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Building LLM Powered Applications: Create intelligent apps and agents with large language models
by Valentina AltoGet hands-on with GPT 3.5, GPT 4, LangChain, Llama 2, Falcon LLM and more, to build LLM-powered sophisticated AI applicationsKey FeaturesEmbed LLMs into real-world applicationsUse LangChain to orchestrate LLMs and their components within applicationsGrasp basic and advanced techniques of prompt engineeringBook DescriptionBuilding LLM Powered Applications delves into the fundamental concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and practical applications that LLMs offer, ultimately paving the way for the emergence of large foundation models (LFMs) that extend the boundaries of AI capabilities. The book begins with an in-depth introduction to LLMs. We then explore various mainstream architectural frameworks, including both proprietary models (GPT 3.5/4) and open-source models (Falcon LLM), and analyze their unique strengths and differences. Moving ahead, with a focus on the Python-based, lightweight framework called LangChain, we guide you through the process of creating intelligent agents capable of retrieving information from unstructured data and engaging with structured data using LLMs and powerful toolkits. Furthermore, the book ventures into the realm of LFMs, which transcend language modeling to encompass various AI tasks and modalities, such as vision and audio. Whether you are a seasoned AI expert or a newcomer to the field, this book is your roadmap to unlock the full potential of LLMs and forge a new era of intelligent machines.What you will learnExplore the core components of LLM architecture, including encoder-decoder blocks and embeddingsUnderstand the unique features of LLMs like GPT-3.5/4, Llama 2, and Falcon LLMUse AI orchestrators like LangChain, with Streamlit for the frontendGet familiar with LLM components such as memory, prompts, and toolsLearn how to use non-parametric knowledge and vector databasesUnderstand the implications of LFMs for AI research and industry applicationsCustomize your LLMs with fine tuningLearn about the ethical implications of LLM-powered applicationsWho this book is for Software engineers and data scientists who want hands-on guidance for applying LLMs to build applications. The book will also appeal to technical leaders, students, and researchers interested in applied LLM topics. We don’t assume previous experience with LLM specifically. But readers should have core ML/software engineering fundamentals to understand and apply the content.
Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation
by Dahlia K. Remler Gregg G. Van RyzinThoroughly updated to reflect changes in both research and methods, this Third Edition of Remler and Van Ryzin’s innovative, standard-setting text is imbued with a deep commitment to making social and policy research methods accessible and meaningful. Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation motivates readers to examine the logic and limits of social science research from academic journals and government reports. A central theme of causation versus description runs through the text, emphasizing the idea that causal research is essential to understanding the origins of social problems and their potential solutions. Readers will find excitement in the research experience as the best hope for improving the world in which we live, while also acknowledging the trade-offs and uncertainties in real-world research.
Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
by Bob Garrett Gerald HoughWinner of the 2022 Textbook & Academic Authors Association′s The McGuffey Longevity Award In Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, authors Bob Garrett and Gerald Hough showcase the ever-expanding body of research into the biological foundations of human behavior through a big-picture approach. With thought-provoking examples and a carefully crafted, vibrant visual program, the text allows any student to appreciate the importance and relevance of this field of study. New features to the Sixth Edition include fully revised learning objectives, a streamlined box feature program, an expanded collection of foundational animations, and updated research on timely topics such as drugs and addiction, sex and gender, and emotions and health. This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Digital Option / Courseware SAGE Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Assignable Video with Assessment Assignable video (available with SAGE Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. LMS Cartridge Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.
Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience
by Bob Garrett Gerald HoughWinner of the 2022 Textbook & Academic Authors Association′s The McGuffey Longevity Award In Brain & Behavior: An Introduction to Behavioral Neuroscience, authors Bob Garrett and Gerald Hough showcase the ever-expanding body of research into the biological foundations of human behavior through a big-picture approach. With thought-provoking examples and a carefully crafted, vibrant visual program, the text allows any student to appreciate the importance and relevance of this field of study. New features to the Sixth Edition include fully revised learning objectives, a streamlined box feature program, an expanded collection of foundational animations, and updated research on timely topics such as drugs and addiction, sex and gender, and emotions and health. This title is accompanied by a complete teaching and learning package. Digital Option / Courseware SAGE Vantage is an intuitive digital platform that delivers this text’s content and course materials in a learning experience that offers auto-graded assignments and interactive multimedia tools, all carefully designed to ignite student engagement and drive critical thinking. Built with you and your students in mind, it offers simple course set-up and enables students to better prepare for class. Assignable Video with Assessment Assignable video (available with SAGE Vantage) is tied to learning objectives and curated exclusively for this text to bring concepts to life. LMS Cartridge Import this title’s instructor resources into your school’s learning management system (LMS) and save time. Don’t use an LMS? You can still access all of the same online resources for this title via the password-protected Instructor Resource Site.
Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation
by Dahlia K. Remler Gregg G. Van RyzinThoroughly updated to reflect changes in both research and methods, this Third Edition of Remler and Van Ryzin’s innovative, standard-setting text is imbued with a deep commitment to making social and policy research methods accessible and meaningful. Research Methods in Practice: Strategies for Description and Causation motivates readers to examine the logic and limits of social science research from academic journals and government reports. A central theme of causation versus description runs through the text, emphasizing the idea that causal research is essential to understanding the origins of social problems and their potential solutions. Readers will find excitement in the research experience as the best hope for improving the world in which we live, while also acknowledging the trade-offs and uncertainties in real-world research.
Teaching Reading Across the Day, Grades K-8: Methods and Structures for Engaging, Explicit Instruction
by Jennifer Serravallo"Reading well across disciplines and within varied contexts will help students to be versatile, flexible, deep readers who can better learn from their reading, transfer skills across subjects, and use strategies to meet the unique demands of reading in each content area." – Jennifer Serravallo Research-based, easy-to-use lesson structures for explicit and engaging teaching In Teaching Reading Across the Day, literacy expert Jennifer Serravallo provides nine effective, predictable, research-based lesson structures that help busy teachers save planning time and focus their teaching—and student attention—on content rather than procedures. Each of the nine lesson structures (read aloud, phonics and spelling, vocabulary, focus, shared reading, close reading, guided inquiry, reader’s theater, and conversation) has its own chapter and features a wealth of resources that let you see the lessons in action in ELA, Science, and Social Studies classes, including: An annotated teaching vignette, lesson explanation, and research notes Tips for planning, structure and timing suggestions, and ideas for responsive teaching Detailed planning templates and 22 accompanying online videos covering over 3 hours of classroom footage Jen’s reflections, key look-fors, and ideas for next steps The nine lesson structures can be used with any curriculum or core program, text, and subject, making it easier for teachers to maximize explicit and engaging teaching time across the day, and simplify planning and preparation. Jen incorporates a wide range of compelling research about how best to teach reading to every student in your class and translates the research (or the science of teaching reading) into high-leverage moves you can count on to deliver powerful lessons again and again. She also honors the art of teaching reading, helping teachers tap into their experience and hone their expertise to make quick, effective classroom decisions that take student learning to the next level.
Teaching Reading Across the Day, Grades K-8: Methods and Structures for Engaging, Explicit Instruction
by Jennifer Serravallo"Reading well across disciplines and within varied contexts will help students to be versatile, flexible, deep readers who can better learn from their reading, transfer skills across subjects, and use strategies to meet the unique demands of reading in each content area." – Jennifer Serravallo Research-based, easy-to-use lesson structures for explicit and engaging teaching In Teaching Reading Across the Day, literacy expert Jennifer Serravallo provides nine effective, predictable, research-based lesson structures that help busy teachers save planning time and focus their teaching—and student attention—on content rather than procedures. Each of the nine lesson structures (read aloud, phonics and spelling, vocabulary, focus, shared reading, close reading, guided inquiry, reader’s theater, and conversation) has its own chapter and features a wealth of resources that let you see the lessons in action in ELA, Science, and Social Studies classes, including: An annotated teaching vignette, lesson explanation, and research notes Tips for planning, structure and timing suggestions, and ideas for responsive teaching Detailed planning templates and 22 accompanying online videos covering over 3 hours of classroom footage Jen’s reflections, key look-fors, and ideas for next steps The nine lesson structures can be used with any curriculum or core program, text, and subject, making it easier for teachers to maximize explicit and engaging teaching time across the day, and simplify planning and preparation. Jen incorporates a wide range of compelling research about how best to teach reading to every student in your class and translates the research (or the science of teaching reading) into high-leverage moves you can count on to deliver powerful lessons again and again. She also honors the art of teaching reading, helping teachers tap into their experience and hone their expertise to make quick, effective classroom decisions that take student learning to the next level.
