The longest night. A vampire's delight.The winter solstice is a time of birth and rebirth, life and death, waning light and rising darkness. A time when those who flee the sun and crave the taste of blood find their greatest solace.But one never knows what the longest night might hold.Once Upon the Longest Night, a collection of adult paranormal romances, features eight novelettes of lovers and their battles against one of the greatest legends of our time: the vampire. A 15th-century seaman and the love of his life come face to face with a vengeful manjasang. In ancient Rome, a hunted priestess captured by a loyal centurion offers her aid to the enemy. With the help of a handsome Royal courier, a reluctant Romanian princess braves the curse flowing within her noble blood. Danger awaits when a vampire in the far reaches of North Dakota must endure the lethal cold to protect the woman she loves. And in a future New York, a broken general returns home for the Longest Night Ball where he meets a young male witch who might change his life forever.This anthology combines vampire mythos and affairs of the heart with the sacred symbolism and magic of the winter season.Sit back and let us tell you a tale. Welcome to the Longest Night.
A scintillating debut novel about a young couple whose marriage is tested when they move to an army base rife with love triangles, life-or-death conflicts, and a dramatic cover-up In 1959, Nat Collier moves with her husband, Paul, and their two young daughters to Idaho Falls, a remote military town. An Army Specialist, Paul is stationed there to help oversee one of the country’s first nuclear reactors—an assignment that seems full of opportunity. Then, on his rounds, Paul discovers that the reactor is compromised, placing his family and the entire community in danger. Worse, his superiors set out to cover up the problem rather than fix it. Paul can’t bring himself to tell Nat the truth, but his lies only widen a growing gulf between them. Lonely and restless, Nat is having trouble adjusting to their new life. She struggles to fit into her role as a housewife and longs for a real friend. When she meets a rancher, Esrom, she finds herself drawn to him, comforted by his kindness and company. But as rumors spread, the secrets between Nat and Paul build and threaten to reach a breaking point. Based on a true story of the only fatal nuclear accident to occur in America, The Longest Night is a deeply moving novel that explores the intricate makeup of a marriage, the shifting nature of trust, and the ways we try to protect the ones we love. Praise for The Longest Night “[A] stunning debut.”—Entertainment Weekly “[A] smart and detailed portrait of a dissolving postwar marriage . . . will remind many readers of Richard Yates’s Revolutionary Road.”—San Francisco Chronicle “[Andria] Williams’s quietly confident style is without swagger or gimmick. . . . What emerges most powerfully from The Longest Night is a kind of quiet wonder at the exquisite intricacy, but astonishing durability, of familial love.”—Los Angeles Review of Books “Think Army Wives meets Serial meets your perfect long weekend read. About an army base with a lot of love triangles, and a cover-up.”—theSkimm “The tension builds heavily with each page.”—InStyle “Scintillating . . . A smoldering, altogether impressive debut that probes the social and emotional strains on military families in a fresh and insightful way.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “[A] luminous debut . . . Williams expertly builds tension between Paul and Nat as the story progresses towards the inevitable nuclear tragedy in this utterly absorbing and richly rewarding novel.”—Booklist (starred review) “Andria Williams’s debut is an intimately detailed portrait of love, trust, and guilt in a town—and an era—clouded with secrets.”—Celeste Ng, author of Everything I Never Told You “A smart and compassionate novel that offers as many fresh insights into marriage and intimacy as it does about American nuclear history. Andria Williams is a terrific writer—clear-eyed and empathetic—and this is a fantastic debut.”—Molly Antopol, author of The UnAmericans “It’s hard to believe The Longest Night is Andria Williams’s debut novel. Her command of language, character and plot—the three essential ingredients for a riveting read—is extraordinary.”—David Abrams, author of Fobbit
Heartbreak and grief touch every soul at least once in a lifetime and Ranata Suzuki translates those raw emotions into words. The Longest Night combines strikingly poignant quotations, powerfully emotive poetry and captivating silhouette imagery to form a mournful lover's journal that explores a side of love that is deep, dark and hauntingly beautiful. Each of the book's elements are skilfully woven together to reveal fragments of thoughts and feelings that seem almost to belong to the reader as years of painful longing are condensed into the context of a single night. The journal begins with 'Sunset', in which poems convey the initial feelings of shock and loss first felt when a relationship with a loved one ends. As the poetry descends into an emotional downward spiral, the book progresses into its next chapter, 'Darkness', in which emptiness, jealousy, sorrow and despair are passionately portrayed. The concluding chapter, 'First Light', sees the gradual dawning of a new outlook. The final poems express a gratitude for what once was, an acceptance of what now is, and come to the uplifting conclusion that even though a relationship can be fated to end tragically, the memories gained and lessons learned from it are, in their own way, treasured gifts that will last a lifetime. A book for anyone who has found themselves separated from someone they love no matter the circumstance, The Longest Night is a companion for the broken heart on the painful emotional journey that is losing someone you love from your life. Its words serve as a comforting reminder, whether you are travelling this road or have recently completed this journey yourself, that despite the loneliness you may sometimes feel along the way none of us walk this path alone.
