In an ancient city carved from stone, a desperate woman searches for peace.In AD 106, a single mother can be certain of one thing―destitution.Cassia flees to Petra with her six-year-old son to seek refuge in the loving arms of family, but discovers the great stone city is not what she imagined.And family cannot be trusted.When a secret reveals her son's true bloodline, the boy becomes the target of a royal conspiracy, led by a queen who serves demonic power.Now in her darkest hour, Cassia encounters followers of The Way, a subversive religious group whose disciples are frequently sentenced to arenas with starved lions and blood-soaked sand.Will they seek out more danger by helping her?And what will it take to save her son from the powers of darkness?

In this remarkable novel, Pulitzer Prize–winning author James A. Michener draws on his unparalleled gift for storytelling, his deep understanding of American society, and his own life experiences to illuminate the challenges of aging and the folly of youth. As the new director of a Florida retirement home known as the Palms, Andy Zorn suffers no shortage of loving support from his “elders,” a group of five passionate, outspoken residents. Still, Andy’s shortcomings tear him apart. But when he meets an extraordinary young woman who has been forced to rebuild her life after suffering crippling injuries, he finds himself falling in love. And with a few gentle jabs from his more mature friends, he discovers a wonderful new purpose in life. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from James A. Michener's Hawaii. Praise for Recessional “The best moments in the novel occur when the characters disclose what’s in their hearts and minds with rueful, snappy humor.”—The New York Times Book Review “Michener hooks you with wonderfully humorous scenes. These are then interwoven between the moments of pain and heartache brought about by life choices we all must make.”—Tulsa World “Engaging . . . One will be drawn into the novelist’s world. . . . The lush natural setting provides James Michener plenty to show and tell.”—The Washington Times

At forty-eight, Tim Cranmer is a secret servant in a premature retirement to deepest rural England. His Cold War is fought and won, and he is free to devote himself to his stately manor house, his vineyard, and his beautiful young mistress, Emma.

My billionaire boss is the absolute last person I'd marry. Until a deal with the devil forces me down the aisle... ready to say yes to the boss.I once compared Victor St. Clair to Satan, but that's unkind. Even the devil treats his demons better than St. Clair treats me. I know his schedule by heart. He can't remember my first name.So when he calls me into his office, I'm expecting another rant. Instead he says he needs to get married to inherit the St. Clair fortune. Oh, and the kicker? He wants to marry me. His assistant.A one-year marriage of convenience to the boss I hate.It means living with Victor's dark stares and silences for a full year. But it's also a chance to quit my job and start my own business. He's a jerk, but he's also a respected businessman. How hard can it be?Answer: very. Because there's more to Victor than I thought. Things beyond learning his lunch orders and sending company memos. And while the man is cold, his...

Jim and his best friend Charlie bug the staff room, and overhear two teachers speak in a strange language. What does "spudvetch" mean? Why do Mr Kidd's eyes flicker with fluorescent blue light when Charlie says spudvetch to him? A high-powered adventure can end only with a Boom!

"Warm, sweet wish-fulfilment"–The Guardian (UK), review of Luma and the Pet DragonThe third book in a funny chapter book series about Luma, her pet dragon, friendship, fantasy, family and magic.Luma's best friend in the world is her pet Timir, who looks like a puppy most of the time... except when he turns into a baby dragon. Luma is so excited to see her new friend Ella. But Timir is very grumpy. Even though he has never met Luma's new friend, he already knows he does not like her – and is determined to cause trouble! Meanwhile there's great excitement next door as it's Nani's birthday. Luma and Timir race to Nani's back door, arms loaded with gifts. But Nani is worried as Zayan, her dragon, hasn't come to visit her. And he's never missed a birthday before. Can Luma and Timir track Zayan down – and help to make Nani's birthday extra special?

Lady Samantha Barrett is determined to find the man of her dreams. Of course, he must be devastatingly handsome and just a bit dangerous. Now, her coach is filled with a collection of gothic novels and her head with romantic notions as she eagerly leaves her brother's country estate for her first London Season. Still unsophisticated and too innocent by far, Samantha is ill-prepared for the hypocrisy of the town or for the formidable stranger who crosses her path-- a stranger she is sure must be her long-awaited hero... Remington Worth, the Earl of Gresham, is reputed to be anything but a hero. He is, however, intrigued by the fresh, young Lady Samantha. At sea, Remington had been a brilliant captain. To help save his country, he has become the Crown's most deadly and dedicated covert agent, posing as a notorious womanizer and blackmailer. His latest orders are to investigate the mysterious disappearances of England's prized merchant vessels. He will allow no one to get in his way or touch his heart-- until Samantha.

