Books with author CD Murray

When the mightiest eagle finally meets a rider worth carrying, a young man becomes a legend. Join all the readers soaring through this action-packed epic fantasy.In a land of eagle-riding knights, bloodthirsty beasts, and a ruthless tyrant, young Morlen retreats from thousands of snapping jaws with the stolen Goldshard in his grasp. Its power to bestow strength and invincibility is just a panicked whisper away, and he'd feel naked without it while he fights the sinister forces that follow him at every turn.Fortunately, he gains a few peculiar allies: a legendary warrior reluctant to leave his sheltered paradise, a wizard tormented by his past, and the untamable bird of prey that kings and heroes have sought for centuries.A Facet for the Gem is a coming of age fantasy that brings Morlen from distant kingdoms to sprawling aerial battles, into the fiery breath of a stony dragon and side-by-side with a lady knight who is the last person to need rescuing. Fly with him as his epic adventures culminate in a final showdown against swords, fangs, and greatest of all: his own fear.

When a deadly woman from a clan that tortures eagles into submission captures Morlen's dear companion, Roftome, he embarks on a quest more terrifying than any he has yet undertaken.Going alone into the Mountains of the Lost, Morlen treks an uncertain path through hostile forces that embody the grimmest legends. Worst of all are the Pyrnaq—wretched, twisted corruptions of the free eagles they once were—and their overwhelming presence is a constant reminder of the terrible fate that he must spare Roftome at all costs.Held as a prized acquisition within the clandestine force that eagle-kind has dreaded for centuries, Roftome finds himself uniquely positioned to influence his abused brothers and sisters whose minds may still be salvageable. The cost of this rare opportunity, though, quickly proves more severe than he'd anticipated.Despite the absence of their two strongest allies, King Verald and Lady Valeine lead the Eaglemasters on a massive campaign to wipe the Ferotaur Wildlands clean of their ancient enemies. But as they delve deeper into the overrun wasteland, they hear whispers of a watchful evil that their intrusion might soon unleash.On a desolate corner of the world and threatened on every side, Morlen realizes that his only hope is to unite with one of the fierce ghouls he fought in his first adventure. And as the days pass into weeks, and months, he grows more afraid whether the end of his long journey will bring him face to face with the friend he lost, or... with something else.

Stirling is Scotland’s smallest city and one of its newest. But, strangely, it’s also the ancient capital and one of the most important locations in all of Scottish history. If you wanted to invade or to resist invasion, you did it at Stirling. It has witnessed Celts, Romans, Britons, Picts, Scots, Angles, Vikings, Edward I, William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Edward II, Oliver Cromwell, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Duke of Cumberland, and even played a decisive role in D-Day.This huge history has left its mark all over this tiny place. Stirling is Scotland’s best preserved medieval city, boasting one of Europe’s finest Renaissance palaces, the world’s oldest football, Mary Queen of Scots' coronation, James III’s grave and murder scene, the site of a successful 16th century assassination of Scotland’s head of state, Scotland’s first powered and unpowered flights, Scotland’s biggest royal rubbish dump, one of Scotland’s earliest churches, Scotland’s two most important battles, vitrified forts, Scotland’s oldest and best preserved Royal Park, connections to King Arthur and the Vikings, Britain’s last beheading, Scotland’s largest pyramid – and its oldest resident is 4000 years old!This book tells Stirling’s story through its secret nooks and crannies; the spots the tourists overlook and those that the locals have forgotten or never visited. Join Stirling’s Burgh Archaeologist, Dr Murray Cook, as he takes you on a tour of a fascinating city’s history which is full of heroes and battles, grave robbing, witch trials, bloody beheadings, violent sieges, Jacobite plots, assassins, villains, plagues, Kings and Queens… and much, much more besides.

At nine and a half, Arabella Parker is a quite extraordinary girl. For one thing she can fly, an ability that she seems to have inherited from her Great Aunt Agatha. Her parents, being terrible snobs, are more concerned with what the neighbours might think. Ghastly Lady Gilbert-Thomas, Chairperson of the School Governors, and her equally untrustworthy husband, Sir Sidney Gilbert-Thomas, Chairman of the County Council, want to sell the school so that a megastore can be built.But they haven’t taken into account Arabella who calls on the children of Primrose Primary to fight back and save it. Her mother is appalled; her father is devastated: What on earth will his bank chairman think?“We’re revolting,” Arabella tells Mrs Brown, who supports the revolt.“Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” says Mrs Brown with a huge grin.“We are,” insists Arabella. “My Aunt Agatha told me how to do it.”And do it she certainly does.

