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Knocked for a Loop (The John J. Malone Mysteries #10)
by Craig RiceBeing framed for murder is the least of a Chicago attorney&’s problems in this dizzying thriller by &“the grand dame of mystery mixed with screwball comedy&” (Ed Gorman). Attorney John J. Malone, steadfast barfly and proud defender of the guilty, has a lot enemies, but few more formidable than Chicago financier and anti-vice crusader Leonard Estapole. So it doesn&’t look good when Estapole&’s corpse turns up in Malone&’s office, liberated from this life by a bronze Buddha to the skull. But when the stiff&’s stepdaughter is kidnapped, and Malone is implicated, it&’s a frame job gone too far. Especially when Malone is suddenly saddled with the obnoxious abductee—a dimpled little extortionist who refuses to go home. If only Malone could count on his friends, Jake and Helene Justus. Unfortunately, Helene&’s disappeared from a Wyoming dude ranch and her friendship with Estapole&’s trophy-wife widow is too coincidental for comfort. Now, with every blindsiding twist of the case, Malone is starting to feel more and more like a hostage himself. The first mystery writer to ever make the cover of Time magazine, Craig Rice is a &“composite of Agatha Christie&’s ingenuity, Dashiell Hammett&’s speed, and Dorothy Sayers&’s wit&” (Louis Untermeyer). And in Knocked for a Loop, she&’s in &“top form&” (Jon L. Breen, Edgar Award–winning author).
Point Dume: A Novel
by Katie ArnoldiMalibu surf and cannabis cultures collide in a novel that&’s &“part comedy of manners, part cautionary tale&” from the bestselling author of Chemical Pink&” (Los Angeles Times). Katie Arnoldi&’s critically acclaimed debut novel Chemical Pink launched her onto the bestseller lists and so established itself into the public&’s consciousness that its title was the answer to a Double Jeopardy question. Her sophomore effort, The Wentworths, was searing portrait of a wealthy Westside, Los Angeles, family. This too was a fixture on bestseller lists and earned her a wider audience. With Point Dume, Arnoldi has produced her most remarkable novel to date. Behind the idyllic façade of Malibu, tensions simmer between the old-school residents and surfers, Mexican drug cartels, and the nouveau riche who live in blissful ignorance of the consequences of their actions. In the span of one year, their lives will intertwine with devastating consequences. A fast-moving page-turner, with insights that Arnoldi has gleaned from years of on-the-ground research, this is a timely novel that seems timeless. &“The novel is fast paced with excellent characters and intersecting plots. It&’s also a must read if you&’re interested in surfing culture and would like another reason on why pot should be legalized in the USA.&” —San Francisco Chronicle &“[A] ripped-from-the-headlines drama . . . The prose style is spare and powerful and the pages turn effortlessly.&” —Publishers Weekly &“The summer is fully and officially upon us and that means summer reading is here! In fiction, our local Point Dume still tops the list—a great read for beach or travel.&” —The Malibu Times
Snowball, Dragonfly, Jew: A Novel
by Stuart RossA man reflects on family memories—that may or may not be true—in this novel of &“sharply composed vignettes with a keen sense of timing and humor&” (Publishers Weekly). Ben is an artist closing in on forty, and it&’s hard for him to be sure about the past. His parents are both dead, and his brother, who has mental issues, is a lousy source of information. So when Ben finds himself with a particularly persistent memory that keeps nagging at him, he doesn&’t know where to turn to answer the question: Did his mother really assassinate a prominent neo-Nazi? In a novel that &“shows maturity of vision without sacrificing the childish sense of play and absurdity his readers expect from him,&” Stuart Ross sends Ben ranging through childhood summers at an Ontario cottage, teenage alienation in a Toronto suburb, a disastrous college career, and the calamity that precipitates his brother&’s institutionalization—as he tries to sort through the events of his life, both real and surreal (The Globe and Mail, Toronto). &“A writer with an original sensibility.&” —The Vancouver Sun
Anne Belinda: A Golden Age Mystery
by Patricia WentworthA WWI veteran searches for a woman he once knew—and stumbles into a mystery—in a novel by the author of the Miss Silver series. In 1917, after he&’s released from the hospital, John Waveney is headed back to the trenches in France when he decides to visit the land of his ancestors dating back to the Crusades. There, he meets a young girl who, upon learning he&’s all alone in the world, tells him she&’d be sorry if anything happened to him at the front. Nine years later, John returns to Waveney Hall to claim his legacy—and encounters an extended family of relatives he never knew about. But Anne Belinda, a distant cousin—the mysterious young girl he never forgot—has disappeared. No one at his ancestral estate will discuss her or explain why her father altered his will, leaving his entire estate to her twin sister, Jenny. Feeling a debt of loyalty to the girl who sent him off to battle with a kind word, John embarks on a search for Anne—but does the missing woman want to be found? This 1928 novel from one of Britain&’s most beloved crime authors tells a shocking story of crime and sacrifice that can destroy lives—or redeem them.
Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death
by Bernd HeinrichAn enlightening look at animal behavior and the cycle of life and death, from &“one of the finest naturalists of our time&” (Edward O. Wilson). When a good friend with a severe illness wrote, asking if he might have his &“green burial&” at Bernd Heinrich&’s hunting camp in Maine, it inspired the acclaimed biologist to investigate a subject that had long fascinated him. How exactly does the animal world deal with the flip side of the life cycle? And what are the lessons, ecological to spiritual, imparted by a close look at how the animal world renews itself? Heinrich focuses his wholly original gaze on the fascinating doings of creatures most of us would otherwise turn away from—field mouse burials conducted by carrion beetles; the communication strategies of ravens, &“the premier northern undertakers&”; and the &“inadvertent teamwork&” among wolves and large cats, foxes and weasels, bald eagles and nuthatches in cold-weather dispersal of prey. Heinrich reveals, too, how and where humans still play our ancient and important role as scavengers, thereby turning not dust to dust, but life to life. &“If it has not been clear to readers by now, this book confirms that Bernd Heinrich is one of the finest naturalists of our time. Life Everlasting shines with the authenticity and originality that are unique to a life devoted to natural history in the field.&” —Edward O. Wilson, author of The Meaning of Human Existence and The Social Conquest of Earth
Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times
by Bill MoyersThe Peabody Award–winning journalist shares stories and insights into our country and the crises we face in an &“eloquent selection of . . . commentaries&” (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Millions of Americans have invited Bill Moyers into their homes over the years. With television programs covering topics from American history, politics, and religion to the role of media and the world of ideas, he has become one of America&’s most trusted journalists. Now Moyers presents, for the first time, a powerful statement of his own personal beliefs—political and moral. Combining illuminating forays into American history with candid comments on today&’s politics, Moyers delivers perceptive and trenchant insights into the American experience. From his early years as a Texas journalist to his role as a founding organizer of the Peace Corps, top assistant to President Lyndon Johnson, publisher of Newsday, senior correspondent and analyst for CBS News, and producer of many of public television&’s groundbreaking series, Moyers has been actively engaged in some of the most volatile episodes of the past fifty years. Drawing from these experiences, he shares his unique understanding of American politics and an enduring faith in the nation&’s promise and potential. Whether reflecting on today&’s media climate, corporate scandals, or religious and political upheavals, Moyers on America recovers the hopes of the past to establish their relevance for the present. &“Not only a good reporter . . . a first-rate storyteller.&” —The Boston Globe
Not Your Mother's Morals: How the New Sincerity Is Changing Pop Culture for the Better
by Jonathan D. Fitzgerald&“[Fitzgerald] explains how the new sincerity movement in contemporary pop culture is making way for moral storytelling in unlikely places.&” —Jonathan Merritt, author of Learning to Speak God from Scratch In Not Your Mothers Morals, Jonathan D. Fitzgerald argues that today&’s popular music, movies, TV shows, and books are making the world a better place. For all the hand-wringing about the decline of morals and the cheapening of culture in our time, contemporary media brims with examples of fascinating and innovative art that promote positive and uplifting moral messages—without coming across as preachy. The catch? Today&’s moral messages can be quite different than the ones your mother taught you. Fitzgerald compares the pop culture of yesterday with that of today and finds that while both are committed to major ideals—especially God, Family, and Country—the nature of those commitments has shifted. In his witty, expressive style, Fitzgerald explains how we&’ve arrived at the era of New Sincerity and why its good news for our future. &“A great, quick read . . . jam-packed with explorations of art, politics, media and pop culture that show how we&’ve moved from being June Cleaver&’s society to being one that begs you to just tell it to us like it is—flaws and questions and all . . . Jonathan&’s book puts all of the proverbial pieces together into one witty journey that will light up any culture lover&’s brain.&” —The Good Men Project &“Jonathan Fitzgerald is an astute observer of Christianity in Western culture. By turning &‘conventional wisdom&’ on its head, he shows us some truth we would not otherwise have seen.&” —Tony Jones, author of The New Christians
The Coffee Book: Anatomy of an Industry from Crop to the Last Drop (A\bazaar Book Ser.)
