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The Girl in the Corn by Jason Offutt Beware of what lurks in the corn. Fairies donât exist. At least thatâs what Thomas Cavanaughâs parents say. But the events of that one night, when he follows a fairy into the cornfield on his parentsâ farm, prove them wrong. What seems like a destructive explosion was, Thomas knows, an encounter with Dauðr, a force that threatens to destroy the fairyâs world and his sanity. Years later, after a troubled childhood and a series of dead-end jobs, he is still haunted by what he saw that night. One day he crosses paths with a beautiful young woman and a troubled young man, soon realizing that he first met them as a kid while under psychiatric care after his encounters in the cornfield. Has fate brought them together? Are they meant to join forces to save the fairyâs world and their own? Or is one of them not who they claim to be? |
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Our Own Unique Affliction by Scott J. Moses Our Own Unique Affliction is the story of Alice Ann, a dejected immortal who longs for her life in the sun. Navigating guilt, loss, family, meaning, murder, and all that comes with the curse of living forever. An existential bleak, quiet until it's not, hallucination on duality, rife with fangs, empathy, blood, and grief. "Unexpected and grim, Scott J. Moses' Our Own Unique Affliction is the most inventive and bombastically gruesome vampire story I've read since The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector. An exquisitely written meditation on grief, family, and trauma told with such empathy and care. I feel broken after reading this book, and I applaud Scott for obliterating my soul with such grace and tenderness." - Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes "Scott Moses writes from a place of pure empathy, the result of which is a story that pulls the reader in with deceptive ease, putting them through the emotional wringer, culling fear from every page. A tightly written fever dream of bloodlust and family ties, grief, rage and the eternal hunt." - Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below "Moses gives us not only complicated and relatable characters, but also cinematic scene-setting coated with pathos and grit. Our Own Unique Affliction forces readers to face that often circumstance is the only thing separating us from the monsters." - J.A.W. McCarthy, Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of Sometime Weâre Cruel and Other Stories "Moses tenders a vampire's origin and fate in the skin of a mood-soaked tragedy, embraced by bloody nights and unyielding regrets. Fans of Paul Tremblay's The Pallbearers Club should sink their fangs in before sunrise." - Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth "An interesting psychological twist on the vampire narrative. Definitely a fun read." - Charlene Elsby, author of Hexis, Psychros, Menis |
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A Glimmer Of Silver by Juliet Kemp âA Glimmer Of Silver, from @booksmugglers, is bloody brilliant. A really interesting, well told, fascinating piece of ecological fiction. Plus, one pronoun for all, and it's xe!â â D Franklin "a warm and delightful SF YA novella - it reminds me in the best way of what it might be like if Robin McKinley wrote science fiction." â Stephanie Burgis "A Glimmer of Silver reminds us that, sometimes, the most potent barriers exist not between species, but between ourselves. But in its insistence that these barriers are not insurmountable, it speaks to the possibilitiesâand the hopesâof translation and coexistence, at the meeting points of sentience." â Gautum Bhatia, Strange Horizons |
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A Starbound Solstice by Juliet Kemp A festive space queer romance that will melt your heart and warm your exosuit. Linn and xyr crew are halfway through their long journey from Earth to Cetalla; what better time to celebrate a solstice? Bid farewell to Sol and hello to a new homestar. Traditions around mistletoeânot to mention Linnâs totally non-existent crush on xyr crewmate Tayeâhave nothing to do with it. Explaining paperchains to xyr alien crewmate and plotting present-giving keeps Linn busy enough, but then something goes wrong with Heron, the shipâs AI. Tracing the cause to a giant hullbreach onto needlespace, Linn and Taye have no idea what to do about it, or the stranger who came through it. Can they save their ship and get to their new home before the pressures of needlespace damage Heron beyond repair? And is Linn ever going to get that kiss under the mistletoe? "This is such a sweet science fiction holiday story set on an interstellar ship, with just enough natural tension to be fun but with an overriding message of hope and kindness and a real feeling of light - just perfect for the theme of a solstice celebration." â Stephanie Burgis, author |
