Harmony Black

From the Publisher Harmony Black is a morning person. She always wears business suits when working and prefers Diet Coke. She is also a witch, who uses her power to protect the innocent from supernatural threats. I am not a morning person, and I’m definitely not a witch, yet despite this, I relate to Harmony. Within the pages of Harmony Black , author Craig Schaefer has created a character so vivid, I feel as if she is really out there, behind the scenes, keeping us safe.   Harmony Black’s world is dark, and the forces of chaos are fighting to make it darker for the humans that inhabit it. But that’s what people like Harmony and the under-the-radar government organization she works with, Vigilant Lock, are there for: to protect us from the things that go bump in the night. As Harmony learns to embrace her supernatural abilities, she also becomes part of a team of individuals who have powers similar to hers and who share her mission. Vigilant Lock is a glimmer of hope, providing laughter and friendship in an otherwise terrifying place. And when the Bogeyman comes calling, Harmony needs the rest of her team as much as the world needs her.   This book has some frightening moments, but through it all, I trusted Harmony to live up to her name. She uses compassion and love alongside her magical abilities to fight the demons that live among humans. The depth of character in both Harmony and her Vigilant Lock colleagues is what makes this book stand out. I’ll happily follow Harmony and her team on any perilous adventure, confident that the forces of good will prevail in the end. - Adrienne Lombardo, Editor About the Author Craig Schaefer’s books have taken readers to the seamy edge of a criminal underworld drenched in shadow through the Daniel Faust series; to a world torn by war, poison, and witchcraft by way of the Revanche Cycle series; and across a modern America mired in occult mysteries and a conspiracy of lies in the new Harmony Black series. Despite this, people say he’s strangely normal. He lives in Illinois with a small retinue of cats, all of whom try to interrupt his writing schedule and/or kill him on a regular basis. He practices sleight of hand in his spare time, although he’s not very good at it.

A Death in Sweden

Review "This superior espionage thriller has all the moral ambiguity and heart-quickening action scenes you could ask for." - Sunday Express "Clever, gripping and precise...Set in the dark Scandinavian forests, this is a tight and elegant novel, focusing on morality and identity." - Catholic Herald From the Publisher I still remember the moment I received a call from a colleague at Thomas & Mercer about A Death in Sweden . He was holed up at his local coffee shop with the book in his hands and told me he couldn’t come into the office until he’d finished it—it was that good. He sent me the manuscript right away. I read it in one sitting and didn’t need further convincing.   Within the first few pages, I realized I was in for something very special. I immediately fell under the spell of the author’s lean, cool prose and the mystery of a man who saves the life of a fellow passenger in a bus crash. This final act of heroism reveals a secret: our hero never existed.   Set amid a world of political wrangling and murder, A Death in Sweden depicts the lives of men who carry out governments’ dirty work—the kind intelligence agencies can’t or don’t want to do themselves.   This is no ordinary spy thriller: of course it is filled with action, intrigue, and suspense, but the emotionally complex characters and their motivations, murky pasts, and shaky futures are what give this book the heart and depth to make it a truly remarkable read. - Emilie Marneur, Editor About the Author Kevin Wignall is a British writer, born in Brussels in 1967. He spent many years as an army child in different parts of Europe and went on to study politics and international relations at Lancaster University. He became a full-time writer after the publication of his first book, People Die (2001). His other novels are Among the Dead (2002); Who is Conrad Hirst? (2007), shortlisted for the Edgar Award and the Barry Award; and Dark Flag (2010). Hunter’s Prayer was originally titled For the Dogs in the USA. The film Hunter’s Prayer , directed by Jonathan Mostow and starring Sam Worthington and Odeya Rush, will be released worldwide in 2015. Read more

Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book 4-Book Box Set: Books 1-4

From the Back Cover Amelia Bedelia is all boxed up! Includes four funny chapter books! About the Author Herman Parish was in the fourth grade when his aunt, Peggy Parish, wrote the first book about Amelia Bedelia. The author lives in Princeton, New Jersey. Lynne Avril has illustrated all the stories about young Amelia Bedelia. The artist lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Silly Milly (Scholastic Reader, Level 1)

About the Author Wendy Cheyette Lewison has written many books for children. She lives in Westchester County, New York.  Nadine Bernard Westcott has illustrated numerous books for children. She lives in Nantucket, MA with her husband, Bill.

Rick Steves' Italian Phrase Book & Dictionary

About the Author Rick Steves has spent 100 days every year since 1973 exploring Europe. Rick produces a public television series (Rick Steves' Europe) , a public radio show (Travel with Rick Steves), and an app and podcast (Rick Steves Audio Europe); writes a bestselling series of guidebooks and a nationally syndicated newspaper column; organizes guided tours that take thousands of travelers to Europe annually; and offers an information-packed website (RickSteves.com). With the help of his hardworking staff of 80 at Europe Through the Back Door—in Edmonds, Washington, just north of Seattle—Rick's mission is to make European travel fun, affordable, and culturally broadening for Americans.

