Saturday, June 30, 2012

Scamp's Lady

Free - 652 pages


Even if he wasn’t a British officer, Deborah Morgan would detest the arrogant Kit Marshall! Being on opposite sides of a war alone should be enough to keep them at a distance, but injured men, murderers, and a scrappy little dog drive them together, forging unbreakable bonds of the heart.

Raven's Call

Free - 58 pages


A short story, also published in Realms magazine, and included in the anthology Out of Here by the same author.

The evil magician king was killed years ago, but a new court teacher says that one of the royal family, a baby, may have survived. Crown princess Larisia resorts to using magic to find this child. But magic in this world is truly evil.

Reunion

Free - 216 pages


The Law Keeper for the Venia bloodline, Marise doesn’t want to return home but duty dictates that she must investigate the attempt on her lord’s life by another vampire.

When she sets eyes on her lord, Marise realises that she might have been called for another reason and that the attack on her lord might not have been by a vampire after all. Her only source of information is a guard who was mortally wounded during the attack, a guard who turns out to be the man who broke her heart fifty years ago.

The sight of Jascha so close to death triggers a battle in Marise’s heart that will see her struggle to turn her back on him and her family again, and maintain her sense of duty. Is fifty years enough to forgive the one you love for breaking your heart? Will Marise finally confess to everything she’s held inside and kept hidden from him? And can Jascha convince Marise to listen to what he has to say and make her love him again?

This is a novella in the Vampires Realm series.

Stories in the Vampires Realm series by F E Heaton:
Prophecy: Child of Light
Prophecy: Caelestis & Aurorea
Prophecy: Dark Moon Rising
Spellbound
Seventh Circle
Winter's Kiss
Hunter's Moon

Paradox - A Short Story

Free - 46 pages


Ted volunteered for the mission because, after all, it was just a routine trip to Mars. What could possibly go wrong?

In the deepest, darkest reaches of space, one must fill the vacuum, the void, the emptiness. Yet do we humans have the "psychological stuff" for deep space travel? If not, we may end up like Ted.

Pool of Tears, a Murine Memoir

Free - 484 pages


Dorothy Mustt is born with a deformed leg. This would be curtains for a feral mouse, but because she's born into a family of "Talkers," the Musts, she holds her own. These genetically modified Talkers have evolved into a society of mice capable of compassion and discipline, and Dorothy makes up for her physical handicap by becoming the family’s sage, the first Talker to also learn to read and write.
The Mustts share a house with the Rambacks, a family of dysfunctional Bigs (as the Musts call humans)in a La Jolla development they call Suburbs. As she types her memoir on Jason Ramback’s computer, hiding the file each time, Dorothy assesses the family’s dysfunction, but cannot condemn Jason, the oldest boy, who’s also born with a deformity: a large patch of mouse-like hair on his face. She loves him, as far as a mouse can love a human. She worries he will kill himself to escape the taunts of his three attractive siblings and the indifference of his parents.
While Jason talks openly of suicide with his friend, Dudley, who is shockingly deformed, a request comes from Secret Chambers, the Talker colony across Wide Boulevard. They want her to read the works of Dr. Eden Godwyn, the geneticist at Stedwell Institute who created Talkers, to learn the secret of their creation. While there she runs afoul of Wom, the leader of the colony, and is taken prisoner.
She escapes to the beach, to discover a break-away colony of mice, the Scapists, who live a laid-back life style. Also on the beach she meets the world's oldest mouse, Gilda, a hermit who’s developed a Buddhistic philosophy. She counsels Dorothy about her “affair” with Jason, and reveals information that will thwart Wom’s attempts at mouse-world domination. Will Dorothy be guided by Gilda’s wisdom? Will she tackle Wom or save Jason?
Matters come to a head when Jason’s friend, Dudley, kills himself, and Dorothy must weigh her love of Jason against her loyalty to her family and her Talker nation.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Unleashed Fury

Free - 709 pages


During the time of the Massacre the Dark King reigned, declaring himself a god and securing his leadership with fear and blood-magic. Overthrown in a bloody revolt and the knowledge of the forbidden arts lost in the book burnings of the ensuing chaos, Gelendan has risen above its gruesome history. Now, hundreds of years later, its dark past forgotten, Layna is a simple maid.

But as mysterious events begin to unfold, she comes to realize that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

She finds herself caught up in a whirlwind of deception, romance, espionage, and secret societies that soon has her life spiraling wildly out of control. Whilst fleeing the fury of her mistress - whose rage is fueled by Layna's budding relationship with the woman's former consort - and attempting to evade detection by the priests who want to control her new-found magical talent, Layna's problems are further compounded when she discovers a strange marking on her neck. A mark that is growing darker by the day. Who or what has marked her, and for what purpose she doesn't know. But it soon becomes apparent that whatever it is, it's after her...

