- Table View
- List View
Sandy Koufax
by Jane LeavyIn an era when too many heroes have been toppled from too many pedestals, Sandy Koufax stands apart and alone, a legend who declined his own celebrity. As a pitcher, he was sublime, the ace of baseball lore. As a human being, he aspired to be the one thing his talent and his fame wouldn't allow: a regular guy. A Brooklyn kid, he was the product of the sedate and modest fifties who came to define and dominate baseball in the sixties. In Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy, former award-winning Washington Post sportswriter Jane Leavy delivers an uncommon baseball book, vividly re-creating the Koufax era, when presidents were believed and pitchers aspired to go the distance.He was only a teenager when Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley proclaimed him "the Great Jewish Hope" of the franchise. But it wasn't until long after the team had abandoned Brooklyn that the man became the myth. Old-fashioned in his willingness to play when he was injured and in his acute sense of responsibility to his team, Koutax answered to an authority higher than manager Walter Alston. When he refused to pitch the opening game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, he inadvertently made himself a religious icon and an irrevocably public figure. A year later, he was gone -- done with baseball at age thirty. No other sports hero had retired so young, so well, or so completely.Despite Sandy Koufax's best efforts to protect his privacy, his legend has grown larger ever since. Part biography, part cultural history, Sandy Koufax: A Lefty's Legacy gets as close to that legend as he will allow. Through meticulous reporting and interviews with five hundred of his friends, teammates, and opponents, Leavy penetrates the mythology to discover a man more than worthy of myth.
Savage Summit: The Life and Death of the First Women of K2
by Jennifer JordanNational Outdoor Book Award Winner: “Superbly researched portraits of the first five women to summit K2”—and the stories of their tragic fates (SF Gate).Though not as tall as Everest, the “Savage Mountain” is far more dangerous. Located on the border of China and Pakistan, K2 has some of the harshest climbing conditions in the world. Ninety women have scaled Everest, but of the six women who reached the summit of K2, three lost their lives on the way back down the mountain and two have since died on other climbs. In Savage Summit, Jennifer Jordan shares the tragic, compelling, inspiring, and extraordinary true stories of a handful of courageous women—mothers and daughters, wives and lovers, poets and engineers—who reached this peak yet ultimately perished in pursuit of their dreams, and explores what drove them to attempt to conquer the world’s deadliest mountain.“Savage Summit will have you amazed at the female climbers who dared to risk everything.” —Philadelphia Inquirer“Highlights not only the dangers but also the sexism, disregard for basic decency, and narcissism that plague the world of high-altitude alpinism.” —The New York Times Book Review“Jordan demonstrates how these women got swept up in their high-flying quests and gives us a sense of the rapture that comes from standing on top of the world’s highest mountains.” —Los Angeles TimesIncludes photos
Savannah Breeze: A Novel
by Mary Kay AndrewsSouthern belle BeBe Loudermilk has lost all her worldly possessions, thanks to a brief but disastrous relationship with the gorgeous Reddy, an "investment counselor" who turns out to be a con man. All that's left is a ramshackle 1950s motel on Tybee Island-an eccentric beach town that calls itself a drinking village with a fishing problem. Breeze Inn is a place where the very classy BeBe wouldn't normally be caught dead, but with no alternative, she moves into the manager's unit, vowing to make magic out of mud. The work is grueling, especially dealing with the bad-tempered caretaker, a fishing captain named Harry who's trying to earn enough dough to get his boat out of hock. With the help of Harry and her junking friend Weezie, BeBe soon has the motel spiffed up and attracting paying guests. Then there's a sighting of Reddy in Fort Lauderdale, and BeBe decides to go after him. She puts together a posse, and with the irrepressible Granddaddy Loudermilk snoring in the backseat of the Buick, heads south. The plan is to carry out a sting that may be just a little bit outside the law but that, with any luck at all, will retrieve BeBe's fortune and put the dastardly Reddy in jail, where he belongs. And maybe Harry, who's looking more hunky every day, will finally get his boat back.
