|
To Miss the Stars by Barbara Lieberman John Worthington is a man who knows his place in the world and keeps to it. That is, until a letter he writes is misdirected. A simple and thoughtful reply begins a correspondence that will turn that well-ordered life upside down. |
|
In Time with the Duke by Brooke J. Losee NEVER wear cursed pearls. With the expectation to take over as CEO of the family business looming over her, Magdalena McCarthy wants nothing more than to escape a life of board meetings and late nights at the office. When her pearl heirloom grants her wish by transporting her two hundred years into the past and is then stolen by a bunch of British punks, her future looks more uncertain than ever. Now sheâs stuck in 1815, and her only chance of finding the heirloom and going home rests with her handsome rescuer. Luke Halford, Duke of Avendesh, avoids social gatherings like any man committed to eternal bachelorhood. But after saving a peculiar young lady from a band of highwaymen, his notions on marriage are quickly upended. Miss McCarthyâs odd phrases and lack of social etiquette disarm him, and the more time he spends with the American lady, the more his walls crumble. As Maggie begins to accept life in the past, the opportunity to reclaim the necklace leaves her with an impossible choice, one ripped from her grasp when gossip threatens her reputation. After confessing the truth, sheâs certain her return to the future was for the best, but Luke isnât ready to lose the woman who stole his heart, and the same pearl necklace that brought them together soon places them both in the hands of a madman and the future in jeopardy. |
|
Fella Ever After by S.O. Callahan With the wedding event of the year safely behind him, Peter is left to figure out how to navigate life without his best friend at his side. Then, a letter arrives with a special request. Peter leaps at the unique opportunity. Itâs the perfect excuse to spend more time with Breck, who has been busy preparing for his own life-changing ceremony. The pair set off on a journey meant to bring them closer together, but after a few mishaps along the way, it ends with them farther apart than either of them couldâve imagined. Peter is forced to question his future with the enchanting lad heâs fallen for. Can the two of them work through their challenges, or is this a fairy tale that was never meant to be told? Fella Ever After is the sequel to Fella Enchanted. It cannot be read as a standalone. |
|
Fella Enchanted by S.O. Callahan Fairy tales are for children. Thatâs what Peter had decided, especially after a devastating illness swept through his village, thrusting him into the harsh, very unmagical reality of adulthood. Following a difficult recovery, and an even more arduous struggle with finding his footing in life after losing some of the people he cared about most, Peterâs world is upended again with the arrival of a stranger who takes a special interest in his story. Quirky and confident, Breck quickly pulls Peter out of the sheltered and safe, albeit monotonous, existence that heâs finally settled into. He discovers that letting go doesnât mean forgetting the past, it means gaining a future. But what if that future also holds a bit of magic, too? |
|
In the Light of the Dawn by The Furry Historical Fiction society We invented writing to preserve our stories and to share them with each other. From the mistiest stretches of history we find scraps and pieces of tales we told each other, forming the myths, legends, and dramas that persist to this day. Hear us, then. Listen to the stories passed down from the earliest foundations of civilizations, to the creation of nations and empires. Hear the stories of the grandest rulers to the humblest peasants. The world is not so young as it was, but walk with us in these tales of antiquity: In the Light of the Dawn. |
|
When the World Was Young by The Furry Historical Fiction society The invention of writing postdates, invariably, the invention of storytelling. After all, what purpose is there to writing, until you have something to write down? Excavate these writings, then. Decipher them carefully. Let them, at last, convince you to forget writing until instead they sit across the fire, speaking to you oral traditions, folktales, and of days long, long past When the World Was Young. |
|
"I would advise you, young man, to take care around anyone with the surname Firefax. I know not if the rumors be true that they be king killers, but they are, without any doubt, a dangerous family." Legend tells of a city of gold on a phantom island. The wealth of that city could end the American Revolution. But the only person who knows the islandâs location is the worldâs deadliest assassin. And heâs not giving up that secret without a fight . . . The worldâs oldest family of high-profile assassins, the Firefaxes, have been killing off dignitariesâand being well-compensated to do soâfor centuries. The family is thrown into turmoil by their patriarchâs death and the return of their cunning, cruel prodigal, Murdoch. With their father dead, Murdoch is the only one who knows where the Firefax wealth is, kept on a secret island. But two competing intelligence networks in the American Revolution are bent on tracking down the legendary treasure to end the war, whatever the cost. However, these spy networks may have met their match in this wily, dysfunctional family of killers. |
|
When 16-year-old Kallis goes to see Aristophanes' latest play, she's inspired to sneak into the Assembly and try to make her name as an orator. Against the backdrop of steampunk antiquity â an Ancient Athens where automatons line the city walls â Kallis sets out to incite a revolution. Sheâs going to create a world where no one is forced to be someone theyâre not: a world where women can be artificers and orators, where oneâs future isnât determined by the track set out by their parents. |
|
Rosemary & Iron by Dorian Valentine When a ritual to restore Mana goes wrong and sends him into the distant past, CĂ©lestin Edevane seeks the help of a strange man inhabiting an even stranger estate in order to prevent the calamity that destroyed Mana. Faced with a fascinating world unlike his own, filled with vampires, fae, witches and old gods and an unexpected love affair...will he even want to return to his time? |
