after eight

Save a horse. Ride a cowboy. Bull riding is dangerous as hell, but that's half the fun. Guts, glory, and cute country girls lined up for days. It may only take eight seconds to win, but I can go all night. Yeah, I've broken almost every bone in my body at some point, but I've been the World Rodeo Champion two years running. Nothing's gonna keep me from making it three. Not even Mae Guthrie, a spitfire who's as hot as a Texas wildfire and one hell of a distraction - and who acts like she doesn't remember me at all. ...I'll just have to remind her that we've been acquainted. I bet she'll remember once she's screaming my name. Jackson Cody nearly ruined my life. I was dumb, drunk, and eighteen. He was a rodeo star with a smile that could melt steel, and I was this close to giving him everything. Thank god for that close call with the cops. I learned my lesson, grew up, and moved on. Now I've got my first huge assignment as a photographer, and if I play it right, this rodeo shoot could make my whole career. There's just one problem, and it's got spurs, boots, and hazel eyes. He's grown up too - Lord has he grown up - and he's only gotten hotter, cockier, and more dangerously alluring since the last time I saw him. But now I'm older, wiser, and not interested in a fling with a cowboy ...right? It's only a couple of days. How hard can he be to resist? Ride is a 90,000 word standalone romance, and it's got a happily-ever-after ending and explicit scenes that'll make you need to turn the AC up.

A #1 New York Times Bestseller From #1 New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn comes the story of Daphne Bridgerton, in the first of her beloved Regency romance novels featuring the charming, powerful Bridgerton family, now a series created by Shondaland for Netflix. In the ballrooms and drawing rooms of Regency London, rules abound. From their earliest days, children of aristocrats learn how to address an earl and curtsey before a prince-while other dictates of the ton are unspoken yet universally understood. A proper duke should be imperious and aloof. A young, marriageable lady should be amiable...but not too amiable. Daphne Bridgerton has always failed at the latter. The fourth of eight siblings in her close-knit family, she has formed friendships with the most eligible young men in London. Everyone likes Daphne for her kindness and wit. But no one truly desires her. She is simply too deuced honest for that, too unwilling to play the romantic games that captivate gentlemen. Amiability is not a characteristic shared by Simon Basset, the brooding Duke of Hastings. Recently returned to England from abroad, he intends to shun both marriage and society-just as his callous father shunned Simon throughout his painful childhood. Yet an encounter with his best friend's sister offers another option. If Daphne agrees to a fake courtship, Simon can deter the mamas who parade their daughters before him. Daphne, meanwhile, will see her prospects and her reputation soar. The plan works like a charm-at first. But amid the glittering, gossipy, cut-throat world of London's elite, there is only one certainty in this tale of emotional scars and redemption: love ignores every rule... This novel includes the second epilogue, a peek at the story after the story.

New York Times bestselling author and Bible expert Bart Ehrman reveals how Jesus's divinity became dogma in the first few centuries of the early Church. The claim at the heart of the Christian faith is that Jesus of Nazareth was, and is, God. But this is not what the original disciples believed during Jesus's lifetime-and it is not what Jesus claimed about himself. How Jesus Became God tells the story of an idea that shaped Christianity, and of the evolution of a belief that looked very different in the fourth century than it did in the first. A master explainer of New Testament history, texts, and traditions, Ehrman reveals how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty, Creator of all things. But how did he move from being a Jewish prophet to being God? In a book that took eight years to research and write, Ehrman sketches Jesus's transformation-the development of early Christology-from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection. Only when some of Jesus's followers had visions of him after his death-alive again-did anyone come to think that he, the prophet from Galilee, had become God. And what they meant by that was not at all what people mean today. A work of compelling biblical scholarship written for secular historians of religion and believers alike, How Jesus Became God will engage anyone interested in the historical developments that led to the affirmation at the heart of Christianity: Jesus was, and is, God. How did this belief take hold? Historical Jesus Scholarship: Explore the difference between the Jesus of history, an apocalyptic prophet from Galilee, and the Christ of faith. Early Christian Beliefs: Trace the evolution of doctrine through the first centuries, showing how the claim that Jesus was God was not what the original disciples believed during his lifetime. The Role of the Resurrection: Understand why the visionary experiences of Jesus's followers after his death became the turning point in the development of Christian doctrine. Ancient Historical Context: Discover the surprising world of divine humans, sons of God, and exalted rulers in Greek, Roman, and even Jewish traditions that shaped how early Christians saw Jesus.

Masterful #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag is back with a riveting, emotionally powerful new thriller! 'A gripping thriller that glued me to the pages' FREIDA MCFADDEN 'Tami Hoag expertly balances grit and heart to make the absolute most of a nail-biting story' KRISTIN HANNAH 'A delight to get lost in . . . I didn't want it to end!' ANA REYES 'Thrilling, heart-breaking, dangerous, and blazingly smart' LUANNE RICE 'A gripping crime yarn from one of the best' KIRKUS Small-town labels are hard to shake. Hometown hero. Fallen angel. Can anyone ever escape their past? A murder victim dumped at the dead end of a lonely country road, face and hands obliterated by a shotgun blast, is not the way sheriff's detective Nick Fourcade wants to start his week. His only lead takes him to the family of a hometown hero suddenly gone missing. Marc Mercier left his home for a weekend hunting trip and hasn't been seen since. Meanwhile, sheriff's detective Annie Broussard begins her first day back on the job after suffering a brutal attack by taking on the case of B'Lynn Fontenot, a mother desperate to find her grown son, a recovering drug addict. Robbie Fontenot has been missing for eight days, but the local police have no interest in the case, telling B'Lynn that an adult has the right to disappear, and a missing addict is no big surprise. But B'Lynn swears her son was turning his life around. Sympathetic to a mother's anguish, Annie agrees to help B'Lynn, knowing she's about to start a turf war with the city police. As Annie searches for Robbie Fontenot and Nick investigates the disappearance of Marc Mercier, it quickly becomes apparent that nothing is as it seems in the lives of either man. And it's still not clear whether either-or neither-of them might be the unidentified murder victim. Old jealousies and fresh deceits, family loyalties gone wrong, and love turned sour all lay a twisting trail that leads deep into the Louisiana swamp, endangering all who cross the path of a bad liar.