by Nina Luttinger Gregory DicumA history of coffee from the sixth century to Starbucks that&’s &“good to the last sentence&” (Las Cruces Sun News). One of Library Journal&’s &“Best Business Books&” This updated edition of The Coffee Book is jammed full of facts, figures, cartoons, and commentary covering coffee from its first use in Ethiopia in the sixth century to the rise of Starbucks and the emergence of Fair Trade coffee in the twenty-first. The book explores the process of cultivation, harvesting, and roasting from bean to cup; surveys the social history of café society from the first coffeehouses in Constantinople to beatnik havens in Berkeley and Greenwich Village; and tells the dramatic tale of high-stakes international trade and speculation for a product that can make or break entire national economies. It also examines the industry&’s major players, revealing the damage that&’s been done to farmers, laborers, and the environment by mass cultivation—and explores the growing &“conscious coffee&” market. &“Drawing on sources ranging from Molière and beatnik cartoonists to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the authors describe the beverage&’s long and colorful rise to ubiquity.&” —The Economist &“Most stimulating.&” —The Baltimore Sun
Guerrilla Marketing During Tough Times: Is Your Business Slowing Down? Find Out Why Here!
by Jay Conrad LevinsonThe multimillion-selling creator of Guerrilla Marketing offers action steps for businesses stuck in a rut or roiled by a recession. Chances are, your business could use some help about now, regardless of the ups or downs of the economy. Let&’s face it, we all could. In this book, bestselling author Jay Conrad Levinson gives you a treasure trove of marketing tactics to help you weather even the toughest times. It tells you exactly how to position your business so you can propel to new heights you never dreamt were possible. Each of the twelve chapters in Guerrilla Marketing During Tough Times includes action steps you can use, and an exercise to help you focus your energy on the areas of your business you must change. It&’s real-life advice from a real marketing expert.
Spitfire: Mark I P9374
by Andy SaundersThe true story of the recovery of a World War II plane shot down in France—and the effort to restore this historic aircraft. Spitfire is the fascinating story of the recovery of a Battle of France Spitfire Mk 1 from the sands of Calais during the early 1980s—and its subsequent return to the United Kingdom for rebuild and restoration to flying condition. The full history of the airframe from the factory to loss, the airplane&’s operational history with 92 Squadron, and the story of the pilots who flew it during its career are also told, as is the unfolding saga of its restoration and return to air—detailing its progress through the workshops right up to the first flight in 2011.
