Showing results by author "C. S. Johnson" in All Categories

Hamilton Dinger is not having a good summer. Since his battle with Orpheus and Starry Knight, he has felt distracted. Not with important things, or anything, really. Just work and video games and sleeping in during the summer. When Elysian forces him out of the house, Hamilton heads out for Rachel's, only to find out it is closed for her wedding. Hamilton is relieved, and then concerned, as a new demon gets ready to attack the ceremony. Can he save Rachel's big day, without letting his anger toward Starry Knight get in the way?

What makes a book sexy? I’m not talking about erotica per se, but what is the difference between a book you eagerly devour and a book you slum your way through? While there are individual exceptions, the most objective difference between a good story and a downright terrible one is simple—it all comes down to the writing. It’s either good writing, and we can forgive the technical flaws a little more easily, or it’s bad writing, and bad writing is just bad. Good writing is more than just good writing. Good writing is sexy.

Saturn. The Ringed Planet. Harbinger of ideas and wonder. The planet that gave birth to the modern era of science envisioning the myriad of multi-colored rings circling the planet, one of the reasons for the invention of the telescope, and the second largest in our solar system. These are the stories of Saturn, the great Titan. Tales of time, age, and endings.

With only weeks away from her 18th birthday and the fulfillment of her curse, Rose, the princess of Rhone, faces more obstacles than ever. The kingdom, anxious over her fate, is destabilizing under her father's rule; her mother is imprisoned, and her uncle is holding a silent coup against the crown. With Theo's absence, she is unable to do more than brood over her fate as she attempts to solve the problems around her. When Theo returns with surprising information, Rose knows the time has come to risk everything.

Rose, the princess of Rhone, doomed to fall into a sleeping death on her 18th birthday, has only ever wanted two things in all her life: to be free of her curse and to never fall in love. After securing the dragon's blood from the Serpent's Garden, Rose is confident she has all she needs to free herself from Magdalina's curse. But when Magdalina comes to offer Rose a new deal - one that would free her from her curse, while also eliminating future threats - Rose is forced to confront the truth of her feelings for Theo.

In order to defeat the sorceress Magdalina and free herself from her curse, Rose, the Princess of Rhone, has set out to find dragon’s blood. As she travels toward the Romani territory, where the Serpent’s Garden resides, she is accompanied by her faithful group of friends, including their newest member, Prince Philip of Einish. But when the group ends up shipwrecked on the small island of Maltia, they find themselves trapped without supplies and a way off the island.

After discovering the truth of Starry Knight's identity and the truth of how he felt about her, Hamilton Dinger is facing his biggest challenge yet: taking her out on a "normal" date, to a normal high school football game, with normal people.

Starry Knight knew that the last battle with Draco and Alkuzor would be the hardest battle she would ever face. Or was it? Once more at the heart of power, Starry Knight confronts the question of death and love, only to find Adonaias waiting for her, but plenty of other surprises - and battles - as well. Join her as she faces even darker forces in this short story that takes place between book six and book seven of the Starlight Chronicles from C. S. Johnson.

Hamilton Dinger has never gotten along well with Starry Knight. Only Starry Knight knows the real reason, and the real danger, when it comes to working alongside him. When a new demon monster takes over the phone lines of the city, Starry Knight races off to help her co-defender. As they fight together under the moonlight, Starry Knight faces a new test of her power, and a new test of her heart. This is a short story set between book two and book three of the Starlight Chronicles.

Christmas is a time for miracles, but miracles have always bothered Hamilton Dinger. This Christmas Eve, he has only two reasons to be cheerful: Rachel's Cafe is open late, and he has a special present for Gwen Kessler. So even if he has to sit through a session of Grandpa Odd's ramblings, he knows he'll have some holiday mocha and a chance at finally telling Gwen how he feels about her.

For the past several weeks since Draco's return, Hamilton Dinger has been worried. As he watches over Raiya and Apollo City, he can't help but feel like he has too much to worry about. When Aleia reaches out to him, Hamilton finds that he must be able to handle the truth, no matter how inconvenient and demanding it is. Can he find comfort in Adonaias' own struggle with anxiety and fear?

Pamela Pearson grew up knowing it was best to fend for herself, and meeting Asher Davidson didn't really change that. After they argue over their future, Pamela wonders if maybe she was wrong, especially as she sees Asher's dedication to his family following his mother's death.

Charles Piper has been a respected judge in the small town of Fairmont, but there is little he can do to sway the courts of public opinion. When Martha Davidson's marriage fell apart, he was quick to offer her his help, and she was quick to return his kindness with his favorite chocolate pie—and that's when the town's whispers began to swirl....

After joining the Order of the Crystal Daggers, led by her dauntless grandmother, Lady Penelope, Eleanora Svobodová set out to save her kingdom from oncoming devastation. And she failed. Following the attack on Prague Castle, Eleanora is determined to redeem herself. She sets out to win Karl’s trust while distancing herself from Ferdy, whose secrets and lies have done nothing to stop her from falling in love with him.

Amir Qureshi knew his life would never be the same the day he met Naděžda Ollerton-Cerná, much to his chagrin. With her sharp wit and brazen charm, Naděžda is as infuriating as she is irresistible, and Amir cannot stop himself from falling in love with her - even though they can never be together. As an ally to the Order of the Crystal Daggers, under the command of Naděžda’s indomitable mother, Amir knows there is no place for love in the life of a spy.

Brixton Flew works as a professor of wielder instruction at Rembrandt Academy, hoping to erase the regrets of his youth along with the resulting debt. But when he comes face to face with his biggest regret—the woman who broke his heart, Adelaide Favan—Brixton soon realizes his troubles have only begun. Unable to control her magic, Adelaide knew leaving Brixton was the only way to protect him when they were younger. Now she discovers he is the key to recovering the Dragon Eyes, a legendary treasure connected to her magic and her family's disgraced legacy.

Aerie and Exton are still at war with the Revolutionary States, but there is much to celebrate. Now that they are together again, Aerie finally has what she's always wanted: a loving home. But her past, and her parents, are far from letting her move on with her new life. When Merra escalates the war with her treachery, Aerie is faced with an impossible choice: save her mother or betray Exton. With the fate of the planet on the line, Aerie and Exton know their decisions could mean the difference between victory and defeat. Can they pay the price that war—and true love—demands?

Twelve years ago, Matthias Davidson left his broken home to find a better life, leaving his mama, brother, and sister behind. But a broken man only becomes more broken in a world without love and hope. Now Matthias is in trouble, and he desperately needs help. And he only has one place left to go. Home to Mama. Will Matthias be able to reconcile with his mother? Will he find a way out of his trouble - or will more trouble find him?

As a surgeon for the Mercy Interplanetary Alliance, Micheel Reshi is no stranger to difficult choices. But when his wife, Nabelle, gives brith to their twins, Micheel is horrified to find Callox and Pasher bare the Sign of Gemini on their arms. The bright constellation marks them as carriers of the hidden code Earth’s last generation had engineered into human DNA - and marks them as targets by the Collectors, a group of people determined to wipe out all memory of Old Earth and its existence.

Solomon McCain has long been the sheriff around Fairmont, and even though it's a small town, there's always a bit of trouble here and there. And while he's helped put away criminals, both petty and professional, nothing prepares him for the morning of the Fairmont Pie Contest. What should have been an easy, fun-filled day is suddenly filled with accusations of murder, cheating, assault, and more—and all from individuals he'd known and worked alongside for years. Solomon knows there will be hell to pay if he authorizes a formal investigation.