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A “charming tale of little temptations” (Jacquelyn Benson), this feel-good comedy by fantasy author Olivia Atwater mixes angels, demons, romance, and chocolate into a perfectly petty and wickedly entertaining novel.
A little bit of sin is good for the soul.
Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself.
What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail.
Olivia Atwater explores love, grief, and the very last bit of chocolate in this sweet modern fantasy, full of wit and heart. Pick up Small Miracles, and enjoy a heavenly faerie tale from the author of Half a Soul.
“I do not wish to disturb you, your lordship, but there is a body in the garden…”
England, 1929. When a strange young woman is found murdered on the grounds of Unsworth Castle, the Earl and his family are astounded at first, but quickly become enraged when the police begin asking all sorts of impertinent questions.
And when suspicions dare to fall on one of their own, it is up to Mr. Quayle, Lord Unsworth’s exceedingly efficient secretary, to find the true culprit and save the House of Unsworth from scandal and ruin in this 'English country house mystery infused with humor, verve, and plenty of surprises.' (Kirkus Reviews)
A Most Efficient Murder is the first in the Mr. Quayle Mysteries.
A war between China and the US would be catastrophic, deadly, and destructive. Unfortunately, it is no longer unthinkable.
The relationship between the US and China, the world's two superpowers, is peculiarly volatile. It rests on a seismic fault-of cultural misunderstanding, historical grievance, and ideological incompatibility. No other nations are so quick to offend and be offended. Their militaries play a dangerous game of chicken, corporations steal intellectual property, intelligence satellites peer, and AI technicians plot. The capacity for either country to cross a fatal line grows daily.
Kevin Rudd, a former Australian prime minister who has studied, lived in, and worked with China for more than forty years, is one of the very few people who can offer real insight into the mindsets of the leadership whose judgment will determine if a war will be fought. The Avoidable War demystifies the actions of both sides, explaining and translating them for the benefit of the other. Geopolitical disaster is still avoidable, but only if these two giants can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through what Rudd calls "managed strategic competition." Should they fail, down that path lies the possibility of a war that could rewrite the future of both countries, and the world.
Create lycanthropes. Give them elemental powers. Save the world.Jerrell Hawkins has a plan. He’s going to marry Nadine Hartwell, study magic at University, and serve his kingdom in the ongoing war in the prestigious Orichalcum Company led by the hero of the realm. To do this, he needs to obtain a Class. When his plan to create a new, powerful spellcasting class fails, he fears all is lost. Then an enemy sleeper agent burns down his world and Nadine is infected with lycanthropy.But Jerrell’s pursuit of a new Class leaves him with strange, controversial abilities. He can create and bond lycanthropes. What’s more, he’s learning to use elemental magic. Along with Nadine, now his bonded companion, he enlists in the military to enact vengeance for the destruction of their home.Their enemies are numerous, their abilities make their allies uncomfortable, and nothing is simple. Not even the fate of the world, which just might rest on Jerrell Hawkins’ shoulders.
“Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more,Men were deceivers ever,-One foot in sea and one on shore,To one thing constant never.”
Benedick and Beatrice have had a rivalry that spans years, so when she finds out that he is going to be in town for a month, she is happy to resume their ongoing feud immediately. The two mock each other incessantly, always insulting and picking at one another’s insecurities. The people around them concoct a plan to get the two to fall in love by telling each one that the other loves them. This notion amuses the two proud people very much, and they proceed to attempt to right their disagreements for the sake of pursuing what they believe to be secret love.
Meanwhile, Claudio and Hero are in love, but everyone in Claudio’s circle is seemingly conspiring to prevent him from marrying her. From sowing discord between the two to deceiving Claudio into thinking that Hero is unfaithful to him, their relationship is torn apart quickly. This leaves Claudio feeling embarrassed, and wishing to retaliate against anyone who had part in humiliating him.
These two concurrent relationship entanglements result in chaos and hilarity, as the truths are slowly revealed to both sets of couples. Much Ado About Nothing demonstrates that the power of true love can withstand anything that deceptive and meddling friends can throw at it.
Laughter, happiness, romance, and just a bit of deception and intrigue – these are what make up Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Though Shakespeare is probably most well known for the dramatic tragedies that have defined the genre for centuries, his comedies are just as well beloved and performed in theaters across the globe.
Shakespearean comedies are defined by their humorous writing, their satire, the often-tangled romances, disguises and deceptions, and a thoughtful “fool” who is often the bearer of the smartest lines in the plays. Most of the time, there is also at least one (or two, or three, or four) weddings that tie the entire plot together in a neat package just in the nick of time. These conventions are iconic in the genre, and are what gave Shakespeare’s comedies their place in the literary canon.
