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cover art for Rachel Howzell Hall - What Fire Brings

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Rachel Howzell Hall - What Fire Brings

A writer’s search for her missing friend becomes a real-life thriller in a twisting novel of suspense by the New York Times bestselling author of These Toxic Things.

Bailey Meadows has just moved into the remote Topanga Canyon home of thriller author Jack Beckham. As his writer-in-residence, she’s supposed to help him once again reach the bestseller list. But she’s not there to write a thriller—she’s there to find Sam Morris, a community leader dedicated to finding missing people, who has disappeared in the canyon surrounding Beckham’s property.

The missing woman was last seen in the drought-stricken forest known for wildfires and mountain lions. Each new day, Bailey learns just how dangerous these canyons are—for the other women who have also gone missing here…and for her. Could these missing women be linked to strange events that occurred decades ago at the Beckham estate?

As fire season in the canyons approaches, Bailey must race to unravel the truth from fiction before she becomes the next woman lost in the forest.

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    2024 International Firebird Book Award Winner (2x) - Political Thriller & Speculative Fiction2024 Storytrade Award Finalist - Suspense / Thriller2024 Hollywood Book Festival Honorable Mention - Political ThrillerWith the soul of American democracy in the balance, one man will defy all odds.Former Senator Jackson Piper stands at the podium, about to accept the 2044 nomination for President of the United States. The Pittsburgh stadium vibrates with thunderous applause, and the passionate cheers of 70,000 citizens create a thunderous roar. His calls for New Optimism, New Freedoms, and New Vitality for America electrify them. They are poised to rewrite the political rulebook while reforming the nation by resurrecting Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose Party.As the crowd's excitement reaches a fever pitch, Jackson Piper takes a deep breath and begins his speech. The setting is tense, with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance. However, Jackson is determined to bring a new era of hope and progress to America. His passion and charisma captivate the audience, and they are ready to follow him to the ends of the earth.But there are darker forces at play. What stands in their way is the corrupt President Warner. With unlimited resources and a ruthless agenda, he is determined to win a second term and maybe more. Piper and his allies must navigate a treacherous landscape of espionage, fake news, and assassination attempts to come out on top.Accompany Jackson and his team on a pulse-pounding quest to rescue the Republic. Guided by the strategic mind of Ron Bender and the assistance of his sentient A.I. companion Ziggy, they must outsmart their adversaries and battle for the destiny of their nation. Will they triumph over the corrupt forces arrayed against them, or will they succumb to the Curse of Tippecanoe?This enthralling political thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Drawing from his own experiences as a former political operative, the author crafts a chillingly believable narrative of power and corruption in American politics. Don't miss the inaugural installment in the compelling Bull Moose Series.This book is a must-read for fans of political thrillers like "The Manchurian Candidate" and "All the President's Men." Buy now before the price changes and get ready for a heart-pumping adventure through the cutthroat world of presidential elections.
  • St. Sukie de la Croix - Twilight Manors in Palm Springs: The Great New Orleans Powder Puff Caper

    23:46|
    Brian & Stéphane are Back, Spreading Mischief, Mayhem, and Loads of Laughs!Buckle up for a wild ride in the fifth installment of the Twilight Manors series! Brian and Stéphane embark on an unforgettable journey to New Orleans via Amtrak—Stéphane to dazzle at a Powder Puff Convention, and Brian to soak up the city’s vibrant chaos. But their adventure takes a jaw-dropping turn when the train is hijacked by the outrageous Barbie Liberation Front!As the pair are plunged into the heart of Texas, they encounter a bizarre cast of characters: a jubilant hooker, a man with an unusual affection for sheep, a curious peeping Tom, a woman claiming to own Ingrid Bergman’s DNA, and a footsie-loving Mennonite woman. Each character adds to the madness.The craziness escalates upon their arrival in New Orleans, where the convention reveals its own set of troubles. Someone is kidnapping chihuahuas, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.Join Brian and Stéphane as they navigate through a whirlwind of opera, voodoo, tortoise painters, biker gals, killer chefs, and the biggest ding-dong on this side, or any side, of the Mississippi. Oh, and don’t miss Stéphane taking a cure for his homosexuality—SPOILER ALERT: it doesn’t work!Dive headfirst into Twilight Manors in Palm Springs: The Great New Orleans Powder Puff Caper for a side-splitting, page-turning adventure you won’t want to miss!
  • Rick Karlin - Last Call South Florida: A History of 1001 LGBTQ

