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The Christmas Curse
by Ruby MooneIt’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries.Eventually Jared confides in the dog, not only secrets about his work as an agent, but also the biggest secret about himself. About his innermost desires and needs, safe in the knowledge his companion will never betray him.But at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Jared discovers things are not quite what they seem ...
The Christmas Jigsaw Murders: The new deliciously dark Christmas cracker from the bestselling author of Murder on the Christmas Express
by Alexandra Benedict***GIVE THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS EARLY. PRE-ORDER THIS DELICIOUSLY DARK CHRISTMAS MYSTERY FOR FANS OF CLEVER, PUZZLING CRIME. THE PERFECT STOCKING FILLER***THIS CHRISTMAS, A KILLER TAKES FAMILY GAMES TO A MURDEROUS NEW LEVEL. On 19th of December, renowned puzzle setter, loner and Christmas sceptic Edie O&’Sullivan finds a hand-delivered present on her doorstep. Unwrapping it, she finds a jigsaw box and, inside, six jigsaw pieces. When fitted together, the pieces show part of a crime scene – blood-spattered black and white tiles and part of an outlined body. Included in the parcel is a message: &‘Four, maybe more, people will be dead by midnight on Christmas Eve, unless you can put all the pieces together and stop me.&’ It&’s signed, Rest In Pieces. Edie contacts her nephew, DI Sean Brand-O&’Sullivan, and together they work to solve the clues. But when a man is found near death with a jigsaw piece in his hand, Sean fears that Edie might be in danger and shuts her out of the investigation. As the body count rises, however, Edie knows that only she has the knowledge to put together the killer&’s murderous puzzle. Only by fitting all the pieces together will Edie be able to stop a killer – and finally lay her past to rest.Praise for Alexandra Benedict&’s Christmas mysteries: 'The perfect gift for quizzers and mystery addicts . . .' Val McDermid &‘Whatever you unwrap for Christmas, you had better hope it&’s this book This is 21st-century cosy Christmas crime that doesn&’t shy away from the darkness&’ Janice Hallett &‘A thrilling journey from start to finish. Highly recommended&’ Elly Griffiths &‘It&’s wonderful! A page-turning homage to the Golden Age, with a dash of Poirot and a dark, modern heart&’ S J Bennett
The Christmas Office Party
by L. J. HamlinJake Holt likes his job working in a call center office, and he also likes getting to see Liam every day. Still, Jake is determined not to act on his crush, even when he discovers Liam is a submissive.However, at the office Christmas party everyone is letting loose, even buttoned up Domminant Jake. Jake tries to resist Liam, but Liam seems to have other ideas, and Jake finds himself having a much better time than he's ever had at an professional get-together.
The Christmas Snoop
by Jean WolfeAfter going on a present hunt while his boyfriend, Matt, is in the office, James finds several things he didn't expect, including photos of Matt in a Christmas jumper, an old teddy bear, and several letters to Santa Claus--one of which states that Matt doesn't need anything for Christmas because he has James. It seems Matt has been a very good boy this year....
The Christmas Swap: A Novel
by Talia SamuelsPerfect for fans of Alison Cochrun and Helena Greer, Talia Samuels&’ debut sapphic romcom is about one woman who fake dates her friend…only to fall for his sister.Margot Murray is a newly single, successful businesswoman with no interest in a cutesy seasonal romance after her breakup with her long-term girlfriend. Ben Gibson is an unlucky-in-love sweetheart in need of a woman to bring home for the holidays. Together, they make a pact: Margot gets two blissful weeks away from London in a picture-perfect manor, and Ben gets a fake girlfriend for his holiday at home with his family.Upon arriving to the manor, Margot meets Ben&’s sister, Ellie, who is suspicious of the supposed relationship right from the start. Ellie intends to get to the bottom of their relationship, not being able to see how the two of them work as a couple. As Ellie and Margot grow closer, will Ben and Margot be able to keep the charade up, or will Margot and Ellie risk the chance at something real?
