Books with author S. Matthews

Once again safe at home, Emma clings to the comfort of family and tries to put the fright of the Banderwigh behind her—but deeds, even good ones, often have consequences.With a new reality of spirits and magic open to her, Emma feels a strong connection to Widowswood. She means to make good on her promise to the Spider Queen, bringing a monthly supply of silk in trade so humans cease their trespass upon the forest.A guild of thieves infiltrates the quiet town, lured by the incredible value of enchanted spidersilk flowing so freely from the forest. At first, they don’t realize the source is a ten-year-old girl, but once they learn, they’ll do anything to control her.Stuck between protecting her family and protecting her forest, Emma draws courage from her grandmother’s stories and makes a choice—that could cost her life.

Within Ava, within Kel Doran - Something has awakened...The Caro Expedition is under way, but the journey will not be without peril for the mysterious warrior and those she leads. Their goal: to plunder the secrets of Valshyr, unlock its past, and search for answers within the mist.Meanwhile, in Wyvern’s Rest, Ava has her freedom, but it may cost her more than she can bare. She and the other survivors are left battered and broken as tremors plague their helpless city, pushed to the brink as darkness infests the Outer Quarter.Put to the test, Ava will have to choose between her freedom and the city’s survival. Which will she choose?The epic adventure continues in Book 2 of the Mists of Kel Doran Series!

Once again safe at home, Emma clings to the comfort of family and tries to put the fright of the Banderwigh behind her—but deeds, even good ones, often have consequences.With a new reality of spirits and magic open to her, Emma feels a strong connection to Widowswood. She means to make good on her promise to the Spider Queen, bringing a monthly supply of silk in trade so humans cease their trespass upon the forest.A guild of thieves infiltrates the quiet town, lured by the incredible value of enchanted spidersilk flowing so freely from the forest. At first, they don’t realize the source is a ten-year-old girl, but once they learn, they’ll do anything to control her.Stuck between protecting her family and protecting her forest, Emma draws courage from her grandmother’s stories and makes a choice—that could cost her life.

Did you know that plastic surgery was first introduced in WWI? Did you know that British soldiers drank so much tea during WWI, that at some point the military enforced rations of six pints of tea per soldier per day? Did you know that horse lives were more valuable than human lives at some point during the war?The second world war is common knowledge by this point, but far too many of us overlook the so-called "war to end all wars". If you look beneath the surface, there are tons of hilarious facts and gritty details just waiting to be discovered. From the military trying to train seagulls to ships being made out of concrete, this brilliant fact book explores WWI like never before, delving into the trenches and showcasing the military masterminds, weird and wacky weapons, and unconventional battle strategies that marked this turbulent time in history.You'll discover why soldiers lived in constant fear of gas attacks, the very first tanks ever made, and a whole host of other crazy and little-known facts that you were never taught in History class. A birthday present or holiday gift for curious kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews, this fact book is guaranteed to provide hours and hours of fun! So grab your gas mask and your rifle and get ready to dive into this world-changing war - who knows, you might just learn something new along the way! What’re you waiting for? Knowledge is power! Scroll up and click the 'Buy Now' button now to discover the wacky world of WWI facts!

A move to the small town of Spring Falls, New York is the perfect cure for Mia Gartner’s horrid commute. However, her new home isn’t quite empty.She adored working in fine art restoration, but a two-hour ride each way got old fast. When her husband found a house for sale at a suspiciously low price, they jumped at it. Mia expected chemical contamination, a fixer-upper, or termites, so when the problem turned out to be persistent rumors of haunting, she set aside her worries. Adam hoped the place would propel his parapsychology hobby into a career.Upon first sight, the innocuous suburban house filled Mia with dread. Adam had long maintained she had a psychic gift, but if she believed him, that would mean something terrible and dark once happened there.Soon after their arrival, unexplained events prove the rumors are more than wild stories. A childlike spirit attaches itself to Mia, seeming harmless and so very lonely.Alas, she fears the ghost may not be as innocent as it seems.

Aegaan is a vast and righteous kingdom, yet darkness gathers in the distant corners of the realm. Elven raids on small towns have inflamed racial tensions with humans, pushing distrust to hatred and the brink of war.Anrael wanders the woods alone until a chance meeting tempts him to set aside his contempt for those who scorn his half-elven blood.When Kylie, a naive elf terrified of humans, is thrust among them against her will, she begins to question her mother’s tales of dread.Having lost everything dear to him, the bandit king Jhelan lives only to seek challenge in battle… until he finds himself willing to die protecting that which he hates the most.The diabolical mystique of the dark elves cloaks L’an Thal’Sara in protection, but the cruelest lie she tells is to herself.Thaelwyn, a virtuous knight, sets out to discover the source of the Elves’ aggression, but faces a much greater test within his mind.Beneath the chaos, minions of the Destroyer search for their promised leader, a child possessing power beyond their years. If the innocent falls to darkness, a kingdom rife with hatred will surely crumble.

