But what happensif they decide to get… even closer?

    . . Talent can’t help itself; it roars along in fair weather or foul, not sparing the fireworks. It gets emotional. It struts its stuff. In fact, that’s its job.”Wonderfully eclectic, The Best American Short Stories 2007 collects stories by writers of undeniable talent, both newcomers and favorites. These stories examine the turning points in life when we, as children or parents, lovers or friends or colleagues, must break certain rules in order to remain true to ourselves. In T. C. Boyle’s heartbreaking “Balto,” a thirteen-year-old girl provides devastating courtroom testimony in her father’s trial. Aryn Kyle’s charming story “Allegiance” shows a young girl caught between her despairing British mother and motherly American father. In “The Bris,” Eileen Pollack brilliantly writes of a son struggling to fulfill his filial obligations, even when they require a breach of morality and religion. Kate Walbert’s stunning “Do Something” portrays one mother’s impassioned and revolutionary refusal to accept her son’s death. And in Richard Russo’s graceful “Horseman,” an English professor comes to understand that plagiarism reveals more about a student than original work can.New series editor Heidi Pitlor writes, “[Stephen King’s] dedication, unflagging hard work, and enthusiasm for excellent writing shone through on nearly a daily basis this past year . . . We agreed, disagreed, and in the end very much concurred on the merit of the twenty stories chosen.” The result is a vibrant assortment of stories and voices brimming with attitude, deep wisdom, and rare compassion.Pa's darling / Louis Auchincloss --Toga party / John Barth --Solid wood / Ann Beattie --Balto / T.C. Boyle --Riding the doghouse / Randy DeVita --My brother Eli / Joseph Epstein --Where will you go when your skin cannot contain you? / William Gay --Eleanor's music / Mary Gordon --L. DeBard and Aliette, a love story / Lauren Groff --Wake / Beverly Jensen --Wait / Roy Kesey --Findings & impressions / Stellar Kim --Allegiance / Aryn Kyle --Boy in Zaquitos / Bruce McAllister --Dimension / Alice Munro --Bris / Eileen Pollack --St. Lucy's home for girls raised by wolves / Karen Russell --Horseman / Richard Russo --Sans farine / Jim Shepard --Do something / Kate Walbert

    Designed for experienced developers ready to advance their status, Exam Ref focuses on the critical-thinking and decision-making acumen needed for success at the Microsoft Specialist level.Focus on the expertise measured by these objectives:Design the application architectureDesign the user experienceDevelop the user experienceTroubleshoot and debug web applicationsDesign and implement securityThis Microsoft Exam Ref:Organizes its coverage by exam objectives.Features strategic, what-if scenarios to challenge you.Includes a 15% exam discount from Microsoft. (Limited time offer)

    Each chapter addresses de-facto standards, popular technologies, and design principles applicable to a wide variety of systems. Complete with chapter summaries, end-of-chapter exercises and bibliographies, Distributed Operating Systems concludes with a set of case studies that provide real-world insights into four distributed operating systems.

    That's all a girl really needs anyway until it's not there anymore. In the blink of an eye, I'm ripped away from everything I've ever known by the rich and powerful Lucas Cabot, a man I've never met before.Being thrust into a world of wealth and prestige while grieving the death of my mother has me in a whirlwind, and I'm stuck trying to navigate this new world without those I've always trusted.As if that isn't bad enough, Lucas's middle son, Wes, doesn't want me there and he certainly isn't afraid to show it either. Neither do his best friends, Hunter and Jaxson. They've made it perfectly clear I don't belong and they'd rather I'd be gone. I'd rather that too. The further away from them, I can get the better. Except everywhere I turn, Wesley is there, in my face. But just like Mom always was, I'm a survivor. If I can handle everything Compton threw at me, then I can handle a bunch of damn spoiled rich kids.God help me because I'm going to need it.Authors Note: Forrest Grove Academy is a high school bully romance, teen and young adult series. This is book one and does end with a cliffhanger. It's recommended for mature readers 17+ because of cursing and 'certain scenes.' If you're cool with that, then dive in and enjoy the ride!

