Haunted by nightmares of her troubled past, Valerie Russo is determined to turn a new page in the seemingly innocent village of Fort Langley, British Columbia, where she takes up a house sitting position. With the 2010 Olympics approaching, Valerie settles into her new role, finding solace in her peaceful surroundings and the companionship of Hank, a canine friend she grows to appreciate. However, her tranquility is shattered when a chance encounter sets off unforeseen consequences, unwittingly entangling her in a dangerous drug trafficking scheme that has infiltrated the once-serene town. Not long after, a long-hidden murder resurfaces, pulling her into the unravelling of events within the home she’s entrusted to care for. As Valerie grapples with the ghosts of her past, the true motives behind her actions remain elusive. Amid escalating tension, a surprising romance catches Valerie off guard and helps to ease her through the turbulence of the unfolding mysteries. Struggling to move on, Valerie can’t seem to let go of finding the answers she hopes will serve as her atonement. What concealed truths lie beneath the surface, and will Valerie’s pursuit lead her to the answers she seeks or deeper into the shadows of what she was running from?
From the author of Trusting Claire comes a compelling new mystery set in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. When Joe Parrott, a somewhat disillusioned private investigator, discovers the body of a woman near his home, he is determined to do her justice and find the killer. Haunted by her image, he begins his quest for answers. Joe learns that the deceased, Rita, was a runaway from an abusive home. Not only that, but at a young age, she endured a tragic life-changing experience. With the help of an unexpected ally and his friends in the Sheffield Police, Joe begins to unravel the mystery of this young woman, uncovering a shattering revelation that will reverberate through those connected to Rita—and impact his own life as well. Wanting Aidan is a captivating crime drama that will leave readers wondering about how we each choose the paths we take.
Claire Perova has always struggled to find the people and places that make up “home.” After a lengthy university adventure in Greece, she returns to Canada where she eventually meets two men. But just as her romantic life starts getting complicated, Claire becomes embroiled in a strange death. Or was it murder? Despite her best efforts, she can’t escape the aftermath of the crime. Every new step gives rise to surprise encounters, risky situations, and all-or-nothing alternatives. Soon, Claire learns that people are not always what they seem, and smiling faces conceal scheming motives. Should she listen to her sensible friend, Kate, and drop the whole thing, or should she follow her gut and chase the truth? This is a story about love, loss, friendship, and courage. Trusting Claire brings Claire to the point of no return. Along the way, she might just solve the riddles that have followed her since childhood.
TOO MANY SECRETS Twenty-three-year-old Marin is trying to move on. It’s been three years since the tragic car crash that left her and Tyler in comas. Now having started a new life in Tucson, she is trying hard to leave the past behind. But Tyler had been the love of her life and, not really knowing what had been his fate, she just can’t let him go. While hiking near Romero Pools, in the Santa Catalina Mountains, hoping for some solace, Marin discovers a badly injured Adam high on the mountain trail. Marin finds him easy to talk to, and while they make their way to safety, she tells him her incredible story of survival and loss. But she also reveals there are mysteries around the accident and its aftermath that continue to confound her, making it hard for her to get on with her life. Before his return to Toronto, Adam is unable to re-connect with Marin to repay her kindness in seeing him safely down the mountain. Once back in Canada, feeling he wants to do something to thank Marin, Adam makes it his mission to find some answers and help uncover some of the secrets that plague her. With only a few details, Adam doesn’t have much to go on, so he enlists the help of a private detective in Washington, where the car crash happened. As each new detail emerges, Adam inadvertently begins to unravel a much bigger story of secrets, lies . . . and possibly murder.
