This modern classic and New York Times best seller was a finalist for both the 1990 Pulitzer Prize and National Book Critics Circle Award and has become a staple of American classrooms. Hailed by The New York Times as "a marvel of storytelling", The Things They Carried’s portrayal of the boots-on-the-ground experience of soldiers in the Vietnam War is a landmark in war writing. Now, three-time Emmy Award winner Bryan Cranston, star of the hit TV series Breaking Bad, delivers an electrifying performance that walks the book’s hallucinatory line between reality and fiction and highlights the emotional power of the spoken word.The soldiers in this collection of stories carried M-16 rifles, M-60 machine guns, and M-79 grenade launchers. They carried plastic explosives, hand grenades, flak jackets, and landmines. But they also carried letters from home, illustrated Bibles, and pictures of their loved ones. Some of them carried extra food or comic books or drugs. Every man carried what he needed to survive, and those who did carried their shattering stories away from the jungle and back to a nation that would never understand.This audiobook also includes an exclusive recording “The Vietnam in Me,” a recount of the author’s trip back to Vietnam in 1994, revisiting his experience there as a soldier 25 years before, read by Tim O’Brien himself. The Things They Carried was produced by Audible Studios in partnership with Playtone, the celebrated film and television production company founded by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman, and producer of the award-winning series Band of Brothers, John Adams, and The Pacific, as well as the HBO movie Game Change. Read more

From the beloved author of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series comes a new short story collection: half spy stories, half tales of revenge, all highlight the kinder, funnier, and gentler side of espionage and retribution.In this dual collection of short stories, Alexander McCall Smith brings his trademark humor and warmth to inventive tales of spying and vengeance. In one story, a spy dropped deep into enemy territory manages to disguise himself—quite convincingly—as a nun. In another, an invitation to join the Vatican Secret Service sends a prospective operative down a rabbit hole of controversy and confusion. A third story finds an author, on the brink of public ruin, seeing the error of his ways after an act of kindness saves the day.A keen observer of humanity imbued with a sparkling imagination, Alexander McCall Smith illustrates throughout that transparency is paramount and forgiveness is restorative. With surprising insight and a healthy helping of humor, these stories remind us that, in the end, the high road is often the better one for all involved. Read more

The author presents a collection of seven short stories set in the Outlander universe, never before published together, including two original stories and featuring beloved character Jamie Fraser. "Beseiged": Protagonist is Lord John Grey, a secondary character in the Outlander novels and a main protagonist of the Lord John novels, Diana's related series (never before published). "A Fugitive Green": Protagonist is Hal Grey, John's brother (never before published). "Virgins": Protagonists are Jamie Fraser at age 19 and his friend and future brother-in-law, Ian Murray. (Originally published in the Tor Books anthology Dangerous Women in 2013. Dell published as an individual e-novella in 4/2016.) "The Space Between": Protagonist is Michael Murray, who is the son of Ian and Jenny Murray (Jenny is Jamie's sister and a main character in her own right in both the books and TV show). (Originally published in the Tor anthology The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination in 2012 and as an individual e-novella by Dell in 4/2014.) "A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows": Tells the story of the parents of Roger Wakefield (a major character in the books, just introduced at the end of the second season of the show and will continue to grow in importance); features Claire's husband, Frank Randall. (Originally published in the Gallery anthology Songs of Love and Death in 2010 and as an individual e-novella by Dell in 12/2012.) "The Custom of the Army": Protagonist is Lord John Grey. (Originally published in the Tor anthology Warriors (1) in 2010. Dell published as an e-novella in May 2012.) "Lord John and the Plague of Zombies": Protagonist is Lord John Grey. (Originally published in Ace anthology Down These Strange Streets in 2012. Dell published as an e-novella in 2013). Read more

