THE ORDER OF THE CRYSTAL DAGGERS: A HISTORICAL SPY ROMANCE SERIES Includes: Kingdom of Ash and Soot, Book 1 Prince of Secrets and Shadows, Book 2 Night of Blood and Beauty, A Companion Novella Heart of Hope and Fear, Book 3 City of Light and Sun, A Companion Novella Everyone has secrets. Everyone lies. Everyone has regrets. PRAGUE, 1870. For the last ten years, nineteen-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household. Along with her older brother, she dreams of the day they will be free to live life on their own terms. But everything changes when their estranged grandmother comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria. Throughout Bohemia, a string of murders and secret whispers hint at a larger coup. As the leader of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, an ancient order of spies and soldiers that protect kingdoms and their rulers, Lady Penelope is determined to discover the perpetrators. And to do this, she eagerly pulls Eleanora into her plans. As she undergoes training in the life of a spy, Eleanora soon finds herself caught up in several adventures; she falls in love with a secretive rogue, finds the hidden heir to the throne of Bohemia, and traverses into the dark, magical worlds hidden throughout the city of Prague. But soon, her family's past secrets, intertwined with the history of the Order, lead to increasing division among her allies. Will Eleanora and the Order come together to stop war from coming to all of Europe, or will their quarrels destroy them – and others? Full of fun, history, secrets, betrayals, and family dysfunction, The Order of the Crystal Daggers is a historical spy romance series from award-winning author C. S. Johnson.

Everyone Lies. PRAGUE, 1870. For the last ten years, nineteen-year-old Eleanora Svobodová has worked as a servant in her stepmother's household. Along with her older brother, she dreams of the day they will be free to live life on their own terms. But everything changes when their estranged grandmother comes to Prague on behalf of Queen Victoria. Throughout Bohemia, a string of murders and secret whispers hint at a larger coup. As the leader of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, an ancient order of spies and soldiers that protect kingdoms and their rulers, Lady Penelope is determined to discover the perpetrators. Now, Eleanora must make the choice between a life of intrigue and saving the lives of others. Can Eleanora find a way do the right thing and still find freedom? FROM THE BOOK: “I want to be free.” The words came rushing out of me before I could think through their implications and consequences. “There are two things you need to know about yourself if you want to be free—what you stand for, and what you stand against.” Lady Penelope held up her hands, brandishing a pair of daggers that had been hidden in her skirts. “This world lives enslaved to its destruction, and so long as you are living, as long as you are fighting, you will be free.” I gazed at the daggers, transfixed. Each blade was clothed in a leather scabbard, but the silver and obsidian of the daggers’ hilts winked at me, as though it was calling for me. FROM THE AUTHOR: With a fun blend of historical fiction, true love, castle intrigue, and family dysfunction, The Order of the Crystal Daggers is my latest adventure series! WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: 5 STARS! ~ Reader's Favorite This story was fantastic! Definitely one of my favorite reads of this year! ~ Laura A. Grace, Unicorn Quester Book Review

Everyone has Secrets. PRAGUE, 1870. 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. As she struggles to let him go, questions about the mission and her mother’s past cause a rift between Amir and Lady Penelope and add to the growing discord between Eleanora and her brother. But when a cunning provocateur arrives in Prague, Eleanora discovers there is an even more deadly game afoot, one that reaches into Amir's past and threatens Lady Penelope's future. Now, the members of the Order must work together if they are to uncover the true enemy hiding in Bohemia. Can they work together despite their divisions? Or will their division lead to even more destruction? FROM THE BOOK: “How do I know you’re telling me the truth?” The last thing I wanted to do was hurt him, but if I did not find a way to break free of him, I would risk doing even more harm. Ferdy met my gaze with his. “I promise you this, Ella, that as of now, I will never lie to you again.” He leaned forward and kissed me again, and I stood there, letting him, desperately debating whether I could trust him or not. His promise burned through me, his words scorched into my being. It was so tempting to believe him, more tempting than anything else I had ever faced in all my life. Freedom was only freedom if I could trust it to be true. FROM THE AUTHOR: With spies, secrets, and suspense, Prince of Secrets and Shadows is the second book in The Order of the Crystal Daggers, a spy adventure series from me, C. S. Johnson. WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: Prince of Secrets and Shadows is book two in The Order of the Crystal Daggars series, and it has just escalated from awesome to amazing." ~ Jessica Belmont, Book Reviewer "The first book left us wanting more and the second book delivered it." ~ Anne Perreault, author of Journey to Joy

“What about the Order?” I hesitated to ask, knowing Amir had painful memories of his own. “I wanted to be free before. Lady Penelope pointed out that this is the opposite of what I wanted. I can’t help but feel she is right.” “Wanting to be free is not a sin in itself,” Amir told me softly. “Only when that is everything and held to the highest priority is it so. We are loyal to the truth, Eleanora, but the truth is complicated, and freedom can be painful.” Prague, 1871 Despite the many demands that come with being a member of the Order of the Crystal Daggers, Eleanora Svobodová has plenty of reasons to celebrate. With Lumiere’s capture and Lady Penelope’s reluctant acceptance of Ferdy, not even Ben’s painful ire can completely diminish her joy. But just as the future begins to look bright, the past catches up to Eleanora and the other members of the Order. For as they investigate Karl’s disappearance, Eleanora learns the shocking secret about her mother’s final mission—and Lady Penelope’s treachery—while the Emperor risks his life and heads to Bohemia for a special tripartite council. Can Eleanora and the Order find a way to save the kingdom? And even if they do, will they be able to survive a new betrayal from among their ranks? Full of surprising twists and turns, Heart of Hope and Fear is the final book in The Order of the Crystal Daggers, a historical romance spy trilogy from C. S. Johnson.

