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A Cosmology of Monsters: A Novel
by Shaun Hamill"If John Irving ever wrote a horror novel, it would be something like this. I loved it.&” —Stephen KingNoah Turner sees monsters.His father saw them—and built a shrine to them with The Wandering Dark, an immersive horror experience that the whole family operates.His practical mother has caught glimpses of terrors but refuses to believe—too focused on keeping the family from falling apart.And his eldest sister, the dramatic and vulnerable Sydney, won't admit to seeing anything but the beckoning glow of the spotlight . . . until it swallows her up.Noah Turner sees monsters. But, unlike his family, Noah chooses to let them in . . .
The Cosmology of the Wider World
by Jeffrey Ford Jeff VandermeerA modern fable based on the labyrinths created by us all Belius has led a peaceful if not uneventful existence until now, as far as minotaurs' lives go. He mostly keeps to his house, avoiding anyone outside of his family. Despite his human parents' efforts to shield him from the potential hysteria of the townspeople, Belius hears about something beyond his home's walls, even beyond the town itself--something called the Wider World. He decides to explore this strange place where the possibilities far outnumber those of the mundane real world. Here, Belius has a chance to be the minotaur he has always wanted to be. He is joined by Vashti the owl and Pezimote the tortoise, creatures that provide the philosophical guidance he will need if he is to complete his physical and metaphysical journey. From World Fantasy Award winner Jeffrey Ford, The Cosmology of the Wider World is about the hopes, dreams, and visions we create for ourselves. This ebook includes an introduction by Jeff VanderMeer.
Cosmonaut Keep: Engines of Light: Book One (Engines of Light #1)
by Ken MacLeod'"Cosmonaut Keep" is a portal to a deeply imagined future history that parlays X-Files paranoia about Area 51 and alien Greys into a vast interstellar community watched over by microcosmic gods.' - Paul McAuley, INTERZONE'Science fiction's freshest new writer' - SalonAfter the Ural Caspian Oil War, nobody really trusted the EU government. So why should their extraordinary announcement of first contact with alien intelligence be believed? Matt Cairns thinks he can discover the truth. It is out there, but much, much further away than he could have imagined. Thousands of light-years from Earth, a human colony is struggling for survival. The world on which they have settled, however, has already been inhabited by humans - and other intelligent species from Earth - for millennia. In that ancient division of labour, humans do have a place. But where is it? Twenty-first-century political intrigue becomes space opera on an epic scale in Ken MacLeod's first book in a dazzling new series. His most ambitious novel to date, it will take one of Britain's most exciting new science fiction authors to even greater heights of success and critical acclaim.Books by Ken MacLeod:Fall RevolutionThe Star FractionThe Stone CanalThe Cassini DivisionThe Sky RoadEngines of LightCosmonaut KeepDark LightEngine CityCorporation Wars TrilogyDissidenceInsurgenceEmergenceNovelsThe Human FrontNewton's WakeLearning the WorldThe Execution ChannelThe Restoration GameIntrusionDescent
Cosmonaut Keep: The Opening Novel In An Astonishing New Future History (The Engines of Light #1)
by Ken MacLeodRanging from a gritty near-future Earth to a distant alien world, Ken MacLeod's Cosmonaut Keep is contemporary science fiction at its highest level.A visionary epic filled with daring individuals seeking a place for themselves in a vast, complex, and enigmatic universe. Matt Cairns is a 21st-century outlaw Programmer who takes on the shady jobs no one else will touch. Against his better judgment, he accepts an assignment to crack the Marshall Titov, a top-secret orbital station operated by the European Space Agency. But what Matt will discover there will propel him on an extraordinary and quite unexpected journey.Gregor Cairns is an exobiology student and descendant of one of Terra Nova's first families. Hopelessly infatuated with a lovely young trader's daughter, he is unaware that his research partner, Elizabeth, has fallen in love with him. Together, Gregor and Elizabeth confront the great work his family began three centuries earlier-to rediscover the secret of interstellar travel.Cosmonaut Keep is a 2002 Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Cosmonaut Keep
by Ken MacleodMatt Cairns is a 21st-century outlaw programmer , | the shady jobs no one else will touch. Against his better judgment, he accepts an assignment to crack the Marshall Titov, a top-seer orbital station operated by the European Space Agency. But wh Matt will discover there will propel him on an extraordinary and quite unexpected journey. Gregor Cairns is an exobiology student and descendant of one of the Terra Nova's first families. Hopelessly infatuated with a lovely young trader's daughter, he is unaware that his research partner Elizabeth, has fallen in love with him. Together, Gregor an Hzabeth confront the great work his family began, to rediscover the secret of interstellar travel.
