- Table View
- List View
Molotov's Magic Lantern: Travels in Russian History
by Rachel PolonskyWhen the British journalist Rachel Polonsky moves to Moscow, she discovers an apartment on Romanov Street that was once home to the Soviet elite. One of the most infamous neighbors was the ruthless apparatchik Vyacheslav Molotov, a henchman for Stalin who was a participant in the collectivizations and the Great Purge—and also an ardent bibliophile. In what was formerly Molotov's apartment, Polonsky uncovers an extensive library and an old magic lantern—two things that lead her on an extraordinary journey throughout Russia and ultimately renew her vision of the country and its people.In Molotov's Magic Lantern, Polonsky visits the haunted cities and vivid landscapes of the books from Molotov's library: works by Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Akhmatova, and others, some of whom were sent to the Gulag by the very man who collected their books. With exceptional insight and beautiful prose, Polonsky writes about the longings and aspirations of these Russian writers and others in the course of her travels from the Arctic to Siberia and from the forests around Moscow to the vast steppes. A singular homage to Russian history and culture, Molotov's Magic Lantern evokes the spirit of the great artists and the haunted past of a country ravaged by war, famine, and totalitarianism.
Fight Like a Girl . . . and Win: Defense Decisions for Women
by Lori Hartman GervasiA kick-ass practical guide that packs a major punch ... without even throwing one! Self-defense lecturer and no-nonsense blonde bombshell Lori Gervasi lays out simple actions and important decisions women must make BEFORE they find themselves in physical danger to eliminate surprise and panic.It's an unfortunate reality that women are susceptible to random acts of aggression, from sexual harassment and stalking to physical assaults, domestic violence, date rape and worse. But women can learn how to protect and defend themselves -- with this groundbreaking guidebook. Let martial arts black belt and accomplished journalist Lori Hartman Gervasi walk you through easy-to-follow, everyday steps for taking charge of your personal safety, training your reflexes, and -- if and when the time comes -- using force. Her program consists of 26 potentially life-saving decisions that every woman must make, including:DECIDE TO BELIEVE IN YOUR FIGHT – Battles are waged from the inside out. Your conscience, intelligence, and guts must be committed to the cause. You and those you love are the things worth fighting for. DECIDE TO DEVISE A STRATEGY – Create a one-way ticket out of every imaginable circumstance, from back-door escape routes to getaways in public places. Think "what-if…?", plan for the unexpected, and be ready for anything! DECIDE TO RECOGNIZE THE THREAT OF THE INITIAL ATTACK – When practicing awareness, you can detect danger before it happens. The bad guy will take steps to get close to you. Watch carefully and identify these for what they are—the preludes to an attack. DECIDE TO MOVE – If an attacker strikes, don't freeze—get moving! Break through your fear with instant mobility. You have limitless options and any movement works as long as it leads to your safety. DECIDE TO ACTON YOUR INSTINCTS – Your intuition is your guide, but you must respond physically in order to be successful. When something isn't right, take action, change plans, redirect yourself, and control your destiny! …along with Defense Do's And Don'ts, inspiring "Power Points," and other survival tactics that can help you to be prepared, stay strong, and FIGHT LIKE A GIRL…AND WIN
Her Mistletoe Husband
by Renee RoszelHis kisses were irresistibleAlex D'Amour was an unexpected-and decidedly unwelcome!-guest in Elissa Crosby's home. Not wanting to spoil the Christmas mood for her two younger sisters and their families, she asked Alex to pretend they were friends. But he got carried away by his part and what her sisters actually saw was Alex-the affectionate lover! Had independent Elissa finally met her match?Only she knew that Alex was not wanting her so much as her beautiful home. But under the spell of the Christmas mistletoe-and Alex's magical kisses-miracles could happen....ENCHANTED BRIDES-Wanted: three dream husbands for three loving sisters
The Seduction Game
by Sara CravenForbidden desires...Adam Barnard could have stepped straight out of Tara's fantasies. A devastatingly sexy hunk, the mysterious stranger was the first man in years to set Tara's heart racing.But since the last man she let close had cruelly betrayed her, Tara had sworn off men. She wasn't ready to take a chance on another-especially a man who didn't seem to be offering her anything more than a red-hot affair. She was determined not to be another notch on Adam's bedpost...only, she couldn't stop herself wanting him!