My story starts the day that my parents told me we must leave our adopted home forever. Because of the soldiers and the drought we barely had enough to eat and we could no longer stay to help the people in our village.Right before we were leaving I saw a fish in a small brown puddle and I knew I had to take it with me. The journey would be hard to get across the mountains—to the safety of the border and the people there who could help us. Yet when I put the fish in the pot I never realized what we would have to face. It never occurred to me to leave Fish behind.A subtle and sophisticated exploration of life, the strength of humanity, and survival in an unforgiving world, Fish is a story that will teach those who doubt that, when hope is almost extinguished, miracles can happen.

A killer stalks the streets of a near-future Tokyo on the brinkNow, three people on opposite sides of the law find themselves caught up in the blowback from the slayings. There’s Vasili, the ruthless yakuza boss desperate to conceal a secret so explosive, it could tear the underworld apart.Satoshi, one of Vasili's soldiers who is forced to question his allegiances when he’s tasked with bringing in his best friend for a fate worse than death. And Mei, the detective assigned to catch the killer, only to find herself pulled under Vasili’s influence. Caught between a corrupt police force and a crime kingpin determined to lead her astray at every turn, she’ll have to outwit both sides to stop the killer before he strikes again.Three desperate people who will have to break all their own rules just to stay alive. And even that may not be enough.Tokyo Noir is a new type of serial that is full of complex characters and fast-paced action. Pick up your copy now and begin exploring this atmospheric vision of the Tokyo underworld.The complete first season contains:Episode I. The Drowning CityEpisode II. Masters and ServantsEpisode III. Human SacrificesEpisode IV. Served ColdEpisode V. The Heart of the Machine

This is the true story of the journey of John Hawkins and his dog, Mouse, from way up north to way down south. Mouse has been John and his brother Tom's dog for life. They got her as a puppy when they were just little themselves, and they very quickly discovered that they could understand everything Mouse said and she could do the same. She was just a person like everyone else--though maybe a bit cleverer than most.You've maybe heard that John "ran away with his pet dog." But the truth about this story is that John and Mouse made the journey to save Tom. It's hard to pinpoint when Tom became truly ill, but when the doctors said they had to send Mouse away for fear of infection, the boys knew they had to do something. Without Mouse, Tom would never recover. The journey began to find a temporary home for Mouse, but once they'd set off, nothing turned out the way they'd planned.

Twelve year old Piper Bailey wouldn’t trade her friends for any amount of money―unfortunately, when her dad inherits a fortune, she doesn’t have a choice.She’s happy with her little house in Syracuse and hand-me-down clothes twenty years out of style. The unexpected windfall is a blessing for her family, but it comes with a giant house hours away in the woods. Heartbroken at being so far from her tiny social circle, she tries to talk her parents into staying home, but they drag her off to the forest anyway.Piper finds an unexpected friend in a boy who lives in the next house, and the two decide to explore grandpa’s giant mansion. It doesn’t take long for creepy things to start happening. Convinced there’s a malevolent ghost trying to hurt them, she asks her parents for help, but Mom goes from believing Piper is acting out over the unwanted move to being legit crazy.A near-fatal attack from the spirit strands the kids in a hidden underground complex packed with supposedly mythical beasts. Thinking the strange zoo cruel, Piper is determined to free the creatures, but not all the captives are friendly.Some are downright evil.

Saving the world isn’t easy. It’s even harder when you’re only nine.Kelly Donovan used to be a nobody. Well, a smart nobody. Skipping ahead a year in school made her the smallest kid in fifth grade and a target for bullies in search of an easy mark. She tried to follow her father’s advice and ignore them, but it didn’t do any good. Escaping into her favorite comic books at least helped her through the day. Who needs friends anyway?Sometimes, dreams find a way to come true, even if nobody asked them to.Aliens bombard the Earth with gigantic glowing red crystals to restore its failing magnetic field. Soon after the seemingly benevolent invasion, Kelly discovers her wildest, happiest fantasy come to life: she has superpowers, along with roughly two percent of the population. Her strong good nature leads her to adopt the heroic persona of Übergirl. However, she has one major problem…Her dad’s turning into a mad scientist.It’s difficult to be a hero, especially when your father’s a bad guy.

Set in a future where the effects of climate change begin to take hold, the story follows Jack and Michael as they try to cope with a new existence.After a dramatic escape from the approaching floods, Jack and his family relocate to the country, where they meet Michael, ill and cared for by his sister. United by their love for horses, Jack and Michael hatch a plan to save a wild young horse from destruction. But they're in for a rough ride ...Warm and full of heart, this is a hugely enjoyable story with a thought-provoking twist in its tail.