They wanted her to become the new Tsarina, but Natalie had other plans. Now she finds herself in the heart of the Kremlin, trying to hide her true identity. In this sequel to ‘Lady In Waiting’ the tension explodes into terrifying action. All protection lost, and deceived by her own mother, Natalie must again cross Russia searching for her beloved Max, relentlessly pursued by unknown assassinsThey wanted her to become the new Tsarina, but Natalie had other plans, and when the soldiers came, she sacrificed herself to their guns. Now she finds herself in the heart of the Kremlin, trying to hide her true identity.In this sequel to ‘Natalie Tereshchenko, Lady In Waiting’ by emerging author Elizabeth Audrey Mills, the tension explodes into terrifying action.With the protection of the convent taken from her, and the discovery that she has been deceived by the woman claiming to be her mother, Natalie must wait in Moscow for her beloved Max to arrive, so they can continue their escape to England. She takes a job as secretary within the new Communist government, knowing that her life depends on keeping her connections with the dead royal family a secret.When Max does not arrive, she must again cross Russia searching for him, relentlessly pursued by unknown assassins. She cannot survive alone, but how can she tell who her true friends are?

Some things you can’t forget.
A body hanging from the infamous History Tree unraveled their teenage love. Now Maura Antrim is again tangled up with Brock McGovern. Twelve years later, they’re back where that murder occurred—where Brock had been arrested and then released, where Maura had run, too scared to stand by his side. But with two women missing, and Brock now an FBI agent, Maura is determined to help. Together, they’ll have to confront a threat that never died and see if their passion has withstood the test of time.

Kadavera, the witch, was dead. This should mean a celebration, but for nine-year-old Hugo, his schoolmate, Emma and their strange magical friend, Bird, it is the start of another dangerous adventure. Her death has precipitated the regeneration of not just one but both of her sister witches – and they are both far worse than she ever was.Conscripting the Cornish goblins, the witches capture the gnomes from the Gnome Reserve to use as guinea pigs in their experiments to be able to exist in daylight. This would allow them to fulfil their dying vow; to kill and destroy all those and their descendants, who were responsible for their own and their mothers' unjust execution 300 years before. They are determined not to let anyone stand in their way, especially two interfering children and a stupid bird.A chance finding of a small amulet leads Hugo and his friends into realms of King Arthur and to the magic power of his sword, Excalibur. Emma receives some terrible...

The other night, Trace Brewster, Max's best friend and star hockey player for the Hawks, scored on his own net and put the team's chances of qualifying for an upcoming tournament in jeopardy.Since then Trace has gone silent and is shutting everyone out. But Max thinks there's more going on with his friend than what happened on the ice. For one thing, there are bruises on Trace's face that he refuses to explain. Can Max find a way to get Trace to open up and help him in time for the big game?

Women are being brutally murdered in Boulder, Colorado, their bodies stuffed into the trunks of their cars, and they all have one thing in common: they were meeting someone for a date that they met online. It's clear a serial killer is at large, and FBI Agent Tara Mills is quickly on the case. But she soon learns that none of the women were meeting the same person, or so it seems, because none of the victims' dates can be tracked down either. As Tara digs deep into the world of online dating, and as more women turn up dead, she soon realizes that the killer's web is larger than she ever imagined. With the killer always one step ahead, taking on a new identity and leaving no trail, Tara fears she has finally met her match. Tara is pushed to her limits. But with the secrets of her past finally resolved, she hopes she can finally lay it to rest and focus wholeheartedly on the case. But when she learns that her biggest nightmare is yet to come, she...

When Jess steals a glance at a gorgeous guy in a Manchester nightclub, little does she realise how he is going to change her life…or should that be death?Can Jess be sure that Luke is all he appears to be? Will she succumb to the attraction she desperately tries not to feel for Daniel? And why does she still crave a packet of crisps more than a tasty teenage boy’s blood?When Jess steals a glance at a gorgeous guy in a Manchester nightclub, little does she realise how he is going to change her life…or should that be death? Yet, the vampire clan could never have predicted what they were taking on. With Luke pronounced ‘off-limits’ and the blood of a vampire simmering in Jess’s body, can she forget the love of her life and move on? If not, she will risk exposing the entire Northern clan to untold dangers, in order to live her life the way she wants.Can Jess be sure that Luke is all he appears to be? Will she succumb to the attraction she desperately tries not to feel for Daniel? And why does she still crave a packet of crisps more than a tasty teenage boy’s blood?