WINNER OF THE STORY PRIZE SPOTLIGHT AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE PEN/FAULKNER AWARD FOR FICTION & THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION AN ALA NOTABLE BOOK ONE OF NPR’s “BOOKS WE LOVE” ONE OF THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE’S 10 BEST BOOKS OF 2024 BEST SHORT FICTION, KIRKUS REVIEWS “Polyphonic fiction. . . . A reminder of the short story’s power. . . . The History of Sound marks Shattuck as one of the form’s brightest lights. . . . A terrific writer. . . . Deeply resonant.” —The Boston Globe “Exquisitely crafted, deeply imagined, exhilaratingly diverse, The History of Sound places Ben Shattuck firmly among the very finest of our storytellers.” —Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of Horse “Magnificent. . . . Poignant. . . . Exquisite.” —Publishers Weekly A stunning collection of interconnected stories set in New England, exploring how the past is often misunderstood and how history, family, heartache, and desire can echo over centuries In twelve luminous stories set across three centuries, The History of Sound examines the unexpected ways the past returns to us and how love and loss are entwined and transformed over generations. In Ben Shattuck's ingenious collection, each story has a companion story, which contains a revelation about the previous, paired story. Mysteries and murders are revealed, history is refracted, and deep emotional connections are woven through characters and families. The haunting title story recalls the journey of two men who meet around a piano in a smoky, dim bar, only to spend a summer walking the Maine woods collecting folk songs in the shadow of the First World War, forever marked by the odyssey. Decades later, in another story, a woman discovers the wax cylinders recorded that fateful summer while cleaning out her new house in Maine. Shattuck’s inventive, exquisite stories transport readers from 1700s Nantucket to the contemporary woods of New Hampshire and beyond—into landscapes both enduring and unmistakably modern. Memories, artifacts, paintings, and journals resurface in surprising and poignant ways among evocative beaches, forests, and orchards, revealing the secrets, misunderstandings, and love that linger across centuries. Written with breathtaking humanity and humor, The History of Sound is a love letter to New England, a radiant conversation between past and present, and a moving meditation on the abiding search for home. Read more

Cullen McCray is a man haunted by loss, his heart burdened by the ghost of his first wife. Isolated in the rugged mountains, he seeks solace in the wilderness, shunning the world. But fate has other plans, and when tragedy strikes and his estranged brother, Clint, dies, Cullen is left to pick up the pieces and care for Clint's young daughter. As he struggles to deal with his newfound responsibilities, a mysterious woman appears, claiming to be Clint's fiancée and the future Mrs. McCray.Maggie Colton is a city girl with dreams of a life filled with love and adventure, but she soon realizes the reality of her situation is far from what she expected. Upon her arrival in Lone Hollow, she discovers that her fiancé is dead, and her new home is a crumbling ranch house, a dilapidated guest house, and a barn in dire need of repair.As Maggie navigates the lies she was told, she finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Cullen. Will he be able to lay the demons of his past to rest and open his heart to a new beginning? Or will he send Maggie back before her bags are unpacked? Only time will tell in this clean, historical Western tale of love, loss, and the power of the human spirit to rise from the ashes.Enjoy the Brides of Lone Hollow Series today! Five mail-order brides set out west for new lives on the Montana Frontier. Their stories are different, yet they share one thing—they are all looking for love and happiness. Will they find it in the town of Lone Hollow? Read more

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When the outlaw meets the sheriff, sparks will fly! Cora Bennett longs to escape her notorious family known for their daring heists and cunning schemes, the Bennett Bandits. She takes a chance at love, agreeing to flee to the town of Lone Hollow to marry a man she’s never met.Sheriff Wyatt Bullock eagerly awaits the arrival of his mail-order bride. But, while he expects the prim and proper lady from her letters, he’s not ready for the pistol-packing bride in pants who rides into town on horseback! Luckily, she’s just the type of woman he didn’t know he was looking for.When Cora’s family arrives in Lone Hollow, she discovers they have plans to rob a stagecoach passing through town. She knows they will stop at nothing to get their hands on the gold, and with Wyatt tasked with protecting the stagecoach, Cora must decide whether to betray her family or risk losing the man she loves.Will Cora’s past tear them apart? Or can she prove to her law-abiding fiancé that she's more than a notorious last name? Find out in this wild and romantic Western historical journey.Enjoy the clean, historical Western Brides of Lone Hollow Series today! Five mail-order brides set out west for new lives on the Montana Frontier. Their stories are different, yet they share one thing—they are all looking for love and happiness. Will they find it in the town of Lone Hollow? Read more

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James Fort at Jamestown, Virginia, 1608In September 1608, Anne Burras is the only European woman in Jamestown when her mistress dies upon arrival. Laborer John Layton is one of only thirty-eight colonists who survived the first year in the colony. Both want Anne on the supply ship returning to England in three months, but neither foresee the difficulties they will face just to stay alive—or the painful sacrifices they will make to stay together. Read more

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Sadie Monroe’s dream of working alongside her fiancé as a nurse is shattered when he tells her she will not be part of his practice. She joins her father, John, on a journey to Idaho via a wagon train to Oregon, where he has taken up a job as the town doctor of a new town.Charles Holden, a physician, has abandoned his practice after a tragic medical mistake cost him his wife’s life. He sets out on a journey with a wagon train to Oregon, hoping to keep his past and profession a secret.When tragedy strikes Sadie’s father, John, Charles is the only one who can save him despite his reservations and fear. Will he overcome them and come to the rescue? And what happens when the treatment requires more than he can handle alone?Enjoy the clean, historical wagon train series! Five women headed out West to make new lives on the Frontier find hope and love in the arms of five men. Their adventures may be different, but their bond is the same as they embark on the journey together in the same wagon train. Read more

