Friends by chance—or is it fate? Damian Raske and Jullanar Thistlethwaite are about as different as can be. Damian is a young swordsman, dreaming of being the best in the world, hardly aware of what lies beyond the outskirts of his city, let alone that there is a great empire on the other side of the horizon.Jullanar is a gently-raised young woman from deep inside the Empire of Astandalas, aware that there are worlds beyond its sway but hardly daring to dream she'd ever see outside of her own country, let alone beyond the empire's borders. And yet they both dream of friendship, of adventure, of what else there might be. And it's Jullanar whose exam results turn out to matter in a way no one could expect. The first book of The Red Company, because even the greatest of folk heroes have to start somewhere.

Can she be who she is? Or is it forbidden? What Marsha Melinda Martin once believed she could be has vanished, and she has almost stopped caring. Then a man claiming to be her father comes to town, bringing back memories she thought she had forgotten and revealing secrets she has been avoiding. But before she can do anything about her future, Marsha and the Ruby Sisters must deal with the new woman in town. Is she working with the serial killer that once lived among them? Has Ron Page returned to claim the woman he believes he owns and punish those that took her from him? And will Marsha forgive her father in time to save them? Although mystery and danger abound, the heart of this story is how community and friends working together—and remembering who they are—can overcome all evil. No matter how hidden it might be.

Northwest Oriole is a land of small countries and many universities, where scholarship is greatly regarded. Choosing a school is thus a matter of great weight, no matter your rank or wealth.Hal has always known where he's going, because he is the Imperial Duke of Fillering Pool, and the dukes have always gone to either Zabour or Tara. Since Zabour fell into the sea, it'll have to be Tara.Theoretically.At some point he'll have to write them.Clary Sage is a novella loosely connected to the Grenwing & Dart series, taking place before those books commence.

Step into the opulent world of The Hotel Hamilton, where the chandelier sparkles while a maid's aspirations fade into the woodwork. Vancouver, Canada, 1927. A hotel maid's duty is to never be seen. That's no problem for Clara, who finds safety in her station. But for her sister, Louisa, it's cold outside the limelight. Clara is content being an obliging working girl, but she doesn't feel worthy of the leadership responsibilities the hotel matron seems intent to thrust upon her. Torn between the unspoken limitations of her social standing and the demands of a fast-changing world, Clara is paralyzed by her fear of stepping out of line. Louisa, an aspiring actress, is grateful for her employment at the prestigious hotel, but the feeling that she is meant for more haunts her as she sleepwalks through her days. Though Louisa's ambitious nature yearns for a life in the theatre, she hasn't auditioned in months. When she finally steps back into the...

The Cavalier Conju enazo Argellian an Vilius—Conju to his friends, or he would be if any of them had survived the Fall of Astandalas—survived the cataclysmic destruction of the Empire of Astandalas in perfectly good health, thank you very much. If he spent the year (or hundred years) afterwards partying while the world burned ... well, he has always considered himself a man of fashion, and that was very definitely the fashion. Until the Emperor woke up. At which point Conju wondered whether he might conceivably want to consider the other options. Even if cataloguing storerooms is a bit of a pain when you don't actually know what anything is. Sadly, neither perfumery nor fashion are particularly useful skills after a magical apocalypse. Unless you can finesse your way into attending said Emperor, that is ... The Game of Courts is a companion novella to The Hands of the Emperor, though it can be read as a standalone. It takes place...

Abandoned dreams sometimes come true. Cindy Lee Jones, having let go of her aspirations to become a renowned artist, is determined to embrace a fresh chapter in her life, one that promises to be just as fulfilling.However, when her former art teacher meets a tragic end, Cindy finds herself entangled in a web of long-hidden secrets that threaten to unravel any hope of her dreams becoming reality.As the weight of these revelations bears down upon her, Cindy's future teeters on the brink of chaos.Can she and the enigmatic Ruby Sisters unearth the truth in time to clear her name?Will the shadows of the past offer her a chance to revive her artistic dream, or will they extinguish her aspirations once and for all?Embark on a poignant journey of self-discovery, family, and the extraordinary power of friendship, in this captivating tale that will leave readers of women's literature enthralled.

Small Town, Big Secrets, Is Anyone Innocent? When two deaths disrupt the tranquility of Spring Falls, Judith Zoe, a local with deep roots in the community and an unwavering sense of justice, races against time to uncover a tangle of secrets and lies. As Judith delves deeper, she uncovers hidden truths that challenge her perceptions of her neighbors and her town. From clandestine meetings to whispered rumors, every new revelation brings her closer to a truth that could change Spring Falls forever. Dive into the world of 'Almost Innocent' and join Judith, and the enigmatic Ruby Sisters as they seek to piece together the puzzle of their once-idyllic hometown.Will they restore peace to Spring Falls, or will the secrets they uncover disrupt their lives forever? Find out in this enthralling tale of mystery and community. Grab your copy today!

