In this lively collection, learn how an ordinary young man, Mahesh Das, became the beloved Raja Birbal we all know today, and how he uses his famous wit, time and again, to build a ‘celestial palace’ for Emperor Akbar, order a census of crows, trap a thief using a magic bamboo, and much more.Replete with wisdom and wit, and brought to life by Tapas Guha’s beautiful illustrations, this clever collection of stories also offers valuable life lessons hidden beneath its humour.

    'In the morning I discovered the secret of changing base metal into gold. In the afternoon, I murdered my wife.'For a man as remarkable as the philosopher Saloninus, just another day.Of course, we only have his word for it, and Saloninus has been known to be creative with the truth. Little white lies are inevitable expedients when you're one jump ahead of the secret police and on the brink of one of the greatest discoveries in the history of alchemy. But why would a scientist with the world's most generous, forgiving patron be so desperate to run away? And what, if anything, has blue got to do with gold?Cover illustration by Vincent Chong

    But Merry has a secret: the magic has stopped flowing from her fingers. Try as she might, she can’t summon up the sparkle that makes her stories shine. And as her deadline whooshes by, her personal life falls apart too. Alex tells her he wants something other than the future she’d always imagined for them and Merry finds herself single for the first time since – well, ever. Desperate to get her life back on track, Merry leaves London and escapes to the windswept Orkney Islands, locking herself away in a secluded clifftop cottage to try to heal her heart and rediscover her passion for writing. But can the beauty of the islands and the kindness of strangers help Merry to fool herself into believing in love again, if only long enough to finish her book? Or is it time for her to give up the career she’s always adored and find something new to set her soul alight??The brand new series from Holly Hepburn, author of A Year at the Star and Sixpence. Parts one to four in the new series are available to pre-order now: BROKEN HEARTS AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, SEA BREEZES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY, DANGEROUS TIDES AT BRIGHTWATER BAY and SUNSET OVER BRIGHTWATER BAY ~*~Praise for Holly Hepburn~*~ 'A fresh new voice, brings wit and warmth to this charming tale of two sisters' Rowan Coleman 'Warm, witty and laced with intriguing secrets! I want to pull up a bar stool, order a large G&T and soak up all the gossip at the Star and Sixpence!' Cathy Bramley 'You'll fall in love with this fantastic new series from  star of women's fiction, Holly Hepburn. Filled to the brim with captivating characters and fantastic storylines in a gorgeous setting ... simply wonderful. I want to read more!' Miranda Dickinson 'The Star and Sixpence sparkles with fun, romance, mystery, and a hunky blacksmith. It's a real delight' Julie Cohen 'Like the dream pub landlady who always knows exactly what you want, Holly Hepburn has created the most delightful welcome to what promises to be a brilliant series, in the first Star and Sixpence. The sisters are warm and intriguing, the neighbours are (mostly!) friendly and the gossip is utterly addictive. I was very sad when it was time for last orders, and am already looking forward to the next round. Especially if a certain blacksmith happens to be at the bar...' Kate Harrison 'Warm, witty and utterly charming, Snowdrops at the Star and Sixpence is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter's day.

    At least, that's what San Francisco paralegal Karyn Chambers kept telling herself when her first vacation in years was ruined. Then she met dangerously handsome auto racer Brad Willis, who proved to her that happinessand loveare often found in your own backyard! Originally published in the 2010 Summer Brides anthology.

