Many years ago, the beekeeper struck a terrible bargain. He could have as much wealth as he wanted and a life as long as he wished. In return, however, he must secure the lease of a thousand souls for one year. Set on the Greek island of Kythera this story captures daily life and culture as it is today and gives insights into human nature as it has been for thousands of years. A haunting story.Local pub owner Jemima Jane Ericson is living a lie. She’s been in love with her best friend Ethan since forever. But he fell in love with another woman, married her, and despite their tempestuous relationship and decade old divorce, JJ knows Ethan’s heart is still down for the count. And friendship is better than nothing, right?Single dad and Jumbuck Springs chief of police, Ethan Weston, hits the pub the night his ex-wife remarries and announces she wants custody of their daughter. When he wakes the next morning to find himself in JJ’s bed he’s mortified that they’d crossed a line they should never have crossed. Until JJ’s abusive ex, Shane, shows up at her door and Ethan claims he and JJ are engaged to protect her.Both are stunned by the unravelling of their normally sane lives but suddenly it makes sense – JJ gets a deterrent and Ethan gets the respectability of a wife for any custody claims. But when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan is forced to confront feelings that may just run much deeper than convenience…

When Kim and David go house hunting, they’re hoping for a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity. But is their relationship strong enough to survive the rigours of house hunting in the gentrified suburbs of Wellington?Local pub owner Jemima Jane Ericson is living a lie. She’s been in love with her best friend Ethan since forever. But he fell in love with another woman, married her, and despite their tempestuous relationship and decade old divorce, JJ knows Ethan’s heart is still down for the count. And friendship is better than nothing, right?Single dad and Jumbuck Springs chief of police, Ethan Weston, hits the pub the night his ex-wife remarries and announces she wants custody of their daughter. When he wakes the next morning to find himself in JJ’s bed he’s mortified that they’d crossed a line they should never have crossed. Until JJ’s abusive ex, Shane, shows up at her door and Ethan claims he and JJ are engaged to protect her.Both are stunned by the unravelling of their normally sane lives but suddenly it makes sense – JJ gets a deterrent and Ethan gets the respectability of a wife for any custody claims. But when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan is forced to confront feelings that may just run much deeper than convenience…

A collection of four fantasy stories. "Struck by Beauty" - Mika is forced to do the unthinkable. "Homecoming" - Carra returns home to confront her past. "Blythe's Vengeance" - Blythe seeks vengeance on the sorcerer that destroyed her hometown. "The Desire of Selkies" - Salena discovers that humans will do anything to get what they desire.Local pub owner Jemima Jane Ericson is living a lie. She’s been in love with her best friend Ethan since forever. But he fell in love with another woman, married her, and despite their tempestuous relationship and decade old divorce, JJ knows Ethan’s heart is still down for the count. And friendship is better than nothing, right?Single dad and Jumbuck Springs chief of police, Ethan Weston, hits the pub the night his ex-wife remarries and announces she wants custody of their daughter. When he wakes the next morning to find himself in JJ’s bed he’s mortified that they’d crossed a line they should never have crossed. Until JJ’s abusive ex, Shane, shows up at her door and Ethan claims he and JJ are engaged to protect her.Both are stunned by the unravelling of their normally sane lives but suddenly it makes sense – JJ gets a deterrent and Ethan gets the respectability of a wife for any custody claims. But when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan is forced to confront feelings that may just run much deeper than convenience…

Local pub owner Jemima Jane Ericson is in love with her best friend Ethan. But he fell in love with another woman. Single dad Ethan Weston, hits the pub the night his ex-wife remarries and announces she wants custody of their daughter. When he wakes the next morning to find himself in JJ’s bed he’s mortified. But when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan is forced to confront feelings for J.J.Local pub owner Jemima Jane Ericson is living a lie. She’s been in love with her best friend Ethan since forever. But he fell in love with another woman, married her, and despite their tempestuous relationship and decade old divorce, JJ knows Ethan’s heart is still down for the count. And friendship is better than nothing, right?Single dad and Jumbuck Springs chief of police, Ethan Weston, hits the pub the night his ex-wife remarries and announces she wants custody of their daughter. When he wakes the next morning to find himself in JJ’s bed he’s mortified that they’d crossed a line they should never have crossed. Until JJ’s abusive ex, Shane, shows up at her door and Ethan claims he and JJ are engaged to protect her.Both are stunned by the unravelling of their normally sane lives but suddenly it makes sense – JJ gets a deterrent and Ethan gets the respectability of a wife for any custody claims. But when JJ’s life is threatened, Ethan is forced to confront feelings that may just run much deeper than convenience…

