"Frail Blood" is an historical romantic thriller. California, 1909. A woman straps a pistol to her ankle, walks to her lover’s home, and shoots him. Her motive? After an affair of four months, he jilted her for another woman. How would an attorney defend the woman in light of her outright confession? Would an all-male jury view her actions with repulsion or pity? The climate of California in the early twentieth century when women couldn’t vote and men held the real power, where immense wealth rested alongside poverty, held a paradox of contradictions. The bare bones of this true California court case sparked the idea for the fictional story of Alma Bentley, attorney Malachi Rivers, and Emma Knight, the woman who help him investigate the case. When jaded lawyer Malachi Rivers engages newspaper editor Emma Knight to aid him in the case of Alma Bentley, he has no idea they'll eventually unmask a vile web of family deceit, wickedness, and treachery. Constantly putting herself in harm's way, the feckless Emma uncovers dark secrets that lie behind the wealthy facade of the Joseph Machado clan. With her strong opinions, Emma tests Malachi's patience even while he's strongly attracted to her. She disagrees with every aspect of his trial strategy, but he defends his client the only way he can – insisting that a woman, a naturally frail creature, is incapable of committing such a heinous crime. Emma wants to experience true passion and detests the idea that women are inferior to men in any way. Even while she confronts Malachi at every turn, she falls ridiculously in love with him. Readers of historical fiction and mystery/suspense, as well as historical romance, will enjoy the elements at play in this slice of life, fictionalized story of California. Views: 17
New revision in place as of 12/23/2011.This full length novel is written in what I consider to be the Old School Style. A book meant purely to entertain. This was a work of love and will probably always be my favorite, no matter how many more I write. But possibly not. I may love the Prequels and Sequels even more. You may look for more Marc Deveroux around the beginning of the year.Thank you and enjoy.The thing I hated most about working for the government, any government, they all seemed to think alike, was that then they invariably thought that they owned you. Patriotism, duty and all those other words that meant they thought they were entitled to what was yours. All meaningless trite to a world-less vagabond like myself. My ship was my home and I needed no other.“They’re waiting for a response, Captain!” Tanya Serensen said, my strong First and the meanest bitch I have ever met.The war was over. We were, had been, part of the Federation forces which had unsuccessfully attempted to unify the four hundred and seventy-two known human worlds. We had been smashed ruthlessly, to put mildly what had been a lost cause from the beginning. I had been paid handsomely with trade goods and supplies; semi-precious metals and fuel rods, to be exact, plus I’d brought my ship, Last Chance, and my crew through without a scratch. So I had not complained when everyone started signing peace treaties.The problem began when I informed my erstwhile employers that with hostilities ended, so too were my obligations. I had fulfilled to the letter our contract. I owed them nothing more. They had not agreed.There were now three of my former allies, positioned in attack formation outside Last Chance’s hull. Not only did they not feel as if I had not completely fulfilled my end of the bargain, but I was getting the distinct impression they would not be satisfied until they had added Last Chance herself to their now depleted arsenal. I guess they felt, that with all the losses they had suffered, that Last Chance would be a welcome addition to their much depleted Navy. I guess they hadn’t quite learned their lesson about attempting to force their wills on unwilling subjects. Some people are simply incapable of understanding. Especially people in positions of power, like governments, for example.“You bastards!” I snarled. I should have known these ungrateful hypocrites would try to back stab me, especially now that every planet was a law unto itself, only answerable to itself, and they angry at the defeat they had suffered. They were quick at jumping on the bandwagon of self governance, now that no unifying government held sway. That was for sure.“Is that your response?” Tanya asked, no inflection in her voice.“No!” I snapped. The crazy bitch would repeat it too, if I didn’t specifically say no! A first impression of Tanya Serensen would never give you the insightful depth that existed behind her innocent appearing, stunningly beautiful face. Blond hair, blue eyes, body and face of a love goddess, barely fifty kilos soaking wet, but as vicious as a Tarnian Bola Raptor when angered, and if you’ve ever been to Tarnia you know there is no living creature meaner nor better able to defend itself. That’s my Tanya, in a nutshell. A very tough, unbreakable nutcase.“What are we going to do?” Demanded David Bren, my Science Engineer, when I didn’t immediately make a decision. Bren is a mathematical genius and quite able to compute our odds, no matter which decision I ultimately made, whether we fought or fled, against the three Class Four Katon Destroyers which were arrayed around us in a roughly triangular formation. Not that it took a mathematical genius to figure these odds. We were fucked, and that was the long and the short of it! To fight would be bad. To flee, worse. To surrender, the worst! They weren’t going to let us survive to go running around telling anyone who would listen how we had been robbed by the honest, law abiding Katons. They had Views: 17
