Twelve overgrown man-children, sixteen hours, and a whole lot of liquor. Just how much fun can be had in one night? Join Nate, Ashton and their friends on a wild night out on the town. NOTE: This is NOT a romance story, it\'s a short (approx 22 thousand word) humour sketch. It\'s an Enjoying the Chase novella featuring characters from my other published novels - Enjoying the Chase and Nothing Left to Lose. WARNING - Contains spoilers for both books. All of the author\'s profits and royalties from the sale of this ebook will be donated to Macmillan Nurses for the wonderful work that they do. [Registered charity number 261017]

Inspired by the Persephone myth, this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, whose captivating first book earned a VOYA Perfect Ten of 2011 and a Whitney award, explores the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love. Perfect for fans of Fallen and Beautiful Creatures!Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But after being tricked by Cole, she\'s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself . . . which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon—or die. Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process, using everything they can think of. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally—but for how long? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him—and, together, they must travel back to the underworld to undo Nikki\'s fate and make her mortal once more.Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the underworld—or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

Inspired by the Persephone myth, this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, whose captivating first book earned a VOYA Perfect Ten of 2011 and a Whitney award, explores the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love. Perfect for fans of Fallen and Beautiful Creatures!Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But after being tricked by Cole, she\'s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself . . . which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon—or die. Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process, using everything they can think of. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally—but for how long? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him—and, together, they must travel back to the underworld to undo Nikki\'s fate and make her mortal once more.Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the underworld—or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

Margaret Garnett, too tall, too smart, and much too much a Northerner, felt as if she were being watched from the moment she arrived to teach at Tennessee's Magnolia University. The feeling became a shivery chill when she moved into Rebel's Retreat, the historic cottage built by Confederate General Ashton Johnson. But the shock of seeing the general's portrait and recognizing him as the man of her most passionate fantasies left her with an eerie certainty -- that somehow his ghost was actually there. Soon Margaret was reading old letters and devouring every fact on the dashing Ashton, his engagement to a fickle beauty who may have been a spy, his death at the hands of a Union sharpshooter. But nothing prepared Margaret for the fever, the dizziness, and the shock of waking up in a vanished era -- in Ash's arms. Suddenly alive in a South of scorched earth and tears, she knew this was where she had always belonged...where she had been sent to alter the course of war itself, to embrace a destiny time could not stop and a love death could not deny....

In Brodi Ashton\'s breathtaking sequel to Everneath—about which New York Times bestselling author Ally Condie said, "Ashton\'s lovely storytelling and strong-on-her-own-terms main character set this one apart. Wonderful!"—Nikki must travel through the underworld to be reunited with the love of her life.Ever since Nikki Beckett watched as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the dark Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity, she\'s been living a borrowed life. Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen—and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to help in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself. Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they\'d anticipated—and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack—even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.Inspired by the Persephone myth, the captivating first book in this series, Everneath, earned a VOYA Perfect Ten of 2011 and a Whitney Award!

A thrilling new novella from the author of the Everneath series!Jack is trapped for eternity in the Tunnels while Nikki has managed to evade Cole\'s grasp . . . for now. But Cole is more desperate than ever to find answers about Nikki, his best chance for taking over the throne of the underworld. How did she survive the Feed? Can Cole find another Forfeit like her who can survive it too?Cole\'s quest leads him to the other side of the world, to a mysterious, dangerous society known as the Delphinians, whose price for information might be higher than Cole can pay—a price that could destroy Nikki. But when Cole attempts to steal the answers instead, his mission ends in disaster. Faced with centuries in a Delphinian dungeon, Cole is confronted with questions he\'s been too scared to ask himself: Is he really obsessed with the throne—or is he obsessed with Nikki? And can she really give him a new beginning as the Everneath\'s king . . . or will she instead bring about his tragic end?

An American woman and her son stumble upon the dark history of a rambling English manor house in this “masterful, riveting, and atmospheric” (Alka Joshi, author of The Henna Artist) novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Belfer. “With vibrant prose, Lauren Belfer shepherds us through a centuries-old mystery and into a modern-day introspection on motherhood, marriage, and love.”—Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones When a close relative falls ill, Hannah Larson and her young son, Nicky, join him for the summer at Ashton Hall, a historic manor house outside Cambridge, England. A frustrated academic whose ambitions have been subsumed by the challenges of raising her beloved child, Hannah longs to escape her life in New York City, where her marriage has been upended by a recently discovered and devastating betrayal.Soon after...

