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A Wife of Noble Character: A Novel
by Yvonne Georgina PuigA juicy, sprawling comedy of manners about a group of thirtysomethings navigating friendship, love, and their fledgling careers among Houston’s high-powered, oil-money eliteThirty-year-old Vivienne Cally is wealthy in name only. Orphaned as a child and raised by a cold but regal aunt, Vivienne was taught to rely on her beauty and Texas tradition, and is expected to marry a wealthy and respectable man who will honor the Cally name. Friends with Houston's richest and most prominent families, she's a beloved fixture at the social events big and small, and suffers no shortage of access to some of the city's most eligible bachelors. Preston Duffin has known Vivienne and her set since childhood. He's never shared their social aspirations or their status but is liked and respected for his sharp wit and intelligence. About to graduate from a prestigious architecture program, he is both fascinated and repelled by this group of friends he sits on the cusp of. He's long admired Vivienne's beauty and grace, but isn't sure he holds any place in such a traditional life. Intrigued by Preston's ambitions and the extent to which he challenges the only way of life she's ever known, Vivienne both courts Preston's attention, and rebuffs his critiques of her predictable and antiquated priorities and values. Inspired by Edith Wharton’s The House of Mirth, Yvonne Georgina Puig's A Wife of Noble Character shares the original novel’s astute social commentary at the same time that it illuminates the trappings and rewards of coming of age that are wholly unique to the twenty-first century. Charming and shrewd at once, this Texas love story takes readers from Houston to Paris and Switzerland and back again, and will speak to both fans of Wharton and anyone who has every struggled to find their way in life.
Wild Card
by Madeline MooreWinner takes all...When Victoria Ashe lures an ex-lover to her London hotel room, their passion is reignited with startling intensity. She's out to prove to Ray that intimacy can be just as exciting as the thrill of the chase. Ray Torrington might actually agree if it weren't for King Bai Lon, a Hong Kong bombshell who doles herself out one delicate morsel at a time, always in public. And Penny, a champion poker player known as 'The Flame of London', also has her sights on the saucy jackpot of winning King Bai Lon. The scene is set for a high-stakes game of sexual exploration. When the wild card keeps changing it's difficult for even the most accomplished player to know who's bluffing and who is telling the truth. But in this lusty tournament of champions, the winner takes all.
William I: England's Conqueror (Penguin Monarchs)
by Marc MorrisOn Christmas Day 1066, William, duke of Normandy was crowned in Westminster, the first Norman king of England. It was a disaster: soldiers outside, thinking shouts of acclamation were treachery, torched the surrounding buildings. To later chroniclers, it was an omen of the catastrophes to come.During the reign of William the Conqueror, England experienced greater and more seismic change than at any point before or since. Marc Morris's concise and gripping biography sifts through the sources of the time to give a fresh view of the man who changed England more than any other, as old ruling elites were swept away, enemies at home and abroad (including those in his closest family) were crushed, swathes of the country were devastated and the map of the nation itself was redrawn, giving greater power than ever to the king. When, towards the end of his reign, William undertook a great survey of his new lands, his subjects compared it to the last judgement of God, the Domesday Book. England had been transformed forever.