The fifth screamingly funny novel from David Walliams, number one bestseller and fastest growing children's author in the country. Hot on the heels of bestselling Gangsta Granny comes another hilarious, action-packed and touching novel - the story of a little girl called Zoe. Things are not looking good for Zoe. Her stepmother Sheila is so lazy she gets Zoe to pick her nose for her. The school bully Tina Trotts makes her life a misery - mainly by flobbing on her head. And now the evil Burt from Burt's Burgers is after her pet rat! And guess what he wants to do with it? The clue is in the title...From the author that is being called 'a new Roald Dahl', Ratburger is not to be missed!ReviewPraise for David Walliams: "A pleasure to read. A beguilingly funny, original and thought-provoking tale... hilarious" Amanda Craig, The Times "I absolutely love David Walliams's books. In a few more years they will become classics." - Sue Townsend, author of Adrian Mole "A triumphant mix of wit and warmth" - Telegraph Books of the Year About the AuthorDAVID WALLIAMS is an actor and writer best known for his work with Matt Lucas in the multi-award-winning sketch show Little Britain. His debut children's novel, The Boy in the Dress, was published in 2008 to unanimous critical acclaim. Since then, his second book, Mr Stink, has gone on to receive similar plaudits, while growing an already devoted fanbase. The Boy in the Dress was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, and Mr Stink was one of Amanda Craig's Children's Books of the Year in the Times. Views: 17
Molly McGuire struck a bargain with rancher Kane Jackson to help find her missing brother. They would be married in every way--but one! Yet how could she keep her distance from a man whose Cheyenne spirit made her understand what made the West so wild?The last thing Kane Jackson wanted was a wife--especially one who did what she pleased whenever she pleased! But now he was saddled with a coppery-haired bundle of determination and desire named Molly McGuire, who tempted him in many, many ways.... Views: 17
In this gripping supernatural thriller of horror and suspense -- from Bram Stoker Award-winning author Douglas Clegg -- something is terribly wrong with the children of Colony, West Virginia. Innocent though they seem, these kids come out at night -- to hunt. Views: 17
The rousing Kent family saga continues as Philip Kent fights for his new country alongside the greatest figures of the Revolutionary WarThe engrossing follow-up to The Bastard finds Philip Kent standing as a Continental solider at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In a bold move, Kent has taken up arms for the future of his new family. Spirited and unwavering in his dedication to his adopted homeland, Kent fights in the most violent battles in America’s early history. As the Revolution rages, Kent’s story interweaves with the trials of a vivid cast of characters, both famous and unknown. The result is a tautly plotted epic novel that transports the reader into the thrilling adventure of a man’s fight for a new life.This ebook features an illustrated biography of John Jakes including rare images from the author’s personal collection. Views: 17
On an Irish Island is a love letter to a vanished way of life, in which Robert Kanigel, the highly praised author of The Man Who Knew Infinity and The One Best Way, tells the story of the Great Blasket, a wildly beautiful island off the west coast of Ireland, renowned during the early twentieth century for the rich communal life of its residents and the unadulterated Irish they spoke. With the Irish language vanishing all through the rest of Ireland, the Great Blasket became a magnet for scholars and writers drawn there during the Gaelic renaissance--and the scene for a memorable clash of cultures between modern life and an older, sometimes sweeter world slipping away. Kanigel introduces us to the playwright John Millington Synge, some of whose characters in The Playboy of the Western World, were inspired by his time on the island; Carl Marstrander, a Norwegian linguist who gave his place on Norway's Olympic team for a summer on the... Views: 17
Ten edgy stories from the streets of Britain and the US, inspired by the pressures of being a twenty-first century boy.Teenage boys are trouble. It's in the news, on the front page – everywhere you look they're doing drugs, messing with knives, terrorizing communities. But what if it's become a self-fulfilling prophecy? What if you're 13, an OK kid in a bad life? What if you're more urban poet than ganster rapper? What if deep-down you want to make your mum proud, but you've got to live up to your rep, be a bro, beat or be beaten? Gangs. Hoodies. Young offenders. How do you be a boy in a world that's already got you tagged? Views: 17
THE INSIDE STORY OF THE EPIC TURNAROUND OF FORD MOTOR COMPANY UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CEO ALAN MULALLY.At the end of 2008, Ford Motor Company was just months away from running out of cash. With the auto industry careening toward ruin, Congress offered all three Detroit automakers a bailout. General Motors and Chrysler grabbed the taxpayer lifeline, but Ford decided to save itself. Under the leadership of charismatic CEO Alan Mulally, Ford had already put together a bold plan to unify its divided global operations, transform its lackluster product lineup, and overcome a dysfunctional culture of infighting, backstabbing, and excuses. It was an extraordinary risk, but it was the only way the Ford family--America's last great industrial dynasty--could hold on to their company.Mulally and his team pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in business history. As the rest of Detroit collapsed, Ford went from the brink of bankruptcy to being the most... Views: 17
Every woman plans for the big wedding day. Few plan for the day after. But once the cake has been cut, the dress has been worn and the band has played its last song, a marriage begins.From the thrill and dread that comes with an unplanned pregnancy to catching up with an ex and having second thoughts, Wedding Cake for Breakfastoffers an intimate and often surprising look at that first year of marriage through the eyes and lives of 23 acclaimed women writers. With humor and candor, this collection takes readers behind closed doors for close-ups and personal glimpses into the emotional joys and complications of creating a life together—all the while blending families, furniture, and traditions for the very first time.Gathered together in this hilarious and heartwarming anthology some of today's most renowned female voices, including New York Times bestselling authors Susan Jane Gillman, Joshilyn Jackson, and Jill Kargman, share their most... Views: 17
