Showing results by author "HL" in All Categories

Valentin Bychkov, rising star of contemporary Russian ballet, appears to have everything: wealth, talent, success, and a face and body to match. Not that anyone can get close. Bypass the entourage and there's still Valentin's sharp tongue and acerbic wit to deal with. He may give his body freely, but his emotions are tightly locked away. Max Farley's life is a simple one. All he's interested in is work, drinking, and picking up the next one-night stand. How he chooses to live may not be to everyone's taste, but it suits him. No one's made him want to confront his demons, until now.

It's been a year since Alex stopped living. He exists. He breathes. He pretends to be like everyone else. But, he doesn't live. Burdened by memories, he dreams of the day when he can finally be free. Until that time comes, he keeps everybody at bay. It's been easy so far. But he never factored in meeting a man like Austin. Hard-working mechanic Austin has always gone for men as muscular as himself. So, it's a mystery why he's so bewitched by the slim, quiet man with the soulful brown eyes who works in the library.

Personal assistant Dominic is a consummate professional. Funny then that he harbors such unprofessional feelings toward Tristan Maxwell, the CEO of the company. No, not in that way. The man may be the walking epitome of gorgeousness dressed up in a designer suit. But, Dominic's immune. Unlike most of the workforce, he can see through the pretty facade to the arrogant, self-entitled asshole below. It's lucky then that the man's easy enough to avoid. Disaster strikes when Dominic finds himself having to work in close proximity as Tristan's P.A.

Sometimes salvation comes from the most unlikely hero. When Tate Gillespie is marked for death for a crime he didn’t commit, his life crumbles. In a world where "justice" is meted out by a relentless military force, he’s going to need more than a mythical guardian angel. His life down to seconds, he’s saved by the mysterious X, a knife-wielding man he's never even met before. But who is X? Is he the man who threatens and kills without a second thought? Or the strangely gentle man who only seems to act that way around Tate?

We Men of Ash and Shadow is the first book in the Vanguard Series and follows the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, through the dark and corrupt city of D’Orsee. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, We Men of Ash and Shadow explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and betrayal against the backdrop of a world where survival often means compromising your values. Amidst the gas lamp shadows former soldier-turned-mercenary John Vanguard hunts criminals at the behest of his corrupt employer, Captain Felix Sanquain.

Desperate for his luck to change, Jake Spencer manages to land a dance contract with Dmitry Gruzdev. The job has plenty of perks, including a simmering lust between him and Dmitry's hulking brute of a bodyguard, Mikhail. Life is finally looking up. Except as the shine wears off, it becomes clear that Jake's stepped into a world of darkness and depravity where Bratva answers to no one and allies are not what they seem. Mikhail's hiding a secret: There is no Mikhail. He's simply a front for undercover operative Ryan Harris. A means to gain access to Dmitry.

Fear is universal—a shared human experience that provokes awe, curiosity and terror. It feeds our anxieties, elevating our heartbeats and driving the instinct to survive. But what are we afraid of—and why? Each story in this anthology seeks to answer that question, blurring the boundaries between horror and fantasy fiction.

Famed journalist, satirist, and cultural critic Henry Louis (H. L.) Mencken is known as the chief heretic of the American civic religion for a reason. From the corruption of politicians to the dangers of mob rule, Mencken explores the pitfalls of democracy with his trademark irreverence and insight. In our age of demagogues, Notes on Democracy is as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago.

Inspired by the remarkable life of Dorothy Peto, the Metropolitan Police’s first female superintendent. In 1914, the idea of a female police officer is dismissed as absurd, but to a small group of determined women, not impossible.

"You will be trapped in stone forevermore, your beauty hidden by a façade so ugly that people will not like to look upon it. You will feel, but you will not be able to speak. You will hear, but you will not be able to communicate. You will endure across the ages, a silent witness to the decades that go by". François Damont’s only crime was loving the son of a witch in a time when it wasn’t permitted. For that sin, he’s been cursed to spend eternity locked inside the body of a gargoyle. A chance to break the curse comes only once every 25 years.