Win or Learn: MMA, Conor McGregor and Me: A Trainer's Journey
by John KavanaghConor McGregor's trainer tells the amazing story of his long road to success in the world's fastest-growing sportGrowing up in Dublin, John Kavanagh was a skinny lad who was frequently bullied. As a young man, after suffering a bad beating when he intervened to help a woman who was being attacked, he decided he had to learn to defend himself. Before long, he was training fighters in a tiny shed, and promoting the earliest mixed-martial arts events in Ireland. And then, a cocky kid called Conor McGregor walked into his gym ...In Win or Learn, John Kavanagh tells his own remarkable life story - which is at the heart of the story of the extraordinary explosion of MMA in Ireland and globally. Employing the motto 'win or learn', Kavanagh has become a guru to young men and women seeking to master the arts of combat. And as the trainer of the world's most charismatic champion, his gym has become a magnet for talented fighters from all over the globe. Kavanagh's portrait of Conor McGregor - who he has seen in his lowest moments, as well as in his greatest triumphs - is a revelation. What emerges from Win or Learn is a remarkable portrait of ambition, discipline, and persistence in the face of years and years of disappointment. It is a must read for every MMA fan - but also for anyone who wants to understand how to follow a dream and realize a vision.'For anyone interested in following their dream to the end of the line' Tony Parsons'It kept me up well past my bedtime' Sean O'Rourke, RTE Radio One'Remarkable' Irish Times'Kavanagh is open and honest about his upbringing ... The journey hasn't been easy, but Kavanagh's inbuilt determination has carried him all the way' Irish Examiner
Wings of the Storm: (The Rise of Sigurd 3): An all-action, gripping Viking saga from bestselling author Giles Kristian (Sigurd #3)
by Giles KristianA Viking saga of warmongering, honour and loyalty from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Games of Thrones."A fitting end to a trilogy that fans of Bernard Cornwell should devour" -- THE TIMES"The master storyteller...whose books throw the reader headlong into the Viking age." -- BEN KANE"This remains Viking writing at its best: thrilling in it truest sense, heart-rendering and, yes, glorious." -- MANDA SCOTT"Probably the best Viking saga I have ever read -- ***** Reader review "Wonderfully written and researched, the whole series makes the entire Nordic world come alive" -- ***** Reader review"This trilogy is gripping from start to finish" -- ***** Reader review*****************************************THE GODS MUST BE FAVOURED...Norway, AD 785. A wild place, a place of blood, a place where the gods hold sway . . .Sigurd Haraldarson and his oathsworn band are winning fame and reputation. But to confront his hated enemy - the oath-breaker and betrayer King Gorm - they must win riches too.When a daring raid goes wrong, Sigurd finds himself a prisoner of the powerful Jarl Guthrum. Bound like a slave, he is taken to the sacred temple at Ubsola to face the sacrificial knife.But here Sigurd discovers a potent relic: Gungnir, a great spear that would give him the power to assemble a host strong enough to challenge King Gorm, and avenge the betrayal of his father and the murder of his family.The roar of Odin and the wild hunt will be as nothing compared to Sigurd's rage, for he and his warriors will be borne on the wings of the storm . . .Wings of the Storm concludes the Viking saga, started in God of Vengeance and Winter's Fire.
Winter's Fire: (The Rise of Sigurd 2): An atmospheric and adrenalin-fuelled Viking saga from bestselling author Giles Kristian (Sigurd #2)
by Giles KristianA thrilling and breathtaking Viking saga of betrayal, bloodshed and brotherhood from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Games of Thrones."Nobody writes this type of swaggering historical fiction better than Kristian" -- THE TIMES"A belter of a novel...perfect for fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike, from Cornwell to Abercrombie" -- BEN KANE"Combines gritty, brutal history with the lyrical essence of men as war...written with a panache that made the pages fly by. More!" -- ANTHONY RICHES"I love a good Viking romp and these are really good!" -- ***** Reader review"Giles Kristian certainly knows how to spin a yarn." -- ***** Reader review***********************************A VOW OF VENGEANCE MUST BE KEPT...Norway AD 785. Sigurd Haraldarson has proved himself a great warrior . . . and a dangerous enemy.And yet the oath-breaker King Gorm, who betrayed Sigurd's father, still lives. The sacred vow to avenge his family burns in Sigurd's veins, but he must be patient and bide his time as he knows that he and his band of warriors are not yet strong enough to confront the treacherous king. They need silver; they need more fighters to rally to the young Viking's banner; they need to win fame upon the battlefield.And so the fellowship venture to Sweden, to fight as mercenaries. And it is there - in the face of betrayal and bloodshed, on a journey that will take him all too close to the halls of Valhalla - that Sigurd's destiny will be forged...The Vikings return in this thrilling, thunderous sequel to Giles Kristian's bestselling God of Vengeance. Sigurd's adventures continue in Wing's of the Storm.
