Her brother has always been cruel but there is something even darker going on within his house. Terrified and yet determined not to sit idly by whilst her brother enacts his plan, Violet forces herself to intervene. The handsome gentleman is none other than the Duke of Abernyte and Violet finds herself beginning to lose her heart, even though she knows such a thing can never be.Matthew is quite certain that his time at war will help him with his responsibilities back in London. But when he finds himself dizzy and powerless, he can only rely on the aid of one mysterious young woman for help. Unable to recall her face, Matthew does all he can to discover her. When his interest in Lady Violet seems to drive her away from him even further, Matthew is certain she knows something important. Will his determination push her too far? And can he permit himself to open his heart to her, despite the danger?

    The individual books in this series have accumulated a total of over 1,800 5-star reviews. Heroic and not so heroic men and women plus their loyal Artificially Intelligent allies fight and die to prevent humanity's extermination at the hands of a shockingly xenophobic alien race. But is there something more going on here than just an irrational alien race lashing out without provocation? One man's uncontrollable, precognitive visions lead him to believe that humans and the xenophobic aliens are just pawns in a much larger conflict and the real stakes are nothing less than the future of all life in the galaxy. If he can use his visions to keep humanity alive long enough, he may be able to figure out the mystery before it's too late. This Omnibus edition also includes sample chapters of the Synchronicity War universe stand-alone novel The Retro War. You can read Part 1 of the Sync War series for free to try it out before buying this ebook. All 4 parts are also available as audiobooks from Audible.com. Genre categories: Space fleet, galactic empire, space opera, alien invasion, first contact,time travel

    

    A century later—with the average human living three times longer than before First Contact—the Earth became overcrowded, and mankind found itself completely dependent on the technologically advanced aliens known as the Proxy 

Now, three hundred years after First Contact, the Earth is so overpopulated that governments have taken control of everything. The wealthy have all they can dream of, but for most people, life has become a grueling marathon of constant work for lifetimes that stretch over two centuries in length. When Nick Nichols and his friends—fresh out of high school—strike out into the work force, they quickly find the twelve-hour shifts, six days per week of hard labor unbearable. When their first paychecks reveal a mere pittance for their toil, the friends know that something must change. 

The Proxy Military Corps (PMC) is the only way to escape the crowded conditions on Earth. Every Space Marine who agrees to fight for the Proxy and completes their five-year enlistment period is given free transport to Elysium, a Goldilocks planet perfect for human colonization. But all reports of Elysium come solely from the aliens, who alone hold the key to interstellar travel. The Proxy jealously guard their technology—so without the aliens’ help, mankind is trapped in the solar system. While the only hope for a better life is by joining the PMC, enlistment carries its own hazards and uncertainties; no one who joins the PMC ever returns to Earth. Most people believe the promises of the PMC are all lies used to lure the gullible to their deaths. Elysium, they say, is just a fantasy—and fighting for the Proxy is seen as a betrayal of the human race. But for those brave enough to face the perils of the galaxy beyond our solar system, the PMC might just be their best chance for having a life worth living. 

Dragon Team Seven is the first book in a new military space opera by prolific author Toby Neighbors. Join Nick and his friends as they experience the trials and rewards of military life in space. With realistic characters navigating their way through a vast galaxy that you’re sure to find exciting, this action-packed novel promises to be a new favorite. It’s richly imaginative, fast-paced, and surprising. If you’re ready to be swept away into a world that you’ll never want to leave, Dragon Team Seven is for you.

