From *USA Today* bestselling author Jillian Dodd comes the fourth book in a sizzling series filled with action and adventure. Fans of *The Selection* and *The Hunger Games* will discover a heart-pounding thrill ride of espionage and suspense set in glittering high society.

Stephanie is a graduating combat student of North Amber Academy with the special ability of bending water and is preparing for her final examination. But the exams are the last things in Stephanie’s mind, rumors have it that Moah has invaded the city of Aechor and soon will declare war. Will Stephanie’s abilities be put to test to defend her country even before she graduates from the academy?Each student at the North Amber Academy had an element they specialized in. Every student fit in one of four categories: water, fire, earth, and air. The abilities each received all depended on what each was born with. For Stephanie Asheron and her friends, that was a love for water. Final examinations are coming up for the graduating students like Stephanie which will have her compete with her classmates and the top tier will go on to battle the other classes. But the exams are the last things in Stephanie’s mind, rumors have it that Moah has invaded the city of Aechor and soon will declare another World War. Are there truths to the claim of war? Will Stephanie’s abilities be put to test to defend her country even before she graduates from her academy?

“An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rice’s previous novels, along with fans of works such as The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini…. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.” --The Wanderer, A Literary Journal (regarding Rise of the Dragons) The #1 Bestselling series! RISE OF THE VALIANT is book #2 in Morgan Rice’s bestselling epic fantasy series KINGS AND SORCERERS (which begins with RISE OF THE DRAGONS, a free download)! In the wake of the dragon’s attack, Kyra is sent on an urgent quest: to cross Escalon and seek out her uncle in the mysterious Tower of Ur. The time has come for her to learn about who she is, who her mother is, and to train and develop her special powers. It will be a quest fraught with peril for a girl alone, Escalon filled with dangers from savage beasts and men alike—one that will require all of her strength to survive. Her father, Duncan, must lead his men south, to the great water city of Esephus, to attempt to free his fellow countrymen from the iron grip of Pandesia. If he succeeds, he will have to journey to the treacherous Lake of Ire and then onto the icy peaks of Kos, where there live the toughest warriors of Escalon, men he will need to recruit if he has any chance of taking the capital. Alec escapes with Marco from The Flames to find himself on the run through the Wood of Thorns, chased by exotic beasts. It is a harrowing journey through the night as he quests for his hometown, hoping to be reunited with his family. When he arrives, he is shocked by what he discovers. Merk, despite his better judgment, turns back to help the girl, and finds himself, for the first time in his life, entangled in a stranger’s affairs. He will not forego his pilgrimage to the Tower of Ur, though, and he finds himself anguished as he realizes the tower is not what he expects. Vesuvius spurs his giant as he leads the Trolls on their mission underground, attempting to bypass The Flames, while the dragon, Theos, has his own special mission on Escalon. With its strong atmosphere and complex characters, RISE OF THE VALIANT is a sweeping saga of knights and warriors, of kings and lords, of honor and valor, of magic, destiny, monsters and dragons. It is a story of love and broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is fantasy at its finest, inviting us into a world that will live with us forever, one that will appeal to all ages and genders. THE WEIGHT OF HONOR (KINGS AND SORCERERS--Book 3) is now published! “If you thought that there was no reason left for living after the end of the Sorcerer’s Ring series, you were wrong. Morgan Rice has come up with what promises to be another brilliant series, immersing us in a fantasy of trolls and dragons, of valor, honor, courage, magic and faith in your destiny. Morgan has managed again to produce a strong set of characters that make us cheer for them on every page.…Recommended for the permanent library of all readers that love a well-written fantasy.” --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Rise of the Dragons) “[The novel] succeeds—right from the start…. A superior fantasy…It begins, as it should, with one protagonist's struggles and moves neatly into a wider circle of knights, dragons, magic and monsters, and destiny.…All the trappings of high fantasy are here, from soldiers and battles to confrontations with self….A recommended winner for any who enjoy epic fantasy writing fueled by powerful, believable young adult protagonists.” --Midwest Book Review, D.

The darkness is drawing near. For centuries the Alliance has kept their enemies at bay. But the rise of a tyrant in the East has set in motion events few could have foreseen. Strange creatures stalk the shadows and the laws of magic are being sundered. Brothers Christill and Thibalt will learn that their childhood woes are insignificant. Their part in this struggle will shape the fate of all.The tyrant King Zephra has waited nineteen long years to meet his destiny. In the deepest corner of his hidden lair he has finally found a way to break the laws of magic. His malevolent scheme will forever ensnare the world. And the Feldonian nation will be powerless to stop him.Yet destiny comes in twos. For on the very eve of Zephra’s rise to power nineteen years ago, two brothers were kidnapped from their homeland by the savage Miirvkin. Brothers who, growing up amongst their hated foes, are fated to return to Feldom at the turning point of this ancient struggle.Now, whilst strange creatures stalk the shadows, and the darkness encroaches, destinies will clash. Thibalt and Christill will find that they have a larger part to play in the fate of their homeland. Yet the salvation of an entire race will weigh a heavy burden on them.