|
Regency Rumors by Bethany Swafford Juliet Sinclair knows her family are not traitors to the crown-the difficulty is in proving it. Driven by a desire to save the Sinclair name from disgrace, Juliet seeks assistance from her father's old friends, the Burnhams. Unfortunately, her arrival does not go as expected, and Juliet finds herself mistakenly assuming the role of lady's maid to Mrs. Burnham and her daughter Eugenia. This unintentional appointment provides her with an opportunity to gain Mrs. Burnham's confidence and to investigate the treasonous rumors against her family as she assists Eugenia with preparations for her first London Season. But a grave threat hangs over the denizens of Burnham House, and Juliet has uncovered evidence that might prevent the family from suffering her own disastrous fate... if she can reveal the truth in time. Follow the adventures of Juliet Sinclair in "Regency Rumors," Book One of the Sinclair Society Series. |
|
The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell England, 1810. The north is governed by a single rule. Faerie will take as it pleases. William Loxley is cursed. A pale and monstrous creature haunts his dreams, luring him from London to the desolate, grey landscape of his forgotten childhood. There, it will use him to open a door to Faerieâa fate that will trap Loxley in that glittering, heathen otherworld forever. His only hope of escaping the creature's grasp lies with John Thorncress, a dark and windswept stranger met on the moors. The longer Loxley stays in Thorncress' company, the harder it becomes to fight his attraction to the man. Such attraction can only end in heartbreakâor the noose. But Thorncress has his own bleak ties to Faerie. They come creeping in with the frost, their howls carrying on the winter wind. If Thorncress' past catches up with him before they can break the curse, then Loxley will not only lose his soul. He'll lose Thorncress, too. |
|
Half a world away, beside the newly discovered continent of Southland, dwell the Sentinels, an archipelago of overgrown tropical islands brimming with gold. Amongst their rocky slopes fly the sails of traders, pirates and sealords all, none more feared than those stained threatening black. When Southland convict Wesley King and his family are finally pardoned after three hard years of toil, they delve into the islandsâ embrace searching for a fabled treasure long lost. But the quest quickly transforms into a desperate struggle for survival when the Kings become ensnared in the regionâs delicate web of piracy and treachery, where blood is repaid with blood, and a mysterious ship has resurfaced four years after it was wrecked. |
|
BACKMASK is written in the style of 60s horror pulp. Inspired by pop music history, BACKMASK is the fake history of a conspiracy theory surrounding the Satanic agenda to control children's minds. Nicholas Hush, 1960s record producer, has a vision for the future of pop music. After a series of prophetic dreams he wants to combine occult imagery with upcoming trends to create a new, groundbreaking look. His secretary, Valerie Chill, is tasked with finding consultants and funding while he crafts the perfect album. Quickly their project becomes entangled in other, larger machinations, and two teenage pop acts become responsible for international intrigue, brainwashing, and an occult massacre. Taking inspiration from the lives of Joe Meek, Phil Spector, and Timothy Leary, BACKMASK is a speculative look at how hidden messages got into pop music. |
|
Dust of Wrathful Years by Klara Ćuczka-HanzalovĂĄ 1939⊠Childhood is cut short by the outbreak of war. After a short-lived era of renaissance, Poland is once again being torn to pieces. The endless struggle for freedom returns. Aniela, Jadzia and Kamil were simply adolescents growing up in a promising age of renewal. Part of a generation born with their homelandâs independence, they were to discover Poland as a free and thriving country⊠Only to later discover death and destruction. In the face of terror imposed by the German invasion, they take up arms to fight. The young scouts become bold soldiers, determined to defend righteousness against the all-encompassing and merciless evil. Dust of Wrathful Years is the first part of a trilogy following the trials and tribulations of the Polish resistance during WWII. Time to (re)discover this era through the unique perspective of youth in the scouting movement. After their lives are shattered, they must not only defend their country but also rebuild the ruins of their hearts. |
|
Lady of Ravensmere by Mary McKenna In a richly-imagined fantasy world, against a backdrop of alliances and betrayals, a young girl grows to a woman. Jenevra Louvet, the thirteen year old daughter of the Earl of Allandale, travels to the north to be betrothed. Well-born, well-bred and well-trained, she would not embarrass a king. But no king awaits her. Instead she will marry the new made lord of a dilapidated castle threatened by war. Far from her family and the life she knows, with little support, she must find a way to grow into the woman and lady her new land and husband need. Brilliantly imagined fantasy, Lady of Ravensmere chronicles the beginning of Jenevra's journey, a journey that will change her and the world around her. |
|
Liath Luachra: The Raiders by Brian O'Sullivan A gripping adventure in Ancient Ireland! As winter draws to a close, a troubled woman warrior's cold seclusion is disrupted by a desperate plea for help. Raising a warband to liberate a comradeâs kidnapped sister however, she quickly discovers this âsimpleâ rescue is far more perilous than she could have imagined. Traversing the wilderness of ancient Ireland, in pursuit of an enigmatic raiding party, she encounters old enemies who seek to undermine her, new allies who cannot be trusted, and harrowing secrets relating to her own past that threaten to undermine her leadership. Confronted by horrors sheâd thought long forgotten, Liath Luachra must revert to the very worst part of herself to survive. But in the wilderness of the âGreat Wildâ, even the best laid schemes rarely go as planned. And the southern forests hide threats far more lethal than raiders. This book includes the complete adventure contained in Liath Luachra: The Seeking and Liath Luachra: The Metal Men. |