In this "irresistible, immersive, and completely unputdownable" (Ellery Lloyd, New York Times bestselling author) debut novel, a former antique hunter investigates a suspicious death at an isolated English manor, embroiling her in the high-stakes world of tracking stolen artifacts.What antique would you kill for? Freya Lockwood is shocked when she learns that Arthur Crockleford, antiques dealer and her estranged mentor, has died under mysterious circumstances. She has spent the last twenty years avoiding her quaint English hometown, but when she receives a letter from Arthur asking her to investigate—sent just days before his death—Freya has no choice but to return to a life she had sworn to leave behind. Joining forces with her eccentric Aunt Carole, Freya follows clues to an old manor house for an advertised antiques enthusiast's weekend. But not all is as it seems. It's clear to Freya that the antiques are all just poor...

Hal's university career ends quite satisfactorily for himself, but with heartbreak, drama, and painful ignominy for his best friend Jemis. Nevertheless, Hal stood with Jemis when academic argument turned violent, and he'll stand with him now as he finds his feet again ... Traveller's Joy is set after Clary Sage and before the beginning of Stargazy Pie.

Thrice-cursed bard and warrior-elf Tamsin wakes up in Elfland after what might or might not have been his death, healed and hale for the first time in millennia. Somewhat confused but not entirely unhappy with this turn of events, he sets off in the hopes of finding a way home ...

A battle-scarred father. A disillusioned daughter. Can a grieving widower rebuild his splintered family to find peace at last? South Dakota, 1949. WWII veteran John Smith longs for the life he lost after the tragic death of his wife during childbirth. But in the desperation to provide for his two small children, he is manipulated into an unsuitable marriage by a young woman with a dark neurosis. Tormented by his own grief and the ravages of war, John is blind to his children's turmoil and pain. Washington State, 1964. John's sixteen-year-old daughter Calla dreams of a life beyond her vindictive stepmother. Forced to care for her younger siblings with a list of household demands larger than she is tall, Calla knows it's only a matter of time until she can escape the abuse and begin anew at college. But her dreams crumble when her heartless stepmother claims the college fund for her own selfish purposes. As John fears he is too late to stop...

One death, two victims – one seen, one hidden A thrilling rollercoaster, combining a multi-layered crime drama with an emotionally charged family saga, Still Small Voice looks at a fractured marriage and the fatal consequences of love, lust, and obsession.It's a sweltering August day in 1998, and the body of a missing woman, best-selling author Nicky Butler, is discovered in an empty house in South West London. DI John Burroughs and his tenacious partner, DS Lucy Burton, are assigned to the case and it is immediately clear that all is not what it seems. Do they suspect Nicky's controlling husband, James Scott, a hundred miles away in a dreary hotel room, contemplating a grim future, or the mysterious man seen entering the house the previous evening?As the detectives delve deeper into the investigation without a clear suspect, nothing seems to add up and there is a strong chance they will convict the wrong man. Why was Nicky at her...

Separated by a century. Bonded by loss. Will examining all that was invoke comfort or calamity? Seattle, 2015. Emily Reed refuses to dwell on her emotions. When the first-year attorney is assigned a church archival project, she dives into the records to hide from her own heartache. But when she discovers her parents were married in this very chapel, she is forced to confront the grief she buried a decade ago. After she died in 1935, Elizabet Thomas was devastated when her beloved husband wasn't waiting for her on the other side. A lost soul, she's wandered their church for the past eighty years, desperate to find him. And now she must persuade a young, living lawyer that the historic building needs to be preserved rather than sold and torn down. Discovering a diary among the disarray in the building's basement, Emily is first engrossed and then moved by the dead woman's words. And as the fate of her home unravels, Elizabet realizes she and...

In the north of Ysthar, past the edge of the Empire of Astandalas, there is the tundra, and beyond the tundra, the great wall of ice. No one goes there, save for a few hunters after mammoth ivory or furs, unless it is to look upon the Ice and then, suitably impressed, turn back to be awed by the wall of magic that is the border of the Empire. But there are those for whom the Wild is not only out there but a magic within their blood, and for them—or at least for Terec, once of Lund and now only of the wastelands—the Ice is a wall that might, perhaps, contain a door ... Book 2 of Terec of Lund, to be read after Terec and the Wild.

'The Three Godfathers' by Peter B. Kyne is a novel about three bank robbers who become godfathers to a newborn child after encountering a woman in labor in the wilderness. Their journey to get the baby back to civilization is fraught with danger, as they battle thirst and coyotes. The story has been adapted into several movies and a Japanese animation film, showcasing its timeless appeal. A heartwarming tale of redemption and sacrifice, 'The Three Godfathers' is a must-read for fans of western fiction and action adventure literature.

In the sun-soaked vineyards of Napa Valley, a daughter's destiny is held hostage by a father's secret. Born amidst the dawn of Prohibition, Sofia Russo always dreamed of being her family's next winemaker. But when her father chooses her reluctant twin brother, Alonso, to carry on the family legacy, Sofia's world is upended as her hopes for a future in wine crumble alongside the relationship with her father. Feeling the intense sting of her father's rebuke, Sofia is determined to rise above inequality and the hardships of The Great Depression to prove him wrong. As decades pass and the Russo vineyard stands the test of time and adversity, Sofia and Alonso find themselves at a crossroads when it is officially announced that Alonso will supersede their father as the next Russo winemaker. With the weight of their father's expectations pressing down upon them, Sofia must confront the ghosts of the past in order to reconcile her relationship with her...

