He is a brilliant kicker both from the hand and at penalty goals, a sublime organizer of play from the out-half position, and a cool head in the pressure-cooker of club and international rugby. The list of the Cork man's achievements goes on and on:  he is the leading points scorer in Irish rugby history, and one of the top ten in the world; the leading points scorer in the history of the Heineken Cup; and the first ever points and try scorer at the home of Gaelic sports, Croke Park. In his candid, illuminating autobiography, O'Gara tells the story of those many on-field successes, culminating in the glorious year of 2006 when his tactical prowess and will to win first helped guide Ireland to the Triple Crown in the Six Nations championship, then Munster to a memorable Heineken Cup victory over Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. O'Gara kicked a perfect five out of five in the 23-19 win as Munster lifted the coveted trophy for the first time, sparking wild celebrations heard all the way back in Limerick and Cork. Yet as in any sporting career, there have been the setbacks as well, most notably Ireland's disappointing performance in the Rugby World Cup in France last year. O'Gara reveals what really went on in a divided dressing-room as a series of flat performances sent the Irish crashing out, while he personally had to deal with a series of front-page allegations about his private life. O’Gara has never been shy about the fact that he's fond of a drink and a bet, and he confronts his critics head on in this book. This is the unforgettable story of a rugby player at the top of his game, of a life lived to the full, and of a passionate and proud representative of the people of Cork and Ireland.

    The McGann's passionate and insightful writing evokes the raucous cast of riders, promoters, and journalists thrusting through highs and lows worthy of opera. This volume stands out as a must-read book for anyone seeking to appreciate cycling's race of races." -Peter Joffre Nye, author of The Six-Day Bicycle Races: America's Jazz Age Sport and Hearts of Lions "There are LOTS of books on the Tour de France. An increasing number of them are actually written in English. However, of those, none educates Americans about this grand spectacle�s rich past. The Tour de France has a history as fascinating and sordid as Rome�s and it is high time someone undertook to explain this to our American sensibility. Our guide for the trip is a man with a ravenous appetite for both world history and bicycle racing, just the sort of person to paint a Tour champion with the dramatic grandiosity befitting Hannibal himself." -Pat Brady, Editor, Asphalt Magazine At the dawn of the 20th Century, French newspapers used bicycle races as promotions to build readership. Until 1903 these were one-day events. Looking to deliver a coup de grace in a vicious circulation war, Henri Desgrange�editor of the Parisian sports magazine L�Auto�took the suggestion of one of his writers to organize a race that would last several days longer than anything else, like the 6-day races on the track, but on the road. That�s exactly what happened. For almost 3 weeks the riders in the first Tour de France rode over dirt roads and cobblestones in a grand circumnavigation of France. The race was an electrifying success. Held annually (suspended only during the 2 World Wars), the Tour grew longer and more complex with an ever-changing set of rules, as Desgrange kept tinkering with the Tour, looking for the perfect formula for his race. Each year a new cast of riders would assemble to contest what has now become the greatest sporting event in the world.

    Left with no alternative, President Lincoln surrenders, and the Confederate States of America becomes an independent nation. It’s a tragic twist that will produce dire, far-reaching ramifications.As the divided American nations move into the twentieth century, slavery has long since been abolished; but in the summer of 1941, America faces another challenge—an existential challenge. Almost a century after the Civil War, the disastrous consequences of the Union defeat are threatening freedom on both sides of the Atlantic.The Second World War represents the defining event of the twentieth century. History dictates the United States must play the decisive role in defeating Adolf Hitler and the Nazis—but that history is no longer intact. America has been divided into two nations, and the resulting shift in global power has altered the course of the conflict, bringing all of North America and Western Europe to the brink of annihilation.In the spring of 1945, as the Nazis are preparing to deliver the final blow, a young academic and a small, elite group of American airmen are about to determine the fate of the world.FREEDOM’S VERY SURVIVAL IS COMING DOWN TO ONE, LAST-DITCH MISSION.

    He tells his life story, from growing up in the Midlands to all the excesses of glam rock, and is currently busy carving out a new career for himself in the TV sitcom, The Grimleys.

    It is not approved, endorsed, sponsored, authorized by respective trademark holders.

    He flees … and plunges headlong into an epic quest of even greater danger. Talon, ruthlessly pursued by the warrior band, returns to the land of his birth. He finds it threatened by an army. The mountain fortress that guards the narrow pass into the realm is undermanned. Worse, the kingdom’s soldiers are fighting a battle on another front. There are no reinforcements. The fortress will soon fall. When it does, the enemy will ravage an entire kingdom. Talon risks his life to bring word to allies who might help. But to reach them, he must somehow pass through the very army set to destroy his homeland. He begins the quest, but the warrior band has not given up the hunt. Nor is the invading army led by a man, but by a sorcerer ready to risk anything for victory. Talon is beset by enemies at every step, including a creature of dark power that stalks him. The road to safety is long, and the hope of success is short. Yet, in the darkest hour of his life, he finds an unexpected ally. A girl of striking courage helps him, and he falls in love with her. But if his quest fails, only smoke and ash will remain of the future they might have shared. This boxed set contains the entire Swordmaster trilogy, previously released as Fortress of the Forgotten. This is a remastered and expanded edition.

