Search

This unique collection of short stories came about when a dinnertime conversation led to the following question being posed: What would happen if a man and woman were forced to spend several days shackled to one another? Four skilled writers offer their answers to this query in four interesting, enlightening tales.

Hungry for work, an ex–air force pilot takes a deadly assignment in ManilaDespite three years of exemplary service flying for his country in the South Pacific, Spence Rankin can't find work. He's losing a bar fight when his old friend Ulio Kane appears. A former companion of Rankin's, Kane was born in Manila and spent the war organizing guerilla warfare against the Japanese. They killed his family during the occupation, so Kane faked his death and set about preparing for peacetime life. But now Kane has received a plea for help, signed by his father—who's supposed to be dead. Is the note genuine, or is it a trap lain by his enemies in the mining business? He must return to Manila to be sure, and wants to hire Spence as a bodyguard. The pilot agrees to take the job, for death in the tropics is preferable to boredom in California.

We can't always choose the object of our affections, and often, Cupid's arrow causes people to fall in love with the most unsuitable candidates. That's a theme that surfaces time and time again in the collection Frivolous Cupid from British writer Anthony Hope. Bringing together one novella and a series of short stories, this delectable delight will enchant romance fans.

If you are a fan of classic action-adventure stories who loved Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda, A Man of Mark should be right up your alley. Set amidst a political uprising in the fictional country of Aureataland, this fast-paced romp is a rip-roaring read.

In the early twentieth century, longstanding social mores in England began to shift rapidly, with centuries-long institutions and belief systems beginning to fall by the wayside. Anthony Hope's Second String conveys the tumult of the era through a tale of two politicians -- one with aristocratic roots, one a salt-of-the-earth populist -- and their respective career arcs.

What is the true function of the artist in society? Do fame and acclaim help or hinder the artist's pursuit of creative expression? These are the timeless questions underpinning this classic novel from American literary legend Henry James. The story follows the parallel career trajectories of two artists: Nick Dormer, who is trying to juggle both a political career and his love of painting, and Miriam Rooth, an ambitious young actress who will do anything to achieve success.

If you associate Henry James with nothing but fussy, mannered drawing-room dramas, the novel The Sacred Fount will come as a pleasant surprise. During the course of what should be a relaxing weekend getaway in the country, the narrator begins to sense that something is amiss. The first clue comes in a series of ever-so-slight shifts in the personalities and behaviors of his fellow guests. Is it all in his head, or has he stumbled across a mystery?

The Red Chinese dare America's most prolific sex expert-Rod Damon-to test his fabled prowess against the flower of Chinese womanhood. Rod rises to the task and embarks on the Oriental love campaign only to find himself limp at his very first whistle stop! Never before have the limitless resources of the Coxeman been so carefully audited. Never before have Rod's fabled funds been so severely taxed-and never before has he found his assets so woefully overdrawn. To preserve his sanity Rod must discover the insidious industry secret that threatens the future of big mergers between the sexes-and he must find out before his own holdings are completely liquidated!

Until Rod Damon -- The Coxeman -- saw the bikini-clad beauties flying, he really believed only the birds and the bees did it. But there was something definitely unnatural about this trio of deadly dames who try to blow him apart. How did they get up there? Who were they working for? If the enemy controlled this invention it could prove to be America's downfall. To get his hands on their gadgets, Rod had to get to the girls. But what Rod didn't bargain for was that the girls were dying to get their hands on him...and they weren't planning to let him go until his heart petered out. Girding his loins in his inimitable manner, Rod plunges into the mystery with a big bang!

The unforgettable stories of three women, told with poignancy and compassion by one of the most important writers of our century3 Lives consists of three character studies of women;'The Good Anna'–a kind but domineering German servingwoman;'Melanctha'–an uneducated but sensitive black girl;'The Gentle Lena'–a young German maid.

She went looking for excitement -- and found violence and danger instead! A Wildside Crime Classic by the author of The Star Trap and The Captain Must Die!'Bob Colby was more than just a'one-hit wonder.'He wrote several other respected novels in the 1950s and'60s, including The Deadly Desire and The Secret of the Second Door (both Gold Medal, 1959) and dozens of short stories for Alfred Hitchcock and Mike Shayne... Do me a favor: hunt down one of his novels and give it a try.'-- Peter Enfantino'He had a journalist's eye for his times. This was especially true in the novels he set in Hollywood. [The Captain Must Die] is his masterpiece. You will not be disappointed.'-- Ed Gorman

Henry Adams'Esther puts a novel spin on the classic scenario of ill-matched lovers. Esther is a spirited, independent artist who also happens to be a committed atheist with deep disdain for organized religion. But when she falls in love with a minister, she starts to question all of her beliefs. Is it possible for this pair to overcome their differences?

