Patterson's fundamentally serious but playful literary style. Patterson writes like the love child of Henry Miller and Mary Karr, with all the contradictions that implies -- a philosopher who thinks best over a glass of fine wine; an ex-Catholic still haunted by the image of the Crucifixion; an irreverent political satirist whose patriotism flies the flag of another iconoclast, Thomas Paine. Patterson grew up with a foot planted in each of two worlds -- one in Washington DC, the Capital of the Empire as he calls it, where the wheels of power spin, and one in rural Ontario, where his Canadian mother insisted the family spend their summers. His father, one of the wizards of twentieth century newspaper publishing, introduced him to the city's wheels of money and power, which he would later navigate as an entrepreneur, starting his first business at 20. But those Canadian summers introduced him to a different world - one where a cedar strip boat was better than any car, and where the ghosts of those who'd previously inhabited the family's island house floated out over the water of Lovesick Lake. It is those two worlds that blend in this collection, in reflections both serious and playful, on what it means to be a man, an artist, an iconoclast, a patriot, a lover, as the 20th century rolls over into the 21st.

    Or read this book and find out how you have all the tools you need, but must make the one change to become the writer you have always wanted to be.

     Mia Fletcher is a mousy, nerdy, school teacher who is once again dateless for Valentine's Day. At the prompting from her co-worker, she agrees to ditch her cliché life, put on a party dress, and head for the Valentine Blind-Date Ball at the country club. What she didn't agree to when she signed on was meeting the very infuriating Chad Belmont. Willing to do anything to get out of a family obligation, Chad tells his friend he plans to marry the next woman he meets, and his friend takes him up on that dare until a simply party-game glitch gives them both more than they bargained for.

    Lee Butts! Legendary as the meanest, most fearless lawdog of the Old West, Hayden Tilden sometimes blurs the line between U.S. Marshal and hired assassin. His adventures all began with one murderous, cold-blooded bastard: Saginaw Bob Magruder. The depraved killer butchered Tilden’s entire family and hurled the young man into a ruthless, bloody crusade for vengeance and a career as a U. S. Marshal. Tracking down Magruder will be just the beginning of Tilden’s adventures, bringing his own brand of justice to the wild and lawless West. “Lawdog has it all. I couldn’t put it down.” —Jack Ballas, author of A Town Afraid “Lawdog should assume its rightful place beside other Western classics.” —Peter Brandvold, bestselling author of Once Hell Freezes Over About the Author: J. Lee Butts is the author of 22 published books and numerous magazine articles and short works. His book Brotherhood of Blood was runner-up for the Western Writers of America Spur Award in 2005. He’s worn many hats over the years (teacher, administrator, pool manager, IBM supervisor, and western author), and he and his late wife lived everywhere from Los Angeles to Dallas. Currently he’s hanging those hats back in White Hall, Arkansas.

    It’s time. There is someone else to think about now– the tiny life doing its best to grow inside her while she hides the bruises. Finally, with the help of one of Carl’s friends, leaving is possible. Can Cass execute her plan in time? Can she and her unborn child claw their way to safety before Carl finds out? Can she really escape?

    They also experience the property bubble, traffic jams, and the unbearable summer heat.Thousands of maids serve these expats, cleaning their villas and apartments seven days a week, battling tirelessly to keep the sand and dust away. MAID IN DUBAI is the harrowing journey of one such maid.Meet Aubrey, a Filipino girl who works for a cleaning agency in Dubai. Aubrey sees a city that is quite different from the one presented in travel brochures. She experiences the hardships of life in a city with many secrets. From her encounters with maids who lie, steal, prostitute themselves, and swindle their bosses to the shocking stories of corrupt employers, illegal schemes, and seemingly unending greed, Aubrey reels from one scandal to another as she tries to work hard and build a better life for herself in the infamous “City of Gold”.From ironing competitions to banned sex toys, MAID IN DUBAI perfectly captures the oddities of everyday life in one of the richest cities in the world, and is a captivating, often heartbreaking tale of one maid’s struggle for empowerment in a thankless industry. MAID IN DUBAI delivers the perfect mix between Jean Sasson’s Princess setting in the Middle East and Elisabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray and Love journey of self-discovery, on a diary format, from a unique and very realistic point of view. A novel that will challenge all your perceptions about Dubai!