***SPECIAL EDITION CLASSIC ROMANCE COVER***He’s besotted with a woman who can’t save him…Knoxville DeWitt, the Duke of Herschel, is the most infamous man in England. The icy walls of society are threatening to consume him. Saddled with a title he doesn’t want, Knox has come to the realization that he’ll have to marry to save his legacy. When he’d like to marry for love.She’s curious about a man she can’t have…The Duke of Herschel is a scoundrel with a capital S. It’s true that she secretly desires him, but Clarissa Marlowe isn’t getting involved with a rogue. Not after suffering through a childhood riddled with scandal.But what happens when she sees another side to her charming duke?An independent woman seeking peace, not passion.A forbidding man determined to change her mind.A tempestuous gamble on love.Come along on this class difference, snowed-in/forced proximity, sorta second chance romp!In a world of Regency scandal and heated glances, a duke proposes a liaison that promises passion beyond measure, igniting a flame that could thaw even the coldest hearts. Please note that the heat level is red hot!The Troublesome TrioKiss the Rake Hello ~ Cort DeWittThe Devil of Drury Lane ~ Damien DeWittKiss the Duke Goodbye ~ Knox DeWitt Read more

Are you a dreamer yet?Meet the Rivers Brothers! Cassandra Wolfe is a woman burdened with a secret she was taught to hide—a unique ability that others perceive as a curse. But when gold is discovered on her family's land, her life takes a deadly turn. The allure of gold sweeps across the land, ensnaring everyone in its grip, and no one is immune to the sickness it brings. Cassandra pleads with her father, but the allure of gold stirs greed, envy, and an insatiable desire for more in the hearts of those around her.As tragedy befalls her family, Cassandra finds herself devastated by grief and seething with rage. Widowed and alone, she finally decides to embrace her gift, and fights back when they come for her again. As the dust settles, she makes a daring escape to California.Dalton Rivers is a man driven by a mission to bring the railroad to his family's ranch. He crosses paths with Cassandra in the bustling streets of San Francisco. A twist of fate binds their destinies together, and Dalton discovers a new dream worth fighting for—Cassandra herself. Now, he must convince her to rekindle the flames of hope in her soul and to dream once more.In the thrilling world of The Rivers Brothers, will Cassandra's unique ability be a curse that haunts her, or can it become a source of strength? As they are hunted across the untamed beauty of Wyoming, Cassandra and Dalton find unexpected allies in the form of Dalton's loyal brothers. Will the Rivers Brothers' unyielding bond and resourcefulness be enough to protect them, or will the dangers closing in threaten to shatter their dreams?Witness love, laughter, heartache, and triumph as the Rivers Brothers and their extraordinary partners embark on a journey of self-discovery, family bonds, and unforgettable romance!NOTE:The Rivers Brothers Series is an Historical Western Romance. Each book contains violence and suspense, followed by healing and strength on the way to the HEA. Each book in the series can read alone thought it is recommended to read them all and enjoy the incredible bond of the Rivers family. Read more

Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans?Harper McCall is a passionate teacher who has always dreamed of a new adventure. When the headmistress at the orphanage decides to take the women to Oregon, Harper finds comfort and joy in teaching the children on the wagon train. Little does she know, this journey will not only change her life but also her heart.Brooks Campbell, a skilled blacksmith, is used to working with his hands, but when he sees Harper's teaching skills, he realizes that there is so much more he wants to learn. He musters up the courage to ask Harper for help in learning to read and write and soon finds himself falling deeply in love with her.However, when a tragedy strikes the wagon train, Brooks is filled with guilt and blames himself for the pain he has caused. Harper must convince him that the accident was not his fault and help him overcome the guilt that threatens to tear him apart. Can Harper help him overcome his guilt and find redemption, or will the weight of his mistakes tear them apart before they reach their final destination in Oregon?Enjoy the clean, historical wagon train series! Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans? Read more

A preacher’s daughter secretly dreaming of adventure. A lawman undercover with a notorious outlaw gang. A fake marriage which could save both of their lives.Out of a sense of duty, Esther Billings will marry the man her father selects for her. She prays he is a good man and loves God as much as she does. But when she’s kidnapped, the one man who can help her is the opposite of everything her father wants for her. Can she step into the darkness to bring this man into the light?Vowing never to repeat the sins of his father, Whit Hartman has spent a lifetime trying to make up for his own past. Even going undercover to bring an outlaw gang to justice. But when those same outlaws abduct a woman, Whit pretends they are married to keep her safe. Will she play along or put them both in danger? A bigger question is, can Whit keep her safe and do his job without losing his heart?★★ Get lost in this heartwarming story with a touch of humor and faith. ★★Come spend some time in Flat River, a small town filled with the strong men and women who settled the wild west of the Nebraska Plains, from 1860 to 1880. It is home to unique characters, strong heroines, swoony heroes, and stories that will stand the test of time. Readers of all ages can read all these wholesome stories filled with family values, romance, humor, and a sprinkle of faith. Read more