Four years have passed since the lillipads fell and Etyom slipped into darkness. The New Black Death has mutated again, spreading to near epidemic proportions. What little order existed in Earth's last city has disintegrated into chaos. Rippers roam the Vapid, robbing and leaving their victims butchered. The Robusts have spilled out of their broken enclaves and hide in any dark corner that will conceal them. Meanwhile, the elite Graciles, fallen from their pristine towers in the sky, have all mysteriously disappeared. Demitri is a prisoner in his own mind. His demon, Vedmak—now known as the Vardøger—is manipulating Demitri's body to execute a secret plan far more disastrous than even the Gracile Leader dared. Mila, her status among the fractured resistance elevated to that of Paladyn—a protector of the people—leads the fight against zealots intent on destroying what little remains of Etyom. It is a responsibility she never wanted, a calling that prevents her from...

King Arthur in outer space? Endless warfare has ravaged Earth, and billions are desperate for escape. One of them is Taylan Ellis. Driven from her home in the West Britannic Isles by an invasion and severed from her children, Taylan enlists with the Britannic Alliance, hoping she can help regain her homeland and find her kids. But decades of internal conflict and terrestrial and space warfare have left the BA on the edge of collapse. Then its battleship, the Valiant, picks up a distress signal. The rescuers break into a sealed chamber and find the apparently mummified remains of an Iron Age chieftain. Disappointed, they're about to leave when they discover the 'mummy' has a pulse. Taylan suspects she knows who the mystery man is and what he's capable of. If she's right, can she convince her superiors and save the BA, her country, and her children? The Valiant is book one in J.J. Green's new space fantasy series, Star Legend. Pick up your copy today!

In this thrilling origin story, one young man finds himself in the middle of a war between powerful gods, and tasked with saving the city he holds dear.Jack Boniface is having a weird day. Considering himself above the voodoo beliefs of his father and community back in New Orleans, Jack left his hometown to pursue his intellectual dreams at NYU. Normally, Jack is confident in his ultrarational approach to the world, but this morning he swears he can sense things moving in the shadows and keeps having the strangest daydreams about a hideous monster.Below New Orleans lies the Deadside, where Baron Samedi rules over a pantheon of Lwa—voodoo gods. However, when Freda—among the most beloved Lwas in New Orleans and one of Samedi's wives—goes missing, the Deadside falls into chaos. Freda's absence negates a decade-long agreement to protect New Orleans from unnatural violent death, resulting in a power struggle that spills over into the...

Ever since the defeat of the Zombie Leader and his minions several months ago, life has been peaceful for Steve, Boris and the other wolves. But a new adventure presents itself when they notice that there seems to be a disappearance of the wild animals from their place. There have been no Cows, Pigs, Wolves, Ocelots and other passive mobs in their region.Why were the animal missing?GENRE: Children’s Adventure (An Unofficial Minecraft Diary Book for Kids Ages 9 - 12 (Preteen)Book 7: The Missing AnimalsBoris is no ordinary wolf. He, his wife and two cubs, Tasha and Lobo and his other wolf friends Oopa and Ely live with Steve. He and the other wolves courageously fought side by side with Steve to defend the villagers again from the infamous Zombie leader. Ever since the defeat of the Zombie Leader and his minions several months ago, life has been peaceful for all of them. There have been no other attacks from Zombies and the other aggressive mobs. But a new adventure presents itself when Steve and the wolves notice that there seems to be a disappearance of the wild animals from their place. There have been no Cows, Pigs, Wolves, Ocelots and other passive mobs sightings in their region for months. Why were the animals missing? Are the animals missing too in other places?Author’s Note: This short story is for your reading pleasure. The characters in this "Minecraft Adventure Series" such as Steve, Endermen or Herobrine...etc are based on the Minecraft Game coming from Minecraft ®/TM & © 2009-2013 Mojang / Notch

Princess. Captive. Gladiator. Fallon is the daughter of a proud Celtic king, the sister of the legendary warrior Sorcha, and the sworn enemy of Julius Caesar. When Fallon was a child, Caesar’s armies invaded her homeland, and her beloved sister was killed in battle. Now, on the eve of her seventeenth birthday, Fallon is eager to follow in her sister’s footsteps and earn her place in the fearsome Cantii war band. She never gets the chance. Fallon is captured and sold to an elite training school for female gladiators—owned by none other than Julius Caesar. In a cruel twist of fate, the man who destroyed Fallon’s family might be her only hope of survival. Now Fallon must overcome vicious rivalries and deadly fights—in and out of the arena. And perhaps the most dangerous threat of all: her forbidden yet irresistible feelings for Cai, a young Roman soldier.

