Thomas Jenkins is a house sitter in Belleair, a tony town within the tony city of Clearwater on Florida's West Coast. He sits in homes of the rich and powerful when they want to go away for extended weekends or vacations. Thomas Jenkins is a man who embraces the present only if he can maintain a tight grasp on the joys of the past. He is a child of the sixties. One night, while walking the dog of a client, he discovers the mutilated body of a woman. A few days later, Tom discovers a hit and run victim, Donnielle Weaver, whom he helps recover from the incident...not an accident. She is a reporter for the Clearwater Clarion with a connection to the murdered woman. Thus, begins his journey into the dark world of multiple murders, corruption, exploitation, and drug trafficking. Disinterested at first, he becomes more involved in Donnielle's search for the truth; truth about two powerful members of Belleair society and illegal immigrants. As the search expands, the interconnected intrigue intensifies. The investigation reveals a force that will go to any measure to protect itself. Random and unconnected violence is not random and unconnected. All during the journey, Thomas's house sitting provides new perspectives into the world of the privileged.
Anastasia has always been different, and not just because she knows over fifteen languages and prefers to be alone. After she was attacked while visiting family in Russia over seven years ago, Ana has been able to heal rapidly amongst other things. Unable to accept her own immortality, despite increasing proof, she goes away to Joya Del Mar Arts Academy with her two cousins, Jo and Mason. Instead of worrying about recitals and dance steps, Ana discovers a secret world of demons, mermaids and angels. Their only connection however, seems to be an increasing need to find her so that the demons can force Ana to bring back their master. After transforming a bear into a human boy, Ana can no longer hide her abilities and struggles with the idea that she is not human, although she does not know what she is. When a mysterious man in a mask continues to stalk Ana with the intention of getting her to eat a blue flower, Ana gets the sinking suspicion that the man in the mask is the same young man who destroyed her life seven years prior. When Ana discovers a secret lair hidden beneath the waves where the demons are regrouping, Ana realizes she has a terrible choice to make. Sacrifice her life and the life of the mermaids who fuel the underwater power source, or escape and allow the demons free reign to destroy the human world. But if Ana chooses to accept her immortality, then the life of her cousins and boyfriend, Daniel, will forever be compromised.
Peer into the bubbling, black cauldron at a simmering stew of restless spirits, creatures of the night, murder, mayhem, and pure evil. Add a smattering of sci-fi and you have a Danse Macabre of chilling stories, seasoned with a dash of happy endings and touching tales of the many faces of love. An anthology of short stories, Danse Macabre beckons you to curl up in a well-lit corner and journey into another dimension -- the scary fantasy world of make-believe. Or is it?
Strange doorways, “misty curtains of time” begin opening into other times and places. No one knows why - or when - they will be enticed to pass through the irresistible allure of the doorway. A young lad called Cowboy went missing when he was a toddler. His parents search far and wide for him, never realizing that he had “passed though”. He forever seeks to stop his wanderings and find a place to call home. His mother Ellie also enters the realm of the unknown in search of her son. Along the way she finds other “travelers” and a man called Cedarman who becomes her rock and protector. Ellie’s husband stayed behind since he joined the dark forces and is lost forever. Will mother and son find each other “in time”?
Federal Marshal Timothy Campbell - 'Cam' to his near and dear - makes the biggest mistake of his career when he falls for the witness he vowed to protect. When Kendra Driscoll's cover is compromised in a hail of bullets at a discount store, she's terrified and when a stern faced lawman drags her away to a safe house somewhere in Arkansas, she's beyond upset. Although she can be Deborah, her real name again, her future is anything but secure. Things become complicated when she realizes Cam isn't as stern as she thought and when both discover the forbidden attraction is mutual. When danger follows her to Arkansas, Cam's life hangs in the balance and it's up to Deborah alone to survive, if she can.
Raised by a ruthless, tyrannical father, Lon Calhoun learned early in life that callousness, insensitivity and greed were the attributes needed to bring a man to prominence and wealth. Although estranged from his family because of his father's arrogant attitude, Lon cannot help but realize that he indeed embodies those same character traits he so despises. When an alien entity takes up residence in Lon, the benefits obtained by harboring the creature provide him the means to live true to his character. Lon's newfound power allows him to overlook the price that must be paid for this mutually beneficial relationship: the death of innocent people. Retired General Leslie Tritt is an honorable, straightforward man who holds to the principles of accountability, self-control and discipline. He cannot abide irresponsible or careless behavior in either himself or others. Tritt is all too familiar with the foreign entity that inhabits Lon and the terrible price being paid for its continued existence. Tritt must find a way to maintain a closeness to Lon in order to provide him the time he needs to discover how to eliminate the entity. When the government intervenes and wants to learn more about the mysterious creature and its powers, Lon must trust Tritt to help him navigate through their possible treachery. Lon and Tritt's mutual distrust of one another soon turns to an awkward friendship and when Lon's life is threatened, he realizes the only person he can trust is Tritt. But the price for the entity's survival has risen to a level that even Lon cannot tolerate. Now the men must cautiously work together to eliminate their mutual foe. Their plan will most certainly mean the death of one or both of them. But can Tritt count on Lon to go against his nature and sacrifice himself for others? The price of failure is high: the death of thousands.
