A hoard of ivory chessmen and other gaming pieces was found buried on the Isle of Lewis in the early 19th century. The pieces are now divided between National Museums Scotland and the British Museum, and fascinate all who see them. Experts agree that they are medieval and of Scandinavian origin. This illustrated celebration of the hoard looks at its origins, its discovery and, using the skills of a forensic anthropologist, its craftsmanship. Views: 26
Since his untimely death from prostate cancer in 1993, the legend of iconoclastic musician Frank Zappa has continued to grow. The years following his passing have seen the publication of numerous books, both sacred and profane, which examine his life and work, but the best, and only, up-close-and-personal account of the man and his music remains the original: Nigey Lennon's Being Frank: My Time with Frank Zappa. Musician/author Lennon maintained a personal and professional relationship with Zappa during the period which is generally agreed to have been the composer's most creative, and she invests her recollections with considerable musical and emotional insight. The fact that Lennon is an accomplished musician and composer in her own right enables her to perceptively analyze Zappa's complex music, and her previous experience as a biographer of Mark Twain and Alfred Jarry is evident as she examines the complex conditions of Zappa's turbulent life. But above all, Being Frank is... Views: 26
I don’t turn every date into a medical emergency, but when I do, I nearly castrate my man…Shannon and Declan’s first real date ends with an ambulance trip and yet another test of their madcap relationship. Ex-boyfriend Steve insists on dinner with Shannon while Declan is overseas on business, but a surprise return leads to plenty of romance as Declan whisks her away for a ride over Boston (in more ways than one…).Just as life and love look good, a misunderstanding takes on a sinister tone as a conspiracy brews to keep them apart. Julia Kent’s hilarious Shopping series continues.Part 3 of a 4-part series. Views: 26
Seven year has passed since the night he was falsely branded a murderer, and Yancy has returned to reclaim his birthright. But his late father's lands now belong to Sara. The innocent girl has blossomed into a stunning and sensuous woman, a rival to be kidnapped and conquered.But though she fears her vengeful,impassioned captor, Sara's proud spirit will not be easily broken. And winning her heart will soon prove more important to Yancy than his honor,his legacy...or his life. Views: 26
For 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... Views: 26
When Melissa King, a transplanted southerner in search of connection, finds herself on the lean, mean streets of Chicago, she turns to her childhood passion for basketball. In her late twenties, King is at a crossroads in her life, and the randomness of the game as it is played on the streets suits her mood. The rules are unwritten, the teams a haphazard collection of players, and unlike anything else around her, the courts feel like home. So wherever there is a game, she gets her ball and goes. From the rough, male-dominated inner-city courts of Chicago, she travels to lazy oceanside pickup games in sunny California and dilapidated gyms in her Bible Belt home state.In a street-smart voice full of understated humor and palpable hope, King chronicles her journey, using the rhythms of the court to riff on the issues of race, class, gender, religion, sexual politics, and love. Ultimately, through the jubilant swish of the net, the brunt of an egregious foul, and the knowing... Views: 25
History student Aria Forsyth's studies lead her to dangerous questions about the Empire's origins. A mysterious man named Owen, impervious to the winter cold, further unravels the safety of the world she thought she knew. At first, Aria believes Owen is human. He says he's not. What if they're both wrong?A moment's compassion draws her into a conflict between human and inhuman, natural and supernatural, and she begins to discover the secrets of the Empire, the Fae, and what it means to be human. Views: 25
With just three novels to their credit-as well as rave reviews and a shelf full of awards-the duo known as P. J. Tracy are on the fast track to superstardom. Already major bestselling authors in the UK, the brilliant creators of the Monkeewrench team and their law-abiding counterparts on the Minneapolis PD are setting a new standard for the modern thriller, combining brilliant plotting, razor-sharp dialogue, and vivid characters into a potent brew. And now, with Snow Blind, this duo gives us their most original and irresistible novel yet. Nothing's bleaker than Minneapolis during the winter, the season that, to some longtime residents, lasts eleven months of the year. So what better way to bring a little cheer to the good people of the city than by sponsoring an old-fashioned snowman-building contest? In a matter of hours, a local park is filled with the innocent laughter of children and their frosty creations. But things take an awful turn when the dead bodies of Minneapolis police officers are discovered inside two of the snowmen- sending the MPD and Detectives Magozzi and Rolseth on high alert. The next day, Iris Rikker, the newly minted sheriff of rural Dundas County, comes across another dead cop. Fearing that Rikker's inexperience will hamper the investigation, Magozzi and Rolseth head north-in a blizzard-to hunt for clues. As Grace MacBride and her crack computer jocks at Monkeewrench comb cyber-murder websites for connections, a terrifying link emerges, connecting the dead cops, Magozzi and Rolseth, and Monkeewrench-a link that must be broken, before it's too late. Views: 25
Hot men, sweet tea, juicy gossip, and good friends. That's what you'll find in Willowdale, North Carolina. This box set includes the first three Willowdale short stories that preclude No Foolin', the first novel in the Willowdale series.Stories include: "A Fine How-De-Do," "A Little Hanky-Panky," and "A Perfect Setup.""A Fine How-De-Do"Short story #1. 17,000 words.It's been a bad month for Tonya Garcia. After her beloved nonna died, her boyfriend's only sympathy involved big plans for spending her inheritance. Now that he's out of the picture, Tonya needs a new start and with the help of a dartboard decides Willowdale, North Carolina is the place. The move from the Big Apple to this hole in the wall isn't as easy as she figured. Can Tonya find new love and a new life? Or was her ex right—that she'll be running back to him in New York?"A Little Hanky-Panky"Short story #2. 14,000 words.They have a history without ever having said a word. Hard to do in a small town like Willowdale,... Views: 25
When her little brother seems to become possessed by an evil spirit, fourteen-year-old Laura seeks the help of the strangely compelling older boy at school who she is convinced has supernatural powers Views: 25
