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In Troy's Company
by Forrest GreeneCaptain Troy is the commander of Troy’s Company and the best mercenary commander in the Four Quadrants of the Cities. On occasion he would find a mercenary unlucky enough to have been lost to slavery and buy him. He might sleep with the man, but would allow him to earn his freedom and a place in the Company if he wanted it.On this occasion, Markus is that slave. On a day of unforeseen catastrophe, everything he valued was taken from him -- his home, his position, and his freedom. Now astray in a part of the world he’s never seen before, he struggles to find his feet and understand his attraction to Captain Troy. Soon he realizes he now has everything he desires. In Troy’s Company he finds the life he always wanted and the love he never dreamed he needed.Then, one day, a man Markus hasn’t seen for five years brings his past back to life. Will he choose his duty or his love?
In Truth and Claw (A Mick Oberon Job Book #4)
by Ari MarmellHighly anticipated fourth book in the Mick Oberon urban fantasy series from the critically acclaimed Ari MarmellMick Oberon may look like just another 1930s private detective, but beneath the fedora and the overcoat, he's got pointy ears and he's packing a wand. A series of brutal murders is sweeping Chicago, baffling both the local police and the Seelie Court, who sense that an aura of corruption and death has touched Mick himself. When Mick's associates become targets, and a vampire appears in his office, Mick is drawn into his most dangerous hunt yet. A hunt that will lead him to seek answers about his mysterious past and what it could mean for those in his present.
In Universes: A Novel
by Emet NorthA Most Anticipated Book of 2024 by Tor.com, Bustle, Literary Hub, Autostraddle, Gizmodo, IGN, and Lilith Magazine "An explosion of creative beauty and heart."–Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, author of Chain-Gang All-Stars"Baffingly good." –Jordy Rosenberg, author of Confessions of the Fox"A miracle of physics and art." –Julia Phillips, author of Disappearing EarthFor fans of Emily St. John Mandel and Kelly Link, a profoundly imaginative debut novel set in numerous universes, which follows a queer physicist’s search for belonging across time and space.Raffi works in an observational cosmology lab, searching for dark matter and trying to hide how little they understand their own research. Every chance they get, they escape to see Britt, a queer sculptor who fascinates them for reasons they also don’t—or won’t—understand. As Raffi’s carefully constructed life begins to collapse, they become increasingly fixated on the multiverse and the idea that somewhere, there might be a universe where they mean as much to Britt as she does to them…and just like that, Raffi and Britt are thirteen years old, best friends and maybe something more. In Universes is a mind-bending tour across parallel worlds, each an answer to the question of what life would be like if events had played out just a little differently. The universes grow increasingly strange: women fracture into hordes of animals, alien-infested bears prowl apocalyptic landscapes. But across them all, Raffi—alongside their sometimes-friends, sometimes-lovers Britt, Kay, and Graham—reaches for a life that feels authentically their own.Blending realism with science fiction, In Universes explores the thirst for genius, the fluidity of gender and identity, and the pull of the past against the desire to lead a meaningful life. Part Ted Chiang, part Carmen Maria Machado, part Everything Everywhere All At Once, In Universes insists on the transgressive power of hope even in the darkest of times.
In Veritas (Nunatak First Fiction Series #53)
by C.J. Lavigne"Things that are and are not, she thinks, and the dog is a snake."In this fantastic and fantastical debut, C.J. Lavigne concocts a wondrous realm overlaying a city that brims with civic workers and pigeons. Led by her synesthesia, Verity Richards discovers a hidden world inside an old Ottawa theatre. Within the timeworn walls live people who should not exist—people whose very survival is threatened by science, technology, and natural law. Verity must submerge herself in this impossible reality to help save the last traces of their broken community. Her guides: a magician, his shadow-dog, a dying angel, and a knife-edged woman who is more than half ghost.With great empathy and imagination, In Veritas explores the nature of truth and the complexities of human communication.