    Each One Dirtier And Rougher Than The Next… SMITH I want her. Plain and simple truth. I want her. I want to push inside her. I want to grip her hair and tug her scalp and lick her bared throat. I want to tie her wrists and ankles to my bed, make her helpless, weak, begging for me. I want to leave my marks on her, bruise that delicate flesh, have her sore and aching after I ravage her. But my cravings are most definitely too dark for her. I’m not the white-picket-fence kind of guy, and I can’t let myself start thinking otherwise. I should stick to the kind of women I’m used to, the kind who are fine with one night. Aubrey deserves love, real love, the kind of love I’m incapable of. The problem is she’s all I want. I know I can only destroy her. But I can’t stay away. AUBREY I try to pretend that I’m not aware of the tattoos covering him. That I’m not aware of the muscles of his arms and legs. I try to pretend my core doesn’t tighten in response to his raw masculinity, pretend I don’t want him to push me up against the wall and have his way with me. I’m so attracted to him I can barely focus. He thinks I’m naive, and maybe he’s right. Am I really so naïve as to think that maybe what Smith and I are doing is different? Or is this just me being blind? Sometimes I can see every emotion on his face. Other times, I can’t tell a thing he’s thinking. I’m plagued by doubts, yet also trying to convince myself that I know what I know. I’m not just a random woman to Smith. There’s more between us than that. What that “more” is, I don’t know. But it’s there. Either that, or he’s the world’s greatest actor. Because the emotion in our last kiss was so strong it almost blew me over. If I’m wrong about him, it will shatter my heart, break me into a million pieces. The only thing worse would be walking away… Aubrey’s standing there, lips swollen, breath panting, eyes heavily lidded. She’s so innocent but so primed for me. I could probably take her upstairs to my apartment, spread her wide and plunge deep inside her. But I can’t do that. Because she deserves better than me. I can’t ruin her. The Becket Boys: The Complete Series, contains: SMITH (The Beckett Boys, Book One) by Olivia Chase JAX (The Beckett Boys, Book 2) by Olivia Chase ASHER (The Beckett Boys, Book Three) By Olivia Chase JAMISON (The Beckett Boys, Book Four) by Olivia Chase ZACK (The Beckett Boys, Book Five) by Olivia Chase HUDSON (The Beckett Boys, Book Six) by Olivia Chase HALE (The Beckett Boys, Book Seven) by Olivia Chase AXEL (The Beckett Boys, Book Eight) by Olivia Chase

    

    Includes maps and b&w thumbnail illustrations. Indexed by artists and styles. The last edition appeared i

    A serious problem. The soul-wrenching kind. The career killing kind. He needs to finish a piece for the Pope—but doesn’t know how. Alas, figuring it out is no trivial task. In fact, nobody ever has. Of all the great and grand quests that humans have undertaken, none has been more attempted or elusive than gaining a comprehensive grasp of God. When seeking to know Him with the head rather than the heart, to rely on reason rather than faith, the obstacles appear insurmountable. If He is all powerful, and we are His children, why do so many suffer so horribly? Why would He punish people who don’t believe in Him? Why haven’t we seen or heard from Him for thousands of years? Join Leonardo and the Archangel Gabriel as they survey and surmount these stumbling blocks. Listen in as Gabriel reveals why obvious answers remain obscured. Follow along as he leads Leonardo all the way to an intuitive understanding of the Almighty. Set during Da Vinci’s struggle to give God a face in his masterpiece, The Last Supper, Leonardo and Gabriel is no less entertaining than it is educational. Although the framework is historically accurate, the conclusions of this original work are as unpredictable as they are compelling. Engage with an open mind—as Gabriel councils Leonardo to do—and it may even change your life. _________________________ Do you like logic puzzles? Pondering big philosophical questions? Are you open-minded and eager to learn life-improving lessons? Then this book’s for you. On the other hand, if you prefer to sit in the pews, repeating along while scripture is passionately delivered from the pulpit, then you should probably pass on this one. _________________________ BEFORE YOU BUY, PLEASE NOTE TWO THINGS: 1) This novella is considerably shorter than the author’s novels. The price reflects the caliber of the content, not the page count, and was selected to discourage impetuous purchase. 2) This is essentially an entertaining self-help book, a philosophy text that reads like a thriller. It is intended to stimulate life-improving thought and adequately answer one of history’s most perplexing questions by creatively presenting original analysis on an important topic that touches us all. _________________________ The publisher recommends Leonardo and Gabriel for use in undergraduate logic and philosophy courses, and will make copies of the ebook available free of charge to the faculty and students of accredited academic institutions. Kindly Submit inquiries to edu@timtigner.com.

    Her lifelong friend, Ingrid, has asked her to do the impossible -- authenticate the painting from a photograph. The photograph in question was passed down to Ingrid by her grandfather, Klaus Rettke a key member of the German Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg, the Nazi organization appointed to confiscate art from the Jews. Obscure references in Klaus Rettke's diary convince Maggie that Rettke stole the painting from the Nazis. Now she must use science to verify that the painting in the photo is genuine, something that has never been done before. From the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. to the Musee du Jeu de Paume in Paris, Maggie searches for answers. Finally, she confronts the possibility that there is not one painting, but the original and several forgeries. With tens of millions of dollars at stake and a killer at large, she is determined to find the authentic Van Gogh. To do so, Maggie must stay alive . . . something that's proving difficult to do.