Lonely Planet Alaska (Travel Guide)

Book Description Lonely Planet will get you to the heart of Alaska About the Author Originario de Hampshire, Inglaterra, Brendan Sainsbury lleva 20 años viajando a Cuba como guía y escritor de viajes. Ha explorado cada rincón del país, desde el cabo de San Antonio hasta la Punta de Maisí, usando todos los medios de transporte conocidos, desde la bicicleta hasta el autoestop. Actualmente radicado en Vancouver, Canadá, Brendan ha participado en más de 50 guías de Lonely Planet, incluidas seis ediciones de Cuba. También es el autor de la última edición de la guía Pocket Havana. Para más información, véase https://auth.lonelyplanet.com/profiles/brendansainsburyGreg Benchwick lleva los últimos 15 años recorriendo Sudamérica en camión, ha escrito discursos para la ONU, ha entrevistado a jefes de Estado y ganadores de premios Grammy y ha creado decenas de vídeos y aplicaciones para LonelyPlanet.com, National Geographic Traveler y otras publicaciones internacionales. Es experto en viajes sostenibles, desarrollo internacional, comida, vino y en pasárselo bien.Catherine Bodry vive en Anchorage, Alaska, pero pasa buena parte de su tiempo en el sureste asiático. Ha escrito, entre otros lugares, sobre Alaska, Tailandia y China. Amante de las montañas, pasa tanto tiempo como le es posible entre montes, ya sea corriendo, haciendo excursiones, acampando, buscando frutos del bosque, practicando rafting o, simplemente, admirándolas. Para Lonely Planet ha colaborado en una docena de guías y libros, entre ellas varias ediciones de Alaska, Canadá, Tailandia y Pacifc Northwest Trips.

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Alaska

Review "Known… for its four-color maps, photos and illustrations, the [DK] Eyewitness Guides are extremely user-friendly for travelers who want their information delivered in a concise, visual way." – Chicago Tribune "The best option… Color photos, maps, and diagrams bring the place to life." – The Philadelphia Inquirer About the Author About DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : For more than two decades, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides have helped travelers experience the world through the history, art, architecture, and culture of their destinations. Expert travel writers and researchers provide independent editorial advice, recommendations, and reviews. With guidebooks to hundreds of places around the globe available in print and digital formats, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides show travelers how they can discover more. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides : the most maps, photography, and illustrations of any guide.

Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Animal Designs

My Book About Me

Amazon.com Review One of the titles for the younger crowd in the Beginners Books series, My Book About Me has an unusual interactive twist--you make it up as you go along. On each page there's something new to complete, from "I weigh ___ pounds" to "My teeth. I counted them. I have ___ up top. I have ___ downstairs." It's a simple idea, but with a surprising amount of educational value--getting children to name their home country, to recognize and draw in the color of their own eyes, learn their telephone number and address, to name favorite clothes, foods, and colors, and more. Finally, there's a two-page spread where each owner of the book can write his or her own story. Illustrator Roy McKie's style is halfway between the P.D. Eastman of Are You My Mother and the mainstream Seuss of Cat in the Hat and Thidwick: The Big-Hearted Moose . (Ages 4 to 8) --Richard Farr From the Inside Flap Illus. in full color. Encourages children to find out about themselves, while having fun writing and drawing their own biographies. From the Back Cover Illus. in full color. Encourages children to find out about themselves, while having fun writing and drawing their own biographies. About the Author THEODOR SEUSS GEISEL—aka Dr. Seuss—is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. From The Cat in the Hat to Oh, the Places You’ll Go! , his iconic characters, stories, and art style have been a lasting influence on generations of children and adults. The books he wrote and illustrated under the name Dr. Seuss (and others that he wrote but did not illustrate, including some under the pseudonyms Theo. LeSieg and Rosetta Stone) have been translated into thirty languages. Hundreds of millions of copies have found their way into homes and hearts around the world. Dr. Seuss’s long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool , If I Ran the Zoo , and Bartholomew and the Oobleck , the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys, and a Peabody. Read more

Only The Innocent (Tom Douglas Thrillers Book 1)

Review “Rachel Abbott has proved with this debut that she is a cracking writer. The book is a complex layered web, every chapter adding more and more layers of intrigue that pull you in further. I love thrillers and have read many of them, and this one stands out as one of the best. Amazing stuff.” ―Rachel Dove, The Kindle Book Review “Abbott carefully constructed a world of mystery, depravity, sex, violence, manipulation and intrigue on so many different levels that I can honestly say you truly have to read until the last page to understand and appreciate the complexity of the story.” ―Karen DeLabar, Writing on the Rocks --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition. About the Author Rachel Abbott was born and raised in Manchester, England, and trained as a systems analyst before launching her own interactive media company in the early 1980s. She sold her company in 2000, and in 2005 moved to the Le Marche region of Italy. She lives there today with her husband, dividing her time between writing her second novel, cooking, and dabbling in web design. Sarah Coomes was trained at The Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art, London. She has worked as an actress extensively in theatre, film, and television. She has won numerous awards for her own comedy and play writing, including The Westminster Prize. She lives in London and Los Angeles. --This text refers to the audioCD edition. Review “Rachel Abbott has proved with this debut that she is a cracking writer. The book is a complex layered web, every chapter adding more and more layers of intrigue that pull you in further. I love thrillers and have read many of them, and this one stands out as one of the best. Amazing stuff.” ―Rachel Dove, The Kindle Book Review “Abbott carefully constructed a world of mystery, depravity, sex, violence, manipulation and intrigue on so many different levels that I can honestly say you truly have to read until the last page to understand and appreciate the complexity of the story.” ―Karen DeLabar, Writing on the Rocks --This text refers to the audioCD edition. Read more

Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach (My First I Can Read)

