Short Stories

From the opening story, "Willing" - about a second-rate movie actress in her 30s who has moved back to Chicago, where she makes a seedy motel room her home and becomes involved with a mechanic who has not the least idea of who she is as a human being - Birds of America unfolds a startlingly brilliant series of portraits of the unhinged, the lost, the unsettled of our America. Lorrie Moore explores the personal and the universal, the idiosyncratic and the mundane, with all the wit, brio, and verve that have made her one of the best storytellers of our time.

From the Civil War-era south, to 1950's New York, to the present day's gritty cities and seemingly innocuous suburbs, the 18 stories in this anthology edited by the award-winning mystery writer Harlan Coben chart the complications - always surprising, sometimes deadly - that arise between lovers, dear friends, and even complete strangers coming together for a single, shocking encounter.

Abby’s best friend had set her up on a date at a new restaurant in the city she has never been to before. She got lost and was late. When she finally arrived, her blind date was gone. Instead of leaving, she starts chatting up the server Katie and invites her to have dinner with her after her shift was over. The two women have a good time together talking and they exchanged numbers to meet again later in the week. Throughout the weeks after their first meeting, Abby’s feelings for her new friend start to change into something more than just friendly. Abby also finds out that her new ...

The Great Stone Face and Other Tales presents four haunting, unforgettable pieces, all set in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. One of the giants of American literature, Hawthorne lived in Salem, Massachusetts, and spent his spare time roaming the crooked streets, immersing himself in the legends and superstitions that he learned from other people. Weaving these tales into his own literary style, Hawthorne wrote many remarkable short stories and essays that focused on his favorite themes of spiritual insight, guilt, and the consequences of sin.

A "very short Catholic priest" who does "...not seem to know which was the right end of his return ticket," Father Brown is the embodiment of the phrase 'looks can be deceiving.' Arguably the second best-known crime-solver in English literature, this unassuming man of the cloth solves case after case with ease.

This book contains 26 of the greatest science fiction stories ever written. They represent the considered verdict of the Science Fiction Writers of America, those who have shaped the genre and who know, more intimately than anyone else, what the criteria for excellence in the field should be. The authors chosen for the Science Fiction Hall Fame are the men and women who have shaped the body and heart of modern science fiction; their brilliantly imaginative creations continue to inspire and astound new generations of writers and fans.

🌟 Magical Bedtime Stories: A Collection of Enchanting Tales for Children 🌟 Dive into a world of wonder with this captivating collection of magical bedtime stories that will transport your child to realms of imagination and possibility. Perfect for ages 4-8, these beautifully crafted tales combine gentle adventure with meaningful life lessons. Inside this enchanting book, you'll discover: The Brave Little Star - A heartwarming tale about a tiny star who learns that being different is what makes you special Lila and the Wishing Tree - An uplifting story about the magic of giving and ...

Brace yourself for bone-chilling fear, the haunting horror collection you'll be too afraid to read at night is finally here. In Haunted Horrors, author Silas Toombs unleashes ten terrifying tales of the supernatural, the disturbed, and the downright depraved that will make you second guess leaving your bedroom lights off ever again. From the malicious urban legend of Purple Aki who stalks young weightlifters leaving the gym alone, to Sideways Bob and the deadly secrets of his unassuming roadside bridge where he's known to have lived his entire life, no chapter is safe from the nightmares ...

When Ren Landis goes looking for excitement on her 21st birthday, getting kidnapped is a little more than she bargained for. So is finding out that shifters exist - and that she's one, too. As the last of the dragon shifters, she's got a role to fulfill: Take the alphas of the four shifter groups as her mates and unite all shifter kind. No pressure, right? Too bad Ren's fate isn't as simple as getting it on with four scorching-hot men.

🎁 Now with 1 Exclusive BONUS Chapter Inside! 🎁 ⭐ Empower the Amazing Young Boy in Your Life to Believe in Himself with Just 5 Minutes a Day!⭐ What if 5 minutes each day could help him overcome fears, believe in himself, and dream big? 🔥 Does he sometimes doubt himself, hesitate to act or fear making mistakes? 🔥 Do you want to inspire him to recognize his strengths and confidently tackle challenges? Then this book is just what he needs! 📖 INSPIRING STORIES FOR AMAZING BOYS WHO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES by inspirational author Sati Siroda is packed with uplifting stories that ...

