General-Literary-Historical-Womens Fiction

Picasso’s Motorcycle is an affectionate paean to pre-war life in a sleepy, sun-drenched village in the French countryside in the 1930’s. It chronicles the escapades of a precocious group of boys, centering on ten-year-old Daniel, a half-French, half-German orphan being raised by his distant and sometimes brutal uncle, Emil. Put to work in Emil’s shabby bicycle repair shop, Daniel must navigate the often treacherous waters of boyhood initiations to eventually become accepted by his gleefully delinquent peers. As Daniel slowly wins them over with his loyalty, courage, and good character, things begin to change in the quiet hamlet. An unexpected gift of an old motorcycle with a tragically romantic past sets Daniel on the road to becoming a national racing champion – at least in his own mind. Meanwhile, talk of war with Germany looms like a storm cloud over the village, bringing full-scale panic when the German panzers finally cross the frontier and roll nearly unopposed into Paris. When things settle down into the familiar routine of German occupation, Daniel decides to strike out on his own with his motorcycle. With the reluctant blessing of his uncle, Daniel rides out of the village with little more than the clothes on his back, a few francs in his pocket, and a burning desire to make his name as a national motorcycle racing champion. But little does he know, this is just the beginning of his adventures…

“Look at this way, you’re going to be an entirely new person.” “I didn’t know there was anything wrong with the person I am right now,” Alexis said coldly. And so, at age fifty-two her midlife journey begins. When her boss and his wife give Alexis weight loss surgery as an early Christmas bonus, it sets in motion a string of events no one could have foreseen. With the surgery comes the realization that anything is possible from losing weight, working out, a complete makeover, a new wardrobe, to men in her life for the first time. Each step is terrifying as time after time she’s forced to get out of her comfort zone because of all of the changes taking place. As the Alexis package becomes more appealing it brings with it an exotic sports car, a glamorous face and body, and a chance at love. But when the ex-wife of the man she falls in love with wants to reconcile with him, Alexis’ hard-fought midlife victory becomes a nightmare, and she resorts to returning to what used to work when she didn’t want to deal with her feelings - food. Is she doomed to live a life of unhappiness or is there a happy ever after for her? You can’t read about Alexis’ trials and tribulations without rooting for her every step of the way. Although her midlife journey forces her to come to terms with a lifetime of being overweight, her struggles dealing with changes in midlife is one every woman will face in one form or another. This is Al ...

You can’t go back. So everyone says. But Mary is back in her old hometown. That’s because of two women she hasn’t seen for decades – one of them pushing her, the other holding back. A plum tree has gone, but a lemon tree thrives. The mystery surrounding the boat with painted eyes may never be solved, but if Ana returns too some things from the past can be recovered. Can’t they?

In the Bronze Age Syrian kingdom of Ugarit, a eunuch slave mistakenly believes his mistress the queen loves him, so when asked to spy on her under threat of punishment, he finds a way to avoid it. When she shows she cares nothing for him, he justifies reporting her disloyal activities but cant escape agonies of conscience. As her sentence of divorce turns into execution, he decides he must avenge her and expurgate his own guilt.

Ever since the act of disobedience, man has been at constant war with his greatest adversary, his EGO. The more he gives in to his ego, the farther he gets from his divine self. His materialistic motives, quest for power and gross indifference alienate and isolate him. Enslaved by ego, the man delights in false pride, falser glory and falsest security. The quest never ends. The thirst is never quenched. Mind remains pre-occupied. The heart seethes in turmoil. Cold reason clouds wisdom and the human birth crave for justification. Yet, the benevolent lord has a master plan. We are all endowed with his kingdom within. The moment we begin our journey inwards, the mist begins to disappear. Infinite wisdom dawns. All noise cease and calmness seeps in. Real joy springs from the heart leading to peace, harmony and poise. All it takes is just a pause and a peep within. Each poem contains a story in itself and will take you deeper and nearer to your real and the conscious soul.

Uqnitum is a singer from a famous musical lineage in the kingdom of Mitanni. When the fall of their city to the Assyrians costs her the life of her husband and her youngest child, she and her pregnant, widowed daughter flee to the court of Ugarit. Haunted by guilt over her part in her husbands death, Uqnitums increasingly unhinged personality becomes dangerous to the peace of her remaining family. Only by succumbing to her weakness does she learn the real nature of strength.

Len Holder thinks his mother is dead – until she reappears one morning in his living room. She doesn’t remember being dead. She’s just confused. And instead of her burial clothes, she’s wearing a Dallas Cowboys warmup suit. At seventy-eight, Len considers himself a failure. He spent years taking care of Mom while his brother Joey became a famous sportscaster. Now he lives alone, tinkering with a novel he can’t seem to finish. For a week, Len relives a strained relationship with Mom while other mysteries pile up. He keeps hearing fragments of Joey’s radio show. His sister reports disturbing phone calls. Strangers he meets look like people from his past. Another stranger has taken over his insurance office. Then Len gets word that his beloved boss Miranda has been gravely injured in a car accident. Eventually, Miranda’s fate and a shocking secret from the past reveal that Sharon Holder’s resurrection is not what it seems to be. The Seven-Day Resurrection is a must-read for anyone who has been thrust into the role of caregiver.

Librarian Janet Johnson is puzzled when she is invited—and practically dragged—to her first meeting of the Rejected Writers’ Book Club. This quirky group of women would much rather celebrate one another’s rejected manuscripts over cups of tea and slices of lemon cake than actually publish a book. But good friends are exactly what Janet needs after moving to the small town of Southlea Bay, Washington. Just as the ladies are about to raise a teacup to their five hundredth rejection letter, they receive bad news that could destroy one member’s reputation—and disband the group forever. To save the club, Janet joins her fellow writers on a wild road trip to San Francisco in search of the local publisher who holds the key to a long-buried secret. As they race to the finish line, they’ll face their fears—landslides, haunted houses, handsome strangers, ungrateful children—and have the time of their lives.

Tudhaliya IV comes to the
throne as a usurper's younger son, determined to rule according to the traditional
values of justice and clemency, despite the advice of his ambitious mother and brothers. When his cousin with whom he was
raised as someone dearer than a brother, decides his own claim to the throne is
stronger than Tudhaliya's, the latter must decide whether to apply the pragmatism
of his advisors or risk appearing weak, and how to manage to leave his own son an
empire that is finally free from civil war. The cost will be the sacrifice of his deepest
friendship.

HOW MANY TIMES CAN YOU WATCH YOUR CHILD DIE TO SAVE THEIR LIFE? All her life Dawn has been troubled by lost time. She awakens suddenly in strange places far away from her last conscious memory. Kylie's over her dead-end job. As she drives away from the worst work day ever, she picks up her cell to send a text, a decision that will change her life when Dawn's and her world collide. The ensuing tragic accident takes Dawn's only child, but ten days later, inexplicably, her lost time becomes a gift, when she finds herself back again on the morning of the accident. Now Dawn can save her son and change fate. Only one problem ... fate doesn't want to be changed.

Forensic accountant Maggie Martin survives the sudden death of her husband, the charismatic President of Windsor College, only to uncover the secrets of his carefully concealed double life. Dealing with the financial and emotional wreckage left in Paul's wake, she is stunned to learn he inherited an estate known as Rosemont in the seemingly serene Midwestern town of Westbury. Why had he never told her? Maggie travels to Westbury for the stated purpose of listing Rosemont for immediate sale, but what she really seeks are answers to her all consuming questions about her sham of a marriage; her sham of a life. She never anticipated the seductive charm of Rosemont. Throwing her trademark caution to the wind, and over the objections of her opinionated grown children, she pulls up stakes and moves halfway across the country, determined to make a fresh start in Westbury. Behind closed doors, however, lurks a cadre of evildoers, playing with multiple wild cards of fraud, embezzlement and arson. With a quiet, orderly -- and distinctively solitary -- life in mind, Maggie is instead thrown headlong into a crusade against political corruption, where defeat and retreat are not an option. Still bearing the scars of betrayal, will she find joy, romance and possibility in Westbury? This fast-paced, smart novel has enough twists and turns to make the reader want to buckle in!