Cosmophobia
by George SaoulidisWer beobachtet die Sterne, jede Sekunde eines jeden Tages, damit wir das Universum besser verstehen können? Diese Kurzgeschichte gewann den 2. Platz in der Kategorie Science-Fiction im Athener Fantasticon 2016 Wettbewerb. Inspiriert durch das James-Webb-Weltraumteleskop, das 2020 gestartet und eingesetzt werden soll. Es wird hoffentlich so unschätzbar wertvoll sein wie das Hubble und den Kosmos für unsere Augen sichtbar machen.
The Cosmoriolis Factor
by Sean C EvansNineteen-year-old outcast, Raymond Sharpe, discovers that he is part of a near-extinct species of humans possessing superhuman attributes called Hybrids. When the first manifestation of his powers goes awry and his entire family is wiped out, he is forced to live in solitude. But upon meeting naïve dimwit, Jackson Theodore, another Hybrid in a similar situation, he and his new somewhat-friend make the decision to become vigilantes - to use their powers for the good of others in an effort to rectify their wrongs. But when an enemy with ties to Ray's family threatens their home city of Ipswich with destruction, they - along with reporter Deborah Stokes - have to truly discover the importance of their roles as protectors to become something else: heroes.
Cosmos Incorporated
by Maurice G DantecThe first major English translation of one of France's most admired writers, Cosmos Incorporated is a triumph of science fiction-a masterwork of cataclysm, mysticism, and suspense.Fifty years of warfare, disease, and strife have decimated the world's population. Those who remain are motes in the mind of UniWorld, a superstate that monitors humanity via a vast computer metastructure that catalog everything about everyone on the planet-race, religion, genetic codes, even fantasies. Those who have the means escape UniWorld's tight control through the Orbital Ring. Though his memory has been wiped clean and his history fabricated in order to pass through UniWorld's check points, Sergei Diego Plotkin knows his name.And he knows his mission: to murder a man in the city of Grand Junction, a Vegas-like outpost that is home to the private launching pad to the Ring. But this sense of purpose is compromised by random memories that flash through Plotkin's brain. England and Argentina. The shores of Lake Baikal. And something else. Something indescribable.Now Plotkin is about to meet his maker. As his identity and mission incrementally resurface in his conscious mind, and in the presence of an eerily beautiful woman, Plotkin will soon discover that he has come here not just to kill but to be born. . . ."Like Houellebecq, Dantec takes inspiration from both high and low culture; he is the sort of writer who cites Sun Tzu's Art of War and the Stooges' Search and Destroy with equal facility."-The New York Times"DNA is to Dantec what the swan was to romantic poetry: an invitation to dream. . . . This rocker-writer teleports us into the cyberpunk beyonds of literature. Fasten your seatbelts!"-Le Nouvel ObservateurFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
El Cosmos Largo (La Tierra Larga #Volumen 5)
by Terry Pratchett Stephen BaxterEl Cosmos Largo es la emocionante y esperanzadora conclusión de la serie «La Tierra Larga», escrita a cuatro manos por dos de las voces más brillantes de la ficción especulativa, que ya lleva vendidos más de un millón de ejemplares en todo el mundo. Año 2070. Casi seis décadas después de su fundación, la comunidad posthumana establecida en la Tierra Larga sigue evolucionando. Con los sesenta ya cumplidos, Joshua Valienté se prepara para emprender la última aventura en solitario, que está a punto de acabar en desastre. Mientras Joshua se enfrenta a lo que parece una muerte segura, la radio capta una señal procedente de las estrellas. Una señal que transmite un mensaje muy simple, pero cuyas consecuencias se desconocen: UNÍOS A NOSOTROS. La esperanza no está perdida. Mientras Joshua se adapta a la vida entre los trolls, y aprende a no dar nunca nada por supuesto, la Tierra Larga se prepara para construir una inteligencia artificial sin precedentes conocida como La Máquina, un mecanismo que revelará el objetivo final de los emisores del mensaje y cuyo impacto afectará a todos aquellos que habitan los mundos de la Tierra Larga. Reseñas:«Apasionante y estimulante en la misma medida.»Daily Mail «Si has seguido la serie desde el principio, este último capítulo te hará llorar.»Guardian «Una de las delicias inesperadas del último Pratchett... Una novela que parece una carta de amor a la ciencia ficción en sí misma.»SFX Magazine «La serie de "La Tierra Larga" merece un lugar en las estanterías de los fans de la ciencia ficción y de los lectores de todo tipo.»Independent on Sunday «Ciencia ficción accesible, entretenida y reflexiva.»Independent
