In the Swiss Alps a teenage girl is thrown from a helicopter and her boyfriend is brutally abducted to Trieste, a city filled with undercurrents of past hatreds. Ruari, son of Irish media owner J J Breslin, is in desperate danger, at the mercy of ruthless kidnappers making impossible demands. His terrified mother contacts the only person she knows can help her son: Harry Jones, her former lover, who she walked out on many years ago. Now memories of their passionate affair, the guilt, hurt, anger and humiliation, come flooding back. Time is running out for Ruari and Harry, torn between his loyalties, is quickly drawn into a political game played for high stakes. Far higher than he realizes...

"Originally published in single magazine form in Secret Origins 13, Action Comics Weekly 613-618, 627-634."

What if earths history as we know it is only a fragment of the actual truth? What if it started thousands of years before we ever thought? Could it be possible that an advanced society and civilization thrived here on earth, but due to a worldwide flood, their existence was nearly wiped away from history? With melting glaciers at the end of the last ice age then combined with a comet colliding with the earth, it caused global rainstorms and increased volcanic activity resulting in the rapid melting of earths ice. It quickly flooded earths entire surface. After over a month of flooding, only a small fragment of earths inhabitants survived. Many civilizations and creatures were totally wiped away. Many great cities were buried or sent to the bottom of seas. Animals and humans had to start over with repopulating the earth. Over time, some evidence of this time has been found. Some of these items found are more advanced then we are today. Some items are even questionable if they are even from earth. Only a few left today really know the truth about our planet. An alien race came to earth to escape their dying world. They tried taking over and ruling our world and all its inhabitants. After many hundreds of years, a civil war broke out among them with the human race getting caught in the middle. After a last-attempt battle to end the war, both sides were sent into hiding and waiting. Now in todays world, the aliens are once again planning their takeover of our world with their extinction agenda. They have already started influencing our society. A small group of individuals have been tragically brought together after their ancestors were eliminated by the aliens because they were being seen as threats. Now this small group is the only one in the aliens way of global domination.

Trouble with a Vengeance… In her seventh year as a magical Protector, Cary Redmond has faced down more world-ending, life-or-death situations than she cares to remember. And now that she’s discovered she’s not as ordinary as she thought, finding ways to not die is getting even tougher. Especially with all the enemies she’s collected while saving good guys from bad guys. So when her latest job forces her to confront too many of these old enemies, Cary desperately wants to refuse. Unfortunately, walking away is not an option, thanks to more of that world-ending trouble so common in her life. With the help of her leopard shifter mate, Cary once again faces overwhelming odds in a quest to save the world. And hopefully not die. keywords: Urban fantasy romance; urban fantasy; paranormal romance; dark fantasy; horror fantasy; series paranormal romance; shapeshifter romance; witches and wizards; werewolves and shifters; vampire paranormal; demons and devils; series urban fantasy; paranormal shifters; magic and mayhem

This work seeks to provide a guide to the ageing process for senior citizens. It outlines actions that will slow the process and concludes with four fairly simple rules to prolong healthy life. Diet and vitamins, exercise, medical examinations and the avoidance of bad habits are covered.

Originally published in 1983. This book cuts across the class boundaries of traditionally separate fields of social history. It investigates the social origins of servants, their incomes, their marriage and family patterns, their career patterns, their possibilities for social mobility, their political activities, and their criminality. But it also investigates the history of the family and domestic life in France in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, for servants were, at least until the rise of the affectionate nuclear family in the middle of the eighteenth century, considered part of the families of those they served. Finally, this book is also an essay on the history of social relationships in the ancien régime, not only those between masters and servants but also the broader relationships between the ruling elite and the lower classes. The introduction gives basic facts about the composition of households during the Old Regime and explores the attitudes and assumptions that underlay the employment of servants. It also shows how both these attitudes and the households themselves changed dramatically in the last decades before the French Revolution. Part 1 is devoted to the servants themselves. One chapter deals with their lives within their employers' households: their work, their living conditions, their socializing and leisure-time activities. A second examines their private lives: their social origins, marriage and family patterns, their moneymaking and their criminality. And a third explores their relationships with and attitudes toward their masters. In part 2, the focus shifts to an examination of master–servant relationships from the masters' point of view. The first chapter deals with master–servant relationships in general by discussing the factors that determined how employers treated their domestics. The second and third chapters explore two special relationships: masters' sexual relationships with their servants and their relationships with the servants who cared for them in childhood. The epilogue traces the impact of the French Revolution on domestic service and sketches some of the changes in the household that were to come in the nineteenth century.

Welcome to "Mosquitoes – Man’s Ancient Enemies," an exploration into the intricate world of these tiny yet notorious insects that have plagued humanity for centuries. As an interested party for many years, I am delighted to guide you through the fascinating journey of understanding mosquitoes, their biology, behaviour, and the significant impact they have had on human history. From the buzzing annoyance of their presence to the deadly diseases they transmit, mosquitoes have left an indelible mark on our lives. This booklet delves into the evolutionary adaptations that have made mosquitoes such efficient vectors of diseases like malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and more. We will uncover their life cycles, feeding habits, and the factors that contribute to their thriving populations. Throughout history, societies have grappled with the challenges posed by mosquitoes, leading to innovations in pest control, public health, and scientific research. We will explore how mosquito-borne diseases have shaped human societies and influenced cultural practices around the world. Join me as we delve into the world of mosquitoes, unravelling the mysteries behind their resilience, their ecological role, and the ongoing efforts to mitigate their impact on human health and well-being. Despite their negative side, mosquitoes feed many millions of fish, which in turn are eaten by human populations almost the whole world over.

A thrilling YA fantasy novel from award-winning author Arthur Slade! Carmen is a student at Red Assassin School. She's an expert at bladed weapons and poisons; and she's desperate to finish at the top of the class, ahead of her twin brother. The students have been trained to hunt using giant black swans, but Carmen has discovered a dragon. All she has to do is get on his back. One problem: he's killed everyone who gets near him. Then the Emperor declares war on assassins. And there might be a traitor among them. Carmen wants to graduate. But the emperor wants her dead. Her classmates might, too. Graduation night is about to become the fight of her life. In this heartstopping adventure by Arthur Slade, readers will root for Carmen - an Assassin with a heart of gold, determined to follow her dream against all odds.

This book reviews the current state of knowledge concerning cacao pathogens and methods for their management. Topics discussed include the history, biology and genetic diversity of Moniliophthora species (which cause witches’ broom and frosty pod rot) and Phytophthora species (which cause black pod rot) that cause diseases resulting in major losses to cacao production. Emerging pathogens such as Cacao swollen shoot virus and Ceratobasidium theobromae (which causes vascular streak dieback) are also discussed in detail, along with many pathogens of significant local concern. Most of these pathogens represent major risks to global cacao production should they expand into new areas, breaking out of their current limited distributions. By considering cacao diseases as a group, similarities in the available tools and techniques used in their management become apparent, as do their limitations. Gaps in our current knowledge of cacao pathogens and the management of the diseases they cause are detailed, and suggestions for future research directions are provided. This insight allows readers to consider cacao disease threats from a more comprehensive, global perspective and paves the way for an improved synergy of efforts between the various research programs, agencies, and industries, both private and public, with vested interests in cacao production, and cacao farmers.