Poems: New and Selected


Ron Rash - 2016
    The haunting memories and shared histories of these people—their rituals and traditions—animate this land, and are celebrated in Rash’s crystalline, intensely imagined verse.With an eye for the surprising and vivid detail, Ron Rash powerfully captures the sorrows and exaltations of this wondrous world he knows intimately. Illuminating and indelible, Poems demonstrates his rich talents and confirms his legacy as a standard-bearer for the literature of the American South.

Paddy Whacked: The Untold Story of the Irish American Gangster


T.J. English - 2005
    In Paddy Whacked, bestselling author and organized crime expert T. J. English brings to life nearly two centuries of Irish American gangsterism, which spawned such unforgettable characters as Mike "King Mike" McDonald, Chicago's subterranean godfather; Big Bill Dwyer, New York's most notorious rumrunner during Prohibition; Mickey Featherstone, troubled Vietnam vet turned Westies gang leader; and James "Whitey" Bulger, the ruthless and untouchable Southie legend. Stretching from the earliest New York and New Orleans street wars through decades of bootlegging scams, union strikes, gang wars, and FBI investigations, Paddy Whacked is a riveting tour de force that restores the Irish American gangster to his rightful preeminent place in our criminal history -- and penetrates to the heart of the American experience.

Ashes of Her Love


Pierre Jeanty - 2019
    Best-selling author Pierre Alex Jeanty helps to bring clarity and understanding to the countless women who are faced with the reality of heartbreak. Ashes of Her Love exposes the fire for what it truly was, and encourages women to drown out the embers that threaten to reignite. With this book, women are inspired to free themselves from the weight of dead relationships, find freedom in walking away, and are empowered to stay away and avoid the reoccurring cycle of heartache. If you’re in a dying relationship, walking away from a terrible love story, learning to put what is no longer good in the past, Ashes of Her love is the fire you need to turn the pages and start writing a new love story. The ending is just the beginning…

Wild Dreams of a New Beginning


Lawrence Ferlinghetti - 1988
    This probing of the changes in the American psyche through the 1970s is carried forward in the second part, Landscapes of Living Dying (1979)—a work originally hailed by Library Journal as "Ferlinghetti's strongest work since his 1957 A Coney Island of the Mind. . . . [He] pursues his disheveled muse with the innocent passion of a young beatnik, hiding his authentic erudition behind a comfortable guise of spontaneous composition."

The Place of Scraps


Jordan Abel - 2013
    Barbeau, in keeping with the popular thinking of the time, believed First Nations cultures were about to disappear completely, and that it was up to him to preserve what was left of these dying cultures while he could. Unfortunately, his methods of preserving First Nations cultures included purchasing totem poles and potlatch items from struggling communities in order to sell them to museums. While Barbeau strove to protect First Nations cultures from vanishing, he ended up playing an active role in dismantling the very same cultures he tried to save.Drawing inspiration from Barbeau’s canonical book Totem Poles, Jordan Abel explores the complicated relationship between First Nations cultures and ethnography. His poems simultaneously illuminate Barbeau’s intentions and navigate the repercussions of the anthropologist’s actions.Through the use of erasure techniques, Abel carves out new understandings of Barbeau’s writing – each layer reveals a fresh perspective, each word takes on a different connotation, each letter plays a different role, and each punctuation mark rises to the surface in an unexpected way. As Abel writes his way ever deeper into Barbeau’s words, he begins to understand that he is much more connected to Barbeau than he originally suspected.

The Search for God and Guinness: A Biography of the Beer That Changed the World


Stephen Mansfield - 2009
    The water in Ireland, indeed throughout Europe, was famously undrinkable, and the gin and whiskey that took its place devastated civil society. It was a disease ridden, starvation-plagued, alcoholic age, and Christians like Arthur Guinness as well as monks and even evangelical churches brewed beer that provided a healthier alternative to the poisonous waters and liquors of the times. This is where the Guinness tale began. Now, 250 years and over 150 countries later, Guinness is a global brand, one of the most consumed beverages in the world. The tale that unfolds during those two and a half centuries has power to thrill audiences today: the generational drama, business adventure, industrial and social reforms, deep-felt faith, and the noblebeer itself."Frothy, delicious, intoxicating and nutritious!No, I'm not talking about Guinness Stout I'm talking about Stephen Mansfield's fabulous new book...The amazing and true story of how the Guinness family used its wealth and influence to touch millions is an absolute inspiration." Eric Metaxas, "New York Times" best-selling author"It's a rare brew that takes faith, philanthropy and the frothy head of freshly-poured Guinness and combines them into such an inspiriting narrative. Cheers to brewmaster Stephen Mansfield! And cheers to you, the reader! You're in for a treat." R. Emmett Tyrrell Jr., Founder and editor-in-chief of "The American Spectator""

