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Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves
by Quinn ConnorAt turns haunting and breathtaking, Cicadas Sing of Summer Graves explores legacies of love, family, and the ghostly imprint grief leaves behind as three women face the past to bring light to an old Southern town lost deep beneath the surface.Years ago, yellow fever gripped the small lakeside town of Prosper, Arkansas. At the height of that summer swelter, in the wake of an unexpected storm, the dam failed and the valley flooded—drowning the town and everyone trapped inside.The secrets of old Prosper drowned with them.Now, decades later, when a mysterious locked box is pulled from the depths of the lake, three descendants of that long-ago tragedy are hurled into another feverish summer. Cassie: the reclusive sole witness to an impossible horror no one believes. Lark: a wide-eyed dreamer haunted by bizarre visions. June: caught between longing for a fresh start and bearing witness to the ghosts of the past. Bound together, all three must contend with their home's complex history—and with the ruins of the town lost far beneath the troubled water."A liquid southern Gothic that laps against the land of the living until old secrets that can't be washed away are revealed. Seductive, haunting and beautiful." —Willa Reece, author of Wildwood Magic
Circuit Modeling of Inductively-Coupled Pulsed Accelerators
by Kurt A. Polzin Ashley K. Hallock Kamesh Sankaran Justin M. LittleThis monograph describes lumped-element modelling techniques for inductively-coupled pulsed accelerators, starting from the basic physical description of the various processes and then bringing all the pieces together into solutions. Coilguns, inductive pulsed plasma thrusters, and compact toroids have each been individually studied using the methods used in this monograph. This monograph is of interest to researchers and graduate students in physics, engineering, and mathematics presently studying inductively-coupled pulsed accelerators.Features The first book to unify the lumped-element modelling techniques for various inductively-coupled pulsed accelerator implementations. Discussion of modelling different accelerators in a coherent, rigorous manner, demonstrating the similarities and differences for each type. Authored by authorities in the field.
City of Stolen Magic
by Nazneen Ahmed PathakA spellbinding, epic and heart-racing magical adventure from an exquisite new storytelling talent.'Ahmed Pathak is a wonderful new voice; the book took her years to write, and it shows in the depth and care of each beat of the story' - Katherine Rundell'A wonderful writer who paints a thoroughly convincing heroine' - The Daily TelegraphIndia, 1855. The British rule, and all across the country, Indian magic is being stamped out.More terrifying still, people born with magic are being snatched from their homes. Rumour is that they are being taken across the sea - to England - by the all-powerful, sinister Company.When Chompa's home is attacked and her mother viciously kidnapped, Chompa - born with powerful and dangerous magic that she has always been forbidden from using - must travel to the smoky, bustling streets of East London in search of her. But Chompa will discover far more treachery in London than she had bargained for - and will learn that every act of her rare magic comes with a price . . .'Cracking pace, fabulous magic system, characters, relationships . . . The whole package' - Louie Stowell'An unexpected gem of a story . . . A stellar setting, a gut-punch of a twist, and an unforgettable heroine. This has all the hallmarks of classic children's storytelling' - Nizrana Farook'Phenomenal' - Sophie Anderson'Dazzling from start to finish' - Abi Elphinstone'A gripping and spellbinding fantasy woven together with threads of magic, secrets and colonial history . . . An incredible cast of characters and a truly multicultural Victorian London that we don't see often enough' - Rashmi Sirdeshpande'A wonderfully vibrant debut . . . A vivid magical adventure' - Jasbinder Bilan
The Civil War Soldier and the Press
by Katrina J. Quinn David B. Sachsman Dea LisicaThe Civil War Soldier and the Press examines how the press powerfully shaped the nation’s understanding and memory of the common soldier, setting the stage for today’s continuing debates about the Civil War and its legacy.The history of the Civil War is typically one of military strategies, famous generals, and bloody battles, but to Americans of the era, the most important story of the war was the fate of the soldier. In this edited collection, new research in journalism history and archival images provide an interdisciplinary study of citizenship, representation, race and ethnicity, gender, disability, death, and national identity. Together, these chapters follow the story of Civil War soldiers, from enlistment through battle and beyond, as they were represented in hometown and national newspapers of the time. In discussing the same pages that were read by soldiers’ families, friends, and loved ones during America’s greatest conflict, the book provides a window into the experience of historical readers as they grappled with the meaning and cost of patriotism and shared sacrifice.Both scholarly and approachable, this book is an enriching resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in Civil War history, American history, journalism, and mass communication history.
