Showing results by author "C. S. Johnson" in All Categories

Christmas is a time for miracles, but miracles have always bothered Hamilton Dinger. This Christmas Eve, he has only two reasons to be cheerful: Rachel's Cafe is open late, and he has a special present for Gwen Kessler. So even if he has to sit through a session of Grandpa Odd's ramblings, he knows he'll have some holiday mocha and a chance at finally telling Gwen how he feels about her.

What makes a book sexy? I’m not talking about erotica per se, but what is the difference between a book you eagerly devour and a book you slum your way through? While there are individual exceptions, the most objective difference between a good story and a downright terrible one is simple—it all comes down to the writing. It’s either good writing, and we can forgive the technical flaws a little more easily, or it’s bad writing, and bad writing is just bad. Good writing is more than just good writing. Good writing is sexy.

For the past several weeks since Draco's return, Hamilton Dinger has been worried. As he watches over Raiya and Apollo City, he can't help but feel like he has too much to worry about. When Aleia reaches out to him, Hamilton finds that he must be able to handle the truth, no matter how inconvenient and demanding it is. Can he find comfort in Adonaias' own struggle with anxiety and fear?

The end is approaching for Hamilton Dinger and his friends. As the forces of darkness in Apollo City gain power, Hamilton finds himself on trial as the media, the law, and even his friends seem to have turned on him. The souls of the city, and the world, are on the line as the long-fought war against Alkuzor, Draco, and the Seven Deadly Sinisters comes to a crux with SWORD, Wingdinger, and the forces of Adonaias.

Lance wants nothing more than to be there to fight the dragons for his beloved Princess Alexandra. With his faithful steed by his side, Lance sets out for the magic elixir found only in the Holy Grail. With its strengthening power, facing off an old hag, the bewitching woods, and the strange ogre who lives under a bridge should be easy. But when it comes to Alexandra's dragons, things aren't quite what they all seem to be. Will Lance's gift be enough - or will his princess require something even more powerful to sustain her?

It has been many years since that day, the day Hamilton Dinger wishes to forget, along with the ache in his heart. But his desire to let go of the past is usurped when the future comes barreling into his apartment in the form of two young Starlight defenders, Lucas and Lyra, calling for a new mission for the retired Wingdinger. More than reluctantly, Hamilton heads home to Apollo City as Dante Salyards, now a rogue agent from SWORD, seeks his help in dismantling a new administration of evil in Apollo City.

Prague, 1870. For the last 10 years, 19-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household. Along with her older brother, she dreams of the day they will be free to live life on their own terms. But everything changes when their estranged grandmother comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria.

Driven by vengeance, Exton Shepherd never set out to save anyone. As he circles the war-torn world in his pirated starship, the Perdition, he only sees his father's ghost lurking around every corner and the looming darkness on the horizon. When Aerie unexpectedly tumbles into his life, he finds he cannot trust her any more than he can ignore her. But just like the raging war down on Earth, it's tempting to think he can...

The day I fell in love with Kara was the day I accidentally ruined her life, and I was as blindsided by ruining her life as much as I was by falling in love with her. According to my now ex-best friend, Miles, love is supposed to make you feel stupid, but I never thought my stupidity, or anybody else’s for that matter, would lead to such devastation.

Years after Sapphira's battle against the Dark Plague, Princess Selene has grown up - and so has her daughter, Terra. Despite her mother's numerous stories and the affirmation of her friends and people, Terra sees the world as a place that still welcomes darkness, and she wonders if the Dark Plague is really gone - and if Pegasus was truly as real as her mother says. When tragedy strikes, Terra is faced with the haunting question of whether or not she can believe - and whether it really matters in the end.

With only weeks away from her 18th birthday and the fulfillment of her curse, Rose, the princess of Rhone, faces more obstacles than ever. The kingdom, anxious over her fate, is destabilizing under her father's rule; her mother is imprisoned, and her uncle is holding a silent coup against the crown. With Theo's absence, she is unable to do more than brood over her fate as she attempts to solve the problems around her. When Theo returns with surprising information, Rose knows the time has come to risk everything.

Rose, the princess of Rhone, doomed to fall into a sleeping death on her 18th birthday, has only ever wanted two things in all her life: to be free of her curse and to never fall in love. After securing the dragon's blood from the Serpent's Garden, Rose is confident she has all she needs to free herself from Magdalina's curse. But when Magdalina comes to offer Rose a new deal - one that would free her from her curse, while also eliminating future threats - Rose is forced to confront the truth of her feelings for Theo.

In order to defeat the sorceress Magdalina and free herself from her curse, Rose, the Princess of Rhone, has set out to find dragon’s blood. As she travels toward the Romani territory, where the Serpent’s Garden resides, she is accompanied by her faithful group of friends, including their newest member, Prince Philip of Einish. But when the group ends up shipwrecked on the small island of Maltia, they find themselves trapped without supplies and a way off the island.

Pamela Pearson grew up knowing it was best to fend for herself, and meeting Asher Davidson didn't really change that. After they argue over their future, Pamela wonders if maybe she was wrong, especially as she sees Asher's dedication to his family following his mother's death.

Solomon McCain has long been the sheriff around Fairmont, and even though it's a small town, there's always a bit of trouble here and there. And while he's helped put away criminals, both petty and professional, nothing prepares him for the morning of the Fairmont Pie Contest. What should have been an easy, fun-filled day is suddenly filled with accusations of murder, cheating, assault, and more—and all from individuals he'd known and worked alongside for years. Solomon knows there will be hell to pay if he authorizes a formal investigation.

Charles Piper has been a respected judge in the small town of Fairmont, but there is little he can do to sway the courts of public opinion. When Martha Davidson's marriage fell apart, he was quick to offer her his help, and she was quick to return his kindness with his favorite chocolate pie—and that's when the town's whispers began to swirl....

After joining the Order of the Crystal Daggers, led by her dauntless grandmother, Lady Penelope, Eleanora Svobodová set out to save her kingdom from oncoming devastation. And she failed. Following the attack on Prague Castle, Eleanora is determined to redeem herself. She sets out to win Karl’s trust while distancing herself from Ferdy, whose secrets and lies have done nothing to stop her from falling in love with him.

Amir Qureshi knew his life would never be the same the day he met Naděžda Ollerton-Cerná, much to his chagrin. With her sharp wit and brazen charm, Naděžda is as infuriating as she is irresistible, and Amir cannot stop himself from falling in love with her - even though they can never be together. As an ally to the Order of the Crystal Daggers, under the command of Naděžda’s indomitable mother, Amir knows there is no place for love in the life of a spy.

As a surgeon for the Mercy Interplanetary Alliance, Micheel Reshi is no stranger to difficult choices. But when his wife, Nabelle, gives brith to their twins, Micheel is horrified to find Callox and Pasher bare the Sign of Gemini on their arms. The bright constellation marks them as carriers of the hidden code Earth’s last generation had engineered into human DNA - and marks them as targets by the Collectors, a group of people determined to wipe out all memory of Old Earth and its existence.

Twelve years ago, Matthias Davidson left his broken home to find a better life, leaving his mama, brother, and sister behind. But a broken man only becomes more broken in a world without love and hope. Now Matthias is in trouble, and he desperately needs help. And he only has one place left to go. Home to Mama. Will Matthias be able to reconcile with his mother? Will he find a way out of his trouble - or will more trouble find him?