Cosmos Rómgednar (Anécdotas y relatos): Libro 1: Historias del reino de Güíldnah
by Carlos Alberto Salas JiménezSe acerca una fecha especial para el reino del Norte y los manjares y la música lo inundarán Pero no solo esto, además, habrá una sorpresa especial. Demasiado especial. <P><P>Philippe, el bufón de la corte, tiene que entretener a los invitados, pero no mediante los malabarismos o acrobacias típicos de los bufones Solo dispone de tres días para sorprender, para crear algo mágico. Ello le lleva a visitar a un amigo suyo, pues necesitara bastante ayuda Es un alivio que su amigo viva cerca de la ciudad y del castillo. <P><P>Tiempo después, ya acompañado por su mejor amigo, junto con otros conocidos que el lector irá conociendo, se ve envuelto en situaciones maravillosas, verdaderas hazañas, que podrían pasar a convertirse en leyendas <P><P>Pero Sobre ellos se cierne una sombra: han llegado amenazas de otras tierras, que poseen un hambre homicida y ansias de conquistar y expandir sus territorios. <P>¿Qué pasará?
Cosplay: The Builders, Fans, and Makers Who Bring Your Favorite Stories to Life
by Andrew LiptakA history of the colorful and complex kingdom of cosplay and fandom fashion by Andrew Liptak, journalist, historian, and member of the legendary fan-based Star Wars organization the 501st Legion.In recent years, cosplay—the practice of dressing up in costume as a character—has exploded, becoming a mainstream cultural phenomenon. But what are the circumstances that made its rise possible? Andrew Liptak—a member of the legendary 501st Legion, an international fan-based organization dedicated to the dark side of Star Wars—delves into the origins and culture of cosplay to answer this question. Cosplay: A History looks at the practice&’s ever-growing fandom and conventions, its roots in 15th-century costuming, the relationship between franchises and the cosplayers they inspire, and the technology that brings even the most intricate details in these costumes to life. Cosplay veterans and newcomers alike will find much to relish in this rich and comprehensive history.
Cosplay the Marvel Way: A Guide to Costuming Culture and Crafting Basics
by Judith StephensThe cosplay producer and co-creator of the Women Of Marvel podcast weaves together the history of Marvel cosplay with practical tips, advice, and instructions on how-to create your own cosplays based on popular Marvel heroes Black Panther, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Ironheart, Phoenix, and Loki. An officially licensed guide to learning about and creating Marvel cosplays, Cosplay the Marvel Way walks readers through every step of the creative process—from choosing a character, gathering your materials and tools, building your cosplay using items in your closet or from the thrift store, and showing off their new look at a convention or photoshoot. Whether you are just starting out or have a whole closet jam-packed with amazing cosplays, this book is perfect for anyone Marvel fans that are interested in or love dressing up as their favorite super heroes. Cosplay the Marvel Way is a reminder that cosplay is more than making and putting on a costume–it&’s about community, about finding who you are, and expressing it through the intersection of comics and fashion.
Costumed Kiss
by Francis GideonJoshua dreads looking for a Halloween costume with his best friend TJ, but he knows he has to get one to go to his current, sort-of boyfriend Will’s Halloween party. TJ suggests a local thrift store but bails to meet a date and leaves Joshua on his own. Though unimpressed with his friend and the selection at the store, Joshua finds something about the atmosphere and the tacky sweaters charming.Then he catches the dark eyes of a handsome stranger across the store and isn’t sure how to feel. When the man wearing a devil costume introduces himself as Matchitehew -- the one with an evil heart -- Joshua wonders if this supernatural occurrence is the real deal. Can an encounter with someone completely out of this world give him the confidence to attend Will’s party? Can he learn to enjoy the Halloween season, in all forms, for at least a night?