When a Lady Misbehaves (A Pleasure Emporium Novel)
by Michelle MarcosAN EROTIC SECRETAs a maid at The Pleasure Emporium, Miss April Jardine has witnessed her share of sinful acts, but nothing as brazen as her own money-making scheme. By blackmailing the gentlemen named in the Madame's private diaries, April can escape a life of drudgery—as long as she avoids the hangman's noose. All goes swimmingly until she crosses paths with Lord Blackheath, the most powerful judge in England. His wicked gaze suggests he is torn between exposing April and seducing her—and April is only too pleased to oblige.A SCANDALOUS EMBRACEBlackheath has no doubt that the alluring firebrand could cripple his family's finances and reputation with the bat of an eyelash. And yet…April outshines every dull Society belle he's ever known, and nothing compares to the sensual bliss they share. But trusting this scheming Miss could cost him everything. Will he ever be able to welcome her into his home—and his heart?
Wild Card
by Susan AmarillasJustice Was A Hard MistressAnd one who demanded all of Jake McConnell's devotion. Until the day Clair Travers insisted that the straight-arrow lawman remove himself from her saloon. The day he knew his life would never be the same...Clair Travers Was Living a LieShe had gambled on a new life. But she hadn't counted on falling for a man like Jake McConnell, a man whose dedication to the truth could uncover the murderous secret that haunted her past.
The Testament of Yves Gundron
by Emily BartonA wonderfully imaginative and surprising debut novel about the inexorable approach of modernity."Imagine the time of my grandfather's grandfather, when the darkness was newly separated from the light. Society was only a shadowy image of what it would soon become. This was Mandragora before my invention and all that it set in motion."-from The Testament of Yves GundronSo begins Yves Gundron's account of the strange events to befall Mandragora. It is a desperate, primitive place-plowing was only recently introduced, candles do not exist, and the inhabitants know no number larger than twenty. Nevertheless, there was little conflict before Yves's invention-the harness-irrevocably transformed the Mandragorans' lives.Yves's manuscript, which bears witness to these changes, appears to have been prepared for publication by an academic named Ruth Blum. But what at first seems a historical document proves to be something else entirely. Yves's brother, Mandrik le Chouchou, the town mystic, regales his fellow villagers with exotic tales of his travels to "Indochina." And when Yves recalls the words of a song that is recognizably a blues lyric, we know that either Ruth Blum is up to something or Mandragora is not what it seems. In this playful and adventurous debut, Emily Barton explores the two-edged sword of technology, asking what is lost in our fervent pursuit of modernity.
The First Law of Motion: A Novel
by K.R. MoorheadLiving in Philadelphia, a young woman tries to outrun her regrets and the reoccurring approach of dawn with nothing but controlled substances, unfulfilling sex and sarcasm to sustain her anti-quest. Unable to find solace in her best friend Jason, her partner in crime Kat or her pot smoking mother she embarks on a relentless pursuit of distraction which leads her to New York and back, through night clubs, dive bars and dingy apartments until she finds herself hurtling towards a point where there is no up, only down. Then she notices a man on a train reading a book she loves, and convinced he is her only chance at salvation, sets out on mission to find out who he is. Infatuation becomes obsession and as her grip on reality shakes loose, she sinks to previously unfathomable lows before learning that redemption is never so close as when you hit the bottom.With dark humor and a biting tone, this compelling story moves along like a train careening down the track, leaving the reader pulling for its perfectly flawed heroine to the very last page.
The Princess and the Playboy
by Valerie Parv"Princess in Secret Love Tryst"Princess Talay Rasada's reputation was compromised the minute the newspapers carried the phoptograph of her kissing the rugged Australian, Jase Clendon. Outraged, he wondered if ithad been a desperate ploy to get him to leave her island. He wasn't about to let her intended husband's challenge drive him away-no matter what danger was involved.Talay feared what would happen if Jase won her heart. He couldn't want to marry such an inexperienced woman, and she shouldn't want to marry such a seductive playboy....
The Affair of the Poisons: Murder, Infanticide, and Satanism at the Court of Louis XIV
by Anne SomersetThe Affair of the Poisons, as it became known, was an extraordinary episode that took place in France during the reign of Louis XIV. When poisoning and black magic became widespread, arrests followed. Suspects included those among the highest ranks of society. Many were tortured and numerous executions resulted.The 1676 torture and execution of the Marquise de Brinvilliers marked the start of the scandal which rocked the foundations of French society and sent shock waves through all of Europe. Convicted of conspiring with her adulterous lover to poison her father and brothers in order to secure the family fortune, the marquise was the first member of the noble class to fall.In the French court of the period, where sexual affairs were numerous, ladies were not shy of seeking help from the murkier elements of the Parisian underworld, and fortune-tellers supplemented their dubious trade by selling poison.It was not long before the authorities were led to believe that Louis XIV himself was at risk. With the police chief of Paris police alerted, every hint of danger was investigated. Rumors abounded and it was not long before the King ordered the setting up of a special commission to investigate the poisonings and bring offenders to justice. No one, the King decreed, no matter how grand, would be spared having to account for their conduct.The royal court was soon thrown into disarray. The Mistress of the Robes and a distinguished general were among the early suspects. But they paled into insignificance when the King's mistress was incriminated. If, as was said, she had engaged in vile Satanic rituals and had sought to poison a rival for the King's affections, what was Louis XIV to do?Anne Somerset has gone back to original sources, letters and earlier accounts of the affair. By the end of her account, she reaches firm conclusions on various crucial matters. The Affair of the Poisons is an enthralling account of a sometimes bizarre period in French history.
