Aquarius (The Zodiac Lovers Series) Views: 26
A delightful fictional account of the small town Ce´sar Aira grew up in—not so long agoThe Linden Tree was written in 2003. In it the narrator, who could be Aira himself (born the same year, in the same place, a writer who is now also living PBK in Buenos Aires) revisits down his childhood memories. Beginning with an enigmatically beautiful black father who gathered linden flowers to make a sleep-inducing tea, and continuing on to an irrational and physically deformed mother of European descent, the narrator also catalogs his best childhood friends and the many gossiping neighbors. Aira creates a colorful mosaic of an epoch in Argentina when the poor, under the guiding hand of Eva Pero´n, aspired to a newfound middle class. Moving from anecdote to anecdote, alternating between the touching, amusing, and sometimes surreal, we are comforted by the fact that for Aira "everything is allegory."This is a charming novella—evocative, reflexive,... Views: 26
When a music video verges on pornographic and a sex tape goes viral, the Rata brothers are thrown into the limelight once more. *FACING THE MUSIC is set just over a week after LOVE DRUNK. It's part of a collection of BROKEN LIVES short stories that will be published on Patreon first, then Amazon. There will be a new story each month. Facing the Music is April's story. Views: 26
Staying at the British Ambassador's exquisite Bay of Naples Villa, beautiful young Cordelia and her brother David, the Earl of Hunstanton, are far from the Berkshire estate that is their home.But since the death of their parents there has been nothing to stop David realising his dream – to go to Malta and become a Knight of St. John. Except, that is, the money to finance a ship to take him there.So when, out of the blue, a handsome, English buccaneer appears, who turns out to be none other than their cousin, Mark Stanton, he seems Heaven-sent. As Captain of a ship en route to Malta, he is in position to offer them passage to the island.To their chagrin, however, he attempts to dissuade David from his Pilgrimage and Cordelia from her notion of joining a Convent.But, when the siblings resist his appeals and press ahead, Mark vows to protect them both from the perils not only of David's Maltese Crusade but also of the Napoleonic War, Barbary pirates in the... Views: 26
February 1793. King Louis XVI has been executed and the new Revolutionary Government of France declares war on the major powers of Europe. Drawn into the conflict, George III, ruler of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover has promised to send an army. In truth, there are few British redcoats to be spared and in this moment of national emergency, loyalty is demanded from the Hanoverian state. The King’s Germans are ill-prepared for such a command!
Private Sebastian Krombach, a young and idealistic recruit finds the army to be little of the life he supposed. He survives the harsh regime of training and camp life but the road to war is equally perilous. Short on promised pay and fresh food, the redcoats riot at Halle. Krombach finds himself under suspicion of involvement.
Captain Werner Brandt has promised his wife that he will resign his commission. But newly arrived Colonel Jacob Neuberg is a persuasive man and Brandt finds himself agreeing to leave the Grenadier company and assume command of troubled 2nd Company. Brandt’s support of the new colonel is vital as Neuberg is beset by powerful enemies at every turn. Leading his men, Brandt’s Company, into the fire and chaos of Rumes, he must the rescue 1st Grenadiers and his friend, Erich von Bomm.
When news of war arrives, Erich von Bomm is transferred to the ‘1st Grenadiers’ but trouble dogs him. His new promotion does not last long. Leopold Baumann arrives to assume the captaincy and seek vengeance against von Bomm over a supposed slight. Baumann’s Company is sent to the lonely outpost at Rumes where von Bomm disobeys Baumann’s direct order leaving the battle and his military career in the balance.
Interwoven into the Kings German’s preparations for war and their first action at Rumes story are a series of stories from the perspectives of allies and enemies alike.
Cornishman Stephen Trevethan is a British engineer sent to Holland to aid the Duke of York. Once there, Trevethan is instrumental in foiling the plot to storm the key fortress of Willemstadt. Trevethan strikes a ready friendship with the Commissary General Brookes Jackson, a Devonian. The bond between the pair strengthens as the unwelcome political interferences from London and distrust for their European allies deepen.
In Dunkirk, Jean-Baptiste Mahieu an experienced French soldier, leaves a violent town on the brink of starvation to join his new battalion, the ‘Black Lions’. The battalion is a mixture of veteran soldiers from the King’s army and new recruits pressed into the revolutionary cause. Mahieu quickly becomes a sergeant. Despite the political interfering from Paris and personal ambitions of General Dumouriez, he is pivotal in keeping his soldiers alive when the Black Lions are treated as expendable.
General Francois Dumouriez, a mercurial figure with ambitions beyond restoring the Bourbon monarchy, plans a campaign to drive the British from Holland, with the help of Serge Genet, his chief of intelligence. Mahieu’s brother, Arnaud a smuggler and captain of the Perseus, is drawn into General Dumouriez’ scheming. Involved in the failed attempt to capture a Dutch fort and drive the British from Holland Mahieu forms a strong friendship with a dragoon captain, Julian Beauvais.
Beauvais, who received a scarring facial wound in saving Dumouriez’ life has become part of the General’s inner circle and faces a growing realisation that Dumouriez’ lust for power is unlimited. The dragoon captain meets and falls in love with the beautiful Juliette, Countess of Marboré. Another of Dumouriez’ pawns, she is sent to help strike the alliance with Austria.
Friend and foe know one simple truth: trust your ally at your own peril.
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Part kitten, part mermaid, the Purrmaids series is purrfect for chapter book readers and for fans of the Magic Kitten and Fairy Animals of Misty Wood series! And the purrfect class pet for the Purrmaids? A sea horse! But what happens when he goes missing?Ms. Harbor's classroom has a new pet. A sea horse! The students are excited to take care of the little guy during the week. And on weekends, someone gets to bring the sea horse home for a visit! Shelly is the first purrmaid to bring him home . . . and he gets lost! Shelly asks her friends to help her find him before they have to be back at school. Can the purrmaids find the little seahorse in time? The adorable mermaid-kittens in this chapter book series will have readers paw-sitively hooked from page one! Views: 26
