Breathe for Me by Donna B. Comeaux Less than a month ago, Robert Aaron Jaegerâs wife, Christina, and four-year-old daughter were in a terrible accident on the downtown streets of Seattle. The four-year-old came away with scratches. Christina succumbed to her injuries. Laden with unspeakable guilt for putting his job over family, he can no longer cope with the neglect he imposed on his wife. Under the disguise of rafting through the Glenwood Canyon, Robert sets out to kill himself, but his plan is thwarted when he stumbles upon a woman standing in freezing water aiming to do the same thing. Lilly Radford has been riddled with guilt since the day her baby died and thereâs not been a day she hasnât beat herself up about it. She finally snaps, takes her rent money, and uses it to keep her tank filled until the money runs out. With her car running on fumes, sheâs forced to exit off I-70 in Glenwood Springs at the Grizzly Creek Rest Stop where she gives up and falls in the river. After Robert rescues Lilly and later steps off the plane in Seattle, Zachary Butler lurks close to his heels, looking for the first opportunity ⌠for a nice clean shot to kill Robert for getting him fired. Zachary is much more than a typical killer on the loose. His disorder causes him to converse with the good side of himself to collaborate on a scheme for revenge. To complicate his chaotic existence, his wife, Ethel, threatens to derail his plan. As danger looms and a loved one gets tangled in the crossfire, Robert and Lilly are forced to let down their guard and wrestle with their physical attraction to each other. Determined to right past wrongs, their self-centered past haunts them, makes them edgy, and keeps love at bay. But if they arenât careful, they could miss the beauty lying just below the surface of their pain ... if the killer has his way. Anger. Madness. Darkness. Murder. Obsession. Ambition. How will it all end? |
What Grows From the Dead by Dave Dobson Morris Drummond is not at his best. Well, he hasn't been at his best for a while now. But having just suffered two crushing losses, he's almost at rock bottom, which for him means driving ride-share in his mom's beat up Chevy, drowning his sorrows in tacos and spray cheese, and avoiding anything related to ambition, self-care, or laundry. Morris is about to learn that he didn't even know what rock bottom looked like, and it's all thanks to his mom. A secret she left behind comes to light, and that brings down a lot of unwanted attention on Morris, the kind that looks likely to send him either to prison or to the hereafter. Blood and treachery from long ago rise to the surface, and Morris has only his lawyer Annie, who's an old high school friend, and a few unexpected allies to call on as he tries to figure out what his mom was up to and why so many people want him out of the picture. A humorous mystery with elements of suspense and thrillers, What Grows From the Dead is set in present-day small-town North Carolina, not far from the mysterious Uwharrie Forest. |
The Festival of Hungry Ghosts by Stephen Frame Once upon a time, there was a wolf. He was a big bad wolf and in 1929 he left Fairyland to go work as a private eye in Los Angeles. Heâs got a new case he doesnât want; finding the kidnapped son of a local crime lord. Heâs got a new partner he doesnât trust; a chaotic female gangster who likes dames, booze, and bullets. Those are just the start of his problems. There are monsters in his way and not all of them are human. |
Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tears by Sarah WaterRaven It was called the Great Awakening, when magickal kind returned to our world. They live among us now, renting apartments, laboring in the workforce, and paying taxes. Ares is a vampire and doing very well for himself in the modern world. Between teaching at the local university and assisting a paranormal investigator, things couldnât be better. But when a woman dies mysteriously in her own home, the question isnât who killed her, but what.â¨â¨Alexandria is alone in the world. Having lived a complicated life surrounded by mystery and tragedy, she's quickly pulled into the world of paranormal investigating. Can she walk the border between the worlds of man and magick or will she become lost to it?â¨â¨Vampires. Witches. Ghosts. Demons. Fairies and Gods.â¨â¨Detective Docherty and the Demon's Tear is an all new Urban Fantasy with a Paranormal Mystery twist. |
Saint, Sorrow, Sinner by FreydĂs Moon An exploration of religious mythos, BrujerĂa, and spiritual ascension... Sophia De'voreaux never expected to escape Haven, but after a bloody confrontation in the Gideon Preserve, she finds herself under the protection of a rogue witch, her menacing guard, and their cautious friends. Crumbling beneath an onslaught of ancient power, Sophia must put her reservations aside, because the Breath of Judas is no ordinary relic and trusting the strange, dysfunctional group might be her only chance at ridding her body of its dangerous magic. Before it's too late. Guided by Colin, Bishop, Tehlor, and Lincoln, Sophia leaves Colorado, seeking help from a mysterious mystic, Juniper Castle, and enters a race against time, chasing salvation, redemption, and a second chance at freedom. |
