Obsession. Kira Brightwell’s obsession to catch the serial abductor known only as the Procurer drives her. Can she finally put a face to the name? The past holds secrets in many of her cases. How far must she go to uncover it? Find out in this fourth collection of action and intrigue from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Game Plan: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 4) Ring Girl: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Weigh In: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Game Plan: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 4) Kira Brightwell knows how to bring it—whether facing an opponent in the cage, or chasing down a criminal on a case. Finally, four years after her abduction escape, a tenuous link to the Procurer. A link that leaves her with more questions than answers. Questions that lead to unexpected places. But Kira knows the serial abductor stopped underestimating her a long time ago. ...And she needs to tread carefully if she wants to outwit him. The ongoing game of cat-and-mouse between Kira and the Procurer picks up the pace in this suspenseful fourth novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.) Ring Girl: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Enemies since high school… Kira and Trevor never expected to end up solving cases together. Trevor knows that Kira does most of the solving, but he likes to think his raw charm and charisma count for something... And when the opportunity to prove himself as more than a stunningly handsome sidekick falls into his lap in the form of a beautiful client, how can he possibly refuse? A short story misadventure of Kira and Trevor from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. Weigh In: A Kira Brightwell Short Novel Kira Brightwell wishes she could forget her high school years. But years after graduation, she finds herself walking the familiar hallways once more—thanks to her former tormentor and current sidekick, Trevor Wright. (Will he ever stop making her life difficult?) An old friend of his needs help with a problem. The kind only Kira can solve. ...Assuming she can step up to the challenge. A fun, stand-alone short novel from the Kira Brightwell mystery series.

Kira Brightwell would give anything for a nice, straightforward case. Since her fall from grace with the local media, nothing in her life seems simple anymore. (Lowball requests to track down missing dogs and cheating boyfriends hardly count.) But whenever Kira gets involved, even the simple things get complicated—and dangerous. Kira fights back in this third collection of cases from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith: Low Blow: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 3) Puncher’s Chance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Seeing Stars: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Low Blow: A Kira Brightwell Novel (Kira Brightwell Book 3) Kira Brightwell knows how to take a punch. (Actually, she prefers throwing them.) Abduction, theft, murder… She faces all these crimes and more on her own terms as a private detective for hire. She also searches for any clues that might fulfill her quest for vengeance against the man known only as the Procurer. ...But a recent twist in circumstances leaves her rocked. The growing legend of abduction survivor and local hero Kira Brightwell takes an unexpected turn in this third novel in the Kira Brightwell mystery series. (Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.) Puncher’s Chance: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Local hero and problem solver for hire, Kira Brightwell finds herself on the run. Again. Her running shoes pound the crowded sidewalk. A trickle of sweat slithers down her back in the California heat. And the damp remains of scrambled egg spatter the front of her favorite Nine Inch Nails T-shirt. The egg stain earns her a few looks from passers-by. That and her breakneck pace. Kira’s quarry remains two blocks ahead of her. She needs to haul ass if she wants to catch him. ...Because when a bad guy messes with her favorite shirt, the case gets personal. A stand-alone misadventure story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. Seeing Stars: A Kira Brightwell Short Story Kira Brightwell might not wear a badge. But she still enjoys the challenge when she unravels a difficult case. The case of Taylor Christie proves no exception. The social media starlet prepares to shoot a video, when things go wrong. Horribly wrong. With an entire crowd in attendance. And more than Kira knows stands between her and the truth about what happened. A twisting, stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series. If you love a clever detective, who plays by her own rules, grab this book.

Kira Brightwell stands at a crossroads. Her college days lie behind her, but her future remains a mystery, waiting to be solved. A job already awaits her at her father’s office—the easy, parent-approved option. But Kira wants something different. Something more. She needs to get away to figure out what. Except Kira’s future hangs in the balance in more ways than one... In the crime-filled adventures of the Kira Brightwell Quick Cases mystery series by Jacquelyn Smith, “Striking Distance” focuses on the event that changes Kira’s life forever, and sets her on the path to becoming an infamous problem solver for hire. (This story takes place before the Kira Brightwell novel Split Decision. Originally published under the pen name Kat Irwin.)

THE STORY: A mother coming to terms with her daughter. A composer coming to terms with his genius. And, even though they're separated by 200 years, these two people share an obsession that might, even just for a moment, make time stand still. Drama

Joey and Denny have been best friends since kindergarten, and after working together for several years as policemen in Chicago, they are practically family: Joey helps out with Denny's wife and kids; Denny keeps Joey away from the bottle. But when a domestic disturbance call takes a turn for the worse, their friendship is put on the line. The result is a difficult journey into a moral gray area where trust and loyalty struggle for survival against a sobering backdrop of pimps, prostitutes, and criminal lowlifes. A dark duologue filled with sharp storytelling and biting repartee, A Steady Rain explores the complexities of a lifelong bond tainted by domestic affairs, violence, and the rough streets of Chicago.

This book unifies training in the supernatural, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit-led life with principles for living healthy and strong emotionally and physically as well. A truly unique training manual.

"As in many post-conflict countries, the roles played by women during Sudan's long-lasting liberation struggle continue to go unrecognised. Thousands of women joined the southern liberation struggle in response to a political situation that affected whole communities, leaving the comfort and security of their homes not just to accompany their husbands but to fight for freedom, democracy, equity, justice, rights and dignity. As well as playing roles in the fighting, women acted as mothers, teachers and nurses, and filled numerous other roles during the war. The long-standing struggle for the liberation of South Sudan severely altered traditional gender roles as well as the societal structure as a whole. Women also suffered during the war. An increase in HIV, hunger and violence, particularly sexual violence, characterised their lives in Sudan as well as in exile for many years. Life in the post-conflict period continues to be challenging, as women try to carve out a meaningful life in a tenuous peace. This volume documents the lives of different groups of women in South Sudan. It seeks to understand the contributions made by a range of women both during the conflict and today. It describes the women of South Sudan: who they are, what they have experienced, what they hope and feel, what they experienced in the war, and whether the end of the war has brought meaningful change"--Back cover.

Volker Schlöndorff’s Cinema: Adaptation, Politics and the “Movie-Appropriate”examines the work of major postwar Germandirector Volker Schlöndorff in historical, economic, and artistic contexts. . In spite of Schlöndorff’s successes with films like The Lost Honor ofKatharina Blum and The Tin Drum, as well as his acclaimed work in the U.S. with Death of a Salesman, Gathering of Old Men and The Handmaid’s Tale, this is the first in-depthcritical study of the filmmaker’s career.

This book examines social aspects of humour relating to the judiciary, judicial behaviour, and judicial work across different cultures and eras, identifying how traditionally recorded wit and humorous portrayals of judges reflect social attitudes to the judiciary over time. It contributes to cultural studies and social science/socio-legal studies of both humour and the role of emotions in the judiciary and in judging. It explores the surprisingly varied intersections between humour and the judiciary in several legal systems: judges as the target of humour; legal decisions regulating humour; the use of humour to manage aspects of judicial work and courtroom procedure; and judicial/legal figures and customs featuring in comic and satiric entertainment through the ages. Delving into the multi-layered connections between the seriousness of the work of the judiciary on the one hand, and the lightness of humour on the other hand, this fascinating collection will be of particular interest to scholars of the legal system, the criminal justice system, humour studies, and cultural studies.