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

    Parlour games. Cocktails. Welcome to a glorious journey through the golden age of the country house party - and you are invited. Our host, celebrated historian Adrian Tinniswood, traces the evolution of this quintessentially British pastime from debauched royal tours to the flamboyant excess of the Bright Young Things. With cameos by the Jazz Age industrialist, the bibulous earl and the off-duty politician - whether in moated manor houses or ornate Palladian villas - Tinniswood gives a vivid insight into weekending etiquette and reveals the hidden lives of celebrity guests, from Nancy Astor to Winston Churchill, in all their drinking, feasting, gambling and fornicating. The result is a deliciously entertaining, star-studded, yet surprisingly moving portrait of a time when social conventions were being radically overhauled through the escapism of a generation haunted by war - and a uniquely fast-living period of English history. Praise for The Long Weekend:'Delicious, occasionally fantastical, revealing in ways that Downton Abbey never was. It is as if Tinniswood is at the biggest, wildest, most luxuriantly decadent party ever thrown, and he knows everyone.' Observer 'A deliciously jaunty and wonderfully knowledgeable book. Tinniswood displays a terrific insider's grasp of gossip . A meticulous, irresistible story.' Spectator 'Elegant, encyclopedic and entertaining . A confident and skilled historian who understands the mores of his era and wears his learning lightly . Deserves to be on every costume drama producer's bookshelf.' Times

    The story of two women - and a man; of Emmy and Rose, bound to each other irrevocably by ties of friendship and love, and still locked in a ceaseless struggle for the same man, Adam.

    He was the sage who stood apart from all others in Chinese history. He was a unique presence, a great mind like no one before or since. Chuang Tzu quickly distinguished himself and became well known for his deep understanding and sense of humor. His mastery was such that he could explain the Tao with simple stories, and his humor was such that he could see the joy in ordinary things. He taught his students about “carefree wandering”—the path of moving through life with a free and happy heart, regardless of how turbulent the journey might be. It is time for modern readers to join in on the fun. Chuang Tzu’s wisdom is not just for Eastern culture, but for all of humanity. We may not have the instability or the clash of massive armies indicative of Chuang Tzu’s time, but we have a lot of stress and tension in our modern world. Many of us find ourselves fighting little battles on the personal front just to get through the day. We can benefit greatly from Chuang Tzu’s teachings. These parables are presented throughout this book and juxtaposed with the charming and intelligent prose of modern-day Taoist teacher and author Derek Lin. Together, Chuang Tzu and Lin will present you with simple lessons that will have a lasting impact on your life.

    Platon's subjects are all leaders in their field and include Al Pacino, Bill Clinton, Vivienne Westwood, Leonard Cohen and David Beckham. A collection of unique portraits by British born, New York based, fashion photographer Platon. Over 120 photographs have been selected from an enormous range of powerful images taken over the last decade and together they constitute a unique and dynamic cross-section through the cult of fame and power. and sometimes overwhelms, us with images of world-wide importance juxtaposed with frivolity. Platon's Republic replicates the same intense and sometimes surreal experience with portraits of Al Pacino, Bill Clinton, Vivienne Westwood, Leonard Cohen as well as more documentary photographs of Jesse Jackson and Bianca Jagger demonstrating against the death penalty and football supporters. Granted extraordinary access to some of the west's most powerful people, Platon's subjects are all leaders in their field. Whether they are from the TV industry, politicians, actors, fashion designers, writers or musicians, they all wield enormous influence within their arena. Platons' portraits are graphic and intimate, but the unusual angles and revealing expressions are his hallmark.

    His horse had dropped from a jog to a walk as he neared the fence. His eyes could be seen now. They were summing up what he saw in front of him."He doesn't look the kind that takes orders easily," Gerry said. "What do you say, Bill? Do we offer him a job?"Something about the man stirred her. There was a personal magnetism that was hard to define. Perhaps it was his eyes. They were hard, clear and compelling."We'll offer him the courtesy of billy tea," Bill said quietly. "Then we'll see how he makes out."Looking at the stranger, Gerry had a queer feeling that it would be he who saw who was making out.