A “wonderful” novel of suspense about a woman journeying into her own dark past to protect her child’s future (Michael Connelly). When her ex-lover comes to see her, Miranda “Munch” Mancini has mixed feelings. On one hand, he’s a reminder of all she has left behind in order to stay sober and rebuild her life. On the other hand, he’s Sleaze Garillo, the father of the baby girl she is now raising. When Sleaze disappears, Munch can’t help but get involved. The police don’t see foul play, but Munch is the one with the knowledge—and the friends—to get to the truth behind Sleaze’s suspicious disappearance. To find him, she’ll have to take an unwelcome trip down memory lane to visit people from her shady past. There’s more at stake here than tracking down Sleaze: Munch must also protect the life she’s built for herself, and for the little girl she calls her own. This “fast-paced” mystery (Los Angeles Times) is a “real cause for celebration . . . Seranella keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, with surprises around every corner” (Chicago Tribune). “A splendid read.” —T. Jefferson Parker

It is 2003. George Bush has just appeared aboard a Navy carrier flashing a Mission Accomplished banner. In England, a Wicca coven warns British Intelligence of a prophecy to assassinate a future US president. It is to be carried out by Ramses, the son of the Anti-Christ. British MI-5 notifies the CIA. The CIA enlists the Hawaii Attorney General because Ramses was last known to be in Hawaii. Hawaii authorities discover that there is more to the prophecy besides a potential assassination. If the assassination is carried out, it will lead to the start of Armageddon. To prevent the fulfillment of the prophecy, Ramses must be reunited with the Anti-Christ in ancient Babylon, now modern-day Iraq. The Bible believing Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii sees this as another piece of evidence of the approaching End-Times. He recruits Honolulu narcotics detective Jake Cohen-Garcia, a former Navy SEAL. Jake is the ideal Anti-Christ bounty hunter because of his born again Christian reputation and his unique Jewish-Hispanic DNA. Jakes DNA heritage matches up perfectly with links connected to the Wicca prophecy. Jake is teamed up with two investigators and a certified exorcist priest. They form a unique investigative unit: The God Squad. The squads mission is to locate Ramses and short-circuit the prophecy of Armageddon. The mission takes the squad into the bizarre world of the occult and quantum mechanics that challenges their faith, their strength, and their sanitythe battles with the paranormal compound, Cohen-Garcias struggle with his personal demons and split personality. It threatens to destroy his faith, along with his family, as it propels him toward his own destruction. In the end, Jakes salvation comes from an up-close and personal confrontation with Ramses, a holy man from another world. The salvation of the world hangs in the balance.

Ms. Ladybug and Mr. Honeybee: A Love Story at the End of Time tells the story of a ladybug and a honeybee who find each other after losing their entire families to the poisonous fogs the humans are spraying. The unlikely duo pursues a safe haven from the poisonous fog and are aided by lightning bugs, a mysterious dragonfly, and even cockroaches along the adventure of a lifetime. They encounter doubting ticks, denying termites, and a slug desperately resigned to his fate along their way, but they never give up in their seemingly hopeless quest.

When newcomers arrive in Meryton, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself first close friends with Mr. Charles Bingley, and then the object of interest to Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy. Her sister Jane, away in London, visiting her aunt and uncle, returns to find Longbourn changed and a gentleman caller of her own. But there are others who do not wish for these courtships to proceed, or succeed. Two sisters, both in danger of losing their hearts. One experiences a courtship which ends quickly in an engagement, the other must struggle against the machinations of others. And one who will do anything to ensure her beloved sister achieves her heart’s desire.

Ryson Acumen battles frustration and fatigue as another struggle unfolds before him. A growing conflict threatens to engulf Uton from the western shores to the eastern plains. Illusions abound after the magic from an erratic sorceress alters the corridors of life and death, and the delver faces internal doubts as well as horrific monsters. A treacherous creation first hunts the dark creatures of a nightmare realm, but the danger quickly falls back upon Uton. Forced to choose between divergent paths, Ryson must rely on others to defend the person he cares about the most. He can only hope his friends are able to defeat a new menace that revives old fears. While the delver ventures into the Lacobian Desert, cliff behemoths vow to protect his wife, Linda, just as the elf guard, Holli Brances, leads spell casters against an unknown and dangerous foe in the abandoned town of Pinesway. Even the powerful wizard, Enin, enters the clash in hopes of ending the conflict before too many lives are lost. It is ultimately up to Ryson Acumen to defeat his inner demons and to find the answers that will save Uton and all its inhabitants.

It is the 24th Century. Humanity is only just beginning to gain a toehold out among the stars. While exploring the New Eden system, the crew aboard Stellar Survey Starship Magellan encounters a pair of alien spacecraft. A skirmish ensues and both sides exit the battle with heavy losses. In picking through the wreckage of one of the alien ships, the human crew stumbles upon a survivor with a fantastic story. The alien hails from a million-star Galactic Empire ruled over by a mysterious race known as the Broa. As masters of this region of the galaxy, they permit no challenge to their empire. But as yet the Broa are ignorant of humanity’s existence. Armed with this vital information, the human race must decide how best to proceed. Do they cease all astral voyages and retreat to their corner of the universe, quaking in fear at the thought of the Broa’s discovery of Earth? Or...do they take a more aggressive approach?