Charlotte McLaren is on a mission to find the murderer of her father. Despite her attempts to track down the culprit, she has come up empty-handed. Determined to find answers, she enlists the help of a detective. Their investigation leads them to believe the killer has fled to Oregon, leading Charlotte and her uncle Ned to join a wagon train heading west in pursuit.Nicolas Kelly has just taken on a new role as a Pinkerton detective in the Oregon Territory. When news reaches him that a wanted murderer has been spotted near Fort Boise, he sets out to capture the culprit before anyone else can. He joins a wagon train headed west, believing it to be a possible hiding place for the man. But little does he know that one of the passengers, Charlotte, is also on the hunt for the same murderer.Will Charlotte find the man who killed her father? Or will Nicolas get in the way of everything she’s worked for and let the man who killed her father slip through her fingers?Enjoy the clean, historical wagon train series! Five women headed out West to make new lives on the Frontier find hope and love in the arms of five men. Their adventures may be different, but their bond is the same as they embark on the journey together in the same wagon train. Read more

Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans?On the rugged landscapes of the Oregon Trail, Grace's kindness towards a young boy named Henry leads to an unexpected twist of fate. Her world, once confined to hidden scars and a past filled with both warmth and anguish, is about to be broadened in ways she never imagined.Haunted by a tormented past, Luke, a former Pinkerton agent, hoped the trail would be a path to a new life, free from the shadows of his old one. Desperate to forge a peaceful future for his son and to escape the memories of a life he's tried to leave behind, when the echoes of danger threaten the safety of the wagon train, he's faced with a harrowing choice: face the specters of his past or risk losing the ones he's come to care about the most.As their paths intertwine, the wagon train's journey is fraught with peril. Bandits, untamed wilderness, and the very ghosts of their histories threaten to pull them apart. As bandits close in and secrets unravel, the bonds of love and trust are tested.Will Grace and Luke's promise of a new beginning be their guiding star or their ultimate undoing?Enjoy the clean, historical wagon train series! Four orphans and their headmistress set out for Oregon in search of men looking for mail-order brides. Will they find what they are looking for? Or will fate have other plans? Read more

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From USA Today Best-Selling Author Kathleen BallAnother Spectacular, Compelling, Page-Turning Historical WesternHow do you learn to trust when your heart's been broken?Nolan, scarred by betrayal in Texas, swears off love forever. Keely, abandoned and alone, finds herself at the mercy of strangers after her boarding house burns down. The McKeegan family offers her refuge on their ranch, where she crosses paths with the brooding Nolan.Determined never to rely on a man, Keely sets out to claim her own homestead. But fate has other plans. The perfect piece of land is split between her and Nolan—one half with a house, the other with a barn. Stubbornly refusing to work together, they draw a line in the sand, vowing never to cross it.As their silent war rages, Keely and Nolan's refusal to trust may cost them everything. Can they find a way to unite before their dreams—and their hearts—are destroyed?Discover the power of love, family, and faith on the McKeegan Ranch. Read more

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A magnificent collection of Outlander short fiction—including two never-before-published novellas—featuring Jamie Fraser, Lord John Grey, Master Raymond, and many more, from Diana GabaldonAmong the seven spellbinding pieces there is “The Custom of the Army,” which begins with Lord John Grey being shocked by an electric eel and ends at the Battle of Quebec. Then comes “The Space Between,” where it is revealed that the Comte St. Germain is not dead, Master Raymond appears, and a widowed young wine dealer escorts a would-be novice to a convent in Paris. In “A Plague of Zombies,” Lord John unexpectedly becomes military governor of Jamaica when the original governor is gnawed by what probably wasn’t a giant rat. “A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows” is the moving story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents during World War II. In “Virgins,” Jamie Fraser, aged nineteen, and Ian Murray, aged twenty, become mercenaries in France, no matter that neither has yet bedded a lass or killed a man. But they’re trying. . . . “A Fugitive Green” is the story of Lord John’s elder brother, Hal, and a seventeen-year-old rare book dealer with a sideline in theft, forgery, and blackmail. And finally, in “Besieged,” Lord John learns that his mother is in Havana—and that the British Navy is on their way to lay siege to the city. Filling in mesmerizing chapters in the lives of characters readers have followed over the course of thousands of pages, Gabaldon’s genius is on full display throughout this must-have collection.“Gabaldon is in fine form . . . weaving together characters’ lives, connecting plot points, and showing tantalizing glimpses of the larger Outlander world, of which this reader can never get enough.”—Historical Novels Review Read more