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Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York
by A.J. SchenkmanSpies! Loyalists! Tories! Conspiracy! Strange messages? Codes in invisible ink? The American Revolution was first and foremost a civil war that tore at the very fabric of families as well as society. Patriots were determined to separate from England; while Loyalists were just as determined to defeat what they saw as a rebellion. Many do not know that during several critical periods the war was almost fatally undermined by English sympathizers or in some cases opportunistic Patriots. Patriots and Spies in Revolutionary New York is a compilation of twelve stories regarding important moments in New York State's history during the American Revolution.
It Happened in South Dakota: Remarkable Events that Shaped History (It Happened in the West)
by Patrick StraubA fascinating collection of thirty-two compelling stories about events that shaped the Mount Rushmore State, It Happened in South Dakota describes everything from Lewis and Clark raising an American flag on the Missouri to the continuing creation of a monument to Crazy Horse.
Death at the Dacha: Stalin's Last Movie, A Novel
by Paul M. LevittAs Stalin lies dying, this novel records his last thoughts, which he renders as a movie about the people he believes envenomed his life, namely, Lenin and certain women. (A film devotee, Stalin so loved movies that some scholars have even suggested that he governed the Soviet empire by cinematocracy, rule by cinema.) He has suffered a stroke but will linger for three days before dying. As in a film, he revisits scenes and old arguments with Lenin, and then endures a trial over his charge that women have poisoned his life. At the conclusion of the trial, Stalin&’s mind screen returns to V.I. Lenin. What follows then is Stalin&’s concluding mockery and denunciation of Lenin; Lenin&’s final assessment of Stalin; and the end of the novel: Stalin&’s dying words.
Thin Blue Smoke: A Novel About Music, Food, and Love
by Doug WorgulAn epic American redemption tale about love and loss, hope and despair, God and whiskey, barbecue and the blues. LaVerne Williams is a ruined ex-big league ballplayer, an ex-felon with an attitude problem, and the owner of a barbecue joint he has to run. Ferguson Glen is an Episcopal priest, a fading literary star with a drinking problem, and a past he is running from. A.B. Clayton and Sammy Merzeti are two lost souls in need of love, understanding, and another cigarette. Hilarious and heart-rending, sacred and profane, this book marks the emergence of a vital new voice in American fiction.
High Water
by Douglas ReemanWith his own boat, the motor yacht Sea Fox, former naval officer Philip Vivian had hoped to earn a living free from the petty restrictions of everyday life, close to the sea he loved. Now, however, his dream is threatened by financial difficulties. So when a profitable, if legally dubious, proposition is put to him by an old naval comrade in arms, Vivian is willing to listen. But what starts out as a harmless adventure soon turns into something altogether more sinister. Vivian finds himself trapped in a treacherous web of violence and crime, dangerously torn between his stubborn sense of past loyalties and his duty to a society he has always despised.
Jackrabbit: The Story of Clint Castleberry and the Improbable 1942 Georgia Tech Football Season
by Bill ChastainClint Castleberry was already an Atlanta-area football sensation when he arrived at Georgia Tech in 1942, and in one meteoric college season he became a national sports hero as well. He was the first college freshman ever to be voted All-American. At least one Heisman Trophy was all but certain. Though weighing just 155 pounds, he seemed destined to become one of the greatest tailbacks in college football history. But then World War II intervened, and Castleberry became, instead, another young man whose destiny was cut short. His #19 is the only number ever retired in the illustrious history of Georgia Tech football. Bill Chastain weaves Clint Castleberry's story around other legends of Georgia Tech football--including John Heisman, William Alexander, and Bobby Dodd—to create a glorious portrait of a proud football tradition and America's Greatest Generation.
Belgian Flats
by Chris SantellaBelgian Flats is the story of Cody, a fly-fishing guide whose career has hit a dead end after a dozen years guiding on a famed western trout stream. Cody&’s mentor suggests that he take a job as a lodge manager at a prestigious Atlantic salmon lodge in northwestern Russia. The story follows Cody&’s travels to the Kola Peninsula and his encounters with the characters who filter through—from philosophizing oligarchs to Samí herdsmen who are not above kidnapping lodge staff to maintain control of their historic lands. There&’s even a love interest. Belgian Flats provides an offbeat and humorous insider&’s view of the fly-fishing world that angling aficionados will appreciate.
Recollections of Old Stonington
by Anne Atwood DodgeWith this guide at your side, take a tour through Old Stonington, Rhode Island, visiting the historic homes and buildings that make Stonington a beautifully iconic town. Anne Atwood Dodge draws from childhood memory, taking a walk through her neighborhood.
