Being able to talk to ponies isn't all that it's cracked up to be.Save Our Stables!Just when Pia stops feeling like the new girl at Laurel Farms, disaster strikes. The stables are about to be torn down, leaving all the ponies homeless! If that wasn't enough to stress a girl out, Pia also has to figure out how to save her frenemy's horse, Bambi, from being sold. (She and Pia's horse, Drummer, are kind of an item. Horsey love—who knew?)Pia's pony whispering ability isn't much help this time. They need a plan-and fast! Can Pia and her friends find a way to save the stables and Bambi...before it's too late? Views: 27
From the outset, the air that Beeding's characters breathe crackles with ominous electricity. This is surely what appealed to Alfred Hitchcock when he found Beeding's The House of Dr. Edwardes and used it as the inspiration for his unforgettable film Spellbound.The "house" of the title is a lunatic asylum in France and Dr. Edwardes is the head psychiatrist. While Edwardes is held in high esteem, an almost iconic figure in psychiatric circles, there is something clearly amiss. The novel opens with a puzzling, ominous episode in which a patient being transported to the asylum grows agitated as the car bringing him there approaches. The patiently suddenly screams: "the gorge of the devil" and then attacks and kills one of the supervisors, a promising but inexperienced psychiatrist. This opens a position that Dr. Sedgwick accepts, but on arrival, she learns that Dr. Edwardes has taken a leave of absence to calm his nerves. It doesn't take her long to... Views: 27
Was she dancing too close to the fire when she chose him for her first night of passion?Jade, a small town girl who moves to New York to become a professional ballet dancer, is wildly determined to lose her virginity. On the eve of her twenty-second birthday she goes to a Lower East Side club, intending to choose the most handsome, charismatic man she meets to introduce her to the art of love. Instantly she falls for the tall blond Swedish sex god who owns the club as she pretends to be an exotic dancer looking for a job. But Alrik Larsson has secrets of his own, including his involvement with a ring of human traffickers. When the life of her younger autistic brother is placed in jeopardy, Jade has tochoose between the two people she loves. The dancer finds herself balancing on a knife edge as she becomes entangled in a web of danger, mystery and relentless passion in the arms of her Viking lover ...A Sensual Romance by Deborah Court, author of the bestselling epic fantasy romance, "Bound to the Prince".Excerpt: "So beautiful," he said, and his deep, rich voice sent shivers down her spine. "I wonder if I should take advantage of this situation. After all, you're just a girl who wanted to find herself a lover tonight." He laughed to himself as he bowed down to her, moving his body over hers. Resting his weight on his elbows, his skin was just inches away from Jade's, nearly covering her. She only needed to arch her back, and her breasts would graze his skin. Holding her captive with his pale, clear eyes, he stared down at her. "You can't even imagine how much I'd like to take you now." When she gasped, he continued. "Look at you. You want it, too, don't you, Jade? This is what you came here for." Desperate with want, she closed her eyes, unable to speak a word. Suddenly, she felt his breath on the sensitive side of her neck, and she involuntarily tilted her head to the side to give him better access. Then, his lips were on her, leaving a searing mark on her skin. She moaned when she felt his tongue, barelytouching as if he only wanted to taste her. A soft moan escaped her when he covered her neck with more of his sinful kisses, alternating with gentle bites that made her finally give up, yielding to his seduction. The knowledge of being bound and helpless excited her more than she would have expected, and she turned her head to look into his eyes, ready to beg him if he wanted it. She found that the expression of his eyes wasn't cold anymore, but seemed to burn with a fire that threatened to destroy her. "Beware, little virgin," he said. "I might be too much foryou."Warning: This book contains adult content and language unsuitable for underage readers.Review"This novella is packed with suspense and danger; making it stand apart from other romances.""Virgin Dancer has a compelling plot (human trafficking pulls my strings every time) and enough eroticism to feel indulgent. I could feel the emotions and hear the characters as if I were experiencing the words instead of simply reading them.The vivid imagery had me hooked, wishing I could step into Jade's place for just one scene." (Review by Guilty Indulgence Bloggers, 5 chocolate-dipped strawberries) About the AuthorDeborah Court lives in a picturesque European small town. At night she loves to write romances about elven warriors of deadly beauty, capable of making a woman die from sheer pleasure - or stories to awaken the deepest, most secret fantasies of her readers. Views: 27
