First in a three part series. Destiny's Odds is full of mystery, crime and intrigue. (Mystery, Crime) What are the Odds that eight separate people's lives can change based on one solitary incident that occurs in one home? That is exactly what happens in Destiny's Odds.

In a world where lives intertwine in a surreally unpredictable way, destiny awaits an eclectic blend of souls who desire love more than anything. A man sits alone in a restaurant, his mind perfectly at anchor with his living memoir as he quietly observes the only other person sharing the room with him: an unaccompanied woman also lost in her thoughts. Absurdly drawn to her while he waits for his brunch date to arrive, Richard silently wills her to speak to him. Amid the stirring echoes of memory, the noise of the stock exchange, the sophistication of the theater, and the serendipity of private business, two tortured souls who long for love must somehow manage to find each other amid a crowded world. This unique novel opens the door to a new way of looking at the nature and purpose of relationships, as a man and a woman await their destinies and long for love.

For over a hundred years, demography has been at the heart of the Zionist project, reflected in the goal of creating and maintaining a Jewish majority in Israel and in ensuring the physical continuation of the Jewish people. Demography continues to be an essential issue in the current struggle between Israel and Palestine. Yet in academic discourse, demography is treated as a minor, largely technical side-issue in the social sciences, with little theoretical consideration given to population processes as social processes. Israel's Destiny: Fertility and Mortality in a Divided Society brings together important recent work in this area. The contributions to Israel's Destiny focus on the influence of religion, religiosity, nationalism, and ethnicity on fertility and mortality in Israel.Israel's Destiny is divided into four sections: the first focuses on fertility, particularly Israel's apparently high birth rate when compared with other countries with a similar standard of living; the second looks at patterns of nuptiality and contraception and the way marriage patterns are shaping group boundaries; the third looks at mortality, particularly among men; and the fourth looks at social policy effects of the demographic process.The main focus is that differential reproduction of the population by national and ethnic group, as well as social class--through fertility and mortality--and the social structuring of the population--through marriage patterns--are critical elements in the creation and evolution of Israeli society. The editors' introduction places all these studies in a wider perspective of current demographic research. The volume provides a concise population history of the state of Israel to help the reader put the studies in their proper local and historical context.

"[A] collection of scholars [has] released a monumental study called A Common Destiny: Blacks and American Society. It offers detailed evidence of the progress our nation has made in the past 50 years in living up to American ideals. But the study makes clear that our work is far from over." â€"President Bush, Remarks by the president to the National Urban League Conference The product of a four-year, intensive study by distinguished experts, A Common Destiny presents a clear, readable "big picture" of blacks' position in America. Drawing on historical perspectives and a vast amount of data, the book examines the past 50 years of change and continuity in the status of black Americans. By studying and comparing black and white age cohorts, this volume charts the status of blacks in areas such as education, housing, employment, political participation and family life.

This is the 9th book in this series depicting life on the western front, after railroads and inside plumbing but before the automobile and the industrial revolution. The first half of this book, like his others, depicts the hard and dangerous life of a bounty hunter turned US Marshal. The second half covers his newfound romantic life and an early retirement from ‘living by the gun.’ The new Duo delves into raising horses for riding, working, racing, and raising crops to feed these 300 horses. There is plenty of action, intrigue, romance, historical facts for the gun and horse lovers and anyone who enjoys a darn good story.

