When Assistant District Attorney Mary Crow is called back from Atlanta to her childhood home of Little Jump Off, North Carolina, she discovers that the murder of three federal judges is a matter both professional and personal. Suspecting that the killings are the work of a skilled assassin, Mary and FBI agent Daniel Safer are desperate to protect Judge Irene Hannah, the next suspected target and Mary’s oldest friend and mentor.

When man and machine are one and the same, death is no longer an inevitability. But in the darkest reaches of space, neither is life. Diplomat. Rebel. Fugitive. Nika Tescarav has lived many lives, though she no longer remembers most of them. Chased by agents of a regime that will do anything to protect the secrets of the Rasu Protocol, Nika flees to the stars with her once and future lover on a mission to expose those secrets. A race across alien worlds both exotic and deadly leads them to the bastion of the enemy, but its discovery brings a terrible revelation: sometimes the truth is indeed worse than the lies spun to conceal it. With Nika and Dashiel on the run, NOIR steps up to defend against a virulent pathogen unleashed upon innocent civilians. When a desperate government moves to crush the resistance once and for all, unlikely alliances are forged between former adversaries and all paths converge in an explosive showdown that will change the future of the Asterion Dominion forever. ASTERION NOIR 700,000 years ago, the Asterions fled persecution for their pro-synthetic beliefs. In the safe harbor of a distant galaxy, they have evolved into a true biosynthetic race and built a thriving society upon the pillars of personal autonomy, mutual respect and boundless innovation. Now that society is fracturing at the seams. Beneath lies built upon lies, the shocking truth as to why threatens the future of not merely the Asterions, but all life in the universe. Cyberpunk and space opera collide in a thrilling new trilogy from the author of the epic Aurora Rhapsody space opera saga. Enter a world of technological wonders, exotic alien life, enthralling characters, captivating worlds—and a terrifying evil lurking in the void that will shatter it all. *** AMARANTHE UNIVERSE: --------------------------------------- ~ AURORA RHAPSODY ~ (should be read in order) AURORA RISING TRILOGY #1: STARSHINE (Aurora Rising Book One) #2: VERTIGO (Aurora Rising Book Two) #3: TRANSCENDENCE (Aurora Rising Book Three) AURORA RENEGADES TRILOGY #4: SIDESPACE (Aurora Renegades Book One) #5: DISSONANCE (Aurora Renegades Book Two) #6: ABYSM (Aurora Renegades Book Three) AURORA RESONANT TRILOGY #7: RELATIVITY (Aurora Resonant Book One) #8: RUBICON (Aurora Resonant Book Two) #9: REQUIEM (Aurora Resonant Book Three) #10: SHORT STORIES OF AURORA RHAPSODY (can be read at any time) ~ ASTERION NOIR TRILOGY ~ (a new entry point for the series - can be read before Aurora Rhapsody) #11: EXIN EX MACHINA (Asterion Noir Book 1) #12: OF A DARKER VOID (Asterion Noir Book 2) #13: THE STARS LIKE GODS (Asterion Noir Book 3) ~ RIVEN WORLDS ~ (should be read after Aurora Rhapsody and Asterion Noir) #14: CONTINUUM (Riven Worlds Book One) #15: INVERSION (Riven Worlds Book Two) #16: ECHO RIFT (Riven Worlds Book Three) #17: ALL OUR TOMORROWS (Riven Worlds Book Four) #18: CHAOTICA (Riven Worlds Book Five) #19: DUALITY (Riven Worlds Book Six) ~ COSMIC SHORES ~ (a new entry point for the series - each book can be read at any time and without reading any of the other books) #20: MEDUSA FALLING (A Cosmic Shores Novel) #21: THE THIEF (A Cosmic Shores Novel)

A transparent first-hand account of a Black officer maneuvering through three terrifying yet rewarding decades of policing, all while seeking reform in law enforcement When 16-year-old Keith Merith finds himself pulled over, berated, and degraded by a white police officer, he’s outraged. He’s done nothing wrong. But the officer has the power, and he doesn’t. From that day on, he vows to join a police service and effect change from within. Twelve years and a multitude of infuriating applications later, Merith is finally hired by York Regional Police. Subjected to unfair treatment and constant microaggressions, he perseveres and gradually rises through the ranks, his goal of systemic change carrying him through. After a stellar career, Merith retires at the rank of superintendent, but his desire for sustained and equitable reform is stronger than ever. In A Darker Shade of Blue, Merith shares both his gut-wrenching and heart-warming experiences and advocates for immediate police reform in a balanced and level-headed manner. He praises the people in blue, but he also knows on a visceral level that there are deep issues that need to be rectified — starting with recruitment. He knows that law enforcement agencies should reflect the communities they serve and protect, and that all citizens should be treated equally. Entrusted with the duty to serve, Merith delivers an evocative perspective of policing by providing the opportunity to walk in his shoes, as a Black man, and as a police officer on the front lines.

Stories by Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, and over a dozen other masters of Nordic noir: “A wonderful collection” (Camilla Lӓckberg). Ever since Stieg Larsson shone a light on Swedish crime writing with his Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, readers around the world have devoured fiction by Scandinavian masters of suspense. A Darker Shade of Sweden includes an assortment of outstanding crime fiction—never before published in English and in some cases brand-new to this volume—from Larsson and a wide range of other talents including Henning Mankell, the creator of Kurt Wallander; Åsa Larsson; Eva Gabrielsson; Inger Frimansson; Åke Edwardson; Sara Stridsberg; Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö; and more. Also included is an introduction by Edgar nominee John-Henri Holmberg, exploring the history of these stellar authors and their contributions to crime writing. “Gripping. . . . These unsettlingly dark tales reaffirm the dominance of Swedish writers with original crime fiction.” —The Sun (UK)