Save Me from Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs, and Lived to Tell My Story
by Brian WelchThe former Korn guitarist’s “compelling” story of an out-of-control life, a devastating drug addiction, and a miraculous redemption through Jesus Christ(Entertainment Weekly).In February 2005, more than ten thousand people in Bakersfield, California, watched as Brian “Head” Welch—the former lead guitarist of the controversial rock band Korn—was saved by Jesus Christ. The event set off a media frenzy as observers from around the world sought to understand what led this rock star out of the darkness and into the light.Now, in this courageous memoir, Head talks for the first time about his shocking embrace of God and the tumultuous decade that led him into the arms of Jesus Christ. Offering a backstage pass to his time with Korn, Head tells the inside story of his years in the band and explains how his lifestyle resulted in an all-consuming addiction to methamphetamines. Writing openly about the tour bus mayhem of Ozzfest and the Family Values tour, he provides a candid look at how the routine of recording, traveling, and partying placed him in a cycle of addiction that he could not break on his own.Head details his struggles with the drug that ultimately led him to seek a higher power. Despite his numerous attempts to free himself from meth, nothing—not even the birth of his daughter—could spur him to kick it for good. Here Head addresses how, with the help of God, he emerged from his dangerous addiction and found a path that was not only right for his daughter, it was right for him.Discussing the chaotic end to his time in Korn and how his newfound faith has influenced his relationship with his daughter, his life, and his music, Head describes a rock and roll journey unlike any other, and reveals how his moments of doubt and his hardships have only deepened his faith.“Not your typical testimony account . . . surprisingly engrossing.” —CCM Magazine“[A] tale of how religion can save a lost soul . . . the book explains, without becoming preachy, how Welch gave up rock stardom for a Christian lifestyle.” —Library JournalIncludes photographs
A Scandal to Remember
by Linda NeedhamA handsome spy falls for the princess he was sent to protect in this second book of the Gentleman Rogues trilogy by a USA Today bestselling author. Andrew Battencourt, Earl of Shefford, is looking forward to spending some quiet time in the country after a gruelling year-long mission for the Home Office. But before Drew can begin his holiday, he is sent to secretly investigate a break-in, and meets the beautiful Princess Caroline. Caro is in London to find a suitable husband to ensure she will not be the last of her royal line. The last thing she needs is a tempting man underfoot, asking questions and watching her with an intensity that sets her senses on fire. But as strange incidents escalate into violent episodes, Caro knows she'll need Drew's protection...and much, much more.
The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus: What's So Good About the Good News?
by Peter J. Gomes“Gomes is an iconoclast, and his book is an alternately eloquent and folksy attack on everybody who is sure of the right answer.” —NewsweekHow the Church Domesticated JesusWith his unique blend of eloquence and insight, the esteemed Harvard minister Peter J. Gomes invites us to hear anew the radical nature of Jesus’ message of hope and change. Using examples from ancient times as well as from modern pop culture, The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus shows us why the good news is every bit as relevant today as when it was first preached.“Of the hundreds of books on Jesus’ teachings, this is by far the best. Mincing no words, it drives home how radical Jesus’ teachings really are.” —Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions“An incisive original . . . [Gomes is] a born storyteller.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Scandal's Bride (Cynster Novels #3)
by Stephanie LaurensHow can an honourable lady like Lady Catriona Hennessy unite with a rake like Richard Cynster? Though charmed by his commanding presence, she cannot give up her independence. Marriage had not previously been on Richard's agenda, but perhaps taming the lady was just the challenge he needs - if he can have the rights of the marriage bed without making any revealing promises of love?
Scientific American's Ask the Experts: Answers to The Most Puzzling and Mind-Blowing Science Questions
by Editors of Scientific AmericanWhy is the night sky dark? How do dolphins sleep without drowning? Why do hangovers occur? Will time travel ever be a reality? What makes a knuckleball appear to flutter? Why are craters always round?There's only one source to turn to for the answers to the most puzzling and thought-provoking questions about the world of science: Scientific American. Writing in a fun and accessible style, an esteemed team of scientists and educators will lead you on a wild ride from the far reaches of the universe to the natural world right in your own backyard. Along the way, you'll discover solutions to some of life's quirkiest conundrums, such as why cats purr, how frogs survive winter without freezing, why snowflakes are symmetrical, and much more. Even if you haven't picked up a science book since your school days, these tantalizing Q & A's will shed new light on the world around you, inside you, below you, above you, and beyond!
