You want to read about fairies and elves in a magical land? Don't buy this book then. 

How about a story with vampires? No? I've got it now.

You want slash and gash rampaging monsters to titillate your imagination and make you hesitate to turn out the lights at night. 

Sorry. All I can give you is the following:

SAMPLE CHAPTER

Chapter 85
 
            Resolving to wait for the medical examiner’s autopsy report on Charlie, Walker turned his always-active mind to other challenges. With Samantha’s birthday fast approaching, he decided it was time to search for her present. He had heard of a new store opening in town, a specialty shop devoted to unique and unusual items. With any luck, he would find a perfect gift for his friend and employee, the woman who ran his mansion.
            A few hours later, he and his two young wards, Sue Beth and Joshua, made the short trip to town and immediately found the store. It was not hard to find with its sign hanging outside from chains like those of English pubs. The weathered-looking wood had the words “Ye Olde Curiosity Shop” burned into it, and the slight wind that day caused the sign to creak loudly as it swayed back and forth, beckoning any passerby to come inside the store.
            After parking the mansion’s SUV, the trio walked from the parking lot in back to the front of the store. In the wide windows were various items. Some Walker recognized and others were new to him. A beautiful music box first caught his eye. It was of dark polished wood, probably mahogany, with inlaid mother-of-pearl on its top. Depending on the music it played, the music box might be a possible gift for Samantha. After Walker opened the front door, they all entered the shop.
            Immediately, he knew they were in a special place. On counters and shelves were such wondrous items as toys from days gone by and small antique pieces of jewelry made from precious silver and gold. Walker also noticed assorted miscellaneous items. He wondered if some came from exotic places like Madagascar, Bali, and the Cook Islands. Even the store had a distinct smell of age, a combination of old leather, lingering hints of perfume, and just the slightest touch of mildew. Joshua sneezed as a floating dust mote went up his nose.  
            Coming toward them was the shopkeeper, a welcome smile on his friendly round face. He must have been close to 70 years old, although he had the look of timelessness about him. Benjamin Franklin himself might have made the spectacles slipping down the man’s short nose. “Welcome, welcome to my shop,” the man said in a soft voice, as he extended his hand for Walker to shake. After getting this civility over, the shopkeeper next looked at the two awestruck children.
            They had been glancing around the shop, only waiting for Walker’s permission to explore. When he gave it, the two youngsters quickly disappeared. Their excited cries each time they discovered something new were the only signs they still were in the store. The owner of the shop gave Walker his full attention. “Have you seen anything you like yet?”
            “The music box in the window. May I see it?” When the man reached into the window’s display and brought out the requested item, Walker hoped the music it played would reflect Samantha’s personality. He took the wooden box from the man and slowly opened the cover. Green velvet lined the inside, and Walker realized it was also a container for small jewelry. In his mind, he saw the music box holding the exquisite diamond and emerald necklace he hoped to some day give Samantha.
            The box’s tinkling music filled the shop, drawing the two children back to Walker’s side. The tune reminded him of the day he had found Samantha by the cavern’s pool. She was singing “Greensleeves,” accompanied by the sound of the soothing waterfall. The music box echoed that song, and he could almost hear her voice in the shop.
            “Is it what you had in mind?” Taking Walker’s silent nod as agreement, the man carried the box to the counter at the back of the store. Walker followed the children to near the front window where something had earlier caught their attention. On one of the shelves was a brass kaleidoscope about six inches long. At their urging, Walker put it to his eye and slowly turned the cylinder, holding it up to the sunlight coming in through the window.
            Brilliant bits of glass sparkled as they created symmetrical designs, nearly hypnotizing him with their ever-changing beauty. Eventually and most reluctantly, Walker put the kaleidoscope back on the shelf. A sudden thought hit him, and he immediately picked the brass item up again. It would make a perfect gift for Jack, the mansion’s recruiter-turned-idea man. His younger friend already had a collection of kaleidoscopes in his apartment, and this would make a wonderful addition to it. “Joshua, would you bring it over to the counter for me? It can be from you and Sue Beth for Jack, since you found it.”
            While the young boy hurried away on his important errand, Walker next noticed a silver hairbrush on the same shelf. Taking it down, he held it out for Sue Beth to examine. The little girl ran her fingers gently over the raised design of a rosebud with three leaves on the back of the brush. “Do you think my mother would like this?” Walker asked the child. He knew Edith loved flowers, especially yellow roses.
            “Oh, yes,” she said, touching the soft bristles. “Maybe she’ll let me brush her hair with it.” She looked wistfully up at her tall guardian. “Her hair is so pretty, not filled with dumb curls like mine. Do you think mine will be as nice when I get her age?”
            Walker knelt to put his arms around the little girl. “Sweetheart, I love curly hair. Don’t you think Samantha looks beautiful with hers?” Still not convinced, Sue Beth shrugged and returned her interest to the hairbrush. Walker shooed her off to add the brush to his other purchases.
            While the children were again exploring the rest of the shop, he added a small telescope to the counter, keeping it out of Joshua’s sight. The shopkeeper wrapped it and the doll that next joined the other items. Joshua recently had shown interest in astronomy according to his teacher, Professor Logan. He even had a star map on his bedroom wall and could name all the constellations. A telescope seemed an appropriate gift for the budding scientist.
            Sue Beth might be getting too old for dolls, but Walker knew she would love the one he saw on another shelf. Straight black hair instead of curls surrounded the doll’s china face. Her soft cloth body was dressed in a pink, satin dress edged in delicate lace with patent leather shoes on her small feet. The doll, unlike those of modern design, did nothing. It did not cry; it did not wet itself; it simply waited to receive hugs from a small child.
            With his purchases wrapped and paid for, Walker found his children gazing at one last item. Watching them finally leaving his shop, the owner smiled. He knew Walker would be returning one day to buy that item for himself.