Boost morale and productivity by leading with respect The Respectful Leader presents an engaging, thought-provoking lesson for companies seeking off-the-charts performance. Author Gregg Ward draws on 25 years of leadership consulting, coaching and training experience to reveal the secret to great results: respect. In this true-to-life business fable, he shares the story of Des Hogan, a CEO who discovers that disrespectful behavior on the part of his leadership team is eating away at his company's morale, productivity, and profits. At a loss for a solution, he meets Grace—a straight-shooting, self-described "little old lady" in the maintenance department. With her no-nonsense advice, he sets out to revamp the culture and turn his company around; but first, he has to turn inward and realize that his own behavior sets the tone for the company at every level. This enlightening, engaging and honest story will help you recognize and analyze your own behaviors and interactions, and show you how to create a winning culture based on leading with respect. Intimidation, micro-management and insecurity do not drive top-level performance. True success is built on free-flowing, trusted, and open collaboration between departments, levels, and specialties. This book shows you how to build respect among the ranks—from the top down. Learn the key respectful leadership behaviors that significantly impact morale Learn how to adjust your own, and others', attitudes to boost productivity, teamwork, and profits Benefit personally and professionally by leading from a place of mutual respect and consideration People perform best when they feel valued and valuable. And, when they are respected for their experience, talents and skills, they'll become personally invested in outcomes—both short- and long-term—and consistently go the extra mile. Respectful leadership ignites passion, innovation, creativity, and efficiency, while control-based leadership and intimidation breeds complacency and mediocrity. Which environment would better serve your company? The Respectful Leader shows you how to achieve sustainable success with a simple behavioral paradigm shift.

Recently retired Air Force commando Thomas Mazuko was looking forward to a quiet future spent teaching karate in his small Tampa, Florida, studio. His dreams were of little more than days on the sandy beaches and nights in the company of his wife and children. Little did he know that his instinctive reaction to witnessing the mugging of an elderly woman would set in motion a chain of events that would drastically alter the course of his life. By sheer accident, Mazuko becomes a primary target for the wrath of a powerfully connected local syndicate figure. When the wealthy and egomaniacal Martin DeValdez sends out wise guys to "teach this upstart a lesson" Mazuko's foster son and a young student are caught up the maelstrom of uncontrolled chaos. As the level of violence escalates, Mazuko realizes that he has become the target of vengeance of a man who will stop at nothing to right what he perceives as personal wrongs. With the body count rising and the lives of his tenaEUR"yearaEUR"old daughter and twoaEUR"yearaEUR"old son, as well as the lives of friends, new and old, hanging in the balance, Mazuko must set aside his plans for a quiet retirement and return to the skills of his past in order to fight for his life and the lives of his children.

Brimming with excitement and featuring a compelling history, James E. Merl’s Chicago 1871 is a tour-de-force of fiction writing that combines time travel with an intriguing premise. John Kirk is somewhat of a patriarch, as we are introduced to him in the first few pages surrounded by his large family. In his eighties, he begins to tell them the strange and almost unbelievable story of his life; it is apparent to the reader that something strange is afoot when we learn that John was born in 1994, but as he is re-telling his life’s story to his adoring family, we are told that the year is 1930. This is the first indicator that time travel is a prominent basis throughout the novel. He begins to recount his long career of firefighting starting in 2014, and we soon learn that during one particular fire in 2018, he loses consciousness while becoming entrenched by smoke. Upon awakening, he finds himself surrounded by a group of men that look like they are straight out of a period drama. All doubt is suddenly erased from John’s mind when it becomes proven that he is in Chicago, the year 1871. How did this happen? Somehow, John managed to go back in time, and is surprised to find himself taken in by a group of firefighters, whose methods and practices seem completely bazaar. John’s struggle to adapt to a different era and learn their firefighting tactics provides much of the amusement and intrigue, and serves as a very clever and original idea. The descriptions of the struggles of fighting fires are depicted with vivid clarity, and the historical details of the setting and place seem to almost jump from the page. This is hardly surprising; given the fact the author was himself a firefighter for no less than sixteen years. Having moved up the ranks during his long and successful career, he infuses his characters with the same sense of urgency and fearlessness that is needed to succeed in such a demanding vocation. The bravery of the men is apparent to John when he finds himself working alongside the firefighters of 1871, and he becomes their close friend and ally. Merl then ups the stakes with the looming onslaught of the famous Chicago Fire, and we know that John must use his knowledge of modern firefighting if there is to be any chance of saving his new friends. What follows is both hair-raising and completely satisfying, making Chicago 1871 one of the most original novels to come out in recent years. This one is sure to please both history buffs and veteran firefighters alike.