Rath Scampion explores the barren planet Fenrir just before a Regency Council plants a genetically created "alien." Geneticists create the Fenrites in cloning labs, infusing knowledge of basic agriculture, but as the colony takes hold, researchers discover the Fenrites advancing at an alarming pace. The experiment spirals out of control, and Rath must flee, ending up in the midst of outcasts.From the Author: Alien Cradle is one of my first novels. It is more plot focused than character driven, so it is very different from my other works, such as the Delver Magic series. I am including it for the sake of completeness. I wanted to make all of my work available for anyone interested in my earliest books. If you decide to give Alien Cradle a try, I hope you will also consider some of my other novels, even if you find this particular story not to your liking. Thank you,Jeff InloSummary: Rath Scampion, outer rim scout, explores the barren landscapes of Fenrir just before a Regency Scientific Council plants the seed of a genetically created "alien." Captured trying to steal precious gems from the planet, Rath finds himself entangled in a massive deception. Geneticists create the Fenrites in cloning labs, infusing knowledge of basic agriculture through brain wave technology. As the alien colony takes hold on the once barren planet, researchers discover the Fenrites advancing at an alarming pace, passing quickly through complex stages of industrial and technological growth. The experiment spirals out of control and Rath must flee Regency controlled space, ending up in the midst of marauders and outcasts. He is caught with no safe haven as the Fenrite disaster spurs on political and military chaos throughout the Regency colonized worlds.

The first book of 'Tales of the Triad'. Seven billion people die overnight, killed by a change affecting entire galaxies. John, a resident of Florida, awakens to find himself on a plateau half a mile high in central Florida, the only survivor in the entire state. Others awaken and find themselves alone in destroyed cities or laying beside empty highways, all of mankind's technology gone.The first book of 'Tales of the Triad'. Seven billion people die overnight, killed by a change affecting entire galaxies. John, a resident of Florida, awakens to find himself on a plateau half a mile high in central Florida, the only survivor in the entire state. Others awaken and find themselves alone in destroyed cities or laying beside empty highways, changed by the event in ways they cannot yet understand. Christine, a thirtyish middle school teacher finds herself with the body of a sixteen year old. A really nice body. Carl discovers his sixty year old body is able to leap cars, he no longer needs his trifocals and he really likes the new ax he found. Joshua was not happy to see his bike wrapped around the tree, but he was the only person in his group who could fire a gun. He could outrun a deer too, something that came in handy when the group got hungry. Dogg still drinks too much and eats junk food, when he can find it, but the pack of wolves listens to his every command. Ben can't do anything special, and he is pretty much the same as before. But being big, strong and kind is a good thing. At least the half a dozen orphaned children he collects from the ruins think it is. Frightened of a stranger at first, Ben soon wins them over and protects them as best he can. He and the few survivors across the world must struggle to deal with a universe where magic has replaced science and all of mans inventions no longer exist.

These characters will grab you and take you on the ride of your life!!Book #1 in a new adventure!!! - Short Story Prequel for Roll the Dice! (HotRomance & Powerful Suspense - Vegas Series)When attractive Las Vegas detective Aurora Morelli makes a friend, she takes the relationship very seriously…and if anyone hurts that person, they’re going down! While Aurora may be slim and dainty on the outside, she has the heart of a lion, and when angry, the manners of a she-cat. The sick schmuck who dared attack her partner is now her prime target. Nothing or no one will stand in her way—except maybe her new partner who arrives in town seeking vengeance on the same culprit. Kai Lawson, a young Bruce Willis lookalike, has his sights on the same rapist that his attractive new partner is determined to catch. Only his plans do not include capture. The devil raped his sister and only death will satisfy Kai’s lust for revenge.