Southlea Bay's favorite sweethearts, Flora and Dan, are getting married and the members of the Rejected Writers' Book Club are excited to help. Especially the group's head honcho, Doris Newberry, who, much to Flora’s frustration, wants to control every detail, attempting to strong-arm Flora into accepting ridiculous wedding vows, wayward bongo players and into wearing a huge, old-fashioned wedding dress. But when a new resident arrives in town with information about Flora's past that threatens her chance of happiness, the overwhelmed bride-to-be disappears overnight. To find her, The Rejected Writers set off on yet another zany road trip adventure, this time to a make-believe Bavarian town. Where they meet lederhosen-clad, young men, are entertained by oompah bands, go on wild sleigh rides, and sing in a yodelling competition. But when they eventually find the bride and the bridegroom learns the truth about her, will he still want to marry her or will all the wedding plans be in vain

Fear made her run - A second chance at love made her stay After receiving life-changing news, Kyla Nolan ran away from her life as a top model in New York and left her fiancé, Luke Bradford, behind. Now, almost two years later, Kyla has a rebuilt her life as the successful owner of Tea & Comfort on Madrona Island. She lives in a cozy home behind her tea shop, has great friends, and a community where she belongs. But Kyla's life is thrown off balance when Luke moves to the island. Luke has purchased the local vineyards, just like he and Kyla had always dreamt of. But Luke is not here just for the grapes. He is determined to discover why Kyla left him, if she still loves him, and if the future they planned is truly over. Kyla must face her past and make a decision. She knows that this time around if they have a chance at happiness she will have to reveal her true identity and the secrets that drove her away... Tea & Comfort is the second novel in the Madrona Island series and follows the Amazon bestselling novel, The Guestbook. Escape to the enchanting island where comfort food and serenity await.

When a young Hittite charioteer discovers that the chariot accident that killed his father and maimed his grandfather was sabotage aimed at the king, he sets out to find the killer. Facing the loss of everyone he holds dear, he learns that good and evil are often not what they seem, and he must struggle to adjust to a new identity.

Lee Winekoop feels like an outsider in his own family. Now twenty-sixconfused and emotionally bankrupt after suffering a childhood fraught with criticism and isolationhe leaves his dysfunctional upper-class family to find his true self. Determined to cultivate a meaningful life, Lee discovers a world poles apart from the one he had left behind. But just when things start falling into place, he is made aware of an alarming family secret that causes him to question who he is and where hes going.

Author, illustrator and humanist thinker Jeff Stilwell takes us on a journey that begins in ancient history, in the land of Ur, where God making was all the rage. Pursuing that thread through the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam to the present day, we discover that we don't need to make up gods to explain things anymore. Since we all come accessorized with an expiration date, Stilwell encourages us all to make the most of this life we have to live, here and now. Starring Stilwell's freethinking alter-ego Thrashin' Jack and his friend Lotus, Here and Now features over one hundred delightful and charming comics illuminating the story.

Tales of mirth, imagination, and mayhem.

Nothing is quite what it seems in this realm. Partners cross each other, intentionally or otherwise. Late-night visitors appear from nowhere and linger long after they're gone. Mountain lakes, forests, and caves harbor secrets best not revealed. And every day, curious encounters change lives.

In this eclectic gathering of thirty-one short tales, including award-winning flash fiction and longer stories, you'll encounter crimes gone wrong, one-way journeys to other worlds, and ordinary people entangled with extraordinary circumstance. Some will chill you, some will get you thinking, and some will have you laughing out loud.

Because in The Realm of Tiny Giants, something unexpected is always just around the bend.

A famed pirate relic—the Star of Atlantis—lies forgotten on the rugged Welsh coast, where waves and stone clash and where creatures of legend hold sway. When thirteen-year-old Swift finds a map to the treasure, he sets out to claim it and prove his worth to his skeptical brothers who seem determined to thwart his every step. To tease out the secrets of the Star of Atlantis, Swift must take on the gallant Celtic Sea with its azurite waves, its capricious winds, its enigmas… its monsters. And to realize his dream, he must face the most formidable challenge of all—his own father. A masterfully written YA literary fiction story of a boy finding his own way.

#1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Poetry eBooks, Amazon, Sept. 2019 #1 Best Seller in Poetry About Death, Amazon, Sept. 2019 #1 New Release in Poetry About Love, Amazon, Sept. 2019 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "With the style of E. E. Cummings, George Stumpf expresses what we have all experienced" "Beautiful, thought provoking, stirring. A very talented writer" "The true, RAW, emotions in each piece reach down into the soul and cause a welling up of past experiences and remembrances that allow the reader to thoroughly relate to the author." MELTING ~ THE ACHE OF THE HEART, THE BREATH OF THE SOUL is a poetry book exposing humanity's insecurities, regrets, desires and the hope that never fades. The author, George Stumpf has written this over two decades of happiness and despair and, like Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey, even uses prose writing to touch the core of the agony and ecstasy many people feel. Each poem will take you on a journey and inspire you to explore your emotional intelligence!  The MELTING poem book is ultimately about hope and is divided into three chapters, each serving a different purpose. CHAPTER 1 – SPLINTERED When bad things happen, like heartbreak in a relationship or the loss of someone we love, they begin to weigh on us. Our emotional being doesn’t feel whole anymore. The depth of pain and hurt we feel when this happens can be debilitating and extremely difficult to overcome. MELTIN ...

Pomeroy, a towering street musician on parole, is out of the clink for the umpteenth time and wants to become a rock star. With fame and fortune in mind, he heads to Occupy Oakland, hoping to get on television, attract an agent, and score a million dollar contract for Ants in My Pants, his marathon ditty. Pomeroy is a skirmish-loving, dumpster-diving, narcissistic crazy who thinks he can sing like Pavarotti and that all women want to jump his bones. His parole officer, a street-smart Hispanic woman, tells Pomeroy to quit staring at her alligator pumps and get himself a real plan. But Pomeroy has schemes of his own and more wisdom than we'd like to admit. You may find his egocentric opinions politically incorrect. ("There ain't a dyke alive ol' Pomeroy can't turn straight.") You may find yourself laughing when you shouldn't. ("A good strong piss is better 'n sex. Lasts longer too.") But don't blame yourself if you start rooting for this antihero. You'll have lots of company. "Laugh out loud funny yet so insightful, Call Me Pomeroy could easily end up a classic. Read it before everyone else does" - James L. Woolridge, Vine Voice. "It's a fart in the scuba tank of institutional decorum. A bawdy brawling middle finger to the vapidity of modern civilization." - Robert McGuill, author of The Outskirts of Nowhere. "Hanna has created a character in Pomeroy that is destined to work its way into the permanent iconography of contemporary literature. He is everything our id screams and o ...

Gina, if that's her real name, walks into the city then turns and returns home. This is not a day for work. Today she will spend with a white dog and a remarkable man. Every Five Minutes is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree. Readers say: “Bronwyn Elsmore has crafted a beautiful story in a unique way.” “A very unique read to be sure, but her writing brilliance showed on each page as she pulled it off.” “I hated the story to end. Read it and you'll see. It's a lovely, lovely book.” “A masterpiece! To find that it is perfect in its style and delivery has left me a little breathless.” “… wonderful story! I love, love your book!”

Cat and Mouse is the gripping tale of two sisters fighting for their ideals in the turbulent year of 1914. When Sarah, a militant suffragette, is arrested for a dramatic protest for women's rights, her sister Deborah tries to rescue her from prison. But what will her husband, and secret lover, do?

"Everything happens for a reason." It's 1972. Raymond Mann is seventeen. He is fearful of life and can't get off buses. He says his prayers every night and spends too much time in his room. He meets Ernest Gardiner, a gentleman in his seventies who's become tired of living and misses the days of chivalry and honour. Together they discover a love of sunflowers and stars, and help each other learn to love the world. Ernest recounts his experiences of 1917 war-torn France where he served as a photographer in the trenches … of his first love, Mira, and how his life was saved by his friend Bill, a hardened soldier. But all is not as it seems, and there is one more secret that will change Raymond’s life for ever. Cold Sunflowers is a story of love. All love. But most of all it’s about the love of life and the need to cherish every moment. Find out more about the book and its author, Mark Sippings, at www.coldsunflowers.co.uk.

"A lively beach or commute read, this quick, cheerful parody of aging, capitalism, and marriage offers a little bit of everything--comedy, suspense, romance--and even some insights into the meaning of life."
-Booklife by Publishers Weekly
 
"A mysterious author delivers the comical tale...a raucous adventure around the globe...brisk, debaucherous, and cheeky sense of humor...fast-paced, modern, and world-spanning..."
-Kirkus Reviews
 
"Readers looking for a rollicking adventure...intrigue and action will love Powerballs...where romance, adventure, and greed intersect in a world-hopping journey of lives gone awry." 
-D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

A sudden windfall and the money to make every dream come true…

With finances and marriage strained to the breaking point, Rose and Henry Ball dream of new lives filled with romance and adventure. Then Fortune takes a hand. Against all odds, the couple win a record Powerball lottery. The sudden windfall is the answer to all their prayers. Or not...