Growing up, Grayson Legend and Kennedy Knowles were inseparable. They turned to each other when their families were nothing more than worthless guardians, and had promised each other to always stay friends. Then Kennedy did the unthinkable. She fell in love with her best friend. And after finally finding the courage to let him know— Grayson took off. After walking away from his best friend because he didn’t feel like he would ever be good enough to give Kennedy what she wanted or needed, Grayson Legend has become a household name in the MMA fighting world. When he runs into Kennedy at a fight in Vegas, he immediately determines to do one thing—never let her go again. She has a secret. They both have regrets. And when the truth comes to light— Everything between them could be ruined. Views: 27
Political Science / International Relations / General In this riveting portrait of authoritarianism in peril, acclaimed journalist William Dobson takes us inside the relentless battle between dictators and the people challenging their rule.We are witnessing an incredible moment in the war between dictators and democracy-waves of protests are sweeping Syria and Yemen, and despots have fallen in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. But the Arab Spring is only the latest front in a worldwide battle between freedom and repression, a battle that also rages in a dozen other countries from Venezuela to China, Russia to Malaysia. It is a struggle that, until recently, dictators have been winning hands-down. The reason is that today's authoritarian regimes are nothing like the frozen-in-time government of North Korea. They are ever-morphing, technologically savvy, and internationally connected, and they have replaced more brutal forms of intimidation with seemingly "free" elections and talk of human rights. Facing off against modern dictators is an unlikely army of democracy advocates-students, bloggers, environmentalists, lawyers, activists, and millionaires-who are growing increasingly savvy themselves. The result is a global game of cat-and-mouse, where the future of freedom hangs in the balance. Dobson takes us behind the scenes in both camps, and reveals how each side is honing its strategies for the war that will define our age.WILLIAM J. DOBSON is politics and foreign affairs editor for Slate. He has been an editor atForeign Affairs, Newsweek International, andForeign Policy. During his tenure at Foreign Policy, the magazine was nominated for the coveted National Magazine Award for General Excellence each year and won top honors in 2007 and 2009. His articles and essays have appeared in the New York Times, theWashington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, and he has provided analysis for ABC, CNN, CBS, MSNBC, and NPR. He lives in Washington, DC.Praise for The Dictator's Learning Curve"Intelligent and absorbing...Dobson has interviewed more than 200 people, and his closely observed accounts of dictators' increasingly sly methods to control their populations are haunting....The Dictator's Learning Curve is agile and light on its feet, but among its salient points is that pro-democracy movements need to be more than that. Happy thoughts and hippie clothes are not enough....Mr. Dobson's book, with luck, will find its way into the hands of people who aspire to be free. They'll find optimism here, but hard realities as well."-Dwight Garner, *The New York Times"Tough-minded without being cynical, and hopeful without being optimistic, The Dictator's Learning Curve is a rare book-and a bracing read."-The Atlantic"Dobson has invested time and insight, from China to Venezuela, and Egypt to Russia, trying to capture the shape-changing nature of modern authoritarianism, and the resourcefulness and wit of its opponents....[He] captures empathetically the skill and insight of modern neo-despots - in much the way their more successful opponents do....Rare is the book on dictatorship that can end on an uplifting note that its narrative carefully substantiates."-Financial Times"When Dobson is in conversation with the people who are finding new ways to work against the more 'nimble' systems of today's autocrats, the book is at its best. We meet a Chinese free-speech lawyer, a Russian environmental activist, and an Egyptian cop-turned-human-rights-lawyer-turned-exiled-dissident, who offers tips to youth activists on what police response they can expect. We meet Egyptian protesters who take the brunt of later-2011 military violence, and we join in an afternoon walk that's actually a political protest in Beijing. We watch with Dobson as the Chinese use not tanks and guns, as in Tiananmen Square in 1989, but 'street repair' closures and sidewalk-washing tasks to clear crowds who'd thought they might try a 'Jasmine Revolution.' It's a far subtler form of power, but just as effective."