When J.K. Rowling was invited to deliver the commencement address at Harvard University, she chose to speak to the graduating class about two topics very close to her heart: the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. Having the courage to fail, she said, is as vital to a good life as any conventional measure of success; imagining ourselves into the place of another--particularly someone less fortunate than ourselves--is a uniquely human quality to be nurtured at all costs. The stories Rowling shared and the provocative questions she asked of those young graduates have since inspired countless others to consider what it means to live a "good life." Now in print for the first time, her words serve as both a comfort and a call to arms for anyone--of any age--who finds themselves at a turning point. In daring to take a risk, and perhaps fail, and by harnessing the power of our imaginations, we can all begin to live less cautiously and, in doing so, become more open to the opportunities life has to offer. 

From David Baldacci-the #1 bestselling author of The Whole Truth and First Family-comes his most timely, surprising, and heart-stopping thriller, DELIVER US FROM EVIL. Evan Waller is a monster . . . He has built a fortune from his willingness to buy and sell anything . . . and anyone. In search of new opportunities, Waller has just begun a new business venture: one that could lead to millions of deaths all over the globe. On his trail is Shaw, the mysterious operative from The Whole Truth, who has tracked Waller to Provence and must prevent him from closing his latest deal. But someone else is pursuing Waller: Reggie Campion, an agent for a secret vigilante group headquartered in a musty old English estate-and she has an agenda of her own. Hunting the same man and unaware of each other's mission, Shaw and Reggie will be caught in a deadly duel of nerves and wits. Hitchcockian in its intimate buildup of suspense and filled with the remarkable characters, breathtaking plot turns, and blockbuster finale that are David Baldacci's hallmarks, DELIVER US FROM EVIL is one of the most gripping thrillers of the year.

Checkers Pizza feeds the appetite of the college students of Keekishwa University in Delasalle, Illinois, by offering guaranteed 30-minute delivery or the order is free. The delivery drivers often see some weird people and happenings, but nothing tops the night they delivered 24 pies to a haunted cemetery. This is a short story, with a Preface, a Bonus Story, and Story Excerpts.Checkers Pizza is very popular among the students of Keekishwa University in Delasalle, Illinois, because it offers guaranteed 30 minute or the order is free. Business is usually brisk each night, even during the summer, but one night it died early and might have stayed that way, if a bizarre gentleman hadn't ordered 24 pies and paid with a solid gold coin.Just one catch: he wants them delivered to the gate of a haunted cemetery....In the Bonus Story, a woman passing through a cemetery late at night is assault by a couple of ghouls, who fight over her, allowing her to escape. But then they start to court her....

Rhy Ellison, former elite Navy SEAL Commander, retired from the teams the same way he lived, in a blaze of glory. After nearly thirty years of stellar service, he almost crashes and burns, but his hard-earned reputation saves him from a court martial. Now all he wants is to kick back in Margaritaville, but the Department of Homeland Security has other ideas.The DHS Special Group Leader offers him a contract he couldn't refuse, they need him to put his famed skills back in the game and help recover vital information stolen from a CIA asset overseas. When Rhy learns the CIA pain-in-the-asset involved is none other than Harper Chandler, a woman he never wants to see again, much less work with, taking the mission becomes a no-go, even with the money.Then he learns the missing dossier could clear him of crimes he's been accused of that led to his court martial, Ryh signs on without a second thought. The opportunity to clear his name is too important to be brushed...

A world invaded. A civilization imprisoned. The fate of humanity in the hands of one girl.​When sixteen-year-old Liv Abbott is abducted from her home and taken to an underground prison, she quickly realizes things are far worse than she could ever imagine – the world has been invaded by a strange enemy and a war is raging in the distant future.Guided by visions she once ignored, Liv discovers an ancient artifact that may be the key to ending the occupation and saving the world.With the human race on the brink of extinction, does Liv have what it takes to stop the war and save humanity? Perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games, DELIVER US is the first book in L.K. Churchill's young adult dystopian series that will keep you turning the pages and leave you wanting more.