The Cottage Around the Corner: A Novel
by D. L. SoriaA feisty witch and a handsome mage must put their heated business rivalry aside to save their small town from supernatural forces in this charming contemporary fantasy romcom from the author of Thief Liar Lady.&“Delightful and sweet . . . the magic and the romance both sizzle on the page.&”—Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, author of Witch of Wild Things&“Soria&’s newest book will wrap readers into a cozy world that they won&’t want to leave.&”—Library Journal (starred review)Chanterelle Cottage is Charlie Sparrow&’s whole world. The cozy spellshop where she and her moms practice their witchcraft, selling goods and services to the people of small-town Owl&’s Hollow, has been in her family for generations. Okay, business has been a little slow and a recent burglary hit their inventory pretty hard. And the bank may not agree to restructure their loan. But Charlie is talented and savvy, and she&’ll keep things afloat once her parents finally let her buy into the business as a co-owner. Still, when a competing magecraft firm opens in town, things start to look bleak. After all, everyone knows there&’s room for only one magic shop in Owl&’s Hollow. So what if Fitz, the mage who owns the new Maven Enterprises, happens to be ridiculously handsome in his ridiculously expensive suits? Who cares that, when Charlie can forget for a moment or two that Fitz is her competitor, things between them are as easy as breathing? None of that matters—because Charlie is not going to get involved with the competition. In this battle of the businesses, she&’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Chanterelle Cottage is the last spellshop standing. But when strange supernatural events begin to plague the citizens of Owl&’s Hollow, Charlie and Fitz must put their rivalry aside and their magic together to save the town. As they grow closer, it becomes harder for Charlie to keep her carefully drawn line in place—maybe Owl&’s Hollow is big enough for a witch and a mage, after all.
Cottage by the Sea
by Ciji WareA remote cottage on the wild coast of Cornwall sounded to Blythe Barton Stowe like the perfect escape from the pain and humiliation of recent events in her Hollywood life. But soon she seems to be reliving a centuries-old tragedy, and the handsome owner of the shabby manor house on the hill appears vitally entwined in her destiny. As they unearth one shocking family secret after another, Blythe is forced to conclude that her intriguing neighbor is more than just an impecunious British gentleman bent on saving his ancestral home. And the impeccably honorable Lucas Teague begins to see Blythe as a lifeline in an otherwise bleak existence. But is the unbridled attraction they're experiencing a dangerous distraction, or could it be strong enough to transcend the insurmountable complexities of time and place...?
Cottonwood Creek (Home on the Ranch #10)
by Margot DaltonHOME ON THE RANCHHe's in her bad books.Someone's been skimming profits from Clay Alderson's ranching operation, and now the government has sent an auditor to check the books. The very attractive Ms. J. C. McKenna is all business. She's prepared to stay at his ranch for as long as the job takes, although it's becoming increasingly difficult to ignore her attraction to him-an attraction he seems to feel, too. But she's determined to keep their relationship professional.Unfortunately, her professional opinion of Clay is that he's the prime suspect.
