Book picks similar to
Alpine Circus: A Skier's Exotic Adventures at the Snowy Edge of the World by Michael Finkel
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Fly-Fishing the 41st: Around the World on the 41st Parallel
James Prosek - 2003
. . . he has taken us on an unforgettable journey.” — Thomas McGuane, author of The Cadence of Grass and The Longest Silence: A Life in FishingThe New York Times has called James Prosek "the Audubon of the fishing world," and in Fly-Fishing the 41st, he uses his talent for descriptive writing to illuminate an astonishing adventure. Beginning in his hometown of Easton, Connecticut, Prosek circumnavigates the globe along the 41st parallel, traveling through Spain, Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, China, and Japan. Along the way he shares some of the best fishing in the world with a host of wonderfully eccentric and memorable characters.
Runaway Alex
Natalie Keller Reinert - 2020
She’s been told again and again: stick to horse shows, stick to riding lessons, stick to the relative safety of the suburban equestrian center where she has been a working student since grade school.But Alex can’t shake the conviction that the Thoroughbred life is her destiny.When her unstable trainer cuts her off from horses, Alex finally has to obey her instinct to run away from the safe version of life. She heads to Ocala, where horse racing is king, with no plan and no leads on jobs. When she meets handsome, successful racehorse trainer Alexander White, she feels an instant connection with him. Could this be her dream come true?Falling for Alexander and learning to stay on young racehorses all at once: that’s risky business. But it’s a risk Alex is willing to take — until a storm of emotion threatens to founder her new life. Nothing at Alexander’s gorgeous Thoroughbred farm is as simple as it seems, and she’s not the only one lining up for Alexander’s affection — or his horses.How many times will Alex obey her urge to run away when things get too real? And what happens to her dreams if she can’t stay the course?
Man and Ball: My Autobiography
Stephen Ferris - 2015
It was, however, preferable to his day job of paving driveways, and that day in 2005 saw the start of an incredible journey for Ferris, Ulster and Ireland rugby. A Celtic League title in his very first senior season with Ulster. A Grand Slam in 2009, followed by a sensational Lions breakthrough. A starring role in Ireland's greatest World Cup win, over Australia in 2011, when Ferris famously picked up Will Genia and carried him ten yards. And leading Ulster from nowhere to the Heineken Cup final.Stephen Ferris had an incredible rugby career, tragically ended by ankle injuries so severe they will never properly heal. He is an inspiration to the population of Ulster, an emblem of the sport that serves as such a positive expression of its culture and identity, and earned the respect and admiration of fans across Ireland for his strength, pace, skill and courage. Fearless, funny and full of an incredible array of stories from behind the scenes of Ulster, Ireland and the Lions, this is the must-have rugby book of the year.
Sweating Blood: My Life in Squash: The Official Autobiography of Nick Matthew
Nick Matthew - 2013
That’s not physically possible, but if you could Nick Matthew would have done it by the bucket-load. Throughout his 15-year career, Matthew has fought his way to the top of the PSA World Rankings in his gladiatorial sport, winning 25 World Tour titles, including being crowned world champion on two occasions and British Open champion three times. Nick holds the record of five British National titles in addition to being crowned Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles Gold Medalist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games making him England’s most successful player. Sweating Blood: My Life In Squash is much more than the tale of a squash player. In this brutally honest story: Nick psychoanalyses his own obsessive-compulsive personality and explains how it helps him win; He remembers how, as a late developer, he was constantly told he lacked the talent to succeed yet went on to become the most successful English player of all time; He gives an amazing behind-the-scenes access to the sport: the prize money, the anti-doping, the gruesome training, the post-match celebrations, the crazy players on the PSA World Tour and the far-flung corners of the globe where he competes; He remembers the career-threatening shoulder operation that eventually put him on the road to World Championship and Commonwealth Games glory; He tries to understand how his relationship with another top British player went so horribly wrong; He digs back into his Yorkshire upbringing and remembers the colourful characters who turned him into the champion he is today; And he pinpoints the most crucial moments in his career – the moments when he really felt like he was sweating blood.