The time of reckoning is close at hand. Events in the New York Times bestselling Star Wars The New Jedi Order series take a decisive turn, as the heroes of the New Republic prepare for their most volatile clash yet with the enemy—from without and within. In the war against the ruthless Yuuzhan Vong, the fall of Coruscant leaves the New Republic divided by internal strife, and on the verge of bowing to conquest. But those who steadfastly refuse to consider surrender—Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa Solo, and their children and comrades-in-arms—are determined to seize victory against overwhelming odds. And now, finally, there are signs that the tide may be turning in the New Republic’s favor. After capturing crucial Yuuzhan Vong intelligence, Jedi fighter-pilot Jaina Solo prepares to lead a daring surprise strike against an enemy flagship. Meanwhile, Jaina’s brother Jacen—liberated from the hands of the enemy and newly schooled in an even greater mastery of the Force by the Jedi Knight Vergere—is eagerly poised to bring his unique skills to bear against the invaders. And on Mon Calamari, the New Republic’s provisional capital, the retired, ailing hero Admiral Ackbar has conceived a major tactical plan that could spell the beginning of a swift end for the Yuuzhan Vong. Yet even as opposing squadrons face off in the depths of space, intrigue runs rampant: in the heated political race for Chief of State . . . in the shadows where Yuuzhan Vong spies plot assassinations . . . and in the inscrutable creature Vergere, a Jedi Knight whose allegiance is impossible to predict. And as Luke Skywalker sets about reestablishing the Jedi Council, the growing faction opposed to the ways of the Force unveil a terrifying weapon designed to annihilate the Yuuzhan Vong species. But in doing so, they may be dooming the New Republic to becoming the very thing it has sworn to fight against—and unleashing the power of the dark side. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

No One Gets To Decide The Hand They're Dealt In Life Become The Dealer When Kate Delaney, an award-winning journalist, felt down on her luck and her career, she decided to take the fate of her future into her own hands. Through anecdotes from her early career, as well as reflections on the stories of great athletes, Deal Your Own Destiny reveals how Kate went from working at small, local radio stations to hosting two nationally syndicated radio shows and how you can take control of the trajectory of your future. In this quick and impactful read, Delaney walks you through the decisions that were paramount to her career's success and how you can make bold moves that change the course of your destiny. Filled with valuable lessons including finding the right balance between work and life and dedicating yourself to your path, Deal Your Own Destiny is essential for anyone seeking to make life- or career-changing decisions. Start dealing your own destiny today.

Working against the background of a campaign for Scottish independence, American undercover narcotics agent, Roz Tattarkowski, has to take over as lead investigator when her chief is killed in a mysterious accident in Edinburgh. From that time on, she receives minimal support from her organization in the U.S.A. Seemingly left alone to operate in a country she dislikes and struggles to understand, Roz relies on skills she learned as an aspiring but unsuccessful actor in New York. These enable her to track through political intrigue and deceit into a world of narcotics production, immigrant smuggling and trade in human organs. In the process, she becomes involved in further intrigue at the international level, when her acting talents are put to a final test: war will be the outcome if they fail. Throughout these events, Roz takes pride in her imagination and improvisation. But what appear to be actions taken freely and on personal initiative turn out to be plots scripted and directed by unseen hands.

When Raquelita Muro and Matthew Buchanan meet by chance on a Greyhound bus, neither suspects their journey has just begun. To Raquelita, a gentle girl under the heel of her abusive mother, this kind young man is a miracle. To Matthew, an idealistic young soldier, the sweet-natured girl he meets between Texas and Tallahassee is an angel in need of a guardian.But fate is rarely so kind. The next stop on Matthew's journey is Fort Benning to report for deployment to Vietnam, with Raquelita to be moved at her mother's whim. When they find a way to secretly span the distance, they end up closer than ever. Until the vagaries of war'and the unstable tempers of Racquelita's mother'intervene, leaving both ill-fated lovers feeling desperately alone. Fifteen months later, living without each other has all but left Raquelita and Matthew in pieces. When a friend reminds Matthew of what is important, he seeks out the woman he loves, and even under the weight of lost faith, shattered memories, deferred dreams, and broken promises, two damaged souls begin to craft a life together, stronger and sweeter than either might live alone.

Ready or not, Katriana was going to the council. She couldn’t control her aura, the power that those in council had, but she still had been chosen. She was glad to go. Everyone she cared about would be there. Darius, Mischa, Ivo, and the rest. They would all be together. But trouble in the lands and stirrings of prophecy would test everything Katriana thought she knew. Destiny had surprises for them all.