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For My Lady's Heart: For My Lady's Heart And Shadowheart (The Medieval Hearts Series #1)
by Laura KinsaleA princess sparks devotion in a chivalrous knight in this medieval romance by a New York Times–bestselling author who &“creates magic&” (Lisa Kleypas). With Princess Melanthe di Monteverde widowed, a political marriage would tip the balance of power to any kingdom that possessed her. Determined to return to England alive and unwed, she hides behind a mask of witchery. Protecting her is Ruck d&’Angleterre, a chivalrous knight who never wavers—and the only man Melanthe wishes could lift the veil of her disguise. He once desired her, but now his gaze reveals distrust. As they flee her enemies, Melanthe&’s impossible love for the Green Knight grows. Ruck has remained chaste for thirteen miserable years, since his wife entered a nunnery, continuing to honor their marital vows. In that dark hour, when the church stripped him of his spouse and his possessions, the princess secretly came to his aid with two emeralds. Her safety is his duty, yet his heart is not pure. Each time he gazes upon Melanthe&’s sable hair and twilight eyes, he wants more Showcasing Laura Kinsale&’s gift for bringing unforgettable characters to life on the page, For My Lady&’s Heart is yet another winner from the author of Flowers from the Storm, chosen as one of the &“Greatest Love Stories of All Time&” in a poll of Washington Post and Glamour magazine readers.
Who Stole the Secret to the Industrial Revolution?: The Real Story Behind Richard Arkwright & the Water Frame
by Glynis CooperEnglish schoolchildren are taught that Sir Richard Arkwright ‘invented the water-frame and was the father of the Industrial Revolution and the factory system.’ That is simply not true. The water-powered spinning frame and the ‘modern factory system’ were pioneered in Italy over 300 years before Richard Arkwright was born. This book tells the story of how the Industrial Revolution in textile manufacture really began. Not in England with Richard Arkwright and the English cotton industry, but in Italy, with Italian Renaissance engineers and the Italian silk industry. Proof lies in the achievements of medieval Italian engineering, English archives and English legal case records. Italy was the leading technological power in Europe from the 13th to the 17th centuries. The Italian Renaissance and the devastation caused by the Black Death (1347-49) brought forth a wealth of technological innovation and invention and the Italians automated much of the production of silk fabrics, using water as their power source, because there were no longer enough people left alive to carry out the work. English organzine was inferior to Italian organzine. In the first recorded case of industrial espionage a young Derby engineer resolved to steal Italian silk manufacturing secrets. Water powered silk throwing machinery, reconstructed by John Lombe from his stolen plans and drawings, provided the blueprint for water powered cotton spinning machinery (water frame), and Cromford Mill, (built 1771), was modelled on Derby Silk Mill (built 1719). This book marks the 300th anniversary of John Lombe’s premature death. Part of the mystery surrounding his actions is why has the truth been concealed for so long and why has the Italian connection remained unacknowledged? It is time to place this episode of history in a proper context, to set the record straight, and to fully acknowledge the part played by Italy in the English Industrial Revolution.
Dirty Tricks: Stories
by George Alec EffingerStories of schizophrenic cities, technocratic rule, and mistaken identities by the Hugo Award–winning author of When Gravity Falls. In these eleven short stories by speculative fiction master George Alec Effinger, New York's populace must deal with the realities of a bi-polar existence; patients' brains are cut to tiny pieces in a clinical search for the medical definition of bliss; a little child's natural fear of the dark is exploded into new mind-bending phobias and a cartoon favorite pays a personal visit to an aging, aching fan. Humor, sheer audacity, and an eclectic array of human fears and expectations placed against each other all make this collection a perfect representation of Effinger's unique voice. He is a truly remarkable talent and one not to be missed.
Orphans of Earth (The Orphans Trilogy #2)
by Sean Williams Shane DixThe sole survivors of the human race... and their time is running out. In the wake of Earth&’s fall, Peter Alander has just one choice: to use the alien Gifts left behind on his distant colony world to warn other missions of their impending demise, a second wave of alien ships, this time intent on destroying everything in their path. Without the Gifts, humanity would have no hope at all--although no one truly understands them, and it is becoming increasingly certain that the very use of them is what draws the enemy on. Out of the dark comes help from an entirely unexpected quarter. Peter Alander and his fellow survivors are not the only victims of the terrible Starfish. But what if the cost of that help is too high? What if the price is humanity itself? &“This book shines&” —Cinescape &“High adventure in deep space for fans of far-future SF.&” —Library Journal Nominated for the Aurealis and Ditmar Awards.