|
The Bachelor's Valet by Arden Powell Alphonse Hollyhock is blessed with wealth, class, and more beauty than brains. Though he hasn't got a lick of wit or magic to his name, he's perfectly content living life as an airheaded bachelor with his valetâthe clever, unflappable Jacobiâby his side to ensure everything runs smoothly. All he lacks, according to his mother, is a wife. Despite Alphonse's protests, he's to marry Aaliyah Kaddour: a bright, headstrong young woman who would probably be charming company if she didn't threaten everything about Alphonse's way of life. Marrying means giving up his fashionable flat, his fast car, and, worst of all, it means losing Jacobi. Perhaps most distressingly, this talk of marriage is bringing all sorts of confusing feelings to the forefront. Because rather than falling for the beautiful girl being pushed into his arms, Alphonse seems to be falling for his valet. Except a man can't fall in love with another man. Can he? Meanwhile, Aaliyah has plans of her own. She's as devious as she is pretty, but if Alphonse wants to get through this marriage business in one piece, he'll have to trust her. Her and Jacobi, and, most dangerously, his own feelings. The Bachelor's Valet is a novel in the Flos Magicae series, a collection of queer romances set in an alternate 1920s universe with magic. All the stories are standalones and can be read in any order. |
|
Shortlisted for the 2022 Chaucer Award. 'A skilfully written, beautifully researched coming-of-age story set in Viking Orkney.â Lexie Conyngham, the Orkneyinga Murders series Loyalty has a price the children pay In the twilight of the old gods, when the last Vikings rule the seas, two cursed orphans meet on an Orkney beach and their fates collide. Stripped of honour, facing bleak loneliness ahead, Skarfr and Hlif forge an unbreakable bond as they come of age in the savage Viking culture of blood debts and vengeance. To be accepted as adults, Skarfr must prove himself a warrior and Hlif must learn to use womenâs weapons. Can they clear their names and choose their destiny? Or are they doomed by their fathersâ acts? The award-winning author of The Troubadours Quartet returns to the 12th century, with skalds instead of troubadours and Viking warriors instead of crusaders. Get ready for authentic medieval adventures steeped in poetry, politics and passion. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell Matthew Harffy and Madeline Miller. |
|
The Education of a Wetback by Marcos Antonio Hernandez He left to seek a future. Can he escape his past to find his fortune? El Salvador, 1979. Young Toño has grand ambitions. But as the second son of a poor farmer, he sees little hope of taking over the family business. And when he catches his secret girlfriend cavorting with her ex at the carnival, he decides the path to riches lies north of the border. Arriving in LA single and desperate for money, Toño works under the table while cohabitating with his fellow immigrants, hoping to earn enough to help his family and attract the right woman. But when his illegal status always results in rejection, the stubborn migrant becomes frustrated at being caught between two worlds. Can Toño break through social barriers and ingrained prejudice to create the future he'd envisioned? The Education of a Wetback is a candid, fictionalized account of one man's true journey into adulthood. If you like insightful Hispanic American literature, engaging characters, and elements of magical realism, then you'll love Marcos Antonio Hernandez's exhilarating quest for freedom. |
|
Where They Burn Books, They Also Burn People by Marcos Antonio Hernandez They're devoted to God. But will doing the Lord's work lead them into darkness? 1549. Convinced he's destined to fulfill a whispered prophecy, Friar Diego de Landa labors to convert the Maya of the YucatĂĄn Peninsula. Discovering a brutal Spanish landowner persecuting the native population, Friar Diego determines to protect them and punish the cruel man. But when he repatriates thousands of Maya and uproots centuries of indigenous traditions, the priest's obsession may end up destroying them all. 2010. Cortez Vuscar is convinced his father will return if he can grow their church's congregation. Certain he's found his true love and believing they can attract churchgoers together, Cortez sets out to win her from her wealthy and unfaithful boyfriend. But his fascination with the famous literature she's reading infects his mind with a deadly descent into madness... Can these men save their religion without destroying what they love? Where They Burn Books, They Also Burn People is the gripping combination of two books in the Hispanic American Heritage Stories series, based on historical events. If you like indigenous revenge, villain origin stories, and the consuming force of religious fervor, then you'll love this illuminating tale about Catholicism's shadowed past. |
|
The Camelot Shadow by Sean Gibson âA chance to save her. Improbably, impossibly, inconceivably.â Lord Alfred Fitzwilliam spends each day in much the same way: caring for his terminally ill wife and trying to lose himself in the dusty tomes that fill his library. Everything changes when he receives a visit from a man representing a clandestine organization operating with the backing of Queen Victoria herself. The group seeks his aid in finding an Arthurian artifact that, legend holds, can cure its bearer of any wound or disease. Skeptical but desperate to help his wife, Alfred is convinced that the fabled item might actually exist after witnessing a seemingly impossible display of power by the organization's leader, James Nigel. He decides to purse the treasure, accompanied by an eccentric scholar, a deadly druid, and his best friend, a sardonic bookseller who is far more than he seems. As he follows an arcane trail of clues from the gas-lit streets of London to the wilds of Scotland and deep into ancient catacombs in Italy, Alfred becomes enmeshed in a web of hidden agendas, secret societies, and ancient enchantments. Along the way, he learns a dark secret about Nigelâs pastâand the true power of the artifact he seeks. Steeped in a compelling mythology and filled with unexpected twists, The Camelot Shadow will leave readers stunned, breathless, and wrestling with an impossible question: what do you do with an object that has the power to both save the world and destroy it? |