For Sophie, small town life has never felt small. With her four best friends—loving, infuriating, and all she could ever ask for—she can weather any storm. But when Sophie's beloved Acadia High School marching band is selected to march in the upcoming Rose Parade, it's her job to get them all the way to LA. Her plan? To persuade country singer Megan Pleasant, their Midwestern town's only claim to fame, to come back to Acadia to headline a fundraising festival.The only problem is that Megan has very publicly sworn never to return.What ensues is a journey filled with long-kept secrets, hidden heartbreaks, and revelations that could change everything—along with a possible fifth best friend: a new guy with a magnetic smile and secrets of his own.

The stakes have been raised. Time to go all in. Those Peilor bastards have scheduled planet Earth for abduction, and the clock is ticking. Emma and Kaitlynn will have to get the Blue Dragons back together and do something about it fast, or humanity will be toast. Of course, they don't have to tackle the problem alone, as there are allies to be found in the Realm of Imagination. The question is just if they're willing to help in a human timeframe... Then there is Suri, once upon a time Emma's rock. Literally. Emma and Kaitlynn need her to help infiltrate Peilor society, but cooperating might not be so easy with the mountain of hurt and anger standing between them still. And how exactly do you stop a society of egomaniacal sentient crystals from stealing your home planet in the first place?

ReviewIn this near future world money is tight, medical costs are skyrocketing, gas prices are still climbing, the government is broke and corruption is everywhere... Bain and Mills have written an impressive novel of the not too distant future that will make people think about the state of American politics and how it can be changed to create a better place for us all. Many of the ideas are not new but they are very reasonable and workable. This is another of those books I've read lately that should be required reading for everyone of voting age. Kudos to all for a job well done. --Barry R. Hunter for Baryon This is a tale with roots based on a premise not considered before, a story I am pleased to be able to highly recommend to any sci-fi fan. It will set you to thinking about the present state of affairs and what the future may hold. You'll be looking for other books by these talented authors, Darrell Bain and Gerald Mills. --Anne K. Edwards, author of The Last to Fall About the AuthorDarrell Bain is the author of about two dozen books, in many genres, running the gamut from humor to mystery and science fiction to non-fiction and a few humorous works which are sort of fictional non-fiction, if that makes any sense. He has even written for children. For the last several years he has concentrated on humor and science fiction, both short fiction, non-fiction (sort of) and novels. Darrell served thirteen years in the military and his two stints in Vietnam formed the basis for his first published novel, Medics Wild. Darrell has been writing off and on all his life but really got serious about it only after the advent of computers. He purchased his first one in 1989 and has been writing furiously ever since. While Darrell was working as a lab manager at a hospital in Texas, he met his wife Betty. He trapped her under a mistletoe sprig and they were married a year later. Darrell and Betty own and operate a Christmas tree farm in East Texas which has become the subject and backdrop for many of his humorous stories and books. Gerry Mills spent most of his first sixteen years studying the piano, reading everything in print and ruining as many staged events as possible just by appearing in them. His promising career as a concert pianist came to an end when he found it involved hard work. Instead he entered Northeastern University. In return for his promise never to return there, he was handed a degree in electrical engineering. Misreading that as encouragement, he began a career in avionics engineering. When the engineering industry learned his true value, he wisely switched to sales, but divorce unhappily followed. He later met and married Lori, continued in sales, then launched his own business, selling it ten years later. The high-speed automation and robotics industry kept him occupied until 1990, when he took a brief sabbatical with Lori, his bride of twenty-eight years by then. They set out on a 45 foot ocean-sailing yacht, managing to terrorize most of the Canadian Maritimes and eastern seaboard for over a year before ending up in the Bahamas, where fortunes ran out. Not one to fret, he immediately wrote his first novel, Then Is The Power, typing furiously to see how the story ended, while Lori plotted a course for Florida. While in Florida, he worked in automation and learned to herd nine cats.