Scandinavian noir meets legal thriller in this brilliant, gut-wrenching story of childhood friends torn apart by gang violence and class differences in Stockholm—from the internationally bestselling author of Quicksand.Unlikely best friends since the age of 6, Billy and Dogge live in suburbs separated only by a highway, yet a world apart. From the outside, Dogge looks privileged: his family has a large home and plenty of money—at first. But his parents are addicts whose negligence becomes a form of abuse. Meanwhile, Billy’s family are poor first-generation immigrants unable to escape the no-go zone where they live, but their cramped apartment is nonetheless a bastion of love.    A ruthless small-time crime boss seeks recruits, and both Dogge and Billy become runners by the time they’re 12. Fast cash, easy access to drugs, and dreams of gaining status draw them in. But when Billy wants to leave the gang and finds...

At a meatpacking facility in the Missouri Ozarks, Dee-Dee and her co-workers kill and butcher 40,000 chickens in a single shift. The work is repetitive and brutal, with each stab and cut a punishment to her hands and joints, but Dee-Dee's more concerned with what is happening inside her body. After a series of devastating miscarriages, Dee-Dee has found herself pregnant, and she is determined to carry this child to term. Dee-Dee fled the Pentecostal church years ago, but judgment follows her in the form of regular calls from her mother, whose raspy voice urges Dee-Dee to quit living in sin and marry her boyfriend Daddy, an underemployed ex-con with an insect fetish. With a child on the way, at long last Dee-Dee can bask in her mother's and boyfriend's newfound parturient attention. She will matter. She will be loved. She will be complete. When her charismatic friend Sloane reappears after a twenty-year absence, feeding her insecurities and awakening...

A woman searches desperately for the truth about the JFK assassination—and about her father’s possible role in it . . . Maureen Finn is at a White House ceremony honoring the memory of her father, Sean. Robert Novak is in New York, watching the event on TV—his gaze fixed on Maureen. Soon afterward, Novak approaches Maureen and hands her a photo of her dad in the company of Lee Harvey Oswald. When he tells her that her father was involved in the Kennedy assassination—and asks her to lend her professional skills to his investigation—she’s horrified and angry. But when she questions her mother, her suspicions only increase, and after further research she learns that her dad did some work for the CIA. Now she and Novak are being tracked—and as they travel from country to country looking for answers, will shocking truth they uncover ever see the light of day?

Egalitarian heroic fantasy.  Family, social awkwardness, and a unicorn.

When one lives with chaos...Detective Michael Ward has always known there was something different about him. That lying just below the surface lies a vicious beast waiting to slip its leash. He’s been careful to keep his inner beast caged, feeding it in miserly doses with the inherent danger of an undercover-cop’s life on the city’s violence-stained streets. But when he comes to one night, covered in blood, and in the center of a violent slaughter where the only other survivor is one shell-shocked woman, he knows he’s the one who’s spilled blood—and the beast knows there can be no witnesses. …taking on hell doesn’t seem all that mad.Katrina Lund has enough problems without being taken prisoner by a madman. And sure, she should probably be happy her captor didn’t kill his half-succubus prisoner on sight. But every moment wasted is a moment her daughter Mia’s kidnappers can use to hide their trail. Not that she doesn’t know where they’re taking Mia. Kat’s dalliance with the devil’s right hand man, Ganelon, has come back to haunt her, and Mia is destined to be raised in the halls of hell. But Kat will do anything to keep Mia from such a fate—even if it means bargaining with her body for the aid of a madman’s inner beast.

Critically acclaimed author Kathryn Casey delivers a riveting account of the brutal murders of young women in the I-45/Texas Killing FieldsOver a three-decade span, more than twenty women—many teenagers—died mysteriously in the small towns bordering Interstate 45, a fifty-mile stretch of highway running from Houston to Galveston. The victims were strangled, shot, or savagely beaten. Six met their demise in pairs. They had one thing in common: being in the wrong place at the wrong time.The day she vanished, Colette Wilson waited for her mother after band practice. Best friends Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson loved to surf and were last seen hitchhiking. Laura Kate Smither dreamed of becoming a ballerina and disappeared just weeks before her thirteenth birthday.In this harrowing true crime exposition, award-winning journalist Kathryn Casey tracks these tragic cases, investigates the evidence, interviews the suspects, and pulls back the cloak of secrecy in search of elusive answers.**

Monsters are real...