The Final Shroud by Nathan Burrage The Holy Land, 1099: Jerusalem has fallen. As the Christian factions vie for power, Godefroi de Bouillon and his companions unearth markers to the Keystone, a mystical artefact with the power to shape history. Yet progress has its price: Godefroi's bodyguard lies gravely wounded; the Arabic cabal guiding Hugues is broken; and the forces of Severity are gathering to claim the Keystone. France, 1307: Bertrand de Châtillon-sur-Seine was a knight for a single day before fleeing with the mysterious Salome. After a pitched battle that claims most of his brethren, Bertrand agrees to become Salome's new Shroud, binding his fate to hers. A refuge lies across the English Channel, but will they reach it in time? And when will Salome finally reveal her secrets? The Keystone awaits, but is it meant for mortal hands? |
Rifted Hearts by M.A. Guglielmo Welcome to Moon Star Ranch, Home to Monsters and Mustangs. The Monster Apocalypse is old news, but Remi Gatti has a fresh takeâtravel tourism to monster portals. Too bad itâs only a cover for his real job as a half-human spy. When heâs sent to Moon Star Ranch to charm a veterinarian with ties to his crime familyâs enemies, Remiâs sure this will be an easy seduce-and-run job. How hard can it be to ride a horse anyway? Kaveh Salehi, a world expert on the medical treatment of alien species, has his own secrets. His friends at the ranch donât know heâs part dragon and the alien entity known as the Matchmaker has chosen a human as his destined spouse. His clan wants the oblivious soulmate located and kept safe, whether that person wants to marry a monster or not. When Kaveh discovers Remiâs also not fully human, he asks for helpâand Remi is more than up for the job. How hard can it be to fake date a sexy stranger anyway? For once, Remi doesnât want to lie to his mark. For once, Kaveh doesnât want to do the right thing. How hard can it be not to fall in love with the wrong person? |
The Hidden Keystone by Nathan Burrage July 1099: sweltering in the merciless heat, Godefroi de Bouillonâs desperate army finally breach the walls of Jerusalem. Concealed within their ranks are members of a secret fraternity. The Salt Lines seek a mystical artefact called the Keystone, and theyâre willing to sacrifice everything Godefroi values to possess it: the lives of his closest confidants, the only woman he has ever loved, even his very soul. October 1307: when Bertrand joined the Brotherhood of the Temple of Solomon, no one anticipated the brutal suppression of the Order that followed. Forced to flee for his life, Bertrand unwittingly becomes the only person who can lay the Keystone to rest. But can he resist its temptations whilst evading the forces of the French throne? With the veil of secrecy in tatters, truth has become the most dangerous possession of all. |
Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton Olivia Sachdevaâs life is flawless. With a first from Oxford and as the youngest partner at Bentley lawyers, she expects high standards from everyone. Her only indulgences are eating iced desserts and repeat watching romcoms, especially those featuring Kate Laurence â pure escapism and cinematic perfection. But, when the actor walks into Oliviaâs office with a bag full of divorce and a messy personal life, that perfect bubble bursts. Kate seems nothing like the screen goddesses she plays, and Olivia must put aside her comfort viewing and handle the case like the true professional she is. It requires secrecy, especially with indiscreet friends. Will best-friend Charlotte ever read the room? And will Millie, who instantly reads the room, ever stop commenting loudly? And Kate? She doesnât know what to think about this frosty lawyer. But she needs a quick divorce from a mistake of a marriage, which was over before it started, and Olivia Sachdeva is the best. But little by little, Olivia and Kate glimpse behind the mask, to find someone they werenât looking for, who may not even be perfect, but might be the right person for them. Read as a stand-alone romance or book two of the Oxford Romance series. |
Under Far Galaxian Skies by Natalie Kelda Balfour has committed the ultimate crime: the murder of his sisterâs boyfriend. It doesnât matter that it was accidental. Sentenced to working as ship labourer, Balfour is convinced he deserves it when he's captured by pirates and forced to a distant galaxy. He barely escapes enslavement, fleeing into a city more deadly than anything heâs ever known. Venomous reptiles hunt him. Iron-fisted tarilla chiefs are on the brink of war. Balfour must adapt quickly or prepare for a slow, torturous death in the hands of people more bloodthirsty than the Star-Eaters of old. But the biggest threat is his lingering self-loathing. If he can't fight through it, nothing else will matter â because he wonât live long enough to see it. |
Chefâs Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance) by Stephanie Shea Valentina Rosas has always known what she wants. Mostly. Sort of. At least, she does now. And what she wants is the coveted staging role at Gia, San Francisco. With four years at the top of her class in culinary school and enough tenacity to fuel the entire Mission, no one doubts she is about to land the job of her dreamsâincluding the three-person cheer squad made up of her best friend and adorably overbearing parents. Renowned chef Jenn Coleman is not a people person. Her rise to the top of the culinary industry stems from a cultivated blend of top-tier schoolingâfrom her nonnaâand bouts of carefully managed misanthropy. Owning and operating two Michelin starred restaurants doesnât leave time for much else anyway. Just ask her ex. When the new stage at her restaurant trips into her with all the grace of a baby giraffe, itâs a sure recipe for disaster. But for all of Jennâs reserve, Valentina has twice the allure, and the chemistry between them is just⌠chefâs kiss. If only Jenn wasnât Valentinaâs boss with nearly ten years between them. |