...and it's gaining.

The Whack Job

Free - 58 pages


Eamonn Shute and his girlfriend Nicky Muniz find their relaxing day torpedoed when they come across the dead body of one of Eamonn's friends.

Eamonn, being the person he is, just has to stick his nose in.

The Seventh Mountain

Free - 692 pages


A dream, surreal and frightening, begins the path of Mark Young's future; a path set long before he was even born. Fortunately, it's not a path he's doomed to walk alone. His course leads to true friends, fortune and a place where he learns to wield great power. This place is The Seventh Mountain, the place where Magi train. The Seventh Mountain conceals the direst legend known to man. Mark's fate lies within.

"The Seventh Mountain by Gene Curtis is pure delight. Curtis wields a tremendous imagination and uses it to transport the reader to another world, where sword wielding Magi fight for good, evil lurks just out of sight and a young hero searches for his destiny. Sure to be compared to Harry Potter, but undeniably more compelling." - Jeremy Robinson

Painkiller (Variant Effect Series #2)

Free - 145 pages


Variant Squad Captain Joe Borland returns in PAINKILLER, a gut-wrenching novella of grisly horror. Dreams and reality collide in the shadow of the Variant Effect.

The Haunted Houses of Reindeer Manor

Free - 447 pages


Dr. Anderson, chair of the department, received a rejection on his life's work. But on Halloween, he got a second chance, an article stating the existence of ghosts at Reindeer Manor. The owner has been running it as a haunted attraction. But only the true history is of interest to Anderson, who struck a deal to rent the property, as long as all props are removed. Unfortunately, he got his way

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Protectors

Free - 642 pages


Every 16-year old thinks they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. For Avery Kimball this was actually true…she just didn’t know it yet. Life for Avery was completely normal, attending school, hanging out with friends, and spending time with her family. Until the day she finds out that she and her four closest friends have a destiny that will take them far away from their comfortable and safe lives on Earth. Avery learns that she and her friends are actually a group of powerful warriors known as the Protectors, who were charged with protecting the planet of Orcatia, but were killed by the evil Emperor. To save their lives, their magical mentor sent them to Earth to be re-born. It is now their duty to return to the planet and life they have no memory of, and once again serve as its Protectors, fighting the very Emperor responsible for their deaths. Along the way, Avery must contend with battling malevolent creatures, her sometimes fragile relationships with her friends and fellow Protectors, her attraction to the mysterious King of Nightfell, and her own doubts and fears about who she truly is and who she can become.

They Don't Exist

Free - 28 pages


A young woman laughs it off when she's informed the room she's staying in for the night is haunted, because ghosts don't exist.

Or do they?

The Method

Free - 14 pages


For Jake, acting will never be quite the same again, as his 'Method Acting' takes a turn towards the supernatural.

The Thief Who Spat In Luck's Good Eye

Free - 113 pages


The Thief Who Spat In Luck's Good Eye is a free, stand-alone novella that introduces readers to the forthcoming novel of the same title. Originally published as Thagoth, the Del Rey Digital first novel competition winner was previously published by Random House:

In the proud tradition of Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser comes a new team of daring, quick-witted heroes in a swashbuckling sword and sorcery adventure. . . .

Amra is a thief with morals—she won’t steal from anyone poorer than she is. Fortunately, anybody that poor generally doesn’t have much worth stealing! Holgren is a mage with a distaste for magic and a soul bartered away to dark powers who will transport him to an eternity of torment on the instant of his death. Together they embark on a quest for the fabled city of Thagoth, where the secret of immortality is rumored to be hidden.

But Amra and Holgren aren’t the only ones after the secret. Many others seek to utilize the hidden magic for their own twisted ends. And waiting in the ruined city with dark plans for the world are the twin gods Tha-Agoth and Athagos, a brother and sister whose illicit passion is as destructive and vengeful as they are.

Now, as potent sorceries clash in a violent struggle for dominion over all that lives, Amra and Holgren face a choice between the unthinkable and the unbearable—with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. . . .

The Adventures of Anna of Waverly Manor

Free - 238 pages


Anna, a ghost witch, lives in the attic of Waverly Manor with two ghosts, Boo and Tomfoolery. They don't like humans and frighten away everyone who tries to live there...

