is threatened when Jared’s past comes to call. A unique marriage of convenience Christian romance to warm your heart. The Bride's Broken Bond, a runaway-bride romance by Lee Tobin McClain In this Christian romance novel, urban missionary Rock Anderson must rescue the woman he’s always found annoying but irresistible, spoiled rich girl Hope DeMille, from a wedding she doesn’t want. But when her domineering father disowns her, it’s up to Rock to help Hope overcome her dysfunctional past and find meaning in service, faith, and love. The Long Way Home, an opposites-attract romance by Staci Stallings Sent from Chicago to his grandfather’s backroads Kansas farm on family business, Jaxton Anderson is faced with culture shock and Ami Martin, and he’s not sure which one is worse. Ami hates him and so does most everyone else, so why can’t he just go back where he came from? Good question. Read this Christian romance novel to find out why! Summertime is for fun and relaxation, and these Christian romance novels provide plenty of both. But summer also draws us close to friends, family, and faith in God, so get out your hammock and enjoy this box set of Christian romance novels for a great price!

    For the special edition slipcase please go here.You know the drill by now. The 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar is a deluxe box set of individually bound short stories from some of the best writers in North America. This year's slipcase is a thing of beauty, too, with electric-yellow lining and spot-glossed lettering. It also comes wrapped in two rubber bands to keep those booklets snug in their beds.

    Two people searching for adventure. A twist of fate to bring them all together. Michael was looking for the perfect companion—smart, athletic, beautiful, a real go-getter to keep up with his active lifestyle, yet date after date ended in disaster. It took a visit to the animal shelter to find just who he needed.Now Michael and Silver are out for another weekend adventure, hiking in the Cascade Mountains when a thoughtless risk turns into a life or death battle. As Michael surrenders to his fate, he realizes there are no accidents.Stories in the Angel Paws series celebrate the unique bond between canines and humans with heartfelt, moving, and insightful tales for anyone who has ever loved a dog.

     He's a detective determined to prove his affection. Will this be a perfect recipe for romance or heartbreak? Acclaimed baker, Charlotte, owns one of the most famous bakeries in Manhattan, the Sugar Cube. Her baking talents leave both men and women in awe, but secretly, Charlotte struggles with her curvy body, which she believes no man could love.That is until she meets the delectable detective, Adam, who sees past the façade she presents to the world. Adam admires her talent, her drive, and her love for her bakery; and best of all, Adam thinks Charlotte is beautiful because of her curves, not despite them.Soon, both Charlotte and Adam embark on a relationship that threatens to grow to more, but when Charlotte’s insecurities drown out the love she’s beginning to feel, will Adam be able to prove to her that he wants her, curves and all?

     ‘Tis the Season hits the spot with romance readers looking for a light and sweet holiday read. Small Town Rural, Magical Midnight Rides, and First Kisses bringing joy, happiness, and unforgettable romance with this group of award-winning and talented authors.

    For Beckham, the family bulldog, it means just another year of being ignored while chaos and mayhem reign throughout the house. In this holiday short story full of laughter and family dysfunction, Beckham narrates an ill-conceived plan to create an unforgettable landmark moment in order to reclaim the spotlight as the center of attention. As the extended family gathers to make merry and observe their annual tradition, Beckham has another idea in mind to celebrate and make it a day to remember.

    Magical spells aside, she’s snarky and selfish, and the other witches in her silent spell coven are fed up with her. Their plan to reform Tessa involves taking away her magic, saddling her with one hundred extra pounds and sending her to a weight loss spa. For good measure they call in Liam Kennedy, a charming and sexy fairy godfather, to teach her some manners. Desperate to regain her magic and determined to shed the weight, Tessa soon realizes that protecting her heart from Liam will prove to be her greatest challenge.

    Focusing on the magical folktales of West Africa, Babalola also reimagines Greek myths, ancient legends from the Middle East, and stories from long-erased places.With an eye towards decolonizing tropes inherent in our favorite tales of love, Babalola has created captivating stories that traverse across perspectives, continents, and genres.