It Happened in Iowa: Remarkable Events That Shaped History (It Happened In Series)
by Tammy PartschFor most Americans, Iowa brings to mind endless acres of corn fields, one of the country&’s longest-running state fairs, and American Gothic, but few may know how it serendipitously became the birthplace of the most iconic apple, why thousands of cyclists brave the Midwestern heat and humidity to cross the entire state one week each year, or how a former Des Moines sports announcer became one of the White House&’s most popular residents. It Happened in Iowa goes behind the scenes to tell these stories and many more, in short episodes that reveal the intriguing people and events that have shaped the Hawkeye State.
Mighty Storms of New England: The Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Blizzards, and Floods That Shaped the Region
by Eric P. FisherThe New England landscape has long been battered by some of the most intense weather in the United States. The region breeds one of the highest concentrations of meteorologists in the country for a reason. One can experience just about anything except a dust storm. Snowstorms, floods, droughts, heat waves, arctic blasts, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and other atmospheric oddities come and go with the changing seasons. Rare is the boring year of weather. Knowing the past is a critical part of understanding and forecasting the weather. Meteorologist Eric Fisher takes an in depth look at some of the most intense weather events in New England&’s history. The stories in this book not only describe the loss and the damage caused by the storms, but also how nearly all of them in left such an impression that they immediately led to progress where new warnings systems were implemented, government agencies formed, and technology accelerated in response to the devastation these events left behind.
Hiking Kentucky: A Guide to the State's Greatest Hiking Adventures (State Hiking Guides Series)
by Johnny Molloy Carrie StambaughFrom old country roads to dense forest paths, Kentucky boasts more than 1,500 miles of marked and maintained trails. Author Johnny Molloy describes some of the best hikes in the state, from 1-mile nature trails to multiday backpacks. Fully updated and revised, with detailed information on trailhead location, difficulty, and much, much more, Hiking Kentucky, Fourth Edition is bound to have something for everyone!
Maine at 200: An Anecdotal History Celebrating Two Centuries of Statehood
by Tom HuntingtonCelebrate the bicentennial of Maine statehood.Historian Tom Huntington covers the course of Maine&’s often turbulent history, decade by decade. He writes about the death of Congressman Jonathan Cilley in a duel; the Portland Rum Riot and the birth of Prohibition; the Confederate raid on Portland Harbor; James G. Blaine&’s scandal-ridden try for the presidency; the triumph and tragedy of Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play major league baseball; Sangerville native Hiram Maxim&’s transformation of modern war; Charles Lindbergh&’s 1927 visit to Maine (and the Portland resident who became the first person to stowaway on a transatlantic flight); the bloody shootout that killed gangster Al Brady in Bangor; the German saboteurs who came ashore on Mt. Desert Island during World War II; Margaret Chase Smith&’s principled stand against Senator Joseph McCarthy; Samantha Smith&’s plea for world peace; the arrival of Somali immigrants in Lewiston; and much, much more. It&’s an entertaining and informative look at key events, milestones and personalities from two fascinating centuries of statehood.
Nourishing Growth and Suffocating Life: Water, Politics, and Infrastructure in Urban Oklahoma
by Daniel MainsFrom the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, to declining water levels in the Colorado River, water quality problems in the United States have become increasingly common. In Nourishing Growth and Suffocating Life, Daniel Mains argues that all too often subsidizing economic growth has self-destructive consequences for drinking water and stormwater infrastructure. Mains examines the case of Norman, Oklahoma, a liberal college town in one of the reddest states in the country, that is in many ways a microcosm of the nation. Mains begins with Lake Thunderbird, a reservoir that displaced members of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe and allowed Norman&’s population to nearly triple in sixty years. Norman&’s growth damaged the quality of water in Lake Thunderbird, causing the city to invest millions of dollars to improve its tap water. Each chapter examines examples of the intersection between self-destructive growth, water, and politics. Mains takes readers on a journey into urban creeks that erode backyards, Facebook battles over stormwater infrastructure, and city council policy debates that veer from water to policing. Taking into consideration how conceptions of community and belonging shape the distribution of resources, Nourishing Growth and Suffocating Life explores how cities can achieve water security and sustainable growth in an era of increasing distrust in government and scientific expertise.
