The South probably won't rise again. We're too busy trying to keep up with each other. Down here, family ties are strong but often as tangled as the kudzu that grows wild along the highways. These stories are told with a helping of humor, a pinch of forgiveness and a dash of dismay.This selection features Cousin, a short story from the upcoming collection My Kin, soon available as an ebook.No one knows who started using the word 'f-zombie', though the term seemed to fit. There's not one officially recognized source for the 'f' in f-zombie, but each explanation for it is pretty much true. One thing that they are is fastidious. What that means is that they tidy up after themselves, which means they look like everyone else. No blood drippings from their chins, skin hanging loose off their face, no white eyeballs or the stench of rotted flesh. If your best friend was a well fed f-zombie and was sitting in that chair on the other side of the room, yeah that chair with your stuffed teddy bear, you wouldn't have any idea at all. They tied their shoes, buttoned their shirts and combed their hair. Fooled us real good. That's another 'f', 'fooled'. Because they looked so much like everyone else, we liked to say they'd pull a 'fast one' on you. That's where they fool you and it's also how so many people got bit.There was also the name 'festies', cause they'd show up at parties. 'Feisties' because they'd get real agitated if you found out they were an f-zombie and didn't treat them exactly like you had before they were infected. There was the name 'Falsies', cause they're just false. Last one I can remember was 'feasties', cause they were coming to eat you.

Finding my family could mean my end. Cayden and I have grown closer than ever. Now I'm alpha. But Romulus's cult will strike at any time, and his dark spirit hovers over me, ready to take over. One wrong move will kill us all. We need more Wolves to fight the Savages and the cult. But we find not only more Noble Wolves but my family: my mother's side. My Hunter side. Together, they make up what used to be the Noble Order, who used to protect the Royals. And now I get why the Order broke apart and the real reason my parents told no one I existed. I'm forbidden. If the Order learns I'm the daughter of a Royal Wolf and a Hunter, everything's over. For all of us. And that's without them knowing the Savage King could take me over at any time. Great. But we need the Order. It's going to take everything Cayden and I have to survive - and perhaps the help of a newfound cousin.

Zetayn eyan pepyan eka ayn air kli nalliyan Four months ago, Elinta Ferran's life changed forever when she found an injured dragon, but now someone wants them both dead. In the wake of an attack by the mysterious Asali Mazen, Elinta and her friends begin the journey to the Asali city. Elinta hopes to learn more about the man who tried to kill her while rekindling the alliance between humans and Asali. If she succeeds, the dragons could finally return. In the city Elinta meets Tamir, an Asali with a curious amount of knowledge of the Zearla lurai and Mazen. When Tamir offers to help her learn more about the bond between her and Zhayra, Elinta accepts without hesitation. But not everyone is as welcoming as Tamir. Some have questionable loyalties. And all of them know Mazen. When Elinta's family is threatened, she must decide whether to face the exiled Asali or lose them forever. But there aren't a lot of people a Zearla...

Book 1 of the Custodians: Rome, present day: David Lowe arrives to research myths and folk tales. Studying in a library that seems to have as unusual a personality as it's Custodians.Parthia, second century A.D; Two legionnaires, far ahead of Emperor Trajan's legions, explore the dead city of Persepolis and unwittingly unleash a force more deadly than any the Roman Empire has had to face before.Book 1 of the Custodians: Rome, present day: David Lowe arrives to research myths and folk tales. Studying in a library that seems to have as unusual a personality as it's Custodians.Parthia, second century A.D; Two legionnaires, far ahead of Emperor Trajan's legions explore the dead city of Persepolis and unwittingly unleash a force more deadly than any the Roman empire has had to face before.Separated by nearly two thousand years, they all struggle to deal with a world that is far less illuminated than they thought. The lesson remains the same. Be careful when you push in to the Dark. Sometimes it pushes back.

Almost a millennium has passed…Niall Cael had been spellbound and entrapped by his stepmother, the new queen of Scotland. Torn between craving blood to feed the vampire in him and needing a mate for the wolf inside of him, he is forever alone and despised as a monster. His entire family had been cursed, torn apart by hatred and pain on what should have been a happy new beginning –but instead, it was the end of all they knew… until he ran into her- quite literally.Holly Baines could not believe the awkward way the handsome man had come onto her right there in the large group of marathon runners. There was something about him that was different, instantly setting her blood afire and her allergies wild. The attraction was intense, but so were the sneezing and hives! His old-fashioned ways made her alpha-type personality rage for control- but when she lets down her guard, her heart yearns for the wildness between them to run free.When an unknown threat resurfaces, will it destroy everything they have built together and the tenuous mated blood bond between them?