...until Jackie moves in with her parents. While Jackie's special needs make some things difficult for her, they also enable her to see Anna and the ghosts. After Jackie befriends Boo, things change in Anna's world, leading her on one adventure after another. (For ages 7 and up)

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Spinward Fringe Broadcast 0: Origins

Free - 1270 pages


In the darkest region of explored space sits a bright beacon; Freeground Station. Serving as a supply and trading post it is home to a select number of human beings that will take a desperate chance to make a difference in their end of the galaxy. - Contains the entire First Light Chronicles Trilogy. A Space Opera Adventure enjoyed across the globe by all ages. [Final Revision]

A Penny's Worth

Free - 67 pages


Have you ever found a lucky penny? Pete Samson is the recipient of one that is far more than it appears. Like a miracle, the penny changes Pete's miserable, bad-luck life, but is it for the better?

Also Included in Space and Waste, Anthology #2 (ISBN 9781476146225) and Anthology #3 (ISBN 9781476122038)

Mngwa

Free - 20 pages


Mayasa knows she is as skilled as any male hunter in her tribe, and she aims to prove it by hunting the high-dwelling antelope of Mount Meru. Of course, to do that, she must enter the jealously guarded territory of Wawindaji Pepo, guardian of the mountain. Mngwa is the third story in the Bestiary Tales.

Hunting the Vampire

Free - 25 pages


Zaden is not your typical vampire hunter. Where others may find and kill the demons, Zaden captures them to torture them for information. It all comes to a head in this story where Zaden catches up with his ultimate prize, a vampire with a soul.

Heart of the Wild

Free - 386 pages


Book One (of the Amory's) John Douglas thinks nothing of asking Chayton Amory to go get his daughter before her wedding and bring her to his cabin. Why should he, he thinks of Chayton like a son. But Chayton isn't a willing participant. And Kasie Moore, John's daughter is a hell-cat to live with. Chayton should know, he was gonna marry her eight years ago.

A blizzard traps them in the small confines of Chayton's cabin, forcing them to admit some strong under current of feelings for each other.

Kasie has Chayton pegged for a "yes man" for her father. Little does she know that he loved her dearly eight years ago when she walked away from their engagement.

Pride keeps Chayton from admitting his love, and lack of trust comes between them even though their kisses scorch the very snow.

Two strong willed people come together in a malestorm of passion and love, if they can only get past the old hurts they've caused each other. Can love survive the heart of the wild?

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Peter And The Vampires (Volume One)

Free - 901 pages


For fans of J.K. Rowling (the Harry Potter series), Orson Scott Card (Ender's Game), R.L. Stine (the Goosebumps series), and Darren Shan (Cirque Du Freak) comes a new series of supernatural thrillers!

When ten-year-old Peter moves into his grandfather’s creepy old mansion in a small town, bad, baaaaad things start to happen.

A family of charred boogeymen who haunt the garden decide they don't like trespassers...

A classmate with a crush comes back from the grave, and decides to make Peter her Undead Prince Charming...

A creature from Fairieland changes place with Peter's two-year-old sister, leading to a VERY strange babysitting job...

A prehistoric predator snatches children from the town lake, forcing Peter to literally dive into the belly of the beast...

With his troublemaking neighbor Dill, his grumpy grandfather, and only his courage and wit to guide him, Peter has to survive all these things, plus the Greatest Horror Of All:

Fourth grade.

Peter And The Vampires is for teens and adults who, when they were kids, were looking for stories that kicked butt. The protagonist might be young, but the stories are dark, funny, and edge-of-your-seat suspenseful.

Peter And The Vampires is the first in an ongoing series that includes Peter And The Werewolves and Peter And The Frankenstein. This book is 120,000 words (370+ pages) and contains some mild language, violence, and scary situations.

Visit DarrenPillsbury.com for more about the author.

King of Fools

Free - 65 pages


The King of Fools

A Fool must save his kingdom from a tyrant with a dolt for a jester in this hilaric tale of majestic, motley mockery.

I'm off to make a fool of a fool, and a fool of a king as well.
Only a fool can fool a fool, but, with a kings wits, who can tell!
I'm off to make a fool of a fool, and a fool of a kingdom too.
I might lose my head by the kings-man's ax, but I'll try to fool him too!"
-The King of Fools

Kill-basa: New Flavors in Zombie Horror

Free - 225 pages


A collection of classic and some not so classic zombie horror: alternate history, mind probing cephalopods, apiary loving red necks and more are ground up and stuffed into this tight intestinal sleeve that any zombie fan will love. Featuring the hit They Rode Personal Transportation Vehicles.

John Looples' Revenge

Free - 97 pages



After following a series of tragic deaths of his family John Looples becomes what he least expects, A pirate. John must not only get revenge for the death of his family but repay a debt to a man who saved his life. In his adventures he faces many life threatening challenges but in the end he only has a single choice.

Jacks School of Shines

Free - 384 pages


Colin, a young wizard from the School of Shines, must stand between the world of Good and the Evil Goblin with his minions of Dark Robes. His friends are captured and he is lost, trying to get to them and to find his way back home. Can he do either before it's too late?