The Scottish Companion (Avon Romantic Treasure)
by Karen Ranney“An emotional and romantic tale of the darker side of human nature” from the New York Times–bestselling author of My Highland Rogue (Fresh Fiction).Haunted by the mysterious death of his two brothers, Grant Roberson, 10th Earl of Straithern, fears for his life. Determined to produce an heir before it’s too late, Grant has promised to wed a woman he has never met. But instead of being enticed by his bride-to-be, Grant can’t fight his attraction to understated beauty and wit of her paid companion.Gillian Cameron long ago learned the danger of falling in love. Now, as the companion to a spoiled bluestocking, she has learned to keep a firm hold on her emotions. But, from the moment she meets him, she is powerless to resist the alluring and handsome earl.Fighting their attraction, Gillian and Grant must band together to stop an unknown enemy from striking. Will the threat of danger be enough to make them realize their true feelings?Praise for Karen Ranney“Karen Ranney writes with power, passion, and dramatic flair.” —Stephanie Laurens, #1 New York Times–bestselling author“A writer of rare intelligence and sensitivity.” —Mary Jo Putney, New York Times–bestselling author
SEALs Sub Strike: Operation Black Snow (SEALs Sub Strike #2)
by S.M. GunnJust as the ground war in Desert Storm begins, the U.S. military must destroy the most deadly weapon in Saddam Hussein's arsenal. An air strike is too risky. An infantry charge is too slow. Next move -- bring in the Navy SEALs! The place itself is meaningless -- a small island in the Persian Gulf. But on the island is a rocket full of anthrax. If it explodes, it is close enough to Kuwait to kill thousands of Kuwaitis and servicemen. If it is launched on a rocket, it is capable of reaching the U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia. Only one group can destroy the weapon -- the Navy SEALs. Using a secret U.S. submarine, the SEALs understand how dangerous their mission will be. Even if they are able to get past Saddam's Republican Guard to their objective, the objective itself could kill them all. But with thousands of lives and the war itself hanging in the balance, they know there is no room for even the slightest mistake.
SEALs Sub Strike: Operation Emerald Red (SEALs Sub Strike #3)
by S.M. GunnThe SEALs never rest -- but neither do their enemies. Borders have been redrawn, old enemies have fallen, and new ones have arisen from the ashes to threaten civilization. While the Cold War has ended, it has left in its wake a Russia more unpredictable, more unstable, and more dangerous than ever before. Grigory Rostov, a former commander in the elite Spetznaz special forces -- turned arms dealer, knows how to procure some of the former USSR's most destructive and vulnerable weaponry. Selling these next generation Weapons of Mass Destruction to his client will almost certainly precipitate a war between the US and China, opening the door for Russia to be reclaim its place as a the sole remaining superpower, and making Rostov a millionaire in the process. The only thing that can prevent Taiwan from becoming Ground Zero in the next World War: a top secret new unit within the Navy SEALs.
A Search for Solitude
by Thomas MertonThe third volume of Thomas Merton's journals chronicles Merton's attempts to reconcile his desire for solitude and contemplation with the demands of his new-found celebrity status within the strictures of conventional monastic life.
A Search for Solitude
by Thomas MertonThe third volume of Thomas Merton's journals chronicles Merton's attempts to reconcile his desire for solitude and contemplation with the demands of his new-found celebrity status within the strictures of conventional monastic life.
Season Finale: The Unexpected Rise & Fall of the WB and UPN
by Cynthia Littleton Susanne DanielsSeason Finale is an inside chronicle of the entertainment industry following the unexpected rise and fall of the WB and UPN networks.In the mid-1990s, Hollywood studios Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures each launched their own broadcast television network, hoping to become the fifth player in an industry dominated by ABC, CBS, NBC, and, more recently, Fox. Against all odds, the WB and UPN altered primetime television’s landscape, only to merge as the CW in 2006—casualties of conflicting personalities, relentless competition, and a failure to anticipate the business’s future.Following the money, egos, and risks of network television, former WB executive Susanne Daniels and Variety television reporter Cynthia Littleton expose the difficulties of trying to launch two traditional broadcast networks just as cable and the Internet were ending their dominance. Through in-depth reportage and firsthand accounts, Daniels and Littleton re-create the creative and business climate that birthed the WB and UPN, illustrating how the race to find programming spawned their heated rivalry and created shows that became icons of youth culture. Offering insider stories about shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson’s Creek, 7th Heaven, Gilmore Girls, Smallville, Felicity, Girlfriends, Everybody Hates Chris, and America’s Next Top Model, the authors present the creative environment that ushered these groundbreaking programs into living rooms across America.Despite success, the WB and UPN unraveled due to corporate miscalculations, management missteps, and industry upheaval that led to their decline—and rebirth as the CW. This is a cautionary and compelling entertainment saga about a precarious moment in television history, when the transformation of the broadcast networks signaled an inevitable shift for all pop culture.
