Short Stories

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much.

There's no place like home. Except when home really sucks - then there's just no place. There’s no place like home. Except when home really sucks – then there’s just no place. His mom’s boyfriends are never nice, but after the newest one explodes, abusing him, ten-year-old Neilson flees home. With nowhere else to go, he finds himself on the porch of an abandoned house. But the thing is, the house is no longer abandoned and the mysterious stranger staying there has a secret. Follow the memories back to 1978 in this short story of a boy struggling to find his place in the world. You ...

In Her Body and Other Parties, Carmen Maria Machado blithely demolishes the arbitrary borders between psychological realism and science fiction, comedy and horror, fantasy and fabulism. While her work has earned her comparisons to Karen Russell and Kelly Link, she has a voice that is all her own. In this electric and provocative debut, Machado bends genre to shape startling narratives that map the realities of women's lives and the violence visited upon their bodies.

Robert E. Howard, renowned creator of Conan the Barbarian, was also a master at conjuring tales of hair-raising horror. In a career spanning only 12 years, Howard wrote more than 100 stories, with his most celebrated work appearing in Weird Tales, the preeminent pulp magazine of the era.

This bundle includes Sweet Obsession, New Beginnings: A Holiday Novella, The Pursuit of Happiness, Perfectly Imperfect, No Greater Love, and All We Ever Needed.

New York Times best-selling author Rachel Caine has modern-day potions witches Holly and Andrew facing off against a firebrand politician who wears literally killer boots in a Texas-sized rodeo of trouble. Boot-loving Cadogan vampire Lindsey must team up with off-again, on-again vampire partner Luc when a woman from her past is targeted by supernaturals in New York Times best-selling author Chloe Neill's all-new adventure.

Prepare to be plunged into a realm where shadows whisper, time warps, and the very fabric of reality unravels. This collection of 66 spine-chilling tales will drag you into the darkest corners of fear and suspense. Each story stands alone, yet together they weave a tapestry of terror that will haunt your dreams. Encounter the unknown as explorers delve into forbidden depths and unlock ancient evils best left undisturbed. Face relentless nightmares where ordinary objects hold malevolent spirits, and the boundaries between life and death blur. Witness humanity's hubris as technological ...

An attack in the dark. The loss of a love. Waking up hung over in a ditch. These are the things that make a hero, especially if that hero is Quincy Harker, immortal wizard, snarky bastard, and general badass. Histories collects two short stories and one short novella giving a peek behind the curtain at the man, the myth, the legend that is Quincy Harker, as well as the origin story of one of his most popular cohorts, Jo Henry.

Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my lifeI'm engaged to the man of my dreams, and in a few short hours, I'm going to stand before a judge, who will declare us husband and wife, till death does us part. Despite some bumps in the road, this day is everything I dreamed it would be. There's only one problem: Someone out there doesn't want me to live long enough to say my vows. And if I'm not careful, they may very well get their wish.

"Living In Bondage" is a gripping tale of resilience, redemption, and the indomitable human spirit. Set against the backdrop of a sprawling metropolis, the story follows Maya, a young woman trapped in the suffocating embrace of poverty and despair. From the bustling streets teeming with life to the dimly lit alleys where shadows lurk, the vivid descriptions transport listeners into Maya's world, immersing them in the sights, sounds, and smells of urban life.

In this romantic and comic story about class, language, and the art of reinvention, “Nebraska Jack" Rigel is about to quit his Latin studies program at the Vatican when he suddenly finds himself face-to-face with the mysterious and ethereal Angelina Amadio, the famous Angel of Rome. Hired to translate the romantic feelings of the unpredictable former TV detective Ronnie Tower, Jack must navigate these two forces of nature in a Rome of late night bars and fancy villas, as he searches for his own role to play.

When Ginger Mitchell finds out her mother committed suicide, she drives her cherry-red SUV straight home to Portland. Murders are being passed off as suicides. College-aged women keep going missing. And then there's the troubling spate of mobsters who keep inviting her out to eat. Includes the first six novellas in the Roseland series, Home Is Where the Start Is, The Ruth Is Out There, The Body in the Pool, Amber Alert, Jane Dead, and Welcome to Roseland.

What happens when an adventurous crematorium meets a ghost? A charming Artificial Intelligence paranormal short story.

Reuben thought he’d spend the rest of his life with Beth, until she broke his heart six months ago. He’s not even remotely over her, so he’s devastated to hear she’s getting married—this weekend. Now he’s faced with the ultimate question: what should he do on the day of the wedding? Grieve? Disrupt the ceremony? Or do everything in his power to pretend it’s not happening? Enlisting the help of his friends, Reuben is all set to mark the occasion with distraction on a grand scale: Ferraris, champagne, and a VIP box at the races.

Spicy, Steamy, and HOT HOT HOT short stories filled with your dirtiest secret fantasies. NAUGHTY A summer internship for her dad's best friend. Her only instructions: Wait for him to use and fill her whenever he pleases. HOT Three silver foxes surround her, covering her in their sweet cream. But shh!! Don't wake Daddy. FORBIDDEN It's her first time, but he's her best friend's dad. This collection of MF and MFM naughty erotica shorts are perfect for readers interested in kinks and themes of free-use, domination, exhibitionism, Master & Pet play with praise, light-moderate BDSM, breeding, age...

Each captivating story plunges headfirst into the lives of utterly original characters. Some are darkly humorous—two mothers exchanging snide remarks through notes in their kids’ backpacks—while others are devastatingly poignant. In the title story, when a cosplayer, dressed as his favorite anime character, is mistaken for a violent threat the consequences are dire; in another story, a teen struggles between her upper middle class upbringing and her desire to fully connect with so-called black culture.

The book consists of three stories. All of these stories show the problem of women. Women who live in different moods face different types of problems. Sex is the root of all problems. The heroines in all three stories are either murders or similar things. They have their own justifications for each story.

Poirot Investigates is a collection of short stories written by English author Agatha Christie and first published in the UK in March 1924. In the 11 stories, famed eccentric detective Hercule Poirot solves a myriad of mysteries involving greed, jealousy, and revenge.

In "Strange Highways," a floundering alcoholic gets a mysterious second chance to relive the night his life began its downward spiral 20 years ago. But on this dark journey, he’ll be supremely tested by conflict with his successful, charismatic older brother, his loss of faith, and the clash between good and the ultimate evil. Sink into this binge-worthy collection of beloved Koontz short stories, featuring denizens of hell, vengeful children, and eerily human-like robots that will send shivers down your spine.

Discover the depths of passion and pleasure in this enthralling collection of Bedtime Short Sex Stories. Brimming with provocative encounters, taboo desires, and hidden fantasies, this tantalizing anthology takes readers on a sultry, spellbinding journey into a world where every whim and desire is explored and embraced. Unravel a tapestry of titillating tales as you navigate through the chapters, revealing the stories of couples who push the boundaries, characters indulging in power play and role reversal, and steamy office affairs. From forbidden trysts to public displays and swinging ...