The Cecils: The Dynasty & Legacy of Lord Burghley
by David LeeThe Cecils: The Dynasty and Legacy of Lord Burghley looks at the lives of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Elizabeth I’s Chief Minister and Secretary of State and that of his son, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury. Lord Burghley served three Tudor Monarchs in an unparalleled rise to power during the reign of Elizabeth I and his political influence on state matters, his remarkable close bond to the queen, and the self-sacrifice in his service to the state and crown, are closely examined in this unprecedented work. The life and career of William’s youngest son Robert, Earl of Salisbury, who also became Elizabeth’s Chief Minister as heir to his father’s political mantle, will also be discussed. Robert served his queen equally to, if not more ruthlessly than his father. His powerful position remained intact during the transition of the crown from the House of Tudor to the House of Stuart upon Elizabeth’s death in 1603. Robert’s loyalties and his relationship with his father remain a topic of discussion and debate. This book will also explore the transition of power from one Cecil to another, and how both men created a powerful dynasty and legacy that continues to fascinate readers today. The book is based on a close examination of William and Robert Cecil’s correspondence, personal papers, state papers, legal documents, and memoranda. By closely examining these sources, the author has gained a clearer insight into the lives and careers of the Cecil’s, the true powerhouse behind the throne.
Love Lyrics
by Mary Haskell CurtisShe pens Broadway songs, but will the curtain ever close on her feelings for her ex-fiancé? Love gets a redo in this show-stopping romance. Ashley Grainger goes through a dry spell in her songwriting career, and it could not have happened at a worse time. Her music-writing ability has been hampered by the return of her ex-fiancé Zach. When Zach blows back into town, he has the potential to destroy Ashley's career. Zach is still overwhelmed by his feelings for Ashley, but will his desperate ploy to stop loving her get in the way of helping her further her career? As Ashley and Zach discover, it's hard to rewrite the lyrics to their passionate and complicated love song.
French Generals of the Great War: Leading the Way
by Jonathan Krause William PhilpottWho were the senior generals who took France through the First World War, and why do we know so little about them? They commanded the largest force on the Western Front through both humiliating defeats and forgotten victories; they won international respect and adoration, but also led their army to infamous mutiny. Nevertheless, the French and their allies, under a French General in Chief, would eventually achieve final victory over Imperial Germany. It is extraordinary that this remarkable group of men has been so neglected in histories on the war. Previous studies are outdated and haven't tapped the wealth of primary source material in France's military archives. It is this gap in the literature and in the understanding of the conflict that this thought-provoking and original volume is designed to address. It takes a collective biographical approach to the leading French soldiers who ran the war on the Western Front.
The Longest Way Home (Gollancz S. F. Ser.)
by Robert SilverbergA New York Times Notable Book: A far-future coming-of-age tale from the SF Grand Master, &“one of the world&’s finest stylists and storytellers&” (San Antonio Express-News). &“What wonders and adventures he has to tell us,&” is how Ursula K. Le Guin characterized the work of Robert Silverberg, and in The Longest Way Home, he takes readers on another dazzling odyssey. Joseph, fifteen and separated from his family in the land known as Getfen, awakens to an attack on the Great House in which he is visiting. Narrowly escaping with his life but still pursued by enemies who wish to see him killed, Joseph must journey across a dark, unfamiliar world on his quest to return to his home of Helikis and his father. He has thousands of miles to travel and much to learn about this perilous alien world in transition—and about himself. &“What the greatly changed Joseph might find at the end of his journey, and how he might react, are questions that I came to care deeply about.&” —The New York Times Book Review &“The Longest Way Home recalls, in a lot of ways, the old-time frontier adventures, not the ones with the cowboys and the Indians, but the ones where people have to learn to survive in the wilderness or along the prairie. [Joseph&’s] adventures in survival are exciting, and the travels along this world are a pleasant escape.&” —SF Site &“This engaging, entertaining book is a fast read with many thoughtful themes.&” —School Library Journal
Re-living Britain in the 1940s
by Robin WichardThe 1940s remains an iconic period in world history and retains a fascination for so many. Re-enacting the 40s is becoming increasingly popular but there is little available information explaining how to start in the hobby. This book is the first to offer enthusiasts of the 40s a way to advance their interest whether it be military or civilian. Each chapter deals with a different aspect of re-enacting from civilian roles (including children) to military roles with many different potential impressions explored for each area. Each chapter is lavishly illustrated with many previously unseen color photographs of contemporary re-enactors and events. There are further chapters introducing those people who portray wartime political and military leaders as well as those who bring back to life some of the most iconic musicians and performers of the period. For those choosing to enter the hobby through ownership of a civilian or military vehicle, that is also covered with many examples of some of the most well-known vehicles. Each chapter offers a brief contextual history with detailed notes on where to obtain uniform and equipment, some of the best groups to join as well as links to related sites and recommendations for wider reading. No book can cover every single possible role but this offers an excellent starting point for further research and involvement while stressing the need to always remain respectful of those we seek to commemorate.
