A vivid, evocative, page-turning read that leaps off the page, with a dazzling recreation of the Renaissance diamond and gem trade. As the chaos of war spreads out across Europe, Charles V extends his empire in a series of ruthless and aggressive moves. The Medici Pope has formed an alliance to drive Charles out of Italy for good. Only England holds aloof from the great struggle that is to come. The 36-year-old Henry VIII presides over an opulent and glamorous court, thinking only of the woman with whom he has fallen in love. In the midst of this politically sensitive and dangerous world, steps Richard Dansey, a young and ambitious jewel merchant, determined to break his mother?s stranglehold on the family firm after his father?s early death. Richard?s reckless pursuit of jewels worthy of Henry?s wooing of Anne Boleyn, lead him across Europe to Venice and Rome. Obsessed with one diamond, but dangerously distracted by love, Richard finds himself thrust into the heart of the... Views: 10
From Publishers WeeklyAfter her well-received debut, Angel Fire (2002), Miscione stumbles in her second thriller to feature true-crime writer and part-time PI Lydia Strong. An anonymous plea for help sends Lydia and ex-FBI agent Jeffrey Mark, her lover and partner, to Miami to investigate the fate of young Tatiana Quinn, who has disappeared from her wealthy home where she lived with her stepfather Nathan Quinn and her Albanian mother. Miscione isn't afraid to think big, and her complicated plot throws her heroes into a case that involves Miami cops, the FBI, a cartel of immensely powerful and wealthy men, snuff films, girls sold into sexual slavery and plenty of enforcers. The action roils from New York to Miami, to Eastern Europe and back to New York with the body count steadily growing. The book's blend of glitz (the author drops brand names faster than you can say Dior), action and a strong female lead will appeal as long as readers are willing to forgive a plot that never begins to convince.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. From BooklistThe second in Miscione's series featuring true-crime writer Lydia Strong is a winner. Just back from a book tour, Lydia hopes to spend time with her former-FBI beau, Jeffrey Mark, in their swanky New York City home. Then she opens the mail and finds a strange package containing a tape of a young girl named Tatiana crying for help, accompanied by an anonymous note pleading for Lydia to find the missing girl. She and Jeffrey are soon flying to Miami to meet with the detective in charge of the case. Tatiana's reticent Albanian mother and rich, powerful father hinder Lydia's investigation, as do unseen bad guys who try to shake her off the case. A complex adventure unfolds, involving the Albanian government and a serial killer from Lydia's past. With potential witnesses dropping dead (literally) at her feet, Lydia realizes that she is dealing with a much larger entity than a single kidnapper. An exciting story enriched by a glamorous writer-heroine who carries a Glock and knows how to use it. Jenny McLarinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 10
'The denuded earth of the iron-ore loading yards, the huge jetties thrusting their way out into the clear blue sea, the endless ponds of the solar salt farm, stretching stark and white over hundreds of hectares . . . all appeared a hideous invasion upon nature. But to Mike McAllister, there was something faintly ludicrous about it. Man's interference seemed petty in the face of such unconquerable timelessness. In millions of years, mankind would cease to exist, but this terrain would not. This was the Pilbara.... Floodtide is a brilliant observation of turbulent times in the mighty 'Iron Ore State' - Western Australia. The novel traces the fortunes of four men and four families over four memorable decades: The prosperous post-war 1950s when childhood is idyllic and carefree in the small, peaceful city of Perth . . . The turbulent 60s when youth is caught up in the conflict of the Vietnam War and free love reigns . . . The avaricious 70s when Western Australia's mineral boom... Views: 10