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The City Revealed by Juliet Kemp The city of Marek is newly independent from their neighbour Teren â but Selene, representative of Teren, has threatened to return, and this time, with sorcerers and demons in tow. Last year, the sorcerers of Marek narrowly defeated a single Teren-summoned demon; how might they fare against a dozen or more? Meanwhile, the common people of Marek grow increasingly fervent in their own demands for representation â for a say in how the city is run, and for whom it is run. Marcia, Fereno-Heir, agrees with the Lower City; they deserve a better say. But the Council wonât hear of it â then Selene arrives to make good on her threat. Marcia must convince the Council to believe in Selene's magical threats, whilst her sorcerer brother, Cato, rushes to build some sort of defence. Because if Terenâs demons can pass the Cityangelâs wards, itâll be the end of them all. âThe City Revealedâ is an absorbing fantasy set in a richly imagined world. A lovingly drawn and diverse set of characters struggle both personally and politically with the consequences of their own and othersâ actions, and strive for cooperation without sacrificing principles. A thoroughly satisfying read. â Una McCormack, New York Times bestselling science fiction author. âEminently satisfying epic fantasy where the personal, the political and the magical are multilayered and interlocked.â â Juliet E. McKenna, Author of the Green Man series and the Tales of Einarinn series. |
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Office Politics: A Story of the Apocalypse by L. R. J. Allen Richard is the last man alive. He has survived the super-flu known as Shaking Stevens when the rest of the world perished. He has survived when his family has not. He has survived with no survival instincts. He spends his days rummaging through the remnants of society as loneliness and anger set in. That is, until, his wanderings lead him back to his place of work. It is familiar, it is comforting, it is routine. Until, one day, his desk-phone rings. From the author of Among Other Things comes a tale of survival and hope in the most dire of times, and what a man must do to remain sane. Includes two previously unpublished stories Keep off the Grass and Coin Toss at Acheron Station |
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The Rising Flood by Juliet Kemp "Fantasy politics with real nuance and believable uncertainty, characters whose richness and depth has developed over three books, and a growing threat that starts pulling together threads across the series make The Rising Flood a fantastic read, while Marek is a textured place that is a joy to return to.â â Malka Older, Hugo Award finalist author of the Centenal Cycle series There's darkness in the heart of Teren. Refugees, fleeing demons unleashed by the Academy, arrive in Marek; but Marek, dreaming of independence, is increasingly unstable. Marcia, Heir to House Fereno â expecting a child and with her relationship in ruins â battles to manage threats internal and external, while rebels from the lower city demand change in rabble-rousing pamphlets, and Marekâs two remaining sorcerers, Marcia's brother Cato and her ex-lover Reb, struggle to train more. Teren's many demons threaten, and no one is ready. Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and by out-of-season storms rampaging across the Oval Sea by nature itself â will the rising flood lift all boats? Or will they be capsized? |
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Shadow And Storm by Juliet Kemp The sequel to The Deep And Shining Dark. Marcia wants to make changes in Marek after the events of the summer, but now distant Teren is making a play for political power in the city. Meanwhile, Tait, a young Teren sorcerer on the run, sees Marek and its cityangel Beckett as a place of safety; which will be true only until Beckett discovers there's a demon chasing Tait. Are the demon and the machinations of the Teren Lieutenant connected? Are Marcia's political goals worth the risk of facing down a demon? And can Marcia's sorcerer brother Cato avoid getting involved? "Shadow and Storm is an absolute delight to read, the literary equivalent of sinking into the embrace of a dear friend. Warm and cosy but never short on adventure and intrigue, Kemp's second entry into this series won't disappoint. The characters are real, full of depth, and richly drawn, and you'll wish you had even more time with them by book's end. A fantastic read!" â Rivers Solomon, Locus, Tiptree, and Lambda Award finalist |
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The Deep And Shining Dark by Juliet Kemp "A rich and memorable tale of political ambition, family and magic, set in an imagined city that feels as vibrant as the characters inhabiting it." â Aliette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of The Tea Master and the Detective "A novel thatâs one part high fantasy, one part political fantasy, and one part old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery â without the swords or the lack of realistic diversity to which old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery was often prone." â Liz Bourke, Locus |