**A STRANGER IN THE NIGHT...** He had once been a warrior of the Light, one of the revered Paladin. A protector. But now he lives in darkness, and the shadows are his sanctuary. Every day is a struggle to overcome the bloodlust. Especially the day Karissa shows up at his doorstep. **COMES KNOCKING ON THE DOOR** She is light and bright and everything beautiful-despite her scratches and torn clothes. Every creature of the night is after her. So is every male Paladin. Because Karissa is the last female of their kind. But she is *his*. He may not have a soul, but he can't deny his heart. "I knew from the first page that I had picked a winner with this book." - *** Rage, Sex and Teddy Bears*** "Deliver Me From Darkness is awesome, action packed right from the very beginning" - *** BookLoons.com*** "A fresh and interesting take on Vampires and Angels..." - *** A Whole Latte Romance Reviews*** "A great start to a series. Plenty of options left for future books... " - *** Reading Between the Wines*** " It's the gray areas between good and evil that become the focus of this well plotted and exciting paranormal romance." - *** Debbie's Book Bag*** "This is a solid and very readable mining of the "eternal warrior with only one mate" storyline. The novel tracks well, with the heroes and villains clearly defined. The author does a good job of setting up the world in this series starter." - *** RT Book Reviews *** "A fantastic start to a new series!" - *** A Bookworm's Haven*** "A stellar paranormal romance with very compelling characters, outstanding world building and an action packed plot that delivers." - *** The Romance Reviews*** "An interesting mix of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. I could not get enough!!" - *** From Me to You*** "Hilaire makes her words dance as she weaves a great fantasy tale that is a real pleasure to read." - *** Long and Short Reviews***

Monsters are real...and that monster is me.I've surrendered. I have no other choice.With Babydoll gone, I'm going to do whatever it takes to find her.I will lie.Cheat.Murder...and I'll do so with a smile.I'll even sell my soul to the devil...because that's who my father, Sean Kelly, is. He won't stop until Belfast is his. He knows I'm at my breaking point. Just how far will he push until I lose myself to the darkness for good?But I'm prepared to give it all away. She's all that matters.However, this life isn't done with me yet.A startling secret threatens to destroy me, and a new player is introduced into the game. I don't know if he is a friend or foe. What I do know is that he has the power to change the world as I know it.He wants what is mine.My kingdom.My name.And my legacy.But I am Puck Kelly—and every monster is scared of somethin'...and that somethin' is me.No more...

THE NIGHT SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER WILL BE THE ONE SHE CAN'T FORGET When Abby's doctor tells her she's two months pregnant she doesn't believe him. She can't be - she hasn't had sex for over a year. But to her astonishment and dismay, multiple tests confirm it's true. Desperately searching for an explanation, Abby recalls New Year's Day - the terrible hangover, the hole in her memory where the night before should have been and the inexplicable sense of unease - and realises that this baby must have been conceived at her best friend Danny's NYE party. Horrified that someone would have taken advantage of her intoxicated state, Abby enlists the help of Danny to find out which of the party guests assaulted her. But, when she starts to receive anonymous messages, it seems that while she has been looking into the father of her baby, someone has been watching her... A gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll's I Am Watching You and C.L. Taylor's *The Fear. * **

It is 1871 and Nthebolang and her mother must flee their home: her father has been accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death. For months they walk, sleeping in the open, living off the veld, until they are offered shelter in Ntsweng in the kingdom of Kgosi Sechele I.It is there, years later, that Nthebolang meets Beatrice, the wife of a cruel English missionary, and a woman who has had her share of perilous escapes. As a young girl, this light-skinned Koranna woman was mistaken for a kidnapped white child and bundled off to a mission station. After all this time, Beatrice still carries her father's gift, a hunting knife, concealed under her clothing.But things are not settled in Ntsweng, where traditional beliefs and Christianity clash. The turmoil of Nthebolang's childhood repeats itself when her beloved Motsumi is suspected of witchcraft. Will she be able to save him, or will he meet the same fate as her father? And is Beatrice a friend in whom she should place her...