    Don't miss this special edition of the Mustang River Ranch suspense series at a terrific price! "Diving into a Bev Pettersen book is always a delicious treat!" Lori Ryan New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author SHADOWS OF THE MOUNTAIN (Book 1)Winner, Write Touch Readers' Award Contest, Best Romantic Suspense "A thrilling romantic western suspense, full of action, drama and of course, love!" Reader ViewsA wary former SEAL is hired to protect the President's daughter on a routine three-day horseback ride. But when they are attacked by ruthless assassins, he and his beautiful but suspicious trail guide must team up in order to protect their innocent charge. As they lead their pursuers on a dangerous decoy, they're forced to lower their guards and trust each other. But can they survive long enough to have a chance at love, or will either of them leave the mountain alive?ALONG CAME A COWBOY (Book 2) Readers' Choice Award, Romantic Suspense 2019"A hot cowboy, a twisted killer, and one very resilient woman."   A burned-out rodeo champ vows to steer clear of female fans, especially artificial cowgirls with their bright lipstick and plastic smiles. The luxury ranch's wilderness chase offers the perfect opportunity to escape. He doesn't count on being asked to track an attractive woman, and certainly not one who rarely dirties her designer jeans. And while her surprising pluck might prove enough to capture his heart, the Montana backwoods conceals many dangerous predators... And not all of them are four-legged.

    From a struggling wife who isn't sure her marriage will work out to a guy who has a kid dropped off on his doorstep, T.K. Chapin highlights how real people with real problems can experience God when they allow Him into their life.

    Chapters: The Demonata, the Saga of Darren Shan, Old Creatures, Demons, Cirque Du Freak, Death, Vampire Blood, Vampire War, Vampire Rites, Vampire Destiny. Excerpt: The Old Creatures are benevolent, god-like entities in Darren Shan's The Demonata series. They appear in Bec, Death's Shadow (though only in flashbacks), Hell's Heroes and Dark Calling. They are also mentioned briefly on two occasions in Demon Thief, the second installment of the series. The Old Creatures are older than time itself, and possess enormous magical power. They are responsible for the development of sentience among the beings of this universe (including humans), but believe firmly in allowing all beings to choose their own path. Therefore, they interfere as little as possible once any species moves beyond a certain point. They were originally believed to be the creators of all life in the universe, but this theory has since been disproven. Indeed, the Old Creatures are unaware of how life developed in the human universe. The Old Creatures appear as floating spheres of light. Since light is 'almost ageless', they therefore have an extremely long life span, although they are, in fact, mortal beings. Though individual Old Creatures speak normally, they appear to merge into a single mind and talk with one voice when in groups. When they speak in this manner, Bec describes the voice as warm and comforting, containing all the accents she has ever heard. She also claims that their words are "both loud and soft. Lyrical and flat". Every word which they speak is capitalised, regardless of its position in the sentence, or whether it is a proper noun. Dark Calling reveals that both the Old Creatures and the Demonata are creatures of the original universe which preceded the two universes... More: http://booksllc.net/?id=16731862

    

    If you have not yet bought Liane Moriarty’s novel, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial Sidekick.Opening with the myth of Pandora’s Box, this is a tale of lies and secrets—and the ways that people are rarely what they appear. Cecilia has the perfect life: successful career, devoted husband, loving children . . . but when she reads a letter her husband intended her to find only after his death, it changes her world forever.After The Husband's Secret amassed critical acclaim and took off in 2013, Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies debuted at the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list—making her the first Australian author to claim that honor. She has written six novels, as well as a series of three books for children.With this Sidekick, you’ll:• Learn what you might have missed on your first read of Moriarty’s novel• Discover some of the book’s secret gems and underlying themes• Explore possible alternate endings and imagine ideas for a sequel• Spend some more time with the characters you’ve come to know and love, delving deep into their psyches and hidden motives• Get a chance to discuss The Husband’s Secret with other savvy readersSidekicks are entertaining and insightful reading companions, filled with delightful commentary and thought-provoking questions. Readers have raved that they "really put you in touch with the many layers of the novel," "keep you entertained even longer," and are "perfect if you want a vivid understanding of the story." Designed to be read side by side with the novels they complement, they’ll give you even more reasons to love some of today’s best books.

    

    They say thugs need love too and G plans to give Diamond his all; with hopes that she will do the same. Things are going good for the couple until a few visitors from the past come to shake things up a bit with drama, lies, and betrayal. Take a ride with Diamond and G in this Detroit love story that will have you anxiously turning the pages.

    Heinlein was sixty-six, at the height of his literary career; J. Neil Schulman was twenty and hadn't yet started his first novel. Because he was looking for a way to meet his idol, Schulman wangled an assignment from the New York Daily News--at the time the largest circulation newspaper in the U.S.--to interview Heinlein for its Sunday Book Supplement. The resulting taped interview lasted three-and-a-half hours. This turned out to be the longest interview Heinlein ever granted, and the only one in which he talked freely and extensively about his personal philosophy and ideology. "The Robert Heinlein Interview" contains Heinlein you won't find anywhere else--even in Heinlein's own "Expanded Universe." If you wnat to know what Heinlein had to say about UFO's, life after death, epistemology, or libertarianism, this interview is the only source available. Also included in this collection are articles, reviews, and letters that J. Neil Schulman wrote about Heinlein, including the original article written for The Daily News, about which the Heinleins wrote Schulman that it was, "The best article--in style, content, and accuracy--of the many, many written about him over the years." This book is must-reading for any serious student of Heinlein, or any reader seeking to know him better.