The First World War: A Complete History
by Martin Gilbert&“A stunning achievement of research and storytelling&” that weaves together the major fronts of WWI into a single, sweeping narrative (Publishers Weekly, starred review). It was to be the war to end all wars, and it began at 11:15 on the morning of June 28, 1914, in an outpost of the Austro-Hungarian Empire called Sarajevo. It would officially end nearly five years later. Unofficially, however, it has never ended: Many of the horrors we live with today are rooted in the First World War. The Great War left millions of civilians and soldiers maimed or dead. It also saw the creation of new technologies of destruction: tanks, planes, and submarines; machine guns and field artillery; poison gas and chemical warfare. It introduced U-boat packs and strategic bombing, unrestricted war on civilians and mistreatment of prisoners. But the war changed our world in far more fundamental ways than these. In its wake, empires toppled, monarchies fell, and whole populations lost their national identities. As political systems and geographic boundaries were realigned, the social order shifted seismically. Manners and cultural norms; literature and the arts; education and class distinctions; all underwent a vast sea change. As historian Martin Gilbert demonstrates in this &“majestic opus&” of historical synthesis, the twentieth century can be said to have been born on that fateful morning in June of 1914 (Publishers Weekly, starred review). &“One of the first books that anyone should read . . . to try to understand this war and this century.&” —The New York Times Book Review
The Night of the Triffids
by Simon ClarkA sequel to John Wyndham&’s post-apocalyptic horror classic The Day of the Triffids: &“An action-filled tale that captures the spirit of the original story&” (Library Journal). Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel In The Day of the Triffids, Bill Masen escapes with his family to a colony on the Isle of Wight after a meteor shower blinds most of the human race and the deadly Triffid plants begin to take over the world. Now the story continues, more than twenty-five years later, as pilot David Masen, Bill&’s son, travels in search of an effective weapon against the Triffids. In New York City, he discovers a group of people who appear to be immune to the Triffids&’ deadly poison. But all is not as it seems in this colony, and soon David must face a dangerous adversary from his family&’s past . . . &“Brisk and engaging . . . This crafty continuation is elegant in its construction . . . A truly enjoyable voyage.&” —Publishers Weekly
Proust Was a Neuroscientist
by Jonah LehrerThe New York Times–bestselling author provides an &“entertaining&” look at how artists enlighten us about the workings of the brain (New York magazine). In this book, the author of How We Decide and Imagine: How Creativity Works &“writes skillfully and coherently about both art and science&”—and about the connections between the two (Entertainment Weekly). In this technology-driven age, it&’s tempting to believe that science can solve every mystery. After all, it&’s cured countless diseases and sent humans into space. But as Jonah Lehrer explains, science is not the only path to knowledge. In fact, when it comes to understanding the brain, art got there first. Taking a group of artists—a painter, a poet, a chef, a composer, and a handful of novelists—Lehrer shows how each one discovered an essential truth about the mind that science is only now rediscovering. We learn, for example, how Proust first revealed the fallibility of memory; how George Eliot discovered the brain&’s malleability; how the French chef Escoffier discovered umami (the fifth taste); how Cézanne worked out the subtleties of vision; and how Gertrude Stein exposed the deep structure of language—a full half-century before the work of Noam Chomsky and other linguists. More broadly, Lehrer shows that there&’s a cost to reducing everything to atoms and acronyms and genes. Measurement is not the same as understanding, and art knows this better than science does. An ingenious blend of biography, criticism, and first-rate science writing, Proust Was a Neuroscientist urges science and art to listen more closely to each other, for willing minds can combine the best of both to brilliant effect. &“His book marks the arrival of an important new thinker . . . Wise and fresh.&” —Los Angeles Times
Emperor of the Air: Stories (Bloomsbury Classic Ser.)
