Lord High Executioner: The Legendary Mafia Boss Albert Anastasia


Frank DiMatteo - 2020
    legend who helped create the modern American Mafia—one body at a time—featuring shocking eyewitness accounts . . . Umberto “Albert” Anastasia was born in Italy at the turn of the century. Five decades later, he would be gunned down in a barber shop in New York City. What happened in the years in between-- and why every crime family had reason to want him dead-- is one of the most brutal and fascinating stories in the history of American organized crime. This in-depth account of the man who became one of the most powerful and homicidal crime bosses of the twentieth century from Mafia insider Frank Dimatteo is the first full-length book to chronicle Anastasia’s bloody rise from fresh-off-the-boat immigrant to founder of the notorious killer’s club Murder, Inc.—featuring never-before-told accounts from those who feared him most . . . They called him “The One Man Army.” “Mad Hatter.” “Lord High Executioner.” Albert Anastasia came to America mean and became a prolific killer. His merciless assassination of Mafia godfather Vincent Mangano is recounted here in chilling first-hand detail. He set the record: the first man in the history of American justice to be charged with four separate murders—and walk free after each one. But in the end, he was the last obstacle in rival Mafia hoodlum Vito Genovese’s dream of becoming the boss of bosses—and paid the ultimate price . . .

Season of Madness


Robert Scott - 2013
    . .Annette Edwards was a vivacious 19-year-old on her way to watch the Fourth of July fireworks. Eighteen-year-old Pam Moore was a former beauty pageant contestant, hitching a ride on a busy street. Linda Slavik was a young mother enjoying a night out with a friend. Annette Selix was just eleven, an innocent child on her way home from the market. Each of them was attacked without warning, brutally assaulted, and left for dead by a bitter, disfigured man in the grip of a violent frenzy: the so-called "Hilltop Rapist." But serial predator Darrell Rich didn't stop at just four victims. He couldn't stop. . ."Scott tells a true story with compassion and taste." --Reviewing the Evidence Praise for Robert Scott and Shattered Innocence "Compelling and shocking. . .a ground-breaking book." --Robert K. Tanenbaum "Fascinating and fresh. . .a fast-paced, informative read." --Sue Russell

Rise and Shine: Better Breakfasts for Busy Mornings--with 75 recipes everyone will love


Katie Sullivan Morford - 2016
    Katie Morford has the key to a quick and easy for weekdays, slow and luxurious for relaxed weekends—you can turn your morning into an exercise in good nutrition and great taste. You'll find breakfasts that can be eaten at the table (Egg-in-a-Nest Pesto Pizzas), at the bus stop (Strawberries and Cream Spoon Smoothies), or on the run (Milk and Cereal Bars), all healthy alternatives to cold cereal and prepackaged bars that even picky eaters will love. Rise & Shine is tailor made for busy families who want to do mornings just a little bit better. It's a toolkit of ideas and inspiration to make a nourishing breakfast not only doable, but delicious.

INCONVENIENCE GONE: The Short Tragic Life Of Brandon Sims


Diane Marger Moore - 2018
    Jones was employed, confident, talented, smart, assertive and involved in many community activities in Indianapolis, Indiana. In contrast, when he was last seen, Brandon Sims, an only child, was a serious, quiet, thin boy who rarely maintained eye contact with his mother. After that night, he was never seen again. His body has never been found. For years Jones lied to her friends about Brandon, telling some that he was living with his father and others that he was staying with his grandmother in another state. When Brandon's father, who had been in jail, came looking for Brandon, Michelle's shocked friends confronted her. She confessed that Brandon was dead. She repeated her story of how Brandon died to a detective, after she admitted herself to the local psych unit. Days later she checked out of the unit and refused to reveal where he had hidden Brandon's body. She was sure she had gotten away with murder. And she would have except the detective didn't believe her story. He enlisted the help of a novice prosecutor because no experienced prosecutor would take the case. In Indiana, no one had ever been convicted of murder without a body. That prosecutor has written a book that reads like a mystery novel instead of the real murder prosecution. Truth is stranger than fiction where Santeria curses, the law and politics are only a few of obstacles to justice.

Paul The Apostle: Missionary, Martyr, Theologian


Robert E. Picirilli - 1986
    But with so many books on the apostle, where do you start?Paul the Apostle is the ideal choice if you want a solid understanding of Paul’s life, ministry, and writings without getting weighed down with minutia. Author Robert E. Picirilli, who taught college courses on Paul for over twenty-five years, found that most books on the apostle were either too technical or too basic, so he wrote a book that strikes a happy medium. It offers:A profile of Paul in his historical and cultural contextOutlines and explanations of his missionary journeysIntroductions and brief analyses of each of his epistlesUseful for individual study or as a textbook (as it is in many universities today), Paul the Apostle is a great one-stop study of the man who wrote half the New Testament, spread the gospel to the heart of the known world, and gave his life for the Kingdom.

