Horror

The Lark Mirrorby Adrian John Smith

It’s no small thing to be cursed – so says David Chambers at the outset of his story and so proves to be the case in this darkly comic horror tale. It’s the long hot summer of 1976. Wild fires break out over the Western Moors, the trout streams have dried to a trickle and magic and mischief are afoot. When David is cursed by Aunt Alsey, a wandering crone adept at witchcraft, his shadow morphs into a living, breathing and very much darker version of himself – an entity with a powerful thirst, an appetite for mayhem and a determination to not let David forget the more shameful episodes of his past.

Follow David’s adventures into the realms of the supernatural as he embarks on a quest to rid himself of the curse, all the while having to deal with the debauched and increasingly malevolent antics of his shadow (as well as the dodgy fuel system on a borrowed Reliant Robin). Propelled into the deadly orbits of fellow victims of Aunt Alsey’s various and sinister curses and with monsters to fight, David has his work cut out. What a daft time to fall in love!
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“A thoroughly enjoyable read, this humorous tale of horror and suspense had me chuckling more than once. The Lark Mirror is a deftly-plotted, well-written story that provides a winning mix of adventure and comedy, madness and mayhem with a splash or two of sex thrown in. With good quality writing and fast-paced action aplenty, the narrative keeps the reader turning the pages with genuine interest and anticipation as it builds to a dramatic and hilarious conclusion.” INDEPENPRESS

Plastic: A Toxic Love Storyby Susan Freinkel

“This eloquent, elegant book thoughtfully plumbs the . . . consequences of our dependence on plastics” (The Boston Globe, A Best Nonfiction Book of 2011).

From pacemakers to disposable bags, plastic built the modern world. But a century into our love affair, we’re starting to realize it’s not such a healthy relationship. As journalist Susan Freinkel points out in this eye-opening book, we’re at a crisis point. Plastics draw on dwindling fossil fuels, leach harmful chemicals, litter landscapes, and destroy marine life. We’re drowning in the stuff, and we need to start making some hard choices.

Freinkel tells her story through eight familiar plastic objects: a comb, a chair, a Frisbee, an IV bag, a disposable lighter, a grocery bag, a soda bottle, and a credit card. With a blend of lively anecdotes and analysis, she sifts through scientific studies and economic data, reporting from China and across the United States to assess the real impact of plastic on our lives.

Her conclusion is severe, but not without hope. Plastic points the way toward a new creative partnership with the material we love, hate, and can’t seem to live without.

“When you write about something so ubiquitous as plastic, you must be prepared to write in several modes, and Freinkel rises to this task. . . . She manages to render the most dull chemical reaction into vigorous, breathless sentences.” —SF Gate

“Freinkel’s smart, well-written analysis of this love-hate relationship is likely to make plastic lovers take pause, plastic haters reluctantly realize its value, and all of us understand the importance of individual action, political will, and technological innovation in weaning us off our addiction to synthetics.” —Publishers Weekly

“A compulsively interesting story. Buy it (with cash).” –Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature

“What a great read–rigorous, smart, inspiring, and as seductive as plastic itself.” –Karim Rashid, designer

The Freakshowby Bryan Smith

The Flaherty Brothers Traveling Carnivale and Freakshow has come to the quiet town of Pleasant Hills, Tennessee. But this is no ordinary sideshow and these are not the usual “freaks” on display. As the unsuspecting townsfolk gather for an evening of strange spectacle, the slaughter is set to begin…

“The Freakshow is one of the most fun reads I’ve had in a long time.”
–Dread Central

“The Freakshow is a sure bet to cement Bryan Smith’s position in the forefront of the bold and shocking writers producing exceptional books within the horror genre.”
–Horror World

The Witches of Dark Rootby April Aasheim

“There are some secrets darker than witchcraft.” – Dora Maddock
Deep within an Oregon forest is a town called Dark Root, a town steeped in magick, mystery, and witchcraft.
But for Maggie Maddock, Dark Root is also a prison. Forced to work in her mother’s magick shop, she watches the world world move forward without her. When a mysterious stranger offers to take Maggie away from it all, she leaves without looking back.
Seven years later, Maggie is called home by her older sister. There, she is confronted with a renewed sibling rivalry, her ill mother, and a town that has lost its literal magick. Now Maggie must decide if she will use her newfound abilities to save her family and town, or run away once again.

