Al Hirshen has led an unusual life. He learned street smarts in the Bronx, helped out at his father's candy store, worked as a waiter in the Catskills to pay for his schooling, and became a lawyer. A participant in many of the pivotal changes of our times, Al was a Civil Rights and pioneering anti-poverty lawyer and created the first public/private partnerships in the Carter Administration. He was among the first USAID consultants to work in Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia and Albania.

Ready for new challenges and adventure, Al travelled the world, was a successful international development consultant, and tried his luck at movie production in Hollywood. For nine years he worked as a consultant to the leadership of Indonesia during that nation's turbulent transition to democracy.

Al writes with a sense of humor and a profound love of life, the world, and people. As a recovering alcoholic, father, grandfather and husband in a happy twenty-five-year third marriage, he sees himself as an "ordinary man" blessed to live life fully in an imperfect, yet stunning world.

"This book is a vibrantly alive, candid, and compelling memoir of a son of Jewish Immigrants from the Bronx, an intensely restless soul, ever in search of the next adventure, driven to making the world a better place along the way."

Thelton Henderson, Judge (Ret.) United States District Court

"A beautifully written, gripping, and amusing memoir, full of psychological insights, humor and world-wisdom. Al Hirshen has the determination, chutzpah, self-irony, and heartfelt generosity of a true lover of life."

Kim Chernin, author of In My Mother's House

"The title of this memoir may at first glance resemble a kited check; but there is more than enough in the bank of Hirshen's life story to cover two books. Not since Sybille Bedford's The Faces of Justice have I encountered such sharply observed stories of public life in the trenches."

Richard Buxbaum, Ralston Professor Emeritus of International Law, UC Berkeley Law School

"Al Hirshen weaves a remarkable tale of people, places, and events. His reflections on his illness and his recovery into the life of sobriety are rich and helpful. These are good words, written by a good fellow."

Fr. Tom Weston SJ., 12-Step Retreats, Renewal Ministries

From the Foreword by Richard Bangs:

Al's incisive writings stitch together the cloth that binds us as Americans and as world citizens. He explores different ideologies without judging. For him, ideology is a personal choice. With riveting tales of his various adventures and misadventures, he provides a road map to empathy, and the antidote to bigotry: traveling and living with an open mind.

This remarkable book encourages all of us to embrace a more deeply nuanced exploration of the world and its cultures, and to make it all part of the conversation. Al's peregrinations and interpretations encourage us to relinquish ingrained hyper-attachment to individualism, and to celebrate diversity and inclusion.

And yet, is the exploration and betterment of oneself not the greatest, most harrowing journey of all? In a raw account of his path to sobriety, Al gives his audience a look at what it means to reflect upon and confront our innermost demons and ultimately come out on the other side. Much like the stories of his travels, Al is able to recognize the parts of himself that need change, while also approaching that change with compassion, hope, and an open mind.

In 1692, a disreputable young man named Kyle Edwards breaks his engagement by accusing his fiancee, Lilly Parris, of witchcraft.

Kyle is a liar; he does not believe in witchcraft, he is simply trying to get rid of Lilly. But Kyle is in for a shock because, as it turns out, Lilly really is a witch.

"Salem Burning" is a fast-paced, brand-new take on the Salem witch trials.

In this modern-day "lively re-imagining of classical mythology" (Deborah Harkness), when a string of women are murdered in an ancient pagan ritual, Selene DiSilvia -- known by some as the goddess Artemis -- hears their cries for help and takes up her bow once more.
Manhattan has many secrets. Some are older than the city itself.

The city sleeps. In the predawn calm, Selene DiSilva finds the body of a young woman washed ashore, gruesomely mutilated and wreathed in laurel. Her ancient rage returns, along with the memory of a promise she made long ago -- when her name was Artemis.
Jordanna Max Brodsky's acclaimed debut sets Greek Gods against a modern Manhattan backdrop, creating an unputdownable blend of myth and mystery.