Couch
by Benjamin Parzybok"Couch hits on an improbable, even fantastic premise, and then rigorously hews to the logic that it generates, keeping it afloat (at times literally) to the end."--Los Angeles Times"Delightfully lighthearted writing. . . . Occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, the enthusiastic prose carries readers through sporadic dark moments . . . Parzybok's quirky humor recalls the flaws and successes of early Douglas Adams."--Publishers Weekly"The book succeeds as a conceptual art piece, a literary travelogue, and a fantastical quest."--Willamette Week"Hundreds of writers have slavishly imitated--or outright ripped off--Tolkien in ways that connoisseurs of other genres would consider shameless. What Parzybok has done here in adapting the same old song to a world more familiar to the reader is to revive the genre and make it relevant again"--The StrangerA Spring Summer Indie Next Reading List Pick: Top 10 Reading Group Suggestions"Couch follows the quirky journey of Thom, Erik, and Tree as they venture into the unknown at the behest of a magical, orange couch, which has its own plan for their previously boring lives. Parzybok's colorful characters, striking humor, and eccentric magical realism offer up an adventuresome read."--Christian Crider, Inkwood Books, Tampa, FLA January 2009 Indie Next List Pick"This funny novel of furniture moving gone awry is a magical realism quest for modern times. Parzybok's touching story explores the aimlessness of our culture, a society of jobs instead of callings, replete with opportunities and choices but without the philosophies and vocations we need to make meaningful decisions."--Josh Cook, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA"A lot of people are looking for magic in the world today, but only Benjamin Parzybok thought to check the sofa, which is, I think, the place it's most likely to be found. Couch is a slacker epic: a gentle, funny book that ambles merrily from Coupland to Tolkien, and gives couch-surfing (among other things) a whole new meaning."--Paul La Farge"One of the strangest road novels you'll ever read. It's a funny and fun book, and it's also a very smart book. Fans of Tom Robbins or Christopher Moore should enjoy this."--Handee Books"It is an upholstered Odyssey unlike any other you are likely to read. It is funny, confusing in places, wild and anarchic. It is part Quixote, part Murakami, part Tom Robbins, part DFS showroom. It has cult hit written all over it."--Scott, Me and My Big MouthBenjamin Parzybok on tour: http://booktour.com/author/benjamin_parzybokIn this exuberant and hilarious debut reminiscent of The Life of Pi and Then We Came to the End, an episode of furniture moving gone awry becomes an impromptu quest of self-discovery, secret histories, and unexpected revelations.Thom is a computer geek whose hacking of a certain Washington-based software giant has won him a little fame but few job prospects. Erik is a smalltime con man, a fast-talker who is never quite quick enough on his feet. Their roommate, Tree, is a confused clairvoyant whose dreams and prophecies may not be completely off base. After a freak accident fl oods their apartment, the three are evicted--but they have to take their couch with them. The real problem? The couch--huge and orange--won't let them put it down. Soon the three roommates are on a cross-country trek along back roads, byways, and rail lines, heading far out of Portland and deep into one very weird corner of the American dream.Benjamin Parzybok is the creator of Gumball Poetry, a journal published through gumball machines, and the Black Magic Insurance Agency, a city-wide mystery/treasure hunt. He has worked as a congressional page, a ghostwriter for the governor of Washington, a web developer, a Taiwanese factory technical writer, an asbestos removal janitor, and a potato sorter. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with the writer Laura Moulton and their two children.
Cougar Bait (Cougarville #2)
by Evangeline AndersonSamantha Becker is a busy and talented trauma surgeon with no time for nonsense. Her sister may have a special Shifter Gene, but Sammie is fairly certain she doesn’t have it, and she’s happy with her life the way it is. She doesn’t need the complicated Shifter lifestyle, and she certainly doesn’t need Liam Keller: Alpha cougar, Mayor of Cougarville and undercover billionaire. She hates him, but Liam is unable to get the curvy surgeon out of his head. But the Shifter world isn’t ready to let Sammie go. She’s being stalked by someone who’s desperate for Shifter hormones, and Liam takes it upon himself to protect Sammie from harm. Things begin heating up between Sammie and Liam, but will they have to succumb to their inner animals in order to save Sammie’s life? Cougar Bait is fun, sexy and will take readers on an emotional thrill ride.
Cougar Heat
by Marisa CheneryPreviously Published Ellora’s Cave (2013) After four years of banishment from his cougar shifter family group, Taylor finds himself called home to take his rightful place. On the trip to Anchorage, he runs into some unexpected trouble with long legs and a body to die for. Suddenly, the long drive doesn’t seem so bad.Abandoned at a truck stop diner by her now ex-friend, Aspen seeks the help of an unwitting hottie when a trucker makes unwanted advances. Good thing the hunk is willing to act as her boyfriend, and to plant a panty-melting kiss on her lips to drive the point home. As things heat up between them, she’s determined to see how far they can take the attraction.Having taken on the responsibility of heir apparent, Taylor settles into his family group. Though dating a human is frowned upon, Taylor refuses to lose Aspen. The pleasure he finds in her arms isn’t something he’s willing to turn his back on.
