The train taking nineteen-year-old teacher Christy Huddleston from her home in Asheville, North Carolina, might as well be transporting her to another world. The Smoky Mountain community of Cutter Gap feels suspended in time, trapped by poverty, superstitions, and century-old traditions. But as Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home, some see her — and her one-room school — as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy’s determination and devotion be enough?

Don’t miss Elizabeth Wein’s stunning new novel, Stateless While flying an Allied fighter plane from Paris to England, American ATA pilot and amateur poet, Rose Justice, is captured by the Nazis and sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious women's concentration camp. Trapped in horrific circumstances, Rose finds hope in the impossible through the loyalty, bravery, and friendship of her fellow prisoners. But will that be enough to endure the fate that’s in store for her? Elizabeth Wein, author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling Code Name Verity, delivers another stunning WWII thriller. The unforgettable story of Rose Justice is forged from heart-wrenching courage, resolve, and the slim, bright chance of survival. Praise for Rose Under Fire * “Wein masterfully sets up a stark contrast between the innocent American teen’s view of an untarnished world and the realities of the Holocaust. [A]lthough the story’s action follows [Code Name Verity]’s, it has its own, equally incandescent integrity. Rich in detail, from the small kindnesses of fellow prisoners to harrowing scenes of escape and the Nazi Doctors’ Trial in Nuremburg, at the core of this novel is the resilience of human nature and the power of friendship and hope.” —Kirkus, starred review * “Wein excels at weaving research seamlessly into narrative and has crafted another indelible story about friendship borne out of unimaginable adversity.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review

WINNER OF THE 2014 UK PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE My name is Simon Spittle and I think - no, I know, I murdered Miss Belcher. I don't carry a gun. Or a knife. Or even a toothpick, but yesterday, in French, I wished for her to be run over by a bus and, later that very day, she was. A big, red double-decker with yellow wheels and a picture of a clown on the bonnet. A Billy Smart's Circus bus. Simon is very different to Isabella. He is all elbowy and clumsy. She, on the other hand, is elegant and cool. He's the school chess champ and has the IQ of a chemistry professor. She thinks flowers grow better if you feed them Bic Macs and play them Elvis songs. He has a 1/500 scale model of the Starship Enterprise NCC-1701 in his bedroom. She thinks it's a frying pan. Isabella has a secret. Simon, well, he IS the secret... BILLY BOB BUTTONS was shortlisted for the RUBERY BOOK AWARDS and was the winner of THE 2014 UK PEOPLE'S BOOK PRIZE. Comments (Birchwood Primary School) 'This is the best book I have read this year. Amazing!' John, 10 years old. 'Billy Bob Buttons' books keep getting better and better.' Stephen, 11 years old. 'This book is sooooooo funny. I laughed and laughed and laughed.' Sara, 10 years old. 'I Think I Murdered Miss is so good, I skipped Doctor Who to finish it.' Benjamin, 9 years old.

In international arbitration as practiced today, few issues are as controversial and hotly debated as the foreign enforcement of an arbitral award that has been annulled in its originating jurisdiction. As more and more jurisdictions challenge such annulments, the issue has inevitably attracted the intense scrutiny of practitioners and scholars. Now, in the first book written on the subject--and a major work unlikely to be superseded for quite some time--the international practitioner and scholar Dr. Hamid G. Gharavi provides a keen, in-depth analysis of the sources, legal and practical grounds, and possible solutions of the problem, particularly as it affects international business transactions in the global economy. Dr Gharavi analyzes the relevant provisions in all major international arbitration conventions, as well as national laws on the annulment and enforcement of arbitral awards in force in more than fifty different countries. Among the book's most notable features are the following: invaluable information on, and an in-depth analysis of, the travaux pr?paratoires of the New York Convention pertaining to the articulation of annulment/enforcement controls; the effects of the cultural, judicial, and legal diversity of states; and clear elucidation of the interests that often separate North from South in the practice of arbitration. With detailed attention to theoretical and practical perspectives--especially as they reveal the dangers to which the enforcement of annulled awards can subject international business operators-- Dr Gharavi arrives, after consideration of all interests, at a global resolution aiming to establish an effective and harmonious international legal framework for the control of awards in accordance with the nature and mission of arbitration.

Inhaltsangabe:Abstract: This thesis resolves the need for an industry award for service excellence in retailing, based on a comprehensive framework to foster management quality. A service excellence framework is developed and the design for a new service excellence award is proposed. The proposed framework is based on the Industrial Excellence Award. In addition to the original four fundamental processes a fifth component is introduced: the customer. To complete the framework, the seven components of management quality known from the IEA are adopted. This framework is the structure for the self-assessment questionnaire that will be the core of the new Best Retailer service excellence award. Through an extensive literature review, success factors and empirically tested items for questionnaires were identified and assigned to the corresponding sections in the questionnaire. The result is a collection of questions that - if appropriately considered by management can help introducing service excellence in the retailing industry. The modus operandi of a possible future award competition is suggested to stay close the example of the IEA in order to leverage the existing brand. This should help to popularize the new award, to create outstanding showcases quickly, and to disseminate excellent management quality in the industry. Inhaltsverzeichnis:Inhaltsverzeichnis: AcknowledgementsII List of abbreviations:3 Executive Summary5 1.Introduction6 2.Retailing8 2.1Developments and Trends8 2.1.1Modern History of Retailing and Retailing Formats8 2.1.2Past and Future Trends11 2.2Strategies & Concepts18 2.2.1Retailing Classifications18 2.2.2Positioning20 2.2.3Strategies for Competitive Advantage21 2.2.4Scientific Concepts in Retailing23 2.3Success Factors in Retailing28 2.3.1Employees29 2.3.2Technology32 2.3.3Customer Service33 3.Service37 3.1Strategies and Concepts39 3.1.1Service Business Classifications39 3.1.2Strategies for Service firms41 3.1.3Excellence42 3.1.4Service Concepts in Literature49 3.2Service Management57 3.2.1Service Management Functions59 3.2.2The Service Process61 3.2.3The Service System61 3.3New Service Design & Development63 3.3.1The Service Concept64 3.3.2The Service Positioning Matrix64 3.3.3NSD Process Cycle66 3.3.4NSD-Innovation Matrix67 3.3.5Service Blueprinting68 3.4Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction69 3.4.1Overall Service Quality69 3.4.2Service Process Quality72 3.4.3Perceived Service [...]