Deception Science

They were twin brothers, the offspring of Dragon magic, one raised in court, the other in hiding. But, the link that exists between them will not be broken by mere distance, and in the very duality of their origin lies mankind's hope for peace and safety. When two renegade dragons with an army of crazed demi-human/dragons devise a plan to enslave all mankind—an act in direct contravention to all the precepts of the Dragon parliament—it is up to the two brothers (separate and together) and Draconas, the special emissary of the Parliament to ensure mankind's survival.

Erik and Jia are balancing the needs of the UTC, their team, and their own future. Will they be able to provide peace for Erik's team without bringing down the UTC, causing pain to the very people they died to protect? Humans can strive to understand alien technology, but there’s always a price. Mistakes happen. Can those sacrificing to build their version of humanity's future complete their effort? Or will the ticking of the clock on their extended lives produce the stress necessary to figure out a plan to stop Erik and Jia?

As much a history as it is a book of sci-fi tales, the third volume of sci-fi shorts by P. E. Rowe brings us deeper into the Post-Columnar Epoch. Each of these 15 stand-alone stories fits within a rich tapestry depicting a sector of the Milky Way that came to be known as the Battery Systems. For returning readers, places like Athos, Iophos, and Hellenia may be familiar, while new places like the Columns, Charris, and Exos have merely been hinted at before. Here, they are explored in depth through stories that reveal the peoples in them.

Ava loves her 80s rock. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a thriving tribute band scene in Portland! A night out to catch the world's greatest Guns-N-Roses tribute band, Appetite for Deception proves to be amazing. It was a perfect night...until a succubus kidnapped the lead singer. Now, Ava has to try and find a way to rescue him before midnight when the demoness will return to the abyss with her prize. Can't a ghoul just enjoy a simple night out? Apparently not.

A small number of people, motivated by an insatiable greed for power and wealth, and backed by a pinstripe army of enablers, have driven the world to the brink of destruction. Patrick Alley, co-founder of Global Witness and the author of Very Bad People, introduces us to some of the world's worst warlords, grifters and kleptocrats who can be found everywhere from presidential palaces to the board rooms of some of the world's best known companies. Pitted against them, the book also follows the people unravelling the deals, tracking the money and going undercover at great risk.

Dan Renfrew hates that he’s a time jumper—seventeen-year-olds should not be stuck with the responsibility of saving history. But with no one else stepping up to stop Victor Stahl’s plot to take over the world, Dan and his time-jumping partner Sam have no choice but to jump back into history again. They land on the Celtic island of Anglesey in 60 CE, hoping to find answers on how to stop Victor. Their task isn’t easy. Everyone seems to be hiding something, from the druids who rule Anglesey to the Celts who take the time jumpers in.

This audiobook explains the scientific tools and techniques that revealed the century's biggest food fraud scams. It looks in detail at the biggest scams in recent times; drawing on the lead author's extensive experience at the forefront of the fight against these fraudsters, it goes on to explore the arms race between scientists and adulterers as better techniques for detection spur more creative and sophisticated means of adulteration.

After vanquishing the last dragon with the power of her voice, all Kaiya wants is a quiet life of anonymity. Instead, the emperor sends her to negotiate peace with the aggressive Teleri Empire. The critical mission reunites her with her childhood friend, Tian, now an assassin-spy who loathes killing. He is no longer the adorable, gullible boy from her memories, any more than she is the adventurous, sweet girl from his. Instead of rekindling nostalgia for a youthful innocence they both yearn for, their reunion ignites a mutual hatred.

Genevieve "Gennie" Caine has no choice but to seduce, drug, and tie Colonial Mining Authority agent Natalia Hallowell to the bed to get her attention. With the Reyes Corporation after something she has, Gennie needs Natalia to open an investigation and distract them long enough for her to get off Nevarro. Natalia doesn't trust Gennie - despite the growing attraction between them - but the corporation's suspiciously high profits and abnormal business dealings convince her that they must be hiding something.