Market Street Madam
by Randi Samuelson-BrownMarket Street Madam tells the story of Annie Ryan, a woman who is running a second-rate brothel in 1890s Denver with an eye toward expansion. By chance she encounters Lydia Chambers, a society woman suffering from a laudanum habit and a bad marriage, who owns a prized property on the infamous Market Street. Annie's fortunes at the brothel turn on her niece Pearl, a pretty young girl swept up in Denver's underworld of jealousy, booze, and vice--until murder stalks the good-time girls and puts everyone's future in doubt. A rollicking tale of blurred lines, flowing booze, played-out miners and upstairs girls, Market Street Madam delivers a compelling look at the intrigues of the Wild West, where women were enterprising and justice could be had . . . for a price.
Maine Outdoor Adventure Guide
by Josh Christie John ChristieThis book is a trip-oriented guide, with each entry focusing on a specific activity at a particular location. Some examples are biking the Acadia Carriage Roads; climbing Bigelow Mountain;or canoeing the Magalloway River. It presents a series of trips that could comprise an entire summer of exploration or be stretched out over years.The authors present a series of day or weekend trips that could comprise an entire summer of exploration or be stretched out over years. Combined, the trips represent a broad-based discovery of the entire state of Maine. Maps, clear directions, and pertinent information are included for each trip, as well as first-hand descriptions of what you can expect to encounter along the way.
The Hudson Valley: A Mostly Chronological and Occasionally Personal History
by David LevineFrom the dinosaurs and the glaciers to the first native peoples and the first European settlers, from Dutch and English Colonial rule to the American Revolution, from the slave society to the Civil War, from the robber barons and bootleggers to the war heroes and the happy rise of craft beer pubs, the Hudson Valley has a deep history. The Hudson Valley: The First 250 Million Years chronicles the Valley&’s rich and fascinating history and charms. Often funny, sometimes personal, always entertaining, this collection of essays offers a unique look at the Hudson Valley&’s most important and interesting people, places, and events.
Wyoming Off the Beaten Path®: Discover Your Fun (Off the Beaten Path Series)
by Michael MccoyWyoming Off the Beaten Path features the things travelers and locals want to see and experience––if only they knew about them. From the best in local dining to quirky cultural tidbits to hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales.
Dare to Dream: A Novel
by Heidi ThomasAt the start of the 1940s, Montana cowgirl Nettie Brady Moser has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles on the journey toward her dream of being a professional rodeo rider. In the 1920s, she struggled against her family's expectations and social prejudice against rodeo cowgirls. During the Great Depression, falling in love and marrying Jake Moser, then raising their son Neil took priority over rodeos, as did the constant struggle in search of grass for their horses in the drought-stricken dust bowl years. And then when Nettie did resume riding, she was devastated by the death of her friend and mentor, Marie Gibson, in a rodeo accident. In the spring of 1941, Nettie, now 36, has grieved the loss of her friend. To regain her heart and spirit, Nettie is determined to ride again at a Cheyenne, Wyoming. To her dismay, the male-dominated Rodeo Association of America (RAA) enforces its rule barring women from riding rough stock and denies her the chance to ride. Her fury at the discrimination can’t change things for women—yet.
Jennie About to Be
by Elisabeth OgilvieIn 1809, marriage was the best a spirited, healthy, and intelligent girl could hope for, especially if she was an orphan without a fortune. Jennie Hawthorne has been hustled to London by her well-meaning aunt to secure just such a marriage, though Jennie despises the prospective wife parade and yearns for her childhood home by the North Sea. All that changes when she falls for the dashing soldier Nigel Gilchrist, marrying him after a whirlwind romance. Nigel wastes no time whisking his bride to the Scottish Highlands where he will serve as manager to the family estate.In Scotland Jennie is faced with the realities of the Highland Clearances: tenant cottagers forcibly evicted from their homes by lairds to make way for sheep and grazing land. When Jennie learns that both Nigel and his brother are complicit in such clearances, she finds her heart warring with her conscience. She defies Nigel and his brother, doing what she can to help the cottagers, and helping Alick Gilchrist resist the clearances. But their efforts bring disaster: a tragic accident makes Alick a hunted fugitive, and Jennie is compelled by circumstance to throw her lot in with his as they face an arduous journey across mountains to ultimately escape the strife-ridden Highlands.
