But the historic landfall of October 1492 was only a secondary event of the year. The preceding January, they had accepted the surrender of Muslim Granada, ending centuries of Islamic rule in their peninsula. And later that year, they had ordered the expulsion or forced baptism of Spain's Jewish minority, a cruel crusade undertaken in an excess of zeal for their Catholic faith. Europe, in the century of Ferdinand and Isabella, was also awakening to the glories of a new age, the Renaissance, and the Spain of the "Catholic Kings" - as Ferdinand and Isabella came to be known - was not untouched by this brilliant revival of learning. Here, from the noted historian Malveena McKendrick, is their remarkable story.

    Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: The Omnivore's Dilemma, in Defense of Food, the Botany of Desire, Food Rules, a Place of My Own, Second Nature. Source: Wikipedia. Free updates online. Not illustrated. Excerpt: The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals is a nonfiction book by Michael Pollan published in 2006, in which Pollan asks the seemingly straightforward question of what we should have for dinner. As omnivores - the most unselective eaters - we humans are faced with a wide variety of food choices, resulting in a dilemma. To find out about those choices, Pollan follows each of the food chains that sustain usindustrial food, organic food, and food we forage ourselves from the source to a final meal, and in the process writes an account of the American way of eating. Pollan begins with an exploration of the food-production system from which the vast majority of American meals are derived. This industrial food chain is largely based on corn, whether it is eaten directly, fed to livestock, or processed into chemicals such as glucose, often in the form of high-fructose corn syrup, and ethanol. Pollan discusses how the corn plant came to dominate the American diet through a combination of biological, cultural, and political factors. He visits George Naylor's corn farm in Iowa to learn more about those factors. The role of petroleum in the cultivation and transportation of the American food supply is also discussed. A fast food meal is used to illustrate the end result of the industrial food chain. The following chapter delves into the principles of organic farming and their various implementations in modern America. Pollan shows that, while organic food has grown in popularity, its producers have adopted many of the methods of industrial agriculture, losing sight of th...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=931450

    Your very belief is tested in combat, you must kill your enemy, or your enemy will kill you – that is the simple, hard cold fact. Because in my humble opinion, War is hell on Earth. Evil roams freely in War, and it will kill you, one way or another, with its evil intent. Nightmares are common and, in their fantasy, never reflect the real horror and the reality that War can bring to your mind. No matter what your personal spiritual beliefs are, you will be tested. The conduct of your intent will be your judge for life. It is your second guessing that can be dangerous to you. A wise Philosopher once said in Greece, “If you want real peace, you must always prepare for War.” This book is about war. It tells my experiences of the paths I took as a United States Marine in Vietnam. The mouths of many soldiers will say the same – the same soldiers who had shared my paths with the experiences of my many paths in life. I have not shared these words or reflections with anyone, except in bits and pieces, and that too, with other veterans in the form of bunker talk.

    Of course, the 75-year-old actress and comedian has been turning out unforgettable roles for the better part of five decades, from Ernestine, the condescending telephone operator on “Laugh-In,” to Violet Newstead, the secretary in “9 to 5.” In this wide-ranging, intimate and often hilarious Kindle Singles Interview, Tomlin covers all aspects of her extraordinary life and career, turning a drab Manhattan hotel room into a one-woman show with tales of her childhood in Detroit, her early years in New York, and the origins of her classic characters.Tom Roston is a veteran journalist and author of two previous Kindle Singles Interviews, with Ted Allen and Ken Burns. Roston began his career at The Nation and Vanity Fair, before working at Premiere magazine as a senior editor. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and his book, I Lost It At The Video Store, a filmmakers' oral history, will be published by The Critical Press in September. He lives with his wife and their two daughters in New York City.Cover design by Adil Dara.