The Misadventures of Callie Compton by Alyson Root Itâs not everyday you find out that your sweet, sweater knitting, church going grandma is the UKâs most prolific crime boss. For Callie Compton, that day became a reality on her eighteenth birthday. Not being criminally inclined, Callie did the only thing she could. She bided her time, stole her grandmaâs little black book of scumbag employees, and ran for her life. Six years later Callie finds herself in a small cafĂŠ in Sweden, her Spidey sense is tingling. Someone is watching her. How did they catch her trail? And what is she going to do next? Daisy Simpson knew from the age of sixteen that Callieâs grandma was a bad person, just like her own dad. How she regrets not telling Callie before leaving for university all those years ago. Maybe then Callie wouldnât have disappeared without telling her. Not only was Callie her best friend, and first unrequited love, she was also Daisyâs biggest supporter. Being born deaf into a family like hers wasnât easy. Using skills sheâs not at liberty to discuss, Daisy tracks Callie to Sweden. After a few days of playing hide and seek, Callie and Daisy are finally reunited. The duo set out to bring Betty, aka Queen B, to her knees. Easy, right? Wrong! Callie and Daisy must navigate their growing feelings toward each other, deal with several less than happy women, overcome flooded caves and one raging bull. This is no adventure. Itâs quite the opposite. |
Don't Break Hearts by Gwen Leonhard "I donât have many rules that I follow during my travels here. Donât fall in love. Donât get attached. Remember what you came for. But most importantly: Donât break hearts." ---------- NSFWâs Tales tells the Story of a Succubus named Natt Serene Fiona Williams. With her cold demeanor, it may be hard to believe that she fights for the oppressed and weak, to give them the tools they need to find a new strength to get through their life, but you better believe that this is the case. She may be doing this with some unconventional methods, but the results are just as effective as they are kinky. While this story is definitely ânot safe for work.â It focuses on some of its parts on the explicit sexual depiction in some form, but it is way more than just simple porn. |
Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard Welcome back to Herzkirch â a city on top of a hollowed-out mountain, that is in the firm grip of the Reinblut Kirche. They passionately spread the word of the vileness of Blendlings â the offspring of a Biest and a human â and fuel prejudice against them. No wonder, the parents who turn up on the doorstep of Freyjaâs agency are beyond worried that their son has disappeared. Freyja, who is a Blendling incognito herself, doubts that this was an abduction, but decides to investigate anyway. Only when all leads start to point to Lady Hagenâs, her suspicion starts to rise. After all, this woman not only happens to be the pimp of a bunch of half-concubusses, but also is Freya's ex-girlfriend. Goddess knows what she could do to someone as naive as her crush Emilia âŚ? âPrey For The Devilâ is the second book in the âIn Cold Embraceâ series and follows the powerful trans woman Freyja deeper into the heart of Herzkirch. Thereby not only putting a strain on the relationships with her lesbian companions, but also bringing more light to her own past. |
A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard Discover Herzkirch, a city in the middle of a monster-infested wasteland, on top of a hollowed-out mountain. The Reinblut Kirche, a religious institution, holds it firmly â rallying the people against Blendlings, the half-blood offspring of Biest and humans. Freyja is such a Blendling, that manages really well to stealth between humans. So well that the Reinblut Kirche hires her to slay a Biest in the lower part of the city. This monster has dared to take a nun of the church hostage â at least that is what Freyja is told. But all is not as it seems, and maybe her target isnât as much a threat as a companion to be enjoyed ⌠In this story, powerful women take center stage â foremost Freyja as a homosexual trans woman â, carving their paths through adversity and religious norms. Still, at the heart of this narrative lies a love story that doesnât shy away from showing intimacy between its protagonists â it rather likes to indulge in it. |
I Tried Calling by Austin Abbott "This book is a collection of the voices you hear after a tape rewinds. The voices from your past you never thought you'd hear again. The voices that wash over the quiet of your apartment when you walk inside from the rain and see a blinking light and press play." Written by Austin Abbott, this is a book of short stories formatted as transcripts of messages left on answering machines. AUDIO VERSION AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE: https://numerochair.bandcamp.com/album/i-tried-calling-the-recordings |