The Cambodian Curse: When an ancient and supposedly cursed Cambodian sculpture disappears from an impenetrable museum, and the carving's owner is killed by an invisible assailant while a witness is a few feet away, historian Jaya Jones and her old nemesis Henry North team up to solve the baffling crime. Additional stories include: "The Hindi Houdini", "The Haunted Room", "The Library Ghost of Tanglewood Inn", "The Curse of Cloud Castle", "Tempest in a Teapot", "A Dark and Stormy Light", "The Shadow of the River", plus the bonus novella Fool's Gold.

Science Fiction Stories 9 is a riveting collection of short stories that will transport you to the farthest reaches of the galaxy and beyond. Immerse yourself in tales of advanced technology, alien encounters, and the human spirit's resilience against the unknown. This anthology, penned by various talented authors, offers a diverse array of narratives that explore the limitless possibilities of science fiction. The Computational Gambit by Nelson W. Clark: A cunning salesman introduces a revolutionary financial planning computer, but not everything is as it seems. Hiding by William S. Harper...

Do your children love hearing stories every night, but you’re running out of ideas? Do your children love stories about kings, princesses and unicorns? If you answered yes to these questions, then you will want to keep reading. Storytime before bed is often a kid’s favourite time. Not only do they get to enjoy a story that works their imagination, but it often means that they get some good one-on-one time with their parents. This can help to bring families closer together, which leaves the child feeling safe and secure. This means that they can relax more easily so that they can fall ...

Some schemes succeed by failing spectacularly… When Elizabeth Bennet receives an unexpected invitation from the formidable Lady Catherine de Bourgh to serve as her companion at Rosings, curiosity compels her to accept. But Elizabeth soon discovers that Lady Catherine's "generosity" is nothing more than an elaborate trap—a calculated scheme to prove once and for all that she could never be a suitable wife for the proud Mr. Darcy. Subjected to systematic humiliation and deliberate slights, Elizabeth finds herself relegated to the servants' quarters while enduring Lady Catherine's cutting ...

Dashiell Hammett is best known as both pioneer and master of American hard-boiled detective fiction, but these dozen and a half stories both affirm that reputation and present him in a different light. Along with the full-length treatments On the Make and The Kiss-Off, this collection includes never before and rarely published stories that explore failed romance, courage in the face of uncertainty, hypocrisy, and crass opportunism.

Scary Stories-Volume 2 is for readers who love horror and appreciate a good scare. If you are fans of Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, Night Gallery, Outer Limits, One Step Beyond, and horror stories with a plot and a twist ending, look no further. Billy Wells Horror is your ticket to a journey into the macabre. The average Amazon review rating on all 22 books of Billy Wells Horror is 4.3!! Table of Contents: Forbidden Fruit: A father buys purple fruit at a roadside stand that turns his youngest son into a ravenous ghoul. Drool: The city is swarming with zombies as Jerry and Maggie ...

Like many well-to-do Upper East Siders over the age of 65, esteemed art appraiser Percival Skinner had planned to spend his retirement living off his savings. But a market correction has left him living below his prior means. One day he’s visited by a dapper fixer in search of a famous work by a Renaissance master. Skinner knows the work well: The original was owned by his ancestor, and was passed down through his family over the generations. If, as an intermediary, he can coordinate a sale, a small fortune awaits. Problem is, he might not be the only one on the make.

Mosley presents distinct characters as they struggle to move through the world in each of these stories - heroes who are awkward, nerdy, self-defeating, self-involved, and, on the whole, odd. He overturns the stereotypes that corral black male characters and paints a subtle, powerful portrait of each of these unique individuals.

This is simply a collection of short stories, most based on relationships, but a few based on other personal issues for the characters. All of these stories are completely fiction, it's amazing what the imagination can create

In Romance: Quickies (Malia's Encounter - 9), Malia is introduced to the world of BDSM by a mysterious army ranger. He captivates her body and senses, but does he have a secret side that leads her into danger? Seven friends living in New York City. One unusual competition. Who can have the most intimate encounters in a month? Ten thousand dollars is on the line... Quickies are bite-sized steamy stories that follow a group of women living in New York City who compete to see who can have the most casual hookups in a month. Which woman will sleep with the most men to win the bet? Will any of ...