Showing results by narrator "Hayden Coward" in All Categories

When a routine interrogation erupts into violence, his partner is left fighting for life, and Dion is forced off the case. Officially, he is done. Unofficially, the truth has never been closer. A name buried in his father’s old investigations resurfaces. A trail hidden in corporate silence begins to breathe again. And somewhere behind it all, Victor Stanton is waiting. Stripped of his badge and hunted by the very system he once served, Dion steps beyond the law, crossing borders under a borrowed identity. London waits ahead, restless and watchful, its streets hiding more than answers.

One decision. One moment. One twist you didn’t see coming. Ten unforgettable stories where ordinary lives collide with extraordinary consequences. Short Stories With A Twist is a compelling collection of emotionally charged fiction exploring life, love, hope, and triumph — each story delivering an unexpected ending that stays with you long after the final tick. From life-or-death decisions and first love tested by temptation, to chance encounters that change everything, these stories follow ordinary people facing extraordinary moments.

A serious clergyman whose brothers die, leaving him an unexpected duke... A woman who is making her way as a Bow Street runner... An investigation that leads them to the truth—and each other... Jasper Lincoln is happy tending to his congregation when news arrives of his brother’s death in battle. Jasper’s father, ailing for several months, slips away, unable to bear the news. And on that same night, Jasper’s brother, Lord Sutton, drunkenly falls down the stairs, dying instantly, making Jasper a sudden duke.

Zemeland has always loved its labels. Human. Elf. Dwarf. Useful. Dangerous. Acceptable. And then there are the half-breeds—too much of this, not enough of that, forever expected to apologise for existing. When a curse mark resurfaces, it does not choose its victims at random. It settles into old prejudices, feeds on fear, and grows stronger every time someone decides that “different” is the same as “wrong.” A quartet of unlikely companions—bound more by circumstance than a call for glory—find themselves caught in the fault lines of a world that prefers simple answers and visible enemies.

Left for dead. Hunted by the living. Surrounded by the infected. Warren’s story should have ended in the ruins of London. Betrayed and abandoned, survival was meant to be impossible. Yet in the shadow of a city that devours everything, Warren claws his way back into the fight—driven not just by the need to endure, but by the need for truth, and for justice. The world is fractured beyond repair. The virus, with no cure in sight, has erased safety, mercy, and trust.

As sparks fly, deceptions run wild... Lady Ruby Ballimore has had enough of the Marriage Mart. After offending yet another Marquess, Ruby flees London for the holiday house of a glamorous yet absent princess. Armed with a forged invitation and her like-minded friends, Ruby arrives in Cornwall...

AI Security is no longer theoretical. Autonomous systems are already being tested. We are no longer in the early days of experimentation. AI agents now execute thousands of autonomous decisions daily across finance, telecom, healthcare, and enterprise infrastructure. Adversaries are studying those decision pathways. They do not crash servers. They manipulate logic. They exploit reasoning.

In the heart of Victorian England, where steam and iron threaten to smother the ancient countryside, artist Robert McKinley is swept into a world of enchantment and peril. When the actress he loves vanishes with her mysterious troupe, Robert’s search leads him beyond the veil of ordinary life—into a realm where forgotten gods and immortal lords dwell beneath the hills, wielding magic older than time itself.

Discover how everyday people are generating cash flow and creating financial freedom through the powerful Rent to Rent strategy. Whether you're priced out of the housing market or simply looking for a low-risk way to enter the property world, Rent to Rent for Beginners gives you a clear, no-nonsense roadmap to start and scale your own income-generating portfolio—without mortgages, massive deposits, or years of experience.

Mike is a foley artist who traveled from England to work with his friend Dwain—the first foley artist in the porn industry. On set, Mike finds himself drawn to Chloe, an actress who looks like Marilyn Monroe… if she’d been involved in an industrial accident. The loss of her leg hasn’t stopped Chloe from becoming a top star in Freak Porn. Inspired by his feelings for her, Mike sets out to bring a touch of artistry to the sleaziest corner of cinema by creating tastefully erotic films featuring abnormally shaped performers.

Lieutenant-General Cyrus Cressley’s head wound leaves him blind in one eye and unsuited to lead men into battle. Selling his commission, Cy returns to Melrose to find his father long dead and his distant brother, who is in poor health, the new Duke of Margate. Cy is given use of the hunting lodge on the estate, where he seeks to find his purpose in life after being forced from the military.

Xander Hughes, London’s biggest rake, suddenly finds himself in over his head, becoming the Duke of Brockbank and guardian to two nieces he has never met. He decides he must turn over a new leaf and become a sober, responsible duke and starts by hiring a governess for the girls. But Miss Fennimore is a most unique governess with her odd methods of education—and soon Xander wonders if she might make for an even better duchess.

Welcome to Suddenly a Duke—the new Regency romance world from USA Today bestselling author Alexa Aston. Eight titled peers who never expected to become dukes do just that—and are attracted to females whom Polite Society does not believe worthy of the title duchess, due to their desires to be more than typical ladies of the ton. But these sudden dukes choose to forge their own paths with the remarkable women who are already doing just that—and the resulting love proves that trusting one’s heart is always the right choice. A fun-loving man who has become a staid duke . . .

Haberdasher Pierce Selkirk always knew he was the son of an earl. Much to his surprise, he learns he is not illegitimate as he had been led to believe. With his father’s death, he becomes the Duke of Stoneham and must take up responsibilities beyond his comprehension.

Eight titled peers who never expected to become dukes do just that—and are attracted to females whom Polite Society does not believe worthy of the title duchess, due to their desires to be more than typical ladies of the ton. But these sudden dukes choose to forge their own paths with the remarkable women who are already doing just that—and the resulting love proves that trusting one’s heart is always the right choice.

Major Elijah Young never met his father, the Duke of Bradford, who believed his young wife betrayed him and gave birth to twins sired by another man. Now, two deaths have changed the trajectory of Elijah’s life—and he is the new duke. Elijah vows never to wed and father children, wanting the ducal line to end with him.

A rule-following viscount who becomes a sudden duke . . . A young woman who loses her parents and turns to music for solace . . . Two people who want very different things from life . . . Lord Henry Vaughn witnesses the deaths of his father and grandfather and becomes the new Duke of Linberry. A decent, kind, and responsible man, Henry knows after this double tragedy that it is important he take a wife and provide a ducal heir since death can come calling unexpectedly. Lady Sophia Sawyer loses both her parents closely together and mourns them the requisite year.

In Heavy Is The Head, young King Benecio Lyone ascends the throne of the Kingdom of Jerusha amid family rivalries, mysterious secrets, and spiritual omens that haunt the royal family. Benecio, barely old enough to grasp the weight of his crown, must navigate the treacherous path of leadership while contending with the shadowy legacies of his forebears and a world that seems intent on testing his faith and resolve.

A wrong committed millennia ago leads Padric on a quest to stop a plot that threatens all of humanity. There is only one catch—Padric must first prove himself worthy to be heir of the ancient charioteer.

In a city where opulence masks treachery, Detective Dion Knight is called to the scene of a high-society murder. Lydia Harper, a glamorous socialite, lies dead in her penthouse, surrounded by a puzzle of shattered glass and a bloodless knife. As Dion and his ambitious partner, Officer Stevens, delve into Lydia's life, they uncover a web of deceit involving estranged husbands, secret lovers, and cutthroat business rivals.