The Olympus Bound series:The ImmortalsWinter of the GodsOlympus Bound
For more from Jordanna Max Brodsky, check out:The Wolf in the Whale

Captured by Comanche as a child, Molly Hart was assumed dead. Ten years later, Texas Ranger Matt Ryan finds a woman with the same blue eyes.

“A rousing, spicy story of long lost love in the gritty Old West. The Wren will make your pulse flutter and your heart sing.” —Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author of the Award-winning Deadwood Mystery Series

Ten years have passed since Molly Hart’s ranch was attacked, her folks murdered and she was abducted. Now, at nineteen, she’s finally returning home to North Texas after spending the remainder of her childhood with a tribe of Kwahadi Comanche. What she finds is a deserted home coated with dust and the passage of time, the chilling discovery of her own gravesite, and the presence of a man she thought never to see again.

Matt Ryan is pushed by a restless wind to the broken-down remains of the Hart ranch. Recently recovered from an imprisonment that nearly ended his life, the drive for truth and fairness has all but abandoned him. For ten years he faithfully served the U.S. Army and the Texas Rangers, seeking justice for the brutal murder of a little girl, only to find closure and healing beyond his grasp. Returning to the place where it all began, he’s stunned to encounter a woman with the same blue eyes as the child he can’t put out of his mind.

A sensuous historical western romance set in 1877 Texas.

2003 CAPA WINNER The Romance Studio ~ Best New Author Traditional
2004 Holt Medallion FINALIST ~ Best First Book
2004 Texas Gold FINALIST ~ Historical Category

“…McCaffrey’s mastery of setting and historic details gives this western gritty realism.” ~ RT Book Reviews

“…a heart wrenchingly emotional story…” ~ Coffeetime Romance

“The main characters were well matched and the secondary characters were just as good. Don’t miss this incredible read in what is sure to be a great series to follow.” ~ The Romance Studio

“Handsome, rugged heroes, strong heroines and a super storyline make The Wren a keeper.” ~ The Best Reviews

“…well written…captivated me from the first line to the poignant last.” ~ Novelspot

Don’t miss all the books in the series~
The Wren: Book 1
The Dove: Book 2
The Sparrow: Book 3
The Blackbird: Book 4
The Shiny Penny: Short Story 4.1 (available free exclusively to Kristy’s newsletter subscribers)
Song Of The Wren: Novella 4.2 (available free exclusively to Kristy’s newsletter subscribers)
The Bluebird: Book 5
Echo of the Plains: Novella 5.5

They will cross time to find each other.

Emilia Shaw’s life is unraveling. She’s lost just about everything. Her family’s company, her reputation as an engineer, and every shred of confidence she had left. Now all she has is guilt.

So when a strange old woman invites her to step through an archway and escape her life, Emilia agrees. Little does she know that it will catapult her into the medieval Highlands—and an angry mob that want her dead.

Rescued by Ross MacAuley, a troubled warrior, all Emilia wants is to escape this perilous time and return home. But as her fate becomes more and more tangled with Ross’s, she begins to realize that there might be a reason for her to stay. If she can figure out the truth of his search for the Fae, and help him face the demons of his past, the enigmatic warrior might hold the key to redeeming her soul and healing her heart.

Promise of a Highlander is the tenth book in the Arch Through Time romance series and can be read as a standalone novel. If you love sexy highlanders, feisty heroines and sizzling passion you’ll love this tale of danger, passion and true love in the Highlands of Scotland. Grab a copy now!

Leveling up would be amazing...

... if it weren't so deadly.

They injected me with a VR chip, a GPS tracker, and my first Seed. They gave me unbelievable powers.

Then they sent me to fight.

The monsters here are alien and vicious. There is a second moon in the sky. I watched a tree start moving and kill someone. And the other Players...?

They're even worse.

I’m alone. I’m weak. And I’m scared. But I will cling to life by the tips of my bloody fingernails.

