AN AUTOMATED DEATH (short story) by Teresa Reasor

Steampunk Short Story - approx 14,000 words

DESCRIPTION

After his wife’s death, Alan Cartwright focuses all his energy on his work, building clocks and other delicate mechanisms, and his eight-year-old son, Brenton. Father and son bond while building a lifelike automaton, designed to resemble Brenton in looks and talent : The boy is an extraordinary artist.

Before the automaton is completed, Brenton is killed by a carriage driven by Sir William Tyndale, a decorated soldier and knight who lost his own wife and son during service in India. The accident leads to strange occurrences and an unholy obsession.

The automaton comes to life, communicating with Alan and drawing pictures of the past and the future. Alan is convinced Brenton’s spirit possesses the machine and refuses to sell it. Sir Tyndale sees the likeness of his own dead son in the device and is determined to have it by any means.

Driven by grief and fatherly love, the two men are set on a collision course with the soul of a young boy trapped between them. And Brenton’s reasons for possessing the automaton a mystery to them both.

SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT by Darynda Jones

 BOOK 2 of the CHARLEY DAVIDSON Series

DESCRIPTION

If you hang around with dead people, life can get pretty complicated. Take it from Charley Davidson, part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper. Complicated is her middle name. The deceased find her very sparkly. Demons find her irresistible. And one entity in particular wants to seduce her in every way possible.

When Charley and Cookie (her best friend/receptionist) have to track down a missing woman, the case is not quite as open and shut as they anticipate. Cookie's friend Mimi disappeared five days earlier. Mimi then sends Cookie a cryptic message telling Cookie to meet her at an nearby coffee shop. The coffee is brewing, but Mimi's still missing. There is, however, a clue Mimi left on the bathroom wall: a woman's name. Mimi's husband explains to them that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old high school friend had been murdered. The same woman whose name Mimi had scribbled on the bathroom wall.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He's left his body because he's being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can't let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they'll have a portal to heaven...well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty.

Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Can she keep those she loves out of harm's way? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel her as she does?

NIGHTFALL by Rebecca York

DESCRIPTION

When all-male plague survivors landed on the planet Palomar, no one knew if humans could thrive in the hostile environment.

Now it's twenty years later, and the planetary authority has finally authorized a shipment of brides. Homesteader Caleb Raider has won a wife in the lottery, but he hasn't seen a woman since childhood---except in a porn vid.

His new wife, Beka Gunnarson, knows he's a virgin. What's the best way to introduce him to the pleasures of married love, while hiding the secret she thinks will destroy their new relationship?

And is she up to living on a nearly lawless planet where savage wildlife roams?

THE DEMON MASTER'S WIFE by Donna McDonald

DESCRIPTION

If she’d had a choice, Ania Looren would have chosen death over becoming a demon host. But compelled to save her life, her mate, Captain Liam Synar made the decision for her.

Now her spirit grieves for what she has become because evil lives inside her again. Ania fears the great harm she can cause using the demon’s power.

Unfortunately, Liam’s reluctant embrace of being the demon's master, along with his refusal to discuss Malachi with her, once again leaves Ania facing her destiny alone.

HEAVENLY LOVER by Sharon Hamilton

My Guardian Angels struggle with the human charges they are sent to save, often escaping their vanilla world of Heaven for the brief human one. You won’t find any of these beings in any Sunday school class.  ~ Sharon Hamilton


BOOK 1 of the GUARDIANS Series

DESCRIPTION

Claire, A young guardian angel, haunted by memories of her human past, is sent to save the soul of a Brazilian-born painter who wants to take his life.

Daniel has been tormented by a powerful and seductive dark angel and his sexy female accomplice.

In helping Daniel, Claire discovers he is also the man she was created to love. But will their passion ignite the flames of their own destruction, or can she bear immortal separation to keep him safe?

SELKIE'S REVENGE by Rosanna Leo

BOOK 2 of the ORKNEY SELKIES Series

DESCRIPTION

On the beaches of Orkney, Scotland, an evil entity stalks mortal women. Machar “Mack” Kirk is a selkie man with a haunted past, one that has prompted him to become a hunter. He prowls the beaches at night, his arrows aiming for the finman who took his first love.

Beth Pedersen also watches the sea. The haunted widow has suffered losses of her own, ones that have crippled her into a state of stony grief. Beth can no longer feel, can no longer see color and life. Until the day Mack Kirk saves her from a mysterious foe, flooding her world with brightness and foreign temptation.

As Mack and Beth fight their growing passion, the finman escalates his attacks. Before long, Mack realizes he’s not just playing Good Samaritan. He wants Beth, too, and will do anything to ensure his lover isn’t taken by the finman. But can he protect his mate from a monster with no soul?

AMUSE ME by Christy Gissendaner

In Greek and Roman mythology, the Muses are nine goddesses, the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, who preside over the arts and sciences. This is a new twist. ~DM


DESCRIPTION

As the Muse of Comedy, Thalia believes that laughter is the best medicine. This time the joke’s on her when she ends up as a showgirl in modern day Vegas.

With two left feet, but courage to spare, she dances her way into the heart of Ryan, a divorced rancher who is in town for a poker tournament.

It’ll be the showdown of the century when Ryan must battle Zeus for the love of this Muse.

DRAKEN by Solease M Barner

 BOOK 1 of the DRAGLEN BROTHERS Series

DESCRIPTION

Cess Lamil is determined to get her college degree with honors and start her career. Her plans change quickly, when the new neighbors moves in down the street. Draken, the controlling and obnoxious neighbor, is all she can think about. Despite her initial dislike, Cess feels strangely drawn to the mysterious, handsome Draken, but she soon learns that Draken has dark secrets.

Draken Draglen is in town to get the family business in order. He lives by one rule: only sleep with women of his own kind. When Cess walks down the street to introduce herself, Draken fears he is going to break his rule. He is determined to stay away from her, fearing his dark secret may be revealed, but his need for Cess is too strong. Draken makes a decision that could change not only his life, but that of his family as well.  

HER CYBORG AWAKES by Melisse Aires

BOOK 1 of the DIASPORA Series

DESCRIPTION

Sabralia lives a lonely but luxurious life in Emperor Sirn’s Harem. Her only companion is her obedient servant, Qy, a cyborg. Her life has largely been controlled by others, but when Sirn demands his Harem pleasure his Commanding Officers at a victory celebration, Sabralia makes a daring plan to hide to avoid rape by Sirn's men.

The Palace is ambushed and her cyborg gets her off world. The impossible has happened−Qy the gentle cyborg becomes the man he once was, the warrior Kaistril. Pursued for valuable information, Sabralia is thrust into dangerous, unfamiliar situations where she must stand up to the challenges, or lose the man she loves.