Comanche Peace Pipe: The Old West Adventures of Fish Rawlings
by Patrick DearenIt's 1867 and eleven-year-old Fish Rawlings and his cousin are headed across Texas on a wagon train. But the trail is full of danger. A Comanche war party is on the prowl, looking for horses and scalps. Among the Indians is eleven year old Hunting Bear, who is riding his first war trail. Before the journey is over, he must prove himself worthy to be a warrior.Fish has been taught to hate Comanches. Hunting Bear has been taught to hate white men. But all of that changes when the two boys come face to face and become friends.Suddenly the lives of their peoples rest on the boys' shoulders. The Comanches have sworn to attack the wagon train. The white men have vowed to fight back and track down the warriors. Soon there will be bloodshed, and only Fish and Hunting Bear have a chance to stop it. But will they find a way?
Haunted Pennsylvania: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Keystone State (Haunted Series)
by Mark Nesbitt Patty A. WilsonA collection of frightening stories, including the Civil War ghosts of Gettysburg, spirits at John Brown's tannery, the fiddling ghost of Potter County, hauntings at the Eastern State Penitentiary, the mysterious indelible handprint, and many more.
Best Hikes Anchorage: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls (Best Hikes Near Series)
by John TysonBest Hikes Anchorage focuses on day hikes for visitors, people new to the Anchorage area, and families wanting to hike together. In addition to its excellent color photos portraying Anchorage, the surrounding area, and the pristine character of Chugach State Park, it includes fascinating information about Alaska&’s natural history and critical information about Chugach State Park, including park rules, best times to hike, and tips for hiking in bear country. Readers will find information about the streams and water in the park, as well as local climate and information about places to see and things to do while in the Anchorage area.
Nature of the Place: On the Flora and Fauna of the Adirondacks
by Edward KanzeA love letter to the Adirondacks, revealing the hidden wonders and interconnected lives of its wildlife by one of the region&’s most prolific and prominent residents.The Nature of the Place is storied Adirondack nature writer Edward Kanze&’s invitation to slow down, smell the roses, and get to know fellow creatures with more longstanding claims to this landscape than we have. Theirs is the real internet, a web of life that weaves together an almost infinite number of threads into a fabric that&’s a wonder to behold and something close to a miracle in a largely hostile universe.In these dazzling pages, readers meet the big charismatic animals of the Adirondacks, the black bear and the moose. We encounter little creatures, too, all of which lead fascinating lives while nearly unseen: tiny fish that live in exquisite mountain streams; the infuriating and almost invisible biting insects called no-see-ums; centipedes; millipedes; and earthworms. Discover an orchid that pays a steep price for its rough treatment of bumblebees; plants so desperate for nitrogen they&’ve taken to catching animals and eating them; poison-ivy and the reasons why we might want to exchange our dislike of it for love; and a common wildflower that goes through serial sex changes. Loons, owls, falcons, eagles, and songbirds pour out effusions of apparent ecstasy here, along with much about bobcats, foxes, snowshoe hares, beavers, and flying squirrels. Snakes, frogs, salamanders, and big predatory fish make appearances also, as well as fungi that produce light in the dark, and bacteria that manipulate the atmosphere to their own advantage, even causing rain and snow to fall.The Nature of the Place is Kanze&’s love letter to his home, the Adirondacks. Gathering materials from his decades-long column at the Adirondack Explorer and elsewhere, extensively revised and rewritten for this book, Kanze&’s singular meditations on the flora and fauna of his home resonate far beyond his own beautiful, beloved, biologically vibrant neck of the woods.
Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Connecticut: Hiking the State's Legends, Hauntings, and History
by Stephen GencarellaConnecticut—a New England state with a proud history and vibrant culture. But there is more to this place than white church steeples and town greens. In the forests and meadows surrounding these quaint, colonial towns lurk spine-chilling ghosts protecting Captain Kidd&’s treasure, the abode of the Devil himself, and shadowy creatures such as the Glawackus, all awaiting the next hiker to stumble down the trail.For years, the stories of these mysterious beings and places existed only in whispers and campfire tales, but now for the first time these legends have been collected and retold in one volume: Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Connecticut. Alongside each of these captivating tales is the necessary route and trailhead information brave readers will need to go beyond their town lines and test their nerve.Proud to support Friends of Connecticut State Parks with a portion of the royalties.
Beer Lover's Colorado: Best Breweries, Brewpubs and Beer Bars (Beer Lovers Series)
by John FrankWritten by a professional journalist and beer enthusiast, this guide covers the entire beer experience for the local enthusiast and traveling visitor alike, including information on brewery and beer profiles with tasting notes, must-visit brewpubs and beer bars, top annual events and festivals, city and regional pub crawl itineraries with maps. It features breweries, brewpubs, and beer bars throughout the state for those seeking the best beers Colorado has to offer—from citrusy IPAs to rich stouts.