The history of a rural village in Northwest, Wisconsin. Luck is known as the home of the Duncan Yo-Yo company from the 1940s - 1960s. It is a Danish community in a rural, lake filled part of Wisconsin, an hour NW of Minneapolis and St Paul MN.

"The whirlclouds erupted on all sides, buffeting the boat first one way and then the next, sending Alan sprawling from one side of the deck to the other. He couldn't stay on his feet long enough to reach the tiller. Yvonne and Susan clung to the mast. He couldn't see Vicky or Cathy as waves washed over the side, drenching him." When 10 year old Cathy meets Lucky, a magical talking diamond, she and her orphaned siblings readily agree to help Lucky get home to the Rock of Diamonds, situated far from their home in the rundown town of Lowdar, in the furthest reaches of the country on the other side of the monster infested Great Forest. What the five children don't know is that Lucky's enemy, the evil Queen Rose of Cassis, is hunting the Diamond princess and will do anything to stop her, and those helping her, from reaching the Rock of Diamonds. With Lucky's magic waning rapidly and Queen Rose determined to destroy her and the children, can five young orphans possibly succeed in their quest?

As a longtime pediatrician, Richard Goldbloom placed a high value on connecting with and communicating with his patients and their parents. His ability to reach an audience is evident in this engaging memoir of his life. Born and raised in a Jewish medical family in Montreal at a time when the gulf between English and French was deep, Goldbloom's physician father insisted that his children be fluently bilingual. Richard was able to move easily between the two solitudes in his early years as a medical student and a young practitioner. An astonishing array of relatives, remembered here in loving detail, passed through their Montreal home. Richard recounts how he met the love of his life, Ruth Schwartz of New Waterford, Nova Scotia, the story of their romance, and how he was persuaded to move to Halifax. Richard became Physician-in-Chief of the IWK Children's Hospital, the leading pediatric hospital in the Maritimes. As a hospital administrator he sought to break down some of the stuffy and dysfunctional traditions of the medical world. As a public-spirited citizen, he and Ruth were intimately involved in promoting and advancing Halifax's cultural and intellectual life for decades. A Lucky Life features many figures from the world of medicine -- and many from the worlds of theatre and classical music, where Richard's contacts were extensive and legendary. This memoir captures the compelling personality of a doctor who understands that healing is an art as much as a science.

Perhaps the most prized of all gems, diamonds have a long and fascinating history. In this engrossing, profusely illustrated volume, that history is covered in detail — from early discoveries in the Golconda mines of India (probably the site of the first diamonds ever unearthed) and digs in Brazil, to the South African diamond rush and development of major mining companies. Over 200 illustrations include step-by-step photos showing how these valuable stones are mined and the intricacies of cutting and faceting, while reproductions of museum paintings and photographs depict famous individual diamonds as well as outstanding rings, bracelets, brooches, pins, earrings, watches, tiaras, and other traditional and modern diamond pieces. Here also are stories of the most famous and infamous diamonds: the Koh-i-Noor in the Tower of London, the Hope in the Smithsonian Institution, the Regent in the Louvre, the Orloff in the Kremlin, and many other celebrated jewels. More than a dramatically told story of diamonds, this volume will also serve as a practical guide for anyone who owns a diamond or plans to buy one. It explains and illustrates different diamond cuts, the role of carats, and how to buy diamonds — for sentiment, beauty, show, flawlessness, or investment. Anyone who has ever been captivated by the matchless brilliance of these rare gems will find this book an informative, highly readable addition to their personal library.

In more than a century of American Thoroughbred racing, only thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, all won in the same season). Veteran turf writer and racing historian Edward L. Bowen takes us through the rich history of one of the most formidable and exciting challenges in all of sport. Bowen covers the trainers, owners, and jockeys who etched their names into the annals of thoroughbred racing, and the “lucky thirteen” who captured all three jewels of the Triple Crown, racing’s most prestigious prize.