Originally published in the late nineteenth century, this novel was initially overlooked by critics, but it is now regarded as an early classic in the genre of fantasy fiction. Struck by a dizzying thunderbolt of love at first sight, protagonist Charles Dartmouth falls fast and hard for the Welsh heiress Weir Penrhyn. Before long, he begins to suspect that there's a supernatural force prompting his affections.

The novella'The Hated Son'is a section from French writer Honore de Balzac's multi-volume masterwork, The Human Comedy. Set in the late 1500s and early 1600s, the tale follows a newly married woman who is pregnant -- and the baby's father is not her new husband. Terrified of what will become of herself and the child, she fears for both of their futures. The second part of the tale occurs several decades later. Will the illegitimate child ever be accepted by his mother's husband?

Though best remembered as an early innovator in science fiction who produced such masterworks as Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne was a prolific storyteller who explored many genres over the course of his literary career. This classic romance, set in Spanish-controlled Peru, highlights Verne's talent as a first-rate plot craftsman.

In this “excellent” novel of “rare understanding” from a Pulitzer Prize–winning author, culture shock consumes a young Harvard couple in Los Angeles (The New York Times). When his mentor at Harvard University suddenly leaves for Washington, Paul Cattleman finds himself adrift in the wilds of academia. After losing his fellowship, he is out of work and one thesis short of a PhD. Rather than doom his career by taking what he considers to be an unsuitable job, he finds a temporary position at the Nutting Research and Development Corporation in Los Angeles, a city whose superficial charms signal an adventure. He is ready to make the best of his year out west among the beatniks and Hollywood hippies. The only thing holding him back is his wife. Katherine is a New Englander through and through, and as soon as she steps into the LA smog, she knows this transition will be a struggle. What Paul sees as fun, she considers vulgar. Bogged down by her allergies and crumbling marriage, she seeks out a shrink, who surprises and transforms her. While Los Angeles may be a cultural wasteland, this East Coast girl will find that West Coast pleasures can be quite a lot of fun. The National Book Award–shortlisted author of Foreign Affairs “writes coolly and wickedly” of freedom and self-discovery in this witty novel (The New Yorker). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Alison Lurie including rare images from the author's collection.

Touched by madness and haunted by a secret past, Paul and Elsa's relationship reveals that there can be no normality for people who witnessed the worst of war In 1970s New York, Paul and Elsa are like many other well-off middle-aged couples, worrying over their apartment and psychoanalyst bills by day, and meeting friends at restaurants by night. But this is not an ordinary couple with ordinary neuroses, as becomes clear when Paul convinces himself that Elsa's shadow always points in the wrong direction. As Paul and Elsa's involvement in World War II espionage begins to surface, the glitz and glamor of their lives is revealed to be nothing more than illusion. The Hothouse by the East River is a delirious satire of superficial urban life in the shadow of one of modern history's great horrors. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Muriel Spark including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's archive at the National Library of Scotland.

For Barbara Vaughn, a checkpoint between Jordan and the newly formed Israel is the threshold to painful self-discovery Barbara Vaughn is a scholarly woman whose fascination with religion stems partly from a conversion to Catholicism, and partly from her own half-Jewish background. When her boyfriend joins an archaeological excursion to search for additional Dead Sea Scrolls, Vaughn takes the opportunity to explore the Holy Land. But this is 1960, and with the nation of Israel still in its infancy, the British Empire in retreat from the region, and the Eichmann trials in full swing, Vaughn uncovers much deeper mysteries than those found at tourist sites. Both an espionage thriller and a journey of faith, The Mandelbaum Gate won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize upon its publication, and is one of Spark's most compelling novels. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Muriel Spark including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author's archive at the National Library of Scotland.

A ruse to bed a pair of twins quickly grows complicatedArt doesn't mean to tell Liz Kerwin that he has a twin. He's on Fire Island, and she's so beautiful that he's willing to say anything for a chance at getting rid of her clothes. So when Liz mentions an identical twin sister, Art blurts out that he has a twin too. His name is Bart, he says, and describes the most boring man he can dream up. Liz thinks he would be perfect for her sister Betty. When Art meets Betty—who is, of course, just as lovely as her twin—she asks about his brother. Hoping for a chance at the family fortune, Art dons a pair of glasses, slicks back his hair, and soon has “Bart” engaged to the sister. As his simple lie spins out of control, Art learns that wooing sisters is never as easy as it seems.

In this gripping novel from British author Arnold Bennett, a pretty young typist yearns for adventure and excitement. When her odious employer attempts to seduce her with flattery and promises of a luxurious life together, Lilian takes the plunge. Will she be able to extract herself from his control and regain the content, normal life she once disdained?

