And certainly what Melville did for whaling Austen does for marriage--tracing the intricacies (not to mention the economics) of 19th-century British mating rituals with a sure hand and an unblinking eye. As usual, Austen trains her sights on a country village and a few families--in this case, the Bennets, the Philips, and the Lucases. Into their midst comes Mr. Bingley, a single man of good fortune, and his friend, Mr. Darcy, who is even richer. Mrs. Bennet, who married above her station, sees their arrival as an opportunity to marry off at least one of her five daughters. Bingley is complaisant and easily charmed by the eldest Bennet girl, Jane; Darcy, however, is harder to please. Put off by Mrs. Bennet's vulgarity and the untoward behavior of the three younger daughters, he is unable to see the true worth of the older girls, Jane and Elizabeth. His excessive pride offends Lizzy, who is more than willing to believe the worst that other people have to say of him; when George Wickham, a soldier stationed in the village, does indeed have a discreditable tale to tell, his words fall on fertile ground. Having set up the central misunderstanding of the novel, Austen then brings in her cast of fascinating secondary characters: Mr. Collins, the sycophantic clergyman who aspires to Lizzy's hand but settles for her best friend, Charlotte, instead; Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Darcy's insufferably snobbish aunt; and the Gardiners, Jane and Elizabeth's low-born but noble-hearted aunt and uncle. Some of Austen's best comedy comes from mixing and matching these representatives of different classes and economic strata, demonstrating the hypocrisy at the heart of so many social interactions. And though the novel is rife with romantic misunderstandings, rejected proposals, disastrous elopements, and a requisite happy ending for those who deserve one, Austen never gets so carried away with the romance that she loses sight of the hard economic realities of 19th-century matrimonial maneuvering. Good marriages for penniless girls such as the Bennets are hard to come by, and even Lizzy, who comes to sincerely value Mr. Darcy, remarks when asked when she first began to love him: "It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley." She may be joking, but there's more than a little truth to her sentiment, as well. Jane Austen considered Elizabeth Bennet "as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print". Readers of Pride and Prejudice would be hard-pressed to disagree. --Alix Wilber

    

    Lucid Intervals Strategic Moves Bel-Air Dead

     Part of the Storycuts series, this short story was previously published in the collection If You Liked School, You'll Love Work.

    Now he’s warned Lettie that her soul mate and the only man who will ever make her happy, will disappear from her life forever unless she acts quickly. Lettie is willing to find him, but who is he? Her angel won’t tell her, and now she’s botched the search, ruining her best friend’s engagement party and infuriating everyone, including her parents who decide to ship her off to family in Wrexham until the fuss dies down. Her best friend’s adoptive brother, Brynne, a foundling left on her neighbor’s doorstep as an infant, is assigned to escort Lettie. Along the journey, Lettie realizes that Brynne is her soul mate, and to prove it to cynical Brynne, she promises him that she will discover his true lineage. Brynne has been in love with Lettie for as long as he can remember, but how can a foundling ever hope to marry an earl’s daughter? The only hint to his identity is the birthmark on his shoulder in the shape of a wolf. After all these years and no one stepping forward to claim him, Brynne knows it will take a miracle to discover the truth. Brynne doesn’t believe in miracles, nor does he intend to remain in England. He has always been alone in the world and knows he is nobody's angel. With less than two weeks before Brynne leaves her forever, can Lettie discover Brynne’s identity and prove that love is the greatest miracle of all?

    Whether fictionalizing his dramatic exploits as a Royal Air Force pilot during World War II or concocting the ingeniously plotted fables that were dramatized on television as Tales of the Unexpected, Dahl was brilliant at provoking in his readers the overwhelming desire to know what happens next—and at satisfying that desire in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable.In this collection:-A Fine Son-Death of an Old Man-Parson’s Pleasure-Poison-The Hitch-Hiker-The Wish-Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat-Dip in the Pool-The Landlady-Skin-Lamb to the Slaughter-Man from the South-The Way Up to Heavan-The Umbrella Man-Taste-The Swan-William and MaryFilled with devilish plot twists, his tales display a tantalizing blend of macabre humor and the absurdly grotesque. Dahl’s creations amuse and shock us in equal measure, gleefully reminding us of what might lurk beneath the surface of the ordinary.