Helpless to resist the siren's song, the Balls leap feet first into the intoxicating world of the super-rich. Henry drifts into treacherous waters on a mad Russian oligarch's yacht, while Rose throws caution to the wind and rushes headlong into the arms of a beautiful, dangerous ...

Jack Miller is a friend, a father, and a therapist. When he learns that he has a brain tumor, his only hope is an expensive and experimental drug. Even though there are no guarantees, Jack decides to take the risk, but he has to revisit his shady past to come up with the money. While keeping the man he loves in the dark about his condition, he dedicates the rest of his life to helping other people. But it means destroying himself – and lying to the people he loves – in the process.

An amazing work of fiction or prediction? A satirical look at President Trump, Congress, Russia and the 2020 election. President Trump and the first family as they spend the 4th of July, 2020 weekend in the Hamptons at the castle of a Russian oligarch Dmitriy Volkov when the unspeakable happens. Between Southampton and East Hampton lies the incorporated village of Wolfhampton, the most exclusive, expensive, and scary 'Hampton'. When two young girls commit suicide, Dmitriy Volkov aka Wolf becomes the prime suspect when their deaths are ruled as possible homicides. President Trump, First Lady Melania, and Third Son Barron escape the Washington swamp to the sanctuary of Volkov's Wolfhampton estate, but there in the wolf's own lair, the unspeakable happens. Putin and his Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, known as the SVR aka KGB, decide the time is right to crush POTUS, Wall Street, and the Wolf, all in one smooth hammer blow; while Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer make a pact with the Devil himself. What happens that weekend in Wolfhampton will change President Trump, America, and the world in ways never imagined. Love President Trump or hate him, both the Left and Right will enjoy this thrill ride ripped right out of tomorrows headlines.

Forced to choose between cultivating a satisfying life for himself and rescuing his dysfunctional family members from their certain demise causes Markus to question the importance of family. Does he save his relatives from their ill-fated lives, or save himself from entering into a life of self-sacrifice and missed opportunities? Painful soul-searching and late-night talks with the captivating tenant downstairs guide him to an unexpected decision and discovery of his true purpose in life.

Two friends. Two journeys. In the quaint town of Nicolet, on the shores of Lake Superior, two friends help each other face the past and embrace the future. Widowed and disenchanted with love, Olivia Reeves is tired of living life in half measure. Though still disillusioned and scarred from her marriage, she’s finally ready to move on. At least, she thinks she is. But moving forward means forgiving past wrongs and trusting once again. Can it be done? When Sean, an old friend, reenters her life unexpectedly, Olivia is put to the test, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Love and happiness are on the line. Anna Davis, Olivia’s young friend, has always lived in the shadow of her family’s past tragedy, but after a series of events, the storm of the past blows into the present and the Davises have no choice but to finally confront their loss. The question is—will it unite them together or break them apart? Experience the special bond between these two extraordinary women as they hold out hope for a better life in this idyllic little beach town.

Cozy mystery writer Margaret Manning fears her husband is mimicking the behavior of some of her books shadier characters, even though he claims to have never read any of them. When several pieces of her jewelry go missing, she wonders if hes responsible for it, hes trying to make it look like shes losing her mind, or shes losing her mind all on her own. Disturbing actions of friends and family coupled with bizarre health issues complicate things and cause her life to go into a downward spiral.

London, 1909 Ruby Redlick is a young woman with a passion for reading, who yearns to break free of her constrained life in Upper Norwood and go on the stage. She dreams of playing dramatic characters like her idol Sarah Bernhardt. But the West End is full of lords, predators and courtesans. Ruby almost comes a cropper until a new friend comes to the rescue and introduces her to the music hall as a Gaiety Girl. Swept up into the bright lights of 1900s Edwardian London, she's barely navigated the Stage Door Johnnies when a Maharajah's fabulous jewels are stolen and a murder occurs. When the police, more interested in rooting out foreign spies, close the case abruptly, Ruby is driven to follow another idol, Mr Sherlock Holmes, in some amateur sleuthing. With the help of Soho's Italian anarchists and a couple of militant suffragettes, she investigates the crime.  Ruby unravels the complicated web of deceit but when she comes a little too close to exposing the criminal’s deadly secret, her own life is put in peril. Will she find a way to bring about justice before it's too late?

Good Enough, explores classic barriers to love - barriers such as class, family obligations and skillfully disguised insecurities. The two protagonists, Camisha Ann Robbins and Lennox Ali Robinson are two seemingly unmatched lovers who discover who they truly are through their love for one another, with the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia as their backdrop.

What happens when a fighter and a peacenik fall in love?

From the wind-swept horse country of the Yakima Valley to the airy academic halls of the University of Washington, three adventurers pursue their own Edens. One wants to be a hero, the second just wants to save her home, the third to make sense of it all.

Jake’s tragic death in the opening days of the Iraq War leaves his sister and best friend reeling.

Jessie finds herself all alone in the fight to save their family cattle ranch, even as the patriarchy of the Valley seeks to crush her.

Andrew’s questing mind is driven to the brink as he seeks to balance his pacifict convictions with his friend’s sacrifice.

Drawn together, this unlikely pair struggles to find meaning in their loss while they fight for their dreams.

She had my baby and now she’s mine. Women know I’m a bad boy. They know that they should keep their distance, but they never do. All they ever get is one night. The dirtiest, wildest, hottest night of their lives. Court appointed shrink Dr. Julia Connors shouldn’t have been any different. She shouldn’t have changed me. But she did. She asked me to tell her how I felt. All I wanted to do was lay her down on that couch and make her scream my name. She was the only one I ever wanted a second night with. She was the only one I couldn’t take it from. And when old rivalries flared, I had to leave to keep her safe…I had to break her heart. When my enemies find her, nothing’s going to stop me from coming back to protect her and the son I never knew I had. I made a mistake by letting her go once, but I never make the same mistake twice. This is a standalone, full-length mafia romance with a filthy-mouthed, possessive bad boy. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Annie Campbell has made a good life for her young son in the mountain town of Tidal Falls. She's dating the sheriff, owns a successful business, and has the support of the community.  So why isn't it quite enough?  Jared Martin left Tidal Falls a hotheaded youth. Eight years in the military has turned him into a cynical, disillusioned man.  Then he returns home and finds out he's a father.  When an old enemy follows and causes mayhem in the small town, can Jared overcome the odds to protect the woman he's always loved and the child he never knew?  Or will it be too late for a second chance?

The events of a typical Autumn Friday night rock a typical small town American family to the core as tragedy strikes them from out of nowhere. Will their lives survive this ordeal as they change from a functional to dysfunctional family? This event has changed and altered their direction, but will this be permanent? The ways the family deals with the loss of a loved one can either make them stronger or crush them in their hope for their small town future. The bonds of love and friendship are stretched to see how far they can go. Will the development of the surviving sibling’s progress with growth or be stifled as the family dynamic is pushed to the edge? One’s concept of justice is put to the test and their faith in God may never be the same. Actions, reactions and their consequences are exposed for you to see but don’t judge too harshly. You may agree or disagree with their actions but ask yourself, if you were in their situation, would you do the same?

A heartwarming Christmas story about family, friendship and finding love in unexpected places. Joy Holbrook might be all work and no play, but that changes when her Aunt Ruby takes a fall that lands her in a rehabilitation center before the holidays. Joy takes a leave of absence from her job as a market researcher to run the family farm, even though the timing may hinder her chance at garnering the promotion of her dreams. Ben Andrews isn’t your average accountant. He also happens to be the handiest man in Crystal Falls. He’s helped his elderly neighbor, Ruby Johnson, decorate for the annual Christmas Home Tour―and win―the last several years. He’s not about to let some drop-in niece break their winning streak. Ruby seems overly concerned about Joy being able to handle Molly. Under the impression she’s referring Molly the bunny that is one of the menagerie of animals, Joy’s not worried at all until the next morning when a little girl named Molly shows up. For the sake of her aunt, Joy is forced to partner with Ben while Ruby is on the mend to help with preparation for the Christmas tour and, in the process finds her career-focused heart dreaming of a family. Will the magic of Christmas help her to open her heart and find her everlasting joy?

