Ellie Rocca tapped the best party-planning company in the state, Luxe, for her mother’s seventy-fifth birthday party, and she’s not disappointed. The food is perfect, the wine and beer are flowing freely, and all the guests are having a wonderful time. In fact, everything is going along just perfectly until one of the guests turns up dead, strangled with her own scarf.Ellie’s police detective boyfriend, Sam, is at the party, so he’s off the case. Ellie doesn’t have much faith is the two officers in charge, and neither does Enza Biondi, the co-owner of Luxe who discovered the body. Ellie may have sworn off snooping, but Enza’s curiosity is peaked, and she keeps drawing Ellie deeper and deeper. Thanks to Enza, the two of them think they’ve got the whole thing figured out. But as new and more chilling facts come to light, Ellie discovers the real killer is much closer to home than she ever... Views: 628
We see with our eyes ... right?Well, not exactly.In 2012, over the course of 72 hours, Vanessa Potter dramatically lost her sight. Going blind led Vanessa to turn science sleuth and reinvent herself as Patient H69. As she slowly recovered she began to reveal the reality behind her unique experience.Opening her eyes onto an unrecognisable black-and-white world with mutating shapes and colours that crackled and fizzed, Vanessa's recovery turned into a mission to unearth the incredible science behind how and why we perceive the world as we do. Thanks to cutting-edge research she was able to recreate her bizarre and otherworldly visual landscape as a series of remarkable digital images. In this book, we follow the story of Patient H69 as, with the help of neuroscientists from the University of Cambridge, she learns the science of herself, making discoveries that will go on to change the direction of her life.Vanessa's account is raw... Views: 628
For the first time in paperback, an acclaimed look at the American South through the lenses of its most acclaimed storytellers and their tales.Rarely does a nonfiction work come along that is as original and refreshing as Sitting Up with the Dead. Here, take a ride with Pamela Petro as she embarks on a series of road trips through the states of the Old South to collect its stories and meet its tellers of traditional tales. Some of them are local celebrities, others national treasures. Among them are Ray Hicks, a National Heritage Fellow; Kathryn Windham, the ghost lady"; Nancy Basket, a kudzu paper-maker; Colonel Rod, self-proclaimed Florida cracker"; and Grammy Award-winner David Holt. You encounter plat-eyes and boo-hags, Jack the trickster and Brer Rabbit, mule eggs, singing turtles, talking corpses, and flying Africans from the sea islands of South Carolina. Stories provide the connective tissue of the South, linking the past with the... Views: 628
In this all-new very special miniseries, the Aldens have been recruited by a secret society to return lost artifacts and treasures to their rightful locations—all around the world! The Aldens follow a clue to Beijing, China, where they uncover their next mission—to return a mysterious clay artifact to its rightful owner. Their journey leads them to a scenic section of the Great Wall, but a thief threatens to ruin their trip and endanger their precious cargo. The Aldens' next clue brings them to an elephant reserve in Thailand, but when their contact acts suspiciously, they worry someone close to them may be working for the other side. Who can the Aldens trust to help them return the remaining artifacts to their rightful owners? Views: 628
Suddenly the image cleared. It was a bright, sunny day and I saw myself. I saw myself, but I appeared as more than an image in the mirror. I was seeing a scene playing out, and it was as if I saw myself playing a role in some television show. I couldn't tell whether the scene was in the future or past--there were no clues, nothing for reference.I saw well-dressed people, in suits and nice dresses, sitting in white chairs, looking toward a makeshift lattice arch covered with roses. The vision pulled me in, and I felt it become my present.I see myself in a glorious white dress with a long train. I'm holding a bouquet of red roses and white baby's breath. My face is radiant. I look happier than I have ever felt in my life. A man appears by my side, but it doesn't seem to surprise me. I turn and look into the smiling face of Uncle Mason. He's dressed in a black suit with a burgundy hanky sticking out the top of his pocket. Enid is beside him, her arm in his, and wearing a formal dress. It dawns on me that we are all dressed for a wedding, but Enid makes me think of the mother of the bride? Their smiles are so radiant that I feel their warmth."It's time," Uncle Mason says. They each take one of my arms and walk me down the aisle. My pulse quickens as I look down the aisle to where the groom stands, waiting, his back to me. I know in my heart who I want it to be. A man standing at the end near the rose covered arch turns and smiles at me. My heart leaps. It's Clarence.His smile is odd, wistful, perhaps. Then he steps aside. There is another man behind him, dressed in a white suit. He has his back to me and I realize that this is the groom, not Clarence. Clarence taps him on the shoulder and the man slowly turns to face me. My heart pulses deep in my chest. Even before I see his face I know who it is, yet when he looks at me I gasp. It's Walter.Now the scene reverts to me walking down the aisle with Uncle Mason and Enid. I don't know how we went back or why, but looking at Clarence's back ahead of me I wonder why I'm smiling. Walter is the groom, the man I'm to marry. I should be screaming and running the other way, but I'm not. I'm beaming with joy. Views: 628
When there’s an attack on Rosalie’s life, Chance steps in to keep her safe. But whoever attempted to kill her isn’t done trying. Not only that but Rosalie and Chance can no longer deny the strong feelings they have for each other. Will they be able to catch a killer and the love bug? Views: 628