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    Last Call South Florida sweeps aside the glitter and glamour of the Sunshine State's LGBTQ nightlife scene to reveal the vibrant tapestry of real people who thrived on both sides of the bar. From the harrowing days of bar raids and police arrests to the triumphs of hard-won rights, this book dives deep into the lives of those who made history.Meet the investors and entrepreneurs who built the foundation, the entertainers, bartenders, go-go boys, drag performers, and "bar celebrities" who brought life to the stage, and the customers who found solace and community in these havens. This isn't just a nightlife chronicle; it's a celebration of a resilient community that emerged stronger from every challenge.What makes South Florida's LGBTQ bar scene unique is its dazzling blend of glamour, diversity, and unyielding spirit. Historians Fred Fejes and Rick Karlin have meticulously researched this distinctive community, covering an era from Prohibition to the present day. Focusing from Palm Beach to Broward, and Miami-Dade to Key West, they capture the essence of a community that has withstood the test of time and adversity.Fejes and Karlin's journey unearthed countless personal stories and experiences, bringing the history of South Florida's LGBTQ bar community to life. Their extensive archival research and interviews have culminated in a captivating book that informs and entertains.Last Call South Florida presents a rich tapestry of recollections, memories, histories, and artifacts. It's not just a book; it's a vital contribution to LGBTQ history, preserving the legacy of a community that shaped the cultural landscape of South Florida. Dive into this fascinating chronicle and celebrate the vibrant, resilient spirit of South Florida's LGBTQ bar community.
  • Philip Gambone - Zigzag

    24:38|
    You're Never Too OldPhilip Gambone’s long-awaited second book of short stories takes off from where his highly acclaimed first collection ended, taking us now into the lives of older gay men. These sixteen, loosely interconnected stories are about men who have experienced a lot: marriages and break-ups; rekindling old loves and starting new romances; the search for sex in an online era; the loss of familiar gay culture; the death of loved ones; and always the adventure of living in a world where they have to make up the rules as they go along.Gambone takes us to a radical faerie wedding; a closeted French teacher’s classroom; the weekly café gathering of a group of older gay bohemians, one of whom has adopted a child; a randy eighty-year-old portrait painter who insists his clients pose in the nude; a gay man who discovers his brother is HIV positive; a man in a wheelchair who hires a straight, 23-year-old companion; another who periodically hooks up with a married man; and a long-standing gay couple whose weekly visits to a sports café in Boston’s Italian neighborhood present a delicious and dangerous temptation.As George Stambolian said of his first collection, “Philip Gambone he has done something extraordinary—he has written with honesty, humor, and compassion about the lives of ordinary gay men. His characters speak to us in voices that are almost hypnotically real. They charm us with their words only to catch us with startling revelations of truth.”Now these “ordinary gay men” have reached a new stage in their lives, where the pull of multiple responsibilities, conflicting desires, and cross-generational connections both enriches and tests the identities they they’ve built up over the years. Exhilarating, heart-warming, sexy, and very real—Gambone’s stories zigzag through the twists and turns of each character’s life toward a place where gratitude, peace, self-acceptance, wisdom, and even spiritual growth abound.
  • Zelly Ruskin - Not Yours to Keep

    27:54|
    Called a “sensational debut” by Rea Frey, this psychological thriller delves into themes of reproductive rights and healthcare, confronting the complexities that define family—or the risks that lose it all.Billie Campbell, a Massachusetts adoption specialist grappling with fertility issues, dreams of adopting a baby, but not just any baby—her pregnant client’s baby. While her longing threatens to send her down a dark path, her husband, Tyler, is keeping secrets: he’s full of doubts about becoming a father, and he’s also trying to figure out who is sending him upsetting anonymous texts and photos. On the other side of town, Anne, a woman scarred by childhood abuse, obsesses with a second chance at becoming a family with the two people she regrets ever having let go of: the baby she gave up for adoption twenty years ago and the man of her dreams.Their lives become entangled when the client’s newborn is abducted, and Billie becomes a prime suspect.Amid the chaos unleashed by the abduction, Tyler uncovers a link between the person tormenting him and the abduction—but now Billie has disappeared too. The race to find both her and the baby is on; but will they find them before it’s too late?
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    24:25|
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  • Timothy Jay Smith - Istanbul Crossing

    28:00|
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