The Witness: (DI Ray Mason: Book 1): a gripping, race-against-time thriller by the best-selling author Simon Kernick
by Simon KernickThis engrossing and unputdownable fast-paced thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author Simon Kernick, the UK's answer to Harlan Coben, is perfect for fans of David Baldacci, Stuart MacBride and Peter James. Guaranteed to get your blood pumping - a real edge-of-your-seat ride!'Hang on tight!' - Harlan Coben'Full of Kernick's trademark cheerful amoral characters, it's irresistible entertainment' -- Sunday Mirror'A spectacularly fast moving and captivating read.' -- Lovereading'Wow I absolutely loved this book from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'I couldn't put it down and read it within 24 hours of getting it!' -- ***** Reader review'Fast paced thriller with the twists and turns that keeps you enthralled from the first page to the last' -- ***** Reader review'Full of tension and excitement' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************************YOU'VE SEEN TOO MUCH. NOWHERE IS SAFE NOW.THE WITNESSWhen Jane Kinnear sees her lover being murdered, she suddenly finds herself in danger. Taken to an anonymous police safe-house, it soon becomes clear that her lover was an MI5 informant with important information about an imminent terrorist attack.THE DETECTIVEDI Ray Mason of Counter Terrorism Command is a man with a controversial past, but his effectiveness at getting results means that he's now been given the task of preventing the attack from taking place. But can he be trusted, and does he know more about the attack than he's letting on?THE KILLERIn the safe-house, Jane is trying to piece together a description of her lover's killer. But what she doesn't know is that the killer has already found out who she is, and where she is hiding.And now he's coming for her ...
Wolf Boys: Two American Teenagers and Mexico's Most Dangerous Drug Cartel
by Dan SlaterThe tale of two American teenagers recruited as killers for a Mexican cartel, and the Mexican American detective who realizes the War on Drugs is unstoppable. &“A hell of a story…undeniably gripping.&” (The New York Times)In this astonishing story, journalist Dan Slater recounts the unforgettable odyssey of Gabriel Cardona. At first glance, Gabriel is the poster-boy American teenager: athletic, bright, handsome, and charismatic. But the ghettos of Laredo, Texas—his border town—are full of smugglers and gangsters and patrolled by one of the largest law-enforcement complexes in the world. It isn’t long before Gabriel abandons his promising future for the allure of juvenile crime, which leads him across the river to Mexico’s most dangerous drug cartel: Los Zetas. Friends from his childhood join him and eventually they catch the eye of the cartel’s leadership. As the cartel wars spill over the border, Gabriel and his crew are sent to the States to work. But in Texas, the teen hit men encounter a Mexican-born homicide detective determined to keep cartel violence out of his adopted country. Detective Robert Garcia’s pursuit of the boys puts him face-to-face with the urgent consequences and new security threats of a drug war he sees as unwinnable.In Wolf Boys, Slater takes readers on a harrowing, often brutal journey into the heart of the Mexican drug trade. Ultimately though, Wolf Boys is the intimate story of the lobos: teens turned into pawns for the cartels. A nonfiction thriller, it reads with the emotional clarity of a great novel, yet offers its revelations through extraordinary reporting.
The Woman Who Walked into the Sea (The Sea Detective #2)
by Mark Douglas-HomeThe daughter who nobody wanted learns the truth about the mother she never knew. A page-turning, heart-breaking mystery 'full of surprises ... this is a classic whodunit' (Scotsman).Cal McGill is a unique investigator and oceanographer who uses his expertise to locate things - and sometimes people - lost or missing at sea.His expertise could unravel the haunting mystery of why, twenty-six years ago on a remote Scottish beach, Megan Bates strode out into the cold ocean and let the waves wash her away.Megan's daughter, Violet Wells, was abandoned as a baby on the steps of a local hospital just hours before the mother she never knew took her own life.As McGill is drawn into Violet's search for the truth, he encounters a coastal community divided by obsession and grief, and united only by a conviction that its secrets should stay buried...Praise for The Woman Who Walked into the Sea:'An always entertaining and gripping mystery ... Infinitely better written than the majority of its competitors' Herald'A classic whodunit. A mystery from the school of Ruth Rendell, and I can't imagine anyone who likes those not delighting in this' Scotsman'Cal McGill is a triumph ... a wonderfully unique creation' crimefictionlover.com'Simply intoxicating' Library JournalPraise for The Sea Detective:'Raises the bar for Scottish crime fiction ... elegantly written and compelling' Scotsman'Promises to be a fine series of detective novels' Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month'Excellent' Literary Review - top five crime books of the year'A compelling protagonist' The Times Literary Supplement
The Wonderful Adventure of Nils Holgersson
by Selma LagerlöfScandinavia's best-loved children's classic - the enchanting story of a naughty little boy who learns to love nature 'Never before had Nils travelled around at such good speed, and he had always liked riding fast and wild. And he had never thought that it could feel as fresh as it did up in the air, and that such a good smell of topsoil and resin rose up from the earth. It was like flying away from worries and sorrows and annoyances of any sort that could be imagined.'