Cleaning Up: Portuguese Women’s Fight for Labour Rights in Toronto
by Susana P. MirandaThis fascinating book uncovers the little-known, surprisingly radical history of the Portuguese immigrant women who worked as night-time office cleaners and daytime “cleaning ladies” in postwar Toronto. Drawing on union records, newspapers, and interviews, feminist labour historians Susana P. Miranda and Franca Iacovetta piece together the lives of immigrant women who bucked convention by reshaping domestic labour and by leading union drives, striking for workers’ rights, and taking on corporate capital in the heart of Toronto’s financial district. Despite being sidelined within the labour movement and subjected to harsh working conditions in the commercial cleaning industry, the women forged critical alliances with local activists to shape picket-line culture and make an indelible mark on their communities. Richly detailed and engagingly written, Cleaning Up is an archival treasure about an undersung piece of working-class history in urban North America.
Climate Change and Ecosystems: Challenges to Sustainable Development (Footprints of Climate Variability on Plant Diversity)
by Shah FahadThe global population is projected to increase by 3.3 billion from 6.7 billion in 2008 to 10 billion in 2100. As a result, soil degradation and desertification are growing due to the increasing demand for food, feed, fiber, and fuel on finite soil resources. The problem of global food insecurity may be further worsened by the threat of global warming. Climate change is showing its impacts in terms of increasing temperatures, variable rainfall, and an increase in climate-related extremes such as floods, droughts, cyclones, sea-level rise, salinity, and soil erosion. The agriculture sector is the most sensitive to climate change because the climate of a region/country determines the nature and characteristics of vegetation and crops. Increase in the mean seasonal temperature and decrease in effective precipitation can reduce the duration of many crops, may lead to outbreaks of pests and diseases, and hence reduce final yield ultimately affecting the food security of the country. Despite the positive impact of CO2 fertilization, the net productivity may decrease because of an increase in respiration rate, drought stress, and nutrient deficiency. For example, for every 75 ppm increase in CO2 concentration, rice yields will increase by 0.5 t/ha, but the yield will decrease by 0.6 t/ha for every 1°C increase in temperature. The global agricultural productivity is expected to decrease from 3% to 16% by 2080. The estimated decrease in agricultural productivity in the developing countries is 10%–25% in the 2080s, where average air temperature is already near or above crop tolerance levels. This book is intended to serve as a stimulating collection that will contribute to debate and reflection on the sustainable future of agriculture and food production in the face of global change.Features: This book brings together a multidimensional group of international scholars exploring the ethical dimensions of climate change and ecosystem. New strategies have been pointed out in this book for better sustainable development. This book has been designed to provide a good overview of major challenges facing policymakers, researchers, and ultimately humankind in dealing with climate change. This book summarizes the diverse features of vulnerability, adaptation, and amelioration of climate change in respect to plants, crops, soil, and microbes for the sustainability of the agricultural sector, and, ultimately, food security for the future. This book provides a state-of-the-art description of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular status of the understanding of abiotic stress in plants.