Bitten: True Medical Stories of Bites and Stings
by Pamela NagamiWe've all been bitten. And we all have stories.The bite attacks featured in this dramatic book take place in big cities, small towns, and remote villages around the world and throughout history. Some are as familiar and contemporary as encounters with mosquitoes in New York City and snakes in southern California's Hollywood Hills or as exotic and foreign as the tsetse in equatorial Africa, the camel in Riyadh, and the Komodo dragon in Indonesia. While others, such as people biting other people---well, these are in a category of their own.Among the startling stories and fascinating facts in Bitten.o A six-year-old girl descends into weeks of extreme lassitude until a surgeon plucks an engorged tick from her scalp.o A diabetic living in the West Indies awakes one morning to a rat eating his left great and second toes.o A twenty-eight-year-old man loses a third of his nose to a bite by his wife.o In San Francisco, after a penile bite, a man develops "flesh-eating strep," which spreads to his lower abdomen.o Severe bites by rabid animals to the face and digits, because of their rich nerve supply, are the most likely to lead to rabies and have the shortest incubation periods.o Following the bite of a seal or contact with its tissues, sealers develop such agonizing pain and swelling in their bites that, far from medical care, they sometimes amputate their own fingers.o Perhaps the most devastating human bite wound injuries are those involving the nose; doctors in Boroko near Papua, New Guinea, reported a series of ninety-five human bites treated in the Division of Surgery from 1986 to 1992---twelve were to the nose, nine in women, and three in men, and in most of the cases, the biter was an angry spouse.With reports from medical journals, case histories, colleagues, and from her own twenty-eight-year career as a practicing physician and infectious diseases specialist, Pamela Nagami's Bitten offers readers intrigued by human infection and disease and mesmerized by creatures in p0the wild a compulsively readable narrative that is entertaining, sometimes disgusting, and always enjoyable.
Plain Jane's Texan
by Jan HudsonONE DETERMINED TEXANFrom the moment their gazes collided at a family wedding, and their lips met in a passionate kiss, plain Jane Eve Ellison wondered if a man like Matt Crow could truly desire her. Sophisticated, sexy, and superwealthy, he could have any woman. But after their first magical encounter, he claimed he wanted her....Eve didn't give her heart easily All her life she'd been the brains to her sister's beauty. Often overlooked. Never the object of anyone's affection. But Matt was different. He made her feel beautiful. And cherished. Yet could Eve trust that this Texan was not merely enjoying the thrill of the chase, but was motivated by true love?
Seducing the Matchmaker
by Elaine OvertonAs the owner of Love Unlimited, a matchmaking firm, Noelle Brown has an enviable track record. When world-renowned and drop-dead gorgeous architect Derrick Brandt graces her doorway, she's incredibly pleased. Hooking him up will raise her agency's profile and give it an incredible public-relations boost. But after a few moments of conversation with the arrogant Derrick, Noelle understands why the tabloids have labeled him the most ineligible bachelor in the city.Derrick needs to find himself a wife-a woman who understands his demanding career. He's stunned to find himself captivated by the sexy siren Noelle. As the sparks of passion heat up between them, they both wonder if their relationship is indeed the perfect match....
Tender Captive
by Rosemary CarterGetting even...Fraser Donaldson believed Stephanie was to blame for Timothy's accident, and he was in no mood to listen to reason. Stephanie couldn't remember the details-it had all happened so fast.Convinced that she had no choice, Stephanie volunteered to take over Timothy's duties, and Fraser, determined to make her pay, accepted her offer. But working with Fraser made it all too easy to fall in love with him....
Big Sky Drifter
by Doreen Owens MalekPOWERFUL MAN...POWERFUL LOVE...Lara Daniels had never believed in love at first sight-until she met Wyoming drifter Cal Winston and was instantly smitten by the rugged rogue. For the first time, Lara's budding feminine desires were awakened. They spent long hot days and sultry nights together in the sweeping Wyoming wilderness-a vast landscape as big as their blooming passion....POWERFUL HEARTBREAK?Yet Cal was a man of action, not words. He spoke little of his past, and Lara sensed he was hiding deep secrets. And she was troubled, wondering if Cal would be the man of her dreams-or the heartbreak of a lifetime....