In War Times: An Alternate Universe Novel of a Different Present (Dance Family #1)
by Kathleen Ann GoonanSam Dance is a young enlisted soldier in 1941 when his older brother Keenan is killed at Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, Sam promises that he will do anything he can to stop the war.During his training, Sam begins to show that he has a knack for science and engineering, and he is plucked from the daily grunt work of twenty-mile marches by his superiors to study subjects like code breaking, electronics, and physics in particular, a science that is growing more important to the war effort. While studying, Sam is seduced by a mysterious female physicist that is teaching one of his courses, and given her plans for a device that will end the war, perhaps even end the human predilection for war forever. But the device does something less, and more, than that. After his training, Sam is sent throughout Europe to solve both theoretical and practical problems for the Allies. He spends his free time playing jazz, and trying to construct the strange device. It's only much later that he discovers that it worked, but in a way that he could have never imagined. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
In Winter's Shadow (Down the Long Wind #3)
by Gillian BradshawArthur Pendragon strives to unite a fragmented empire as his bastard son threatens to tear down the king, his queen, and their bravest champions. From the sudden death of innocence to a perilous campaign that strikes at the very heart of the empire, this third and final book of the acclaimed trilogy by Gillian Bradshaw offers the reader a front-row seat as Arthur's dream and his kingdom collapse around him.
In Your Dreams
by Tom HoltEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook? It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to "pest" control.
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2 (J.W. Wells & Co. #2)
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt: Walled Orchard Series Goatsong The Walled Orchard J.W. Wells & Co. Series The Portable Door In Your Dreams Earth, Air, Fire and Custard You Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It Helps The Better Mousetrap May Contain Traces of Magic Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Sausages YouSpace Series Doughnut When It's A Jar The Outsorcerer's Apprentice The Good, the Bad and the Smug Novels Expecting Someone Taller Who's Afraid of Beowulf Flying Dutch Ye Gods! Overtime Here Comes the Sun Grailblazers Faust Among Equals Odds and Gods Djinn Rummy My Hero Paint your Dragon Open Sesame Wish you Were Here Alexander at World's End Only Human Snow White and the Seven Samurai Olympiad Valhalla Nothing But Blue Skies Falling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Dreams: J.W. Wells & Co. Book 2 (J.W. Wells & Co. #2)
by Tom Holt'A definite must for all fans of comic fantasy' - ENIGMA'Wacky humour bubbles through the polished narrative ... Holt doesn't skimp on the flashes of brilliance' - SFXEver been offered a promotion that seems too good to be true? You know - the sort they'd be insane to be offering to someone like you. The kind where you snap their arm off to accept, then wonder why all your long-serving colleagues look secretly relieved, as if they're off some strange and unpleasant hook ...It's the kind of trick that deeply sinister companies like J.W. Wells & Co. pull all the time. Especially with employees who are too busy mooning over the office intern to think about what they're getting into. And it's why, right about now, Paul Carpenter is wishing he'd paid much less attention to the gorgeous Melze, and rather more to a little bit of job description small-print referring to 'pest' control ...Books by Tom Holt:Walled Orchard SeriesGoatsongThe Walled OrchardJ.W. Wells & Co. SeriesThe Portable DoorIn Your DreamsEarth, Air, Fire and CustardYou Don't Have to Be Evil to Work Here, But It HelpsThe Better MousetrapMay