The Awakening and Selected Short Fiction, by Kate Chopin, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.  When it first appeared in 1899, Kate Chopin’s The Awakening was greeted with cries of outrage. The novel’s frank portrayal of a woman’s emotional, intellectual, and sexual awakening shocked the sensibilities of the time and destroyed the author’s reputation and career. Many years passed before this short, pioneering work was recognized as a major achievement in American literature. Set in and around New Orleans, The Awakening tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a young wife and mother who, determined to control her own life, flouts convention by moving out of her husband’s house, having an adulterous affair, and becoming an artist. Beautifully written, with sensuous imagery and vivid local descriptions, The Awakening has lost none of its power to provoke and inspire. Additionally, this edition includes thirteen of Kate Chopin’s magnificent short stories.  Stories Included in the Volume: The Awakening Emancipation: A Life Fable A Shameful Affair At the ‘Cadian Ball Désirée’s Baby A Gentleman of Bayou Têche A Respectable Woman The Story of an Hour Athénaïse A Pair of Silk Stockings Elizabeth Stock’s One Story The Storm The Godmother A Little Country Girl Rachel Adams teaches nineteenth and twentieth-century American literature at Columbia University.

 Chloe Saunders is on the run and raising hell. Literally. Chloe Saunders is not your average supernatural teenager. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister team of scientists, she can barely control her terrifying powers. Now the team that created her has decided it's time to end the experiment. Permanently. Now Chloe is running for her life along with a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?'

An erotic thrill ride about genetically altered Breeds with feline DNA-and the humans who arouse their lust.The runt of the lab she was created in, Dawn Daniels endured years of torture by her pride brother and the council soldiers. Finally freed from her torment, she\'s now a Breed Enforcer, in control of her own life. Until she\'s assigned to protect the one man destined to be her mate—and realizes it\'s far too easy to lose total control.One of the Breeds\' most important supporters, Seth Lawrence has spent years trying to forget Dawn, knowing that her lost innocence has made it impossible for her to get close to anyone. But suddenly neither of them can find the strength to fight the overwhelming passion between them.At least until the most brutal tormentor from Dawn\'s past reappears—and threatens to destroy their newfound love, along with their lives...

With a dagger in her hand and vengeance on her mind, Darkhaven beauty Elise Chase prowls Bostons streets in search of retribution against the Rogue vampires who took from her everything she cherished. Using an extraordinary psychic gift, she tracks her prey, well aware that the power she possesses is destroying her. She must learn to harness this gift, and for that she can turn to only one man the deadliest of the Breed warriors, Tegan. No stranger to loss, Tegan knows Elises pain. He knows fury, but when he slays his enemies it is with ice in his veins. He is perfect in his self-control, until Elise seeks his aid in her personal war. An unholy alliance is forged a bond that will link them by blood and vow and plunge them into a tempest of danger, desire, and the darkest passions of the heart. . . .

A group of former Navy SEALS, the Alpha Pack is a top-secret team of wolf shifters with Psy powers combating the greatest dangers in the world. But sometime those dangers are more intimate than they bargained for...   After a mission goes wrong, Aric Savage is taken prisoner. Half-dead and despairing, he makes a stunning discovery: his Pack mate Micah Chase, who was reported dead, is a fellow captive. When the Alpha team goes into full-rescue mode, accompanying them is an absolute stunner with sable hair--and a spine of solid steel.   LAPD officer and Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase has one priority: her brother Micah's recovery. Still, she can't help but be drawn to Aric, the ruggedly handsome wolf shifter who pleasures her as no man ever has--however fleeting their affair is destined to be. But when Aric's life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she's willing to sacrifice in the name of love, for the man fated to be her Bondmate.

Wicca has changed my life. I've lost old friends, made new ones. Discovered my true heritage. Found love - and betrayal. But there's so much more to learn. I know wicca can be used for good or for evil. The hard part is knowing which is which.

Enter the world of the Dark Dynasties. . . For centuries, shapeshifting vampire Tynan MacGillivray has prowled the night as an outcast, valued only for his ferocious hunting skills. When a feud among the immortals escalates into all-out war, he is ordered by his ruthless queen to locate a Seer - a human woman with a special gift - who can secure victory for their clan. Ty's search leads him to a quiet New England town, but once he has the Seer in his grasp, her touch awakens within him a hunger like he's never known. . . Lily Quinn has always been different. Since childhood, she's had vivid nightmares and an eerie sixth sense. When a sexy, silver-eyed stranger demands her help, Lily plunges into a new world of danger and sensuality. With Ty, she discovers sizzling passions she cannot deny and powers she cannot control. Soon, it is clear that Lily is much more than a Seer - she holds the key to ancient secrets and unthinkable destruction. But will a vampire's vow of eternal protection stop these evil forces. . . or unleash her dark destiny?

As night terrors continue to haunt Ana’s every move, a connection to a past she doesn’t know exists, fights with a future she doesn’t believe possible, and the key to both lays buried deep within her nightmares as she fights to save her love from being caught between two worlds. Little does she know that legions are building and the battles have already begun.Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream.On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she’s been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all.It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

A Wyvern dragon shifter. Revenge, lies and a deadly magical challenge When her parents were murdered eleven years ago, leaving her physically scarred during the event, dragon shifter Astri never learned the identity of their killer. That is until he appears to her in a nightmare. The powerful Duke Jorgen not only rules the city of Rivenna where she lives, he is also responsible for her parents’ death and for the disability she’s had to bear most of her life. When the chance arises for her to compete to become Duke’s assistant, she realises this is her opportunity for revenge. But everything in Astri’s world comes with a price. Can she overcome her disability and make Duke pay?