    The gore level is a cross between Saw and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Much of Fresh Meat is set in a dungeon filled with vicious serial killers. It isn't a matter of when blood will spill, it is how much.Praise for McCray's Horror/Suspense Thrillers..."Wickedly macabre and blisteringly paced, PLAIN JANE marks the debut of a thriller for the new millennium. Brash, funny, terrifying, and shocking, here is a story best enjoyed with all the lights on. Don't say I didn't warn you!"James RollinsNYT Best SellerBloodline"Oh, unless you have a strong stomach, you probably will not want to eatanything while reading this book. It is very, very graphic and will mostlikely give me nightmares. Supper is about a group of college kids whogo out on a fact-finding vacation during spring break. They find morethan they're looking for when they run out of gas on a dark deserted,creepy part of nowhere. Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacrecomes to mind. But things aren't always what they seem. Get's ya in themood for a ghoulish Halloween. Baaahaaaahaaaha!"RileybugAmazon ReviewerOverview:What do you get when you put 8 serial killers in a dungeon together, besides mayhem? Now add in some very feminine fresh meat and see what happens! Meanwhile on the outside a just off mental illness leave detective is desperately searching for a shy, missing woman. Will he find her before she is just another statistic?More praise for McCray's Horror/Supsense Thrillers..."I am an avid reader always looking for something original and fresh.Well, Carolyn Mcray is it!! By accident I came across this author, shemay have been recommened to me by Amazon itself. This summer she was mygo to author could not get enough of her books, or short stories!!!With this short story you have the Texas Chain Massacre family meets the2012 Cannabalistic Tullocks Farm. That's when itbecomes twisted!!! This is all I will say. Some of the reviews I've beenreading lately are telling me the whole entire story. What's thepoint??? Could not put it down....You will love it!!!!"Robin LeeAmazon Reviewer"I have been an avid reader of horror for many years and this is thefirst book I have ever read that made me sleep with the lights on!"JasonAmazon ReviewerIf you enjoy Saw or Texas Chainsaw Massacre, satisfy your appetite with Fresh Meat!**If you were looking for McCray's #1 Police Procedural/Hard Boiled blockbuster mystery check under Plain Jane: A Patterson style thriller with a dash of Hannibal.**If you were looking for more McCray mysteries, check out Down & Dirty, McCray's crime collection.**If you were looking for more thrillers, check out Got Thrills? A McCray thriller collection. It includes all of the prequel to all of McCray's thriller series.**If you were looking for another stand alone horror/mystery check out All Hallow's Eve: The one night it is BAD to be good.

    Avri was hurled forward like a harpoon from a cannon. His head hit the bulkhead with a horrible blow, absorbing all his one hundred and sixty pounds of momentum. He heard the loud crunching noise of the bow crashing into something solid, or perhaps it was the sound of his skull smashing against the bulkhead."And the chase is on. A seasoned submarine captain versus a sailboat skipper, each struggling for survival, each racing for life. Meanwhile, the Russian naval intelligence has its own devious plans while the Israeli Mossad has quite different ideas. This adventure tale, though sprinkled with port and starboard and halyards would be enjoyed by thrill loving landlubbers and sailors alike. Scroll up and grab a copy today.

    Unfortunately for James Atwood and his family, his proves to be deadly. His beautiful, nineteen year-old-daughter will pay big time for his colossal f*ck-up. His mistake comes in the form of Paul Breed, a twenty-five-year-old lad with the darkest of secrets. How was James to know that he had hired – and then fired – a murderous psycho? Lock your doors and lock up your daughters because Paul Breed is coming out tonight and he has a score to settle... It's a 'family' thing. This is EXTREME horror, please proceed with caution.

    Since her mother's death, Abby has lived alone with her father and longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after they find themselves suddenly married to each other do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.

    Entering a dark wood on a rainy night, they must try to understand and anticipate the mind of the sick killer before it's too late.Richard Heinz is out for a reason, and he’s just taken a hostage.IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS TONIGHT, YOU’RE SURE OF A BIG SURPRISE… Iain Rob Wright tackles the sick killer with Slasher, writing a tale that will appeal to fans of Hannibal Lector, The Following, and True Detectives.

    scholar, practically living in her research lab, leading an uneventful life. Amudha’s life takes an adventurous turn, when she finds a puzzle in an old Mathematics book. Surprisingly, the puzzle has nothing to do with Mathematics. Amudha embarks on a journey to solve the enigma. Every twist and turn in her journey is filled with suspense and surprises. The journey challenges and threatens Amudha. Whenever Amudha solves a part of the puzzle, a new one presents itself. Will Amudha solve the puzzle? How far does the rabbit hole go? What awaits her at the end of it? Will Amudha be the same person if she comes out of it? Read on Magic Square for answers.

