She needed money… for her mother's operation. He wanted a son and heir… .and he was prepared to pay for it. A contract for seduction: Cameron Hunter's offer was extraordinary, but his terms were simple: he would possess Nadine, body and soul… and the resulting baby would be his. Yet, for Nadine, this could never be a straightforward business arrangement. Cameron was the only man she'd ever loved - and he was now the father of her child. She just couldn't walk away! Once again, Elizabeth Power "tugs on all our emotions." - Romantic Times

Nothing but Trouble Lucy Preston had been a headache for Mark Waterford since she was a teenager - a rebel whose only cause was to make her infuriatingly autocratic stepbrother's life as miserable as possible. She'd grown up somewhat in the past years; she'd found a niche at Waterford Consortium and had mercifully avoided any confrontations. Until Mark decided to make her his assistant. Mark was considered to be every woman's dream man, and Lucy hoped that one of them would quickly get him off her back. And then she realized that Mark's attention wasn't nearly as unwelcome as it once had been!

Wedlocked "I hate you Greg Prescott… I just hate you." Five years ago, Greg had deceived Abbie, and now fate had delivered even crueler blows. Abbie's sister and brother-in-law had been tragically killed, and Abbie found herself in America, as the joint guardian of her beloved twin nieces… a guardianship she shared with Greg. He wouldn't hear of her taking the little girls back to England. But if she wanted to stay with them she was faced with a cruel alternative - a loveless marriage to Greg, who made it quite plain that he expected to share her bed… .

FROM HERE TO PATERNITY Dominic's child was also Sophie's son… Sophie and Dominic shared one night of love… the result was Ryan. Sophie was determined to bring the baby up by herself. After all, Dominic had made it perfectly clear that Sophie was the person responsible for ruining his life. But, if that was the case, why did he pursue her and propose marriage to her? On the point of accepting, Sophie was devastated by the arrival of Dominic's fiancee. Who would Dominic choose now? FROM HERE TO PATERNITY - men who find their way to fatherhood by fair means, by foul, or even by default!

NANNY WANTED By a lively, lonely four-year-old… and his handsome, eligible guardian… Pierce Wagner was getting used to changes in his once orderly life, now that he was responsible for his cousin's little boy. Apart from having a four-year-old running riot through his luxury home, he was also having to take orders from Tommy's beautiful but headstrong new nanny! Nicole's natural flair with Tommy soon bowled Pierce over, and not only was he now playing father, he was also considering another new role - as Nicole's husband. Would he still want to marry Nicole when he discovered that she had failed to tell him one important detail about herself - something that would explain her immediate bond with Tommy… ?

The baby deception Soon after rebel Joe Donnelly's sizzling night with debutante Imogen Palmer, she had fled. But ten years later, she was back - just as exquisite as ever. And Joe wanted answers. For he had stumbled upon the secret behind her hasty departure - she'd been pregnant with his child… . In search for the truth, Joe was about to uncover an astonishing story that would culminate in a heart-rending reunion with the daughter he never knew he had, and her beautiful mother, Imogen - a woman he should never have allowed to get away… .

SIR GUY HAD THE FACE OF AN ARCHANGEL~ Yet his vow of silence and monkish cowl hid thoughts that would make the devil blush! For the innocent beauty of Celeste de Montcalm was a temptation that he could scarcely resist. But was his urge to protect her from the evil lord to whom she was promised an honorable one, or just an excuse to claim the lady as his own?

The Town Preacher And The Town Madam… Haunted by his sordid past as the notorious gunslinger Nevada, Reverend Wade Weston had declared war against sin in the small town of Hanging Tree, Texas. But he hadn't counted on the arrival of the exotic Jade Jewel, whose visions of building a pleasure palace threatened the peace of the community, and whose person aroused in him passions that threatened to claim his immortal soul. Diamond, Pearl, Jade and Ruby, The Jewels of Texas . Four sisters as wild and vibrant as the untamed land they fought to protect.

Explore the Java Virtual Machine with modern programming languages About This Book ? This guide provides in-depth coverage of the Java Virtual Machine and its features ? Filled with practical examples, this book will help you understand the core concepts of Java, Scala, Clojure, Kotlin, and Groovy ? Work with various programming paradigms and gain knowledge about imperative, object-oriented and functional programming Who This Book Is For This book is meant for programmers who are interested in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and want to learn more about the most popular programming languages that can be used for JVM development. Basic practical knowledge of a modern programming language that supports object-oriented programming (JavaScript, Python, C#, VB.NET, and C++) is assumed. What You Will Learn ? Gain practical information about the Java Virtual Machine ? Understand the popular JVM languages and the Java Class Library ? Get to know about various programming paradigms such as imperative, object-oriented, and functional ? Work with common JVM tools such as Eclipse IDE, Gradle, and Maven ? Explore frameworks such as SparkJava, Vert.x, Akka and JavaFX ? Boost your knowledge about dialects of other well-known programming languages that run on the JVM, including JavaScript, Python, and Ruby In Detail Anyone who knows software development knows about the Java Virtual Machine. The Java Virtual Machine is responsible for interpreting Java byte code and translating it into actions. In the beginning, Java was the only programming language used for the JVM. But increasing complexity of the language and the remarkable performance of the JVM created an opening for a new generation of programming languages. If you want to build a strong foundation with the Java Virtual Machine and get started with popular modern programming languages, then this book is for you. The book will begin with a general introduction of the JVM and its features, which are common to the JVM languages, helping you get abreast with its concepts. It will then dive into explaining languages such as Java, Scala, Clojure, Kotlin, and Groovy and will show how to work with each language, their features, use cases, and pros and cons. By writing example projects in those languages and focusing on each language’s strong points, it will help you find the programming language that is most appropriate for your particular needs. By the end of the book, you will have written multiple programs that run on the Java Virtual Machine and know about the differences between the various languages. Style and approach This practical, example-filled guide will help you get started with the JVM and some of its most popular languages.