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The Sweet, the Spooky, & The Terrifying by Rachel Ann Hubert Three short stories for every aspect of Halloween. One sweet. One spooky. And one terrifying. Included in this book: Alone Together (The Sweet): The story of a college student determined to ostracize himself from everyone else around him. When he gets an unwanted guest for the night though, he'll soon see that being invisible isn't all that bad. And that sometimes it's worth stepping outside your comfort zone and shushing that negative voice inside your head. The Monster Within (The Spooky): Jules is starting over in a new town, new house, new everything. But this town isn't all it seems. While she tries to start fresh, memories from her previous life start trickling in. What is she running away from? And what is running away from her... The Ouroboros (The Terrifying): It started as a tickle. A tickle that became an itch. And itch at the back of his throat that not only could he not ignore...but that he could not escape |
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A Ritual of Bone by Lee C. Conley 'Only valour and steel can stand against the rising dead' Arnar is a land of warriors, its people as stalwart as the stones themselves. In a land of dark forests and ancient hill forts, a forgotten evil is awoken by curious minds. The Great Histories and the Sagas say nothing of this evil, long passed from the memory of even the studious scholars of the College. For centuries, the scholars of Arnar have kept these records and preserved the knowledge and great deeds of a proud people. The story of these peoples forever chronicled in the Sagas of the Great Histories. But now the evil spreads and the dead walk in its wake, terrible creatures roam the night and even the spirits are restless. The Dead Sagas could perhaps be the final chapters of these great records. Many threads entwine to tell this Saga, interweaving the tales of those who played their part in the search for answers and ultimately their fight for survival. Amid plague, invasion and terror, the inexorable rise of the dead sends a kingdom scrabbling to its knees. This dark fantasy epic combines dark malign horror and gritty survival adventure as the Dead Sagas unfold in a world where honour and renown is all, where beasts and savages lurk in the wilderness, and where sword, axe and shield is all that stands between the living and the grasping hands of the dead. |
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The Cursed Among Us by John Durgin It has been twenty years since the serial killer known as The Black Heart Killer terrorized the town of Newport in 1979. Life mostly returned to normal after the killer was captured. All the townspeople have to do is stay out of the woods where the bodies were abandonedâtheir chests ripped open, and their hearts torn out... Howie Burke and his friends decide rules are meant to be broken. Thatâs what fifteen-year-old kids do. On a beautiful fall day, they decide to go out in the woods to film a horror movie when they stumble across a mysterious grave. What they donât know is that they are about to release an evil on the town unlike anything in their home-made movies. They will soon uncover the secrets of the Black Heart Killer, and what it truly means to be cursed. Praise for The Cursed Among Us "Hidden graves, black magic, town legends, and intrepid teenagers - this one has it all, in bloody spades. Durgin's debut manages the impossible: a punchy and gripping horror-thriller sprawled across two decades, crafted with dark obsession and drenched in nostalgia for the golden years of supernatural slasher films." - Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues âA remarkably malevolent debut that will leave you reaching for your talisman. Durgin takes all the right risks and proves nobody is safe in this impressive coming-of-age novel about a small town with a dark past.â - Joshua Marsella, author of Hunger For Death âThe Cursed Among Us is a horror novel with its heart in the right placeâready to be ripped out! Containing surprising and sometimes stunning emotional depth, this homage to â90s B-movies and supernatural documentaries explores the agony of growing up and holding onto friendships when the world seems determined to rip everything you love apart.â - Joseph Sale, author of Dark Hilarity "The Cursed Among Us' is a coming-of-age, small town horror blast, one that I think a lot of people will really enjoy." Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon. |
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Now, and the Hour of Death by Karen Lykkebo Five short tales of the eerie, tragic, and macabre. Three friends venture into an abandoned church, unaware the foundation is haunted. An expert in the occult is asked to remove a presence from the beach. Two survivors of the zombie apocalypse watch a final sunset together. Two lovers will do anything to keep their home and love safe. A serial killer is on the loose, but his step is watched by more than his victims. |
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The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis John, the Long Arm, leads a life as a bounty hunter at the Three Heads. His name has spread far and wide across the north while plenty of gold weighs down his pockets. Just when everything seems to be going well for him, a group of soldiers order him to take on a new mission. This time, his task is to track down a very dangerous manâa knight who rejected his oaths, turning his back on Gaeldeath and its ruler. Will John choose the way of honour and devotion or will be succumb to his unquenchable thirst for wealth? As part of âThe Dance of Lightâ series, âThe Knight of the Moonâ is a novella which takes place seventeen years preceding the events of âThe Return of the Knights.â |
