American Short

Did she make a deal with the devil? Or will the forbidden fruit be worth every bite? RAYA: I thought I had finally put my troubled past behind me. Moving from Texas to Orange County, I reinvented myself and quickly became the star bartender at Sweet Cocktails, thanks to my secret recipe for raspberry martinis. But everything changed when an undercover agent revealed my secret ingredient comes from the private land of Maxwell Evans, a reclusive billionaire with dangerous ties to a drug cartel. Now, I'm caught in a web of deception, forced to spy on Maxwell in exchange for keeping my secret ...

Established by the leaders of the country's only successful slave revolt in the mid-19th century, Cross River still evokes the fierce rhythms of its founding. In lyrical prose and singular dialect, a saga beats forward that echoes the fables carried down for generations - like the screecher birds who swoop down for their periodic sacrifice, and the water women who lure men to wet deaths.

Said Sayrafiezadeh has been hailed by Philip Gourevitch as “a masterful storyteller working from deep in the American grain”. His new collection of stories are set in a contemporary America full of the kind of emotionally bruised characters familiar to fans of Denis Johnson and George Saunders. These are people contending with internal struggles - a son’s fractured relationship with his father, the death of a mother, the loss of a job, drug addiction - even as they are battered by the larger, often invisible, economic and political forces of American society.

Step into a world of wit, wisdom, and wild misadventures in Fools, Frogs, & Folktales, a delightful collection of American short stories that celebrate the humor, quirks, and tall tales of generations past. This anthology gathers twenty timeless stories from literary greats like Mark Twain, O. Henry, and Jack London, alongside other masterful storytellers whose words bring to life the foolish, the clever, and the downright peculiar.

When Four Stories by American Women was first published by Penguin Classics in 1990, it understandably reflected the second-wave feminist interpretations of that time—a period marked by an impressive recovery of what were then considered to be minor American writers. This updated and expanded volume, Twelve Stories by American Women edited by Arielle Zibrak, offers a more diverse selection of writers—including Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, María Cristina Mena, Zitkala-Ša, Sui Sin Far, and Barbara E. Pope.

WARNING: This is the second in a series of short, erotic stories which contain explicit sex scenes and can be read in any order. Stephanie wasn't expecting visitors, but the late-night arrrival of a package from her best friend meant opening her door for a hunky delivery guy. And when his vehicle breaks down due to inclement weather, she doesn't mind playing host until a tow truck arrives. But as they get to know each other, the night quickly progresses in a manner neither had anticipated outside their wildest fantasies...

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, renowned marine biologist and co-founder of the All We Can Save climate initiative, compiles the best science and nature writing of the year.

In the enchanting town of Sweethaven, CT, Marla Gonzalez, the spirited owner of Tiny Delights Bakery, takes a bold step to expand her business by purchasing the adjacent space. But what starts as a promising venture soon turns sinister when a hidden body is discovered within the newly acquired property. With the help of her trusted companions, Mr. Roundbelly and Lulu, Marla embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery behind the grim discovery. As the investigation unfolds, the small town of Sweethaven is rocked by another unexpected death, casting shadows of suspicion and intrigue. Marla ...

Alexander Chee, an essayist of “virtuosity and power” (Washington Post), selects twenty essays out of thousands that represent the best examples of the form published the previous year.

Since last Halloween, Kindle and Ebony have experienced the unexpected. Now, more than ever, both women need the men they only get to share their worlds with once a year. One evening, three beautiful, eerie young ladies appear at Kindle's door. They offer a solution to her and Ebony’s problems. Skeptically, Kindle finds it strange the three are already in the loop about what's going on with her and Ebony. As time spent with the love of their lives dwindles, Kindle and Ebony have a hard decision to make. Because this Halloween, neither can fathom another year to recur before seeing LP and ...

In this eye-opening short story, a tech reporter’s mistake unites two women eight thousand miles apart. One in New Jersey, one in the Philippines. Same name: Sandra Guzman. Same job: content moderators for a mega social media website. What transpires between them is a friendship that changes their perceptions of each other’s privilege and challenges the power of the very industry they work for.

Split into five sections - Reading, Being, Seeing, Feeling, and Remembering - Changing My Mind finds Zadie Smith casting an acute eye over material both personal and cultural. This engaging collection of essays, some published here for the first time, reveals Smith as a passionate and precise essayist, equally at home in the world of great books and bad movies, family and philosophy, British comedians, and Italian divas. Changing My Mind is journalism at its most expansive, intelligent, and funny - a gift to readers and writers both.

This is an ebook of poetry written with everyone in mind. The poems are meant to inspire and to give hope to those feeling down. The poetry touches on different facets of everyday life. These uplifting poetic words include poems about those we care deeply for including wives, mothers, husbands, and fathers. A kind word is capable of making or breaking someone's day. It's also an ebook where you can feast on life and religious poetry. The author has written with love this poetic ebook view of life through his own personal self expressions and experiences. Each poetry topic of interest is ...

You can’t have faith with the spirit of fear. The ancestors cannot reach you if you aren’t strong enough to believe. REINA is excited about leaving her hometown of Houma, LA. Away from the legends, stares, and whispers that run rampant about her family. She just wants to get away and feel normal for once in her life. Her parents OSCAR and ESMERALDA fear losing their daughter to her independence, not knowing a more menacing force awaits her. After settling into the private university in Alabama, she embraces her freedom. A day trip with one of her roommates, NIKKI, turns into a nightmare...

This is a collection of stories of innocent Americans leaving their inhibitions by the side as they travel through Europe! Alice is on a geological research mission on a Greek island filled with anguish. Back at home there is a man who wants to marry her, but she’s worried she’ll be locking herself into marriage before she’s had a chance to explore everything that life has to offer. An encounter with a stranger offers her some insight and the chance to explore the darker side of life. She can't help but wonder if one man will ever be enough again...

You know who I am You know what I can do I am something Get your mind out the gutter I am a Trillionaire And I am worth it I saw an angel I want an Heir My son hurt her in San Francisco He'd pay for hurting an angel And she will see what it means To be with a Real Man

Kyron Santos, Kaylin's older brother, was used by Tasha Macklin to get back at Trae for his infidelities, a relationship that ultimately ended in pregnancy, murder, broken relationships, and mistrust. No one knew about the court-ordered sessions that Kyron was forced to attend. At least not until Mari, his woman who stuck by him throughout the majority of his prison bid, dropped the recordings off to Trae Macklin, Tasha's husband.

Thirteen years ago, Tyra watched Lincoln Scott walk out of her life without looking back and she’s hated him for it ever since. Now, years later Tyra’s stranded in a snowstorm and their paths cross again as Lincoln, now grown, sexy and successful shows up to save the day. But, accepting his help means Tyra’s trapped alone with the one man she hates more than anything; the one man who knows how to satisfy her every need. It may be cold outside but things are heating up indoors. Can she stand her ground or will Tyra lose herself to lust and along the way rekindle love with her Mr. Right.

Here is the preface to 12 magnificent stories, originally part of The John Cheever Audio Collection, in which John Cheever celebrates - with unequaled grace and tenderness - the deepest feelings we have.

Austin Dupree, a widowed pastor from Texas, never thought he would fall for Lyra Levoe, a plus-size supermodel who recently moved to the small town of Finlay. However, as their connection grows into a romance, a jealous church member begins to plot against Lyra. Will this big city Cinderella be able to keep her Prince Charming despite the odds?