What does it mean to have a family? Singer and Lisa Thurman did everything right for their entire childhood. Their mother wanted a perfect life, and they knew how to fit that vision. Then they grew up. Singer came out of the closet and Lisa joined a cult. Singer and his partner are adopting a son. Unfortunately, all that practice being the perfect child didn't prepare Singer to be a merely adequate father. Lisa's just trying to get through the day. After three years in a cult, it's almost impossible to leave her bedroom, so redemption is going to have to wait. What does it mean to be a family? When their mother shows up and attempts to reclaim the illusion of her perfect family, old lives clash with new ones. Recovering from perfection is messy, complicated, and fraught, but the riotous clan that rises from the ashes is full of joy—and the best kind of trouble. A groundbreaking, honest, and provocative novel,...

Feeling a touch world-weary, Lori Shepherd decides to become a volunteer at the Radcliffe Infirmary, where she can spread a little good cheer. There she meets Elizabeth Beacham, a kind, retired legal secretary with no family, except a brother who has mysteriously disappeared. But after only a few visits, Miss Beacham suddenly passes away, leaving Lori to tie up the loose ends of her late friend's life. Lori soon discovers that hidden among Miss Beacham's belongings are clues that Lori believes her friend left for her to discover. Armed with the generous help of a handsome neighbor and, as always, Aunt Dimity's supernatural skills, Lori begins to unearth Miss Beacham's secrets and, ultimately, the surprising truth about her next of kin.

After taking on an evil not seen for thousands of years, Lyken Alpha Evan Roven had his mate and unborn child ripped from his life pre-maturely. Now, five years later, on his own as a rogue, his wolf wants out to mate again. The problem—he’s chosen a human female who can’t even protect herself from an Orc attack. Evan struggles, holding back his instinct to take Kasey Decker as his mate. He finally gives in to his wolf, and himself. Then he stands behind Kasey when she learns her family is not what she thought. She’s more than just a mere human. Kasey’s a Silver Alchemist, which could prove deadly to Evan. Afraid she’s going to hurt him, if she ever takes silver into her body, Kasey must use her gift when they’re attacked by a stronger Silver Alchemist, one set on killing Kasey…her own mother.

For many young mages like Basen, the Academy is more than just a place to learn the art of manipulating energy. It has become the only sanctuary in this unbalanced war, a symbol of resistance. But the Academy can’t stand up to Tauwin’s army much longer. As Basen and a group of allies take on the task of recruiting troops from other territories, he soon comes to find that no one is stupid enough to fight…no one except a fearsome horde of creatures more powerful and violent than they are smart. Basen begins leading them back to the Academy only to realize there’s a good reason humans have kept away from these creatures for centuries. On the other hand, Tauwin has problems of his own. His benefactor in this war arrives in Kyrro to claim what he was promised in exchange for his support: half of the territory. Sanya quickly assumes this benefactor to be the opportunity she needs to fix everything that has gone wrong in her life, planning to gain his trust and turn him against Tauwin by informing him of Tauwin’s lies. But soon she’ll discover that this masked man, who’s come to Kyrro with his own army, is even more dangerous than he appears.

Remo and Chiun arrive at the vacation paradise of St. Maarten, only to find they're deep in Dutch. The beautiful island is a very ugly scene. A lot of corpses have been showing up, each one bearing the unmistakable stamp of Sinanju, the ancient Korean martial art known only to the two men. The trail of bodies leads to a strange castle . . . and a young Dutchman - a man, it turns out, who's taken a blood vow to send both disciple and mentor to their deaths. A man who knows all their secrets . . . and has a few of his own. It's up to Remo and Chiun to stop him, but this time they're skating on thin ice. And if they slip, the whole world may go under.