    

    You know, the kind that are made with pictures ripped from magazines with special notes about your life goals or biggest wishes. (Mine of course, is covered in glitter!) As a single mom, it’s hard to put my dreams and goals first, but I made my list. 1. Finally finish my degree 2. Learn how to cook new recipes. 3. Travel outside of Washington state. 4. Buy myself something that makes me feel desirable. 5. Find real, honest-to-goodness-rip-your-heart-out-and-hand-it-to-someone-love. The realist in me knows that last one is a bit far-fetched, but when an old college friend shows up in my driveway offering me something I can’t refuse, my mind starts wondering if maybe that last goal could be attainable after all.He’s kind, compassionate, strong, helpful, and attractive. All positive attributes of a great man. There’s just one problem. He’s my Ex’s best friend.

    

    

     Back To Me An Alpha Man and BBW Steamy Sweet Romance April Will was my best friend and we’ve been apart for ten years. When I run into him again, he’s the same but different. He wants me. Not just for one night, but forever. Will I let April get away from me ten years ago, but I won’t make that mistake again. Nothing is going to stand in the way of making her mine… not even a fiancé. She’s found her way back to me and I am keeping her. Forever An Alpha Older Man, Younger BBW, Steamy Sweet Romance Carrie I was raised by my Uncle… who is trying to sell my virginity to the highest bidders. He doesn’t let me work or have any friends. My only escape is when he lets me go to the gym. He wants me to lose some weight, so he can make some more money. Little does he know, I’m taking self-defense classes so I can protect myself. But my Self Defense instructor ends up teaching me more than just self-defense. Derek I got volunteered to teach a self defense class. I end up falling for the woman with secrets. She won’t open up to me. She’s hiding something… but all I want to do is protect her. And make her mine, forever. My Everything: An Older Man, Younger BBW Steamy Sweet Romance Mack I found the love of my life when I was twenty-eight and she was eighteen. I planned to spend the rest of my life with her until I got hurt in the army. I came back not knowing if I would ever walk again. I couldn’t put her through that, so I pushed her away. I went through therapy and she went through college. I went to her college graduation because I had to see her. She wants me back… but I still think she deserves better. She makes a proposition… I give her one night and she gives me her innocence. But will one night be enough? Can I push her away again once I have her in my arms? #1 bestselling short romance author Hope Ford writes short, steamy, sweet romances. There is always an alpha male (because who doesn’t love an alpha male) and a woman he makes his queen. Sit back, grab a glass of wine, and get lost in this happily ever after story – that’s also a little naughty.

    He's spent the last five years proving his worth and repairing his family's reputation. But the rules he's had to live by are starting to chafe, especially when it comes to one particular employee. He doesn't believe in coincidence, but when Sara Charles shows up suddenly unemployed and asking him to agree to a month of indulging their most forbidden fantasies--there's no way he can refuse. When reality is better than his wildest dreams, will the CEO break all of his own rules to keep her? The Cowboy’s Kink-Book 2 Tracy Reyes is a man who enjoys having control. Over his family's billion dollar land and cattle empire, over the women he tops at the club, and over his life. When teacher Alicia Bell drops into his lap with a problem that needs solving and a body that begs to be bound, he can't resist the opportunity to give her the education in kink she needs. But can he walk away from his passionate pupil when it's time to meet his future bride? The Playboy’s Ménage-Book 3 Henry Vincent and Peter Faraday have been friends forever. The royal rocker and polymath playboy have more than a few things in common. They're both billionaires, they both love a challenge...and they've both carried a long-lasting torch for the woman that got away. Finding Holly again brings back feelings and memories neither one of them wanted to face. But they'll have to if they want to share her. Keeping her from running again and making her admit how she feels about them will take teamwork. Hours of teamwork...and handcuffs. The Bachelors We know every debutante's mama wants a piece of their action, but if you could choose without repercussions, which of the Billionaire Bachelors would be your fantasy? The true hardcore cowboy who has enough land and employees to start his own country, but no dancing partner for his special kind of two-step? The musician with a royal pedigree, a wild streak and a vast fortune at his disposal, who's never been seen with the same woman twice? His best jet-setting buddy who can claim no less than five estates, four degrees and three charges of lewd public behavior on his record? Or the sweet-talking, picture-perfect tycoon-cum-philanthropist who used to be the baddest of the bunch but put those days behind him when he took over as CEO of his family's company? (Or did he?) Pick your fantasy lover--rocker, rancher, rebel or reformed rogue. Glass slipper shopping is a dangerous sport to be sure, especially with prey as slippery as these particular animals, but I'll still wish all my readers happy hunting. From Ms. Anonymous (RG Alexander, billionaire, the Cowboy's Kink, the CEO's Fantasy, hot romance, summer read, the Playboy's Menage)