A sexual ride of the mind and imagination through story and poetry. This fabulous descriptive play on words is sure to arouse and awaken your sex life and imagination.

She had given him her heart. He walked out on her.

Lorraine Marshall, age 40, shaken by the loss of her boyfriend to another woman, journeys to the land Down Under to overcome her great sense of emptiness and despair. To her surprise her vacation in Australia transforms her life in unexpected ways. Filled with adventure, suspense, the art world, and romance this is a moving story you won't soon forget.

This novel is women's fiction/romantic suspense in the tradition of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult.

Charles Roster has been living the good life of pleasure, involving wine and women - well one woman in particular - however when struck by a personal tragedy - he finds he has to dramatically change his lifestyle - except that may be easier said than done!

2016 SIBA First Place Memoir Winner! Behind the glitz and the glamour of the beauty queen mother lies a web of secrets. CeeCee is a child desperate for a touch of approval, the love of her mother. Her reality is her mom's retreating back, abandoning CeeCee in front of a burning car. But somewhere amid the chaos and despair, CeeCee holds onto something precious, the only thing that drives her on - hope. Ghost No More is a child abuse true story that proves joy can be found beyond abuse.

'In Short' is a compilation of four stories in forms of short stories and novelettes including the titles, 'The Dream Chant', 'Anabia', 'Vicious Bottles', and 'Unearth'. The stories endeavor to explore themes like surrealism, psychology, love, science, religion, politics etc and tries to paint a perspective through each with tales of love, friendship, heartbreak, betrayal, power, lust and war. 'The Dream Chant' is about him who one day finds what he's been longing for all his life. But when he gets it, he's unsure of its reality and is lost in a swirl of dreams and illusions mingled with pain and confusion. What is it that he longs for? Will it stay a part of his life or leave him broken again? 'Anabia' is an average teenager with braces poking out of her mouth and hair tangled down her back. Her life is changed when a series of events drastically shape her life and she meets someone who would or wouldn't be the one for her. She must tackle the storms of life and find herself again. 'Vicious Bottles' is a tale of Satwik and Ani who have been sweethearts since the time they could speak. But does time guarantee a strong relation? Faced with abuse, addiction, lust and madness, will they be able to stand the test of time? It is the year 2157 and the world is at an end. Survival is only possible by breathing through masks as the air is poison while water is a treasure. Journey with Solo as he tries to find meaning in the dead where half the population has moved to the Red Planet a ...

Amina prepares for college on what is expected to be an exciting first day of higher learning. When she steps onto the university campus for the first time, however, she bumps into Raja Gupta, a young, persuasive, and hot-headed university intellectual who lures her into joining a student group whose cause is the liberation of East Pakistan from West Pakistan. What follows is a stormy and passionate romance detailing the lives of both Raja Gupta and Amina Mitra as they both attempt to survive from one of the worst genocides of historical record—a genocide that ultimately leads to the birth of the poor and crippled nation known today as Bangladesh. This novel is written with historical accuracy and is Book One of a trilogy that charts the rise and fall of these two characters, as well as the son that is orphaned after Amina Mitra is forced to abandon him in the Great Mosque of Mecca.

A Top Ten Women's Fiction Title in Booklist, this novel takes place in New York and Northern California. Julia, a poet with writer’s block, attempts to choose between Ben, a professor at Princeton whom she sees as good husband material, and Michael, a charismatic composer who inspires her yet is also a destabilizing influence. Realizing that Michael is too wounded to make a commitment, Julia turns her triangular situation into a square by setting him up with a cousin. This psychological tale explores the assumptions and fantasies that determine romantic choices as the narrative takes us from one decision in the 1980s to an opportunity to reverse it in the twenty-first century.

How far would you go to help a close friend? Is there a place where you might draw the line and simply have to say no? Eight women. Four decades of friendship. One unimaginable request. Where can you find a story about friendship, laughter and the good things in life that also touches on alcoholism, infidelity, porn addiction, illness and grief? For many women, it's often within their own circle of friends. Whether your BFFs are in their twenties or are seniors, everyone has a story. The Bridge Club reminds us of the complexities of women’s friendships through an entertaining and often moving tale of eight women whose lives intersect once a month initially to play the game of bridge. What began as one night turns into four decades that span the segments of a woman's journey from youthful optimism to embracing the challenges and opportunities presented in life's later years. Based loosely on the author’s own bridge club, the story weaves the reader through a maze of life's inevitable scenarios. This is a novel for anyone who values friendship. Not simply the "Hi, how are you?" type of friendship but rather the kind that weathers all sorts of storms, unselfishly celebrates triumphs, and hums along year after year with never an unkind word. It does exist. If you have such a friendship in your life you will relate to the women in The Bridge Club. If you don't, perhaps the story will inspire you to search for it. Throughout the story each of the characters faces challe ...

After recovering from the shock of her parents perishing in the basement of their home, Grace Lindroth discovers a box in their attic that contains enough suspicious items to cause her to believe that the people she had called Mom and Dad her whole life may not have been her real parents. Tormented by the uncertainty of her identity, Grace searches for answers, and when certain clues draw her to a boardinghouse once owned by Anna Vargas, she becomes convinced that Anna was her real mother. Grace believes the boardinghouse walls have been harboring vital secrets over the years that could help her in her quest for the truth, but when she meets up with the cantankerous old woman who had bought the place after Annas death, she questions whether shell ever be able to peel back the layers surrounding her parentage. But she does, and no one is more stupefied by the truth than Grace.

Though they hail from backgrounds that are worlds apart, it only takes one fateful accident to rearrange their priorities and set them on roads that intersect, forcing them to acknowledge the relationships they can’t do without. Elder Paige Morganson has worked hard to overcome the anger, hate, and abuse of her past; Mason Jenson is a self-made man who has been able to create his own fortune and build a home life with his wife and child void of God’s help…so he thinks. Elder Brandon Tatum’s, new in town, has prided himself on not making a move until he’s heard God; Victoria Branchett has ruthlessly survived the death of her only daughter by fierce determination, but is the strength she has relied on enough to see her through a failing marriage and an ailing grandchild? This novel merges colorful characters facing one untimely circumstance after another, and mixes in a serious spin on how one views God, both inside and outside of His will. Of course, this is just the beginning. More people emerge from behind the scenes; some to help and others, to hurt. With everything happening simultaneously, one would almost question if God is able to truly fix and heal everything, and the readers will see just how far each person's faith (or lack thereof) will carry them. As they sift through the debris of past dreams and hopes left by the wayside, they are offered a lifeline and given an opportunity to receive God’s Beauty for their ashes. My Beauty For Your Ashes is the first book in the ...

Everyone remembers their first love... But sometimes its the second love that lasts This book weaves together the heart of Nicholas Sparks, the romance of Nora Roberts, and the charm of Debbie Macomber. Fleeing her picture-perfect marriage among the privileged set of Brentwood and the wreckage of a failed marriage, Lily Parkins decides to move to the only place that still holds happy memories, her grandmother's old farmhouse. The lush and majestic setting of the Pacific Northwest calls to her and offers a place of refuge and perhaps renewal. Her grandmother has passed away, leaving the Madrona Island Bed & Breakfast Inn to Lily. Left with only an old guestbook as her guide-a curious book full of letters, recipes, and glimpses into her family history-Lily is determined to embrace her newfound independence and recreate herself, one page at a time. With the help of the quirky island residents she has befriended, she slowly finds the strength to seek out happiness on her own terms. But as soon as she has sworn off men and is standing on her own two feet, Lily meets Ian, the alluring artist who lives next door, and her new life is suddenly thrown off course. The last thing she wants to do right now is to open her heart to another man. Ultimately, Lily must decide if it's worth giving up her soul for security or risking everything to follow her heart in this romantic love story.

Mystery writer, Joel Carpenter, has no time for romance. He has a deadline to meet, and too many skeletons in his closet to trust the slightly spinny artist renting his house. Christy Taylor has her hands full dealing with an ailing business and a diabetic daughter, she doesn't need the temptation that is her landlord, Joel Carpenter. Can a Christmas wish bring two stubborn souls together and give a little girl the gift she wants most? A family of her own.