-Christian Science Monitor"After a remarkable year in which citizens of a dozen countries have challenged their authoritarian governments, readers will welcome veteran journalist Dobson's overview of the complicated dance of adaptation by the world's dictators and those who resist their oppressive power....A timely, valuable contribution to readers' understanding of global unrest."-Booklist"[Dobson] writes with exemplary clarity and a sharp eye for color....Timely, authoritative, and as readable as a novel, this is one of the season's most resonant books-not least because it ends on a note of guarded hope for the future."-*Prospect"William J. Dobson's exploration of the contest between contemporary dictatorships and those who rebel against them is valuable because it offers a sober analysis of both sides. Dobson traveled nearly 100,000 miles researching this book, which takes a close look at the face of modern authoritarianism....His book may be about the struggle for freedom of other countries' citizens, but there are lessons in it for the preservation of our own."-Washington Post"[A] thoughtful journey through formidable dictatorships of our time...Instead of offering caricatures of vintage dictators, Dobson observes the more dangerous trend - of dictators adopting the form of democratic governance, while draining it of any substance."-The Independent"Colorful and sharply reported."-Bloomberg BusinessWeek"Fascinating...Some of Dobson's most astute observations come from his reporting about China. The Chinese communists, he concludes, are the least complacent of today's modern authoritarians."-Foreign Policy"Fascinating...What makes Dobson's book truly outstanding is that there is none of the naive optimism that accompanied much of the reporting...about the Arab Spring....[A] brilliant book."-Literary Review"William J. Dobson vividly portrays [the] struggle against authoritarian rule....Dobson's coverage of Venezuela's internal political struggles is particularly fascinating. He had spectacular access to well-placed sources in this oil-rich country, including political prisoners."-Wilson Quarterly"Dobson's book ends up not only a sophisticated but also a wonderfully readable account of the latest installments in an age-old type of struggle."-Pacific Standard"Dobson has interviewed scores of protesters, security experts, opposition political candidates, elite power brokers, and a former Egyptian police officer who, from his computer in the United States, guided protesters occupying Tahrir Square....As a result, the reader gets a wide-ranging overview of political strife as we live it now."*-The Weekly Standard"Timely...Dobson chronicles in detail the ingenious but sinister ways in which modern authoritarian regimes are suppressing dissent."-The Journal of Democracy"[A] deft, incisive book....The mix of perspectives results in an impressive overview of the global struggle between authoritarian power and determined advocates of political freedom."-Publishers Weekly starred review"A brilliant and original analysis of the nature of modern authoritarianism."-Anne Applebaum, author of Gulag, winner of the Pulitzer Prize "William Dobson is that rare thinker who combines a gift for storytelling with an understanding of how the world works. Marrying a historian's judgment with a journalist's eye for detail, he spots the emerging trends that others miss. The Dictator's Learning Curve offers an essential perspective on a crucial struggle."-Fareed Zakaria, author of The Future of Freedom and *The Post-American World"A vivid real-time portrait of the movement for democracy. Among its virtues, Dobson's book clarifies the ways in which the recent challenge to dictatorship represents a coordinated worldwide effort, and the ways in which each country's struggle is unique."-James Fallows, national correspondent forThe Atlantic and author of *China Airborne*"It is hard to imagine a timelier book than this one. William Dobson provides a new framework and a new vocabulary for understanding modern authoritarianism, backed up by detailed and gripping stories of dictators and their citizen opponents in Russia, China, Venezuela, Egypt, and Malaysia. Anyone seeking to make sense of the extraordinary tide of revolutions and protests sweeping around the world will findThe Dictator's Learning Curve an indispensable read."-Anne-Marie Slaughter, Bert G. Kerstetter '66 University Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University, and former Director of Policy Planning, U.S. State Department Views: 27