The Sapien Empire by Nathan Ogloff A post-apocalyptic novel where civilization is making a comeback. Shindo Dacan is a socially awkward but gifted engineer who has made the most brilliant machines seen since before the All-Silenceâmachines that ruler Vibrun Magrite used in his creation of the Domain as he brought all four of the city-states within his iron grip. With the help of a friend of his, Shindo is secretly planning to provide prosthetic limbs to the many victims of the war his machines have waged. When Magrite finds out and slaughters Shindoâs friend before his eyes, Shindo tricks Magrite into funding a warrior mech to wreak revenge and is unwillingly rewarded with a woman from Magriteâs harem, Jarim Alsaedon. With his mech machine and Jarimâs help, Shindo stages a coup dâĂŠtat that leaves Magrite dead and him and his accomplice as platonic dual heads of state. As Shindo and Jarim work to rebuild their civilization, theyâre beset by factions both within and beyond the Domainâs borders. Can Shindo learn how to design a stable peace before the new world heâd envisioned becomes a wasteland of death and destruction? |
Hidden Realm (Legends of Lightning Book 1) by T.R. Slauf âThe next Realm Walker will bring with them a storm. Lightning must fight the Crimson Shadow, or the lands will be cast into eternal darkness.â When she was a child, Esther was plagued with vivid nightmares. Now they have returned to haunt her. Bloodthirsty monsters chase her through a forest of dead trees while a mysterious hooded figure stalks her. After waking with fresh wounds from her dreams, Esther searches for the truth about who she is and the Hidden Realm she is destined to save. Join Esther on her journey of self-discovery as she travels into a world long forgotten. Unsure if she can trust her hooded guide, she is hunted by unknown enemies and smothered by expectations of grandeur. Deciphering friend from foe she travels the lands, trying to unite kingdoms torn by pride. |
Redemption (Legends of Lightning Book 2) by T.R. Slauf âBlood seems to be the only thing flowing in this Realm. The day I found out the truth of who I was, was the day I died.â âSometimes you must die so you can be re-born.â Esther escaped the horrors of Castle Rose, but at a cost. Believing her lost guide is still alive deep in the bowels of Adamâs dungeons, she aims to save him, but the other Huntsman are not so sure heâs alive⌠Desperate to rescue Oisin, Esther makes tempestuous allegiances with dangerous foes. Walking a fine line between enemies and allies, life and death, she rages war against the monsters of the Hidden Realm. Estherâs journey continues in this heart wrenching sequel as she navigates the politics and grudges of ageless Queens. By night, sheâs haunted by what sheâs seen fighting in a war that was never hers. What sheâs done to survive in the Hidden Realm will haunt her forever and sheâs terrified of losing herself in the darkness without a star to guide her. Will Esther be able to save Oisin and the lands before the shadows of her mind overtake her spirit? |
Ancient as the Stars by Maya Darjani For fans of Lower Decks, the Expanse, and Firefly: a found family time travel adventure with humor, snark, and lots of heart. One kickass immortal sailship captain. Captain Karenna Yilmaz of the Earth Union Fleet has it all. Adoring husband? Check. The enduring loyalty of her crew? Check. Transformation into a beautiful ageless immortal? Check. Check. Check. But when a dimensional rift brings her low-down, dust-sniffing, no-good younger self hurtling into the present, Karenna's carefully-constructed life wavers. One snarky dust-addicted loser. Flight Officer Ren Yilmaz is pretty sick of the hand she's been dealt. Her supervisor is an idiot. Her ex-husband is vindictive and has ruined her career. And now, here's her perfect future self, who everyone fawns over, while Ren is still ignored and alone. They're the same person, 60 years apart Both their ships are stranded: one in space, one in time. Karenna needs to get her crew home safe and sound. And Ren has to get back to her reality and out of Karenna's shadow. Working together would mean literally facing their pastâincluding old traumas and transgressions best kept hidden. But if they don't, they'll be stuck with each other until the end of time. |
The Rabbit Man: A Collection of Short Terrors and Flash Fiction by T.R. Slauf The Fanciful, The Terrible, & The Macabre From killers in masks, to a haunted car wash, to a demon hunting cat, The Rabbit Man is a collection of short terrors and flash fiction. Come along to hunt witches, stalk killers, and exact vengeance in a web of tales befitting your worst nightmares and most haunting daydreams. |
Head Like a Hole by Andrew Van Wey When you bury your past, make sure that itâs dead. Itâs the mid-nineties. Grunge and flannel are fading as the Spice Girls and Hot Topic conquer the malls. Cherry gloss glistens on the lips of the youth. Modems hiss as America comes online. And in a fog-drenched cove at the edge of New England, something terrible awakens when a fisherman reels in a gruesome catch: the remains of a young woman. Remains still pulsing with furious life. For Megan Monroe and her friends, this is how their nightmare begins: a wet whisper over their shoulder, a dark hand reaching out from the edge of their sight, and a name clawing at the back of their minds. A young woman scratched from their memory. To stop this devouring terror, Megan will need to mend broken friendships and reassemble her fractured past, for what stalks them hungers to remake itself in their image⌠piece by bloody piece. Dig into the haunted past with Head Like a Hole, a novel of malignant secrets, shattered friendships, and twisted bodily horror. â â â â â "This is a brilliant read. A wonderful well-written plot and a story line that had me engaged from the start." â â â â â "A quick, fun read that will be enjoyed by true crime, horror, and sci-fi fans." â â â â â "A beautiful, gritty tale that engages you to piece it all together while being deliciously entertained at the same time." |