Escape to the Isle of Skye this winter with bestseller Lisa Hobman, for this brand new wonderfully romantic read. After the heartbreak of a secret unrequited love, Millie Treadaway has finally found someone to spend her life with. Harry Rose is handsome, successful and treats her like a princess. That is until Millie presents her fiancé with a surprise birthday gift, and their future is suddenly doomed. Eight months later Millie returns to Glentorrin on the Isle of Skye for her best friend Jules' Christmas wedding. Heartbroken, single and heavily pregnant. Staying in Lifeboat Cottage with Jules' brother, kindhearted Dexter, she's given up on love and resigned herself to be the best single Mum ever. But a shock phone call from Harry leaves her reeling and doubting herself and her decisions. Do second chances work? Or is Dexter, right? That she deserves much more? Can the festive spirit in Glentorrin, and a little stray Jack Russell terrier, heal her heart? Or is she fated to remain a member of the lonely-hearts club forever? Praise for Lisa Hobman: 'I love it! - escape to the beautiful Isle of Skye with this feel-good, uplifting story of lost love and second chances...' Holly Martin Simply gorgeous. An uplifting story of two broken individuals trying to find the courage to take a chance on love again' Jessica Redland 'A really uplifting, feel-good read about hope, love and second chances, that really did warm my heart.' Kim Nash 'A gorgeous, heart-warming romantic journey, reminds us to never give up on love...' Lucy Coleman 'You will fall in love with this story of fresh starts and mending broken hearts' Mandy Baggot 'A heart-breakingly beautiful story of love and loss set in the stunning village of Glentorrin. Be prepared to fall in love over and over again.' Nancy Barone 'What a beautiful read this was. I was rooting for Juliette from the first page. Lisa handled some tough subjects with a delicate and deft touch. I'm ready to escape to Skye!' Sarah Bennett

"Johnston's debut will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the heroes get themselves into one scrape after another. It has a hint of Battlestar Galactica, but with giant reptilian aliens. Johnston, with skillful plotting and impeccable world building, takes the tale of Tajen and his crew searching for home and shapes it into an unforgettable journey." - Booklist The Remembrance War Book 1 Eight hundred years ago, the Zhen Empire discovered a broken human colony ship drifting in the fringes of their space. The Zhen gave the humans a place to live and folded them into their Empire as a client state. But it hasn't been easy. Not all Zhen were eager to welcome another species into their Empire, and humans have faced persecution. For hundreds of years, human languages and history were outlawed subjects, as the Zhen tried to mold humans into their image. Earth and the cultures it nourished for millennia are forgotten, little more than legends. One of the first humans to be allowed to serve in the Zhen military, Tajen Hunt became a war hero at the Battle of Elkari, the only human to be named an official Hero of the Empire. He was given command of a task force, and sent to do the Empire's bidding in their war with the enigmatic Tabrans. But when he failed in a crucial mission, causing the deaths of millions of people, he resigned in disgrace and faded into life on the fringes as a lone independent pilot. When Tajen discovers his brother, Daav, has been killed by agents of the Empire, he, his niece, and their newly-hired crew set out to finish his brother's quest: to find Earth, the legendary homeworld of humanity. What they discover will shatter 800 years of peace in the Empire, and start a war that could be the end of the human race. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launching in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.

Meet the Lakefront Billionaires . . . Get ready for another addictive romance from Sunday Times bestselling author and TikTok sensation, Lauren Asher Rafael Ellie Sinclair is a hopeless romantic who writes love songs. I'm a struggling workaholic who could inspire a hundred breakup albums. On paper, we have nothing in common except for my son. For eight months, I avoid her until our summer trip. Fourteen days. Two islands. And one nanny I shouldn't be attracted to. Spending time with Ellie is expected, but enjoying her company? That isn't part of our travel plans. After my divorce, I swore to protect my heart at all costs. Even if it means breaking hers in the process. Ellie What's worse than working for a grumpy single dad? Admitting that I once had a secret crush on him in high school. Thankfully, Rafael Lopez and I have changed since we graduated from Wisteria High. He is a billionaire with a company to run and a child to take care of. I'm an unemployed songwriter he hired to watch his son and teach music. We coexist without any issues until a vacation changes everything. Lines blur and old feelings for Rafael return with vengeance as I face a new dilemma. Being his son's nanny is one thing, but wishing for more? Sounds like a heartbreak song waiting to be written. 'Lauren Asher is an expert at giving readers everything they could ever want in a romance book. It's impossible to avoid becoming addicted to the world she builds' Hannah Grace

On July 16, 1965, a massive alien spacecraft from the Zeta Reticuli star system landed at the Nevada test site north of Las Vegas. Following a plan set in motion by President Kennedy in 1962, the alien visitors known as the Ebens welcomed 12 astronaut-trained military personnel aboard their craft for the 10-month journey to their home planet, Serpo, 39 light-years away. In November 2005, former and current members of the Defense Intelligence Agency--directed by Kennedy to organize the Serpo exchange program--came forward to reveal the operation, including details from the 3,000-page debriefing of the 7 members of the Serpo team who returned after 13 years on the planet. Working with the DIA originators of the Serpo project and the diary kept by the expedition’s commanding officer, Len Kasten chronicles the complete journey of these cosmic pioneers, including their remarkable stories of life on an alien planet, superluminal space travel, and advanced knowledge of alien technologies. He reveals how the Ebens presented the U.S. with “The Yellow Book”--a complete history of the universe recorded holographically, allowing the reader to view actual scenes from pre-history to the present. He explains how the Ebens helped us reverse-engineer their antigravity spacecraft and develop technology to solve our planet-wide energy problems--knowledge still classified. Exposing the truth of human-alien interaction and interplanetary travel, Kasten reveals not only that the Ebens have returned to Earth eight times but also that our government continues to have an ongoing relationship with them--a relationship with the potential to advance the human race into the future.

