The imperial residence of Chengde was built by two powerful and ambitious Manchu emperors between 1703 and 1780 in the mountains of Jehol. This volume, the first scholarly publication in English on the Manchu summer capital, reveals how this unlikely architectural and landscape enterprise came to help forge a dynasty's multicultural identity and concretize its claims of political legitimacy. Using both visual and textual materials, the author explores the hidden dimensions of landscape, showing how geographical imagination shaped the aesthetics of Qing court culture while proposing a new interpretation of the mental universe that conceived one of the world's most remarkable examples of imperial architecture.
This smart, stylish motivational guide helps readers discover their dreams and true potential via an action plan based on the coaching strategies of an executive coach. Finding one’s "sweet spot" means digging deep for new levels of self-understanding and re-prioritizing one’s life to align with one’s inner excellence. Written to make readers feel they have access to their own personal coach, the book leads them through a series of inspiring stories, practical steps, and "sweet spot checks" designed to spur personal and professional growth. Find Your Sweet Spot consists of four parts--The Sweet Spot Strategy, The Sweet Spot Inside, The Sweet Spot Outside, Integrate Your Sweet Spot--and offers practical tips and exercises that explore everything from self-love to the power of gratitude and a productive mindset. Find Your Sweet Spot is geared for modern adults who find themselves yearning for more in their daily lives. As a chic, jet-setting businesswoman with many high-powered clients, Karen Elizaga boasts a distinctly modern edge among self-help authors.
Sebastian has returned to Boston now, no longer a boy, a man with a feral intensity and a hard muscled body tattooed with the story of his years away from Ani. He has returned to claim the love of his life, only to find that Ani is a wife and mother to another man's child. Now Ani has to choose. The Boston Harbor Romance Series. Book One.
From the #1 bestselling author: “[A] heartwarming novel about how a woman at odds with the world learns to live with it, and sometimes even love in it.” —Booklist “Responsibility” should be Nicole Keyes’s middle name. After all, not many people would sacrifice their lives to run the family bakery and raise a younger sibling. But with Nicole’s twin sister now blissfully married and her younger sis turning out more femme fatale than girl-next-door, super reliable Nicole is getting sick of putting everyone else’s needs first! Enter Hawk. The deliciously sexy former NFL player offers Nicole a taste of the freedom she craves. Hawk may know the way, blindfolded, to her sweet spot, but Nicole’s not about to let him get close enough to break her heart. Of course, she might not have a choice in the matter if Hawk’s past keeps getting in the way of their present . . . “Mallery is in top-notch form as she takes troubled and stubborn individuals and portrays their emotional growth. Drama and trauma abound in this winner!” —RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars) “I strongly recommend Sweet Spot, especially to readers who like their family melodramas spiked with lots of laughter and hot romance.” —The Romance Reader “Sweet Spot definitely hits the spot . . . Susan Mallery is one of the best contemporary romance authors writing today.” —The Romance Readers Connection
A sizzling story of everyone’s favorite couple from amazing Stephanie Evanovich’s New York Times bestseller Big Girl Panties: hunky professional baseball player Chase Walker and his sassy wife Amanda. When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates. But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan. Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punchline. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?
A Love as Big as Texas ... Charla Rae Denny was the perfect wife with a perfect life, content to keep the home fires burning while her husband, JB, competed as a champion bull rider. Then their son died in a tragic accident-and everything fell apart. Divorced and saddled with a hill of bills and a failing ranch, Charla must now cowboy up to put her life back together. James "JB" Denny doesn't stay where he isn't welcome. So when Charla shut him out of her grieving heart-and their home-a year ago, he took comfort where he could find it. Now after seeing beautiful Charla again, he wants it all back. She can't work the ranch alone, and deep in his heart he knows he can be the man she needs. But after so much history and heartbreak, can JB convince Charla to take a risk and give their love a second chance'
"Now what am I going to do?" is a question many people ask—and leave unanswered—at critical potential turning points in their careers. Perhaps you’re a new graduate, but instead of lining up for a boring entry-level job at a big corporation, you wish you could start your own sustainable and responsible business. Or maybe you’ve been stuck in a job you hate for a few years, but you still dream of doing the thing you love and that you’re actually good at. Or maybe you’re a boomer and you’re ready for a second career, a personal venture that will represent a total change from what you’ve spent most of your work life doing. Whatever your situation, this is the book to help you get started. Finding the Sweet Spot explains how sustainable, responsible, and joyful natural enterprises differ from most jobs, and it provides the framework for building your own natural enterprise. You’ll learn how to find partners who will help make your venture successful, how to do world-class market research, how to innovate, how to build resilience into your enterprise, and how to avoid the land mines that sink so many small businesses. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to find the "sweet spot" where your gifts, your passions, and your purpose intersect. And make no mistake: our world needs your talent. The current economic system and the educational system that feeds into it have let us down and are destroying our planet. We need a blossoming of natural enterprises—connected, collaborating, and supporting ventures—to form a dynamic new natural economy. Is such a thing possible? Inventor, entrepreneur, and humanist Buckminster Fuller said: "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." Finding the Sweet Spot presents a new model. Use it to find the work you were meant to do, thereby helping to create the world we’re meant to live—and make a living—in.
