In "Hit Man," a man consumed by desperation commissions an assassin to take his life, ensuring his family inherits a substantial insurance fortune. But when an unforeseen opportunity arises, a question hangs heavy: is it too late, or will J…

In Marjorie Gibbs’s “Goose for the Gander,” a resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, enters a cooking competition with the hope of saving her diner and unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Joe Lange, a man who works with hash. “The Stuntman” t…

In "Tattoo: the Love God," Tattoo's yearning to be worshipped as a deity by numerous beautiful indigenous women begins to overwhelm him. "Magnolia Blossoms" follows Myra and Gladys as they pursue romance reminiscent of the classic novel…

In "The Baby," Tattoo finds himself deeply drawn to the infant Patrick, orphaned when his parents perished. A yearning to adopt him blossoms within Tattoo, yet he is haunted by the fear that his own unusual nature will prevent him from prov…

In Mike Jenner’s *The Chain Gang*, the relentless pursuit of his father’s killer threatens to consume him, potentially leading to his own demise. *The Boss* follows Cindy Carter, a switchboard operator who entertains dreams of corporate…

In "The Red Baron," Cornelius, a passionate enthusiast of World War I and a skilled locksmith, finds himself with the chance to experience firsthand the life of a Flying Ace and confront the war's most formidable adversary in the skies. …

Roarke married Helena Marsh, the woman he had loved for so long, aware that their shared future would be tragically brief. Helena carried a diagnosis of a brain tumor, and her final desire was to become his wife.

In "The Handy Man," Holly Ryan, a low-level bookmaker, finds himself in a precarious position, compelled to testify against the ruthless gangster Spider Sloat, who seeks his demise. He seeks refuge in a Christian orphanage, a place of unexp…

In "The Dancer," a Texas millionaire orchestrates the return of a celebrated ballerina, driven by a desire to finally confess his affection for her. And in "Nobody's There," a well-meaning yet clumsy female private investigator is prese…

In "Class of '69," a woman carrying extra weight yearns for a slimmer figure, driven by a desire to erase the shame of an event from a decade past. Meanwhile, in "The Pug," Mitch Lee hopes to witness his father compete for the World Hea…

In "The Mermaid," marine biologist Professor DeHaven faces a profound dilemma: the pull of an impossible fascination with a mermaid versus the enduring affection for his wife. And in "The Victim," Julie Brett disregards Mr. Roarke's cau…

In "The Cheerleaders," two young women aspire to the dazzling world of collegiate cheerleading, dreaming of becoming the vibrant spiritleaders for their beloved football team. And in "Marooned," truck driver Melvyn Mews finds himself ca…

In "The Inventor," the absent-minded Professor Clebe finds himself in considerable difficulty when his secret invention becomes public knowledge. And in "On the Other Side," the widow Irma Gideon longs to cross the threshold of death, h…

In "Look-Alikes," a salesman yearns for an exchange of identities with someone who bears his resemblance and enjoys a more vibrant existence. In "The Winemaker," a nun offers her wine for the benefit of her struggling church and the town…

In "Unholy Wedlock," Danny Collier faces a considerable predicament when the woman he marries is revealed to be the figure from his bachelor party cake, not the woman he intended to wed. And in "Elizabeth," Lisa Corday finds herself inha…

In Mark Hendricks’s *Rogues and Riches*, an attorney journeys to 18th-century England, tasked with persuading his client to return to the present day. And in Amy Marson’s *Stark Terror*, a girl haunted by trauma yearns to re-experience t…

In the pages of *Playgirl* magazine, former centerfold model Erica Clark entertains a desire to reverse expectations, viewing men as objects of her own desire. Meanwhile, in *Smith's Valhalla*, Jason Smith yearns for the glory of a war …

In "Aphrodite," Professor Blair jeopardizes both his sanity and his life in pursuit of the woman who embodies perfect beauty. And in "Dr. Jekyll and Miss Hyde," Dr. Griffin, a woman of unremarkable appearance and demeanor, makes a start…

In "The Swinger," a middle-aged man yearns for the carefree abandon of youth that eluded him. And in "Terrors of the Mind," Sharon Sanders Ward seeks a glimpse into the future, oblivious to the perils inherent in such foresight.

In "Nona," a blind man is granted the gift of sight for a fleeting forty-eight hours, dedicating that time to finding the woman of his dreams. And in "One Million B.C.," two women yearning for a time when men were expected to embody a c…

In "Jungle Man," actor David Farley, whose life has been defined by the television persona of the titular character, seeks one final adventure in the role before it is lost to him. In "Mary Ann and Miss Sophisticate," ventriloquist Mary …

In "My Fair Pharaoh," Lucy Atwell journeys to ancient Egypt and assumes the identity of Cleopatra, only to discover that her existence there is fraught with peril. Meanwhile, in "The Power," Fred Webster, seeking greater command over his…

In "Eagleman," Morris Binstock strives to regain his son's respect and affection by embodying the comic book hero the boy idolizes, even at the cost of a potential Vice-Presidency with John Henry Insurance Company. Meanwhile, in "Childre…