Second Acts
by Stephen M. Pollan Mark LevineSecond Acts is a guide to reinventing your life. Whether you wish to change careers, move to a more desirable part of the country, start a business, write a novel, or drop everything to pursue a life dream, Stephen Pollan offers a powerful message ofhope and guidance that has benefited his own clients. Through a series of exercises, you will develop a comprehensive "script" for your second act-a step-by-step action plan that will lead you to the life you've always wanted.
Second Chances
by Sharon SalaA chance encounter reunites a woman with the cowboy who stole her heart in the USA Today–bestselling author’s tender contemporary Western romance.It was the kind of encounter Billie had seen only in the movies, and never dreamed could happen to her. A rugged, sexy cowboy appeared from out of nowhere to stir her passions—and then, just as quickly, he was gone. For one brief moment in time the walls Billie had built around her heart tumbled. When it was over, she was sure their fiery passion would live on only as a bittersweet memory.Then fate leads Billie to a sprawling Texas ranch, and there he is again—Matt, her handsome, mysterious stranger, the best thing that had ever happened to her. Knowing that the pain of losing him a second time would be too much, her instinct is to run fast and far away. But Matt let Billie go once and he's not going to make the same mistake again—because nothing on Earth will stop him from grabbing a second chance at love.
The Secret Adversary: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery: The Official Authorized Edition (Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries #1)
by Agatha ChristieFrom the brilliant pen of Agatha Christie comes the first novel in her Tommy and Tuppence mystery series featuring the beloved sleuthing duo—now a movie on both Acorn TV and PBS.Tommy and Tuppence are young, in love… and flat broke. Restless for excitement, they decide to embark on a daring business scheme: Young Adventurers Ltd.—"willing to do anything, go anywhere." But they get more than they bargained for when their first assignment for the sinister Mr. Whittington draws them into a diabolical conspiracy.It isn’t long before they find themselves plunged into more danger than they ever could have imagined—a danger that could put an abrupt end to their business…and their lives.
The Reluctant Suitor
by Kathleen E. WoodiwissFor as long as she can remember, Lady Adriana Sutton has adored Colton Wyndham, to whom she has been promised by an agreement of courtship and betrothal since childhood. As a young girl, she was wounded by Colton's stubborn refusal to comply with his father's wishes and by his angry departure. He was too proud and too stubborn to accept a future not of his own choosing. Rather than submit, he fled from his ancestral home for a life of adventure and danger as an officer in the British army.The years have been immensely kind to Lady Adriana. No longer the plain, thin tomboy Colton had spurned, she has blossomed into an uncommon beauty desired by nearly every eligible bachelor in the land. Yet the only man she desires is the decorated hero who has finally come home to claim his rightful title. Arrogant, unmoved, and seductive as ever, he remains averse to the idea of their betrothal in spite of his growing desire for her.To demonstrate his belief that love cannot be forced, Colton agrees to court Lady Adriana for ninety days, after which time he will be allowed to keep his precious freedom if he so wishes. But much has changed since he balked at his father's plans. Forced into a courtship with this stunning, spirited woman, who is as different today from the young chit he left behind as spring is to winter, the heroic heart that was once closed to Adriana is moved by her charm, her grace, and her sensuality ... and begins to yield. But a secret from Colton's past may doom their burgeoning love ... even as the treacherous schemes of a sinister rival threaten to steal the remarkable lady from his arms forever.A lush and spellbinding story of passion and betrayal that grandly sweeps the reader into the magnificent ballrooms and intimate boudoirs of Regency England, The Reluctant Suitor is romance as only the incomparable Kathleen Woodiwiss can deliver it -- a love story that will dwell in the reader's heart and memory forever and stand proudly as one of the author's very best.
The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (Bevelstoke Series #1)
by Julia Quinn2 March 1810 . . . Today, I fell in love. At the age of ten, Miranda Cheever showed no signs of Great Beauty. And even at ten, Miranda learned to accept the expectations society held for her--until the afternoon when Nigel Bevelstoke, the handsome and dashing Viscount Turner, solemnly kissed her hand and promised her that one day she would grow into herself, that one day she would be as beautiful as she already was smart. And even at ten, Miranda knew she would love him forever. But the years that followed were as cruel to Turner as they were kind to Miranda. She is as intriguing as the viscount boldly predicted on that memorable day--while he is a lonely, bitter man, crushed by a devastating loss. But Miranda has never forgotten the truth she set down on paper all those years earlier--and she will not allow the love that is her destiny to slip lightly through her fingers . . .