Kill All The Dogs by Rick Berry Are we defined by the things that happen to us, or the things we make happen to others? Ten-year-old Nathan Hyde is playing in a tree house, when he witnesses a vicious attack on his best friendâs younger sisters. Life is never the same again. Many years later, Nathan finds himself in the lower reaches of a government department, when an opportunity to confront his demons and enact revenge presents itself. A mystery illness is taking hold in the population, at the very moment a scheming, attention-seeking politician becomes Nathanâs new boss. It canât happen, can it? In the farcical world of politics, anything is possible. Nathan Hyde is going to kill all the dogs. Part psychological drama, part political satire, Kill All The Dogs is the story of how of a personal trauma becomes twisted into a national tragedy. |
Savior on the zenith: Fragmented Fates Duology, part 2 by Nancy Foster The doubtful. The jaded. The heir. The dauntless. Jarahad questions the mistakes he made during his life. Nobody ever forced him to become initiated in the combative harlequin arts, which only worsens his guilt. The only person that understands his true feelings is acting recklessly for reasons he doesn't quite understand yet. When disaster befalls Almjarhad, Jarahad will be forced to make the most difficult decision of his life. Talgel's fate has become sealed in stone, and there is no turning back. The chess board she carefully assembled over the years has been prepared, and the pawns waiting in their positions for the true hero of this story to perform the first move. With no options left, Talgel hopes she can reveal the prediction that can save Almjarhad before all hopes are lost. Tioja forges an unbreakable bond with the one person who can both save Almjarhad and ruin him. After running away from Almjarhad and fearing for his vanishing sanity, Tioja seeks refuge in the new harlequin enclave of Murdorhiolan alongside his mother, her new husband... and his half-brother named Gulraj. While Tioja gets used to his new life, an innocent remark ignites a butterfly effect that will trigger devastating consequences. Jamarnid suspects something is amiss when a human mage moves into Almjarhad and becomes infatuated with his son Jarahad. Just as he feared, the mage becomes an unstoppable threat that warrants a drastic solution. After being ridiculed by his peers, Jamarnid must set aside his pride and convince everyone the mage threatens the city's safety before it's too late. The demon who has bonded to Talgel's soul stares at the chessboard it helped assemble with reverie and is eager to share its power with the one person that can save the city... for a hefty price. |
United Earth 3: Despair & Hope by R.M. Almonte Despair & Hope is the third part in the United Earth series. With Stevie's demise, the galaxy is on the brink of war. They have made many new friends but have also made a powerful enemy who will stop at nothing till they control the whole galaxy. When you are at your lowest point how do you find the courage and strength to fight for a brighter future? |
United Earth 2: Exiled by R. M. Almonte How do you do something no one else has done before? Exiled is 2nd tale of United Earth. Stevie's dreams come true but they come at a cost. When Stevie and his crew lose everything they work so hard for. Sometimes new chapters, means to burn away the old ones. Now exiled from Earth they must rebuild. |
United Earth 1: Rough Beginnings by R. M. Almonte Rough Beginnings is 1st tale of United Earth. A young boy who loses his mother. A junkie father whose only emotion is numbness. Guided by some outside force. Stevie must learn his true inner power. Driven to follow his dream, Stevie must go beyond the norms of everyday society. How do you learn to do something no one else has done? |
Scratching The Cosmic Conscious by R. M. Almonte Trevor is a Dominican American born and raised in New York City who has turned over a new leaf and set foot upon the road of spiritual growth. Determined to escape his past and sure that all of the answers are somewhere out there just beyond the next horizon, Trevorâs deepest wishes are seemingly granted when he follows a series of strange dreams bidding him to construct a unique apparatus. Soon Trevor is catapulted on a journey across space and time where new friends and adventures await in lands beyond his wildest imagination. Accompanied by a 4,000-year-old tree being named Sequoyah, Trevor explores the planet Vensra, learning many wondrous things. But will Trevor learn the greatest lesson of all when the road of adventure leads him within to face himself? |
Awakenings by Claudie Arseneault Innkeep, hunter, blacksmith, nurseâHorace has apprenticed for every clan in the domed city of Trenaze, and they've all rejected em. Too hare-brained. Too talkative. Too slow. Ever the optimist, e has joined Trenaze's guards to be mentored. Horace has high hopes to earn eir place during eir trial at the Great Market. That is, until the glowing shards haunting the world break through the city's protective dome, fused together in a single, monstrous amalgam of Fragments. Armed with a sword, a shield, and far too little training, Horace doubts eir ability to defend the market-goers. But eir last stand is interrupted by a mysterious elven figure who can dissipate the Fragments with a single, strange sentence: your story is my story. From the moment it is uttered, Horace knows the sentences holds true for em, tooâand when the elf collapses in the middle of the market, e carries them to safety, to recover away from the panicked crowd and inevitable questions from eir fellow guards. It could cost em eir apprenticeshipâeir last chance to find eir place in eir home cityâbut Horace cannot resist the pull of this mystery elf and the call of a new friend. Aliyah has but one desire: to leave Trenaze's safe boundaries and find the forest that haunts their dreams. After an afternoon of board games in their quiet, sharp-witted company, Horace is ready to follow, confronting Fragments and other dangers of the road to understand what happened that day, hear Aliyah's laugh again and finally feel like e belongs. |
