Showing results by narrator "Khristine Hvam" in All Categories

From the secret reels of a notoriously cursed cinematic masterpiece to the debauched livestreams of modern movie junkies who will do anything for clicks, Final Cuts brings together new and terrifying stories inspired by the many screens we can't peel our eyes away from. Inspired by the rich golden age of the film and television industries as well as the new media present, this new anthology reveals what evils hide behind the scenes and between the frames of our favorite medium.

From the moment she saw Shawn Scarlett perform at a school talent show, Kit Larson has loved two things: the guitar and the gorgeous, green-eyed boy who inspired her to play. But one careless night in high school shatters her hope of ever being more than a notch on his bedpost. Six years, two bands, and one mostly mended heart later, Kit’s about to make her rock star dreams a reality as the new guitarist for Shawn’s band, The Last Ones to Know. He may not remember their reckless night together, but Kit has never forgotten....

Step aside, Zodiac. There’s a new serial killer on the loose in San Francisco, and the police have enlisted Poppy and Ophelia’s help to get to the bottom of it. With multiple bodies already having been found, and the killer showing no signs of stopping, Poppy knows they’re racing against the clock to save as many lives as possible. The killer has made it obvious he's after attention, but once he realizes he's got Ophelia’s, he makes it clear he thinks he's a match for her.

Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can't believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself. Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him.

The Bailey School kids need to train for a boat race and Camp Lone Wolf is just the place to do it. Too bad rumor has it that the bankrupt camp may need to shut down soon. The visiting coach, Captain Teach, who bears a strange resemblance to a pirate, turns out to in possession of a map that leads the way to buried treasure. Can the kids find the treasure and save Camp Lone Wolf before Captain Teach makes off with the booty?

Falling in love with the teenage Antichrist is dangerous, in this short story from New York Times best-selling author Lilith Saintcrow.

When M. meets Belle at Dartmouth, they become the unlikeliest best friends. Belle is an unapologetic Romantic famous on campus for her bright red accessories and hundred-watt smile, while M. is a tomboyish Realist who insists she’ll always prefer her signet ring to any diamond. Despite their differences, they are drawn together, and after graduation they both move to New York with all the unfounded confidence of twenty-two. M. secures a job at the city’s most prestigious investment bank, and Belle turns her nostalgic aesthetic into one of the first lifestyle blogs, which quickly goes viral.

Addy Hanlon has always been Beth Cassidy's best friend and trusted lieutenant. Beth calls the shots and Addy carries them out, a long-established order of things that has brought them to the pinnacle of their high-school careers. Now they're seniors who rule the intensely competitive cheer squad, feared and followed by the other girls - until the young new coach arrives. Cool and commanding, an emissary from the adult world just beyond their reach, Coach Colette French draws Addy and the other cheerleaders into her life.

At nineteen, Noah Di Luca was Bella Terra's golden boy, handsome, confident, and untouched by the shadows that tormented his brothers...or so it seems. Driven by ambition, beautiful teenage Penelope Alonso fought her way out of the ghettos. During one hot summer, they came together in the sweetness of first love...until his past reared its ugly head and Noah walked away. Nine years later, Penelope returns, never imagining she'd see Noah or that one glance would wake their fiery passion.

Beautiful young author Chloë Conte's first book zoomed to the top of the best seller lists. Now, struggling to write her second mystery, she retreats to an isolated cottage in a private vineyard. But with his magnetic appeal and his fascinating tales of Bella Terra's violent past, Eli Di Luca proves an irresistible distraction, and Chloë finds herself falling in love with a man she hardly knows. Soon she discovers that Eli has been keeping secrets from her, and the truth will bring more than heartbreak.... It will put them both in mortal danger.

World changes come fast and furious, and in the backcountry it is no different. The practice of "packing-it-out" - adopted to protect high-use areas and fragile ecosystems - is here to stay. We are now often urged or even required to haul our poop home. To assist with all this responsible human waste disposal, Kathleen Meyer discusses the latest in product innovations, from classy high-tech to inexpensive do-it-yourself.

When Lena was a baby, Seer and gifted card reader Amma Treaudeau saw a terrifying future in the cards that sent her to Emmaline's door. When a powerful Dark Caster sets fire to Lena's house with baby Lena and her father trapped inside, Amma, Emmaline, and Macon vow to protect the child. Lena's grandmother and her uncle Macon whisk Lena away, protecting her and moving her to a new place at the first sign of trouble.

When Nadia's family moves to Captive's Sound, she instantly realizes there's more to the place than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia can sense that a spell has been cast over the tiny Rhode Island town - a sickness infecting everyone and everything in it. The magic at work is darker and more powerful than anything she's come across and has sunk its claws most deeply into Mateo...her rescuer, her friend, and the guy she yearns to get closer to even as he pushes her away.

When the dead prowl the streets of Oslo, survivors Kit and Shadia have to get out of there. They decide to go where the dead can’t follow - their family cabin on a remote island - but they have to fight their way out of the city first. Despite the odds stacked against them, Shadia and Kit are ready to fight for their survival and for each other.

Winter has hit San Francisco, and a surprise snow storm has hit the city. But instead of staying warm and curled up with a cup of hot cocoa, Poppy quickly finds herself mired in a case of theft from a local art gallery. While battling the elements, as well as the thieves, Poppy finds her life taking another unexpected turn, when her book begins generating buzz, and she finds herself becoming a bit of a celebrity in town. It’s great for her ego, but not the best when she’s trying to investigate a case.

When her new editor is murdered right next to her, Poppy knows she needs Ophelia's help to get justice for Ellie. The two of them quickly find themselves in the middle of a scandal rocking the world of professional chess that could lead them to the killer.

Words have power - everyone knows that. What few realize is the power that lies in silence. Incapable of speech, Leesa lived in isolated silence for 16 years. But now she’s met Eron. Through an inexplicable ability, her beloved can hear her thoughts. A member of a clandestine renegade group, Eron plans to free their city from tyranny. Unfortunately, when Leesa’s mistake exposes him, Eron is thrown in prison for life. Leesa will do anything to free her beloved. But disquieting magic, backstabbing politics, and a shocking murder complicate her quest.

A city of living bone towers crumbles to the ground and danger abounds. Kirit Densira has lost everything she loved the most - her mother, her home, and the skies above. Nat Brokenwings - once Kirit's brother long before the rebellion tore them apart - is still trying to save his family in the face of catastrophe. They will need to band together once more to ensure not just their own survival but that of their entire community.

Marooned in the dark. Alone. Hunted. Faced with terrifying magic that's waking in her blood. Lilik, a 17-year-old from a port town slum, already knew how to suffer. This expedition was supposed to offer a way out. A chance to drag her family out of poverty. The night-drenched shores of the volcanic island, Ioene, promised mystical power. Salvation. Lilik didn't count on the eruption that destroyed the expedition's hopes.

Seventeen-year-old Arion Rush has always played the obedient sidekick to her older sister's flashy femme fatale - until a mysterious boating accident leaves Lilah a silent, traumatized stranger. As her sister awaits medical treatment with their mother, Arion and their father head to his hometown in Maine to prepare a new life for them all. Surrounded by the vast Atlantic, songwriting is Arion's only solace, her solid ground.