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The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever. |
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The Eternal Shadow by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. After returning to her realm, Cassia continues to use the magic sheâd discovered in Selene. Little did she know, that wasnât allowed and because of it, sheâs abducted by the king. Luckily, Prince Lochlan is still living in the castle pretending to be under the kingâs command. After Lochlan frees Cassia, they all need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere. But in this new realm, all the inhabitants are afraid of the dark where a shadow is lurking, feeding upon them. With nowhere else to go, they have to choose, either they face the king or this eternal shadow. |
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Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace Dear Bartleby, Tutting-on-Cress is so small as to be idyllic. Hate it already. Sent down from Oxford for playing one prank too many, Sebastian Hartford is well aware that heâs a disappointment to his family. Ordered to stay with â and learn from â two of his more respectable older siblings, Seb is prepared to be miserable in the country. Saddled with extracurricular schooling to keep him out of trouble, Seb can only let his mischievous mind run loose on the pages of his journal, âBartleby.â But when he is offered a job as a spellcasterâs assistant to the enigmatic Lord Finlington, Sebâs creative flair finds a place to flourish. Soon, he is at the center of a search for a new Royal Spellcaster to the Crown â and falling in love with one of the contenders. But right as a future with a man who loves him starts to unfold, Sebâs past mistakes threaten to bar him from securing happiness. And jumping through social hoops may prove his growth to everyone â except himself. |
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The Education of Pip by Sarah Wallace He had never experienced possibilities â and it was a whole new feeling to have them. Pip Standish is in Newgate Prison, a predictable career finale for a London thief. So he is surprised when Lord Finlington, the dashing viscount he attempted to steal from months before, offers to get him out â on the condition that Pip agrees to leave town and start a new career in the country. Soon, Pip finds himself moving to the idyllic Tutting-on-Cress and a life he never thought possible. As he settles in with his new friends, he discovers a well-rounded education not only involves reading and magic, but how to be happy, how to trust others with your heart, and how to let go of pain. But when an attempt to settle an old debt reopens a dangerous wound, Pip will need to apply all of his hard-earned lessons to stop the past swallowing him â and his future â whole. This new adult fantasy is the third book in the Meddle & Mend series. It is a continuation of Pip's story from One Good Turn. |
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One Good Turn by Sarah Wallace A reformed thief, a magical viscount, And one good deed that will change a life forever. In the underbelly of London, Nell Birks longs to escape the world of poverty and crime. When she rescues a wealthy gentleman from a gang of thieves, Nell is tasked with robbing the powerful spellcaster Viscount Finlington â as recompense for stealing a mark from a notorious crime lord. Confident that learning magic will improve her chances of a better life, Nell leaps at the opportunity to learn magic from the viscount. Soon, she finds herself immersed in a glittering social sphere, full of magic, luxury, and exciting possibilities. Dazzled by her new world, Nell quickly learns that with bigger dreams come bigger disappointments. And when her new friends decide to leave London behind, finding her place becomes more urgent than ever. When disaster strikes, everything Nell thought she knew about her old life is shaken to its core. But if magic is not her key to a better life, sheâs more lost than when she began. This new adult fantasy is the second book in the Meddle & Mend series. It takes place shortly after Letters to Half Moon Street but can be read as a standalone. |
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Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace I must have been drunker than I realized because all I remember is how well he tied his cravat and how perfectly his coat fit him⌠London, 1815: where magic can be purchased at convenience, and the fashionable and wealthy descend for the start of the social Season. But 25-year-old Gavin Hartford finds the city intimidating when he arrives, alone, to his familyâs townhouse. The only company he seeks is in his beloved books and weekly letters to his sister, Gerry. Then dashing man-about-town Charles Kentworthy gallantly rescues Gavin from a foolish drunken mishap and turns his life upside-down. With Mr. Kentworthy, Gavin finds himself discussing poetry and magic, confessing his fears about marriage, expanding his social circle to shocking proportions â and far outside his comfort zone. When family responsibility comes knocking, Gavinâs future looms over him, filled with uncertainty. As he grapples with growing feelings for his new friend, Gavin will need to be honest with Mr. Kentworthy â but heâll need the courage to be honest with himself first. This epistolary Regency romance is the first in a historical fantasy series, Meddle & Mend. |
