Showing results by author "S.J." in All Categories

A wonderful collection of 50 phenomenal stories by the world’s great short story writers.

Emily Finland - 25, college graduate, hot mess, lover of all things cheese. Hasn’t had a date in a year. Yeah, that’s not something I would put in a dating profile. Ever. In fact, I can’t be bothered to date. There are so many awful guys out there. I much prefer to Netflix and chill with a pizza. But of course, my busybody best friend Charlotte was having none of that. She persuaded me to go on a blind date, and even though I was reluctant, I decided to go. I never expected to meet a man like Liam Montgomery.

Cody Brookstone. He's my best friend's brother. I've known him for years. Fancied him for what seems like forever. And of course, he's never noticed me. I've always been his sister Mila's annoying friend, but I'm about to change that. Mila came up with a plan for me to snag him. I'm going to make him mine. One way or another. The plan is fail-proof. Well, not really. There are plenty of things that can go wrong. Plenty of ways that my own heart will get broken. But what's the path to true love without some risk?

Maxine Winters, an overworked yet successful veterinarian, finds herself trapped out at sea when an electromagnetic pulse erupts over South Florida. Stranded and concerned for her family's safety, she must rely on her wit to reach landfall before the storm hits. Little does she know that the incoming category four hurricane is the least of her problems.

Russia's brutal February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has attracted widespread condemnation across the West. Government and media circles present the conflict as a simple dichotomy between an evil empire and an innocent victim. In this concise, accessible and highly informative primer, Medea Benjamin and Nicolas Davies insist the picture is more complicated.

Brad went on the run with his sister Michelle. He got away. They're safe. With new identities and a clean start, all Brad has to do is fake being a responsible, law-abiding adult until Michelle turns 18...in nine years. But how long can an incorrigible delinquent keep that up? Meanwhile, Chuck goes out of his mind trying to find his missing kids. With Mort along to help, they crisscross the galaxy, searching for a trail. Family friends haven't seen or heard anything, leaving the pair to confront a hard truth.

On the heels of a crazy, dangerous scheme that he barely got away with, Chuck Ramsey presses his luck and keeps trying. But on Ganymede, in the heart of Sol's wine country, in the territory of a small but ruthless local criminal syndicate, his luck runs out. Chuck sends off quick comms to the rest of the family to get them back to the ship on the double.

When a foiled bounty job results in the Mobius rescuing Mriy's nephew, they divert course for Meyang to deliver him home. Upon her return, Mriy finds that gratitude and resentment don't cancel out. Instead of the welcome she hoped to earn, she finds herself challenged to a ritual hunt to earn back her rightful place in the family. But with the whole clan turned against her, where can Mriy turn for allies?

I just announced my engagement to a hot billionaire. Yes, you read that right. A billionaire. My family is ecstatic and already celebrating. Only they don't know the truth. My engagement is faker than my Chanel handbag. My fake fiancé, Jackson Pruitt, is paying me to pretend to be in love with him so he can inherit his family's company. How cliché! My parents are planning free trips to Fiji. I'm counting down the days to end this thing. They don't know he's the same man I had a one-night stand with. Or the man who was super annoyed when Lenny at the bodega gave me his number.

Embark on a gripping journey with investigative journalist Richard Brixey as he delves into the heart of ancient Silchester, England, in a desperate search for his vanished uncle, Mr. Linthwaite. From the haunting ruins of the Priory to unyielding potential witnesses, every turn holds a new mystery. Encounter the enigmatic Mrs. Byfield and uncover her deeply hidden ties to Mr. Linthwaite. What clandestine plot did Mr. Linthwaite unwittingly discover, leading to his sudden disappearance? Is he still among the living or has he met a grim fate? Amidst the intrigue, will the charismatic Brixey ...