One night before Christmas...Two babies for the Italian! Sevastiano Cantarelli can barely believe Amy Taylor is real. After the lifetime of betrayal he’s experienced, her surprising sweetness is the ultimate threat to his cynical worldview! Unwrapping her innocence was a gift he couldn’t forget...but one he knows it wouldn’t be fair to repeat. Their encounter left Amy exhilarated – and wanted for the first time. She knows that walking away from the commanding Italian is the safest way to keep her heart intact. Yet it’s the one thing she can’t do...because she’s pregnant with Sevastiano’s twins!

What's a retired cop to do when her lover is being targeted? Helen Taylor pulls on her boots again in this captivating lesbian mystery.Lexi Ryan is being targeted and can't work out why. She's escaped the troubled town of Warner with her beautiful partner, former Det. Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, and is looking for a quieter life. Instead she's faced with an attempted hit-and-run and mailbox tampering.Helen, meanwhile, is finding it hard coming to terms with civilian status. But once a cop, always a cop, and she uses her old skills to play bodyguard to Lexi and kick over the clues. As the incidents against her lover keep piling up, Helen starts to wonder if it's one of her old enemies up to tricks, or someone from Lexi's world.A sequel to "Payback", this exciting thriller will keep you on your toes.

A new ebook from Hachette Book Group

Algae and toe shoes, feathers and tutus Behind the gilded doors of the Paris Opéra Ballet, two best friends, Madeleine and Lucie, dance the night away. But at first morning light, their human bodies transform into webbed feet, billed lips, and wings.When enchanted, the girls are the Bois de Boulogne's famous black and white swans. For ninety years, they have floated in the lake, unable to find true love and break the evil Dance Master's curse. But when Madeleine meets American transplant Zig Young, everything changes.Suddenly, Madeleine wins a coveted solo spot in an upcoming ballet, and her growing relationship with Zig means she's on the verge of breaking the enchantment. However, doing so means leaving the Bois, the Ballet, and Lucie forever—something she's not sure she can bear.Desperate to not lose her best friend, Lucie will do anything to keep Madeleine with her—including betrayal. She'll stop at...

Greed. Deceit. Jealousy. Treachery.None are qualities you want to come up against, especially when they're brought to life in a group thought to be dead. Unfortunately for Hugo Bennett, an eleven-year-old schoolboy, and his friends and allies, this group wants what they have and will stop at nothing to get it.When a small golden amulet is discovered by Hugo, it's realised that this is the focus of the attacks they are facing. Together with five jewelled rings, these objects originate from the scabbard of Excalibur, the magical sword of King Arthur. Legend has it that these precious items form the 'inheritance' which, when assembled, will give the power of regeneration to four executed children: Mary Edwards, Stephen Lloyd, and Anne and Jane Trembles, executed in 1697 and descendants of the Witches of Bideford. As they stood on the scaffold, they proclaimed their dying curse – to kill all those responsible for their illegal execution alongside all of the...

Paris, France 1793Growing up in the court of King Louis XVI, Genevieve enjoys a sheltered privileged life with the gardens of Versailles as her playground, until on the eve of her nineteenth birthday, the king is executed and all hell breaks loose. A short companion novelette to the Witchblood series.Paris, France 1793Growing up in the court of King Louis XVI, Genevieve enjoys a sheltered privileged life with the gardens of Versailles as her playground, until on the eve of her nineteenth birthday, the king is executed and all hell breaks loose. As family members and close friends fall prey to the Revolution, Genevieve turns to the one man who promises to help her; the shadowy figure in court, and friend to the elder brother that betrayed them all, but is Sebastian worthy of her trust or will he too betray her?Genevieve has a choice to make, one that will change her life forever. Go it alone and try to escape the murderous streets of Paris, or join Sebastian, forget her nightmares and start a new life… an immortal life?

