Motivational autobiography of a morbidly obese mother of children with cystic fibrosis, who radically changed her life to become an Ironman competitor. Tracey Richardson has an inspirational and amazing story to tell — a story of success despite ongoing adversity and seemingly insurmountable odds, a story of how focus and passion can change lives. The continuous pressures of running a business and intensively caring for her two sick children, both of whom have the terminal genetic condition, cystic fibrosis, finally took its toll on Tracey. Morbidly obese and clinically depressed, she was overwhelmed by her children's increasing medical issues, feeling powerless to stop their ultimate course. At this low point, Tracey nearly opted out of life, but instead set about radically changing her life, embarking on a daunting physical and mental journey to find some value and purpose. Tracey’s two-year odyssey took her from 25 kilos overweight and feeling worthless and powerless about her life to training for and completing the gruelling Ironman New Zealand triathlon: a 3.8km swim, 180km cycle and 42km run. She then went on to compete at the world-famous Hawaii Ironman. Tracey did this while simultaneously raising the profile of cystic fibrosis. Tracey was selected by the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation as a 2004 winner of its ‘World of Difference’ programme. She was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) in January 2005 ‘for services to persons with cystic fibrosis’. She is in demand as a professional speaker, inspiring and motivating everyone she comes in contact with.

Written by one of his children, this book offers an unprecedented insider's view of oilman Will Buckley and his wife, and chronicles how the Buckley family have become the mainstays of American conservatism in politics and culture. b&w photos.

Thursdays aren’t simply another day of the week for Amy Spencer and Ellis Hall. Thursday afternoons sizzle with no-strings sex for the two women, who meet each week in a hotel room to forget their past—and their present. The arrangement works perfectly for Amy, a busy surgeon who’s still smarting from a failed relationship. For Ellis, Thursday afternoons act as a pressure valve from her cutthroat job and the mistakes in her personal life she’s trying to rectify. But soon the pair discover that their outside worlds are on a collision course with the carefully constructed world they’ve created on Thursday afternoons. What will happen when they discover the truth about each other? Will their weekly assignations come to a screeching halt, or will they turn into something much, much more…

Camryn Hughes has reinvented herself since the chaotic and nomadic years of being a musician. She’s happy in her serene life until a new client has her examining her one regret—parting ways with her first love. Is it possible to go back and choose the other fork in the road—the one that leads back to the only woman she’s ever loved? Brooke Ross has no regrets about her long-ago decision to put herself and her career as a restaurateur first. But thanks to the ongoing ravages on her business from the pandemic, plus a girlfriend she can’t bring herself to love, Brooke is at a crossroads. Throwing caution to the wind for once, she agrees to an unusual invitation that just might lead her to figuring out what—and who—she really wants. Ten Days in May is about second chances, about choosing life, and discovering what’s meaningful in turbulent times.

Dani and Shannon are blushing brides-to-be. Shannon's niece Amanda, along with bridal friends Claire and Jordan, will soon be witnesses to the forthcoming nuptials. Together, they're a party of five intent on having an unforgettable week in Las Vegas. Though far from home, none of them can outrun the pasts that have shaped their lives. Dani and Shannon each harbor a secret that could bankrupt their wedding dreams. Jordan, the self-avowed eternal bachelor, finds herself in an unexpected high stakes game of love. Claire, a doctor still grieving the loss of her long-time partner, hits a jackpot she isn't sure she wants. And Amanda, carrying a secret of her own, decides to gamble it all on love. It's a dizzying, exhilarating week of discovery, passion and surprises, and no one knows where the spinning wheel of love will stop. The stakes are high, the risks life changing and the pay offs beyond measure in this latest romantic tour de force from Tracey Richardson, author of The Candidate and No Rules of Engagement.

With wounded soldiers all around her, Major Logan Sharp doesn't have time to pamper some photographer from stateside. What spare energy she does have goes to worrying what she'll do when she ships home from Afghanistan. Home—for Logan, the word means nothing. But photographer Jillian Knight is not what she expects, and certainly not what she needs complicating her last tour. Leaving her partner and daughter at home, Jillian Knight is on assignment in Kandahar to record the heroic work of medical units in war zones. She knows it'll be rough, but Logan Sharp's dedication and competence is reassuring. Jillian finds herself looking forward to her encounters with the intriguing military doctor, understanding that by-the-rules demeanor is a must for surviving in a land where life is cheap. Under the pressures of danger and conflict, the intense feelings of comrades threaten to overwhelm their good sense, but they follow the rules. After a single heart-stopping kiss, they do the only thing they must—say goodbye. Keeping in touch is not part of the plan,but when their paths cross unexpectedly more than a year later, abiding by the rules is suddenly much harder than they ever expected. Two unforgettable women try to figure out the rules for their own lives and the future in Tracey Richardson's romantic novel of wartime and coming home.

Gertrude Stein called it "the only really modern novel form that has come into existence," yet the mystery genre was a century old before it featured its first gay main character in a novel. Since then, gay and lesbian detective fiction has been one of the fastest growing segments of the genre. It incorporates gay and lesbian cultural elements and offers crossover appeal. Its authors call upon a century of development in the mystery genre, while providing new, more accurate images of lesbians and gay men than generally found in mainstream literature and popular media. This groundbreaking study of gay and lesbian detective fiction examines mystery series and historically significant stand-alone novels published since the early 1960s. Part I is an overview that describes how these novels make gay and lesbian life visible and forge new, powerful images. It also examines how they fit into the larger history of mystery fiction. The series analyses in Part II are grouped according to the type of main character (police officer, private investigator, amateur sleuth, etc.). Each section discusses main and secondary characters of that type, characteristic themes for the group, and more. The analyses of individual series cover main characters, themes, plot points and other elements. Comments from authors interviewed for this book play a central role in those analyses. Part III lists series-spanning themes (e.g., homophobia, the closet, gay marriage) and the novels and series that address each of those themes.