Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?  The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.  Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.  But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

Abby stood nervously before her Master in the classic submissive pose: fully nude, legs apart, wrists placed behind her back; deeply ashamed of her evident arousal. Worse, she had to recount in exact detail the proceedings of her last whipping. The whipping had been severe; as was the case with most of the clients she was commissioned to serve. These client appointments were scheduled a few weeks apart, in order that the welts, bruises and whatever other marks were left behind had ample time to heal. After all, each new client - whether male, female, a couple, or even a group - surely deserved a fresh canvas upon which to begin. Despite these harsh sessions, her body reacted like that of a wanton whore as she retold of the sadistic punishments and extreme sexual use inflicted upon her body. How far would her Master push her with these ‘tests’? How far would Abigail go? How many times could she stand before him blushing; yet with that unmistakable tingle? Their relationship was surely headed for a collision course. Or was it? This story contains STRONG BDSM. While fully consensual, it includes submission, dominance, sadism and masochism. Please do NOT buy or read this if you are offended by graphic sexual descriptions including sexual violence. All characters are aged 25+, and it is recommended for an adult audience ONLY (aged 21+). This story is pure fiction and the author does not condone any violent behavior.

As a Keeper in training, Egey Bashi makes it his priority to discover hidden talents and help people fully realize their abilities. But when he rescues a boy with a Majat-level talent for weapons, Egey Bashi is thrown into events where his own resolve to be a Keeper will be sorely tested. A 7,000-word story set in the world of the Majat Code, a distant prequel to "Blades of the Old Empire".As a Keeper in training, Egey Bashi makes it his priority to discover hidden talents and help people fully realize their abilities. But when he rescues a boy from certain death, he find himself out of his league. The boy has a Majat-level talent for weapons. The Keepers send for a Diamond Majat to test him, and on arrival, Egey Bashi is thrown into events where his own resolve to be a Keeper will be sorely tested."The Majat Testing" is a 7,000-word story set in the world of the Majat Code, a distant prequel to Anna Kashina's "Blades of the Old Empire".

He craves more than her friendship... Equine vet Marsh McLintock and P.E. teacher Ella Bradley became BFFs as kids and vowed they'd never get involved in mushy stuff that would wreck everything. Ella's wedding day clinches the deal—friends forever, lovers never. Then Ella learns her fiancé's a lying cheat and cancels the wedding. Marsh knows his role—to comfort his devastated best friend and stand between her and the ex who wants her back. Too bad he just discovered he's madly in love with her. As Ella's dream of a home and family come crashing down, Marsh keeps her spirits up and her ex at bay. He looks damn good doing it, too. Has he always been this ripped? Maybe inviting herself to stay at Rowdy Ranch to avoid her ex and recover her mojo wasn't such a good idea. Clearly her wedding disaster is messing with her mind and her hormones. How stupid would she be to give in to a momentary temptation and risk losing the best...

Experience all three riveting novels in the "New York Times "best-selling trilogy from author Joelle Charbonneau. The Testing is new dystopian series perfect for readers of "Divergent "and "The Hunger Games." Experience all three riveting novels in the "New York Times "best-selling trilogy from author Joelle Charbonneau. The complete collection includes "The Testing, Independent Study, " and "Graduation Day. " "The Testing" Your time is almost up. The best-selling trilogy's dynamic dystopian debut. It's graduation day for sixteen-year-old Malencia Vale, and the entire Five Lakes Colony (the former Great Lakes) is celebrating. All Cia can think about--hope for--is whether she'll be chosen for The Testing. Danger, romance--and sheer terror--await. "Independent Study: "Failure is not an option.Cia is a freshman at the University in Tosu City with her hometown sweetheart, Tomas--and though the government has tried to erase her memory of the brutal horrors of The Testing, Cia remembers. Her attempts to expose the ugly truth behind the government's murderous programs put her--and her loved ones--in a world of danger. The future of the Commonwealth depends on her. "Graduation Day: " The final test is the deadliest. In the thrilling conclusion to the "New York Times" best-selling trilogy, the stakes are higher than ever--lives of promise cut short or fulfilled; a future ruled by fear or hope. Ready or not...it's Graduation Day.

I may be in trouble...but there's more to my story. When Kai Tamura sneaks into Ms. Opal's classroom for a look at an upcoming exam, he discovers that he's not the only one breaking rules. Ms. Opal is changing answers on her students' standardized tests—and Kai snaps some photos to prove it.Kai doesn't decide to bust Ms. Opal right away. He was trying to cheat too, after all. But a classroom conflict forces Kai to put Ms. Opal's actions out in the open. Soon Kai has a new problem: people don't believe him. Forget about a lousy exam score—Kai's suspension from school will really hurt his record, unless he can prove his photos are legit.[List of series titles]

Mary Augusta Ward, ne Arnold, (1851-1920), was a British novelist who wrote under her married name as Mrs. Humphry Ward. She began her career writing articles for magazines while working on a book for children that was published in 1881 under the title Milly and Olly. Her novels contained strong religious subject matter relevant to Victorian values she herself practised. Her popularity spread beyond Great Britain to the United States. According to the New York Times, her book Lady Rose's Daughter was the bestselling novel in the United States in 1903 as was The Marriage of William Ashe in 1905. Her most popular novel by far was the religious "novel with a purpose" Robert Elsmere, which portrayed the religious crisis of a young pastor and his family. She helped establishing an organization for working and teaching among the poor and was one of the founders of the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League in 1908.