"Morgan Rice did it again! Building a strong set of characters, the author delivers another magical world. ONLY THE WORTHY is filled with intrigue, betrayals, unexpected friendship and all the good ingredients that will make you savor every turn of the pages. Packed with action, you will read this book on the edge of your seat." —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos From Morgan Rice, #1 Bestselling author of THE QUEST OF HEROES (a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews), comes a riveting new fantasy series. In ONLY THE VALIANT (The Way of Steel—Book Two), Royce, 17, is on the run, fleeing for his freedom. He reunites with the peasant farmers as he attempts to rescue his brothers and flee for good. Genevieve, meanwhile, learns a shocking secret, one that will affect the rest of her life. She must decide whether to risk her own life to save Royce's—even as he thinks she betrayed him. The aristocracy prepares for war...

“An action packed fantasy sure to please fans of Morgan Rice’s previous novels, along with fans of works such as The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini…. Fans of Young Adult Fiction will devour this latest work by Rice and beg for more.”

In the Ibar Mountains the necromancer Eremius is raising a demon-spawned army, using in of the fabled Jewels of Kurag. Snared in the court intrigues of Aghrapur, trapped by Lord Misrak, the King's deadly master of spies, Conan of Cimmeria must ride to comfort Ermius, accompanies against his will by the sorceress Illyanan. But Illyana herself carries the second Jewel, and whoever possesses both will gain power to challenge the gods. Plots and treachery loom at Conan's back, but those who seek to catch him in their web do not know that they face Conan of Cimmeria, Conan the Valiant.

The Hard-Luck Trail to Wyoming Was One Man's Dream for a FutureDan Winslow survived the Civil War with the dream of one day going West and becoming a cowboy with a ranch of his own. But it would be several disappointing years before this son of Sky and Rebekah Winslow found himself on the dusty cattle trail from Texas to Wyoming.For young widow Hope Rogers, the promise of a cattle ranch in Wyoming seemed like the only possible way to hold her impoverished family together. But the sacrifice she had to make to get there was a dreadful price for a woman to pay.When Dan Winslow arrives in Wyoming, he discovers that the powerful cattle baron of the Arrow Ranch is forcing the local small ranchers and homesteaders out of business, including Hope Rogers. Winslow had not come looking for another war, but his only choice is to fight. The desperate ranchers need Dan's gun, and Dan needs their support.Arrow Ranch held All the CardsWinslow Refused to Play by Their Rules.

"Within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king..."-Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King Richard IIUnlike his father, the Black Prince, or his namesake, King Richard the Lionheart, Richard II never really wanted to be king. But the mantle of royalty is thrust upon his shoulders at age 11, at a time when England is racked by unrest and class warefare. A leader as unexpected as he is inexperienced, young Richard must find a way to triumph over a fierce conflict more destructive than any foreign enemy."Ms. Barnes captures the flavor, pageantry, and color of the Middle Ages...a distinguished novel."-Philadelphia InquirerRichard's love for his wife, Anne of Bohemia, gave him the strength to outwit the schemes of his enemies and govern as he saw fit, providing England with years of properity under his reign. But when tragedy strikes, Richard begins to loose the common touch by which he had ruled so brilliantly, and begins a downward spiral from which his detractors would derive strength..."Sympathetic picture of sensitive, peace-loving, and ill-beset Richard II, who had it in him to be one of the best kings England ever had."-Booklist(20100315)ReviewThis is a fascinating work of biographical fiction that will remind readers of the Shakespeare tragedy as a great ruler falls apart after his heart dies along with his beloved Anne. (Harriet Klausner Amazon.com #1 Reviewer 20100415)Intelligently written, sympathetic account of Richard II and his reign. (Carla Nayland Carla Nayland Historical Fiction 20100415)Barnes focuses on the human side of Richard which really made this story magnificent. (Marie Burton The Burton Review 20100415)A highly emotional story... that will make you feel sorry for this young man born of privilege for he is not exempt from the cruelties of life as most of us would think. (Terra Studer Yankee Romance Reviewers 20100415)Margaret Campbell Barnes truly deserves the accolades given her. Read this work, and you will see why. (Barbara Ligens BookLoons.com 20100415)Filled with all sorts of court intrigue, treason, murder,lots of secondary characters and even romance. (Kathleen CelticLady's Reviews 20100415)The author did a splendid job of helping the reader actually feel what it would be like to be Richard II. (Svea Love Confessions of a Muse in the Fog 20100415)The author really brings to life this enigmatic figure of history and explores a different angle to this infamous king than the one portrayed in Shakespeare's Richard II. (Alaine Bucknall Queen of Happy Endings 20100421)Barnes masterfully takes command and tells an exquisitely written tale of the last reigning Plantagenet King. (Jennifer Higgins Rundpinne 20100422)A very enjoyable book about a very tragic King. (Patty Woodland The Broken Teepee 20100422)a spirited quick read... the authors use of a richly worded text enhances the reading experience. (Renee Renee's Reads 20100426)Amazing twists and plots, murder, love, and intrigue. (Monica The Bibliophilic Book Blog 20100427)A fascinating work of biographical fiction... brings to life the late fourteenth century England. (Harriet Klausner Genre Go Round 20100428)Campbell Barnes is a wonderful writer. (She Read a Book )Definitely a great read for those who love historical fiction. (Nicole A Blog of Books )Margaret Campbell Barnes is an amazing historical fiction writer. Her characterization is impeccable. (Jennifer Mrs. Q Book Reviews ) About the AuthorNew York Times bestseller Margaret Campbell Barnes wrote several historical novels, including Brief Gaudy Hour, My Lady of Cleves, King's Fool, and The Tudor Rose. Her novels have sold more than 2 million copies worldwide.