    They are using him to force his father to reveal to them the location of a secret arms cache left over from the South African apartheid war. Petrus calls on his friend Garrett to return to Africa once again to do what he does best. And together, the two friends set out to rescue Freedom and to exact retribution on all involved. But the depth of deceit, betrayal and corruption go deeper than they had ever expected. Once again they are pitted against overwhelming odds ”" but they won’t stop. Because this time, they are fighting for Freedom.

    They’ll share memories, surprises and another wonderful time of closeness. Legacy Series: Book 1: Buying Time Book 2: In Her Own Time Book 3: Matter of Time Book 4: Taking Time Book 5: Just in Time Book 6: All in Good Time A Map for Bella: Book 1: Bella’s Hope Book 2: Bella’s Holiday Book 3: Bella’s Heart Book 4: Bella’s Home Legacy Series Reunion: Book 1: Christmas in Tuscany Book 2: Birthday Surprise Book 3: A Summer Together

    On the way, he stopped at a diner and witnessed a bus load of pilgrims crowding around a partially-eaten Moon Pie that looked “exactly like” John the Baptist. Recognizing divine commercial opportunity, Bobby purchased the Moon Pie and drove to the Congregation of Celestial Worship, where he bribed a sketchy priest to register it as an authentic religious artifact. Now Bobby charges True Believers to view his Moon Pie, and supplements his income by allowing medical students to poke and prod his naked body. His existence—such as it is—changes the morning he meets the mysterious Daisy Pepper, who looks “exactly like” Emma Roberts. PRELIMINARY REVIEWS: “Locke’s Daisy & Bobby made me laugh out loud a dozen times and held my interest throughout. Start it early in the day, or you’ll be up all night.” “If you like the Fargo TV shows you’ll love Daisy & Bobby. This is a funny, quirky novel with outrageous characters.” “You know those politically correct “Book Club” books that take 50 pages before anything happens? This is NOT like that! John Locke literally had me hooked after the very first sentence! (Who else in the world has the guts to start books like this?)”

    While he misses his late wife, Emily, he must do his best to be both a father and mother to his young daughters.

    His father died when he was eleven, leaving Alberto, his mother, and his baby sister Sophia, on their own. As man of the house, Alberto vowed that he would do whatever it took to care for his family, even if it included murder.Decades later, he finds that he is running out of time and he still has three people on his list, two of them to care for, one of them to kill.Beautiful, talented, and bold, casino Entertainment Director Alexandra Merritt grew up in a middle class home where there were sharp distinctions between right and wrong. When she discovers that someone she loves may be a murderer, she finds that real life comes in all shades of gray. Should she tell her suspicions to handsome homicide cop Sam Howard or should she be loyal to someone who may be planning another murder--maybe her own?

    If he had been raised across town in one of Atlanta’s affluent areas, he would probably have been a doctor or lawyer…maybe even president.Instead, he grew up in one of Atlanta’s most depressed ghettos. Cam was a natural born leader, so it was no surprise that he rose to the top of the drug trade. He ran the notorious B.C.B.’s with an iron fist. As a result he was a millionaire by age 21.Join young Cam as he robs, steals and kills on his rise to the top. He grinds his way up the ladder…killing anyone who gets in his way.Part I of the Dope Boy series is sure to leave you wanting more.

    

    But this is no ordinary assassination. Who is the third killer? Why was there no threat warning? And why did the killers kidnap one of the bodyguards, a former SAS soldier? Paul Richter is sent on the case. Before long he is in a deadly game of cat and mouse, wounded and chased through the English countryside. Richter will have to rely on all his combat skills and luck to avoid retribution…A standalone novella in the Paul Richter series, Retribution shows James Barrington at his best: fast, action-packed and giving absolutely no quarter. Watch out for more Agent Paul Richter thrillers 1. Manhunt2. Overkill3. Pandemic4. Foxbat5. Timebomb6. PaybackComing in 2017: the next full length Paul Richter thriller.

    Dangerous renegades, wild Comanche Indians, and many hardships on the journey, test the iron will of the young Morgan. The great Civil War was on its final day of conflict. With four years of war behind him, Bowie Morgan agreed to take his gravely wounded friend, George Raker, home to his wife and their Circle R Ranch in Texas. Raker promised the young Morgan half the ranch if he gets him back home alive to his beloved wife.Morgan is no rancher and he needs no pay to help his good friend, George Raker. Both men saved each other's life many times in the last four years of war. Bowie finally gives in to Raker's offer. He knows the long trip will be hard on his wounded friend, but come hell or high water they're heading on the Trail to Medicine Mound.