Showing results by author "A J F" in All Categories

The day Nick Ramsay's eighth-grade teacher drops dead in his classroom, Nick sees his first reaper. When another cloaked figure appears at his grandmother's bedside, Nick issues an order for the vile creature to leave her alone. This simple act of defiance creates a domino effect that brings Fate and Death to Nick's door and reveals his true lineage, throwing his world into chaos.

This historical fiction follows Ayana Kenes, a peasant girl from Kazakhstan in the Soviet Union, who has unexpectedly risen to the top of the Soviet Space program. It is the dawn of the Space Race in 1957 and the Russians are in a race with the Americans. Ayana is tasked with helping to rush Laika, to become the first dog to orbit the Earth. But Ayana is distracted by a quirky, artistic lab technician, Nikolai Yinski, and his affection for Laika and the other dogs in the program.

In 1890 actor John Wilkes Booth - long presumed dead - emerged from 25 years of anonymity in his wilderness refuge to expose those truly responsible for the Lincoln assassination and its ensuing cover-up, to unite with the children he had never known and recover what he might of his sense of purpose and dignity.

A fascinating and varied collection of 50 great classic short stories, including ghost stories, crimes, humorous tales and passionate romance.

After nuclear Armageddon, the low-caste masses live in a digital utopia while their bodies starve, kept alive and complacent by nano-bots and AI implants. Mazz’s AI glitches, making him highly unpopular at high school. Accidents follow him wherever he goes. It turns out that his glitchy AI causes nano-bots to misbehave around him.

This audiobook of five short stories by Chris Gibson, an inveterate "Cat-aholic", gives us an insight into the behavior of cats and of humans. Sometimes, quite paradoxically, our relationship with animals makes us more human. The author and his wife share their lives with three rescue cats.

Some secrets should stay buried. When renowned architect Arania Webb returns to Bristol Zoo—once her childhood sanctuary but now a derelict ruin—she discovers her late father’s hidden underground lab, which harbors a dark obsession. Inside, she uncovers his journals documenting twisted experiments to fuse arachnid DNA with humans, creating unnatural creatures that blur the line between species. As Arania descends into the shadowy depths and explores further, she realizes the terrifying extent of her beloved father’s attempts to play god.

For countless generations, the inhabitants of the village named Elnubrium have passed down one rule: Never enter the forest that surrounds them. Hidden deep beyond its borders is a world full of secrets and wonders to behold, but also death to those that don't belong. However, the village is slowly dying; blocked by impassable mountains and the ancient forest, there isn't enough room to provide for people of Elnubrium. If something isn't done soon, drastic measures will be taken to preserve the current way of life in the village.

On a distant planet, a battered rocket ship is parked outside a portable revival tent. Beyond the airlock, a traveling minister speaks to the local congregation. Brother Ray, a former space smuggler, con man, and wanted fugitive, tells an amazing story of salvation. His own.

Dublin couple Tara and Colin are made for each other–or so they once thought. Sparks flew when they first met, but now, six years and several failed IVF attempts later, their marriage is hanging by a thread. So when Fling, a dating app for anonymous affairs, is launched, both Tara and Colin find themselves logging on, just to see. But while Tara and Colin might think they’re done with their marriage, fate may have other plans.

Kate is the ultimate planner. She has her happily-ever-after all plotted out, starting with her dream wedding to successful dental surgeon, Norman, and an iconic Las Vegas hen party with her three best girlfriends. Even running into her DJ ex, Trevor Rush, the man who broke her heart nine years ago, won’t ruin Kate’s vision for the perfect girls’ trip. But when an alcohol-fuelled night out leaves Kate and Trevor accidentally hitched, her plans are officially out the window. To make matters worse, Trevor has decided he wants Kate back.

A fast-paced and varied collection of captivating short stories ranging from action thrillers to poignant tear-jerkers to the downright weird, including: "Jerry Bundler" by W. W. Jacobs, "The Umbrella Mender" by Beatrice Harraden, "Green Ink" by J. S. Fletcher, "Why Herbert Killed His Mother" by Winifred Holtby, "The Red Mark" by Israel Zangwill, "The White Kid Glove" by J. S. Fletcher, "Sophy Mason Comes Back" by E. M. Delafield, plus many more.

Boudica's wrath leads her to revolt against Rome’s claim on her lands and lives. Rome’s consul—Suetonius Paulinus—must annihilate her and her uprising, however, can he? While reputations and loyalties are at stake, Rome’s newest tribune—Gnaeus Julius Agricola and Boudica’s youngest daughter—Rhianna, and her betrothed—Calgacus—are hurled into their opposing worlds intent upon destroying each other. Who will survive this furious revolt?

Author-Read-Tea is a podcast where I tell the stories of some of the most influential writers the world has ever seen, with a story-teller’s flare. This is a show that highlights the lives and works of the writers of our society whose writing inspire, challenge, and shape the way we see our world. While this may not be a messy show, I can’t promise that no tea will be spilled, so, keep your napkins close! I will also be providing book summaries and reviews of some of my favorite books, however, if you have a book you’d like me to read & review, write to me, you know I love to read!

Five excellent short stories all with an intriguing "twist" in their tails!

Cornelia Rose — armed with her midwifery training, as well as literature and history knowledge, thanks to older brothers’ education and books — embraces the opportunities that life in the metropolis of New York provides. In love and happily married to Obadiah Wright, her life is a fairytale of abundance, but it takes an unexpected turn with Obadiah’s decision to heed the call of the West.

This is an enchanting book filled with wondrous folk-tales from India, replete with explanatory notes.

As a profound thinker, as the most profound thinker the world has ever known, the Buddha had two ways of speaking to people. At one time he would address them in words that expressed the utmost depth of his knowledge. At other times, he would tell them simple things within the compass of their ready understanding, in words that were taken from the ordinary speech used among themselves. In both modes of speech, he spoke what was true.

The day Nick Ramsay's eighth-grade teacher drops dead in his classroom, Nick sees his first reaper. When another cloaked figure appears at his grandmother's bedside, Nick issues an order for the vile creature to leave her alone. This simple act of defiance creates a domino effect that brings fate and death to Nick's door and reveals his true lineage, throwing his world into chaos. To make matters worse, a group of rogue reapers declares war on humanity, and Nick is the only one who can stop them.

A collection of classic short stories for the restless sleeper.... "A Dream of Wild Bees" by Olive Schreiner, "The Face" by E. F. Benson, "The Dream" by A. J. Alan, "In a Far-Off World" by Olive Schreiner, "A Soothing Dream" by Fedor Sologub, "Life's Gifts" by Olive Schreiner, "A Curious Dream" by Mark Twain, "The Artist's Secret" by Olive Schreiner and "A Joy Ride" by A. J. Alan.