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Good With His Hands by Brandie Nikole When the words Quick Fix doesn't only pertain to your household needs... Call Kurbe to get the job done right. Kurbe is a handyman with a niche for pleasing his customers with the best kind of customer service |
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Fuck Around and Fall In Love by Brandie Nikole A slow lick on the neck. A deep kiss in the mouth. Deep strokes as he grips my hair like heâs trying to yank it from the root. These are the reasons why Iâm stuck in this web of entanglement. |
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The Final Say by Brandie Nikole They said all Iâll ever be is damaged goods.I donât deserve the joys of life, âcause I donât care about the lives of others.Too bad their words donât hold any merit when it comes to my life.Iâm the boss.The only captain of this yacht.Iâm the only one with the final say.Accompany Jerome on his journey as he walks his truth and follows his own rules. Nobody better get in his way, or theyâll find just what theyâre looking for.Jerome: The Final Say |
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Fighting For Her Heart by Brandie Nikole I love my life like it is. Full of amazing adventures and without a monogamous relationship.I've had my heart broken more than once and that's enough for me to know I don't want to do that again.I don't want a man coming all up in my mix trying to make me commit.After all, I'm Shavonne Jordan, a rebel, also known as a LimitlessSpirit! But then he comes along fighting me at every turn, invading places I never invited him to.Leaving his imprint every step of the way trying to win my heart with his suspenders and floggers, ropes, and suits.Making me see life in a way I never imagined I would or could. Will I let him in or will he eventually get fed up with the fight? Follow us on this adventure of love's tug-o-war.Fighting For Her Heart by ella Shavonne's Story |
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His Favorite Girl by Brandie Nikole Imagine knowing a person most of your life. You know their flaws, the things that make them tick, the hearts they've broken, and the chipped pieces in their armor, and still, you love them completely⌠unconditionally. That is Khalil and Ajah. Best friends since they were eating dirt together. Their bond is unbreakable, but could they survive that one time in college? Khalil has tried moving on from the events of the past, becoming a serial dater with no satisfaction. His recent girlfriend, Destiny, is madly in love with him, and she refuses to accept rejection from Khalil or the destruction of their relationship. But are her feelings the same for her, or is he in love with someone else? Then there's Ajah. While enjoying the single life, she encounters the one-night stand that haunts her for longer than she wants. Will these two friends place all their cards on the table and see if revisiting unfinished business is worth it? Or will they continue playing friends while playing the field? Join Ajah and Khalil as they work to strengthen their bond as best friends while trying to hold on to the lives they have separate from each other. Life doesn't always go according to plan, and we all know there's a reason for everything. |
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Trials of the Innermost by Jonathan Fuller and Kristina W Kelly A cataclysm in Ethereaâs past stopped its rotation, leaving three distinct realms: one of light, one of dark, and one of twilight. Years of war between them followed. Until the establishment of the Trials of the Innermost. A new set of Six Truthseekers are chosen for this quest of learning and cooperation. But the fragile peace created by the Trials is crumbling, even as they begin their first task. The group is composed of each realmâs best and brightest, and their talents range from magic channeled through music to explosive crystals. They will need all their unique abilities to survive the Trials, which take them through scorched wastes, a wall of storms, and the shadowed Fellwood. Along their journey, a shared lost past is rediscovered that forces the Truthseekers to question all they once held to be true. Yet even as they grapple with their new reality, a deadly secret is unveiled. A fragment of an alien force called the Penumbra has possessed one of their own, granting him preternatural abilities. One realm seeks to control the entity, but the Penumbra has other plans. If it can succeed in reuniting its broken pieces, it will gain the power to consume all of Ethereaâs abundant life force. The Truthseekers must overcome their differences and work together to stop the malevolent entity before they lose their friendâand their worldâto the Penumbraâs hunger. |
