Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

 Biographies & Memoirs > Royalty

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey tells the story behind Highclere Castle, the real-life inspiration and setting for Julian Fellowes’s Emmy Award-winning PBS show Downton Abbey, and the life of one of its most famous inhabitants, Lady Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Drawing on a rich store of materials from the archives of Highclere Castle, including diaries, letters, and photographs, the current Lady Carnarvon has written a transporting story of this fabled home on the brink of war.

Much like her Masterpiece Classic counterpart, Lady Cora Crawley, Lady Almina was the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, Alfred de Rothschild, who married his daughter off at a young age, her dowry serving as the crucial link in the effort to preserve the Earl of Carnarvon’s ancestral home.  Throwing open the doors of Highclere Castle to tend to the wounded of World War I, Lady Almina distinguished herself as a brave and remarkable woman.

Reasonable Fear (Joe Dillard Series Book 4)

 Thriller & Suspense > Crime Fiction > Murder

Reasonable Fear (Joe Dillard Series Book 4)

Three young women are found floating in a lake.

The suspect is one of the richest and most powerful men in Tennessee.

“Reasonable Fear” is the fourth of the bestselling Joe Dillard series offered by Scott Pratt. In this novel, Dillard has become the district attorney in Northeast Tennessee. He becomes heavily involved in the investigation with Sheriff Leon Bates and soon realizes that he is up against an enemy that he has never before encountered — someone so rich and so powerful that the course of justice could be altered by money and political influence. But when bodies start showing up in his driveway and his family is threatened with termination, Dillard must ask himself a previously unthinkable question. His life, and the lives of his family, depend on the answer.

The Friday Edition (A Samantha Church Mystery, Book 1)

 Mystery > Women Sleuths

The Friday Edition (A Samantha Church Mystery, Book 1)

Snow isn’t all that’s falling in Denver, Colorado on Christmas Eve. A beautiful, young district attorney tumbles from her balcony to her death.
Police suspect suicide, but the DA’s sister, newspaper reporter Samantha Church, isn’t buying it.

Samantha discovers evidence linking her sister to a drug smuggling case and quickly learns she has stumbled onto a major news story. She must summon the courage to not only face a cartel of criminals, but her own fears and shortcomings when she is confronted by the inescapable specter of a far greater enemy—her addiction to alcohol. Samantha’s dependency has not only cost her job at a major metropolitan daily, but, worse, custody of her daughter, April.

Samantha pursues her sister’s killers, maneuvering through a minefield of intrigue deliberately set out to divert her from the truth. Despite being betrayed, physically beaten and facing the possibility of sharing her sister’s fate, Samantha refuses to stop her investigation. However, when the killers threaten to harm April, Samantha realizes that, for her daughter’s sake, she can no longer continue the investigation on her own. She knows she must swallow her pride and turn to her ex-husband and police detective, Jonathan Church, for help.
Can Samantha ultimately prevail—find her sister’s killer, write the story of her career, confront her drinking problem, and finally begin to change her life, or will she and April become the killer’s next victims?

The Portrait of a Lady (Penguin Classics)

 Literature & Fiction > Classics

The Portrait of a Lady (Penguin Classics)

When Isabel Archer, a beautiful, spirited American is brought to Europe by her wealthy aunt Touchett, it is expected that she will soon marry. But Isabel, resolved to enjoy the freedom that her fortune has opened up and to determine her own fate, does not hesitate to turn down two eligible suitors. It is only when she finds herself irresistibly drawn to the cultivated but worthless Gilbert Osmond that she discovers that wealth is a two-edged sword and that there is a price to be paid for independence. With its subtle delineation of American characters in a European setting, Portrait of a Lady is one of the most accomplished and popular of Henry James’s early novels.

The Gates of Byzantium (Purge of Babylon, Book 2)

 Science Fiction & Fantasy

The Gates of Byzantium (Purge of Babylon, Book 2)

The Purge has devastated the globe, turning much of humanity into night-dwelling, bloodthirsty creatures (dubbed “ghouls” by the survivors), while small pockets of remaining humans have managed to carry on.

With the loss of their sanctuary, Will and his small band of survivors are forced to seek shelter elsewhere. Following the call of a mysterious radio broadcast, they make the treacherous journey to Louisiana, where an island might hold the key to survival.

Along the way they meet new survivors, clash with new enemies, and renew old acquaintances that have been forever altered. Collaborators–humans working with the ghouls–are more dangerous than ever, and the ghouls have begun a new phase of their domination.

Will learns that a larger war between survivors and ghouls is raging in the rest of the country, but before he can join the fight, he must first ensure the continued survival of his group at all costs.

The Stones of Angkor (Purge of Babylon, Book 3)

 Science Fiction > Dystopian

The Stones of Angkor (Purge of Babylon, Book 3)

The fight for Song Island is over. Despite suffering losses, Will and his group have claimed the island as their own and achieved the safe haven they’ve longed for since The Purge.

