Follow along with Kristin as she meets and overcomes obstacles along the path to French integration: sit on the edge of your seat at her wedding, when her future husband's ex shows up in a slinky dress; buckle your seat-belt when she takes the French Drivers exam; share a slice of humble pie with her as her children enlighten her, in their native tongue, about the mystery and meaning of la vie en rose. "Espinasse recounts her adventures with honesty and humor, never afraid to have a good laugh at her own expense." -Publishers Weekly

    Her latest book, the fifth in the series, is a collection of short stories based on her newspaper articles, magazine columns and other writings about France. France in Four Seasons is a series of short (and sweet) anecdotes, designed to give a delightful and evocative insight into French life as the seasons unfold.

     "A story with laugh out loud moments, heart-rending events and a nice easy flowing style." --Trip Fiction "Anyone who likes their romance with a touch of realism and not too much syrup will adore this book." --Read Reviewed WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR WIFE ORGANIZED A THREESOME FOR YOU ON YOUR HONEYMOON? Scott is shocked by his wife Hannah's suggestion, but hesitantly agrees to go along with it. Back home, both feel a little guilty about their encounter with a Thai woman called Marilyn, but soon put it behind them when they discover Hannah is pregnant. Then Marilyn turns up on their doorstep, six months pregnant, and Scott comes to realize that in life there is often a price to pay for indiscretion. Squeezed is a story about family, and how sometimes we don't appreciate what we've got until it's gone. Perfect for fans of Graeme Simsion, Tracy Bloom, Sue Moorcroft, Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern ALSO BY DAVID ATKINSON LOVE BYTE

    Enjoy all 13 Sammy Baker Cozy Mysteries in one massive boxset, plus one extra maritime mystery with Donna Doyle's favorite elderly sleuth, the marvelous Molly Grey. Included in this bumper collection of cozies... Dying For Cupcakes A broken Baker running for relief in Sunny Cove. A poisoned cupcake swallowed by the local sheriff. Our sleuthing cook in the crosshairs for the crime! Rolling Out a Mystery Reconnecting with old friends seemed like such a good idea, but when a Halloween Party becomes the unlikely scene of a crime, Sammy is thrown again into a Sunny Cove mystery! Christmas Puds and Killers Sammy Baker’s confectionaries are a big hit in Sunny Cove, but when a fundraising drive turns into a hair-raising crime it’s time for Sam to don her sleuthing cap again. Wedding Cake & Body by the Lake A sneaky waitress and a well-to-do groom acting strangely leave Sammy wondering what’s wrong. When a body is then found by the lake Sammy teams up with Sheriff Jones to discover the truth. Cookies & Condolences Sammy Baker is excited to start up Sunny Cove Services, but when she hires someone who ends up dead a brand new mystery opens up. Can she follow the crumbs to the killer? A Spoonful of Suspicion When hunting a new property for her bakery tumbles into a hunt for a killer, Sammy Baker is thrown once again into a culinary mystery that needs to be solved before she is framed for murder. Pie Crumbs & Hit and Run Sammy’s faithful Toyota breaks down and she might even need to buy a new vehicle. But when the owner of the dealership is found dead after a hit-and-run, Sammy begins to wonder if it is more than an accident. Blue Ribbon Revenge When the residents of Sunny Cove find out that the Columbia County Cooking Competition is to be held right in their small town, Helen is convinced that Sammy will win. When her top competitor is suddenly eliminated, Sammy has to find the culprit! Raisin to Be Thankful Sammy has much to be thankful for, and she wants to help others. But not everyone in Sunny Cove is interested in helping the homeless, and when one of the homeless man is found bludgeoned and the local financial advisor goes missing, Sammy has to figure it all out before it’s too late. Auld Lang Crime It’s bitterly cold in Sunny Cove, but nothing could be as icy as the chill that runs down your spine when you hear that your neighbor has come to a grizzly end! Join Sammy for a new year mystery that begins with an untimely end, but promises a brand new beginning. Stirring Up Trouble The mayor of Stone Springs is on his way to Sunny Cove to campaign for governor, but every step of the campaign trail is sabotaged. Sammy begins to think this is about more than just politics, and she sniffs out a mystery. Haunts and Ham Sandwiches Sammy is eager to get a homeless shelter established in Sunny Cove, but everyone in town believes the house is haunted. Sammy’s got to get to the bottom of weird happenings if she’s ever going to make this shelter a reality.

