Modern Short Stories

Gripping and compassionate, Land of Big Numbers traces the journeys of the diverse and legion Chinese people, their history, their government, and how all of that has tumbled—messily, violently, but still beautifully—into the present. Cutting between clear-eyed realism and tongue-in-cheek magical realism, Chen’s stories coalesce into a portrait of a people striving for openings where mobility is limited.

This is a story from the Canterbury Tales I: Modern Verse Translation collection. Chaucer's greatest work, written towards the end of the fourteenth century, paints a brilliant picture of medieval life, society and values. The stories range from the romantic, courtly idealism of "The Knight's Tale" to the joyous bawdy of the Miller's; all are told with a freshness and vigor in this modern verse translation that make them a delight to hear.

What happens when Western fantasies collide with Eastern reality? Dive into four riveting tales of romance, deception, resilience, and revolution in modern Ukraine. Foreigner’s Guide to Ukrainian Women and Other Stories offers a sharp, satirical, and deeply human lens into love and life across borders. Based on both fiction and real-life events, this bold collection pulls back the curtain on Eastern Europe’s untold dramas and romantic entanglements. 🧳 1. Foreigner’s Guide to Ukrainian Women Johnny Best is a tech millionaire tired of California’s hollow glitter. Hoping to find ...

When Rip Van Winkle disappeared in that old colonial tale, was his over-worked wife suspected of murder? What about Cinderella—did she get on in the castle like everyone said, or was that fairy tale just fiction? These questions and more in the mystery of faulty expectations and quirky twists. Stories include: EVER AFTER: When the fairy tale ended long before intended, Cinderella wasn’t the only one without a happily-ever-after. ALL THE LUCK: Things went from good to perfect when she won a honeymoon trip with a raffle ticket . . . except for what happened next—is she suspect, or ...

Who knew a hotwife anklet could be so empowering? After months of my husband begging me to cuckold him, I finally found the courage to seduce a hot young buck on the dance floor of the hottest nightclub in town. We played together in the back seat of my car while my husband drove us around. Now I'm hooked. So, when I ran into the nightclub's hot bartender while having lunch the following Monday with my bestie, I made my move. Only this time, my husband will be playing with us. He doesn't know that yet. But he'll find out when I bring my bartender boyfriend home.

Previously published as "The Bloody Slipper" by Arla Jones. Get ready to shift gears into a magical world! When a mysterious sleeping curse hits Prince Charming's father's castle, the enchanted affliction spreads far beyond the medieval walls. Modern-day household items from coffee makers to cars lie in slumber, their engines dead, victims of the witch's dark magic. Prince Charming must navigate this strange new world, teaming up with a mystical beast, a fiercely loyal band of dwarfs, and a pinch of magical fairy dust. Together, they embark on a heart-pumping quest to outsmart the wicked ...

Exit Wounds is a thrilling anthology of crime stories written by masters of the genre, including Dean Koontz, Val McDermid, Lee Child, Jeffery Deaver, Elly Griffiths, Dennis Lehane, Joe R. Lansdale, and others.

Nikki is tired of being single, childless, and unhappy. At thirty-five, she ready to start a family, and offers her best friend a chance to be her baby daddy. Her plan goes according to plan, however, what she didn’t expect was to catch feelings for him… The Proposal is a steamy BWWM interracial romance. This short story is 4,400 words and is for mature readers only.

What if the real horror isn’t what you see—but what you remember? From debut author Scott Oscar comes Neural Static, a collection of six unsettling stories that dig deep into the fault lines of memory, perception, and the creeping sense that something isn’t quite right. These aren’t your typical ghosts. These are the echoes that follow you home, the whispers caught in broken recordings, the distortions that grow louder the more you try to ignore them. In these chilling tales: A grieving son is drawn into a decades-old list of haunted mirrors with deadly, shifting reflections. A ...

Hong Kong Takedown A Long Short Story Alex the Pirate and his business partner, Diego, set about establishing a legitimate business in Hong Kong to help them in their South China Sea smuggling and pirating endeavors. Alex has his eye on an insurance company that is in financial difficulty. The owner owns money to the triad and can’t pay. Alex meets a man in a card game who may hold the key to a hard takedown of the company and its owner. But they must navigate the choppy waters of Hong Kong’s underworld in a way that will curry favor in the right places and not get them killed by the ...