Best Seat in the House: 18 Golden Lessons from a Father to His Son
Jack Nicklaus II - 2021
Although the “Golden Bear,” as he is known by fans, is widely regarded as the best golfer of all time, with a record number of PGA major championships, his life and values show that true legacy lives on through your children, grandchildren, and others we are blessed to call family and friends.For the first time, the public is given the opportunity to see what made Jack Nicklaus an off-course success, includinghow he and his wife, Barbara, fashioned fifty-plus years of marriage, understanding that they both had to give of themselves “at least 95 percent of the time”the importance of having boundaries and limits that everyone in the family agrees onhow Nicklaus taught his son Jack, who worked as his caddie for several years, to value his competitors and treat them as he would hope to be treatedthe need to be connected to what we’ll leave behind: our legaciesOne June day, Jack Nicklaus II had just completed his second round in a Palm Beach County Junior Golf Association tournament and was sitting at the scorer’s table, signing his scorecard, when somebody told him his dad was on the telephone. He was a little frustrated because he didn’t want to be bothered on such an important day, but his dad wanted to know how he had played, so Jack II spent the next twenty minutes detailing every hole and every shot. Afterward, his father said, “Jackie, would you like to know how your dad did today?” Of course he wanted to know, and he felt a little guilty for not asking. “Well, I just won the US Open.” It was Father’s Day 1980, and on that day Jack II learned a valuable lesson that he carried with him into adulthood: family is more important than anything in the world.
The Greatest Game: The Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Playoff of '78
Richard Bradley - 2008
That game, played at Fenway Park on the afternoon of October 4, 1978, was the culmination of one of the most tense, emotionally wrought seasons ever, between baseball's two most bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. Both teams finished this tumultuous season with identical 99-64 records, forcing a one-game playoff. With a one-run lead and two outs, with the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, the entire season came down to one at-bat and to one swing of the bat. It came down, as both men eerily predicted to themselves the night before, to the aging Red Sox legend, Carl Yastrzemski, and the Yankees' free-agent power reliever, Rich "Goose" Gossage.Anyone who calls himself a baseball fan knows the outcome of that confrontation. And yet such are the literary powers of the author that we are pulled back in time to that late-afternoon moment and become filled anew with all the taut sense of drama that sports has to offer, as if we don't know what happened. As if the thoughts swirling around in the heads of pitcher and hitter are still fresh, both still hopeful of controlling events.That climactic game occurred thirty seasons ago and yet it still captures our imagination. In this delightful work of sports literature, we watch the game unfold pitch by pitch, inning by inning, but Bradley is up to something more ambitious than just recounting this wonderful game. He also tells us the stories of the participants -- how they got to that moment in their lives and careers, what was at stake for them personally -- including the rivalries within the rivalry, such as catcher Carlton Fisk versus catcher Thurman Munson, and Billy Martin versus everyone. Using a narrative that alternates points of view between the teams, Bradley reacquaints us with a rich roster of characters -- Freddy Lynn, Ron Guidry, Catfish Hunter, Mike Torrez, Jerry Remy, Lou Piniella, George Scott, and Reggie Jackson. And, of course, Bucky Dent, who craved just such a moment in the sun -- a validation he had vainly sought from the father he barely knew.Not a book intended to celebrate a triumph or lament a loss, "The Greatest Game" will be embraced in both Boston and New York, with fans of both teams recalling again the talented young men they once gave their hearts to. And fans everywhere will be reminded how utterly gripping a single baseball game can be and that the rewards of being a fan lie not in victory but in caring beyond reason, even decades after the fact.
Muhammad Ali: A Life From Beginning to End
Hourly History - 2019
Cassius Clay Jr. The Greatest. The Louisville Lip. The People’s Champion. Muhammad Ali. All are names for one of the greatest boxers of all time. Muhammad Ali lived a life that produced some of the most notable boxing matches ever. He also had battles outside of the boxing ring—battles that included fighting with the federal government for his freedom as well as fighting against his debilitating Parkinson’s disease. Inside you will read about... ✓ Growing up in the Jim Crow South ✓ Becoming the Greatest ✓ The King of Trash Talk ✓ Refusing to Join the Vietnam War ✓ Politics and Parkinson’s ✓ Personal Life and Marriages And much more! You’re about to embark on a journey of greatness. Dive into the life of one of the greatest athletes ever to grace the boxing ring, Muhammad Ali. Ali’s life wasn’t perfect—it was full of twists and turns and conflicts, inside and outside the ring. But his life was truly meaningful, and it made Muhammad Ali worthy of the title he often used to describe himself, “The Greatest.”
Out and Back
Hillary Allen - 2021
Out and Back recounts Allen's fight to rehabilitate her body, rebuild her belief in herself, and return to the life and sport she loves.