The World According to Star Wars
by Cass R. SunsteinNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER#1 Washington Post Bestseller There’s Santa Claus, Shakespeare, Mickey Mouse, the Bible, and then there’s Star Wars. Nothing quite compares to sitting down with a young child and hearing the sound of John Williams’s score as those beloved golden letters fill the screen. In this fun, erudite, and often moving book, Cass R. Sunstein explores the lessons of Star Wars as they relate to childhood, fathers, the Dark Side, rebellion, and redemption. As it turns out, Star Wars also has a lot to teach us about constitutional law, economics, and political uprisings.In rich detail, Sunstein tells the story of the films’ wildly unanticipated success and explores why some things succeed while others fail. Ultimately, Sunstein argues, Star Wars is about freedom of choice and our never-ending ability to make the right decision when the chips are down. Written with buoyant prose and considerable heart, The World According to Star Wars shines a bright new light on the most beloved story of our time.
The World of the Happy Pear: Over 100 Simple, Tasty Plant-based Recipes for a Happier, Healthier You
by David Flynn Stephen Flynn'These lovely boys always create incredibly tasty food.' Jamie OliverDavid and Stephen Flynn put fun, deliciousness and friendship at the heart of their cooking. By showing that vegetarian food is endlessly varied, packed full of flavour and amazingly easy to prepare they want to spread the love for fruit and veg!The World of the Happy Pear is inspired by David and Stephen's family, friends and the international team at their legendary café. It includes over 100 mouth-watering and totally doable recipes - like Grilled Halloumi Burger with Sweet Chilli Ketchup and a Garlic Tahini Mayo ... Fennel, Ruby Grapefruit, Avocado and Blueberry Salad ... Chocolate and Salted Caramel Tart.There is advice on getting children to love the stuff that's good for them and top tips on the tasty vegetarian approach to everything from BBQs and burgers to ice cream and Pavlova.Become part of the world of the Happy Pear and discover a feast of healthy yummy food that will transform your eating!'The poster boys for a healthy way of life!' Sunday Times'Proper good food ... hearty, decent and delicious' Russell Brand'A healthy eating phenomenon' Mail on Sunday'These twins are on a roll' Time Out'[They] couldn't look healthier or happier ... poster boys for vegetarianism' The Times
The World Weavers: A Desert Rising Novel (Desert Rising Novels #3)
by Kelley GrantIn the face of a battle that will reshape mankind’s destiny and the face of the world itself, Kelley Grant brings her spellbinding, epic trilogy that began with Desert Rising and The Obsidian Temple to a thunderous and powerful conclusion, where old friendships will be tested and new alliances forged. It has been a year since Sulis Hasifel fled to the desert, narrowly escaping death at the hands of a vengeful god. The time of the final battle, the final confrontation with the deities of her world, is nearing. Lured by the call of their long-trapped powers, the deities will descend upon the Obsidian Temple, where the Chosen await.But the war between gods and humans has enveloped the entire land. Sulis’s twin, Kadar, joins forces with the nomadic warrior tribes of the desert. Little by little, the desert armies draw the deities away from their stronghold in the north, towards their doom.In a battle against immortals, though, how can humankind stand a chance?