A sequel of sorts to Bennett's short comic novel The Card, The Old Adam reprises the beloved character Denry the Audacious. In this volume, Denry's audaciousness has been tempered somewhat by middle age. In his current incarnation as'Edward Henry,'he's having a hard time reconciling himself to the peaceful lull of domesticity, so he plans a caper with some of his old pals, hoping to revive the spark of his youth. Will he be able to pull off this bold scheme? Read The Old Adam to find out.

Fun-crazy Kim Rumshaw refused to wall herself away from any available men just because she was engaged to Howard Massey. So when gangster Eddie Tarino invited her to play love games on his yacht, she was eager and willing to go. Later Kim wa just as eager to forget the whole affair. But Tarino had other plans. And when Massey was beaten up and her aunt threatened, she turned to private detective Rod Striker for help. Rod sent his curvaceous partner, Myra, as a decoy to lure Tarino away from Kim. But she turned up a game of international intrigue that left her fighting for more than her virtue!

Wounded warrior Duncan receives a mysterious letter from an old friend requesting his counsel. During a follow-up visit, he presses Elizabeth for details, and she admits that an older woman whose intent could be nefarious has set her sights on Elizabeth's nineteen-year-old son. Sensing her obvious distress, Duncan agrees to pitch in and help, setting off on an international manhunt with consequences no one could have foreseen.

On one level, this witty short story describes a future in which traditional gender roles are reversed and men have quite literally become enslaved to the capricious whims of their female masters. On another level,'Love Story'can be read as a satirical indictment of the increasing materialism that took hold of middle-class America in the 1950s.

Settle in for an enthralling tale of wartime romance in The Search from renowned Christian romance writer Grace Livingston Hill. As in all of Hill's books, the author's Christianity is apparent not in overt religious religious themes, but rather as a strong moral framework in which the tale unfolds. Fans of historical romance will relish this novel.

Paul Haydn was on his way home at last, to New York and the civilian life he longed for, after years of War. Yet he would never forget the tormented people, desperate for refuge in Berlin. They had survived the War - but now a new, sinister presence threatened them, their families, the whole of society.Now he discovered that, back home, some of his former colleagues had dangerous political sympathies, that someone was trying to discredit the woman he had once loved. The pattern seemed suddenly familiar. He began to realise why there was such interest in his counter-propaganda skills.

Dash through the snow with these two romantic Regency novels by USA Today Bestseller Lauren Smith. Bewitching the Earl: Daphne Westfall is a lady desperate for a future, one that doesn't involve her dark past. On a cold night she receives aid from a mysterious stranger, one who tells her she can change her destiny, as long as she agrees to marry the man who wins her. The brooding Scottish lord that offers her his name and home is handsome but there's something sorrowful in his eyes that feels all too personal to her… Lachlan Grant never wanted to be an earl, but fate has been less than kind to him. At the insistence of a friend, he seeks out a bride and comes face to face with a woman who bewitches him instantly. But they each hold secrets that will haunt them both. With a love blooming delicately between them, will their new found happiness together wilt and fade beneath the frost of the past? Seducing an Heiress on a Train: Seducing an heiress has never been easier… Roguish Oliver, Viscount Conway, desperately needs money to save his family's estate from debt collectors, and he knows just what to do—marry an heiress. When he sets foot on a train leaving Southampton, he bumps into Rayne, the most bewitching woman he's ever met, and as luck would have it, she's an American heiress. The woman swears she won't marry, especially a fortune hunter. Oliver must win her for his bride at any cost, even if it means compromising the lady on a train and stealing her heart. Avoiding fortune hunters has never been harder… Rayne Egerton is happy to escape the New York ballrooms to travel with her father through England while he tends to business. What should have been an enjoyable Christmas vacation turns upside down with a moment of unexpected passion when a stranger in the cabin next to her steals a scorching kiss. The mysterious Lord Conway is everything that Rayne desires and fears in a man with his sinfully good looks, wicked smile and devastating kiss. As heiress to her father's fortune, she isn't going to give up her freedom for any man unless he can love her without her money. As the train rolls through snowy English countryside, she starts to wonder if Oliver may be the Christmas gift she'd been secretly hoping for. •These two novels have been previously published as single titles.

“This crazy, gorgeous family novel” written at the end of the Great Depression “is one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century” (Jonathan Franzen, The New York Times). First published in 1940, The Man Who Loved Children was rediscovered in 1965 thanks to the poet Randall Jarrell's eloquent introduction (included in this ebook edition), which compares Christina Stead to Leo Tolstoy. Today, it stands as a masterpiece of dysfunctional family life. In a country crippled by the Great Depression, Sam and Henny Pollit have too much—too much contempt for one another, too many children, too much strain under endless obligation. Flush with ego and chilling charisma, Sam torments and manipulates his children in an esoteric world of his own imagining. Henny looks on desperately, all too aware of the madness at the root of her husband's behavior. And Louie, the damaged, precocious adolescent girl at the center of their clashes, is the “ugly duckling” whose struggle will transfix contemporary readers. Named one of the best novels of the twentieth century by Newsweek, Stead's semiautobiographical work reads like a Depression-era The Glass Castle. In the New York Times, Jonathan Franzen wrote of this classic, “I carry it in my head the way I carry childhood memories; the scenes are of such precise horror and comedy that I feel I didn't read the book so much as live it.”