THE NEW YORK TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR After 9/11, the United States made one of the most secretive and dangerous deals in its history. The evidence against the powerful Saudis who coordinated the attack would be buried. In return, King Faisal would promise to keep the oil flowing and deal with the conspirators in his midst. When the king's own nephew is discovered funding ISIS, the US president suspects that the Saudis never intended to live up to their agreement. He decides that the royalty needs to be sent a message and that Mitch Rapp is just the man to deliver it. The catch? Rapp must do it entirely on his own. Forced to make a decision that will change his life forever, Rapp quits the CIA and assembles a group of independent contractors to help him complete the mission. They've barely begun unravelling the connections between the Saudi government and ISIS when the brilliant new head of the intelligence directorate discovers their efforts. With Rapp getting too close, he threatens to go public with the details of the post-9/11 agreement between the two countries. Facing an international incident that could end his political career, the President orders America's intelligence agencies to join the Saudis' effort to hunt the former CIA man down. Rapp is now at the centre of the most elaborate manhunt in history ...AMERICAN ASSASSIN, book one in the series, is soon to be a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Dylan O'Brien (Maze Runner), Taylor Kitsch (True Detective) and Michael Keaton.Praise for the Mitch Rapp series 'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets' Dan Brown 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The Times 'Vince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story. . . instantly gripping' Shortlist 'Action-packed, in-your-face, adrenalin-pumped super-hero macho escapist fiction that does exactly what it says on the label' Irish Independent 'Mitch Rapp is a great character who always leaves the bad guys either very sorry for themselves or very dead' Guardian **

Detective Constable Kate Wolfe is sent to a Cheshire backwater after falling foul of a disciplinary hearing in London. But before she even has a chance to settle in, Kate finds herself in a situation there's no coming back from. She's reported as a troublemaker to her new boss, Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, a no-nonsense veteran who once had an esteemed, high-profile career.The pair investigate a spate of arson attacks, a dead body found in a burnt out building, and a missing architect while fighting their growing attraction for each other. The discovery of a dumped vehicle in a quarry lake sparks a series of events that will change their lives forever.A thrilling lesbian mystery about trying to right a past wrong...despite the consequences.

Boogie Bass feels like he can't do anything right, but when he joins an after-school American Sign Language club, he turns out to be a natural!The After-School Superstars—Nixie Ness, Vera Vance, Nolan Nada, and Boogie Bass—are back in a new after-school adventure starring Boogie. He is clumsy and goofy, but now that he is at the American Sign Language camp at his school, he finds his hidden talent. He may not believe in himself, but the rest of his class does, especially when they visit a school for the Deaf and Boogie leads the way with his exuberant personality helping students to learn about each other and make new friends. Vetted by an expert from Gallaudet University and complete with additional material full of facts about American Sign Language, Boogie Bass is an excellent addition to The After-School Superstar series. Each book features recurring characters and highlights one activity they do at their after-school program, along with illustrations...

In the enchanting pages of "Love in Bloom: A Blossoming Romance," we invite you to embark on a heartwarming journey of love, laughter, and serendipitous encounters. Set in a quaint town where fate intertwines with mischievous cupid, this delightful story follows the lives of Peter, Jasmine, Jason, and Angela, whose lives are forever changed by the magic of love. Amidst the charming backdrop of a picturesque town, two unsuspecting souls, Peter and Jasmine, find themselves drawn together in a serendipitous encounter at a local flower shop. From the very beginning, their connection is palpable, and laughter becomes the thread that binds them. As their friendship blossoms, they become the unwitting pawns in the mischievous games of their best friends, Jason and Angela, who delight in orchestrating hilarious escapades to bring the two lovebirds together. "Love in Bloom" celebrates the beauty of friendship, the power of laughter, and...

