charles dickens second novel Audiobooks

It takes a strong man to be this fabulous. Special Delivery, Book 3 Crescencio "Chenco" Ortiz pulled himself up by his garter straps after his father's will yanked the financial rug from under his spank-me pumps. He doesn't need anyone, yet when Steve Vance steps into his life, the prospect of having a sexy leather daddy on tap begins to take on a certain appeal. There's a hitch when he learns Steve is friends with Mitch Tedsoe-the half-brother Chenco never knew except through his father's twisted lies. Despite his reservations, soon Chenco is living his dreams, including a performing gig in Vegas. Now if only he could get Steve to see him as more than just a boy in need of saving. Steve's attraction to Chenco is overshadowed by too many demons, ones he knows his would-be lover is too young to slay. Yet as he gets to know the bright, determined young man whose drag act redefines fierce, Steve's inner sadist trembles with need. He begins to realize Chenco's relentless tough love might be the only thing that will finally set him free. Warning: This story contains glamorous drag queens, exhibitionist secondary characters, and no-holds-barred BDSM play, including watersports. Readers are advised they may well leave this novel feeling uncharacteristically fierce.

An enthralling, atmospheric new novel from the author of acclaimed debut Inherit the Bones , featuring Colorado police officer Gemma Monroe. It’s Halloween night in Cedar Valley. During the town’s annual festival, Detective Gemma Monroe takes a break from trick or treating with her family to visit an old family friend, retired Judge Caleb Montgomery, at his law office. To Gemma’s surprise, Caleb seems worried―haunted, even―and confides in her that he’s been receiving anonymous threats. Shortly after, as Gemma strolls back to her car, an explosion at Caleb’s office shatters the night. Reeling from the shock, Gemma and her team begin eliminating suspects and motives, but more keep appearing in their place, and soon another man is killed. Her investigation takes her from a chilling encounter with a convicted murderer at the Belle Vista Penitentiary, to the gilded rooms of the renovated Shotgun Playhouse, where Shakespeare’s cursed play Macbeth is set to open in a few weeks. Yet most disturbing of all is when Gemma realizes that similar murders have happened before. There is a copycat killer at play, and if Gemma can’t stop him, he’ll carry out his final, deadly act.

Dee Ernst's Lucy Checks In is a delightful work of romantic comedy about a disgraced hotel manager who travels to Rennes to rebuild a hotel and her own life in the process. Lucia Giannetti needs a fresh start. Once the hotel manager of a glamorous NYC hotel and intimately involved with the hotel’s owner, Lucy had her entire future planned out. But when the owner disappears, taking millions of dollars with him, Lucy's life as she knows it falls apart. Two years later, forty-nine years old and unemployed, Lucy takes a job in Rennes, France to manage the Hotel Paradis. She pictures fur quilts and extravagant chandeliers, but what she finds is wildly different. Lucy is now in charge of turning the run-down, but charming hotel into a bustling tourist attraction. Between painting rooms, building a website, and getting to know Bing, the irritatingly attractive artist, Lucy finds an unexpected home. But can she succeed in bringing the Hotel Paradis to its former glory? Witty and heartfelt, Lucy Checks In is an inspiring and feel-good novel about reclaiming your life, finding love, and creating a home in places you never thought possible.

The simple life gets complicated when death comes calling in the first novel in the national bestselling Amish Mystery series. Claire Weatherly has fled a high-stress lifestyle for a slower pace—in Amish country: Heavenly, Pennsylvania. She only planned a short visit but instead found herself opening an Amish specialty shop, Heavenly Treasures, and settling in.Claire loves her new home, and she’s slowly making friends among the locals, including Esther, a young Amish woman who works in the shop. So when the store’s former owner,the unlikable Walter Snow, is murdered, and the man Esther is sweet on becomes a suspect, Claire can’t help but get involved. Newly returned Detective Jakob Fisher, who left Heavenly—and his Amish upbringing—as a teenager, is on the case. But his investigation is stalled by the fact that none of his former community will speak with him. Claire’s connections make her the perfect go-between. As Claire investigates, she uncovers more than she wanted to know about her neighbors. And suddenly, everything she had hoped to find in this peaceful refuge is at risk...

Madison was forced by her aunt to sleep with a mysterious man to save her mother. The next day, the most influential man in the city found her, and she became his sinful wife he could not introduce to the world.Since then, she was the flirtatious courtesan who had been misunderstood and despised by everyone during the day. At night, she was being held tightly in Allen Whitlock’s arm as he coaxed her to sleep.As she was falling deeper and deeper into their relationship, Allen abandoned her and took her to the freezing operating table despite her pregnancy…She completely disappeared from Allen’s world. Everyone thought Mr. Whitlock had finally gotten rid of his greedy and cunning ex-wife, but little did they know that he missed her so much every night that it drove him to the brink of insanity. Several years later, Madison returned with a little kid who looked exactly like him. Allen secured her tightly in his arm, his eyes filled with a manic glint as he pleaded with a husky voice. “Madison, I can give you my life. Please come back to me…”