Contain Traces of MagicLife, Liberty and the Pursuit of SausagesYouSpace SeriesDoughnutWhen It's A JarThe Outsorcerer's ApprenticeThe Good, the Bad and the SmugNovelsExpecting Someone TallerWho's Afraid of BeowulfFlying DutchYe Gods!OvertimeHere Comes the SunGrailblazersFaust Among EqualsOdds and GodsDjinn RummyMy HeroPaint your DragonOpen SesameWish you Were HereAlexander at World's EndOnly HumanSnow White and the Seven SamuraiOlympiadValhallaNothing But Blue SkiesFalling SidewaysLittle PeopleSong for NeroMeadowlandBarkingBlonde BombshellThe Management Style of the Supreme BeingsAn Orc on the Wild Side
In Your Shoes
by September RobertsNobody said marriage was easy, but when Scott and Nicole magically switch bodies during a hypnotherapy session, they learn just how challenging it can be. On the verge of divorce, this chance to walk in each other's shoes may be just what they need to fall in love again. In Your Shoes from romance author September Roberts is a delightful tale filled with passion and humor.On the verge of divorce, Scott Erickson will do anything he can to save his marriage. After years of growing apart, Nicole isn't so sure it's worth saving, especially when she finds pictures of Scott with another woman. With the help of a marriage counselor, they attempt to communicate with each other, but each appointment is worse than the last until, finally, during a hypnotherapy session, they switch bodies.Faced with challenges neither of them is equipped to handle, they both must learn to survive in their new roles and unfamiliar bodies, but is there a way to switch back? And if so, can their marriage be restored after they've walked in each other's shoes?Content Notes: Hot, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy, Contemporary, Magic
In a Badger Way: A Honey Badger Shifter Romance (The Honey Badger Chronicles #2)
by Shelly LaurenstonNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelly Laurenston follows the explosive success of Hot and Badgered with the second installment in her sizzingly outrageous series, this time featuring a heroine who is half tiger, half honey badger shifter, and fully living her truth. Petite, kind, brilliant, and young, Stevie is nothing like the usual women bodyguard Shen Li is interested in. Even more surprising, the youngest of the lethal, ball-busting, and beautiful MacKilligan sisters is terrified of bears. But she&’s not terrified of pandas. She loves pandas. Which means that whether Shen wants her to or not, she simply won&’t stop cuddling him. He isn&’t some stuffed Giant Panda, ya know! He is a Giant Panda shifter. He deserves respect and personal space. Something that little hybrid is completely ignoring. But Stevie has a way of finding trouble. Like going undercover to take down a scientist experimenting on other shifters. For what, Shen doesn&’t want to know, but they&’d better find out. And fast. Stevie might be the least violent of the honey badger sisters, but she&’s the most dangerous to Shen&’s peace of mind. Because she has absolutely no idea how much trouble they&’re in . . . or just how damn adorable she is.Praise for Shelly Laurenston &“Hot and humorous.&”—USAToday.com on Hot and Badgered &“Laurenston delights…Zany, sarcastic humor…Familiar, well-developed characters and full immersion into the universe make this a must-read for a new and returning readers alike.&”—Publishers Weekly on In a Badger Way &“In a Badger Way is pure, unadulterated fun. It&’s ten pounds of bursting-at-the-seams excitement in a five pound bag…No one does it like Shelly Laurenston when it comes to unique, unparalleled heroines and the heroes who can&’t help but love them. Even when they&’re honey badgers.&”—Bookpage on In a Badger Way
In a Dark Dream
by Charles L. GrantJimmy Hale, a murderous psychopath who has convinced his doctors that he is sane, is coming home. Glenn Erskine's daughters are having dreams of death and horror--a warning that Jimmy is on his way!
