Showing titles in Anthologies & Short Stories

He didn’t want revenge. He didn’t want redemption. He wanted out...on his own terms. Emmett “Red” Callahan was supposed to disappear inside Alcatraz, the coldest, hardest prison in America. A decorated Navy engineer turned convict, Red keeps his head down and his mind sharp, Waiting. Watching. Planning. Because no cage, no matter how well built, can hold a man who refuses to be broken. But when the fog rolls in, so does his chance to vanish, and with it, a race against time, tides, and the eyes of everyone determined to see him fail. With only a stitched-together raft, a stolen tide...

The War is over, but for petty criminal Charlie his darkest days are only just beginning. Charlie Briggs is never off-duty, even when a botched job means he's forced to lay low in a sleepy Hampshire town for the holiday season. Always searching for his next unwitting victim, or a shiny trinket he can pilfer, he can't believe his luck when he happens upon a rare book so valuable it will set him up for life.

She turned down Henry Tudor. But would she be allowed to marry the man she loved? In 1509 Marguerite d’Angoulême of the royal House of Valois is the King of France’s most valuable unmarried asset. Gaston de Foix is France’s most promising young knight, eager to prove himself on the King’s Italian campaigns. Fanned by chivalric ideals of courtly love, Marguerite and Gaston burn for each other with a secret flame. When Gaston learns that the King intends to marry Marguerite to the Armagnac heir, he is heartbroken. Louis XII needs Armagnac lands for the crown of France. What better ...

A novella exploring the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, this addictive story offers a mix of comedy, conspiracy and Chicagoans that provides listeners a fresh perspective on a long-held belief. “I love history! And, being a former Girl Scout who sang the camp song about ‘Old Lady O’Leary’ as a little girl, I wondered often if the story was made up or real,” the artistpreneur confesses.

*Note: this is a prequel related to the Devil & Angel stories. Tall, dark and devilishly handsome footman Kent Lynch takes the new hall-boy, young comely Gavin under his wing… brooding his with instruction in his duties and methods, and giving him discipline when needed, which Gavin quite enjoys. In the grand, bustling halls of Westbury Estate, a tale of forbidden love and unexpected connection unfolds. At the center of this story are Kent, a seasoned and disciplined servant, and Gavin, a young hall boy whose arrival at the estate brightens footman Kent Lynch's days… and nights.

In her mesmerizing debut, Shobha Rao recounts the untold human costs of one of the largest migrations in history. 1947: the Indian subcontinent is partitioned into two separate countries, India and Pakistan. And with one decree, countless lives are changed forever. An Unrestored Woman explores...

Miss Jane Tillney is volunteering at Half Moon House when Lord Worthe finds her. The Viscount is handsome and charming, but unfortunately his entire outlook is miscalculated, not just his astronomical equations. Lord Worthe is intrigued by Jane, her generous spirit, and her unusual freckles, but can he find a way to open his heart and let her shine her light on his life?

Deep within the cold, primordial forest and the Algonquin people's consciousness lives the Wendigo: a towering, emaciated being with translucent skin draped over its skeletal frame like a veil of mortality. Its hollow eyes gleam like fiery coals, emanating a malevolent crimson glow that mirrors its unquenchable craving for human flesh. An extraterrestrial shifter, stranded on our planet millennia ago, assumes the forms of not only humans but also hideous creatures in order to survive. The story of the Wendigo spans millennia, entwining native folklore with modern-day mysteries.

Emily arrives at Westbury Hall with a job to do. She's to clean and conserve all of the books in the impressive library, preserving them for future generations. Not long into her stay at the house, she bumps into the night guard, George. She'd expected an old, balding guy with a comb-over, so the hunky chap she actually meets is a very pleasant surprise.