A dangerous game of life, blood, and survival becomes a deadly triangle for three, unsuspecting souls: an ancient vampire, a mysterious woman, and a street-wise human… Before it’s over, each will face a chilling BLOOD AWAKENING. Marquis Silivasi is a loner—an ancient vampire known to be merciless, harsh, and unforgiving. He has lived to see his dark twin sacrificed, his parents hunted, and the one soul he was sworn to protect, destroyed by his enemy. When a mysterious female with a secret past shows up in Dark Moon Vale, her presence sets off a strange set of events: It is as if she has awakened the sleeping soul of the valley…and the Curse of Marquis’s birth. Bound to each other by primeval law, the two must forge their way through an ever growing maze of danger, deception, and destiny. They must find salvation in a world without mercy, where survival demands a chilling BLOOD AWAKENING.

This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B00S5NS39Y. Lately, life has been going well for Ayden. His relationship with Lyric is starting to heat up and his career in music is taking off. But the disappearance of his sister still weighs heavily on his mind. Desperate to find out where his sister is, Ayden decides to take drastic measures. But his dangerous risk leads to the unraveling of secrets, and he’s left facing a darker past then he ever could have imagined.

Legon is a simple young man in the small town of Salmont, a town in the center of the Empire that few know about and even fewer care about. All he wishes to do is to start his own butcher shop and take care of his adopted sister and family. Legon is not from Salmont and echoes from his parents past are coming up to haunt him.Set in a world that is not our own, Legon Awakening takes you through an epic journey into a land full of wonderment, illusion, and innovation.Legon is a simple young man in the small town of Salmont, a town in the center of the Empire that few know about and even fewer care about. All he wishes to do is to start his own butcher shop and take care of his adopted sister and family. Legon is not from Salmont and echoes from his parents past are coming up to haunt him. Legon finds himself being caught in the war that claimed his biological parents lives and now threatens everything he has. He must flee from everything he knows and journey to land of his ancestors to keep all that he loves safe.

Short horror story. Pages: 6. Words: 1,910Evan awakens in a dark place where he must fight for his life from evil beings and twisted puzzles.A young man awakens in an unknown place, strapped to a bed, with shadows around, his whole world is turn upside down. He is in a race of time to escape the hell he has awoken in. As He dives deeper into the mysterious world around him, he starts to realize that not all is what it seems when people try to play God. Everything he once knew has been turned upset down and only gets worse as he starts to unravel the sicking truth around him with the help from another.

The adventures and spiritual growth of a group of 21st century soldiers who find themselves in the 23rd century after the collapse of civilization.Triggered by environmental disasters, the Second American Civil war is coming to a close, and the North is losing. Hoping to defeat the South by surprise attacks in the near future, twenty groups of fifty soldiers are hidden in stasis, to be awakened in five years, but when Commander Jason Armstrong wakes, three hundred years have passed. The world and everything he knew is gone, lost to catastrophic earth changes. Civilization has reverted to an agrarian state, but his skills, and those of the other eleven survivors, are still needed. The totalitarian empire of Kenor The Great is expanding, enslaving all those it conquers.The original protectors of the soldiers have watched over them for centuries, and in that time developed a culture of peace, and reverence for life and nature in their remote village. Highly evolved, they easily communicate with the spiritual plane and perform feats of apparent magic. They need the soldiers to protect them, but justifiably fear the corruption of their values by the soldiers' culture.This is book one of a four part series.

Kylie is devastated after her best friend’s suicide. When Kylie dies, she’s happy at the thought of seeing her again. What she doesn't plan on is waking up at a strange mansion and being told that she’s about to become a vampire. The moon Goddess Selene has chosen her for a reason. A series of murders shakes her new home, and she must protect those she loves, while looking for the killer. Age 15+17 year old Kylie Redding is trying to recover from the emotional devastation of her best friend's suicide. She hates the people in her school, she hates her step-dad, and she hates life. When Kylie begins choking on her own blood, she's surprisingly happy at the thought of dying, because she'll get to see Tara again. What she doesn't count on is awakening in a strange mansion, and finding out that she's just started her journey to becoming a vampire. The Moon Goddess Selene has chosen Kylie for a special reason, and it soon becomes apparent.Tara is not dead, and she's been given a special gift by their loving goddess. As her best friend, it's only natural that Kylie step up and become her Protector, someone that will be willing to die for her in a seconds notice. When someone begins sacrificing residents of Daray Hall, her new home, Tara's gift of mind reading comes in handy, and the two begin searching for the elusive killer. However, this gift puts Tara in great danger, and Kylie begins to doubt her choices, and herself.Together, they uncover a strange plot to summon an evil, vengeful goddess that will destroy the world with fire until only those that worship her are left. When the ultimate showdown happens, Kylie isn't sure what is going to happen; only that she needs to protect Tara with everything she has. No matter the cost.

It has been six months since their father locked them in the security vault with a promise to return. But he never came back. With supplies running out and vital life support systems failing, Jack, Samantha, and Will have no choice but to ignore their father’s warnings and leave the vault. With no knowledge of what befell the world outside, or what they might expect once the door is opened...It has been six months since their father locked them in the security vault with a promise to return. But he never came back. With supplies running out and vital life support systems failing, Jack, Samantha, and Will have no choice but to ignore their father’s warnings and leave the vault. With no knowledge of what befell the world outside, or what they might expect once the door is opened, they find themselves in a world they do not recognize. Thrust into the remains of the world they remember, how will they survive on their own, not knowing what or who else remains amongst the ruins?

He’s a warrior deep in his bones, but she wants only peace… For decades, Warrior Duncan has had an on-again, off-again relationship with a woman opposed to his warrior lifestyle. When Rachel shows up in his life again, he wants to keep his distance, but the infamous breh-hedden, the myth-that-isn’t-a myth, bears down on him keeping him in a perpetual caveman-like state. How is he supposed to make war when he’s falling in love with a woman who only wants peace? Rachel can’t believe Duncan is back in her life. She spent years getting over him, over all the fights they had about her dislike of the war and his love of being a Militia Warrior. The problem is, she never stopped loving him and the trance he’s stuck in has her out of her mind with worry. When the breh-hedden crashes down on her, she wants only one thing: Duncan … in her bed … now. But how is she supposed to stay with a man who represents what she hates most about their ascended vampire world? RAPTURE’S EDGE 1: Awakening is a paranormal romance novel, a vampire romance with a fantasy edge, of the Rapture’s Edge Series. The series is preceded by two related books: BRINK OF ETERNITY and THE DARKENING. RAPTURE’S EDGE is part of the Guardians of Ascension Saga!