Thinking about the future shouldn't be dry or confusing... It should be exciting and lead you clearly toward goals you didn't even know you had. You know you’ll need to make some decisions soon because you have choices ahead that require direction… but where do you start? The good news is that with a thoughtful and proactive approach, you can answer these questions and find a career path with your interests and passions at the center. With this knowledge, you’ll be able to hone the skills needed for a successful future and perfect your abilities to find – and get – the jobs you truly want.

Struggling actor Dean only escorts occasionally to pay the bills. So, his first instinct on being offered a job with a strange set of conditions is to turn it down. No date. Don’t switch the lights on. Don’t touch him. I mean, what’s that all about? What’s the man trying to hide? Dean certainly doesn’t expect sex with a faceless stranger to spark so much passion inside him. It’s just business though, right? He can put a stop to it whenever he wants.

Born a princess in a land where the sun never sets, Arynne longs for the freedom to use her inborn magic. When an emissary from the dark side of the world requests an alliance sealed by marriage, Arynne jumps at a chance to escape the rules of her homeland. Even if it means marrying a prince she's never met and never seeing the sun again.

Jude Campbell can see demons. His psychiatric history says it’s all in his head, but he knows they’re out there. Watching. Waiting. Biding their time. Dante Moretti is the half demon child that should never have been born. He might exorcize demons, but the dark urges from his demon side are growing stronger, and he knows the day will come when he’ll lose himself to them completely.

Things aren’t great for Xander Cole. It’s Christmas, he’s fractured his pelvis on a skiing trip he never wanted to go on, and his on/off boyfriend is most definitely off. No wonder he’s not exactly full of festive cheer. Ferris Night isn’t having much luck either. His plan to take a break from work before starting a new job has been wrecked by a flooded flat. With nowhere to stay, he grabs the opportunity for a job as a live-in nurse with both hands. After all, how hard can it be?

The Hand that Casts the Bone is the second book in the Vanguard Series and continues the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, as he negotiates his way through a city rife with crime and corruption. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, The Hand that Casts the Bone follows We Men of Ash and Shadow in its themes of redemption, betrayal, and revolution. It was funny how everything came down to resources. Who had them, who wanted them, and who would die for them.

Star is born one starry night in a meerkat warren in the middle of the Kalahari desert. Star is an inquisitive young meerkat pup who is part of a meerkat clan led by her mother Naledi. At first Star lives in a chamber deep in the warren but at two weeks she is led to the surface by Naledi where she encounters the many different sights, sounds and smells of the African savannah. Star now starts meerkat school where she learns all that is needed to survive in this hostile environment filled with predators and a myriad of other creatures.

Unable to make her own body heat, foundling Lizbete survives in the tavern kitchen, drawing warmth from the fires, the sun - and sometimes, other living beings. Her days are spent cooking alongside the tavern owner and avoiding the suspicious gazes of the villagers in her small northern town. While she quietly longs for the handsome Brynar, she knows she has no chance with the mayor’s son, even if he invites her to the First Frost festival.

Prince Kajik of Frorheim has known all his life that he was a mistake. The second, unwanted son of a cold and calculating king, Kay's birth was accompanied by a dire prophecy - that he would bring about the return of the dreaded sorcerer Athan and therefore cause his kingdom's destruction. When Kay falls in love with the intended bride of his beloved brother Olyn, his father finally has cause to be rid of him. Banishing Kay from their home upon pain of death, the king proclaims that Princess Arynne will marry Olyn and unite the kingdom against Athan.

Theresa Kent is a wife, mom, and hardworking nurse living in rural Colorado. Life is good until her increasingly despondent, unemployed husband suddenly snaps - his vicious attack leaves Theresa fighting for her life as she tries to escape the insane version of the man she loves. Ryan Tucker appears to have it all, except he’s been merely existing, not living, for the the last three years. His emotions get a much needed jump start when he rescues Theresa from the torment her life has become in just a matter of days.