The humans are fighting again. Go figure.As a free A.I., Mal finds the war between the modded and augmented Federals and the puritanical Humanists about as interesting as a battle between rival anthills. He's not above scouting the battlefield for salvage, though, and when the Humanists abruptly cut off access to infospace he finds himself trapped in the body of a cyborg mercenary, and responsible for the safety of the modded girl she died protecting.A dark comedy wrapped in a techno thriller's skin, Mal Goes to War provides a satirical take on war, artificial intelligence, and what it really means to be human.

Another discovery from the vaults of Cox and Co., the old London bank which had forwarded the Deed Box of John H Watson to the author last year.The Dispatch Box contains all manner of illuminating documents about Messrs. Holmes and Watson.Of particular interest are what the author refers to as The Affair of the Vatican Cameos, the Reigate Poisoning Case with a shocking conclusion, and a document apparently written by the man Holmes himself called 'the fourth smartest man in London', John Clay.

Jessica Lambert, movie star and ingénue, is in danger of burning out. Returning to London for the premiere of her latest film, she’s recognised everywhere she goes. When she runs away through the streets of London, she’s taken in by the beautiful and more mature Anna. The two hide in the sanctuary of Anna’s roof-top flat, a haven away from the crowds, but why has Anna removed herself from the world?As the two women get to know each other, stripping away the layers, both appreciate what each does for the other. This could be the start of something wonderful, more than either of them know.

** a short story prequel to All That We Have Lost**Lucy has a secret. One she never meant to keep.** a short story prequel to All That We Have Lost**Lucy has a secret. One she never meant to keep. During the week of her engagement party, making out on the lawn with Alexander, her secret appears in the form of a vision. Her visions are always connected to death. Either someone has died or someone will die. Except she only sees pieces of the story. After years of being told to suppress her visions and not tell anyone, Lucy struggles with the deception but fears what Alexander will think. In the days leading up to the party, she has a choice.

Akira is a vampire, an energy vampire. He can control and manipulate energy with his mind. Chapter one delves into Akira's future, his abilities, powers, and he fights against a vampire who can summon demons. Chapter two introduces Akira before he became a vampire; it is the beginning of Akira's story, his life, his love, his village, and his family. Enjoy the start of an epic adventure!!Chp: 1&2Set in the distant future, Donors, is a short story of a world where every citizen is expected to pay any price for the state.

Book @ in the Alice Haydon Mysteries

Edward Ashton's Antimatter Blues is the thrilling follow up to Mickey7 in which an expendable heads out to explore new terrain for human habitation.Summer has come to Niflheim. The lichens are growing, the six-winged bat-things are chirping, and much to his own surprise, Mickey Barnes is still alive—that last part thanks almost entirely to the fact that Commander Marshall believes that the colony's creeper neighbors are holding an antimatter bomb, and that Mickey is the only one who's keeping them from using it. Mickey's just another colonist now. Instead of cleaning out the reactor core, he spends his time these days cleaning out the rabbit hutches. It's not a bad life.It's not going to last.It may be sunny now, but winter is coming. The antimatter that fuels the colony is running low, and Marshall wants his bomb back. If Mickey agrees to retrieve it, he'll be giving up the only thing that's kept his head off of the chopping block. If he...

For fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and Evvie Drake Starts Over comes a funny and tender debut about a reclusive artist whose collection has gotten out of control—but whose unexpected friendship with a pair of new neighbors might be just what she needs to start over.Amy Ashton once dreamed of becoming an artist—of creating beautiful objects. But now she simply collects them. Aquamarine bottles, bright yellow crockery, deep Tuscan red pots (and the odd slow-cooker) take up every available inch of space in her house. Having suffered a terrible tragedy—one she staunchly refuses to let herself think about, thank you very much—she's decided that it's easier to love things than people. Things are safe. Things will never leave you. But when a new family moves in next door with two young boys, one of whom has a collection of his own, Amy's carefully managed life starts to unravel, prompting her to...

A new city. A new school. New friends. The Daniels sisters have been slowly rebuilding their lives after their mother's death.Ansley's the baker. Amber's the volleyball player. Ashton "Cammie" Daniels has fallen in love with dancing. There's nothing she loves better than attending dance class with her two friends, Rani and June. But that joy is in jeopardy when Rani's father announces they may be moving to London.When she finds out about the school's spring talent show, Ashton thinks that if she and her friends enter and dance, Rani's parents will think twice about taking their daughter away from her home, friends, and activities.But her dreams begin to fall apart when the group can't agree on music, costumes, or choreography! Cammie has an important decision to make: stick it out for Rani's sake, go off on her own, or close the curtain for good on her dream to dance.Ashton's Dancing Dreams—Is the second...