A witch with a badge and a gun...and her first murder case. Arianna Calin has sworn to keep the peace in Riverdale. Most of the Otherworlders haunt the Olde Town district--partying at vampire strip clubs, dining in elegant supper clubs, and inhabiting the cliffside caverns along the Mississippi. They're really no trouble at all...until something goes wrong. Being a cop for the supernatural is a tough job, but someone's got to do it. Ari carries a gun, a wicked-looking dagger, and a few magic charms against things that go bump in the dark. She's also a fire witch--an ability that comes in handy, since her cop partner Ryan is only human.  When a virtual reality drug hits the streets, people start to die, and an elusive pack of werewolves shows up at every turn. So does the aristocratic vampire singer, Andreas, with his Old World charm and his spellbinding voice. Ari and Ryan are drawn into a web of murder and evil. While the city simmers around her, Ari scrambles to prevent an all-out supernatural war...

In this Penguin eSpecial, under the blazing heat of the Borneo sun, a beautiful naturalist's dream comes true--to live among the feral jungle creatures. But an untamed, irresistible beast of another sort forces her to explore her own wild side. *This short story can also be found the books "Fever" and "Fantasy."*

A short story about a sudden and unexpected change in life and the journey to discovery.Jennifer Logan likes Scott Parker, and Scott Parker likes her back. But there’s a problem. Jen’s best friend, Lindy Masters, already called dibs on Scott. Scott Parker is off limits according to best friend crush rules. Jen comes up with a plan. If she finds a new crush for Lindy then she’ll be able to go to the Snow Ball with Scott. It sounds easy, but everyone knows that junior high is nothing but drama. Will Jen and Lindy get dates for the school dance? And who will win The Winter Wonderland fashion show? Find out in “Snow Ball”!

The sins of the mothers are visited upon the daughters. The daughters, descendants of the Scorpion-Dragon and Tiger-Dragon gods, must use their cunning, skill, and magic to overcome both lesser and greater evils. Pan-dimensional talking cats, crystal-generated entities, and Elemental beings with a penchant for puns aside; no one knows who will survive "Vexyna's Awakening"Angered earth, provoked by the power of the Red Empress, evicts Vexyna from her home and forces her to confront the truth about her family line. Along the way Vexyna meets a perpetually hungry thief, a woman who’s generated by a crystal, and many more unique individuals. She also learns of a woman who drains men of their vital essences and discovers that her own eyes have the power to... Two legendary dragon gods reveal more of Vexyna’s heritage. Ancient conflicts arise anew. Alliances are formed and broken. The three noble houses continue their centuries old conflict. The Red Empress marks Vexyna for death, but can even the mighty Empress survive Vexyna’s Awakening?

This supplementary short story to the novel, The Z Redemption, is about the childhood of Ana Valdez, one of the principle characters in the novel. Ana grew up to become one of the true heroines and patriots of Mexico when she was in her thirties. Her life had always been privileged and especially enriched by her older father’s love. Discover the young Ana who later became a heroine of Mexico!This supplementary short story to the novel, The Z Redemption, is about the childhood of Ana Valdez, one of the principle characters in the novel. Ana grew up to become one of the true heroines and patriots of Mexico when she was in her thirties. Her life had always been privileged and especially enriched by her older father’s love. She never knew another love so genuine until she fell into a passionate romance with David James, a gringo twenty-two years her senior. Discover in this story the experiences Ana had as a child that helped to form her feisty and compassionate spirit!Note: This is an independent short story not in the novel, The Z Redemption.

Be swept into a world of passion and emotion in this sexy Victorian romance!Hers was a body of marble...Until he brought it to life After her tyrannical late husband ruined her reputation, Lady Mercy Armstrong is longing to reinvent herself. The perfect opportunity presents itself when rebellious self-made man Jack Dalmuir has a daring proposition—a fake dalliance that will change society's view of her! Only, cavorting with the handsome Scotsman ignites a passion that could change both their lives forever...From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.Revelations of the Carstairs SistersBook 1: The Earl Who Sees Her BeautyBook 2: Lady Armstrong's Scandalous Awakening

Lady Althea Egerton’s late husband secured her independence when he left her his apothecary. After two years of growth, she is ready to expand the business…if she only had capital. Finding a wealthy husband would solve that problem, but Althea refuses to subjugate herself to another man. She prefers an investor. Unfortunately, the only one she knows is the golden god of hedonism, and his help comes with a price. Evan Gardner, Earl of Cheltenham, is bored. At twenty-eight, he has no equal in business, politics, or seduction. None of them hold his interest. Even his annual week-long orgy disguised as a house party leaves him cold. Yet the prudish widow, who wants only his money, intrigues him. As neither of them wants the trappings of marriage, a dalliance with the elegant widow might be just the challenge he’s been searching for. Though Althea cannot resist the lure of ecstasy he offers as condition for his assistance, a continued liaison could risk her reputation and her...

SUMMARY: Elena is the school beauty, but she's bored. Until a new boy turns up in her class. Stefan is dark and mysterious - and she's determined to get to know him better. But Elena reminds Stefan of someone from his tragic past, and he's just as determined to resist her. Until a series of attacks in the area terrify the school and town and Stefan, the outsider, is held responsible. Elena is the only one who offers to help and, falling in love with her, Stefan tells her his terrible story. He is a vampire, on the run from his evil brother, Damon, who is also a vampire, but doesn't share Stefan's qualms about drinking human blood. And Damon is the one Stefan suspects of really being behind the recent attacks... Can Elena help prove his innocence - without revealing his secret?