The Heirs of Duty, Braenduir Chronicles #1 by Julia P. Aspenn If you are an heir of duty by birth, oath, or just because you are too stubborn to step out of a road that winds toward destruction, is your fate carved in the stone or could you grab the wheel and steer the barge your own way? Irana Rofinnar was born to produce heirs to the throne, but the kingâs scheme cements her decision that the time has come for a caged bird to test her wings. Compelled by his sense of honour, Arron Grethsen heads to the battles raging in the Western Kingdoms. As the son of a healer mage, he ought to know that falling in love with one is courting grief, but a heart tends to have its way, and the romance blooms on the path to war. When you have given your word, it binds you. Regardless of his wardâs best efforts, Toren Eddesen is determined to keep his record of unbroken promises clean. He has pledged his sword to the King of Girania, so the princess has his protection whether she willed it or not. Braenduir Chronicles is an adventurous high fantasy book series that follows the winding paths of heroes and heroines of the Torn Continent. If youâre a fan of George R. R. Martin, J. R. R. Tolkien, Tad Williams, Andrzej Sapkowski and others writing character-based, adventurous fantasy, you might find this series to your liking! |
Selarial's Song by Laura Brewer Ignorance is the greatest danger of all! Selarial ne Talmanor is wary of going on patrol with the mostly human crew of the Ventura. They have a good combat record, but human suspicions run deep. Will they be willing to trust the Sorthian crew of the Equinox? Alcar Trent, Captain of the Ventura, knows the captain of the Equinox. Heâs skeptical of the Sorthiansâ psychic talents, but he does trust them as strong allies to watch his back in a fight. Can he learn to rely on their abilities â and admit to his own? The Coalition of Free Worlds is on the verge of open war with the Thessân Empire. As the incidents increase, Selarial and Alcar begin to see the Sorthians are high on the list of targets. When ancient weapons, long thought destroyed, begin to appear, Selarial must trace the source. On Sorth, the Singer Council searches equally ancient records for answers, but finds more questions â and an urgent warning. |
The Path of Pain and Ruin by Joel Glover In the wastes beyond the Last City, all is quiet. Everyone has heard of the Hundred Blessed. Of the Final War between the Empire of Blue and Green and the Empire of Red and Ivory. Of what they did. But the war is never over. You canât outrun your past. And you canât hide from what youâve done, no matter how hard you might try. All you can do is walk the Path the God has set out for you. And try to shut out the screams, and the sound of bones breaking beneath your feet. |
Guava Flavored Lies by JJ Arias Allâs Fair in Love and (Pastry) War Sylvie Campos and Lauren Machado have hated each other since before they were born. For generations, the Campos and Machado families have blamed each other for stealing pastry recipes they claim their great-grandfathers originated before fleeing Castroâs Cuba. Having spent their lives as rivals, Lauren and Sylvie are now in their early thirties and primed to take over their respective family bakeries. That means working long, hot, seasons of outdoor food festivals where they are forced to endure each other - albeit with a lot of bantering and barb-trading. After all, no one knows how to get under Sylvieâs skin like Lauren. Sick of dealing with Lauren and her thieving family, Sylvie sets out to unmask the Machados for the traitors they are. But when the truth is not what Sylvie expects, will the fiery exchanges between her and Lauren turn into something hot enough to melt away generational baggage? Could they get the chance to rekindle what they almost had in high school? Find out in this laugh-out-loud hilarious, enemies-to-lovers, romantic comedy featuring plenty of steam, tension, and delicious Cuban food. |
We All Fall Down by Jennifer Bernardini Hg34, a super virus, has scorched the earth of many of its inhabitants. Those unlucky enough to still be wandering the streets must fight for their survival. Choice becomes an illusion and the fate of millions rests uneasily in the palm of President Virginia Hillâs hands when she runs for, and wins, the presidential election. Civilization is crushed into dust when the President does the unthinkable and poisons her people. Libby and her six-year-old son team up with brothers Lincoln and Gideon, one a drug dealer with conspiracy theories on the brain and the other an ex-con. They struggle to survive as they search for answers: answers as to what happened and what to do next. |