The Christmas Wager
by Jamie FessendenTo discharge a debt to his friend, Andrew Nash, Lord Thomas Barrington returns to the family estate he fled six years earlier after refusing to marry the woman his father had chosen. To Thomas's dismay, Barrington Hall is no longer the joyful home he remembers from his childhood, and his young niece has no idea what Christmas is. Determined to bring Christmas back to the gloomy estate, Thomas must confront his tyrannical father, salvage a brother lost in his own misery, and attempt to fight off his father's machinations. As the holidays near, Thomas and Andrew begin to realize they are more than merely close friends... and those feelings are not only a threat to their social positions but, in Victorian England, to their lives as well.
The Circuit Fae Series Boxed Set (The Circuit Fae Series)
by Genevieve Iseult EldredgeTwo Faerie princesses. Two warring realms. One forbidden love. The War for Faerie begins!From the fateful train crash that brought warring Faerie princesses Syl and Rouen together in DERAILED to their first meeting as mortal enemies in MORIBUND, their brush with death and Spring Formals in OUROBOROS, to the terrible wonders of the Dark Faerie realm in DETHRONED, follow Syl and Rouen's incredible journey as they kick ass, take names, and fall in love against the odds--all while saving the Faerie realms. “If you are travelling or looking for a fun fast-paced journey, then definitely stop by this series!” – Married to Books“Genevieve Iseult Eldredge did a fabulous job bringing the story to life and making me BELIEVE in it, I can't wait to see where future installment(s) lead!” – Betwixt the Pages“…Rest assured that the combination of Fae mythology infiltrated by dark circuitry and compelling, realistic adolescent drama makes this series deserve at least five stars (on a scale of four)!” – TBW, Goodreads“ Come join Syl and Euphoria on their epic journey through the world of the Moribund and Circuit Fae and watch them as they light up the world together.” – The Avid Reader“I found the writing to be on par with Queen Maas and Elise Kova; I recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read that steps out of the box and makes a name for itself.” – Fairest Skye Books“Cute lesbian couple where one of them plays the violin and is a glam-goth rock star? And the other one is the chosen one for the fair fae to save the world?? Sign me TF up!” – PaperEyed GirlTHE CIRCUIT FAE1. Moribund1.5. Derailed2. Ouroboros 2.5. Dethroned3. Inimical4. Nemesis5. Eidolon (Fall 2020) – the series finale!
The Circus Crown (The Talisman War #3)
by Jaimie N. SchockIn the third installment of the Talisman Wars series, Dakota takes his teenage daughter Kenna on dangerous missions in an attempt to prevent the war from spreading. But an encounter with mutated monstrosities reveals a new and powerful enemy whose plans are as secretive as they are terrifying. When Dakota goes missing, Kenna must step up and locate him at any cost. She relies on new and old friends to help her, but the responsibility to save him falls directly on her shoulders. Frantic, she travels across the country in search of her dad ... and is willing to kill anyone who gets in the way.Can she find him before it's too late?
The Circus Rose
by Betsy CornwellFrom a New York Times best-selling author, a queer retelling of &“Snow White and Rose Red&” in which teenage twins battle evil religious extremists to save their loves and their circus family. YA fantasy perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Mackenzi Lee, and Laini Taylor. Twins Rosie and Ivory have grown up at their ringmaster mother&’s knee, and after years on the road, they&’re returning to Port End, the closest place to home they know. Yet something has changed in the bustling city: fundamentalist flyers paper the walls and preachers fill the squares, warning of shadows falling over the land. The circus prepares a triumphant homecoming show, full of lights and spectacle that could chase away even the darkest shadow. But during Rosie&’s tightrope act, disaster strikes. In this lush, sensuous novel interwoven with themes of social justice and found family, it&’s up to Ivory and her magician love—with the help of a dancing bear—to track down an evil priest and save their circus family before it&’s too late.