    Drawing from street culture, high art, and traditional Japanese painting, Murakami takes the contemporary art trend of mixing high and low to an unprecedented level (critics call him the new Warhol), producing original paintings and sculptures as well as mass-produced consumer objects such as toys, books, and most famously, a line of handbags for Louis Vuitton. A committed supporter and spokesperson for Japanese artists and a powerful commentator on postwar culture and society, Murakami has organized influential exhibitions of Japanese art as well as a biannual art fair in Tokyo. Murakami has positioned himself as a new type of artist for the twenty-first century: a hybrid of creator, entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador.In conjunction with the first major retrospective of his work, Murakami traces Murakami’s global impact socially, culturally, and art historically. Essays focus on Murakami’s early works, which were based on a social critique of Japan’s rampant consumerism; the development of his characters; his work with anime, fantasy; otaku culture; and his engagement with global pop culture. Representing output from original works of art to mass-produced multiples, the catalogue also considers the implications of Murakami’s working methods within the tradition of the Western avant-garde.

    She is considered a rising star in the international world of art, and has a roster of wealthy clients who trust her judgment and her business acumen. Her success reaches new heights when a rare and long lost Rembrandt finds its way into her hands, which she restores and sells for top dollar. Called the auction of the year, Annette becomes the most talked about art dealer in the world. Annette is married to her mentor and personal champion, the much older Marius Remmington. For twenty years, Marius has groomed her into the international art star that she has become, not to mention saving her from a dark and gritty past. She is his pride and joy, and as her best advisor, it's with great care that he hand picks only the best journalist possible to do a profile on his beloved wife in a popular London Sunday newspaper. Jack Chalmers is a bit of a celebrity himself, becoming one of the top journalists of his time. Marius believes only he will be able to capture the true brilliance of his lovely wife. But Marius never intends to put his marriage in jeopardy. How could he have known that the connection between Jack and Annette would ignite so many secrets? And how could he know that Jack would uncover a scandal that could ultimately destroy them all?Barbara Taylor Bradford does it again in this epic novel of seduction, passion and international intrigue. Playing the game has never been so thrilling.

    This book covers topics which include the secrets of how the pros retouch portraits; how to color correct any photo without breaking a sweat (you'll be amazed at how they do it!); how to unlock the power of Photoshop CS' new features for digital photo pros; and others.

    A telling gesture. A unique posture. When you're struck by am image or impression you want to use in your art, you must record it - quickly! - before it's gone.But what's an artist to do when there's no time for a carefully rendered drawing or even a good photo? Some quick field sketching, that's what!This book will revolutionize the way you sketch. David Rankin reveals the simple secrets to creating quick, impressionistic field sketches from life - and how to work with them once you're back in the studio. With the tools and methods described here, you'll be surprised how easy it is to draw rapid visuals of landscapes, animals, figures, crowds, any subject.So the next time you're taken by a sudden, fleeting inspiration, you can capture it. And make the most of it in your art.

    There are so many compelling works, shows, and exhibitions to choose from and new galleries are opening all the time. Because there is so much to discover and see, many people are getting interested in collecting art. But since it's impossible to keep track of all developments, becoming an art collector is not easy.A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art provides relief and offers sound advice to those who want to buy art but don't know how or where to do it. They might have preferences in terms of styles or techniques, but they're not familiar with how the buying process works. Perhaps they already have specific pieces in mind but don't yet trust the rules of the art market -- if such rules actually exist. What does someone actually need to know to prevent their personal tastes from leading them to make the wrong investment decisions?On his way to becoming a passionate art collector himself, Norwegian adventurer Erling Kagge had to learn these ropes and answer this exact question. His years as a mountain climber and visitor to both poles undoubtedly helped him to explore and assess the extremes of the art market. Thankfully for us, his experience also gave him the desire and skills to impart his knowledge to others in A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art.This book illuminates all aspects of becoming an expert at buying art that one will enjoy for many years, such as how to get started, how to take one's tastes seriously, how to do a targeted search for pieces, how to learn to appraise prices, and how to find trustworthy partners. Kagge's practical yet entertaining step-by-step guidance also includes ways to identify and avoid pitfalls and deceptive temptations. As an extreme athlete, he knows very well how to follow rules yet trust his instinct where it counts. This know-how has benefitted Kagge on the art market and now it will benefit all readers of A Poor Collector's Guide to Buying Great Art, too.

    Phil Tufnell, aka 'Tuffers', is the much-loved English cricketer from the 1990s who has now become one of this country's favourite broadcasters. Not cast from the same mould as other players of his generation, Tufnell became a cult figure for his unorthodox approach to the game ... and to life in general. 'Tuffers' Cricket Tales' is a collection of the great man's favourite cricket stories that will amuse and inform in equal measure. Tufnell's unmistakably distinctive voice, as heard to such good effect on 'Test Match Special', steers fans through dozens and dozens of terrifically entertaining and insightful anecdotes, garnered from his 25-year playing and broadcasting career. He introduces a cast of genuinely colourful characters found in dressing-rooms and commentary boxes from around the world, and in the process offers a uniquely warm and quirky homage to his sport. A perfect Father's Day gift for all cricket fans.