Fourteen-year-old Colm Bell and his 11-year-old sister Lydia wake to the smell of smoke and the sound of gunfire – raiders are attacking their home. They grab their backpacks – prepacked for such an emergency – and head to the tunnel and the hills, following the escape route they have practised every day for their young lives. They don't look back.This is a futuristic novel set in Australia when the earth has been plundered and natural resources depleted. Society has broken down completely, and small groups of people live in suspicion, desperately hording their meagre supplies.Colm and Lydia are part of a generation of children who have never seen rain. As they wander through this Mad Max landscape, moving north to where they hope to meet up with their father, they hear of a great underground fire that is slowly incinerating the earth. They learn of the Wish Kin – people who are said to have the power to heal...

Two men tore Erica’s world apart in a life lived thousands of years ago. One was the man she loved and the other the enemy. Now both are back, and it’s up to her to make sure an ancient blood feud doesn’t destroy everyone she cares about. That means steering clear of her dragon mate. But sometimes memories are too strong and the past too powerful. Or so it seems when she slips back in time and ends up on an unexpected journey with a man she was determined to forget.Having confronted who he once was and what he did in a previous life, Kodran Sigdir sets out to seek answers. He needs to better understand his part in an age old war and keep his distance from Erica. They should remain apart. Yet destiny seems to be drawing him back to her. How he once felt. All he gave up. Could things go differently this time? Or will the risk to their people be too great? Find out as Erica, Kodran and their kin go up against the enemy one last time in Pride of a Viking, the epic conclusion of Viking Ancestors’ Kin.

While Adalon and his friends, Targesh and Simangee, gather supporters at the Lost Castle, the mad queen and her ruthless general continue to wage war on the seven kingdoms of Krangor. It is only when Simangee finds a legend in an ancient text that the rebels begin to hope once more. Do the Missing Kin really exist? Can the three friends find the winged saur and convince them to join their cause before it's too late?

In the Chronicles of King Rolen's Kin trilogy everyone believed Garzik had been killed. This ebook exclusive reveals what happened to him.When Dovecote estate fell, Garzik, younger son of Lord Dovecote, was captured and sent back to Merofynia as a prize of war. Feeling responsible for the fall of his father’s estate – and therefore, ultimately, the fall of the Kingdom of Rolencia – Garzik must set things right before he can return home.He decides to turn his misfortune into opportunity, to spy for the rightful king, Byren, who yet thinks him slain at Dovecote. With fortune on his side, he may learn something that could change the path of the war, then escape, return home, find Byren and redeem himself. For Garzik is and always will be the king’s man.With its explosive mix of political intrigue and magic, The Chronicles of King Rolen’s Kin remains the best selling Solaris series. Discover for yourself why with this new and exclusive ebook from Solaris.

At the dawn of human history, four children who have been cast out of their home embark on a quest for a new landThey came to An and said, "Our brothers and sisters have each a Kin, but we have none. How is this?" An, knowing no better, said, "You were reared by Ammu and by me. You are of the Kin of People." It was from this that all sorrow came. Suth and Noli were orphaned on the night when the murderous strangers came, speaking an unfamiliar language and bringing violence to the peaceful Moonhawk tribe. Now the Moonhawks are running away into a wasteland with little hope of finding water or food before it's too late. Determined not to die in the desert, Suth and Noli slip away at night with two other orphaned children and only Noli's dreams to guide them. Their search for a new Good Place, one of food and safety, will take them across the valleys and plains of prehistoric Africa and bring them...

Betrayal and fright caused her to run. A threat to her home town lures her back. Welcome to Alston, Maine. A place where different Other Kin species have lived in peace and thrived for centuries. However, there's one major rule: if you leave and know of a threat to the town, you must come back in person to report all details. Woodland Fairy Kalana Fairlawn ran when she thought her soul mate, and Lyken warrior, Drake Roven, had betrayed her on the night of their first mating, leaving her pregnant and vulnerable. Nine years later darkness emerges that could threaten the existence of Alston and all the different Other Kin species who call it home.