Long before Amir taught Eleanora the harder truths of life, he learned them himself, as he fell in love with her mother. CONSTANTINOPLE, 1845 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. When they are sent to Constantinople to investigate a missing shipment of weapons, Naděžda’s life is endangered, and Amir races to save her, knowing he cannot deny his heart any longer. But Amir is not the only one who is keeping secrets ... FROM THE BOOK: “Miss Eleanor.” The desperation in his voice was only matched by his irritation, and the moment he said anything, Amir feared he had inadvertently given himself away. The sapphire eyes he had come to both love and hate twinkled mischievously at him. “Why, Mr. Qureshi, I do believe you’re quite flustered. Especially if you’re going to use your manners. Where are those mongrel ways of yours? I might mistake you for a real gentleman with such a formal tone.” Her lyrical, teasing voice did nothing to lighten his mood; rather, it plucked at his heartstrings with a bittersweet twang, and Amir had to force himself to remain still as he stared down at her. It would do nothing for his case if he showed any further sign of compromise, especially now that his partner sensed his weakness. “It is only proper I address you as such, Miss Eleanor,” Amir said, keeping his voice stripped of all his conflicting emotions. “Your mother, Her Grace, would be the first to agree with me.” At the mention of her mother, her gaze only grew bolder. “We both know my mother’s favorite thing in the world is being a hypocrite,” she said, crossing her arms and tapping her toe. “Call me Naděžda, as I’ve told you to before several times now.” Inwardly, Amir groaned. He should have known better than to say anything. If there was anything Eleanor Naděžda Ollerton-Cerná excelled at—and there was plenty—it was arguing with him. And while there was enough wrong with that in itself, it unnerved him how often he found himself losing those arguments. “Miss Eleanor, propriety demands—” “Is this my punishment, after all these years, to have you give me the same lecture I gave you when we first met, Amir?” Naděžda asked, arching her brow as she pouted. Amir hated how he stared at her mouth. His Abba had always been so concerned about him looking into a woman’s eyes that Amir never realized how sinful looking at a woman’s lips could be. Even beneath her yashmak, the transparent veil worn by women on the streets of Constantinople, seeing Naděžda stick out her bottom lip was like watching a rose bloom under misty moonlight. FROM THE AUTHOR: Night of Blood and Beauty is a companion novella to The Order of the Crystal Daggers, a historical spy romance series. WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: "Definitely a must read for fans of this series!" ~ Laura A. Grace, Unicorn Quester Book Reviews

ONCE UPON A TIME IN ATLANTA ... After losing his dad, a teenager gains the ability to hear the music inside each human soul, allowing him to sense their emotions, see their past memories, and even manipulate their moods. Using his new gift, he vows to carry on his father's legacy and bring his killer to justice. Stephen Kibwaa had a good life and good parents, even if they pushed him hard to do his best. As a gifted pianist, Stephen was sixteen when he was invited to the Georgia Dome to play the National Anthem—but after his show, a human trafficker only known as "The Marxman" murdered Stephen's dad during a failed kidnapping operation. At his father's funeral, Stephen, in his sadness and anger, was gifted with a strange new ability: Suddenly, he was able to hear the song of the souls around him. As 10 years passed by, Stephen worked hard to develop and refine his power, strengthening his body and stopping other human traffickers along the way as Atlanta's shadowed superhero, Dizchord. Now, the past comes back to taunt him as his father's killer, The Marxman, returns to Atlanta ... With themes of grief and loss, duty and honor, and love and sacrifice, Dizchord is an original story set in contemporary Atlanta that tackles issues surrounding family, human trafficking, and growing up from award-winning, genre-hopping author C. S. Johnson. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the light novelization of the comic, Dizchord #1. For more information on the comic, please visit C. S. Johnson's website.

Even a Ghost can dream … As a Ghost Child and Handmaiden to Ceru, the Great Sea Serpent and Guardian of the Laenite Tribe, all seventeen-year-old Thessa wants is a family of her own. When Ceru tells her she will marry an outsider and bear a child of prophecy, Thessa is more than excited—especially when the boy she loves, Garrison Rico, the son of the Arian Kingdom’s ambassador, agrees to marry her. But at their wedding ceremony, Garrison unexpectedly withdraws his offer and takes his leave from Laena, and Thessa is left alone, humiliated and rejected by her community. Unable to reconcile Garrison’s departure, Thessa questions her fidelity to Ceru for the first time—and sets out to defy him in revenge. Dragon Tears is a companion novella to The Alliance of the Dragon Sword, a Christian fantasy series from award-winning, genre-hopping author C. S. Johnson.