Climate Change and Legumes: Stress Mitigation for Sustainability and Food Security
by Mohammad Zabed Hossain Hossain Anawar Doongar R. ChaudharyGlobal climate change has created unprecedented challenges for human civilization due to its widespread adverse consequences, including a reduction in crop yield and threatening food security across the globe. Among the crop plants, legumes have great potential for ameliorating global warming since they can reduce carbon emissions by lowering reliance on the application of chemical fertilizers, by increasing nitrification and carbon sequestration in soil, and by providing protein-rich diets to both humans and livestock. This book identifies the extent of climate-induced stresses on legume plants and focuses on achieving food security through sustainable agricultural practices.This book compiles recent research findings and reviews on climate-related problems, the potential of legumes in ameliorating the impacts of climate change, as well as better management of agricultural land and practices for achieving environmental sustainability and food security.This book will serve as guidelines for scientists, agricultural practitioners, and policymakers working to achieve food security and better management of climate-induced stresses in agricultural interventions. It will also be useful as a reference book for researchers and students of both graduate and postgraduate levels. Furthermore, this book will provide enhanced knowledge about the mechanisms of yield and stress tolerance of legumes as well as developing climate-smart crops and improving cropping systems for a sustainable environment and food security. Features of the book Reviews trends of global climate change and its consequences for food security across the continents Identifies the challenges and scopes of cultivating legumes in achieving food security in the context of global climate change Focuses on the improvements of legume production through conservation approaches in agricultural practices and modern techniques, including omics-based breeding, biotechnology, genetic engineering, and rhizobium technology Discusses the sustainable amelioration options for soils affected by climate-induced stresses Cites examples of applications of rhizobium technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emission Describes pathways associated with yield, resistance, and tolerance of legumes to climate-induced stresses
Climate Optimism: Celebrating Systemic Change Around the World
by Zahra BiabaniA Guide on Climate Optimism and Environmental Sustainability "If you want to be part of the solution, this book is for you.” ―Kip Pastor, founder and CEO of Pique Action#1 New Release in Sustainable Business Development and Environmental PolicyZahra Biabani, a climate activist focused on hope and action, wrote this book to help readers learn why we need to and how we can stay optimistic in the face of the climate crisis. People are doing good things for our planet all over the world…. it's time we highlight it!Change the way you think about the future. The fate of humanity can be daunting, but we don’t need to live in that space. First, we need to change our attitude in order to implement nature based solutions that help mitigate climate change. Good news: there are numerous encouraging environmental trends that will change the way you think about how we can protect the planet. Get to know Zahra Biabani, a climate activist, influencer, CEO, and writer. Zahra’s content focuses on climate hope, optimism, humor, and doing good things. After unexpectedly establishing a career as an online sustainability educator and influencer her junior year at Vanderbilt University, Zahra decided to jump head first into the waters of entrepreneurship and authorship. Climate Optimism is her way to spread hope in the world.Inside, you’ll find:A comprehensive review of the most promising climate solutions Practical advice to change the way you think and feel about climate changeTwo years worth of good news from the “Weekly Earth Wins” series Interviews with activists in the Global South working on projects that further environmental sustainability If you liked Not Too Late, Apocalypse Never, or Unsettled or books for activists centered on environmentalism like A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety, The Intersectional Environmentalist, or Sustainable Badass, you’ll love Climate Optimism.