Myths of the moon in the arts and sciences, fifty years after the first manned landing . The moon has long furnished humankind with an artistic icon, an image of longing and object of scientific inquiry. Encompassing art, film, literature, architecture, design, natural history and historical objects, and published on the 50th anniversary of the first manned landing (July 20, 1969), The Moon surveys the iconography of the moon, from Romantic landscape paintings to space-age art. It takes the 1969 landing as a thematic fulcrum and a culmination of the deep-rooted cultural conceptions invested in the space race in the 1960s, from David Bowie to Disney. The book also accounts for the science of the moon throughout the ages, from Galileo to NASA, addressing the many lunar myths that have existed throughout time. Also explored here is moonlight, an important theme in the Romantic nocturnal landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich, J. C. Dahl and Carl Julius von Leypold. Another powerful artistic genealogy is associated with science fiction, a genre that has on occasion influenced space programs: Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon (1865), for instance, famously inspired NASA’s Apollo programs. Film pioneers such as Georges Méliès and Fritz Lang created cinematic lunar voyages, and in the 1930s, surrealist artists such as Joseph Cornell, Salvador Dalí and Max Ernst explored the moonlit landscape as psychological allegory. Later, during the Cold War, superpowers on both sides of the Iron Curtain worked closely with artists to orchestrate and interpret the space race: Robert Rauschenberg, for example, was one of eight artists invited by NASA to witness Apollo 11, while artists in the Soviet Union played a central role in building the cult of the cosmonaut. The Moon looks at all these lunar themes and myths, in a thrilling and inspirational gathering for anyone who has felt the moon’s pull on their imagination.

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series. Please note that the eBook edition does NOT include access to the audio edition and digital book. Written for learners of English as a foreign language, each title includes carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises . Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content . The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning ( CEFR ). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. The Summer I Turned Pretty, a Level 3 Reader, is A2 in the CEFR framework. The text is made up of sentences with up to three clauses, introducing first conditional, past continuous and present perfect simple for general experience. It is well supported by illustrations, which appear on most pages. Every year, Belly goes on holiday with her mom and brother to Susannah's beach house. Susannah has two sons, Jeremiah and Conrad. Belly has always loved Conrad, but he thinks of her like a little sister. But Belly is 15 now, and this is the summer that she has turned pretty... Visit the Penguin Readers website Register to access online resources including tests, worksheets and answer keys. Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock a digital book and audio edition (not available with the eBook).

Learn Dutch By Reading Stories. As an advanced beginner or intermediate learner, reading is incredibly important for improving your proficiency. This book is written to provide you with engaging content that will help you build fluency and confidence in Dutch. Specifically designed for language learners, each story introduces practical vocabulary, real-life dialogue and interesting plots to make your language journey both effective and relaxing. Entertaining stories: Written for grown-ups who enjoy a good story, each plot is unique to keep you engaged while improving your level of Dutch. Right level: Designed to include words, idioms, and grammar at the right level, to make it ideal for advanced beginners and intermediate learners. Vocabulary lists: Key words and idioms are highlighted, translated, and repeated throughout the book to grow your skills without becoming overwhelmed. Summaries: Brief recaps to help you understand each story before or after reading it. Exercises and answers: Test yourself with true/false questions after a story to check your understanding. Open-ended questions: Story-themed questions that can spark a conversation or be answered through writing. Dutch Through Stories is perfect for self-study, as a supplement to classes or for in-classroom usage. For less than the price of a single Dutch class, you can invest in yourself and make language learning more effective and relaxing! Book 1 contains eight fictional short stories in different genres. They are realistic, contemporary and ranging from drama to thriller and from romance to adventure. Language: Dutch (vocabulary list and introduction in English) Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime Level: Learners at A2/B1 level and Nt2 program 1 Sample from the book: "... Op een dag gaat het anders. Niran zegt dat hij zich niet goed voelt. Hij is moe en heeft weinig energie. Aranya maakt zich zorgen, want Niran klaagt nooit. Hij is altijd sterk en zit vol energie, maar nu is hij stil en zegt hij dat hij moe is. Toch lacht hij en zegt dat het wel goed komt. Maar de volgende dagen blijft hij in bed liggen. "Aranya, ik kan je niet helpen," zegt hij zacht. Aranya begrijpt het. Ze zet de curry kraam alleen op en dat is moeilijk voor haar, want de spullen zijn erg zwaar. Maar ze weet dat ze door moet gaan, ook zonder hem...."

