Showing results by narrator "Hollis McCarthy" in All Categories

The world knows him as Prince Perfect. She’s about to discover the truth. Prince Federico diTalora is all too aware of his dreaded nickname: Prince Perfect. He’s spent his life guarding his reputation, cognizant of the duty he owes his country and its citizens. But as a widower with two rambunctious boys, the strain of being an ideal son, father, and prince has pushed him to the breaking point.

A male - and royal - Eliza Doolittle meets a female Professor Higgins. Having completed his military service, Prince Marco diTalora of San Rimini wants only one thing on his return home: His freedom. He has good reason for avoiding the public eye, and little interest in his father’s plans to immerse him in royal life. In the hours before his brother’s high-profile wedding, he dodges the media hordes for a few hours of respite.

When Princess Isabella diTalora needs an expert to study the ancient artifacts hidden beneath the royal palace, she’s determined to hire the best: Nick Black, a mysterious collector who knows San Rimini’s medieval era better than anyone. Nick Black knows San Rimini’s history for good reason. He lived it. In fact, he was once known as Domenico of Bollazio, a powerful knight pledged to San Rimini’s king. But he was cursed for his ambition and will never know peace - or mortality - until he can solve the riddle of his enchantment.

Sixteen years old, Caina is a student of the Ghosts, the spies and agents of the Emperor of Nighmar, and from them she learns the arts of stealth and infiltration, of disguise and intrigue. But when a man dies of a mysterious poison, Caina faces a deadly test. Because if she doesn't solve the murder, she might die next....

The Brook Ridge Falls Retirement Center is still reeling over the death of one of their own, when Lexy and her senior detective friends are asked to investigate another murder. Muriel Maguire insists that her grandson Henry has been framed for the murder of his wife, but the clues all point to Henry, and the police already have him in custody.

Caina Amalas is a Ghost circlemaster, leader of the Emperor's spies in Istarinmul. Yet the people of Istarinmul know her as the Balarigar, the daring master thief who challenged the corrupt lords and cruel princes of the city. And now Grand Master Callatas, the most powerful sorcerer of Istarinmul, wants her dead, and without allies Caina will not survive. So when a legendary thief offers Caina a chance to rob Callatas himself, she has no choice but to join the venture. But no one has ever escaped the dark perils of Callatas' Maze...

Jennifer Allen is on a mission to assist refugees, not to be swept away by a fairy tale prince. Even if the prince in question is a drop-dead sexy billionaire. When Prince Antony diTalora visits her camp, she’s certain it’s a publicity stunt and keeps him at arm’s length. But when he invites her to the palace to speak about her work, it brings her beliefs into question and has her looking at Prince Charming in a whole new light.

Daniela D’Ambrosio is the most trusted employee of Sarcaccia’s Queen Fabrizia, managing the queen’s schedule and ensuring she never makes a misstep in public. But when Fabrizia sends Daniela to organize the belongings of San Rimini’s late queen for a charity auction, Daniela finds a locked closet full of treasure, a suspicious king, and an attractive handyman who seems strangely familiar.

It's the new year in Ivory Beach, and Rory is nursing a broken heart after the Reaper's abrupt departure from town. A distraction comes in the form of a batch of new tourists visiting the library, but when a holidaying stranger returns a rare book to her family and is then found dead, Rory finds herself in hot water again.

Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the ghosts, spies, and assassins of the emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning, she saved the empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation. But the victory cost her everything. Now, she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet, centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.

Pepper Dunn can’t catch a break. As soon as life settles down in the magical town of Magnolia Cove, Alabama, the sorcerer Rufus Mayes appears, hell-bent on stealing Pepper’s powers for himself. When Rufus casts a spell that links his magic to hers, Pepper is determined to break the connection at all costs. Luckily, she doesn’t have to look too far for help. When an aging wizard agrees to assist her, victory is at hand.

Eighteen suspenseful short stories with a twist for lovers of Twilight Zone and Black Mirror. Journey into strange worlds and meet their unusual and sometimes terrifying residents in these stories spanning suspense, horror, paranormal, science fiction, and supernatural from the dark mind of short story award-winning author Susan May.

It's the holiday season in the town of Ivory Beach. Rory Hawthorn and her new magical family are preparing for the festivities. But when a group of strange werewolves materializes in the library, it kicks off a series of bizarre events which appear to be lifted directly from her aunt's best-selling novels.

Witches are descending on Hemlock Cove and the town is gearing up for mayhem. Bay Winchester is ready to cover the event for her newspaper, and is excited to see faces she hasn’t interacted with in more than a decade. Then the unthinkable happens. The local blacksmith shop catches fire and Bay and her cousin Thistle risk death to try and rescue the owner. Unfortunately, they’re too late, and the man is unable to be resuscitated. Not only that, but it wasn’t the fire that killed him. No, he was murdered.

Take your ticket and enjoy the thrills and chills awaiting those who dare journey into this exciting collection of short fiction and novellas. Savor six twisted tales, which will both delight and surprise listeners as they travel into the dark realms of supernatural and paranormal suspense.

What if all that stood between us and hell was a match? An ordinary couple stand accused of a heinous crime. They're the last people you'd expect to save the world. Are they criminals, heroes, or completely insane? Or maybe all three? Inspired by true-life headlines, revealed in Susan May's fascinating postscript From the Imagination Vault, Behind the Fire is an engrossing novelette of the random appearances of frightening black things, and one couple's battle to protect their town from these dangerous and hellish creatures.

Rory Hawthorn is adjusting to her new life as a witch working at her family's enchanted library in the coastal town of Ivory Beach. Between the library's bewildering magic and her eccentric new family, life is never dull. When Rory and her cousin find the body of a local wizard on the beach, all the signs suggest he was killed by a vampire.

Caina Amalas is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, one of the elite agents of the Emperor of Nighmar. She has defeated powerful sorcerers and corrupt lords, freed slaves, and overthrown great evils. But now, someone has begun slaughtering the Ghosts of the Imperial capital, and the killer is wearing her face. And this time, saving the Empire might cost her everything.... Ark is a man of many roles - father and husband, Ghost and veteran, blacksmith and Champion of Marsis. But when the circlemasters of the Ghosts order him to hunt down the renegade Caina Amalas, Ark must make a choice.

In this Regency-set short story, widowed Lady Diana Waverly finds love and passion in the most unlikely of places when a new piano tutor arrives at her door.

Bookshop assistant Aurora "Rory" Hawthorn thinks reality will never be as interesting as fiction. It turns out her dad was keeping a secret or two...most importantly, that he was a wizard and that Rory has a hidden magical family she's never met. Juggling a new family and job would be enough of a challenge without also having to deal with a murder mystery, cranky familiars, and the attention of the local reaper - even if he is the hottest guy in town.