Breakaway
Avery Keelan
And, growing tired of his self-imposed solitude, hockey captain Ethan Russell is looking for a roommate. Ryan moving into Ethan's luxe condo seems like the perfect solution to both of their dilemmas. The only catch? A smoldering sexual attraction that they both try to deny. All that Ryan wants is a place to live-- a place that isn't the dorms or her friend's couch. Still recovering from the aftermath of an ugly breakup, a relationship is the last thing on her mind. Besides, she'd never fall for a jockAll that Ethan wants is to focus on hockey and school-- without any dating, drama, or heartbreak. After getting third-degree burns from his last relationship, he's sworn off dating altogether. His life is back on track and he has control over things again. They both agree to keep their roommate arrangement platonic... with mixed results. Their friendship turns complicated when it turns out that you can't control everything, particularly chemistry that is too strong to ignore.
The Maxwell Series Boxed Set
S.B. Alexander - 2016
Now she and her dad have moved across the country to start over in a new town where Lacey has three dreams: to conquer her debilitating PTSD, to play good enough high school baseball to get a scholarship, and to stay alive. Because evidently somebody doesn’t like her family.She’s so not the “popular girl” type--at least not with the popular girls. But she makes male friends easily. Just not with sexy, moody Kade Maxwell. And yet...she’s drawn to him both as a person--a mysterious, yet kind person--and in a blind visceral way she’s never known before, not with her last boy friend, not even with hot quarterback Tyler, whose friendship with her has the cheerleaders sharpening their claws.Once Kade gets over the gun and the shiner (just a misunderstanding!), he doesn't want to let Lacey out of his sight. Because Kade has his own dark past. He and Lacey sense in each other that they've both experienced something too horrible to mention--and yet, each guards his or her own private tragedy like a state secret. Until their carefully constructed walls start to crumble. And then the mutual sparks ignite, creating a bonfire of love, hope, and passion.
DARE TO DREAMS.B. Alexander’s escalating love story takes a suspenseful--yet ever more passionate-- turn as the two embark on much more than a hot, temporary tryst. Despite her own tragedy, Lacey's beauty, determination, and dedication make Kade believe he can dream again--she's the only one who can take him to a perfect place where nothing else matters. Not even trauma-induced migraines, or his long-standing feud with Sullivan and Seever--the numbskulls responsible for putting Kade in jail and one of his triplet brothers in the hospital. And by the way, all the Maxwell boys are searing hot and scary smart, blessed with both brains and muscles…For her part, Lacey longs fiercely for a future with Kade, but her long-term dream of a baseball scholarship must come first, and now there’s something even more immediate—she’s desperate to solve the brutal unsolved murders of her family. Because during a trip back to California, Lacey finds her family may have a dark secret it's kept from her--threatening ties to the mob. And then she finds herself face-to-face with the killer she's dreamed of cornering.
DARE TO LOVE
"I'm a knight in shining armor, I'm Prince Charming on a steed; I am Superman and Rocky, hell I'm all you'll ever need." Thus begins Kelton Maxwell's sarcastic ode to love. An impossibly sexy, cocky, charming college playboy, Kelton's got the world by the balls--and he has absolutely no interest in the trappings of romance--even if he'll admit it's made his big brother happy.
The Football Ramble
Marcus Speller - 2016
The weekly podcast has resonated with supporters around the world and their sold-out live shows have been a massive hit.This book is a collaboration from all four presenters and will tackle the real issues from fans you won’t see or hear on Sky Sports, or anywhere else for that matter.From the weird and wonderful, from the Alan Pardew to the Kevin Keegan, the Ramble has it covered. Putting all aspects of the game under the microscope, this book is a timely reminder of why we just can’t take our minds off football.