A novelette set on Ysthar—in Venice, to be exact, on a foggy winter's night in the early 18th century, when Scheherezade the Storyteller finds herself looking for a warm place to spend the night. She's not particularly successful on that front. She does find herself a bit of an adventure—and a new story, which is generally worth a sleepless night ... Part I of The Glassblower Diptych. (Part II, The Storyteller, will be available later in August 2024.)

Step into the holiday season at The Hotel Hamilton, where sparkling lights glimmer as a manipulative guest traps the sisters in his web. Clara and Louisa Wilson, maids at the illustrious hotel, are swept up in the thrill of The Hamilton's first holiday season. Louisa, buoyed by the excitement of her theatrical debut, sets her sights on Hollywood and befriending a director staying at the hotel. Meanwhile, Clara, newly promoted to a prestigious eighth-floor position, navigates the complexities of her role while a blossoming romance stirs her heart. But the joy of the season starts to fade as the sisters find themselves ensnared in a sinister ploy that threatens all they hold dear. Caught in the crosshairs of Louisa's Hollywood ambitions, Clara's budding romance, and with their very livelihoods at stake, they must confront a formidable challenge that could cost them everything. Will they find the strength to protect what matters most, or will...

Féonie Durgalen was all of nineteen when she was offered the position of costumier to the new Lord Chancellor of Zunidh, Cliopher Mdang. She seized the opportunity when it was presented for her own ambition and the sake of her family—but after he instituted a universal basic income, she was willing to go to any lengths to ensure Lord Mdang looked his best when he became Viceroy. A companion short story to The Hands of the Emperor.

The Recipe for the Perfect Bar Cart! Like with any good drink, the secret to creating a winning bar cart is to understand its components. The Bar Cart Bible breaks down these elements and provides you with the necessary information, including:300+ cocktail recipesBottles to have on handA glassware guideRequired equipmentMeasurement chartsDefinitions of bartending terminologyGarnish suggestionsMixology tips4 pieces of frame-ready, decorative artNow isn't it time for a drink?

"Another blockbuster! Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates reads like an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning thriller. You will love this book and also wonder why so few people know this story. No one captures the danger, intrigue, and drama of the American Revolution and its aftermath like Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger." —Brad ThorThis is the little-known story of how a newly indepen­dent nation was challenged by four Muslim powers and what happened when America's third president decided to stand up to intimidation. When Thomas Jefferson became president in 1801, America faced a crisis. The new nation was deeply in debt and needed its economy to grow quickly, but its merchant ships were under attack. Pirates from North Africa's Barbary coast routinely captured American sailors and held them as slaves, demanding ransom and tribute payments far beyond what the new coun­try could afford. Over the previous fifteen years, as a diplomat...

NEW YORK TIMES BESTESLLER • From the author of The Power of Habit, a fascinating exploration of what makes conversations work—and how we can all learn to be supercommunicators at work and in life“A winning combination of stories, studies, and guidance that might well transform the worst communicators you know into some of the best.”—Adam Grant, author of Think Again and Hidden PotentialCome inside a jury room as one juror leads a starkly divided room to consensus. Join a young CIA officer as he recruits a reluctant foreign agent. And sit with an accomplished surgeon as he tries, and fails, to convince yet another cancer patient to opt for the less risky course of treatment. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every...

"Your place is here now." It sounds like an invitation. It's actually a command.In this collection of horrors, Jason Fischer turns familiar spaces into deadly traps:A dinner with a new "mother" who wasn't invited. A Halloween visitor offers a treat you must not refuse. A puzzle book that predicts your future—and takes its cut. A cardboard cutout boy that won't stay where it's put. A dark carnival ride with no power runs perfectly on what you fear most.These and other tales of folk, psychological, and elevated horror converge on one message: your place is here now. Take your seat.

In the Woods Noirell, magic wells with the waters of the River and drips like the honey drawn from its trees, and fairy gifts are indistinguishable from their curses. In the Woods Noirell, travellers are told to stay on the Road, for if they stray they may well find themselves lost forevermore.In the Woods Noirell, there are dragons. Olive is the daughter of the Woods. She knew what waited at the end of her path long before she set foot on it ... A companion novella to the main Greenwing & Dart series. Can be read at any point, but is probably best read in conjunction with Bee Sting Cake or after Plum Duff.

Have Government agencies and big corporations ever created and promoted outright lies and cover-ups?Of course they have. When they do it together, that is the definition of conspiracy.Internationally recognized criminologist and bestselling author of The Gift of Fear, Gavin de Becker, investigates how the Government 'debunks' inconvenient and unwanted truths. This story of true crime includes bogus research, bribes, compromised experts, paid conspirators, destruction of evidence, and massive publicity campaigns to discredit people and truths that don't fit official wishes.Readers are provided real-time access to original source material that clearly details how Government agencies and Big Pharma have routinely conspired to deceive the public on matters of profound importance.