Writings from Ancient Egypt
by Toby Wilkinson'Man perishes; his corpse turns to dust; all his relatives pass away. But writings make him remembered'In ancient Egypt, words had magical power. Inscribed on tombs and temple walls, coffins and statues, or inked onto papyri, hieroglyphs give us a unique insight into the life of the Egyptian mind. Egyptologist Toby Wilkinson has freshly translated a rich and diverse range of ancient Egyptian writings into modern English, including tales of shipwreck and wonder, obelisk inscriptions, mortuary spells, funeral hymns, songs, satires and advice on life from a pharaoh to his son. Spanning over two millennia, this is the essential guide to a complex, sophisticated culture.Translated with an Introduction by Toby Wilkinson
The Wrong Hand
by Jane JagoWe all make mistakes. Moments that change us and the path we are on irrevocably.For Rachel Allen it was the moment that she let her son's hand slip from hers. For Danny Simpson and Graham Harris it was the moment one of them took it.Seven years ago Danny and Graham were just children themselves, angry, marginalized and unguided. That was, until they committed a crime so heinous that three families were left devastated. They were no longer just boys. They were monsters.Released from juvenile detention, it is time for the boys, now men, to start again; new names, new people. But they can never escape who they are or what they did. And their own families, now notorious; the Allens, destroyed with grief; and the country at large have never been able to forget.They will always be running. They will always be hiding. But are some mistakes too large, the ripples to far reaching, to outrun forever?
WW2 in the Pacific (Great Battles for Boys)
by Joe Giorello Sibella GiorelloGreat Battles for Boys takes young readers to the front lines of history's most important fights. In this episode of the best-selling history series, the story opens with the Flying Tigers, those wild American soldiers fighting Japan before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After the deadly surprise attack on Hawaii, the battles storm across the Pacific in the lethal "island hopping" military strategy that brought Victory Over Japan.
The Year of Fear: Machine Gun Kelly and the Manhunt That Changed the Nation
by Joe UrschelIt's 1933 and Prohibition has given rise to the American gangster--now infamous names like Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger. Bank robberies at gunpoint are commonplace and kidnapping for ransom is the scourge of a lawless nation. With local cops unauthorized to cross state lines in pursuit and no national police force, safety for kidnappers is just a short trip on back roads they know well from their bootlegging days. Gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife, Kathryn, are some of the most celebrated criminals of the Great Depression. With gin-running operations facing extinction and bank vaults with dwindling stores of cash, Kelly sets his sights on the easy-money racket of kidnapping. His target: rich oilman, Charles Urschel.Enter J. Edgar Hoover, a desperate Justice Department bureaucrat who badly needs a successful prosecution to impress the new administration and save his job. Hoover's agents are given the sole authority to chase kidnappers across state lines and when Kelly bungles the snatch job, Hoover senses his big opportunity. What follows is a thrilling 20,000 mile chase over the back roads of Depression-era America, crossing 16 state lines, and generating headlines across America along the way--a historical mystery/thriller for the ages.Joe Urschel's The Year of Fear is a thrilling true crime story of gangsters and lawmen and how an obscure federal bureaucrat used this now legendary kidnapping case to launch the FBI.
You Are Having a Good Time: Stories
by Amie BarrodaleEma was in a bad situation with a married man. She was visiting him in Washington, D.C. His wife was out of town. He had gotten them an outrageously expensive hotel room, out of respect for his wife and their home. Ema took that as a sign of his decency, and as a sign of her doom.So begins "The Real Sloane Newman," one of the stories in Amie Barrodale's debut collection, You Are Having a Good Time. In these highly compressed and charged tales, the veneer of normality is stripped from her characters' lives to reveal the seething and contradictory desires that fuel them. In "Animals," an up-and-coming starlet harbors a complicated attraction toward her abusive director. In "Frank Advice for Fat Women," an ethically compromised psychiatrist is drawn into the middle of a dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship. And in "The Imp," a supernatural possession ruins a man's relationship with his pregnant wife.Barrodale's protagonists drink too much, say the wrong things, want the wrong people. They're hounded by longings (and sometimes ghosts) to the point where they are forced to confront the illusions they cling to. They're brought to life in stories that don't behave as you expect stories to behave. Barrodale's startlingly funny and original fictions get under your skin and make you reconsider the fragile compromises that underpin our daily lives.
