Rock, Paper, Slippers is a nostalgic look back at growing-up in the 60s, 70s and beyond, and laughs in the faces of our preposterous younger selves. It's an unapologetic memoir that runs from childhood memories to mid-life crisis and safely out the other side, whilst tapping into all of our pasts along the way. It's a book for anyone who has ever sniggered at references to Mrs Slocombe's pussy, dreamed of scoring the winning goal in a cup final, written their initials on a record label or stood in front of their bedroom mirror, strapped on a cricket bat guitar and sung 'Gonna Make You A Star' into a hairbrush at their pouty reflection. At the forefront of all this growing-up business is an obsession with pop music: buying it, loving it, falling out with it, making up with it again and eventually having the audacity to play it with real instruments in front of real people. Written with humour and a smattering of touching frankness, Rock, Paper, Slippers may be one man's journey to his middle years, but it forces you to recognise and celebrate your own glorious odyssey too. Recognise your age, turn another page, it's a middle-age rampage, yeah!
From the back alleys of Philadelphia to the remote trails of Arizona's Red Rock Country, from a childhood marred by tragedy to the brink of an uncertain adulthood, Lizzy Ballard must come to terms with her extraordinary ability and the chaos it wreaks in her life and the lives of those she loves. Will Lizzy and her allies be able to save her from becoming the tool of others' ambitions, or a human lab rat? This ebook box set includes the three Lizzy Ballard Thrillers: Rock Paper Scissors, Snakes & Ladders, and The Iron Ring. ROCK PAPER SCISSORS Rock breaks scissors. Scissors cut paper. Paper covers rock. The rules are simple—except when it's people's lives at stake. By the time Charlotte and Patrick Ballard discover the damage their daughter, Lizzy, can do with her mind, it's already too late for Charlotte. They hide Lizzy away, trying to save others from the same fate, and trying to save Lizzy from life as a human lab rat. But they can't hide her forever. Little do they know that respected Philadelphia businessman Gerard Bonnay is responsible for Lizzy's ability. And Bonnay is willing to eliminate anyone who gets in the way of his goal of turning that power to his own ends. As her protectors are picked off one by one, will Lizzy be able to escape from Gerard Bonnay's deadly zero-sum game? SNAKES AND LADDERS Lizzy Ballard and her godfather Owen McNally are on the run after their fatal game of rock-paper-scissors with Vivantem's head of research, Louise Mortensen, and her enforcer George Millard. They find themselves in the Red Rock Country of Arizona, and Lizzy finds a mentor in Philip Castillo, a psychic counselor with his own dark past. While Lizzy works with Philip to try to control her deadly ability, Millard is hot on her trail, and Lizzy's power will be no defense against the weapon he has chosen. When Lizzy makes her way back to Philadelphia, Louise and George strike at Owen, and in a bid to protect her dwindling band of allies, Lizzy takes the fight to Louise's turf. In this deadly game of snakes and ladders, will Lizzy be rewarded for her virtues or punished for her vices? THE IRON RING Lizzy Ballard is headed to Arizona on a mission of vengeance: to kill the man who murdered Philip Castillo’s prison mentor. Meanwhile, Louise Mortensen and Mitchell Pieda find themselves under the protection—and at the mercy—of reclusive billionaire Theo Viklund. And Theo is intent on recruiting Philip to his cause as well. With the lines of communication cut, Theo sends Philip after Lizzy to keep her from executing her life-or-death assignment. As Lizzy’s allies struggle to understand exactly who the enemy is, Lizzy faces the killer, and even her special ability can't protect her.
“Dalrymple has written a fast-paced, complex thriller that can keep a reader engaged and off-kilter until its foreboding conclusion. ... A deadly game involving a dangerous girl that does have a winner: the reader.” —Kirkus Reviews “Not since Carrie have we seen a character excite such fear in those forced to learn her terrible secret the hard way.” —Robert Blake Whitehill, Bestselling Author of The Ben Blackshaw Series “Not since Stephen King’s 'Firestarter' has someone like Lizzy Ballard come along, a young woman who fears herself even more than she fears others.” —Suzanne Chazin, Author of the Jimmy Vega Mystery Series She was born with an extraordinary ability … and while she tries to hide it, others seek to control it. Who will win this deadly zero-sum game? Rock breaks scissors. Scissors cut paper. Paper covers rock. The rules are simple—except when it's people's lives at stake. When Lizzy’s parents discover the damage she can do with her mind, they hide her away, trying to save her from life as a human lab rat … and trying to save others from her power. But they can't hide her forever. Little do they know that professed friends are actually enemies who will eliminate anyone who gets in the way of their goal of turning Lizzy’s power to their own ends. As her protectors are picked off one by one, will Lizzy be able to escape this deadly zero-sum game? Find out in Book 1 of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers!
