From a USA Today–bestselling author: Star-crossed lovers are torn between clan loyalty and forbidden romance in the Highlands of medieval Scotland. For decades, a feud has divided the Mackintoshes of Clan Chattan and the Comyns of Raitt. Though Raitt Castle lies not far beyond the next ridge, headstrong Lady Catriona “Katy” MacFinlagh of Clan Mackintosh has never seen it. When her curiosity and rebellious spirit compel her to scale a nearby peak in hopes of catching a glimpse, Katy loses her footing, and a broad-shouldered stranger, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, saves her from a fatal fall. Spellbound by the young tawny-haired beauty he has rescued, William Comyn neglects to reveal his full identity to her. As Will and Katy begin to meet in secret and their strong mutual attraction deepens toward love, the clan feud once again erupts in violence, making it harder and harder for Will to reveal that he is a Comyn. But when Will learns that Katy’s clan is in imminent danger, he must decide between his newfound love and his sacred honor, and Katy must choose between her pride and her heart. Set in the same north central Scottish Highlands as The Reluctant Highlander, The Kissing Stone is a historically rich and fiercely passionate Scottish romance from the Rita Award–winning author “frequently credited with creating the subgenre” (Library Journal). The Kissing Stone is the 2nd book in the Highland Nights series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Rina Lazarus has some shocking news for her husband, LAPD Lieutenant Peter Decker. A horrible murder has occurred in the family of his half-brother, Rabbi Jonathan Levin. The rabbi's brother-in-law was found slain in a seedy hotel room in upper Manhattan, and the victim's 15-year-old niece, with whom he was spending the day, is missing. Decker, with Rina at his side, immediately heads out to New York to assist in the investigation. But what starts out as simple inquiries soon evolves into a twisted and perilous journey -- from the darkened slums of New Jersey and the deserted industrial streets of New York to the recesses of sexual perversity and the hidden meeting places of Hasidic outcasts. Thrust into a deadly maze of deceit, lies, and danger, the couple can no longer trust anyone -- friend or family. And when salvation is finally within Decker's grasp, it can only be delivered by a depraved lone wolf, hell-bent on his own personal vengeance.
When someone says, at a holiday dinner table, âOh, those Lawrence cousins lose control all the time,â or the Davises always had more talent than luck,â you can be sure there's a lesson being passed along, from one generation to another. Who tells stories to whom and about what is never a random matter. Our family stories have a secret power: they play a unique role in shaping our identity and our sense of our place in the world. They give us values, inspirations, warnings, and incentives. We need them. We use them. We keep them. They reverberate throughout our lives, affecting our choices in love, work, friendship, and lifestyle. Elizabeth Stone, whose grandparents came from Italy to Brooklyn, artfully weaves her own family stories among the stories of more than a hundred people of all backgrounds, ages, and regionsâclarifying for us predictable types of family legends, providing ways to interpret our own stories and their roles in our lives. She examines stories of birth, death, work, money, and romantic adventureâall in the context of the family storytelling ritual. And she shows how stories about our most ancient ancestors may provide answers at milestone moments in our lives, as well as how stories about our newest family members carve out places for them so that they will fit into their families, comfortably or otherwise. Upon its initial publication in 1988, Studs Terkel said that the book is âA wholly original approach to an ancient theme: family storytelling and its lasting mark on the individual.â Judy Collins noted that âElizabeth Stone's marvelous book on family myths and fables is irresistible. It lets us in on our own secrets in a provocative and exciting way.â And Maggie Scarf wrote, âWhat a clever topic, and how beautifully Elizabeth Stone has written about it! I recommend Black Sheep and Kissing Cousins for everyone who has ever been raised in a family.â
Is it possible to fall in love in one night? Ivy Grant has devoted her life to medical research -- until she finds out her lab funding is about to be cut, right on the cusp of a breakthrough. She'll have to convince the billionaire CEO Carter Burke to support her project. But after a one-night whirlwind romance, is Ivy ready to open her life to new possibilities -- like love? BookShots Flames: Original romances presented by James Patterson Novels you can devour in a few hours Impossible to stop reading
Blarney Castle, the medieval home of the MacCarthy lords of Muskerry, is one of Ireland's best-known castles. Many visitors to Ireland include a trip to the castle in their itinerary, often lining up to kiss the Blarney Stone in hope of acquiring the 'gift of the gab.' Yet despite the castle's ubiquitous image on postcards and tourist promotional literature, there is little acknowledgment of the building's historical and archaeological significance as a native lordly residence. This book brings the castle's architecture to the fore, placing it in the context of an expansive native lordship in late medieval Munster, and showing how changes in the layout and appearance of the building can be attributed to the castle's occupants, who continued to redefine their social standing and cultural identity through the Tudor reconquest and beyond.
