Previously difficult for readers to discover in its new modes, urban fantasy is represented here in all three of its distinct styles—playful new mythologies, sexy paranormal romances, and gritty urban noir. Whether they feature tattooed demon-hunters, angst-ridden vampires, supernatural gumshoes, or pixelated pixies, these authors—including Patricia Briggs, Neil Gaiman, and Charles de Lint—mash-up traditional fare with pop culture, creating iconic characters, conflicted moralities, and complex settings. The result is starkly original fiction that has broad-based appeal and is immensely entertaining.ContentsIntroduction by Peter S. Beagle Mythic FictionIntroduction: “A Personal Journey Into Mythic Fiction” by Charles de Lint “A Bird That Whistles” by Emma Bull“Make a Joyful Noise” by Charles de Lint“The Goldfish Pool and Other Stories” by Neil Gaiman“On the Road to New Egypt” by Jeffrey Ford“Julie’s Unicorn” by Peter S. BeagleParanormal RomanceIntroduction: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Urban Fantasy” by Paula Guran “Companions to the Moon” by Charles de Lint“A Haunted House of Her Own” by Kelley Armstrong“She’s My Witch” by Norman Partridge“Kitty’s Zombie New Year” by Carrie Vaughn“Seeing Eye” by Patricia Briggs“Hit” by Bruce McAllister “Boobs” by Suzy McKee Charnas “Farewell, My Zombie” by Francesca Lia BlockNoir FantasyIntroduction: “We Are Not a Club, but We Sometimes Share a Room” by Joe R. Lansdale “The White Man” by Thomas M. Disch“Gestella” by Susan Palwick“The Coldest Girl in Coldtown” by Holly Black“Talking Back to the Moon” by Steven R. Boyett“On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert With Dead Folks” by Joe R. Lansdale“The Bible Repairman” by Tim Powers“Father Dear” by Al Sarrantonio

    14 original teen paranormal short stories YA talent, united with the common theme of road trips.Contents:Introduction by Melissa Marr & Kelley Armstrong1 Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray2 Scenic Route (The Forest of Hands and Teeth #0.5) by Carrie Ryan3 Red Run by Kami Garcia4 Things About Love (Genies #1.5) by Jackson Pearce5 Niederwald (Soul Screamers #4.5) by Rachel Vincent6 Merely Mortal (Wicked Lovely #5.5) by Melissa Marr7 Facing Facts (Darkest Powers #3.6) by Kelley Armstrong8 Let’s Get this Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan9 Bridge (Shade #2.5) by Jeri Smith-ReadySkin Contact (The Body Finder #2.5) by Kimberly Derting10 Leaving by Ally Condie11 At The Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday12 IV League by Margaret Stohl13 Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson14 The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes15 Automatic (The Morganville Vampires: Extras) by Rachel Caine

    In Jim Butcher’s ”Curses”, Harry Dresden investigates how to lift a curse laid by the Fair Folk on the Chicago Cubs. In Patricia Briggs’ “Fairy Gifts,”, a vampire is called home by magic to save the Fae who freed him from a dark curse. In Melissa Marr’s “Guns for the Dead”, the newly dead Frankie Lee seeks a job in the afterlife on the wrong side of the law. In Holly Black’s “Noble Rot”, a dying rock star discovers that the young woman who brings him food every day has some strange appetites of her own.Featuring original stories from 20 authors, this dark, captivating, fabulous, and fantastical collection is not to be missed!Contents:Curses / by Jim Butcher --How the pooka came to New York City / by Delia Sherman --On the slide / by Richard Bowes --The Duke of Riverside / by Ellen Kushner --Oblivion by Calvin Klein / by Christopher Fowler --Fairy gifts / by Patricia Briggs --Picking up the pieces / by Pat Cadigan --Underbridge / by Peter S. Beagle --Priced to sell / by Naomi Novik --The bricks of Gelecek / by Matthew Kressel --Weston walks / by Kit Reed --The projected girl/ by Lavie Tidhar --The way station / by Nathan Ballingrud --Guns for the dead / by Melissa Marr --And go like this / by John Crowley --Noble rot / by Holly Black --Daddy longlegs of the evening / by Jeffrey Ford --The skinny girl / by Lucius Shepard --The Colliers' Venus (1893) / by Caitlín R. Kiernan --King pole, gallows pole, bottle tree / by Elizabeth Bear.