Displacing Kinship: The Intimacies of Intergenerational Trauma in Vietnamese American Cultural Production (Asian American History & Cultu)
by Linh Thuy NguyenNearly fifty years after the end of the war in Vietnam, American children of Vietnamese refugees continue to process the meanings of the war and its consequences through creative work. Displacing Kinship examines how Vietnamese American cultural productions register lived experiences of racism in their depictions of family life and marginalization. Second-generation texts illustrate how the children of refugees from Vietnam are haunted by trauma and a violent, ever-present, but mostly unarticulated past. Linh Thủy Nguyễn's analysis reveals that present experiences of economic insecurity and racism also shape these narratives of familial loss. Developing a theory of intergenerational trauma, Nguyễn rethinks how U.S. imperialism, the discourse of communism, and assimilation impacted families across generations. Through ethnic studies and feminist and queer-of-color critique, Displacing Kinship offers a critical approach for reading family tensions and interpersonal conflict as affective investments informed by the material, structural conditions of white supremacy and racial capitalism.
Schools, volume 21 number 1 (Spring 2024)
by SchoolsThis is volume 21 issue 1 of Schools. Schools: Studies in Education provides a forum for classroom educators to describe and meditate on the complex experiences of school life. The journal publishes scholarly articles, reflective essays, and stories that convey how human relationships, thoughts, and emotions shape the meaning of what happens when learning actually occurs. Historical documents in “From the Archives” feature intriguing excerpts from works that provide insight into contemporary issues. Opinion pieces in “On the Horizon” feature arguments about the future of education planning and policy. Reviews critically evaluate books, films, art exhibitions, concerts, and other events that have some bearing on the meaning and value of education.
The Journal of Geology, volume 131 number 2 (March 2023)
by The Journal of GeologyThis is volume 131 issue 2 of The Journal of Geology. One of the oldest journals in geology, The Journal of Geology has since 1893 promoted the systematic philosophical and fundamental study of geology. The Journal publishes original research across a broad range of subfields in geology, including geophysics, geochemistry, sedimentology, geomorphology, petrology, plate tectonics, volcanology, structural geology, mineralogy, and planetary sciences. Many of its articles have wide appeal for geologists, present research of topical relevance, and offer new geological insights through the application of innovative approaches and methods.
Spanish B for the IB Diploma Second Edition
by Mike Thacker Sebastian BianchiExam board: International BaccalaureateLevel: IB DiplomaSubject: SpanishFirst teaching: September 2018First exams: Summer 2020Develop competent communicators who can demonstrate a sound conceptual understanding of the language with a flexible course that ensures thorough coverage of the updated Spanish B Guide and is designed to meet the needs of all IB students at Standard and Higher Level.- Empower students to communicate confidently by exploring the five prescribed themes through authentic texts and skills practice at the right level, delivered in clear learning pathways. - Ensure students are able to produce coherent written texts and deliver proficient presentations with grammar and vocabulary introduced in context and in relation to appropriate spoken and written registers. - Improve receptive skills with authentic written texts, audio recordings spoken at a natural pace, and carefully crafted reading and listening tasks.- Promote global citizenship, intercultural understanding and an appreciation of Hispanic cultures through a wide range of text types and cultural material from around the world. - Deliver effective practice with a range of structured tasks within each unit that build reading, listening, speaking and writing skills.- Establish meaningful links to TOK and CAS, and identify learner profile attributes in action.The audio for the Student Book is FREE to download from www.hoddereducation.com/ibextras
Science T Level: Core
by Stephen HoareStart your journey towards a career in science. Covering all the Core content you need to know with clear definitions alongside practice questions, this T level textbook gives you the skills and confidence to succeed in your written assessment and industry placement. Created in partnership with NCFE and written by highly respected author Stephen Hoare. - Get started with short, clear summaries and learning outcomes at the beginning of each chapter- Develop the scientific, mathematical, technical and communication skills you need- Track your progress and check understanding using the 'Test yourself' activities - Understand and remember key scientific terms using the highlighted definitions- Prepare for your placement with tips on best practice in the workplace, alongside case studies and activities that reflect real-life situations and build problem-solving skills- Approach assessment with confidence using the knowledge-based questions and scenario-based activities for practice, alongside model answers for the extended response questionsThis textbook covers the Core content for Science T Level. The Occupational Specialisms for this course are: Laboratory Sciences, Food Sciences and Metrology Sciences.
