Meet Alfie Bloom. He's just inherited a magical castle. And that's only the first of his problems . . . Alfie Bloom knows he's about to have another dreadful summer. Not only will his inventor father be locked away in his workshop, but his best friend is visiting relatives abroad, which means he'll have no one.But then Alfie receives a strange letter inviting him to meet with a lawyer about his "inheritance." Alfie has no idea what they're talking about, but he goes along and makes a shocking discovery-someone has left him a castle! Hexbridge Castle is all his, which means no more long, boring summer days in his tiny house. He has a castle to explore! But being the owner of castle isn't all fun. Hexbridge conceals a centuries-old secret, the heart of a dangerous mystery that threatens to destroy Alfie's new home, his new friends . . . and everyone unfortunate enough to live within 1000 miles of the castle. Can this ordinary boy figure out a way to deal with this extraordinary challenge? Or will he doom himself and his friends to a grisly fate?
They say you don't find witchcraft, it finds you . . ." An illustrated and practical guide to being a witch in Discworld, covering everything you've ever wanted to know from telling the bees to magical cheese, from working with other witches to dealing with elves, from tending flocks to fending off forces from other worlds. This beautiful and practical guide has been compiled by Tiffany Aching herself, including snippets of remembered wisdom from Granny Aching alongside notes from Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Miss Tick, and Rob Anybody who offer their own unique perspectives on all things witchcraft. Whether you're a herbologist or a headologist, this book will inspire and empower new witches and seasoned practitioners alike. With colourful illustrations from Paul Kidby throughout, this brilliant in-world guide is the perfect addition to any Discworld collection.
More friendship, magic, and laugh-out loud adventure in this hilarious chapter book series! A new mystery has rolled onto Penfurzy Island, and the Rebel Bicycle Club are ready to investigate! Nessa, Demelza, and their goose, Captain Honkers, are excited to explore a traveling carnival that's come to Penfurzy, and soon they befriend Jack, the son of the carnival owner. But strange things are happening too, like odd tremors that shake the island! Does it have anything to do with the fact that the carnival comes to Penfurzy only every ten years? It's up to the friends to do what they do best: save the day from a fate worse than homework. An adventure with twists, turns and gross-out trailer park invaders guaranteed to make you laugh!
The friendship, magic, and laugh-out loud adventure continues in this hilarious chapter book series! Best friends Demelza and Nessa are always up for adventure. After all, what else is there to do on the sleepy island of Penfurzy? The two girls have discovered a magic world of myth and legend in a submerged castle just off the island, and now, accompanied by their pet goose Captain Honkers, are on a quest to help a headless knight (or rather, a knight who is JUST a head) find treasure. They set off on their bikes and explore both the everyday and legendary worlds, and encounter everything from a sullen bully named Connan to a ghost train to an ancient tomb beneath a shuttered amusement park. Along the way, the two girls will become braver and even closer friends.
The first book in a new series filled with friendship, magic, and laugh-out loud adventure Welcome to the sleepy island of Penfurzy, where nothing exciting ever really happens. OR DOES IT? Adventure awaits Demelza and her new best friend in the whole world, Nessa, as they explore the island and uncover the mysteries of the Penfurzy Knights. With a honking pet goose sidekick, quirky islanders and a legendary treasure to find, it's up to Nessa and Demelza to ride their bikes, solve the puzzles before them, and face down danger with frisbees, water-balloons, feathers .... and a toilet plunger. THEIR FRIENDSHIP WILL WARM YOUR HEART. THEIR BRAVERY WILL MAKE THEM LEGENDS.
When Alfie Bloom travels back to the 1400's to begin his training with Orin Hopcraft, last of the great druids, he begins to understand the true power and dark lure of the magic that he guards. When those around him begin to fall victim to a creature of shadows, Alfie must undertake a quest to find the one person who can help them - the witch of Demon Rock.