Coastal Architectures and Politics of Tourism: Leisurescapes in the Global Sunbelt
by Sibel BozdoǧanThis volume offers a critical and complicated picture of how leisure tourism connected the world after the World War II, transforming coastal lands, traditional societies, and national economies in new ways.The 21 chapters in this book analyze selected case studies of architectures and landscapes around the world, contextualizing them within economic geographies of national development, the geopolitics of the Cold War, the legacies of colonialism, and the international dynamics of decolonization. Postwar leisure tourism evokes a rich array of architectural spaces and altered coastal landscapes, which is explored in this collection through discussions of tourism developments in the Mediterranean littoral, such as Greece, Turkey, and southern France, as well as compelling analyses of Soviet bloc seaside resorts along the Black Sea and Baltic coasts, and in beachscapes and tourism architectures of western and eastern hemispheres, from Southern California to Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Egypt. This collection makes a compelling argument that "leisurescapes," far from being supra-ideological and apolitical spatial expressions of modernization, development, and progress, have often concealed histories of conflict, violence, social inequalities, and environmental degradation. It will be of interest to architectural and urban historians, architects and planners, as well as urban geographers, economic and environmental historians.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Sport and Performance: An Applied Practice Guide
by Paul Mccarthy Sahen Gupta Lindsey BurnsMany sport and performance psychologists worldwide practise cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as a therapeutic and applied practice approach. But no textbook currently offers a blueprint to understand and use CBT in sport and performance settings.Cognitive Behaviour Therapy in Sport and Performance: An Applied Practice Guide builds upon a tangible foundation for the practice of CBT and related techniques in sport and performance contexts. This new book presents key points to help students and practitioners bring CBT into the sport and performance context. We focus on the ‘what is’ and the ‘how to’.Drawing upon the latest research and a wealth of applied practice experience, this easy-to-use guide takes the reader through each step of the CBT process with case examples, plain instructions, and worksheets to maximise the quality and depth necessary for effective CBT practice.As an applied guide, this book educates undergraduates and postgraduates in sport and performance psychology (and all its variants). This book is an instrumental guidance material for sport and exercise psychology students but also invaluable as a practice guide for performance psychology trainees in applied practice placements and as a refresher primer for established professionals.
Combinatorial Algorithms: 34th International Workshop, IWOCA 2023, Tainan, Taiwan, June 7–10, 2023, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #13889)
by Sun-Yuan Hsieh Ling-Ju Hung Chia-Wei LeeThis book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 34th International Workshop on Combinatorial Algorithms, IWOCA 2023, held in Tainan, Taiwan, during June 7–10, 2023. The 33 full papers included in this book were carefully reviewed and selected from 86 submissions. They were organized in topical sections as follows: algorithms and data structures; algorithmic and combinatorical aspects of cryptography and information security; algorithmic game theory and complexity of games; approximation algorithms; complexity theory; combinatorics and graph theory; combinatorial generation, enumeration and counting; combinatorial optimization; combinatorics of words; computational biology; computational geometry; decompositions and combinatorial designs; distributed and network algorithms; experimental combinatorics; fine-grained complexity; graph algorithms and modelling with graphs; graph drawing and graph labelling; network theory and temporal graphs; quantum computing and algorithms for quantum computers; online algorithms; parameterized and exact algorithms; probabilistic and randomized algorithms; and streaming algorithms.
Comfy: Next-level comfort food you’ll actually want to cook
by Chris Collins Don’t Go HeartMake your comfort food dreams come true with Comfy, the essential cookbook for simple, indulgent and joyful dinners to make your heart sing.Creator of the renowned food blog Don't Go Bacon My Heart, Chris Collins has curated a collection of feel-good dinners that put flavour first, combining accessible ingredients, straightforward methods and failproof cooking advice for unforgettable meals every time.- Burrata Caprese Pasta- Cottage Pie Baked Potatoes- Easy Bloomer Bread Pizza- Brown Butter Gnocchi with Sage and Butternut Squash- Soul Soothing Chicken Orzo Soup- Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing- Harissa Halloumi Skewers- Katsu CurryEverything from plates piled high with pasta, takeaway classics reinvented for the home kitchen, set-and-forget slow-cooker favourites and dinner-worthy soups and salads. This is year-round food that you'll never want to stop cooking.The only book you need to create cosy and delicious evenings for you, your family and your friends.