    

    In this entertaining and frequently hilarious book, Mark takes us on a journey not only of 1111 miles, but of the highs and lows of long-distance walking.'I read the entire journey cover to cover in a couple of days. Totally fascinating, very amusing.' - Howard J'I highly recommend that people read it from start to finish. It is a great tale ' - Peter K'Thank you for being so enthusiastic about travelling and revealing your passion in such a constructive way ' - Jenny S'A certain cure for a jaded outlook.' - Marilyn S'You can't put it down.' - Frank W'A great job ' - Kevin P

    By the time you finish book 4 you'll be begging for more!No cliffhangers, no cheating, and plenty of steam, this is the collection you do NOT want to miss!BOOK 1: Tempted BodyguardI shouldn’t want Celine …She’s vulnerable,pregnant by a vampire,and hunted by everyone, including my own clan.The difference is, I was sent to bring her here and keep her safe.Everyone else?The other shifters want to kill her, and the vampires …well, everyone knows that vamps can’t be trusted.But spending time with her, keeping her and her new baby safe, getting to know her and win her trust …I can’t help my growing feelings.Even though I know she’s strictly off limits.But despite her growing trust in me, she’s still wary of our Alpha’s intentions.Can I assure her that she’s safe with me no matter what?Or will her persistent distrust drive her out of my arms …and into danger?BOOK 2: Detective JackA killer’s on the loose …And help comes from the most unlikely source.Kit is the outside contact for the hidden ragtag shifter clan who’s sheltering my friend.When flashes of memories I can’t quite grasp filter into my mind, I seek her out, knowing she can fill in the blanks.With her network of information and access, she knows more than the average human.More than the average shifter, for that matter.With one foot in both worlds, I need all my wits about me to make sense of what’s happening.And Kit gets roped into helping me get to the bottom of a string of murders rocking the city.But with my attraction to her clouding my judgment, will I be able to crack the case?Or will giving in mean giving up everything?BOOK 3: Dark MagicSplitting my loyalties ...My first duty has always been to my clanuntil I got tangled up with her.I have no business getting involved with Leila.For one thing, she’s my Alpha’s sister.For another, she’s spoiled and flighty—everything I don’t want in a woman.But for reasons I can’t explain even to myself,I’m drawn to her.But where she goes, trouble follows close behind, and I find myself caught between flouting her brother’s commands and helping her heal an injured friendNow I’m faced with an impossible choice ...Betray my Alpha and keep the woman I love?Or turn her in and risk losing her forever?BOOK 4: Tiger's MateForbidden fruit tastes the sweetest …Which must be why I want Ahn, despite the fact that I’m supposed to bring her to marry my Alpha and secure an alliance to keep our pack safe.Her delicate beauty doesn’t hurt.Neither does her fierce strength and fighting ability, meaning she watches my back as much as I watch hers.If anyone knows how dangerous our journey is, it’s me. On my last mission, I was injured, maimed, and almost didn’t make it back alive.Bringing Ahn back is my chance to prove myself. So I can’t give in to my attraction to her, no matter how much I want to. Or how much she wants to.But fighting side by side bonds us, and attraction grows into something … more.Until only one question remains—Will I betray my pack?Or myself?

    A Wedding for the Widower (Book 1): A widower with a son, a widow with breast cancer, and their path toward true love... 2. A Companion for the Cowboy (Book 2): A rodeo champion, a millennial, and an age gap to overcome to find true love... 3. A Bride for the Bronc Rider (Book 3): A cowboy who's happy single, a pregnant woman, and the way they mold their lives to fit each other... 4. A Family for the Farmer (Book 4): A farmer, a single mother of three, and a chance to be a family.... 5. A Home for the Horseman (Book 5): A fun-loving cowboy, a barrel racing champion with a chip on her shoulder, and the way they must learn to work together... 6. A Refuge for the Rancher (Book 6): A rancher, a principal, and their faith to find true love... AUTHOR'S NOTE: For a limited time, this 6-book boxed set contains an additional 6-book BONUS boxed set, which means you're getting 2 amazing Christian romance series' you'll love!

    VT-8 rose from the ashes of the Battle of Midway to become an indispensable air arm in the series of engagements for the Solomon Islands and beyond. In three months, the crack squadron carried out thirty-nine attack missions, sixteen against ships, twenty-three against ground targets. Their motto following the tragedy at Midway was "Attack and Revenge." Herman Wouk paid homage to the squadron in his 1971 novel War and Remembrance, referring to the pilots as, "The soul of America in action." *Includes annotations and images.