YE&R is the story of a 15 year-old girl and her friends in the summer before her sophomore year in high school – and, four years later, when she's a freshman in college. It's a story about self-awareness, courage, creativity – about the power of dreams, a ballpoint pen and a spiral notebook, with a surprise ending you'll never anticipate. Except for a few details, it's a true story.Hey.This is a tale of adventure like no other, for young readers, both girls and boys, age 10 and older. Parents are encouraged to read it too."Young Elizabeth," the short title, is the story of a fifteen year-old girl in the summer before her sophomore year in high school – and that same girl, four years later, when she's a freshman in college.Elizabeth is a bright, highly imaginative, aspiring author who writes about her adventures with her extraordinary cat, Rollo, and the bond between the two of them and her friends. Set in a small, mid-Atlantic, colonial town off the Chesapeake Bay, her story describes the events stemming from the arrival of an old safe at Elizabeth’s father’s office and how Elizabeth, Rollo and their friends struggle to solve the mystery that surrounds it. It is a treacherous journey, as the two of them fight to survive the onslaught of desperate strangers who believe the secret of the safe lies with Elizabeth and her family.The tale is told by the nineteen-year-old college student who is thinking back, writing about her adventures with Rollo and her friends when she was fifteen. It’s episodic, each chapter having its own cliff-hanger ending, with Elizabeth telling her tales on a “just between you and me” basis with the reader. Then one day, our college student, writer-in-progress, encounters her own dangerous situation on campus. ("ROLLLLLLOOOOO!!" ...But I'm getting ahead of my story.)And in the end, there is a surprise that not even more seasoned readers will anticipate.YE&R is a story about self-awareness, courage, creativity – and the power of dreams, a ballpoint pen and a spiral notebook.Oh, and one other thing… Except for a few details, this is a true story. Hard to believe, but nonetheless true.

Dr. Ahuja is a world renowned Space scientist and his lovely, intelligent daughter Divya dreams to be one among the stars. The Earth is sound asleep in peace and calm only to be awakened to startling and catastrophic events. The book of prophecy and an ancient astrologer’s word has come true.Alien attack and the destruction of the entire solar system are beginning of a new start.The ‘End of the world’ is near but everyone, except Divya is unaware of it. Divya is an Indo-American high school girl from San Francisco. Her father is a scientist with NASA. On her school trip to India, she discovers an ancient book which predicts a disaster to be indicated by a sign in the sky. Divya is terrified when she sees the sign one day. But nobody believes her and finally the prediction comes true – the solar system is facing its end. Sun undergoes drastic chemical reaction due to it’s collision with a comet. The sun undergoes a phenomenon called ‘reunion of solar system’ and starts engulfing the planets. The ancient book had mentioned that a solution to this disaster was brought down on earth thousands of years ago in a meteor rain. Scientists are doing all that they could do to save the earth as the earth inches day by day towards its horrific end. The temperatures on earth increase day by day. On one such hot day, Divya goes out to the lonely beach and finds an alien friend who was brought down along with the meteors thousands of years ago. Divya is sure that he is the saviour of earth as mentioned in the book. But maybe it was too late now. She names him Ami. Ami is highly intelligent as compared to humans. He has special powers too. Meanwhile scientists try to move earth away from sun by programming satellites but as the doomsday was destined, the experiment backfires. Satellites loose control over earth and earth begins to roll randomly in space! Scientists can do nothing to stop it and everything is left to almighty. Then miraculously, as if the prayers of 7 billion people get answered, earth finally comes to halt in a new space. Everyone is relieved to have survived the doomsday. Soon there is a friend request from nearby planet Gianta. The Giantians are highly advanced and very helpful beings. They are very much like humans. Later on, it is revealed that earth was halted and saved only because of them. The humans are greatly impressed by the Giantians. The two planets are quick to share the technological knowledge to benefit mutually. But the Giantians are traitors disguised as friends. Their planet lacks natural resources and with their advanced technology they have created an amazingly beautiful synthetic world. Their intentions are obvious. They are blinded by the immense natural resource that the planet earth has. Their intention is to rule our planet and make us all their slaves. They had very cleverly inserted a Nano-chip in the delegates from earth who visited them. These people became their human robots and worked as per their command. Divya’s father is one of the human robots. But, before the Giantians could achieve their goal, Ami and Divya accidently come to know the truth. They help Divya’s father to recover back into a normal human. They want to recover others too. But it is too late. The population of human robots have increased beyond control and it very rapidly goes on increasing. Divya and Ami along with a handful of scientists are the only humans left. They get trapped by human robots all around them. Still they try to save the earth and finally Ami succeeds in saving all. Aliens are threatened as their plot completely fails. They want to take revenge and release the earth from its orbit. As a result, Earth once again starts rolling in space. But luckily, this time, it gets attracted by sun, which has become stable by now. Ami too is able to sense the signal from his star. Earth comes back in the solar system and Ami returns back to his home star.