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The Reanimator's Soul by Kara Jorgensen An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything. When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they arenât the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliverâs ex, Ansley, is in town, and heâs certain the clinic isnât the paragon of righteousness it claims to be. Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isnât the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more. Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipeâs lives stand upon a knifeâs edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinicâs genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home. |
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His Lordship's Secret by Samantha SoRelle London 1818 Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, knows someone wants him dead. An illicit boxing match seems the perfect opportunity to hire a champion fighter to watch his back, but Alfie is shocked to recognize the beaten and bloody challenger as his childhood friend, Dominick, one of the few people who knows the truth about Alfieâs past. Life has been hard for Dominick, so he canât believe his luck when Alfieânow with fine manners and a fancy titleâoffers him a chance to escape the slums in order to catch a potential killer. Thatâs difficult enough, but not falling in love with the refined, confident man his friend has become may prove trickier still. The investigation draws the two men closer than ever, but it becomes clear that their years apart may prove too much to overcome. As the danger mounts, can they find their way through the past to a future together? Or will hidden secrets cost them their happiness⌠and their lives? His Lordship's Secret is the first novel in the His Lordship's Mysteries series. |
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The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together. Felipe Galvanâs life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow. Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life heâs built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead. But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they donât stop them, Felipe wonât be the last to die. |
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A Deed of Dreadful Note by Patricia Meredith Fifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction. When her father's client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel. A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today. This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Greenâs first novel may have come to be⌠A Deed of Dreadful Note is Book One in the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries, the only historical fiction series featuring the Mother of Detective Fiction |
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Ardent Tears: Awakening by Ren Carlisle On the verge of Awakening, Rowan is taken from her family by slavers intent on forging her into a weapon. Why? She doesn't know. She doesn't care. All that matters is freedom, vengeance, and reunion. In this world of harmony and dissonance, where Resonance and emotions reign supreme, Rowan must learn what it means to be an Ardent before it's too late. She must find unity and purpose. She must not break. She cannot do it alone. Who will be there for her? |
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Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes by Kim M Watt âAy up, Mogs. Bringer of mad tidings. What is it this time?â âEnd of the world,â I said. âCanât get much madder than that.â We hadn't planned a return to Leeds. Not yet, anyway. It was all a bit dicey, what with half the Folk in the city wanting us dead, and apparently having no reservations about making it happen. But our friend Gerry is missing, and we've got to find him. Never mind the fact that anyone who can take out a troll is operating way above our pay grade. It's not like anyone pays us anyway, so what've we got to lose? It doesnât take long to discover a missing troll is the least of our worries. Leeds has blown straight past dicey and into end times. The necromancers are back and as power-sotted as ever, and this time it's not just a few cats they want dead. It's everyone. So if we want any chance of life as we know it to continue, we need to stop them as well as save Gerry. Easy, right? We only have to get past Callum's dodgy family, my dodgy past, hopped-up magic-workers, feral weres, shady magicians, and the ever-present, ever-treacherous Watch. Oh, and did I mention the sorcerer's still giving me out of body experiences? Yeah. Good times. At least it can't get much worse. Can it âŚ? This is the seventh and final book in the Gobbelino London, PI urban fantasy series, centred around the adventures of a mercenary feline PI and his human sidekick. It contains snarky cats and other gods, many bad jokes and terrible puns, plus a large serving of mythological and real creatures behaving badly. It will appeal to anyone who likes their fantasy funny, modern, and filled with friendship rather than romance - and also to those who suspect their cat may be living a great and secret life when they're not looking. A Collision of Catastrophes contains some violence, particularly involving over-enthusiastic senior citizens and enraged cats, but none of it is graphic. It contains no sex and only mild language. It does, however, contain blasphemy. |