by Ethan CaninThe award-winning, bestselling debut collection of &“beautifully crafted stories&” from the acclaimed author of The Doubter&’s Almanac (Chicago Sun-Times). Highly acclaimed and wildly successful upon its debut, Ethan Canin&’s now classic collection of nine stories combines exquisite precision, humor, and a rare maturity of observation, capturing those miraculous moments when life opens up and presents itself to us. Full of life, rich with personal history, plot, and revelation, the stories in Emperor of the Air are the work of an extraordinarily gifted young writer. Capturing a wide range of vivid characters and their unforgettable moments of ache, epiphany, humor, and wisdom, Canin would go on to prove himself as &“the most mature and accomplished novelist of his generation&” (NPR). &“Dazzling . . . at times breathtaking, at other times heartbreaking.&” —Walker Percy &“A glowing first book . . . An engrossing and unified collection.&” —Matthew Gilbert, The Boston Globe
Of Human Bondage: A Novel
by W. Somerset MaughamThe author of The Razor&’s Edge explores the longing for love and freedom in this coming-of-age story—&“a novel of the utmost importance&” (Theodore Dreiser). Born with a clubfoot and orphaned at an early age, Philip Carey has long felt set apart from others. In the care of his doting aunt and dismissive uncle, he finds solace and escape in reading. But when he is sent to boarding school, he finds himself once again alone in heart and spirit. It is these cold beginnings that set him on a search for true happiness. Philip&’s quest will take him around the world: from Germany, where he finds cheer in the company of kindred outsiders; and London, where his upper-class heritage earns him undeserved scorn; to Paris, where the world of art initially entrances him, then leaves him frustrated. Returning to London, he enters a torturous and self-destructive affair with a cold-hearted waitress, experiences loss and betrayal, and ultimately learns that the search for predetermined happiness often ends in disappointment and disillusionment. Drawing on his own experiences, W. Somerset Maugham paints an unforgettable portrait of the agony of desire in what is considered his greatest masterpiece. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Visiting Hours: Visiting Hours (The Living and the Undead #2)
by Rob StennettA young Amish man looks for some excitement—and finds a terror he never expected . . . All Eli Troyer wanted was to escape the tedium and boredom of life among his Amish family and friends. What he could not have imagined was what the city holds for some newcomers. He wanted to reinvent himself—but didn&’t realize that you can also be reinvented by someone—or something—else . . . In the second episode of The Living and the Undead, Eli must now do the unthinkable to survive. He wants to hold on to who he was, but every hour it seems less likely. The monster is growing inside him. And Eli doesn&’t know how much longer he can fight it. The Living and the Undead is a paranormal coming-of-age thriller unlike anything you&’ve ever read.
Doppelgangers
by H. F. Heard&“A remarkable tour de force&” by the acclaimed author and philosopher—a classic science fiction &“thriller with depth&” for fans of 1984 and Brave New World (The New York Times). After the psychological revolution opened humankind&’s minds to an all-new form of consciousness, society split in two. On the Earth&’s surface rules Alpha, the benevolent, all-powerful dictator who&’s constant ministrations have left his subjects undeniably happy and satisfied but also obedient and unquestioning. Below the surface lies the kingdom of the Mole—the gloomy domain of an even darker and crueler leader. Embittered by his lot underground, he leads his people on a revolt against their obsequious overhead counterparts. And their ultimate weapon is nearly ready—a man who has been genetically and psychologically molded to be a near-perfect double of the Alpha. A covert agent who, once in place, could change the fate of both civilizations—and humanity itself—forever. Both a brilliant examination of human identity, and a gripping science fiction narrative, Doppelgangers is a dystopian novel decades ahead of its time.
The Devil in Dover: An Insider's Story of Dogma v. Darwin in Small-Town America
by Lauri Lebo&“A brilliant account&” of the controversial 2005 legal battle between evolution and creationism in public education &“by a first-rate journalist&” (Howard Zinn). In 2004, the School Board of Dover, Pennsylvania, decided to require its ninth-grade biology students to learn intelligent design—a pseudoscientific theory positing evidence of an intelligent creator. In a case that recalled the infamous 1925 Scopes &“monkey&” trial, eleven parents sued the school board. When the case wound up in federal court before a President George W. Bush–appointed judge, local journalist Lauri Lebo had a front-row seat. Destined to become required reading for a generation of journalists, scientists, and science teachers, as well as for anyone concerned about the separation of church and state, The Devil in Dover is Lebo&’s acclaimed account of religious intolerance, First Amendment violations, and an assault on American science education. Lebo skillfully probes the background of the case, introducing the plaintiffs, the defendants, the lawyers, and a parade of witnesses, along with Judge John E. Jones III, who would eventually condemn the school board&’s decision as one of &“breathtaking inanity.