Poetry in (e) Motion: The Illustrated Words of Scroobius Pip


Scroobius Pip - 2010
    One of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming hip-hop artists, Scroobius Pip, is a master of the spoken word lyric.From his childhood musings in the school playground to his feelings on the rat race, Pip has selected from his online fan collective artistic collaborations that bring the power of his lyrics to the printed page, creating an innovative multimedia collection of modern poetry.

After the Voyage: An Irish American Story


Brenda Murphy - 2016
    From different counties in Ireland, Maggie Qualter and Richard Terrett both sail to America as young adults in 1870 after surviving Ireland’s Great Hunger as children. Maggie works as a maid for a wealthy family. Richard finds work in a tannery. After the death of the young wife he loves passionately, Richard marries Maggie with the help of a deceptive go-between who brews trouble in their marriage that never goes away. They raise three children in the midst of Irish American culture, the Catholic Church, and Richard’s battles for the workingman in the Knights of Labor. Their daughter Mary dreams of being a nun, while Josie seeks the freedom of big-city life in Boston. Neither reckons on the future she will face, Mary as a wife and mother of nine children and Josie as a single working woman. Tom escapes factory life by joining the Navy, manages to see the world in the midst of two wars, and comes home to marry his sweetheart and start a new life. Their stories are both remarkable and familiar to everyone whose ancestors made their way to and in America.The events in the Terretts’ lives are as they emerge from the public record. But their inner lives, their thoughts, their relationships, their words are imagined as a route to understanding these five complicated and fascinating people

MRF Shadow Troop: The untold true story of top secret British military intelligence undercover operations in Belfast, Northern Ireland, 1972-1974


Simon Cursey - 2013
    They are 300 times more effective than an ordinary patrol... If we are going to have murderers and terrorists roaming the towns, then we have to have somebody who is able to go out and find them.” Contemporary press report Some think it stood for ‘Military Reconnaissance Force’, others ‘Mobile Reconnaissance Force’. Many people thought it didn’t exist at all and was made up, a figment of the press’s imagination. To the members of the group that was just fine. It added to the illusion, and the speculation about the unit’s name and mission only added to the uncertainty amongst their targets — terrorists — members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, the IRA, the provos. For decades there has been argument in the media and amongst politicians about the possible existence and extent of a shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland. MRF Shadow Troop confirms there was such an agenda in the early, chaotic days of British military intervention across the Irish Sea. Amongst the mountain of speculation there is little of any accuracy or authority relating to this period. Simon Cursey was recruited into the Military Reaction Force — the unit’s true name — in 1972. This book is his personal account of his time with the group and in it he reveals the truth about their operations — the briefings, missions, political wrangling, and government-sanctioned law-bending. With documents and photographs to corroborate all his revelations, MRF Shadow Troop is a fascinating, exciting but above all accurate historical text about the pioneers of counter-terrorism.

