Showing results by author "Monica James" in All Categories

Decades of GMing experience! Whether it’s advice from grognards who were running games at the dawn of RPGs, or suggestions from the new generation of game designers, these 21 essays by experts are here to help you improve your GMing skills and create fun, amazing, memorable campaigns that’ll be talked about for years. In this audiobook, master GMs and storytellers give you advice about solo campaigns, shy players, cell phones, and making rulings on the fly.

England is burning. And the cause . . . men are too afraid to utter in nothing but a whisper. The Northmen. My father is King Eanred. And me? I am Princess Emeline. My father wants to protect our kingdom against the ruthless Vikings who continue to raid England, so he has betrothed me to Aethelwulf, the son of King Egbert of Wessex—the most powerful realm in all of England. Without this union, Northumbria will fall, which is why I must submit. I must do this for my people.

I was kidnapped on my honeymoon by three masked men. Blindfolded. Bound. Destination unknown. I was told to stay silent and abide by their rules. But they didn’t realize I wasn’t a victim...not anymore. The open sea was my backdrop for nine torturous days. During that time, glimmers of my fate were revealed by a man with the mysterious chartreuse-colored eyes. He should have scared me, but he didn’t. He intrigued me. And I intrigued him. He punished me when I didn’t listen, which was every single day. But beneath his cruelty, I sensed he was guarding a grave secret.

Monsters are real. When I was five years old, I watched my mother take her last breath—a breath three monsters stole from her. I never chose this life. My father says it's my birthright, but all I see is a curse. It's because of the Kelly name my mum was slain by the Doyles—our enemies in Dublin, the fellas livin' on borrowed time. All of Belfast fears my family, especially me. I'm Puck Kelly, otherwise known as Punky; the lad ye don't want to double-cross. I don't do feelings or emotions. I never have . . . until she walks into my world.

Ten years ago, I surrendered. I thought I was doing the right thing. But lies and greed have once again destroyed my life, leaving me to deal with the aftermath. This life has always been a curse, but the world as I know it has changed. Belfast isn't what it used to be. Alliances are broken. Kingdoms have fallen. But those who remain loyal see me as their rightful king. With secrets unraveled, my need for vengeance grows stronger every day. However, ten years is a long time. People have changed. I have changed. But the one thing that remains untouched is my love for Babydoll.

Those words changed my life forever...just not in the way it would for most. I had it all until one fateful evening transformed my life in ways I never imagined. Nine months later, I move to a sleepy little town, hoping to escape the demons of my past. As I attempt to claim back my life, Jude Montgomery enters my world, and things begin to change. I thought running would appease the nightmares, but I soon discover my past won't let go. Things are not what they seem, and I begin to question the world as I know it.

Filthy, sexy and full of surprises, Juliet is so hot she has me on fire. I’ve met my match and I can’t help going back for more. Then there’s Madison…she’s sweet, funny and awakens in me a fierce need to protect her. But I don’t do relationships. I don’t usually do the same woman twice. Juliet and Madison: Two very different women have got me completely hooked. Who will I choose? I know who I should choose, but I never said I was the hero of this story, or even the good guy. And besides, who wants to be good, when it feels so good being bad?

To the outside world, my life is perfect. I’m young and rich, and some may even say I’m beautiful. But I would give anything to be somebody else because after being extraordinary all my life, all I wish for is...silence.

For never was there a story of more woe than that of Holland Brooks and her Romeo... For as long as I can remember, London Sinclair was the boy who was forbidden. It didn’t matter that he made my heart skip a beat. Our surnames fated us to be sworn enemies. But when the truth was finally revealed, my life changed forever. Lies have shaped our past, leaving London and me to pick up the pieces. But through the chaos, one thing is certain - I love London, and he loves me, and we won’t allow anyone to tear us apart again. However, life has a funny way of proving us wrong.

London Sinclair was the boy my mother warned me about for as long as I can remember. His name alone has brought my family nothing but shame and suffering, so it’s no surprise we’ve been sworn enemies since the first moment we met. With his bedroom eyes and cocky smile, he has all the girls under his spell. I have one more year of school left, and then I’m home free because I’m guarding a secret, one I’m ashamed to keep. The boy who is completely off-limits is the one who drives me, Holland Brooks, wild. I want London, and I think…he wants me, too.