The Chieftain (Telnarian Histories #1)
by John NormanA peasant is sent to the arena, fodder for the carnage—but before the horrified gaze of noble ladies, the warrior named Dog slaughters headsmen, hunters, and beasts to win freedom as a full‑fledged gladiator. Then deep‑space rebels attack an Empire ship where Dog performs combat killings for the amusement of the passengers, and the gladiator becomes a rebel. Now a beautiful officer of the court finds her life depends on the mercy of Dog, the man she ordered put to death!
The First Enigma Codebreaker: The Untold Story of Marian Rejewski who Passed the Baton to Alan Turing
by Robert GawlowskiThe First Enigma Codebreaker is the story of a man who started a revolution in cryptology and the conflict between man and machine. This is a powerful story of the life of Marian Rejewski and how history can affect individual lives, presented to the public for the first time. This examination of how Marian Rejewski changed the course of cryptology is of great interest to everyone from the avid historian to Hollywood film producers and all those in-between. As Gawlowski’s biography shows, Rejewski was an unassuming man who used his mathematical, skills as well as his extensive linguistic abilities, to start cracking the Enigma code before passing the baton on to the now renowned Alan Turing. This is a fascinating, human story about the man Marian Rejewski, which also ties up the loose threads of the Enigma story and shows the importance of the Polish involvement in that process. The First Enigma Codebreaker looks at those involved in cracking the Enigma and also takes a look at an aspect that has rarely been discussed in great detail, the story of Marian Rejewski himself, and how he endured life in post-war Communist Poland shining a light on situations such as how Rejewski managed to decode the machine, what happened to him during the Second World War, and the price he had to pay during the post war period.
The Northern Girl: Watchtower, The Dancers Of Arun, And The Northern Girl (The Chronicles of Tornor #3)
by Elizabeth A. LynnThe visions begin when Sorren is only 13. Too numb to be frightened, Sorren eventually learns that this gift to travel places in her mind is called Far-travelling, and she is marked as a member of the White Clan of Arun. But this honor of being a witch frightens Sorren and she does not want to come within the Tanjo and serve. So instead, Sorren is determined to keep this gift a secret for as long as she can, whatever the cost may be.
More Than Conquerors
by Kay CorneliusA Southern debutante must choose between her Confederate sweetheart and a Yankee officer in this Civil War romance from the author of Love&’s Gentle Journey. Lucinda Matthews' life is perfect. Honey-blond with piercing gray eyes, she is Huntsville, Alabama's most admired debutante, not to mention the twinkle in the eye of her beloved fiancé, Ben Bradley. Then the Civil War invades the South, and Lucinda's life. Ben joins the Confederate forces as enemy troops occupy Lucinda's home. She finds solace in the arms of Yankee Major Seth Russell. But should she love this devilishly attractive man, the antagonist of everything she holds dear? Without his help, her father will probably be carried off to a Northern jail. When Ben returns, Lucinda must finally decide what it is her heart truly wants, and which man she loves: her childhood sweetheart, or her conqueror?