Who is behind this twisted game? Where are they sending us? Is there anyone I can trust?

If I want to survive, I have to get stronger. But can I do it before the Game kills me?


This omnibus contains the first two books in a dark and deliciously violent adventure series that combines science fiction, fantasy, and game elements. You'll love Seeds of Chaos because of the electrifying action, flawed characters, and kick-ass heroine.

Over 900 pages of page-turning story for 30% less than buying the books individually.

Get it now and start the series that will keep you up all night reading.


What readers have to say:

"I freaking loved this book, it had me hooked from page one. I actually had to pace myself and force myself to take breaks to go to sleep because I would get so wrapped up in reading I didn't want to stop." ★★★★★

"This is an absolutely fresh take on the litRPG genre and the author weaves a compelling tale of suspense, action, mystery, sadness, death, and even aliens into the story. How can anyone resist such a story?" ★★★★★

"Every now and then you find a book that just wants to keep you from going to work in the morning (especially if you stayed up most of the previous night reading) They're rare enough that when you find them you want to tell others about them. This is me telling you to read this book, you won't be sorry!" ★★★★★

Now available as a complete series box set!

If the radiation doesn't kill you, the survivors will...
Dakota Sloane, a tough-as-nails former foster kid, has spent her life running from the past. Logan Garcia, a man haunted by secrets, has only one goal: to drink himself into oblivion.

They're two strangers in a bar until the news reports nuclear bombs in New York City and D.C. Before they can escape Miami, the world explodes.

As buildings collapse and fires rage, utter chaos erupts. Dakota knows of a place to ride out the coming chaos, a safe house deep in the Everglades. If Logan helps her escape, she'll bring him with her.

But Dakota's past has caught up to her. Amid the radioactive ruins of Miami, someone is hunting her. And he won't stop until he has her...or they're both dead.

Featuring riveting, edge-of-your-seat action and compelling characters, the acclaimed Nuclear Dawn apocalyptic survival series explores what could happen if terrorists executed a nuclear attack on the United States, told from the perspectives of ordinary people determined to survive.

Perfect for fans of Logan Keys, Harley Tate, Bobby Akart, Jack Hunt, and Grace Hamilton. The box set includes all five full-length novels: Point of Impact, Fear the Fallout, From the Ashes, Into the Fire, and Darkest Night.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

“With characters so real they feel like dear friends and a compelling storyline, this is a beautiful, special novel. I loved it and didn’t want it to end!”  
—Liane Moriarty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Big Little Lies
 
“A captivating tale of love, friendship, and self-actualization.”
—People

Set in Depression-era America, a breathtaking story of five extraordinary women and their remarkable journey through the mountains of Kentucky and beyond, from the author of Me Before You

Alice Wright marries handsome American Bennett Van Cleve hoping to escape her stifling life in England.  But small-town Kentucky quickly proves equally claustrophobic, especially living alongside her overbearing father-in-law. So when a call goes out for a team of women to deliver books as part of Eleanor Roosevelt’s new traveling library, Alice signs on enthusiastically.

The leader, and soon Alice's greatest ally, is Margery, a smart-talking, self-sufficient woman who's never asked a man's permission for anything. They will be joined by three other singular women who become known as the Packhorse Librarians of Kentucky. 

What happens to them--and to the men they love--becomes an unforgettable drama of loyalty, justice, humanity and passion. These heroic women refuse to be cowed by men or by convention. And though they face all kinds of dangers in a landscape that is at times breathtakingly beautiful, at others brutal, they’re committed to their job: bringing books to people who have never had any, arming them with facts that will change their lives.

Based on a true story rooted in America’s past, The Giver of Stars is unparalleled in its scope and epic in its storytelling. Funny, heartbreaking, enthralling, it is destined to become a modern classic--a richly rewarding novel of women’s friendship, of true love, and of what happens when we reach beyond our grasp for the great beyond. 

SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE!

Three years.