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The Heart of Space by Adam Gaffen The Cassidyverse is back! Kendra and Aiyana's world is as vibrant and rich as ever in this new collection of thirteen pieces of short fiction. You might think their world runs on fusion power, or antimatter plants, or maybe even warp drives. But it doesn't. It runs on emotions and relationships and heart. What happened after Kendra's near-disastrous Christmas party? You're not going to believe it! Kendra's journey from actress to assassin continues in "Roses Have Thorns" Lexie wants to break up with her boring boyfriend, but she never expected a goddess Shi faces her demons in "Lupus in Astris", putting the ghosts of her past to rest In "Heart of Molycirc", Elsa confronts a lying, corrupt bully to regain her self-respect Step into the distant future of the Terran Empire in "Chooser of the Living" and see the covert battle that could launch a revolution These stories and more show what we mean when we say that the Terran Federation is the Heart of Space. |
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Ruinous Attraction by Ruby Jones The Elder ruins beneath Mount Sussuran thrum with magic and mystery - an irresistible draw for Arthur, a scholar and wizard in hiding. For Ferdinand, the ruins offer a connection to the ancestors who bound the souls of dead gods to the blood of his people. A power that feels like a an ever-present temptation to unscrupulous wizards. Drawn together by Haleâs archaeological expedition, Arthur and Ferdinand make for uncomfortable companions. When Ferdinand accidentally locks himself and Arthur in an ancient enchanted sex dungeon, will they be able to resist their growing desires? Or could passion break down the walls of prejudice and distrust? |
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Tales from Blackthorn Briar by Sebastian Nothwell Shrike, the fae Butcher of Blackthorn, and Wren Lofthouse, a mortal Victorian clerk, are bound together by love and fate. Their continued adventures (and those of their friends) are told in this collection of fantastical tales following the story of Oak King Holly King, including... Mabon Wherein Shrike and Wren repay their debt to the Court of Hidden Folk. Mr Grigsby's Clerk Wherein Mr Grigsby finds a replacement for Wren - and perhaps more than he bargained for. Jack in the Green Wherein a certain Horse Guard wanders into Blackthorn Briar. Winter Solstice Wherein the Holly King surrenders to the Oak King. The Holly King's Peril Wherein Wren and Shrike discover danger in the wilds of the Fae Realms. The Ballad of Daniel Durst Wherein Daniel embarks on his authentic life in a bold new land. |
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Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortalâs hands. Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, heâs inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he canât help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart. As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King. |
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Fiorenzo by Sebastian Nothwell Fiore has a plan. Find a wealthy elderly gentleman, delight him until the end of his days, and retire on the resulting inheritance. Itâs the best outcome a low-born courtesan in the city of Halcyon can hope for. And it seems a perfect scheme⌠until a mysterious masked man upends it. Banished from university after a disastrous duel, Enzo wanders the city searching for scraps of the affection heâs lost. His public mask conceals private agonies. A single night in the company of a courtesan, however, balms his wounded heart, and he finds himself returning again and again to Fiore, revealing more of himself than heâs ever dared before. Furthermore, and more astonishing still, Fiore finds he returns Enzoâs affections. But while Fiore wears no mask, he nonetheless has secrets of his own. And when the ghosts of their pasts return to haunt them, only the bond of trust between them will carry them through. ~ Fiorenzo is a queer fantasy-of-manners romance featuring secret identities, hurt/comfort, and a happily-ever-after. |
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The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall by Sebastian Nothwell American heiress Kit Morgan is heartbroken at the wedding of her dearest school-friend. At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her. When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to acceptâif only to live with the woman she desperately loves. But the Cranbrookâs ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandraâs love has turned to scorn. Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall. If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return. ~ The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman whoâs stolen her heart. |