From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 2-In the first early level reader, Pete tries to have fun building sand castles, eating sandwiches, and searching for shells, but the hot sun makes him sizzle while his brother is out there riding his surfboard, staying nice and cool. Finally, the heat gets to Pete and he decides to try the water. He faces his fear of the big waves and, after a few attempts, is surfing just like Bob. Strong artwork, summer hues, and familiar characters make this a great addition to collections. In Whale of a Tale, Splat the Cat goes to the beach for vacation and promises to find the perfect seashell to bring home to his grandpa. As he begins his search, he is pulled in all directions, helping his dad set up the beach umbrella, spelling names in the sand for his sister, and, of course, stopping for fish and ice cream. Finally, he gets his chance to search for shells but he just can't seem to find the right one until he stumbles into the water and lands on a friendly whale who helps him with his mission. The artwork and perspective are well designed, and whimsical drawings assist new readers with context clues and even inspire a few giggles. Two solid choices for emergent readers.-Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MIα(c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. From the Back Cover It's a hot summer day, and Pete and his mom and brother are going to the beach! Pete loves the beach, but the waves make the water look scary. When his brother Bob offers to give him a surfing lesson, will Pete give it a try? About the Author James Dean is the #1 New York Times bestselling creator and illustrator of Pete the Cat. He is a self-taught artist originally from Fort Payne, Alabama. He published his first book, The Misadventures of Pete the Cat , a history of his artwork, in 2006, and he illustrated his first children’s book, Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes , in 2008. There are now dozens of published Pete the Cat titles, all inspired by James’ real-life rescue pet. Kimberly Dean is an artist, yoga enthusiast, and a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Before fulfilling her dream of becoming a full-time author and artist, she worked for the governor’s press office in the state of Georgia. Her dreams became a reality in 2013 with the release of her first children’s book, Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses . She has written many books since then, including the Willow and Oliver series. Kimberly lives in Georgia with her dog, Gypsy, and cat, Phoebe. Read more

Dragons Love Tacos 2: The Sequel

From School Library Journal PreS-Gr 1—The kid and his taco-loving dragon friends are back, and there's a crisis. There are no tacos left in the world. "None. Nada. Nil." Circumstances require use of the time machine to go back to a party for a handful of tacos to plant and grow into trees. However, spicy salsa messes things up again, with journeys back to wrong time periods, including when dragons loved diapers and when tacos loved dragons. Eventually heading home, the kid watches in disbelief as the dragons lose their resolve and gobble down ALL the tacos…except one. He plants a taco tree and the world is saved from disaster. Created with watercolor, gouache, color pencil, and digital elements, the images are comical, especially the scenes of spicy salsa fire breath and its aftermath. Deadpan statements such as "Oh boy, not again" and "Oh, come on" reinforce the humor. VERDICT Kids who can't get enough dragons or tacos will be won over by this humorous tale. A silly addition for old fans and new readers alike.—Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA Review "As Rubin puts it, 'dragons love diapers. I mean, tacos. Dragons love tacos. / Heck, everyone loves tacos.' Most young readers, even those in diapers, would agree." — Kirkus Reviews "This sequel’s dialed-up energy and absurdity remain a tasty—and very funny—combination." — Publishers Weekly "This zany companion promises to be as gut-bustingly ridiculous and yes-I'll-gladly-read-it-again-and-again entertaining as the first." — PopSugar About the Author Adam Rubin is the New York Times bestselling author of a half dozen critically acclaimed picture books including Secret Pizza Party and Robo-Sauce . He spent ten years working as a creative director in the advertising industry before leaving his day job to write full-time. Adam has a keen interest in improv comedy, camping, and magic tricks. He Lives in Barcelona, Spain. Daniel Salmieri is an artist, illustrator, and author from Brooklyn, NY. He has illustrated twelve picture books including the New York Times best seller, Dragons Love Tacos . Daniel is a regular contributor to several magazines and newspapers including The New Yorker and the New York Times , and works on a wide array of projects from packaging design to branding. He currently lives with his wife, son, and their dog Ronni in New York City. Read more

Sarrafian's Anatomy of the Foot and Ankle: Descriptive, Topographic, Functional

Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series)