The Sewing Factory Girls: An uplifting and emotional tale of courage and friendship based on real events
by Posy Lovell'Inspiring, uplifting and full of heart' - Annie Lyons Like half of all the young women living in the Scottish town Clydebank in early 1911, Ellen works at the sewing machine factory. So does her big sister, Bridget, Bridget's fiancé Malcolm, and her new friend Sadie, who has come to work at the factory after the death of her father... For Sadie, the factory is a way to make ends meet, but Ellen has sewing in her veins. She is even making Bridget's wedding dress on her beloved sewing machine. But after the excitement of the wedding dies down, everything changes. Ellen discovers that the work of the cabinet polishers - her job - is to be reorganised, and they will be doing more work for less pay. Ellen feels betrayed - the sewing factory is her family and they've let her down. Sadie is more pragmatic. But the women aren't going to give in without a fight. They've been reading about strikes and they've got an idea - much to the disgust of manager Malcolm. Meanwhile, Bridget, forced to choose between her husband and her sister, has made a new friend and is fighting her own battle, alongside the suffragettes. The events of the strike will throw Ellen, Bridget and Sadie's lives into turmoil but also bring these women closer to each other than they could ever have imagined.'I couldn't put the book down!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review'A heartwarming story that brings the people who worked in the sewing machine factory to life.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review
Powerless (The Powerless Trilogy)
by Lauren RobertsA New York Times bestseller! This sparkling edition includes a special case stamping, bonus content, and a teaser to book two in this heart-pounding series! Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, this young adult fantasy follows the forbidden romance between a powerful prince and an ordinary girl as they try to survive their kingdom&’s grueling laws pitting them against each other.She is the very thing he&’s spent his whole life hunting. He is the very thing she&’s spent her whole life pretending to be. Only the extraordinary belong in the kingdom of Ilya—the exceptional, the empowered, the Elites. The powers these Elites have possessed for decades were graciously gifted to them by the Plague, though not all were fortunate enough to both survive the sickness and reap the reward. Those born Ordinary are just that—ordinary. And when the king decreed that all Ordinaries be banished to preserve his Elite society, lacking an ability suddenly became a crime—making Paedyn Gray a felon by fate and a thief by necessity. Surviving in the slums as an Ordinary is no simple task, and Paedyn knows this better than most. Having been trained by her father to be keenly observant since she was a child, Paedyn poses as a Psychic in the crowded city, blending in with the Elites as best she can to stay alive and out of trouble…easier said than done. When Paeydn unsuspectingly saves one of Ilya&’s princes, she finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials. The brutal competition exists to showcase the Elites&’ powers—the very thing Paedyn lacks. If the Trials and the opponents within them don&’t kill her, the prince she&’s fighting feelings for certainly will if he discovers what she is…completely Ordinary.
Night Moves: Dream Man/After the Night
by Linda HowardDream Man Marlie Keen was trying to lead a quiet, ordinary life. She thought the clairvoyance that allowed her to witness crimes as they happened had been destroyed in the nightmare of her past. Then one night it returned with a vengeance, and she desperately needed to find someone to make it stop. Detective Dane Hollister of the Orlando police department had never met anyone like Marlie. He had doubts about her clairvoyance, but there was no doubt how much he desired her. Her soft, sweet scent set his blood afire, and he wanted to wrap her in his arms and chase the sadness from her eyes. To Marlie, Dane was all heat and hard muscle, and he made her body come alive as it never had before. But not even she could foresee where their passion would lead: a hungry quest for the elusive, dreamy ecstasies of love...and a dangerous journey into the twisted mind of a madman who would threaten their happiness and their lives.... After the Night A poor, outcast child in Prescott, Louisiana, Faith Devlin had always adored the town's golden boy from afar. But he called her white trash that sultry Southern night when his rich, respected father disappeared, along with her pretty mom. Now Faith wanted to hate Gray Rouillard...not to feel a powerful surge of desire. But she couldn't quench her passion, any more than she could hide the truth about the past she had waited so long to unravel. Even when he raised hell, Gray Rouillard did it with style. Reckless, charming, and backed by Rouillard money, Gray controlled the town of Prescott -- and Devlin was a name he never wanted to hear again. But when he gazed at Faith Devlin, all he saw was a swirl of tangled sheets and her silken flesh beneath him. To care for her was impossible, unthinkable...because Gray Rouillard planned to use all his power to ruin her.