Private Investigator Joe Parrott is at it again, but this time he reluctantly accepts help from an old friend. After helping Joe solve his sister’s case, Stefan Nowak has dreams of becoming a PI just like Joe and has just acquired a PI licence. While headed to Joe’s office to make the proposal, he bumps into Sally, a family friend of Joe’s, who needs Joe’s help. Stefan, only too eager to step in, convinces Sally to tell him her story. It seems that, much to Sally’s disapproval, her friend Hanna had taken a train to Blackpool to see a man she met on a dating site and has not returned. Sally has not heard from her since. When Joe hears the story, he initially isn’t convinced anything is wrong. He changes his mind when the three make a gruesome discovery. Travelling to Blackpool, Joe learns that Ian, the man Hanna met online, is quite an unsavory character. Adding to this, the local police announce to Joe that someone has just been found murdered. Joe and Stefan find themselves in unfamiliar territory and are met with hostility and resistance every step of the way. On top of that, they cannot distinguish friend from foe. In Hero of Blackpool, anyone is fair game, and when the rats come out at night, only a hero can save you.
In this enchanting follow-up to The Gilded Girl, Maeve and Izzy O'Donnell must adjust to a new life together at the Manhattan School for Magic—but when Maeve's magic goes rogue and their school is in danger, they'll need to lean on one another to make things right. The Manhattan School for Magic is the newest kindling school in New York, but Maeve O’Donnell knows she doesn't deserve her place there. Though her sister, Izzy, is one of the school's founders and a hero to those who can now kindle, Maeve can't control her magic and she lives in fear of anyone—especially Izzy—finding out. When Maeve’s worst fears come true and her magic goes rogue, it damages not only the new school but Izzy’s reputation as well. While trying to repair what she’s broken, Maeve discovers a mysterious garden in the tenement neighborhood of the Tarnish, a hidden place where her magic actually works. As her magic and confidence grow, she befriends the others for whom the garden is a haven: a litter of talking kittens (house dragons, of course) who need Maeve’s help to find their missing mother. But someone else is searching for the kittens, too, someone who doesn’t care how many magical sites they have to destroy to stop magic’s expansion. And Maeve’s unstable magic might be the only way to save her sister’s school from being snuffed out next. The Tarnished Garden is a sparkling middle-grade novel from Alyssa Colman.
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries… In glittering Newport, Rhode Island, status is everything. But despite being a poorer relation to the venerable Vanderbilts, Emma Cross has shaped her own identity—as a reporter and a sleuth. As the nineteenth century draws to a close, Fancies and Fashion reporter Emma Cross is sent by the Newport Observer to cover an elite house party at Rough Point, a “cottage” owned by her distant cousin Frederick Vanderbilt that has been rented as an artist retreat. To her surprise, the illustrious guests include her estranged Bohemian parents—recently returned from Europe—as well as a variety of notable artists, including author Edith Wharton. But when one of the artists is discovered dead at the bottom of a cliff, Rough Point becomes anything but a house of mirth. After a second murder, no one is above suspicion—including Emma’s parents. As Newport police detective Jesse Whyte searches for a killer, Emma tries to draw her own conclusions—with the help of Mrs. Wharton. But with so many sketchy suspects, she’ll need to canvas the crime scenes carefully, before the cunning culprit takes her out of the picture next . . . Praise for Alyssa Maxwell and her Gilded Newport Mysteries “Another entertaining entry in this cozy series.” —Library Journal on Murder at Beechwood “Maxwell’s second entry has a credible mystery, solved by a female detective who’s likeable.” —Kirkus Reviews on Murder at Marble House
All Tess wanted to do was play softball. Why do dead bodies have to keep showing up? And what's up with that ogre in the outfield? When the annual Dead End, Florida, softball game ends up with three strikes, shapeshifting tiger Jack and not-quite-vanilla-human Tess, with the help of family and friends, have to be sure they're not the ones who are out. And when a very pregnant witch comes to town ... the poisoned popcorn is the least of the town's problems! But never fear -- Jack and Tess are on the case. Because sometimes it takes a tiger's eye to see the truth.