Amazon.com Review Amazon Exclusive: Senator John McCain Reviews Killing Patton In Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II’s Most Audacious General , Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard have written a lively, provocative account of the death of General George S. Patton and the important events in the final year of the Allied victory in Europe, which Patton’s brilliant generalship of the American Third Army did so much to secure. The fourth book in the bestselling Killing series is rich in fascinating details, and riveting battle scenes. The authors have written vivid descriptions of a compelling cast of characters, major historical figures such as Eisenhower, Churchill, Roosevelt, Stalin, Hitler, and others, as well as more obscure players in the great drama of the Second World War and the life and death of Patton. O’Reilly and Dugard express doubts about the official explanation for Patton’s demise from injuries he suffered in an automobile accident. They surmise that the General’s outspokenness about his controversial views on postwar security, particularly his animosity toward the Soviets, our erstwhile allies, might have made him a target for assassination. They cast a suspicious eye toward various potential culprits from Josef Stalin to wartime espionage czar “Wild Bill” Donovan and a colorful OSS operative, Douglas Bazata, who claimed later in life to have murdered Patton. Certainly, there are a number of curious circumstances that invite doubt and speculation, Bazata’s admission for one. Or that the drunken sergeant who drove a likely stolen truck into Patton’s car inexplicably was never prosecuted or even reprimanded. But whether you share their suspicions or not this is popular history at its most engrossing. From accounts of the terribly costly battle for Fort Driant in the hills near Metz to the Third Army’s crowning achievement, its race to relieve the siege of Bastogne in the Battle of the Bulge, the reader experiences all the drama of the “great crusade” in its final, thrilling months. The authors’ profiles of world leaders and Patton’s contemporaries are economic but manage to offer fresh insights into the personalities of well-known men. Just as compelling are the finely wrought sketches of people of less renown but who played important parts in the events. There is PFC Robert Holmund, who fought and died heroically at Fort Driant having done all he could and then some to take his impossible objective. PFC Horace Woodring, Patton’s driver, who revered the general, went to his grave mystified by the cause and result of the accident that killed his boss. German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s young son, Manfred, exchanged a formal farewell handshake with him after learning his father would be dead in a quarter hour, having been made to commit suicide to prevent the death and dishonor of his family. These and many other captivating accounts of the personal and profound make Killing Patton a pleasure to read. I enjoyed it immensely and highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in World War II history and the extraordinary man who claimed Napoleon’s motto, “audacity, audacity, always audacity,” as his own. About the Author BILL O'REILLY is a trailblazing TV journalist who has experienced unprecedented success on cable news and in writing eighteen national number-one bestselling nonfiction books. There are more than eighteen million books in the Killing series in print. He lives on Long Island.MARTIN DUGARD is the New York Times bestselling author of several books of history, among them the Killing series, Into Africa , and Taking Paris. He and his wife live in Southern California. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. Killing Patton The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General By Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard Henry Holt and Company Copyright © 2014 Bill O'Reilly and Martin DugardAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-0-8050-9668-2 CHAPTER 1 The Hills above Metz, France October 3, 1944 12:02 P.M. Private First Class Robert W. Holmlund is scared. He believes his life may be over at age twenty-one. The American assault is just two minutes old—two minutes that feel like twenty. The private serves as an explosives expert in the Third Army, Company B, Eleventh Infantry Regiment, Fifth Infantry Division. Holmlund is a student from the American heartland who left trade school to join the war. His senior commander is the most ferocious general on the Allied side, George S. Patton Jr. But unlike Patton, who now oversees his vast army from the safety of his headquarters twenty-five miles behind the front, Holmlund and the men of Baker Company are in grave danger as they sprint toward the heavily defended German fort known as Driant. German machine-gun bullets whiz past Holmlund's helmet at twice the speed of sound. Heads and torsos shatter all around him. U.S. artillery thunders in the distance behind them, laying down cover fire. The forest air smells of gunpowder, rain, and the sharp tang of cordite. The ground is nothing but mud and a thick carpet of wet leaves. Here and there a bramble vine reaches out to snag his uniform and trip his feet. Over his broad shoulders, Holmlund wears a block of TNT known as a satchel charge. Grenades dangle from his cartridge belt like grapes on a vine. And in his arms, rather than carrying it by the wooden handle atop the stock, Holmlund cradles his fifteen-pound, four-foot-long Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR, as he would an infant. Only, this baby is a killing machine, capable of firing 650 three-inch bullets per minute. Though he doesn't show it, Robert W. Holmlund is scared, despite all that firepower, just like every single man in this lethal forest. But there is no time to indulge his fear right now. No time for homesickness or doubt. Fort Driant looms four hundred yards distant. Everything about the fortress is a mystery, from the location of its big 150 mm howitzers to the maze of tunnels deep underground where its Wehrmacht inhabitants eat, sleep, pray, clean their rifles, plan their battles, and then suddenly poke their heads out of secret openings to kill. Patton has ordered Baker Company to get inside Driant. The best way to do that is to climb on the roof, which is concealed by mounds of earth. From there, it's a matter of finding a doorway or some other hidden opening that will allow Baker to descend and wage war in the tunnels. Baker is part of a two-pronged assault. On the opposite side of the fort, the men of Easy Company are also on the attack. But they do so warily, for Driant has already bloodied them once. It happened six days ago. Skies were clear. P-47 fighter-bombers screamed in low on the