The Cougar's Bargain
by Holley TrentHannah Welch doomed were-cougar Sean Foye to spend the rest of his life in his animal form when she refused to accept him as a mate. But an attack at the Foyes' New Mexico ranch ended with Hannah becoming a cougar, too. She strikes a bargain with the goddess who cursed him: Sean will be freed from his furry affliction if Hannah can find him a more suitable mate.Then the two are paired on a mission to root out a group of troublemakers, and as they work together, their icy feelings end up thawing quickly. Soon, Hannah's not so sure she should give Sean up. He's the only man who's ever made her feel comfortable in her own skin--and her own fur, too. Can she prove to Sean that destiny deserves a second chance?Sensuality Level: Sensual
Cougar's Conquest
by Linda O. JohnstonGwynn Macka hasn't seen Brett Sorrellson in over a year, not since their relationship had ended so abruptly. Not since the brilliant, sexy man she fell for learned her secret and she'd been forced to flee.Now Brett is back with an offer to join a covert military unit of shapeshifters, and the spark of their attraction is instantly reignited. Neither can resist sharing one last night of passion, but as a cougar shifter, Gwynn had been taught only to trust her own kind. Can she truly trust Brett with her secret...and with her heart?
A Cougar's Desire
by Marisa CheneryOn the hunt for the man who’d tried to kill his uncle, cougar shifter Jase runs into a little spitfire who throws him for a loop. She doesn’t fall at his feet. As his prey escapes, he realizes Katarina is a different sort of prey he refuses to lose sight of.Katarina is a loser magnet. Having resigned herself to never finding Mr. Right, she reluctantly agrees to go out with Jase. He’s sexy as all get-out and just the sort to hit it and run. But this man with the smoldering eyes and made-for-sin body passes all her tests, and she finds herself letting him in.As one night of passion leads to so much more, Jase’s prey comes back to claim what he left behind, and Katarina finds herself stuck in the middle.
The Cougar's Pawn
by Holley TrentEllery Colvard escapes her perfectly organized life for a camping trip with her friends, hoping for a tiny thrill. She'll settle for a distraction, but instead she gets swept off her feet. Literally.Alpha were-cougar Mason Foye needs a mate, even if he has to resort to drastic measures to get one. But when he and his brothers sweep up Ellery and her friends, the last thing he expects is a woman with a nasty bite of her own. Not only does Ellery know all about shifters, she's got magic. In fact, the little witch is a bit scary. What's more, Ellery isn't convinced fated mates exist.If Mason can't persuade Ellery that they're destined for a life of excitement together, he's doomed to spend the rest of his days in his cougar form - without his son, his family, or the woman he's already fallen for head over heels.Sensuality Level: Sensual
The Cougar's Trade
by Holley TrentAfter a month as a "guest" of the Foye gang, quiet nurse Miles Bennett is itching to be able to leave their isolated ranch. But were-cougar second-in-command Hank Foye wants to take her as his mate. If she doesn't agree to accept him, he'll be cursed to spend the rest of his life on four paws. With no family waiting for her back home, Miles decides to stick around - Hank is cute, and staying in town means she'll get to stay with her friends.Hank expected to be paired with Miles's brash friend Hannah, not meek and mundane Miles. But his goddess says this is his one and only chance for a mate, even if Miles is a liability in a world where shifters fight to lead and roam. Now he not only has to attend to Cougar affairs but play bodyguard, too.Surprisingly, the sweet young woman brings his long-repressed passions roaring to life. She deserves to be loved unconditionally, but he sees her as the embodiment of everything he can't have. Can he get his house in order to lead a group of restless Cougars and earn his mate's trust?Sensuality Level: Sensual
The Cougar's Wish
by Holley TrentA desperate entity trapped on the other side of an active hellmouth pleads for were-cougar Belle Foye's help, and she can't stop herself from running toward it, even though it means putting her own life in danger. As if that weren't bad enough, Belle is currently in heat, which means her body is acting in all sorts of ways her brain wished it wouldn't--particularly when it comes to her new babysitter.Former soldier Steven Welch has been tasked with keeping Belle away from the hellmouth at all costs. It's just his luck her inner cat has taken a shine to his human self. Not only is Belle a bit young in his world-weary opinion, but sticking close to her means he has no choice but to confront a fear of the supernatural he'd hoped he left in the Afghan desert.When the pair learns Steven could solve Belle's problem and rescue the mysterious soul calling to her, their differences collide. Steven insists he's no hero, while Belle wants to enter the hellmouth and end the trouble it's brought on her family once and for all. Will Steven's fears and stubbornness cause Belle to lose her fated mate and the one man she's ever trusted enough to call "partner"?Sensuality Level: Sensual