    

    A new four-part organizational structure increases the flexibility of the text, and all material is presented in a straightforward manner accompanied by an array of examples and visual diagrams.

    

    Readers of The Da Vinci Code were given a glimpse of the mysterious connections between math, science, and Leonardo's art. Math and the Mona Lisa picks up where The Da Vinci Code left off, illuminating Leonardo's life and work to uncover connections that, until now, have been known only to scholars.Following Leonardo's own unique model, Atalay searches for the internal dynamics of art and science, revealing to us the deep unity of the two cultures. He provides a broad overview of the development of science from the dawn of civilization to today's quantum mechanics. From this base of information, Atalay offers a fascinating view into Leonardo's restless intellect and modus operandi, allowing us to see the source of his ideas and to appreciate his art from a new perspective. William D. Phillips, who won the Nobel Prize in physics in 1997, writes of the author, "Atalay is indeed a modern renaissance man, and he invites us to tap the power of synthesis that is Leonardo's model."

     Genny loved her husband Max, but he lacked the sexual charge that was instead ignited by his business partner, Sean. Ruggedly handsome, Sean had a heart-stopping smile that made Genny weak. The more time they spent together, the stronger the attraction between them became. Then her husband offered to share her with Sean for one intoxicating night... That night in the company penthouse, Max and Sean showed Genny the heights of ecstasy. But it was Sean who touched her very spirit, and one-on­one, they were red hot. But as Genny learns, there's a price to pay for such impulsive pleasure. What began as a night of forbidden desire spirals into a whirlpool of murder, sensual submission, secrets, and a scorching passion that threatens to consume everyone it touches.

     Bryce Montgomery is Manahattan Magazine’s #1 most eligible bachelor—but he’s not thrilled about it. He was talked into doing an interview by a self-serving friend and ended up at the top of the list, drawing all sorts of unwanted attention. Jaded by a failed engagement, all he wants to do is focus on growing his business, Titan Enterprises, but when he has a chance encounter with a woman at a restaurant, he is instantly intrigued by her. Lana Collins moved to New York to pursue her dreams of being an actor, but it sure doesn’t pay the bills. To support herself, she waits tables at The Spot, a posh restaurant on the upper westside of Manhattan. She is taken by surprise when she accidentally bumps into a handsome stranger while headed to work. Come to find out, he’s a billionaire, but she’s not interested and pushes him out of her mind. That is, until a couple days later when he ends up being seated in her section and he turns out to be her boss. Though Bryce and Lana are from completely different worlds, their connection is undeniable. Despite his friends, her job, and their pasts, can they find a way to make a relationship work? From international bestselling author, Jenna Brandt, enjoy a clean billionaire romance filled with epic romantic moments, faith-inspiring characters, lots of laughs, and even a few twists.

    

    From the self-mocking haikus of Zen masters on their deathbeds to the last words of Christian saints and modern-day sages, this text looks at what the world's greatest minds have made of death.

    and she will be.I was born to rule, but for her sake I am banished, forced to wander the Earth among mortals. Her virgin body will pay the price for my protection, and it will be a shameful price indeed.Stripped, punished, and ravaged over and over, she will scream with every savage climax.She will be defiled, but before I am done with her she will beg to be mine.Publisher's Note: Defiled includes spankings and sexual scenes. If such material offends you, please don't buy this book.

    The text is divided into four parts: circuits, electronics, digital systems, and electromagnetics. Although it delves in depth into each of these topics, the text represents more than your basic survey of the basics of electrical engineering. A solid understanding of the fundamental principles on which modern electrical engineering is based is also provided. This edition includes a chapter on circuit analysis software SPICE, with a detailed discussion of the PC version known as PSPICE (from MicroSim Corp.). Numerous drill exercises have been added to this new edition, reinforcing ideas presented in the examples. There are over 1,000 end-of-chapter problems. This text is suitable for a variety of electrical engineering courses. It can be used as a text for an introduction to electrical engineering for both majors and non-majors or both, or can be split and the various chapters utilized for an introduction to circuits course, a first electronics course, or for a course on digital electronics and logic design.