The tree-lined streets and mystical shops of Salem, Massachusetts resonate with a seductive and brutal history. New Orleans musician Megan O’Casey has returned to the home of her ancestors to perform , with her husband Finn, in a weeklong series of concerts, culminating on All Hallow’s Eve…and to renew her connection with the past. But from the moment they arrive in Salem, Finn seems different—sensual beyond belief one moment; cold and ruthless the next. The locals—even Megan’s relatives—regard him strangely, with a distrust bordering on hatred. Megan must soon face the fact that something powerful is rising, a malevolence that may have already claimed Finn for its own… As the full moon approaches, Megan senses that she, too, is in great danger. Sinister forces seem to be bringing her closer to darkness in a centuries–old ritual that music cannot tame…and time cannot conquer…

The Witch’s Awakening: A Witches of Time Novel

Awakening: A Novel

Discovering her descent from mythological African warriors called the Aziza was just the beginning of Justice Montgomery's troubles. For not only has she been chosen to be their champion against supernatural evils—a demon is on the loose seeking to manipulate her into misusing her newfound powers.Determined to do what's right and live up to her heritage, Justice trains and forms a band of allies, both human and supernatural. Yet the demon is determined to lead her astray, in the hope that her power might be used to enact an ancient prophecy.Should she succeed, Justice might become one of the most legendary Aziza to ever live. But should she fail, she might resurrect a goddess of Hell, and doom the world.

★★★ "CINDERELLA MEETS TWILIGHT" - BOOK REVIEW ★★★ After her mother's death, Taylor Hale goes to live with her father on the remote island of Dawnhaven. She's dreading it, but she has a plan: she'll keep her head down, survive senior year, and ignore that her wicked stepmother treats her like trash. Then she meets wealthy summer resident James Champlain, and everything changes. James is tall and strapping, with a square jaw. In addition to his looks, he's charming, funny, and kind. Taylor is increasingly drawn to him, but they're from two different worlds. She was on food stamps, he lives off a trust fund. Then there are the rumors: the locals say he's running some sort of cult at his estate. Taylor doesn't believe it, but James is definitely mysterious—as is Dawnhaven itself. There's something dark in the island woods, something dangerous. When Taylor encounters it, she learns that not only is James not what he appears...nothing is....

Serena Graham is looking forward to the vacation of a lifetime-a week at Paradise Resort, a Caribbean hideaway where she'll be able to indulge her every sexual fantasy with complete abandon and total anonymity. For the next week, she's Sexy Siren Serena and she'll do whatever she wants-with whomever she wants. Michael Donovan planned a week at Paradise Resort to research his next erotic crime novel, as well as indulge in some hot sex with his fashion model girlfriend. But when he finds his now ex-girlfriend has other plans, he's resigned to research without recreation. That is, until Serena shows up at his door claiming he's occupying her room. After a little negotiating, Michael and Serena become roommates, and Serena boldly asks Michael to be her lover for the week. How can he pass up the opportunity to mix a little pleasure with business? But despite their vow to keep their relationship strictly physical, they find much more than passion in paradise.

He's a grumpy mountain man who wants to be left alone. She's a city girl running from her past. When her car breaks down on his mountain, everything changes.Tonya Lorenzo thought inheriting her grandmother's Vermont cottage would give her the fresh start she desperately needs. What she didn't expect was to break down on a muddy mountain road in designer heels, completely at the mercy of the most intimidating man she's ever met.Kevin Pike has spent years building the perfect life in isolation—just him, his maple syrup operation, and his three foster brothers scattered across Burke Mountain. The last thing he needs is a helpless city princess disrupting his carefully controlled world. But when Tonya's controlling ex shows up with hired muscle to drag her back to Manhattan, Kevin's protective instincts explode.She's MINE. On MY mountain. Under MY protection.Trapped together by storms and secrets, Tonya discovers the gentle heart beneath Kevin's gruff exterior, while he finds himself addicted to her fierce determination and soft curves. But when her past threatens everything he's built, Kevin will have to choose between the safe isolation he's always known and fighting for the woman who's awakened his wild heart.She came to his mountain broken. He'll make sure she never leaves.A steamy instalove mountain man romance featuring a grumpy alpha hero, forced proximity, over-the-top protection, and a city girl who discovers she was born to be claimed by the wilderness. HEA guaranteed.

The #1 New York Times bestselling author begins a new trilogy of adventure, romance, and magic.In the realm of Talamh, a teenage warrior named Keegan emerges from a lake holding a sword—representing both power and the terrifying responsibility to protect the Fey. In another realm known as Philadelphia, a young woman has just discovered she possesses a treasure of her own...When Breen Kelly was a girl, her father would tell her stories of magical places. Now she's an anxious twentysomething mired in student debt and working a job she hates. But one day she stumbles upon a shocking discovery: her mother has been hiding an investment account in her name. It has been funded by her long-lost father—and it's worth nearly four million dollars.This newfound fortune would be life-changing for anyone. But little does Breen know that when she uses some of the money to journey to Ireland, it will unlock mysteries she couldn't have imagined....

Tortured by memories implanted by his captors, Krona knows only one thing. He must find Tenna, his partner, his Queen. She can't be dead. But when Ricardo, one of his human guards, tells him she's alive on another space station, the truth might be just as painful as their lies.With her memories missing and her planet supposedly destroyed, Tenna struggles to acclimate to life among humans. Olivia, a spaceship pilot and hacker, does her best to help. When a guard shows up with an alien Tenna knows she's seen before, it's obvious things aren't what they seem.When they learn that family ties bind enemy and ally, Krona and Tenna can only hope the honor they see in their human friends is strong enough to overcome blood. Can they work together to save themselves, their minds, and their tribe? Or will they lose everything?