Ava Thompson left her one true love, Jasper White, to unearth her destiny. It was the only way for Ava to grow into the woman she’s always wanted to become. Sadly, that destiny has led her back to the place that broke her…Singapore. And more importantly, it has led her back to the man who broke her…Harper. Ava is no longer the scared, lost girl she once was. She is stronger and determined to accomplish her dreams in order to find happiness. Hopefully, at the end of it all, she will return into the loving arms of Jasper White.

England is bleeding. And there isn't a thing I can do about it. I am once again a prisoner to Wessex, captured by King Egbert because holding me hostage will bring them to him—my two Vikings who will risk heaven and earth to save me. But I don't need saving. I am Princess Emeline, and I was taught by the best, and his name . . . Skarth the Godless. The man whom I love more than anything in this world. But things begin to blur when Ulf the Bloody reminds me of the promise I made, and that promise is that I belong to him.

Singapore has stolen a piece of Ava Thompson. It took one life shattering moment for her to realize her ex-boyfriend is not the man she believed him to be. Returning home to Los Angeles was never going to be easy for Ava, as her heart has been shattered to smithereens and she’s convinced it’ll never heal. Or, so she thought. Enter Jasper White. Unbeknown to Ava, he will change her life forever. The attraction is instantaneous, which troubles Ava, who has sworn off men indefinitely.

I've surrendered. I have no other choice. With Babydoll gone, I'm going to do whatever it takes to find her. I will lie. Cheat. Murder...and I'll do so with a smile. I'll even sell my soul to the devil...because that's who my father, Sean Kelly, is. He won't stop until Belfast is his. He knows I'm at my breaking point. Just how far will he push until I lose myself to the darkness for good? But I'm prepared to give it all away. She's all that matters. However, this life isn't done with me yet.

Just as this nightmare began, I once again find myself bound, destination unknown. However, this time, my kidnapper is the man who shattered my world beyond repair. Aleksei Popov - Russia’s number one mobster, and the man I was sold to. His intentions for me are clear - submit, obey him, and call him master - but I won’t surrender. I’m not like the other girls. Whether that’s a blessing or curse, I’ve yet to decide. The problem is, my disobedience intrigues my captor all the more. When we arrive in Russia, the rules change.

All hope was lost until Zoey Hennessy walked back into my world, shaking it up beyond repair when she uttered two simple words. He’s alive. She speaks of her brother, my Saint, the man who lost everything to set me free. I believed he was dead. I saw it with my own two eyes. But when Zoey proves he’s alive and being held captive by a monster, I know what I have to do. It’s time I saved him. The plan is dangerous, and there are no guarantees I will survive. But if this nightmare has taught me one thing, it’s that I don’t cower in fear.

My name is Lucy Tucker, and my life…it was perfect. I worked the dream job. I had the most incredible family and friends. My home, Whispering Willows, a ranch in Montana, was everything I could ever wish for. My adoring fiancé, Samuel Stone, loved me unconditionally. I had everything a girl could ever want. But one fateful event shattered my perfect life. It’s unimaginable how simple, ordinary words can change a person’s life forever. For me those words were, “There’s been an accident.”

My name is Hunter O’Shea and I have a confession to make…I’ve met a girl who consumes me. I know that makes me sound completely whipped, but Mary “Lamb” Mitts has the power to bring me to my knees…it’s just too bad she hates my guts. But that’s okay, because I hate hers, too. The redhead stirs something in me that I can’t explain. This temporary insanity could be due to the fact my best friend, who used to be a bigger player than me, is getting married. That must be it. I’m caught up in an Oprah moment. The only solution is to get back in the game and forget her.

This was supposed to be simple. Vengeance was mine. But I should know by now that nothing in life is easy. My endgame has changed all because I met someone who wishes I was dead. Yet her hatred is the only thing saving her from The Big Bad. My lies protect her, so the harder she hates, the safer she is.

The truth sets you free...but what happens when everything you believe in changes in the blink of an eye? All I ever wanted was for my fiancé, Samuel Stone, to remember me. And now that he does...all I want is for him to forget. Through tragedy, I found myself and who I was destined to become. But more importantly, I found who I was destined to be with. With a single word, Saxon Stone changed my life forever. He taught me how to live again. But now that Samuel remembers and all secrets have been revealed, I’m left to wonder which life I’m meant to lead.