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North and South: North And South
by Elizabeth GaskellA novel of love and social strife in northern England during the industrial revolution—a masterpiece of Victorian literature. After a decade spent living with her aunt in London, nineteen-year-old Margaret Hale returns home to her beloved village of Helstone only to discover that her pastor father has had a crisis of faith and is moving the family to the North of England. In the industrial town of Milton, Margaret is horrified by the dirty air, the shocking poverty, and the pervasive mistreatment of the working class. John Thornton, a student of Margaret&’s father and the self-made owner of a local textile mill, finds Margaret haughty and naive, but is drawn to her beauty nevertheless. As tensions between workers and masters mount, a strike appears inevitable. Margaret&’s sympathies lie with the downtrodden laborers of Milton, but her heart increasingly yearns for Thornton, whose strength and depth of character will be revealed in a time of profound crisis. Both a timeless romance and a richly detailed social novel, North and South is a masterpiece of Victorian literature. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
Echoes of Heartsounds: A Memoir of Healing
by Martha Weinman LearThis New York Times–bestselling author&’s memoir of her own heart attack is &“a refresher course in handling life&’s meanest challenges with grace&” (Library Journal). It begins late one afternoon in her kitchen. There is no collapse, no massive pain. Just a slight fluttering sensation in her chest, then chills, and finally, nausea. Probably nothing to worry about, the doctor assures her on the phone. It doesn&’t sound like a heart attack. But it is. Heart attacks in women can look and feel dramatically different than they do in men, which is why they often go undiagnosed. But heart disease is the number-one killer of American women—greater than all forms of cancer combined. When the doctor examines Lear the day after her episode, the verdict is shocking. So begins an account, filled with grace, humor, and ferocity, of her hard-won return to good health, beset by mysterious postsurgical complications and haunted by memories of her late husband when she finds herself in the same coronary unit in which she lost him all those years ago.
Conquer the Night (Graham Clan #2)
by Heather GrahamRevenge turns into unbridled passion when a Scottish nobleman steals his enemy&’s intended bride With hatred in his heart, Sir Arryn Graham rides out to Seacairn Castle to avenge the murder of his wife and unborn child. But first, he will claim the woman betrothed to Lord Kinsey Darrow for himself. Then he&’ll ruin her. And he won&’t rest until everything and everyone that belongs to the English nobleman is destroyed. But Lady Kyra of Seacairn is not what he expects. The beautiful, strong-willed daughter of a Scotswoman, Kyra is now an English subject, promised in marriage by the ruthlessly plundering King Edward. She will not be a pawn—not Darrow&’s and not this vengeful Scottish knight&’s. But when a carefully orchestrated seduction ignites irresistible passion, Kyra is swept into the heat of battle, risking the gallows for a breathtaking love.Conquer the Night is the second novel in Heather Graham&’s medieval Scottish series that features the Graham clan, Gaelic-speaking Lowlanders who fight with their Highland brethren for the country they love. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Heather Graham, including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.Conquer the Night is the 2nd book in the Graham Clan series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Five Portraits (The Xanth Novels #39)
by Piers AnthonyThe magical land of Xanth is in peril in this follow-up to Board Stiff by New York Times–bestselling author Piers Anthony. &“It occurs to me that you folk are no ordinary group,&” the troll said. &“We're on a special mission to eliminate the last of the anti-pun virus. We are a bit unusual.&” Astrid Basilisk-Cockatrice is the daughter of anonymous parents who whiled away a dull minute by generating her on a warm compost pile, then went their own deadly ways, never to see her or each other again. She found herself a soul, but her gaze is fatal and her touch is toxic. That&’s not so strange in the Land of Xanth, where everyone has a unique magical talent, and charms, curses, and enchanted puzzles lie around every corner. Now, Astrid and her companions are finishing the cleanup of a virus that ravaged the puns of Xanth, and new Quests are already popping up. For instance, Astrid is attempting to fulfill her mission in life, if only she can figure out what that is. And then there&’s the missing Question from the Good Magician&’s Book of Answers. Not to mention the small matter of a Demon Wager regarding the impending destruction of Xanth. But it&’s nothing Astrid and her motley crew of lovely maidens and strapping men can&’t handle . . . they hope. Piers Anthony delivers another tale set in the bestselling world of Xanth, filled with magic, surprises, adventure, and a few puns. Here&’s what the author has to say about his new book: &“Five Portraits is a kind of sequel to Board Stiff in that it picks up where the other leaves off, with the same characters. Apart from that, it&’s one of my favorites within the series. There&’s something about Astrid Basilisk that appeals to me: a very pretty girl whose very glance is deadly, yet she&’s a nice person whose selfless effort to save five difficult children from future Xanth is thoroughly worthy. I also like the theme of the power of unlikely friendship. Not just Xanth, but Mundania, too, would be better if there were more such friendships.&”
The Presence of Absence: On Prayers and an Epiphany (Inspirational Ser.)