This heart-pounding mystery-adventure follows three kids who get lost in the woods at night and experience something they cannot quite explain. Secrets, spies, or maybe even a monster . . . what lies in the heart of the woods? Charlie Noon and Dizzy Heron are determined to find out. When their nemesis, Johnny Baines, plays a prank on them and night falls without warning, all three end up lost in the woods, trapped in a nightmare. Unforeseen dangers and impossible puzzles lurk in the shadows. Like it or not, Charlie and Dizzy must work with Johnny if they are to find a way out. But time can be tricky. . . . What if the night never ends?
From the instant #1 New York Times bestselling author of the “eerie and fascinating” (USA TODAY) The Thirteenth Tale comes a “swift and entrancing, profound and beautiful” (Madeline Miller, internationally bestselling author of Circe) novel about how we explain the world to ourselves, ourselves to others, and the meaning of our lives in a universe that remains impenetrably mysterious. On a dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the river Thames, an extraordinary event takes place. The regulars are telling stories to while away the dark hours, when the door bursts open on a grievously wounded stranger. In his arms is the lifeless body of a small child. Hours later, the girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life. Is it a miracle? Is it magic? Or can science provide an explanation? These questions have many answers, some of them quite dark indeed. Those who dwell on the river bank apply all their ingenuity to solving the puzzle of the girl who died and lived again, yet as the days pass the mystery only deepens. The child herself is mute and unable to answer the essential questions: Who is she? Where did she come from? And to whom does she belong? But answers proliferate nonetheless. Three families are keen to claim her. A wealthy young mother knows the girl is her kidnapped daughter, missing for two years. A farming family reeling from the discovery of their son’s secret liaison stand ready to welcome their granddaughter. The parson’s housekeeper, humble and isolated, sees in the child the image of her younger sister. But the return of a lost child is not without complications and no matter how heartbreaking the past losses, no matter how precious the child herself, this girl cannot be everyone’s. Each family has mysteries of its own, and many secrets must be revealed before the girl’s identity can be known. Once Upon a River is a glorious tapestry of a book that combines folklore and science, magic and myth. Suspenseful, romantic, and richly atmospheric, this is “a beguiling tale, full of twists and turns like the river at its heart, and just as rich and intriguing” (M.L. Stedman, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans).
Mina was born on the longest night of the darkest month of the year. When her father looked at her, all he saw was what he feared: By birth, by name, by nature, she belonged to the Dark. So when Mina turned sixteen, her father took her away from shadow and brought her into sunlight. In retaliation, her mother lured a handsome prince into a deadly agreement: If he frees Mina, he can claim her as his bride. Now Mina and her prince must endure deadly trials -- of love and fate and family -- before they can truly live happily ever after....
The author, a travel writer and actor, delivers a memoir about how travel helped him become the man he wanted to be, helping him overcome life-long fears and confront his resistance to commitment. From time immemorial, travel has been a pursuit of passion, from adventurers of old seeking gold or new lands, to today's spiritual and pleasure seekers who follow in the footsteps of Elizabeth Gilbert. Some see travel as a form of light-hearted escapism while others believe it has the power to open your mind, forcing you to confront your demons, and discover your true self. The author belongs to this second category of traveler. His memoir follows his excursions to Patagonia, the Amazon, Costa Rica, Baltimore, Vienna, Kilimanjaro, Dublin, and beyond. He uses his wanderlust to examine his motives and desires, and explore his ambivalence about commitment. He ponders his personal life, his acting career, and his impulse to leave home, all building toward one of the most significant moments of his life: his wedding day. His message about the transformative power of travel is universal, and his exploration of the nature and passion of relationships, both fleeting and enduring, strikes a chord with every man and woman who has ever wondered at the vicissitudes of the human heart.