From USA TODAY Bestselling Author, C. L. Stone, read First Kiss, the tenth book in The Academy Ghost Bird Series. The time has finally come for Sang Sorenson to be formally introduced to the Academy. Protocol dictates the boys keep the details of Sang's official introduction to the Academy a secret from her. The only thing they can advise her to do is to work on what will become her mantra: She is determined to stay with her team, no matter what. Despite her wishes, however, the boys are second-guessing her place with them, concerned for her safety. With dangers all around and threats closing in, some of the boys are questioning if this is the right time to bring her to meet the Academy at all. Sang is challenged with being the brave face among them and instilling the confidence needed to keep her with them. However, in order to appear compliant with the Academy's rules, she has to be willing to listen and try their suggestions. As the boys have suspected and feared, the council wants to see how she'll work with a different team. An all-girl team. She has no choice but to go along with the proposal or risk losing a shot at the Academy. But when the Academy's inner world is revealed to her, Sang knows that she's finally found her place-somewhere she belongs-and she sees a future with them. The deeper she gets, the more she sees how she can make a difference. Learning what she is capable of and the impact she can have, she feels obligated to help. There's so few girls, and they need her. The guys try to stick to their plan, but every team must pay their debts, and the cost of keeping her might be more than any of them can afford. It's up to Sang alone to prove to the Academy where she truly belongs-but can she resist the call of a new team that needs her? The Academy, Inside The time has finally come for Sang Sorenson to be formally introduced to the Academy. Protocol dictates the boys keep the details of Sang's official introduction to the Academy a secret from her. The only thing they can advise her to do is to work on what will become her mantra: She is determined to stay with her team, no matter what. Despite her wishes, however, the boys are second-guessing her place with them, concerned for her safety. With dangers all around and threats closing in, some of the boys are questioning if this is the right time to bring her to meet the Academy at all. Sang is challenged with being the brave face among them and instilling the confidence needed to keep her with them. However, in order to appear compliant with the Academy's rules, she has to be willing to listen and try their suggestions. As the boys have suspected and feared, the council wants to see how she'll work with a different team. An all-girl team. She has no choice but to go along with the proposal or risk losing a shot at the Academy. But when the Academy's inner world is revealed to her, Sang knows that she's finally found her place-somewhere she belongs-and she sees a future with them. The deeper she gets, the more she sees how she can make a difference. Learning what she is capable of and the impact she can have, she feels obligated to help. There's so few girls, and they need her. The guys try to stick to their plan, but every team must pay their debts, and the cost of keeping her might be more than any of them can afford. It's up to Sang alone to prove to the Academy where she truly belongs-but can she resist the call of a new team that needs her?
This travelogue takes readers on a journey through Ireland, showcasing the country's natural beauty, storied history, and unique culture. From the bustling streets of Dublin to the rugged coastline of Donegal, the author provides a vivid portrait of a country that is both charming and complex. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
He saved her. Now it's her turn to save him. When Cassie Price wipes out surfing, she's rescued by a mysterious stranger with ocean blue eyes and golden hair. Before she can thank him, he disappears with a splash. The next morning she finds him unconscious on the beach. After bringing him to her house, she manages to wake him up. But the last thing she expects is for him to grow fins and a tail. Merpeople. They exist. And this one is so captivating that Cassie is instantly drawn to him. Trusting guys has never been easy for her, but the more time she spends with the merman, the more her heart opens. With his inability to live on land for more than a few hours, Cassie questions whether they can ever have a future together. Being too invested, she can't bear to part with him. When his existence is threatened to be exposed, Cassie must decide if she's willing to let go of the only guy she's ever loved.
It's just a stone and only a myth until Ariella leaves Blarney Castle with the Gift of Gab. Ariella has always managed to keep her thoughts to herself whether it's her distrust of her sister's boyfriend or her own hidden feelings for her best friend. After returning home from a family vacation in Ireland, she finds herself unable to keep her thoughts from escaping her mouth. As she navigates her new gift of eloquence and lack of restraint, will Ariella unintentionally hurt the people around her, or will she discover how powerful and life-changing her words can be?
