Short Family

She swore she’d never go back. Now she has, but not to stay. Seven years ago, Rebecca King left her Amish community behind. Now, her father’s stroke forces her return to Lancaster County, but only long enough to help him heal. She doesn’t belong there anymore. Not after choosing the English world over her family. Not after breaking Samuel’s heart. Samuel Lapp never stopped loving her. But Rebecca’s return brings whispers of doubt and painful memories he thought he’d buried. When her modern nursing methods clash with Amish tradition, the community questions her loyalty. Samuel ...

Lulu's a naughty girl. She likes to do naughty things. Luckily, the man of the house loves to spoil her with all sorts of new surprises. Lulu's ready for whatever he has to give her…and he is ready to give it hard and without protection. Warning: This is a hot taboo erotic story that contains very naughty themes. Adult readers only.

Have you ever asked “What’s it all for?” or “Is my life enough?” Jack finds himself back at the local pub after another monotonous day at work asking himself these very questions. From an outside perspective, Jack has a good job and a supportive family, but somehow it’s not fulfilling his true desires, which has created a deep sadness. Seeing Jack’s hopelessness, the bartender, Lloyd, suggests a short story for him to read about a cowboy going through similar struggles in wanting better for his family and his life. Jack is not much of a reader, but finds some solace in ...

In Buttercup Bay, love’s the real Halloween magic. When city girl Sophie moves to the small town of Buttercup Bay for a much-needed retreat, she never expects to be swept off her feet by the local baker. Greg, the ruggedly handsome owner of the town’s favorite bakery, has always found comfort in the rhythm of his quiet life—until Sophie stirs up more than just his interest. As the Halloween Bash approaches, they find themselves caught in a sweet and spicy competition to win the Pumpkin Pie Contest. But with sparks flying and hearts on the line, will they discover that the real prize ...

If you’re a thirty-year-old, Southern male from a Christian family and have never brought a girl home to meet Momma, then you must secretly be up to no good. And if you also happen to be an only son with five older, happily married sisters, the pressure to find the one and only love of your life is like digging through a pile of leaves for the pin to the grenade you’re holding. Those were the first two lines of the first video post of Mark Griffin’s to go viral, and his popularity has steadily risen over the two years since. He decides to use his platform to find someone to share ...

The fifth tale in the cycle of stories about people discovering that life outside their comfort zone is not so bad; if you have the courage to take The Plunge After having faced many testing situations young lesbian, Verina Lamb, is thrown into a loop again when she returns to her home, her sanctuary, to find her step-mother, Cynthia, enjoying a cup of tea in the garden. Cynthia's new boyfriend John is there too and .... they are both bare!

He’s an Olympic gold medalist, she’s a wellness coach, and they have to learn to run a fitness island resort together. Blake “The Blazing Comet” Witlock is known around the world for being a playboy billionaire and sports icon, the last thing he wants to do is settle down and run a fitness area on his family's Alaskan island resort. What’s worse, his father has hired a wellness guru who thinks it’s her job to tell him what to do. Peyton Belmont is a renowned wellness coach who needs a cash infusion. So, when Gordon Witlock offers to hire her for a hefty sum to help overhaul his ...

He was a cop. She was his daughter. One of them wasn’t walking away. James Bradford wore the badge in St. Isidore for thirty-five years. He cleaned up alleyway brawls, chased down punks with knives, and never once had to pull the trigger. Until the night his daughter came home. Amanda Petrocelli had a record longer than Main Street, a husband with blood on his hands, and two kids caught in the crossfire. When she and her killer husband came knocking—guns drawn and hearts cold—James didn’t call for backup. He reached for his gun safe. In a town where loyalty is currency and regret ...

Jason Mckinney never expected to find a zombie on the downstairs toilet, but apparently, everything eventually runs out of toilet paper at the worst possible time. Enter the *Federated Alliance of Rare Things, specifically created for those embarrassing bathroom moments, and the McKinney family, recruited as the latest Saviour of the Bog Roll. The paycheque is out of this world. Jason has kids, a house that needs some desperate upkeep, and a chupacabra falling in love with him. Life as a saviour is interesting, sometimes terrifying, and frequently lavender scented.

