Abandoned as a baby Maise never gave up hope that one day her mother would return to claim her as her own, but as she stood in the dirty river water that dream soon washed away. She soon learnt that life was like the river; dark, fast moving and dangerous. Life would teach her lessons she had never wanted to learn, but would fate mend what had been broken, before she succumbed to the Thames as so many had before her?

    Now the stories alone are available for the first time in trade paperback.

    It was a "big country needing big men and women to live in it." Here are three more of his fine short stories about the West. West of the Tularosa Ruth Kermitt, owner of the Tumbling K ranch, made a deal with old Tom McCracken, owner of the Firebox spread, to buy his ranch. That's why the Tumbling K's foreman, Ward McQueen, and some of the Tumbling K crew have come to take possession. But in a deserted bunkhouse on the Firebox, they find the body of Jimmy McCracken, son of the former owner, who was clearly killed in a gunfight. Then, Sheriff Bill Foster shows up with a posse. Riding with that posse is Neal Webb, who claims that he owns the Firebox and that he's got a transfer deed signed by Jimmy McCracken conveying that ownership. Webb seizes the opportunity to accuse Ward McQueen and his men of killing McCracken in order to claim possession of the Firebox. Despite his innocence, McQueen sees that he will have a tough time staying out of jail long enough to discover who the real killers are. Home in the Valley Steve Mehan had accomplished what many had believed to be impossible. He had taken cattle from the home range in Nevada to California in the dead of winter. Not only that, he had been successful in selling them. Now the money from the sale is on deposit with the Dake & Company bank in Sacramento. That $24,000 will save all five ranches in Paiute Valley that had supplied cattle for the drive. Mehan is feeling good about all of this when, to his shock, he reads in the newspaper that Dake & Company has failed. And there is one nasty hombre who is mighty happy to hear this. He sneeringly tells Mehan that those ranchers have lost out and since they can't pay their debt--and he will become the new owner. But Mehan isn't ready to give up. There is a bank branch in Portland, Oregon, and if Mehan can get to it and withdraw the money before the steamer boat heading for Portland arrives with the news of the bank failure, he wins. To do that, Mehan will have to start out immediately, hoping for stamina, luck, and a long relay of good horses to cover those hundreds of miles. West Is Where the Heart Is Jim London is on his way home. During the four years of the War between the States, he has not been home, seen his wife, Jane, or been able to send word of his whereabouts. For all she knew, he was dead. Fellows have told him she wouldn't have waited for him, but London believes differently. Then, just two hundred miles from home, London comes across a burned-out wagon train. Nine wagons had been hit by the Comanches, and they left only a ruin behind: overturned wagons, dead livestock, ransacked belongings, and dead bodies strewn on the ground. Yet Jim discovers that not everyone is dead. He finds little Betty Jane, a five-year-old who had been able to hide successfully during the attack. The only thing to be done is for him to take her along with him. But during their journey, he discovers that the child knows something that no one else does.

    The works in the series are suitable for ages eight and up. The books are simple, retellings of the great literary classics which remain faithful to the original text.

    A haunted mansion. A haunted woman. Three unforgettable tales of terror. THE HARROWINGFive troubled college students left alone on their isolated campus over the long Thanksgiving break confront their own demons and a mysterious presence... that may or may not be real.Nominated for Bram Stoker and Anthony Awards for Best First Novel"Poltergeist meets The Breakfast Club as five college students tangle with an ancient evil presence." - Kirkus Reviews"Absolutely gripping... it is easy to imagine this as a film. Once started, you won't want to stop reading." - The London TimesTHE UNSEEN"A creepy haunted house, reports of a 40-year-old poltergeist investigation, and a young researcher trying to rebuild her life take the "publish or perish" initiative for college professors to a terrifying new level in this spine-tingling story that has every indication of becoming a horror classic. Based on the famous Rhine ESP experiments at the Duke University parapsychology department that collapsed in the 1960s, this is a chillingly dark look into the unknown." —Romantic Times Book ReviewBOOK OF SHADOWSA cynical Boston homicide detective and a mysterious witch from Salem must join forces in a race to solve a series of satanic killings."A wonderfully dark thriller with amazing 'Is-it-isn't-it?' suspense throughout." — Lee Child-----------------------------------------

    In this ultimate collection you will find 25 works by the amazing Victorian novelist- Thomas Hardy! All in one elegantly formatted Book for ease of use and enjoyment on your Kindle device works include : 13 Novels • FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD • THE RETURN OF THE NATIVE • THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE • TESS OF THE D'URBERVILLES • JUDE THE OBSCURE • DESPERATE REMEDIES • A PAIR OF BLUE EYES • UNDER THE GREENWOOD TREE • THE WOODLANDERS • A LAODICEAN: A STORY OF TO-DAY • THE TRUMPET-MAJOR JOHN LOVEDAY • THE HAND OF ETHELBERTA • TWO ON A TOWER A dozen minor novels • A CHANGED MAN AND OTHER TALES ++ also a little bonus a Thomas Hardy Biography with links for further reading enjoy !!

