Bonds Of Love And Blood

Twelve stories of wayward travelers. Twelve stamps on the passport of the soul. Walter struggles to see past his disfigurement, but a trip to Thailand and a mysterious woman may challenge his quest for perfection. Married to a workaholic, Leslie is accustomed to solitude until her overbearing Indian mother-in-law turns her kitchen into a verbal battlefield. A woman looks for the perfect souvenir in the Turkish Bazaar and instead finds a passionate love affair. From ice storms in Maine to swimming pools in Vera Cruz, errant souls must grapple with past baggage to forge profound connections and a new sense of direction. At home and abroad, solitary travelers embark on journeys that take them where they never expected to go. Bonds of Love & Blood is a poignant collection of award-winning stories featuring life’s unexpected arrivals and departures. If you like intimate accounts of lives at the crossroads, vibrant portrayals of global locales, and elegantly-crafted prose, then you'll love Marylee MacDonald's compelling tales of travel. Buy Bonds of Love & Blood to embark on a heart-wrenching journey of love, loss, and redemption today!

A gripping, blood–drenched saga about twin brothers, the men they love, and the enduring truth that true love never dies – no matter how many times you kill it. Thierry d'Arjou has but one escape from the daily misery of his work at a medieval abattoir – Etienne de Balthas. But keeping their love a secret triggers a bloody chain of events that condemns Thierry to a monstrous immortality. Thierry quickly learns that to survive his timeless exile, he must hide his sensitive heart from the man who both eases and ensures his loneliness...his twin brother. Shaped by the fists of a brutal father, Olivier d'Arjou cares for only two things: his own pleasure and his twin. But their sadistic path through centuries is littered with old rivals and new foes, and Olivier must fight for what is rightfully his – Thierry, made immortal just for him.

A young pilot risks everything to save his best friend—the man he trusts most and might even love—only to learn that his friend is secretly the heir to a brutal galactic empire. “An exciting space opera full of action and adventure that explores the bonds of loyalty and love, and what happens when they are stretched to their limits.”—Rebecca Roanhorse, Nebula and Hugo award–winning author of Trail of Lightning Ettian’s life was shattered when the merciless Umber Empire invaded his world. He’s spent seven years putting himself back together under its rule, joining an Umber military academy and becoming the best pilot in his class. Even better, he’s met Gal—his exasperating and infuriatingly enticing roommate who’s made the academy feel like a new home. But when dozens of classmates spring an assassination plot on Gal, a devastating secret comes to light: Gal is the heir to the Umber Empire. Ettian barely manages to save his best friend and flee the compromised academy unscathed, rattled that Gal stands to inherit the empire that broke him, and that there are still people willing to fight back against Umber rule. As they piece together a way to deliver Gal safely to his throne, Ettian finds himself torn in half by an impossible choice. Does he save the man who’s won his heart and trust that Gal’s goodness could transform the empire? Or does he throw his lot in with the brewing rebellion and fight to take back what’s rightfully theirs? Praise for Bonds of Brass “Skrutskie’s Bonds of Brass is a high-octane galactic adventure replete with heart, drama, and a keen edge of pain.”—Caitlin Starling, author of The Luminous Dead “Full of breathless action and dazzling characters, Bonds of Brass is space opera at its most exciting.”—Adam Christopher, author of Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town

Book four in the Bonds of Blood & Spirit Saga. Legacies. We create them with our lives. They tie us to the past and future, and sometimes, they are the chains we must break to ever find happiness. Regina and her Pack now face some difficult choices. They stand on the verge of war, precariously balanced between the legacies their ancestors left them, and the hope of a bright new future-if they survive. The bonds they forged and strengthened for generations are tested to the breaking point. Will love or power triumph? Only time will tell.

"Beautiful Ranmaru and sweet, serene Kei fell in love at first sight when they were just boys, and now that they're finally old enough, they're moving in together! College should be all about new experiences and freedom-- but what will the couple do when their home-sweet-home is invaded by the brash and spoiled Kai, Kei's half-brother? Is their relationship strong enough to weather a sudden storm of sibling rivalry?"--Publisher's web site.

“An affecting, deeply honest novel; at the same time, a lacerating indictment of our modern health care system.”—KIRKUS REVIEWS Mid-life mom, Colleen Gallagher would do anything to protect her children from harm. When her daughter's husband falls ill with ALS, Colleen rolls up her sleeves and moves in, juggling the multiple roles of grandma, cook, and caregiver, only to discover that even her superhuman efforts can’t fix what’s wrong. Montpelier Tomorrow is a novel that defies stereotypes and poses tough questions as one family struggles against a vicious disease and broken health care system. Will Colleen and her family pull together and weather the storm? Or will they shatter under the pressure of overwhelming odds? If you like page-turning novels with flawed but admirable characters, discover the redemptive power of a mother's love and read Montpelier Tomorrow today. Winner of the Gold Medal for Drama from Readers' Favorites International Book Awards “Montpelier Tomorrow is an exceptional read. A mix of sadness and humor, it is indeed a story that should be read many times.” —US REVIEW OF BOOKS “...characters are vivid, relatable, and all too perfectly human.” —JEWELL PARKER RHODES, author of Magic City and Sugar “...an engrossing account of the impossible choices faced by caregivers.” —KATHERINE SHONK, author of The Red Passport and Happy Now? “Each time I have reread this novel, I have felt rewarded by the connection it offers to the central character, Colleen. I can think of no single page in which her voice is not an irreplaceable gift to the reader.” —KEVIN MCILVOY, author of The Fifth Station and Little Peg “Written for fans of Chris Bohjalian, Jodi Picoult, and Neil Gaiman, Montpelier Tomorrow is a masterpiece of fiction.” —A reader like you

The groundbreaking romantic horror trilogy, Bonds of Blood, comes to a thrilling conclusion with a story of loss, grief, and redemption. Monsters don't get to be heroes... Betrayed by his brother and imprisoned in his sister's dungeon, Olivier d'Arjou isn't about to let a few chains get in his way. A vampire for six hundred years and a plague on his family for longer, he has no reason to hold back from wiping out the last of his family members and anyone who gets in his way. But first, he'll need to break free. When Oberon North, witch and survivor of one of Olivier's most heinous crimes, comes seeking vengeance, it should be child's play to bend the witch to his will. But Oberon comes with more power and resilience than Olivier expects and forces him to confront truths he'd rather avoid. But Olivier's inner conflict must take a backseat when he learns of his sister Aurelia's plan to save the world from the demon Xadrak. A battle generations in the making, to succeed requires the ultimate sacrifice from both Olivier and his brother Thierry – and the last chance Olivier has to reclaim his humanity and a future he never thought possible.