Showing results by narrator "J.Brandon" in All Categories

Sophie Farrier—a bright and imaginative teen girl—was born with rotten luck. Misfortune has placed her in Seaside, a dull and dreary village filled with dull and dreary people. It is a place where creativity is frowned upon, outsiders are shunned, and no one dares to stand out. Those who actually muster up the courage to leave are never heard from again.

Growing up in rural Oregon, Brandon Wolf grappled with the devastating loss of his supportive mother and with the embedded racism and homophobia of a community that made him feel like an unwelcome stranger. After the lack of connection and role models led him down a spiral of risky behavior, Wolf escaped to survive. In Orlando, he found what he’d been searching for: belonging—in a community that was a safe space with people he’d come to call his chosen family.

Jess Patton is blunt, but there’s one person who never bats an eye when she speaks her mind. When that same man rescues her from a bad blind date, her rapidly beating heart is impossible to ignore. Suddenly, she's second-guessing everything she knows about him. After everything he’s seen and done, Lincoln North knows he doesn’t deserve a woman like Jess. Not only is she gorgeous, but she doesn’t play games, and being around her is as easy as breathing.

In this valuable and revealing anthology, cultural critic and best-selling author Roxane Gay collects original and previously published pieces that address what it means to live in a world where women have to measure the harassment, violence, and aggression they face, and where they are "routinely second-guessed, blown off, discredited, denigrated, besmirched, belittled, patronized, mocked, shamed, gaslit, insulted, bullied" for speaking out. Contributions include essays from established and up-and-coming writers, performers, and critics.

On Harlem’s 145th Street, things happen that don’t happen anywhere else in the world. Get to know Big Joe, who’s throwing his own funeral while he’s here to enjoy it, and everyone’s invited. Meet Kitty and Mack, teens with a love story more real than anything they’ve ever known. Follow Monkeyman, the quietest kid on the block and the last person you’d expect the Tigros gang to target. And don’t miss the block party of the year - the whole neighborhood will be there. From danger and despair to hilarity and joy, literary legend Walter Dean Myers captures every mood.

With every known planet, colony or settlement empty, ruined or completely destroyed, a desperate crew of humans onboard the starship Odyssey, hear rumours of a mythical phenomenon called The Horizon. This magical place on the edge of known space is believed to transport those who traverse it back in time to the moment they were at their happiest. With only death, heartache and baron wastelands surrounding them, the crew of the Odyssey head towards the Horizon. However to reach this phenomenon, they must cross The Expanse - a 30-day trip through entirely empty space.

Angel at War tells the story of Josiah, a guardian angel Josiah has served in Heaven’s protection corps for over six thousand years, guarding Christians against attacks from evil tempters. His newest assignment, a young convert named Shawn Willis, is like no other human he has ever protected. From the moment Shawn gave his life to Christ, powerful demons have assaulted him, urging him to give over to sin and turn back to wickedness. Josiah faces the challenge of guarding a devout believer attacked by forces more powerful than the angel has ever faced before.

The mage Frank "Half Dead" Johnson is a marked man. Literally. A drunken decision fueled by tragedy has left him with half a soul, sorcerous powers, and two centuries to work off his debt to Scratch (a.k.a. the Devil) himself.

These were the words uttered by leader of the Utopia mission, Admiral Harry Ransome, in the year 2342. It was the last transmission he ever sent. 150 years later, he is discovered on a distant frozen planet, very much alive having barely aged a day. This story tells the tale of what happened to Harry Ransome between the sending of that fateful message and the end of 'Horizon.'

The moment Kate stepped into Noah Beaumont's office, she never expected to feel the sparks that she did. As she was hired to be his personal assistant, the two were expected to keep a strictly professional relationship - no matter how attracted they were to each other. But when a work trip to the tropical paradise of Malaysia strands them on a deserted island, they are faced with a forbidden love that threatens to break their resolve.

Jericho Buck is young, tough, and fearless, and has been burning across the western frontier like a prairie fire since he left home at 14. Now 21, Jericho finds his biggest adventures yet riding 100 miles a day through a desolate, hostile landscape for the famed Pony Express. The camaraderie amongst the riders and crew is iron-clad, and it’s the best money he has ever made. But on a fateful day, Jericho comes across a lonesome spot where desperadoes have just captured a beautiful young Paiute woman. In a life and death moment, Jericho’s bravery forever bonds him with a Paiute tribe.

World-renowned thief, Henry Sirola, has a secret. He’s also an FBI informant. When he’s given a new assignment by the Croatian mob to retrieve a priceless artifact, he knows it could be the biggest score of his life, but he needs to keep his two worlds from colliding. Henry and his associates embark on a mission that takes them to Brazil and home again where an assassin strikes at the heart of their crew.

Sold into slavery by his own parents at the age of seven, Aidan has spent his life enduring tortuous training in the arts of war. Now a man, he is an assassin in the service of his king. He kills whoever the king wants dead without question, regret, or concern for his own life. But when another assassin targets the king's daughter, Aidan's path to protect her will lead him down a dark road of corruption. As he struggles with his duty and his conscience, Aidan finds himself falling in love with the person he is supposed to protect and falling away from his commitment to his king.

In "Why Alpha Men Can't Compete: The Superiority of Sigma Men in Love and Life," author Lorenzo Mosqueda challenges the dominant alpha male archetype, revealing the Sigma male as a potent symbol of modern masculinity. This enlightening work showcases the Sigma's blend of independence, emotional intelligence, and moral fortitude, characteristics that allow them to reshape social norms and excel without overt dominance.

Curtis finds love in Iraq as he struggles to stay alive in a war he doesn't want to fight, and Letha discovers her own beauty in the love of her child. There is the "good daughter" who realizes that there's only one way to help her brother and her family. Other stories center on the daily drama of the Curl-E-Que beauty shop, or capture the slapstick side of passion.

Who doesn’t love dad jokes? …Don’t answer that. Well, dads do, trust me. And it’s their solemn duty to have family-friendly jokes (well, most of the time maybe) on hand at all times! So if your dad has been an embarrassment lately because he’s got no joke game, I’m here to fix that. Or maybe to make it worse, depending on how you look at it.

Jack, the half-breed offspring of a human mother and a genetically engineered father, lives a life of pain, alienated by human society and by many of the gens created by mankind to perform heavy labor. Not only do gens live like slaves, but humans have withheld from them the one piece of DNA that would grant them a soul. Jack is determined to uncover this well-hidden secret and rescue his fellow gens from a meaningless existence with no prospect of eternal life.

While you work hard building your startup, one of the biggest challenges you’ll face will be around your product’s ability to solve a big enough problem and its success in the market. Agile Analytics for Startups will help you navigate the complexity of early-stage business analytics, performance measurement, and the metrics that matter to your company.

Aidan is a man haunted by his past. Despite his position as a Chosen, he can't escape the darkness that lurks in his heart. With the other Chosen by his side, Aidan must face his demons and confront the sins he has committed.

This story is a heartwarming tale of friendship, bravery, and loyalty. It's a great reminder that true friends will always have each other's backs, and will do whatever it takes to help those in need.