Du jour au lendemain, la vie solitaire et sans intérêt d'Alfie Bloom a été bouleversée quand il a hérité du château de Hexbridge. Mais le prix est lourd à payer : des dangers qu'il n'aurait jamais imaginés le guettent désormais à chaque instant. Quand Ashford, son ami le majordome, est enlevé sous ses yeux au beau milieu de la nuit par des elfes malfaisants, Alfie ne sait plus à qui se fier. Pour le récupérer sain et sauf, un terrible échange est proposé... Domptez la magie
There's so much to enjoy in this zippy caper... A cracking scoop.’ Lucy Bannerman, THE TIMES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE WEEK 'News flash! Rani Reports is a total delight! Full of intrigue, humour and heart' - Abi Elphinstone, author of The Dreamsnatcher trilogy I’m Rani Ramgoolam – roving reporter. And I think I’ve found the perfect story for the junior journalism competition run by the local paper. An eccentric millionaire has created a treasure hunt with a reward for the first person who figures out the clues. Luckily, my mischievous Nani is visiting from Mauritius. She’s promised to help me work out what a priceless painting, a minotaur and a glass eye have in common. “Murder, murder! Call the cops!” Oh, and that’s Cookie, my parrot. I’m not sure he’ll be much use. But the race is on and I’ll need all the help I can get. Especially when some people are resorting to sneaky tricks to get their hands on the prize…
Rani and Nani are back and ready for action in the second book in the Rani Reports series. Perfect for fans of Anisha Accidental Detective and Planet Omar. Rani Reports on the Missing Millions was a Best Children’s Book of the Year in The Times. Nani and Rani are thrilled to meet the author of their favourite detective series, especially when Rani bags an exclusive interview with him on the set of his new movie. But after a series of strange events, rumours spread that the film shoot is cursed. Suspecting that these accidents mirror the notorious crimes from the books, it’s up to Rani to discover the full scoop. Can she catch the Copycat Crook before someone ends up in real danger? Praise for Rani Reports on the Missing Millions: ‘With amusing characters and an unpredictable, entertaining plot that keeps you guessing till the end, this is the perfect middle-grade adventure.’ The Times ‘News flash! Rani Reports is a total delight! Full of intrigue, humour and heart.’ Abi Elphinstone, author of The Dreamsnatcher trilogy
Perfect for fans of J.K. Rowling and Roald Dahl! When Alfie Bloom inherited a castle and a centuries-old magic, his dull and lonely life was changed forever. But Alfie's new life has come with dangers he never could have expected. When Ashford the butler is kidnapped in the middle of the night, the castle comes under threat from a terrifying enemy. Trapped inside with only his twin cousins and best friend Amy, it's up to Alfie to defend his inheritance and prevent a terrible fate from befalling the whole of England!
NYC fashion designer and style icon Kascey Chisol is newly-married and managing a socially-distanced fashion show amid a global pandemic when she is faced with a cybersecurity breach. After discovering her data has been stolen and designs have been faked, Kascey must reconstruct her couture line or face the consequences of competing with her own style online. With help from her faithful staff and loyal venture capitalist husband, Gradey, Kascey diligently works to trace the culprits while focusing on ensuring the survival of Kascey Couture. But Gradey is also dealing with other challenges that include providing capital for a tech company in the Silicon Valley in dire straits and handling the unexpected illness of a family member. As Gradey and Kascey battle to protect themselves and her business from international criminal elements, they must also manage the constant changes that accompany a new norm, find a way to keep their romance alive, and endure a virtual court hearing where she must face the culprits. In this exciting story, a fashion entrepreneur and her venture capitalist husband fight for recognition and a life they once knew after she becomes the victim of a cybersecurity attack.
Everyday Architecture of the Mid-Atlantic gives proof to the insights architecture offers into who we are culturally as a community, a region, and a nation.
When a beautiful werewolf moves back to her Southern hometown, her peaceful new life is disrupted by a rogue pack in this fantasy thriller. Alexsys hasn’t been to Chaosville, Alabama, in nearly two hundred years. But now the beautiful, intelligent werewolf is finally moving back home. And she’s bringing her friendly pack with her. Opening a local business with her boyfriend, all Alexsys wants is to live a normal life. It’s a small-town dream come true . . . until a rogue pack of werewolves shows up in Chaosville. The rival werewolves aren’t just moving in, they’re trying to take over, picking off locals one by one. As Alexsys investigates the killings, she begins to uncover secrets from the past. Now, Alexsys and her pack must team up with the county sheriff in order to face a deadly common enemy.