Victoria Crosses of the Gurkha and Indian Regiments
by Kevin BrazierIn this book you will find the stories of all the men awarded the VC while serving in the Gurkha and Indian regiments of the Indian Army; this also includes British soldiers serving in these regiments. The Indian Army have been involved in wars all over Europe, Africa, the Middle and Far East, in many campaigns. However, it was not until 1912 that native Gurkhas and Indians were eligible for the award. It would be 1914 when the first native Indian was awarded it and 1915 for the first Gurkha. Prior to this only British soldiers serving in the Indian Army had been awarded the VC. This book is divided into two parts, the first part deals with the men who were serving in the Gurkha regiments at the time of their VC actions. Of the 26 Gurkha regiment VC’s half were awarded to native born Gurkhas and half to British officers. Part two of the book deals with the men who were serving in the Indian Army at the time of their VC actions. Of the 135 VCs awarded to Indian regiments, only 28 were awarded to native Indians, the remainder going to British soldiers serving in Indian regiments.
Present Tense (The Great Game #2)
by Dave DuncanAs WWI rages on, two immortal enemies engage in a war between alternate worlds in book two of this epic fantasy series. In the midst of the horror of the First World War, a stranger falls from nowhere into the mud and death of Flanders battlefield—bruised, babbling, and stark naked . . . with a remarkable story to tell. The Great Game—the timeless diversion of human gods, a ruthless contest of treachery, magic, betrayal, and manipulation, created to relieve the tedium of immortality—goes on.
M36/M36B1 Tank Destroyer (Images of War)
by David DoyleGoing into WWII, the prevailing strategy of the US command was that tanks were not to be used to engage enemy tanks in combat. Rather, tanks were to be the armored spearhead to breach enemy positions. Enemy tanks were to be dealt with by specialized weapons, aptly named tank destroyers. While the 3-inch weapon of the M10 was superior to that found on earlier US tank destroyers, it was still found to be inadequate against the ever-increasing weight of German armor. An even larger gun, the 90mm M3, was placed in a new, bigger open-topped turret on 100 new hulls purpose built for this, and by remanufacturing M10A1s, primarily from US-based training units. As the supply of these chassis was depleted, additional vehicles were created by converting Diesel-powered M10s, resulting in the M36B2. The M36B1 was built from the ground-up as a tank destroyer, using a hull based on that of the M4A3 but featuring a standard M36 turret. Examination of rare surviving vehicles indicates that the M36B1 hulls were manufactured expressly for this purpose, and were not merely M4A3 hulls that were converted. While US antitank doctrine changed, rendering all the tank destroyers obsolete post WWII, many of these vehicles were supplied to other nations, and in fact some survived as combat vehicles into the 21st century.
Faery Lands Forlorn (A Man of His Word #2)
by Dave DuncanThe author of Magic Casement returns to the fantastical world of Pandemia: &“The series bears resemblance to Robin Hobb&’s Farseer Trilogy&” (Fantasy Book Review). When Queen Inos was abducted through the magic casement and her friend, the stableboy Rap, tried to follow her, they arrived in places very strange—and very far apart . . . Inos finds herself in the country of Zark, captured by a powerful sorceress who rules over the desert land with a brutal magic. Meanwhile, Rap and his companions wind up in Faerie. Desperate to find Inos, he&’ll try anything, even though witches and warlocks abound—and trustworthy allies are hard to find. One, though, a sea captain, hires Rap as part of his crew, and they embark on a journey that could take him farther away from Inos—and deeper into a dangerous adventure . . . &“If it&’s traditional fantasy adventure with a bit of nudge-nudge wink-wink you&’re after, Dave Duncan is your go-to guy. &”—SFReviews.net &“Duncan takes all the trusted fantasy ingredients, meticulously prepares them and brings them together with skill and relish. . . . The series bears resemblance to Robin Hobb&’s Farseer Trilogy.&” —Fantasy Book Review &“Duncan&’s unique concept of goblins, fauns, and imps adds a new twist to this imaginative fantasy adventure. Recommended.&” —Library Journal
Death in Florence
by George Alec EffingerA plan to make a perfect world leads to its destruction in this science fiction thriller from the Hugo Award–winning author of When Gravity Falls. In a wild and crazy novel composed equally of black humor and deep, humane insight, George Alec Effinger strips away the veneer of civilization, revealing the deep truths by which we all live. Without the culture we have accumulated, existence is sometimes a nightmare, sometimes absurd, sometimes courageous and wonderful. Utopia 3 is a movement spreading through the world, a project designed to mold everyone into people devoted to brotherhood and peace. A large portion of Europe is set aside for members of the pilot program. Each member is permitted to travel anywhere within the project, do anything, take anything without limit. Each person undergoes an indoctrination designed to prevent destructive or harmful acts. This is the meaning and hope of Utopia 3. This story focuses on three people: Eileen Brant, a weary young woman escaping the dead-end life she was leading; Justin Benarcek, a man who tries either too hard or not at all; and Bo Staefler, who, accompanied by a silent Arab boy, accidentally joins Utopia 3 by standing too near the genuine members at the wrong moment. These three people are caught up in a growing scheme, a deadly and evil plan that threatens to destroy the project and, ultimately, the entire world. A conflict greater than any war in history is about to be unleashed and only Brant, Benarcek, and Staefler can hope to prevent it. Death in Florence has also been published as Utopia 3.