A princess born into a war-torn galaxy. Two ancient beings with the power of suns. A mortal bounty hunter. And a dark prince, whose shadow blankets the galaxy. Aladella, princess of Prytha, never imagined she would step foot off of her home planet. Especially, after the brutal murder of her sister and father. With the Darions invasion growing closer with every passing day, Aladella has no other choice than to run. Escaping the Darion with the help of a masked bounty hunter/pilot, she finds herself in the company of those she once thought would leave her for dead. With her new unlikely crew, Aladella discovers long-hidden secrets and a magic that was once thought to be gone forever. Now she must balance her heart and her head as the galaxy is thrown into chaos around her. After having visions of her mother's death, Aladella must return home with her rag-tag team of misfits in an effort to stop Darious and his army of silent soldiers. But, as Aladella learns more about the magic of a Syron, she realizes she may be the last hope in the fight against the Darion.
Science fiction meets murder mystery in this edge-of-your-seat thriller. The Lost Causes are five teens with serious problems and only one thing in common: people have written them off. Now theyÍre thrown together in group therapy, with vague promises of healing. Their problems do go away when they drink the water their therapist gives them. But thatÍs because itÍs not just water ... Unknowingly, the teens have ingested a serum that gives them psychic powers, part of an FBI plan to find out who was behind the grisly murder that has rocked their small town.æTheir new powers will help them uncover clues and follow leads that have eluded the authorities, and their outsider status gives them the perfect cover.æ But the same traits that make them top investigators also make them vulnerable. As they close in on the murderer, they expose a much larger conspiracy that puts them directly in harmÍs way and makes them wonder who „ if anyone „ they can trust.æ
Alexandra Rochester is the daughter of a very long line of considerable royalty. The Rochester family is known, criticized, and praised for their research and historical discoveries. Rochester mansion has been a dedicated base of operations in the family since their endeavors have been recorded. Alex, being the only one left, now runs the family business due to her parents sudden and unfortunate death some years ago. Little did she know that her line of work would prove such an apocalyptic matter. A demon has been awakened, and it would seem that Alex is smack dab right in the thick of it. Where should she begin? What can she possibly do? Can Alexandra Rochester save the worldor even herself to begin with?
A deep dive into the science and psychology of why pushing our physical limits is so impactful—and how we can achieve so much more than we know. Everyone wants to know if they could do the impossible. Few of us will ever try. Alyssa Ages was the strongest she’d ever been, able to flip monster truck tires and walk with 300 pounds on her back. She felt invincible, until the day her body betrayed her, leaving her vulnerable and grasping for control. Rebuilding her strength slowly brought her back to life. She began to wonder: What if strength isn't about how much we can lift? What if it's about how we manage life’s struggles? In Secrets of Giants, Ages, now a mom of two, embarks on an immersive journey to the fringe of the weight-lifting world, the sport of strongman. She hoists kegs and lifts boulders in suburban parking lots, attempts to pull a 50-ton truck using only a rope, and occasionally frightens her neighbors by dragging a sled full of weights down her quiet tree-lined street. She meets a powerlifter-turned-boxer who shares how lifting taught her to become a master of the mundane. A ten-time World’s Strongest Man competitor is brought to tears illustrating how the gym helped him survive an abusive childhood. A pro strongwoman muses on managing setbacks before stepping on stage to deadlift the weight of a baby grand piano. Psychologists, researchers, and coaches offer insights into the fascinating ways that the pursuit of strength can permeate every aspect of our lives, from building resilience and confidence, to finding joy in discomfort, to teaching us to handle adversity. Part personal narrative, part research mission, part reckless midlife crisis odyssey, Secrets of Giants uncovers why physical strength matters, and how it teaches us that we’re capable of so much more than we know.
Nik's world shatters the day his girlfriend, Jennifer, disappears. Determined to find her, he embarks on a cross-country journey revealed through chance encounters with a series of connected strangers. As the story circles back to where it began, questions grow ever more urgent — like who is searching for whom.