Ashely Williams is down on her luck. Swimming in debt, her baby daddy won’t pay child support, and broke, her life wasn’t going anywhere. It wasn’t until she meets a sexy Irish man on Saint Patrick’s Day, when her life turns around. Luck of the Irish is a steamy interracial BWWM romance. This short story of 4,400 words is for mature readers only.

This volume of short essays and other pieces by C. S. Lewis is part of a larger collection, C. S. Lewis: Essay Collection and Other Short Pieces. In addition to his many books, letters, and poems, C. S. Lewis wrote a great number of essays and shorter pieces on various subjects. He wrote extensively on Christian theology and the defense of faith but also on ethical issues and the nature of literature and storytelling. Within this audiobook is a treasure trove of Lewis' reflections on diverse topics.

A split-second decision. A life forever changed. What would you do? New Christian Grant Yale never imagined his faith would be tested so soon—or so severely. When a night out with reckless, drunk friends takes a dark turn, Grant becomes a passenger in a hit-and-run that leaves someone fighting for their life. As guilt and fear close in, Grant faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: speak up and risk everything, or stay silent and live with the consequences. Will his newfound faith give him the courage to do what's right? Gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally powerful, this second ...

Unfiltered True Short Stories from the Modern Business Are you tired of wading through corporate self-help books filled with recycled advice and worn-out clichés? Cubicles, Coffee, and Corporate Candy shatters the mold, delivering an unapologetically raw look into the real stories that define today's corporate world.Step Behind the Cubicle Curtain Author Mohamad Chahine compiles a riveting collection of 90 authentic short stories, each one a window into the unfiltered realities of modern business life. These aren't hypothetical scenarios or overblown success tales—they're genuine ...

Reader reviews for Alice Crowley's HOT writing: "I LOVED THE IMAGINATION OF THIS AUTHOR!" ~Satisfied Kindle Reader "FIVE STARS!" ~Multiple Fans In this 3,000 word short, a married woman and her husband are taken on a deep and powerful journey into the world of erotic infidelity. Lonni has a new toy -- her husband bought it for her and she loves it! When the toy becomes sentient though, and begins to speak to her, she is very afraid. Now a bounty hunter shows up, and saves her from being consumed by her obsession with technology by taking and demanding her awaiting flesh. When the husband ...

Frankenstein - his very name conjures up images of plundered graves, secret laboratories, electrical experiments, and reviving the dead. Within this audio, the maddest doctor of them all and his demented disciples once again delve into the secrets of life, as science fiction meets horror when the world's most famous creature lives again. Collected together for the first time, here are 25 electrifying tales of cursed creation that are guaranteed to spark your interest.

Words of a Feather is a stunning collection of Short Stories, Poems and Sketches from author, Robert E. Kearns. There's something inside for every taste, and Words of a Feather comes packed with hours of reading pleasure. Replete with entertainment, there is sure to be laughs, tears, spills and thrills. Satisfying pleasures of the mind, Words of a Feather is a book you'll want to read again and again.

Detective stories existed for centuries before the concept of the detective itself—amateur or professional— was fully formulated, and tales of mystery and intrigue have been thrilling readers since ancient times. The Lock and Key Library is the classic overview of the history of the mystery genre, at once a rousing listen for fans of the unsolved and unknown as well as an essential literary resource for those seeking to understand the roots of modern pulp fiction. This volume is sure to delight and enthrall armchair detectives and fans of classic mysteries alike.

Seizing the Tiger It’s 1996 and Alex the Pirate hates having his smuggled goods ripped off on the high seas. Colonel Le, another pirate, got the drop on him and he is vastly outgunned in his wooden-hulled tongkang in the middle of the Gulf of Thailand. Le smirks as he steals Alex’s valuable cargo and powers away to leave Alex and crew drifting on their damaged craft at sea. Alex and his friend Diego know that vengeance is a dish best served cold. Le will pay for his treachery—the hard way. And maybe they will seize the cutthroat’s prize boat—the one they call the Tiger. The first ...

Things are getting serious at the Society for Magickal Heritage. An ancient legend has plans for Ves, and Ves has plans for just about everything else. It’s time to take on the ultimate challenge—and hope for the best. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything. As usual. But if old magick is going to survive in the modern world, it’s no use being cautious. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and Ves is giving it everything she’s got. But can she handle the cost? And can the cost handle her?