At first glance, Jake, Shayna, Seneca, and Conner seem like average teens. Maybe even like some kids you know. But theyre special. They know that magic, spells, and prophecies are real. In Crossroads and the Dominion of Four, author C. Toni Graham continues the tale introduced in Crossroads and the Himalayan Crystals. The teens have accepted their fate as defenders of the Otherworld. The realms mythical beings have chosen sides in a deadly magical war, but its not always clear to whom they pledge their allegiance. Jake, Shayna, Conner and Seneca must use their new magical abilities to battle treacherous creatures and face life-altering crossroads. Only a powerful druid and her loyal minions stand in their way to fulfilling their destiny of becoming the prophesized Dominion of Four. The Crossroads series brings together creatures and humans as they fight for the common goal of returning harmony to the Otherworld and rid the realm of evil forever. Teen readers and fans of action-packed fantasy genres will enjoy this thrilling saga. Views: 628
A wealthy Brazilian businessman has bought a large area of open ground in the south of London on which he erects three gigantic masts. Working secretly with a large gang of Chinese labourers he then constructs a fantastic city on top -- which he claims is a pleasure palace. But this is far from the truth.A wealthy Brazilian businessman has bought a large area of open ground in the south of London on which he erects three gigantic masts. Working secretly with a large gang of Chinese labourers he then constructs a fantastic city on top -- which he claims is a pleasure palace. But this is far from the truth. Is he running from some enemy, and is the city really for his own protection? Thomas Kirby, a journalist, sets out to discover the secret of the City in the Clouds. Novelist Guy Thorne wrote this book in 1921, and although he is looking forward a few years, this is not science fiction. It is a straightforward adventure romance based on a massive structure built in London with advanced engineering on an unlimited budget. This book has been abridged and edited for today's readers. Views: 628
From the mega-bestselling author of White Oleander and Paint It Black, a sweeping historical saga of the Russian Revolution, as seen through the eyes of one young woman.
St. Petersburg, New Year's Eve, 1916. Marina Makarova is a young woman of privilege who aches to break free of the constraints of her genteel life, a life about to be violently upended by the vast forces of history. Swept up on these tides, Marina will join the marches for workers' rights, fall in love with a radical young poet, and betray everything she holds dear, before being betrayed in turn.
As her country goes through almost unimaginable upheaval, Marina's own coming-of-age unfolds, marked by deep passion and devastating loss, and the private heroism of an ordinary woman living through extraordinary times. This is the epic, mesmerizing story of one indomitable woman's journey through some of the most dramatic events of the last century. Views: 627
Can Helena solve the mystery of a murder in the family that has festered for over two generations? In 1925 the beautiful, bohemian Diana Pollexfen was celebrating her thirtieth birthday with a party at a country estate, but the celebrations soured when her husband died, poisoned by a cocktail that had been liberally laced with some of Diana's photographic chemicals. Sixty years later, Diana's grand-niece, Helena, is also turning thirty, but with rather less fanfare. An overworked attorney in London, Helena's primary social outlet is an obsessive love affair. By way of distraction, Helena starts looking through her great-aunt's papers and soon develops another obsession: Determining just who killed George Pollexfen in that lovely, sunlit garden between the wars. Praise for Elizabeth Ironside 'Excellent local colour and culture, good adventure and an admirable denouement' Marcel Berlins 'She joins those few mystery... Views: 627
Book 6 of The Mindstream ChroniclesWhen Gatekeeper Jora Lanseri learns the princess has been convicted by a vengeful enemy of terrible crimes, she must free the delegates trapped in gold statues on the Isle of Shess to trade for the captured princess. Now, with the enemy warships on her heels, Jora must protect the king while negotiating the princess's freedom... and keep the monster inside her from destroying them all. Views: 627
The first day at a new job can be hard. It’s much harder when that job is in Shady Hollow.(Story continued from Part 2 of the series)You had just completed finding the first two objects that were needed to open the rock door that has you trapped in the room. You couldn't help but wonder what the other objects were that you needed to find.You headed back to the ancient book to find out the next step. You sort of lost track of time. You had been so focused on getting out of this place that you couldn't remember how long you had been underground.Sitting down, you opened the book again and flipped to the last page. "Let's get this over with so I can get out of this place," you said out loud. As you were sitting there looking at the book, you realized that the room was lit but you had no idea where the light was coming from. You just assumed that there was a source of light and that's all you cared about. But now you began to wonder where the light was coming from. It seemed to come from all over. There wasn't a single source of light. It was almost like the ceiling was glowing.You got up from where you were sitting and started to walk around the room trying to figure out where the light was coming from. But there was no source of light to be found anywhere in the room. "Oh well," you said to yourself. “It's not important to find the source of the light. It's more important to get out of here.” You wandered back to the place where the book was, sat down, and picked up the book again. Flipping pages again to get to where you had left off, you noticed there was a page missing. You hadn't noticed it before. Where could it have gone? You had to have that page or you would never be able to get out of here. You began to freak out. Beads of sweat formed on your forehead. "I don't want to be stuck in here forever," you thought to yourself. "That's it. I'm toast. I'm history. I might as well lay down right here in the middle of this room and wait to die.""But that page has to be here somewhere," you said as you began to search for it. You crawled along the floor on your hands and neez looking everywhere for that sneaky little page. After crawling around for a while, you stopped and sat back down. "Okay," you said to yourself, "think.. . if I were a ripped and torn page, where would I be?" Views: 627