Monsters are real...and that monster is my father.Ten years ago, I surrendered. I thought I was doing the right thing. But lies and greed have once again destroyed my life, leaving me to deal with the aftermath.This life has always been a curse, but the world as I know it has changed. Belfast isn't what it used to be.Alliances are broken. Kingdoms have fallen. But those who remain loyal see me as their rightful king.With secrets unraveled, my need for vengeance grows stronger every day. However, ten years is a long time. People have changed. I have changed. But the one thing that remains untouched is my love for Babydoll—I love her...even if she doesn't feel the same.I will take back what's mine.My kingdom.My name.And my girl.Every monster is scared of somethin'...and that somethin' is me.No more hiding in the shadows because I'm huntin' you...Father.Run, wee monsters, run.

Demonic possession. Exorcism. Haunted Houses. Satanic Rituals. For most people this is the stuff of nightmares, horror movies, folklore, and superstition. For New York City police Sergeant Ralph Sarchie, it's as real—and dangerous—as midnight patrol . . .A sixteen-year NYPD veteran, Ralph Sarchie works out of the 46th Precinct in New York's South Bronx. But it is his other job that he calls "the Work": investigating cases of demonic possession and assisting in the exorcisms of humanity's most ancient—and most dangerous—foes. Now he discloses for the first time his investigations into incredible true crimes and inhuman evil that were never explained, solved, or understood except by Sarchie and his partner. Schooled in the rituals of exorcism, and an eyewitness to the reality of demonic possession, Ralph Sarchie has documented a riveting chronicle of the inexplicable that gives a new shape to the shadows in the dark.In...

The New York Times bestselling author of God Don't Like Ugly and God Still Don't Like Ugly, Mary Monroe has been hailed as "a real talent" (San Jose Mercury News) and as one of today's most provocative storytellers. In her sensational new novel, a beautiful, resourceful woman is caught in a high-stakes game of money, sex and betrayal--all in the name of a better future... Once upon a time, Christine Thurman had the perfect marriage. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks, she made good by marrying Jesse Ray Thurman and helping him build a business worth millions. Together, they were the perfect couple--attractive, successful, and deeply in love. Christine was convinced she'd spend the rest of her life by her handsome husband's side. But twelve years later, J.R. has become obsessed with building his video store empire and is taking his wife for granted. Feeling trapped and alone in a dead-end marriage, Christine finds herself tempted by her old haunts and the people she thought she left behind long ago. Suddenly, without J.R. even realizing it, their seemingly unshakeable bond has started fraying at the seams--and Christine will do anything to break free. Enter Wade Eddie Fisher, a bad boy with good looks from Christine's past. Wade left their hometown long ago to follow his Hollywood dreams, but now he's back, penniless, and as tempting as ever. Even though Wade is far from dependable, he offers Christine something she can't seem to resist. Soon she's immersed in a sultry affair, and before she knows it, she's concocted a scheme so risky that it promises to deliver everything she could possibly want--or shatter the lives of everyone close to her...From Publishers WeeklyBestseller Monroe delivers what could be her wildest and most entertaining novel yet. Greed, betrayal and murder intersect as Wade Eddie Fisher, who looks like a low-income Lenny Kravitz, and Christine Thurman, the wife of super-successful video store entrepreneur J.R. Thurman, devise a plan to fake her kidnapping, collect $500,000 and get her out of her marriage. (A pre-nup would leave her with nothing if she divorced.) But after the shoddy plan is put into action and creepy thug Jason Mack comes onboard, things quickly disintegrate. J.R. offers to pay double for Christine's immediate and safe return, setting into motion among the conspirators murderous plots and double-crosses. The narrative is fun but suffers from repetitive exposition and unsympathetic characters, though their nasty (or pathetic, depending) natures create enough surprises to keep readers piqued till the end. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The thrilling novella from New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan.Demonologist Anthony Zaccardi can't save the twelve priests brutally slaughtered at a California mission, but he's determined to send the killer—an ancient demon—back to hell. And when tough, sexy local sheriff Skye McPherson refuses to believe something supernatural is at work, Anthony realizes that to deliver us from evil, he must first win Skye's trust, then her heart.

