Set against the colorful backdrop of events that gave rise to a fledgling century of technology, this vibrant novel of romance and adventure introduces a stunning new figure to begin the journey of future generations:
Blackie Devlin... Street-wise alumni of turn-of-the-century Hell's Kitchen, Blackie Devlin rose from the tenements to acquire fame and fortune as the owner of one of the hottest dance halls in the infamous Tenderloin. But something was missing...the Excitement and Adventure once found on the streets. He pursues a new dream as an aviator and nears the zenith--but his past threatens to catch up with him and destroy everything...his fame, his fortune, and his life--including the women who love him...

Surviving high school is a bizarre enough experience for most kids, and for Emma Niles, that's only one of her challenges. It's her senior year, and she has to find a way to put the multiple stresses of her home life behind her. Her parents have just been through a messy divorce, and now her father has remarried. Add on classes and all the other demands on her sanity, and life seems just crazy. Fortunately, Emma knows that no matter how weird her life may seem, she can always count on her friends to see her through it all.

But when Bobby Watson, a tall, dark, and mysterious young man, enrolls at their school, everyone is charmed by him. Everyone, that is, but Alexis, Emma's best friend. Alexis, a gifted Native American girl, can see the darkness behind his beautiful face. She knows that Bobby is much more than he appears to be-and that his plans represent dangerous times for everyone they know and love. Alexis invites her friends to take part in a sacred fire ceremony so that they can learn more about his true intentions.

As they prepare for the ritual, Emma learns of her own powers and family history. By embracing her newly revealed Native American heritage and culture, Emma begins to figure out who she is, what's really happening in her school-and why. Through it all, Emma learns that her true strength is found within and that friendship is the strongest magic of all.

Young Savannah Rose is unfortunately already familiar with the pain of rejection. Chubby and orphaned, Savannah knows she is lucky to have found a home with her Aunt Millie, yet she must endure relentless teasing by her classmates. Deep inside, Savannah knows she is special, and she is determined to find a way to show them all. One summer evening while trying to catch fireflies, Savannah wanders into the dark garden where she suddenly hears a mysterious voice coming from a glowing pumpkin. The pumpkin turns out to really be Perihelion, a gifted fairy; unfortunately, Perihelion is the victim of a ghastly prank by a jealous and evil gnome who has transformed her into a pumpkin. Terrified she will be made into pumpkin pie if she is not set free, Perihelion begs Savannah to help her. After Savannah untangles the fairy from the vine, a magical mist swirls around her as she transports Savannah to a kingdom on the other side of the moon where Savannah is about to learn more about herself than she ever imagined. In this fantasy tale, a young girl embarks on an adventure with a lively fairy and soon discovers that it is not how she looks on the outside but who she is on the inside that truly matters.

Ten-year-old Jack Larkin has seen more than his fair share of shocking sights, growing up in the notorious Crown Saloon.Broken hearts and broken bones are just a fact of life in a Gin Palace, but for orphan Dolly, the Crown is her last hope. After the death of her mother, Dolly ran away from her sleazy step father Arthur, only to find herself living on the streets. When Jack discovers her hiding in the back yard of The Crown, he persuades his mother Nellie Larkin, to take Dolly in. But Dolly has a secret - a very valuable secret - and Arthur is determined to get his clutches on her at any cost. And when local hard-man Ezra Morton joins in the hunt, the Larkins may have to risk everything to keep Dolly safe... The Queen of the Black Country sagas is back with a page-turning, heart-warming, laugh-out-loud story to remember. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Lyn Andrews. Praise for Lindsey Hutchinson: 'A great story with a great mix of characters, well written and keeps you hooked with each page turn!' Sarah Davies, NetGalley 'A wonderful read ... The author writes so well, it's a really hard novel to put down!' Grace Smith, NetGalley. 'Make sure to read this book where you won't be disturbed because once it gets going, you won't want to put it down' Andrea Ruiz, NetGalley 'A very poignant, feel-good-factor novel' Shelia Easson, NetGalley 'Excellent story!' Stephanie Collins, NetGalley 'The story will linger in your mind long after you finish it' The Avid Reader. What readers are saying about The Children from Gin Barrel Lane: 'An entertaining and delightful story that will keep you turning the pages until the very end' 'This story was funny, suspenseful and held my attention all while I kept turning the pages!' 'Lindsey Hutchinson is a very talented writer and the way this story comes together with mischief, laughter, a secret, the chase, strangers turning instantly into family, pulling at my heartstrings and then with such quick ease, wrapping it all up and making me want to read another of her books!' 'Heartfelt, honest and gritty. I adored this read from this author.' 'Without a doubt, a page turner that holds your interest as well as giving you much to think on when you are finished.' 'The setting is atmospheric and vividly described, and lets you experience the sights smells and uproar of the gin palace.' 'This was simply brilliant.' 'Another fantastic book by Lindsay Hutchinson'