    ""Boys of Beachville, Book 1"Public relations specialist Allison Cooper is more than ready to handle a career make-or-break assignment: to develop and market a charity calendar featuring hot men. Her only problem is Mr. July, a sexy cop who happens to be her ex-lover.Trying to keep his image squeaky clean a must for her promotion raises all sorts of challenges, especially when this bad boy is throwing a little kink into her plan.Image is the last thing on Carter James s mind. He agreed to be Mr. July on one condition that during his promo month, Allison never leaves his side. He wants her back, and to make that happen he needs her undivided attention to teach him good from bad. Unless bad is what the lady wantsWarning: Contains frank language, hot sex on the beach, and illegal but sexy use of handcuffs. Author cannot be held accountable for aroused state of mind or ruined manicures upon completion of this steamy book. "

     Come and remember your first kiss, first loss, first betrayal, first love. Sweet obsession starts here books included are: * Starbright by Rachel Higginson * Collide by Shelly Crane * Madly by M. Leighton * Love and Skate by Lila Felix * See (See #1) by Jamie Magee * Coexist by Julia Crane * Dazzle by Amber Garza * Prince of Wolves by Quinn Loftis * Survival by A.M. Hargrove * Masquerade by Cambria Hebert

    It's been ten years since he left the woman he loved behind to make a name for himself, and now he's bound and determined to claim her once and for all. But Charlotte Munroe has no desire to welcome home the Prodigal Son with a fatted calf. The bitterness of Dane's betrayal runs deep, and she has no plans of letting him back into her life. Especially since she's trying to protect the son Dane isn't aware exists from heartbreak, since she's sure he's only going to walk out of their lives again. THOMAS Cat Randolph is the best cat burglar in the world. But when a job goes wrong and she's shot, it's Doctor Thomas MacKenzie that comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, it's a lot harder to keep secrets when you're risking the life of someone you love. Thomas MacKenzie knows Cat is keeping secrets, but getting her to trust him with them is a slow and steady process. But time isn't on his side. Convincing Cat to stay in Surrender, Montana is harder than he could have imagined. He just has to make sure that their lovemaking is more addictive than the adrenaline rush she craves. RILEY Riley MacKenzie is one of the world's leading experts on Egyptian artifacts. But when Maggie Lawrence walks into his life with a priceless stolen artifact and bad guys on her trail, he has no choice but to whisk her away to the safety of Surrender, Montana. Maggie Lawrence takes one look at Riley MacKenzie and sees everything she's ever craved and always avoided when it comes to men: Adventure. And she knows it's only a matter of time before she falls prey to his seduction, especially since she's trapped with him during one of the worst snowstorms Montana has seen in years. But when the enemy finds them, Maggie's confronted with a past that could destroy her love for Riley forever. COOPER Claire Drexel has loved Cooper MacKenzie since she was fourteen years old. But being ten years older, he's never seen her as anything more than a kid sister. So she decides to take matters into her own hands. It's not a secret that Cooper is a heavy player in the BDSM scene, and Claire decides what Cooper needs is the perfect bottom to his top. Only she gets more than she bargains for. Cooper MacKenzie can't believe his eyes when he sees little Claire Drexel sitting on the lap of one of the most dangerous men he's ever met. The fool. She's just walked into the middle of a drug investigation at one of the premier BDSM clubs in the state, and one wrong move could blow the cover he's been developing for the past three years. He has no choice but to intercede and claim her as his own, but facing the consequences of his actions might be more than even he's bargained for. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS Grant MacKenzie is ready to settle down and start a family. The only problem is the one woman he's interested in doesn't seem to be ready for the long haul. But fate lends Grant a helping hand in getting exactly what he wants under his Christmas tree.

    But when her smolderingly hot and mysterious neighbor introduces her to a few new rules in the bedroom, Jaylene must learn to relinquish control...if she is to run wild with passion...

    She’s small town royalty. Their love was doomed from the start.Finn spent his childhood living so far on the wrong side of the tracks, he couldn’t even see them through his trailer window. When he moves back to his small, southern hometown to open the first bar in a formerly dry county, he’s no longer the boy who left—he’s a man with something to prove. As long as he doesn’t allow himself to get sidetracked by the only girl he’s ever loved.Willow learned a long time ago to protect her heart at all costs, so her walls are firmly in place when her ex comes strolling back into town, all cockiness and charm. When they're thrown together on the job, she knows better than to give in to the tug of attraction that still simmers between them. She might be drawn to him, but she certainly doesn't trust him. It's time for her to prove she's not the brokenhearted girl he left behind.There’s no room for second chances in Havenbrook. And Willow’s daddy—the mayor—will do anything to keep it that way.