Complexity and Leadership (Complexity and Management)
by Kiran Chauhan Emma Crewe Chris MowlesLeading organisations in our contemporary world means grappling with unpredictability, painful pressures and continual conflict, all in the context of an acceleration in the pace of change. We expect the impossible from heroic leaders and they rarely live up to expectations. With countless recommendations, self-help books and new concepts, scholars and management consultants often simplify and dream unrealistically. This book challenges the more orthodox discourse on leadership and presents a way of thinking about leadership that pays closer attention to experience.The contributors in this book, all senior managers or facilitators of leadership development, resist easy solutions, new typologies or unrealistic prescriptions. Writing about their experiences in Denmark, the UK, Israel, Ethiopia, South Africa and beyond, they are less concerned with traits that people can possess and learn, or magical promises of recipes for success, and more with the socio-political process of the interaction between people from which leadership emerges as a theme. We focus on understanding leadership as a practice within which communication, research, imagination and ethical judgements are continuously improvised. So rather than idealising leadership, or reducing it to soothing tools and techniques, we suggest how leaders might become more politically, emotionally and socially savvy. This book is written for academics and practitioners with an interest in the everyday challenges of both individual and group practices of formal and informal leaders in different types of organisations, and is an ideal resource for executives and students on leadership development programmes. We hope this volume will help readers to expand the wisdom found in their own experience and discover for themselves and for others, a greater sense of freedom.
Computational Linear Algebra: with Applications and MATLAB® Computations (Textbooks in Mathematics)
by Robert E. WhiteCourses on linear algebra and numerical analysis need each other. Often NA courses have some linear algebra topics, and LA courses mention some topics from numerical analysis/scientific computing. This text merges these two areas into one introductory undergraduate course. It assumes students have had multivariable calculus. A second goal of this text is to demonstrate the intimate relationship of linear algebra to applications/computations.A rigorous presentation has been maintained. A third reason for writing this text is to present, in the first half of the course, the very important topic on singular value decomposition, SVD. This is done by first restricting consideration to real matrices and vector spaces. The general inner product vector spaces are considered starting in the middle of the text.The text has a number of applications. These are to motivate the student to study the linear algebra topics. Also, the text has a number of computations. MATLAB® is used, but one could modify these codes to other programming languages. These are either to simplify some linear algebra computation, or to model a particular application.
Computational Statistical Methodologies and Modeling for Artificial Intelligence (ISSN)
by Priyanka Harjule Azizur Rahman Basant Agarwal Vinita TiwariThis book covers computational statistics-based approaches for Artificial Intelligence. The aim of this book is to provide comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals through the applications of the different kinds of mathematical modelling and statistical techniques and describing their applications in different Artificial Intelligence systems. The primary users of this book will include researchers, academicians, postgraduate students, and specialists in the areas of data science, mathematical modelling, and Artificial Intelligence. It will also serve as a valuable resource for many others in the fields of electrical, computer, and optical engineering.The key features of this book are: Presents development of several real-world problem applications and experimental research in the field of computational statistics and mathematical modelling for Artificial Intelligence Examines the evolution of fundamental research into industrialized research and the transformation of applied investigation into real-time applications Examines the applications involving analytical and statistical solutions, and provides foundational and advanced concepts for beginners and industry professionals Provides a dynamic perspective to the concept of computational statistics for analysis of data and applications in intelligent systems with an objective of ensuring sustainability issues for ease of different stakeholders in various fields Integrates recent methodologies and challenges by employing mathematical modeling and statistical techniques for Artificial Intelligence
Conan the Barbarian: The Official Story of the Film
by John WalshOfficial retrospective hardback book telling the story of the making of Conan The Barbarian, including interviews with cast and crew and featuring behind-the-scenes photography from the shoot.In 1982, Robert E. Howard's iconic literary anti-hero, Conan, slashed his way from page to screen after a perilous decades-long journey. With its potent mix of epic vistas and bloody battles, Conan the Barbarian thrilled moviegoers around the world and launched the career of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Forty years after its release, this cult-classic film is celebrated in Conan the Barbarian – The Official Story of the Film, a lush hardback volume that tells the full story of how the film was made. Brand new interviews with cast and crew, as well behind-the-scenes photography from the set and concept art created for the production, give fascinating insights into the development of one of the best-loved fantasy films of the 1980s.