"Terrahawks, stay on this channel..." Back in action after thirty years comes Terrahawks, the fondly remembered action adventure comedy originally brought to you by the men who created Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet and Dick Spanner. In the not too distant future, the Earth finds itself under constant threat from Zelda, a blood-thirsty android who, along with her fiendish family and monstrous creations, has established a base on Mars. The only thing standing between this evil queen and her quest for the ultimate annihilation of mankind are the Terrahawks - an intrepid band of heroes led by the stern but fair clone, Doctor Tiger Ninestein. After a considerable period of inaction, the Terrahawks once again find themselves called into action when Zelda initiates a brand new campaign of destruction and devastation. Facing up against terrifying time travellers, fraudulent financial fiascos, sickening stand-ups, and deadly doppelgangers - their new adventures could prove to be the Terrahawks' most challenging missions to date! Eight episodes, plus behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew. 1: The Price is Right by Jamie Anderson With the prospect of budget cuts and a spot inspection looming over their heads, the Terrahawks intend to showcase themselves to the best of their ability. A surprise attack from Zelda, however, gives them a bigger chance to demonstrate their worth than originally bargained for. 2: Deadly Departed by Stephen La Rivière and Andrew T. Smith After an epic battle, it appears that Zelda has finally shuffled off her mortal coil, but when their beloved matriarch's will is read her android family is disgusted to discover that she has left everything to Ninestein. In retaliation, they organise a funeral the likes of which has never been seen. 3: A Clone of My Own by Andrew T. Smith and Stephen La Rivière When his clones begin to fall foul of mysterious circumstances, Ninestein is forced to face some difficult home truths. 4: Clubbed to Death by Stephen La Rivière and Andrew T. Smith with Jamie Anderson A night on the town turns deadly for the Terrahawks when the desperate proprietor of a hot new club just so happens to be in serious debt with Zelda's new loan shark venture. 5: 101 Seed by Gerry Anderson, adapted by Jamie Anderson Zelda conspires to help the Terrahawks enter the record books when a seed of destruction is sewn on Hiro's happy birthday. 6: No Laughing Matter by Terry Adlam Zelda intends to use her latest creation - Cy Splitter, the universe's funniest cyborg - to leave her enemies helpless with laughter. The Terrahawks only hope is that Twostein can play that game. 7: Timesplit by Chris Dale Past, present and futures collide when an audacious plan by Zelda's Time Lord leads to the capture of one of the Terrahawks. Zelda is thrilled, but will the resulting temporal instability unravel the fabric of space and time? 8: Into the Breach by Mark Woollard The Zeroids face termination when Ninestein and Hiro roll out their newest creation - the Cyberzoids. But will these super-soldiers be enough to fend off a direct attack on Hawknest from Zelda's mothership?

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Following Chris Wallace's riveting (The New York Times) and propulsive (Time) first book Countdown 1945 comes a deeply reported, revelatory, and thrillingly told account of the final months of the hunt for Osama bin Laden. On August 27, 2010, three CIA officers ask for a private meeting with CIA Director Leon Panetta. During that secret session, they tell Panetta that agents have tracked a courier with deep Al Qaeda ties to a three-story house at the end of a dead-end street in Abbottabad, Pakistan. But they say it's more than a house?it's a heavily protected fortress. No one in the meeting says the name bin Laden. They don't have to. Everyone understands that finally, after nearly a decade, maybe, just maybe, they've found the world's most wanted man. In Countdown bin Laden, celebrated journalist and anchor of Fox News Sunday Chris Wallace delivers a vivid account of the final eight months of intelligence gathering, national security strategizing, and meticulous military planning that leads to the climactic mission when SEAL Team Six closes in on its target. The book delivers new information collected from Wallace's in-depth interviews with more than a dozen central figures, including Admiral William H. McRaven?leader of the operation in Pakistan?as well as CIA Director Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and the SEAL Team Six special operator who kills Osama bin Laden. Wallace also brings to life the human elements of this story, talking to families who lost loved ones on 9/11, sharing what relatives of SEAL Team Six went through, and bringing us inside the tense Situation Room during the raid. Countdown bin Laden is a historical thriller filled with intrigue, cinematic action, and fresh reporting about the race to apprehend and bring to justice the mastermind of the most consequential terrorist attack in American history.

A groundbreaking guide to breaking up and breaking through from the bestselling author of Single on Purpose, John Kim. Every breakup is painful. Yet it is also a transformation. A breaking down and breaking through to a new version of who you are now, after you have severed ties. Nothing will change you like a broken heart. Yet every breakup is different. John Kim, The Angry Therapist, has guided thousands of patients through breakups of every brutal, freeing, heartbreaking kind—and he’s lived through failed relationships and a divorce of his own. Through his journey as a therapist and as a partner and father, John has identified eight types of unique breakups—and can help anyone get through them: The Big One Break-Up (the One you Compare All To) The Blindsided Break-Up The “Flat Soda” (Mutual) Break-Up The You Cheated/You Left Me for Someone Else Break-Up The Soap Opera Break-Up The Almost-Relationship Breakup The Break Up That Never Ends The D-word (Divorce) Each type elicits different responses and requires different approaches to healing and starting over. Utilizing his signature “self-help in a shot glass” approach, Break Up on Purpose is a three-part guide to healing from heartbreak. You’ll find stories from John and his patients documenting every type of breakups, discover honest reflections about what really went down, and engage in Break Through Work to master the steps necessary to truly heal and grow. Break Up on Purpose shows us how a breakup can be the ultimate tool for personal growth, where we discover bodies rewired, trauma processed, false beliefs dissolved, and new standards set.