More From the Deed Box of John H. Watson MD: Further Untold Tales of Sherlock HolmesHugh Ashton has been digging deeper in the deed box that originally belonged to Dr Watson, the friend and colleague of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. He has unearthed three more tales referred to in the original books, but never before released to the public: Colonel Warburton's Madness; the Paradol Chamber; and the Giant Rat of Sumatra. The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness is one of the few cases recorded by Watson as being one that he introduced to Holmes (The Engineer's Thumb being the other). Taking place in a seemingly innocuous suburban setting, it is nonetheless a tale of dark secrets and hidden evil. Holmes' skill at disguise is never seen to better advantage. Watson himself likewise shines as an investigator of more than average competence.The Mystery of the Paradol Chamber is strangely named, and the mystery itself is a strange one where Holmes' talents are needed to unravel a classic "locked room" murder puzzle. Religion plays a very minor role in most of the cases described by Watson - it is interesting to see here that Holmes claims to have memorised the churches and incumbents of all the Roman Catholic (at least) churches in the English Home Counties.Finally, the definitive story of The Giant Rat of Sumatra has come to light. There are obvious reasons why this story was withheld from the public for so long. Even with the pseudonyms that have been so obviously employed, this story could have shaken the respectable world of English politics to the core if released. The cooperation of the Royal Navy with Holmes in the solving of this bizarre mystery is another aspect that would also have been kept secret, possibly at the behest of Mycroft.These adventures of Sherlock Holmes are approved by The Conan Doyle Estate Ltd.From the AuthorEach of the tales I have selected to recount here was mentioned by Watson in previous adventures, but only in passing, and the sketchy references have long been a source of curious speculation by students of the work of Sherlock Holmes.These latest tales that I have unearthed will, I am confident, provide both enjoyment and instruction to all those who study and cherish the work of Sherlock Holmes. I hope to provide even more such tales, following further exploration of the contents of the deed box.

Short Story. Not for children. Part of a collection about different vampires from the Amaranthine universe. After Ashton's parents die it's up to him to take care of his younger brother. He tries to escape the pressure by befriending the new guy in town and his dangerous friends. But he discovers that his new reality is far worse than the one he tried to escape.“In a matter of minutes on a Friday night, I lost my school, my identity, the security of my first love, the personality of my sweet fearless brother, my best friend, my town, everything as I knew it. Everything changed.” "Minutes - that’s all it takes to change your entire life. How do you deal with that?” For high school senior Jules Blacklin surviving the storm is only the beginning. Faced with the new reality of her life, she must find a way to rise From The Wreckage and answer the question - how do you get back to normal, when everything that was normal is gone?

Love or money? Follow the head or heart? Pia and Cate seem to be flip sides of a coin. But when they meet, they definitely have that certain something, and these questions aren't so simple after a night like theirs.Pia Benitez-Smith has her head in the clouds of ideals and romance. She's a photojournalist out to prove herself with her compassionate eye and although not exactly accident prone, most days trouble seems to find her. On one such day, she literally falls into the arms of the beautiful Cate. Elegant, intriguing and classy, Cate is Pia's polar opposite. When the two dispute the importance of love versus money, Cate is adamant that her perfect night will always be an expensive one. Working class Pia can't resist the challenge and with the assistance of a beguiling summer night in London, she begins to enchant her new friend.An irresistible couple, a charismatic city, a priceless supporting cast - That Certain Something is a sparkling romcom from Goldie award winner Clare...

Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy. Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row. Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country. Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington. The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love?

After the death of her daughter in the first book of the series, Maxine "Mad Max" Davies' new role in life, full-time grandparent raising two grandchildren, takes her into post-Katrina Mississippi, nature's newest wasteland. She learns to live in a region where most of life's conveniences vanished in the storm and tidal surge.

Hospitals are supposed to be safe places. The one Maxine "Mad Max" Davies finds herself in is anything but safe. Unsafe Haven exploits every parent's or grandparent's biggest fear: how do I protect my family? Mad Max puts together clues with a large cast of characters to identify and stop the perpetrator before he can kill her grandson

From the Chief Medical Correspondent at ABC News comes a doctor's guide to finding resilience in the time of COVID.In March 2020, "normal" life changed, perhaps forever. In its place we were confronted with life and routines that were unusual and different: the new normal. As we've all learned since then, the new normal isn't just about wearing masks and standing six feet apart—it's about recognizing how to stay safe and sane in a world that is suddenly unfamiliar. And no one understands this evolving landscape better than Dr. Jennifer Ashton. As ABC's Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Ashton has been reporting on the novel coronavirus daily, helping Americans comprehend the urgent medical updates that have shaped the nation's continued response to this public health crisis. Now in The New Normal, Dr. Ashton offers the essential toolkit for life in this unfamiliar reality. Rooted in her reporting on COVID-19 and the understanding that...