The Best of Friends
by Susan MalleryNew York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery is at her heart-stirring best in this witty, richly layered story about friendship, love, and breaking free.In high school, studious Jayne Scott and wild child Rebecca Worden, the famous Worden jewelry heiress, became unlikely best friends—a tie that endured even after Rebecca fled her family to live overseas. After Jayne&’s mother passed away, she became part unpaid assistant, part surrogate daughter to the wealthy Wordens. But now, ten years later, Rebecca is coming home to Los Angeles to wreak havoc for the mother who all but rejected her. And Jayne finds herself pulled deeper into the Wordens&’ complicated family dynamics—especially when Rebecca&’s brother, David, returns as well. David is the man Jayne always wanted and knew she could never have. But when he gravitates toward her in spite of his mother&’s protests, Jayne&’s vow to escape the family&’s shadow is put to the ultimate test. As lies are shattered and true feelings exposed, Jayne must decide where loyalty ends and love begins....
Great Short Books: A Year of Reading—Briefly (Great Short Books)
by Kenneth C. DavisThis entertaining guide to some of the best short novels of all time, from a bestselling historian, is the &“perfect gift for busy bibliophiles&” (BookPage).Experience the joys of literature with this this &“exciting guide to all that the world of fiction has to offer&” (The New York Times Book Review): a compulsively readable, deeply engaging discussion of great short novels. A journey into fiction designed with our contemporary attention spans in mind, Great Short Books suggests fifty-eight excellent short novels, all under 200 pages—easily readable in a week or less—a fresh approach to a fun, fascinating year of reading. From hard-boiled fiction to magical realism, the 18th century to the present day, Great Short Books spans genres, cultures, countries, and time to present an enchanting and diverse selection of acclaimed and canonical novels. From works in translation like Yu Miri&’s Tokyo Ueno Station and Marguerite Duras&’s The Lover to popular, acclaimed authors like Toni Morrison and James Baldwin, this compilation is a celebration of classics from the historic to contemporary—plus a few bestsellers, including Stephen King and Colson Whitehead. Each entry includes the novel&’s opening lines, a spoiler-free plot summary, a &“why you should read it&” section, and suggestions for what to read next. &“An entertaining journey with a fun, knowledgeable guide&” (Booklist), this eclectic collection is a fun and practical book for any passionate reader hoping to broaden their literary IQ—or anyone who wants to find an effortless reentry into reading.
Lying in Wait: Ann Rule's Crime Files: Vol.17 (Ann Rule's Crime Files #Bk. 17)
by Ann RuleAnn Rule presents a collection of fascinating and disturbing true-crime stories—drawn from her real-life personal files—in this seventeenth volume in the #1 New York Times bestselling Crime Files series.In this gripping collection of investigative accounts from her private archives, &“America&’s best true-crime writer&” (Kirkus Reviews) exposes the most frightening aspect of the murderous mind: the waiting game. Trusted family members or strangers, these cold-blooded killers select their unsuspecting prey, wait for the perfect moment to strike, then turn normality into homicidal mayhem in a matter of moments. Ann Rule will have you seeing the people and places around you with heightened caution as you read these shattering cases, including: - New mothers murdered, their infants kidnapped, in an atrocious baby-selling scheme - The man who kept his criminal past hidden from his wife—and his wife from his mistress—until he coldly disposed of one of them - The beautiful daughter of a State Department official ran away from the privileged world she knew and hitched a ride with a man she didn&’t...with fatal consequences - For months, a vicious, rage-filled serial rapist eluded police and terrorized Seattle&’s women—when would he strike next, and how far would his violence escalate? - A criminal known for his Houdini-like escapes is serving time for murder in a botched robbery—now the convict is being served dinner in a civilian&’s home, where he has one more trick up his sleeve - A long-lost relative who came home to visit, leaving a bloody trail through Washington and Oregon; no one realized how dangerous he and his ladylove were—until it was far too late... With her ability to translate the most complex cases into storytelling &“as dramatic and chilling as a bedroom window shattering at night&” (The New York Times), Rule expertly analyzes the thoughts and deeds of the sociopath, in this seventeenth essential Crime Files volume.