Rock Paper Scissors (RPS), the ultimate decision-making tool, is played the world over. By the late twentieth century, however, the sport's illustrious governing body, the World Rock Paper Scissors Society, had fallen on hard times. It was then that brothers Douglas and Graham Walker boldly took up the challenge to restore the World RPS Society to its former glory, and now they bring you the ultimate strategy guide to this time-honored game. The Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide covers the whole RPS scene from the school yard to the pro level, including RPS culture around the world, the personality behind each throw, and secrets of the RPS masters. Learn how to intimidate your opponent and anticipate his next move. Get the answers to burning questions such as "Does Rock crush Scissors, or are Scissors dulled by Rock?" and "Who invented RPS?" Forget about flipping a coin or consulting your Magic 8 Ball -- Rock Paper Scissors is the only decision-making tool anyone needs.
The Ultimate Guide to Protecting Yourself and Your Family from a Home Invasion Dave Young has survived his fair share of violent attacks, including witnessing a home invasion first-hand as a teenager when two burglars broke into his home. Fortunately, his family was okay, but the terrifying experience motivated him to dedicate the rest of his life to helping others survive life’s dangers. Now a seasoned veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and police force, Dave has packed this book with everything he’s seen and learned about home invasions. This life-saving information will turn chilling “what-if ” scenarios into planned strategies to protect your loved ones and belongings from any threat. Dave uses practical, everyday language to help you view your home from a criminal’s perspective, identify weak spots in your defense and correct them—effectively scratching your home off their target list. He uses real-life examples to teach how to recognize a threat scouting your neighborhood or home. Plus you’ll get detailed instructions on using unconventional weapons of opportunity placed smartly throughout the home and so much more. This book is for everyone—whether you own a firearm or not— because in reality, you can’t depend on a gun to save you in every situation. What will truly keep you safe is a better sense of awareness, the ability to recognize danger and the knowledge of what to do when you can’t avoid it, all of which you’ll learn here. Don’t let another day go by when your family could be at risk—start your proactive family defense strategy today.
The lights are dim. The crowd is hushed.And a dozen teens start laughing hysterically, piling into a human "boat" that helps set up the mind-blowing miracle of Jesus walking on the stormy Sea of Galilee.Maybe you’re after a booster shot for midweek youth group meetings that feel "same old, same old." Or you’ve just been asked (last minute, of course) to run the service at the shelter during your mission trip, and you need a jolt of energy that’ll draw kids into your lesson. Whatever your creative need, Spontaneous Melodramas 2 will fill the bill. Continuing where its predecessor--Spontaneous Melodramas--left off, this volume offers another two dozen tales from the Old and New Testaments that bring the biblical accounts to life . . . with distinctive, contemporary twists!Although these no-rehearsal skits will leave your students in stitches, the humor never buries the message of Scripture. So you can be confident when bringing your kids--whether or not they’re familiar with the Bible--into sketches like:The Sumptuous Spare Rib (Adam and Eve)Touched by an Angel (Jacob’s wrestling match)Love on a Threshing Floor (Ruth and Boaz)The Wizard of Eyes (Jesus heals the blind man)The Great Pool Party (Healing at the pool)Dead Man Walking (Jesus raises Lazarus)Spontaneous Melodramas 2 is full of flexible skits that youth workers, Sunday school teachers, camp counselors, and retreat directors can use for discussion starters, icebreakers, or talk intros. And they’re natural fits for Bible study programming, all-nighters, mission trips, camps, retreats, parent meetings, and many other events.More than a year’s worth of slapstick, pratfalls, and fun, Spontaneous Melodramas 2 will make the Bible--and its unforgettable characters and adventures--extra memorable for your students.
De’Shane started off as a lanky and intelligent kid in the slums of Richmond, Virginia. With the help of his three friends— Rich, Mandy and Cherie— he didn’t need to resort to drastic measures like some kids his age. However, a twist in fate had a lot to deal with the man he grew to become. After being legally adopted to become the only son of a kingpin named Apollo, Shane had to let go of almost everything he knew. He was reconstructed to be just as ruthless and as coldhearted as his father. Although succeeding and being renamed by foot-soldiers alike as “Shane tha God”, his heart wasn’t as icy as he put on, because the enchantress Cherie stayed on his mind through the torture, the abuse, and the process to rebuild him. What he giveth, he could take away, but he would never take anything away from Cherie. He would only give. Cherie, before Shane’s adoption, was forced to move clear across the country and to leave her friends behind. Though separated, she never forgot about Shane or the love he had for her. Just like Shane, Cherie has changed in many ways. She’s just more tight-lipped about it. Cherie breaks free of an abusive engagement and heads back to Virginia, disobeying her fiancé to never return there, but what she stumbles upon when getting there is no fairytale. Her Shane is no longer the lanky little fellow who will trip over his own feet to please her. Neither is he the little boy who will grab the moon and stars for her, to give them to her. She finds him as a wealthy, blood-thirsty, full grown man with a closet full of skeletons, ready to fall out at the slightest touch of the doorknob. Can she tame this beast and find the friend in him that she had long ago? Was her trip back to the past well worth losing her fiancé? Is it possibly to rekindle what they once had? Or is it all one foolish childhood fantasy that should be and could be left behind? Hopefully their own secrets and the events that they’ve gone through without one another doesn’t tear them apart.