Dispatch Box [3]Further Notes From the Dispatch Box of John H Watson MD: More Untold Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Vol. 2The second box ("the dispatch-box") to be discovered in the vaults of Cox & Co. of Charing Cross has been the source of even more discoveries concerning the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. This collection includes a Foreword from consulting Sherlockian Dr. Philip C. Eyster, who writes, "I had only read a few pages of his initial story, when I knew that Mr. Ashton has not only the skill but also the deep-felt desire to faithfully add to the canon the same Sherlock as came from the pen of Author Conan Doyle over 100 years ago". Included in this volume are four tales, all referenced in the canonical originally published adventures: The Abernetty Horror. A bloody crime in a Welsh fishing village points to one seemingly obvious answer. Holmes brings his reasoning powers to bear on the parsley and butter to discover the true solution (mentioned in The Six Napoleons). The Finsbury House. "The shocking affair of the Dutch steamship Friesland, that so nearly cost us both our lives." (The Norwood Builder) The Curious Affair of the Archdeacon. Mentioned in passing at the beginning of the Red Circle, this case is more light-hearted than many of Holmes' adventures.An Account of the Victor Lynch Forgery. An account of an early case of Sherlock Holmes, related not by Watson, but by Inspector Lestrade, in the form of a letter to the good doctor, following the events at Meiringen. Mentioned in both Study in Scarlet and the Sussex Vampire. The stories in this volume are authorized by the Conan Doyle Estate **

The Martian meets Multiplicity in Edward Ashton's high concept science fiction thriller, in which Mickey7, an "expendable," refuses to let his replacement clone Mickey8 take his place.Dying isn't any fun...but at least it's a living.Mickey7 is an Expendable: a disposable employee on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. Whenever there's a mission that's too dangerous—even suicidal—the crew turns to Mickey. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of his memories intact. After six deaths, Mickey7 understands the terms of his deal...and why it was the only colonial position unfilled when he took it.On a fairly routine scouting mission, Mickey7 goes missing and is presumed dead. By the time he returns to the colony base, surprisingly helped back by native life, Mickey7's fate has been sealed. There's a new clone, Mickey8, reporting for Expendable duties. The idea of duplicate Expendables...

Dispatch Box [4]In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. John Watson writes about Sherlock Holmes' "famous investigation of the sudden death of Cardinal Tosca--an inquiry which was carried out by him at the express desire of His Holiness the Pope." The express wishes of Sherlock Holmes, as expressed in a written note on the outside of an envelope, have been ignored, in order to bring this case before the public. "...sealed with a wax seal and the impression of a signet ring with the initial 'S'. On the back flap were written, in that splendidly sprawling but legible hand with which I am now familiar, the words 'Not to be opened before September 25, 2014'."  Hugh Ashton has written five highly acclaimed collections of Sherlock Holmes' adventures (the "Deed Box" and "Dispatch Box" series), as well as a Sherlock Holmes novel, The Darlington Substitution, all in the style of the originals by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to whom he has been favourably compared by critics. Grateful acknowledgment to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.Review"Ashton seems to have a knack for hitting a very convincingly canonical mark, making his stories some of the most consistently plausible I've found. The Death of Cardinal Tosca may well be my favorite of those stories so far. The atmosphere feels warmly familiar, the mystery plausible, yet delightfully recherché,the historical aspects carefully researched and the canonical details thoughtfully upheld. If you're a Sherlock Holmes fan who's read through the Canon and are aching for more, this is the book for you!" (Carrie Carlson - Stormy Petrels blog)"Mr Ashton's echoes of Conan Doyle's work build in volume and add resonance and depth to the characters, while not contradicting them. The reader gains insight into Holmes' and Watson's relationship and the relationship between Sherlock and his brother Mycroft. As is consistent with the originals, these insights are just tantalising hints, but careful readers will enjoy them." (Kelly Quinn) 

The deed box of Dr. John Watson, entrusted by him over a century ago to Cox & Co. of Charing Cross, and which made its way late last year to Hugh Ashton in Kamakura, Japan, continues to yield treasure.The box proved to have a false bottom, under which lay the manuscript of a full-length adventure of Sherlock Holmes, in which the great detective needs all his cunning and detective powers to unravel the mysteries at Hareby Hall.Mentioned in passing by Dr. Watson in his account of A Scandal in Bohemia, The Darlington Substitution is a tale of deceit, treachery, and murder most foul, set in the wild Border country of northern England. Holmes and Watson encounter a centuries-old legend which tells of the future extinction of an ancient noble family, and set themselves against one of the most ingenious and fiendish villains ever to cross the path of Sherlock Holmes.Holmes and his faithful biographer come to life again in this case, following in the tradition...

