On a sultry night in the French Quarter, alone in a room thick with desire, she is able to channel the wanton mating of the couple down the hall. Each kiss, each sensation is as real to her as if she were the one being ravished. Forgetting herself, she calls out to him, until he is at her door, in her bed, knowing fully what she wants... Note: This is a 5,600-word short story.

Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet some sexy Viking and bear him many children! The tickets to Viking Times were supposed to be a friendly joke—a way for Sylvia and her boyfriend to reconnect while indulging in her love for history. But when Sylvia finds herself alone on the big night, she goes anyway, never expecting to be involved, let alone rescued, from a demon attack. Her savior...a sexy red-headed Viking warrior, who—surprise!—also happens to be a vampire. Apparently, she doesn’t have enough problems in her life (disappointing ex-boyfriend, disappearing teenage BFF, sordid childhood trauma)—she has to up the ante and include the supernatural (vampires, demons, and witches, oh my!). As she falls deeper into this frighteningly familiar world, Sylvia discovers that she can’t accept her future without confronting her past. Theo knows he wants her blood from the first moment, but as he explores the mystery surrounding Sylvia, he wonders for the first time if he wants more. Struggling between his bloodlust and her pursuers, Theo must decide if Sylvia is the one to finally invite into his life. The demon known as Mr. Pilkington has spent a long time studying desire, but when it comes to his own needs, he can be as willfully blind as the humans he observes. Until it comes to the one he wants...

To those who think they know her, Eliza Curran has it all: two healthy children, a stunning home and a wealthy, adoring husband. No one would guess the reality of her life: trapped in an unhappy marriage to a controlling man, she longs for a way out. When she takes on a new tenant, her life changes unexpectedly. Dan Jones is charming and perceptive, and quickly becomes a close friend to the whole family. But Dan's arrival threatens to tip Eliza's fragile world out of balance. And when someone has as many secrets as Eliza does, the smallest slip could destroy everything . . . 'Emma Curtis is the queen of the unputdownable thriller' Nuala Ellwood READERS LOVE EMMA CURTIS'S THRILLERS: 'Lots of twists and turns, suspense and heart-stopping moments' 'The type of book that you GENUINELY can't put down' 'Emma Curtis just gets better all the time' 'This book will suck you right in and you won't want to stop reading' 'With each page I turned the intensity of this psychological thriller increased'

From debut author Alyssa Hollingsworth comes a story about living with fear, being a friend, and finding a new place to call home. They say you can't get something for nothing, but nothing is all Sami has. When his grandfather’s most-prized possession—a traditional Afghan instrument called a rebab—is stolen, Sami resolves to get it back. He finds it at a music store, but it costs $700, and Sami doesn’t have even one penny. What he does have is a keychain that has caught the eye of his classmate. If he trades the keychain for something more valuable, could he keep trading until he has $700? Sami is about to find out. The Eleventh Trade is both a classic middle school story and a story about being a refugee. Alyssa Hollingsworth tackles a big issue with a light touch. 2020 UKLA Award Winner

For fans of Maya Banks, Beth Kery and Jo Davis comes the first sizzlingly romantic and highly erotic installment in Stephanie Julian's Salon Games series. Some invitations don't need to be sent...only accepted. Antiques dealer Annabelle Elder's life is nowhere near as passionate as the erotic art she collects. Intending to explore her desires at a decadent New Year's Eve party, she finds unexpected passion in the arms of Jared Golden... Handsome, rich and charming, Jared has created an anything-goes pleasure palace at the Haven Hotel, catering to every special wish. Seducing Annabelle was easy, yet being seduced in turn was unanticipated... But in exploring their sensual fantasies, Jared and Annabelle are caught in a web of painful secrets and troubled pasts. And to face the truth they must trust in the power of true love... This game is only the beginning... To play more seductive Salon Games, return to the series with No Reservations and Over Exposed.

Intense inner and outer monologues resonate through the lives of Glen Pourciau’s characters. We hear the voice of a man who will not stop talking, the voice of a man who does not want to talk, the voice of a man stunned into silence by his sudden awareness of a desire he did not know he felt, and the voice of a man struggling to accept his imminent death. Inhabiting an outwardly bland landscape that overlays internal questions and recurring confusion, the narrators of these ten intensely felt stories strive to understand their varied predicaments. Conflicts with neighbors arise, troubling memories return, suspicions and fears lead people into isolated corners as distances open up inside them and around them. And in those open spaces, the sometimes humorous, sometimes obsessive voices continue their quest. In the final story, “Deep Wilderness,” the voices seem to fragment as a family comes apart. While his characters struggle to come to terms with their inner wilderness, Glen Pourciau’s spare, riveting voice maintains a constant presence. Invite is a debut collection that speaks volumes.

CAN YOU REALLY RE-AUTHOR THE STORIES YOU TELL YOURSELF? Most of us are living unfulfilled lives. We are trapped in the stories we tell ourselves. These stories manifest themselves in beliefs and as thinking patterns. We shy away from exploring opportunities due to biased judgment, resulting in unfulfilled decisions and substandard choices. These stories represent the gap to living a fulfilled and happier life. What can we do to bridge this gap? Join the author, Jane, as she shares the story of Daniella. Daniella struggles with a nightmare that represents the gap to living a fulfilled life. How does she understand her nightmare, bridge the gap, and re-author the stories she's been telling herself? This journey will evoke emotions within you. You will learn how to handle common situations that represent the gap. Bridging this gap will help you thrive. Daniella's story will resonate with each of us, as we all go through this, at different phases in life. Are you ready to re-author your story?