The Citadel
by Carly SafkoWill Berkley is young, rich, and very angry after his parents' murderers escape prosecution. He turns to revenge, posing as a hapless yacht owner to attract pirates. He's been searching for a scant six months for the murderous crew that attacked his family when bounty hunter Harold Marx shows up with instructions to bring him home. Marx is handsome--and obviously an accomplished tracker--and once he discovers Will isn't going to give up, he agrees to help. But pirates aren't the only dangers on the high seas. If Will and Marx aren't careful, they'll find themselves face to face with something far more perilous: love.
The City Beautiful
by Aden PolydorosChicago, 1893. For Alter Rosen, this is the land of opportunity, and he dreams of the day he’ll have enough money to bring his mother and sisters to America, freeing them from the oppression they face in his native Romania. <p><p> But when Alter’s best friend, Yakov, becomes the latest victim in a long line of murdered Jewish boys, his dream begins to slip away. While the rest of the city is busy celebrating the World’s Fair, Alter is now living a nightmare: possessed by Yakov’s dybbuk, he is plunged into a world of corruption and deceit, and thrown back into the arms of a dangerous boy from his past. A boy who means more to Alter than anyone knows.<p><p> Now, with only days to spare until the dybbuk takes over Alter’s body completely, the two boys must race to track down the killer—before the killer claims them next. <p><p> Death lurks around every corner in this unforgettable Jewish historical fantasy about a city, a boy, and the shadows of the past that bind them both together.
The City Is Up for Grabs: How Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Led and Lost a City in Crisis
by Gregory Royal Pratt"Gregory Pratt had a rare front-row seat to the passions, problems, peculiarities, hopes, disappointments, shenanigans, and pettiness in the drama and farce that was Lori Lightfoot's uneasy tenure on the fifth floor at City Hall. What he delivers on these pages takes us backstage to give us a powerful, incisive portrait of the woman, the details of her mayoralty, and the many players who shared the stage." —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune reporter and author of A Chicago Tavern Chicago is a world-class city, but it is also a city in crisis. Crime is up, schools have repeatedly shut down due to conflict between City Hall and the powerful teachers' union, and COVID-19 only deepened the entrenched poverty, institutional racism, and endless tug of war between the city's haves and have nots. For four years, the person at the center of this storm was Lori Lightfoot. A groundbreaking figure—the first Black, gay woman to be elected mayor of a major city and only the second female mayor of Chicago—she knew the city was at a critical turning point when she took office in 2019. But the once-in-a-lifetime challenges she ended up facing were beyond anything she or anyone else saw coming. Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Royal Pratt offers the first comprehensive behind-the-scenes look at the tumultuous single term of Mayor Lightfoot and the chaos that roiled the city and City Hall as she fought to live up to her promises to change the city's culture of corruption and villainy, reform its long-troubled police department, and make Chicago the safest big city in America. Some of Chicago's problems can be explained by forces greater than the mayor: national polarization, long-standing cultural and racial tensions, our plague years. But some are the result of Lightfoot's poor leadership at City Hall, a story that hasn't been told in full—until now.
The City PI and the Country Cop
by Edward KendrickA murder in a small Colorado town closely resembles unsolved crimes committed by a serial killer almost thirty years ago. Private investigator Teague Donovan learns of the recent murder and is instantly drawn to the case, because one of the victims in the past was his best friend, and he is determined to bring the killer to justice.Hoyt Newman, the detective in charge of the most recent case, is none too happy with Teague's interfering. At least not until a second homeless boy is tortured and killed. As the two men work together, they begin to develop an interest in each other -- one that seems fated not to come to fruition since Teague is city, through and through, and Hoyt is definitely country to the core.