by Doris GrumbachThe story of an ecstatic spiritual moment—and the search to experience it again When she was twenty-seven years old, writer Doris Grumbach had an epiphany. It was as if God were right there beside her, and she had a &“feeling of peace so intense that it seemed to expand into ineffable joy.&” After this fleeting moment, Grumbach became determined to recapture what she had felt. The Presence of Absence is the story of her fifty-year search. Grumbach is an open-minded and skilled seeker, and she writes candidly of the people she has met along the way. She details how she lost her path after decades of going to her Protestant church and writes of her turn to personal spirituality. In her quest to find God, she encounters a multitude of philosophies and gives all of them their due. She reads the works of Thomas Merton and Simone Weil, seeks the advice of her seminary-attending daughter, and studies the Psalms. Despite the setbacks of disease, injury, and ego, Grumbach perseveres in her pursuit of beauty and proof in the absence.
Black Swan, White Raven (Fairy Tale Anthologies #4)
by Pat Murphy Karen Joy Fowler Nalo Hopkinson Jane Yolen Michael Cadnum Joyce Carol Oates Nina Kiriki Hoffman Susanna Clarke Esther Friesner Michael Blumlein Steve Rasnic Tem Gregory Frost Harvey Jacobs Garry Kilworth Anne Bishop Nancy Kress Sten Westgard Midori Snyder Don Webb Bruce Glassco John CrowleyDark and decidedly grown-up stories inspired by fairy tales—from New York Times bestsellers Karen Joy Fowler, Joyce Carol Oates, Susanna Clarke, and more. This collection from World Fantasy Award–winning editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling proves that fairy tales don&’t have to be for little children and that happily ever after doesn&’t necessarily mean forever. Here, the plights of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel, and others are reimagined by some of today&’s finest literary talents. Hansel and Gretel make several appearances, not the least being at their trial for the murder of a supposedly helpless old woman. The real, shocking reason for Snow White&’s desperate flight from her home is revealed. And the steadfast tin soldier, made flesh and blood, pays a terrible price for his love and devotion. The twenty-one stories and poems in this collection run the gamut from triumphant to troubling to utterly outrageous, like Don Webb&’s brilliant merging of numerous tales into one wild, hallucinogenic trip in his &“Three Dwarves and 2000 Maniacs.&” All in all, they mine the fantastical yarns we loved as children for new and darker gold. Includes stories by Michael Cadnum, Karen Joy Fowler, Michael Blumlein, Nalo Hopkinson, Esther M. Friesner, Joyce Carol Oates, Steve Rasnic Tem, Garry Kilworth, Anne Bishop, Gregory Frost, Sten Westgard, Midori Snyder, Harvey Jacobs, Don Webb, Bruce Glassco, Pat Murphy, John Crowley, Nina Kiriki Hoffman, Susanna Clarke, Nancy Kress, and Jane Yolen.
A Regency Match
by Elizabeth MansfieldIn this captivating Regency romance by award-winning author Elizabeth Mansfield, a woman decides to teach a proper-to-a-fault nobleman a lesson in love that he will never forget Sophia Edgerton knows how to make an entrance. Yet even she isn&’t prepared for the consequences when she throws herself into the arms of a total stranger at a society ball, mistaking him for her long-lost cousin. Marcus Harvey, fifth Earl of Wynwood, responds with a remark that sets the ton abuzz. Determined to teach the arrogant nobleman a lesson, Sophy devises an exquisite payback to take place at the earl&’s ancestral estate. A party at Wynwood Hall is the event of the season, and tongues are soon wagging amid rumors of shocking behavior and scandalous liaisons. But when a betrothal is announced, the tables are suddenly turned. For Sophy has gone and done the unthinkable: She&’s lost her heart to a man who doesn&’t believe in love.