For the first meeting of the Ashton Corners Mystery Readers and Cheese Straws Society, six friends gather in Molly Matthews's old Southern mansion-including Lizzie Turner, a reading specialist with a penchant for mysteries. But the mystery book club meeting becomes the scene of an actual murder when a stranger is shot-and nobody knows who the victim is, or how Molly' antique gun came to be used as the murder weapon.Then Lizzie begins finding mysterious manuscript chapters in her mailbox. As she and the book club members try to read between the lines, Molly surfaces as the next name on the killer's list...**

From runaway bride...To pregnant princess! When Princess Ana runs out on her wedding she needs a place to hide — fast! Family friend and sexy security tycoon, Rhys North's Italian hideaway proves the perfect place to escape scandal. Until she has one unforgettable night in the arms of the brooding ex-soldier... When Ana's duty calls, they must go their separate ways but as Christmas approaches, Ana realizes she's carrying an unexpected gift...Rhys's baby! "This is my first Leah Ashton romance but it most definitely will not be my last. I cracked open The Prince's Fake Fiancée and devoured the book in a matter of hours. It's a colorful and heartwarming romantic tale and the perfect escape from a hectic day." Goodreads "It was light and lovely and also very modern and interesting...." Goodreads on Behind the Billionaire's Guarded Heart

Mentioned by Dr. Watson in the Scandal in Bohemia, the story of the Trepoff murders now comes to light, discovered by the author in a deed box once owned by Sherlock Holmes' faithful chronicler. A Russian dignitary dies in London, and Holmes sets off to discover the circumstances behind his untimely, and politically unfortunate, demise. Originally told in true ACD fashion, as a serial, this brief novella is now exclusively available at Amazon for Kindle.

Kaito Watanabe has finally nabbed an interview with his idol, Cristian Alvarez. Kaito is a journalist who’s spent his entire life looking up to the figure-skating champion. Cristian’s passion on the ice unearthed a love of dance in Kaito and made him believe in the power of artistic expression. Now Kaito is face-to-face with the man he's always admired. He believes himself insignificant and ordinary, a moth drawn to the light Alvarez casts. He can't allow himself to believe Cristian's flirtations are anything but natural charm—but Cristian has other plans. The tension pitches higher, legs and fingers intertwine, and Kaito begins to wonder if his fantasies have a shot at becoming reality.

Leopold Classic Library is delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive collection. As part of our on-going commitment to delivering value to the reader, we have also provided you with a link to a website, where you may download a digital version of this work for free. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. Whilst the books in this collection have not been hand curated, an aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature. As a result of this book being first published many decades ago, it may have occasional imperfections. These imperfections may include poor picture quality, blurred or missing text. While some of these imperfections may have appeared in the original work, others may have resulted from the scanning process that has been applied. However, our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. While some publishers have applied optical character recognition (OCR), this approach has its own drawbacks, which include formatting errors, misspelt words, or the presence of inappropriate characters. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with an experience that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic book, and that the occasional imperfection that it might contain will not detract from the experience.

Seven strangers enter. One hides a terrible secret. Will anyone survive the horrors of Shrink House?It's Halloween and Professor Zarr has brought together an eclectic team to investigate the legendary Shrink House. There's the scientist, the priest and the medium, with their assistants, the jock, the cheerleader and the librarian. And, of course, the estate agent. On this night, at the height of the house's power, they're determined to uncover the mysteries of its terrible past. But someone in the team has an ulterior motive – and when it's revealed, the house lives up to its name. The team are miniaturised and have to run for their lives, or else become dinner for a woman turned giantess. Who, if anyone, can escape the clutches of this hungry witch? Get ready for a seasonal tale with serious bite, in R.B. Ashton's latest chilling adventure!