In His Father's Shadow: The Transformations of George W. Bush
by Stanley A. RenshonFrom a pampered son who showed little promise, to his rise to the presidency, George W. Bush has transformed himself through acts of will and faith. Stanley Renshon examines the psychological transformation of Bush and identifies those pivotal changes that allowed him to achieve success in his personal life and in the political arena, and shows how Bush's personal transformation has come to shape his political policies. The man who battled--and defeated--his own inner demons has become a president determined to battle the demons of terrorism and extremism that prevent democracy from flourishing around the world. This psychological portrait provides a much-needed antidote to prevailing critiques that ridicule Bush's values and policies, as it celebrates his resolve and strong leadership.
Bride By Friday
by Trisha DavidThe marriage deadlineTessa is on a mission of mercy. She can barely afford the visit to England to check that her newly orphaned nephew will be all right with his grandmother. Then she plans to return to Australia and her fiancé.But it all goes awry as soon as she steps onto the plane and meets Charles Cameron. He's an Australian farmer who's just become the thirteenth Earl of Dalston, and he has an inheritance to protect, for others more than himself. He needs a bride by Friday-his thirtieth birthday-and Tessa fits the bill....
I Am the Market: How to Smuggle Cocaine by the Ton, in Five Easy Lessons
by Luca RastelloA page-turning account of the international cocaine trade, presented as five lessons in how to move tons of the drug across bordersForget about cocaine concealed in false-bottomed suitcases or swallowed in ovules resistant to gastric juices. When entire national economies are kept afloat by the money from cocaine smuggling, the quantities these tactics represent are meaningless. When a commodity like cocaine becomes a mainstay of the international economy, grams and kilos are irrelevant. Because what is needed to sustain the market is cocaine by the ton.Tons of cocaine means ships, cargo planes, and containers: large, cumbersome, extremely tangible, and visible amounts of white powder. So how is all that merchandise moved through harbors and airports? How are customs offices deceived, fiscal checks eluded, police networks infiltrated, and documents prepared to disguise mountains of cocaine?It's done with coca made into cubes, dissolved in liquid, hidden in marble blocks or inside electric cables. With friends in the right places. With cocaine smuggled in cranes. With sniffer dogs supplied to the police, free of charge. With money in cash, always. And yes, with willing mules swallowing drugs. But they will be arrested, and that's part of the plan.Drawing from years of research and conversations with criminal sources and convicted drug smugglers, with new information on the techniques, methods, and strategies used, Luca Rastello brings us a devastating portrait of the international cocaine trade. Told from the perspective of the formidable entrepreneurs whose tactics evolve and adapt to keep pace with shifts in the global economy, I Am the Market is a masterful exposé of a world we thought we understood—until now.
The Duchess and the Desperado
by Laurie GrantMorgan Calhoun Was A Wanted ManMorgan knew he would someday prove his innocence, but for now Sarah Challoner needed his protection, and he was determined to guard her with his life...even if it meant loosing both his freedom...and his heart!Sarah's lofty title had proven to be of little use in the rugged lawlessness of the American West, and when exrancher Morgan Calhoun offered her his help, she could only hope that her faith in the desperate man was not a mistake she would later regret!
Dread Murder: A Mystery
by Gwendoline ButlerIn the court of King George IV, Major Mearns---an old dog of war and veteran of Willington's army---is the guardian of Windsor Castle. Some would call him a spy; he calls himself a "watcher." Working with his close friend, the resourceful Sergeant Denny, the pair maintain a cool facade behind which they go about their duties quietly and unnoticed.Unnoticed, that is, until the day Mearns receives a parcel containing a gruesome surprise: a pair of severed human legs. The legs belong to a fellow soldier. Casting aside official protocol, Mearns and Denny decide to investigate the murder themselves, also enrolling the help of a precocious young runaway, Charlie. But soon these maverick investigators find themselves up against all manner of obstacles and danger, not the least of which is the Crown Keepers of the Peace---a unit of former soldiers headed by Mearns's nemesis, Felix Ferguson.With more butchered body parts turning up in parcels and the number of deaths rising, our amateur investigators find themselves up to their necks in corruption and intrigue. Mearns struggles to keep Ferguson at bay, not only during the investigation, but also for the affections of the desirable Mindy, a maidservant in the castle. With the pressure on, can Mearns get to the bottom of the murders and win the heart of his ladylove?With Dread Murder, Gwendoline Butler delivers a cleverly cunning and old-fashioned mystery that hides a gruesome murder behind its charming facade.