On July 16, 1965, a massive alien spacecraft from the Zeta Reticuli star system landed at the Nevada test site north of Las Vegas. Following a plan set in motion by President Kennedy in 1962, the alien visitors known as the Ebens welcomed 12 astronaut-trained military personnel aboard their craft for the 10-month journey to their home planet, Serpo, 39 light-years away. In November 2005, former and current members of the Defense Intelligence Agency--directed by Kennedy to organize the Serpo exchange program--came forward to reveal the operation, including details from the 3,000-page debriefing of the 7 members of the Serpo team who returned after 13 years on the planet. Working with the DIA originators of the Serpo project and the diary kept by the expedition’s commanding officer, Len Kasten chronicles the complete journey of these cosmic pioneers, including their remarkable stories of life on an alien planet, superluminal space travel, and advanced knowledge of alien technologies. He reveals how the Ebens presented the U.S. with “The Yellow Book”--a complete history of the universe recorded holographically, allowing the reader to view actual scenes from pre-history to the present. He explains how the Ebens helped us reverse-engineer their antigravity spacecraft and develop technology to solve our planet-wide energy problems--knowledge still classified. Exposing the truth of human-alien interaction and interplanetary travel, Kasten reveals not only that the Ebens have returned to Earth eight times but also that our government continues to have an ongoing relationship with them--a relationship with the potential to advance the human race into the future.

Learn Dutch By Reading Stories. As an advanced beginner or intermediate learner, reading is incredibly important for improving your proficiency. This book is written to provide you with engaging content that will help you build fluency and confidence in Dutch. Specifically designed for language learners, each story introduces practical vocabulary, real-life dialogue and interesting plots to make your language journey both effective and relaxing. ¿ Entertaining stories: Written for grown-ups who enjoy a good story, each plot is unique to keep you engaged while improving your level of Dutch. ¿ Right level: Designed to include words, idioms, and grammar at the right level, to make it ideal for advanced beginners and intermediate learners. ¿ Vocabulary lists: Key words and idioms are highlighted, translated, and repeated throughout the book to grow your skills without becoming overwhelmed. ¿ Summaries: Brief recaps to help you understand each story before or after reading it. ¿ Exercises and answers: Test yourself with true/false questions after a story to check your understanding. ¿ Open-ended questions: Story-themed questions that can spark a conversation or be answered through writing. Dutch Through Stories is perfect for self-study, as a supplement to classes or for in-classroom usage. For less than the price of a single Dutch class, you can invest in yourself and make language learning more effective and relaxing! Book 1 contains eight fictional short stories in different genres. They are realistic, contemporary and ranging from drama to thriller and from romance to adventure. Language: Dutch (vocabulary list and introduction in English) Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller, Romance, Crime Level: Learners at A2/B1 level and Nt2 program 1 Sample from the book: "... Op een dag gaat het anders. Niran zegt dat hij zich niet goed voelt. Hij is moe en heeft weinig energie. Aranya maakt zich zorgen, want Niran klaagt nooit. Hij is altijd sterk en zit vol energie, maar nu is hij stil en zegt hij dat hij moe is. Toch lacht hij en zegt dat het wel goed komt. Maar de volgende dagen blijft hij in bed liggen. "Aranya, ik kan je niet helpen," zegt hij zacht. Aranya begrijpt het. Ze zet de curry kraam alleen op en dat is moeilijk voor haar, want de spullen zijn erg zwaar. Maar ze weet dat ze door moet gaan, ook zonder hem...."

In his preface to the 1998 reissue, Michael Foot wrote, ´Guilty Men was conceived by three London journalists who had formed the habit of meeting on the roof of the Evening Standard offices in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street, just after the the afternoon paper had been put to bed and, maybe, just before the Two Brewers opened across the road.´ The book´s genesis and publication could hardly have been swifter. Its writing took four days from the 1st to the 4th June 1940: it was published on the 5th July. It is an angry book, indeed, a devastatingly effective polemic. Its target was the appeasers of the 1930s, the leading culprits being Baldwin, Chamberlain and Halifax who had left the country so ill-prepared, and who, by their pusillanimity, had emboldened Hitler and Mussolini; and in the case of the last two still favoured some accommodation with the fascist dictators. In today´s parlance, it would be called a wake-up call. It was very successful selling about 200,000 copies. Kenneth Morgan, Michael Foot´s biographer, describes the book as consisting of ´a series of brief vignettes of key episodes or personalities, the latter invariably foolish or dishonest.´ Michael Foot wrote eight of the chapters, the first and most powerful one being on Dunkirk. Although Michael Foot was the main contributor, and the one who suggested ´Cato´ as the umbrella pseudonym, the other two, as Michael Foot would be the first to admit, Peter Howard and Frank Own should not be forgotten. Seventy years on, Guilty Men has not lost its readability and power to enrage.

This book, aimed at a broad audience, deals with the mothers of the Roman emperors from Augustus to the division of the Imperium Romanum after the death of Theodosius I in 395. 66 emperors reigned during this period. However, only 15 of their mothers are outlined in the sources. A section of this book is dedicated to their often difficult lives (only eight died of natural causes, three committed suicide or were driven to suicide, four were murdered). The sparse data on the others is summarised at the beginning of each chapter and in the chapter on the mothers of the so-called soldier emperors. Roman law excluded women from all state and public offices. Only a few emperor's mothers attempted to cross this boundary, such as the elder Agrippina, who entered the military sphere, or her daughter, who even reached for power. But others also achieved considerable influence, such as Livia, the wife of Augustus, or women in the era of the Severan rulers. The increasing dominance of the Christian church, in which women were only expected to fulfil serving functions and works of piety, brought this development to a halt in the fourth century. Unfortunately, the literary sources provide almost only statements about the emperor's mothers; there are hardly any statements by them. In addition, quite a few ancient authors (there were no female authors) had problems with self-confident or even ambitious women, even believing them capable of any misdeed. For this reason, the author draws on numismatic and epigraphic sources in addition to the literary sources, which he uses intensively and scrutinises critically. Numerous illustrations familiarise the reader with the people in question, while several genealogical tables make it easier to gain an overview.

