*Includes Cagney's own quotes about his life and career. *Includes a bibliography for further reading. *Includes a table of contents. "You don't psych yourself up for these things, you do them...I'm acting for the audience, not for myself, and I do it as directly as I can." – James Cagney A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. When the American Film Institute assembled its top 100 actors of all time at the close of the 20th century, one of the Top 10 was James Cagney, an actor whose acting and dancing talents spawned a stage and film career that spanned over 5 decades and once compelled Orson Welles to call him "maybe the greatest actor to ever appear in front of a camera." Indeed, his portrayal of “The Man Who Owns Broadway”, George M. Cohan, earned him an Academy Award in the musical Yankee Doodle Dandy, and as famed director Milos Forman once put it, "I think he's some kind of genius. His instinct, it's just unbelievable. I could just stay at home. One of the qualities of a brilliant actor is that things look better on the screen than the set. Jimmy has that quality." Ultimately, it was portraying tough guys and gangsters in the 1930s that turned Cagney into a massive Hollywood star, and they were the kind of roles he was literally born to play after growing up rough in Manhattan at the turn of the 20th century. In movies like The Public Enemy (which included the infamous “grapefruit scene”) and White Heat, Cagney convincingly played criminals that brought Warner to the forefront of Hollywood and the gangster genre. Cagney also helped pave the way for younger actors in the genre, like Humphrey Bogart, and he was so good that he found himself in danger of being typecast. While Cagney is no longer remembered as fondly or as well as Bogart, he was also crucial in helping establish the system in which actors worked as independent workers free from the constraints of studios. Refusing to be pushed around, Cagney was constantly involved in contract squabbles with Warner, and he often came out on top, bucking the conventional system that saw studios treat their stars as indentured servants who had to make several films a year. American Legends: The Life of James Cagney examines the life and career of one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Cagney like never before, in no time at all.

    That is until a beautiful raven-haired whirlwind blows into his life. Nisha Raine is a free-spirited, unstoppable force. She races into town on a coal-black mare with the speed of a hurricane and the heart of a champion, intent on competing in the Dawson Derby. When Nisha and Eric meet, a clash of wills ensues. However, neither can deny their intense attraction. Can they bridge the divide and cross the finish line together, or will their differences make them falter and lose the race?

    

    

    One evening is all the enigmatic man can give her, and Rayne greedily takes it, despite suspecting it will never be enough. Heading home after another extreme mission, Keane "Ghost" Bryson hadn't planned to seduce someone during his layover, but Rayne is too sweet to resist. Being a Delta Force member means lying to protect his identity, which is unfortunate, considering Rayne seems made for Ghost, right down to the tattoo on her back. For the first time in his life, regret fills him as he slips away the following morning. Both are shocked when, months later, they meet again—under the worst possible circumstances. Seems fate has given them a second chance…if they can survive the terrorist situation they're in. Rescuing Aimee: Aimee O’Brien has harbored a not-so-little crush on her school’s new first-grade teacher since the beginning of the year. Tall, muscled, with long hair and a beard, and a penchant for wearing silly ties to amuse his student. No one is more surprised than Aimee when Tony makes his interest clear. Tony Santoro’s time in the military directly influenced his new choice of career—and his choice in women. He’s looking for someone of substance, and Aimee has far more to offer than just her adorably disheveled look. He can’t wait to see what’s hiding under those sweatpants and tees—but he might have missed his chance. The very day he finally works up the nerve to ask Aimee out, is the day unspeakable violence explodes in the school. Trapped in the gym, Aimee and Tony will have to work together to get out with their lives…and the lives of the dozens of students trapped with them. Rescuing Emily: Renting out the apartment over his garage shouldn’t be a life-changing decision, but when Delta soldier Cormac “Fletch” Fletcher meets Emily Grant, he feels an instant connection. He can’t stand the thought of Emily and her young daughter living anywhere unsafe. Offering cheap rent is a small price to pay for their safety…and Fletch’s peace of mind. Being a single mother is difficult at best, but renting the extremely affordable space from Fletch makes Emily’s life a lot easier…until it doesn’t. Suddenly all the money she’s saving thanks to Fletch’s generosity is going into the hands of a blackmailer. When miscommunication has Emily assuming Fletch is in on the blackmail, he not only has to gain her trust, but also deal with a man holding a grudge against Fletch and his entire Delta Force team. A task made more difficult when the dangerous man gets his hands on Emily and Annie... Rescuing Harley: Video game coder, Harley Kelso, thought a tandem skydive would help her make her latest game more realistic. Instead, it literally put her in the arms of the sexiest man she’s ever seen. Geeky to the core, Harley is the polar opposite of big and burly Beckett, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to play more carnal games with the sexy soldier. When Beckett “Coach” Ralston offers to fill-in at a friend’s skydiving club, he doesn’t suspect he’ll meet a woman who will change his life—and he definitely doesn’t expect her to save it. But that’s exactly what happens when an accident mid-air forces Harley to land them both safely.

