Be one of the first to read this sneak preview sample edition! A high-intensity thriller filled with authenticity and breathtaking action from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cindy Dees, with an unforgettable heroine—a retired CIA wet work specialist whose attempt to settle back into normal life meets with resistance from enemies old and new. Retirement isn’t easy for a former CIA assassin. For fifty-five-year-old Helen Warwick, it may be impossible. Even Helen’s family doesn’t know the true nature of the work she’s done for decades—the secret black ops, the sanctioned executions. But her plan to spend time reconnecting with her grown children has just been blown up—along with her son’s house—by hired killers. Why is she being targeted now—and by whom? Years of eliminating the nation’s enemies one sniper bullet at a time have earned Helen powerful adversaries. Then there are mysterious new foes, including a psychopath dubbed The DaVinci Killer, who wages a twisted war with a rival serial killer to turn murder into art. And when he sets his sights on Helen, she may very well become his next exhibit. From homegrown spies to Russian mafia hitmen, Helen’s ghosts don’t just haunt—they kill. And staying alive long enough to make up for the past, and protect those closest to her, will take every ounce of skill she possesses . . .

The Book of Deacon is the first book of The Book of Deacon series by Joseph R. Lallo. Myranda Celeste’s world has been built on a legacy of bloodshed. For more than a century, her homeland the Northern Alliance has fought the Kingdom of Tressor in what has come to be known as the Perpetual War. While her people look upon the conflict with reverence, Myranda’s hate for the war has made her an outcast. When she finds a precious sword among the equipment of a fallen warrior, she believes her luck may have changed. Little does she imagine that the treasure will draw her into an adventure of wizards and warriors, soldiers and rebels, and beasts both noble and monstrous. The journey will teach her much about her potential, about the origins of the war, and about the threat her world truly faces. Will Myranda unlock the secret of bringing peace once and for all, or will the world be lost to the Perpetual War?

After compilation of “The First Shot of Surprises" (初刻拍案惊奇), “The Second Shot of Surprises" （二刻拍案惊奇, Erke Paian Jingqi） is a collection of short stories in the Ming Dynasty of China . It was written by Ling Xiaochu at the end of the Ming Dynasty . It is a collection of short stories written under the direct influence of "Sanyan, or three words", and later called "Three Words" and " Two shots (with another “The First Shot of Surprises" with same style published before) collectively. "Three Words" refers to "Yu Shi Ming Yan, Clear Words to Understand the World", "Jing Shi Tong Yan, Warnings of the World", "Xing Shi Heng Yan, Constant Words Awakening the World", three collection of short stories in ancient China.

The definitive book on the greatest game in the history of college basketball, and the dramatic road both teams took to get there. March 28, 1992. The final of the NCAA East Regional, Duke vs. Kentucky. The 17,848 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia and the millions watching on TV could say they saw the greatest game and the greatest shot in the history of college basketball. But it wasn't just the final play of the game-an 80-foot inbounds bass from Grant Hill to Christian Laettner with 2.1 seconds left in overtime- that made Duke's 104-103 victory so memorable. The Kentucky and Duke players and coaches arrived at that point from very different places, each with a unique story to tell. In The Last Great Game, acclaimed ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski tells their stories in vivid detail, turning the game we think we remember into a drama filled with suspense, humor, revelations and reverberations. The cast alone is worth meeting again: Mike Krzyzewski, Rick Pitino, Bobby Hurley, Jamal Mashburn, Christian Laettner, Sean Woods, Grant Hill, and Bobby Knight. Timed for the game's 20th anniversary, The Last Great Game isn't a book just for Duke or Kentucky or even basketball fans. It's a book for any reader who can appreciate that great moments in sports are the result of hard work, careful preparation, group psychology, and a little luck.