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Hold Fast by Sebastian Nothwell Morgan Turner, agent to the Winthrop estate, owes everything to his benefactor. When the late baronetâs will tasks him with finding the lost heir and making a gentleman of him, he is determined to succeed. Thirteen years ago, Evelyn Winthrop ran away to sea. Now that his hated patriarch is dead, the ancestral home he returns to is more shadowed than what he left behind. Ungrateful relations and old friends alike tie a knot of scandal and depravity only a sailor could hope to unravel. And all the while, the siren song of the sea calls him to return at the first opportunity. Neither anticipated forming more tender attachments. To Evelyn, his unexpectedly handsome agent is the only thing anchoring him to shore. He sees a captainâs soul within Morgan, and his heart is caught upon the hook of commandâif only Morgan would return his affections. To Morgan, his new employerâs charms threaten to tear down the thorns that have grown around his heartâthorns he cultivated to restrain his unnatural instincts. When the estate and all who live there are threatened by a maelstrom of bitter secrets and sinister plots, it is down to Morgan to take command, down to Evelyn to hold fast, and down to them both to navigate their own treacherous sea. |
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Throw His Heart Over by Sebastian Nothwell Sir Lindsey Althorp, spectacularly wealthy baronet, has sat in the saddle since the day he was breeched. Aubrey Warren, threadbare telegraph boy turned engineer, has never ridden a horse in his life and had no intention of startingâuntil now. When a portrait-painting holiday in the country provides an opportunity for riding, Lindsey is eager to teach Aubrey the ropes. Aubrey works to overcome his well-founded caution regarding large beasts of burden. Harder to dispel are his insecurities about his scarred body in the wake of the Rook Mill boiler explosionâparticularly as these scars are put on display to model for the painting Icarus Fallen. As the painting progresses, so do the riding lessons, until a potentially deadly accident may put a stop to both for good. |
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Mr Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell Lindsey Althorp, the only son of a wealthy baronet, has never worked a day in his life. Aubrey Warren was born in a workhouse and hasnât stopped working since. Buoyed by Lindsey's optimism and fuelled by Aubrey's industry, the two men strive to overcome the class gulf between them. But a horrific accident reveals a betrayal that threatens to tear them apart forever. |
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A Place to Land by Rosalie Fox The sequel to A Tale of Wild Geese, A Place to Land picks up Johnny Reillyâs story in Africa at the end of 1944. World War Two had left all of them with scars, not all of them visible, and it wasn't over yet. At night the Focke-Wulf still hunted him and the people he loved. When his career as a fighter pilot had ended, Johnny Reilly had come to Africa to make peace with his beloved cousin, to bring her husband home to her. He hadn't meant to stay, but the lovely Louise Viljoen had changed that when she kissed him in front of the hotel... Lou was the only girl who had him off guard and kept him that way. Somehow she knew how to help him through the nightmares. But he'd never had sense, then, had he? So he made more mistakes and then he was going to be father. He was a penniless, broken-down pilot and somehow he had to find a way to build a life for them, and he had to do it quickly. To do that, he needed a plane and when he learned of a man in Southwest Africa who could help him, he ventured to a little town called Kolmanskop to meet the Little Bird of the Namib Desert. It was another venture that went south, badly, and Johnny is forced to face the past, the things haunting him, and a man who had been an enemy. Suddenly the mission is no more to find a plane, but to survive and pray that the people he loves will come search for them, find them before it's too late. It's a story of love, brotherhood, adventure and one man's quest to find a place to land and a way to put his demons to rest. |
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A Tale of Wild Geese by Rosalie Fox The year was 1940 and the skies above Britain were about to become a war zone. Eleanor Davies was a 19-year-old barmaid in the Lark. Her cousin, Johnny Reilly, had been bringing her things he thought she would like for as long as she could remember. He'd bring her a flower or a seashell that caught his eye. One day, he brought her a young American pilot and all their lives changed forever. When Danny walked through The Lark's door, the world as she'd known it shifted; it would never be the same again. Danny O'Neal wasn't supposed to be in the RAF, it violated his country's neutrality agreements. He also wasn't supposed to be falling in love. His whole life had been a war for survival. He had come to England in the hope that he could leave his past behind and build a life for himself. Meeting a girl hadn't been part of his plans. This is a tale of Wild Geese blowing before the winds of war, coming of age and falling in love, building something worthwhile in the midst of the greatest conflict the world has ever known. It tells the story of dreaming of white roses, a porch and skies at peace, while the world falls apart around them. It's an epic tale of 'The Few' who defended the skies and the Women's Land Army that kept agriculture going. Above all, it's a love story that spans across continents. The love story that left all of them changed forever. |