Little Girl Leaving: A Novel Based on a True Story


Lisa Blume - 2018
    . . enlightening . . . A disturbing and illuminating tale.”—KIRKUS REVIEWSThe 1960s have come to a close—it’s 1972, and America is changing. So is Deidi’s world; she’s seven, and her family is moving. As she packs her room and unearths precious objects from her past, her thoughts begin to stray to the years before—to her first memories in 1968, and all that followed.From these reveries unfolds a story of terrible abuse and incredible survival. We see Deidi grow from a three-year-old whose understanding of the world is just beginning to form to a child whose courage, compassion, and sense of wonder persist despite every obstacle. Through her vivid recollections, the stark landscape of rural America, the political and social turmoil of the era, and the brutal power dynamics of adults come into sharp focus. Deidi’s story reveals the darkness roiling beneath the surface of American life and the way children are forced to confront it themselves, weaponless and alone. For Deidi, whose family continues to fall into deeper and darker cycles of sexual abuse and violence, survival is a matter of clinging desperately to the light in the world around her—no matter how dim it grows.By turns heartbreaking and stunningly beautiful, Little Girl Leaving is a reminder of the incredible power and fragility of a child’s spirit, and a call to action to protect it at all costs.  “Insightful, poignant, and riveting. I believe that everyone living with or around children should read this book.”—Judith Landau, MD, former president, International Family Therapy Association; senior Fulbright scholar; consultant to the UN and World Health Organization"Little Girl Leaving, Lisa Blume's debut novel, is sadly tragic but deeply moving and evocative."—Gabrielle Glaser, New York Times bestselling author, Her Best-Kept Secret; winner of the Award for Excellence in Journalism, American Psychoanalytic Association“An enthralling read, a brilliant read. You will never forget it.”—Mary Dispenza, educator, activist, and national distinguished principal; author, Split: A Child, a Priest, and the Catholic Church“A sensory barrage. A convincing and disturbing narrative. Most wonderful is how variously the child’s goodness of spirit tries to maintain itself. This is a page-turner.”—Sharon Solwitz, author, creative writing professor, Purdue University; winner, Carl Sandburg Prize, Doheny Award, The Center for Fiction“A must-read. A compelling story of a wise girl who tries to do good, no matter how painful and frightening life becomes, with the beauty of her essence always somehow enduring.”—Rocío Chang-Angulo, PsyD, co-director, Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice; steering committee, National Child Traumatic Stress Network"Awake and alive to the unending beauty of the world juxtaposed with its secret horrors—an extraordinarily powerful punch to the heart.”—Katherine Ketcham, author, The Only Life I Could Save, A Memoir and Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption, with William Cope Moyers“As innovative as it is disturbing. The narrative captures elements of child abuse which, all too often, are lost or not understood by justice systems. A skillful portrayal.”—Raymond McMenamin, Shrieval Convener, Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland; former spokesperson, Law Society of Scotland’s vulnerable witness legislation“How does one turn the unfathomable into the believable without sounding vengefulor outrageous—in a voice, even, of great tenderness? This novel has done just that.”—Sally Anderson, editor-in-chief, Strategic News Service, FiReBooks, and FiReFilms

Catching Fire: The Hungar Games by Suzanne Collins -- Review


Expert Book Reviews - 2014
    This inspirational novel "Catching Fire," is the sequel to "The Hunger Games" and the second part in Suzanne Collins' trilogy. The Capitol faces the start of a revolution and an impending civil war as it struggles to maintain control over its 12 districts. Katniss narrates her story and shows readers what it means to be a survivor fighting for freedom and independence. Find out what you can expect from "Catching Fire" with the help of this comprehensive review. With quotes from well-known critics and descriptions of the novel's strengths and faults, you can dive into this engaging sequel with a broader perspective. Collins snares her readers' attention with action scenes and romantic undertones in a post-apocalyptic setting. "Catching Fire" offers lessons about revolution and encourages readers to question the impact of modern-day media, including reality TV and the news. Learn about the author's inspirations for the trilogy before you continue the engrossing story of Katniss, a girl who invoked a rebellion with her passion and survival tactics.

Forge and Steel: Three Plague Wars Novelettes (Alien Invasion #6) (Plague Wars Series Book 11)


David VanDyke - 2016
     Steel's First Temper: Jill "Reaper" Repeth must complete a tough rescue mission on a Meme asteroid base while beginning to train a new protégé, Joseph "Bull" ben Tauros. A Hotter Forge: Bull and Reaper are assigned to capture one of the Pure Race, but a Blend throws a monkey wrench into their plan, forcing them into a no-win battle. What Price Humanity? Vincent "Vango" Markis awakes to find himself blind and helpless. Soon it become apparent that he and his fellow pilots are trapped in a situation with no choices and only one way out. A slightly shorter version was previously published in Jerry Pournelle's anthology There Will Be War X. Plague Wars: Decade One - The Eden Plague - Reaper's Run - Skull's Shadows - Eden's Exodus - Apocalypse Austin - Nearest Night Plague Wars: Alien Invasion - The Demon Plagues - The Reaper Plague - The Orion Plague - Cyborg Strike - Comes the Destroyer - Forge and Steel Plague Wars: Stellar Conquest - First Conquest - Desolator - Tactics of Conquest - Conquest of Earth - Conquest and Empire