In the small quiet North Carolinian town of Newfield, strange things are beginning to happen, on the heels of a new arrival. A young woman with a puzzling past and a scandalous habit of constantly wearing wigs and long sleeves shirts despite the heat, soon has every one wondering what she is trying to hide? Trying desperately just to stage a fresh start in this small North Carolina town she eventually lands a promising job at a local bank branch. Things are starting to look up. But when more and more people begin suffering impossible demises, as a Supernatural phenomenon is starting to spread through town. The people are falling gradually into complete panic as this force disrupts their little town. While they have no idea as to what is happening, they are relentless in who to blame for their great misfortune. Befriended only by a fellow bank employee, she finds herself dragged into a spiral of chaos of literal Biblical proportions as the truth of the phenomenon that is “The Pruning” unfolds. Before it is over, the entire town--the entire world--will be familiar with the phenomenon.
Gordon Lormor is a defrocked priest and con man. And something more. He treads a path between light and dark magic, a risky journey he avoids unless he's required to take it. But his ex girlfriend makes a fear-laced telephone call to him, pleading that he come to Vermont and free her from a witches' coven. Gordon leaves his business, Profane Possibilities, in the care of his assistant and drives north. Death arrives before he does, and Gordon tasks himself with solving the murder and eradicating the coven. As his situation worsens he asks for help from both his decidedly unfeminine assistant AJ and a Catholic cardinal. Death revisits often as Gordon, joined by AJ, picks open the protective scab the witches have clotted over their activities. He teeters further and further over the edges of physical and spiritual death as he struggles to prevent infant sacrifice and solve the murder of the woman he had loved.
When Geraldine Halloran arrived at the Central Pacific end of track in the winter of 1866, she was resolved not to be terrified. After all, she had a right to be there. She was hired on as a regular telegraph operator, though they thought they were hiring a man. She was the only other woman at Tunnel 6, except for Mrs. Strobridge, the superintendent's wife. Tunnel 6 was said by some to be impossible. Certainly nothing like it had ever been done. It was to be a railroad tunnel linking California with Nevada, over 1600 feet long and dug through solid granite using black powder, nitroglycerin, and more than 10,000 Chinese laborers. Geraldine was to discover many things to terrify. There were explosions, landslides and blizzards. However there were some compensations. She got to run her own telegraph key, without being required to wear corsets. And then there was that nice, funny looking boy, Stetson Applegate, who she might, perhaps, fall in love with. And then a third woman showed up, a strange lady named Georgette Dupriest. Though she claimed to be writing a book, no one could quite understand why she was at a railroad camp. Georgette did seem quite taken by that nice gentleman, Mr. Asa Turner. Geraldine began to have second thoughts when it gradually became clear that someone was trying to sabotage the railroad. And also trying to kill Stetson Applegate.
When her friend sends her on an audition, Rowan has no clue that she could become Claudia Woods, paranormal romance author and owner of Legacy, a paranormal publishing house. Since Claudia can't venture out during the daylight hours, she needs a body double that can. Rowan's spunk and knowledge of the vampire's books makes her a perfect candidate. After a while in the spotlight, strange things start happening to Rowan starting with threatening emails, followed by unusual gifts. Then Ethan Wilder enters the picture. Even though every inch of her is attracted to the magnificent specimen she doesn't fully trust him, especially since he works for their competitor Renegade River Press.
Char and Diana Mansville, two sisters in their early twenties, lose their parents in a tragic accident. Finding themselves on the brink of financial disaster, they re-locate to southwest Florida to live with their aunt, a beautiful and wealthy ballroom dancer. Once there, they meet handsome and charismatic Roland Donovan, who is a sociopath and involved in a deadly insurance scheme. Stricken by Diana's beauty and charm, he sets his focus upon her and relentlessly begins his pursuit of her.