Dispatch Box [1]Notes From the Dispatch Box of John H Watson, MD: More Untold Adventures of Sherlock HolmesAnother discovery from the vaults of Cox and Co., the old London bank which had forwarded the Deed Box of John H Watson to the author last year. The Dispatch Box contains all manner of illuminating documents about Messrs. Holmes and Watson. Of particular interest are what the author refers to as The Affair of the Vatican Cameos, the Reigate Poisoning Case, and a document apparently written by the man Holmes himself called 'the fourth smartest man in London', John Clay. Grateful acknowledgement to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.**

The much-loved Mapp and Lucia novels of E.F.Benson are sadly too few in number. The Tilling Smugglers is the fifth in Hugh Ashton's series which have satisfied the wishes of Mapp and Lucia fans around the world for more adventures of the famous pair. The first four books, written in the style of the originals, have been much praised and enjoyed.In this story, a new character from the theatrical world appears when Lucia is appointed to entertain a visiting Royal personage with a pageant.And at the same time, Major Benjy and Elizabeth Mapp-Flint make a surprising, but also disturbing, discovery.Join your old friends in Tilling: Georgie, the Padre and Evie, Major Benjy, Quaint Irene, dear Diva, and of course Elizabeth Mapp-Flint and Lucia, as they plot and scheme in their attempts to lead Tilling Society.

Hugh Ashton has been digging deeper in the deed box that originally belonged to Dr Watson, the friend and colleague of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. He has unearthed three more tales referred to in the original books, but never before released to the public: Colonel Warburton's Madness; the Paradol Chamber; and the Giant Rat of Sumatra.The Case of Colonel Warburton's Madness is one of the few cases recorded by Watson as being one that he introduced to Holmes (The Engineer's Thumb being the other). Taking place in a seemingly innocuous suburban setting, it is nonetheless a tale of dark secrets and hidden evil. Holmes' skill at disguise is never seen to better advantage. Watson himself likewise shines as an investigator of more than average competence.The Mystery of the Paradol Chamber is strangely named, and the mystery itself is a strange one where Holmes' talents are needed to unravel a classic "locked room" murder puzzle....

Mrs Emmeline Lucas, known to all as "la Lucia", is the undisputed social and cultural leader of the quiet, but refined country village of Riseholme. Together with her husband, and her devoted courtier Georgie Pillson, she leads her subjects in hunts for Roman remains and fossils. Meanwhile two very different visitors arrive in the village, and the balance of Riseholme power is temporarily upset.La Lucia looks at life in Riseholme before the start of the Mapp and Lucia novels by E.F.Benson, and is written in sincere tribute to these comic but yet sympathetic portraits of middle-class society in England in the 1920s and 1930s. It is the third book in Hugh Ashton's Mapp and Lucia series, following Mapp at Fifty and Mapp's Return, which have been enjoyed by fans of the original stories:

Dispatch Box [2]The Reigate Poisoning Case: Concluded forms a sequel to the adventure described in Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD and provides a full and satisfying conclusion to that story. It is not often that Sherlock Holmes made an error of judgement, but this is one case where he made such a fatal (literally) mistake. No wonder that he prevented Watson from publishing the case in his lifetime!Review"The Reigate Poisoning Case Concluded ... very cleverly turns the story [of the Reigate Poisoning Case] on its head."  (The District Messenger, newsletter of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London) From the AuthorIn the account of the adventure that I have edited and entitled The Reigate Poisoning Case, published by Inknbeans Press in the collection Notes from the Dispatch-Box of John H. Watson MD, there was no mention of any character named Mlle. Carère, nor of a subsequent resurrection of the victim, let alone a reappearance and marriage in New York. I had therefore assumed that Watson had confused two cases, and attached the name of the principal of one to the events of another.It turns out that I was mistaken. Watson was correct in all the details that he had originally supplied as hints mentioned in his earlier story of Dartmoor. As I was searching through the dispatch box, I discovered an envelope into which was tucked another notebook, somewhat similar to the one in which I had discovered the story of Madame Montpensier. This was the totally unexpected sequel to the story that I had first discovered--a sequel that overturned my previous assumptions.The notebook contained what was perhaps a final copy of the second part of the manuscript describing the adventure, to be sent to the publisher, but later withheld, almost certainly at the request of Sherlock Holmes, given the content. Certainly there are very few corrections and additions to be seen in the manuscript, and the style is as polished as any other production from the pen of John Watson.I therefore present to you the second part of The Reigate Poisoning Case, which in my opinion, brings to a satisfactory close--as far as the plot is concerned, through many dubious moral aspects remain--those parts of the case that raised doubts in my mind when I was acquainted only with the first part of the story. This adventure is set some six months after the first, as the mention in Hound would imply.For those who have yet to read the initial portion, Holmes discovered that Mme. Montpensier, who had previously married a Mr. Stevens, was currently in a marriage which had been contracted bigamously by her current husband, under the name of Colethorpe. This Colethorpe, as she knew him, had suborned one of the maids into collaborating with him in a complex scheme that would trick the unfortunate Mme. Montpensier into providing her daughter, Miss Annabel Stevens, with a fatal dose of poisoned cocoa. At the autopsy, conducted by the local doctor, Henry Clifford (a former student colleague of Watson's) together with Watson and a lecturer at Bart's Hospital (Professor Menzies), it was discovered that the death of the victim had indeed been caused by poison. Though circumstances initially pointed to Mme. Montpensier as the administrator of the poison, it was deduced by Holmes that she had acted unwittingly, and the true culprit was Colethorpe, acting through his catspaw in the form of a kitchen maid, whom he had cajoled into acting as his accomplice. Colethorpe was found guilty and hanged, and the maid sentenced to many years' imprisonment.Grateful acknowledgement to Conan Doyle Estate Ltd. for permission to use the Sherlock Holmes characters created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Secrets From the Deed Box of John H Watson, MD: Book Three in the Deed Box SeriesThe deed box of Dr. Watson, presented to me some time ago by a friend who rescued it from the archives of a London bank, continues to produce treasures. The stories in this collection, which I have entitled Secrets from the Deed Box of John H Watson MD, all represent some aspect of Holmes and his adventures that has previously been undiscovered. In many ways these are (with the possible exception of The Bradfield Push, which Watson left unpublished for personal reasons) somewhat darker in tone than the stories that he did release to the public and publish in the Strand magazine.For some reason, Watson failed to date most of Holmes' adventures, and we must therefore make a guess at the chronology of these stories through their allusions to other cases.The first of these tales, The Conk-Singleton Forgery Case, is mentioned by Watson. He gives no other details in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and the story was presumably withheld from the public on account of Holmes'brush with the police as described here. The story provides excellent examples of Holmes' skill in deduction from seemingly trivial observations, as well as details of his methods of working a case.The next story, The Strange Case of James Phillimore, is likewise mentioned in passing by Watson. James Phillimore is described as stepping into his house to retrieve his umbrella, never to be seen more in this world. This brief description implies a somewhat supernatural twist to things, but the truth of the matter is even more surprising. The open antagonism between Sherlock Holmes and some officers of the Metropolitan Police Force may come as somewhat of a surprise to those who have always regarded him as an unflagging ally of the official guardians of law and order.In The Enfield Rope, we enter unknown territory.Watson never alluded to this case. The principals here were far too well-known to Watson's public to allow of this case's publication, even with pseudonyms, and re¬spect for the British Establishment would have restrained Watson in this instance. Holmes' sense of the dramatic is shown here, and his admiration and liking for a member of a part of society that was often shunned at that time shows a human, more attractive side to Holmes than is often portrayed by Watson.The Bradfield Push is an early case of Sherlock Holmes, where Watson loses both his heart and his watch. Holmes can retrieve one, but not the other.These adventures of Sherlock Holmes are approved by The Conan Doyle Estate Ltd.From the AuthorOne of the joys of the exploration of the Holmes papers has been the increasing knowledge I have gained of the character and accomplishments of John Watson. Often regarded as little more than a sidekick to his more illustrious companion, it is interesting to see how often he serves as an accomplished investigator in his own right, while remaining modest about his abilities. Indeed, Holmes very often seems to rely on Watson's work in order to achieve the solution of a case. In the Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes remarks to Watson,"It may be that you are not yourself luminous,but you are a conductor of light." I would contradict Holmes' opinion here, and maintain that Watson, though by no means the shining beacon exemplified by Holmes, nonetheless still manages to provide sufficient illumination to shed light on the mysteries presented to his more famous friend. There are still more sealed envelopes in the deed box awaiting perusal, but the papers are becoming brittle in the Japanese climate, and Watson's handwriting seems to have deteriorated over time. It may be a matter of a few months before I am able to decipher more of the stories lurking at the bottom of the box.From the Back CoverThe first of these tales, The Conk-Singleton Forgery Case, is mentioned by Watson. He gives no other details in his reference in The Adventure of the Six Napoleons, and the story was presumably withheld from the public on account of Holmes' brush with with the police as described here. The story provides excellent examples of Holmes' skill in deduction from seemingly trivial observations, as well as details of his methods of working a case.The next story, The Strange Case of James Phillimore, is likewise mentioned in passing by Watson. James Phillimore is described as stepping into his house to retrieve his umbrella, never to be seen more in this world. This vague description implies a somewhat supernatural twist to things, but the truth of the matter is even more surprising. Likewise, the open antagonism between Sherlock Holmes and some officers of the Metropolitan Police Force may come as somewhat of a surprise to those who have always regarded him as an unflagging ally of the official guardians of law and order.In The Enfield Rope, we enter unknown territory. Watson never alluded to this case. The principals here were far too well-known to Watson's public to allow of this case's publication, even with pseudonyms, and respect for the British Establishment would have restrained Watson in this case. Holmes' sense of the dramatic is shown here, and his admiration and liking for a member of a part of society that was often shunned at that time shows a human, more attractive side to Holmes than is often portrayed by Watson.Finally, The Bradfield Push was presumably locked in the deed box by Dr Watson because it showed a side of his emotional life prior to his marriage that he would sooner have kept hidden from Mary. An entertaining story of detection, with Holmes displaying his characteristic powers of observation and deduction.