    At twenty-two she thought she would be graduating from college and starting a career. But the loss of her parents changed everything, and instead she spends her days working as a waitress and spends her nights, weekends, and everything in between taking care of her five younger siblings. Now her life is completely focused on her family, and despite the urging of those close to her, she doesn’t find time for a life of her own. When Russell Pierce returns to his childhood hometown he is eager to focus on success in his new career. Meeting Paige wasn’t part of his plan either, but once he does he can’t stop thinking about her and how he wants to help her. But she can’t let go of her fears, and refuses to allow him to get close. Will she ever be able to open up and consider a life with anyone? Is she ready to give life a second chance?

    I have built three global security companies, including foreign subsidiaries which include an airline company and a shipping conglomerate, partnered with some of the biggest industry titans in the realm of international trade. But my love is in protecting and securing the safety of those I care about.And I’ve done this, as it turns out, at the expense of my own security and fortune. I’ve cared for everyone else’s assets, and left mine wide open to plunder.Well, that was then. This is now. This is me fighting back. I’m going to screw that witch of a former wife, who, while she was screwing me in my own bed, was slutting with other men. I was naive, but now, fully awakened, I will have my revenge.And it will be sweet!

    I never plan to see him again.Fate has other plans.He turns out to be my daughters doctor and the son of the powerful icon that I'm spying on.He's hiding something deep and dark.Something that could destroy both of us.Little does he know that I have secrets myself.One being that I'm falling for him...hard.Two being that I'm a private investigator hired to spy on his father.And three, that we are both in danger more than he knows.What will happen when our secrets are revealed?Is there a chance for us in the midst of this chaos?

    A broke, big-hearted retail associate. Unexpected consequences. Anna Sharpe has suffered too much loss. In spite of that, she's still hopeful and believes in Christmas miracles. Her retail job has been a second home even though she could, and should, make more money somewhere else. The holiday season at Montgomery's Department Store is fun and she's looking forward to another year of joy at work. Michael Montgomery has also suffered loss. As the sole owner of the legacy left to him by his father and grandfather, he feels pressure to grow his business. But things in his comfy corner corporate office aren't so rosy. Struggles from within and worries about profits make him realize he needs to make some changes. He hears he's out of touch. One snap decision should help him remedy that problem. Going undercover, he poses as a new associate in his flagship store. Thinking he'll get insight into the business that will help him make better decisions, he's shocked at some of what he learns. But the biggest surprise of all is Anna Sharpe. He never saw her coming. Will Michael's secret be the thing that drives Anna away even though it's the very thing that brought them together?

    It's hard enough to change his life for himself, but suddenly his world is turned upside down when his secret son is literally left on his doorstep. He has no idea how to take care of a four year old child so he turns to a friend of a friend for help.Celeste Allen knows exactly who Roger Boswell is because he nearly destroyed her best friend's relationship. Yet, in the past few months, she's seen him change for the better, so when he asks for her help to find a nanny, she agrees. When no one fits the bill, Roger asks Celeste to fill in temporarily.As the trio start to form a life together, friendship blossoms into something more, but it could be ruined before it has a chance to fully bloom.Can Roger find a way to be the man they all need? Will Celeste decide that being with Roger and his son is what she really wants? And what will happen when the mother of Roger's son returns?From international bestselling author, Jenna Brandt, enjoy a clean billionaire tale filled with epic romantic moments, faith-inspiring characters, lots of laughs, and even a few twists.