The Secret Journey: A Novel (The Furys Saga #2)
by James HanleyTo sustain her family, Mrs. Fury buries herself in debt At the top of the hill on the north side of town, Mrs. Ragner rules over her kingdom. A bitter old loan shark, she has a grip on all the families in this port city, and she squeezes each one for every last cent. For seven years, Mrs. Fury has borrowed money from Mrs. Ragner to send her son Peter to seminary. He never joined the priesthood, but the debt still stands. When she is unable to pay back her loan, Mrs. Ragner is happy to extend more credit. But every time they revisit their agreement, the interest rate rises and Mrs. Ragner&’s stranglehold on the Furys tightens. While his mother struggles to pay back her debts, Peter tries to find his way in the secular world. He is deeply in love with his older brother&’s wife, and his passion threatens to upend the family. The Furys think they have sacrificed everything for Peter, but they are not done yet. The Secret Journey is the second book of James Hanley&’s acclaimed Furys Saga.
Forever My Love (G. K. Hall Romance Ser.)
by Heather GrahamIn this sizzling tale of romantic suspense by master storyteller Heather Graham, a woman is stunned to discover that after a devastating accident, her ex-husband is still very much alive They made beautiful music together. Kathy O&’Hara and Brent McQueen were wild kids whose high school romance segued into the perfect marriage—until sudden tragedy drove them apart, leaving Kathy a single mom raising their daughter, Shanna, on her own. But when Brent is rumored to have been aboard a yacht that exploded in fire, leaving no survivors, Kathy grieves for the celebrated rock musician she still loves. Except Brent isn&’t dead. And now his family is in mortal jeopardy. As Brent and Kathy come together to protect Shanna, they discover that the passion is still there, even more powerful and irresistible than before. Now they&’re racing to outmaneuver a desperate killer as they fight for a second chance. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Heather Graham, including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.
Hard Times: And Other Stories
by Charles DickensCharles Dickens&’s moral tale of utilitarian values run amok The industrial burg of Coketown is dominated by the philosophy of utilitarianism. The mill is the center of commerce. Students in the school are instructed to recite rote facts and figures while repressing any creative instincts. Thomas Gradgrind, the school superintendent, is a strict devotee of practicality and has raised his children, Tom and Louisa, according to this philosophy. It is only Sissy Jupe, a circus girl taken in by the Gradgrinds, who possesses the vision and wonderment to see past the rigid boundaries of cold, hard facts. A paean to the human spirit, Hard Times is among Dickens&’s most cutting works of social commentary. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
The Last Man: Large Print (Xist Classics Ser.)
by Mary ShelleyMary Shelley&’s astounding look at the end of the world Set at the end of the twenty-first century, The Last Man is a moving and fantastical account of the apocalypse. Faced with a populace clamoring for more democratic rule, the last king of England relinquishes his throne. Suddenly a mysterious plague sweeps the globe, drawing ever nearer to England. As war, disease, and death ravage humanity, ideals of fairness and love are quickly supplanted by the imperative of survival. With semibiographical characters drawn from Shelley&’s own inner circle of friends and colleagues, this book is at once a look at the end of mankind and a critique of Romanticism. The Last Man&’s themes of destruction resonate as much now as they did nearly two hundred years ago. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.