morning of the assault, dropping napalm and thousand-pound bombs. American artillery then pounded Driant, shelling the Germans with deadly accuracy. Easy Company launched their attack alongside the men of George Company at 1415 hours under a heavy smoke screen. They had no way of knowing that the aerial bombing and ground artillery had no effect on the Wehrmacht fighters, nor that the enemy was snug and secure within Driant's fifteen-foot-thick walls and in hidden forest pillboxes. Step by step, thinking themselves unseen, the U.S. soldiers advanced. Fingers were on triggers as the men scanned the forest, waiting for the muzzle flashes that would expose the enemy. But the Germans did not shoot. Not yet. So Easy and George crept closer to Driant. With each passing moment, they became more convinced that the smoke screen had completely concealed them. They marched closer and closer, and still no German gunshots. Soon a thick tangle of barbwire loomed before the Americans, marking the outer perimeter of Driant's defenses. There was no way through the razor-sharp coils. The advance ground to a halt. The Germans opened fire. The autumn afternoon was rent by a terrifying sound the Americans knew all too well. Their slang for the high-speed ripping sound of a German MG-42 machine gun is "Hitler's Zipper." To the Wehrmacht, this killing tone is simply the "Bone Saw." MG-42s opened up from every direction. Bullets tore through the woods at twelve hundred rounds per minute, capable of killing a man from more than a half mile away. But the machine guns were just the beginning. Soon mortars, rifles, and even heavy artillery pounded the Americans from every direction. And just like that, the American attack was over. Soldiers hugged the ground for four long hours as German gunners pinpointed their positions and took slow, deliberate aim. It was only after darkness fell that the men of Company E and Company G crawled back to the safety of the American lines. September 27 was a bad day for the men of Easy. By the end of the fight, eighteen soldiers had been either killed or wounded. Today will be even worse. * * * Private Holmlund can go no farther. Nor can the rest of Baker Company. The mountain of barbwire surrounding Driant blocks their path. Thirty feet tall and just as thick, the impenetrable tangle waits to trap any man unlucky enough to snag his uniform or his body within its tendrils. Clipping at it with hand cutters will take days—which is why Holmlund's company commander, Capt. Harry Anderson, has given the order: blow the wire to hell. Behind him, Holmlund hears the low rumble of a Continental R-975 air-cooled engine. The telltale crunch of steel treads soon follows, announcing the arrival of an M-4 Sherman tank. Even as the German machine gunners continue to fire on Baker, the Sherman weaves through the trees and takes aim. Its 75 mm gun belches smoke as it fires a round of M-48 high explosive into the wire. A direct hit is soon followed by another, and then another. Within moments, the barbwire parts just enough for Baker Company to sprint through. Captain Anderson splits the soldiers into three groups. Holmlund's squad continues toward Driant in a straight line, while the other two squads flank to the right. The landscape is pocked with shell craters, like a man-made lunar surface. Trees and shrubs grow randomly, offering just the slightest bit of camouflage from the German defenders. The private is in the first wave of American attackers. He dives into a shell crater, presses himself flat against the lip, then pokes his head over the top and fires his BAR at the enemy. Holmlund then sprints forward to a row of small elm trees, where he once again takes cover and seeks out a target. The ground is cool and damp, moisture seeping through his uniform. He fires and moves forward, always forward, never taking his focus off the flat roof of Driant. Despite the cool October temperature, Holmlund is now drenched in sweat. His face and hands are flecked with mud. He hurls himself into another shell crater and hugs the earth. This close to the ground, he is eye level with the fungus and bright green mold sprouting up through the fallen leaves. Bullets whiz low over his head. He reloads and listens, waiting for the chance to fire. The sounds of the battlefield are familiar: the chatter of machine guns, the screams of the mortally wounded, the concussive thud of hand grenades, orders barked in short, terse sentences. Screams for "Medic" fill the air. Holmlund fires a burst from his rifle and then runs forward. He races past fallen comrades. He knows them all. They did push-ups side by side during basic training in Alabama. They sailed together for Europe in the hold of a troopship. They sat in an English pasture just hours before D-day, listening to General Patton deliver the greatest speech any of them had ever heard. And then, after D-day, Holmlund and Baker fought their way across France, rejoicing as they captured one small village after another, following Patton's order that they kill Germans in brutal and relentless fashion—lest they themselves be killed first. Now many of Holmlund's buddies lie dead or dying. And so ends the sound of their laughter, their rage, their boasts, their tales about that special girl back home, and all that talk about what they're going to do with their lives once the war ends. Holmlund doesn't even give them a second glance. And he doesn't stop moving forward. To stop is to become a target. Holmlund's fighting squad dwindles from twelve men down to six. The squad leader is hit, and Holmlund takes command without thinking twice about it. Slowly, in a form of progress that is measured in feet and inches instead of yards, Baker Company moves closer and closer to the German fortress. Two hours into the battle, PFC Robert W. Holmlund of Delavan City, Wisconsin, finds himself standing atop Fort Driant. * * * "The real hero," Holmlund heard George S. Patton say just four months ago, "is the man who fights even though he's scared. Some men get over their fright in a minute under fire. For some, it takes days. But a real man will never let his fear of death overwhelm his honor, his sense of duty to his country, and his innate manhood." As Holmlund watched, General Patton drew himself up to his full six-foot-two-inch height. His shoulders were broad and his face ruddy, with a strong chin and an aquiline nose. His uniform was a marvel, with four rows of ribbons, four shiny brass buttons, a polished helmet bearing his three general's stars, tan riding pants, and knee-high cavalry boots. Most vividly, a Colt .45-caliber pistol with an ivory grip was holstered on his hip, sending a strong signal that Patton is no bureaucrat. He's a warrior, and everybody had better know it. Patton continued: "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best, and it removes all that is base. Americans pride themselves on being He Men—and they are He Men. Remember that the enemy is just as frightened as you are, and that they are not supermen." George Patton delivered "the Speech" in the British countryside, to the men of his Third Army, on June 5, 1944. Some of the soldiers watching were combat veterans. Most, like Holmlund, were brand new to the war. They found hope in Patton's words. They found a belief in their own courage. And most of all, each man sitting in that pasture under a glorious blue English sky found strength in the knowledge that he was being commanded by the most audacious, forthright, and brilliant general on either side of the war. Until that day, Holmlund had never seen Patton in the flesh, and had only heard stories about the legendary general—the man who'd never lost a battle, hero of North Africa and Sicily, but who was temporarily relieved of his command for slapping two privates convalescing in a military hospital whom he considered cowardly. Neither Holmlund nor any of the thousands of other soldiers seated in this pasture had any idea that their feelings for the general would come to vacillate between love and hate. In fact, Patton's nickname is "Old Blood and Guts," with the understanding that the guts of Patton rode on the blood of his soldiers. "You are not all going to die," Patton reassured the men whom he would soon lead into combat. His voice was high instead of gruff, which came as a surprise to Holmlund. "Only two percent of you right here today will die in a major battle. Death must not be feared. Death, in time, comes to all men." * * * One half mile north of where Private Holmlund and the men of Company B are making their stand atop Fort Driant, death, as predicted, is coming to their fellow soldiers in Easy Company. The hope of Patton's speech is long forgotten. Unlike their first attack on Driant six days ago, Company E made it through the barbwire this time. But the Germans turned that into a fatal accomplishment, for once inside Easy was pinned down with precision mortar fire. Going forward has become impossible. Even worse, enemy shells are exploding to their rear, meaning that retreating back through the wire is also out of the question. Easy Company tries to solve the problem by calling in an artillery strike on their position, but this "Danger Close" barrage does nothing to stop the dug-in German gunners. Instead, friendly fire kills one of their own in a most gruesome fashion: the soldier's head is sliced cleanly from his body by a piece of flying explosive. Easy Company digs in. They have no choice. Two-foot-long portable shovels scrape troughs in the earth as German machine gunners continue to rake Easy's position. It is every man for himself. The terror continues. The Germans of Kampfgruppe Petersen take aim with 8 cm Granatwerfer 34 mortar fire and MG-42 machine guns. The Americans are defenseless. Killing them is as easy as finding the target and patiently squeezing the trigger. The Germans are in no hurry. The Americans are going nowhere. One after another, the young men who comprise Easy Company are cut down in the prime of their life. The company medics race from foxhole to foxhole to tend the wounded. But soon, one after another, they die, too. Hours pass. Rain drizzles down. The nightmare chatter of the Maschinengewehr accompanies the sounds of Company E digging their trenches deeper and deeper. Each man squats as low as possible, careful not to lift his head above ground level. Doing so would be an act of suicide. Easy's foxholes become filled with water, mud, blood, and each man's personal filth. Trench foot, from prolonged exposure to cold and wet, has become so common since the autumn rains arrived that it makes standing in yet another puddle a time of agony. But the men are beyond caring about the stench and squalor of their fighting holes. All they want to do is stay alive. * * * "Americans despise cowards," Patton continued all those months ago, putting his own spin on U.S. history. "Americans play to win all the time. I wouldn't give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. That's why Americans have never lost nor will ever lose a war; for the very idea of losing is hateful to an American. "All through your Army careers, you men have bitched about what you call 'chickenshit drilling.' That, like everything else in this Army, has a definite purpose. That purpose is alertness. Alertness must be bred into every soldier. I don't give a f-ck for a man who's not always on his toes. You men are veterans or you wouldn't be here. You are ready for what's to come. A man must be alert at all times if he expects to stay alive. If you're not alert, sometime, a German son-of-an-asshole-bitch is going to sneak up behind you and beat you to death with a sock full of shit!" A handful of the senior officers listening to the speech disapproved of Patton's coarse language. Patton could not care less. He believes that profanity is the language of the soldier, and that to speak to soldiers one must use words that will have the most impact. Few can deny that George Patton is entitled to this belief, nor that he is the consummate soldier. He is descended from a Civil War Confederate colonel, and has himself been in the military since graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1909. Soon after, he fought in Mexico against Pancho Villa. He then fought in the First World War at Saint-Mihiel, the legendary battlefield west of Metz where he walks now. Patton was the very first officer ever assigned to the U.S. Army tank corps, and is renowned for his tactical brilliance on the battlefield. He lives by the words of the great French general Napoléon, "L'audace, l'audace, toujours l'audace"—"Audacity, audacity, always audacity"—a motto that works well on the field of battle, but not so well in diplomatic situations. Patton has damaged his career again and again by saying and doing the sort of impulsive things that would see a lesser man relieved of his command for good. "An Army is a team," he continues; "it lives, sleeps, eats, and fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is pure horse shit. The bilious bastards who write that kind of stuff for the Saturday Evening Post don't know anything more about real fighting under fire than they know about f-cking!" Patton was forced to pause, as he knew he would be. The waves of laughter rolling toward the stage were deafening. (Continues...) Excerpted from Killing Patton by Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard . Copyright © 2014 Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. Excerpted by permission of Henry Holt and Company. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Read more