In the tradition of ‘Practical Magic’ and ‘Charmed’, The Witches of Dark Root is a story of sisterhood, seamlessly weaving the past with the present, the magickal with the mundane. It is a tale of family, forgiveness, and the healing power of love that will leave readers believing in magick long after the story ends.

Welcome to Dark Root. We’ve been expecting you.

Other books in the Daughters of Dark Root series:
The Magick of Dark Root
The Curse of Dark Root: Part One
The Curse of Dark Root: Part Two
The Shadows of Dark Root

The Children of Dark Root Series:
Inherited Magick: The Children of Dark Root, Book One (2018)
Gifted Magick: The Children of Dark Root, Book Two (2019)

The Council of Dark Root: Armand (A Daughters of Dark Root Companion Novella) (2015)
Christmas in Dark Root: Merry’s Gift (A Daughters of Dark Root Short) (Christmas, 2016)
A Dark Root Halloween

Hold Your Breath: A Clean Romantic Suspense (An Untapped Source Book 2)by Amy Martinsen

A notorious Russian terrorist is hunting Kate.
Aleksandr Zhuk is a sociopath who has evaded the CIA for decades. Kate humiliated him and now he wants revenge. And will stop at nothing to get it.
Kate, John, and the U-Tap team of mom-spies must stop this ruthless killer before he releases a deadly chemical weapon on US soil.
Can Kate’s faith in God give her the strength to face this madman?
Or will hundreds die with just one breath?

Hold Your Breath is the riveting second book in Amy Martinsen’s romantic suspense series, An Untapped Source. If you like undeniable chemistry, page-turning tension, and Christian values in action, then you’ll love this thrilling second installment.

The Smartphone Addiction Restriction: It's Almost Too Late…by A Concerned Citizen Publishing

Use Your Phone, Don’t Get Used By It.

Smartphones have transformed the world with their convenience and capabilities. A single small device can replace a landline, camera, CD player, and road map–but all of this miraculous technology comes with a cost.

The dark side of smartphones is not always so obvious. Checking your phone constantly from dawn until dusk has become normalized, and most people don’t realize they’re trapped in a very real addiction.

Smartphones have particularly powerful effects on our children, making them shallow, depressed, and unable to think critically. They exercise less, rarely socialize, get worse grades, and have lower self-esteem. In the most severe cases, they may even take their own lives.

Despite how common this addiction is, it is possible to overcome. The Smartphone Addiction Restriction is a guide for those who see the danger of the situation. We may not be able to quit using smartphones entirely, but with this tested and proven plan, we can limit their activity to the most essential uses.

In The Smartphone Addiction Restriction, you’ll learn:

• The way that smartphones were designed to be not just entertaining but addictive
• Why smartphone users spend over five years of their lives swiping and clicking
• A multiple-choice test to determine your personal level of addiction
• All the things you’ll have time for when you use your cell phone less
• Tips and techniques to fight the urge to reach for your cell phone when your cravings hit
• A step-by-step, day-by-day plan to reduce (or eliminate) your smartphone usage

And much more!

You can’t live life to the fullest while you’re staring at your phone. Even though smartphones are incredibly addictive, you–and your children–can break free of this dangerous habit. When you put down your phone, you’ll find yourself happier, more confident, energized, and actually smarter! On The Smartphone Addiction Restriction plan, you’ll cut your screen time down by 80% and possibly even further.

Split Cityby Andy Straka

MEET BILLY GILLS, AN AMATEUR SLEUTH FOR THE AGES…OR AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT 300 PAGES.

Murder sees double in the Catskills when former pro bowler Billy Gills finds himself summoned to the Partridgeberry County morgue to identify the body of his identical twin brother Bo. Billy is the proprietor of Split City Lanes, a classic hometown bowling alley, located in the charmingly rundown, lakeside town of Twin Strikes. Partridgeberry and Twin Strikes are peopled by a hearty band of upstaters and oddball characters–an unlikely setting for murder. But Bo is the founder of TreadBo, a successful specialty bowling shoe manufacturer; he is famous for his quirky sense of fashion, fitness fanaticism, and unusual hobbies, which may have gotten him into trouble. Not to mention, Billy has some demons of his own to slay. Fortunately, Split City Lanes is also home to "Jesus Spares", a church service, bowling, and social gathering where almost anything can happen. Billy may need every ounce of faith he has to discover the truth about himself and his eccentric twin brother.

–For fans of Julia Spencer-Fleming, Dave Barry, Donna Andrews, Brad Parks, and Spencer Quinn.