Short Stories

Guy de Maupassant is widely regarded as the father of the modern short story. As his 13 volumes of short stories attest, he was a prolific writer of this form. He had a simple, efficient style of writing and, like Anton Chekhov, found inspiration for his stories in the day-to-day lives of characters, in which their hidden natures are often revealed. Many of his works also centered on the Franco-Prussian War, in which he served.

Deep in the Amazonian jungle, there is a mansion with a rose garden and a hen house where juicy tomatoes are the perfect shade of red, and marble countertops glisten. Inside, where even the shadows don’t reach, something is rotting, and the perfect facade can only hold the stench for so long.

In the bizarre world of Franz Kafka, salesmen turn into giant bugs, apes give lectures at college academies, and nightmares probe the mysteries of modern humanity’s unhappiness. More than any other modern writer in world literature, Kafka captures the loneliness and misery that fill the lives of 20th-century humanity.

Like many well-to-do Upper East Siders over the age of 65, esteemed art appraiser Percival Skinner had planned to spend his retirement living off his savings. But a market correction has left him living below his prior means. One day he’s visited by a dapper fixer in search of a famous work by a Renaissance master. Skinner knows the work well: The original was owned by his ancestor, and was passed down through his family over the generations. If, as an intermediary, he can coordinate a sale, a small fortune awaits. Problem is, he might not be the only one on the make.

Looking for something quick, dirty, and deliciously explicit? If your nights crave heat, tension, and wickedly forbidden fantasies, this collection was made for you. Sexy Short Stories by Tessa Quinn delivers 25 raw, unfiltered tales crafted to get under your skin and between your legs. From secret encounters and taboo lust to dominant hands and trembling bodies—each story is a fast, filthy fix of erotic escape. Steamy quick listens for busy women who want the good parts fast Perfect for bedtime…

Picture yourself gliding down a Venice canal on a gondola, chatting effortlessly with the gondolier about hidden spots...or haggling for leather bags in Milan like a local, no English crutch needed. Laughter flows, connections spark, and you finally FEEL the magic of Italy–not just visit it. This 12+ hour audiobook is the effortless shortcut English speakers rave about to unlock real Italian–faster than any app or class.

A seventeen-year-old boy, bullied and heartbroken, hangs himself. And although he felt terribly alone, his suicide changes everyone around him. His parents are devastated.

This drive through the dark streets of the Motor City “is one of the best in Akashic Books’ noir series. You cannot go wrong with this anthology.”—Reviewing the Evidence From cri….

In the midst of World War II, James is training for the Royal Air Force, while going home to Yorkshire whenever possible to see his very pregnant wife, Helen. Musing on past adventures through the dales, visiting with old friends, and introducing scores of new and amusing characters—animal and human alike—Herriot enthralls with his uncanny ability to spin a most engaging and heartfelt yarn.

A ghost decides to help the shy young woman living in her former house. Kyra dreams of becoming an artist, and she flourishes under the guidance of her ghostly mentor. This short, supernatural tale will appeal to fans of friendly ghost stories and family reconciliation.

When a loose dog narrowly avoids getting hit by a car on busy city streets, two drivers pull over and coordinate its quick rescue. What has all the appearance of a kismet connection between heroic dog lovers turns out to be a meet-cute "tail" of a different breed.

A 300-year-old tree has plenty to do: repairing the damage to her bark from people who have carved their initials, drinking from her roots, and, lately, tolerating two lonely bookworms who visit separately. Playing matchmaker might solve everyone’s problems. Rebecca Sky is an award-winning writer best known for the Love Curse series with more than 20 million reads online; most recently her work can be found in the Every Body Shines body-positivity anthology with Bloomsbury.

Featuring a diverse range of characters, sexualities and scenarios, these steamy stories revel in erotic adventure, from the sparks between strangers to the knowing caresses of longtime lovers. Gangbangs, threesomes, lesbian sex, domination fantasies, seduction, femdom and much more. Lucy James has gathered the hottest sexy stories for women, full of love, passion and lust. Many different stories will take your mind on an erotic journey and arouse your deepest desires. Your body and mind will tingle with delight and your toes will curl as you find that you lose yourself in every story.

Enter German Stories for Beginners! You will find 10 easy-to-understand, engaging, and fun stories that will help you to expand your vocabulary and give you the tools to improve your grasp of the German language. Improve your comprehension, grow your vocabulary, and spark your imagination with these ten unconventional German short stories! All stories are written using vocabulary that you could easily use in your day-to-day conversations.

Cleveland Noir joins Columbus Noir as the Akashic Noir series continues its tour of Ohio and navigates the dregs of the North Shore.

Do you know what the hardest thing for a Portuguese learner is? Finding proper reading material that they can handle…which is precisely the reason we’ve written this book! Teachers love giving out tough, expert-level literature to their students, books that present many new problems to the reader and force them to search for words in a dictionary every five minutes - it’s not entertaining, useful or motivating for the student at all, and many soon give up on learning at all!

Emma Chavet and her father are winemakers who stubbornly cling to the old ways. But when an unwelcome offer comes to buy their business, they must face the new realities of a Green society. This story was originally published in the Audie Award-winning METAtropolis: Cascadia.

At age 26 Agatha Raisin has already come a long way. She has clawed her way up since leaving the Birmingham slum where she was born. She's lost her Birmingham accent, run away from her drunken husband, and found a job at a public relations office as a secretary. Then her boss asks Agatha to go to the home of Sir Bryce Teller to tell him that he is soon to be arrested for the murder of his wife and that the agency no longer wants to represent him.

I stand with Ukraine and its people. What they are going through in resisting Russia's barbaric invasion of their homeland is truly unimaginable for those of us distant from the brutality of the conflict, but, with times being what they are, I just had to collect a few of my previously published stories that deal with Ukraine, civil protest, and the horrors of war for people to hear.

You fell in love with Jack Remington and Savannah Braden in Bursting with Love (The Bradens). Now fall in love with them all over again and experience the birth of their first baby while catching up with your favorite characters from the Love in Bloom series in Our New Love. As always, the Braden stories are filled with family, fun, and the truest, deepest love of all.