As an Arab Christian pilot for a relief organization, Paul Farid feels called to bring supplies to his war-torn countrymen in southern Sudan. But with constant attacks from Khartoum's Islamic government, the villagers have plenty of reasons to distrust Paul, and he wonders if the risks he's taking are really worth his mission.American doctor Larson Kerr started working with the Sudanese people out of a sense of duty and has grown to love them all, especially Rachel, her young assistant. But despite the years she's spent caring for them, her life feels unfulfilled. It's a void that both Paul and Rachel's older brother, Colonel Ben Alier of the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, notice.When Rachel is abducted, Paul, Ben, and Larson agree to set aside their differences to form an unlikely alliance and execute a daring rescue. Their faith and beliefs tested, each must find the strength to walk the path God has laid before them, to find their way home.

Bestselling and award-winning author DiAnn Mills delivers a heart-stopping story of dark secrets, desperate enemies, and dangerous lies.Fifteen years ago, Shelby Pearce confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and was sent to prison. Now she’s out on parole and looking for a fresh start in the small town of Valleysburg, Texas. But starting over won’t be easy for an ex-con.FBI Special Agent Denton McClure was a rookie fresh out of Quantico when he was first assigned the Pearce case. He’s always believed Shelby embezzled five hundred thousand dollars from her brother-in-law’s account. So he’s going undercover to befriend Shelby, track down the missing money, and finally crack this case.But as Denton gets closer to Shelby, he begins to have a trace of doubt about her guilt. Someone has Shelby in their crosshairs. It’s up to Denton to stop them before they silence Shelby—and the truth—forever.

Korba is back in control and the Empire has settled, at least for now. But stability is only a relative term… and it is never assured.Something has been discovered across the galaxy, something extraordinary, something no one in the Realm can ignore, least of all Chelan. But dealing with what awaits at the end of the journey will be a colossal undertaking, a task wrought with danger and unexpected threats.Chelan and Korba are more than up to the challenge. Yet when Chelan is beset by strange, disturbing sensations, solving the perplexing and troubling mystery that plagues her becomes imperative. The hunt is on for answers.Discoveries made on what starts off as the adventure of a lifetime will take the entire Empire by surprise. But nothing compares to what awaits them all in the end. An eerie phenomenon haunts Chelan; whether it is friend or foe remains to be seen. The potential threat to Korba and his crew is immense: success in ferreting out the entity could come with disastrous consequences. Will Korba take the risk to discover all, or will he back away to keep everyone safe, especially his beloved mate? Chelan holds the answer.

A busy single-mom. A laid-back bachelor. One unforgettable night that changes their friendship—and their lives—forever . . .  Single-mom Rebecca Hayes has been so focused on raising her daughter and building her finance career, she’s not sure she even remembers how to date. The only man she’s been out with is Jackson, her very close—and very attractive—friend. But Becca isn’t getting her hopes up after they crossed the line one memorable night—she knows Jackson too well. So when she discovers she’s pregnant with his baby, Becca isn’t sure she can count on Jackson anymore . . .  Fatherhood isn’t something Jackson Lowe saw for himself. He figured he’d just keep working at his family's landscaping business, surfing and being a happily unattached bachelor. But in his heart, he longs to build a family with Rebecca—his secret crush and the real reason he never settled down....

When a wife becomes the prime suspect in her husband's murder, this criminal psychologist must forget everything she thought she knew in order to clear her name in this debut psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Shanora Williams' The Wife Before. Cassidy Evans is the blueprint. As a Criminal Psychologist, Cassidy is a savant. She spent years solving groundbreaking cases by shifting through the minds and behaviors of those driven by the darkness that controls them. After years of dedicated field work, Cassidy decides to retire and share her expertise of killers' mentalities as a novelist. As a published author, she's now happily married and spends most of her time traveling the world and sharing with others how to understand the twisted minds that drive bad behaviors. Unfortunately, with all of the knowledge that Cassidy is armed with, she somehow overlooks the lies of the person closest to her. When she tags along to a crime scene with and old...

Gwen Ryland knows two things about the men pursuing her through the Rocky Mountains: they’re holding her brother hostage…and they won’t stop until they catch her, too. Now Gwen’s life depends on the man who once broke her friend’s heart—former army ranger Caden O’Callaghan. But can they figure out what the men want in time to save her brother…and Gwen?