AN EDGE-OF-YOUR-SEAT MYSTERY FROM YOUR NEW CRIME FICTION OBSESSION: BIBA PEARCE. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Fast paced! Riveting! Emotional! Suspenseful! Compelling! Complex! This book brings it ALL!!” Tam ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is a brilliant read. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building .” Billie ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This story had me glued to the pages from start to finish . . . the best one — so far .” Heather ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book is my favourite. I loved it . . . The author did a phenomenal job telling the story.” Marj Please note this book is a completely revised edition of Righteous Anger . One girl disappears. And there’s a link to an unsolved disappearance close to home. Katie Wells goes missing on her way to school. Her pink backpack is found weighed down with stones in a local reservoir. Time is running out to find her, and every second counts. Acting DCI Rob Miller leads a nationwide search, but no trace of the little girl is found. Meanwhile, Detective Jo Maguire from the National Crime Agency notices striking similarities to her own sister’s disappearance twenty years ago. Jo's relationship with Rob is deepening, but they don’t have time to figure things out. Maybe Jo's sister was the killer's first victim. And maybe he never stopped. Now, a body is discovered and the public holds its breath. Is it Katie? Rob and Jo might just have a serial killer on their hands . . . AN UNSTOPPABLE CRIME MYSTERY THAT YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO PUT DOWN. This gripping page-turner is perfect for fans of Helen H. Durrant, James Oswald, Joy Ellis, Angela Marsons, L.J. Ross, Alex Smith and J.M. Dalgliesh. MEET THE DETECTIVE DI ROB MILLER Detective Inspector Rob Miller of the Met is finally given his first case as Senior Investigating Officer. For an ambitious, young detective, this is a dream come true. He’s gunning for promotion, and will do anything for his job, but can he also keep his personal life in check? THE SETTING The Murder Investigation Team is based out of leafy Putney, with its overgrown often-flooded riverbanks. One way the river leads into central London, the other out into the countryside. It’s an idyllic setting that masks a criminal underworld. PRAISE FOR THE BISLEY WOOD MURDERS : ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Another brilliant British thriller . . . I really enjoy reading this author, she has a wonderful way of telling a story that keeps the reader mesmerized from start to finish.” Sharon ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A cracking read and certainly one that leaves you wrong footed the whole way through. You may get slight hints to link things together, but the final reveal is fantastic! ” Cath ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Well, Biba Pearce certainly knows how to get you going!! Such a sad, sad story!! ” Carolann ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The storyline caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book .” Jeanne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A brilliant read. Love the story . . . Rob is my favourite .” Sue DETECTIVE ROB MILLER MYSTERY SERIES Book 1: THE THAMES PATH KILLER Book 2: THE WEST LONDON MURDERS Book 3: THE BISLEY WOOD MURDERS

Renowned thriller writer David Hagberg continues his New York Times bestselling Kirk McGarvey series with this riveting origin story for the CIA assassin in First Kill . It is the beginning of Kirk McGarvey's career as a CIA black ops officer. Fresh out of the Air Force OSI, he receives his first assignment: assassinate a Chilean general known as the Butcher of Valparaiso, a monster who has tortured and killed more than one thousand dissidents at a soccer stadium in Valparaiso. McGarvey manages to cross the border over the mountains from Argentina without being discovered, and even makes his way to the general's remote compound. But the odds are stacked against him. Chile's National Intelligence Agency, the ANI, has been warned of his approach and wants him to fail—and someone back home in Washington is working to make sure he does. For this newly-minted assassin, killing the butcher is only the beginning. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

An enthralling, atmospheric new novel from Emily Littlejohn, the author of acclaimed debut Inherit the Bones , featuring Colorado police officer Gemma Monroe. "Recommend to fans of Louise Penny's Inspector Gamache novels." Booklist On a bright Saturday in early spring, Detective Gemma Monroe responds to a missing person call at Lost Lake, near the small town of Cedar Valley, Colorado. With its sapphire waters and abundance of wildflowers, the lake is a popular camping destination in the summer. But for now, ice still grips the lake and snow buries the flowers. When Gemma arrives at the shore, she meets three friends who have been camping there: the fourth of their group, Sari Chesney, has disappeared in the night without a trace. Sari is an assistant curator at the local museum, which is set to host a gala that night―a project she’s worked on for months and would never intentionally miss. As Gemma begins to understand the complex dynamics of the supposedly close-knit friendship group, she realizes that more than one person is lying to her―and that the beautiful, still waters of Lost Lake may hide more terrible secrets . . .

When Lady Elizabet Harding’s family is targeted by the notorious Highland Highwayman, she finds herself wounded and an unwelcome guest of the charming outlaw who’d ruined her reputation earlier that day. Elizabet only wants to get even for her family’s downfall, but the more time she spends with the scoundrel, the more complicated her feelings become. By day, Laird John MacGregor graces the court of Charles II. By night, he exacts revenge on his enemies – one of whom is betrothed to the fiery heiress who has, quite literally, fallen into his arms. The daughter of one enemy and promised to another, Elizabet should be the last person John wants. Yet even as she exasperates him, she is all he has ever desired for himself. When her life is put in danger, he will do anything necessary to protect the women he never expected to love…even if it means they cannot be together. Each book in the MacGregor Lairds series is STANDALONE: * How to Lose a Highlander * How to Ensnare a Highlander * How to Blackmail a Highlander * How to Forgive a Highlander

Just a second ago, Dustin Clay was a penniless nobody. In the blink of an eye, he’s obscenely rich, with unimaginable resources at his fingertips. “I have nothing in my life but money,” he says, expression upset.