This collection of the best of Shakespeare’s comedies includes:
- A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream
- The Merchant of Venice
- Much Ado About Nothing
- As You Like It
- Twelfth Night
- The Tempest
“For I am born to tame you, Kate,And bring you from a wild Kate to a KateComfortable as other household Kates.”
Baptista Minola has two daughters: Katherina and Bianca. Bianca is the “ideal wife” – beautiful, kind, submissive, and eager to wed. She has many suitors asking for her hand in marriage. The only thing standing in her way is her father’s promise not to let her marry before Katherina – and Katherina wants to anything but become a bride. Katherina is assertive and domineering, and unwilling to change her personality to attract a husband.
When a man named Petruchio comes to town, Katherina finally feels she has found someone she can live with – he is quick-witted like her, and doesn’t seem to take offense to her brash communication. However, as soon as they are married, Petruchio begins “taming” her by gaslighting her and undermining her at every turn and denying her necessities like food, sleep, and clothing.
This plot runs in sharp contrast to Bianca’s, who is able to woo an array of suitors after her sister is finally wed. Many men are running around and trying their best to deceive and bribe their way into Bianca’s heart, when she only has eyes for one called Lucentio.
Between the comedy of a gaggle of men running around wildly to attempt to wed Bianca and the over-the-top portrayal of Katherina’s “taming,” The Taming of the Shrew is a humorous play that offers a fascinating look at the 16th century’s views on women, marriage, and domesticity.
“If music be the food of love, play on,Give me excess of it; that surfeiting,The appetite may sicken, and so die.'
After a shipwreck separates Viola from her twin brother in a strange town, she decides the best course of action is to disguise herself as a man, so that she can become a servant to a Duke named Orsino. This small deception quickly spirals out of control, as she mistakenly ends up in the middle of a love triangle with her Orsino and the object of his affection, Olivia. Confusion and hilarity ensue as Viola evades Olivia’s growing affections, while also trying to win over Orsino while still being disguised as Cesario. The situation grows even more complicated when Viola’s twin shows up and gets mixed into the chaos, and as a man named Malvolio attempts to enter himself into the complicated romance by vying for Olivia’s affections.
Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most amusing works, from the witty dialogue to the amusing scenes that play on themes of gender, class, and honesty. The complex love triangle has served as the inspiration for many comedic books and films over the centuries, and remains amusing to a modern audience.
“Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player,That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,And then is heard no more. It is a taleTold by an idiot, full of sound and fury,Signifying nothing.”
If you had the chance to seize great power for yourself and your family, what lengths would you go to to claim it as your own – and how would you live with yourself if you went against morality to do it? This is the question of Macbeth, a tragedy about seeking political gain above all else, and the consequences sacrificing one’s humanity for the sake of power.
Macbeth is a general for Scotland who has been prophesied to be the future King of Scotland. Rather than wait for this prophecy to take hold of its own accord, and after taking the advice of his power-hungry wife, he murders the current king and takes his place. But it doesn’t take long for tremendous guilt and fear to take hold of him, and turn his reign into one of tyranny and brutality as he and Lady Macbeth commit more and more crimes to avoid the consequences coming for them. As Macbeth’s streak of brutality and war continues, he believes himself to be invulnerable, which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s well-known tragedies, and despite superstitions about it being “cursed,” is still often performed and presented for audiences in the modern era.
What if the foundation of your family business were threatened by something out of your control? What if the livelihood of 70 employees and their families were at stake, as the license to operate your business became called into question? What if 57 years of family history, grown through generations of hard work and sacrifice, were at risk of being lost? What if the reasons were actually one with which you fundamentally agreed?
Journey to 8 states, 3 national parks and 3 countries to experience the life-changing education and adventures that led Trent A. Romer to finding sustainability for his plastic bag manufacturing business and himself.
Featuring both a biography and contextual material to the rear of the volume.
Hugh Tempest Sheringham was one of Britain's greatest - if not the world's greatest - fishing writers. From trout to carp and from pike to eels - yes, eels! - his love of both fish and fishing both delights and amuses as much today as it did in bygone times.
An Angler's Hours is one of his best known works, and is recommended for both the keen angler and for the lover of the most genteel of British writing. If P.G. Wodehouse had been an angler, he would no doubt have spent many pleasant and amusing hours on the bank with Sheringham, and the world would have been the richer for it.
Featuring both a biography and contextual material to the rear of the volume.
Hugh Tempest Sheringham was one of Britain's greatest - if not the world's greatest - fishing writers. From trout to carp and from pike to eels - yes, eels! - his love of both fish and fishing both delights and amuses as much today as it did in bygone times.
Trout Fishing: Memories and Morals is recommended for both the keen angler and for the lover of the most genteel of British writing. If P.G. Wodehouse had been an angler, he would no doubt have spent many pleasant and amusing hours on the bank with Sheringham, and the world would have been the richer for it.
