When school teacher Lily Barton flies to Rome at Christmas to see her brother, the last thing she expects is to be kidnapped by the demanding and sinfully attractive Count Scarletti Captivated by his glare, will she defy his demands? Dmitri Scarletti's sister has run off with Lily's brother and until he finds them, he's holding Lily hostage. But soon Lily's fiery nature incites a white-hot heat that even the Count can't resist. He has one night beneath the mistletoe to fulfill his every desire, for in the morning he'll be forced to let her go... Won't he?
The man who sent off Cantona on that infamous night at Crystal Palace. The first man to referee a Wembley final with a female assistant. The man who awarded four penalties in one match. Recently retired after 13 years at the top as a Football League referee, Alan Wilkie lifts the lid on what really goes on in the world of professional football. Read about the personalities and egos, from Ginola standing alone and isolated in the players' tunnel, to the author's own run-ins with Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson. Find out what Beckham is really like. Decide whether Vinnie Jones was a thug or just a tough competitor. Discover who are the cheats and who are the good guys, whose talent was wasted and who will be the next superstar. Feel the pressures of officiating a match in front of a 62,000 crowd, watched by 100 million people around the world. A split second decision followed by instant slow motion replays and your reputation being discussed in countless languages. Discover the world of greed and gamesmanship as the author takes you on a tour of the country's stadiums, big matches, football heroes and media idols. In this revealing and entertaining book, ex-premiership referee, Alan
Elegance and wealth. Privilege and politics. The extravagance of the Butterfly Palace overwhelmed Lily’s senses and nearly smothered her painful memories. She pushed away her misgivings . . . She was perfectly safe in this huge house. Austin, Texas—1904: Abandoned by the love of her life and still mourning the loss of her mother, Lily Donaldson has turned her back on the pain and come to Austin for a fresh start, working for the Marshall family as a kitchen maid in their luxurious mansion, the Butterfly Palace. The tasks before her are legion, and her mistress less than pleasant, but at least Lily’s new life will be, if nothing else, distracting. But one night, while serving at a dinner party, Lily recognizes the man who abandoned her, Andy, her liaison from the livery stable, the blacksmith’s son . . . sitting among the distinguished guests. Though he recognizes her, Andy does not acknowledge her aloud, and Lily is left reeling, flabbergasted, and irate. But before she can get an explanation, the path of the Servant Girl Killer swerves very close to the Butterfly Palace, sowing terror among the maids. Having come to Austin to start anew, Lily suddenly feels trapped in a spider web. How can she know who to trust in a house where lies come dressed in fine suits and deceit in silk gowns the colors of butterfly wings? “This story about the importance of having faith, especially in your darkest hour, is recommended for fans of Amanda Quick and Sandra Brown and for readers who enjoy romantic suspense and historical fiction.” —Library Journal
SHORTLISTED FOR THE RELIT 2022 NOVEL AWARD A joy ride set on a crash course with the past. Audrey Cole has always loved to drive. Anytime, anywhere, any car: a questionable rustbucket, a family sedan, the SUV she was paid to drive around the oil fields. From the second she learned to drive, she’s always found a way to hit the road. Years ago, when she abandoned her oil field job, she found herself chauffeuring around the Lever Men, a B-list band relegated to playing empty dive bars in far-flung towns. That’s how she found herself at the Crash Palace, an isolated lodge outside the big city where people pay to party in the wilderness. And now, one night, while her young daughter is asleep at home, Audrey is struck by that old urge and finds herself testing the doors of parked cars in her neighbourhood. Before she knows it, she’s headed north in the dead of winter to the now abandoned Crash Palace in a stolen car, unable to stop herself from confronting her past The Crash Palace is a funny, moving, and surprising novel by the author of the Amazon First Novel Award–nominated The Milk Chicken Bomb. Audrey is unlike any character you’ve met before, and you'll love being along for the ride.
Guess who's coming to dinner! Join one hungry elephant, two carsick lions, three pigs running from a wolf, and dozens of other playful yet famished animals as they swing, bound, and bounce into the Panda Palace for a hearty meal.