This book (hardcover) is part of the TREDITION CLASSICS. It contains classical literature works from over two thousand years. Most of these titles have been out of print and off the bookstore shelves for decades. The book series is intended to preserve the cultural legacy and to promote the timeless works of classical literature. Readers of a TREDITION CLASSICS book support the mission to save many of the amazing works of world literature from oblivion. With this series, tredition intends to make thousands of international literature classics available in printed format again - worldwide.

The three horror stories included in this collection by Jason Winn will take you on a journey of horror that takes you out of your comfort zone and thrusts you into the cauldron of terror These three disturbing stories of unrelenting horror will plague your mind with nightmares.

"The Wages of Sin"

Special Agent Lydia Bryant, along with an elite team of law enforcement personnel, must transport the deadliest serial killer in the United States to his execution. In the process, she discovers the true mission lurking within this demonic killer's mind. Now, she must race against time to prevent it from coming to fruition.

"Love Thine Enemy"

At forty, Laurel Baxter feels that life is passing her by. As a vampire hunter for the Harker/Van Helsing Institute, she endures lonely nights and constantly limited horizons. Her only hope of gaining the life she so desperately craves rests in the hands of the world's most lethal vampire.

"An Eye for an Eye"

Oliver Ocean is the head of Miami's top modeling agency. Knowing that his models contracts are soon to expire, Ocean plans a final photo shoot with them in the Caribbean. The voyage becomes a bloodbath, though, when Ocean's crew is ambushed by unstoppable zombies.

Born in a small, impoverished town in northern Italy, Evo J. DeConcini enjoyed school and wanted nothing more than to further his education. He followed his older brothers to America in 1946, at the age of fourteen, eager to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this new world.

As he worked toward a bright future in America--learning English, going to graduate school, and eventually entering the political realm--he also strengthened his ties to the past by researching his family history. "A True Story" jumps backward and forward in time, detailing the lives of the DeConcinis in sixteenth-century Europe and turn-of-the-century America, returning to Evo J.'s life as he continued to pursue the American dream.

In 1927, in a town deep within the Calabrian mountains, an oppressed and isolated family lives under the tyranny of a violent baron who wants to subdue and recruit the brothers Pietro and Ferruccio by any means possible. When the brothers reject his offer, the enraged baron exacts his revenge on the family in a brutal attack-on their children. He attempts to kill Ferruccio's toddler son, Nicola, and forcefully adopts Pietro's now-orphaned four-year-old niece, Carmen. As astute as he is dangerous, Pietro-now calling himself Zione-insinuates himself into the baron's inner circle, waiting for the perfect moment to exact his own revenge.

Years pass, and the world is at war. Ferruccio returns from the horrors of the Russian Front with a frostbitten foot, only to find there are battles to be won at home as well. Nicola, now a man, is engaged to Carmen, who carries his child. But the baron forbids his adopted daughter to marry. Under threat of death, Ferruccio flees to Miami. There he seeks protection and help from a local boss. Back in Italy, Carmen gives birth to their child before joining Nicola in Florida, in the hopes of starting a new life in the New World. Together they open an Italian restaurant and try to find happiness so far from home.

They will never forget the Great Sila, the "viddanedda," the beech forest, the fountains, and the procession of Santa Caterina. They will always remember their lost Calabria with love.

"A White Hat in Argo" describes the survival of a close-knit Negro family, led by three sisters, during the summer of 1951. Lil Man, an 8-year old, was enthralled by the rich lifestyles of his hard working relatives who lived in the small town outside Chicago, named Argo. The Negro section of Argo became an oasis for Blacks who earned a good wage working in the huge corn processing factory that dominated the town. Men worked hard and played hard in the bars and taverns that lined the Horseshoe Bend, where cheap drinks, fast women, honky-tonk music and cut throat gambling spiced up the nights. Rooster, Captain, Oliver, and Wallace survived that harsh life in different memorable ways.

