Most cultures and societies around the world have their own unique methods for finding love. For instance, in Genoa, Italy, a yearly celebration commemorates the generosity of Count Fieschi of Lavagna who, in 1240, threw a party with a 30-foot cake. Townsfolk remember him with a parade and a little romance: they pin to their clothing a piece of paper--blue for men, white for women--on which a specific word is written. When they find someone wearing the same word, the couple is given a piece of cake. And the rest is up to them! This charming practice and many others can be found in Love, Luck, and Lore. In this little book of love, Theresa Hoiles and Elizabeth Carr have collected celebrations and spell rhymes, fortune-telling tricks and food charms to help you snag that guy you've seen at the local coffeehouse. Try putting a two-leaf clover in your shoe as you say this rhyme:A clover of two, put it in your right shoe. The first young man you meet, In field, street, or lane, You'll have him or one of his name. Or make an apricot love sachet by placing some dried apricots and cloves in the center of a circular piece of cloth and tying it up with ribbon long enough to wear around your neck. The tantalizing aroma should draw potential lovers your way, leaving men weak in your wake. Sure, you can try a more scientific approach to dating, following rules written by someone with a Ph.D. in Interpersonal Relations from Boring U. But that's no fun! Use these carefree and whimsical approaches, quirky prayers and incantations, to appeal to higher voices and spirits and bring that love into your life!

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLER “Epic from start to finish.” —Marie Lu, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Warcross “A brilliant and breathless twist on classic mythology!” —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lunar Chronicles Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory after her family was murdered by a rival line. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man—now a god—responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend Lore believed to be dead, and Athena, one of the last of the original gods, now gravely wounded. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to rejoin the hunt, binding her fate to Athena's, will come at a deadly cost—and it may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees. From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love, and redemption.

Queer and gay vampire romance series set in modern-day society (England, Italy and Japan). Slow burn, multi-cultural friends-to-lovers romance where love is love, no questions asked. Mature content.

A New York Times bestseller From the author of the New York Times bestselling Love & Gelato comes a heartwarming tale of a road trip through Ireland filled with love, adventure, and the true meaning behind the word family. Addie is visiting Ireland for her aunt’s over-the-top destination wedding and hoping she can stop thinking about the one thing she did that left her miserable and heartbroken—and threatens her future. But her brother, Ian, isn’t about to let her forget, and his constant needling leads to arguments and even a fistfight between the two once inseparable siblings. Miserable, Addie can’t wait to visit her friend in Italy and leave her brother—and her problems—behind. So when Addie discovers an unusual guidebook, Ireland for the Heartbroken, hidden in the dusty shelves of the hotel library, she’s able to finally escape her anxious mind and Ian’s criticism. And then their travel plans change. Suddenly Addie finds herself on a whirlwind tour of the Emerald Isle, trapped in the world’s smallest vehicle with Ian and his admittedly cute, Irish-accented friend Rowan. As the trio journeys over breathtaking green hills, past countless castles, and through a number of fairy-tale forests, Addie hopes her guidebook will heal not only her broken heart, but also her shattered relationship with her brother. That is if they don’t get completely lost along the way.

Queer and gay vampire romance series set in contemporary Japan and England.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes the richly imagined story of Valora and Jamie Luck, twin British-Chinese acrobats traveling aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage. Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she's turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese aren't allowed into America. But Val has to get on that ship. Her twin brother Jamie, who has spent two long years at sea, is there, as is an influential circus owner, whom Val hopes to audition for. Thankfully, there's not much a trained acrobat like Val can't overcome when she puts her mind to it. As a stowaway, Val should keep her head down and stay out of sight. But the clock is ticking and she has just seven days as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic to find Jamie, perform for the circus owner, and convince him to help get them both into America. Then one night the unthinkable happens, and suddenly Val's dreams of a new life are crushed under the weight of the only thing that matters: survival.

For centuries, Virginians have told, retold and embellished wonderful stories of their history. Legends such as the "wild Spanish ponies" of Chincoteague, General Braddock's lost gold, the Mount Vernon Monster and the Richmond Vampire tug at the imagination. Revolutionary War heroes, Annandale's Bunny Man, the enslaved woman who became a Union spy in the White House of the Confederacy and many others left imprints on the Commonwealth of Virginia. Explore secret societies, hidden knowledge and the mysteries of the universe with author Chuck Mills.

Every culture has developed its own lore of rocks. From the stones of Aaron's breastplate to the foundational rocks of the New Jerusalem, from the creation tales of South America to the blood stones of Burma, gems have taken their place in the mythology and magic of the human race. This book details the lore attached to particular gems. Each chapter covers a particular stone and discusses the gem's geological, historical, mythical, and legendary qualities. A valuable resource for anyone researching symbols, myth, history, or literature, this book also helps science students understand the humanistic context of gemstones and offers social studies students a fascinating view of gems in world cultures. Each chapter covers a particular gemstone, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. It also covers organic gems, such as pearl, coral, and amber. The chapters discuss the natural history of the stone, including where the gem is found, its value, and its use; the role the gem has played in history, especially for certain famous stones such as the Hope Diamond; and the myths, powers, and legends that have attached to the stone over the centuries. Science students will appreciate the humanistic context the book offers for gemstones, while social studies students will appreciate its consideration of gems across times and places. Students of literature and the arts will welcome the book's attention to gems as symbols, and general readers will find it a fascinating guide to the lore and legend of precious stones.

An original novel set in the universe of the award-winning, international hit video game NieR:Automata. Based on the stage drama "Project YoRHa," YoRHA Boys recounts events that occurred before the beginning of the post-apocalyptic action role-playing game NieR:Automata. Written by bestselling novelist Jun Eishima, supervised by NieR:Automata Director Yoko Taro, and featuring artwork by acclaimed Final Fantasy illustrator Toshiyuki Itahana, this is the previously untold tale of the formation of YoRHa Experimental M Squadron--the beginning of both "curse" and "punishment," of androids dreaming of the glory of mankind.