|
Herald of the Storm by R.S Ford The first novel in Richard Ford's magnificent fantasy series has enough thrills, valour, guts and glory to satisfy any die-hard fan of David Gemmell and Joe Abercrombie. STAND TOGETHER⊠Under the reign of King Cael the Uniter, the vast cityport of Steelhaven has for years been a symbol of strength, maintaining an uneasy peace throughout the Free States. But now a long shadow hangs over the city, in the form of the dread Elharim warlord, Amon Tugha. ...OR DIE ALONE! When his herald infiltrates Steelhaven, looking to exploit its dangerous criminal underworld, and a terrible dark magick that has long been buried once again begins to rise, it could be the beginning of the end. . . Buy Herald of the Storm to begin the adventure today! |
|
IN A WORLD RULED BY MEN, ONE WOMAN WILL RISE She was their greatest warrior; the daughter of the king. But her uncle stole the throne and sent her away to marry Eadmund, the drunken son of their worst enemy. Now she must pick up her sword again to restore her familyâs honour and return to the home she loves. Despite her skill with a sword, her prowess in battle, and her reputation as the greatest warrior in Brekka, without her father to protect her, Jael was merely a pawn, a woman to be married off so her uncle could forge an alliance to fulfil his own desperate ambitions. Eadmund is broken hearted, tortured by the murder of his first wife, but his father had lost patience with him. He wanted heirs for his kingdom. He wanted his son back, restored to the fierce warrior he had once been. And when his daughter has a dream about Jael, the woman who would save him, he eagerly jumps at the opportunity to make an alliance with his worst enemy. Jael and Eadmund will fight against their union, but the dreamers know that this marriage is meant to be; it must happen for the sake of all Osterland. For without them... without Jael and her sword, without Eadmund by her side, the five kingdoms will not survive the darkness that is coming to claim them all. |
|
Eye of the Wolf: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Lords of Alekka Book 1) by A.E. Rayne A mysterious woman with many secrets. A lord forsaken by the gods. A kingdom on the brink of war. Alekka is an ancient kingdom, riven with rivalries, and though there has been a period of relative peace, the kingâs enemies are now emboldened, seeking to rise against him and steal the throne. Trapped in a small village with two young children, an unhappy Alys is oblivious to the rising danger. Winters have been brutal, raiding expeditions proving unfruitful, and her husband has grown violent. Fearing for her safety, she hides away supplies, preparing for the escape she must make. Soon. Lord Reinar Vilander is acutely aware of the kingâs precarious position, for his fort guards the bridge to Alekkaâs capital. Enemies range above him, planning their attack â enemies with dreamers capable of wielding dark magic â and Reinar knows that a skilled dreamer is worth a few thousand men. Desperate to shore up his defenses, he takes to sea, looking for slaves to sell, hoping to earn enough silver to tempt more warriors to join him, though one of the women catches his eye, then captures his attention entirely. A beautiful woman in a green dress. Her name is Alys. And though Reinar doesnât know it, Alys is about to save his life... Eye of the Wolf is the first book in A.E. Rayneâs thrilling six-part fantasy series, The Lords of Alekka: an epic adventure of swords and sorcery, love and betrayal, and dark magic, where warriors are tested, friendships are forged, and even the gods are forced to enter the fray. Come and start the journey today... |
|
A Legend of Hidden Magic: A Fated Mates Paranormal Romance Filled with Celtic... by Stephany Wallace How would you feel if you discovered magic was real, and the kind of powers that until now youâve only read about are actually part of this world? Cynwrig "Cyn" Bressall is a Celtic warrior with the unique ability to harness and wield Druid magic in a way never before seen. Making him the only Druid Warrior to ever exist. After surviving a horrible night that began the extinction of his race, Cyn has spent the last two thousand years searching for the only man that can lead the Order of the Druids and mend the scars marring his soul. Instead, his quest leads him to a woman whose essence is unlike anything he's ever felt. Orphaned as a baby and raised by her loving but over protective grandfather, twenty-three year old Briana "Bri" Anwell has led an isolated life. Friendless and stuck in a job with no prospect, the self proclaimed flower child finds solace in her only friends. Books. And imagines an adventurous life in a magical world where anything is possible. So when a sexy stranger suddenly appears in her world as though he stepped out of her favorite story, she dismisses him as a figment of her imagination. But soon she realizes he's so much more than he seems. He signifies everything she's fantasized about, but is there a place for her in his extraordinary world? |
|
The King's Favorite (Daughters of Avalon Book 1) by Tanya Anne Crosby The first "magical" episode in Tanya Anne Crosbyâs epic romantic adventure combining sweeping fantasy with rich historical romance. "Tanya Anne Crosby has created her own mythology, where history and legend collide.â â Whiskey & Wit Book Reviews Caught Between CousinsâšFearing her "gifts" will be used to defeat her half-sister, Empress Matilda, Elspeth Pendragon escapes the Black Mountain priory that has sheltered her and her four sisters since her father's death, only to find herself indebted to, of all men, a Scotsman, whose loyalties are in question...âšâšA Man Without a CountryâšLeft to face the wrath of a new sovereign, Malcom Scott is forced to swear fealty to the English king in order to keep the castle he won by slaying his grandsire. Now, having bent his knee to the enemy, he has pitted himself against Scotland, and even his own father. Yet even as Malcom realizes there's no turning back, the late King Henry's favorite illegitimate daughterâa whispered witchâmay offer him more than he ever bargained for. Book one of the Daughters of Avalon series begins an epic romantic adventure through one of Englandâs most tumultuous reigns, introducing an alternate historical reality filled with magic, mayhem, and an ancient evil that can only be defeated through the power of love. |