Leaving the Pink House


Ladette Randolph - 2014
    From the isolated farmhouse of her childhood, to the series of houses her family occupied in small towns across Nebraska as her father pursued his dream of becoming a minister, to the equally small houses she lived in as a single mother and graduate student, houses have shaped her understanding of her place in the world and served as touchstones for a life marked by both constancy and endless cycles of change. On September 12, 2001, Randolph and her husband bought a dilapidated farmhouse on twenty acres outside Lincoln, Nebraska, and set about gutting and rebuilding the house themselves. They had nine months to complete the work. The project, undertaken at a time of national unrest and uncertainty, led Randolph to reflect on the houses of her past and the stages of her life that played out in each, both painful and joyful. As the couple struggles to bring the dilapidated house back to life, Randolph simultaneously traces the contours of a life deeply shaped by the Nebraska plains, where her family has lived for generations, and how those roots helped her find the strength to overcome devastating losses as a young adult. Weaving together strands of departures and arrivals, new houses and deep roots, cycles of change and the cycles of the seasons, Leaving the Pink House is a richly layered and compelling memoir of the meaning of home and family, and how they can never really leave us, even if we leave them.

Before You Wake: Life Lessons from a Father to His Children


Erick Erickson - 2017
    "A must read." -- RedState In late 2016, prompted by the news that his wife was battling cancer and his own pulmonary medical scare, Erick Erickson posted a piece to his website, The Resurgent. Styled as a letter to his young children, the piece, titled "If I Should Die Before You Wake," was a stirring message--and challenge--about how to live a life of purpose and joy. The essay went viral, shared by figures like New York Times columnist and author of The Road to Character, David Brooks. Now, in a time when our country needs healing and a reminder of our values more than ever, Erickson has expanded the project, composing a total of ten letters, featuring a wonderful mix of the practical, inspirational, and spiritual.

The Little Book of Big Weight Loss


Bernadette Fisers - 2017
    She tried and failed many diets, but her life took a turn when she was forced to face a harsh reality: her weight crept up to 287 pounds and she had a BMI reading of forty-two. Pre-diabetic and diagnosed as morbidly obese with a fatty liver and high blood pressure, Bernadette decided that it was the time to ditch the fad diets and take matters into her own hands to turn her life around. She began asking those she knew well—the glamorous models she worked with—learning about their healthy eating habits and their tips on staying trim. She further researched medical reports and nutrition papers until finally—by trial, error, and a lot of experimentation—she created a healthy lifestyle plan that was quick to read, easy to understand, and, most importantly, worked long term. Following her new rules, Bernadette went on to lose more than sixty-six pounds in thirty weeks. The Little Book of Big Weight Loss is for anyone who has grown tired of all the confusing, conflicting advice and complicated diet plans. Inspiring and packed with invaluable tips and strategies, this guide provides a fresh, simple, can-do approach to dieting and can help you get on track to achieving your goals and losing weight long term.

The End of Where We Begin


Rosalind Russell - 2020
    Lonely and friendless after the death of her father, she finds solace in her first boyfriend, and together they flee across the city when the fighting breaks out. On the same night, Daniel, the son of a colonel, also makes his escape, but finds himself stranded by the River Nile, alone and vulnerable. Lilian is a young mother, who runs for her life holding the hand of her little boy Harmony until a bomb attack wrenches them apart, forcing her to trek on alone.After epic journeys of endurance, their lives cross in Bidi Bidi in Uganda the world s largest refugee camp. There they meet James, a counsellor who helps them to find light and hope in the darkest of places.The End of Where We Begin is a gripping and intimate true life account of three young people whose promising lives are brutally interrupted by war. It documents their heart-breaking and inspiring battle to keep moving on through the extremes of attack, injury, exile and trauma. It is a story of the bonds of community and resilience in adversity a powerful message for our troubled times.

Corner to Corner Crochet: 15 Contemporary C2C Projects


Jess Coppom - 2018
    Using basic crochet stitches you can create stunning, contemporary designs for home decor items and accessories. C2C projects also stitch up super-fast so if you've been put off tackling a crochet blanket because it would take too long, this is the technique for you! Author Jess Coppom has brought a really fresh take to this style of crochet with a collection of 15 modern projects all made using the C2C technique. Choose from patterns for six different afghans or blankets including a monochrome chunky throw and a beautiful Mexican style blanket. Other projects include pillows, a bathroom rug and some stunning items to wear such as a poncho, shawl and cowl. Why not make some C2C projects for yourself and then stitch up some treats for friends and family?

