The definitive account of the Soviet Air Force in World War II. Provides a fast-paced, riveting look at the air war on the Eastern Front as it has never been seen before.

In the aftermath of a series of student riots in Seoul, the U.S. Congress rushes a bill into law calling for the complete withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. This sets off a chain reaction: North Korea attacks across the DMZ, Russia supports North Korea, the Chinese remain neutral, and the United States fights again alongside its South Korean allies. The full range of ground, air, and naval forces take part in vicious combat, first to hold off the North Korean onslaught, then drive them back. “A direct hit! The techno-thriller has a new ace, and his name is Larry Bond.” —Tom Clancy “Displays a Knowledge of modern weaponry and war that can only be described as state-of-the-art.” —Stephen Coonts, best-selling author of Final Flight “Fast, furious, and powerfully realistic. A stunning scenario of modern war.” —W.E.B Griffin, bestselling author of Brotherhood of War Red Phoenix is a shocking new chapter of a tragic disaster that might very well stun the world by becoming a reality. Larry Bond has proven himself a master of master of military adventure.” —Clive Cussler, bestselling author of Treasure Exciting, realistic, hard-hitting! I predict great things for Red Phoenix.” —Dale Brown, bestselling author of Flight of the Old Dog “A superb storyteller. Bond seems to know everything about warfare.” —New York Times Book Review “Harrowingly real and persuasive.” —New York Newsday Gripping … masterfully accurate … Mr. Bond is in complete command.” —Baltimore Sun “Bond clearly knows what he’s doing. Submarine warfare, dogfights in the air, and combat in the trenches are handled with authority and accuracy.” —San Francisco Chronicle “He sets a new standard for the techno-thriller.” —Orlando Sentinel “Highly readable … the drama is compelling … the characters are believable.” —San Diego Tribune “The action is intense … You’ll enjoy Red Phoenix.” —United Press International

A groundbreaking account of the Soviet Air Force in World War II, the original version of this book, Red Phoenix, was hailed by the Washington Post as both "brilliant" and "monumental." That version has now been completely overhauled in the wake of an avalanche of declassified Russian archival sources, combat documents, and statistical information made available in the past three decades. The result, Red Phoenix Rising, is nothing less than definitive. The saga of the Soviet air force, one of the least chronicled aspects of the war, marked a transition from near annihilation in 1941 to the world's largest operational-tactical air force four years later. Von Hardesty and Ilya Grinberg reveal the dynamic changes in tactics and operational art that allowed the VVS to bring about that remarkable transformation. Drawing upon a wider array of primary sources, well beyond the uncritical and ultra-patriotic Soviet memoirs underpinning the original version, this volume corrects, updates, and amplifies its predecessor. In the process, it challenges many "official" accounts and revises misconceptions promoted by scholars who relied heavily on German sources, thus enlarging our understanding of the brutal campaigns fought on the Eastern Front. The authors describe the air campaigns as they unfolded, with full chapters devoted to the monumental victories at Moscow, Stalingrad, and Kursk. By combining the deeply affecting human drama of pilots, relentlessly confronted by lethal threats in the air and on the ground, with a rich technical understanding of complex military machines, they have produced a fast-paced, riveting look at the air war on the Eastern Front as it has never been seen before. They also address dilemmas faced by the Soviet Air Force in the immediate postwar era as it moved to adopt the new technology of long-range bombers, jet propulsion and nuclear arms. Drawing heavily upon individual accounts down to the unit level, Hardesty and Grinberg greatly enhance our understanding of their story's human dimension, while the book's more than 100 photos, many never before seen in the West, vividly portray the high stakes and hardware of this dramatic tale. In sum, this is the definitive one-volume account of a vital but still underserved dimension of the war-surpassing its predecessor so decisively that no fan of that earlier work can afford to miss it.