My enemies wish they had never met me, and women wish they could forget me. I'm busy carving a name for myself in the mafia underworld, and I don't have time for the women who chase after me and wanna tie me down. They can get in line for the wildest f*ck of their lives and then they can get lost. I trusted the Sanatores and they ran their mouths. Six years in jail was a long time to plan my revenge, and now nobody will stop me from getting the payback I deserve. Not the bastards who are out to kill me, not the women who want to find out if the rumors about the size of my... ego are true. Nobody. Until I set eyes on her. Callie’s running from her filthy-rich, abusive, ex fiancé, and he’s not letting her go without a fight. She wants a new life and the last thing she needs is me in it, but I’ve never let that stop me before. I shouldn’t have touched her. I knew a woman like her would cause me trouble. But I couldn’t resist. One taste and I’m addicted. Her ex wants to get her back and my enemies want to use her to hurt me. F**k that. Anyone who wants to come between us better bring a body bag. She’s MINE. This is a standalone, full-length mafia romance with a filthy-mouthed, possessive bad boy. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Do you enjoy Christian fantasy fiction? "Encountering Darkness," a christian fantasy and adventure novel, will take you on a thought provoking journey. In this nightmarish tale, Pete and Amy try to discover who or what to follow. As Pete and Amy hear many voices declaring "truth", which is the right one? The situation seems bleak, at best, especially for Pete. Pete, a successful Mayor, must make sense of what is going on in this world and the world to come. He is haunted by an unknown smell from the darkened anthropomorphic house he lives at, as well as a strange world he keeps reappearing in. Curious things keep happening as this man is caught in a double life of weakness and strength. On the one hand, he is loved and people understand him as a powerful, prosperous man. On the other hand, he is secretly weak and lost, especially when around his house. Amy, who encounters Pete later, is a skilled warrior, from a different world. She has reliance on no one. Yet she too, is in confusion at what is happening, and her world crumbles from what she has previously known. Can Pete and Amy figure out what is occurring before they follow the wrong voice? This dark christian thriller is filled with suspense, action and a rush of adrenaline, humor and defiance...you'll be on the fringe.

On the Steps of St. Dymphna tells a story of transformation. John, a normal cubicle slave with a bland and ordinary life, is transformed by an enlightenment experience. Or, did he just go crazy? He’s not really sure, but either way, he becomes a dramatically different person. From bored support representative at GMC Megatronics, he transforms himself into Pastor John, a flamboyant free spirit spouting spiritual nostrums and intent on not only radically transforming his own life, but bringing joy and purpose to the lives of others. To this end, he joins forces with a rag-tag group of homeless and starts The New Life Church of the Godhead of the Bed, so named for the locus of his awakening — an ordinary bed. John and his following set their sights on St. Dymphna’s House of Hope, a local sanitarium ran by the authoritarian Big Mama, where they attempt to help the needy and comfort the afflicted. They face numerous obstacles that threaten to derail their mission, but with the help of a local religious radio station and a large group of feisty supporters, they persevere and ultimately triumph. For a while. Steps explores the emptiness of modern life and the desperate lengths necessary to live a life of purpose. It deals with themes of spirituality, alienation, faith and compassion. It is truly a tale for modern times.

The Angels Always Near poetry collection offers an experimental take on the timeless emotions of adolescence, capturing moments of imagination and being while exploring the universal theme of love through emotional wordscapes. In this re-edited collection, the mysteries of teenage love and ideals of beauty are filtered through a mature adult perspective, bringing readers a new interpretation. The Angels Always Near is a refreshing journey through teenage eyes and the surprising truths that they can hold in explaining the world around them.

Ireland in 1919 is seething with violence, tension and divided loyalties - and so is the heart of the beautiful, wilful heiress Catherine O'Connell-Gort. For Catherine, by heritage, is a glittering symbol of British rule and oppression - yet by inclination she is a traitor to her class. A fervent supporter of Sinn Fein, she is also the secret lover of Sean Brennan, an IRA volunteer who is being hunted by the police for terrorism and murder. When the British government decides to meet terror with terror, Catherine finds herself in a position of even greater conflict. Her father, a colonel in British Military Intelligence, recruits Major Andrew Butler, battle-scarred war hero and Irish landlord, to assassinate IRA leader Michael Collins. He also decides that the dashing major would make the perfect husband for his headstrong daughter ... In a violent climax of passion, guilt and betrayal, while her country hurtles towards civil war, Catherine faces an agonising choice as she makes her final, fateful decision.

Under the Oak collects poems previously shared, and some that will be new to readers. We have tried to include a broad sample, hoping to find something for everyone to enjoy and re-read in the future. Although his poetry has been published in several anthologies with other poet’s work, it has never been collected in a book of his own. This is the first.

American suburbs are populated with mostly white and wealthy residents, white picket fences, and children preparing themselves for corporate positions at Ivy-league schools. Connecticut certainly fits this profile, as it is often cited as a state with the densest concentration of wealth in the USA. But labels or hashtags can be misleading, especially in an age when voices tend to congregate in separate choirs. If one takes the time to listen, there are interesting personalities who may miss the color in their own lives in pursuit of “something better.” Here, I have fused a series of short stories about fictional characters in a Connecticut town, liberally sprinkled with historical anecdotes of “locals who made good,” to illustrate how mundane situations can be elevated to the realm of common human experiences, if one appreciated life. An older man fulfills his midlife crisis with a Porsche. A couple, Jack and Jill, are caught up in a relationship tango of misunderstandings. A first-generation immigrant works long hours, with many disappointments, while yearning for a Disney-like version of his former homeland. These are the quirky and ultimately enduring stories of a few normal voices that often remain mute in today’s America.

Miriam paints the future...but can she change it? Chicago, 1891 Miriam watches the people jostle their way below the windows of her warehouse home, never thinking to look up at her as she paints their faces. But Miriam's gift as an artist goes beyond a mere recording of what is: Miriam paints their futures. Only once was she wrong. One woman doesn't match the future Miriam saw. The bright girl was supposed to grow into a respected businesswoman. Instead, Ione disappears nightly into the shadowed alley next to the cathedral with the other prostitutes. Then one night, while walking through the city fog, Miriam finds Ione broken and beaten. Miriam is forced to open her home to the stranger whose face she knows so well and open her life to change she never could have foretold. Women are missing some found floating in the river, some never seen again. The deacon from the cathedral is the first to help. Soon Miriam s solicitor, Michael, aids her in rejoining society so they might uncover the evil at work in the corrupt city...and awakens feelings she had never considered before. Finally engaged with the world she has so long observed, finally stirred by love and friendship, Miriam realizes the responsibility of her gifting. No longer can she just paint what will be. She must now help Ione find the future she is meant to have...and find her own along with it.

Kacie knows three things for certain. She should have sent a text before abandoning her boyfriend. She should have let her family know she was coming home. And she has no business adopting a dog. When Kacie moved away from her father and stepfamily years earlier, she had big aspirations and no plans to return. But she hadn’t counted on a heartless mother relentlessly pursuing her. A boyfriend she couldn’t stand to watch as he wasted one more day on the couch. A career she longed for never materializing. After her barely old enough to get married brother returns, his new fiancée along with him, Kacie has to ask herself, does everyone know what they’re doing besides her? Does the cute guy who just offered her a job have a hidden agenda? And is it wrong to name her new dog Diva?

While on a book tour in Cambodia, author James Moore unwittingly seeks refuge in a brothel to escape a devastating flash flood. He and his translator witness the atrocities of girls forced into prostitution, including a young child with a special gift. Together, they fight to not only save the girls from the rising flood waters, but from the menacing brothel owner and his men.

Sometimes we can’t escape the webs we are born into. Sometimes we are the architects of our own fall. Akash Choudry wants a love for all time, not an arranged marriage. Still, under the weight of parental hopes, he agrees to one. He and Jaya marry in a cloud of colour and spice in Bombay. Their marriage has barely begun when Akash embarks on an affair. Jaya cannot contemplate sharing her husband with another woman, or looking past his indiscretions as her mother suggests. Cornered by sexual politics, she takes her fate into her own hands in the form of a lit match. Nothing endures fire. As shards of their past threaten their future, will Jaya ever bloom into the woman she can be, and will redemption be within Akash’s reach?

I’m wrong for her in all the right ways. Everyone in the city knows who I am: Vincent Citrione, top capo of the most powerful crime family in the city. If you’ve got two brain cells to rub together, you’re scared sh*tless of me. As for women, I given them the hardest, dirtiest f*ck of their lives before showing them the door. They know better than to expect more. Commitments? F*ck ‘em. At least, that was my motto until I caught her snooping in the wrong place at the wrong time. Aubriella. I wanted her to be like all the rest of the girls. I wanted to forget her. But I can’t forget her lush curves… or the soft moans spilling from her lips. She thinks she can say no to me and get away with it. She thinks she can walk away after what she’s seen. But one taste and I know she’s going to be mine. I don’t care what it takes. I get what I want. And I want her. This is a standalone, full-length mafia romance with a filthy-mouthed, possessive bad boy. Happily ever after guaranteed.