The Second World War Illustrated: The Fourth Year
by Jack HolroydTHE FOURTH YEAR began with intensified fighting on Guadalcanal in the southern Solomon Islands in September 1942. The United States had launched their fight back in the Pacific when they landed there the previous month. In the Western hemisphere the USA threw its almighty weight into the fight against Hitler’s Germany with the ‘Operation Torch’ landings in North Africa. The Americans had boots on the ground. Hitherto in the war the Axis had largely been the controllers of events; now as often as not, they had to react to occurrences under a continuous rain of blows. Montgomery had masterminded a tactical success at El Alamein in November 1942; Rommel had retreated to face an Allied invasion of Tunisia and defeat of all Axis forces on that continent. This was followed in Russia by Hitler losing an entire army at Stalingrad when the starving survivors surrendered in January 1943. Then the Allies invaded Sicily triggering the ousting of Italy’s dictator, Mussolini, from power. Further concern for the German Führer came with the first daylight bombing raid by the USAAF at the end of January 1943. It was followed by the RAF successfully breaching two dams in the Ruhr valley in a precision night raid. Those events heralded round the clock bombing of Germany by day and night. On the Eastern Front in the summer Hitler gambled one final strategic offensive at Kursk and suffered a decisive defeat, never again to regain the initiative or launch a major offensive in Russia. By the end of the fourth year of the war the Allies dominated the vital Atlantic seaways upon which future Allied strategy was entirely dependent – although the German submarine menace still existed.
The Sixteenth Century in 100 Women
by Amy LicenceThis retelling of the sixteenth century introduces the reader to a gallery of amazing women from queens to commoners, who navigated the patriarchal world in memorable and life-changing ways all around the world. Amy Licence has scoured the records from Europe and beyond to compile this testament to female lives and achievements, telling the stories of mistresses and martyrs, witches and muses, pirates and jesters, doctors and astronomers, escapees and murderesses, colonists and saints. Read about the wife of astrologer John Dee, the women who inspired Michelangelo, the jester who saved the life of Henry IV of France, the beloved mistress of the Sultan Suleiman the Great, the wife of Ivan the Terrible, whose murder unleashed terror, set against the everyday lives of those women who did not make the history books. Introducing a number of new faces, including tales of women from Morocco, Nigeria, Japan, Chile, India and Turkey, this book will delight those who are looking to broaden their knowledge on the sixteenth century and celebrate the lost women of the past.
The Storm Weaver & the Sand: Third Book Of The Change (Books of the Change #3)
by Sean WilliamsSal and his friend Shilly have been joined by a third refugee, Skendar, by the time they make their way to the remote island that is the home of the famous, feared Haunted City, home of the Sky Wardens. Sal&’s great aunt, the Syndic, is also there, and she is determined to keep Sal under control, even if she has to imprison him to do it. But there are greater threats even than that. The ghosts that live behind the ancient glass of the City are restless. No one can say why they are stirred up and no one has any idea what they can do if they act. The golem is determined to make Sal do its bidding and will not stop short of murder to obtain his obedience. It appears that the Weavers have plans as well, yet no one knows, or will admit knowing, whether the legendary Weavers even exist or what they are. Beset on all sides by dangerous powers and controlling agendas, Sal must find a way to choose his own path . . . or submit to a fate not of his own making.