Former pro baseball player Linc Conner knows exactly where his head’s at. Most of the time, he’s completely focused on running his community center and focusing on the kids. But when it comes to single mom Emma Henricksen, Linc can’t see straight. She’s driven, resourceful—not to mention that smart, extra-kissable mouth—and when she’s near, he gets lost in a fog of lust. But he needs her help to convince an investor they’re engaged. Emma’s too busy raising her gifted little girl to have a sex life that’s not battery-operated. Still, how could she resist being engaged to a guy who’s the sexual equivalent of her favorite dessert topped with whipped cream and a cherry, even if it’s just pretend? Emma knows all too well that if something seems too good—or too tempting—to be true, it definitely is... Now it’s a game of pretend with a whole lot of chemistry between the guy who’s used to playing the field—and the woman who opted out of the game long ago. All that’s missing is one helluva curveball... Each book in the Rock Falls series is STANDALONE: * Tinkering with Love * A Sweet Spot For Love * No Cooldown for Love
Are you maximizing your full leadership potential and effortlessly leveraging the talents of others? Do you experience living your life with maximum ease, power and joy? For many, the answer is no. Yet, what if it were possible? What if you could identify and tap into the aspects of yourself and others that provide a doorway into unprecedented results and fulfillment? The Sweet Spot is a deep dive into the 7 fundamental "Talents" that make up our greatest contributions - the best of who we are and what we have to offer. Used widely by leaders in the business community to recognize their own and others most authentic Talents, this book covers the key contributions and challenges of each of the 7 Talents. It also provides effective ways to grow and develop those Talents, with practical tips for leveraging your own and other's most natural gifts to be more productive, successful, and free. In many ways, this subject is not a new one. A person's Talents are based on existing archetype categories that have been written and spoken about for centuries. Unlike books on the traditional archetypes, personality types or career assessments, this book provides a modern update focused on leveraging your natural talents in leadership and life. The 7 Talents are: Artisan: Creativity Priest: Vision Sage: Communication Warrior: Efficiency Server: Love Scholar: Knowledge King: Power By reading The Sweet Spot book, you'll learn how to: Discover and access more of your greatest capacity as a leader Leverage your own and others' Talents with less effort Motivate those around you for increased engagement Increase your experience of personal fulfillment and professional success If you want less stress, better results and more connection - if you want to grow your experience of living with a greater sense of purpose and power - The Sweet Spot book is an essential read."
"This book was amazing! If you love romantic and cute happy endings then this one is it! I swear I had butterfly's and was blushing while reading this." - Reviewed by Elisa"A fun little sexy book that is deliciously sweet, sassy and steamy." - Reviewed by Riley"If you're looking for a book about two people who are sweeter than sugar and will make you swoon, this IS the one for you." - Reviewed by StephanieCallie Thomas is the new girl in town, moving to Magnolia Springs to open her own cupcake shop, The Sweet Spot. She's determined to make her dream a success and pours all her time into focusing on her bakery. What she doesn't make time for, is falling for the sexy mechanic that owns the auto shop next door.Asher Davis is the kind of local bad boy that is so sexy his body screams "troublemaker", "panty-melter", and "heartbreaker" all at the same time. Armed with dimples and a mega-watt smile, poor Callie is no match to resist Asher's charm and good looks. When Callie and Asher meet it's instant sparks, but Callie refuses to give in, no matter how hot Asher is. Asher refuses to take no for an answer and is determined to make Callie his.What's it going to take for Asher to win Callie over? Can Callie have her cupcakes and Asher too? Welcome to Magnolia Springs! If you're looking for laugh out loud moments with lots of swoon and sexy book boyfriends, then you've come to the right place! All the books in this series are complete standalones featuring a different couple, each with a HEA! You can enjoy these books in any order.