Strange and frightening events may surround these couples, but the dark world doesn’t hold a candle to the power of love. Discover the mystery and passion that awaits in the shadows in these five thrilling romances. Honor Among Thieves: Ladies don’t rob graves, but Lorna Robbins must take drastic measures to pay off her recently deceased brother’s debts and save her family estate and younger sibling. Surgeon and anatomy teacher Brandon Dewhurst relies on resurrectionists to bring him the specimens he needs to further his research. When Lorna and Brandon both target the same body—a pregnant woman who is still very much alive—they find themselves powerfully drawn together time and again—but this daring duo is courting danger, and romance is a complication neither can afford. Dark Season: When doctors tell Ella Arlington that her epilepsy will prevent her from living a normal life, she flees to London to avoid an institution, determined to control her own destiny. There Ella’s epileptic fit is mistaken for spiritual possession, and Viscount Isidore Blackwood sets out to prove her a con artist. But when some surprising truths come to light about his former fiancée’s death, Isidore makes a devil’s pact with Ella to flush out a killer. Will Isidore let his fury and guilt consume his own soul in the process? And can Ella trust him enough to gamble on a future she never thought she could have? The Pirate’s Lady: Cate Whitfield is stunned to learn that Captain Alexander Chase, the bloodthirsty pirate who murdered her betrothed, is someone her father holds in high regard. Feisty Cate mesmerizes Alex, but the former pirate isn’t about to let her public accusations deter his own agenda for vengeance. He’s returned to Promise, New Jersey, to retaliate against the man who murdered his father…the man who just happens to be Cate’s father. Can these two wounded hearts find out the truth before it’s too late, or is their love doomed to walk the plank? Devil’s Cove: Captain Devlin Limmerick, the pirate feared as the Devil on the high seas, eagerly takes ownership of the abandoned Devil Cove’s Manor in his quest for vengeance on his past. Only Grace, a beautiful but blind medium, can aid him with his nefarious plan. Yet even though she finds herself drawn to the Devil’s darkness, she refuses to sacrifice her soul to set his revenge in motion. Plunged into the throes of passion and danger, they discover the only way out of the evil closing in on them is to summon the courage to believe in true love. Jennifer by Moonlight: Lucy Dorset came to Moorgate as the happy bride of a dedicated young doctor. But she soon discovers that the old stone house is inhabit by a pale and lovely ghost, a victim of a fatal romantic triangle long ago. Is Lucy imagining her husband’s sudden jealous moods? And is the sultry Sheila Farley a rival for his affections? It’s possible the unhappy spirits of Moorgate are pushing Lucy toward a reenactment of a violent, century-old tragedy—and she alone must rid the house of the menacing presence threatening her marriage. Sensuality Level: Sensual

The Brighter Side of a Darker Thing is a testimony of one womans journey of healing from sexual abuse. Kathy Leigh Berkowitz takes a final step toward her healing in the public telling of her life and her recovery from her past, ending with a bold resolve to continue sharing her story, in hopes that others likewise may find healing. Fallout from abuse often leaves behind broken pieces of a shattered self-esteem and many questions about the why. The author explores her own feelings and shares her innermost thoughts, while encouraging the reader with Scriptures to allow the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work, the strengthening of the inner soul. Kathy Leigh also faced numerous other challenges, including the death of her baby sister, her mothers mental illness, her fathers post-traumatic stress disorder, time spent in a Texas orphanage, poverty, and suicidal thoughts. The Brighter Side of a Darker Thing includes triumphant moments, her awards for various high school beauty pageants, the births of her four children, and the eventual path that led her to a full-time career in journalism. The Brighter Side of a Darker Thing is proof that a persons past doesnt define who they are, and that no matter the pain, there is hope and healing in Jesus. It is the authors belief that healing from sexual abuse is a lifelong journey, but along the way, there will be much cause to celebrate, especially when one walks through the portal of forgiveness.

In the first book of its kind, Bernard Freydberg places David Hume firmly in the tradition of the Platonic dialogues, and regards him as a proper ancestor of contemporary continental philosophy. Although Hume is largely confined to his historical context within British Empiricism, his skepticism resonates with the Socratic Ignorance expressed by Plato, and his account of experience points toward very contemporary concerns in continental thought. Through close readings of An Enquiry Concerning the Human Understanding, An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals, and the essay "On the Standard of Taste," Freydberg traces a philosophy of imagination that will set the stage for wider consideration of Hume within continental thought.

Now the sequel! Here we watch David become king over Israel. But the table is set for a rather unappetizing meal where brutality, intrigue and questionable morality and ethics are served. We see the turning point and the decline of David's power and possibly his virtue. Like so many in biblical narrative, he does not end well. Leaders take warning: integrity matters. How we respond to God's rules of engagement and how we treat others - especially the disenfranchised - will determine the difference between greatness and mediocrity and how our lives will be evaluated. As with the previous volume, this book can be utilized as a commentary and an aid to the student of Second Samuel, or each section can be read and reflected upon in isolation. I will continue my efforts to be personable but professional, playful but pointed, impassioned at times but always thought provoking. Dr. Vreeland received his Ph.D. from Trinity International University in Theological Studies (Old Testament) in 1994. He served for four academic years at the Nairobi International School of Theology. He then joined the faculty of Northwest Baptist Seminary (Tacoma, Washington) and has concluded eight years there (July '08) as Associate Professor of Semitic Languages and Biblical Literature. He teaches Hebrew, Aramaic and English Bible and related topics. So far as the Church is concerned, his love is serious biblical study as related to integrity and leadership - hence this work on Second Samuel and its prequel on First Samuel. Dr. Vreeland has been married for 27 years to the love of his life, Donna - who is still the finest English Bible scholar on the planet and to whom this volume is gratefully dedicated. They have three grown children.