How far will he go to release the beast....With his fifteenth birthday just around the corner, Arnold Ethon's feeling the pressure. He still doesn't have a Spirit Beast, that special creature deeply connected to a person's soul. It's like a mirror of their inner self. Some lucky ones get unique powers that match their Spirit Beast, while others can even make these mystical beings appear in the real world. But Arnold? He's still waiting for his to show up. When Arnold rescues a retired Doyen from attack the esteemed Spirit Wardens presents Arnold and his best friend, Otto, with an irresistible offer to join their ranks. Jumping headfirst, they delve into an intense journey, sharpening their ties with the spirit realm and uncovering their dormant abilities. But tranquillity is short-lived. A scar-faced enemy, hell-bent on vengeance against the Spirit Wardens, emerges from the shadows. Arnold's life, along with the lives of those he...

She is finally ready to feel the heat ... Lady Sylvia St. Vincent has more than done her duty. She married the elderly lord her parents arranged for her. She dutifully observed her period of mourning. At twenty-eight, she is finally free to live out her widowhood exactly how she sees fit. And the first thing on her list? Take a lover who will make her toes curl. Jasper thought he'd outgrown his childhood crush. He is a soldier. A successful businessman. Not to mention, a future duke. But when Sylvia steps into the room, he's that doe-eyed boy again fumbling over his words. After a shared night of breathless passion, Jasper thinks all of his childhood dreams have come true. Only to discover that the woman he loves is set on a dalliance. And nothing more. But he's determined to leave her out in the cold ... Sylvia is shocked by the unbridled desire Jasper has...

Justina Lindsey must find her way alone after the woman who took her in is murdered. She soon finds herself involved with a bad boy who has ties to the mafia, but when a handsome attorney enters her life, she is challenged on matters of her heart. The secrets she has weighs heavily upon her. This is Book One in a two-part series. Book Two is now available..Justina Lindsey must find her way alone after the woman who took her in is murdered. She soon finds herself involved with a bad boy who has ties to the mafia, but when a handsome attorney enters her life, she is challenged on matters of her heart. The secrets she has weighs heavily upon her. This is Book One in a two-part series. Book Two is now available.

Following the events of Sol-Acrima and the loss of four of her friends, Stefi, the Final Fieretsi, finds herself drifting ever westwards to the land of Alzandia aboard a crippled airship. Yet even in that lost, fog-wreathed place, Cédes's original homeland, there just may be some small hope, some glimmer of the light of dawn, to stand against the looming war and coming eternal twilight.Gemmie and Maya are dead. No, worse than dead. Sansonis and Ifaut, gone. Now with only two of her companions left, Stefi, the Final Fieretsi, is left drifting ever westwards aboard a crippled airship. There she finds Alzandia, home of the Alzandian Furosans, an isolated land wreathed in perpetual fog. It may once have been Cédes’s home, but there is no warm welcome from the people who were once glad to be rid of her and her destructive tendencies long ago. And yet even as war looms for the Furosans, Stefi discovers there may still be a place for love in her world.With the coming confluence of all five elemental guardians and the encroaching eternal twilight, Feregana looks set to change forever. And beyond the bounds of the world, on a little island of flowers lost to time beneath an unchanging sky, two wandering souls may be the only ones who can prevent the past from repeating...

Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening, a techno-political spy thriller, combines relentless action, crisp dialogue, fully drawn characters, and thought provoking plot twists. Part 1, a novella, establishes the story lines and introduces the principal characters, including Brendan Whelan—the leader of the Sleeping Dogs unit and the deadliest man on the planet.The President of the United States has been targeted for assassination—by his own party’s power structure. A national election is pending and the killing must look as if the opposition party is responsible. Desperate to prevent the crime and avoid an overwhelming defeat, the opposition turns to the only force that can stop it this late in the game—a mysterious hunter-killer team known only as the Sleeping Dogs. This blackest of black ops units was formed to carry out the wettest, most illegal missions. Later, a U.S. President, fearing discovery of the unit’s existence could spark an international crisis, ordered its members terminated with extreme prejudice. They escaped and went underground. Now, 20 years later, they are asked to leave the safety of their anonymity and risk their lives for their country one more time. A seemingly unconnected car crash rapidly escalates into a series of plot twists and rising body count involving Russian agents, crooked politicians, Ukrainian gangsters, a billionaire international arbitrageur, a secret society of individuals in the military and intelligence communities, the CIA, a doggedly determined FBI agent, and the six deadliest men on earth—the surviving Sleeping Dogs. Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening is a techno-political spy thriller that combines relentless action, crisp dialogue, fully drawn characters, and thought provoking plot twists. Squarely on the same page with David Baldacci, Brad Thor, Lee Child and other best-selling thriller writers.Part 1, a novella, establishes the story lines and introduces the principal characters, including Brendan Whelan—the leader of the Sleeping Dogs unit and the deadliest man on the planet.

'She would never be married...But she remembered the cravings of her body for this man... She felt them still as he touched her, awakening within her feelings that she must forever suppress if she were to be in control of her life. Should she submit to this one weakness, this one night? One night in which to indulge herself, to explore herself, before closing down that side of her forever...'It is the year 1213 and Lady Angelique Gresham is a wealthy widow who is determined to remain free of the cruelty and control of marriage. Angelique has arranged to buy her freedom from the King and is awaiting his envoy to pay the last installment when her first and only love returns, wanting to marry her.Sir Guy, a noble but impoverished knight, wants three things: land, peace and Angelique. But it's Angelique he wants the most. She refuses to marry him but he tempts her with a night of passion in which she can realize her fantasies for the first and last time before she leaves for a remote northern castle. But is one night enough for Angelique to find the strength to trust not only Guy, but her own heart?Passion, hot enough to scorch the icy flints of a medieval castle, contained within.Awakening his Lady was previously published as Awakening, book 3 in the Gresham Chronicles.