The love affair between two of the Victorian era's most famous poets is one of passion, tragedy, illness, and ultimately, endurance. Collected here for the first time in print are their 573 love letters, which capture their courtship, their blossoming love, and their forbidden marriage.

The Body Farm - a research institute that tests the decomposition of corpses. Black Mountain, North Carolina: a sleepy little town where the local police deal with one homicide a year, if they're unlucky, and where people are still getting used to the idea of locking their doors at night. But violent death is no respecter of venue, and the discovery of the corpse of the corpse of an 11-year-old girl sends shock waves through the community. Dr Kay Scarpetta, Chief medical Examiner on a similar case in Virginia, is called in to apply her forensic skills to this latest atrocity, but the apparent simplicity of the case proves something of a poisoned chalice - until Scarpetta finds enlightenment through the curious pathologists' playground known as the Body Farm. From Author’s Website

What would happen if Santa fell to Earth? Christmas through the eyes of Cornelia Funke: quirky, funny, ultimately heartwarming, and packaged in a collectible format. A new holiday classic! Scared by a storm, Twinklestar, the least reliable reindeer, bolts--causing Santa and his sleigh to crash-land. And though Santa has dropped into a friendly neighborhood, he's not safe: Jeremiah Goblynch, the ruthless new leader of the Council of Yuleland, is determind to put an end to children's wishes and turn the holiday season into his own personal moneymaking scheme. As the last REAL St. Nick around, only Santa stands between Goblynch and his grinchlike plan. With the help and hope of kids Charlotte and Ben, Santa must face Goblynch and his Nutcracker goons to save Christmas!

Sometimes one has to break rules in order to find happiness...Widower Logan Hendrix is puzzled by the recent series of small crimes against his son's new teacher. It's a mystery to him, and he offers her his help. There's an instant attraction, and Logan wants to take their parent/teacher relationship to a more personal level.It doesn't take Addison Ryker long to fall in love with Alinta Bay, the small town she's moved to for her new teaching position at the local primary school. Her newfound haven is threatened, however, when her house is broken into and she is relying on the unbelievably stubborn but very sexy Logan for help. Although captivated by him, Addison worries her career could be compromised, because there are rules about dating a parent.

She isn't mine, but that won't stop me from keeping her. My job is never easy. They fight, claw, and plead for me to let them go. But I never do. I'm the collector for Victor, a ruthless Russian mob boss. I collect every time. I never fail. Until Mila. Mila I knew this day would come. Victor threatened to send his collector. He warned me I would return one way or another. That time is now. I go willingly. I don't fight or scream. I know it's pointless. But The Collector breaks the rules. He doesn't take me to Victor. He keeps me for himself. Only, he has no idea what he's set in motion. He has no idea who I am. Now his fate is sealed along with mine. The Collector is the first book in the Cells of Kalashov Series. It is a Dark Bratva Enemies to Lovers Romance, complete with HEA and no cliffhangers.

There is no better introduction to R.K. Narayan than this remarkable collection of stories celebrating work that spans five decades. Characters include a storyteller whose magical source of tales dries up, a love-stricken husband who is told by astrologers he must sleep with a prostitute to save his dying wife, a pampered child who discovers that his beloved uncle may be an impostor or even a murderer. Standing supreme amid this rich assortment of stories is the title novella. Told by the narrator's grandmother, the tale recounts the adventures of her mother, married at seven and then abandoned, who crosses the subcontinent to extract her husband from the hands of his new wife. Her courage is immense and her will implacable — but once her mission is completed, her independence vanishes. Gentle irony, wryly drawn characters, and themes at once Indian and universal mark these humane stories, which firmly establish Narayan as one of the world's preeminant storytellers.

Rediscover the classic Spider-Man Venom trilogy by Diane Duane, now as a brand-new omnibus collecting all three novels. Collecting all three of Diane Duane's fan-favorite Spider-Man novels in a brand-new omnibus, featuring The Venom Factor, The Lizard Sanction, and The Octopus Agenda. Venom is out of control, seemingly murdering one of the innocents he swore to protect. Has Venom lost his mind, or is there another suspect?The Lizard is rampaging through the Everglades in search of a cure. While Spider-Man tries to stop him causing any more destruction, Venom appears hell-bent on killing the Lizard. What do these two have in common, and does it have something to do with the mysterious group of mercenaries in the area?Doctor Octopus is stockpiling nuclear bombs and has masterminded a plan to rain havoc down across the globe. Spider-Man and Venom must put aside their differences and team up to defeat Doc Ock before...

Just thirty, with a well-paid job, depression and no love life, the narrator and anti-hero par excellence of this grim, funny, and clever novel smokes four packs of cigarettes a day and writes weird animal stories in his spare time. A painfully realistic portrayal of the vanishing freedom of a world governed by science and by the empty rituals of daily life.