At Seventy: A Journal
by May SartonWinner of the American Book Award: May Sarton&’s honest and engrossing journal of her seventieth year, spent living and working on the Maine coast. May Sarton&’s journals are a captivating look at a rich artistic life. In this, her ode to aging, she savors the daily pleasures of tending to her garden, caring for her dogs, and entertaining guests at her beloved Maine home by the sea. Her reminiscences are raw, and her observations are infused with the poetic candor for which Sarton—over the course of her decades-long career—became known. An enlightening glimpse into a time—the early 1980s—and an age, At Seventy is at once specific and universal, providing a unique window into septuagenarian life that readers of all generations will enjoy. At times mournful and at others hopeful, this is a beautiful memoir of the year in which Sarton, looking back on it all, could proclaim, &“I am more myself than I have ever been.&”
High Sorcery
by Andre NortonEncounter telepaths, wizards, and more in these five fantasy stories from the New York Times–bestselling Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master. Warlocks of other worlds—or scientists of times unknown? Craike, a man hunted in two worlds . . . Miss Rutheven, whose needles pointed to secret kingdoms . . . Dagmar, with the fatal fascination of Helen of Troy . . . Ully, whose music touched the powers before mankind . . . Tamisan, the sorceress who found herself the victim of her toy . . . These and others like them inhabit Andre Norton&’s world of High Sorcery, where the primeval desires and fears of man—his loving and loathing—are merged with his dreams of future knowledge and technological power. Those who have enjoyed the alchemy of Norton&’s other mind-bending tales should enjoy these!
The Greater Trumps: A Novel
by Charles WilliamsIn this classic tale of spirituality, morality, and the occult, a dark plot to murder an unsuspecting Englishman who possesses the world&’s rarest tarot deck unleashes uncontrollable elemental forces The original and most mystical of all playing-card decks, the tarot has seduced seekers of otherworldly knowledge for centuries—and of all its cards, the most potent are the twenty-two symbolic images that comprise the Greater Trumps. By a strange twist of fate, the very first tarot deck, dating back centuries, has come into the possession of Lothair Coningsby, a uniquely unimaginative Englishman. Though he has no intention of relinquishing his treasure, there are others who covet the tarot&’s power. Henry Lee, for one—fiancé of Coningsby&’s beautiful daughter, Nancy—is driven by an obligation even deeper than his devotion to his beloved. Henry is of Gipsy blood, and the Romany believe that they alone are the true guardians of the mystical tarot. Invited to spend the holidays at the out-of-the-way home of Aaron Lee, Henry&’s grandfather, the unsuspecting Coningsbys are blind to the chilling conspiracy taking shape around them. For on this stormy Christmas Day, their hosts are preparing to commit foul murder to gain possession of the coveted occult deck, unleashing devastating primal forces that no human could possibly contain. The brilliant fiction of Charles Williams, who was a member of the Inklings alongside fellow Oxfordians C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Owen Barfield, is considered to be among the most provocative, imaginative, and intelligent explorations of spirituality and the supernatural produced during the twentieth century. The proof lies in his magnificent classic The Greater Trumps, a many-layered tale of hubris and faith that is arguably one of the greatest mystical thrillers of all time.
Dancing with a Rogue
by Patricia PotterIn award-winning author Patricia Potter&’s sparkling Regency-era romance, an actress and a privateer fall passionately in love, unaware that they&’re both after revenge against the same group of aristocrats Englishman Gabriel Manning has waited more than two decades to avenge his father&’s death. The years he has spent in America seizing British ships haven&’t diminished his hatred or made him forget his blood vow. And when a capricious fate makes him a peer of the realm, he returns to England armed with an ingenious scheme to befriend and destroy three of the most powerful men in London. Everyone in Paris knows her as the radiant actress Monique Fremont. But beneath the costumes and makeup, Merry Anders lives only for revenge. When an important role takes her to London, she has her chance to take down &“the Group.&” But she finds the seductive Marquess of Manchester a distraction. How could she be so irresistibly attracted to her enemies&’ friend? Playing a dangerous game, Merry must decide whether to risk it all for love.
Wheel of Stars
by Andre NortonFew authors have achieved such renown as World Fantasy Life Achievement honoree and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. With the love of readers and the praise of critics, Norton&’s books have sold millions of copies worldwide.She can see, but she cannot forestall . . . Gwennan Daggert, caught in an underworld of eternity, of hellish nightmares and beautiful dreams, of time and no time, must now fulfill the destiny she can no longer deny.Tor Lyle, a mysterious man of an ancient family, is a force of evil in an unbreakable cycle of doom. They descend from the here and now into a struggle between good and evil older than Earth. Against an apocalyptic dream of disaster and a battle to save those who will inherit the Earth, these two forces must solve the mysteries of the stars and of eternal fate. Deep within them, they hold the keys that unlock the future, but they must first break the chain of terror and destruction.