    When she arrives, her husband-to-be is waiting, but not for her. When he disregards his mail-order bride, Sarah decides to take matters into her own hands. Not one to give up on her dream to live out west, Sarah decides to find a job and start a new life with or without a husband. The timing could not be worse. With hopes of avoiding his mother’s meddling at all costs Robert Fields had planned to get married as soon as his bride arrived. That Sarah and his parents arrived in the same coach was an unfortunate catastrophe. Not wanting to let on that Sarah was there for him, he hustles his parents home with the intent of later explaining to Sarah and going forward with the marriage quickly… and quietly. A compelling American western historical romance

    He has a job he loves, a vivacious, pregnant wife, a young son and a beautiful home in Evergreen, Colorado. Bruce's life is rewarding, full, and his position is seemingly secure. Suddenly, an accident in Reno, Nevada, threatens to snatch away everything he cherishes: his family and his career. Bruce was in command of the ill-fated flight, and the airline and FAA blame him for the catastrophe.Bruce soon finds himself fighting against powerful enemies: the airline's bosses, the government, his wife's wealthy mother, and other unseen but dangerous adversaries. Just when Bruce's situation seems hopeless, help arrives from several sources: David Goldstein, an investigative reporter, reveals that there is much more to the accident than meets the eye. Mike Barrow, a retired Marine colonel and close friend of Bruce's, joins the investigation only to find himself thrust into the corporate intrigue at the highest level. Ava O'Kane, a thirty-eight-year-old executive within the circle of power at the airline, makes a shocking discovery of corruption within the organization and she has to choose between evil and good, love and money.Finally, pushed to the limit, Bruce takes control of his predicament in an unprecedented and decisively violent, though legal manner. It's the only way he can stop the conspiracy. In the process of saving himself, his career and his company, can an airline captain get away with murder?

    He also has to deal with an awful substitute teacher, his know-it-all cousin, and a cheating scandal at school. Can he help to figure out who cheated on the test before the whole class is punished?

    They have secrets, but none as lethal as those they uncover when they get caught up in turf wars between two strip club owners on the back streets of Manchester.Elsa Bradshaw is 18. Despite a tough start – never knowing her father, and barely seeing her mother who’d rather be chasing men – she’s grown up with her grandmother’s values and a desire to build a better life. But will falling for local bad boy, Clayton, change all that?Pamela Maylett seems to have everything – as wife of local lap-dancing club owner, Jordan, she’s got money, influence and plenty of life’s little luxuries. But is her beautiful home also her prison? She knows her husband is surrounded by women at work – after all, she was dancing when she met him. But Jordan won’t let his wife back on the stage and Pamela misses the lights, the lust and the power.When Elsa crosses paths with Pamela, she is grateful to be taken under her wing, and shown a world she never realised was out there. Elsa has a lot to learn – about the clubs, about what she wants, and most importantly, what she’ll do to get it.As the men that own the local clubs start a turf war, it’s time for the women to step up…

    

    John could not wait to get to the Rocky Mountains. He liked solitude, and he wanted to learn how to survive in the harsh winter conditions in the mountains. The big man knew he could be a mountain man and had to learn quickly. He dealt with frequent snow storms, frozen rivers and arctic conditions. His cave became his home. John welcomed an old Indian chief who came to the high elevations to spend the last days of his life. He later rescued the daughter of the Indian chief and life took on a new meaning for Mountain Man John.Grab your copy today and ride boldly with Turney and his new Western frontier adventure!

    Until a head injury causes her brain to start losing new memories.Determined to fight it, Abby sets out to prove her diagnosis wrong by grabbing life with both hands. She’ll save her memory by embarking on a list of experiences that will be simply unforgettable.All seems to be working well - until a trip of a lifetime to New York City, where she bumps into a friendly stranger called Finn.But is he a stranger at all?

    Sometimes it feels like we are all on a different planet earth. Sometimes we are!

     This wasn’t the first time I couldn’t pay my bills. My current job wasn’t enough. I needed something better. And when an offer presented itself, I knew I couldn’t say no. There was just one problem –exotic dancing at men’s clubs wasn’t exactly my expertise. The expectations of me were simple –work the parties and give the men their ultimate fantasy, the unattainable dream. Okay, anything to not have to worry about money ever again. Then he walked through the door. Mr. Tall, Dark, and incredibly Sexy. From the moment I saw him, I knew I had to have him. My mind raced with ways I could turn my own budding fantasy into his reality. But it wasn’t that easy. I was in a bind. He was off limits. I’d do anything to make him see me among the many others. Whatever he asked, I’d do. The more I learned about him, his dark secrets and the reasons he was off limits, the more I wanted to wrap my legs around him. And when my time came, I couldn’t help but think I was in way over my head and should have listened to the warnings to stay away. Mature audience only. 18+