In a Dark Land (The Changelings #2)
by Christina SoontornvatFrom Newberry Honor winning author Christina Soontornvat comes an enchanting conclusion to the Changelings duology—Can Izzy and the Changelings find the lost King's Key in time to save Earth?Life hasn't been the same since Izzy found out she was a Changeling during a trip to the magical land of Faerie. Sure, she's glad to be back on Earth with her human family, but she can't stop thinking about the amazing friends she left behind. Even worse, Izzy can't seem to change anymore. She can't stand the thought of losing all ties to the one place she felt like she truly belonged. So when Izzy gets a chance to return to Faerie, she's quick to say yes.But when a new evil threatens not only Faerie, but Earth itself, will Izzy get her magic back in time to help save everyone she loves?Praise for The Changelings:"A richly drawn fairy world that will have readers staying way up past their bedtime to read what their plucky herione, Izzy, does next."—Jen Calonita, author of the Fairy Tale Reform School series"Fresh and imaginative—new inventions on every page. I loved every ingenious twist and turn right up to the wonderfully satisfying ending."—Katherine Catmull, author of The Radiant Road and Summer and Bird."The Changelings is charming! Perfect for readers who love stories full of magic, adventure, mystery and fairies, topped off with a satisfying and very happy ending. Soontornvat's debut sparkles and delights!"—Nikki Loftin, author of The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy
In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories: Reillustrated Edition (I Can Read Level 2)
by Alvin SchwartzIn a dark, dark room, in a soft, soft voice, tell a scary story!Newly reillustrated, this classic I Can Read full of spooky stories is perfect for beginning readers who love a bit of a scare.Victor Rivas’s silly and spooky art will introduce a new generation to stories inspired by traditional folktales like “The Teeth,” “In the Graveyard,” “The Green Ribbon,” “In A Dark, Dark Room,” “The Night It Rained,” “The Pirate,” and “The Ghost of John.” The original edition has won many state awards and is an ALA Notable Children’s Book.In a Dark, Dark Room is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
In a Fix (Ciel Halligan #1)
by Linda GrimesThis urban fantasy with a strong, shape-shifting female lead is “a fast-paced, sexy romp with characters as original as its intriguing premise” (Diana Gabaldon, New York Times–bestselling author of Outlander).Snagging a marriage proposal for her client while on an all-expenses-paid vacation should be a simple job for Ciel Halligan, aura adaptor extraordinaire. A kind of human chameleon, she’s able to take on her clients’ appearances and slip seamlessly into their lives, solving any sticky problems they don’t want to deal with themselves. No fuss, no muss. Big paycheck.This particular assignment is pretty enjoyable . . . that is, until Ciel’s island resort bungalow is blown to smithereens and her client’s about-to-be-fiancé is snatched by modern-day Vikings.Going from romance to rescue requires some serious gear-shifting, as well as a little backup. Her best friend, Billy, and Mark, the CIA agent she’s been crushing on for years—both skilled adaptors—step in to help, but their priority is, annoyingly, keeping her safe. Before long, Ciel is dedicating more energy to escaping their watchful eyes than she is to saving her client’s intended.Suddenly, facing down a horde of Vikings feels like the least of her problems.“Fresh, fun, and sexy.” —Vicki Pettersson, New York Times–bestselling author of The Signs of the Zodiac series“Bright, fizzy, sexy and amusing—the perfect antidote to an attack of post-summer blues.” —Kirkus Reviews“Fans of both hard and soft fantasy and crime drama will love [the] protagonist’s spunky, irreverent attitude.” —Library Journal, starred review
In a Garden Burning Gold: A Novel (The Wind-up Garden series #1)
by Rory PowerTwins imbued with incredible magic and near-immortality will do anything to keep their family in power—even if it tears the family apart—in the first book of a mythic epic fantasy duology from the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls. &“Unapologetically vicious, with gorgeous, searing prose and a world that left me reeling.&”—Heather Walter, author of MaliceONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—BookPage Rhea and Lexos were born into a family unlike any other. Together with their siblings, they control the seasons, the tides, and the stars, and help their father rule their kingdom. Thanks to their magic, the family has ruled for an eternity, and plan to rule for an eternity more. But Rhea and Lexos are special: They are twins, bonded down to the bone, and for the past hundred years, that bond has protected them as their father becomes an unpredictable tyrant—and his worsening temper threatens the family&’s grip on power. Now, with rival nations ready to attack, and a rebel movement within their own borders, Rhea and Lexos must fight to keep the kingdom—and the family—together, even as treachery, deceit, and drama threaten to strand the twins on opposite sides of the battlefield. In a Garden Burning Gold is a vividly written, atmospheric saga that explores the limits of power and the bonds of family—and how far both can be bent before they break.