Three Poems
by John AshberyA provocative, challenging masterpiece by John Ashbery that set a new standard for the modern prose poem&“The pathos and liveliness of ordinary human communication is poetry to me,&” John Ashbery has said of this controversial work, a collection of three long prose poems originally published in 1972, adding, &“Three Poems tries to stay close to the way we talk and think without expecting what we say to be recorded or remembered.&” The effect of these prose poems is at once deeply familiar and startlingly new, something like encountering a collage made of lines clipped from every page of a beloved book—or, as Ashbery has also said of this work, like flipping through television channels and hearing an unwritten, unscriptable story told through unexpected combinations of voices, settings, and scenes. In Three Poems, Ashbery reframes prose poetry as an experience that invites the reader in through an infinite multitude of doorways, and reveals a common language made uncommonly real.
The Murder of Dr. Chapman: The Legendary Trials of Lucretia Chapman and Her Lover
by Linda WolfeIn this &“first-rate blending of true-crime, character-study and history&” a 19th-century love con leads to murder and a sensational double trial (Susan Isaacs, New York Times–bestselling author of Compromising Positions). In 1831 Lucretia Winslow Chapman was a wife and mother of five who had founded one of Philadelphia&’s first boarding schools for girls. But her comfortable life and marriage to prominent local scientist William Chapman changed forever the night Lino Espos y Mina appeared at their door, requesting lodging. It wasn&’t long before the Cuban con artist had entrenched himself in the Chapman home and begun an illicit affair with Lucretia. A little over a month later, William Chapman was dead from a lethal dose of poison. Lino and Lucretia were eventually arrested and charged with murder—and the double trial of the century began. Wolfe skillfully weaves court transcripts, love letters, and period recollections into an edge-of-your-seat historical thriller about the crime that rocked pre–Civil War America. With its shocking verdicts that raised troubling questions about sexism and racism, this mesmerizing true-crime tale still resonates nearly two hundred years later.
Memories of the Great & the Good
by Alistair CookeAlistair Cooke knew, met, interviewed, or reported on many of the most influential men and women of the twentieth century and in this collection profiles the twenty-three he considered the most remarkable In his career of more than fifty years broadcasting the BBC radio program Letter from America and as the US correspondent for the Guardian for more than twenty-five years, Alistair Cooke met and mixed with many famous people. In Memories of the Great & the Good he shares his portraits of the men and women that he felt made the world a better, more stimulating place. We read about Franklin D. Roosevelt&’s maintenance of his public image by means of a gentleman&’s agreement with the press and Lyndon Johnson&’s masterful backroom dealings. &“Eisenhower at Gettysburg&” reveals a conversation between Cooke and the president, touching on everything from their mutual love of golf to what it was like to grow up in a small Kansas farming town at the turn of the twentieth century. Literary figures including P. G. Wodehouse, Erma Bombeck, and George Bernard Shaw are succinctly sketched. And, in the final pair of essays, Cooke pays moving tribute to two of the men he admired the most: Winston Churchill and golfing legend Bobby Jones.