Princess Annie (Quade #3)
by Linda Lael MillerFrom bestselling author Linda Lael Miller comes the tale of a brooding crown prince, a castle filled with intrigue, and a high-spirited beauty headed for trouble—and love. Sweepingly romantic and deliciously spicy, this enchanting story shows once again why Romantic Times Book Reviews named Linda Lael Miller &“The Most Outstanding Writer of Sensual Romance.&”A visit with Bavia&’s royal family was supposed to be the stuff dreams were made of for Annie Trevarren, an American girl abroad. Instead it was turning into a disaster. First Annie impetuously crawled onto a castle roof and had to be rescued by Crown Prince Rafael St. James himself. Then her dearest friend, the prince&’s sister, Phaedra, balks at an arranged wedding. The peasants rebel. The throne totters. Worst of all, Annie is losing her heart. Alas, Prince Rafael is no knight in shining armor. His former mistress has moved into the castle, and his notorious temper is flaring. But when fate brings Annie and her prince together in a secluded cottage, she can see his stern gaze soften. And his fleeting caresses...is Rafael seducing her? A future with him is highly improbable—but a life without him is unthinkable. Rafael may intend to offer her a lesson in passion, but she&’ll teach the arrogant prince a better one: nothing is a greater ruler than love!
His Majesty's Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World's Largest Flying Machine
by S. C. GwynneFrom historian and bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Empire of the Summer Moon comes a &“captivating, thoroughly researched&” (The New York Times Book Review) tale of the rise and fall of the world&’s largest airship—and the doomed love story between an ambitious British officer and a married Romanian princess at its heart.The tragic fate of the British airship R101—which went down in a spectacular fireball in 1930, killing more people than died in the Hindenburg disaster seven years later—has been largely forgotten. In His Majesty&’s Airship, S.C. Gwynne resurrects it in vivid detail, telling the epic story of great ambition gone terribly wrong. Airships, those airborne leviathans that occupied center stage in the world in the first half of the 20th century, were a symbol of the future. R101 was not just the largest aircraft ever to have flown and the product of the world&’s most advanced engineering—she was also the lynchpin of an imperial British scheme to link by air the far-flung areas of its empire, from Australia to India, South Africa, Canada, Egypt, and Singapore. No one had ever conceived of anything like this, and R101 captivated the world. There was just one problem: beyond the hype and technological wonders, these big, steel-framed, hydrogen-filled airships were a dangerously bad idea. Gwynne&’s chronicle features a cast of remarkable—and tragically flawed—characters, including Lord Christopher Thomson, the man who dreamed up the Imperial Airship Scheme and then relentlessly pushed R101 to her destruction; Princess Marthe Bibesco, the celebrated writer and glamorous socialite with whom he had a long affair; and George Herbert Scott, a national hero who was the first person to cross the Atlantic twice in any aircraft, in 1919—eight years before Lindbergh&’s famous flight—but who devolved into drink and ruin. These historical figures—and the ship they built, flew, and crashed—come together in &“a Promethean tale of unlimited ambitions and technical limitations, airy dreams and explosive endings&” (The Wall Street Journal).
Emma And The Outlaw (Orphan Train #2)
by Linda Lael MillerThe #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller continues the Orphan Train trilogy continues with this second book about a sizzling romance between the local librarian and a drifter with a price on his head.As the librarian of her frontier town in Idaho Territory, Emma Chalmers is prim and proper despite her unconventional upbringing by the local madam. She wouldn&’t even permit Fulton Whitney to kiss her, and they were practically engaged. But when Steven Fairfax landed in her home, wounded by an explosion at a rowdy neighborhood saloon, his lazy smile made Emma&’s blood race. Slowly, Steven stilled her fears with his gentle, insistent caresses...until at last, she gave herself unashamedly to the splendid passion that was their destiny. But Emma faces a new terror: the drifter she&’s come to love so desperately is a wanted man and his past is about to catch up with him.