Conquest and Reclamation in the Transatlantic Imagination: The Amerindian Fictions of Henty, Haggard, and Griffith (Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory)
by Luz Elena RamirezThis book examines the imperial spectacles and startling reversals of fortune related in William H. Prescott's History of the Conquest of Mexico (1843) and History of the Conquest of Peru (1847), and investigates how these accounts inspired fictional adaptations by George A. Henty, H. Rider Haggard, and George Griffith. The revision of history in the Amerindian adventure both entertained young transatlantic audiences and was a vehicle to attract tourism and investment in countries such as Mexico and Peru. Henty, Haggard, and Griffith, moreover, used their tales of adventure as a platform to impart British values to their readers. Such values compel the characters and narrators of the novels discussed to act as cultural mediators, to acquire indigenous languages and adopt native ways of being, and, in several of the romance adventures under consideration, to marry Mexican or Incan noblewomen. Part I, Conquest, examines George Henty’s By Right of Conquest: Or, With Cortez in Mexico (1891), H. Rider Haggard’s Montezuma’s Daughter (1893), and George Griffith’s Virgin of the Sun: A Tale of the Conquest of Peru (1898). Part II, Reclamation, argues that English re-writings of history work to eclipse the Spanish in Haggard’s Virgin the Sun (1922), Henty’s Treasure of the Incas (1902) and Griffith’s Romance of Golden Star (1897).
Constitutional Polarization: A Critical Review of the U.S. Political System
by Josep M. ColomerIn this book, Josep M. Colomer argues, against much conventional wisdom, that political polarization is embedded in the constitutional design.The book puts forth that sustained conflict and institutional gridlock are not mainly questions of character, personalities, or determined by socioeconomic or cultural inequalities. They are, above all, the result of the formula of separation of powers between the Presidency and Congress, which, together with a system of only two parties, fosters adversarial politics and polarization. Colomer contends that in the past, bipartisan cooperation and domestic peace flourished only under a foreign existential threat, such as during the Cold War. Once such a threat vanished, unsettled issues and new social concerns have broadened the public agenda and triggered again animosity and conflict.Constitutional Polarization offers innovative and relevant insights in political science to a broad readership without technical or academic jargon. It will be of high interest for those reader attentive to current affairs, as well as for public officers, journalists, pundits, and those in the study of political science, where it can also become a staple for courses in American Politics.
Contemporary Global Perspectives on Cooperative Learning: Applications Across Educational Contexts (Routledge Research in Education)
by Robyn M. Gillies Barbara Millis Neil DavidsonThis volume captures contemporary global developments in cooperative learning (CL) across varied educational contexts, levels, and disciplines.Cooperative learning is widely recognized as a pedagogical practice that promotes socialization and learning among students, from kindergarten to tertiary education and across different subject domains. With chapters from contributors throughout the Global North and South, this comprehensive volume offers a wide-ranging perspective and addresses a range of cooperative learning pedagogies including relational, online, and peer learning, STAD, the Jigsaw model, and dialogic talk. The chapters draw on novel empirical research and theory to highlight best practices in cooperative learning, whilst also considering the challenges, limitations, and factors which drive or inhibit learner engagement and success. Consistent attention is given to the pivotal role of the educator in implementing cooperative learning to maximum benefit to enhance students’ affective, social, cognitive, and metacognitive learning.Thus, this book will appeal to scholars and researchers across a variety of subjects; and will provide an additional benefit to in-service and pre-service educators who already practice cooperative learning in their classrooms, as well as those who are interested in implementing the model.