This fictional short story that you are about to read is based, in part, on real events that occurred in the 1950’s. Two college students venture to Cuba during the early part of Fidel Castro’s revolution. In their hands is a Letter of Introduction for Ernest Hemingway, from their English professor, who happened to be a Hemingway biographer. They have hopes of meeting the iconic author and interviewing him for their college newspaper. The boys have rough encounters with Hemingway’s wife, Mary, and his housekeeper, Renee. But those become minor bumps in the road compared to what ...

In this intense and brilliant book, Bowles focuses on Morocco, condensing experience, emotion, and the whole history of a people into a series of short, insightful vignettes. He distills for us the very essence of Moroccan culture. With extraordinary immediacy, he takes the reader on a journey...

When a desperate escape leads to hidden treasures of the heart. When Isabella Crawford flees her wealthy Chicago life, she expects hardship in the Montana Territory. What she doesn't expect is Garrett Nash, a successful opal miner whose gentle hands and sharp mind suggest a past far removed from the frontier. As she builds a new life in Spencer's mining district, Bell discovers that some secrets are more precious than the gems they mine—and more dangerous. Garrett has his own reasons for choosing the isolation of the frontier over society's comforts. But when Bell's presence threatens to ...

A perilous voyage by sea, the difficulties of life in a new country, new friends, and one terrible event, challenge Mette Jensen as she leaves her home in Haderslev, Schleswig determined to start a new life beyond the reach of Prussian Soldiers. With Denmark still reeling from the effects of war over the ownership of Schleswig, two Danish sisters make the difficult decision to leave their homeland. The men of Schleswig, on the border between Denmark and Germany, have already left in droves to avoid being drafted into the Prussian army, and a recruiter from New Zealand has been traveling ...

A teenage girl who is about to take a leap of faith seeks the counsel of his insightful uncle. But all he can provide are insights. Does a journey that takes her to the heart of altruism, charity and solidarity, bigotry, racism, and divine providence provide the guidelines that can help her come to terms with her destiny? Does his insightful hand-in-hand lead provide the answers she needs? “Fateful Ties” proceeds “The Fire and Ice Legend”, and precedes “The Sweetest Madness” in the short stories collection entitled “Me Before Them”.

A highly anticipated, bold new novel from the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours—three linked visionary narratives set in the ever-mysterious, turbulent city of New York In each section of Michael Cunningham's new book, we encounter the same group of characters: a young boy, an older...

Brothel owner Joel Rankin refuses his fiancé's request to close the Bird Cage. As a result, he is punished with an evil spell that changes his life forever. "Pretty Bird" is a western historical short story with romantic elements.

Synopsis: A midnight knock on the door and a request to "hide me." Is there more you would need to know? After Dinner Conversation is a growing series of short stories across genres to draw out deeper discussions with friends and family. Each story is an accessible example of an abstract ethical or philosophical idea and is accompanied by suggested discussion questions. Podcast discussion of this short story, and others, is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Youtube. ★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner Conversation Magazine" and get this, ...

He hid his true identity. She hid her heart. But love has a way of revealing all. Fitzwilliam Darcy has never had a day to himself. Bound by duty, wealth, and an ever-watchful society, he longs for one thing he cannot have—freedom. Determined to escape the expectations that rule his life, he assumes the identity of a humble tutor, seeking solace in the countryside. But when he meets Elizabeth Bennet, his carefully constructed disguise is suddenly at risk. Elizabeth has always known her place in the world. A gentleman of Darcy’s standing would never look twice at her—but the quiet, ...

As the war rages on, Lilian Young finds herself struggling to survive in the changing landscape of Amalfi. With children being forced into military training and her lover, Luigi, away for longer periods of time, Lilian fears for her safety and the safety of those she cares about. But when a ruthless attack leaves her feeling even more alone and guilty for her actions, Lilian must find the strength to carry on. As she navigates the demands of working with British Intelligence, she risks everything - her relationships, her life, and even the life of her unborn child. With danger lurking ...

This captivating collection will take you on a journey with characters whose lives lead to unexpected endings. Prepare to question the boundaries of life and death with this gripping anthology.