Starfinder: Starcatcher, Starfinder, And Star Keeper (The Scottish Star Series #2)
by Patricia PotterThis passionate historical romance featuring the second generation of the Sutherland family sweeps from the Scottish Highlands to colonial Maryland, where a struggling young woman makes a desperate bargain with a freedom fighter Minutes before being hanged for treason against the British crown, Ian Sutherland is suddenly spared . . . only to end up in chains again, this time in the hold of a ship bound for the colonies. In America, he becomes the indentured servant of a prosperous Maryland farm owner. But the noble freedom fighter vows to one day escape his servitude and sail back across the sea to his clan. Then he meets Fancy Marsh. John Marsh rescued Fancy and her half sister Fortune from a terrible fate. Now Fancy shares a good life with her husband, their two children, and an ever-increasing menagerie of pets. But when John dies, Fancy is left at the mercy of his cruel, covetous brother. In desperation, she turns to her rugged, enigmatic bond servant to help her protect her name and legacy. Although Ian agrees to her risky plan, Fancy knows that his heart longs for Scotland. But their dangerous charade soon flames into irresistible passion and the one thing they never expected: a love that can prevail over their most treacherous enemies and the winds of fortune.Starfinder is the 2nd book in the Scottish Star Series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Wanted: Diablo, Defiant, And Wanted
by Patricia PotterA Western beauty&’s only hope of saving her brother from the gallows is to seduce the heartless Texas ranger who has sworn to bring him to justice Three months ago, Morgan Davis went from hunter to hunted. The Texas ranger has devoted his life to carrying out justice, but when he sees his face on a Wanted poster, he knows the price on his head will have every bounty hunter in the West gunning for him. The only way to survive is to clear his name by bringing in the real killer. And he intends to take Nicholas Braden alive. But Morgan didn&’t reckon on Braden&’s sister. The golden-eyed beauty is a crack shot—and a match for any man. Lori Braden will do anything to save her brother from the hangman&’s noose. Their hard-luck life on the road in a traveling medicine show taught her how few people can be trusted. Who is this man Morgan Davis, who bears a resemblance to her brother? Just another corrupt lawman? An enemy she wouldn&’t hesitate to kill in spite of the passion raging between them? All she knows about this seductive stranger is that he seems determined to keep her out of the crossfire—until secrets from the past threaten each of their futures.
Tourists
by Lisa GoldsteinIn a city whose streets are nameless, a scholar searches for an ancient sword The manuscript is more than one thousand years old. Written in a forgotten tongue of the Near East, it gives directions to a place across the desert where the mythic Jewel King hid his famous sword. When Dr. Mitchell Parmenter discovers the sheaf of faded pages, he knows that if it is authentic, it is one of the greatest anthropological finds of the century. For the sake of his research, he uproots his family and moves them to Amaz—an ancient land whose mysteries are as endless as the desert itself. An earthquake struck Amaz some years back, and the city&’s nameless streets still seem to move in the night. As Parmenter delves into the story of this fabulous relic, his family uncovers other mysteries, exploring Amaz in search of answers to questions no traveler was meant to ask.
My Lord Murderer
by Elizabeth MansfieldIn this enthralling Regency romance by award-winning author Elizabeth Mansfield, a young woman vows not to fall in love with the nobleman who killed her husband A dashing stranger sweeps Lady Gwendolyn Rowle onto the dance floor. She is living every woman&’s fantasy until she discovers who her romantic waltz partner really is: Viscount Andrew Jamison—the man who killed her husband. From the moment he saw her glide into the ballroom, Drew was captivated by the ravishing beauty. Finding out she is the widow of the blackguard he killed in a duel puts something of a damper on the evening, especially with all of London calling him a cold-blooded villain. To quiet the gossip, Drew devises an ingenious scheme. The only person standing in his way is the lovely Gwen, who has no intention of marrying her husband&’s murderer. But then she does something far more dangerous: She falls in love with him.
Inner Landscape: Poems
by May SartonA strong-willed and emotional collection hidden under a well-groomed landscape of words With her debut collection of poems, Encounter in April, May Sarton made an incredible splash in the world of poetry. Her work is impossible to imitate: a mix of stately verse and depth of emotion that lurks beneath every line, creating a tantalizing, magnetically charged distance between reader and poet. With Inner Landscape, Sarton beckons us forth while eluding easy understanding, in a volume that brilliantly walks the line between enticing and satisfying.
Hatfield and McCoy
by Heather GrahamA psychic who connects with crime victims and a jaded FBI agent are unlikely partners as they team up to take down a serial kidnapper . . . After narrowly avoiding a head-on collision the first time they meet, Julie Hatfield and Robert McCoy pray they never have to lay eyes on each other again. Not going to happen. The psychic and the FBI agent have just been named official partners in finding a missing child—the third in a string of abductions that cross state lines. Haunted by a shattering crime in his past, McCoy is skeptical of Hatfield&’s special gifts—until she starts reliving the crime through the eyes of the eight-year-old girl. But it&’s only the beginning. Because someone is targeting Hatfield . . . someone who knows everything about her, and not even McCoy will be able to protect the strangely compelling woman who is making him believe in love again.This ebook features an illustrated biography of Heather Graham, including rare photos from the author&’s personal collection.