Tis the season...for slaying Fresh off a disturbingly long absence for which she has no explanation or recollection, Quinn MacKenna-reformed Catholic, semi-retired arms dealer, and borderline alcoholic-is busy enjoying the Nordic idea of an afterparty before becoming quickly embroiled in a bitter power struggle coinciding with the advent of the Yuletide season. The issue at hand: the future of the Norse pantheon and its role in the mysterious Omega War to come. The participants: Odin, the All-father and leader of the Aesir, against his younger brothers, Vili and Vé. Unfortunately, amidst this tumultuous backdrop, Quinn finds herself bereft of everything she once possessed: her Valkyrie armor, her legendary spear, and even her dubious divinity. As such, Quinn has no choice but to broker lopsided alliances and cultivate tenuous friendships while searching for answers to questions she doesn't even know how to ask. Of course, when dealing with ancient and occasionally spiteful gods, it's not always easy to tell who's been naughty and who's been nice. To that end, Quinn must decide what paths to take and how far she's willing to go down them-even if that means doing so while blind. But then perhaps it really is as simple as some people say: seeing is believing and believing is seeing. Even if you have to trade an eye for the privilege. If you like Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Steve McHugh, Michael Anderle, Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, Shannon Mayer, or K.F. Breene, you won't be able to put down the highly addictive Phantom Queen Diaries or anything else in the Temple Verse. "Shayne Silvers, Jim Butcher, and Kevin Hearne are easily my favorite Urban Fantasy Authors. In that order." - Michael Anderle, Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author More than 1m copies downloaded and thousands of five-star reviews. Available in digital, print, and audiobook formats. What Amazon readers are saying: ★★★★★ 'His foul-mouthed unicorn murders rainbows!' ★★★★★ 'Move over Dresden!' ★★★★★ 'The Temple Verse HAS to be picked up by Netflix soon.' ★★★★★ 'Silvers could write a grocery list on a dirty napkin and make it an international bestseller.' ★★★★★'I went from crying my eyes out to laughing uncontrollably, repeatedly.' ★★★★★ 'It's like the characters walked off the page, joined me at the bar, and bought me a drink.' ★★★★★ 'I am astounded as to how the author keeps the story fresh and exciting.' ★★★★★ 'I usually see plot twists a mile away. Shayne has proven me wrong. Every time.' ★★★★★ 'Best books I've read in thirty years.' ★★★★★ 'His intense actions scenes let you see the fangs and claws, hear the gunshots, feel the magic, and smell the fear.' ★★★★★ 'Everything you thought you knew about vampires, shifters, dragons, wizards, fairies and gods is flat wrong.' ★★★★★ 'Publishers who didn't snap up this series are missing out on a gold mine.' Silvers has pleasured over one million readers with the Temple Universe. Now it's your turn for a little pleasuring...

For fans of Laurie Notaro and Jenny Lawson comes an uproarious and oddly endearing essay collection for anyone trying to survive the holidays in one piece. When it comes to time-honored holiday traditions, Jen Mann pulls no punches In this hilariously irreverent collection of essays, Jen Mann, nationally bestselling author of People I Want to Punch in the Throat, turns her mordant wit on the holidays. On Mann’s naughty list: mothers who go way overboard with their Elf on the Shelf, overzealous carolers who can’t take a hint, and people who write their Christmas cards in the third person (“Joyce is enjoying Bunko. Yeah, Joyce, we know you wrote this letter.”). And on her nice list . . . well, she’s working on that one. Here, no celebration is off-limits. The essays include: • You Can Keep Your Cookies, I’m Just Here for the Booze • Nice Halloween Costume. Was Skank Sold Out? • Why You Won’t Be Invited to Our Chinese New Year Party From hosting an ill-fated Chinese New Year party, to receiving horrible gifts from her husband on Mother’s Day, to reluctantly telling her son the truth about the Easter Bunny, Mann knows the challenge of navigating the holidays while keeping her sanity intact. And even if she can’t get out of attending another Christmas cookie exchange, at least she can try again next year. Praise for Spending the Holidays with People I Want to Punch in the Throat “Mann’s writing has transcended from witty anecdotes and complaints to notable satire. Hidden among the many laugh-out-loud zingers are lessons on how we relate to each other, and how ridiculous parenting culture has become.”—Associated Press “Following the success of her first book, she is now punching throats at holidays, starting from her being age two and continuing to the present, where she is a harried mother bemoaning not just Christmas but all holidays. . . . Harried holiday haters will chuckle and perhaps see themselves somewhere in Mann’s lifetime dislike of and misbehavior during America’s increasingly commercialized celebrations.”—Booklist “The cure for my cold holiday spirit this year is the sidesplitting new book by Jen Mann. . . . Mann delivers her signature punch lines and sharp critique on the oftentimes ridiculous shenanigans of the modern family. Her ability to make an otherwise boring subject come alive with colorful personalities, biting sarcasm, and impressively astute observations on suburban culture is what makes Mann so much fun to read and so easy to relate to.”—The Huffington Post “A lighthearted, laugh-out-loud book . . . with a feel of peeking into a diary.”—Mommy’s Memorandum “It really does make you laugh out loud.”—Shooting Stars Mag “A quick and delightful read that you can sneak in right before bed or when the kids are finally napping.”—FangirlNation “Grab a cup of hot cocoa, sit back and enjoy Jen’s latest collection of humorous rants dissecting the ‘most wonderful time’ of the year. She unleashes her biting wit and hilarious opinions on everything from cookie exchanges to annual humblebrag Christmas letters from overachieving moms to horrifying Christmases of her childhood.”—Creating Serenity “[Mann] has really mastered the short story format. . . . She packs the maximum amount of funny into the fewest words, and many of these essays are downright hilarious. . . . If you’ve read and liked her other books, you will definitely want to read this one, too.”—Bug Bug Book Reviews