Author Gerald V. Stokes, through eyes of Lil Man, examines the mystery of why the three Shelman sisters, part of the Black Migration of the 1920's, left Troy, Alabama, and took root in Argo, Illinois. Negro life in Argo was vibrant and care-free, yet intensely dangerous during that era. It was also a time where community closeness insured survival, but everyone held deeper secrets they dare not reveal. The secrets held by the three sisters were the most profound of all.

From the cotton fields of antebellum Arkansas to the heart of California's Gold Rush, this lush, historical saga follows the bittersweet journey of a plantation owner's daughter in her quest for personal freedom.

Without her mother, separated from her twin brother, and oppressed by her cruel and philandering father, Diana McCallum is a rebellious and feisty young woman. Her best friend is a slave girl named Drum, and Diana doesn't care about their differences in status or color. Her disapproving father sends Diana away to boarding school, where her defiance soon gets her expelled.

Later, to escape the torture of a brutal marriage, Diana stows away on a wagon train headed to California. During the grueling journey west, Diana encounters unexpected love, danger, and adventure. And when Drum appears, she brings with her a secret that will change Diana's life forever.

A successful blend of history and fiction, "Golden Siblings" reveals the emotional turmoil and racial prejudices of pre-Civil War America and explores the lure of the forbidden, the value of independence, the power of secrets, and the irrepressible ties of family.

Just when things seem as bad as they can be, with Del torn between a mother who hates Del's Hispanic spouse and a spouse determined to be part of the family, Del's daughter makes an announcement which adds new and unsolvable racial tension to the stew-pot of problems. Mission Impossible turns into Mission Unthinkable. In recurring nightmares, Del drives but can't see the road ahead. Someone has curtained the windshield, or she moves through heavy fog or a blinding snowstorm-or her headlights won't come on. Again, she is not driving but riding the train-and her spouse climbs off and abandons her, promising, "I'll meet you in Syracuse."

Something has to be done about the situation-but what? Is there a solution?

With all odds against him, sixteen-year old Simon struggles with the loss of his alcoholic mother, which leaves him fending for himself. Later that day he finds out that his best friend is a victim of sexual abuse and witnesses this horrible act when visiting her home. Simon finds himself an orphan who turns to self-mutilation, violently lashing out against the evils of the world. This novel is based on one boy's true-life tragedies and has given him the passion to be the voice for the forgotten children of the world.

Young World War II veteran George Edwards needs a drink-all the time. Although it is a new year-1952-in New York City, George's life remains the same. As he centers his daily routine around a whiskey bottle, George begins to drive both himself and his devoted wife, Margie, straight into the depths of destitution. George is bitter. Once he was a star ballplayer with lofty goals, but his dreams have been shattered by the injuries he suffered while serving in North Africa. Now George entertains himself by insulting others, including Margie, a devoted Catholic who is torn between the demands of her faith and the need to escape the verbal abuse she endures daily. Desperate for love and attention, she somehow finds herself in bed with Doc Hayden. But even though George is a drunk, he is no fool. Now it appears that the only way George and Margie will ever survive is to go their separate ways. "I Really Wanna Go Home" is the compelling tale of a young couple's struggle to escape poverty and the effects of a debilitating disease destined to transport both on distinct journeys that soon meet in a catastrophic collision with destiny.

The fishermen of Uwa, a city-state in the Igbo land of Africa bring disturbing news to the elders. Three slave ships-certain harbingers of death-are anchored off the coast of the city-state. The sighting of the boats spells doom for the people. The elders are very aware of what has happened in other communities-kidnappings, slave raids, and warfare. Uwa has gone on alert and has adopted a vigilant watch for the slave traders. They will do all they can to avoid being ravaged and destroyed by the rapacious slave trade. Four days later, Okoro Okonta, an enigmatic, charismatic, ruthless slave merchant from the Ako Kingdom, strolls into the city-state and declares his intention to settle in Uwa. The state elders cannot refuse an Ako man the right to settle in the land-that would be inviting certain annihilation within the week. But the elders wonder if his arrival, on the heels of the slave boats, was just a coincidence or something else entirely.