You never know which way is home when the storm hits. Tish Yearly is about to open a wedding venue on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. All she wants is to sail through her first wedding, figure out why her best friend isn’t talking to her, and tell her grandfather she’s dating someone he doesn’t approve of, but before she can get to any of that, Tish’s favorite employee turns up dead—apparently drowned in four inches of water. Now Tish is wading through the suspects including a meth-cooking uncle, a brother with anger-management issues, and the mysterious island drug kingpin, who may or may not be going straight. Tish is attempting to navigate this unfamiliar sea, but she may not be able to weather the storms and find her way home.

Christmas is a lot more dangerous than it used to be. Graphic designer Violet “Merry Christmas!” Harper is usually found at her local Starbucks. Roman “Bah Humbug!” Knox is usually carrying a gun. But on a cold Christmas Eve, a barista, her idiot ex, and childhood game of “Are You Smarter Than a Criminal” will bring Roman and Violet together… in a bank vault. It’s a mess, a robbery and almost the worst day ever, but maybe a Christmas miracle can get them out of the bank and into love.

Joe Kita has had a good life. He has been happily married for more than 15 years and has two beautiful children. He is a successful journalist. He has lots of friends. Still, at 40, he wonders about missed opportunities: What would have happened if he had asked out that coed? What if he had learned to surf? What if he'd been nicer to his dog? Afraid of having the same pangs of regret at age 80 and no longer satisfied with leaving good times to chance. Kita deliberately revisits 20 crossroads in his life and tries to relive them. In Another Shot, he chronicles his crazy year with humor and inspiration. Along the way, he gets to the bottom of what happened to his first car—a beautiful 1979 Camaro—and ponders whether choices really matter and what determines one's place in the world. Some of Kita's adventures border on the absurd: A lifelong skinny boy, Kita yearns to have six-pack abs, and he's willing to perform almost any exercise to get them. Having never won a large stuffed animal, he heads to a carnival with a wad of bills in hand, determined to leave triumphant. Other stops on his journey are more common to men his age: He's lost his hair and he wants it back. His sexual peak came and went without him. He's never truly tested his manhood. More than anything, though, it's his relationships with other people that have affected Kita—and these are the chapters of his life that he is most eager to edit. His relationship with his mother has never been great. His father died before he could say goodbye. His harried work schedule has caused him to miss out on time with his kids. His quest to find God has been unfulfilling. Regardless of the original regret and its final "outcome," each experience alters Kita's perspective and will alter yours, too. A poetic narrative organized by specific regrets, Another Shot provides an insightful glimpse into the life and mind of a regular guy. It's a tumultuous and sometimes uncomfortable journey. But Kita is hilarious, insightful, and—most of all—inspiring enough to make you ponder: Why not give it another shot?

"Will understands the life-enhancing abilities of colour. He's a true talent with a keen eye." Jonathan Adler This book will take readers on an inspiring journey to discover fifteen decor destinations that each have a distinct and inspired style. From the colourful cool of Miami Brights to the eclectic urban hipster warehouses of Brooklyn and the nautical feel of the Hamptons and Normandy, a diverse mix of decor styles will be explored. The homes will mirror their surrounding environments, and room analysis for every space in the home will show readers how they can recreate their favourite looks and styles no matter where they live. Our homes are a reflection of how we live and nothing impacts on that more than where we live, and the lifestyle we lead. This book will take readers on an inspiring and tactile journey to discover the decorating style that represents their personal style, all demonstrated via Will's personal and evocative travel imagery, charming illustrations and personality-packed homes across the globe. By inspiring readers to look to their surroundings and call on their own travel memories and personal journeys, the book will be the practical yet playful travel companion the reader needs to create their own Destination Decor style.

So I may be in the Last Single Man Standing competition with my cousins, but five minutes around Kinsey was all it took to take myself out. Who cares about bragging rights when you’ve just found the woman you’re going to marry? Sure, she may work for my biggest competitor. Sure, she’s not dating right now. Sure, she’s my sister’s best friend and I’ve been sworn off her. But somehow she agrees to go on six fake dates to help me save face in this competition. What does the guy who never uses his words have to say to convince the girl of his dreams that they’re perfect for each other? Each book in the Last Man Standing series is STANDALONE: * Mama's Boy * Neanderthal * Mansplainer