|
Khon'Tor's Wrath: An Alternate History Epic Fantasy by Leigh Roberts If sheâd known the consequences, would she have made the same choice? An underground, sophisticated community hidden for thousands of years, ruled by the sacred laws handed down by the Ancients. A young Healer â forbidden to pair and committed to the service of the Great Spirit. A handsome protector â compelling but out of reach. A powerful Chieftain â who demands obedience above all else. âšWhat if⊠The Peopleâs existence is thrown into jeopardy when the young Healer, Adia, breaks a sacred law of the Ancients, putting everyone at risk of discovery by an outside world that will only seek to destroy them. When her Chieftain KhonâTor, discovers what she has done, he sees the Healerâs disobedience as an affront to his authority, and fears her actions will trigger The Age of Shadows â a period of terrible trial foretold by the Ancients. Hated by her Chieftain's mate for reasons she does not understand, Adia faces the biggest battle of her life as she clings to her faith and searches for the strength to endure the consequences of her Chieftainâs anger. She was prepared for him to be angry. She was prepared for him to punish her. But she was not prepared for Khon'Tor's Wrath. |
![Sacrifice: Book One of y Ddraig [The Dragons of Brython]](/uploads/994fa3ed16e84cec91cd909c1350cf12.jpg)
|
Sacrifice: Book One of y Ddraig [The Dragons of Brython] by Gwendolyn Beynon 528 A.D. Cymru (Wales) Melangell is a âLifebringerâ, a dragon-maiden learning to protect one of the landâs most ancient mysteries, y Ddraig. She expects to pass her years as have a score of teachers before herâhidden away, safeguarding an egg that barely moves from year to year, never using the deadly and secret skills she has been taught. But the Kingâs relentless pursuit of this most holy relic throws her into the middle of war and though she is not yet adept Melangell must enter captivity with the egg to defend the sleeping dragonling within. Her abductor is Cai ap Cynyrâfierce warrior, loyal brother and sword-arm to the high Chieftain, Artwr. He has been scouring the land for the relics Artwr demands to ensure triumph against the Angles invading from the east. Cai uses the Lifebringerâs mystique to master his armsmen, but when he spirits Melangell and the dragon egg further into seclusion, she grows intrigued by her captor. But she is a Lifebringerâsworn only to y Ddraigâand Cai must deliver the dragonling to Artwr to at last drag himself out of his legendary brotherâs deep shadow. [Sacrifice is the first in a series of three books based around y Ddraig (the Dragon) set in sixth-century Arthurian Wales, featuring characters based on Welsh myth, literature and/or history.] |
|
His Castilian Hawk (The Castilian Saga Book 1) by Anna Belfrage For bastard-born Robert FitzStephan, being given Eleanor dâOutremer in marriage is an honour. For Eleanor, this forced wedding is anything but a fairy tale. Robert FitzStephan has served Edward Longshanks loyally since the age of twelve. Now he is riding with his king to once and for all bring Wales under English control. Eleanor dâOutremerâNoor to familyâlost her Castilian mother as a child and is left entirely alone when her father and brother are killed. When ordered to wed the unknown Robert FitzStephan, she has no choice but to comply. Two strangers in a marriage bed is not easy. Things are further complicated by Noorâs blood-ties to the Welsh princes and by covetous Edith who has warmed Robertâs bed for years. Robertâs new wife may be young and innocent, but he is soon to discover that not only is she spirited and proud, she is also brave. Because when Wales lies gasping and Edward I exacts terrible justice on the last prince and his children, Noor is determined to save at least one member of the House of Aberffraw from the English king. Will years of ingrained service have Robert standing with his king or will he follow his heart and protect his wife, his beautiful and fierce Castilian hawk? |
|
In the Shadow of the Storm: The King's Greatest Enemy #1 by Anna Belfrage Adam de Guirande owes his lord, Roger Mortimer, much more than loyalty. He owes Lord Roger for his life and all his worldly goods, he owes him for his beautiful wife â even if Kit is not quite the woman Lord Roger thinks she is. So when Lord Roger rises in rebellion against the king, Adam has no choice but to ride with him â no matter what the ultimate cost may be. England in 1321 is a confusing place. Edward II has been forced by his barons to exile his favourite, Hugh Despenser. The barons, led by the powerful Thomas of Lancaster, Roger Mortimer and Humphrey de Bohun, have reasons to believe they have finally tamed the king. But Edward is not about to take things lying down... Adam fears his lord has over-reached, but Adam has other matters to concern him, first and foremost his new wife, Katherine de Monmouth. His bride comes surrounded by rumours concerning her and Lord Roger, and he hates it when his brother snickers and whispers of used goods. Kit has the misfortune of being a perfect double of Katherine de Monmouth â which is why she finds herself coerced into wedding a man under a false name. Domestic matters become irrelevant when the king sets out to punish his rebellious barons. The Welsh Marches explode into war, and soon Lord Roger and his men are fighting for their very lives. When hope splutters and dies, when death seems inevitable, it falls to Kit to save her man â if she can. In the Shadow of the Storm is the first in Anna Belfrageâs new series, The Kingâs Greatest Enemy, the story of a man torn apart by his loyalties to his lord, his king, and his wife. |
|