The bruised and tattered edge of darkness slid with ever increasing speed downward, pressing heavily on a small sliver of luminous blue-gray resting on the horizon. The forest seemed to hold its collective breath. And then…in a slow, sputtering blink, the sun’s last bit of dominion was gone. Night had come. It was time to feed. On silent clawed feet, malevolence slow danced through the brush. So begins the contact between the first humans to enter Mesoamerica and a singular alien presence who eventually gives them a great gift of life. This is the account of fresh beginnings that becomes heinous in a fight for dominance. Treachery, love, murder, and horror all fuse into a series of lethal transgressions. The old and new sects battle with dire consequences that could spell annihilation for both. Underlying everything is a psychotic priest named Pochotl, whose ambition and perverted appetites complicate any chances for compromise or resolution. Three young people from the village are forced to be his adversaries and still struggle against the bitter hostility of a demon creature named Bela. It is primarily their story that is told as it is often seen through their eyes.
During Natalie’s transition, the Coven is attacked and separated. With no knowledge of who survived or not, Natalie and Xavier are sent on a journey to retrieve a dagger from her past life. Along the way they meet up with old friends to see who’s willing to fight with them and who isn’t. As old enemies lurk around every corner people begin disappearing and Xavier feels some slight changes in the vampire curse he’s never felt before. With Natalie’s time to fight drawing nearer, the truth about who really killed her is revealed and what she has to do to win is a sacrifice she might not be willing to make.
When Adam Barfield went on a quiet sabbatical in the Italian Alps, the last thing he expected to find was a cursed secret that would change the world forever… Adam Barfield was an aloof neuroscientist teaching at U.C. Berkeley, California. Friendless, childless, he was known only for the clinical detachment lent both by his profession and progressive Asperger’s. So no one could believe their eyes when nine months after a quiet Italian sabbatical, the secretive Dr. Barfield returned home with a baby boy. Adam abruptly unveiled groundbreaking research, patenting a miraculous immune serum that revolutionized modern medicine itself. The scientific community was at his fingertips, yet marveled at Adam’s refusal to reveal the source of these godsend cures. Presidents and World Health Organizations alike worked night and day to unravel the mystery, hoping to produce worldwide applications of his miracle cure. However, even in the bright glare of the limelight, Dr. Barfield knew what he had done. And he knew well the inevitable curse waiting for him…
For fifteen years Beck Corderoy has lived a quiet life in remote Silverville, Colorado, content to keep her head down and gun drawn as the town’s sheriff.
Then came FBI agent Shelman who involves her in a case regarding the inexplicable, magical deaths of Denver’s elite youth. It’s either that or be exposed as an unregistered wizard, a crime with penalties she’s been avoiding most of her life.
In Denver she faces murderous bikers, a sinister plot, a new designer drug flooding the streets and a dubious ally in the form of an underground mover and shaker, the Misfit Man. But what really throws her for a loop is Detective Mitch Lafferty, a handsome widower whose razor sharp mind could easily cut through the cocoon of lies in which she’s covered herself. Can she keep her eye on the ball and solve a series of deaths before it’s too late?
A rogue planet is speeding its way towards the inner solar system, destined to become a hot Jupiter, flinging rocky planets and their inhabitants into the deep freeze of interstellar space. A crash project sends astronauts to resettle on another planet. There is no time to terraform a planet, it must already be habitable. In fact the chosen planet has intelligent life. A CEO expects to be the dictator of the colony and new planet, a disaster in the making. An avaricious and self-absorbed head of sales wants it all right now, and won't hesitate to sabotage the CEO, the mission, her husband, or anyone else who interferes with her wishes. The species heroically survived a super-volcanic eruption and a genetic experiment gone awry and thus perfected is destined to spread itself throughout the galaxy. An agency of the deep state unleashed a virus to alter the DNA of individuals who could potentially impede its reach, turning them docile and obedient to the Agency. As catastrophe nears, work, education, and careers offer fewer incentives. Law and order break down.
In a world where Gidon, a charismatic leader becomes a dictator, with powers no one can stop, society crumbles. When his agenda crushes the people, halts technology and punishes invention the people live in fear and struggle to survive. But when his secret is revealed, a son with power greater than his fathers, will his son be corrupted by power too? Can the rebels kill the infant to avoid his genetic skills and a future worse than their present? Or can they raise him to rule as their puppet, to crush his father and any opponents to their cause? In the rebel councils, only one man believes that a child with such potential can be raised for peace, and Simon whisks young Adis away. At seventeen, Adis is the physical image of his father, Gidon; tall and strong beyond his years, but raised in a loving home he has learned to be happy and selfless like his new father, Avery. Adis has learned to use his powers to help on the farm, keep his family fed, and his special sight has kept them all safely hidden from the rest of the world...until today. Following Gidon's assassination, warring factions split the country apart and roving bands of hired marauders terrorize any resistance. All of them are looking for the power of the lost heir. When the farm is attacked and Adis is forced to fight for those he loves, his power takes him to new heights, it's so easy for him to kill even though he's never been taught combat. Will this finally be the genetic trigger that sets him on a path to power or will his heart be changed so that he can change the world around him? When they realize that Avery has been kidnapped, Adis must use his powers, and builds them to unimaginable force to save the father of his heart. With two unlikely companions he sets off on an adventure across the landscape of the country he's never seen into the heart of the darkest fortress on the edge of the world. He must seal his fate and test the limits of his powers at the center of the mountains maze of tunnels, in the very hands of the leader of The Blood, the highly trained warrior army still in great power after Gidon's rein. The Blood want Adis to be their servant in power, or to kill him in the attempt to cage him. Adis and his companions must fight in ways The Blood has never seen to free his father and escape the mountain. Adis must come to terms with his real father's evil and his inherited gifts, and prove that he may be Gidon's blood, but he is truly Avery's son. Even if they escape, can they run forever? Can they defeat the dreaded Blood and begin the new fight to save the country that Gidon destroyed? Find out in this thrilling tale of power, adventure, and love.
