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Goodnight, a fishing town on the Gulf Coast of Texas, is slowly being swallowed by an increasingly lifeless sea. Shrimpers and fishermen, with nothing to catch, watch their vessels rot in the stagnant brine. And then a gigantic sea creature, long believed extinct, washes ashore. But during the struggle to profit from this find, a menacing hurricane looms offshore.

Precocious six-year-old Bertie joins the scouts to escape his mother, Matthew learns to handle the challenges of marriage, and Domenica deals with loneliness. Even four-legged Cyril gets in on the action, finding himself a bit of canine romance.

Presents five of the author's most acclaimed short stories.

In an abandoned gatehouse on an old estate, Mariah Aubrey lives in seclusion. She supports herself by writing novels in secret--at a time when such writing is considered improper and unladylike. Soon the wealthy and ambitious Captain Bryant leases the estate and is intrigued by the beautiful girl in the gatehouse. But will he risk his plans--and his heart--for a woman shadowed by scandal?

In his debut collection, Gay brings to life 13 stories about a diverse group of colorful characters living in the fertile Tennessee country land.

In rural Michigan, the American dream, if it ever existed, lies discarded like so much rusty scrap metal. For the inhabitants of Campbell's tales, the real truth of life can be found in industrial accidents, soul-deadening labor, and the comfort of five drinks too many. But even amid the despair of meth labs and empty pocketbooks, Campbell's characters yearn for something, anything, to raise them above it all--and sometimes, impossibly, they find it.

Falling in Love Again is set amongst the castles and woodlands of 18th-century England. Born into wealthy family, heiress Mallory Edwards honorably marries John Barron to fulfill a family obligation. Although he seems charming at first, she soon discovers that he is a beast of a man. Abandoned on her wedding night, she survives by her wit and resourcefulness until her errant husband's debts became too much for her to overcome. Facing debtor's prison, Mallory won't rest until she finds John and nullifies their marriage. But he may not be the villain she believes him to be.

Written over the course of four decades, this collection of 12 stories centers around Depression-era Texas. Characterized by small-town strife, political corruption and frontier-style justice, each tale is a testament to the struggles of the working poor. Also among the stories is a retelling of the myth of Bonnie and Clyde.

In a steamy retelling of the well-known fairy tale, the beautiful courtesan Coco Wilde is famous for her ability to keep the wealthiest men in 19th century London hanging on her every smile. But she maintains a careful emotional detatchment from all admirers. When she meets Sir James Stoker, however, Coco is attracted by his radiant smile and dangerous eyes.

Hardy’s most charming novel uses the four seasons of the Wessex year as a backdrop for the delightful romance of the young tranter Dick Dewy and Fancy Day, the local school mistress. The story of the ups and downs of their courtship is set alongside the story of the rustics who form the Mellstock church choir.