Aboard the Timeline by Bastian Gregory Aboard the Timeline It's the story of a bored boy, Pete who doesn't find anything interesting at school. One day he becomes so bored, and time stands still and he escapes to Outermind. Here he befriends various living beings in different worlds, and along the way becomes aware of a constant conflict going on in these different lands. Ultimately, Pete is asked to make a difference, and the question is whether he is up to the task? Anyone who has a passion for words and wordplay will enjoy reading âAboard the Timelineâ In this wonderful childrenâs book , Bastian takes us on an adventure with his main character Pete, a young boy who at first seems to be lost (in many more ways than one!) but who ultimately finds his way together with the help of his companions, the lovely dinosaur Reginald and the ancient Greek thinker, Philosophocles. Bastian manages to keep the reader engaged page after page, with clever puns and witty plays on words, which makes his story even more entertaining. Here is a quote from a teacher on Amazon: âMy 10 year old son and I read this together and we both really enjoyed it. Redolent of Salman Rushdieâs Haroun and the Sea of Stories/Luka and the Fire of Life plus Walter Moersâ Captain Bluebear series, itâs a consistently chuckleworthy, highly imaginative, multi-layered yarn that carried us wackily along its narrative tracks from start to finish. Thereâs a great cast of characters - from a doddery old dinosaur to an ebullient Ancient Greek philosopher (âPhilosophoclesâ) to some suitably dastardly demons - and the illustrations, which perfectly complement the text, are great fun too. Highly recommended!â |
|
The Bee King by Mathilda Zeller When the crops fail, the monsters come. When the monsters come, they buy the daughters. Alice would do anything to keep her sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters. She would even accept a marriage proposal from the Bee King, the mysterious honey magnate allegedly driving the prosperity of the empire. But when she arrives at the Apiary, the secluded estate of her betrothed, nothing is as it seems. The empire's wealthy and famous are converging upon the estate and she soon learns that the Bee King is not marrying her for love or lust, but third reason--a dark, strange, and deadly reason. |
|
Empress and Soldier by Marian L Thorpe A boy of the night-time streets. A girl of libraries and learning. Druisius, the son of a merchant, is sixteen when his fatherâs cruel order drives him from home and into the danger and intrigue of the military. Eudekia, a scholarâs daughter, educated and dutiful, is not meant to be a princeâs bride. In an empire at war, and in a city beset by famine and unrest, she must prove herself worthy of its throne. A decade after a first, brief meeting, their lives intersect again. When a delegation arrives from the lost West, Druisius is assigned to guard them. In the span of a few weeks, a young captain will capture the hearts of both Empress and soldier in very different ways, offering a future neither could have foreseen. A stand-alone novel that can also serve as a second entry point into the Empire series. No previous knowledge of my fictional world is needed. |
|
Our Man in Mbabane by K. E. Karl A government job. Raucous parties and love affairs. Gunrunning at the weekends. What could go wrong? The Mission Impossible assignment from Nelson Mandela's organization was straightforward: Frank George was to go to Swaziland, get a job, and smuggle weapons into South Africa for the fight against apartheid. Based on a true story, Our Man in Mbabane follows Frank's gunrunning exploits supporting the African National Congress in the late 1970s. In between harrowing escapades, he banters with friends and has two turbulent romances, all while learning of the daily indignities and horrors of apartheid. This historical espionage thriller will have you on the edge of your seat one moment and laughing the next as Frank shifts between ANC missions, romantic affairs, and boisterous social outings. |
|
The Doctrines of Fire by CL Jarvis Edinburgh, 1779. An academic rivalry turns deadly. George Stephens is a lousy medical student. Lacking the social and financial resources to succeed in Edinburghâs elite medical school, his dream of becoming a physician appears over before it began. Then George comes to the attention of two famous professors, William Cullen and Joseph Black. Medical students are dying mysteriously - the professors suspect a disgraced former student is to blame - and they need Georgeâs help uncovering the truth. Believing the partnership will bolster his academic standing, George agrees. Their investigation pulls them into the murkiest, most dangerous corners of Enlightenment Edinburgh. The professors are secret wielders of fire magic, but their foes are courting even darker forces. With violence threatening to erupt, and George struggling to navigate this confusing city, getting justice for the dead will be harder than he imagined. Ninth House meets A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians in this thrilling fantasy debut from CL Jarvis. |
|
Belle o' the Waters by Raima Larter Belle Waters is about to celebrate her fourteenth birthday, and she is terrified. The fear of marriage looms large for her, and every other girl who was born into the Mormon settlement of Salt Lake in the 1850s. She knows it is her duty to marry and bring Heavenly Fatherâs children into the world, but sheâs not interested in tying the knot with anyoneâespecially not the Prophet, an old man with a number of wives and counting. But when the US Army invades Salt Lake intent on arresting the Prophet, Belle soon realizes that the possibility of becoming a child bride is only the beginning in a series of disastrous threats. This is a work of fiction, but is loosely based on a true historical event: the Mountain Meadows Massacre of September 11, 1857, which sparked a short-lived Mormon War. Although set over a century ago, the themes and issues explored in this novel are timely and current: religious freedom and extremism, the role and status of women in society, and the contemporary impact of homegrown terrorism. Belle oâ the Waters is a searing exploration of those living within an oppressed community, and an ultimately revelatory novel about what it means to lead a courageous life, despite oneâs circumstances. |
|