Award-winning author M. E. Kerr challenges stereotypes in this story about a fifteen-year-old grappling with his older sister's sexualityParr Burrman lives with his parents and his older brother and sister on a farm in Missouri. They're a typical Midwestern family—except for one thing.Parr's father thinks Evie's going to marry Cord Whittle, who's had a crush on her forever, and settle down in their hometown to help out with the farm. Instead, she falls in love with Patsy Duff, the gorgeous, privileged daughter of the banker who holds the mortgage on the Burrmans' property. When rumors start flying about Evie and Patsy, Parr has to contend with the derision of his classmates . . . and when he falls for a girl from a fundamentalist family who fears homosexuality like God's wrath, he must face his own conflicted emotions. Soon, Parr's parents—and the whole town—will know the truth about Evie. But it's Parr who has to deal with the burden of shame when his own...

Book #2 in the Z-Detective Series. How lowly P.I. Bob Zapolska came to be chaperoning a girl ghost hunter, was difficult to figure. How he got himself into haunting a ghost house, was impossible to explain. As for avoiding the charms of frolicsome ghost hunter, Jamie Stewart, Z could only follow one of his own rules: To avoid temptation, give in to it immediately!

A park ranger rescues a U.S. Marshal after a plane crash in the Smoky Mountains and gets caught up in a blizzard of danger and romance.

Camila was seventeen when Van Quiso kidnapped her. Ten years after her escape, the shackles refuse to release her. Not while there are still slave traders preying on her city. She will stop at nothing to end them. Even if that means becoming a slave again. Returning to chains is her worst fear—and only option. They won’t know who she is or what she intends to do. She’s prepared for every complication. Except him. The one who decimated her sixteen-year-old heart. Matias is charming, gorgeous, and dangerously seductive. He’s also untrustworthy and enshrouded in secrets. After years of no contact, he finds her—on her knees, wrists bound, in the clutches of her enemy. Will he sabotage her mission by needlessly saving her? Or will he keep her in chains and never let her go?

The final instalment of Summer Flings – a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories. Miserable, lonely and broken hearted, Ciara returns to Dublin on a mission to sort out her life. A job is at the top of the list but a visit to the doctor has surprising repercussions. She refuses to drift apart from her friends now that real life has begun, struggles to fit new relationships into her life and still has to deal with everything else fate throws her way. But even Ciara should know that there's always something a little bit special to be found at the end of the rainbow... The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

He may be the god of thieves, but he's not ready for the one who steals his heart. Calico shifter Kat Gataki has a plan. All she has to do is swipe the key to the underworld so she can get down to Elysium and apologize to her sister for being a royal witch with a capital B. It should be a piece of cake for a trained cat burglar like herself, but there's one slight problem. The owner of said key happens to be Hermes...as in...the smoldering hot god from Olympus. And no one steals from the god of thieves. That's what Hermes likes to believe until a trip to Mardi Gras introduces him to the most alluring cat burglar he's ever seen. Hermes wastes no time falling head over winged sandals for Kat, but following his heart soon lands him in a mess of trouble that only the Fates could see coming. Kat has stolen both his key and his heart, and he only has twelve hours to find her. If he fails, they'll both be spending eternity...

Once upon a time, he promised her the moon. It's time to deliver. Louisa D'Angelo used to believe in happily ever after--until the tragic death of her son and the demise of her marriage. Now, five years later, with her life back in order, she has a great career and a wonderful man in her life. So what if the passion and excitement isn't there? In her book, passion and excitement only lead to heartbreak. Then, her ex-husband shows up and upsets her tidy little world.Gabe D'Angelo never believed in happily ever after--until he met Louisa who taught him how to love and be loved. But their happiness was short-lived. Guilt and grief forced Gabe to walk away. Now, though he's pulled his life together and should be happy, he realizes something's missing. After seeing her from afar at a family wedding, he knows what it is. It's Louisa. The problem is convincing her she's still in love with him.

When a woman's body is found frozen on a bench one winter's morning, it looks like a simple case of death by misadventure. On closer inspection, however, marks on her neck - and a piece of paper hidden inside her shoe - point towards foul play. But as Hennessey and Yellich investigate, they discover that the victim may not have been all she seemed . . .