In Dawn of Deception, author A. R. Shaw delivers another far-too-plausible post-apocalyptic scenario challenging human survival.

All people lie a little, some intentionally, others not. Some about big things, others just to cover up their weaknesses, insecurities, or the reason why they are late. Money is an absolute liar-magnet, of course, and so are incentives like sex or fame. But however it is all unraveling in this current society, it’s important to know it is real. What matters even more, is that you can recognize them for what they are, and that you can cut through the BS people are selling you.

The Afterlife Confessional follows Bill's journey for answers as he looks through the dizzying kaleidoscope of his clients' lives - the widower who escaped an aged-care trap to take her husband's ashes on the road trip of a lifetime; the man who spent his life paying it forward to try to make up for one shameful act; the closet dominatrix who quietly confronts her husband's infidelity by comforting those truly in need; the devoted couple who insist on going hand-in-hand into the afterlife.

It’s no secret that hundreds of companies have been slashing pensions and health coverage earned by millions of retirees. Employers blame an aging workforce, stock market losses, and spiraling costs - a perfect storm of external forces that has forced them to take drastic measures. But this so-called retirement crisis is no accident. Award-winning investigative reporter Ellen E. Schultz reveals how large companies and the retirement industry - benefits consultants, insurance companies, and banks - have all played a huge, hidden role in the death spiral of American pensions and benefits.

After a year of preparation, 18-year-old Raven Smith has planned out every detail of her summer vacation in Europe. Yet, while still enroute to Italy, Raven finds a letter in her carry-on suitcase that tells her not to go to Europe, that an "evil agent of Hell" is looking for her and he will find her if she disregards the letter's message.

When Eli Bryce stumbles upon a plot to attack Earth, he shrugs it off. He's not in the Earth-saving business. Two decades after he was banished from his home-world for a disaster that still haunts him, Eli and his crew of misfits struggle to survive on the outskirts of the galaxy. But when Eli, goaded by his estranged daughter, rescues a near-dead castaway with an impossible secret, everything changes. Eli might have no choice but to get back into the Earth-saving business. Worse, he might have to grow a conscience.

When it comes to cold-blooded murder, nobody who is a part of civilized society can stand the thought that someone out there would actually get away with such horrendous crimes. We all want these wayward criminals to be caught and held accountable for their actions. This book demonstrates the lengths that some have gone to and the depths that they have plumbed just to make sure that the long arm of the law finally reached the barbaric perpetrators of unspeakable deeds and brought them to justice.

For over 240 years, for the most part, the American people have enjoyed a certain amount of civility and prosperity in a free society. There is an operation underway to deliberately throw the United States and the nations of the world off the rails spiritually to cause the chaos the world is experiencing today. Why? To usher in a new age of globalism, complete control over everyone and everything, by just a few at the top. This is just the physical manifestation of an underlying spiritual war.

Warlock Milo Velazquez has always dreamed of a day when “monsters” like him don’t have to hide in the shadows. Now, on a planet far from Earth, he’s hoping the old prejudices have been left behind. Though from what he’s seen so far - not a chance. Their new leader could make life a living hell for Milo and the other immortals illegally transported across the galaxy. Under cover, he scopes out the threat, but he never expected to find a beautiful woman locked in a cell underground. He should ignore her and focus on his mission, but instead he sets her free.

I'm in a bit of a jam. The basics? I have about 100 magic users chasing me, three people depending on me to help them out, and some super weird markings on my arms. They say this city is full of deception, that it will eat an honest man alive. Good thing I'm no honest man. I'm just a street-wise kid with a very serious dragon, and she'll get me out of any trouble I fall into. Right, Saboraak?

The forests of the Bloody Sunsets Valley are full of dangers: monsters, Reapers, strangers, and especially his comrades...the ones standing next to him. Cat has become stronger, but will it be enough to survive? Will he open the Mask? Will he understand who can be trusted, and who will trust him? Are real feelings even possible in the place where hypocrisy and deception reign supreme? The crusade to the big cities of the World of Karik is coming!