ENEMY OF MAN: BOOK ONE Earth Fleet wants Kin Roland dead. The Reapers of Hellsbreach want revenge. Once, in another lifetime, Kin Roland had been legendary. His experience as an elite space trooper taught him to rely on the men and women of his unit - with or without powered battle armor. Now he is marooned on a planet in the mouth of a wormhole and must trust the people he protects. The decisions he made in the face of nuclear genocide are history. His actions on Hellsbreach mean nothing on Crashdown until a Reaper named Droon haunts his nightmares and Earth Fleet discovers he survived execution by void burial. Changed by captivity and torture, hunted by the Reapers of Hellsbreach and wanted by Earth Fleet, Kin Roland has made a lost colony on a harsh planet near an unstable wormhole his home. A distant space battle propels a ravaged Earth Fleet Armada through the wormhole and a Reaper follows, hunting for the man who burned his home world. Kin fights to save a mysterious winged native of Crashdown from the Reaper and learns there are worse things in the galaxy than the nightmare stalking him. The end is coming and he is about to pay for a sin that will change the galaxy forever. If you enjoyed Starship Troopers, Aliens, and Space Marines this genre variation is for you.Enemy of Man: Book One in the Chronicles of Kin Roland is popular with fans of military science fiction, science fiction adventure, space opera, and horror. Squad level action puts a cast of surprising characters in a mess they aren’t likely to survive. Powered battle armor only gets a soldier so far. Battlefield experience, guts, and loyal friends make survival a lot more interesting. SON OF ORLAN: BOOK TWO New Enemies Kin Roland survived the Battle of Crater Town. He managed to keep his friends alive, though most remained at his side on Crashdown when the safe course would have been to evacuate with Earth Fleet. Kin even found the girl of his dreams. Surviving Earth Fleet justice and a Reaper vendetta was only the beginning. Now Kin has real trouble. With the Grand Army of the Mazz Empire descending on the planet to destroy ancient enemies and Reapers sweeping across the landscape leaving terror and death in their wake, Kin learns the truth of his supposedly invincible enemies. The largest military expedition in history isn't that of of a conquering force. The Mazz are on the run--fleeing extinction and Kin knows desperate enemies are dangerous. Kin will find himself in a position no one expected. He'll define humanity with his next choice, or doom them eternally. WEAPONS OF EARTH: BOOK THREE With the fate of humanity at stake, there is only one way for the Traitor of Hellsbreach to make things right. After a battle that erased people from existence, Kin Roland faces betrayal, intrigue, and the ultimate decision. Reapers, Slomn, and all the deadly monsters of Crashdown have not prepared him for his return to Hellsbreach. He swore to never again set foot on the red wasteland. The truth awaiting him in Blood Meridian Canyon will force him to a desperate alliance. A creature that even the King of the Reapers fears will drive Kin across the Red Plains of Sorrow with the fate of humanity in the balance. There has only ever been one decision for Kin Roland… the right decision. Weapons of Earth is the final book in the Chronicles of Kin Roland trilogy, a military science fiction adventure that fans of the movies Aliens and Predator will love. This series is for anyone who has dreamed of suiting up in a Starship Troopers dropship and assaulting a planet with a band of brothers ready to snatch victory from impossible odds. If you enjoy books by Robert A. Heinlein, Frank Herbert, John Steakley, John Ringo, and David Weber then you’ll love this book they inspired.

Rating: Erotic Romance - ControversialWho says guardians can’t be sexy and sassy, with one hell of a right hook? Alston guardian, Olivia Roven, knows how dangerous her job can be, and has felt the darkness that can tear families apart. Rushing home to save her aunt from a Dragon Hunter, Olivia discovers a bigger plot against Alston. Livi radiates sassiness, especially toward Tommy Moilanin, her former childhood friend, and unbeknownst to Livi…her future mate. Kept apart so she could concentrate on her training, Livi realizes how strong her bond with Tommy is. Tommy is a Lyken warrior, strong and proud, and he makes sure Livi’s guardian side understands his dominance, as their bond grows into a relationship they both yearn for.

Two men tore Erica’s world apart in a life lived thousands of years ago. One was the man she loved and the other the enemy. Now both are back, and it’s up to her to make sure an ancient blood feud doesn’t destroy everyone she cares about. That means steering clear of her dragon mate. But sometimes memories are too strong and the past too powerful. Or so it seems when she slips back in time and ends up on an unexpected journey with a man she was determined to forget.Having confronted who he once was and what he did in a previous life, Kodran Sigdir sets out to seek answers. He needs to better understand his part in an age old war and keep his distance from Erica. They should remain apart. Yet destiny seems to be drawing him back to her. How he once felt. All he gave up. Could things go differently this time? Or will the risk to their people be too great? Find out as Erica, Kodran and their kin go up against the enemy one last time in Pride of a Viking, the epic conclusion of Viking Ancestors’ Kin.