In a Magical Valley
by Toby RogersImagine a magical world where with a flick of your wrist, a small little dance and a small little twist, you could change the lives of others just with kindness and compassion.If we all took the time to look at the world around us and not focus so much on ourselves, we too, could live in this magical world.
In a Sniper's Crosshairs
by Debby GiustiFrom USA TODAY bestselling author Debby Giusti An assassin&’s loose in Amish country… and she&’s not the only target. When a radio broadcast describes taxi driver Lily Hudson&’s passenger as an armed criminal, she becomes his immediate target. Narrowly escaping, Lily accepts Matthias Overholt&’s offer to hide at his Amish family farm for Christmas—until evidence reveals the gunman&’s plan is tied to Lily&’s past. Now to prevent an assassination, Lily and Matthias must unravel a years-old conspiracy…and evade a sniper who has them in his sights.From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
In a Time of Treason: The Tales Of Durand, Book Two (The Tales of Durand #2)
by David KeckFor the first time in trade paperback, In the Eye of Heaven, book one of David Keck's highly acclaimed, gritty epic fantasy trilogy, the Tales of Durand.After fourteen years of grueling training for knighthood, fate snatched Durand Col's inheritance from him. He's willing to sell his sword to the highest bidder to forge a name for himself in an unforgiving, brutal, and bloody world.Durand will commit atrocities he never imagined.Dark conspiracies run through the kingdom—the oaths keeping long-banished monsters a bay begin to unravel. it may fall to Durand to save the world of Man . . .At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
In an Absent Dream (Wayward Children #4)
by Seanan McGuireA stand-alone fantasy tale from Seanan McGuire's Alex award-winning Wayward Children series, which began in the Alex, Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award-winning, World Fantasy Award finalist, Tiptree Honor List Every Heart a DoorwayThis fourth entry and prequel tells the story of Lundy, a very serious young girl who would rather study and dream than become a respectable housewife and live up to the expectations of the world around her. As well she should.When she finds a doorway to a world founded on logic and reason, riddles and lies, she thinks she's found her paradise. Alas, everything costs at the goblin market, and when her time there is drawing to a close, she makes the kind of bargain that never plays out well.The Wayward Children SeriesBook 1: Every Heart a DoorwayBook 2: Down Among the Sticks and BonesBook 3: Beneath the Sugar SkyBook 4: In an Absent DreamAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
In an Orchard Grown from Ash: A Novel (The Wind-up Garden series #2)
by Rory PowerSiblings torn apart by betrayal grapple with their broken bonds—and fight to regain their power—in this stunning conclusion to a mythic epic fantasy duology from the New York Times bestselling author of Wilder Girls.The Argyros siblings have lost everything. With their father dead and their family home captured, they&’re no longer the rulers of their fractured kingdom—and no longer bound to each other.In the frozen north, Rhea struggles to wield her newly inherited command over death and to find her place in an increasingly distrustful rebel group. Chrysanthi travels to a distant, war-torn land in search of her elusive brother Nitsos, certain that he is there on a dangerous mission to restore the family to its former glory, this time with himself at its head. And Lexos, now stripped of all his power and a political prisoner of the Domina family, is left to rot in a hauntingly desolate palace with nothing but thoughts of revenge. Alone and farther apart than they&’ve ever been, the siblings must reckon with the pain of their past and find a new path forward—or risk their own destruction. In an Orchard Grown from Ash is the dramatic finale of a darkly beautiful, atmospheric saga that explores the cost of power and the weight of legacy.