Five medieval romances from USA Today Bestselling Author Demelza Carlton that will sweep you away to a land of castles, knights and kings where fairytales can come true. Including: Wish: Aladdin Retold Melt: Snow Queen Retold Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold Kiss: Frog Prince Retold Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold Wish: Aladdin Retold: A sultan's daughter. A pretend prince. Can a genie make all their wishes come true? Once upon a time... When Princess Maram and street rat Aladdin meet in the marketplace, sparks fly, and Aladdin swears to move heaven and earth in order to make the lovely courtesan his wife. He steals a magic lamp with a genie inside, thinking all his troubles are over...only to find they have barely begun. Can Aladdin win the princess's hand without losing his head? Melt: Snow Queen Retold: An enslaved enchantress. A magic mirror. Whose match will be made next? Once upon a time... When Queen Briska is accused of treason, she flees to the mountains, building an icy wall around her broken heart. But she cannot flee her punishment - she is forced to help other couples find love. A tough task, when the man she loves is dead. Amani knew his life was over the moment he was enslaved to a magic lamp. But when a strange twist of fate frees him from the lamp just as he discovers the woman he loves still lives, Amani sets out to find her, and free her, too. Will the power of love be enough to melt two frozen hearts? Spin: Rumpelstiltskin Retold: A miller's daughter. A cursed knight. The power of a name. Once upon a time... Molina has one desire: to see her inventions spread throughout the kingdom. When Prince Lubos offers to take her to the capital as his bride, she jumps at the chance. But impressing the king may take more than a simple spinning wheel. To marry Prince Lubos, she will need to work a miracle. Molina enters into a desperate bargain with a mysterious man who turns all he touches into gold. A man with a tragic tale of his own, all tied up in his family name. The future hangs in the balance, but will either of them live to see it? Kiss: Frog Prince Retold: A desert princess. A cursed prince. Can a kiss break the spell? Once upon a time... When Anahita picks up a pet frog on her way to marry a distant sheikh, she laughs at his claim to be a prince under a curse that can only be broken by a kiss. Until he transforms into a man in her tent. With one man in her bed as she's preparing to marry another, what's a desert princess to do? Hunt: Red Riding Hood Retold: A witch’s vow. A knight’s quest. A wolf hunting to kill. Once upon a time… Six years ago, Rosa lost her family to a wolf attack during the coldest winter in living memory. But now the wolf is back, as bloodthirsty as ever, and she vows vengeance. Work is hard to find in the dead of winter, and Sir Chase welcomes the chance to slay wolves if it means he’ll have a warm bed and food for the winter. He never counted on having to compete with a woman for his prize. When the wolf proves more than one hunter alone can handle, can the unlikely pair join forces to defeat the menace?
**A USA Today "Must-Read" Series!** Over 1400 pages of magic, adventure, and fairy tale romance. This box set includes all four full-length books in the Once Upon a Curse series, plus the prequel novella. On a Saturday in spring, an earthquake strikes the entire globe. Cities disappear, replaced by villages that seem torn from storybooks—horses and carriages, cobblestone streets, towering castles, and, most importantly, magic. A world that was once dominated by devices goes dark and a new power rises. What happens when the fairy tales become real? What's stronger, magic or modern technology? What's more powerful, a curse or true love? Read the series to find out… Granting Wishes (An Aladdin Retelling): When an earthquake strikes in the middle of her rock climbing trip, Alanna plunges to what she expects will be her death. Instead, she falls into a cave full of magic, where a mysterious man makes her an offer she can't refuse. Gathering Frost (A Sleeping Beauty Retelling): Under the spell of an evil queen, Jade is a hardened warrior who has forgotten what it is to feel anything at all. But when a runaway prince kidnaps her and brings her to his rebel base, she begins to question her loyalties. Withering Rose (A Beauty and the Beast Retelling): Sick of spending her life in hiding, Omorose flees to the realm of the beasts where her forbidden magic might be accepted. When she arrives, all she finds is a brooding shifter prince with no interest in hosting guests. Chasing Midnight (A Cinderella Retelling): Seeking revenge for her sister's death, Nymia agrees to retrieve a long-lost princess for her family, but what she's really after is the girl's magic. Turns out, so is a reckless prince who's too charming for his own good. Parting Worlds (A Little Mermaid Retelling): For her entire life, Aerewyn has been warned not to trust humans. But when she stumbles upon an injured boy in the woods, the only thing he seems in danger of is dying. So she saves his life, and changes the fate of both their worlds. If you like charming trickster princes, avenging fairy godmothers, and princesses who save themselves, don't miss the Once Upon a Curse series! Now for a limited time, save when buying this box set compared to the individual books. Praise for Gathering Frost (Book 1): "An urban fantasy with all the steam of a romance." - Jessie Potts, USA TODAY Happy Ever After Blog "Become immersed in a starkly magical world filled with last hopes." - Publishers Weekly "Unbelievably magnificent…This one is a MUST READ." - Happy Tails and Tales Blog "I loved everything about this book!" - Hooked In A Book "Awesome in every way…lots of heart-wrenching emotion, action and romance." - Geeks In High School "I loved this book…kept me on the edge of my seat." - Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