&” With the antievolution battle having moved to the state level—and the recent passage of state legislation that protects the right of schools to teach alternatives to evolution—Lebo&’s work is more necessary than ever. &“Lebo courageously exhibits the highest standards in intellectual honesty and journalistic ethos.&” —Daily Kos &“An unapologetic indictment of intelligent design, fundamentalist Christianity, and American journalism&’s insistence on objectivity in the face of clear untruths.&” —Columbia Journalism Review
Moments of Being: . . . Finding Your One Moment in Time
by Barrie BrettTrue stories from Brendon Burchard, F. Murray Abraham, and other high-profile contributors on the turning points that changed their lives. Can one moment, one brief encounter, change the course of the rest of your life? If so, how will you recognize that moment? Will you let it pass you by? Will you let it defeat you? Or will you allow that moment, that experience, to help shape who you are and who you might become? Moments of Being reveals true stories that altered lives forever. Join celebrities, athletes, business and community leaders, and men and women from all walks of life as they share their amazing &“twist of fate&” tales. These are stories of courage, destiny, reunions, love, sacrifice, dreams, and the fears and triumphs that are an integral part of the human experience. More than that, they illustrate that, by recognizing and acting on a single, pivotal moment, a person can change his or her life forever. &“A fabulous wake-up call . . . a must read.&” —Donna LeBlanc, author of The Passion Principle
Beartown \ (Spanish edition)
by Fredrik BackmanDel autor de Gente ansiosa, bestseller # 1 del New York Times, una deslumbrante y profunda novela sobre un pueblo chico con un sueño grande y el precio que debe pagar para hacerlo realidad. Cerca del lago en Beartown hay una pista de hielo, y en la pista Kevin, Amat, Benji y el resto del Equipo junior de hockey sobre hielo está a punto de competir en la semifinal nacional; y, de hecho, tiene la oportunidad de ganar. Todos los sueños y esperanzas de este lugar descansan ahora sobre los hombros de un grupo de adolescentes.Bajo la pesada carga, el partido se convierte en la catálisis de un acto violento que dejará a una joven traumatizada y a un pueblo en confusión. Se hacen las acusaciones y, como olas en un estanque, viajan a través de Beartown. Ésta es el a historia de un pueblo y de un juego, pero aún más, una historia sobre la lealtad, el compromiso y las responsabilidades de la amistad; de las personas a quienes decepcionamos aunque las amemos; y de las decisiones que hacemos cada día y nos definen. En esta historia sobre un pueblo pequeño en el bosque, Fredrik Bakcman ha encontrado el mundo entero. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Anxious People, a dazzling and profound novel about a small town with a big dream—and the price required to make it come true.By the lake in Beartown is an old ice rink, and in that ice rink Kevin, Amat, Benji, and the rest of the town’s junior ice hockey team are about to compete in the national semi-finals—and they actually have a shot at winning. All the hopes and dreams of this place now rest on the shoulders of a handful of teenage boys.Under that heavy burden, the match becomes the catalyst for a violent act that will leave a young girl traumatized and a town in turmoil. Accusations are made and, like ripples on a pond, they travel through all of Beartown.This is a story about a town and a game, but even more about loyalty, commitment, and the responsibilities of friendship; the people we disappoint even though we love them; and the decisions we make every day that come to define us. In this story of a small forest town, Fredrik Backman has found the entire world.
The EU High Representative: Foreign Policy Leadership in a Changing World (Palgrave Studies in European Union Politics)
by Niklas HelwigThis book offers the first comprehensive analysis and comparison of all the EU High Representatives / Vice Presidents of the Commission (HRVPs) until 2024. The book explores how three incumbents with very different backgrounds, ways of working and personalities took up the challenge of formulating the EU’s answers to brewing international crises, regional instabilities, humanitarian disasters and, eventually, war. Applying role theory, the research provides deep insights into foreign policy leadership during a period when the EU needed to adapt to a rapidly changing international environment. Based on a large set of expert interviews, the book makes the case that the leadership and role performance of the HRVP matter and can have a positive impact on the EU’s international activities. As geopolitics stages a revival, future HRVPs need to engage powerful member states and key actors in Brussels to unleash the full potential of the EU’s economic, political and military weight.