A free collection of contemporary and sf/fantasy short stories from author James Comins. In "The Soft Operative," a corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee. In "Four Seasons of a Man," a Vietnam war vet's life is seen in four vignettes. In "Matt and Maggie," a punk couple live through a suicide attempt. Twenty stories and poems and poem-story-things.A free collection of contemporary and sf/fantasy short stories from author James Comins. In "The Soft Operative," a corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee. In "Four Seasons of a Man," a Vietnam war vet's life is seen in four vignettes. In "Matt and Maggie," a punk couple live through a suicide attempt. Twenty stories and poems and poem-story-things.1. The Soft OperativeA corporate saboteur kidnaps a genetically modified employee.2. The Silent PastureBeauty and the beast sit in the garden of Eden.3. Maxwell's DemonFlash fiction for a New Scientist writing contest.4. Red Sox YankeesA city erupts in a riot.5. The Old Open DoorA poem based on "St. James Infirmary."6. The Woman on the Other SideA story about Alzheimer's.7. Four Seasons of a Man: Spring8. Four Seasons of a Man: Summer9. Four Seasons of a Man: Autumn10. Four Seasons of a Man: WinterVignettes of a Vietnam War veteran's life.11. A Guide to the Apocalypse, by Henrietta Stevensen, Age 46A satiric look at Internet conspiracy theorists and zombie-obsessed loons.12. Who's Afraid of the Big Beowulf?A prose poem mashup of Little Red Riding Hood and Beowulf.13. MoonwalkThree kids lost in the guts of the Space Elevator.14. The Sky Fell. . . and what happened after.15. PlacesGesture drawings in words. Not quite a poem, not quite stories. Prosody.16. The Coffin WormsA poem of the horrible things that happen after you die.17. The Death of Piers Plowman, or, The Barley-ChildA metaphor from The Angelus of Millet.18.The SingsongerNo idea. I think it's funny, anyway.19. The Rise of Arch-Lord EvilThe origin story of the big evil badguy from every video game and fantasy story.20. Matt and MaggieTwo punk kids deal with a suicide attempt.

Texas rancher and bar owner Cassidy Flynn is shocked to learn the bride’s name in an upcoming high society wedding – Cassiopeia Dolmides. Cassidy is a woman of secrets; the deepest is the identity she was born with and thought she had escaped long ago. If this bride is impersonating Cassidy, what trouble will that cause Cassidy and her infant son?Greek tycoon Theron Christofides needs to gain poTexas rancher and bar owner Cassidy Flynn is shocked to learn the bride’s name in an upcoming high society wedding – Cassiopeia Dolmides. Cassidy is a woman of secrets; the deepest is the identity she was born with and thought she had escaped long ago. If this bride is impersonating Cassidy, what trouble will that cause Cassidy and her infant son?Greek tycoon Theron Christofides needs to gain possession of Dolmides Cruise Lines and the little Greek island where it left a shipwrecked eyesore. A lot of people are at risk without his intervention. Old man Dolmides will sell on one condition: Theron must marry Dolmides’ illegitimate daughter. Seeing no other way to rescue the island’s people, Theron agrees to sacrifice himself and his future. As Theron stands at the altar with his bride-to-be, a fiery-haired woman in snakeskin boots and a cowboy hat interrupts their vows by calling his bride a fraud. In order for the wedding to continue, Theron must convince Cassidy Flynn to drop her lawsuit. Can he withstand Cassidy’s allure while he gains her cooperation? Or will they both be consumed by the fire of desire?