A Woman With A Secret Victoria Ashton has intelligence and ambition--qualities of little value to most marriage-minded gentlemen of the ton. Her own father has no idea of Victoria's hidden life as an anonymous trader in London's stock market. But her hopes of independence are shattered when her father's enemy, Blake Mallorey, assumes Charles Ashton's debts and presents Victoria with a stark choice: live with him as his mistress for one year, or condemn her family to bankruptcy. A Gentleman With Resolve For years Blake has dreamed of justice, and his scheme becomes all the sweeter when he sees the beauty that Victoria has become. Scoundrel he may be, but Blake will not force anyone into his bed. He intends to entice Victoria, one wicked kiss at a time. But with a woman as spirited and sensual as Victoria, seduction works both ways--and a plan rooted in revenge can blossom into a scandalous passion. . .
A New York Times Notable Book The shocking truth about postwar adoption in America, told through the bittersweet story of one teenager, the son she was forced to relinquish, and their search to find each other. “[T]his book about the past might foreshadow a coming shift in the future… ‘I don’t think any legislators in those states who are anti-abortion are actually thinking, “Oh, great, these single women are gonna raise more children.” No, their hope is that those children will be placed for adoption. But is that the reality? I doubt it.’”[says Glaser]” -Mother Jones During the Baby Boom in 1960s America, women were encouraged to stay home and raise large families, but sex and childbirth were taboo subjects. Premarital sex was common, but birth control was hard to get and abortion was illegal. In 1961, sixteen-year-old Margaret Erle fell in love and became pregnant. Her enraged family sent her to a maternity home, where social workers threatened her with jail until she signed away her parental rights. Her son vanished, his whereabouts and new identity known only to an adoption agency that would never share the slightest detail about his fate. The adoption business was founded on secrecy and lies. American Baby lays out how a lucrative and exploitative industry removed children from their birth mothers and placed them with hopeful families, fabricating stories about infants' origins and destinations, then closing the door firmly between the parties forever. Adoption agencies and other organizations that purported to help pregnant women struck unethical deals with doctors and researchers for pseudoscientific "assessments," and shamed millions of women into surrendering their children. The identities of many who were adopted or who surrendered a child in the postwar decades are still locked in sealed files. Gabrielle Glaser dramatically illustrates in Margaret and David’s tale--one they share with millions of Americans—a story of loss, love, and the search for identity.
Find thrills and sexy chills in Scandalous's latest historical romance... Every gentleman has his secrets... London 1821 After years of marriage to a selfish man who preferred gambling to his young bride, Jane, the widowed countess of Stanwell, now seeks what she was long denied-a satisfying lover. Naturally, a lady needs a list of eligible candidates, which doesn't include the dangerously handsome (if far too arrogant) Gareth Ramsey...until he steals a sinful kiss from Jane's all-too-willing lips. Reputed as an arrogant barrister, Gareth's real occupation is as a spy in the service of His Majesty, and his suspect is on Jane's list of possible lovers. With her life in danger, there's no safer place for Jane than with him-and in his bed. But Jane is as distracting as she is infuriating, and keeping her by his side while he pursues his mission might just endanger them both...
The ducal court of Cosimo I de' Medici in sixteenth-century Florence was one of absolutist, rule-bound order. Portraiture especially served the dynastic pretensions of the absolutist ruler, Duke Cosimo and his consort, Eleonora di Toledo, and was part of a Herculean programme of propaganda to establish legitimacy and prestige for the new sixteenth-century Florentine court. In this engaging and original study, Gabrielle Langdon analyses selected portraits of women by Jacopo Pontormo, Agnolo Bronzino, Alessandro Allori, and other masters. She defines their function as works of art, as dynastic declarations, and as encoded documents of court culture and propaganda, illuminating Cosimo's conscious fashioning of his court portraiture in imitation of the great courts of Europe. Langdon explores the use of portraiture as a vehicle to express Medici political policy, such as with Cosimo's Hapsburg and Papal alliances in his bid to be made Grand Duke with hegemony over rival Italian princes. Stories from archives, letters, diaries, chronicles, and secret ambassadorial briefs, open up a world of fascinating, personalities, personal triumphs, human frailty, rumour, intrigue, and appalling tragedies. Lavishly illustrated, Medici Women: Portraits of Power, Love and Betrayal in the Court of Duke Cosimo I is an indispensable work for anyone with a passion for Italian renaissance history, art, and court culture.
Hatfield's Herbal is the story of how people all over Britain have used its wild plants throughout history, for reasons magical, mystical and medicinal. Gabrielle Hatfield has drawn on a lifetime's knowledge to describe the properties of over 150 native plants, and the customs that surround them: from predicting the weather with seaweed to using deadly nightshade to make ladies' pupils dilate appealingly, and from ensuring a husband's faithfulness with butterbur to warding off witches by planting a rowan tree. Filled with stories, folklore and remedies both strange and practical, this is a memorable and eye-opening guide to the richness of Britain's heritage.