Early Adopter by Drew Harrison The Price of Tomorrow, Paid Today "Early Adopter" is a collection of short stories from the edge of human progress. Eight stories hold dark mirrors to our own world⌠experience thought-provoking sci-fi, technologic tragedy, and pulse-pounding thrillers. To Run Again: Dr. Laura Brandie is ready to change the world. She's the lead researcher behind the KSE, a revolutionary cure for paralysis and neurodegenerative conditions. And now, by good fortune, she's found the perfect candidate for her first human trial: a man who suffers from locked-in syndrome. Brett Harmon's paralysis is total: he can't move his arms, legs, torso, neck, or face. To the outside world, he's little more than a statue that breathes... but Dr. Brandie's KSE might be the miracle that allows Brett to run again. Homonoia: The world faces an unprecedented alignment of catastrophes and failing systems, far too intricate and interconnected for any human to solve. Frank Burman joins with seven other volunteers for Project Homonoia--a radical, last-ditch effort to postpone the apocalypse. Separate minds link to form one multidisciplinary consciousness, the world's first human superorganism... a hive mind. But with the world's health rapidly failing, can Project Homonoia work out its kinks in time to make a difference? Early Adopter: A loner enters into a relationship with a new type of partner: an AI agent, programmed to be the "perfect companion." Sure, it's all self-deception and a game of pretend, as she's not actually real... but where simulated consciousness is concerned, maybe the lines between real and real enough can get blurry. |
Empire's Passing by Marian L Thorpe Gwenna, Principe of Emparias, is witnessing an empireâs fall. She must not only predict the future, but create one â without the advice and support of her father. Her partner Lynthe is challenging her leadership; her mother and Sorley are struggling to find their own futures without the man they both loved. Can she shape the world envisioned by Cillian, the world they have all worked towards for the last thirty years? Lena, newly bereft, can find no peace in the walls of a fort or the duties of a general. In a divisive decision, she chooses to travel east, to find her son, to judge the progress of the war for herself, and to search for both memories and a future. Where is home for the falcon, when there is no falconer to hold out his arm? |
Ark of Ascension: A Space Opera Adventure by Michael R. Schultheiss A planet of zealots⌠An alien danger⌠Can she save her sister? Bounty huntress Evalla Taryu never wanted to return to her home-world, where religious zealots preside over brooding alien ruins and flickering holo-ghosts⌠But when Evalla learns her sister has fallen under the sway of a firebrand cult leader and plans to merge with a dangerous ancient alien artifact, she has to make an exception. Battling fanatics, assassins, her sisterâs intransigence, and her own doubts, Evalla faces a terrible conundrum: can she stop her sister from sacrificing herself? Ancient alien powers, religious zealots, espionage, and family loyalties collide in Ark of Ascension, Mission 1 of Huntress for Hire. Get it now. |
The Woman in White by E.M. McConnell A curse that never dies. Two lives separated by time, but tangled together by betrayal, blood and lust. London, 1940. Britain was at war. Emily had been thrust into a different world than she was used to, of munitions factories, rationing and fear. Her husband was far away at war and she was alone with children. But evil walks the streets when it is dark and Emily was its victim. Slowly her life unravels, ending in blood and tears, alone. London, present day. Gemmaâs life was on the up. She had just moved into a new apartment and was hoping for a promotion at work. But the building harboured dangerous secrets and the Woman in White stalked, looking for revenge. Gemma's life begins to unravel, as she questions even her own sanity. |
The Least of Elves: A Land of Fathara Novella by Robin Glassey Toran looked upon the other Elves in Xanti with wonder. They all had at least one Gift, they all had a trade, and they all knew their path in life. Why did he have to be so different? Toran's only claim to fame had been the attention the queen had given him on his Naming Day. She had called him a harbinger ⌠but of what? And now that he was entrusted with a delivery to the Human village of Kipra, he hoped great things finally lay in store - but feared his history of mistakes might spell disaster. |
The Weight of Wishes by Tori Weed If dreams can come true, it is vital to remember that nightmares, well, they exist too. Seren was only four when the Stellean king killed her mother. Sixteen years his servant, Seren understands her place in his cruel court: Stay quiet. Stay out of trouble. And most importantly, stay alive. But now, the Fae king wants her dead too, and there is only one way to stop him. Thrust into a challenge not undertaken for centuries, Seren must navigate trials more dangerous and twisted than she could ever imagine. With the fate of her kingdom hanging in the balance, can Seren defy the odds and uncover the truth about her past? The clock is ticking. The gods are watching. |