Originally published by Dorchester Publishing, March 2007After being dumped by her boyfriend and passed over for yet another promotion, Monica Gardner moves to New Orleans, determined to make a name for herself as the new attending ER physician at Methodist Memorial Hospital. As for men--she's through with them. But when given the chance to chair the hospital's annual charity banquet, Monica must elicit the help of gorgeous Ob-gyn Elijah Holmes.Eli will do anything to thwart his matchmaking Mama's plan to reunite him with his high school girlfriend. So, when the sexy new ER doc asks for his help in planning this year's charity banquet, Eli devises the perfect scheme: He'll help put on the best banquet the hospital has ever seen, if Monica poses as his new girlfriend. But when Eli finds himself falling in love, he realizes convincing Monica of his true feelings may be his greatest delivery yet.From the Back CoverLEAVING AN IMPERFECT PAST... Monica Gardner is starting over. The brokenhearted St. Louis native has nothing left at home any longer: her future is being an ER doctor at a New Orleans hospital. Her first day makes for a bumpy start as she continually runs into handsome but irascible Dr. Elijah Holmes--a man who could make her change her mind about finding true love. FOR NEW EXPECTATIONS For years, Dr. Eli Holmes has been living up to his own high expectations--and is burning himself out in the process. The only time this "Super Doc" ob-gyn slows down is to notice the beautiful eyes of a newcomer, Dr. Gardner. He's pleased to know that she's more than just a pretty face, she's also an ace physician. When they work together, sparks fly. But with both Monica and Eli trying to hard not to fall in love, they realize they can't resist this affair of the heart. About the AuthorFarrah Rochon had dreams of becoming a fashion designer as a teenager, until she discovered she would be expected to wear something other than jeans to work every day. Thankfully, the coffee shop where she writes does not have a dress code. An avid sports fan, when Farrah is not penning stories, she feeds her addiction to football by attending New Orleans Saints games.

Deliver Her from Evil A Redemption Series Novel He was supposed to be her prince charming. Marriage was supposed to be her happily ever after. It was all a lie. After discovering the betrayal of her fairytale, Carly Carrington must find the resolve to piece her splintered life back together. With the help of her closest friend and the affection from an unexpectedly charismatic man, she finds herself on a path not-so-easily taken. Love is a four letter word to Campbell Williams. Growing up as an orphaned foster child, Campbell avoided situations that could hand her even more loss. Coming to the rescue of her friend, Carly, she quickly finds herself in need of being saved herself, but will she allow herself to accept the lifeline from the one man brave enough to take her on? Both battle the challenges thrown at them to protect their battered hearts, but when the fear finally fades, will love deliver them from evil? Deliver Her from Evil is an adult contemporary novel and is not intended for younger readers due to mature content.

His name was Joshua Carter. Now it's whatever she wants it to be. She is a Deliverer. She lures young men and delivers them to be sold. She delivers the strikes that enforce their obedience. She delivers the sexual training that determines their purchase price. As long as she delivers, the arrangement that protects her family will hold. Delivering is all she knows. The one thing she can't deliver is a captive from slavery. Until him. And her stubborn slave thinks he can deliver her...from herself. Romantic ThrillerStand Alone (no cliff-hanger).Content warning: Graphic sex, violence, and psychological abuse. Age 18+ only.

Ian Gardner, co-author of Tonight We Die as Men, is back with the second installment of the exploits of the 3/506 in WWII. Drawing on years of research and more than seventy extended interviews with veterans and civilians caught up in the fighting, Deliver Us from Darkness begins where the earlier book ended, with the troops taking R&R back in England after weeks of grueling fighting in Normandy. Deliver Us from Darkness explains how, with little notice on Sept 17, 1944, the 101st Airborne Division parachuted into Holland as part of Operation Market Garden. Their mission was to secure the main highway that passed through the city of Eindhoven and facilitate the advance of Gen. Sir Miles Dempsey's Second British Army towards Arnhem. The soldiers had been lead to believe that after the capture of Eindhoven their mission would be over. In the end, however, it was only the beginning of a bloody 72-day campaign that would see no quarter given by either...

Brent Lawton's entrance into the occult was an accident... drawn into a darkness that threatens to destroy him. Tara Baker's involvement in the occult was no accident. Painful secrets from her past prompt her to push forward to acquire more dark power. One will encounter an ancient power so boundless that they will come face-to-face with eternity.