Reality as he knows it is about to change—into a nightmare without end. Dominic Marchant’s peaceful life on the island paradise of Saint Barthélemy comes to a terrifying end the night his sister is brutally assaulted by three cartel hitmen. When he charges to her rescue against overwhelming odds, he not only leaves a man dead, but he also draws the attention of an entity straight out of darkest myth—a powerful vampire traveling the world in search of new converts. Soon, Dominic is plunged into the horrifying existence of a newborn blood-drinker. Tormented by his mad sire and used as a pawn in a lethal supernatural game without rules, he must manage his insatiable lust for blood even as he accepts that his continued survival comes with only two choices—kill or be killed. And the price of freedom may very well be what’s left of his soul…

Part 1 of 4 Lilly has been marked for death by daemons from a place known as the Shadow Realm. Within her has awakened the spirit of their enemy, one of the luriel. The daemon slayer, Mychel, will introduce her to a world of shadows and light hiding beyond the comfort of science and technology, where an eternal war rages on. When her life is turned upside down, Lilly must decide who to trust...

The Human Shifter... After years spent as a mad scientist’s experiment, Quinn is free with only one plan. Protect the child she’s carrying at all costs. Until she begins manifesting strange physiological changes. At least for a human. Growls she could explain, but the claws sprouting from her fingertips are another story. A Super Solider... Mitch took one look at Quinn and knew he’d do whatever it took to protect her. She called to something inside him, a part that had been silent for too long. From the moment he first swept her up into his arms, he vowed he’d do whatever it took to protect her. No matter the cost. Mine… From the first shot fired to the last, blood will spill as will secrets until there’s nothing left but the call of something that should never have survived but did. There’s something growing stronger inside her. Something born in blood and ready to claim vengeance. Just as soon as they claim their mate. Author’s Note: Although each book features a different couple, this series is best enjoyed when read in order.

A short story about Jos and his gradual involvement in a traditional Irish music session.Getting accepted into an Irish music session is not simply about turning up and playing the tunes. Jos Cardy learns something about the tradition and what it means for those who play it.

Dagmar has been living with her grandparents for most of her twelve years. Going to bed one night she awakens and finds herself not in her bed but in a different realm. She embarks on a journey of learning and discovery.A dream which is not a dream. Dagmar learns of her true identity and begins a journey of discovery in another realm and filled with magic ..... A slight breeze made the heads of the flowers bob as if they were nodding in acknowledgement of the child’s passing feet and the leaves rustled like sand paper rubber together. Sunlight was diffused by the trees which were reaching to the sky and gave the ground a mottled look where the grass was sprinkled with sunshine. The girl wandered along admiring the pretty flowers and their wonderful colours and smells which such a welcoming spring fragrance. Stopping and squatting down to examine more closely a shrub with stunning flowers that were shaped like small dark pink frilly dresses with tiny yellow slippers that hung gracefully from green leaved branches the girl smelled a wonderfully gently perfume which she could not place, shrugging her shoulders she wandered further along. Looking left and right Dagmar saw flowers with large emerald green leaves and milky yellow flowers which had an overpowering smell it caused the girl to sneeze. Small crimson blossoms dotted bushes with lime green leaves and petite birds flitting about in continual movement with fleeting glimpses of a kaleidoscope of colours. Bushes with large emerald green foliage which created recesses carpeted with deep green moss dotted with tiny mauve flowers with a butter yellow centre. Looking around the girl saw ash trees with their silvery bark and small grey leaves and evergreens and their jade green needles, Oak trees with rough dappled brown bark towering over the rest. Fallen tree trunks covered in various types of moss with teeny tiny flowers with a diversity of colour giving it a look of a blanket covering a resting person. Underfoot small twigs and dry leaves snapped and crackled as the child wandered releasing the smell of decaying plant matter, which was giving the whole area a very rich earthy scent that the girl absolutely loved. Inhaling deeply with eyes closed Dagmar stood, face raised to the sky, arms outstretched as if in prayer. Feeling totally at ease and blissfully happy the girl began to skip through a small section of the woodland humming snatches of tunes. As she came to a small clearing, she could hear the sound of water and decided to follow the noise. It took her no time to locate the source of that sound; it was a small creek which was meandering gracefully through a clearing with new lush green grass on both sides of the banks. Many beautiful spring flowers were sprinkled around making dots of colour through the green of the grass. The girl dropped down to have a closer look at all the pretty flower buds, on hands and knees she crawled around sniffing scarlet, lilac, azure and snowy white blossoms, some had no scent yet others had a subtle hint as yet others had a very strong fragrance. Unable to resist the girl picked some of the flowers, to give to Titania later when she returned to the ancient tree, using long strong blades of grass to wrap the bouquet and hold it together. Following the creek Dagmar skipped over rocks and logs stopping to watch frogs jumping and dragonflies skimming the surface of the gently flowing water. The flash of movement in the water indicating that something lived there made the girl stop, carefully placing the bouquet on a rock, she gingerly stepped closer to the water’s edge screwing up her eyes to squint against the suns glare into the water looking for the flash of scales.

Elizabeth is a brilliant loner with a troubling secret she doesn't even know. As if the trauma of her mother being abducted before her eyes as a young girl wasn't enough, the town she lives in thinks she’s crazy. That all changed when she met Michael, a mysterious and handsome man who identified with her like no one else before. Their meeting might spark the beginning of the end of the world...Elizabeth is a brilliant loner with a troubling secret she doesn't even know. As if the trauma of her mother being abducted before her eyes as a young girl wasn't enough, the small town she lives in thinks she’s crazy. That all changed when she met Michael, a mysterious and handsome man who identified with her like no one else before. Michael’s long time friend Vincent visits and drops the bombshell of a lifetime on Elizabeth and her world becomes completely unraveled. Vincent’s information has revealed the world for what it is; a place where the impossible is real, and myths and legends walk slyly in shadow. A world that Elizabeth will learn she too is a member. Now, the three are caught up in a thousand year long conspiracy they never could have imagined. The three must rely on one another and the secret connection they all share if they have a chance to survive.