A Thrilling Western Finale You Won’t Want to Miss! A powerful tale of courage and hope in the heart of the West When FBI agent Seth Ryder is called back to his small Montana hometown by a letter from his father, he has no idea that his latest case will collide with family history in ways he never imagined. Joined by his fearless FBI partner, Nora, Seth must navigate a dangerous investigation while reconnecting with his siblings in the close-knit community of Ryders’ Bluff. But Jules Bishop, the corrupt land developer, is ready to stake his claim—and this time, the stakes are higher ...

A battered woman is the last thing Oliver Chapman expected to see when he was scouting on the range. He knew he had no choice but to take her home to his ranch to allow her to heal. But getting close to Willow is proving more difficult than the horses that run wild on the prairie.

Abby: I have one job. That’s it, just one: Babysit the bad-boy soccer hero for a week, so that he doesn’t embarrass the entire country before his knighthood ceremony. Everything goes according to plan until I somehow end up in his bed and on the cover of every tabloid in England, my heart shattered in a million pieces and my job in jeopardy. Brilliant, Abby. Rory: What reason do I have to believe that this curvy blonde is any different from every other woman I’ve met? Sure, she’s smart and beautiful and funny and amazing in bed and… did I mention those luscious curves? Right, I am...

First love never truly fades… it’s just waiting for a second chance. Ten years after leaving Wildwood Ridge, Allison returns home to sell her late father's house, only to find herself face-to-face with her first love – Grant. As they spend time together again, unresolved feelings resurface and they must decide if their story deserves a second chapter. Second Chance With The Mountain Man is a steamy short read with cozy small town vibes.

Can this mail-order bride convince her husband he needs a ready-made family? With the help of the Westward Home and Hearts Matrimonial Agency, Piper Paulson finds herself on a train to meet and marry her future husband, a kind-hearted teacher in Montgomery, Colorado. Together, they make the perfect pair until, suddenly, Piper finds herself at odds with her husband. She doesn’t know how to get what she wants and save their marriage at the same time. August Harrison falls in love with his mail-order bride right from the start. He believes he and the quiet woman who grew up in an orphanage ...

The extraordinarily evocative stories depict the generation born in a small-town America during the Depression and growing up in a world where the old sexual morality was turned around and material comforts were easily had. Yet, as these stories reflect so accurately, life was still unsettling, and Updike chronicles telling moments both joyful and painful. The texts are taken from his recent omnibus, The Early Stories, 1953-1975.

That summer - more than 10 years ago, while they were still in high school - Noelle McDowell and Thomas Sutton fell secretly in love. Secretly because their mothers had been locked in a bitter feud for decades. But despite the animosity between Sarah McDowell and Mary Sutton, Noelle planned to elope with Thom. Until he jilted her.

The second novel and first quick-listen title from Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling author Cathy Glass. My Dad's a Policeman is a dramatic and engaging story of a young boy with an alcoholic mother. Lonely, bullied and desperate for a life of happiness and security he tells everyone he meets his dad's a policeman. Fast paced and compelling, this short story from Cathy Glass follows the experiences of a Ryan, a small and lonely 12-year-old boy who struggles to fit in.

A trip to the library prompts one woman to question her fate in this galvanizing short story. For a woman like Hadley, deemed not acceptable to procreate, there’s only one recourse. Unlicensed for motherhood, she can alleviate her grief and frustration at a “baby library,” where a curiously endless supply of infants is available for a two-week loan. But the borrowed life that serves as a temporary balm leads to a journey of self-discovery that will forever change the direction of Hadley’s future.

Lieutenant Ethan Hendricks’ greatest nightmare just also happens to be his grandfather’s newest business venture. Logan Hendricks is thrilled about his brand new detective agency’s first case, but things weren’t turning out the way they were supposed to, including the attempted murder of one of his brand new employees. But he figures their next case, which involves finding a missing sister, should go a lot smoother. How dangerous could it be? Ethan Hendricks wasn’t quite as confident about his grandfather’s new hobby, or that the supposedly straight-forward case of a missing ...

From her many well-loved novels, Hilma Wolitzer - now 91 years old and at the top of her game - has gained a reputation as one of our best fiction writers. These collected short stories - most of them originally published in magazines including Esquire and the Saturday Evening Post in the 1960s and 1970s, along with a new story that brings her early characters into the present - are evocative of an era that still resonates deeply today.