Hassan symbolizing the silent majority of the clan youth strives to change his community’s stringent marriage rules not through passive resistance and dialogue but through an actual confrontation. Hassan’s community is divided into conservative hardliners and moderates whose intention is the initiation of social change through gradual step-by-step deconstruction of the current tribal autocratic beliefs.

A novel is a marriage. A short story a love affair. Many prominent authors have been enthusiastic writers of short stories, describing them as the most disciplined and difficult form of prose writing. Short stories are "tiny windows into other worlds and other minds and other dreams," "journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and be back in time for dinner" [Neil Gaiman]", the way we live…what our friends tell us, in their pain and joy" [Andre Dubus];. Bronwyn Elsmore’s collection These Islands Here – Short Stories of the South Pacific, includes 32 fictional tales that present the varied facets of living in the South Pacific. Reviewers say: "the author has mastered the art of the short story"; "they all have one common factor – they are each beautifully crafted". Most have been published previously, several have won short story competitions. These Islands Here is available in print and as an ebook for Kindle.

At the end of the Gilded Age, the “Golden City” of San Francisco offers everything a man could want—except what August Wolff desperately needs. The Klondike King must solve the mystery of his estranged wife and daughter who have disappeared, before he can give his heart to an up-and-coming artist who carries her own dark secrets.

Burned by his faith. Abandoned by his family. Coming out was nothing compared to finding forgiveness…

Lawrence Greene churns with bitterness. Regretting his dead-end job and excruciating love life, he’s exhausted by the world tearing him down. And when his religious mother returns begging for reconciliation, he’s torn apart by resentment and his own need to heal.

With his estranged family’s proximity dragging up memories of his painful revelation of being gay, Lawrence escapes to his anti-church group sanctuary. But when a better future finally comes knocking in the form of Hakee Mitchell, a sexy and good-hearted man, Lawrence must bare all to claim true absolution.

Will Lawrence let go of his grief and put a firm grip on a fresh start? The Freed Church Boy is a stirring LGBT contemporary fiction novel. If you like complex characters, heart-rending conflict, and new beginnings, then you’ll adore Lloyd Johnson’s powerful tale.

NEW RELEASE! When late-night phone calls summon Jude Coleridge and Camille Prescott back to the Talbot Hall School for Girls, painful memories bombard them. Though estranged for years, both bear the physical and emotional scars from their youth.

At the boarding school, they were branded the crazy girls, the ones who lie and became unlikely best friends. They soon formed a trio with a new student, Wanda Ann, who pulled them into her bewildering relationship with the school psychologist, Dr. Hedstrom. But Wanda Anns wild stories masked a truth that threatened to engulf them all.

As teens, the girls could only rely on each other as they moved toward an unfathomable, fiery danger. Now, in the crumbling halls of Talbot, hours before the building's demolition, they must grant forgiveness, to themselves and others, if they are to move forward.

CONTENT WARNING: Contains drug use and sexual violence. 

Savannah Santos is on the run. She fled everything she ever knew to follow her career dreams. But she wasn’t expecting her new roommate to be her dream guy. For Cooper Quin, being any girl’s dream man is nothing new, but he’s determined to stay exactly that: a dream. His focus is on killing it in the brutal MMA ring. But his sexy new roommate is nothing like one of his usual one-night stands. With her, it feels safe to let his guard down.

Sea legends and pirate adventures charm eight-year-old Swift, until an encounter with the deadly power of the ocean shocks him into reality. Swift struggles to hang onto his childhood fantasies, but his new grasp of the fragile nature of life and of friendship threatens to swamp his hope. Under the guidance of his older brother, Swift must learn to brave the rough waters of change without losing himself to their destruction.

“Swathed in small-town gossip and values, the fantastical novel - combines murder mystery, magic, and mayhem for an exciting tour of a family’s history and trauma.” - 5 stars, Clarion review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trouble and Magic comes in Threes. The Rowan siblings, Vic, Pip, and Liam, must solve their mother's murder to heal a haunted past in this emotional page-turner.

Fans of Practical Magic, The Witches of New York, Twin Peaks, and those who dream of visiting Star Hollow will enjoy.

⭐ NOTE: Trigger warnings, see listing for details.

⭐ GENRE: Magical Realism, contemporary, women's fiction, and literary fiction.

Fictional tales presenting the varied facets of living in the South Pacific – pleasure, pain, calamity, comedy, fun, misfortune, loss, triumph – as in any part of the world, of being human. Most have been published previously, several have won short story competitions.

2017 Distinguished Favorite Award-Independent Press Awards A Tea Party activist discovers that he is growing another head. A playboy befriends a fickle female only six inches tall. A lonely librarian answers a matrimonial ad from a demonic farmer. Darkness abounds in James Hanna's cryptic stories. In these nineteen piercing tales, Hanna skewers the human comedy and makes reading dangerous again. "A Sinister sense of irony pervades the stories in this perverse, darkly fantastic anthology. Author James Hanna has a unique insight into the most curious aspects of the human condition and does not shy from exploring these to their shockingly logical conclusion. A Second, Less Capable Head is exceptionally memorable from beginning to end." - Midwest Book Review. "The mark of an author at the peak of his literary powers, there are scant few tales that won't linger beyond the page. Without a doubt, A Second Less Capable Head delivers one of the most powerful and cutting collection of stories you will ever read." - Book Viral

On his best days, Zero Slade is the worst man you can imagine. He has to be. It's the only way to save the Lost Girls. During his seven years on a team fighting sex trafficking, Zero's become quite good at schmoozing with pimps, getting handcuffed by cops and pretending not to care about the young girls he liberates. But the dangerous sting operations are starting to take a toll on his marriage and sanity. His affinity for prescription painkillers isn't exactly helping matters. When the youngest girl the team has ever rescued gets abducted from a safe house in Cambodia, Zero decides to risk everything to find her. His only shot is to go rogue, and sink deeper into the bowels of the trafficking world than he's ever sunk. It's the biggest mission of his life. Trouble is, it's almost certain death.

Although they had always dreamed of having a family, tall, horse-faced Frances and stubby, one-eyed Jack had reconciled themselves to a lifetime of abject loneliness. Then one day, out of nowhere, an infant is dropped into their midst. A fairy tale for adults!

Second poetry collection by Zarina Macha, published 2019. Delves into themes of relationships and femininity using dry wit and satire.

A fictitious journey of an exceptional female and her adventurous spirit. Allow 'Tessa' to share with you a tormented yet wondrous life of failures and success. Conquer the life of poverty and then be seduced by a life of power. Share the memories and secrets of a fascinating woman. Escape for a time with 'Tessa'.

This book is my journey, from awakening to present day. This book is meant as a catalyst for spiritual growth, the goal being to ignite the fire that lies dormant. We are all called to serve, to serve ourselves and then the world. Let this be a message to all that would choose the path of service, the true path. As each fear disintegrates we walk closer to the truth of our nature, and this is my truth. You feel the call so fly with me, I know in truth I set you free.

Lillian Hawthorn did all the things her parents told her to do. She went to finishing school. She married one of the most eligible bachelors in New York. But she was not happy. One night she took her courage and made a snap decision that would make her realize why she was not happy. And why she was done playing by rules that her parents and society gave her. In 1964 it might be a man's world, but as Lillian soon grows to understand, you don't have to play by those rules.

Book Two in The Gift Saga: The continuation of Evanthia’s Gift…



In 1961, five little girls moved into a suburban neighborhood and became inseparable, lifelong friends. They called themselves the ‘Honey Hill Girls,’ named after the street on which they lived. As teenagers they shared one another’s ambitions and dreams, secrets and heartaches. Now, more than thirty years later, they remain devoted and loyal, supporting each other through triumphs and sorrows.



Evanthia's Gift follows the life of Sophia Giannakos. In Waiting for Aegina the saga continues from the perspectives of Sophia and her friends as the story drifts back and forth in time, filling in the gaps as the women grow to adulthood.



Naive teenage ideals are later challenged by harsh realities, as each of their lives takes unexpected turns. Now nearing their fiftieth year, Sophia, Demi, Amy, Mindy and Donna stand together through life-altering obstacles while they try to regain the lighthearted optimism of their youth.

...