    When he gets word that he's been chosen, he can't believe it, but as his last few relationships have ended the same way, he decides to try something different and take a chance. However, he gets more than he bargained for when he falls for a woman who is not a contestant.Laney Swann has been running from her high school insecurites for years, but when she loses her job, she ends up having to return home and reunites with an old friend who convinces her to do the makeup for a reality tv show. Laney expected it to be just a job until she met the bachelor. Now she has to control her feelings while watching him date other women.Will she ever get the courage to tell him how she feels and if she does, will he prove different from the other men in her past?

     It’s been four long years since McCrea Coldiron watched Eleanor Mackenna walk out of his life. He wasn’t ready for the marriage noose then and never thought he would be. Single, free to do as he pleases, and running the Promise Point Horse Rescue Ranch are the things that make him sure he was right to let Eleanor go… This is until she comes back to town with a daughter he never knew about in tow. Eleanor knows just how badly McCrea can burn a woman and how persuasive he can be when he wants something, so she’s more than cautious about his charming words and cocky grin when she comes home to arrange the sale of her grandparents’ ranch. But when a flat tire in a thunderstorm introduces four-year-old Sophie to her daddy, Eleanor knows McCrea’s love for his daughter is genuine. Can she trust it will be the same for her? As the icy walls around her heart begin to melt, Eleanor must find the courage to trust her heart or run away from the man who has always owned it. Being shown what he lost is a wake-up call for McCrea and he isn’t about to let Eleanor or Sophie walk away. It’s time to prove he’s a man who believes in love and happy-ever-after.

     This digital box set contains the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth thrillers. To those with the highest security clearance, it’s a line item known only as Project X. But to the half dozen agents and personnel working for it, it’s known as Firestorm, a black ops group so dark that the U.S. President doesn’t even know about them yet. And no agent is as skilled as Brady Hawk. INTO THE SHADOWS, Book 10 :: Facing serious accusations voiced by President Michaels, Brady Hawk goes dark, disappearing in the Middle East. However, when he reconnects with a friend from his Navy Seal days, Hawk learns the true depth of Michaels’ depravity and resolves to put an end to it once and for all. Working remotely with the Firestorm team, Hawk must gather evidence against the president in preparation for a confrontation. But when his plan goes awry, Hawk must call on every favor and get resourceful to salvage his ultimate mission—and survive the wrath of the president. HARD TARGET, Book 11 :: Upon learning about the theft of a new weapons system by Al Hasib, the Pentagon braces for the worst. Yet they have no idea where the terrorists will strike first. When the United States’ best intelligence and military organizations run into a brick wall, they turn to Brady Hawk and the Firestorm team for answers. Hawk must uncover Al Hasib’s intended target and capture the weapons system before it’s too late. But in order to succeed, Hawk must come face-to-face with his arch nemesis Karif Fazil in a high-stakes showdown. NO WAY OUT, Book 12 :: In this globe-trotting thriller, terrorist mastermind Karif Fazil turns the tables on black ops assassin Brady Hawk in a play to remove the terror cell’s biggest threat for good. Hawk’s weaknesses are exposed, leaving him vulnerable—and endangering the lives of all those around him that he cares about the most. Backed into a corner, Hawk must decide who lives and who dies with no way out. Grab this box set of the first three books in the Brady Hawk series. You won’t be disappointed. Fans of Vince Flynn, David Baldacci, and Brad Taylor are loving this new action thriller series! ★★★★★ “R.J. Patterson is up there with Baldacci.” ★★★★★ “First Strike delivers excitement, intrigue and action from the first page to the last.” ★★★★★ “This story was imaginative, but certainly came across as realistic.” ★★★★★ “This is a first rate action thriller!” ★★★★★ “If you are looking for some adrenalin packed action, don’t think twice, just grab a copy and start reading, you won’t be sorry.” ★★★★★ “A well crafted page turner.” ★★★★★ “Brady hawk is the next Jack Reacher!” ★★★★★ “Another great book by R.J. Patterson! I liked that way he makes his characters so real.” ★★★★★ “This book is in the vein of Brad Thor and Vince Flynn with a bit of Ian Flemming.” ★★★★★ “R.J. Patterson's short chapters and fast moving plot render this novel impossible to put down.”