The bestselling analysis of higher education's impact, updated with the latest data How College Affects Students synthesizes over 1,800 individual research investigations to provide a deeper understanding of how the undergraduate experience affects student populations. Volume 3 contains the findings accumulated between 2002 and 2013, covering diverse aspects of college impact, including cognitive and moral development, attitudes and values, psychosocial change, educational attainment, and the economic, career, and quality of life outcomes after college. Each chapter compares current findings with those of Volumes 1 and 2 (covering 1967 to 2001) and highlights the extent of agreement and disagreement in research findings over the past 45 years. The structure of each chapter allows readers to understand if and how college works and, of equal importance, for whom does it work. This book is an invaluable resource for administrators, faculty, policymakers, and student affairs practitioners, and provides key insight into the impact of their work. Higher education is under more intense scrutiny than ever before, and understanding its impact on students is critical for shaping the way forward. This book distills important research on a broad array of topics to provide a cohesive picture of student experiences and outcomes by: Reviewing a decade's worth of research; Comparing current findings with those of past decades; Examining a multifaceted analysis of higher education's impact; and Informing policy and practice with empirical evidence Amidst the current introspection and skepticism surrounding higher education, there is a massive body of research that must be synthesized to enhance understanding of college's effects. How College Affects Students compiles, organizes, and distills this information in one place, and makes it available to research and practitioner audiences; Volume 3 provides insight on the past decade, with the expert analysis characteristic of this seminal work.
As a war wages between the immortals of Atlantis and those of the vampire realm, a Poseidon warrior fights to save his world--and the woman he loves. And no risk is too great. The desires of a high priest. Alaric, Poseidon's High Priest, has made a vow to Quinn, the woman he loves and the leader of the Resistance: to save her friend Jack before his last bit of humanity has been drained. Should Alaric succeed, there's one intimate danger: he may lose Quinn to the love of the man whose life he saved. But damn Atlantis to the nine hells, he's willing to put Quinn's wishes first, regardless of the consequences. The warning of a threat reborn. The final jewel of Poseidon's trident has turned up in the hands of mysterious Ptolemy Reborn, who claims to be descended from Atlantean royalty. He's about to reveal to the world that Atlantis is real, positioning himself as king. But this magical terrorist is bent on chaos. The only warrior who can stop him is following his own path, driven by the even more powerful force of love. Atlantean powers over the sea could prove just as cataclysmic--for Quinn's love, Alaric might drown the entire world.
THE BREATHTAKING NEW 'SPY IN THE TON' NOVEL OF REGENCY SUSPENSE FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SMUGGLER WORE SILK Revenge has never been so seductive. When her husband is killed at Waterloo, Lilias Fairchild takes up his cavalry sword and boldly storms the front, earning herself the nickname Angel of Vengeance. But there is another angel on the battlefield who is just as single-minded, and just as ruthless… Alastair Whitmore, the Marquess of Angelstone, is a British spy. Code name: Angel. Still haunted by a first love felled by assassins, his mission draws him to Waterloo, where he is captivated by a beautiful and mysterious woman fighting amongst the men—a woman who becomes his most intoxicating memory of war. Passion has never been so dangerous. Two years later, Lilias and Angelstone lock eyes in a crowded ballroom and the memory returns in an exhilarating rush. The history they share, and hide from the world, is as impossible to ignore as the heat of their attraction. But it’s that very connection that spells doom for their scandalous affair. When someone from the shadows of their past proves a dire threat to their lives, passion might not be enough to save them.
In the ninth installment of the glittering Gilded Newport Mystery series from Alyssa Maxwell, during the autumnal chill of Newport, Rhode Island at the close of the nineteenth century, journalist Emma Cross discovers an instance of cold-blooded murder on the grounds of Wakehurst Mansion… Following the death of her uncle, Cornelius Vanderbilt, in September 1899, a somber Emma is in no mood for one of Newport’s extravagant parties. But to keep Vanderbilt’s reckless son Neily out of trouble, she agrees to accompany him to an Elizabethan fête on the lavish grounds of Wakehurst, the Ochre Point “cottage” modeled after an English palace, owned by Anglophile James Van Alen. The festivities include a swordplay demonstration, an archery competition, scenes from Shakespeare’s plays, and even a joust. As Emma wanders the grounds, she overhears a fierce argument between a man and a woman behind a tall hedge. As the joust begins, she’s drawn by the barking of Van Alen’s dogs and finds a man on the ground, an arrow through his chest. The victim is one of the 400’s most influential members, Judge Clayton Schuyler. With the help of her beau Derrick Andrews and Detective Jesse Whyte, Emma begins to learn the judge was not the straight arrow he appeared to be. As their investigation leads them in ever-widening circles, Emma will have to stop the killer from taking another life . . .
Seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling sets out to find her missing surfer brothers and finds herself on a secluded California beach, where she meets Pete, Belle, Jas, and others, learns to surf, helps some of them steal while avoiding the other's drug trade, and falls in love.
Set in an experimental boarding school for teens dealing with trauma, The Castle School (for Troubled Girls) follows one girl's journey through grief and her eleven classmates, each with their own issues, that help her find a path to healing. Perfect for fans of Kathleen Glasgow, this atmospheric, emotional tear-jerker will leave you speechless. When Moira Dreyfuss's parents announce that they're sending her to an all-girls boarding school deep in the Maine woods, Moira isn't fooled. She knows her parents are punishing her; she's been too much trouble since her best friend, Nathan, died—and for a while before that. At the Castle School, isolated from the rest of the world, Moira will be expected to pour her heart out to the odd headmaster, Dr. Prince. But she isn't interested in getting over Nathan's death or befriending her fellow students. On her first night there, Moira hears distant music. On her second, she discovers the lock on her window is broken. On her third, she and her roommate venture outside...and learn that they're not so isolated after all. There's another, very different, Castle School nearby—this one filled with boys whose parents sent them away, too. Moira is convinced that the Castle Schools and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming grief—and the real reasons her parents sent her away. Praise for The Castle School (for Troubled Girls): "Achingly beautiful. Moira's story gripped me from the first page and held me fast long after I finished reading."—Gilly Segal, New York Times bestselling co-author of I'm Not Dying with You Tonight "Hooked me from page one. I couldn't stop reading until I had every single answer."—Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters "Beneath the trappings of a fast-paced mystery, this novel holds a heartrending exploration of adolescent grief... Memorable."—Booklist "Complex and layered... A heartfelt exploration of grief, guilt, and recovery."—School Library Journal "Mental health awareness wrapped in a captivating storyline."—Kirkus "An effective exploration of mental illness, and it will share a coveted place on reading lists with Laurie Halse Anderson and Patricia McCormick."—BCCB Also by Alyssa Sheinmel: A Danger to Herself and Others What Kind of Girl
A trip to Staffordshire for Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, leads to murder in a famed pottery works . . . Following the devastation of the Great War, England's noble class takes comfort in honoring tradition. To celebrate their grandparents' wedding anniversary, Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her siblings travel to Staffordshire to commission a china service bearing the Wroxly coat of arms from the venerated Crown Lily Potteries, a favorite of Queen Mary. The two leading designers at the illustrious china manufacturer offer competing patterns. But when one of them is found dead—his body crushed in a grinding pan and his design pattern book missing—his rival is immediately suspected. The police are also suspicious of the dead designer's resentful young son, a schoolmate of Phoebe's fifteen-year-old brother Fox. When Fox gets involved to help his friend, Phoebe begins to investigate the rival artist. At the same time, Eva is enlisted to go undercover at the works so she can gain the confidence of the female employees, who are only allowed to paint, not design, which may have led to a grudge against the victim. Pursuing a killer who has no compunction about using a kiln as a coffin, Phoebe and Eva take their lives into their hands to discover the shattering truth . . .