Three years I’ve fantasized about my boss. Three years wondering what it would be like to have him touch me, to be trapped under that deliciously hard body while he makes every one of my fantasies come true.

I’m not his type. Hell, I’m not even sure the man knows my first name. But I’d make a deal with the devil himself for one night in his bed. I never suspected that beneath his cold exterior there was a fire that burned for me. Why would I? He’s never even touched me.

Until tonight. Tonight, he’s determined to make me his and – God help me – I’m going to let him.

Author’s note: This novel contains explicit and steamy sex scenes that may not be your cup of tea. It is intended for mature readers only.

Register entry: 3987, Sheffield, England, 1912.

When a mute criminal known as 'the Street Arab' is taken into custody, police call on court missionary, Robert Elliott, to try and unravel the enigma. With the help of Mary O' Driscoll, a sharply perceptive nurse, Elliott reveals the prisoner to be Walter Stanford, a man with a blemished past and who is about to change their lives forever.

As Elliott tries to understand the significance of a mysterious note found in a locket on the cell floor, Mary becomes haunted by a series of lucid dreams about Walter's life and a dark harrowing crime. But why have they all been brought together? Is it simply fate? Or could it be strange intervention to bring closure to a chilling past?

One thing is certain…the answers have consequences!

What readers are saying…

“I adored reading this book...”
“Dark and foreboding one minute - so genteel the next - absolutely brilliant!”
“Some days I found it difficult to put down as I was so engrossed.”

In this disturbing tale of Anurag and Aditi, there are no innocent people!

What readers said

• "The book is a gripping psychological thriller which reveals a new twist page after page and layer by layer." - Bookgeeks.in
• "An unusual read, go for it if you enjoy thrillers, this one will definitely be one of it’s kind in your reading list." - MerryGoReviews.com
• "The use of imagery is also worth mentioning. The descriptions of the menacing sound of the ceiling fan, the dirt-smitten table clock, the mysterious kitchen at the Eastern Delight are so vivid that they add to the eeriness in the mind." - NayanBasu.com
• "It’s short, fast-paced and thrilling at the same time. fans of Chuck Palahnuik's writing, this novella is definitely for you!" - Amandeep Mittal
• "Tells us a dark and sinister tale of a man called Anurag." - Sankalpita Singh
• "A dark twisted tale, intriguing nevertheless. New surprises in every chapters... it was unputdownable and literally completed the book tonight only after purchasing it from Amazon this evening." - Shankha Mukherjee

The Plot

Anurag is a disturbed young man drudging along in an unhappy marriage for the last five years. To make matters worse, he has developed insomnia. As he sits awake every night, he reminisces and recounts memories, in a diary, that are too dark to share with anyone in person.

The diary gives him a release but he remains oblivious to the potential consequences of the diary becoming public, considering the inconceivable confessions he has made to it.

A string of women seemed to have been able to find love and comfort, at various times, in this abominable man. But does Anurag himself believe that there is still some good in him?

Can a man this far resigned to life have any hope of redemption? Can he find any reason to finally commit to making a change?

Somewhere in the Mediterranean

A ship loaded with refugees, desperately seeking to escape the Second World War, arrives off the coast of Israel.

Fifty years too late.

Harry has a secret.
He led a well-planned life and knew exactly what he wanted. Until...
Something chased him away from his hometown in England. He arrives in New York wishing to erase his past, eager for a fresh start. A new life. Everybody here was someone else before.

Alana has a secret.
She left her small town in the Midwest chasing a dream. She arrives in New York determined to see her name flashing in bright lights on Broadway billboards. Everybody here wanted something more.
She was in the right path, but then...

When Harry and Alana meet, they recognize each other’s scars. They bond over the things they don’t say. They find comfort in long silences. But as they learn how to deal with life’s plot twists, they find out the Big Apple has its own plans for them.
For how long can they hide? How long can they keep everyone else at a distance? How long until their past catches up with their present?
Their lives are about to get irreversibly intertwined. Do you want to know how?