Billy Graham: A Biography of America's Greatest Evangelist
by W. Terry Whalin&“Our polarized, divided world dearly misses the spirit of grace that Billy Graham brought to the world . . . A biography that introduces him anew&” (Philip Yancey, bestselling author of What&’s So Amazing About Grace?). Billy Graham has preached the gospel message in person to more people than anyone in history, and millions more have heard him through television, radio, and film. His faithful witness is testimony to his great love of God and passion to serve Him. This easy-to-read biography tells Billy Graham&’s story, including his humble beginnings as a southern farm boy, his calling to the ministry, the start of the crusades, his service to America&’s leaders, and his later years preaching around the globe. As you read these details of a life dedicated to the cause of Christ, you will be encouraged. Also, these stories will inspire anyone who desires to give their life in service to God. Here&’s a fresh look at a contemporary man of God and giant of the faith. &“Well written and succinct, Billy Graham is an honest look at the man and his calling, his struggles to stay humble in the limelight, the difficulty of separation from his family, and his constant calling on God for the next step.&” —Deborah Bedford, New York Times–bestselling author of His Other Wife &“If you want to cultivate a passion for souls, get to know Mr. Graham in the pages of this book. I promise you&’ll be blessed!&” —Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends International Disability Center
Living the Savvy Life: The Savvy Woman's Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living
by Melissa Tosetti Kevin GibbonsLearn to master your finances with this practical guide full of tips and techniques that help you live rich while spending less. Money isn&’t the most important thing in a woman&’s life—but it effects every aspect of how we live. So if you want to enjoy the best of life, it&’s important to be money savvy. Living the Savvy Life teaches you how to be mindful about money so that you have it when you need it—and also when you truly want to splurge or treat yourself. Living the Savvy Life isn&’t about being a cheapskate, a miser, or a tightwad. It&’s about having security and peace of mind by spending less than you make. It&’s about knowing where you stand financially on a daily basis so you can make intelligent fiscal decisions. It&’s about cooking at home more often so you can afford an occasional dinner at your favorite restaurant. It&’s about having a wardrobe made entirely of clothes that fit and look great on you. It&’s about enjoying your time off because you planned for it and know you can &“afford it.&” It&’s about attaining and maintaining a balance that can sustain the life you love.
A Very Russian Christmas: The Greatest Russian Holiday Stories of All Time (Very Christmas)
by Mikhail Zoshchenko Anton Chekhov Fyodor Dostoyevsky Lev Tolstoy Vladimir Korolenko Klaudia Lukashevich Maxim Gorky TeffiA collection of short Christmas stories by some of Russia&’s greatest nineteenth and twentieth century authors—several appearing in English for the first time. Running the gamut from sweet and reverent to twisted and uproarious, this collection offers a holiday feast of Russian fiction. Dostoevsky brings stories of poverty and tragedy; Tolstoy inspires with his fable-like tales; Chekhov&’s unmatchable skills are on full display in his story of a female factory owner and her wretched workers; Klaudia Lukashevitch delights with a sweet and surprising tale of a childhood in White Russia; and Mikhail Zoshchenko recounts madcap anecdotes of Christmas trees and Christmas thieves in the Soviet Era—a time when it was illegal to celebrate the holiday in Russia. There is no shortage of imagination, wit, or vodka on display in this collection that proves, with its wonderful variety and remarkable human touch, that nobody does Christmas like the Russians.
Saint Fire (The Secret Books of Venus #2)
by Tanith LeeFollowing Faces Under Water, Tanith Lee&’s alchemical thriller series continues with a Joan of Arc–inspired novel set in an alternate medieval Venice. In Saint Fire, the second volume in the Secret Books of Venus series, Volpa is a strangely beautiful servant girl who glows with an inhuman inner flame. When her master, an abusive wood seller, is mysteriously incinerated, Volpa discovers her power of fire. Her gift is noticed by the Church leaders, who see her as a mighty weapon in their holy wars. This gripping fantasy of a mysteriously gifted Joan of Arc is stunning from beginning to end. &“Lee&’s writing is as entrancing as ever, full of evocative imagery and memorable characters. The questions she raises about faith and hypocrisy, fear and justice, are deftly rendered and not easily answered.&” —Publishers Weekly &“The author of Faces Under Water continues her saga of a city at the mercy of powers beyond its control. Lee&’s sensual and evocative storytelling imparts a dreamlike quality to this tale of transcendent faith and human passion.&” —Library Journal &“Evocative, and set forth in Lee&’s eerily crystalline prose.&” —Kirkus Reviews