The Cookie That Changed My Life: And More Than 100 Other Classic Cakes, Cookies, Muffins, and Pies That Will Change Yours: A Cookbook
by Nancy Silverton Carolynn CarrenoNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The eagerly anticipated baking bible from America's most respected authority: 100+ recipes for cookies, cakes, breads, breakfast pastries, and much more.A Best Book of the Year: NPR, Los Angeles Times, Epicurious"Nancy Silverton baked a brioche so perfect that it brought Julia Child to tears...Nancy showed us how to strip away the extras and spotlight the essentials. She&’s still doing that and we&’re all still learning from her." —Dorie Greenspan, author of Dorie's CookiesNancy Silverton made her reputation as the original pastry chef for Wolfgang Puck's restaurant Spago. Biting into a particularly delicious peanut butter cookie one day, she and had an epiphany: every single thing we bake should taste this good. And so she decided to return to her roots, and set to work perfecting the rest of the American baking canon.From Lattice-Topped Apple Pie to Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting (the secret? Carrot puree) to Cornbread (is it too much to ask that it actually taste like corn?), she shares recipes for the platonic ideals of our most beloved baked goods.Alongside the classics—Lemon Bars, Key Lime Pie, Layered Buttermilk Biscuits—Silverton includes a handful of her own inventions: Double-Decker Chocolate Cookies (double the fun!), Iced Raisin Bars (a better fig newton), and Chocolate Brandy Cake (chocolate and brandy!)—all sure to become future classics. With more than a hundred perfected recipes, The Cookie That Changed My Life is a veritable encyclopedia of the very best things to bake.
The Coronation Party: The heart-warming and uplifting new saga for fans of Nancy Revell
by Norma CurtisA heart-warming and emotional saga perfect for the coronation, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell, Rosie Goodwin and Vicky Beeby'This joyful saga is the perfect read to get you in the Coronation spirit!' MY WEEKLY'Entirely charming and utterly joyful' TRISHA ASHLEY____________Spring, 1953. The sun is shining on Little Green Street, the bunting is being brought out, and Britain is getting ready to crown its new Queen.For Helen Jones, whose father died on the same day as the old king, the coronation might just represent a fresh start. Her husband Tad, organiser of the local street party, is determined to put a smile back on her face.Whereas for Emlyn Hughes, who has secretly admired beautiful single mother Nancy for years, the sudden festive spirit might just be the prompt he needs to finally confess his feelings.As the cakes are baked and the national anthem is rehearsed, the street is finally ready to cast aside the shadow of war for a moment of true joy.But Emlyn and Tad's plans are shaken by the arrival of an unexpected letter and an unwelcome guest.As old secrets threaten to ruin their new starts, only the power of good neighbours and kind hearts can keep the street together - and make sure they have a party that's fit for a Queen . . .
The Cosmography and Geography of Africa
by Leo AfricanusThe first new translation in over 400 years of one of the great works of the RenaissanceIn 1518, al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Wazzan, a Moroccan diplomat, was seized by pirates while travelling in the Mediterranean. Brought before Pope Leo X, he was persuaded to convert to Christianity, in the process taking the name Johannes Leo Africanus. Acclaimed in the papal court for his learning, Leo would in time write his masterpiece, The Cosmography and the Geography of Africa.The Cosmography was the first book about Africa, and the first book written by a modern African, to reach print. It would remain central to the European understanding of Africa for over 300 years, with its descriptions of lands, cities and peoples giving a singular vision of the vast continent: its urban bustle and rural desolation, its culture, commerce and warfare, its magical herbs and strange animals.Yet it is not a mere catalogue of the exotic: Leo also invited his readers to acknowledge the similarity and relevance of these lands to the time and place they knew. For this reason, The Cosmography and Geography of Africa remains significant to our understanding not only of Africa, but of the world and how we perceive it. Translated by Anthony Ossa-Richardson and Richard Oosterhoff
Countdown to Christmas: The most uplifting and feel-good Christmas romance book of 2023 from the bestselling author