Months later, Will makes contact with another group of survivors, and travels to their base in hopes of striking an alliance and gathering much-needed medical supplies. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of another bloody battle.

With Will gone, Lara must take up a leadership position on the island, and is immediately confronted with a difficult choice. It’s a lot of pressure for a third-year medical student, especially when her decisions may cost lives.

Meanwhile, the ghouls have launched yet another startling new phase of their master plan, forcing Will to venture deep behind enemy lines to collect valuable intelligence. What he discovers will change everything.

The Twelfth Child (The Serendipity Series Book 1)

 Women’s Fiction > Historical > Mystery

The Twelfth Child (The Serendipity Series Book 1)

Abigail Anne Lannigan searched for these things all her life, now, when she is at the tail end of her years, she teams up with a free-spirited young woman. A nobody from nowhere, who suddenly moves in across the street. Their unusual friendship comes under suspicion when a million dollars goes missing and a distant relative, claims embezzlement. Abigail knows the truth of what happened but, unfortunately, she’ll never get the chance to tell.

Reminiscent of Fannie Flagg’s “Fried Green Tomatoes” the May-December friendship of these two unforgettable women is sure to settle in the soft spot of your heart.

The Twelfth Child, told in the timeless tradition of Southern Fiction, is a novel rich with emotion, humor and tenderness. A Historical Mystery set in the 20th Century, this is a story of love, friendship and one woman’s struggle to survive America’s Great Depression.

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 2)

 Mystery > Cozy

Strawberry Shortcake Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 2)

In her debut mystery, Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, intrepid amateur sleuth and bakery owner Hannah Swensen proved that when it comes to crime, nothing is sweeter than a woman who knows how to really mix it up. Now, the flame-haired, tart-talking (and baking) heroine is back, judging a contest where the competition is really murder.

When the president of Hartland Flour chooses cozy Lake Eden, Minnesota, as the spot for their first annual Dessert Bake-Off, Hannah is thrilled to serve as the head judge. But when a fellow judge, Coach Boyd Watson, is found stone-cold dead, facedown in Hannah’s celebrated strawberry shortcake, Lake Eden’s sweet ride to fame turns very sour indeed.

Between perfecting her Cheddar Cheese Apple Pie and Chocolate Crunchies, Hannah’s snooping into the coach’s private life and not coming up short on suspects. And could Watson’s harsh criticism during the judging have given one of the contestants a license to kill? The stakes are rising faster than dough, and Hannah will have to be very careful, because somebody is cooking up a recipe for murder. . .with Hannah landing on the “necessary ingredients” list.

Love…And Sleepless Nights (The Love…Series Book 2)

 Romantic Comedy

Love...And Sleepless Nights (The Love...Series Book 2)

Despite their respective job woes, things are good for Jamie and Laura Newman. After all, they’re madly in love, newly married, and having loads of hot sex; what could go wrong? Plenty.

When Laura vomits on prospective employers during an important job interview, she discovers that it’s not the aftereffects of a hangover, but that she–much to her horror–is pregnant. The couple will need to a keep a sense of humor amidst the mood swings, awkward sex, bizarre pregnancy cravings (detergent anyone?), and weight gain that ensue.

Add in a terrifying midwife, an overbearing mother-in-law, and the horror of a sober girls’ night out, and it’s a recipe for disaster–not to mention loads of laughs. And that’s before the baby arrives!

Now if they can only keep from losing their newborn in the grocery store, they might make it out alive in this laugh-out-loud, raunchy, relatable comedy of everyday life as a new parent.

The Power of Why: Breaking Out In a Competitive Marketplace

 Business & Money > Customer Relations

The Power of Why: Breaking Out In a Competitive Marketplace

Does your competitor always get the sale, even though your products and service are just as good, if not better? Why are some companies’ once-trusted brands now deemed worthless? Do you have to continually sell to your existing customers as though they are brand new ones?
After many years of diligent research and work with a wide range of clients, consultant and speaker C. Richard Weylman has the answer to these questions.

When customers decide where to buy, they have one thing in mind: Why should I do business with this company? Will it solve my problem, today? Buyers want to do business with companies willing to make a customer-centric promise of expected outcome: up-front and unconditional. This isn’t just a slogan; it has to be in the company’s DNA, consistently delivered through all parts of the organization.

The Power of Why shows readers how to elevate their business performance regardless of their situation or position.

Twilight (The Twilight Saga Book 1)

 Young Adult > Science Fiction & Fantasy

Twilight (The Twilight Saga Book 1)

Bella Swan’s move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella’s life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear.

Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

 Women’s Christian Living

The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

Smart, strong, independent—single women can live a fabulous life. Husband not required.