The Etruscan Connection (Darren Priest Mysteries) by Dick Rosano After a distinguished scientist dies under suspicious circumstances at an archaeological dig in Tuscany, Darren Priest and Alana Weber are called in to investigate. They discover that the now-deceased scientist's work was focused on Italy's earliest history, and the possible connection to the mysterious Etruscan people. Ancient coins found at the site point to the Lydian Kingdom of Turkey, but also to nefarious activities, the Curse of Croesus, and the possibility that the origins of Roman Empire would have to be called to question. Soon, the two realize that the findings at the site could threaten the very fabric of modern-day humanity. As a Pandora's box of secrets, foreign intrigue and revenge opens, can Priest and Weber find out what happened at the dig? |
|
The Rose in Spring by Eleanor Fairburn Yorkshire, England, 1425 Cecily Neville, dubbed the âRose of Rabyâ, is ten years old when she is betrothed to her childhood love, Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. Little does she know that their union is one to change Britainâs history for centuries to come, and that she will become a powerful matriarch in her own right. Beautiful, courageous and intelligent, Cecily carves out her place at her husbandâs side as they navigate the increasingly difficult political sphere of 15th century Europe, rocked by the actions of Jeanne dâArc in France. With wit and sensitivity, The Rose in Spring is a unique perspective of a previously overlooked figure in history, and the first in a quartet dedicated to the Wars of the Roses. |
|
The Children of Gods and Fighting Men by Shauna Lawless The first in a gripping new historical fantasy series that intertwines Irish mythology with real-life history, The Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the thrilling debut novel by Shauna Lawless. They think they've killed the last of us... 981 AD. The Viking King of Dublin is dead. His young widow, Gormflaith, has ambitions for her son â and herself â but Ireland is a dangerous place and kings tend not to stay kings for long. Gormflaith also has a secret. She is one of the Fomorians, an immortal race who can do fire-magic. She has kept her powers hidden at all costs, for there are other immortals in this world â like the Tuatha DĂ© Danann, a race of warriors who are sworn to kill Fomorians. FĂłdla is one of the Tuatha DĂ© Danann with the gift of healing. Her kind dwell hidden in a fortress, forbidden to live amongst the mortals. FĂłdla agrees to help her kin by going to spy on Brian Boru, a powerful man who aims to be High King of Ireland. She finds a land on the brink of war â a war she is desperate to stop. However, preventing the loss of mortal lives is not easy with Ireland in turmoil and the Fomorians now on the rise... |
|
The Haunting of the Immortal Killer by Laya V. Smith and Kyro Dean Princess Serap is the only frail human seeking courtship in Qaf, a magical world full of long-lived djinn. Frustrated by failed romances with courtiers who are eager to usurp her title, Serap enlists a witch to help her find the key to immortal life. The witch tells her of a monstrous human, The Immortal Killer, who has the unique power to end immortal life in hopes he may know how to obtain it. Racing to leave the palace before her parents can stop her, Serap soon finds herself abandoned on earth in a strange place full of ghouls and ghosts. When Serap arrives at the killerâs house, he chases her down and locks her in his dungeon in a house filled with strange magical artifacts, whispering spirits and more books than she has ever seen. Determined to free herself, Serap makes friends with an enigmatic and paranormal apparition called Evil who gives her a set of magical and other-worldly tasks to solve. She must navigate staying alive while she searches for the secret to immortality and how to free herself from her terrifying, yet strangely befuddled captor. A parade of haunted house guests and a mansion full of secrets turn Serapâs plans on their head. To survive, sheâll have to discover who is telling her secrets in the ghastly dark and accept that The Immortal Killer may be the only one who can help her. |
|
The Bandalore - Pitch & Sickle Book One by D K Girl In Victorian England's gaslit heart, monstrous horrors lurk. In a cold London cemetery, Silas Mercer awakens in his grave, his past life an empty slate. As the newest member of the clandestine Order of the Golden Dawn, he is thrust into a world rich with supernatural intrigue and mystery. Tasked with investigating a haunting in the eerie woods of Leicester, Silas finds himself partnered with the scandalous libertine, Tobias Astaroth. A man of vile temperament, Tobias seems determined to make their journey a misery. As Silas grapples with his newfound existence and the cryptic machinations of the Order, he becomes increasingly fascinated by the irascible Mr. Astaroth, who is not without his devilish charms. When the Order's newest partnership blooms into something unexpected, and nefarious secrets begin to unfurl, Silas realises that the greatest peril lies not in the monsters that lurk without, but in the demons that dwell within. Together, this unlikely pair must navigate a treacherous labyrinth of deceit and danger, their fates entwined as they battle for survival against forces both infernal and divine. A slow-burn, dark historical, mm fantasy series. Contains: Sexual content, violence and rather a lot of cursing. This is the first book in the thrilling Historical Fantasy series, The Diabolus Chronicles Also in series (Eight Books): The Verderer - Pitch & Sickle Book Two The Skriker - Pitch & Sickle Book Three The Greensward - Pitch & Sickle Book Four The Fulbourn - Pitch & Sickle Book Five The Herlequin - Pitch & Sickle Book Six The Simurgh - Pitch & Sickle Book Seven The Death Wish - Pitch & Sickle Book Eight (Final book) |
|