by Jo ThomasThe queen of feel-good Christmas fiction returns with a snowy adventure to Canada!'If you love a rugged hero, a heroine you can relate to, a warm romantic story and a bit of armchair travel, Countdown to Christmas is for you!' Katie Fforde'It just wouldn't be Christmas without Jo's book in your stocking!' Jill Mansell-----------------------------------Chloe can't wait for Christmas . . . to be over! Her son Ruben is staying with his dad and Chloe is planning to ignore the holidays altogether. Her only festive touch is her son's advent calendar, to help count down the days till he's home again.But a surprise call changes everything. Chloe might be the unexpected owner of some land in Canada! Surely, it's a scam. Or could it be just the escape she needs right now? Ruben's latest note in the advent calendar tells her to 'say yes!'In a flash, Chloe's new countdown to Christmas involves a log cabin in the middle of a snowy forest, a community that's worried for its future, a gruff lumberjack who gives her butterflies and a lot of pancakes with maple syrup . . .For a happy Christmas read full of romance and festive surprises, choose Jo Thomas.Readers love Jo's books:'Bursting with flavour, adventure and romance' Ruth Jones'Jo sweeps you away to a better place with every book, which are always filled with warmth, love and a big spoonful of happiness' Veronica Henry'Sparkling, romantic, magical - and delicious' Milly Johnson
The Couple in the Photo: The gripping summer thriller about secrets, murder and friends you can't trust
by Helen Cooper'What a wild ride!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Wow!... A page-turning domestic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I inhaled it in one day... Fast-paced mystery with many twists and turns... I was guessing until the final few pages how all of the threads came together. I absolutely could not put it down' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐They're your best friends.Lucy and her husband do everything with their closest friends Cora and Scott. They've even bought a beach house together to enjoy summers with their kids. They're more than friends: they're family.They're hiding something.When a colleague passes around photographs from her honeymoon in the Maldives, Lucy is shocked to see Scott in one of the pictures, his arm around another woman.The truth will change everything.Then news breaks that the woman from the photograph has mysteriously vanished. Why was Scott there and what is he hiding?As Lucy looks for answers, her whole life begins to unravel. If the lies start here, where do they end?A totally gripping and absolutely addictive psychological thriller with a killer twist you will never see coming. Fans of Daniel Hurst, Freida McFadden and K.L Slater will be hooked from the very first page.Readers are gripped by The Couple in the Photo:'I mean, wow! Holy, moly, my head might have just spun right on off my shoulders!... This book delivers!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'EXCELLENT THRILLER... If you love thrillers, twisty stories and a great heroine, The Couple in the Photo is for you!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A jaw dropping read which will continually shock you and the ending? Well, picture perfect!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'The very first page had me hooked and wanting more. This book was very fast-paced and I did not want to put it down. Each chapter had me guessing more and more until the end!! As soon as I thought I could guess the ending there was another twist... I read for 5 hours straight' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Praise for The Couple in the Photo:'I was hooked from the first page and positively devoured this masterfully constructed tale of lies and deceit. An absolute must-read for all thriller fans: I LOVED it!' Sarah Bonner'A twisty and intriguing suspense filled with lies and secrets that will have you salivating for more. Her best yet' Mira V Shah
Courage of the Railway Girls: The new feel-good and uplifting WW2 historical fiction (The Railway Girls Series, 7)
by Maisie ThomasThe seventh heart-warming, uplifting instalment in the much-loved Railway Girls series is available to pre-order now!Manchester, 1943Emily is enjoying her new job as a station porter until she learns that a trusted friend at work may be involved in something underhand. . .Persephone's romance with Matt is blossoming - but can two people from such different walks of life really make a go of it?All is going well with wedding planning for Mabel until someone divulges a secret about Harry, which could threaten their future.As war rages around them, the railway girls must face their own battles. With the support of one another, will they make the right decisions when it comes to matters of the heart?__________________________________________Readers LOVE the Railway Girls:'Make yourself a cuppa and find a comfy spot on the sofa because you're not going to be able to put this down!''I simply can't wait for the next one - I am hooked!''Gives a vivid picture of women's lives in wartime Manchester''Dramatic, intriguing and sprinkled with plenty of wit and heart''It is just like catching up with old friends'