For centuries, the village of Krall has lived beneath a dark shadow. Once every generation, a virgin is sacrificed to appease the Beast, a terrifying creature that lurks on the mountain above.With Harvest nearly done, Anja has come of age. In the spring, she hopes marry her betrothed, the dashing hunter Lucas. But Anja's dreams of marriage are shattered when she's chosen to be the Beast's sacrifice.Horror and lust mingle in the Beast's lair, and Anja discovers a dark secret that could mean the salvation of her village... if she can endure the night.Warning: This short novella contains explicit adult material, including rough, reluctant sex acts, lesbian seduction by a witch, and a virgin deflowered by a huge, wild beast man. 11,000 words.Excerpt:The darkness moved, and a huge creature came into the torchlight. It walked upright like a man, but with a strange gait on its long clawed feet. Dark brown fur sheathed a body covered in bulging muscles. With broad, rounded shoulders, twice as wide as the stoutest man in the village, the Beast was easily two feet taller than Anja. A low, flat head with an elongated snout reminded her of a wolf, and those yellow eyes shone, baleful and hungry, but with a wicked cunning. It wore no clothing, and a long cock hung smooth and heavy between his legs"Please," Anja whispered. "Don't hurt me.""Don't hurt you?" A low chuckle came from deep within its throat. "You are mine to do with as I wish." That long mouth split open, and white fangs glistened in the firelight."I'll do whatever you want," Anja said. "Just please let me go... after."The Beast stalked around her in a wide circle, moving slowly, and it wasn't until its silhouette blocked the cave entrance that Anja realized she was trapped. The Beast's laugh was low and harsh, like a tomb's heavy stone lid sliding shut. "She wants to go after," he growled. "And if I want you to stay?"Anja's heart pounded in her chest, fear threatening to overwhelm her. She imagined herself bolting past him like a frightened hare, scrambling down the snow-covered slope, naked and afraid, while the powerful creature loped easily behind. Escape was impossible, so Anja surrendered. "Then I will stay," she said, trying to steady her trembling voice. "Just tell me what you want from me."That lupine grin widened, and the Beast came forward, graceful and dangerous. His yellow eyes leered down at her, full of wild lust, he licked his chops with a long, pink tongue. "What I want is what you will give me," he said. "An heir." Views: 27
Product DescriptionWhen good cupids go bad... Carissa Langston is a perfectly lovely woman, so she can't figure out why she's always been single. The higher ups at Cupid Headquarters are wondering the same thing. What none of them knows is that Quincy, her assigned cupid, fancies himself in love with her. He doesn't think anyone will ever be good enough for her--especially not that James "Hutch" Hutchington person. Who cares if the man is really Carissa's soul mate? When Carissa and Hutch run into one another after years apart, sparks fly. Quincy does some fancy cupiding to keep them apart--no matter the cost. Can Carissa and Hutch thwart cupid and reach their happily ever after? WARNING: Cupid hijinks, sexy chemistry between soul mates, and adult content. A Lyrical Press fantasy romance Views: 27
More breathtaking than any fairy tale, here are seven scandalous, seductive centuries of all-for-love royal desire . . . Elegant palaces, dazzling power plays, shimmering jewels, and the grandest of all-or-nothing gambles—nothing can top real-life love among the royalty. Louis XIV defied God and law, permitting his married mistress Madame de Montespan to usurp the role of Queen of France, then secretly wed her successor, Madame de Maintenon. Grigory Potemkin was a worthy equal in Catherine the Great's bed as well as in Russia's political arena. Dashing Count Axel von Fersen risked everything to save Marie Antoinette's life more than once—and may have returned her passion. The unshakable devotion of the beloved late "Queen Mum" helped King George VI triumph over his, and England's, darkest hours. And the unpretentious, timelessly glamorous—even relatable—union of Prince William and the former Kate Middleton continues to enthrall the world.Full o... Views: 27
Perhaps the key to the mystery was 'Eternal Spring', the haunting picture which had begun Lance Tenby's brilliant career as a painter. The painting which exerted a curious influence over them all...Ann Tenby had always accepted her role as 'second-best' in Lance's life; his heart still belonged to the dead sweetheart of his childhood days. Their marriage had been based upon his adoration of the baby daughter of her first marriage.But as Briony grew up her relationship began to change in a horrifying way. Another more dominant personality had taken possession of her, in a manner that baffled psychiatry. A force that emanated from the painting...Ann was confronted with a terrible decision, one that could destroy their lives... Views: 27
