The Glow Stone

The sudden death of her beloved uncle triggers a chain of events that threaten to overwhelm Spider and her family. Fifteen-year-old Phoebe Bernstein (a.k.a. Spider) has been collecting rocks since she was a child. She keeps her prized specimens in a musty underground garage, stored in the drawers of an old desk that was a gift from her beloved young uncle, Bradford. News of Bradford’s sudden death changes Spider’s life as she watches her grieving mother descend into depression, her older sister remain remote, and her father strangely silent. The pressure grows even worse when Spider unwittingly discovers a disturbing family secret. On the weekend of Bradford’s tombstone unveiling, Spider tries to escape for a while by exploring a labyrinth of caves—and becomes hopelessly lost. In the utter blackness she hears a strangely familiar voice beckoning her deeper into the mysterious but oddly welcoming underground world. Soon she will learn the truth about what happened to Uncle Bradford...but will she ever find her way out of the darkness? Ellen Dreyer has written a dramatic, page-turning adventure that explores the unbreakable bonds that hold families together, even after death.

His captive has issued a most unusual ultimatum . . . He must make love to her . . . Little does he know that giving her what she needs may bind him to her forever . . . Rystani star pilot Xander is willing to use unusual methods, no matter how unorthodox, to save the galaxy from a deadly virus. He's already resorted to kidnapping bio-geneticist Alara Calladar in the hopes that her psi-talent of identifying DNA will help find a cure to save both their worlds. But now his sworn enemy has revealed that her biology requires her to periodically regenerate her cells by making love or she'll die. Really die. Xander is stunned, yet fascinated, by her admission and wonders what other secrets she's keeping. While he has little choice but to agree to trade his life-saving love making for her psi powers, he's determined to keep an emotional distance. No way is he falling for her, a woman from a race who invaded and occupies his home world. Soon their desperate bargain becomes a turbulent but all-consuming passion. Her body isn't just rejuvenating each time they make love, it's adapting to his on a genetic level. Before long she will be unable to make love to any man but Xander. Xander resists becoming her conquest, but not even the dangerous mission can distract him from Alara's appeal. She's just the kind of woman he admires. Intelligent, resourceful, and passionate. If only he trusted her. If only she wasn't the enemy. If only his heart didn't have a mind of its own. When together they must merge their talents to fight the most powerful forces in the galaxy, will trust win out, or will they lose each other forever? The much-awaited sequel to The Challenge and The Dare.

Katies second Glow-Stone adventure! A bad-mannered lizard has been dumped in the Arctic, and Katie is sent to find out why and what on earth to do with him! Who would dump a little lizard in the Arctic? And why? Katie soon realises that this little lizard is being punished; she has to find a solution before they are both frozen! Look out for Katies next Glow-Stone Adventure: Katie Helps . . . a Bear with Bad Hair!

"It may seem like clambakes, the Red Sox, and the Patriots define New England, but boy did the Pilgrims land in one very strange spot! These six states are filled with odd curiosities and bizarre legends, such as the elusive Vermont hum, the hibernating hill folk, hillside whale tales, and the Holy Land (yes, you read that right). Tongue-in-cheek and filled with dry wit, this is a journey you'll not soon forget."--P. [4] of cover.

Amidst the unfathomably far reaches of an interstellar society - one that spans thousands of worlds and an integration of several sentient species - the prospect of personal isolation maybe isn't one of the first thoughts that comes to mind. Energy and resources are in flourishing abundance. Floating skycars fill the city skylines on the many habitable worlds. Faster-than-light travel renders the distances between the celestial bodies nearly insignificant. Even the eras of massive cosmic warfare are long since over. And yet, for all such abundance, the hardships imposed by life's arbitrariness and impermanence can never be held at bay. For some, it begs the question: what is the meaning of advancement and abundance and peace if we are still left with heavy hearts?

Jon and Sorus are on their own in the great desert of the Sands. They travel through the barren waste in search of the Golden Worm nomads who hold the secret to the ancient Imperial magic of Das’von. If they can find time between burping, laughing, and fighting they just might do something useful … or not.

Katie’s amazing glow-stone sends her to Sunset Beach in California, to meet a big bear fashion model called Claude. A bear with bad hair! Well, in his opinion that is. Katie soon discovers that Claude is the problem, not his hair! His loyal friends and photographers are fed up as Claude’s vanity is out of control! Katie and her trusty glow-stone need to act quickly to save this bear from himself!

In this story Alice Walker teaches that our love for family and friiends brings us the most powerful peace and happiness of all.