A Secret Love (Cynster Series #5)
by Stephanie LaurensAnd now, Stephanie Laurens has created her boldest Cynster yet - Gabriel - a man who has known the pleasure of many women, but who has given his heart to no one. She was desperate for his help... When a mysterious lady, her face hidden by a black veil, begs Gabriel Cynster for his help, he cannot refuse her plea. For despite her disguise, Gabriel finds the woman alluring and he is powerless to deny her. But he exacts payment as only a Cynster would demand: with each piece of information he uncovers, she must pay him - in the form of a kiss. He was powerless to resist... Lady Alathea Morwellan knows Gabriel is intrigued, but despite the sparks that fly between them, they have never passed a civil moment together. Yet as the stakes get higher, so does Gabriel's desire for payment. And with each overpowering kiss, each passionate embrace, Alathea knows that she will not be able to resist his ultimate seduction...but what will happen when she reveals the truth?
A Necessary Husband
by Debra MullinsWhen Garrett Lynch bursts the glittering Raynewood ballroom a Wild mail, a hapless footman clinging to each powerful arm, Lucinda Devering is equally appalled and impressed. How uncivilised! How barbaric! How... stirringly strong and manly! Then she learns he's the Iong-lost heir of the Duke of Raynewood -- and that it's her job to transform him into a proper Englishman. And if she fails this impossible task, the duke will reveal her desperate secret, ruining her forever. Lucinda Devering may be the loveliest woman Garrett's laid eyes on, but her eternal rules and regulations about proper behaviour are enough to drive a man mad. Which should he believe? That stiff spine, or those soft curls and big brown eyes? One thing is certain: that lush, prissy mouth needs loosening up -- and he knows just the way to do it! But soon he wonders which is more important: winning this game, or winning, Lucinda's hand?
Legend
by Sharon SalaWhen a woman returns to her Arizona home, she finds the boy she once loved has grown into the man who can heal her heart in this second chance romance.As teenagers, Raine Beaumont and Joseph Colorado tasted the joys of first love, until her father's lies destroyed their fragile bond. Now, twelve years later, Raine receives news that will take her back to her hometown of Oracle, Arizona, where she will face her lost love again.Haunted by the memory of the boy she once adored, Raine was not prepared for the mysterious, seductive man before her. For deep in Joseph's eyes lies a power that binds him to his Apache heritage, a power that promises to heal all wounds and restore long lost dreams . . . and love.
Lord of Scoundrels (The Scoundrels Series #3)
by Loretta ChaseThey call him many names, but Angelic isn't one of them . . . Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain, is big, bad, and dangerous to know. No respectable woman would have anything to do with the "Bane and Blight of the Ballisters"—and he wants nothing to do with respectable women. He's determined to continue doing what he does best—sin and sin again—and all that's going swimmingly, thank you . . . until the day a shop door opens and she walks in.She's too intelligent to fall for the worst man in the world . . . Jessica Trent is a determined young woman, and she's going to drag her imbecile brother off the road to ruin, no matter what it takes. If saving him—and with him, her family and future—means taking on the devil himself, she won't back down. The trouble is, the devil in question is so shockingly irresistible, and the person who needs the most saving is—herself!
Murder on the Orient Express: A Hercule Poirot Mystery (Hercule Poirot Mysteries #10)
by Agatha ChristieJust after midnight, a snowstorm stops the Orient Express dead in its tracks in the middle of Yugoslavia. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for this time of year. But by morning there is one passenger less. A 'respectable American gentleman' lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside . . . Hercule Poirot is also aboard, having arrived in the nick of time to claim a second-class compartment -- and the most astounding case of his illustrious career.
Nemesis: A Miss Marple Mystery (Miss Marple Mysteries #11)
by Agatha ChristieEven the unflappable Miss Marple is astounded as she reads the letter addressed to her on instructions from the recently deceased tycoon Mr. Jason Rafiel, whom she had met on holiday in the West Indies (A Caribbean Mystery). Recognizing in her a natural flair for justice and a genius for crime-solving, Mr. Rafiel has bequeathed to Miss Marple a £20,000 legacy -- and a legacy of an entirely different sort. For he has asked Miss Marple to investigate...his own murder. The only problem is, Mr. Rafiel has failed to name a suspect or suspects. And, whoever they are, they will certainly be determined to thwart Miss Marple's inquiries -- no matter what it will take to stop her.