Arthur Applin was a playwright, novelist, and biographer who was also a classically trained actor. This background gave him particular strengths in developing memorable characters and devising engrossing, action-driven plots, both of which are on full display in the charming novel Blackthorn Farm. Young student Rupert Dale has fallen head-over-heels in love with up-and-coming actress Ruby Strode, but the pair's perilous financial situation seems destined to thwart their dreams of married bliss -- especially when Rupert is accused of a despicable crime and the world around him believes him to be guilty. Will the duo find a way to make their love work through it all?

When Clancy Ross hires a new woman to work in his night club, he gets more than he bargained for. She has a secret that just might get her dead...and Ross, too!

Andy, a doctor, plans to go to Africa to help his father in medical missionary work. He is crushed when the nurse he loves, Kay, breaks off their engagement. Conflict, desire, decision, and love all pervade Andy's—and Kay's—search for God's leading. Will God resolve their individual and collective pursuits?

A strong-willed woman enlists a hard-bitten gunslinger to fight a ranch war in this classic western drama from an award–winning author. Dave Nash smells trouble the moment he rides into Signal. He's only been working for Walt Shipley three weeks, but he feels he owes the man his life for giving him a job when no one else would. Now, Nash will do anything for Shipley—even if it means staring down the barrel of a gun. He'll face any danger for his new boss, but he hasn't reckoned on the most dangerous creature of all: a conniving frontier woman. Connie Dickason is the most seductive woman in Signal, and Shipley has his heart set on marrying her. But a brewing war with a powerful cattleman drives Shipley from town, leaving Connie and Nash to defend the ranch together. The ranch hand soon discovers that the boss's wife will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Adapted into a 1947 United Artists film starring Joel McCrea and Veronica Lake, Ramrod is a classic noir western that displays the versatile storytelling powers of award-winning author Luke Short.

Some of Honore de Balzac's best writing focuses on the frustrations and passions of women trapped in unhappy marriages. In the novella'The Deserted Woman,'the Vicomtesse de Beauseant is trapped, but it is partially a trap of her own making. Abandoned by her lover and estranged from her husband, she contemplates her limited options.

In James Baldwin's classic short story, “The Outing,” from Going to Meet the Man, a Harlem church group escapes the city for a summer day-trip of prayer and, more importantly, romance. Every summer, the Harlem Mount of Olives Pentecostal Assembly gives an outing, around the Fourth of July. There is boating, testifying, and illicit steps towards young love. Delving deeply into the church community he would depict in Go Tell It On The Mountain, this is Baldwin at his most compassionate, investigating the sexual ambivalence and towering religion of a group of young children on their way up the Hudson. “The Outing” is the perfect introduction to an American master. An eBook short.

The story of a lone-wolf fight against a Nazi undercover ring in the U.S.

It is J. R. Salamanca's special gift to create in his novels a world of feeling---in The Lost Country, a pastoral world; in Lilith, a world of fever and dementia; here, a romantic and loving world corrupted by the death of desire. The story of a marriage is told. Michael, still young, looks back---to his passionate courtship of his wife, Margaret, in Washington after the war.; to the ecstatic beginning of their life together (one flesh, one sensibility, one name even:'Mickey'to each other); to almost blind consummation of his first adultery (with a girl whose animality is in contrast to the Ariel-like fineness he worships in his wife); and finally to an exquisite nightmare summer and the French Mediterranean resort to which he has brought his wife in a desperate attempt to recover what is lost. There, in a lovely coastal town dedicated to pleasure, he falls in with an attractive and worldly society that provides the instruments of catastrophe---the catastrophe toward which his life with Margaret has been spiraling. There is an actress, a fascinating and totally honest woman, with whom he has a violent affair; and there is a young Italian gigolo---at once simple and frighteningly shrewd---who furnishes the unconsciously sought –after coup de grâce to the fading idyll of Michael and Margaret. A Sea Change is about the havoc wrought in marriage by the ebbing of desire, about the impossibility of willing oneself to love---and the ways in which, attempting the impossible, men drift into cruelties of which they would have believed themselves incapable. It is the richest and most ambitious work of a greatly gifted novelist.

Pioneering Western writer Bertha Muzzy Bower was herself the wife of a Montana rancher for a time, so she brings a wealth of personal experience and psychological insight to this gripping narrative that follows protagonist Valeria as she enters into marriage and struggles with the often-harsh reality of rural life.