Nyle's life with her grandmother on their Vermont sheep farm advances rhythmically through the seasons until the night of the accident at the Cookshire nuclear power plant. Without warning, Nyle's modest world fills with protective masks, evacuations, contaminated food, disruptions, and mistrust. Nyle adjusts to the changes. As long as the fallout continues blowing to the East, Nyle, Gran, and the farm can go on. But into this uncertain haven stumble Ezra Trent and his mother, "refugees" from the heart of the accident, who take temporary shelter in the back bedroom of Nyle's house. The back bedroom is the dying room: It took her mother when Nyle was six; it stole away her grandfather just two years ago. Now Ezra is back there and Nyle doesn't want to open her heart to him. Too many times she's let people in, only to have them desert her. Karen Hesse's voice and vision are grounded in truth; she takes on a nearly unharnessable subject, contains it, and makes it resonate with honesty. Part love story, part coming of age, Phoenix Rising is a tour de force by a gifted writer.

An American scientist is on the run in the jungles of Vietnam as world powers prep for war in this thriller by two New York Times–bestselling authors. “An adrenaline-fueled, multilayered thriller that cuts right to the chase. . . . Constant action makes this a must read for military adventure fans.” —Publishers Weekly In the not-too-distant future, massive climate change has wracked the globe. China’s rice-growing regions have been devastated by typhoons, whiles its western breadbasket is suffering from three years of drought. Riots threaten to tear the country apart. With the old-guard Chinese government paralyzed by the crisis, a young, charismatic party leader steps to the fore. His solution to the unrest is a time-tested one—conquest of China’s neighbors. And after that, the world. Josh MacArthur, a mild-mannered American scientist studying climate change in northern Vietnam, is the only witness to a clever attempt by the Chinese to make it appear that Vietnam started the war. Escaping a massacre, he manages to gather critical evidence that could turn world opinion against China. Unfortunately, the Chinese learn of MacArthur’s survival, and of the information he carries. A former Ch’an fighting monk turned commando is sent to capture him. Mara Duncan, a CIA agent, is also on MacArthur’s trail. The American scientist has become the subject of a deadly race in the jungles of northern Vietnam, with that fate of the world in his hands. “The authors have done their homework, using clips from newspaper reports to heighten the realistic feel and producing a thriller that reads like an account of true events. Fans of military thrillers, especially Clancy’s, are the built-in audience for this one.” —Booklist

Discovering she was from a line of vampire hunters was never in Cassie's plans, but she's learned to deal with the near certainty of a shortened life that fate handed her. With her friends' help, she tries to balance school and hunting while working to rid the world of the monsters that murdered her parents. Her life is going as well as it can until a new student arrives in school. No one is prepared for the chaos Devon's arrival brings, especially not Cassie. But though she's determined to keep him safe from her deadly secrets, she finds herself growing closer to him. What she doesn't know is Devon hides secrets even more frightening and dangerous than her own... secrets that could tear them apart. ***The Kindred Series is a young adult fictional story that includes some language, violence, and sexual situations. Recommended for ages fifteen and up.***

It isn’t what happens to us that causes distress; it is how we react to distress that affects us. Beyond Coping -Phoenix rising from the Ashes is an unforgettable memoir of one woman’s incredible journey of hope, devastation, and recovery. It is an inspiration for those who are confronted with tragedy in their lives. This story takes the reader to the dream of Paradise, only to have it go up in flames a few months later. The author relies on her own inner strength, the strength of her friend who survived the fire with her, the emotional support of her fiancé, and various spiritual books to take her beyond coping and to being completely transformed. Her mother, living in Canada, was her strongest ally, constantly encouraging her to believe in herself.

My name is Harlow, and I've just been attached to a ShiftARS unit on an army base far from where I was settled. I'm 23 and recently out of training, so although I rank higher than the three guys in my team, they treat me like the newbie. The three guys are gay and also lovers so the team dynamics are off. Luckily these guys look at me like a conquest and welcome me in. They are huge guys, solid muscle and tower 6 inches above me. Despite coming top of my class in fitness, martial arts and target shooting, to them my 5ft10 frame makes me seem like a delicate flower. They think I'm straight, I won't tell them I've been tempted before. Just like I won't tell them my shift beast. But all my secrets might come out anyway as these guys peel away my layers until they break my core.