A happy ending is always the goal when you meet the person you love but is that always the case? When love meets war, relationships are tested and attitudes clash. Find out if the couples will have their happily ever after in this sizzling finale!

    It also inspired us to come out with a delightful article, the ‘Indian Masketeers’, exploring Indian culture through its various masks. We also have ‘Dotty and the Albino Dragon’, the First Prize winning story in the Tinkle Original Story Competition. Moving on, we have three popular characters this issue, Shikari Shambu, Kalia the Crow and the Defective Detectives. Shambu goes on a rollicking ‘Jumbo Adventure in Assam’ while the Defective Detectives have a spine-chilling experience in ‘The Horror’. As for Kalia, can you imagine him, Chamataka and Doob Doob playing together? If you can’t, you should check out ‘Let’s Play a Game’. Next, enjoy a fun story by a reader, ‘Show Business’ in our Fan Fiction segment along with ‘Pranav’s Dadi and the Karate Kid’, where Dadi tries her hand at karate! And to wrap it up we have two diverse stories about two brave men who refused to give up. So check out ‘A Mighty Will’ and ‘No Crazy Ideas’. Enjoy!

    Races operating within their own planetary systems are to be left alone until they begin to develop the ability to travel at FTL (faster than light speeds). When the ability to travel at FTL becomes apparent, one of the members of the Federation is nominated to help ease the newcomer through the Galactic citizenship process. Unfortunately, not all the galaxies systems belong to the Federation, and some of those systems are much less than friendly. The last several decades have seen the development of war like societies that systematically loot developing planets. They take the water, and other precious resources, including slaves, leaving the remaining native inhabitants a barren planet. Without resources the population simply dies a slow death. The Egolari are here because we, meaning the people of Earth, happen to possess a skill set and an aptitude that is critical to the needs of the Federation. The major problem within the Federation is that virtually all the members have, for centuries been living in peace. They have developed a society that is not well suited to counter the growing violence presented by the nonaligned races. In short, they have no way to protect themselves, let alone protect the fledgling races just arriving on the galactic scene. Enter Earth. Of all the emerging races to become future galactic members, one has a superior potential to face the violence threatened by the nonaligned races. You guessed it, Humanity. The Federation realized that to continue to function as an organized galactic society, they would have to develop a military arm that could provide the Federation and emerging systems the protection of a fleet of space vessels and marines. Humanity was the race most capable of leading the development of that military organization because we had not progressed so far that our war like tendencies had begun to erode. Although we were not yet ready for galactic membership, we were a necessity that could fill the need, thus we were getting a crash course in how to travel the galaxy, protecting ourselves and the Federation with the full expectation that we would go where no human has gone before, and kick some alien ass.

    Each story is unique in its own personal experience and has been told to the author, Selinda Hart. Having worked as an investigator and as a researcher for the paranormal radio show “Tia Maria” she has brought together some of the best hauntings, accounts of paranormal mysteries, and true ghost stories in this collection. The sixteen stories in this book include diverse paranormal phenomenon and unexplained mysteries set in different locations in the United States, and one compelling frightening story from Spain. As one former skeptic reports from his scary experience, “I was never a believer in the paranormal and I thought ghosts were simply a figment of someone's overactive imagination. I no longer scoff at people who claim to see ghosts. I never found out who or what was haunting that house. But I wasn't going to stay and find out.” “The House off Greenville,” “Red Balloon,” “Ghost in the Bedroom,” and “Who’s been playing with my kids?” are real stories about events and paranormal activity that took place in the Dallas house where the author lived in as a single mom for over five years. Her children are grown now, but to this day they do not like talking about the strange activity and events that took place in that house. If you like reading scary stories, paranormal mysteries, and unexplained phenomenon, then “True Ghost Stories” will leave you with chills. So snuggle up, get under the covers and get ready for some serious goose bumps!

    He and his Candace are the model successful couple to the outside world but Jaxon hasn't always played for the female team. When an old acquaintance comes to town the world that Jaxon thought he knew is turned upside down. Jaxon must fight his old ways to regain their lives but he soon learns he is not the only one with secrets. The truth can break hearts and wreck lives but will the Athens family survive? Find out what happens to Jaxon and Candace in the Down Low Love ***Get the COMPLETE STORY http://amzn.to/1HMvZpX***

    

    Biography

    Local friendships and bonds of loyalty that she and her family formed during their gradual renovation of their once derelict farmhouse have now deepened. The children, both hers and her neighbours', are now adults and the close-knit community celebrates and prepares for the new generation. The wedding festivities and banquets are beautifully described in mouth-watering detail and the tastes and smells of Lot-et-Garonne seem to float from the page. An unforgettable and enriching story of Ruth and her family, and their continuing love for their home in the sunflowers.

    

    Amelia plans to stay only as long as it takes for her friend to marry. She has no interest in a life in Montana. That is, until she meets handsome lawman, Wilder Armstrong. And then everything changes. Wilder is on the trail of a criminal and travels to Montana Falls to see that justice is done. He doesn't bank on meeting the one woman who will persuade him that Montana just might be a place to settle down forever. Nor can Wilder let the best friend of the woman he has fallen for marry the very man he is investigating. Can two people united by destiny find true happiness? Can an instant attraction become an eternal love? Each story in the series is a full length complete standalone novel with a happy ending and no cliffhangers.

    That's right, isn't it? Patricia Fisher's unconventional response kick starts the adventure of a lifetime as she throws off the shroud of her unfulfilling marriage and discovers the woman she ought to be hiding beneath. Killer Cocktail is a short story introduction to a unique cozy mystery series full of relatable characters and unsolvable crimes.  Invited to a party as a guest of a friend, Patricia realizes her mistake when she discovers all the other guests are 30 years her junior. But when the obnoxious online celebrity birthday girl drops dead in the middle of the event, Amateur sleuth Patricia has to swing into action. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries by Cee Cee James, AR Winters, Hope Callaghan, and others, then you will love Patricia Fisher!

    What better way to spend his time than at the newly opened amusement park called Joyland. But the park's designer pride and joy is his "House of Darkness". A haunted house that reminds Queen of the set of Dr. Caligari. But what terror does the darkness hold? Ellery Queen and Djuna is about to find out!

    Gabriel Kane goes from a struggling architect to one of the most powerful men in the world; Armonía Solorsano -- a young Hispanic girl who grew up in a dilapidated suburban McMansion-turned-tenement -- invents one of the most important and influential pieces of technology in history; a non-profit organization goes from a charity to a decentralized domestic terrorist group; and the greatest democracy in the world finds itself falling into the ever-tightening grip of a dictator.As five people come together with the shared goal of changing the world, they discover that their approaches are fundamentally and irreconcilably at odds. Their partnership becomes a bitter political and high-tech rivalry from which only one of them can emerge.This novella by Christian Cantrell (about 16,000 words) portrays an intersection of politics and technology which is both extremely relevant, and frighteningly feasible.

    What’s worse is that every time she leaves the house, she winds up in some kind of altercation. She can’t help but wonder if she’s an idiot magnet, or if she’s the smart-mouth stirring things up. Hoping for a little peace of mind, Ace gives in to the advice of her best friend and goes to see a therapist. But she quickly discovers that the road to nirvana isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. And as Ace goes from one therapeutic misadventure to another, the plus-sized spitfire becomes more determined than ever to find enlightenment—even if it means bending herself into a pretzel to do it.