ReviewOn her hit television show, Tiny and Toya, Antonia 'Toya' Carter seems to be living the good life. She has a beautiful home, good friends, and is pursuing her dreams. In spite of appearances, hers has been a life of peaks and valleys. Abandoned by her parents as a child, Toya was passed from one family member to another as her mother sank deeper into drug addiction. Feeling unloved and unwanted, Toya fell into the arms of fifteen-year-old rising musical star, Dwayne Michael Carter, known these days as rapper, Lil' Wayne. She ended up pregnant at the tender age of fourteen.In Priceless Inspirations, Toya takes the reader on a journey through the pain of a teenage mother who struggles to raise a child while still a child herself—all without the benefit of guidance from her own mother. Using the words she recorded in journals she wrote as a teen and the wisdom she has gained in the years since, Toya bares her personal struggles. She poignantly uses her experiences to offer young women real and heartfelt understanding and advice about sex, relationships, motherhood and growing up.(Farrah Gray BET Network Release ) Product DescriptionOn her hit television show 'Tiny and Toya', Antonia 'Toya' Carter seems to be living the good life: she has a beautiful home, good friends, and is pursuing her dreams in fashion design. But hers has been a life of peaks and valleys. Abandoned by her parents as a child, she was passed from family member to family member as her mother sank deeper into her drug addiction. Feeling unloved and unwelcomed, Toya fell into the arms of a 15-year-old rising musical star—Dwayne Michael Carter, known these days as the rapper 'Lil Wayne'-- and ended up pregnant at the tender age of 14. In Priceless Inspiration, Toya takes the reader through the pain of being a teenage mother struggling to raise a child while still a child herself—without the benefit of the guidance of her own mother. Using the words she recorded in the journals she kept as a teen—and the wisdom she has gained in the years since—Toya bares her own struggles, using them to offer young women real and heartfelt understanding and advice about sex, relationships, motherhood and growing up. Views: 10
Melody Logan had only just found a safe harbor when a new storm set her adrift all over again....
Melody had always believed her mother, Haille, and dear stepdaddy
had died in tragic accidents — that's why she'd come to stay with her
secretive Logan relatives on Cape Cod. But then a friend recognized
Haille's picture in a catalog and kindled Melody's hopes. Maybe her
mother hadn't perished in a fire in California after all, but was in
some desperate trouble that kept her out of reach....
Melody's dream of finding her mother seemed as flimsy as the scrap
of paper that was her only clue. And despite the pampered life Melody
was offered as a guest in a Beverly Hills mansion, nothing could soften
the blow of the moment she stood face-to-face with her mother and saw
her eyes turn dark and cold as stones. Melody knew there must be a
reason why her mother pretended at first not to recognize her — and why
she'd even faked her own death. Though Melody's beloved Cary beckoned
from Cape Cod, she felt in her heart that her mother needed her now more
than ever. And beneath her mother's unkept promises and tattered
fantasies, Melody hoped to unearth the truth about her own past, and
find her way to a safer, better place...where she could embrace a bright
new future of her own Views: 10
If Derrick thought experiencing alternate timelines and glimpses into the future was strange, then he had no idea it was about to get a whole lot more strange.When Derrick Sloane meets Annie Maddock and falls madly in love, he believes he's met the girl of his dreams. Only he then awakes to discover she is exactly that...nothing more than a dream. Disheartened, he goes to the first coffee shop he can find. There he meets Annie. She is at the same table, reading the same book, and he fast realizes his dream has shown him his own future. But when a misstep alters that perfect future he tries to fix it, every attempt only making it worse. Dreaming the future can be a nightmare when you see what's coming...but should you still try to change it? Review"5 out of 5 stars" - S. G. Rogers (Author of "The Last Great Wizard of Yden.") "5 of 5 stars!! ♥ Wow...Simply wow. I've been up all night reading this book. Not done yet, but sooooo good! I love it!! I was so not prepared for what just happened in the book tho! WOW. Good twist there! lol i wanna sleep, but now i'm stuck wondering whats gonna happen next!" - Heather's Book Reviews "4 out of 5 Stars" - Connie Bookreviews "5 out of 5 Stars" - Joseph Beekman (Author of the critically acclaimed, "Little Orphan Anvil", and "A Tail Spun.") 4 out of 5 Stars - "The dialogue is highly stimulating; full of banter, humour and wit; and the rapid shifts between dream and reality, future and present, keeps the reader intrigued. The somewhat poignant romance may even make your eyes mist over. I absolutely recommend this book to anybody who wants to read a romance with an unforgettable twist and a healthy dose of suspense. "The Coffee Shop" will pleasantly surprise you!" - Book Baby reviews 5 out of 5 stars - "Just finished The Coffee Shop. Holy Moly!! I didn't want it to end!!" - Brittany Carrigan Views: 10