Spirit Warrior and supernatural enforcer Naomi Garland has fought hell beasts and magical miscreants. She has thwarted warlords’ schemes and plunged into the deeper reaches of hell. None of that has prepared her for this. Following a mass demon breakout from hell, Naomi and her Dragon Born lover set out to hunt them down. But this time, it isn’t just about saving the world. The demons have infiltrated Naomi’s inner circle—and to defeat them, she must join forces with her sworn enemies.

Lady Althea Egerton’s late husband secured her independence when he left her his apothecary. After two years of growth, she is ready to expand the business…if she only had capital. Finding a wealthy husband would solve that problem, but Althea refuses to subjugate herself to another man. She prefers an investor. Unfortunately, the only one she knows is the golden god of hedonism, and his help comes with a price. Evan Gardner, Earl of Cheltenham, is bored. At twenty-eight, he has no equal in business, politics, or seduction. None of them hold his interest. Even his annual week-long orgy disguised as a house party leaves him cold. Yet the prudish widow, who wants only his money, intrigues him. As neither of them wants the trappings of marriage, a dalliance with the elegant widow might be just the challenge he’s been searching for. Though Althea cannot resist the lure of ecstasy he offers as condition for his assistance, a continued liaison could risk her reputation and her store’s profits. To win this negotiation, Evan will have to ensure she can have both independence and pleasure.

From beloved actor and producer Omar Epps and writer Clarence A. Haynes comes the biggest epic fantasy of the year. A powerful saga of three teens, the children of refugees from a fallen African utopia, who must navigate their newfound powers in a climate-ravaged New York City. Perfect for fans of Black Panther and Children of Blood and Bone. For Zuberi, Uzochi, and Lencho, Nubia is a mystery. Before they were born, a massive storm destroyed their ancestral homeland, forcing their families to flee across the ocean to New York City. Nubia, a utopic island nation off the coast of West Africa, was no more, and their parents’ sorrow was too deep for them to share much of their history beyond the folklore. But New York, ravaged by climate change and class division, is far from a safe haven for refugees, and Nubians live as outcasts, struggling to survive in the constantly flooding lower half of Manhattan, while the rich thrive in the tech-driven sky...

USA TODAY bestselling author Sharon Kendrick brings scandalous secrets and tantalizing seduction under the stars for this Cinderella virgin! A night under the Greek sky... with a seriously sexy stranger! Marnie Porter craves an escape from the long hours at the luxury spa in Greece where she's working to help support her sister. And she may just have found it with one devastatingly handsome man—unaware he's billionaire businessman Leonidas Kanonidou! Cynical Leon believes it's better to keep his distance from innocent Marnie, yet discovering that his Cinderella needs urgent financial help prompts him to make a proposition. One with mutual benefits, including exploring her unleashed passion even as it threatens to incinerate his barriers...From Harlequin Presents: Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.

A battle is brewing in the underworld, and at the center of it all is Damali Richards, spoken word artist and vampire huntress. But she is not just any huntress; she is the millennium Neteru, a woman so powerful that the vampire world is about to start a war-one that threatens to spread onto her streets-in order to possess her. . . Fallon Nuit, a rogue vampire who is one of the most powerful Damali has ever encountered, has allied himself with the deadly Amanthra demons in order to claim her. But the Vampire Council has plans for her as well. And now an unlikely variable has entered the equation: an ex-lover turned master vampire with an agenda of his own. Damali must risk trusting him once more if they are to survive.

Untouched and unawakened...Or redemption?Rather than lose her beloved estate to ultrarich playboy Luca Ferrantelli, Artemisia agrees to wed him...on paper. Traumatized by a devastating accident, the heiress hasn't left the castello in years. She knows nothing of the world outside—nothing of a man's touch.If there's a chance that marrying Artie will give his grandfather the will to live, Luca must do it. But he's determined to resist the addictive pull of Artie's vibrancy and vulnerability. Until their scorching wedding kiss stirs the beauty to sensual new life!USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Set in the near future, the world is advancing as new technologies emerges. But the effects from the attack in an early decade of the 21st century, by an elusive group called Ordo Tribus XI (Order of the Three Eleven), lingers. Soon, a sinister force arises, quietly permeating into everyone’s lives and into all nooks and crannies of the connected world.This novel is set in the near future. It begins with historical fiction set at the end of World War I, followed by current day November 2011. These set the historical context for the rest of the book.The novel delves into future technology as gradual change occurs. The novel is a narrative and social commentaries that is equally relevant to the present, as it was to the past, and likely for the future. It offers a thoughtful look at greed, corrupted power, hate and atrocities. Readers are treated to characters from several parts of the world united in their determination to root out this pernicious threat. The backdrop settings consists of information warfares, cyber attacks, ground breaking future scientific and military technologies.Contents:PrologueChapter 1 - Barbarians at the GateChapter 2 - A World ApartChapter 3 - Crime and PunishmnentChapter 4 - Just VisitingChapter 5 - Anonymous VotersChapter 6 - The CureChapter 7 - GatheringsChapter 8 - Money TalksChapter 9 - Hackers and CrackersChapter 10 - The RebelsChapter 11 - Changing of the GuardsChapter 12 - Power PlayChapter 13 - The Last LectureChapter 14 - The PurgeChapter 15 - The ChaseChapter 16 - Lifting the VeilChapter 17 - Unpleasant TruthChapter 18 - Sympathy for the DevilChapter 19 - The LairChapter 20 - The AwakeningEpilogue

A young boy’s search of finding his grandfather through the world of swords, sorcery, and imagination, only to discover that he needs to make a decision to save an unknown universe or a family that does not accept him.What if I told you that there is a cure for most mental disorders? Think about it-- a world without depression, phobias, bipolar, or any other disorders. However, the answer lies within the hands of a thirteen-year-old boy and his missing grandfather.An admirer of the written word, Traveler Sands spends his days living in the moments of his books. However, he later discovers that his strong imagination would be the secret to saving two worlds. One day, he uncovers a magical mirror that sends him to a medieval-like world, a world that is devastated by war and greed. Traveler learns about the evil elder and his plans to amass his army by producing powerful creatures to crush the resistance. The key to the evil elder’s strategy is the creation of mental disorders in the various minds of the inhabitants of Earth.As Traveler’s adventure continues, he makes his way to a small part of the realm that is unaffected by the decadence. He comes across the truth of his grandfather’s legacy. This prompts Traveler’s decision to fulfill his role by becoming a part of the resistance, which turns out to be a league of knight-like wizards. Ultimately, Traveler is then conflicted with his choice when the evil elder captures his family’s minds.