The acclaimed science writer presents a wide-ranging exploration of Antarctica’s history, nature, and global significance in this “rollicking good read” (Kirkus). From the early expeditions of Ernest Shackleton to David Attenborough’s documentary series Frozen Planet, the continent of Antarctica has captured the world’s imagination. After the Antarctic Treaty of 1961, decades of scientific research revealed the true extent of its many mysteries. Now former Nature magazine staff writer Gabrielle Walker tells the full story of Antarctica—from its fascinating history to its uncertain future and the international teams of researchers who brave its forbidding climate. Drawing on her broad travels across the continent, Walker weaves all the significant threads of life on the vast ice sheet into a multifaceted narrative, illuminating what it really feels like to be there and why it draws so many different kinds of people. She chronicles cutting-edge science experiments, visits to the South Pole, and unsettling portents about our future in an age of global warming. “We are all anxious Antarctic watchers now, and Walker's book is the essential primer.”—The Guardian, UK
Experience a Dickens of a Christmas Faced with the daily extremes of gluttony and want in the Victorian Era, nine women seek to create the perfect Christmas celebrations. But will expectations and pride cause them to overlook imperfect men who offer true love? One Golden Ring by C.J. Chase 1855 Devonshire, England Wounded soldier Tristram Nowell returns home to indulge his mother’s wish for a family Christmas—and encounters Marianna Granville. Can he forgive the former heiress who jilted him years before? Star of Wonder by Susanne Dietze 1875 County Durham, England This Yuletide, Bennet Hett, Lord Harwood, offers Lady Celeste Sidwell matrimony and the Star of Wonder diamond necklace, as their fathers arranged. When the diamond disappears, will they find a greater treasure? The Holly and the Ivy by Rita Gerlach 1900 near Washington, DC A glass ornament. Love letters tied in red Christmas ribbon. Lily Morningstar and British antiquities expert Andrew Stapleton are drawn into a family secret that binds their hearts together. Love Brick by Brick by Kathleen L. Maher 1857 Elmira, New York SarahAnn Winnifred overcomes orphanhood apprenticing with pioneering doctors. Rufus Sedgwick, relocating his English estate, seeks help for his ailing Mum. Christmas reveals the secret wish of both hearts—for love. A Christmas Vow by Gabrielle Meyer 1899 Cambrigeshire, England Lady Ashleigh Arrington is hosting a houseful of guests for Christmas when railroad executive Christopher Campbell unexpectedly arrives from America with a mysterious agreement signed by their fathers before their birth. The Sugarplum Ladies by Carrie Fancett Pagels 1867 Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan When Canadian barrister Percy Gladstone finds his aristocratic British family unexpectedly descending upon him for Christmas, he turns to American social reformer Eugenie Mott and her fledgling catering crew for help. Paper Snowflake Christmas by Vanessa Riley 1837 Framlingham, England How can widow Ophelia Hanover give her son a perfect Christmas when his guardian, the Earl of Litton, arrives early to take permanent custody of the boy? Father Christmas by Lorna Seilstad 1880 Blackpool, England Widowed harpist Beatrix Kent believes love can only come once in a lifetime, but this Christmas, carpenter Hugh Sherman hopes to pull on the musician’s heartstrings and prove her wrong. The Perfect Christmas by Erica Vetsch 1887 London, England Melisande Verity might be in over her head trying to create the perfect Christmas window display, but if she succeeds, will she finally attract the attention of her boss, Gray Garamond?
This book tells of Burton?s search to solve the mystery of Tamsen Donner for herself. A graceful mingling of history and memoir, Searching for Tamsen Donner follows Burton and her husband, with their five daughters, on her journey along Tamsen?s path. From Tamsen?s birthplace in Massachusetts to North Carolina, where she lost her first family in the space of three months; to Illinois, where she married George Donner; and finally to the fateful Oregon Trail, Burton recovers one woman?s compelling history through a modern-day family?s adventure into realms of ultimately timeless experiences" --Cover, p. 2.
