A vivid social history of the American expatriate experience in Europe between 1939 and 1941, as the Nazi menace brings a shadow over the continent, heralding the storms of war. A poignant and powerful portrait of Europe in the years between 1939 and 1941—as the Nazi menace marches toward the greatest man-made catastrophe the world has ever experienced—Under A Darkening Sky focuses on a diverse group of expatriate Americans. Told through the eyes and observations of these characters caught up in these seismic events, the story unfolds alongside a war that slowly drags a reluctant United States into its violent embrace. This vibrant narrative takes these dramatic personalities and evokes the engagement between Europe and a reluctant America from the September 3rd, 1939—when Britain declares war—through the tragedy of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. In a distinctively energetic storyline, Robert Lyman brings together a wide range of encounters, conversations, and memories. It includes individuals from across the social spectrum, from Josephine Baker to the young Americans who volunteered to fight in the RAF, as part of the famous “Eagle Squadrons.” Hundreds of young Americans—like the aces James Goodison, Art Donahue, and the wealthy playboy Billy Fiske, who was the first American volunteer in the RAF to die in action during the Battle of Britain—smuggled themselves into Canada so that they could volunteer for the cockpits of Spitfires and Hurricanes, as they flew against the deadly Luftwaffe over ever-darkening skies in London.

A boy abandoned at an ancient school of warrior arts. A princess bartered away as a treaty bride. A lurking evil with the power to topple the world. Ji Yu Raijin is happy to live out his life serving his school, cultivating his life force, and learning the Path of Darkening Skies, an ancient and noble warrior art-until the day comes when he has to choose: remain true to the teachings of his path and allow his art to die out or commit an unforgivable sin and save the world. Second princess Shyong San Koida was born the only cripple in a dynasty of powerful warriors. With a broken life force, the only way Koida can contribute to her family's empire is by sealing a strategic alliance to a barbarian leader with her hand in marriage. But hidden forces within the court conspire to stop the union and obliterate the Shyong San dynasty at all costs. At the intersection of the servant boy and the princess's stories lies a secret, malignant art bent on destroying not only them, but the entire world. Darkening Skies is the first novel in the Path of the Thunderbird series, for fans of wuxia, xanxia, cultivation novels, demon beasts, and all styles of martial arts. Darkening Skies is written by eden Hudson, enthusiastic but terrible martial arts student and best-selling author of Jubal Van Zandt and the litRPG fantasy Rogue Dungeon.

Deadly secrets lurk in a tiny country town in this suspenseful story by Romance Writers of America award-winning author Bronwyn Parry. For eighteen years, a black hole in Mark Strelitz's memory has concealed the truth: that he was the driver of a car in which a young woman died. Now he needs to set the record straight. Not much would drag investigative reporter Jennifer Barrett back to her hometown of Dungirri - except new questions about her cousin's death. She knows too well the whiff of corruption and cover-up, and she's determined to find the truth behind Mark's startling revelations. But someone is trying to keep Mark silent and stop the investigation before it even begins. DARKENING SKIES is the third novel in Bronwyn Parry's award-winning Dungirri series. The other two novels in the series are AS DARKNESS FALLS and DARK COUNTRY; all are page-turning Australian fiction at its very best. **Includes bonus chapters of Bronwyn's latest thriller, SUNSET SHADOWS** Bronwyn Parry: WINNER, Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award (2007) FINALIST, Romance Writers of America RITA Awards (2010, 2013) FINALIST, Daphne du Maurier Award for Romantic Suspense (2010, 2013) Praise for DARKENING SKIES: 'This gripping tale mixes suspense with romance.' -- WOMAN'S DAY 'a good example of the small-town romantic suspense genre' -- SUN HERALD

Against a Darkening Sky was originally published in 1943. Set in a semirural community south of San Francisco, it is the story of an American mother of the mid-1930s and the sustaining influence she brings, through her own profound strength and faith, to the lives of her four growing children. Scottish by birth, but long a resident of America, Mary Perrault is married to a Swiss-French gardener. Their life in South Encina, though anything but lavish, is gay, serene, and friendly. As their children mature and the world outside, less peaceful and secure than the Perrault home, begins to threaten the equilibrium of their tranquil lives, Mrs. Perrault becomes increasingly aware of a moral wilderness rising from the physical wilderness which her generation has barely conquered. Her struggle to influence, while not invading the lives of her children, is the focus of this novel of family life during the Depression years.

Captain Corrain is hailed as a hero but he knows all such praise would turn to anger if certain people knew what had really happened. The wizard who supposedly saved him and his comrades has merely claimed the island of the corsair's for his own. No one knows what this enigmatic newcomer intends to do next. Corrain has good reason to fear the worst, as he confides in Lady Zurenne of Halferan. He knows he can trust her now that still more perilous secrets bind the two of them together. This disastrous turn of events cannot be concealed from Hadrumal's powerful mages. The Chief Mage Planir's leadership is now openly questioned. Surely he will enforce his authority by crushing this upstart? But the Aldabreshin warlords act first. The warlords are watching the ominous skies as a once in a lifetime conjunction of the stars approaches. Will the warlords be content to drive this solitary wizard out of the Archipelago or has the time come for them to destroy all magic?

In a world that once teemed with life, humanity now struggles to survive amidst the ruins of their once great cities. Climate change and political upheaval have taken their toll, and the remaining human population lives in a dangerous and unpredictable reality. Amid the chaos, a young woman named Kira finds herself thrust into a battle for survival, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of a world on the brink of collapse, Kira must confront the darkest aspects of human nature and learn to trust her own instincts if she hopes to find a way forward. Join Kira on her journey through the Darkening Skies, and discover what it truly means to be human in a world that has lost its way. Keywords: post-apocalyptic/science fiction; survival, danger, hope