It's the Cold War...day one and nobody knows what the rules are. This is especially true for the Americans, who don't even have a working national spy agency yet. Into the shadows steps Agent Shawn Riggs of the US Army Counterintelligence Corps. He's a soldier on a mission; catch a renegade MI6 agent, code name "Red Coat," before the traitor can reach Moscow. But the mission isn't as straight forward as it seems. Soon, Shawn finds himself caught deep in communist territory, chased by the secret police and wanted for desertion by his own army. Red Coat Running is Clayton J. Callahan's first spy novel since retiring from the US Army where he served as a Counterintelligence Special Agent in Iraq
Standard II – The Citadel is the second installment of the series featuring MI6 agent William Shanahan and undercover operative Jack Gawain. Once again Great Britain is called upon by the American President to join in an effort to neutralize an international terrorist threat. Escalating tensions within the Russian Federation lead experts to believe there is a conspiracy to destabilize its Western rivals. A mysterious arms smuggling gang known as the Citadel is suspected of bringing arms into the US for a series of terror attacks. Shanahan and Gawain are teamed with EUROPOL agent Lucretia Corcosa in an effort to infiltrate the ring and assassinate its leaders.
Mercedes Crosby is a veterinarian and a damn good one. She’s just what Susie Douglas needs on her horse ranch, and Mercedes wants nothing more than to take the job and get out from under the thumb of her ex-husband, Nash Crosby. But trust in people is something Mercedes lost the moment Nash forced her to marry him at gunpoint. If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is…. Darin Douglas is struggling to make ends meet as he opens his new bed and breakfast, The Douglas House. He has his first booking coming in in a few days and wants everything perfect, so he brings the family in to sample the first menu and to show off his new place. His brothers bring the already reluctant new Vet with them to dinner to meet the rest of the family, Darin and Zack. Darin met the Vet’s young daughter earlier that day and already loved the little girl, but he is surprised but not disappointed when his cat recognizes Mercedes as his mate. Mercedes, on the other hand, is scared witless. She had found out a few hours before that paranormals really existed and she was living among them. Now, this big handsome brute is telling her that she belongs to him and his cat…ah, hell no. Nash Crosby isn’t finished with his ex. They aren’t divorced until Mercedes and that brat of hers are dead….
When Asher Browne, an actor about to hit the heights of stardom, meets Melanie in a New York bookstore, neither are prepared for the torrent of passion their meeting would unleash.
Mel, on finding herself once again single, was looking for solace on that fateful Saturday night - but instead, she found the muse who would eventually awaken her authentic self.
Asher Browne - “six full feet of gorgeous” - sweeps Mel off her feet... but would their passion for one another be enough to sustain their budding love and long-distance romance?
Separated by two cities and an age difference, they have major obstacles to overcome.
In many ways, although a love story at its core, A Certain Synchronicity is about a woman's journey through passion, pain and love to find her own special happily ever after
The fate of Anjelica De Lucia’s kind rests on her survival and freedom. She is the first born daughter to Marco De Lucia. His kingdom is on the cusp of the prophesied war, and the enemy has one main target---her. Her father’s solution brings her worst fear to life---a mating contract. Giovanni Acardi is happy with his life the way it is, and the news that he’s just lost his freedom doesn’t sit well at all with him. He had big plans for his future, and being forced into taking a mate wasn’t one of them. Angel has prophetic visions and has been dreaming of her unnamed Italian Adonis since she hit puberty, so when she opens her eyes and sees him standing there in front of her, she thinks she’s still dreaming. But when she discovers this mystery man is real, she sets out to plot her own future and thwart her father’s plans. Giovanni knows exactly who she is, and when he discovers her deception, he’s mad as hell. And when Marco orders him to stay by her side---day and night---he’s not so sure he can control his wolf….