The Medici Queen traces the evolution of Catherine de Medici – the great-granddaughter of Lorenzo the Magnificent – from an unloved, timid orphan to France's most cunning monarch, often blamed for the horrific 1572 St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre. From childhood, Catherine is troubled by bloody visions of her adopted country's evil future, a future she struggles to prevent by practical and occult means. Three times she consults with the astrologer Nostradamus in an effort to learn how to prevent the coming scourge. But when she is unable to give her husband heirs to the French throne, she resorts to the darkest magic possible in order to conceive – only to discover, in the end, that her most beloved child, King Henri III, will be the author of the bloodshed she so fears unless she risks her life and kingdom to destroy him. The Medici Queen is the tale of a country torn apart by religious strife and the savage internecine wars of the royal Valois, Bourbon and Guise dynasties. Views: 54
Here is the story of David as you have never heard it before: from the king himself, telling the unofficial version, the one he never allowed his court scribes to recount. In his mind, history is written to praise the victorious—but at the last stretch of his illustrious life, he feels an irresistible urge to tell the truth. In the first volume, Rise to Power, David gives you a fascinating account of his early years, culminating with a tribal coronation. Rooted in ancient lore, his is a surprisingly modern memoir. In an era of cruelty, when destroying the enemy is deemed a sacred directive, the slayer of Goliath finds a way to become larger than life. His search for a path to power leads him in ways that are, at times, scandalous. Notorious for his contradictions, David is seen by others as a gifted court entertainer, a successful captain in Saul’s army, a cunning fugitive, a traitor leading a gang of felons, and a ruthless raider of neighboring towns who leaves no witnesses behind. How does he see himself, during this first phase of his life? With his hands stained with blood, can he find an inner balance between conflicting drives: his ambition for the crown, his determination to survive the conflict with Saul, and his longing for purity, for a touch of the divine, as expressed so lyrically in his psalms and music?** Views: 54
It's 1908, and twelve-year-old Erik faces the challenges of adapting to pioneer life on the Canadian prairie and understanding what's really going on in his family. Views: 54
From the glittering ballrooms of England to the Scottish countryside, the promise of true love echoes down the ages in this sizzling collection of full-length Valentine's Day romances from six of today's New York Times and USA Today's bestselling authors!
Axel: The Jaded Gentlemen by Grace Burrowes Professor Axel Belmont would rather graft roses than solve crimes, but when his neighbor Abigail Stoneleigh is suspected of murder, he takes the case to clear her name-and loses his heart.
For Love of the Duke by Christi Caldwell After the tragic death of his wife, Jasper, the 8th Duke of Bainbridge secludes himself in the dark cold walls of Castle Blackwood. Coaxed out of his self-imposed exile to attend the amusements of the Frost Fair, his life is irrevocably changed by his fateful meeting with Lady Katherine Adamson.
The Impostor's Kiss by Tanya Anne Crosby (Never before in a box set) Merrick Welbourne never expected to discover a long-lost twin! Particularly one who'd rob him blind and leave him senseless on the road. Now living his brother's life, he has new trials, tribulations, and temptations he'd never dreamed of--not the least being Chloe Simon, she of rare mettle, proud heart and unmatchable beauty.
My Enchanting Hoyden by Julie Johnstone A bargain born of desperation ignites into passion as one lord's quest to save his family leads to the discovery that he can never settle for less than love.
Lord of Pleasure by Erica Ridley When a ẉallflower infiltrates the ton's most scandalous masquerade ball, she finds herself in the arms--and the bed--of the one man she'd sworn to hate!
Tempting Juliana by Lauren Royal Lady Juliana Chase loves playing matchmaker--and she's good at it, too. So why is everyone ignoring her good intentions and shaking up her sensible plans?
Your invitation to delightful Valentine's Day reading awaits in this breathtakingly romantic anthology.
*Please note that these stories were previously published by each individual author. Views: 54
"EVERYTHING'S CHANGED...EVERYTHING'S GONE BAD."Fifteen-year-old Bryan Troupe is at first indifferent to the bitter dispute between loggers and "tree-huggers" that splits the community of Nootka harbour on Vancouver Island. But when a similar rift divides his own family and affects his relationship with his girlfriend, Bryan becomes relentlessly drawn into the centre of an environmental conflict that shatters his entire way of life.From the Paperback edition. Views: 54
During a supposedly relaxing retreat at a Texas convent, herbalist China Bayles and her friend Maggie, an ex-nun, investigate the seemingly accidental death of the Mother Superior and uncover a deadly conflict within the walls of the cloister. Views: 54
Seeking freedom from their oppressive government on Earth, a ragtag group of idealists embark on a perilous journey to found a new world light-years from home On a future Earth, gone are the halcyon days of the early space program, when the universe held endless promise and excitement. Overcrowded, ruled by a corrupt autocracy, and plagued by vast economic inequalities, life on Earth has become nightmarish, and the promise of a world beyond the planet is diminishing rapidly as the government begins shuttering its interstellar efforts. But for a small band of rebels called Constitutionalists, escaping into the vast universe beyond is the only hope. And so off they set for a distant planet where they can start over, building a new society on the principle of liberty, testing the very limits of human capability. Their years-long trip is not without its tribulations, from internecine conflict on the ship to ambiguous pleas from Earth to return. Their destination, an... Views: 54
It's time for the State Fair of Texas—and cooking contests galore! Fryers are heating up and stomachs are growling. But Phyllis Newsom had better watch out. Someone's brought an appetite for murder.... Phyllis and her friends Carolyn and Sam are ready to whip up their best dishes and win some ribbons in Dallas. And they're excited to learn that one of their favorite celebrity chefs—Joye Jameson of The Joye of Cooking—is broadcasting her TV show from the fair. When Phyllis's funnel cake is picked as one of the best of that category, Joye invites her and the other finalists to prepare their delicious recipes live on the air. But Phyllis's moment in the spotlight is spoiled after Joye suffers a deadly allergic reaction from one bite of her funnel cake. Now she's gone from top entry to top suspect. So in order to clear her name, Phyllis will have to turn up the heat on this investigation before the real killer slips through her fingers....... Views: 54
Boxed set includes DEATH BY SARCASM (Mary Cooper Mystery #1), MURDER WITH SARCASTIC INTENT (Mary Cooper Mystery #2) and GROSS SARCASTIC HOMICIDE (Mary Cooper Mystery #3). "Packed to the gills with non-stop action and a razor-sharp wit." -Florida TimesReview"Packed to the gills with hard-hitting action and nonstop laughs."-Bluffton Today "A smart detective series filled with sharp prose and snappy one-liners."*-IndieReader.com *About the AuthorDan Ames is an international bestselling thriller author and winner of the Independent Book Award for Crime Fiction. You can learn more about him at authordanames.com Views: 54