The Revenge of Bridget Cleary by Mathilda Zeller Are you a witch, or are you a fairy, or are you the daughter of Bridget Cleary? Exiled for a murder her father committed, Brigid Cleary has until midsummer to gather what she needs for readmission to her home in the fairy mound: a chest of stolen gold and a chest full of her fatherâs blood. With nothing but her own wits and an ability to be mostly unseen, she takes a position as a scullery maid in a country manor house, where stealing gold is easy as dusting the candlesticks. When discovery of her thieving becomes likely, she scarpers, embarking on a madcap season in London. With midsummer fast approaching, Brigid must recoup her stolen gold in any way she can, even if it means modeling for a lecherous pre Raphaelite artist, posing as a young debutante to spy on other debutantes, and forming a clandestine Pugilism Club for Young Ladies. With gold filling her pockets and her father newly released from prison, the path back to the fairies should be clear. Or would be, were it not for her growing feelings for Edmund, the gentle young lord who hired her to spy on his sister; her burgeoning sense of loyalty and friendship to Adelaide, the sister upon whom she was meant to spy; and the unsettling question of whether she should--or even could--bloodily avenge her motherâs death. Inspired by the actual 1895 murder of Bridget Cleary by her husband Michael, the struggle for Irish Home Rule, and events surrounding the late pre Raphaelite artistic movement, The Revenge of Bridget Cleary has been heralded by author Joanna Ruth Meyer as "equal parts haunting, compelling, and throughtful." |
|
Tomb of the Blue Demons by J.T.T Ryder The Druid Ambicatos embarks on a journey of intrigue that quickly turns into war, when he arrives in war-torn Italia, under siege by the Carthaginians. While the war rages, Ambicatos falls for a mystery woman some call the Sorceress, who claims she has discovered the sight, the power of the Underworld. Ambicatos must fight friend and foe alike in this epic novella, a prequel to Hag of the Hills, the Bronze Sword Cycles duology. This novella is part of a Celtic heroic fantasy series set in 200 BC. |
|
Daughter of the Yellow Dragon: A Mongolian Epic (Fractured Empire Book 1) by Starr Z Davies "A Mongolian Game of Thrones!" â Katherine Roberts, author of Prince of the Wolves: The Legend of Genghis Khan Genghis Khan united a nation and created a vast empire for his heirs. But after 200 years of civil war, his empire has fallen into the dark ages. Mandukhai dreams of being a fierce warrior woman, but her dreams are shattered when she is forced to become the second wife to the Great Khan. Unebolod spent his life in the Great Khan's shadow, preparing for a day when he can seize control of the empire. But when he forms a dangerous alliance with Mandukhai, it swiftly transforms into a passion that could destroy them both. Just as the two are certain their fate will one day bring them together and make Unebolod the next Great Khan, a young prince surfaces to steal the Great Khan's attention and the hearts of the nation. Daughter of the Yellow Dragon is the first book in a gripping, gritty historical fiction series based on the epic life of one of the most underrated women in history. The series draws you into a world of brutal Mongol steppe life, deadly political games, and supernatural beliefs. Please be advised: This book contains adult situations, graphic violence, assault, and personal loss. |
|
Rise of the Centurio Immortalis by C. Thomas Lafollette Itâs dangerous business getting mixed up with gods⊠...but a centurion always follow orders. When blood sucking monsters attack, can even the gods protect a loyal soldier of Rome? After three years campaigning in Armenia and Mesopotamia and a meteoric rise through the ranks of the legions, Lucius has been promoted to centurion and given a final mission from his dying emperorâgo to Armenia to protect a remote temple dedicated to the god Mithras. With a Parthian assassin on their trail and a ferocious Caucasus Mountains winter in front of them, Lucius and his men are running out of time. And with dark demons waiting for them at Mithrasâs temple, Lucius may be running out of luck. Enemiesâmortal and notâare dogging Luciusâs every movement, and he isnât sure heâll be able complete his emperorâs missionâŠor even make it out alive. Youâll love this blend of historical fantasy and vampires, because history is better with fangs. Get it now! Rise of the Centurio Immortalis is a Luke Irontree Historical Adventure. |
|
The Mystery of the Adopted Son: A novel (Her Beauty and Evilness Book 1) by Elizabeth Noble London 1803 In the cold weather of London, Alice, a young woman who ran from her past, coincidentally meets her lover, Mackenzie, an old friend from years ago and a dutiful soldier. She tells him how she got married in secret on the advice of the marchioness, Lady Fitz-Arthur, to a gentleman superior to her and who died prior to the birth of his son. However, according to Alice, her husbandâs family would not countenance their union on account of their superiority. Alice stating that there is a secret attached to her poor boy, wanted her whereabouts to be unknown to the marchioness and to her previous connexions. The marchioness was described by people as always being so proud and overbearing, so haughty towards her inferiors, and so bold and forward towards her equals, that not a servant in the house liked her except Alice. She certainly had the beauty of an angel, but people used to say that she had a devilâs heart. Eventually, Mackenzie asks Alice to be his wife so he can be her protector and vows to be a father to her son, Edward, in the strictest sense of the word. Alice, appearing to love her daughters more than her son, felt the necessity of separating him from so formidable a rival to them. As a result, Edward was then sent to live with his grandmother, Margret, in a village, far away from his real parents and oblivious to his origin. |
|
Saving Schrödinger's Cat by Mark Jenkins n the 25th century, deep under the Earth's shattered surface, the dying remnants of humankind live in a dwindling Colony devoid of Nature and only one can travel to the past to save humanity from its dark fate. Clinging to life underground, after a cataclysmic all-out nuclear war, the remains of the human race are desperate for a way to change the past. Harnessing the power of an artificial wormhole, their only hope to avert global annihilation is to travel back in time and alter the discovery of nuclear fission. Humanity's future rests on the unlikely shoulders of Proteus. Born with a unique genetic mutation, scientists discover that he is the only one capable of surviving the ravages of time-travel. After decades of preparation, Proteus is sent backwards to early 20th century London... but Time doesn't want the past to change and it pushes back. To complete his mission, Proteus must manipulate the course of history, all the while battling enemy agents and avoiding the forces of Time, if he's ever going to save the future from the past. |