“Agatha Christie meets Downton Abbey…exemplary.” —PUBLISHERS WEEKLY To make ends meet, Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady’s maid, Eva Huntford, have decided to open up Foxwood Hall to guided public tours. Not everyone is pleased about it—even to the point of committing murder . . . The lean times following the Great War continue to require creative solutions for England's noble class. But Lady Phoebe’s proposal to open up the Renshaw estate to guided tours for additional income strikes many in the family as a “vulgar enterprise.” Phoebe’s grandfather, the Earl of Wroxly, however, reluctantly concedes the necessity. Their first tour group consists of members of the Historical Society, a magazine writer, and a flock of students. It’s a large group for Phoebe, her sister Amelia, and Eva to manage, and when the widow Arvina Bell goes missing, Eva goes in search of her—only to find her in the library, strangled with a silken drapery cord. The schoolchildren are promptly sent home, but the members of the Historical Society—many of whom also wandered off at times—remain for interrogation. There is also, curiously, a framed photo missing from the library. As the police hastily zero in on a suspect, Phoebe and Eva weigh the clues. Does the crime have to do with rumors of hidden treasure at Foxwood Hall? But they must make haste to solve the widow’s murder—before someone else becomes history . . .
In 1918 England, when the Marquis of Allerton goes missing from his fianc?e's family estate, Lady Phoebe Renshaw and her lady's maid, Eva Huntford, take an interest in discovering the truth.
As the nineteenth century comes to a close, the illustrious Vanderbilt family dominates Newport, Rhode Island, high society. But when murder arrives, reporter Emma Cross learns that sometimes the actions of the cream of society can curdle one’s blood in the latest installment of this bestselling cozy historical mystery series . . . 1901: Back from their honeymoon in Italy, Emma and Derrick are adapting to married life as they return to their duties at their jointly owned newspaper, the Newport Messenger. The Elms, coal baron Edward Berwind’s newly completed Bellevue Avenue estate, is newsworthy for two reasons: A modern mansion for the new century, it is one of the first homes in America to be wired for electricity with no backup power system, generated by coal from Berwind’s own mines. And their servants—with a single exception—have all gone on strike to protest their working conditions. Summarily dismissing and replacing his staff with cool and callous efficiency, Berwind throws a grand party to showcase the marvels of his new “cottage.” Emma and Derrick are invited to the fete, which culminates not only in a fabulous musicale but an unforeseen tragedy—a chambermaid is found dead in the coal tunnel. In short order, it is also discovered that a guest’s diamond necklace is missing and a laborer has disappeared. Detective Jesse Whyte entreats Emma and Derrick to help with the investigation and determine whether the murdered maid and stolen necklace are connected. As the dark deeds cast a shadow over the blazing mansion, it’s up to Emma to shine a light on the culprit . . .
Vivienne Le Fleur is one of London’s most sought after opera dancer and one of England’s best weapons: a spy known as the Flower. When a French agent pressures her to change allegiance by abducting her sister, Vivienne is forced to seek the help of the only man in London who doesn’t want her. Maximilian Westwood, retired code breaker, doesn't like surprises or mysteries—and The Flower is both. When she sneaks into his study in the middle of the night with a coded message, he’s torn between spurning the lovely spy...and helping her. Now they’re caught up in a game of cat and mouse with French spies. Bound together by secrecy, they discover there is more between them than politics and hidden codes. But love has no place among the secrets of espionage... Each book in the Spy in the Ton series is STANDALONE. * A Dance with Seduction * The Lady and Mr. Jones
Responding to a frantic call from her cousin, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Emma Cross arrives at the Marble House mansion and learns Consuelo's mother, Alva, is forcing her into marriage with the Duke of Marlborough. Her mother has even called in a fortune teller to assure Consuelo of a happy future. But the future is short-lived for the fortune teller, who is found dead by her crystal ball, strangled with a silk scarf. One of the Vanderbilts' maids is taken into police custody, and Consuelo is nowhere to be found. Has she eloped with the beau of her choice-- or is her disappearance connected to the murder?
Star Wars: The High Republic, the New York Times best-selling series, continues. . . . For light and life! Journey to the embattled Occlusion Zone in this action-packed adventure set hundreds of years before the Skywalker saga! It’s a dark and dangerous time for the galaxy in which communication has been rendered nearly impossible in Nihil-controlled space as the nefarious pirates continue to threaten the Republic’s very existence. Join Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram—and some Jedi younglings—as they plot their escape from enemy territory. Hopeful Jedi younglings will have to work together to overcome their fears in order to survive—and help save the galaxy.
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