Gideon Makepeace, a young man of twenty, knows who he is and what he likes: decency, men and women too, horse training, and fun... and in Livingston, Montana, in the lush autumn of 1895, he finds he likes a Lakota Sioux Indian better than he might ought to.Jedediah Buffalo Bird is seriously wounded and seeking medical care, and Gideon helps Jed when some bigoted townsfolk might have done otherwise. Jed, who knows the wild far better than Gideon and feels indebted to him, agrees to repay him by being his guide to San Francisco.Their trip takes them across thousands of wild miles, through the mountains men mine and the Indian reservations dotting the plains. Facing a majestic West, they learn from each other about white folks and Indians alike. Gideon’s interest in Jed is clear from the start, but will Jed give up the life he knows for a young, brash white man he has perhaps come to love? Or will he push Gideon away in favor of the peace of nature and the personal freedom...

A neat freak Scrooge and a Christmas-loving ball of chaos must coexist for a week, and the friction and separation that ensue make the most magical time of the year highly remarkable. After pumping her hard-earned savings into a business plan that doesn't pan out, Noel Anderson is left financially strapped and needs a way to earn money to stay afloat. She decides to rent her apartment as an Airbnb for the Christmas holidays while visiting her family for Christmas. What she didn't plan on was coming down ill and having to cancel the trip. Kanton Joseph is on the cusp of securing a lucrative business deal. In order to get a one-up on his competition, he rents an Airbnb in the same apartment complex where his potential client resides. He's surprised when he shows up, and the owner of the Airbnb not only wants to cancel the reservation but is still occupying the space. With great reluctance, Noel and Kanton agree to cohabitate for one week. Noel attempts to...

A delightful small-town romance between a daycare teacher and single dad who must overcome their differences to help plan the ultimate wedding.They’ve driven each other crazy for years, but were they fighting each other—or the chemistry between them?As the youngest in her loving, overprotective family, Savannah Lowe has always gone with the flow instead of going out on a limb…until now. Her new job running a preschool requires her to be all in. If only the father of one of her students wasn’t her brother’s incredibly infuriating, impossibly attractive best friend. Savannah has no clue what she ever did to make him dislike her, and now they’re stuck spending even more time together planning her brother’s wedding. Single father Noah Adams has his hands full between his job as a paramedic and caring for his young daughter. The last thing he needs is a complication like Savannah in his life—a girl he...

Maggie McIntosh is crazy about her biology teacher and loves to impress him with her academic excellence. But when the dreaded day of the first class dissection arrives, Maggie has to disappoint Mr. O. There's no way she can cut up a worm.Maggie's best friend, Alycia, understands. Alycia is squeamish, too, and shares Maggie's moral outrage. However, she's willing to keep quiet and let her lab partner do the dirty work. Maggies' own lab partner, Matt, completely disagrees. Then, after Maggie walks out on the dissection, he seems to respect her. And classmate Jake, who follows Maggie out the door, appears positively smitten.As she struggles to clarify her position about dissections, Maggie discovers that people and relationships are not always what they seem, and just as there are no perfect fathers (hers left years before), there are no perfect father figures - or even friends.

A lost masterpiece of American literature about the creative evolution of a young Black woman in California and her intense relationship with an indie filmmakerAlison Mills Newman's innovative, genre-bending novel has long been out of print and impossible to find. A "fluently funky mix of standard and nonstandard English," as the poet and scholar Harryette Mullen once put it, Francisco is the first-person account of a young actress and musician and her growing disillusionment with her success in Hollywood. Her wildly original and vivid voice chronicles a free-spirited life with her filmmaker lover, visiting friends and family up and down California, as well as her involvement in the 1970s Black Arts Movement. Love and friendship, long, meaningful conversations, parties and dancing—Francisco celebrates, as she improvises in the book, "the workings of a positive alive life that is good value, quality, carin, truth ... the gift of art for the survival...