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ∙ Best friends have one week in paradise to fix their friendship or fall apart in this heart-stopping, utterly romantic new novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Every Summer After and One Golden Summer. As featured in The New York Times ∙ USA Today ∙ People ∙ The Wall Street Journal ∙ Cosmopolitan ∙ Marie Claire ∙ TODAY ∙ Good Morning America ∙ The New York Post ∙ Parade ∙ Country Living ∙ Town & Country ∙ and more! Frankie and George have been best friends since they were eight years old. Both passionate, impulsive, and headstrong—they’ve always clashed . . . and come back together. Until now. It’s the eve of Frankie’s wedding weekend, and she doesn’t know where they stand or even if George will show up as her best man. Then, at the start of the festivities, in walks George. For one glorious evening, surrounded by her loved ones, Frankie’s life is finally perfect. But it all comes crashing down when her fiancé dumps her the next morning, leaving only a note as an explanation. Crushed and confused, Frankie returns to her family’s home to wallow. But George has a different idea and a plan for healing Frankie’s broken heart. He wants her to go on her honeymoon. With him. For one week, to the lush rainforests and misty beaches of Tofino. Frankie agrees, seeing the trip for what it really is: one last chance to repair their friendship. Even if it means unearthing secrets and long buried feelings neither knows how to handle. Even if it means falling apart for good.

TIME's 100 Must Read Books of 2025 | Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2025 | Variety's Best Music Books of 2025 | Rolling Stone's Best Music Books of 2025 “Outlandish; tension-filled and brimming with a mystery that lingers long after the last page has been turned.”—The Wall Street Journal From the award-winning biographer of Elvis Presley, a groundbreaking dual portrait of the relationship between the iconic artist and his legendary manager—drawing on a wealth of the Colonel's never-before-seen correspondence to reveal that this oft-reviled figure was in fact a confidant, friend, and architect of his client’s success In early 1955, Colonel Tom Parker—manager of the number-one country music star of the day—heard that an unknown teenager from Memphis had just drawn a crowd of more than eight hundred people to a Texas schoolhouse, and headed south to investigate. Within days, Parker was sending out telegrams and letters to promoters and booking agents: “We have a new boy that is absolutely going to be one of the biggest things in the business in a very short time. His name is ELVIS PRESLEY.” Later that year, after signing with RCA, the young man sent a telegram of his own: “Dear Colonel, Words can never tell you how my folks and I appreciate what you did for me.... I love you like a father.” The close personal bond between Elvis and the Colonel has never been fully portrayed before. It was a relationship founded on mutual admiration and support. From the outset, the Colonel defended Elvis fiercely and indefatigably against RCA executives, Elvis’s own booking agents, and movie moguls. But in their final years together, the story grew darker, as the Colonel found himself unable to protect Elvis from himself or control growing problems of his own. Featuring troves of previously unpublished correspondence, revelatory for both its insights and emotional depth, The Colonel and the King provides a unique perspective on not one but two American originals. A tale of the birth of the modern-day superstar (an invention almost entirely of Parker’s making) by Peter Guralnick, the most acclaimed music writer of his generation, it presents these two misunderstood icons as they’ve never been seen before: with all of their brilliance, humor, and flaws on full display.

NETFLIX TIE-IN EDITION, FEATURING A NEW ESSAY FROM THE AUTHOR **THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK OVER 60,000 5 STAR REVIEWS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF 2022 GLAMOUR BEST BOOKS OF 2022 'Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.' - Washington Post 'Full of heart and humour . . . I loved it.' Ruth Hogan 'Will stay with you for a long time.' Anstey Harris 'I defy you to put it down once you've started' Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors - until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late... Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. 'You won't be able to put it down because when you're not reading this book you'll be hugging it .' Jamie Ford 'Truly original and touching ' Helen Hoang READER REVIEWS 'I couldn't put it down' 'Marvelous, heartwarming, brilliant' 'I enjoyed every second' 'I was gripped from the first page' 'Read it, there's no way you won't fall in love with Marcellus the octopus!' 'Goodness me, what a unique and wonderful book.'

Bennett Fox walked into my life on one hell of a crappy Monday morning. I was late for the first day at my new job-a job I'd now have to compete for even though I'd already worked eight years to earn it, because of an unexpected merger. While I lugged my belongings up to my new office, a meter maid wrote me a parking summons. She'd ticketed a long line of cars-except for the Audi parked in front of me, which happened to be the same make and model as mine. Annoyed, I decided to regift my ticket to the car that had evaded a fine. Chances were, the owner would pay it and be none the wiser. Except, I accidentally broke the windshield wiper while slipping the ticket onto the car's window. Seriously, my day couldn't get any worse. Things started to perk up when I ran into a gorgeous man in the elevator. We had one of those brief moments that only happened in movies. You know the deal…your body lights up, fireworks go off, and the air around you crackles with electricity. His heated stare left me flush when I stepped off the elevator. Maybe things here wouldn't be so bad after all. Or so I thought. Until I walked into my new boss's office and met my competition. The gorgeous man from the elevator was now my nemesis. His heated stare wasn't because of any mutual attraction. It was because he'd seen me vandalize his car. And now he couldn't wait to annihilate his rival. There's a fine line between love and hate-and we shouldn't cross it. We shouldn't-but straddling that line could be so much fun.