    V. Larson! This 60,000 word book is an Anthology of short stories. Most are Science Fiction mixed with Horror. Others might be called Dark Fantasy... Many have been published previously in various magazines.The Barrier – What does it take to go faster than light?Symptoms of Godhood – How far can you modify a body and still call the results human?Discharged – A long war and an even longer stay in an automated hospital.Teeth at Bedtime – Technology follows us everywhere.The Insect Requirement – Great sacrifices are required for Earth’s early colonists.Blind Eyes – If we can design our own children, how far will we go?TA96 – Do our genes belong to us?Zundra’s Movies – A future where video is created with the mind, and insanity is fun to watch.Pinball – A young man builds his own watchdog.Love Aboard the Kamadeva – A love triangle between two desperate souls and a digital mirage.Starplay – A window into the universe becomes a door.The One-Way Gang – Leaving Earth is easy, but you can never come back.Rusted Metal – What has spent the last century in the basement?Lunar Lotto – Death comes instantly to outlaws in vacuum.The Rollers – Crime has been mostly eliminated by removing all forms of cash... Mostly.

    The curvy, plus-sized waitress is his mate, yet he still hasn’t figured out how to tell her about his bear. When Kate is put in danger, all bets are off, and nothing can stop the grizzly from claiming and protecting his mate. BROTHER BEAR (Book 2) Ana Smith has been on the run for nearly two months when she stops in Bear Mountain looking for work and meets sexy, muscle bound Seth. Too bad gorgeous, tall, perfect guys don’t go for curvy women like her. Seth knows Ana is hiding something, but he won’t push her for answers no matter how long it takes. He’s chosen her and he’s not letting go. When Ana’s past rolls into town, she finds out nothing will stop a grizzly determined to protect his mate. DOUBLE BEAR (Book 3) Samantha Hastings has lived in Bear Mountain her entire life and doesn’t want to leave, but she longs for a man to call her own and accept her, curves included. When she falls for both Cade and Collin, she vows to stay away from the gorgeous twins. After years of searching for the perfect woman to share for eternity, the two men have other ideas for their curvy mate. Sam’s about to find out that loving two men might seem wrong, but her mates will never let her go. IDLE BEAR (Book 4) Sara Henley has resigned herself to a life alone. Though she wants nothing more than a husband and a family, she knows she won’t find him in Bear Mountain, and she’s not willing to leave the small town. Aaron Williams hasn’t shifted into his bear form in almost a hundred years, and considers his shifter side a curse, but he can’t resist the pull to Bear Mountain. When he meets Sara, Aaron is forced to reconsider his past choices, but he still can’t reconcile with his bear—until Sara is put in danger. Now all he has to do is convince his mate to give him another chance. LOST BEAR (Book 5) Dave Yeager is the deputy in Bear Mountain, and the only human in town who knows about the shifting abilities of the sheriff and his friends. After watching yet another couple mate, he’s reminded of his loneliness. Emma has been living in her bear form for the past ten years, but she can’t ignore the call to Bear Mountain. Sparks fly when she meets Dave, but she’s unwilling to be cheated on again, and creates a plan to satisfy them both. It’s perfect until she realizes an alpha always gets what he wants. (Each book is also sold separately!)