Captain Peregrine Tracey was humiliated when the rich but common Ansteys rejected his suit for their eldest daughter Mary, but he never gave up hope that they would one day marry. After 10 years of serving in the military, Peregrine inherited the title of the Earl of Devenahm and was instantly acceptable to the Ansteys as a son-in-law. Determined to erase the memory of his earlier humiliation, the new Earl immediately sets out for the Ansteys country estate to claim Mary’s hand in marriage. Unfortunately, it is immediately apparent to Emily, Mary’s younger sister, that whatever affection used to exist between Mary and Peregrine is no longer there. Indeed, Mary seems quite in love with the vicar, Reverend Peter Cummings and he with her. However, [...]
When the colonists first settled on the planet Daleer, there was plenty to support them all. However, as the population increased, Daleer’s resources were spread thin. Then a nasty virus spread through the people, killing mostly females who had born children. The women did not want to risk getting pregnant, so they did not have sex with the males. To combat this, the males created men with gorgeous physical beauty and shadra, a psychological talent that could give both exquisite pleasure and excruciating pain. When the population began to rise again, the people of Daleer split into two warring factions. One was led by Gemen, who believed that the men with the shadra formed an important part of life on the planet. The other, led [...]
Moreta is Weyrwoman at Fort Weyr with Sh’gall as Weyrleader. Moreta loves Orlith, her dragon queen, and would do anything for her, but she does wish that someone else had flown her during her mating flight. Sh’gall is a very able weyrleader in the air when fighting thread, but he does not do as well with people. Moreta is sure that they will go together to the Ruatha Gather, after all it is Lord Alessan’s first gather as a Lord Holder and everyone will be there. However, Sh’gall decides to go to the Telgar Gather and to see the strange cat that was captured in the ocean and put on display there. Desdra, Moreta’s anxious housekeeper insists that Moreta cannot go without Sh’gall and that [...]
Nannerl is hailed as a musical prodigy. She is a gifted musician and can perform musical pieces that should be far too difficult for a girl her age to play. Her hands dance along the keys and everyone is always amazed at her talents. Then her little brother is born. A little boy named Wolfgang Mozart. At first, it appears that there will be room in the spotlight for both of them, but Nannerl slowly finds herself pushed to the side as Wolfgang’s musical genius is recognized. For Wolfgang can not only perform difficult compositions, he can also improvise, do tricks and compose. And, most importantly, he is a male in 1700s Europe. Nannerl still dreams of [...]
The only home ten-year-old Mandy has ever known is the St. Martin’s Orphanage in St. Martin’s Green, England. Matron Bridie and the staff are kind and loving to all of the orphans there, but with 30+ children to care for, it is nothing like being part of a real family. Mandy longs for a home and a family of her own, but tries to be content with her life. She has her best friend, Sue, her part-time job at the grocery store to earn a little pocket money and quite a bit of freedom to wander the countryside. One day, while Mandy was searching for something to do, she decided to climb over the high, stone wall in near the orphanage [...]
Lenny Brewster is a quirky, intelligent nine-year-old boy. He loves exploring the world around him, but usually does so in slightly unusual ways. Lenny is super smart, but doesn’t really know how to get along with others and is constantly interrupting class with his observations. His teacher, his principal and even his mom don’t know quite what to do with him. So Lenny spends most of his time alone – or in the principal’s office – until he meets Van on the playground and shows him how to make the perfect slide. He and Van have a lot in common and enjoy spending time together, but Van cannot do everything that Lenny can do because he has leukemia, a type [...]
David Beckett had just returned from the military to his family’s home in Key West, Florida. He loved working in the museum that his family owned, which captured the grisly and sensational moments in Key West’s historical past. But everything changed when he found his ex-fiancée’s body laid out in one of the exhibits – especially since he was the prime suspect. His family was his alibi and there were many who suspected that they lied to keep David out of jail. David left everything behind him to begin a career as a successful nature photographer and didn’t even return home for his grandfather’s funeral. But now he is back and he is determined to keep history from repeating itself [...]
Sarah King is happy with her life the way it is. She has a wonderful, loving Amish family in a warm, friendly Amish community in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains. She has her beloved garden, where she lavishes all of her love, care and attention. Her life is orderly and familiar and she would like to keep it that way. Everything changes when Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian moves in to the farm next door to the Kings. For the first time, Sarah’s heart is stirred and she finds herself falling in love. And Grant returns her feelings. Indeed, her sassy tongue and pure beauty caught his attention from the moment that he met her family. But their [...]
Jim Marlowe barely remembers leaving Earth with his family many years ago. He considers himself a Martian Colonist and loves his life on Mars. He is not looking forward to going to school on Syrtis Minor, but he knows that he is of the age where he has to go. The only thing that he insists on is that his pet/friend, Willis, a “bouncer” or Martian animal that is round, furry and stick-out appendages when he wants to see or move around, come with him. His parents are forced to admit that there is nothing in the school rules that say he cannot take Willis, so Jim wins out.
Tarl Cabot is an Englishman who has recently moved to America to teach British History at a small US University. When he goes camping one weekend, he has no idea that his adventure is going to be more than he could ever imagine. It all starts with an unusual envelope that magically appears at Tarl’s campfire. When Tarl opens it, he finds a letter from his father, whom he never knew, asking him to bring a handful of earth with him when he comes. Tarl is not sure what is going on, but he knows that he wants no part of it. He tries to run away, but soon finds himself back at his campsite where he started. Resigned to the inevitable, he boards the [...]
Connal MacArren is one of the first of his world to leave the planet and travel through space. He would never have ventured out at all if it weren’t for his dratted kinsman, Garris, who left without telling anyone goodbye. All he left was a cryptic note saying that he was going to see the Dreamweaver Liandra Tavor. Liandra is an Asarian, one of a small race who can walk the dreamscape and find answers for people in dreams. She is sure that this Garris never made it to see her, though it is true that he may have been traveling to see her, but she cannot persuade Connal that she knows nothing of Garris’ whereabouts. Connal quickly tires of Liandra’s game of pretending not [...]
Preece is used to being alone. Everyone fears the tall warrior who always wear a black cape and cowl to cover his face. It is rumored that he can kill anyone, anywhere and he is called Preece the Warmonger or sometimes The Royal Blade. Yet Preece is tired of being a mercenary, tired of death. He takes jobs just to earn enough money to buy his own ship and sail off to an island paradise that his guardian, an old wizard, has long told tales of. He is eager to make his dream a reality, when the king forces him to agree to escort Moreya, orphaned daughter of one of the king’s most revered ambassadors, to her new fiancé, prince of a neighboring kingdom.
