The 1840s: a time of increasing social awareness, particularly for progressive cotton mill owner Adrian Bennett and his son Christopher. One social issue Christopher has never considered is violence against women. A Robert Browning poem and a chance encounter with Katerina Valentino change everything. Katerina fears for her life because of her father's violent behavior. When Christopher is entranced by the delicate, dark-haired beauty, he decides to rescue her - by marrying her. But Katerina's years of abuse have left her physically and emotionally scarred, threatening the newlyweds' happiness. Is Christopher's tender affection enough to help heal Katerina's broken spirit? This book contains graphic sex and is not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
Imagine the hushed excitement and the vivid anticipation of a child on Christmas Eve. How much more intense that anticipation must have been for those who waited for the wonder of the very first Christmas. From the ancient prophets to the three kings, from the angel Gabriel to the stalwart Joseph, Katarina Katsarka Whitley imagines their astonishment and joy at the events unfolding around them. In her inimitable style, Whitley places herself in the hearts and minds of the biblical characters–both real and imagined–who played a part in the Christmas narrative. She weaves stories, solidly based in Scripture, at once compelling and thought-provoking. The voices of her characters lead us closer to the Christ Child and deepen the meaning of the season of Advent for twenty-first century readers.
Nikolai Leskov's writing exploded the conventions of nineteenth-century Russian fiction. Here is the other Russia, mythical and untamed: an uneasy synthesis of Orthodoxy and Old Believers, a land populated by soldiers and monks, serfs and princes, Tartars and gypsies—a vast country brimming with the promise of magic. These seventeen tales, some rooted in the oral tradition, others cast as sophisticated anecdotes, are all told in the voices of storytellers addressing their audience—allowing us, as readers, to join a group of listeners. Innovative in form and rich in wordplay, the narratives unfurl in startlingly modern ways. The great gift of this new translation allows us to hear all the nuances of Leskov’s brilliant language.
Katerina's Story: Life in Poland During WWII and the Aftermath is a historical novel based on a real person's account. For most of her life, this Polish woman keeps her past secret, even from her children. Only now, at age ninety-three, is she willing to revisit her memories with her friend Lou Ellen. The bittersweet journey begins in childhood during the early 1930s when she grieves over her mother's mysterious death, withstands a stepmother's cruelty, and broods over her father's indifference to her grievances. Her happiness from a peaceful and loving life at a convent is brief, when in 1939, German armies invade and capture the entire country. Within days, Nazis nab her, force her into a stinking boxcar, and steam toward Dachau, the notorious concentration/labor camp in Germany. As one of Hitler's slave workers, Katerina's harrowing fight for survival begins. She witnesses torture and savage deaths and endures disease, near starvation, and brutality. Many captives abandon hope and commit suicide, but not this tough, courageous young woman. She relies on her faith and trust in God, the power of prayer, and wit. When war ends, she marries a former POW, and they enjoy a loving, promising life in Italy with their two children for thirteen years when tragedy thwarts her happiness again. Subsequently, by the time she arrives in the United States as a refugee ready to build a new life, Katerina has a new husband, two additional children, and another child on the way. Her troubles are far from over. She and the family face language difficulties and discrimination at school and in the workplace. In addition, Katerina realizes she must deal with destructive aftermath issues, such as failing to trust people and holding onto an intense hatred for Hitler and his Nazi regime. Eventually, Katerina discovers inner peace through grace and forgiveness.
When Nora Nick and her friends begin to see the unimaginable their parents then think they are going crazy. The only place where they do not see the creatures is Nora's clubhouse. When they go to the clubhouse they notice there is an extra door. They are then sucked into another realm. How will they escape? Only you can find out.
Thirteen-year-old Trina's family left Bohemia for a Colorado coal town to earn money to buy a farm, but by 1901 she doubts that either hard work or hoping will be enough, even after a strange fish seems to grant her sisters' wishes.
"Shouldn't we introduce ourselves before we get divorced?" With these words, American grad student Breanne Smith secures the attraction of Nicolas Brassard, French banker. Through tragedy, heartbreak and fear, Nick and Breanne forge a bond that takes them from the American Midwest to the shores of France, and into a whirlwind romance that defies sense and reason. Helpless against their passion, they fight for their love, trusting that everything will be all right. But can their love remain true?
I wasnt going to let the fact that I have Multiple Sclerosis, stop me from flying off to the Greek islands for some fun in the sun This is a diary about holidaying in three different resorts on the island of Rhodes; Tholos, Stegna and Pefkos. I bought my first mobility scooter in 2004. It is my friend and companion when I travel. This, along with my love of writing, is what inspired me to write this book. The time I had there, the wonderful people that I met, the obstacles I faced and the challenges I overcame whilst travelling with my mobility scooter, is to me, what makes it all the more fun! A life without a risk is a life unlived.
Detectives in Greece struggle to solve multiple murders—and confront a shadowy group claiming that the goddess Athena is behind the carnage . . . After an unidentified body is found at the Temple of Hephaestus, arranged to resemble the myth of Athena’s birth, officers Michail Mikras and Katerina Galanis are assigned to the case, led by a senior detective recently transferred from London. Amid growing media coverage, a group calling itself The Awakening puts out ominous social media posts, claiming that this crime proves the goddess Athena has returned to “cleanse” the city of Athens. With each new corpse, the mania grows—chants of “Athena is arisen” ring out; a rabble-rousing newspaper suggests that the goddess is purifying the city by getting rid of immigrants; graffiti of axes and snakes start to appear. As raucous rallies spring up throughout the city, the team of investigators must solve the case to break the spell before an unimaginable horror comes to pass . . .
Reeling from a series of betrayals, attorney Janelle Richards abandons her life in Minnesota to take a new job on the Texas/Mexico border. Though the culture shock is intense, the new community seems promising—or it would if not for Javier Mercado, her boss’s nephew. For some reason, he’s decided Janelle is bad news and will stop at nothing to drive her away. But when Javi’s sister needs legal assistance, he's forced to squash his animosity for his family’s sake. Javier begins to realize he badly misunderstood Janelle, and the woman he tried so hard to hate is actually intelligent, kind... and sexy. Anger gives way to attraction, and then to passion, but the demons that torment Javier’s and Janelle’s history interfere. Can the Norteño musician and the güera he’s coming to love ever trust each other enough to find their hearts’ desire? Bonus: In addition to the main novel, this book contains two bonus stories: "The Bridezilla's Best Friend" and "Verano Estupido." NOTE: this sexy romance contains multiple triggers, including emotional abuse, stalking, pregnancy loss, and references to cheating. Reader discretion is advised.