Many exciting and rewarding careers exist for nature lovers, many of which don’t require a college degree. The author presents a variety of jobs that allow people to make a living in the great outdoors, from guiding tourists on whitewater rafting expeditions to photographing exotic animals in distant, beautiful locales. Careers such as park ranger, wildland firefighter, and ecotourism planner allow people to enjoy some of the world’s most spectacular environments while also protecting these areas for future generations. Helpful career-related resources such as organizations, books, magazines, and blogs follow each chapter, and stunning color photographs draw in the reader.
From the moment her pet pig attacks him, Adeline Foster knows she does not care at all for the Duke of Warwick. Certainly the man is handsome, but such an arrogant arse. But when her scoundrel half brother demands she marry a stranger over a failed investment, the duke does something shocking...he announces he’s courting her. One moment, Daniel Millstone is enjoying tinkering with his inventions in his quiet country home with relative anonymity. The next, he’s courting the willful Miss Adeline. It might have begun as a way to vex her half brother—his childhood nemesis—but her striking beauty and kissable lips prove an irresistible temptation. Now Adeline and her faux beau must convince the ton and their families that they’re an item. It doesn’t matter if they can barely tolerate each other. It doesn’t matter that scandal is only a touch away. Because if this charade doesn’t work, Adeline will find herself in dangerous hands... Each book in the Daring Ladies series is STANDALONE: * One Night with an Earl * How Not to Marry a Duke * Make Mine a Marquess
Eighteenth-century British literary history was long characterized by two central and seemingly discrete movements—the emergence of the novel and the development of Romantic lyric poetry. In fact, recent scholarship reveals that these genres are inextricably bound: constructions of interiority developed in novels changed ideas about what literature could mean and do, encouraging the new focus on private experience and self-perception developed in lyric poetry. In Lyric Generations, Gabrielle Starr rejects the genealogy of lyric poetry in which Romantic poets are thought to have built solely and directly upon the works of Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare, and Milton. She argues instead that novelists such as Richardson, Haywood, Behn, and others, while drawing upon earlier lyric conventions, ushered in a new language of self-expression and community which profoundly affected the aesthetic goals of lyric poets. Examining the works of Cowper, Smith, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Keats in light of their competitive dialogue with the novel, Starr advances a literary history that considers formal characteristics as products of historical change. In a world increasingly defined by prose, poets adapted the new forms, characters, and moral themes of the novel in order to reinvigorate poetic practice.
Love Inspired brings you three new titles! Enjoy these uplifting contemporary romances of faith, forgiveness and hope. This box set includes: SOMEONE TO TRUST (A North Country Amish novel) By USA TODAY Bestselling Author Patricia Davids Esther Burkholder has no interest in her stepmother’s matchmaking when her family visits an Amish community in Maine. Deaf since she was eight, she’s positive a hearing man couldn’t understand the joys and trials of living in a silent world. But Amish bachelor Gabe Fisher might just change her mind… CHOOSING HIS FAMILY (A Colorado Grooms novel) By Jill Lynn Rescuing a single mom and her triplets during a snowstorm lands rancher Finn Brightwood with temporary tenants in his vacation rental. But with his past experiences, Finn’s reluctant to get too involved in Ivy Darling’s chaotic life. So why does he find himself wishing this family would stick around for good? A HOME FOR HER BABY By Gabrielle Meyer Forced to sell her bed-and-breakfast, Piper Connelly’s happy to stay on as manager—until the pregnant widow discovers her former high school sweetheart, Max Evans, is the buyer. While Max has grown from the boy who once broke her heart, is giving him a second chance worth the risk? For more stories filled with love and faith, look for Love Inspired February 2021 Box Set—2 of 2
London society is cruel for a young woman whose father is an avid gambler. Miss Grace Ashton is not one to stand idly by while her family becomes destitute. Donning a mask, she slips into the night and attends the infamous Raven Club to confront the proprietor. But nothing prepares her for the sinfully attractive and wealthy Ian Swift. Ian is intrigued when Grace walks into his gambling club but refuses her offer of a few jewels to pay her father’s large debts. Unbeknownst to anyone, Ian has inherited the Earldom of Castleton, and he must reluctantly take his place in Society. But Ian’s manners as a gentleman have suffered. He needs a tutor, and he knows the exquisite lady standing before him is the answer. But soon tutoring turns to flirting, which unfortunately lands both of them in...marriage? Each book in the Raven Club series is STANDALONE: * How to Tempt an Earl * How to Best a Marquess
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