     Moonshine and Murder: Zoey Mathers had everything going for her until one night she lost her biggest client, her job, and her reputation. Leaving her life up to fate, Zoey closed her eyes and pointed. She would serve out her career exile in the small mountain town of Moonshine Hollow where moonshine flowed as freely as a mountain stream. Giving up the law to become a baker in Moonshine Hollow turned out to be the best thing Zoey had ever done. She was happy and enjoying life in her new small town. But Zoey should have learned the first time . . . one night can change your whole life. After unknowingly crashing a battle between witches, Zoey accidentally becomes a witch herself. That’s all before Zoey stumbles over a murder victim and the town’s sheriff becomes involved. Now she’s trying to find a murderer, stop two old witches from playing matchmaker, and learning she’s way more than a mere accidental witch. And that’s all before fate turns up one more sexy hunk of a twist . . .   Moonshine and Malice: What was an accidental witch to do when fate sends a sexy witch on a motorcycle, only to find out he might be there to kill her? Zoey Mathers was adjusting to life as a witch— a real finger wiggling, magic casting, talk to spirits witch who was thrown into the middle of a war between good and evil. And now Slade, fate’s sexy twist, was asking her out on a date and talking about her part in an ancient prophecy. It was up to Zoey to decide if she could trust Slade not to kill her. She also has to discover the reason for her particular powers. And then there’s that little thing about her possibly being the key to ending the War of the Witches. Ah, the quiet small town mountain life. Now, if only she could only avoid losing her heart, and more importantly her life to Slade.   Moonshine and Mayhem: Zoey Mathers was a witch. Not on purpose. It had happened accidentally. But as Zoey was finding out, maybe this had been her fate all along. Luckily the potential witch hunter, Slade, had turned out to be on her side and had found a place in her heart. With the War of the Witches heating up, it’s not just Zoey’s life on the line, but all the witches fighting for good. But fate wasn’t done with Zoey yet. There was a reason she’d become a witch when others wouldn’t have. And that answer was going to change her life even more. Now Zoey was falling in love, fighting for good, and defending the sweet small town of Moonshine Hollow. All while the humans were completely unaware of a war around them. But that was nothing compared to the fight to end the war—the one the prophecy said was up to her. Only one witch was going to survive and she just hoped fate knew what she was doing because Zoey’s life was in the balance.

    Now, approaching thirty, Rachel flees an unhealthy relationship and heads north with her son, Joshua. Arriving in the sleepy coastal town of Coral Bay, she hopes she can build a new life.Having lost his pregnant wife to a drunk driver, Andrew Daley has travelled a similar road. Arriving at Coral Bay three years earlier, he’s since found peace and purpose amongst the caring group of Christians he believes God led him to and is now trusting God with his future.When Rachel secures a job as a waitress at the café Andrew manages, a friendship is born and Rachel is challenged to reassess her relationship with God.Just as their friendship is developing into something more, she receives bad news from home. Can her fledgling faith survive when once again the threat of death rears its ugly head, or will she once again blame God? Can she open her heart fully and allow Him to give her a hope and a future? And can hers and Andrew’s relationship last the distance when they’re miles apart? The Hope We Share, a contemporary Christian Romance, is Book 1 in The Potter’s House Books Series Two. Stories of ‘hope, redemption and second chances.’ Read today and be blessed. Coming soon from The Potter’s House Books Series Two authors: Beyond the Deep by Kristen M. FraserHonor’s Reward by Mary MannersHands of Grace by Brenda S. AndersonAlways You by Jennifer RodewaldHer Cowboy Forever by Dora HiersChanged Somehow by Chloe FlanaganSweet Scent of Forgiveness by Delia Lethamand more...