Three men disappear: one is on trial for murder, one is the copper who arrested him, and the last is a man caught between them. Set in London in 1887, "Convicted Innocent" follows the struggles of two friends kidnapped by a serial killer and their fight for survival. It is a tale of good versus evil; of fear and despair versus hope; and of ordinary men choosing the extraordinary.London, 1887. Three men vanish. One is a poor clergyman, one a workaholic policeman…and the last is a man on trial for murder.David Powell’s day is flipped head over heels when he stumbles upon an assault-in-progress, and then gets nabbed by the attackers for intervening. Clergymen aren’t supposed to have adventures like this, but David has before and has always laughed in the face of adversity.This time, however, not even his best mate’s presence can cheer him. Bit by bit, David loses everything he holds dear – until he doesn’t know where to turn to find hope in the darkness.Horace Tipple, a police detective, has hounded the Harker crime family for years. He now has a young Harker on trial for murder, and the case is strong enough to bring down all the Harkers. But the man escapes from prison, and Horace fears this will undo every shred of evidence against the family.As he races after the murderer, however, Horace begins to fear that some greater plot is afoot. Evidence suggests the young Harker’s escape is linked to the disappearance of two other men: one of Horace’s police sergeants and the sergeant’s best friend, a priest.And if Horace can’t see through whatever the game is, innocent men may die.

He’s fighting to forget his past while she struggles to remember hers…Doctor Josh Parker lives with guilt about his wife’s death every day. He believes himself incapable of ever loving again, but when a mysterious woman arrives in the Emergency Room, brutally beaten and left for dead, he starts to feel something he hasn’t felt in far too long: hope.He’s fighting to forget his past while she struggles to remember hers…Doctor Josh Parker lives with guilt about his wife’s death every day. He believes himself incapable of ever loving again, but when a mysterious woman arrives in the Emergency Room, brutally beaten and left for dead, he starts to feel something he hasn’t felt in far too long: hope. Alessandra Matthews has no memory of the events that led to her being hospitalized. Worse, she has no idea who hurt her or why. Although she’s uncertain of who she is, she is fully aware of one thing—she’s falling for her doctor. Sometimes, what you don’t know can kill you…As Josh and Alessa work to solve the mystery surrounding her past, she soon realizes just how much danger she’s really in, but Josh refuses to let her face the darkness of her memories alone.With each of them struggling to put their pasts behind them, theirs is a DANGEROUS LOVE.

Visiting Liverpool? Doing the Beatles thing? Then check into the Hard Day's Night Hotel. Chances are you'll come across the one and only Billy Shears, be able to share the dreams he had twenty years ago today. There's one thing for sure, he's guaranteed to raise a smile... and maybe one or two tears.A sampler of short stories taking place before and connected to SCALE-BRIGHT in chronological order. Chinese mythology retold from the time of humanity's creation to contemporary Hong Kong. "The Crows Her Dragon's Gate" (first published in BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES, 2013. Ed. Scott H. Andrews). The story of Xihe, the mother of suns, when she was young and the world was new: how she met her husband, lost herself, and found it again. "Woman of the Sun, Woman of the Moon" (first published in GIGANOTOSAURUS, 2012. Ed. Ann Leckie). Houyi rose in heaven, bow and arrow in hand: the hunt was her joy, the slaying of demons her delight. But most delightful was a serving girl called Chang'e. "Chang'e Dashes from the Moon" (first published in EXPANDED HORIZONS, 2012. Ed. Dash). Chang'e has been a prisoner on the moon while the world turns and cities rise. For centuries Houyi has looked for a way to free her wife, and now she has found it in a distant grand-niece: a young mortal woman named Julienne.

A sampler of short stories taking place before and connected to SCALE-BRIGHT in chronological order. Chinese mythology retold from the time of humanity's creation to contemporary Hong Kong.A sampler of short stories taking place before and connected to SCALE-BRIGHT in chronological order. Chinese mythology retold from the time of humanity's creation to contemporary Hong Kong. "The Crows Her Dragon's Gate" (first published in BENEATH CEASELESS SKIES, 2013. Ed. Scott H. Andrews). The story of Xihe, the mother of suns, when she was young and the world was new: how she met her husband, lost herself, and found it again. "Woman of the Sun, Woman of the Moon" (first published in GIGANOTOSAURUS, 2012. Ed. Ann Leckie). Houyi rose in heaven, bow and arrow in hand: the hunt was her joy, the slaying of demons her delight. But most delightful was a serving girl called Chang'e. "Chang'e Dashes from the Moon" (first published in EXPANDED HORIZONS, 2012. Ed. Dash). Chang'e has been a prisoner on the moon while the world turns and cities rise. For centuries Houyi has looked for a way to free her wife, and now she has found it in a distant grand-niece: a young mortal woman named Julienne.