You're So Mummy
by Alex Manson-Smith Sarah ThompsonYou're So Mummy is an honest take on 21st-century motherhood that sticks two finger-puppets up at parenting manuals.This isn't a book mothers can turn to for advice. It's not going to tell you how to make your kid sleep, or how to get them into a good school, or anything useful at all in fact. Instead it's a hilarious look at what's happening inside the minds of once-normal women who now find themselves in charge of small people.Lifelong best friends Sarah Thompson and Alex Manson-Smith agree that motherhood is the best thing that's happened to either of them, but wanted to read a book that acknowledged what a royal pain in the arse it can be. So that's what they've written.From not having sex to losing it over food, You're So Mummy covers the real issues confronting today's mothers. For mums who have been around the park too many times, You're So Mummy will make you howl in grateful recognition.
Carry Me Home: My Autobiography
by Ben CohenBen Cohen’s dad didn’t know anything about the sport his young son had taken up, but he was happy to drive him to practice, and was soon helping out at the club. When his business went bankrupt money was tight, but Ben’s hard working parents inspired their son to put his all into rugby.Then, when Ben was 20, his father intervened in a fight in the nightclub where he worked. He was viciously beaten and one month later he died in hospital. Ben was doing an England press conference at the time, and it was down to coach Clive Woodward to deliver the devastating news. But the ordeal was far from over. The inquest lasted five months before the funeral could be held, and it was a year before the family were in court, facing Peter’s assailants.Ben put all of the anger and pain from his father’s death into his rugby. Fast and powerful on the wing, he was soon the best in the world in his position and a cornerstone of the England team, culminating in the legendary World Cup win in Sydney in 2003. And yet he always felt like an outsider. Most people didn’t know that Ben is clinically deaf. His sixth sense for the game got him through on the pitch, but off it his poor hearing was often taken for arrogance.This is an inspirational story of passion and pain; of the highs of achieving your goals, and the grief of losing something you can never get back.
Song of Myself
by Walt WhitmanDo I contradict myself?Very well then I contradict myself.(I am large, I contain multitudes.)Abundant, ecstatic, generous, courageous - this is the first American epic poem, a celebration of selfhood and a catalogue of nineteenth-century American life of all ages and races. Revolutionary in style and controversial in content when it was first published in 1855, Whitman's masterwork has since inspired generations with its intoxicating rhythms and images, and its inclusive, praiseful joy.THE ORIGINAL 1855 TEXT
One of the Family: 40 Years with the Krays
by Maureen Flanagan40 YEARS WITH THE KRAYS is the untold, intimate history of the twins and the woman who raised them. Told with humour and insight, it looks back across the decades at the life of this close knit, notorious East End family. Maureen Flanagan, a then 20 year old hairdresser started visiting the Kray family home in Vallance Road each week to give the twins’ mother, Violet, her weekly shampoo and set. Over the cups of tea and the rollers and hairpins, Violet began to confide in ‘Flan’ about her life, her incredible pride in her twins, the celebrities who visited her at their humble East End home - and her troubled relationship with her husband.
Good Wives (Puffin Classics)
by Louisa May AlcottGood Wives is the second story about the March family.Three years on from Little Women, the March girls and their friend Laurie are young adults with their futures ahead of them. Although they all face painful trials along the way - from Meg's sad lesson in housekeeping to Laurie's disappointment in love and a tragedy which touches them all - each of the girls finally finds happiness, if not always in the way they expect.The book includes a behind-the-scenes journey, including an author profile, a guide to who's who, activities and more..Also in Puffin Classics: Little Women, Little Men and Jo's Boys.
Ladybird Classics: King Arthur (Ladybird Classics)
by Desmond DunkerleyThis Ladybird Classic is an abridged retelling of the classic tale of King Arthur. A perfect introduction to the well-loved legend, it is ideal for sharing with younger children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone.Beautiful new illustrations bring the magic of this classic story to a new generation of children.
Ladybird Classics: Robin Hood (Ladybird Classics)
by Desmond DunkerleyThis Ladybird Classic is an abridged retelling of a classic Robin Hood tale. A perfect introduction to the legend of Robin Hood, it is ideal for sharing with younger children, or for newly confident readers to tackle alone.Beautiful new illustrations bring the magic of this classic story to a new generation of children.