The Crossroads Series Bundle: Vol. 3,


Melanie Shawn - 2017
    He'd left the boxing ring with his body intact and he was content with his new job at Elite Security. But the chiseled-to-perfection heartthrob didn't have who he wanted... Maxine "Maxi" Rizzo had always prided herself on being independent and in complete control of her life...well, at least she thought she was. The gorgeous, blue-eyed publicist clearly wasn't in control of her life when the stalking had started a few weeks ago... With her life in serious danger, Maxi would have to let someone else take care of her for once; but she never knew that he would be her safety. Can she let go and finally give in to her heart's desire? Can Billy convince her that all he wants...is her? All He Needs – Zach & Stephanie Sexy, newly single, former Marine Andrew Charles Elliot IV, aka Ace, was ready for a life with no drama and no one to answer to. After a broken engagement and twelve years in the Corps he hoped his fresh start in Harper's Crossing would be just what he needed. But after laying eyes on his new neighbor, he knew all he really needed was her... Stephanie Holland excelled at taking care of others both at work as a nurse and as an incredible big sister to her twin siblings. The gorgeous redhead had no room to think of anyone else...that is until he moved next door... After years of putting the needs of others before her own, would she be able to surrender to the idea of someone taking care of her? Would Ace be able to convince her that he wanted to be there for her--mind, body and soul? Could he make her see that she was All He Needs? All He Feels – Dax & Ginny One night sealed their fate... Virginia "Ginny" Valentine didn't think she could feel so connected to another person after one night of "just talking." The beautiful and famous country singer had everything in her life...everything but that connection. And after experiencing it for the first time, she wanted more, and she wanted it with him... Dax Archer felt it the second he laid eyes on her. From that moment, the bodyguard and former Marine knew he had to make her his in every way possible. But when she disappeared from his life after leaving only a note to say she'd never forget him, he didn't know how... With some time set aside to create new music, Ginny was also ready to create something special with the man that consumed her every waking thought. After being reunited with the woman who owned him mind, body and soul, he was ready to make her feel all that he felt and more... All He Desires – Nate & Eliza Former Army Ranger and cyber security specialist Nate Holmes was a genius in all things computers. The sexy, muscled Adonis could fix any technical problem he was faced with, but when it came to matters of the heart, there was one issue he couldn't face...how he felt about her... Eliza Young thought she'd put Harper's Crossing in her rear view, but when a job opportunity opens up, the beautiful brunette is forced to return to her hometown and the setting of her unrequited first true love... He thought he'd missed his chance, she thought she'd never had one. After ten years, fate had finally reunited Nate and Eliza, but the question remains--what do you do when you get a chance to get it right this time? Will Nate have the courage and heart to claim her and...All He Desires...

True Crime UK: Real Criminal Cases From Great Britain (True Crime International English)


Adrian Langenscheid - 2020
    

Cowboys Don't Dance


Linda Style - 2014
    Fate has taken away everything former hot-shot Air Force pilot J.D. Rivera ever held dear--his family, his fiancée and his career. Inheriting his crazy aunt's broken down ranch in Los Rios, Arizona, is the last thing he wants. For J.D. the ranch is just another bad memory. But if he doesn't take over the ranch, all the people who work there will lose their jobs. And the one person who'd believed in him would cry in her grave. SHE COULD LOSE EVERYTHING... A traumatic experience caused Madeline Inglewood to withdraw from life, but now she's determined to change all that. Maddy believes her new job teaching English to Spanish speaking workers at the Tripplehorne Ranch is perfect for her new start. But when she arrives, her employer is dead--and the new owner is man with a secret. He's also dark, handsome, and if locals are to be believed--dangerous. And he has no interest in hiring an English teacher. But when sparks fly between J.D. and Maddy, love...redemption...and second chances are theirs for the taking...if they can let down their defenses long enough to trust each other. "Full of surprises. The pages seem to turn themselves. When a story engages my mind as well as my emotions, I know I'm hooked." 5 Stars --The Romance Reader