First of all, welcome to New York!

In the near future, a virus has whittled down the human race. The remaining population struggles to survive in a world ravaged by extreme weather. A reticent government provides food, vaccines and keeps the ultra-fast trains running. Cities are empty, farms deserted, factories abandoned. The world is running on a skeleton crew.

Nick lives at High Meadow med center. The people there stay hopeful as they work toward self-sufficiency. He counts survivors for Angus’s research. He wants his life to stay as normal as possible in a world he barely understands.

Wisp is a fugitive. He lives off the land, moving from town to town, hiding his extrasensory skills. He is a Finder and will accept the right kind of job. Silence and subterfuge keep him alive.

Lily is a young girl with long brown hair and eyes the color of ripe cherries. She is searching for her brother. They were separated while fleeing armed men. She is part of something that started before her birth.

When these three lives intersect, a chain reaction of death and violence will change the course of the future and impact the very survival of the human race.
 

In this spellbinding novella, E.J. Stevens weaves a tale of murder, necromancy, and demonic possession that brings together characters from her Whitechapel Paranormal Society Victorian horror series and award-winning Ivy Granger Psychic Detective urban fantasy series on the fog-shrouded cobblestones of 36 Craven Street.

The discovery of bricked up skeletal remains at 36 Craven Street point to something more diabolical than an illegal anatomy school. The tool marks on the bones, arcane sigils of great power, indicate more than mere butchery, more than enlightened experimentation. The signs, omens, and portents support the crown's greatest fears. A great evil is being unleashed upon the gaslit streets of London, a blood-drenched shadow reaching skeletal fingers beyond the slums of Whitechapel.

We must stamp out this demonic plague for the sake of our Queen, our Country, and our immortal souls. - Cora Drummond, Whitechapel Paranormal Society

Collecting human souls is a thankless job, nearly as tedious as acting as solicitor to the fae. But when the demon Forneus enters an opium den searching for men eager to trade their souls for the ill-smelling weed, he stumbles on a plot so devious, so heinous, he's jealous that he hadn't thought of it himself.

There's nothing like a maniacal plot to unleash Hell on earth to break the boredom of immortality. - Forneus, Grand Marquis of Hell

Five seemingly ordinary women with minor psychic gifts and an exceptional ability to solve supernatural crimes, skills honed during their service with the Special Paranormal Research Branch a secret security agency tasked with protecting Queen and country from inhuman forces, must now use their singular expertise to unravel a dreadful string of brutal murders.

Much maligned by their male counterparts within the S.P.R.B., the women of the Whitechapel Paranormal Society are on their own to face a sinister dark mastermind as dismembered bodies are set across London's East End like figures on a game board.

Can they predict the killer's next move--a bloody, ritualistic murder that might tip the scales and give demons dominion over all of London--before he strikes again?

Set against the backdrop of pre and post-Ripper Victorian London, Whitechapel Paranormal Society series answers the question of how cases such as the Thames Torso Murders, Craven Street Bones, Tottenham Court Road Mystery, Whitechapel Murders, Goswell Road Mystery, and the Vanishing Girls of West Ham might have been solved if put in the capable hands of a team of female special agents.

The Ivy Granger Psychic Detective series is an award-winning urban fantasy series known for heart-pounding action, quirky characters, and supernatural horrors. The Whitechapel Paranormal Society series is a gaslamp fantasy series set in London's East End.

The USA Today Bestseller

From the author of The Only Woman in the Room comes the mesmerizing tale of what kind of woman could have inspired an American dynasty.

Clara Kelley is not who they think she is. She's not the experienced Irish maid who was hired to work in one of Pittsburgh's grandest households. She's a poor farmer's daughter with nowhere to go and nothing in her pockets. But the other woman with the same name has vanished, and pretending to be her just might get Clara some money to send back home.