    It has one stoplight, one bar, and the one-and-only Trixie Mancinkus.Eleven years ago, Trixie graduated Harvard Law, turned down a job offer from one of the most prestigious law firms in Boston, and headed home to Whynot to open her own firm. Not only did she leave behind the big city, but she also left her boyfriend of three years. And just so we’re clear… that would be me.So what am I doing in Whynot at this very moment? It seems Trixie needs help with a legal case and for some insane reason, she called on me for assistance. I’ve been in town for five minutes, and I’m every bit as out of place as I feel. Trixie is all sweet, southern curves to my tailored suits and high-priced haircuts. It’s a culture clash of north versus south and about the only thing we have in common is our physical attraction to each other.But I have a new motto since coming to Whynot: When life hands you lemons, all you need is a little sex and sweet tea to make things better.

    From the glittering ballrooms of the Regency to the majesty of Medieval castles, sample the sparkling best from the Jewels of Historical Romance!

    But their plans for a one and done change when a family crisis leaves Wyn shorthanded at the Grant Ranch. Experienced horsewoman Mel volunteers to help out and gets way more than she bargained for living under the same roof as the sexy rancher. Playing house has never appealed to Wyn…until now. But the feisty redhead is keeping secrets and Wyn’s not above stripping her bare—body and soul—to get to the bottom of it…

    Discover a breathless fairy-tale romance with swoon-worthy characters, suspense, and a glittering celebrity world. Fans of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and reality TV will devour this pulse-pounding, sexy teen drama set against the backdrop of Hollywood and an East Coast boarding school.Keatyn's crazy life comes together in one perfect script in this special combined edition of the first three books in the series.Stalk Me: Keatyn's life is following the script she wrote for the perfect high school experience. She's popular, goes to the best parties, dates the hottest guy, and sits at the most-coveted lunch table. But she's thinking about giving it all up to date an adorable surfer. So she writes a new script. One where all the pieces of her life come together in perfect harmony. But little does she know, there's someone who will do anything to make sure that doesn't happen.Kiss Me: Keatyn's always written scripts for her perfect life. But she never would have scripted this. She's now at a boarding school, where she has new challenges to face. Like tutoring a hottie god that tortures her with his smile. And having the most popular girl hate her because of a guy. So she's decided to stop trying to script her life and just live it. Because who knows how long she has left.Date Me: Keatyn's giving up scripting her life. Sort of. She's done with the God of all Hotties. She's going to give her heart to the boy whose kisses are hotter than molten lava and who asked her to Homecoming in a big, crazy way. Because there's so much to look forward to. Parties at the Cave. Homecoming festivities. Drama Tryouts. Shopping trips to NY. But things aren't as perfect as they seem. She knows he's still out there and getting more desperate. And even though she wants to pretend she'll never see him again, she knows she will. And she's afraid that this time, she might not get away

    Some of these alpha males are sweet, some are sexy, and some are furry or bitey. All will fight for their women and protect them in these 14 brilliant stories.Cora Seton - The Navy SEAL's E-Mail Order Bride - Mason, Navy SEAL, has a mission that is one for the record books. V. M. Black - Life Blood - Cora is dying...until a mysterious man offers a cure at a deadly price. Skye Warren - Beauty Touched the Beast - Ex-soldier Blake Morris is no good for the young woman who cleans his house. Blair Babylon - Rae Falling - Rae shoves The Blond Hottie up against a wall. How can one affair change everything so fast?Lacey Silks - Dazzled by Silver - He's not ready to commit. She's looking for a fling. Sarah M. Cradit - Flourish - Anne’s entire life has been a lie, even the terrifying, inexplicable ability she was born with.JJ Knight - Fight for Her - An MMA fighter must win back the heart of his first love and become a father to their daughter. Clarissa Wild - Seek - Lillith remembers Sebastian, her savior, but all she knows about him is his name. Liv Morris - Adam’s Apple - Adam Kingsley can possess anything or anyone he desires, except Kathryn.JC Andrijeski - New York - A gritty, unique world and star-crossed telekinetic lovers. Alica Knight - Tigress - Libby the Loser is a were-tiger and in love with a man she’s never met. Jacqueline Sweet - The Ghostwriter - Curvy, sassy Jessica is a ghostwriter and must destroy sexy billionaire Logan. Pavarti K. Tyler - Sugar and Salt - After working at The Sugar House, Janice retains no illusions but longs for a connection. Alisa Woods - Desired - Hot Wolves, High Finance—Lucas is a broken alpha, but can he keep his paws off Mia?

