This controversial book, by one of the UK's finest military historians, reveals the squalid truth about Britain's highest military honor, exposing a shameful history of racism, misogyny, and political expediency. When 25-year old Private Johnson Beharry won the Victoria Cross in 2005 for bravery under fire in Iraq, he was the first person to win Britain's highest military honor since the Falklands war in 1982 and the first living recipient since 1969, when two Australians were given the award for action in Vietnam. Born out of the squalor of the Crimean War in 1856 and the fragility of the monarchy at that time, the VC's prestige is such that it takes precedence over all other orders and medals in Britain. But while many books have been written about specific aspects of the VC and its recipients, none have asked why so many brave men who deserved the medal were denied it, and why no women have ever been awarded the VC, even though they are entitled. Military historian Gary Mead's vivid and balanced account of the VC's life and times exposes the hypocrisy behind one of the UK's last sacred cows, and explores its role as a barometer for the shifting sands of political and social change during the last 150 years.

In December 2011, 21-year-old Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel Kylie Bisutti stunned the fashion industry when she chose faith over fame and fortune and made the switch from supermodel to role model. In I’m No Angel, Kylie shares her story—from her early years as she struggled to make it big in the cutthroat world of modeling, to her “big break” winning the Victoria’s Secret Runway Angel competition, to the disillusionment and spiritual warfare that followed. After finally realizing that she could no longer reconcile her career with her Christian beliefs, she surrendered her life to God and dedicated her life to preaching a message of modesty and inner beauty. Along the way, Kylie talks about her personal struggles with inadequacy, low self-esteem, and her near-constant quest for approval in a world where you can never be thin enough, pretty enough, or sexy enough. She helps readers understand that true beauty lies within and that real fulfillment comes from knowing, loving, and serving Christ.

In “Young James Bondsman,” Patrick Gisler weaves mystery, espionage, and legacy. The story follows James Bondsman, an experienced spy, after MI-6 headquarters explodes. Bondsman recovers in the hospital, unaware of the attack that nearly killed him. James becomes caught in a web of government surveillance and covert goals while trying to understand his past and Eve Moneyhoney’s cryptic notes. Carolyn, Eve’s daughter, reveals shocking connections that link their fates, forcing James to face his past. The “Young James Bondsman” characters struggle with self-discovery, survival, and the strength of their relationships. Kirkwall’s wartime exploits and London’s shady dealings drive the story. Gisler’s book about secrets and redemption is a compelling mix of action and emotion.

This hi-lo book for kids explores traditional gender roles with a compelling, inspiring storyline and vibrant illustrations. Victoria is frustrated by her stepmom, Rita. Rita thinks that girls should wear dresses, be cheerleaders, and most definitely, never ever play football. But Victoria dreams of being on the kickoff line, not the sidelines. And then there's her stepbrother, who would much rather cheer for the team than play for the team. Will these siblings be able to change Rita's traditional way of thinking? This 32-page fiction will appeal to kids who have ever felt that they like things they're not supposed to like.

St. Louis mystery shopper Josie Marcus discovers the world of luxury lingerie has more than one secret after her high school teacher is accused of suffocating a former classmate... When Desiree Lingerie hires Josie, she’s delighted to find her high school teacher, Mrs. Hayes, is now a manager at the chain. Less thrilling is the mini-reunion with her mean girl nemesis, Frankie Martin. But after Frankie is killed just steps from the shop—and her beloved ex-teacher is identified as a prime suspect—Josie gets hooked into another murder investigation. Mrs. Hayes is spilling over with motives—years ago, Frankie destroyed her career. Unfortunately, her alibi is pretty skimpy. So, with only her secret shopper smarts and a bit of amateur sleuthing experience to support her, Josie must strip away the lies in order to bust the real killer before anyone else becomes tangled up in this case.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction Book of the Year An anthology featuring all-original tales of gaslamp fantasy from bestselling and award-winning authors including Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked. "Gaslamp Fantasy," or historical fantasy set in a magical version of the nineteenth century, has long been popular with readers and writers alike. A number of wonderful fantasy novels owe their inspiration to works by nineteenth-century writers ranging from Jane Austen, the Brontës, and George Meredith to Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and William Morris. And, of course, the entire steampunk genre and subculture owes more than a little to literature inspired by this period. Queen Victoria's Book of Spells is an anthology for everyone who loves these works of neo-Victorian fiction, and wishes to explore the wide variety of ways that modern fantasists are using nineteenth-century settings, characters, and themes. These approaches stretch from steampunk fiction to the Austen-and-Trollope inspired works that some critics call Fantasy of Manners, all of which fit under the larger umbrella of Gaslamp Fantasy. The result is eighteen stories by experts from the fantasy, horror, mainstream, and young adult fields, including both bestselling writers and exciting new talents, who present a bewitching vision of a nineteenth century invested (or cursed!) with magic. Includes short stories by Delia Sherman, Jeffrey Ford, Genevieve Valentine, Maureen McHugh, Kathe Koja, Elizabeth Wein, Elizabeth Bear, James P. Blaylock, Kaaron Warren, Leanna Renee Hieber, Dale Bailey, Veronica Schanoes, Catherynne M. Valente, Ellen Kushner and Caroline Stevermer, Jane Yolen, Gregory Maguire, Tanith Lee, Theodora Goss. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

A queer psychological thriller from a beguiling, fresh new voice. Victoria is unraveling. Her best friend is missing, and she's the only one who seems to care: there are clues all over Cambridge, but Deb is nowhere to be found--and the harder Victoria looks, the less she sees. Victoria is raised in a crumbling house in England by her working-class aunt and uncle, until her academic brilliance gains her entrance to Cambridge. There, she meets her first true friend, Deb, a spacey aristocrat, and the girls create their own tiny bubble within Cambridge's strict class system. Until Deb disappears. In her search for her friend, Victoria finds an unlikely ally--a police officer named Julie. They travel the countryside, visiting sites of suicides, murders, and accidents. But eventually, Julie's emotional demands overwhelm Victoria, and she retreats into a lonely life of academia, always teetering on the edge of emotional collapse. Wandering through a miasma of sexism, isolation, physical and mental health issues, Victoria's story is haunted by the spectre of her mother, whose own assault and subsequent pregnancy represent a break in her contract with the world.

Basic Words in 14 Languages This dictionary is formatted to give you words in 14 languages for easy searching and cross-referencing. Over 800 basic words like ""airplane"", ""money"", and ""zoo"" from categories including animals, bank, hotel, number, colours, and vegetables translated from English into Albanian, Croatian, Dutch, Estonian, French, German, Hiligaynon, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Slovene, and Swahili. Victoria's Multilingual Dictionary is a great tool for when you want to see what one word means across other languages, giving you an idea of how similar and different one language is to another. It is a great gift for etymology lovers as well as translators or word lovers.

Victoria's Home Companion traces the origin and history of various staple ingredients, prepared dishes, and recipes throughout the 19th century. The recipes in the book were documented numerous times throughout the century in order to establish what foods the average Victorian family ate, how they were grown, how they were preserved, and how they were prepared. The Companion is a detailed history of America's culinary advancements.

Presents paintings and sketches by the Queen, along with a narrative text drawn in part from her journals.