The Exiled Patriot
Jennifer Youngblood - 2019
Will a spunky reporter be able to help him get back into the game of life? Jayden Russell is ticked about her puff-piece assignment to interview the eccentric billionaire Lillian Yates about a hidden treasure she’s giving away to the lucky person who finds it through a series of clues on her website. Jayden isn’t excited about venturing out to the small, remote town of Remember, especially when it’s so close to Christmas. In a strange turn of events, Lillian Yates gives Jayden a clue about the treasure’s whereabouts. Jayden sets off on a wild goose chase that lands her in the arms of a burly mountain man. Jayden soon finds herself snowed-in with the enigmatic Cannon, who’s not her type at all! Why does she feel so drawn to him? What secret is he hiding beneath that scraggly beard? As Jayden sets about to uncover the truth, she must choose between writing the story of a lifetime or holding true to her heart’s greatest desire. Enjoy all the books in Jennifer's Georgia Patriots Romance Series. Here's the order: 1. The Hot headed Patriot 2. The Twelfth Hour Patriot 3. The Unstoppable Patriot 4. The Exiled Patriot The Exiled Patriot is also part of the Finding Love Series, which takes place in the quaint town of Remember, NC. Here's the order: 1. Her Crazy Rich Fake Fiancé 2. Rewriting Christmas 3. The Exiled Patriot
The Ripple Effect
Dominic Holland - 2004
. . One batch of doughnuts . . . One ripple of resentment.Profit-hungry developers are swarming over Middleton, determined to see the local football ground turned into luxury flats. But they haven't counted on the spirited resistance of local baker, Bill Baxter, who vents his frustration at the developers' plans by neglecting to put jam into a batch of doughnuts. Unbeknown to Bill, a rogue jamless doughnut sets in train a ripple of irrational anger that grows, wave upon wave, until finally it threatens to swamp the entire nation, leaving careers ruined, fortunes won and Parliament in turmoil. But where will it end? And what will become of Bill and his beloved Middleton?Stand up comedian Dominic Holland delivers another slick slice of comedy that will have you roaring with laughter, rooting for the good guys and relegating the villains to the bottom of the table.
No Justice: A heart wrenching true story of abuse of a twelve-year-old child
Angelica Soul - 2017
Things changed for her when the family moved to Oxfordshire. Lew was a doting, loving father who turned into an alcoholic and mentally and physically abused Agnes, his wife. She spent time in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, that’s when it all started. At the age of twelve Tina was being bullied at school, sexually, mentally and physically abused by Lew, and as a punishment he sodomised her. Over a period of two years he persistently raped her and beat her. When Agnes was released from prison Lew carried on raping Tina. Agnes never knew. Eventually Agnes plucked up the courage to divorce him. Tina couldn’t tell Agnes about the abuse, thinking she may not be believed. Everything got too much for Tina, she ran away from home and hitched hiked up to Scotland where the rest of the family lived, but got caught by the police in Edinburgh and returned home. She kept running away and ended up in Birmingham, where she got raped and impregnated by the rapist, she had a baby girl who died eight hours after birth. Tina was kept being put in hostels but kept absconding from them. She had a relationship with Alan and had his child but he denied it was his because his mother told him Tina had an affair with a black man and the baby was black. She met Dan and got into a relationship with him, she had his child and he ended up beating her. Tina married Keith who took on the two eldest children as his own. Tina found him out to be a serial adulterer and had a messy divorce with him going for custody of Naomi and not the other four. Tina married Omar, an Egyptian. He took her into hospital for an operation and after she came round they told her she had cervical cancer. Omar disappeared and came back two days later with no explanation where he’d been, and when she came home no one had seen him for a week. She phoned his friends to find out if they had seen him, they told her that he’d gone back to Egypt for a couple of weeks because his family needed him. The marriage lasted for another two years and eventually ended in divorce. Tina found out her abuser - her father - was in hospital dying with cancer. She went to make sure he was dying and ask him why he did what he did? She went to his funeral just to make sure he was dead and buried. As she passed his coffin she spat on it. Twenty-five years later the truth came out. Tina wasn’t a victim anymore, but the truth divided the family. Ann and Marie called Tina a liar and wouldn’t believe her because Marie asked Lew and he blamed Tina.
Rebel
Nona Day - 2017
Her only care in the world is fast money, partying and designer labels. She doesn’t have real responsibilities or plans for the future. As far as she was concerned, only today was important. She will worry about tomorrow when it comes. No one is going to stop her from enjoying her life to the fullest. She refused to live the life she watched her mother endure by the hands of her father. Her and her brother, Tone struggled together after their parent’s death. Jiera is determined to make up for all the years she struggled as a young girl. No one else's opinions about her life mattered to her. King Owens is a twenty-five-year-old, handsome rich man. He was taken from his unfit mother and raised by his father and stepmom. King wants out of the life his father was determined he inherit. He doesn’t want the throne to his father’s drug empire. For now, he is living the life that he's determined to get away from. He has a beautiful, career-oriented woman in his life. A successful career, wealth, and a beautiful family was his goals in life. He is determined to have everything he wants, even if it means going against his father’s wishes. King and Jiera have totally different plans for their future. Upon laying eyes on Jiera, King couldn’t deny himself from having her for just one night. What happens when one night of passion binds the two together for the rest of their lives? The ones that supposed to love them the most are the ones trying to hurt them the most. Will lies, betrayal and deceit take the two on a journey together? Or will it tear them apart?