Showing results by narrator "Erin Bateman" in All Categories

As the girlfriend of a rock star, Deena Smith traveled the world in style. Now, she's moved on and enjoys a quiet life as a college instructor. When she discovers her rocker ex stole a notebook of her song lyrics and claimed them as his own, Deena is determined to do whatever it takes to get her notebook back, even if it means playing nice with her evil ex. But when her co-worker offers to help restore her work, little does she know her quiet little world will be turned upside down. Sympathetic to Deena's plight, Jack Karris offers to assist.

Deirdre is down and out when she meets Neal, a CEO who’s looking for a new female companion. She submits to him, but will she continue to meet his demands? Or will she opt out once the demands become stronger and darker?

This tale is of Anna Polis, a wealthy girl who enjoys sailing on the family's yacht, Honey, each summer to Annapolis. The message is that all types are abused and must face the meanness of others. Anna is able, with the help of classmates, to weather the attacks. She even fulfills earlier dreams of greatness in her school. It is the next bully who almost destroys the young woman as she studies at Duke University. Anna has a force on her side that even the vilest opponent can't conquer.

Snow flies on howling gales, trees moan their complaint against the December storm, and lights on the Christmas tree in the front yard flicker. Inside, family members settle around their fireplace's warmth, sharing memories of years past, and then the front doorbell rings.... A family rocker, a surprise gift, and a closely held secret revealed all set the stage for this family's unexpected Christmas.

Venus & Sappho Walk into a Bar is a collection of 12 contemporary women’s stories which explore differing aspects of female sexuality and homosexuality from a woman’s perspective. Vanessa de Sade has been writing fiction about the forbidden side of women’s sexuality for the last six years, and her stories and poems have appeared in a multitude of outlets ranging from feminist and literary magazines to glossy compendiums.

Christmas is coming fast, and Mildred Sauer isn't feeling festive or generous. Having faced disappointments and sadness in her life with stoicism and determination, this holiday season doesn't appear to be any different than those that have disappointed her in the past. A small child, two teddy bears, and a bevy of surprise visitors all conspire against her expectations, though, as Mildred's life goes topsy-turvy in a hurry. Can this Christmas even be saved?

This story covers the traditional nativity as told by Santa Claus to Scarlett, the youngest and newest of the colour fairies. He explains how and why Christmas started, why he brings presents, and how it all happens in one night. He also tells her why he no longer wears a green robe but a red one.

The main story in this collection is “The Snow Queen”, the story of two children who play together daily and have many fun adventures. Kai, a young boy, is drawn to an icy palace by an evil queen who causes him to forget his friendships and past, keeping him prisoner without fond memories for comfort. His friend Gerda has to go on a daring journey to rescue him from the ice castle and defeat the evil that holds him captive using the strongest power in the world - the power of love.

In Ayn Rand’s Anthem, humankind has entered a dark age at some point in the unspecified future. Individuality is no longer permitted, and people are assigned roles to fulfill in their lives. The work's protagonist, Equality 7-2521, is given an undesirable job as a punishment for thinking for himself and desiring to become a scientist instead. The novella outlines his journey as he starts to commit more “crimes” against society, such as desiring a companion of his own choosing, discovering electricity, and ultimately fleeing from his leaders.

Bambi is the beloved story of a young deer’s childhood and coming of age in a forest with many dangers. Because deer are prey for humans, Bambi is taught from a young age about the dangers he will face and warned to always be cautious. He, and all of the other creatures in the forest, fear humans.

Eight-year-old Princess Irene is everything a princess of her age should be: brave, imaginative, strong-willed, and eager to be a good person. But her situation is not ideal: She lives in a lonely castle separated from her kingdom with her nursemaid, amid mines full of goblins who seek to destroy her and her family.

When five children discover the Psammead - a malevolent sand-fairy - who says he can grant wishes, the children cannot believe their luck! All their wildest secret dreams will come true: beauty beyond compare, riches greater than kings, the ability to fly. But wishes are not always what they seem, and every wish the fairy grants goes wrong for the children.

In Verona, Italy, two young people in love defy the demands of their families and pursue their love for one another above societal expectations. Their decisions and pursuit of love send ripples throughout their family and friend circles, causing controversy and consequences. For centuries, the tale of the young star-crossed lovers has been a mainstay of both the literary canon and popular culture. This is one of William Shakespeare’s most known and beloved works with timeless themes and prose.

Forget everything you think you know about mass murderers and crimes of passion, because now you’re going to learn the truth. People don’t decide one day to go out and kill as many people as they can, or wake up one morning, grab the nearest shotgun or axe, and proceed to hack apart their loved ones. They do it because they’re infected with a jewel, a creature of intense beauty and danger. Once the jewel takes over a host’s body, that person dies, leaving the jewel in total control to thrive on fear and horror.

If Max can't stop the advance of the Ore, then the entire kingdom is forfeit... With the expedition into the Hinterlands deemed a failure, Max and his family go back to the drawing board. To make matters worse, wizards from the Magician's Academy have set up shop in Fronstead, desperate to get some of the power that the people of Fronstead fought and died to secure. Despite the warnings of the magic elemental Auriana, the secretive Academy wizards push their magic further and further, creating monsters and abominations to protect the kingdom, all under the spell of head mage Roland.

When a surprise inheritance brings Olive Adams to Cape Cod to live in her aunt's old house, she finds her fortune shifting like the sands. Can she navigate a new life in the welcoming but mysterious house? As a dangerous hurricane barrels up the coast, Olive struggles to save the land next door from destruction as she waits for her new love to return.

Journey to Oz, a faraway land of magic, mayhem, and danger in this fantastical trilogy by L. Frank Baum. The Library Congress calls this “America’s greatest and best-beloved homegrown fairytale,” and the stories will spark the imagination and wonder as you enter the wondrous Land of Oz. This collection includes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the most well-known of the Oz stories; The Marvelous Land of Oz, following the adventures of a young boy named Tip exploring an Oz post-Dorothy; and Ozma of Oz, where Dorothy Gale is whisked away to a land called Ev.

When the stars vanish and heroes follow suit, it seems there’s no one left to try to stop an unseen power from taking over the world. But nobody was counting on Toby, a seemingly normal man, to get involved. Once upon a time, he might have refused his hero's call. With an overwhelming power of his own and new friends who are counting on him, he's drawn the line in the sand. He will stop this reign of chaos, one way or another.

Amazing Fights! Cultivation! Monster girls! Mixed Martial Arts champion, John LeBrock, left Earth for the world of Azura. John learned the importance of cultivating the world’s magical energy called myst. Through this cultivation, John would be able to rise through the ascension ladder to unlimited power. John became one of the strongest cultivators at the Temple of the Weeping Sun in the beautiful region of Starfall. John’s rapid ascension and intense ambition begins to frustrate the Cosmic Observator, Hektor, causing a wide rift between the two powerful cultivators.

Lead singer of the start-up band Four Real Tricia Donahue left her hometown with one question: How can you love three men at once? She’s convinced herself it can’t be done - not without living up to her family’s infamous reputation. Now, years later, lead guitarist Michael Hill is touring with world-famous TRE, far removed from the small-town band he once called his family. Home will never be the same until he makes things right. Reunion time for four best friends with unfinished business means they will finally face the music.