From the pen of a masterful storyteller comes a touching and inspirational story of love, loss, and the true meaning of Christmas that will take its place beside Richard Paul Evans' "Christmas Box Trilogy," as a timeless classic that will be passed from generation to generation.When the Pullman family lost their eldest son Ernie to an unexpected illness just before Christmas, 1938, it was devastating to all of them, but especially to young Suzanna, their four-year-old daughter who shared a special bond with her big brother. A strangely gifted child, Zanna loved to draw, but Ernie was the only one who was able to see the pictures in the curious patterns she made. And he did not live to see her last gift, a Christmas painting she had made just for him.This is the story of that gift, and how it inspired her and her whole family, generation to generation, to keep alive the spirit of imagination, hope, and love, for Christmases to come.Zanna grew up to be a famous artist, but in the hearts of her children and grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, that first painting, the Gift, was truly her most important work. Christmas after Christmas, as the long decades pass up to the present day, Scott Richards allows us to share in the warmth of a family bound together by the transcendent miracle of love.Zanna's life, told in Christmases, will inspire you to keep alive your own family traditions, to share those loving moments with your children and grandchildren for years to come.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied. Views: 493
Vampire P. I. Jack Fleming is playing babysitter to Gabriel “Whitey” Kroun, a dangerously unstable mobster—and newly-created vampire—with deadly secrets to hide. As Jack tries to unravel the mystery surrounding Kroun’s undead state, he gets caught between his charge’s violent outbursts and some syndicate torpedoes looking to rub them both out, leaving him vulnerable to an even deadlier threat— the return of an old enemy desperate to unlock the secrets of Jack’s vampire immortality. Views: 493
Sober alcoholic Bruce Kohler discovers that there’s a lot more to recovery than putting down the booze. With his friends, Jimmy the computer wiz and Barbara the world-class co-dependent, he gets drawn into investigating the murder of a suspected drug dealer and rehab graduate whose attractive girlfriend, Luz, is the prime suspect.But Bruce’s love addiction really kicks in when he takes up with his ex-wife again. Laura is fragile, compelling, and bent on self-destruction. In comparison, going after the murder suspects—a dysfunctional Italian family, a drug kingpin, and a motley crew of the victim’s rehab buddies—is a healthy agenda.The chase takes Bruce and his friends to a funeral in Brooklyn, an Italian bakery, an upscale lingerie boutique, a SoHo art gallery, and the church basements of AA. Views: 492
From the celebrated author of Things Fall Apart and winner of the Man Booker International Prize comes a new collection of autobiographical essays—his first new book in more than twenty years.
Chinua Achebe’s characteristically measured and nuanced voice is everywhere present in these seventeen beautifully written pieces. In a preface, he discusses his historic visit to his Nigerian homeland on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the publication of Things Fall Apart, the story of his tragic car accident nearly twenty years ago, and the potent symbolism of President Obama’s election. In “The Education of a British-Protected Child,” Achebe gives us a vivid portrait of growing up in colonial Nigeria and inhabiting its “middle ground,” recalling both his happy memories of reading novels in secondary school and the harsher truths of colonial rule. In “Spelling Our Proper Name,” Achebe considers the African-American diaspora, meeting and reading Langston Hughes and James Baldwin, and learning what it means not to know “from whence he came.” The complex politics and history of Africa figure in “What Is Nigeria to Me?,” “Africa’s Tarnished Name,” and “Politics and Politicians of Language in African Literature.” And Achebe’s extraordinary family life comes into view in “My Dad and Me” and “My Daughters,” where we observe the effect of Christian missionaries on his father and witness the culture shock of raising “brown” children in America.
Charmingly personal, intellectually disciplined, and steadfastly wise, The Education of a British-Protected Child is an indispensable addition to the remarkable Achebe oeuvre.
** Views: 492
In Treasure Trouble, Nancy, George, and Bess are headed to Barnacle Beach for a pirate-themed birthday party. But when the treasure chest filled with party favors disappears, playtime is over. With the help of a mysterious treasure map, the Clue Crew needs to reclaim the missing loot before the party’s completely ruined. In Double Take, the Clue Crew has competition—one of their classmates has started a rival sleuthing club! Can Nancy and the girls solve the latest case before the phony detectives do? Views: 491
Three children whirl back in time through an enchanted potter’s wheel into the reality of evacuation in 1940s Britain . . . Whirl of the Wheel pulls feisty Connie, her brother Charlie-Mouse, and school pest Malcolm into dangers on the homefront and towards a military operations secret that will save their home. The children hit trouble when Malcolm fails to return to the present day. Views: 491
Colt O'brien sees himself as the most savvy computer technician at Highline High. The energetic senior, with his bright, colorful attire and cocky attitude, knows that he is the best. Colt is cruising through senior year, but his life is about to be turned upside down. A new computer program will challenge his credibility and his psychic powers will emerge when he least expects. Hang on Colt.Colt O'brien sees himself as the most savvy computer technician at Highline High. The energetic senior, with his bright, colorful attire and cocky attitude, knows that he is the best. Colt is cruising through senior year, but his life is about to be turned upside down. A new computer program will challenge his credibility and his psychic powers will emerge when he least expects. Hang on Colt.WHAT REVIEWERS SAY I would definitely suggest this book for those who are looking for some excitement, interesting characters such as Colt and Colt's interesting computer life. - Susan Petrone 4 StarsI felt the storyline was good, the many problems and joy that teens feel, the disappointments and letdowns, the overblown self-pride coupled with insecurity are vividly drawn in this book. The author, in this his debut novel, has immersed us into the life of teens and their struggles. The book is a fairly quick read, but there is a lot adults could learn from it, even though it is a young adult novel. - Betty Gelean 4 StarsRead full reviews on Amazon.com Views: 490