    “Roses in Winter”... “Redemption”... “Hollow” …and reader favorites“Fairy Gifts”“Gray”“Alpha and Omega”“Seeing Eye”“The Star of David”“In Red, with Pearls”

    In "Dancers in the Dark," Rue LeMay is desperate to leave the past behind. Badly in need of money to start over, she takes a job at Blue Moon entertainment, where she'll be dancing with vampires at fancy parties and events. When she ends up paired with a 300-year-old Irish vampire, Sean McClendon, nicknamed the "Aristocrat," he senses she's hiding a secret. At first, his only concern is that whatever it is doesn't pose a danger to him. But as the two dance together, Sean begins to care deeply about keeping Rue--real name Layla--safe from what threatens her: past, present, and future. With "Layla Steps Up," Harris adds a new chapter to this fan favorite tale with an original short story. Set one year after the novella, Sean and Layla are still together, but on the cusp of upheaval. When a sadist with an eye for Sean comes to town, it will be Layla's turn to see if she can protect the man she loves. The Layla Collection brings these stories together for the first time and features a new introduction by Harris."--Provided by publisher.

    Written may 1948.First published in Saturn, October 1957 as The Elephant Circuit.First collected into The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, 1959.

    These are but a few of the curiosities collected in this volume of short stories by three acclaimed practitioners of paranormal fiction.But The Curiosities is more than the stories. Since 2008, Maggie, Tessa, and Brenna have posted more than 250 works of short fiction to their website merryfates.com. Their goal was simple: create a space for experimentation and improvisation in their writing—all in public and without a backspace key. In that spirit, The Curiosities includes the stories and each author's comments, critiques, and kudos in the margins. Think of it as a guided tour of the creative processes of three acclaimed authors.So, are you curious now?

    Before you get snowed in, grab yourself a copy of this limited-edition collection. With heroes and heroines of all kinds, you'll be sure to find some that you just can't help but fall in love with. These romantic reads can be read as stand-alone stories. But, why would you want to do that? Read them all! Immerse yourself in this wintery ensemble from Romance Collections. This collection includes: Storm of Seduction (Gilpin County Search & Rescue 1.5) by Nicole Morgan Will Lori's plan be the thing that brings her and Kevin together again? The Gift by Stephanie Morris Sometimes love is the only gift you need Luca's Little Christmas Cracker by Caitlyn Lynch Santa's sexy helper is all Luca wants for Christmas! Finding Love by Krista Ames Sometimes the best things are found in awkward places... The Great Fruitcake Bake-off by Vicki Batman It's love and war in the baking world. Christmas Choices by Sharon Coady Which man can make this the best Christmas of her life? Hot Coffee by Donna R. Mercer Everyone Needs A Little Cream in Their... Nice Girl Naughty by Jan Springer Can Summer's bodyguard keep her safe from a serial killer? Touchdown Dance by Carma Haley Shoemaker Dance was my first love. I'm counting on you to be my last. Christmas Wishes by Livia Quinn Tis the Season for Second Chances Tied Up In Tinsel by Amber Skyze Things can go awry when a dream fantasy turns into a nightmare. Rent-a-Gentleman Two: Winter Sparks by Rebecca Fairfax A winter-spring relationship? No--more like winter sparks Stranger in the Snow by Jane Blythe Trust a stranger with her life or risk it in a blizzard. Resisting You by Suzanne Jenkins Kendall accepted a life without love until an unexpected visitor changed her mind. Mistletoe Fantasies, Book 1 in the Pleasure Your Fantasies Series by Stacy Eaton Dancing pays the bills, but it's ruining her Christmas Fantasy. A White Hot Christmas: Novella by Rene Webb Keeping warm has never been this hot! A Wolf's Claim (The Holiday Ball Book 1) by Marie Mason Will fate and some blue pixie dust be enough to get these two lovers together? Christmas Comes to Silver Falls (A BBW Holiday Romance) by Joann Baker & Patricia Mason When a long lost love rides into town, Christmas becomes even more complicated for Mayor Holly Bryant as she must choose between her responsibility as mayor or her heart. Winter Encounter by Karen Cino