You can get away with many things in Port Athens. Breaking contracts is not one of them. The founders of the prosperous fishing village of Port Athens have each agreed to give up certain luxuries and a great deal of power to settle into a new life. So when one of the founders, Eli P. Marin, returns from the city with a suspicious purchase, the rumor mill churns into action. Is he only showing off? Is it even real? Most importantly, will Eli break their contract and reclaim his former influence despite knowing how harsh the punishment might be? Find out today as you wander the quaint streets and meet the mysterious founders of Port Athens in Testing the Waters. If you've ever wondered how the Greek gods would behave in the modern world and what tricks they might get up to, you'll love this quirky tale of temptation, rules, and rivalry. This story contains 4,800 words, or about 18 standard paperback pages.

Billionaire Luke Devereaux gets what he wants and what he wants right now is to bring down the shady organization threatening his family.  Teaming up with the FBI is his only option--even if that option comes in the sultry Evelyn Price, the ice-princess who's all business.Refusing to be distracted by the sexy, rich playboy, Evelyn forces herself to stay focused on the case, gearing up for the criminal takedown of her entire career. As the enemy closes in with Evelyn as its next target, it's up to Luke to keep them out of danger.  The more they work to protect each other, and fight for control, the harder it is to resist their undeniable attraction.And the one thing Evelyn has learned from working with him is that Luke Devereaux gets what he wants.  

Brian and Tertius are back, but this time, the stakes are higher than ever When Brian and Lianor receive a coded message for Merlin, the know it's urgent that they take it to him at once. Merlin's apprentice, Tertius, couldn't be happier to see them, but Merlin quickly realizes that the news is more serious than anyone could have imagined: the dark wizard Urlik is back, and he has vowed to take over King Arthur's empire and destroy all who oppose him. As Merlin attempts to contact an old mentor, he is tricked and falls under Urlik's spell. Without Merlin, how will the three stand against the most evil power England has ever known? It's up to Brian, Tertius, Lianor, and their friends to rescue Merlin and save their world from Urlik's wicked plans. But the wizard is cunning, and it will take all their strength, skills, and smarts—and a little help from King Arthur himself—to have even a hope of triumphing over evil.

The New Uprising Against High-Stakes Testing

Luther Albright is a devoted father and a designer of dams, a self-controlled man who believes he can engineer happiness for his family by sheltering them from his own emotions.But when an earthquake shakes his Sacramento home, the world Luther has constructed with such care begins to tilt: his son's behavior becomes increasingly bizarre and threatening, his loving wife seems to grow distant, the house he built with his own hands shows its first signs of decay, and a dam of his design comes under investigation for structural flaws exposed by the tremors. Nightmarish connections begin to whisper at Luther from the most innocent of places as debut novelist MacKenzie Bezos tightens her net of psychological suspense around the reader with bravura skill. This is a harrowing portrait of an ordinary man who finds himself tested and strives not to be found wanting.

I want to trust him. But I needed to test that trust, and in doing so, I drove him away. If he loves me, he'll come back, won't he? I'm Jas, and I'm a pretty successful businesswoman back in the States. Here in England, though, I'm adrift. One good thing happened to me: Andrew Walker-Wilkinson, the first man strong enough to control me. Our passion is too intense to keep us apart - until Andrew's livelihood is threatened, he's disinherited and the most powerful man in London vows to destroy him. Our love makes me a target, too. I don't sit around waiting to be rescued. I go out and make things happen. I just don't know who I can really trust. It's not long before my life is in danger from an unexpected ally…

Rachaelis is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured. Those who fail the Testing are never seen again. And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity. And creatures that yearn to devour her soul... ABOUT THE AUTHOR Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas. He has written the "Demonsouled" series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write the "Ghosts" sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the "$0.99 Beginner's Guide" series of computer books, and numerous other works.

Wanting him was wrong, but it felt so right... Social worker Quinn Keller sees the best in people...and the worst. When she rescues a prominent businessman's battered wife, Quinn is targeted by the woman's violent husband. Her only option is to place her safety in the hands of Ranger Jace Hyland--tattooed, scarred, incredibly hot...and the brother of Quinn's deceased fiancé. An entirely different kind of dangerous! Quinn is the woman Jace has always wanted--and she's strictly hands-off. But keeping her safe means taking her to his small apartment...and his bed. So for one unforgettable night, Jace will give in to the temptation he can no longer resist. One night of forbidden hunger. One night he prays will be enough to satisfy a lifetime of longing....