The Best Book of Hispanic Biographies (Fiesta! Siesta! and All the Rest-A!)

When God Turned Off the Lights: True Stories of Seeking God in the Darkness

About the Author CECIL MURPHEY , known as “the man behind the words,” is an award-winning writer who has collaborated on a number of bestselling books, including 90 Minutes in Heaven and Heaven Is Real with Don Piper, Touchdown Alexander with Shaun Alexander and Rebel with a Cause with Franklin Graham. He is a recipient of the Gold Medallion Award, two-time recipient of the Silver Angel Award for Excellence in Media, and the inaugural recipient in 2007 of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. Dr. Murphey is the author of I Choose to Stay and The Immortality of Influence. He writes a weekly devotional for Crosswalk.com.

The Rosary & Chaplet of Divine Mercy

About the Author Known to many as "the man who sings the Divine Mercy Chaplet on EWTN," this father of seven has been involved in a ministry of mercy for over thirty years, using his gifts of teaching, writing, counseling, music, and prayer to help people understand the teachings of the Church and open their hearts to the healing touch of God's love. A former Executive Editor of the Marian Helpers Bulletin and former General Manager of Divine Mercy International, Vinny has a special gift of making theological concepts and the teachings of the Church come alive with new meaning and relevancy. His powerful teachings on Divine Mercy, Mary, the Sacraments, and the Father's love have made him a popular speaker at conferences and retreats. Vinny is a member of the Knights of Columbus and has been active in the Catholic Charismatic renewal since 1971, serving for several years on the pastoral leadership team of the Mother of Divine Mercy Prayer Group in Stockbridge. Vinny's family music ministry, Still Waters, features himself and his daughters Colleen, Erin, and Mary, with support vocals from Vinny's wife Donna and their four sons, John, Tim, Brian, and Kevin. The music is gentle and prayerful, with haunting guitar and violin interludes. Seen frequently at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA and on Mother Angelica's EWTN cable network, Still Waters takes its name from the 23rd Psalm. As Vinny explains, "It is our prayer that through our music you will be led beside the still waters into the healing presence of Jesus the Good Shepherd, who alone can restore your soul." John, Brian, and Erin have each released their own solo albums of contemporary Catholic music; joyous, upbeat praise songs that set your feet dancing, alternating with gentle worship songs that bring tears to your eyes and a new love of God to your heart. In 1993, under the spiritual direction of Fr. George Kosicki, CSB, Vinny and Donna established a recording/publishing company, Spirit Song Ministries, to produce and distribute their family music albums, talks on tape, and religious publications. In 1999 it became a full-time family apostolate which they run from their home. In 2003, the family ministries were incorporated under the name MercySong, Inc. as a 501c(3) Catholic not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing healing to others by leading them to a personal experience of the Father's love through music, teaching, writing, counseling, and prayer.

ESL Teacher's Holiday Activities Kit

From the Back Cover It's one of those books that come out of nowhere almost literally just when the world needs it most. Is it all correct what it reveals about the future, both for the world and the soul? From the vantage point of earth, who can say? It is written by a human. But a great saint Th r se of Lisieux was so taken by this book that it spurred her entry into the convent. "Reading this book was one of the greatest graces of my life," she says in her autobiography. "The impression I received from it is too sweet to express. All the great truths of religion and the mysteries of eternity plunged into my soul a happiness not of this earth." Completed in 1881 by an aged French priest, this remarkable book surfaced long enough to draw Th r se into the convent and then, for more than a century, plunged back into obscurity. Now we offer you the very first English translation of this hope-filled, chilling work. In it, Fr. Arminjon gets right to the point: "The end of the world, Christ says, will come when the human race, sunk in the depths of indifference, is far from thinking about punishment and justice. It will be as in the days of Noah, when men lived without a care, built luxurious homes, and mocked Noah as he built his ark." "Civilization will be at its zenith, markets overflowing with money, and stocks will never have been higher. Mankind, wallowing in unprecedented material prosperity, will have ceased to hope for heaven. Crudely attached to pleasures, man will say 'My soul, you have goods to last for many years. Eat, drink and be merry.' " Doesn't that sound eerily like America just a year or so ago? Fr. Arminjon insists that we "steer clear of every perilous opinion and make no assertion that is not justified by Tradition and the doctrine of the Fathers." Yet it's precisely his sober reliance on Scripture and Tradition that makes this book so convincing . . . and so chilling! But Fr. Arminjon doesn't merely sketch the darkness ahead; he also shows how Jesus will fill that darkness with light; and he details the rich bounty Christ has in store for all who stay faithful. That's what caught Th r se up in such fervent love of God, nourished her impatience for Heaven, and confirmed her decision to choose a life wholly consecrated to Divine Love. The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life: let it show you how to read the signs of the times and prepare you to bear yourself as a Christian (as it did Th r se) . . . no matter what the future holds! About the Author Father Charles Arminjon (1824-1885) was a priest from the town of Chambéry in the French Alps. After years as a seminary professor, Father Arminjon took up the mission of full-time preacher, and he went on to gain great renown for his ability to inspire in his listeners a deeper and more ardent love for Christ. Throughout France and abroad he delivered sermons, ran retreats, and preached at conferences - the most famous of which form the basis for The End of the Present World.