Join brave women who take on wars, social injustices, and westward expansion, living to find love and build a legacy in these nine stories of historical romance. From Virginia west to Oregon, meet Lucy, a nurse; Helen, a bookkeeper; Permelia, a farmer; Birdie, a seamstress; Francie, a writer; Collette, a widow; Christiana, a midwife; Glorie, a nurse; and Josephine, a maid, who each have their ordinary lives disrupted by mysteries and challenge—and extraordinary love.

Can a foundering seaside village survive the onslaught of marauding Vikings bearing down on them?Desperate to save her village from a band of Norsemen sweeping down the coastline, Kaylla catches her first ray of hope when she discovers one of the pillaging heathens washed ashore. Perhaps they can use this captive to bargain for the safety of their village. Rolf Bloodhands, sole survivor of a traitorous attack on his king’s fleet, assures her that his kinsmen will not spare the easy conquest of their waning village for the life of one man. Instead he teaches them the basics of defense and combat with the meager weapons they have available. If they fail to stave off the invaders, the few villagers left will either be killed or enslaved. Reader Alert!: With only two days to prepare for an invasion sure to decimate her village, Kaylla is shocked by her attraction to the hunky Norseman she has enslaved. Who knew fear of imminent death could drive an innocent woman to explore the oldest sins known to man.

A gripping saga that explores an untold chapter in the life of Jean-Luc Picard - a time when he was secon officer on the stargazer. Trapped on the wrong side of the legendary Galactic Barrier, Picard find himself forced to rely on questionable allies and a suspicious crew. The future depends on the decisions crew. The future depends on the decisions he must make.

“Black Jack” Geary has ordered his fleet back to the Lakota Star System where the Syndics nearly destroyed them, a desperate gamble that may give them a fighting chance of survival — or tear them apart.

Sailing beneath the ominous cloud of war between Turkey and Russia, the frigate Trojan is on her way to the Black Sea, carrying on board a mysterious passenger, a young woman whose identity must be concealed by orders of the Admiralty.

Trapped in a toy store?Sounds like a mission for four furry friends. Bertie, Susan, and the Misfit Menagerie—Smalls the sun bear, Rigby the Komondor dog, and Wombat the wombat—have at long last escaped from evil Grand Master Claude’s Most Magnificent Circus and are finally free to live life at their leisure. But there’s something missing. Something that’s keeping them from moving on. Or rather, someone. Tilda the Angora rabbit—and fourth member of the Misfit Menagerie—is being held captive at Toddle’s Toy Emporium, a massive toy store more impressive than even F.A.O. Schwarz. Now Bertie, Smalls, and the gang—including a sword-wielding hedgehog—must embark on a quest to rescue their kidnapped friend, braving the mean streets of Hollyhoo City and the bratty Chrysantheum Toddle. It’s a journey that will take them over an actual clay rainbow, force them to hide among stuffed animals in a life-like jungle, and lead them to soar above the ground in a hot-air balloon—all big tasks for animals who only recently saw that there was a world outside of Mr. Mumford’s farm. But if they’re valiant enough, they just might reunite the menagerie and find themselves a new home.