Kingpin: Prisoner of the War on Drugs


Richard Stratton - 2017
    Gulag America tells the story of the eight years that followed, through two federal trials and the underworld of the federal prison system, at a time when it was undergoing unprecedented expansion due to the War on Drugs. Stratton was shipped by bus from LA's notorious Glass House to jails and prisons across the country, a softening process known as diesel therapy. Resisting pressure to falsely implicate his friend and mentor, Norman Mailer, he was convicted in his second trial under the kingpin statute and sentenced to twenty-five years without the possibility of parole.While doing time in prisons from Manhattan's Criminal Hilton to rural Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, and New York, he witnessed brutality as well as camaraderie, rampant trafficking of contraband, and crimes by both guards and convicts. He first learned the lessons of survival. Then he learned to prevail, becoming a jailhouse lawyer and winning the reversal of his kingpin sentence and eventual release.Gulag America includes cameos by Norman Mailer and Muhammad Ali, and an account of the author's friendship with mafia don Joe Stassi, a legendary hitman from the early days of the mob who knew gangsters Meyer Lansky, Bugsy Siegel, and Abe Zwillman and has insights into the killing of Dutch Schultz and the Kennedy assassinationGulag America is the second volume in Richard Stratton's trilogy, Remembrance of the War on Plants.

Summary of The Body by Bill Bryson: A Guide for Occupants


Best Book Briefings - 2019
    So often, we take our bodies for granted. We’re rarely curious about how they work and what we can do to make them work better. In The Body, Bill Bryson takes you on a tour inside your body so you can gain a better understanding of how it functions and its amazing ability to heal itself. At the times you doubt yourself, or think of yourself as less than wonderful, this summary of The Body will remind you of the miracle you truly are.

Heather Ross Prints: 50+ Designs and 20 Projects to Get You Started: 50+ Designs and 20 Projects to Get You Started


Heather Ross - 2012
    In Heather Ross Prints, a book-and-DVD package, Ross shares reproducible artwork for more than 50 of her most popular prints. She provides step-by-step instructions for 20 craft projects using the prints on the DVD—everything from sea turtle stationery to a shower curtain covered with swirling mermaids. Crafters can use the artwork on the DVD as they wish, printing on fabric, paper, or whatever surface they choose. Plus, Ross teaches her process for designing fabric using Photoshop—a boon to anyone who has ever dreamed of following in her footsteps.

Chasing Eden A Memoir


Cherilyn Christen Clough - 2019
     Her parents believe God wants them to stay isolated from the world. It seems their goals are at odds with each other. As Cherilyn's family moves from town to town, running from bill collectors and becoming more isolated, their housing situation keeps deteriorating until they end up homeless. When her mother declares they'll need to put their lives on hold until they can live like normal people, Cherilyn becomes determined to fix their situation--only to be thwarted by her father's control. Despite physical beatings, religious abuse, and abject poverty, her superpowers could ultimately set her free--if only she can figure out how to use them. Compared to Educated and the Glass Castle What Amazon readers are saying about Chasing Eden ★★★★★ "As someone who is obsessed with memoir, I can say this one stands with the best. Readers will see similarities to the fathers in Educated and The Glass Castle, but this in no way makes Cherilyn's story predictable. I was glued to my seat, fingernails dug in, going from tears of frustration to gasps of shock to being so angry that I wanted to throw my iPad across the room. However and delightfully so, there were also enough laughs and beautiful moments to get me through the saga of neglect and abuse." ★★★★★ "Riveting! Funny and simultaneously horrifying!" ★★★★★ "Emotional, witty, heart-wrenching, engaging." ★★★★★ "The author is a master storyteller. You will not be disappointed!" ★★★★★ "Such graphic word pictures that I couldn't put the book down." ★★★★★ "This is a book about the power of hope. While trapped in its pages, I laughed, cried, and dreamt too." ★★★★★ "This is a gripping, heart-wrenching, actual-factual, living nightmare!" ★★★★★ "I feel personally richer and more resilient for having read it." ★★★★★ "As a literary scholar, I was compelled by the fine tensions and suspense Clough builds in her memoir." ★★★★★ "This one spoke to my soul. Beyond words, reading this book changes you." ★★★★★ "As a trauma therapist, I will be recommending this book to my clients." ★★★★★ "Chasing Eden is the poignant story of a young girl's search for unconditional love and acceptance in a bewildering world full of contradictions." ★★★★★ "For readers who've appreciated the introspection of Educated, Clough adds another voice to understanding the way in which extremist beliefs are lived out in family life.

Flesh Collectors: Their Ghoulish Appetites Drove Them to Crimes that Only Began With Murder


Fred Rosen - 2003
    A friendship grew from their shared lust for sadistic brutality, and once released, they teamed up to hunt human prey. In March, 1998, in Pensacola, Florida, while quietly watching TV, Leighton Smitherman was shot in the back by assailants hiding outside his home. Amazingly, he survived, not knowing that he'd been chosen at random by would-be-thrill-killers. Their next target wasn't so lucky. Justin Livingston, 20, died from multiple stab wounds - some more than six inches deep. The horror peaked on 7 May 1999, when Rodgers went on a date with pretty Jennifer Robinson, 18, with Lawrence tagging along. The young woman was drugged and assaulted first by Rodgers, then Lawrence, before Rodgers shot her execution-style. But the worse was yet to come, an unspeakable act of mutilation that followed in the bloody footsteps of one of the most infamous serial killers of our time...