Lady Lavinia Prior has lived her whole life under her mother's thumb. Heaven forbid she should form an opinion of her own or want something more than the rigid role her mother has planned for her as the perfect wife of an important man. But since her mother has never deemed any man to be good enough, Lavinia is at risk of becoming a spinster by default. Until one cringe-worthy night during a late-summer house party at Winterberry Park….Dr. Armand Pearson never expected to inherit the title of Viscount Helm and all that goes with it upon his cousin's death. With his medical career decimated by the duties of his title, the responsibility of an estate he doesn't know how to run on his shoulders, and a position in the House of Lords that his friends urge him to attend to, the last thing he has time for is a wife.But fate, and Lady Ursula Prior, have other plans….What starts out as the most awkward,...

Emiline Zadok is a Portland Police detective that comes across an unusual murder case. As Emiline searches for answers she soon finds herself steeped in the middle of an ongoing conflict between vampires and werewolves where she learns vampires are not of this world and werewolves are descendants of the biblical Cain. Her search for justice forces her to question her own morality as she learns a dark secret from her past and finds that her new love interest is also a prime suspect.

Ryan Butler has a gift. When he shuts his eyes at night his mind is connected to every sleeping person on the planet. But he is not the only one, and there are those who would use this gift for all manner of unsavoury deeds. Can Ryan stop them? And can he keep his gift a secret while retaining his sanity?Ryan Butler is a lazy, selfish individual. At 14 years old he would rather sit in his room playing computer games than put any effort into achieving the grades he is capable of at school. Deep down he is actually quite sensitive, but he puts on a brash façade to ensure he maintains his popularity. He has known his neighbour, Daisy, all his life, but since starting secondary school he has avoided her as all the other kids think she's a bit strange.Through a series of dreams, during which the same man keeps cropping up, Ryan discovers that he has the staggering ability to contact other people in the waking world and influence their thoughts. He soon finds out that Daisy also shares this gift, along with two other kids from his school. Sophie is the object of Ryan's affection, a constant overachiever who accepts his friendship because her numerous gifts are met with resentment among her other classmates. Billy is her twin brother, whose arrogance leads him to constant conflict with Ryan, and whom Sophie can't stand the sight of. Together they enrol at the Academy – a facility established to maintain order within the sleeping world, and inhabited by a bizarre group of dreamers. The man Ryan kept seeing, Tristram, is a senior Dreamweaver and is charged with helping them to develop their skills. They soon discover that the Academy is engaged in a bitter struggle with a mercenary group, led by the enigmatic Rasputin, who use their skills to manipulate the minds of powerful businessmen and world leaders to fulfil the designs of the highest bidder. Their Dreamweaving lessons provide an enjoyable diversion from school life, which is often fickle and cruel, but then Sophie goes missing in a dream and Tristram heads off to find her. The others recklessly choose to follow, and events take a gruesome twist when they finally locate Sophie and discover that the world around them is a terrifying distortion of reality, and one that they cannot readily wake up from.

High Priestess of her bloodlines, Samanthra Lampir is on the verge of her Awakening, something every Vii before her has welcomed with ease. Not Samanthra though, for her Awakening is prophesied to bring about the doom of her and those she loves the most, her sisters. In secret, she undergoes dangerous rituals despite the fatal threats of TERAH and the rising strengths of its enemies. That is, until the night a great storm of unknowable power releases a prophecy, a revelation, that will change her world--the world of TERAH-- forever.About the AuthorC.H. SCARLETT is an Author of Fantasy and Paranormal Fiction. She lives in the mountains of Virginia with her husband, three children, and many animals.

Facing yet another failed relationship and a full-blown identity crisis after losing her job in a corporate merger, unemployed executive Amber Shaw realizes she hasn't been happy in a long time. Who is she if not a CEO, and if everything she's worked for hasn't made her happy, what will? Inspired after learning about the Appalachian Trail, Amber sets off in hopes of figuring it all out.Leslie Brown lives life on her own terms with nothing to tie her down. She's an experienced hiker and has one final trail left on her bucket list, the Appalachian Trail. Only problem, all her friends have settled down and started lives that don't allow for seven months away from responsibilities. She's out there alone.Amber and Leslie assume they are polar opposites based on their first impressions of each other, but the more their paths cross, the more this hike of a lifetime begins to look like a love of a lifetime.

They're looking for a fresh start......with each other?After the tragic death of his wife, horse trainer Kern MacKinley shut himself off from the world—and love. Until the arrival of vet Ruby Day... Ruby may be reserved, but she has an unrivaled way with animals. Soon Kern discovers it's not just her patients that Ruby has the ability to heal. But once he lets Ruby in, there's no going back... Can he heal her, too?From Harlequin Medical: Life and love in the world of modern medicine.

The name Che Guevara is synonymous with Latin America. This classic anthology on Latin America shows the Argentine-born revolutionary s cultural depth, rigorous intellect and intense emotional engagement with a continent and its people. Selected from his family s personal archives, this book offers the best of Che s writing: examples of his journalism, essays, speeches, letters and even his poetry, revealing the evolution of an extraordinary mind from that of an impressionable young medical student to the heroic guerrilla, brutally assassinated in Bolivia. This anthology of Che Guevara's writing on Latin America is destined to become an instant classic comparable to Eduardo Galeano's Open Veins of Latin America. I consider my country to be not only Argentina but the entire Americas. Ernesto Che Guevara "