    After a tumultuous boat ride, Burt and the archaeologists find themselves stranded on what seems to be a deserted island. That is, seems to be deserted until Burt starts hearing music that no one else can hear . . . and blacking out with no explanation. Maybe there is something to Burt's father's expedition after all? All but tortured by his surroundings, Burt ventures to find out. He can only hope to survive.

    Without proof she composed the hit song, Callie is forced to take her twin boys with her, move out of Nashville and live with her aunt in Georgia. Having her dreams shattered leaves her trying to figure out how she will support her little family. Reconnecting with Ty Carter, her long-ago crush from high school and the guy who broke her heart, has her questioning her resolve to leave romance out of her new life. Ty isn't just a good-looking cowboy, he's sweet to her boys and makes Callie feel beautiful and alive. As her feelings for Ty grow stronger, the music reawakens inside her, inspiring her creativity and the desire to sing. Giving love a second chance might be the key to a forever love, and the start of a new music career...but can it be both? Author's Note: This book originally appears as The Cowboy's Second Go, in the Big Sky Timeless Western Collection. Chasing Moonbeams features a never before published epilogue you won't want to miss! It also has been updated with added content that more closely ties into the Georgia Moon Romance series.

    

    Her husband, a powerful senator, has hurt them one too many times. But it’s hard to hide from someone with keys to all the powers in government. She stops in a little town in Wyoming—too tired, too scared, and too broke to go further.Sheriff Luke Wilson has worked his family’s ranch in Wyoming nearly all his life, save for a few years playing big-city cop in St. Louis. The draw of his family’s home pulled him back and now he runs his ranch and takes care of what little crime Hope, Wyoming has to offer.It’s Christmas, the time for magic and the unexpected miracle. Fate throws a twist into Hope and Luke’s lives, leading them to a new future...if they can escape the clutches of her abusive husband.

    This is not one of those tales… Sophronie Slater had no interest in getting married. Even if she did, the Duke of Waycross would not be her choice. She would, however, do anything for her father. So, in honor of his dying wish to see her legally bound to the contrary, annoyingly handsome Scot who drives her mad, she agrees to a very temporary marriage. She’ll never love him, though. At least, that was the plan…Evan Gordonstone has no interest in romance. Caring for his relatives and restoring his duchy to profitability is about all he can manage. But if he has any hope of one day realizing his dream of breeding and racing horses, he needs Sophronie. Their arranged marriage will fix all his problems. Assuming he doesn’t fall for his lovely new wife and ruin everything…Sophronie and Evan are about to find out that opposites can attract in the most unexpected—and sensual—ways. But when all is said and done, can they win each other’s hearts and turn their fake marriage into a real happily ever after?~ * ~Scandals, Secrets, and Sweet RomanceThis Historical Regency Romance by a USA Today bestselling author proves that enemies can become lovers and opposites do attract. Sparks fly as Evan and Sophronie match wits until they admit their love for each other.If you enjoy reading lovable rogue or duke romances with a pinch of intrigue, a dash of humor, and soul-searing emotion, then you’ll adore Collette Cameron’s enthralling SEDUCTIVE SCOUNDRELS series. Settle into your favorite reading nook with a beverage and your copy of HOW TO WIN A DUKE’S HEART for a page-turning, enemies to lovers, entertaining Regency world adventure you can’t put downThough this book can easily be read as a stand-alone, most readers prefer to read the series in order.SEDUCTIVE SCOUNDRELS SERIES:A Diamond for a DukeOnly a Duke Would DareA December with a DukeWhat Would a Duke Do?Wooed by a Wicked DukeDuchess of His HeartNever Dance with a DukeThe Debutante and the DukeWedding her Christmas DukeLoved by a Dangerous DukeHow to Win A Duke’s HeartWhen a Duke Desires a Lass - Coming soon!