The City and the Pillar
by Gore VidalA literary cause célèbre when first published more than fifty years ago, Gore Vidal's now-classic The City and the Pillar stands as a landmark novel of the gay experience. Jim, a handsome, all-American athlete, has always been shy around girls. But when he and his best friend, Bob, partake in awful kid stuff, the experience forms Jim's ideal of spiritual completion. Defying his parents' expectations, Jim strikes out on his own, hoping to find Bob and rekindle their amorous friendship. Along the way he struggles with what he feels is his unique bond with Bob and with his persistent attraction to other men. Upon finally encountering Bob years later, the force of his hopes for a life together leads to a devastating climax. The first novel of its kind to appear on the American literary landscape, The City and the Pillar remains a forthright and uncompromising portrayal of sexual relationships between men.
The City and the Pillar: A Novel (Vintage International)
by Gore VidalA literary cause célèbre when first published more than fifty years ago, Gore Vidal’s now-classic The City and the Pillar stands as a landmark novel of the gay experience.Jim, a handsome, all-American athlete, has always been shy around girls. But when he and his best friend, Bob, partake in “awful kid stuff,” the experience forms Jim’s ideal of spiritual completion. Defying his parents’ expectations, Jim strikes out on his own, hoping to find Bob and rekindle their amorous friendship. Along the way he struggles with what he feels is his unique bond with Bob and with his persistent attraction to other men. Upon finally encountering Bob years later, the force of his hopes for a life together leads to a devastating climax. The first novel of its kind to appear on the American literary landscape, The City and the Pillar remains a forthright and uncompromising portrayal of sexual relationships between men.
The City of Devi: A Novel
by Manil SuriFrom the author of The Death of Vishnu, "a big, pyrotechnic…ambitious…ingenious" (Wall Street Journal) novel. Mumbai has emptied under the threat of imminent nuclear annihilation; gangs of marauding Hindu and Muslim thugs rove the desolate streets; yet Sarita can think of only one thing: buying the last pomegranate that remains in perhaps the entire city. She is convinced that the fruit holds the key to reuniting her with her physicist husband, Karun, who has been mysteriously missing for more than a fortnight. Searching for his own lover in the midst of this turmoil is Jaz—cocky, handsome, and glib. "The Jazter," as he calls himself, is Muslim, but his true religion has steadfastly been sex with men. Dodging danger at every step, both he and Sarita are inexorably drawn to Devi ma, the patron goddess who has reputedly appeared in person to save her city. What they find will alter their lives more fundamentally than any apocalypse to come.A wickedly comedic and fearlessly provocative portrayal of individuals balancing on the sharp edge of fate, The City of Devi brilliantly upends assumptions of politics, religion, and sex, and offers a terrifying yet exuberant glimpse of the end of the world.
The City of Rocks (BJ Vinson Mystery #3)
by Don TravisA BJ Vinson MysteryConfidential investigator B. J. Vinson thinks it’s a bad joke when Del Dahlman asks him to look into the theft of a duck… a duck named Quacky Quack the Second and insured for $250,000. It ceases to be funny when the young thief dies in a suspicious truck wreck. The search leads BJ and his lover, Paul Barton, to the sprawling Lazy M Ranch in the Bootheel country of southwestern New Mexico bordering the Mexican state of Chihuahua. A deadly game unfolds when BJ and Paul are trapped in a weird rock formation known as the City of Rocks, an eerie array of frozen magma that is somehow at the center of the entire scheme. But does the theft of Quacky involve a quarter-million-dollar duck-racing bet between the ranch’s owner and a Miami real estate developer, or someone attempting to force the sale of the Lazy M because of its proximity to an unfenced portion of the Mexican border? BJ and Paul go from the City of Rocks to the neon lights of Miami and back again in pursuit of the answer… death and danger tracking their every step.