One life ended in tragedy. Another challenged by a promise. Will a teen’s twenty-year journey to make his dad proud change him into the man he’s meant to be? In 1966, Jim Pepperman comes home from practice to the news that his dad has died in an oil rig accident. Not only has the high school football star lost his mentor and best friend, but when his mom moves the family from Texas to New Jersey, he’s forced to say goodbye to his home, his team, and his chance for a football scholarship. Facing senior year in a new school with no friends, Jim struggles to keep the promise he made after his dad died to be a substitute father for his two younger sisters and a shoulder for his mom. But stepping into his dad’s shoes at seventeen feels impossible, the same way giving up the dream to play pro ball is harder than Jim thought. And senior year is just the beginning.

Zobie Marsh hides the fearsome talent of prophecy. Young, poor and grieving the loss of her beloved Black Gram, she leaves home suddenly to avoid the advances of her mother’s latest boyfriend. Her decision to travel to South Carolina sets in motion Heavenscribe, a spiritual transformation devised by angels to aid a dying world. Bel Petersen seems to have it all: ample means, a loving marriage and a rewarding family life. But she’s suffered through a year of unexpected deaths, and near-constant nightmares that portend the downfall of civilization. Now she’s visiting Health Presbyterian daily as Milly battles a relentless bone cancer sure to end their decades-long friendship in a matter of weeks. One evening as Bel unlocks her car in the hospital’s parking lot, four ambulances stream toward the Emergency entrance. There’s been a horrific traffic accident. She’s shocked to discover one of the victims didn’t make it into an ambulance—and he’s bleeding out in the passenger seat of a high school student’s car. Bel sends the student running to the hospital for help, and tends to the grievously injured man. His dying words will lead her to Zobie, and reveal the spiritual awakening they must undertake together.

Our earth mother, Gaia, foresaw a definitive epoch when the survival of humankind and her precious planet would be at issue. That day is upon us. Earth is enveloped in environmental and social crises. Unless humankind serves as stewards for Earth and themselves the planet may be despoiled. Gaia could not sit by and observe the destruction of her beautiful blue planet and the clever beings she found intriguing. This is the story of the gifted population of women she reserved in the sea who are dedicated to safeguarding the future of humankind and Earth.

In a dystopian future where humans have foolishly squandered Earth’s natural resources, the few remaining people are becoming desperate. Crowded in huge underground cities, they’ve finally come to the end of the line and they must decide whether or not they will trade the only valuable resource Earth has left... Women. Being the daughter of a wealthy diplomat, Rose is blissfully ignorant of how the less fortunate live. Desperate to escape to a planet where she can enjoy the sun on her face and swim in clear unpolluted oceans, she vows to make herself the first bride to be mated to off-worlders. When the Krylon delegation arrives, she realizes that in addition to being good stewards of their planet, eager for female companionship, and polite to a fault, the Krylon males are also drop dead gorgeous. Unfortunately, Earth’s population is vehemently opposed to the galactic mate’s treaty... will Rose and her soon to be Hot Alien Husband be able to make their escape from Earth?

It's 1985 and keyboard player Jonnie Cole's dream of playing in a band revolves around girls, money, girls, travel, girls, drugs, girls - oh, and music too. But the band's first single has stalled at number 40 in the charts. Still, with new hit producer 'Magic' Dan McCloud on board, 1986 looks like being their year. They set off for Europe with a new single about to be released and Magic Dan at the soundesk. Foul-mouthed manager Degsie Daniels attempts to keep their wilder excesses in check while his photographer daughter, Amanda, attempts to remain aloof from the mayhem. Intent on success in the synth-pop heaven of 1980s Europe, they have reckoned without Magic Dan’s murky past. Join them on their first tour of Europe as they discover themselves, each other and the dangerous cargo they have unwittingly stowed on the tour bus. CAUTION: This tale of sex, drugs and synthesisers contains all three, plus a lot of swearing.

Ten-year-old Swift is weary of being “the Lad,” and he longs to feel a sense of belonging with his three older brothers. When a chance strikes to go night fishing together on their father's mighty brigantine, the Regulus, it seems the perfect chance for Swift to prove himself. When night falls, however, when stars rise and the fishing begins—as Swift ventures into the wilds of the sea and its creatures—a sense of alienation creeps in. To realize his place in the strange water world, he must summon the courage to confront the North Atlantic with all its savagery. And to learn what it means to be one of four brothers, Swift must rally the bravery to reveal to them, at the heart, who he is. Come sail the North Atlantic with Swift and his family in this poignant coming-of-age novelette.

Jeff Bailey is turning 40. Settled and happily married, he spends his nights writing unsold screenplays while working security at a remote desert nuclear power plant after 9/11. Surfing the web one night, he sees the name of his first love, Shelley Dawson, pop up on a high school website. Bailey offers to dig out his journals and take them both back to the summer of 1981 in Ohio. She never knew he kept a detailed journal about his time with her so, uneasy but curious, she allows him into a past she can’t remember to see what he finds. Surprised by how much he’d forgotten, Bailey returns to the single summer that first broke his heart and made him a stranger to his own life and to the only world he’d ever known. The end of his childhood and the beginning of what his young parents always warned him about: dreaded adulthood. Transcribing his journals to a distant lost love, the adult Bailey follows his doomed teenage self, reliving the discovery and pain as he retraces his first feelings for Shelley, unearthing and unleashing emotions that hold consequences for them both all these years later.

His Gift is inspirational historical fiction for most all ages. It is a fast-paced story of a young woman's determination to see her dream come true. On the cusp of the stock market crash of 1929, seventeen-year-old Molly has aspirations for a career in music after high school. With the passion of an athlete preparing for the Olympics, she trains relentlessly to become the best she can be. As her world collapses in unimaginable ways, she is left to find peace and purpose in the midst of her crisis. The message of His Gift is universal to anyone who has ever dared to dream in spite of uncontrollable circumstances. The reader will discover with Molly the hope and peace in a life when yielded to the Giver of all gifts.

It’s 243 B.C. and Greece is ready for a revolution. Eighty years have passed since the death of Alexander the Great, the man who first cowed free Hellas into submission. His successors to the Macedonian throne have only tightened their grip in the interim, the present king no exception. Spartan rebellions, opportunistic usurpers, foreign invaders – for nearly five decades, King Antigonus has seen them all and crushed them all. He now stands alone astride Greece; he fears no one. Aratus of Sicyon plans to change that. With a passion for freedom and hatred for the King that stem from the same childhood tragedy, he takes aim at Macedon when no one else would dare; takes aim at its crown jewel in the south, the linchpin of its control, the very symbol of its domination – Corinth. Hopelessly outfunded, outmanned, and outarmed, he embarks on one of the most audacious and stunning attacks in ancient history, one that would change Greece forever.

No Way. I can’t be falling for him. No freaking way...,. Alexandria I’ve been the acting chief at this station ever since they let Larry go. There’s no reason why they shouldn't make my position official. I’m a seasoned firefighter and I’m the best man for the job. Besides, I need the raise that comes with the promotion. It's the only way I'll ever be able to afford to leave my alcoholic husband and put my daughter in a private school. The last thing I need is someone coming along and screwing it all up. Chance When they asked me to leave my small town fire hall and head on out to the big city, I wasn’t keen on the idea. I can think of a million places I’d rather be. But, the ex-wife’s harassing phone calls and visits finally did me in. Before I knew it, I was starting a new life fighting fires in Karawa, New York. It's too bad one of the men on my team keeps challenging my every move. Only, it's not a man. It's the girl I've had a crush on my whole life, the girl I grew up next door to, the one I went all through school with. Sparks fly, tension explodes, and flames ignite. Will muscular Chance Friedman win the heart of the girl he’s always dreamed about? Or will curvaceous and sassy Alexandria O’Neil come out on top?

They Called Him Marvin: A History of Love, War and Family by Roger Stark “They were the fathers we never knew, the uncles we never met, the friends who never returned, the heroes we can never repay. They gave us our world. And those simple sounds of freedom we hear today are their voices speaking to us across the years.” Bill Clinton Such a man was 1st Lt Dean Harold Sherman, B-29 Airplane Commander. “They Called Him Marvin” is a history. A history of war and of family. A history of the collision of the raging politics of a global war, young love, patriotism, sacred family commitments, duty and the horrors and tragedies, the catastrophe that war is. They Called Him Marvin by Roger Stark is a merger between American and Japanese events during WWII, and the very human reality of one American pilot and his love letters to his wife. The candor in their loving correspondence, and the stark reality of war, clash against each other within the pages of this book. Like the major and minor notes being pulled from an orchestra by a master conductor, history is brought to life and the full impact of war is felt.