Over the course of the past two decades, Tony Abou-Ganim has earned his reputation as one of the leaders in the craft cocktail movement. Through his work with food and hospitality legends like Mario Batali, Steve Wynn, and Harry Denton, Abou-Ganim has earned his reputation as "the Modern Mixologist," someone bringing the traditional art of mixology into the 21st century. Now, in The Modern Mixologist, Abou-Ganim has established the new standard in cocktail books — a must-have guide to home mixology in a beautiful, coffee-table–suitable format. Featuring gorgeous full-color photography throughout by the award-winning Tim Turner, this book instantly becomes the most beautiful guide to creating cocktails available anywhere. If you carry one high-end cocktail book, this is it — sure to be a terrific gift item all year round.

Everybody knows her as Jane Smith—a successful businesswoman. What they don’t know is that Jane has also successfully distanced herself from her past. Until she meets handsome American Gabriel Vaughan at a Christmas party. Gabe’s determined to get close to her, seduce her and sooner or later he’ll recognize her...as a former society lady with a secret...

Everyone is dying to attend the Christmas gala—the event of the season—until one of the hosts turns up that way. Dead, that is. When a doctor is urgently summoned, Matthew rushes to help. But he’s too late. Was the man murdered? Suspecting foul play, Matthew calls the homicide detective he’s befriended, who confirms that suspicion. The senior partner in the law firm hosting the event was killed, but why? When Matthew signs on as a medical consultant to help with the investigation, is he targeted by the assassin or are some “accidents” merely that? Is his life in danger? One arrogant suspect undoubtedly had a beef with the senior partner, though he won't disclose what it was. Another harbors an unrequited love for the wife of the murdered man, over thirty years later. Are either of them guilty of killing him? You’ll love Christmas Punch – the festive fourth book in Lee Clark’s Matthew Paine Mystery series – because everyone enjoys a classic southern holiday whodunit mystery.

Two Christmas treats from USA TODAY bestselling author Carole Mortimer The Yuletide Engagement When Patrick McGarth offers to take Ellie to her company's Christmas party, she reluctantly accepts. If nothing else, she can show the world—and her cheating ex-boyfriend—that she's not nursing a broken heart. But Ellie has to ask herself, what does a wealthy and powerful man like Patrick want with an ordinary girl like her? It doesn't take long for Ellie to find out—and it's hard to resist the lure of mistletoe…and marriage! A Yuletide Seduction Everybody knows her as Jane Smith—a successful businesswoman. What they don't know is that Jane has also successfully distanced herself from her past. Then she meets handsome Gabriel Vaughan at a Christmas party. He's determined to get close to her and seduce her. But sooner or later he'll recognize her…as a former society lady with a secret.

An around-the-world tour of ancient Christmas celebrations, Pagan Solstice customs, and magical seasonal plants • Explores in depth the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season • Looks at the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus, as well as female gift bringers, holiday Spirits, and Yuletide animals • Shares crafts such as how to make a Yule Log, practices such as Winter Solstice divinations, and recipes for traditional foods and drinks For millennia cultures have taken time out to honor the darkest days of the year with lights, foods, and festivities. In ancient Egypt, people decorated their homes with greenery at the festival of the rebirth of the God Horus. The ancient Romans shared gifts, especially candles, at the midwinter festival of Saturnalia. In Scandinavian and Germanic cultures, the Yule Log was burned in the hearth, fruit orchards were wassailed, and sheaves of wheat were displayed to carry luck into the New Year. In Celtic cultures, mummers and guisers went door to door, and European mistletoe (Viscum album) was gathered by Druids as a medicinal and magical aid. Ellen Evert Hopman shares folklore, recipes, rituals, and crafts to enliven your Yuletide observance. She explores the origins of the Christmas tree and Santa Claus as well as holiday Spirits and Yuletide animals. She explains how to perform Winter Solstice divinations and make traditional foods and drinks such as Elizabethan gingerbread cookies and Wassail. And she looks in depth at the medicinal and magical properties of the many herbs, barks, and berries associated with the Christmas and Yuletide season such as Frankincense and Myrrh, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Hibiscus, Bayberry, and many more. This guide offers practical and magical ways to celebrate and honor the darkest days of the year.