The Civil War of Amos Abernathy
by Michael LealiA heartfelt debut novel about a boy’s attempt to find himself in the history he loves—perfect for fans of Dear Sweet Pea and From the Desk of Zoe Washington.Amos Abernathy lives for history. Literally. He’s been a historical reenactor nearly all his life. But when a cute new volunteer arrives at his Living History Park, Amos finds himself wondering if there’s something missing from history: someone like the two of them.Amos is sure there must have been LGBTQ+ people in nineteenth-century Illinois. His search turns up Albert D. J. Cashier, a Civil War soldier who might have identified as a trans man if he’d lived today. Soon Amos starts confiding in his newfound friend by writing letters in his journal—and hatches a plan to share Albert’s story with his divided twenty-first century town. It may be an uphill battle, but it’s one that Amos is ready to fight.Told in an earnest, hilarious voice, this love letter to history, first crushes, and LGBTQ+ community will delight readers of Ashley Herring Blake, Alex Gino, or Maulik Pancholy.
The Claiming (Touch of Wildness #1)
by Toni L. MeilleurSam and Billie Ferox were raised by their grandmother with tales of preternatural beings that go bump in the night. But as the sisters grow into adulthood, they began to doubt any validity to the stories. Sam has repressed her dreams of a supernatural lover who comes to claim her, that is until he manifests into the sexiest midnight tryst she’s ever had. Was he real? Or the product of a wild imagination?When Sam doesn’t come back from a wild animal photo shoot, Billie goes looking for her. She runs into the most beautiful female warrior who fights for the right to mate with her. Billie can clearly see the woman is more than she appears to be…and she brings out in Billie a desire she never knew she possessed.
The Clown and the Magician
by Rebecca Lynne FullanDid you hear the one about the clown and the magician? Bernard Stevens, a dedicated clown, accepts a job at Send in the Clowns entertainment agency and learns that their corporate policy is anything but funny. In spite of the stultifying conformity the agency imposes, Bernard and magician Jake Morrison start a relationship as vibrant and unique as the men themselves. But Jake believes in more than nonconformity--he believes in change, and when he tries to change Bernard's relationship with his father for the better, Bernard is not amused. Bernard thinks he's too old to change, but if he doesn't let Jake work his magic on Bernard's family life, he'll find that clowning around alone is no laughing matter.
The Coffee Morning Club
by J. BeauclercThe Coffee Morning Club by J. Beauclerc is a contemporary romance about keeping the romance alive. When Carole needs to put the sizzle back in her sex life, she finds inspiration in writing sexy, adult fairy tales. Join the fun and discover ways to avoid a boring sex life.After thirteen years of marriage Carole found her sex life with Matt was boring. So she started writing sexy bedtime stories for adults. But was it too late for Carole and Matt?Go on the journey with Carole and her Coffee Morning Club as they put the sizzle into sex.Content Notes: Hot, GLBT, Short FF Scene, Contemporary, Adult Fairy Tales
The Coil
by L. A. GilbertSandwich-maker Mattie Green has one goal: escape San Diego, move to New York, and attend art school. But to make this a reality, he needs to get his GED--not easy, since he can't read or write. Until he can, he's stuck working at the diner and selling himself on the side. Mattie's legitimate job isn't without perks. Every day the quiet, sophisticated Simon Castle comes by to work on his latest book. Mattie wants more than to pour Simon's coffee and make his lunch, but he's sure Simon is out of his league--until suddenly he's not. Simon Castle's life is complicated, built around his career and a son who requires a lot of time and attention. It's not a life well-suited to the inclusion of even a part-time prostitute, so he resolves to keep his relationship with Mattie casual. However, the longer he knows Mattie, the deeper his feelings become. The idea of him with another man tortures Simon, but he can't ask Mattie to be his alone and jeopardize Mattie's hopes for New York--no matter how much he wants Mattie to stay.