    You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

     Ingrid Bergman emerges as a devoted artist whose refusal to be a caricature caused her endless trouble - but also produced brilliant performances, from her early role opposite Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca to her profound and final appearance as Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. In between, there were four children (including actress Isabella Rossellini), three husbands, and passionate affairs with war photographer Robert Capa, Wizard of Oz director Victor Fleming, and Spellbound co-star Gregory Peck. She was perhaps the most international star in the history of entertainment, and, without a doubt, one of the most misunderstood. In a career that spanned six decades, two Academy Awards, and ten Oscar nominations, Bette Davis became one of the greatest screen legends of all time. But, as her epitaph says, "She did it the hard way." She was in constant battles with co-stars, directors, and studios and struggled with addictions to alcohol and cigarettes. She had four stormy marriages, and even her three children brought pain and controversy - one wrote a scathing tell-all book, another had a severe mental disability, and a third was the subject of a prolonged custody battle. But in her iconic film roles, Davis transcended her troubles to leave an indelible mark on American cinema. Possessing none of the glamorous beauty of Greta Garbo, she had something more powerful and lasting: a restless, incandescent energy that made her mesmerizing to watch on the big screen. Katharine Hepburn was far more than an iconic movie star who won four Academy Awards for best actress and made classic films that still rank among the greatest of all time. She also exerted a unique influence on American popular culture, challenging rigid assumptions about how women should behave - and almost single-handedly gave them permission to wear pants. The list of adjectives used to describe Hepburn - bold, stubborn, witty, beautiful - only begin to hint at the complex woman who entranced audiences around the world. So here is the full, epic story of "the patron saint of the independent American female," as one critic described her. Hepburn always lived life strictly on her own terms. And oh, what a life it was. For a time, Elizabeth Taylor was the world's biggest star, but it was her off-screen life - eight stormy marriages, a jewel-encrusted lifestyle, and struggles with weight and various addictions - that provided the most riveting drama. Long before the age of reality television, Taylor showed how fame could take on a volatile life of its own, obscuring the real person behind the media façade. Now, in this compelling biography, we meet the real Elizabeth Taylor as she grows from precocious child star to "the most beautiful woman in the world" to serious actress to pop-culture punch line, and finally, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and HIV/AIDS activist. Along the way, she is vilified by fans for stealing singer Eddie Fischer from Debbie Reynolds, becomes trapped in a cycle of destructive affairs with Richard Burton, and desperately tries to recapture the childhood she never had with the eccentric pop star Michael Jackson. "I've always admitted that I'm ruled by my passions," she once said - and those passions make for a gripping, epic tale of tribulation and triumph.

    

    Laird Fergus Brodie has just suffered a terrible and unexpected defeat, but even so, he can not leave a poor lass helpless.Fergus takes Moire, who is half-conscious, with his ship across the Highlands to the Isle of Skye, where his clan resides. When they settle in, Fergus feels like he has a scared animal in his room who can trust no one! Fergus is torn by his defeat, and taking care of Moire works as a therapy; If the lass can recover from her horrible past and forget the pain, maybe he can forget the man who caused him so much anger and shame.But as the days go by, the word revenge echoes louder and louder in his head, and the name of “Ronald Campbell” burns his soul like hellfire. Trying to focus his thoughts elsewhere, as Moire is getting better, he tries to learn more about her. The girl has lost her parents and does not know where most of her siblings are, but Fergus admires that she is still vigorous. All she has now, Moire says, is her uncle and protector, Ronald Campbell...As soon as Fergus hears that Moire is one of the Campbells, he makes unholy thoughts. The lass deserves nothing but rest and safety, but what if he can use her to get close to Laird Campbell and get his revenge? This will be a huge risk, but Fergus is prepared to die rather than disappoint his people and live his life in shame. He only promises not to harm Moire in the process.The two begin the journey back to Moire’s home, but Fergus is not prepared for what he will encounter. The Campbell clan is suffering under the rule of Ronald, and Fergus feels that he must take this man down not only for his clan but also to save the Campbells too. The only problem is that he is now caring for the lass too much, and fate will make him decide between completing his plan and saving Moire.

    Norman Baker said that about his autobiography. Why? He was a jackass. In the pages of this book meet 20 losers, killers, confidence tricksters, and incompetents - the Jackasses of History. For adult readers.