“the most dangerous journey a man could ever take The most extraordinary love story you’ll ever read.” 'A magisterial tale.' - UK Daily Mail The Holy Land, 1260. Josseran Sarrazini is chosen to escort the Pope’s emissary on an embassy to the all-conquering Mongol horde in an effort to save all Christendom from destruction. But although he serves as a Templar warrior, Josseran is not all that he appears to be - and he despises the Pope’s man on sight. Now they have to spend nine months in each other’s company on the most dangerous and most inhospitable journey on the earth - across the legendary deserts of Persia, through the horrific black hurricanes of the Taklimakan, along the entire spider's web of the Silk Road to Khubilai Khan’s legendary capital at Xanadu. When he sets out, Josseran cannot know then that he will never see Christendom again. Meanwhile, somewhere near the Roof of the World, a Tatar princess possessing a gift for prophesy, defies her father’s attempts to marry her off to the sons of other tribal chiefs. She does not belong in her world any more than Josseran belongs in his. Now fate will bring their paths on a collision course somewhere on the Silk Road and change the course of her life, and Josseran's, forever. From the Storehouse of Winds to the Palace of Myriad Tranquillities, from the Pamirs and Hindu Kush to the legendary Xanadu and the dazzling court of Khubilai Khan, this is romance and adventure on a breath-taking scale. "Callous executions, one-ey ...

BECOMING is an uplifting poetry collection of inspirational poems and articles about living a life of fulfillment. The author draws upon her own experiences, inspirations, and what she feels most passionate about. The poetry in this book is written about various topics; however, its main theme is about utilizing your God-given talents and gifts in such a way that leads to a fulfilling life. It is the follow-up to her to her award-winning poetry book collection, Unscrambled Eggs.

4.8/5 stars from IndieReader! INDIEREADER REVIEW THE CODE is a well-crafted, intelligent and timely social satire about America’s ability to elevate, transform and digest the celebrity heroes it creates and is well worth a read. Male identity, the nature of celebrity, and the cynical manipulation of American groupthink are carefully observed in THE CODE. Albert Collins, struggling entomology professor with an accomplished wife and two children, lives a quiet life in Brooklyn until his inexplicably powerful onscreen presence brings him to the attention of one of Hollywood’s elite celebrity makers, Jack Ruby. Memphis Smith, a smartly dressed, hired thug from Queens, working for a powerful gangster known only as Frank, discovers a musical gift in an unlikely location. Both Albert and Memphis, originally from Canada, are sucked into the machinery of cultural immortality by agents of American success: Jack Ruby and music impresario, Marcellus Moses. Bright futures for Albert and Memphis fly free of their grasp; their lives uncontrollably and utterly transformed. Authors Jacqueline Ruby’s and Marcellus Moses’ storytelling is masterful. Plot, character, settings, extended metaphors and scenes are spun together flawlessly. The plot is unpredictable and well told; unexpected events unfold naturally from the disposition of the social sphere and character inclination. From the upstate prison Dannemora, to fancy offices with their de rigueur black leather couches, the settings are well-d ...

Jake McCallum was a deputy sheriff in rural Beecham County, West Virginia until he was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to federal prison. Adding insult to injury, Jake's best friend accused him of committing adultery with his wife. After having lost everything, including his will to live, Jake attempts to commit suicide, but his enemies interupt him in the act by trying to kill him. In prison Jake befriends a preacher who prophesies that the Holy Ghost, conceived by a virgin, like Jesus, has come into the world. At the preacher's behest, Jake takes on the quest to find the Holy Ghost incarnate, most likely a boy under the age of twelve. The pages of Incarnate, The Third Entity, chronicle one man's sacrifice in defense of a little girl, his battle against enemies both natural and unnatural and his bizarre discovery of the origin of the boy he suspects is the Holy Ghost incarnate.

Sadie always wanted the perfect family: a husband, a son, a dog, a house in the suburbs. For a little while she had it all. Then after an accident one afternoon, her son starts acting oddly and displaying strange new abilities. His new behavior threatens to bring to light a secret that she's been keeping for years. Will she be able to hold her family together or will the truth tear them apart? Perfect Family is a magical realism novella that is 25,000 words long.

Troy is afflicted by a condition that lets him live out different futures --- lots of them. Jaded by all these possibilities, he drifts from day to day never knowing if what he's living is real life or just a possible one. When he first meets Cat, it's not even close to love at first sight. She pepper sprays him and steals his phone. But then he meets her again, and again. Finally, he becomes convinced that this funny, crazy, woman might be just what he needs. But in his strange world of possibilities nothing is straightforward.

When novelist Aiden Love publishes his parents’ story he has no idea the trauma it will cause. The epic saga of one family’s turbulent beginning is entwined with the challenge of a mother’s relationship with her youngest child—the longed for only daughter, Angelique. But a secret Lindsay Halloran Love has kept for years could rip the tight-knit clan apart for good. Resilient bonds of loyalty and blood are stretched to the breaking point, until tragedy strikes at the very heart and soul of the Love family, forcing everyone to take stock of what really matters.

A collection of poems to celebrate National Poetry Month; a poem a day for 30 days. Themes of nature, people and observations are covered here- from the quirky to the ephemeral. There's no doubt a poem in here for every mood, every thought and unspoken sigh.

What links a webcam girl, a cross-dressing police chief and an escaped ferret? A British nation torn by Brexit staggers on. Frankie Ferret, a pre-school children’s TV celebrity escapes into sewers of London and surely is dead. The people unite in grief. Police Chiefs, counselors and politicos stand in tear stained sincerity with the common people. Viktor Pinupskin of Russia offers a genetically modified bear cub with his own face as a substitute. Internet bots urge a vote and attempt to sway the masses. Chaos and panic threaten to destroy the economy. Into the mix steps young police inspector Crispin Bissel. His mission is to lead the search and target PR for the cops. His ex girlfriend, Selena Fontesse is a mature ex web cam girl specializing in veggie porn. She has the looks and the bosom to comfort a people broken by sorrow. Could love be re-kindled over an open drain? Could Frankie be alive? Could a billionaire, a hot air balloon, a pop star, and a staring messianic child bring happiness back to a population in despair? And what if the big plans were to fail? What if there were a cover up? A deplorable basket case of a book. All right thinking people should be offended. Cross dressing vegan cannibals will love this story. There’s no safe space on campus when a ferret like Frankie gets into the pipes. A tender love story, an outrageous unfair satire, an expose of the media-cult whirl in which we live where news, fake news and spin are the currencies of coercion. Buy this b ...

A story about life, though perhaps not the one you would choose to live. inspired by the characters from the Harry Chapin song of the same name, 'A Better Place To Be’ is a story of love, loss, and the ability to overcome the worst that life can throw at someone and come out the other side.

What happened to her father, and why was her family forced to flee? For years, these questions plagued Leilani. Eighteen years ago, her mother whisked her children from their privileged life on a Pacific island, without their father and without explanation. Now, all Leilani wants is to dedicate herself to healing people, like her father did. But the past is impossible to run away from. Taught how to shoot a gun when she was a child, she rescues Justin, a computer nerd nursing a breakup, when thugs assault him on a deserted street. Then a stranger from her old country arrives and her mother is forced to reveal the shocking, shameful secret about her father's role in a deadly political web. Is her father still alive? Is he a hero or a villain? With Justin’s help, she returns to her birthplace in search of her father. Can she forgive her father, accept him for what he is? And can she reconnect with her roots and be at peace with who she is?

A novel told in short stories, follow young protagonist Ellen as she narrates each story of love, loss, longing, friendship, and entrapment. Inspired by the artistry of the Beatles, each story is framed by a Beatles song or actual Beatles event. Follow Ellen's journey from 1976 to 1990: Her beloved brothers' disappearance from the family when she is 11, an event she carries with her throughout the whole book; her navigation through high school as she searches for friendship and love (and a musical instrument), loses her innocence in more ways than one, and is scarred by John's death; her challenges in the 1980s workplace as she confronts sexual harassment; her growth as a young woman taking charge of her life. Meet her friend, Joan, who Ellen thinks of affectionately as the \"fool on the hill\"; Kevin, the rich neighborhood boy whose façade betrays his reality; Perry, her dark, moody, and much older first love. Ellen injects insight, wisdom in hindsight, and humor into these slice of life stories.