"A Good Man earns a place at the top of the to-be-read pile." --USA TodaySonya Richardson can't resist starring on a hit reality dating show to give America a taste of what a real black woman is like. The former celebrity pro athlete is breaking all of "Hunk Or Punk's" rules, refusing to bling-up like a diva, and tackling whatever drama her suitors have in store. But one contestant is throwing Sonya off her game. He's kind, way too easy to spill her secrets to--and giving her the type of hope she hasn't felt in a long time. . .Widowed former pastor John Bond knows he's the show's "designated white guy," expected to fail every challenge and be gone in a month. He also knows he has to take risks to find love again. Now Sonya is inspiring him to do whatever it takes to stay in the running, win her heart. . .and prove their dreams can be a reality. "Readers will be cheering for all of Murray's characters to find their joy." --RT Book Reviews (A TOP PICK) "Murray's wonderful characters, caring perspective, humor, and the story's fabulous ending make this a winning read." --Booklist"Deceptively light but ocean-deep. . .readers should brace for a three-hanky finale." –Publishers Weekly

Giovanna Ferrari (age 42), an unmarried, svelte, savvy, and sable-haired African-Sicilian American, runs Ferrari Repair with her grandfather Franco in the colorful town of Kingstown (population 3,721) in Gray County, Virginia, a county trapped between the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains and forgotten by time, interstate highways, cell phone companies, and high-speed Internet providers. While other Gray County girls were learning how to cook, smoke, drink, and gossip, Giovanna learned how to tune up engines, tear down transmissions, weld, rewire lamps, replace drive belts in dryers, and rebuild carburetors. Giovanna is also an expert markswoman and has to be because of the many critters (black bear, an elusive mountain lion, raccoons, and copperheads) that populate the mountains around her creek-side cabin home. She lives with Lovie, her Labrador-boxer wonder mutt who has ADHD (Angry Dog, Hyper Dog), and her nearest neighbor is a two-plus-ton buffalo named Big John who Giovanna speaks to in Italian to keep him calm.Lovie wakes Giovanna one night and leads her to the body of Harvin Morse, newly released thief and meth head, lying face down in Big John’s field, a half full bottle of Old Heaven Hill whiskey in his hand. Did Big John stomp Harvin to death? Or did someone leave Harvin’s body to frame Giovanna for the crime? Set during the buildup and aftermath of the Gray County Fair's annual demolition derby, Giovanna will solve a thirty-five-year-old missing child case and later arrive in jail and at the truth (in that order) as the body count rises, and accusations and a diabolical killer threaten to wreck her life forever.

Gordy Metcalfe, 16, has to grow up quickly in the sleepy town of Roanoke, Virginia.Too quickly.He and his brother and two sisters have different daddies, and his mother isn’t sure who any of the daddies are. Gordy sleeps on the kitchen floor, cooks, cleans, and takes care of his siblings when he’d rather be painting or fishing. With the help of his grandmother and Saint, a homeless black bluesman, Gordy thrives and survives junior high and high school despite the odds.Written with warmth and humor in 1986 by best-selling author J. J. Murray when he was 23, THE SAINT OF THE CITY proves that no matter how bad life gets, even a nobody from nowhere can become “the greatest man alive.”

Morlen has never flown atop a great eagle. He's spent his whole life in the shadows. But now, he's about to embark on a thrilling adventure that leads him to the skies. In a land of eagle-riding knights, bloodthirsty beasts, and a ruthless tyrant, young Morlen retreats from thousands of snapping jaws with the stolen Goldshard in his grasp. Its power to bestow strength and invincibility is just a panicked whisper away, and he feels he'd be naked without it while he fights the sinister forces that follow him at every turn. A Facet for the Gem is a coming of age fantasy that brings Morlen from distant kingdoms to sprawling aerial battles, into the fiery breath of a stony dragon and side-by-side with a lady knight who is the last person to need rescuing. Fly with him as his epic adventures culminate in a final showdown against swords, fangs, and greatest of all: his own fear. Audiobook now available, narrated by Voice Arts Awards nominee James Foster, from award-winning Podium Publishing (Dawn of Wonder, King's Dark Tidings, and The Martian)