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. Views: 490
Ross Kemp risks all to tell the story of the British soldier in Ross Kemp on Afghanistan.He has played an East End hardman, an SAS soldier and investigated vicious world gangs. Now Ross Kemp is taking on perhaps his hardest assignment of all - the Taliban. In order to prepare for this life-threatening ordeal, Ross Kemp trains with the First Battalion Royal Anglians in England's subzero temperatures, practicing firing SA 80 rifles and .50 calibre machine guns, getting to know the soldiers and learning the tactics they use to stay alive. Sent with them to Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province, he immerses himself fully: he endures the stifling heat, the constant threat of snipers, RPG attacks, suicide bombers and land mines. In short, he discovers first hand what it's like to fight on the frontline. It's the closest he's ever come to dying - bullets fizzing inches from his head as they hit the ground on either side of him. After two harrowing and arduous months Ross returns to England, but there is little relief to be had as he meets the mothers of soldiers killed in the conflict. Then in September 2008 he goes back to the war zone, to see how the men he grew so close to are faring, to check how many of them are still alive. Ross Kemp on Afganistan is a fascinating, horrifying and often moving insight into the brutal reality ordinary soldiers have to face in one of the world's most dangerous and volatile regions.Ross Kemp was born in Essex in 1964, to a father who was a senior detective with the Metropolitan Police and had served in the army for four years. He is a BAFTA award-winning actor, journalist and author, who is best known for his role of Grant Mitchell in Eastenders. His award-winning documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs led to his international recognition as an investigative journalist. Born in Essex in 1964, Ross Kemp is best known for his portrayal of Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. His father was a senior detective with the Metropolitan Police force, but before that he served in the army for four years. His regiment was amalgamated with others to form the Royal Anglians, the troops Ross was with in Afghanistan. Views: 489
Before DragonSpell, on a different continent and a different time, a young emerlindian's desperate decision threatens to disrupt the foundation of the world. Tipper has been caring for her family's estate for years now, ever since her father disappeared, making a living by selling off his famous artwork. Then she learns that three statues she sold were carved from an ancient foundation stone, and the fabric of her reality is crumbling. She must free her father and save the world. But she can’t do it alone. Her ragtag band of adventurers includes Beccaroon, a giant parrot; Bealomondore, an aristocratic young artist; a handsome dragonkeeper prince; the Wizard Fenworth; and the tumanhofer librarian Librettowit. Together they travel through valleys and kingdoms and consort with purveyors of good and agents of evil to find and reunite the missing statues. Will they learn to rely on Wulder's grace and guidance along the way? Views: 488
Only $1.99 for a limited time.This collection features twenty short stories from humorous thriller writer J.A. Konrath. Included are a few hardboiled tales, some noir, some parody and satire, a few straight-out comedy pieces, and a few stories that didn't fit into Konrath's other two collections, Horror Stories and Jack Daniels Stories.The twenty stories include:The Big Guys - Flash fiction, winner of the Derringer Award. A Fistful of Cozy - A satire of the mystery cozy genre.Cleansing - An ancient crime of biblical proportions.Lying Eyes - Solve it yourself, given the clues.Perfect Plan - Another solve it yourself. Don't you remember One Minute Mysteries and Encyclopedia Brown?Piece of Cake - Another solve it yourself, originally featured in Woman's World.Animal Attraction - Solve it yourself.Urgent Reply Needed - A cautionary tale about dealing with spammers. Blaine’s Deal - A parody of hardboiled noir.Light Drizzle - A light-hearted send-up of hitman stories.An Archaeologist’s Story - How digging up old bones leads to fresh corpses.Don’t Press That Button! - An essay about the gadgets in the James Bond universe, and which you need to buy.Piranha Pool - A writer seeking criticism pays the ultimate price.A Newbie’s Guide to Thrillerfest - Never been to a mystery conference? Here's the in-depth dirt.Inspector Oxnard - He's either brilliant, or too stupid to breathe.One Night Only - A sports fan ends up in jail, all for the love of the game.Could Stephanie Plum Car Really Get Car Insurance? - An essay about Janet Evanovich's famous character.Cozy or Hardboiled? - Take the test to find out which type of book you're reading. Addiction - What's the worst drug you can get hung up on?Weigh To Go - A humor column about health clubs.This ebook also includes an excerpt of Whiskey Sour by J.A. Konrath, and Disturb by J.A. Konrath.About the Author:J.A. Konrath has written six Jack Daniels thrillers (Whiskey Sour, Bloody Mary, Rusty Nail, Dirty Martini, Fuzzy Navel, and Cherry Bomb.) The seventh, Shaken, will be available this year.Under the name Jack Kilborn, he wrote the horror novel Afraid, and under the name Joe Kimball, he wrote the sci-fi novel Timecaster (featuring Jack Daniels' grandson as the hero, coming out in 2011.) Views: 488
An epic adventure that began with one simple question: Why does my foot hurt?
Isolated by Mexico's deadly Copper Canyons, the blissful Tarahumara Indians have honed the ability to run hundreds of miles without rest or injury. In a riveting narrative, award-winning journalist and often-injured runner Christopher McDougall sets out to discover their secrets. In the process, he takes his readers from science labs at Harvard to the sun-baked valleys and freezing peaks across North America, where ever-growing numbers of ultra-runners are pushing their bodies to the limit, and, finally, to a climactic race in the Copper Canyons that pits America’s best ultra-runners against the tribe. McDougall’s incredible story will not only engage your mind but inspire your body when you realize that you, indeed all of us, were born to run.
From the Trade Paperback edition. Views: 487