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Sophie Jordan’s breathtaking digital original novella set in the world of Firelight.For Az, it’s supposed to be a fun summer vacation with her family. Nothing complicated. Just a quick trip to test the waters as she prepares for a year on her own. That all changes when she rescues a drowning girl and meets Tate—the most gorgeous human boy she’s ever seen. Tate throws her heart, her plans, and her life into upheaval, but the closer she gets to him, the harder it is to hide the secret of what she is.With no hope for a future together, the last thing that can ever happen … is love.This stand-alone digital original is perfect for those new to the Firelight series as well as veteran fans.

Massachusetts State Trooper Ross Huber is giving one last sweep of the roads before heading in for the night. The nor'easter hitting the Boston area is worse than expected by an order of magnitude, and the governor has just issued a travel ban. Ross finds a wrecked car half-buried in a snowbank and rescues its human and canine occupants from carbon monoxide poisoning, but is forced to take shelter with them in a vacant or abandoned house when the roads are blocked.When he gets the victims indoors, he thinks the human looks uncomfortably familiar ...Ash Machado has been through a lot in his career as a war correspondent. Sidelined by an injury, he's returned to Boston to take up a job as a news anchor. After he loses control of his car on an icy road, he wakes up in an unfamiliar home, looking into the face of the guy who broke his heart in college.Neither Ross nor Ash are the same men they used to be, but now they're trapped in the abandoned house with no place to go....

Review'David Ashton, like Robert Louis Stevenson or Ian Rankin, is inspired by the beauty-and-beast nature of Edinburgh. His interpretation of James McLevy is worthy of the original man' SHERLOCK HOLMES SOCIETY 'McLevy is a sort of Victorian Morse with a heart' FINANCIAL TIMES Product DescriptionDavid Ashton, like Robert Louis Stevenson or Ian Rankin, is inspired by the beauty-and-beast nature of Edinburgh. His interpretation of James McLevy is worthy of the original man' - Sherlock Holmes SocietyThe third in David Ashton’s series of McLevy thrillers, A Trick of the Light sees McLevy team up with Arthur Conan Doyle to pursue a ruthless killer. It is 1860 and a Confederate officer, Jonathen Sinclair, arrives in Edinburgh with a sheaf of money to purchase a blockade-runner from Clydeside shipbuilders. He is betrayed to the Union forces and is shot dead by their secret agents. Who are they and where is Sinclair’s money? Meanwhile, a beautiful young American spiritualist, Sophia Adler, is the toast of upper-class Edinburgh with her dramatic séances. However, she could yet prove to be the deadliest woman McLevy and Conan Doyle will ever encounter.

In the quirky Southern town of Cherico, Mississippi, a new library means an exciting new chapter for librarian Maura Beth McShay—and for the friends and book lovers known as the Cherry Cola Book Club... The construction of Cherico's cutting-edge library has been an epic struggle worthy of War and Peace. But the Grand Opening Ceremony is scheduled at last—for the Fourth of July no less—featuring lakeside fireworks and a concert by country singer Waddell Mack. Maura Beth has even devised a cooking contest among area chefs and aspiring Julia Childs to crown the Queen of the Cookbooks. Yet even Maura Beth's careful plotting can't prevent some glitches... Between a furniture fiasco that requires some creative problem-solving, and front-desk clerk Renette's major crush on Waddell Mack, there's equal parts drama and comic relief. Once the ribbon has been cut and the delicious recipes are judged, the Queen of the Cookbooks will take her...