    Later, the builders of Xibalba called it, Xn’Csero, meaning the 3rd World. But the youth who calls himself Timber Wolf doesn’t care. Born into slavery, the human and elf half-breed was taken from his momma’s side and sold into hazardous labor. Over the years he learned to hate, but there was something more; something, some kind of power from his lost, forgotten elvin ancestry was growing inside. But why? Did it have anything to do with the strange weather patterns, awakening volcanoes, tidal waves and part of a continent falling into the sea? Magic was a dying practice, his mother was last of the Elvin Tell-Singers, there were no more Druids, and Kn’Yang, the youth’s great-great-grandfather had been last of the Gahjurahnge Warriors … or was he? The word was, religious leaders around the known world were moving toward the Kohntia Mountains in belief an upcoming stellar phenomenon would transform one individual into godhood. But in the overall scheme of things, why should the youth care? Besides, what difference can one person make? Follow Timber Wolf’s path in a world of chaos, tyranny, oppression by the sword and a worldwide Quest for Conquest by those seeking divine ascension … a world desperately in need of heroes. Call of the Wolf is the 1st novel in The Kohrinju Tai Saga. Weaving a story driven by character development, captivating visuals, fast moving action and intricate paradox against a background of richly detailed history and culture, J P Nelson has created an innovative new look at elves, leprechauns, dragons and magic with all new creatures, intelligent species and more …

    53 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more – everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Four to Score. This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Four to Score by Janet Evanovich.

    Non-taxed freeport warehouses around the globe are stacked with art held for speculation. One of Jeff Koons’ five chromium-plated stainless steel balloon dogs sold for 50 percent more at auction than the previous record for any living artist. A painting by Christopher Wool, featuring four lines from a Francis Ford Coppola movie stencilled in black on a white background, sold for $28 million. In The Orange Balloon Dog, economist and bestselling author Don Thompson cites these and other fascinating examples to explore the sometimes baffling activities of the high-end contemporary art market. He examines what is at play in the exchange of vast amounts of money and what nudges buyers, even on the subconscious level, to imbue a creation with such high commercial value.Thompson analyzes the behaviours of buyers and sellers and delves into the competitions that define and alter the value of art in today’s international market, from New York to London, Singapore to Beijing. Take heed if your millions are tied up in stainless steel balloon dogs—Thompson also warns of a looming bust of the contemporary art price balloon.

    Dismas is a relic hunter: one who procures “authentic” religious relics for wealthy and influential clients. His two most important patrons are Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony and soon-to-be Cardinal Albrecht of Mainz. While Frederick is drawn to the recent writing of Martin Luther, Albrecht pursues the financial and political benefits of religion and seeks to buy a cardinalship through the selling of indulgences. When Albrecht’s ambitions increase his demands for grander and more marketable relics, Dismas and his artist friend Dürer conspire to manufacture a shroud to sell to the unsuspecting noble. Unfortunately Dürer’s reckless pride exposes Albrecht’s newly acquired shroud as a fake, so Albrecht puts Dismas and Dürer in the custody of four loutish mercenaries and sends them all to steal Christ’s burial cloth (the Shroud of Chambéry), Europe’s most celebrated relic.On their journey to Savoy where the Shroud will be displayed, they battle a lustful count and are joined by a beautiful female apothecary. It is only when they reach their destination that they realize they are not alone in their intentions to acquire a relic of dubious legitimacy. Filled with fascinating details about art, religion, politics and science; Vatican intrigue; and Buckley’s signature wit, The Relic Master is a delightfully rich and intelligent comic adventure.

    It asks what would have happened if Damien Hirst had never arrived? If someone else had become the most notorious and influential young British artist? And what if that someone had been more talented, more provocative, more outrageous? And far, far funnier?Early on in this bravura debut we are informed that Hirst was hit and killed by a train in 1989 (“apparently when drunk”) – and the focus of everyone’s attention falls instead on Randall. Randall – a big, lumbering ape of a man – is a genius of language as much as art, supremely able to baffle, bemuse and amuse the press, public and all around him. He makes a fortune, causes chaos, changes the art world – the whole world – and provides brilliant quips every step of the way: “There’s only two things you can do with art: make it, and buy it. Everything else – talking about it, thinking about it, selling it, looking at it – either comes under one of those two, or doesn’t count.”