Showing results by narrator "Krystal Hammond" in All Categories

Four romantic short stories about heroines who are writers. "The Romance Bet": Reporter Abby James prides herself on never having read a romance novel. She thinks they're formulaic, shallow, easy-to-write drivel—until romance author Tamara Brennan challenges her to write one. Is it possible...

The heart wants what it wants . . . convenient or not. Instead of winning a prestigious cooking competition, Sundia Sharma won infamy by breaking her tailbone on television. Thinking her culinary dreams are over, she prepares to head back to her corporate accounting job. That is, until a...

Syd (no pronouns, please) has always dealt with big, hard-to-talk-about things by baking. Being dumped is no different, except now Syd is baking at the Proud Muffin, a queer bakery and community space in Austin. And everyone who eats Syd’s breakup brownies…breaks up. Even Vin and Alec, who own the Proud Muffin. And their breakup might take the bakery down with it.

Horror movies hold a complicated space in the queer community: historically misogynist, and often homo- and transphobic, the genre has also been inadvertently feminist and open to subversive readings. It Came from the Closet features twenty-five original essays by writers speaking to this relationship, through connections both empowering and oppressive. From Carmen Maria Machado on Jennifer’s Body, Jude Ellison S. Doyle on In My Skin, Addie Tsai on Dead Ringers, and many more, these conversations convey the rich reciprocity between queerness and horror.

A lush and elegant collection of tales—many having appeared in various “Best Of” anthologies—teeming with frightful and tragic events, yet profoundly and intimately human. These chilling tales will engross and enthrall. For listeners of Kelly Link, Carmen Maria Machado, and Angela Carter, this is a must have collection of ghostly tales set to deliver a frisson of terror and glee.

I don't understand why the hospital director has insisted that Siena Collins work in oncology. She is a spoiled brat, unreliable, and causes too much trouble in a department where we must look into the eyes of death every day. To make matters worse, she can't even touch or talk to patients. She is still in medical school and considering quitting altogether.

Arya has time for only one thing: saving lives as a surgeon. She is not interested in a relationship. Her life is already too complicated without adding new problems into the mix. Besides, there are too many other women out there to settle for just one. Patricia wants to be seen as more than a single mother. Her seven-year-old son fills her life, but after leaving behind the toxic relationship with her ex-husband, she's been longing to feel wanted again.

Mattie Belman's life has gone from dismal to desperate. After the loss of her acting career, her marriage, and her usual optimism, she's back home teaching high school theater. Maybe it'll be a fresh start. St. Rita's arrogant soccer coach Jillian Reed sees Mattie's musical as an outrageous distraction for her champion players. When Jillian declares war, Mattie is far too stubborn to back down. But as Mattie discovers there might be more to Jillian than spectacle, fire, and ego, she gets dangerously close to her iron-willed colleague. 

Skip the iPhone, the iPod, and the Macintosh. If you want to understand how Apple Inc. became an industry behemoth, look no further than the 1977 Apple II. The Apple II was a versatile piece of hardware, but its most compelling story isn't found in the feat of its engineering, the personalities of Apple's founders, or the way it set the stage for the company's multibillion-dollar future. Instead, historian Laine Nooney shows, what made the Apple II iconic was its software.

After our parents' accident, I vowed to pay for my brother's college, but with my mounting debt, I couldn't even afford my own life, let alone his. I needed cash. Fast. An auction. One night. No feelings. No strings attached. I just needed enough to get by until my new job started. A million dollars. A perfect, unforgettable night. It seemed like the solution to all my problems. Until I showed up for my first nanny job... and the same, deliciously hot older woman answered the door.

An auction seemed like the perfect way to have some fun and make a little extra cash. Until my anxiety whispered that no one would ever want to buy someone like me. But even my inner critic couldn't have predicted who would actually win me. One million dollars. One night. With the girl who tormented me throughout high school. This time, let's just hope I don't fall in love again. 

Grieving but feisty widow Vivian Laurent is at a late-in-life crossroads. The man she loved is gone. Their only daughter is estranged and missing. And the assisted-living facility where her husband died is going into quarantine. Living in lockdown with only heartache and memories is something Vivian can’t bear. Then comes a saving grace.

In this unforgettable memoir, the daughter of the "Happy Face" serial killer shares her poignant message of hope and the power of finding your voice. Melissa has told her story on several national talk shows and as the host of the LMN television series Monster in My Family. She continues to share in this updated edition of Shattered Silence, which features two new chapters. Uplifting and emotional, this book will inspire you to trust your intuition and speak out for truth as you face your own challenges and conquer your own obstacles.

The first installment of USA Today bestseller David Dalglish's latest epic fantasy trilogy about immortal demigods, civil wars, and ancient evil will be irresistible to classic fantasy fans and will appeal to readers of James Islington and Anthony Ryan.​ Six immortal siblings. Five sworn to...

Naera has spent her life behind sacred walls—glowing under moonlight, raised to die for a goddess she's never heard speak. But when her name rises for the altar, she runs. She doesn't get far. Not before the woman from her dreams steps out of the dark with shackles in one hand and a blade in the other.

Three wishes. One prom queen celebrating at the Jersey Shore. And one monster who will keep killing until her wishes are paid for. From the virally popular author of Here Lies a Vengeful Bitch, a queer feminist YA horror/slasher novel perfect for fans of You’re Not Supposed to Die Tonight...

In her second collection from Trepidatio Publishing, award-winning author Gemma Files takes her listeners on journeys out beyond safe borders—from the trackless depths of the sea, to the empty desert frontiers of the Weird West, even to the edges of cracks between worlds. Here, in these narrow spaces between the known and the unknown, behind the paper-thin curtains of reality, lurk monsters both human and ancient: selkies and avenging revenants, voodoo priestesses and pirate sorcerers, ghosts and vampires, and the most famous murderer of all time.

On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster's office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She pulled the fire alarm right as the queen was about to be crowned, and she's in huge trouble. But Hannah had her reasons for ruining the biggest night of everyone's lives. One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one question: Who gave Sophie those pills? Then she concocted a plan.

We all want our colleagues to feel safe, heard, and free to be their authentic selves at work. But being an inclusive colleague doesn't happen overnight—it's an evolving process that involves growing, learning, and intentional effort. This book will teach you how to address and understand your biases, how to get better at noticing and responding to microaggressions, and why being an inclusive colleague will spark more productive and rewarding relationships with your coworkers and boss.

Ruga Karrsdaughter, dutiful orc princess with a heart of gold, has spent the years since her sister was elected queen serving the orc country of Torden. Her duties now include marrying an elf princess for a much-needed alliance against an outside threat. Elketh Ceridwen, rakish elf princess with a penchant for chaos, has never lifted a finger in her life. Now that an engagement is sprung upon her by the stern elvish king, she has to fulfill a fifty-day betrothal period in Torden surrounded by strangers . . . unless she can wreak enough havoc to get sent back home.