In at the Death (Settling Accounts #4)
by Harry TurtledoveFranklin Roosevelt is the assistant secretary of defense. Thomas Dewey is running for president with a blunt-speaking Missourian named Harry Truman at his side. Britain holds onto its desperate alliance with the USA’s worst enemy, while a holocaust unfolds in Texas. In Harry Turtledove’s compelling, disturbing, and extraordinarily vivid reshaping of American history, a war of secession has triggered a generation of madness. The tipping point has come at last. The third war in sixty years, this one yet unnamed: a grinding, horrifying series of hostilities and atrocities between two nations sharing the same continent and both calling themselves Americans. At the dawn of 1944, the United States has beaten back a daredevil blitzkrieg from the Confederate States–and a terrible new genie is out of history’s bottle: a bomb that may destroy on a scale never imagined before. In Europe, the new weapon has shattered a stalemate between Germany, England, and Russia. When the trigger is pulled in America, nothing will be the same again. With visionary brilliance, Harry Turtledove brings to a climactic conclusion his monumental, acclaimed drama of a nation’s tragedy and the men and women who play their roles–with valor, fear, and folly–on history’s greatest stage.
In for a Penny
by James P. BlaylockThis mesmerising collection from World Fantasy Award-winner James P. Blaylock offers seven brilliant excursions into one of the most idiosyncratic imaginations of our time. Highlighted by the acclaimed novella, "The Trismegistus Club" - a brilliant riff on the antiquarian ghost story - In for a Penny goes from strength to strength, taking us deep into the heart of a quirky, deeply engaging fictional world that no one but Blaylock could have created.Other high points include "Home Before Dark," which chronicles one man's first few hours in the afterlife. Its thematic companion, "Small Houses," recounts an aging widower's last few hours on earth. Both stories constitute deeply felt, lovingly detailed farewells to the things and places of this world.In "The other Side," a minor precognitive episode leads the hero to an obsessive fascination with the hidden mysteries of the universe. In "His Own Back Yard," a story worthy of the great Jack Finney, a middle-aged man finds himself stranded in the haunted territory of his childhood. The blackly funny "War of the Worlds" uses a bowling ball and the imminent end of Life As We Know It to illuminate the fault lines in a modern marriage. Finally, in the wonderfully imagined title story, the single-minded pursuit of treasure - of something for nothing - leads Blaylock's protagonist to a harrowing confrontation with his own worst self.Startling, funny, eccentric, and often unexpectedly moving, the Blaylockian worldview shines forth with undiminished vigor in this marvellous collection, which shows us ourselves - and the world around us - from a wholly unique perspective.REVIEWSfrom Publishers Weekly"Simply, almost artlessly written, the six fantasy stories in this slim collection from Blaylock (Thirteen Phantasms), set in the gentle, loving territory of his personal California world, verge on the sentimental but never slip into the banal. In the brief "Home Before Dark," the tale's hero gets an unusual glimpse of heaven. In the nostalgic "His Own Back Yard," Alan revisits his old childhood home ("The abandoned house was boarded up, its chimney fallen, the white paint on the clapboards weathered to the color of an old ghost") and has the satisfaction of meeting a vision of his young father and discussing the past. "Small Houses" is a poignant reverie on age and shared love in which Johnson builds his own burial casket, to his wife's dismay. "The War of the Worlds" focuses on some suburbanites who believe that a flying saucer has landed in their midst, but the real war is the unexpressed one between husband and wife. In the humorous "The Other Side," the premonition-prone protagonist winds up in a support group for the paranormally inclined. In the title story, a tale with a moral and the best of the lot, George Mason buys a worn purse at a garage sale with a penny he finds in the purse, with unexpected consequences. The dignified, understated jacket art of an old man in a library nicely suggests the mood of the stories."Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In from the Cold
by Mary SullivanWhen it's cold outside...A city girl to her core, Callie MacKintosh doesn't do rugged. She does do her job, however. That's why she's here in this Rocky Mountain town getting more of rugged than she ever wanted. All she has to do is persuade Gabe Jordan to sign over his share of the family land so her boss can develop it.Too bad the situation is not that simple. Gabe is her boss's estranged brother. And Gabe is the most fascinating man she's ever met. Her focus is severely compromised by his strong, sexy ways. More than that, having spent time on this land, she's no longer convinced a ski resort belongs here. But she thinks she might. Because for the first time, with Gabe, she feels as though she's come home.