The Cold Commands (A\land Fit For Heroes Ser. #2)
by Richard K. MorganWith The Steel Remains, award-winning science fiction writer Richard K. Morgan turned his talents to sword and sorcery. The result: a genre-busting masterwork hailed as a milestone in contemporary epic fantasy. Now Morgan continues the riveting saga of Ringil Eskiath--Gil, for short--a peerless warrior whose love for other men has made him an outcast and pariah. Only a select few have earned the right to call Gil friend. One is Egar, the Dragonbane, a fierce Majak fighter who comes to respect a heart as savage and loyal as his own. Another is Archeth, the last remaining daughter of an otherworldly race called the Kiriath, who once used their advanced technology to save the world from the dark magic of the Aldrain--only to depart for reasons as mysterious as their arrival. Yet even Egar and Archeth have learned to fear the doom that clings to their friend like a grim shadow . . . or the curse of a bitter god.Now one of the Kiriath's uncanny machine intelligences has fallen from orbit--with a message that humanity faces a grave new danger (or, rather, an ancient one): a creature called the Illwrack Changeling, a boy raised to manhood in the ghostly between-world realm of the Grey Places, home to the Aldrain. A human raised as one of them--and, some say, the lover of one of their greatest warriors--until, in a time lost to legend, he was vanquished. Wrapped in sorcerous slumber, hidden away on an island that drifts between this world and the Grey Places, the Illwrack Changeling is stirring. And when he wakes, the Aldrain will rally to him and return in force--this time without the Kiriath to stop them.An expedition is outfitted for the long and arduous sea journey to find the lost island of the Illwrack Changeling. Aboard are Gil, Egar, and Archeth: each fleeing from ghosts of the past, each seeking redemption in whatever lies ahead. But redemption doesn't come cheap these days. Nor, for that matter, does survival. Not even for Ringil Eskiath. Or anyone--god or mortal--who would seek to use him as a pawn.From the Hardcover edition.
The Coldest Touch
by Isabel Sterling&“Vampires going to high school, but make it queer. Sterling delivers a fresh, thoughtful take on beloved paranormal tropes with a delightfully bloody romance.&” —Mara Fitzgerald, author of Beyond the Ruby Veil From the author of These Witches Don't Burn comes another paranormal romance for fans of Richelle Mead and Stephenie Meyer.Elise Beaumont is cursed. With every touch, she experiences exactly how her loved ones will die. And after her brother's death—a death she predicted but was unable to prevent—Elise is desperate to get rid of her terrible gift, no matter the cost. Claire Montgomery also has a unique relationship with death, mostly because she&’s already dead. Technically, anyway. Claire is a vampire, and she's been assigned by the Veil to help Elise master her rare Death Oracle powers.At first, Elise is reluctant to work with a vampire, but when she predicts a teacher&’s imminent murder, she's determined to stop the violent death, even if it means sacrificing her own future to secure Claire's help.The trouble is, Claire and Elise aren't the only paranormals in town—a killer is stalking the streets, and Claire can't seem to shake the pull she feels toward Elise, a romance that could upend the Veil&’s mission. But as Elise and Claire grow closer, Elise begins to wonder—can she really trust someone tasked with securing her loyalty? Someone who could so easily kill her? Someone who might hold the key to unraveling her brother's mysterious death?
The Coldest War: Bitter Seeds, The Coldest War, Necessary Evil (The Milkweek Triptych #2)
by Ian TregillisIn Ian Tregillis' The Coldest War, a precarious balance of power maintains the peace between Britain and the USSR. For decades, Britain's warlocks have been all that stands between the British Empire and the Soviet Union—a vast domain stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the shores of the English Channel. Now each wizard's death is another blow to Britain's national security. Meanwhile, a brother and sister escape from a top-secret facility deep behind the Iron Curtain. Once subjects of a twisted Nazi experiment to imbue ordinary people with superhuman abilities, then prisoners of war in the immense Soviet research effort to reverse-engineer the Nazi technology, they head for England. Because that's where former spy Raybould Marsh lives. And Gretel, the mad seer, has plans for him. As Marsh is once again drawn into the world of Milkweed, he discovers that Britain's darkest acts didn't end with the war. And while he strives to protect queen and country, he is forced to confront his own willingness to accept victory at any cost.