Showing results by narrator "Marie Smith" in All Categories

Faust is one of the pillars of Western literature. This classic drama presents the story of the scholar Faust, tempted into a contract with the Devil in return for a life of sensuality and power. Enjoyment rules, until Faust’s emotions are stirred by a meeting with Gretchen, and the tragic outcome brings Part 1 to an end. Part 2, written much later in Goethe’s life, places his eponymous hero in a variety of unexpected circumstances, causing him to reflect on humanity and its attitudes to life and death.

Guy Gunaratne's blistering debut, In Our Mad and Furious City, is an unforgettable portrait of 48 hours on a London council estate. For Selvon, Ardan and Yusuf, growing up under the towers of Stones Estate, summer means what it does anywhere: football, music, freedom. But now, after the killing of a British soldier, riots are spreading across the city, and nowhere is safe. While the fury swirls around them, Selvon and Ardan remain focused on their own obsessions, girls and grime.

The mark appeared while I slept and can’t be ignored. I must present myself to the consulate, and from there, I don’t know what happens. While I’ve been taught the mark is an honor, I have no idea what it means. Questioning isn’t encouraged. I must obey. My change in status exposes me to a violent side of society that I never suspected. Brings me to a strange and wondrous place known as the "surface", where I am immersed in a different way of living. I discover pleasure. I am involved in intrigue and learn about lies and different perspectives of the truth.

Vhyl is determined to acquire a certain lost artifact, but when he lands on the forbidden barbarian planet known as Earth, he finds more than expected. An attractive human female is in possession of the priceless object, and she’s agreed to hand it over - for a price. Intrigued by her fearless nature - and her luscious cocoa skin - this acquisition expert can’t resist stealing a kiss. But before he can take more, his enemy arrives to stake a claim. It seems Vhyl isn’t the only one interested in Jilly’s treasure - and Jilly herself.

Anders left the woman he loved to join the king’s army. On the way, a vicious storm forced him to seek shelter with a witch. Don’t strike any bargains. He was familiar with the stories. Thought he knew how to keep himself safe - how wrong he was. Alva promised to wait for Anders. He’d asked her to be his wife, but before they could marry, he was determined to prove his worth. Years passed with no visit. No word. Hope faded, and realization set in. Anders was not coming back, but could she move on? 

A romance set in a fantasy world with a modern-day heroine. Curvy, with glasses, and her nose always buried in a book. That's Samantha, a dreamer waiting for her "happily ever after" and looking for her "prince charming". Her whole life changes the day she walks into the oddest bookshop and finds a magical book that transports her to a tropical island with a hunk who thinks he's a wizard.

Curvy Samantha is a dreamer looking for a happily ever after with Prince Charming. Her whole life changes when she finds a magical book that transports her to a tropical island with a hunk who thinks he's a wizard. For years, Suzie’s been running with her children, determined to not be found by her violent ex. Tired of hiding, she decides to settle down in suburbia, where she meets Hunter, a hot neighbor with a sword and secrets. The god of chance has sent Breanna on a quest to free the realm from a powerful spell. There’s just one problem.

Meredith is practically old enough to be the mother of some of the younger Killer Mom agents, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to retire. With her kids off to university, it is past time this Cougar Mom goes back to fieldwork. And she gets the perfect opportunity when she offers to help organize a wedding in the Caribbean…while completing a mission. 

In a world where magic is common, Breanna is among the rarest of her kind and highly sought after—by all the wrong men. With a roll of his dice, in steps the God of Chance, who sets her up on a quest to free the Realm from a powerful spell. There’s just one problem. Chance expects her to team up with a wizard—who is also a devilish rake. Her world is turned sideways when everything seems to happen at once. It’s a race to save the world they know, but with magic gone wild, dangerous foes and pesky gods determined to meddle, will they survive to complete their quest?

My life is a giant crap pile with a cherry thrown on top. I'm an immortal woman cursed to kill people with just a glance. And now I've been kidnapped by three mouthwateringly sexy gargoyles, who I'm pretty sure want me dead. But it gets better...While I'm trying to make the best of being a prisoner, guarded by yummy eye-candy, I'm also being dragged on a dangerous mission...I think I'm not just risking my life this time, I'm risking my heart. And that's one thing that even monsters fear.

Poor Ted never imagined the trouble that would follow when he decided to help out a single mother, but he’s ready for the challenge - if a Tiger Mom will give him a chance. A decade ago, Portia escaped an abusive situation by faking her death. With the help of the Killer Moms agency, she arranged protection for herself and the twins. Even better, she got a second chance at life. But she always worried that her past would catch up with her one day.

After days spent locked in King Geon's dungeon, October's afraid her sanity has reached the point of no return. With one of her Reapers deranged beyond reason, and the other permanently altered, October isn't sure how she'll be able to keep up with the famine that's run rampant throughout Terraway. With too many souls to reap, October's body starts to break down as she struggles to redeem the world that seems set on her destruction.

 Before the #MeToo movement, there was the 1970s and three girls - Tessa, Athena, Jenny – looking for love, friendship, and meaningful futures. In desiring to break traditional roles in gender and sexuality, they face challenges from family, church and society. With new freedoms, there are also dangers. This is a story of women's empowerment that has relevance today for women and men. For listeners aged 15+ 

One moment, completely human and modern-day Carrie Morgan is crocheting in her living room. The next second, a peach alien claiming to be a Celestial Mates agent transports her and her dog 400 years into the future. He leaves her there to be discovered by her supposed fated mate - a blue-skinned cyborg general. The sly agent failed to mention a few things, like the fact humans and cyborgs are at war with each other!

Nothing sucks more than losing your humanity in a government experiment. Now I’m something different, something special, and everyone wants a piece of me. Go ahead, give it a try, but don’t be shocked when I turn the tables and try to steal your soul because I am so very, very hungry.... But I don’t want to eat everyone I meet. At least not in a bad way. I know Simon, a big, beastly shifter, and his buddy Gene, an actual djinn living in a bottle, are after more than just my lusty bod.

All FBI agent Ethan Thomas wants is to come home to his new apartment and enjoy the luxury of his new flat-screen TV and some frozen pizza. Encountering a tiny toddler alone in the hall changes everything for the rough and rugged agent. Relief sets in when the child's mother appears. But when she collapses at his feet just before a blizzard hits Boston, Ethan is in over his head.

Pepper has hit rock bottom. After being thrown out on the streets, she's willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Dmitri Strife is a world famous rock star trying to break into the movie industry. Seedy company leads him into a chance encounter with Pepper that will change both of their lives forever. Strife is a story of privilege and poverty, of kindness and cruelty, and of learning who to trust when the whole world seems to have turned its back on you.

It's 1863, and schoolteacher Olivia Owens believes education should be a top priority in the newly established settlement of Good Springs. Between planning lessons and helping out on her family's homestead, Olivia doesn't have time for Gabriel McIntosh's charming advances. When the council denies her request to build a schoolhouse, Olivia must challenge their ruling and teach private lessons - all while hiding frequent bouts of word blindness (dyslexia).

Alexa was the latest young female to be put through the mating system, and she was paired with the handsome Antony. They both knew exactly how the system worked but after sharing a beautiful, passion-filled night together, Alexa and Antony were left wondering if they could find a way to beat the system, too.

Stha was the priestess of her people and her people were shape-shifting Velociraptors that had existed ever since the Jurassic era. However, with the future of her people under threat, Stha had to consider combining with a rival tribe of Raptors who were owned by the handsome Rath, something she always considered to be a last resort.