Silverswept (Avon Romance Ser.)
by Linda LaddA English woman finds her loyalty and heart tested in this American Revolution romance by the author whose &“books just get better and better!&” (Lori Copeland). As the threat of war between America and England looms, loyalty and passion begin to rage. Her father, a prominent member of the British Parliament, tricks Alysson Tyler into marriage with Donovan MacBride, an American revolutionary. Convinced Alysson willingly offered to spy on his American activities, Donovan&’s desire for the seemingly innocent woman transforms into hate. Alysson denies any knowledge of her father&’s plans, but Donovan remains unconvinced and orders that the marriage be annulled upon their arrival in America. As soon as the ship arrives, though, Alysson becomes ensnared in the dangerous and exotic underground of the revolution and Donovan must remain her protector. While the flames of war begin to spark, so does the love between the unlikely pair. Can their passion for each other outweigh the loyalty they feel for their countries? Or will war put out the flame of love?
Floating Worlds (S. F. Masterworks Ser.)
by Cecelia HollandIn the far future, an Earth-born woman must negotiate with a fearsome mutant race: &“On a par with Ursula LeGuin or Arthur C. Clarke&” (Chicago Tribune). Two thousand years into the future, runaway pollution has made the earth uninhabitable except in giant biodomes. The society is an anarchy, with disputes mediated through the Machiavellian Committee for the Revolution. Mars, Venus, and the moon support flourishing colonies of various political stripes. On the fringes of the solar system, in the gas planets, a strange, new, violent kind of human has evolved. In this unstable system, the anarchist Paula Mendoza, an agent of the Committee, works to make peace and ultimately protect her people in a catastrophic clash of worlds that destroys the order she knows.
Living in Early Victorian London
by Michael AlpertLondon in the 1840s was sprawling and smoke-filled, a city of extreme wealth and abject poverty. Some streets were elegant with brilliantly gas-lit shop windows full of expensive items, while others were narrow, fetid, muddy, and in many cases foul with refuse and human filth. Railways, stations and sidings were devouring whole districts and creating acres of slums or ‘rookeries’ into which the poor of the city were jammed and where crime, disease and prostitution were rife. The most sensational crime of the epoch, the murder of Patrick O’Connor by Frederick and Maria Manning, filled the press in the summer and autumn of 1849. Michael Alpert uses the trial record of this murder, accompanied by numerous other contemporary sources, among them journalism, diaries and fiction, to show how day-to-day lives, birth, death, sickness, work, shopping, cooking, and buying clothes, were lived in the crowded, noisy capital in the early decades of Victoria’s reign. These sources illustrate how ordinary people lived in London, their incomes, entertainments, religious practice, reading and education, their hopes and anxieties. Life in Early Victorian London reveals how ordinary people like the Mannings and thousands of others experienced their multifaceted lives in the greatest capital city of the world. Early Victorian London lived on the cusp of great improvements, but it was a city which in some aspects was mediaeval. Its inhabitants enjoyed the benefit of the Penny Post and the omnibus, and they were protected to some extent by a police force. The Mannings fled their crime on the railway, were trapped by the recently-invented telegraph and arrested by ‘detectives’ (a new concept and word), but they were hanged in public as murderers had been for centuries, watched by a baying, drunken and swearing mob.
From Hell to Challah: Rising from Fragile to Fearless, One Grain at a Time
by Shari WallackAn uplifting, funny, and flavorful story through despair, survival, and mental emancipation during the chaos of 2020. In from hell to challah, Shari Wallack’s journey begins inside a mental hospital and continues on a road trip to eighteen destinations throughout the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. She details her innermost thoughts, hopes, and fears while illustrating how she went from crippling depression to joy over a three-month period. Along with a multitude of colorful characters, Shari navigates an exciting and unusual voyage of self-discovery and healing. Among the useful lessons she learns along the way, she discovers that cooking and baking calm her. She provides the recipes that helped her through her struggles, with the hope that others will find the same much-needed comfort. Shari’s heartwarming and humorous story shows that happiness and purpose can be found even in the most difficult of times.