An ancient betrayal echoes across time and space Boring—that's what Marilyn thinks her family is. Completely, horribly normal. All except for her great-aunt Zenobia, a scandalously independent world traveler with the most exciting stories. Marilyn always looks forward to her spirited great-aunt's visits, but this time, Zenobia seems to have something unusual on her mind. Marilyn can't refuse when the obviously worried Zenobia asks her to hold on to something for safekeeping—a beautiful amulet found in the Egyptian desert, with a center stone so vivid and sparkling, it almost seems . . . alive. Suddenly Marilyn's dreams turn dark as she's tasked with a terrible mission: to keep whatever is inside the amulet from gaining its freedom—and with it, revenge. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Bruce Coville including rare images from the author's collection. Views: 38
Eighteen year old Dillon Carver made the biggest mistake of his life when he dumped Jamie Walker two years ago over Jamie's decision to come out of the closet. At the time, he was afraid Jamie's revelation would out him to the world - and his narrow-minded parents. Jamie Walker's heart was ripped to shreds when Dillon walked out on him. With help from his best friend Ben, Jamie was able to pick up the pieces and move on. He still hasn't tried his hand at love again, but for the most part Jamie has been able to put the pain behind him. Now things are different. Dillon wants Jamie back, and he'll do whatever it takes to make that happen. Only one thing stands in his way: Jamie's relationship with "bad boy" Ben Lewis. When Dillon begins an open campaign to win Jamie back, Jamie's life is once again thrown into chaos.
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START-UP NATION addresses the trillion dollar question: How is it that Israel-- a country of 7.1 million, only 60 years old, surrounded by enemies, in a constant state of war since its founding, with no natural resources-- produces more start-up companies than large, peaceful, and stable nations like Japan, China, India, Korea, Canada and the UK?
With the savvy of foreign policy insiders, Senor and Singer examine the lessons of the country's adversity-driven culture, which flattens hierarchy and elevates informality-- all backed up by government policies focused on innovation. In a world where economies as diverse as Ireland, Singapore and Dubai have tried to re-create the "Israel effect", there are entrepreneurial lessons well worth noting. As America reboots its own economy and can-do spirit, there's never been a better time to look at this remarkable and resilient nation for some impressive, surprising clues. Views: 38
Mystery/Crime. 46848 words long. Views: 38
Praise for the Omar Yussef series: "The Collaborator of Bethlehem is readable and literate, and offers a vivid portrait of Palestinian life today."--The Washington Post "Matt Beynon Rees has taken a complex world of culture clash and suspicion and placed upon it humanity."--David Baldacci, author of The Collectors "Omar's probe of a West Bank ruled by political intrigue, religious hatred, and militia thugs lets ex-TIME Jerusalem Bureau Chief Rees make the Mideast conflict personal."--Entertainment Weekly "The Collaborator of Bethlehem is the best--and the rarest--sort of mystery: exciting and compelling, but it is also a deeply moving story that will, for many readers, shed much light on the conditions in the Palestinian territories."--David Liss, author of The Ethical Assassin and A Conspiracy of Paper "Uncovers the gritty, often disturbing human realities of life in Palestinian... Views: 38
Amazon.com ReviewAmazon Best of the Month, March 2009: Mary Gaitskill has a reputation as the chronicler of bad relationships, but that label doesn't do justice to the stories she tells. Her relationships turn bad, or turn good, or just turn (and turn and turn). In every exploitation there's an attraction, or at least an accommodation; in every hostility there's a yearning for, or at least a memory of, connection. You see the intensity of people--friends and family as well as lovers--drawn together, and the often equally intense emptiness when the magnet flips and repels. Gaitskill is one of our best short story writers (that's a label that's fully just) and the prickly, sad brilliance of her last book, Veronica, confirmed her as a master of the novel, too. Don't Cry is just her third story collection in 20 years, after the modern classics Bad Behavior and Because They Wanted To, and it reminds you immediately of why you've been longing to read her again. Once more, there are former lovers and ex-friends and parents and children who have not quite made a hash of things, but there's also a broadening in this collection, especially in the title story, which looks at the ties of family and friendship when they are stretched across the global distance of privilege and poverty. --Tom NissleyFrom Bookmarks MagazineRanging from gritty realism to fanciful allegory, the stories in Don’t Cry push the boundaries of fiction in several directions. Populated by peculiar but always authentic characters with bizarre dreams and fantasies, Gaitskill’s stories lack conventional plots, timelines, and mounting suspense, but she keeps readers rapt with the promise of exposing the darkest recesses of human nature. The subtle balance between her spare, clinical prose and the uncomfortably private thoughts and feelings she brings to light give these stories their edge; yet intermittent moments of grace and hope keep her work accessible. Though critics disagreed over which stories were the best, they all praised her pitiless eye, psychological insight, and unsettling ability to turn readers into voyeurs.Copyright 2009 Bookmarks Publishing LLC Views: 38
Product DescriptionLucy has come a long way from that tomboy who wouldn't give pink the time of day. She's developed into an authentic tween who has learned that girls make great friends, that teamwork means more than stardom, and that God is real. But she's still Lucy. In the third book of the series, she runs headlong into some new---and some old---problems. Although Lucy has come to love and respect Inez and more than tolerate Mora, with school out for the summer, the three of them have more together time than anybody can stand! That worsens when the 'monsoon' season keeps them cooped up in the house for three solid days without Dad to referee (he's stranded at the radio station). When Dad is stuck at the radio station without his assistant Luke, the new management finds out just how much Dad depends on his assistant and threaten to fire Lucy's father. Lucy is freaked out at the thought of moving. Plus it gives Aunt Karen more ammunition for her fight to have Lucy come and live with her in El Paso. That would be heinous enough, but Lucy just can't leave now, not with the soccer team making tremendous progress and Coach Auggy scheduling three unofficial games with neighboring teams during the summer to get them ready for the real soccer season in the fall. And not with Januarie getting into 'iffy' territory with the new kids her own age that Lucy and her friends have encouraged her to hang out with so she'll leave them alone. Child Protective Services gets involved when Januarie gets in trouble, and Lucy has to be there for her, especially since this could affect her friend J.J. too. When the weather dries up, wild fires break out with a vengeance. A big one threatens Los Suenos. Myteriously, the only thing destroyed is the soccer field. The big developer who has tried to buy the property before swoops in for the kill. Lucy and her team have to convince the town to come together and restore the field, rather than give up and sell it. Meanwhile, Lucy, Mora, Dusty, Veronica, and Inez study Esther. Lucy grows even closer to God through her Book of Lists and her resonance with Esther, even though she was a girly-girl. That helps her not only save the soccer field, get Januarie out of trouble, and get herself an audition with the Olympic Development Program (without Aunt Karen's help), but it enables her to make a huge sacrifice for Dad and agree to live without him for six weeks while he goes to a special technology school for the blind in Alamogordo. That's going to mean having Aunt Karen come to live with her in the fall. But Lucy is the only one who can do this thing in this time and this place. Like Esther, she is willing to make the sacrifice. About the AuthorNancy Rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the Faithgirlz Bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues. She and husband Jim have raised a daughter of their own and now live in Tennessee. Views: 38