The Sunday Times bestseller from international bestseller John Grisham. 'Grisham at his passionate best' - Daily Mail He was framed for murder. Now he needs a miracle. 22 years ago Quincy Miller was sentenced to life without parole. He was accused of killing Keith Russo, a lawyer in a small Florida town. But there were no reliable witnesses and little motive. Just the fact that Russo had botched Quincy's divorce case, that Quincy was black in a largely all-white town and that a blood-splattered torch was found in the boot of Quincy's car. A torch he swore was planted. A torch that was conveniently destroyed in a fire just before his trial. The lack of evidence made no difference to judge or jury. In the eyes of the law Quincy was guilty and, no matter how often he protested his innocence, his punishment was life in prison. Finally, after 22 years, comes Quincy's one and only chance of freedom. An innocence lawyer and minister, Cullen Post, takes on his case. Post has exonerated eight men in the last ten years. He intends to make Quincy the next. But there were powerful and ruthless people behind Russo's murder. They prefer that an innocent man dies in jail rather than one of them. There's one way to guarantee that. They killed one lawyer 22 years ago, and they'll kill another without a second thought. Praise for John Grisham's THE GUARDIANS: 'A canny and engrossing blend of two types of Grisham novel: enough of the familiar formula of a single lawsuit in a single town, mixed with a more picaresque and multistranded approach that has the significant advantage of taking in a wider swathe of America' - The Sunday Times 'Delivered with all his signature easy, flowing style. A past master at the art of deft characterisation and the skilful delivery of hair-raising crescendos, Grisham makes this a deceptively easy read' - Irish Independent 'This is typical Grisham: speedy, gripping, very good at conveying the complexities of the law in a digestible way' - Sunday Express 'Speedy and gripping' - Daily Mirror 350+ million copies, 45 languages, 9 blockbuster films: NO ONE WRITES DRAMA LIKE JOHN GRISHAM

A Belletrist Book Club Pick • A Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick • A Most Anticipated Book from the Boston Globe, Barnes & Noble, Literary Hub, BookRiot, Goodreads, and Town & Country “Casey Scieszka’s debut novel is absolutely delicious, like Tuck Everlasting for grown-ups. The premise is so good—an immortal woman’s search for the fountain of youth—that the writing, crisp and funny, feels like an extra treat. An excellent debut.”—Emma Straub, bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow "A small-town mystery with a dash of historical fiction and romance, this book is perfect for readers of V. E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.” — Booklist A propulsive and deeply moving novel about eternity and mortality that asks what it would mean to live forever. Vera Van Valkenburgh hasn’t been home in one hundred and eighty-eight years. But now Vera, forever twenty-six and able to heal from any wound, has returned to the Catskills. Whatever made her family immortal happened here, and if she can uncover it, maybe she can reverse it. After nearly two centuries—an endless sequence of unnoticed, meaningless lives and a soul-shaking incident in the desert—she longs to be released. Posing as a newly arrived forest ranger, she quickly blends into the upstate community and learns of something curious and disturbing. A mysterious, well-funded company is snapping up local property, no matter how high the asking price. But when her brother, a fellow immortal shows up, accompanied by a woman whose face is incredibly familiar to Vera, the purpose for her return gets clouded and Vera is in a race against time to find out what has caused her condition before someone else does. Blending the spectacular with the everyday in a tale filled with humor and warmth, The Fountain explores what gives life meaning and how our understandings of our histories shape—and cage—us.

A Good Morning America Book Club Pick and New York Times Bestseller! From debut author Asha Lemmie, "a lovely, heartrending story about love and loss, prejudice and pain, and the sometimes dangerous, always durable ties that link a family together." -Kristin Hannah, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Nightingale Kyoto, Japan, 1948. "Do not question. Do not fight. Do not resist." Such is eight-year-old Noriko "Nori" Kamiza's first lesson. She will not question why her mother abandoned her with only these final words. She will not fight her confinement to the attic of her grandparents' imperial estate. And she will not resist the scalding chemical baths she receives daily to lighten her skin. The child of a married Japanese aristocrat and her African American GI lover, Nori is an outsider from birth. Her grandparents take her in, only to conceal her, fearful of a stain on the royal pedigree that they are desperate to uphold in a changing Japan. Obedient to a fault, Nori accepts her solitary life, despite her natural intellect and curiosity. But when chance brings her older half-brother, Akira, to the estate that is his inheritance and destiny, Nori finds in him an unlikely ally with whom she forms a powerful bond-a bond their formidable grandparents cannot allow and that will irrevocably change the lives they were always meant to lead. Because now that Nori has glimpsed a world in which perhaps there is a place for her after all, she is ready to fight to be a part of it-a battle that just might cost her everything. Spanning decades and continents, Fifty Words for Rain is a dazzling epic about the ties that bind, the ties that give you strength, and what it means to be free.

The Challenge Built to Last, the defining management study of the nineties, showed how great companies triumph over time and how long-term sustained performance can be engineered into the DNA of an enterprise from the verybeginning. But what about the company that is not born with great DNA? How can good companies, mediocre companies, even bad companies achieve enduring greatness? The Study For years, this question preyed on the mind of Jim Collins. Are there companies that defy gravity and convert long-term mediocrity or worse into long-term superiority? And if so, what are the universal distinguishing characteristics that cause a company to go from good to great? The Standards Using tough benchmarks, Collins and his research team identified a set of elite companies that made the leap to great results and sustained those results for at least fifteen years. How great? After the leap, the good-to-great companies generated cumulative stock returns that beat the general stock market by an average of seven times in fifteen years, better than twice the results delivered by a composite index of the world's greatest companies, including Coca-Cola, Intel, General Electric, and Merck. The Comparisons The research team contrasted the good-to-great companies with a carefully selected set of comparison companies that failed to make the leap from good to great. What was different? Why did one set of companies become truly great performers while the other set remained only good? Over five years, the team analyzed the histories of all twenty-eight companies in the study. After sifting through mountains of data and thousands of pages of interviews, Collins and his crew discovered the key determinants of greatness -- why some companies make the leap and others don't. The Findings The findings of the Good to Great study will surprise many readers and shed light on virtually every area of management strategy and practice. The findings include: Level 5 Leaders: The research team was shocked to discover the type of leadership required to achieve greatness. The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within the Three Circles): To go from good to great requires transcending the curse of competence. A Culture of Discipline: When you combine a culture of discipline with an ethic of entrepreneurship, you get the magical alchemy of great results. Technology Accelerators: Good-to-great companies think differently about the role of technology. The Flywheel and the Doom Loop: Those who launch radical change programs and wrenching restructurings will almost certainly fail to make the leap. “Some of the key concepts discerned in the study,” comments Jim Collins, "fly in the face of our modern business culture and will, quite frankly, upset some people.” Perhaps, but who can afford to ignore these findings?