If she can keep up the ruse, that is. Serving as a lady's maid in the household of Andrew Carnegie requires skills she doesn't have, answering to an icy mistress who rules her sons and her domain with an iron fist. What Clara does have is a resolve as strong as the steel Pittsburgh is becoming famous for, coupled with an uncanny understanding of business, and Andrew begins to rely on her. But Clara can't let her guard down, not even when Andrew becomes something more than an employer. Revealing her past might ruin her future — and her family's.

With captivating insight and heart, Carnegie's Maid tells the story of one brilliant woman who may have spurred Andrew Carnegie's transformation from ruthless industrialist into the world's first true philanthropist.

From the author of the multi-million copy bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz comes a new novel based on a riveting true story of love and resilience.

Her beauty saved her — and condemned her.

Cilka is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp in 1942, where the commandant immediately notices how beautiful she is. Forcibly separated from the other women prisoners, Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly taken, equals survival.

When the war is over and the camp is liberated, freedom is not granted to Cilka: She is charged as a collaborator for sleeping with the enemy and sent to a Siberian prison camp. But did she really have a choice? And where do the lines of morality lie for Cilka, who was send to Auschwitz when she was still a child?

In Siberia, Cilka faces challenges both new and horribly familiar, including the unwanted attention of the guards. But when she meets a kind female doctor, Cilka is taken under her wing and begins to tend to the ill in the camp, struggling to care for them under brutal conditions.

Confronting death and terror daily, Cilka discovers a strength she never knew she had. And when she begins to tentatively form bonds and relationships in this harsh, new reality, Cilka finds that despite everything that has happened to her, there is room in her heart for love.

From child to woman, from woman to healer, Cilka's journey illuminates the resilience of the human spirit—and the will we have to survive.

The day starts out just like any other for private investigator, Jill Gooder.

Even when her first client of the day insists that his girlfriend was murdered by a serial killer, Jill is not fazed. But then she learns something that will change her life forever.

Mother, wife, private investigator...vampire.

Six years ago federal agent Samantha Moon was the perfect wife and mother, your typical soccer mom with the minivan and suburban home. Then the unthinkable happens, an attack that changes her life forever. And forever is a very long time for a vampire.

Now the world at large thinks Samantha has developed a rare skin disease, a disease which forces her to quit her day job and work the night shift as a private investigator. Her new client, Kingsley Fulcrum, hires her to investigate the murder attempt on his life, a horrific scene captured on TV and seen around the country. But as the case unfolds, Samantha discovers Kingsley isn't exactly what he appears to be; after all, there is a reason why he survived five shots to the head...


With over 3,500 combined 5-star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, Moon Dance begins the epic "Vampire for Hire" saga―a paranormal mystery series that's been downloaded over three million times.

★★★★★ "This book, my dear readers, is mind candy. Delicious, lovely, marvelous mind candy. Addictive mind candy. A snickers bar for the soul." ―Amazon reviewer

★★★★★ "The world of mystery writers just became richer with this talented author's Samantha Moon series. Author J.R. Rain has developed a fearsome character, who, in spite of the vampire attack that completely rocked her world, is quite believable." ―Amazon reviewer

★★★★★ "Move over, Harry Dresden, Samantha Moon is on the case. No shiny vampires here. Just Sam Moon, private eye, and her knack for seeing what others miss. Yeah, she's a vampire, but first and foremost she is Samantha Moon. She's a character that grabbed me from the first page and kept me engrossed until the end. The pacing is spot on, the dialog is film noir perfect, the characters rich and skillfully drawn." ―Amazon reviewer

★★★★★ "I devoured this book, and had to move onto the next one. The story is about a newly turned vampire, Samantha Moon, who, on the surface, appears to be your everyday soccer mom, wife and private investigator." ―Amazon reviewer

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 
Two starcrossed magicians engage in a deadly game of cunning in The Night Circus, the spellbinding bestseller that has captured the world's imagination. 

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

Look for Erin Morgenstern's new novel, The Starless Sea, coming November 2019.