Mandy Hale, also known by her many blog readers and Twitter fans as The Single WomanTM, shares her stories, advice, and enthusiasm for living life as an empowered, confident, God-centered woman who doesn’t just resign herself to being single—she enjoys it! Being single has had its stigmas, but Mandy proves it has its advantages too, and she uses wisdom and wit to inspire her fellow single ladies to celebrate and live fully in the life God has given them.

Mandy encourages her readers on subjects such as taking chances, building friendships, letting go, and finding a greater purpose. With her help, readers can stop worrying about happily ever after and discover a happy life instead.

American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (P.S.)

 History > Weapons & Warfare

American Gun: A History of the U.S. in Ten Firearms (P.S.)

Chris Kyle—fallen hero and #1 bestselling author of American Sniper—reveals how ten legendary guns forever changed U.S. history.

Drawing on his unmatched firearms knowledge and combat experience, Kyle carefully chose ten guns to help tell his story: the American long rifle, Spencer repeater, Colt .45 revolver, Winchester rifle, Springfield 1903 rifle, Thompson sub-machine gun, 1911 pistol, M1 Garand, .38 Special police revolver, and the M-16 rifle platform Kyle himself used as a SEAL. Through them, he revisits thrilling turning points in American history, including the single sniper shot that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War, the firearms designs that proved decisive at Gettysburg, the “gun that won the West,” and the weapons that gave U.S. soldiers an edge in the world wars and beyond. This is also the story of how firearms innovation, creativity, and industrial genius has constantly pushed American history—and power—forward.

Silo Saga: Greatfall: The Complete Silo Novel (Kindle Worlds)

 Science Fiction > High Tech

Silo Saga: Greatfall: The Complete Silo Novel (Kindle Worlds)

A dark new story set in the world of Wool, Hugh Howey’s post-apocalyptic vision of humanity and its struggle to survive. (This is the collected, complete story, including the individually-published Parts 1-3.)

What happens when a silo goes dark? Maya has been sent to Silo 23 to investigate. Disconnected from the grid, the silo appears to be dead, rotted from the inside. But what Maya finds is a silo that is anything but deceased.

Shut off from the outside world and other silos, Silo 23 has evolved into something unexpected, and something more horrifying than Maya could have anticipated.

The Young Lions (Open Road Media)

 Literary Fiction > Classics > War

The Young Lions ((Open Road Media))

Irwin Shaw’s classic novel stands among the best fictional depictions of World War II.
Told from the points of view of one German and two very different Americans, this sweeping fresco brings home the reality of the most important historical event between the Great Depression and September 11, 2001: the Second World War.
 Considered by critics to be one of the most lucid visions of war in American fiction, The Young Lions remains a benchmark of twentieth-century war literature. It was made into the famous film starring Marlon Brando, Montgomery Clift, and Dean Martin.
This ebook features an illustrated biography of Irwin Shaw including rare images and never-before-seen documents from the author’s estate.

Dying for a Date (Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 1)

 Mystery > Cozy

Dying for a Date (Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 1)

Unsure if she is looking for Mr. Right, or Mr. Every Other Saturday Night, divorced mother of two, Laurel McKay reluctantly joins THE LOVE CLUB, a popular local dating service. Dressed to kill, she meets bachelor number one at a trendy restaurant. But the date is a bust, literally, when the guy decides Laurel is dessert, and she breaks his nose with her cell phone. It gets even worse when the man is found murdered the next morning, and Laurel has his blood on her clothes.

Despite her now being a person of interest to the police, Laurel bravely ventures out on date number two. When that unlucky bachelor disappears during dinner, Laurel’s only alibi is a bottle of Dom Perignon. The sexy investigating detective thinks she’s innocent and is worried she may be the next target. That’s more than enough motivation for Laurel to find a murderer determined to kill her social life––before dating becomes a dead end she can’t escape.

The Honeymoon Effect: The Science of Creating Heaven on Earth

 New Age > New Thought

The Honeymoon Effect: The Science of Creating Heaven on Earth

Think back on the most spectacular love affair of your life—the Big One that toppled you head over heels. For most, it was a time of heartfelt bliss, robust health, and abundant energy. Life was so beautiful that you couldn’t wait to bound out of bed in the morning to experience more Heaven on Earth. It was the Honeymoon Effect that was to last forever. Unfortunately for most, the Honeymoon Effect is frequently short-lived. Imagine what your planetary experience would be like if you could maintain the Honeymoon Effect throughout your whole life.

Lipton describes how the Honeymoon Effect was not a chance event or a coincidence, but a personal creation. This book reveals how we manifest the Honeymoon Effect and the reasons why we lose it. This knowledge empowers readers to create the honeymoon experience again, this time in a way that ensures a happily-ever-after relationship that even a Hollywood producer would love.

With authority, eloquence, and an easy-to-read style, Lipton covers the influence of quantum physics (good vibrations), biochemistry (love potions), and psychology (the conscious and subconscious minds) in creating and sustaining juicy loving relationships.

… See the rest of today’s Editor’s Picks here on page 2

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