Love Nick and Charlie from Heartstopper? Meet Arthur and Ben! From INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING authors Adam Silvera (They Both Die At The End) and Becky Albertalli (Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda) comes a long-awaited collaboration about two very different boys who can't decide if the universe is pushing them together or pulling them apart. Soon to be a feature film, adapted by the creator of 13 Reasons Why! Meet Arthur and Ben. ARTHUR is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it's that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it. BEN thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn't be carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend's things. But when the boys have a chance meeting at the post office, they leave wondering what exactly the universe does have in store for them. What if - in a city of eight million people - they can't find each other again? What if they do ... and then can't nail a first date even after three do-overs? What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work and Ben doesn't try hard enough? What if life really isn't like a Broadway play? But what if it is? What if it's us? PRAISE FOR WHAT IF IT'S US: 'Romantic, realistic and sweet, this perfectly captures New York, teenage love and life in that gray area when you're not quite an adult and not quite a child either.' Lauren James, author of The Loneliest Girl in the Universe PRAISE FOR ADAM SILVERA: 'A phenomenal talent.' Juno Dawson, author of Clean and Wonderland PRAISE FOR BECKY ALBERTALLI: 'The love child of John Green and Rainbow Rowell.' Teen Vogue

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER What if you got to do everything in your life—twice? The heart of Mitch Albom’s newest novel is a stunning love story that dares to explore how our unchecked desires might mean losing what we’ve had all along. When he is eight years old, Alfie Logan discovers the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: he must accept the consequences of his second try—for better or worse. He grows up correcting his mistakes and saving himself from adolescent embarrassments. He even takes foolishly dangerous risks, just to see what it’s like to come close to death, before tapping back to safety. Eventually, Alfie turns his gift to his love life, studying his crushes and going back to make himself more appealing. In time, he falls deeply in love with Gianna, the woman he believes is the one. He seems to find contentment. But as the years pass, Alfie’s eye begins to wander. Which is when he learns a lone caveat to his power: once he undoes a love, that person can never fall in love with him again. Knowing if he gives into to temptation, he will risk losing what he has with Gianna, Alfie makes a choice that changes his life forever. The book begins many years later, after an ailing Alfie is arrested for allegedly cheating and winning millions at a casino roulette wheel. As a curious detective interrogates him, he slowly uncovers Alfie’s incredible story, and its most unlikely conclusion. In Twice, America’s favorite storyteller, Mitch Albom, is at the top of his powers. A love story that is enchanting, probing, and clairvoyant in matters of the heart, Twice will make you think, weep, and overflow with love from beginning to end.

NETFLIX TIE-IN EDITION, FEATURING A NEW ESSAY FROM THE AUTHOR **THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER** OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD WORLDWIDE BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK OVER 60,000 5 STAR REVIEWS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF 2022 GLAMOUR BEST BOOKS OF 2022 'Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.' - Washington Post 'Full of heart and humour . . . I loved it.' Ruth Hogan 'Will stay with you for a long time.' Anstey Harris 'I defy you to put it down once you've started' Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney After Tova Sullivan's husband died, she began working the night cleaner shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Ever since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat over thirty years ago keeping busy has helped her cope. One night she meets Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium who sees everything, but wouldn't dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors - until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova's son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it's too late... Shelby Van Pelt's debut novel is a reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible. 'You won't be able to put it down because when you're not reading this book you'll be hugging it .' Jamie Ford 'Truly original and touching ' Helen Hoang READER REVIEWS 'I couldn't put it down' 'Marvelous, heartwarming, brilliant' 'I enjoyed every second' 'I was gripped from the first page' 'Read it, there's no way you won't fall in love with Marcellus the octopus!' 'Goodness me, what a unique and wonderful book.'

The hilarious romantic comedy from NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR Sophie Kinsella . . . soon to be a major motion picture! Emma is like every girl in the world. She has a few little secrets. Secrets from her mother: 1. I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom to Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching TV. ... From her boyfriend: 2. I'm a size twelve. Not a size eight, like Connor thinks. 3. I've always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. ... From her colleagues: 4. When Artemis really annoys me (which is pretty much every day), I feed her plant orange juice. 5. It was me who jammed the copier that time. In fact, all the times. ...Secrets she wouldn't share with anyone in the world: 6. My G string is hurting me. 7. I faked my Maths GCSE grade on my CV. 8. I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is... ...until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. After all, she'll never see him again. But on Monday morning, Emma's office is abuzz about the arrival of Jack Harper, the company's elusive CEO. Suddenly Emma is face-to-face with the stranger from the plane, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her. Things couldn't possibly get worse... Until they do. ***** EVERYBODY LOVES SOPHIE KINSELLA: ***** 'Funny, fast and farcical. I loved it' JOJO MOYES 'I couldn't put it down.' LOUISE PENTLAND (SprinkleofGlitter) 'I almost cried with laughter' DAILY MAIL 'Life doesn't get much better than a new Sophie Kinsella novel' RED 'Hilarious . . . you'll laugh and gasp on every page' JENNY COLGAN