How to Change Someone You Love: Four Steps to Help You Help Them
by Brad LammA powerful, ground-breaking book that shows you, in concrete steps, how to stop a loved one from engaging in self destructive behavior.Stop your husband from drinking himself to death. Don't let your brother lose it all to gambling. Get your kid off drugs. Motivate your best friend to lose weight. Make your spendthrift brother-in-law stop maxing out his credit cards. Get your sister out of an abusive relationship. Erase anger in your co-worker. If you're tired of watching your spouse, child, relative, or best friend go downhill, dragging you with them, How to Change Someone You Love will help you turn their lives around. You don't have to endure behavior that is unhealthy, abusive, possibly deadly, and that threatens to unravel relationships. You can change it. Many books will tell you that you can't change anyone. They advise you not to even try. The problem is, they ignore the tremendous power you actually have to change people. If most books about change are written for the addict or troubled person, How to ChangeSomeone You Love reaches out to the loved ones who know that change is critical and urgent. How to Change Someone You Loveis not just a self-help book; this is a help-you-act book. "Brad Lamm's step-by-step approach empowers families and friends to change their loved ones through compassionate, caring and continuing support."-- Dr. Mehmet Oz
Game of Queens: A Novel of Vashti and Esther
by India EdghillFor fans of The Red Tent and The Dovekeepers, India Edghill breathes new life into the biblical story of Vashti and Esther with her signature historical richness, epic scope, and sweeping romance. You may know part of the story already, but you only know what history has passed along. The story of how Vashti, Queen of Queens, the most beautiful woman in all the empire, defied the king her husband and so lost her crown. The story of how Ahasuerus, King of Kings, commanded that the most beautiful maidens be sent to his court so he might choose a new queen. And you may know how he set the queen's crown upon the head of the virtuous and beautiful Esther, and how Queen Esther herself defied both king and law to save her people from a treacherous fate.What India Edghill brings us in Game of Queens is the story of power and treachery, blood and deception, bravery and romance that surrounds the court of Ahasuerus and brings to life two of the most celebrated female heroines in all of history.
The New Spymasters: Inside the Modern World of Espionage
by Stephen GreyThe old world of spying-dead-letter boxes, microfilm cameras, an enemy reporting to the Moscow Center, and a hint of sexual blackmail-is history. The spymaster's technique has changed and the enemy has, too. He or she now frequently comes from a culture far removed from Western understanding and is part of a less well-organized group. The new enemy is constantly evolving and prepared to kill the innocent. In the face of this new threat, the spymasters of the world shunned human intelligence as the primary way to glean clandestine information and replaced it with an obsession that focuses on the technical methods of spying ranging from the use of high-definition satellite photography to the global interception of communications. However, this obsession with technology has failed, most spectacularly, with the devastation of the 9/11 attacks. In this searing modern history of espionage, Stephen Grey takes us from the CIA's Cold War legends, to the agents who betrayed the IRA, through to the spooks inside Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Techniques and technologies have evolved, but the old motivations for betrayal-patriotism, greed, revenge, compromise-endure. Based on years of research and interviews with hundreds of secret sources, Stephen Grey's The New Spymasters is an up-to-date exposé that shows how spycraft's human factor is once again being used to combat the world's deadliest enemies.
The Fire Within
by Lynda TrentMegan Had To Make A ChoiceThings had changed the day war came to her mountain. Now it was time to decide between the Rebel to whom she'd been promised, and the Union captain, Caleb Morgan. To choose Caleb would mean turning her back on everything that had gone before, yet how could she surrender the man who had captured her heart!Captain Morgan was certain of only two things in life: that he hated the war, and that he loved Megan, a woman of courage and compassion who had rescued him from the cold embrace of death. Yet how could he ask her to leave behind the only life she'd ever known, and break her promise to another man?
Look-Alike Fiancée
by Elizabeth DukeHis choice of wife...Taryn had no doubts that when Mike O'Malley looked at her, he was seeing another woman: the mysterious, beautiful Crystal-his former fiancée, who'd broken his heart. Everyone said Taryn was the spitting image of her....Was that the reason Mike was taking such a personal interest in Taryn? He claimed he wasn't interested in marrying anyone-but there was no denying the powerful attraction between them. Could it be that, despite his claims, Mike had marriage on his mind-and, if so, would he ever look into Taryn's eyes and see only her?"Ms. Duke captivates readers with...intense passion, a strong emotional conflict and endearing characters."-Romantic Times