Showing results by author "A.J. West" in All Categories

The Necronomicon was not the first book by H.P. Lovecraft to terrify readers with tales of dark and twisted horrors from beyond. No, the Al-Azif, or Book of the Insect, is the first work that told mankind of Cthulhu, Azathoth, and other terrors. Indeed, it was the book that inspired "The Mad Arab" Abdul Al-Hazred to write its more famous successor.

Belfast, 1914. Two years after the sinking of the Titanic, high society has become obsessed with spiritualism, attending séances in the hope they might reach their departed loved ones. William Jackson Crawford is a man of science and a sceptic, but one night with everyone sitting around the circle, voices come to him – seemingly from beyond the veil – placing doubt in his heart and a seed of obsession in his mind. Could the spirits truly be communicating with him or is this one of Kathleen's parlour tricks gone too far?

It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London's hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses. Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the mollies' silent guard. When the queen of all 'he-harlots', Mother Clap, confides in him about a deadly threat, he realises his friends are facing imminent execution. To the horror of all mollies, there is a rat amongst them.

Yog-Sothoth, known as the Key and the Gate and a host of other names, is H.P. Lovecraft's most enduring creation after the Necromnomicon and Great Cthulhu itself. An eldritch god that occupies all time and space, Yog-Sothoth is most known for his role as the antagonist in The Dunwich Horror but has played a role in many other Cthulhu Mythos stories. Tales of Yog-Sothoth features several stories centered around the creepy deity and its monstrous intelligence.

Full of mother-wisdom, reassurance, and support, Sweet Sleep is the first book on nights and naps for breastfeeding families. It is a comprehensive how-to guide for making sane and safe decisions on how and where your family sleeps, backed by the latest research in pediatric care. 

J. B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue - and coordinated its daily life - at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings, funerals, gardens, playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home.

TALES OF NYARLATHOTEP is the fourth book of the Books of Cthulhu series by Crossroad Press (Tales of the Al-Azif, Tales of Yog-Sothoth, The Book of Yig). It is an anthology featuring pulpy tales of horror starring Outer God and his myriad plots as well as games. Nyarlathotep is functionally omnipotent and treats humanity like ants underneath a magnifying glass. He is impossible to kill but perhaps capable of being thwarted. Or maybe that's just what he wants you to think.

As Sarah and Julian begin to forge ahead with plans for their life together, reality becomes an unwanted visitor, intruding at inopportune times. While they continue to search for the answer to Julian's curse, they realize that the solution may require the combined knowledge of all the vampires. In order to warn the others about the mysterious woman in Destin, an early conclave is organized, giving Julian the opportunity to tell them the information he's been able to gather so far and to ask them for their help.

At the tender age of seven, Jess Riley's parents were ripped out of her life by the Tear, a ripple of white light in the sky which randomly transports people from Earth to alternate realities and distant planets once a year. On the night the Tear first appeared, the Watchers, a mysterious group of men possessing supernatural powers, made their presence known to the leaders of the world, earning their complete trust to deal with the turmoil the Tear caused.

In the finale of The Watcher Chronicles, Jess finally learns what Lucifer's plans are for the world. The vessels discover what their destinies are, and Jess must face the most difficult decision of her life.

For two weeks straight, Sarah's been unable to eat, sleep, or even form a coherent thought properly. She fears she's losing her mind until a chance encounter brings a man into her life who seems to hold the key to solving her problems. With a single touch, he's able to ease her troubled soul and bring her some much-needed peace. Yet, just as Sarah believes she's found the solution to her dilemma, he disappears

In the finale to The Watchers Trilogy, Lilly and Brand prepare for their wedding and search for more clues to uncover Lucifer's plans for her. With the help of her fallen angel friends, Lilly must face the ultimate battle between good and evil to decide the fate of both Heaven and Earth.

In the second book of The Redemption series, Levi uses Anna’s love for those she cares about to further his own agenda. He forces her to do something for him that not even Lucifer was able to accomplish in a thousand years of scheming. While Anna attempts to work through her feelings for Lucifer, she becomes increasingly confused by his actions. One moment he seems to want to form a connection with her, and the next he does something which could tear them permanently apart.

Jane Austen's masterpieces are littered with unsuitable gentlemen - Willoughby, Wickham, Churchill, Crawford, Tilney, Elliot, et al. - adding color and depth to her plots but often barely sketched. Have you never wondered about the pasts of her rakes, rattles, and gentlemen rogues? How did they become the men Jane Austen created? In this romance anthology, 11 Austenesque authors expose the histories of Austen's anti-heroes. Dangerous to Know: Jane Austen's Rakes & Gentlemen Rogues is a titillating collection of Georgian era short stories.

When Amalie walked into my life, I thought for sure my Father was trying to trick me yet again. Wasn’t it enough that He cast me out of Heaven and forced me to live among the humans? Now, He’s dangling the promise of a soulmate in front of my face hoping for… what? That I’ll give up my quest to destroy humanity once and for all? That I’ll miraculously find my true self again? He only has Himself to blame for the monster I’ve become and the destruction I’ve caused.

While Anna and Malcolm welcome the latest additions to their family, complications arise that threaten to end their newfound happiness. Not only does Anna have to contend with the possibility of losing the Cirrus throne to Catherine Amador, but she also has to worry over Helena’s next act of vengeance against her and those she loves. As danger seems to lurk around every corner, Anna’s first priority is the welfare of her family, friends, and citizens.

Anna’s quest for answers about her future propels her to follow Lucifer down the veritable rabbit hole. During her foolhardy expedition, she discovers the truth about Lucifer’s domain and the truth about Lucifer himself. Anna and the other Watchers soon uncover Lucifer’s master plan to prevent her from obtaining any more of the seals. Armed with this knowledge, Anna can only discern two possible motives for Lucifer’s actions: Either he is simply protecting her the only way he knows how, or he wants to retain his power on Earth and ensure his daughter never claims her birthright.

 Edgy and often deeply personal, the 21 essays collected here come from a wide variety of writers. Some identify as witches, others identify as writers, musicians, game developers, or artists. What they have in common is that they've created personal rituals to summon their own power in a world that would prefer them powerless. Here, they share the rituals they use to resist self-doubt, grief, and depression in the face of sexism, slut shaming, racism, patriarchy, and other systems of oppression.

In the final installment of the Redemption series, Anna must face the challenges of retrieving the rest of the seals from the princes of Hell. As her relationship with Lucifer grows stronger, she learns more about not only her father’s past, but also her own. Through many trials and tribulations, Anna learns the choices she makes can’t always be so black and white. Sometimes, extreme circumstances force you to choose what’s most important in life and who it is you really want to be.

Independent bookshops are the unsung heroes of queer liberation, providing friendship, solidarity, and sanctuary through the ages. Travelling from Shakespeare and Company in Paris to Gay’s the Word in London to the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in New York, A. J. West has written the first...