House of Names: A Novel
by Colm Toibin* A Washington Post Notable Fiction Book of the Year * Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, The Guardian, The Boston Globe, St. Louis Dispatch From the thrilling imagination of bestselling, award-winning Colm Tóibín comes a retelling of the story of Clytemnestra and her children—&“brilliant…gripping…high drama…made tangible and graphic in Tóibín&’s lush prose&” (Booklist, starred review).&“I have been acquainted with the smell of death.&” So begins Clytemnestra&’s tale of her own life in ancient Mycenae, the legendary Greek city from which her husband King Agamemnon left when he set sail with his army for Troy. Clytemnestra rules Mycenae now, along with her new lover Aegisthus, and together they plot the bloody murder of Agamemnon on the day of his return after nine years at war. Judged, despised, cursed by gods, Clytemnestra reveals the tragic saga that led to these bloody actions: how her husband deceived her eldest daughter Iphigeneia with a promise of marriage to Achilles, only to sacrifice her; how she seduced and collaborated with the prisoner Aegisthus; how Agamemnon came back with a lover himself; and how Clytemnestra finally achieved her vengeance for his stunning betrayal—his quest for victory, greater than his love for his child. House of Names &“is a disturbingly contemporary story of a powerful woman caught between the demands of her ambition and the constraints on her gender…Never before has Tóibín demonstrated such range,&” (The Washington Post). He brings a modern sensibility and language to an ancient classic, and gives this extraordinary character new life, so that we not only believe Clytemnestra&’s thirst for revenge, but applaud it. Told in four parts, this is a fiercely dramatic portrait of a murderess, who will herself be murdered by her own son, Orestes. It is Orestes&’s story, too: his capture by the forces of his mother&’s lover Aegisthus, his escape and his exile. And it is the story of the vengeful Electra, who watches over her mother and Aegisthus with cold anger and slow calculation, until, on the return of her brother, she has the fates of both of them in her hands.
Pimpology: The 48 Laws of the Game (A Relationship Guide)
by Pimpin' KenStar of the HBO documentaries Pimps Up, Ho&’s Down and American Pimp, Annual Players&’ Ball &“Mack of the Year&” winner Ken Ivy reveals the unwritten rules that took him from the ghetto streets to the executive suites.The names change, but the game remains the same. In Pimpology, Ken Ivy pulls a square's coat on the unwritten rules that took him from the ghetto streets to the executive suites. Ken's lessons will serve any person in any interaction: Whether at work, in relationships, or among friends, somebody's got to be on top. To be the one with the upper hand, you've got to have good game, and good game starts with knowing the rules. If you want the money, power, and respect you dream of, you can't just "pimp your ride," you need to pimp your whole life. And unless you've seen Ray Charles leading Stevie Wonder somewhere, you need Ken's guidelines to do it. They'll reach out and touch you like AT&T and bring good things to life like GE. Then you can be the boss with the hot sauce who gets it all like Monty Hall.
Lily and the Major (Orphan Train #1)
by Linda Lael MillerThe first novel in the romantic Orphan Train trilogy is a beloved historical classic about a woman who must choose between her family and her one true love—by #1 New York Times bestselling author Linda Lael Miller.In his arms, she discovered how tender—and how bold—true passion could be… Lily Chalmers wanted only two things from life—a farm of her own, and to find the sisters she hadn’t seen since they were all little girls heading West on the orphan train. She certainly had no desire for a husband. Yet proud, innocent Lily had no idea what desire meant until she met Major Caleb Halliday, a man who could ignite her very being with a single touch…a glance…a whisper. Sheltered in his arms, Lily rode the crest of a wild, helpless passion. And though she struggled against her own willful heart, she knew she could never choose between the dazzling man who had claimed her love so completely, and her bold, long-cherished dream…
Scandalous (Banning Sisters Trilogy #Bk. 1)
by Karen RobardsAn unexpected romance emerges between a young woman desperate to keep her family&’s wealth and the man trying to gain it in this first in New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards&’s Regency-era series.England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family&’s riches will pass to the next male heir—a distant cousin—and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that her brother is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire&’s London season. She&’ll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be the Earl of Wickham, Gabby&’s plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger&’s deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other—and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of &“siblings&” who appear to be falling in love.