Five Lords of Dusk by F. Malbeck The hunt has begun. They will find him. And when they do, he will bring down the Empire from within. The Empire would say the Blooded who ruled the land before them are dead and gone, but those onboard the Oathbreaker know it to be a lie; one look at the captainâs ward will tell you that. Shye is one of them. A Stormborn, Dusk Blooded, Strange . . . an enemy of the Empire. He has spent his whole life running from port to port, hiding behind a hood, on a swift ship, running from the imperials who stole land, capital, and crown from his kind and left them to rot in thinning bloodlines. But when he blows his crewâs cover on imperial docks, he is forced to confront the will of the Empire and the humans who rule it. With newly discovered powers to aid him and whispers on the wind to guide him, Shye knows that the answers to the fading of the Blooded lay in Mistral, the capital of the Empire, and that the imperial bounty hunter dispatched to capture him can take him there. There can be no better coronation gift for the crown prince than a Stormborn. Dorian is an imperial bounty hunter. The best in Emin Rif. But Dorianâs independence is constantly threatened by the demands of their noble father, who wanted a perfect, controllable heir . . . he got Dorian instead. It is only their reputation that keeps them free. The assignment to track down a rumoured Stormborn, a being of legend in tales told to guild children, could destroy that reputation forever if it turns out to be a lie. But, if the rumour is true, Dorian will be untouchable in the eyes of the crown and beyond their fatherâs reach forever. Five Lords of Dusk is the debut queer fantasy novel by indie author F. Malbeck. Featuring a genderqueer lead and a flintlock fantasy setting, this novel takes place in a world partly inspired by the author's home country of Australia. |
Verona Green by Victoria Raschke In a city where magic and art collide, Verity Green, a skilled witch and art restorer, guards a dangerous secret: she possesses the ability to channel the spirits of deceased artists and breathe life back into their masterpieces. For years, she's hidden her extraordinary gift, but whispers of her talent have reached the wrong ears. Shadowy forces crave her powers, willing to exploit her abilities for their own criminal purposes. When her best friend is kidnapped, Verity's world shatters. A clandestine society emerges, one with secrets darker than any painting sheâs ever done. In her quest to save her friend, Verity must navigate these ancient rivalries and confront a nefarious plot that threatens the integrity of art itself. Amid the chaos, Verity finds an unexpected ally, an enigmatic architect with his own murky past. As they delve deeper into the shadow of the art world, a romance sparks. But time is running out, and Verity must harness her magical prowess to rescue her friend before it's too late. Verona Green is a spellbinding, cross-genre contemporary fantasy, recommended for fans of Alice Hoffman and Neil Gaiman. Within this world where art becomes a conduit for the supernatural, Verity proves that the truest magic lies within the human heart. |
Things Magical Under The Moon: A Grim Anthology by Alexis L Carroll and Amanda Stockton To those who wander the woods alone, be wary of Things Magical Under the Moon. For the trees and crows conspire while vengeance is sought by werewolves and vampires. Fairies and spirits linger just out of sight while the witches convene in the dead of night. Magic and malice take flight, while a dragon hungers for your life. So, dear reader, take to heart this warning: Mind the path and youâll make it to morning. Featuring fairytale mashups of: Cinderella Red Riding Hood The Fox and The Wolf Rumpelstiltskin The Tailor The Fairy Tree of Dooros The Juniper Tree The Crows Fowler's Fowl Wizard of Oz The Crucible |
Stars Like Fire by Marissa Lupe Fighting for their freedom was only the beginning, now they must do the hardest thing of all, they must live. Three journeys and one destination will bring them all together. Despite having never met in person, their years of communicating virtually cemented Eleanorâs love for the woman who has her whole heart long ago. But when her love goes missing, Eleanor leaves the safety of Sandstone Estate to rescue her, and ends up finding more than she bargained for. An entire town has had their children stolen, and itâs up to Eleanor to lead the fight to save them, along with the woman that she loves. Theo canât remember his past, but begins to build his future when a family takes him in as a farm hand. But then the farm is destroyed, a young boy is orphaned, and Theo finds himself slipping into the role of guardian. When the boy receives an urgent message from a mysterious voice through the radio, Theo must guide him across a dangerous and barren landscape in hopes of finding a safe place to call home. TĂŠa and her infant daughter have traveled the continent to restore the land for a grateful nation, but when strangers arrive on her doorstep looking for help, TĂŠa must decide if she can risk opening her heart again. Then tragedy strikes, and TĂŠa is forced to confront her past and meet a new challenge that has the power to rip the Earth to shreds. As Eleanor, Theo, and TĂŠaâs paths collide, the future of mankind is thrust into their hands, and they must work together to save not only themselves, but all of humanity. |
Strands of Time and Magic by Andrew Platten Magic is dangerous. Being a charmer is deadly... Concealing her modest magical abilities, which brand her as a reviled charmer, the headstrong Brylee lives in fear of exposure. If her abilities are discovered, she could be banished from the town or, worse, fall victim to merciless mages eager to drain her power and leave her for dead. The threat she does not foresee is a physical attack. To survive, she must harness her magic. Now, the secret of Bryleeâs magic is out, and she is forced to flee. One mage offers salvation to her family and their farm. His price? A deadly mission - she must hunt down the Red Assassin. But her quest, step by step, will bring her into conflict with a far greater evil... |