What makes a book sexy? I’m not talking about erotica, per say, 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. If you’re a fiction writer looking to improve your writing skills, this is the perfect, provocative read to encourage you to get down to business and write your story. Inside Good Writing is Like Good Sex, you will find: •A titillating perspective on the writing process •The secret to why your story is special, and how you can make it sexier •Tips on romancing your readers •How to write irresistible characters •Basic writing and story concepts with advanced insights … and all in a non-gratuitous fashion with a lot of innuendos. C. S. JOHNSON is the award-winning, genre-hopping author of several novels, including young adult sci-fi and fantasy adventures such as the Starlight Chronicles series, the Once Upon a Princess saga, and the Divine Space Pirates trilogy. She has written articles for The Rebelution, MTL Magazine, Hollywood in Toto, StudioJake, and more. With a gift for sarcasm and an apologetic heart, she currently lives in Atlanta with her family. FROM THE BOOK: “So, what’s so special about your book?” It’s still a terrifying question, but the more you see it, the better you can prepare to answer it. It might be hard for you to realize that your book is special at all, especially if you are a new writer, or you’re one of those people who struggle with self-confidence (I can assure you from personal experience you are in good company). I know exactly how that feels. But your book will be special, because it’s yours. It is your words written down on paper, your story written for the world to see, and the book you were born to write. It’s yours. This is something that people tend to say about kids, and I like using this analogy here because kids can be the result of good sex, just as my “book babies” are the result of my writing. No one will love my real children the way I do. My kids are unlike everyone else’s children because they are mine. And no one will ever love my husband the way I do, because he is the one I chose and the one who chose me back. Your own love story will be special because it’s yours. Your book will be special too. But, let’s face it, “special” has its limits, especially when it comes to the competitive writing market. Your unique outlook should be what tips the balance in your favor, and you do yourself a lot of favors if your tipping point doesn’t have a lot of unattractive baggage dragging it down. This means you need to take care to make your book be its best. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: "An absolutely brilliant, cheeky, and fun guide to writing better. Great for anyone tired of bland writing guides." ~ Liliyana, Book Review "Chock-full of useful writing advice, written by a woman who clearly knows what she’s talking about." ~ Jessica, Author and Book Reviewer

IT'S HERE AT LAST - THE STARLIGHT CHRONICLES, COLLECTOR'S BOXED SET, BOOKS 1-4, with SHORT STORY EPISODES IN BETWEEN EACH BOOK! Box Set includes: BOOK 1, SLUMBERING A CHRISTMAS EPISODE, AWAKENING BOOK 2, CALLING A STARRY KNIGHT EPISODE, FALLING BOOK 3, SUBMERGING A WEDDING EPISODE, SEEING BOOK 4, REMEMBERING A DATE NIGHT EPISODE, BELONGING Hamilton Dinger has a nearly perfect life as he enters into tenth grade at Apollo Central High School. He has the grades for the top of the class, the good looks, and the charm to get away with just about anything. There is no need for him to believe in anything other than himself, and the idea of good and evil is laughable. But all that changes when a meteorite strikes his town, and the Seven Deadly Sinisters, and their leader, Orpheus, are released. They prey on the city residents, collecting their souls for energy and nefarious purposes. As this is happening, Hamilton's longtime dormant supernatural powers are awakened, and he discovers he is a fallen Star. And not only that, he has been called to seal away the Sinisters once more - all to Hamilton's dismay. As the supernatural calling interrupts his perfect life - with his friends at school, his fame on the football team, and his prestigious job at the mayor's office - Hamilton finds a mix of relief and further aggravation in Elysian, a changeling dragon who declares himself to be Hamilton's "mentor," and Starry Knight, Hamilton's infuriating, secretive, and powerful co-defender, another fallen Star who has the power to seal away the Sinisters and their soul-sucking minions. Can Hamilton and his team find a way to work together to save Apollo City? Can Hamilton overcome his own selfish desires to find the will to fight? Find out in the first part of this epic fantasy adventure series about superheroes, fallen Stars, and high school from C. S. Johnson!

A Dystopian Fantasy Novella from award-winning, genre-hopping author C. S. Johnson. Could you live a perfect life, knowing someone else took on all your pain and despair? Skyla has always lived a perfect, happy life – just like everyone in her Community. Even if there are brief moments where she is certain she has experienced pain and regret, those moments are brief and quickly forgotten. But when Aiden, Skyla's next-door neighbor, reveals the truth of the Community and their perfect lives, Skyla is faced with an unexpected choice regarding her future. Will her actions lead her Community to a better life? Or will she doom them all? Join Skyla and Aiden in this thought-provoking novella inspired by Ursula K. LeGuin's "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas."