During the final decades of the nineteenth century, a common mind-set emerged among many intellectuals--"la decadence." Many novels and novellas of the period were populated with protagonists who were fragile, refined, self-absorbed, and preoccupied with a trivially exquisite aesthetic. A Baedeker of Decadence presents thirty-two international works of literary decadence written between 1884 and 1927. George C. Schoolfield, a world authority on the decadent novel, offers an entertaining and wide-ranging commentary on this highly significant literary and cultural phenomenon. Schoolfield tracks down the symptoms of decadence in narrative works written in more than a dozen languages, providing synopses and passages in English translation to give a sense of each author's style and tone. Schoolfield throws new light on the close intellectual kinship of authors from August Strindberg to Bram Stoker to Thomas Mann, and on the ingredients, themes, motifs, and preconceptions that characterized decadent literature.

“Ancient cravings twist innocence into depravity when the Devil grows infatuated with virginal Pearl. Binge-read this masterpiece with the lights on.” – Myra Danvers, USA Today bestselling author I am the devil, and I am in love. Possessing the power to keep Pearl from the light, I shall keep my treasure to myself for all eternity. Locked in the Catacombs where only I may see and touch her, where no other will know my queen exists, she suffers beautifully—each dusk waking with no memory of the night before. No recollection of the passions we have shared or the torments I have visited upon her. No idea how I intend to ravish the very blood from her veins until she calls out my name in bliss. CATACOMBS is a tale of pure horror. And though there is only darkness in these pages, Pearl’s HEA can be embraced in THE RELIC. Keywords: Vampire, capture fantasy, vampire romance, possessive alpha male dark romance, Dark romance, psychological romance, gothic romance, paranormal romance, dystopian, dystopian romance, complete power exchange, seductive romance, Alpha Hero, Antihero, antihero romance, antihero dark romance, Suffering Heroine, Obsessive Hero, abduction to love, Abuse of Power, beauty and the beast, blackmail, passionate lovers, tortured heroine, tragic past, unrequited love, sexually romantic books, series, romantic suspense, collections, anthologies, jealous possessive romance, forbidden romance, hunted female, angsty alpha romance, horror romance, romantic suspense, thriller, #freepearl, standalone

With one look he consumed me. With one touch he marked me. With one kiss he owned me. With one whisper he claimed me. "No matter where you go or who you're with, you'll always be mine." Ellie Stevens thought she had moved on from the domineering man who abducted her. Now living in Hawaii and following her dreams, no one is going to keep her down. But things aren't always as they seem. Kayne Rivers reluctantly let Ellie go, but just because she's gone now, doesn't mean she'll be gone forever. She is his, and he won't stop until he's reclaimed her as his own. Claimed is a dark erotic romance. Please pay close attention to the use of the words dark, erotic, and romance. It has intense sexual situations, a Master/slave relationship, mild abuse and some violence. Reader discretion is advised.

A reissue of a seductive tale of pleasure and pain At 23, Megan Stewart feels that there should be more to life than working in a library, so she answers an ad for a post in a country house and discovers what she has been missing. Handsome Fabrizio Balocchi is far from his Tuscan home and feeling bored, but he instinctively knows that Megan will be a natural player in his games of domination. Step by step, he leads her into a darker world, a world where pleasure is mixed with pain. Now Megan must decide how far she is willing to go in order to stay in Fabrizio's house of decadence."

"What Nia Simone Bijou desires, she works hard to achieve. Her accomplishments as a respected writer have not only brought her to Hollywood, but she's now poised for worldwide success, and pursued and desired by Prada, a man of international power and wealth. With everything Nia has, she remains restless and on a journey to quell her inner storm. Then someone introduces her to a place called Decadence ..."--Page [4] cover.

Tell me a secret... CJ Carmichael hasn't been able to get the vivacious blonde he spent four delirious days with off his mind. The blonde who was completely off-limits, but he couldn't deny. Tell me a secret.... CJ had no intention of pursuing her, but Tara Stevens knew what she wanted and it was him. Now six months later, their time together still haunts him. As much as he's tried to talk himself out of seeing her again, the craving is just too powerful. Tell me a secret... Tara is more than willing to spend an entire fantasy weekend with CJ. More than willing to hand herself over to him completely and fulfill his every desire. More than willing to pretend he owns her despite their age difference and Kayne's disapproval. Tell me a secret... Sometimes fantasy becomes a reality. Sometimes people fall in love before they even know it - before they even know each other - and after it's too late. Tell me a secret... Sometimes, beneath the sweetest secrets are the most deceptive lies. *Lie With Me is a dark erotic romance and can be read as a standalone novel. Please pay close attention to the use of the words dark, erotic, and romance. It has intense sexual situations, mild abuse and some violence. Reader discretion is advised.*