Dive into an intricate English murder mystery set within the heart of Londons legal district. A weary journalist, returning home after a demanding night at work, stumbles upon the puzzling scene of a crime. An elderly man lays dead in the law chambers, struck from behind. As his investigative instincts take over, our protagonist is drawn into a labyrinth of secrets and lies stretching from London to Cornwall to Yorkshire. Will the truth remain buried or will justice prevail? Stay tuned to unravel the twisted tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last moment.

Embark on a thrilling journey with Viner as his routine late-night walk in Markendale Square unexpectedly entangles him in a web of mysteries. With a murder, secret papers, and an imposter stirring the plot, even the police are left baffled. As the question of Hydes innocence hangs in the balance, Viner is faced with peculiar clues - a veiled woman, a diamond ring, and a growing suspicion that things are not as they appear to be. Can Viner unravel the truth and prove Hydes innocence?

Life is a Crime Wave is the 13th mission of Black Ocean: Mirth & Mayhem. It follows a mismatched duo of itinerant comedian and outlaw wizard as they roam the galaxy trying to eke out a living and stay ahead of the consequences of their actions. Black Ocean: Mirth & Mayhem looks back at an earlier era in the Black Ocean universe, and returning listeners will get to see how some of their favorite characters came to be. Fans of morally gray heroes and slick-talking conmen will love this series.

The dead tell no lies. Clyde Barker, a haunted pro bono lawyer with a powerful gift, unearths the skeletons buried in his tragic past. Decades ago, his parents were killed in a strange and brutal way. Their killer is still at large. Joined by the flirtatious but damaged officer Sarah Sullivan, Clyde uses his special ability to communicate with the dead and hunt his parents’ killer. As the stakes climb, he must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice to learn the truth.

When Jane Bell uncovered that her next-door neighbour planned to blow up their local primary school, she tried to get the police to listen to her. When they chose to do nothing, she took matters into her own hands. Jane Bell saved the children. She is a hero. She stopped a terrorist attack. She murdered a man. Jane Bell committed a crime, and no matter what her reasons are, surely she must face the legal repercussions of her actions? Now several people follow Jane’s case, each with their own thoughts on what happened. Is Jane the hero or the villain? It’s up to you to decide.

When the daughter of a prominent businessman and a wealthy debutante vanishes, Reese Lindley returns to her hometown to cover the case for her podcast. Confronted by the past and her estranged family, Reese learns that the quiet town has more secrets to hide than she ever could have imagined.

While Anna and Malcolm welcome the latest additions to their family, complications arise that threaten to end their newfound happiness. Not only does Anna have to contend with the possibility of losing the Cirrus throne to Catherine Amador, but she also has to worry over Helena’s next act of vengeance against her and those she loves. As danger seems to lurk around every corner, Anna’s first priority is the welfare of her family, friends, and citizens.

When you’re young, anything is possible. Love is pure magic, and time seems to stand still. I remember those days like I remember seeing my first rainbow. When the sky was bleak, he painted it full of color. We came from different worlds. We had no business ever interacting. He was the wolf with glowing eyes and a cocky grin. I was the innocent sheep he wanted to eat up. I knew he was trouble, but then he went and saved my life. I was in the wrong place at the right time. Or so I thought. I didn’t realize that he was the leader of the pack.

Ex-starfighter pilot Carl Ramsey, now captain of the Mobius, can't watch race pilots without scoffing that they've never faced hostile fire. When the ship's mechanic and warp-drive wizard can't take it anymore, they goad Carl into entering a racing contest to prove it. Carl packs his bags, and his ego, and enters the Silde Slims Cadet Racer Challenge. With 250,000 terras prize money, it would be the biggest score yet for the crew of the Mobius.

Pirates have taken over and occupied a refugee world, and the exile government turns to the only human they can trust - Carl Ramsey. Trying to make a better man of himself, Carl agrees to help in whatever way he can. Since he's a notorious outlaw, his plan involves a little double-dealing. As Carl unravels the tale of how an entrenched pirate band got displaced from their cushy hideout and found a ripe target to bully, he stumbles across a twisted web of deception, intrigue, and political puppeteering behind the scenes.