    His higher ups want her eliminated. He simply wants her. The alpha side of him demands he claim her—that is, if she’ll have him. After all, he’s what she fears most—a wolf shifter. But there is more to Peren than even she’s aware of and the enemy is closer than anyone imagined. Critical Intelligence Roi Majors, wolf-shifter and second in command of the I-Ops, is having a hard time believing that Intel can only get half the information needed to bring down an underground ring of vampires with big-spending backers who are hell-bent on creating a race of supernaturals with multiple strands of DNA in them. When he finds himself paired with the one woman in the world who seems immune to his self-proclaimed charms, he can’t wait to see her to safety and then bid her good riddance. He never counted on falling in love with her. And he sure in the hell never counted on her claiming to be an agent with a branch of the government no human should know about. Radar Deception Dr. Thaddeus Green survived a werepanther attack long ago, leaving him immortal and a member of the I-Ops team. He’s dedicated his life to genetics and to serving his country. After his mutated DNA led to the death of his loved one, he vowed to never let anyone close to his heart again. Try as he might, Green is unable to stop the mystical pull to the tall, leggy blonde with a sharp tongue and an even worse bite. Thinking Melanie is suffering from mating withdrawal, Green is prepared to do what he must to assure her survival, even if it means claiming her for himself, regardless of his need to protect his heart. Little does Green know that fate has been preparing him for Melanie Daly all his unnaturally long life. Strategic Vulnerability Held prisoner in a remote testing facility in the middle of the Brazilian rain forest, subjected to torture and abuse, shape-shifter and alpha male Wilson Rousseau has long since given up hope of being rescued. Days blend together until he can’t help but long for death. Saved from his isolated hell by a female’s distress call, he feels an instant connection to her. Kimberly thought she was taking a trip to South America to study indigenous plant life. She had no idea she was playing into the hands of a madman whose goal is to create a genetically altered army of super-soldiers. When she finds herself locked in a cell with Wilson, a man who would give his life to save hers, there is an instant attraction. But the dark secrets surrounding their imprisonment may change their lives forever. Can they find a way to beat the odds and be together, or will the madman win?

    Get an ice cold glass of water before digging into these brand new, never-before-seen hot reads!Burned Promises by Willow Winters My world is caving in on itself; the scars of my past threatening to consume me. I was ready to fall from the top of my empire and I didn't give a damn. But then she showed up; falling back into my life and into my bed. My sweetheart. I should let her walk away again; I'm a bad man, but I'm too selfish. This time, I'm keeping her.Dirty Debt by Lauren Landish It's time to collect on the biggest debt anyone in the city owes me. Jacob Waters, the bastard that killed my father. He's an abusive prick and he'll pay the ultimate price. But before I take him down, I'm taking his most prized possession. His precious Sarah.Bound to the BB - Crystal Kaswell Brendon. My best friend's brother. The smoking hot tattoo artist miles and miles out of my league. He wants me. He wants me bound. I've had a crush on him since I can remember, but can I really handle him like *this*?Protector by Bella Love-Wins Robin - I bump into the bad boy who broke my sister's heart nine years ago, and everything changes. I never expect forbidden fireworks, secrets and danger at every turn, and a hero in my corner when I need him most.Redeeming Viktor by Alexis Abbott A passionate one-night-stand ends in heartbreak. Five years later, and he's back, but can what they have be rekindled once he realizes they have a daughter?Hostage by Vivian Wood World-weary ex-soldier Sam isn’t expecting to find beautiful, broken Kat in the snow. When he takes her back to his hunting lodge and cleans her bruises, she tries to flee. Scared for her life. Sam is determined to protect the delicate blonde from the world, even if that means putting his life on the line. Now that he’s found her, he won’t let her go…Lumberjack Boss by Tabatha Kiss Wealth. Power. Wood. Three things I had more of than anybody else until Hazel showed up to protest my latest project. She won’t take my money. She doesn’t care about my family’s influence. Maybe a little wood is what she needs... and I’ve got more than enough to give her.Bloodlines by Aubrey Irons Once upon a time, he was my prince not-so-charming. But there are no happy ever afters with life in the Dark Saints Irish mafia. I swore I’d never come back to Boston after he pushed me away six years ago. But that’s before there was a price on my head, and I needed protection. I won’t fall for him again. Giving in to temptation this time around doesn’t mean a broken heart. It means we’re dead.Hard Rock Promise by Athena Wright I thought it'd be an easy job when my friend asked me to "babysit" her out-of-control brother — her playboy, arrogant, *sinfully sexy* older brother. As the bassist in the rock band Cherry Lips, Gael's had more than his fair share of women. But his dirty, sexy words ignite my body, just as his promises of forever ignite my heart. Is Gael playing me or playing for keeps?Also included are: Crossfire by KB Winters One Night Stand by Kylie Walker Signed SEAL'd Delivered by Holly Hart and A Fake Wife by Sierra Rose