The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement

Review ""The Narcissism Epidemic" is a must read, an essential antidote to a culture spinning out of control. Filled with facts, fascinating examples, and written in a highly readable style, Twenge and Campbell's outstanding book shows how narcissism has been on the rise and has taken over almost every part of our lives and how we can rescue our culture from ourselves. An outstanding accomplishment by two people who truly care about the debacle of self-worship. It should be read by anyone interested in the future of our country" -- Robert L. Leahy, Ph.D., author of "Anxiety Free: Unravel Your Fears Before They Unravel You""A must-read for anyone who is a parent, a relationship partner, in the workforce, in school, or on the job market. Twenge and Campbell not only define narcissism but detail its antecedents, consequences, and underlying processes in a way that brings together so much of what one sees in modern western culture. Grounded in research and peppered with media and anecdotal stories, The Narcissism Epidemic offers practical, much-needed solutions to coping in the age of entitlement." -- Kathleen Vohs, Ph.D., University of Minnesota McKnight Land-Grant Professor, Editor of "Self and Relationships: Connecting Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Processes""An important and illuminating book. Drs. Twenge and Campbell expertly analyze many strands of American culture and reveal an alarming tapestry of psychocultural narcissism. They also offer sound strategies for slowing this epidemic." -- Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D., author of "Can't Buy My Love: How Advertising Changes the Way We Think and Feel" and "So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids""Filled with important, disturbing research detailing the alarming cultural spread of narcissism today -- a serious social problem to which many people are unwittingly contributing without realizing the disastrous consequences. The authors give sound advice and provide an important resource for anyone who cares about compassion, empathy, and emotional connection rather than ME, ME, ME!" -- Karyl McBride, Ph.D., author of "Will I Ever Be Good Enough? Healing the Daughters of Narcissistic Mothers ""Phenomenal..."The Narcissism Epidemic" clearly and succinctly identifies the dangerous disease and the catastrophic ways it threatens our society and future, and reveals urgently needed solutions at every level. The chapter on parenting alone makes this book priceless and should be compulsory reading." -- Patrick Wanis PhD, Celebrity Life Coach, Human Behavior & Relationship Expert, author of "How to Find Happiness""The evidence Twenge and Campbell have compiled is compelling and appalling.... Twenge and Campbell marshal statistics, polls, charts, studies and anecdotes to assemble a complete picture of the epidemic's current state of contagion, brought on by the Internet, reality television, a booming economy, easy credit and other developments over the past decade. The authors dismantle the prevailing myths that have made us inclined to tolerate and even encourage narcissism: that it's a function of high self-esteem, that it's a function of low self-esteem, that a little narcissism is healthy, that narcissists are in fact superior, that you have to love yourself to be able to love someone else." -- "New York Times Style Magazine""The other night, when I was reading Twenge and Campbell's excellent and timely new book, my husband was busy framing a fake "Sports Illustrated" cover, with a picture of our 7-year old over the caption, "Player of the Year." "The Narcissism Epidemic" will hew close to the bone, rouse, and provoke many readers as it shines a spotlight on an important -- and highly costly -- trend in our lives. Rooted in hard data and illuminated with revealing anecdotes, stories, and solutions, "The Narcissism Epidemic" is both a pleasure and an education. But enough about this book. Let's talk about me." -- Sonja Lyubomirsky, Ph.D., author of "The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want""This insightful book shows us how the epidemic of narcissism touches almost all aspects of our lives. Twenge and Campbell's astute analysis and salient anecdotes powerfully map the problem and the high price we all pay. They expertly show us the kinds of actions we can take to free ourselves of the epidemic's ruthless grip and how the future wellbeing of humane society depends on our doing so." -- Diane E. Levin, Ph.D., Professor of Education at Wheelock College and co-author of "So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids" About the Author Jean M. Twenge, PhD, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, is the author of more than a hundred scientific publications and several books based on her research, including Generations , iGen , and Generation Me . Her research has been covered in Time , The Atlantic, Newsweek , The New York Times , USA TODAY , and The Washington Post . She has also been featured on Today , Good Morning America , Fox and Friends , CBS This Morning , and NPR. She lives in San Diego with her husband and three daughters. W. Keith Campbell , Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Georgia, is the author of more than 65 scientific journal articles and book chapters and the book, When You Love a Man Who Loves Himself: How to Deal with a One-way Relationship (Sourcebooks, 2005). He has published more than 30 journal articles and chapters on narcissism, more than any other academic researcher. He is also a contributing author of the study on the rise in narcissism covered by the Associated Press. His research has appeared in USA Today, Newsweek, and The Washington Post, and he has been featured on Fox News’ The Big Story and made numerous radio appearances. He holds a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, an MA from San Diego State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He lives in Athens, Georgia, with his wife and daughter. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The Narcissism Epidemic Read more

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Deep Sleep Every Night

Review "WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have suffered with chronic insomnia for years...pills, doctors, you name it...I believe that I must own every CD ever made. Glenn Harrold has changed my life with his incredible Deep Sleep cd. I have slept generally well since the first night I used it, and my whole emotional, physical, etc, states are transformed. Depression and despair gone, I can laugh with friends, have a normal life. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I have forwarded the link for your site to many friends. Thank you again." Rebecca Collins --Rebecca Collins (USA)"The best sleep hypnosis CD ever made!!!!!! I have had insomnia for years and I must own every sleep hypnosis tape ever made, but this one is magical...it just works." --Amazon (USA): A reader from Dallas, TX USA"I have to tell you I'm so impressed by the Deep Sleep CD I purchased from you recently that I can't believe it. I didn't think anything would make a dent in what has been chronic insomina but this does help more than a little. Thank you so much." Alexandra Hammond --Alexandra Hammond (London)

Brothers of the Flame (An Ariel Kimber Novel Book 1)

Wilting

From the Author Hello Everyone,I want to thank you for taking the time to check out my 1st book. 'Wilting'. It took me a long time to build up the courage to release one of my stories, but after the explosion of support I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. I hope you all enjoy the book!Thanks,Ray About the Author Ray Decker, author of the book Wilting and upcoming novel A Perfect Life, was born in Nashua N.H. on October, 20th 1990 and raised in the small town of Wellsburg N.Y. He grew up with his loving parents and two sisters. Some of his many creative outlets include writing, drawing, and painting. Ray discovered a gift for writing through the encouragement of his family, friends, and loving boyfriend.When Ray isn't working on his projects he enjoys reading, playing video games, and listening to music.

Analysis for Financial Management, 10th Edition