Use Python modules such as ArcPy, ArcREST and the ArcGIS API for Python to automate the analysis and mapping of geospatial data. About This Book ? Perform GIS analysis faster by automating tasks. ? Access the spatial data contained within shapefiles and geodatabases and transform between spatial reference systems. ? Automate the mapping of geospatial analyses and production of map books. Who This Book Is For If you are a GIS student or professional who needs an understanding of how to use ArcPy to reduce repetitive tasks and perform analysis faster, this book is for you. It is also a valuable book for Python programmers who want to understand how to automate geospatial analyses and implement ArcGIS Online data management. What You Will Learn ? Understand how to integrate Python into ArcGIS and make GIS analysis faster and easier. ? Create Python * using ArcGIS ModelBuilder. ? Learn to use ArcGIS online feature services and the basics of the ArcGIS REST API ? Understand the unique Python environment that is new with ArcGIS Pro ? Learn about the new ArcGIS Python API and how to use Anaconda and Jupyter with it ? Learn to control ArcGIS Enterprise using ArcPy In Detail ArcGIS allows for complex analyses of geographic information. The ArcPy module is used to * these ArcGIS analyses, providing a productive way to perform geo-analyses and automate map production. The second edition of the book focuses on new Python tools, such as the ArcGIS API for Python. Using Python, this book will guide you from basic Python *ing to advanced ArcPy * tools. This book starts off with setting up your Python environment for ArcGIS automation. Then you will learn how to output maps using ArcPy in MXD and update feature class in a geodatabase using arcpy and ArcGIS Online. Next, you will be introduced to ArcREST library followed by examples on querying, updating and manipulating ArcGIS Online feature services. Further, you will be enabling your *s in the browser and directly interacting with ArcGIS Online using Jupyter notebook. Finally, you can learn ways to use of ArcPy to control ArcGIS Enterprise and explore topics on deployments, data quality assurances, data updates, version control, and editing safeguards. By the end of the book, you will be equipped with the knowledge required to create automated analysis with administration reducing the time-consuming nature of GIS. Style and approach The book takes a pragmatic approach, showing ways to automate repetitive tasks and utilizing features of ArcPy with ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS online.

Create ‘AAA’ quality game audio with new features and tools built for Unity About This Book ? Explore the basics of audio development in Unity to create spatial sound, mixing, effects, composition, adaptive audio and more. ? Leverage the Audio Mixer of Unity 5.x to create blockbuster sound and music for your game. ? Learn about developing professional audio for games with FMOD Studio and composing original music with Reaper. ? Build amazing audio synchronized graphic visualizations with Unity. ? Understand how real-time character lip syncing can be implemented. Who This Book Is For The ideal target audience for this book will be game developers, both Indie as well as semi pro. No prior knowledge of Unity and audio development is assumed, What You Will Learn ? Develop game audio and other audio effects with Unity ? Getting familiar with the new Audio Mixer introduced in Unity 5 ? Implement dynamic and adaptive audio using various tools and strategies ? Explore interesting ways to incorporate audio into a game with sound visualization ? Use 3rd party professional audio development tools like FMOD ? Compose original music and record vocals ? Understand and troubleshoot audio performance issues In Detail Game Audio is one of the key components in making a game successful and it is quite popular in the gaming industry. So if you are a game developer with an eye on capturing the gamer market then this book is the right solution for you. In this book, we will take you through a step by step journey which will teach you to implement original and engaging soundtracks and SFX with Unity 5.x. You will be firstly introduced to the basics of game audio and sound development in Unity. After going through the core topics of audio development: audio sources, spatial sound, mixing, effects, and more; you will then have the option of delving deeper into more advanced topics like dynamic and adaptive audio. You will also learn to develop dynamic and adaptive audio using the Unity Audio Mixer. Further, you will learn how professional third party tools like FMOD are used for audio development in Unity. You will then go through the creation of sound visualization techniques and creating your own original music using the simple yet powerful audio workstation Reaper. Lastly, you will go through tips, techniques and strategies to help you optimize game audio performance or troubleshoot issues. At the end of the book, you’ll have gained the skills to implement professional sound and music. Along with a good base knowledge audio and music principles you can apply across a range of other game development tools. Style and approach This book will have a step by step practical approach where downloadable free games will be given with the book and readers will be free to work with them.

Jump into the world of Game AI development About This Book ? Move beyond using libraries to create smart game AI, and create your own AI projects from scratch ? Implement the latest algorithms for AI development and in-game interaction ? Customize your existing game AI and make it better and more efficient to improve your overall game performance Who This Book Is For This book is for game developers with a basic knowledge of game development techniques and some basic programming techniques in C# or C++. What You Will Learn ? Get to know the basics of how to create different AI for different type of games ? Know what to do when something interferes with the AI choices and how the AI should behave if that happens ? Plan the interaction between the AI character and the environment using Smart Zones or Triggering Events ? Use animations correctly, blending one animation into another and rather than stopping one animation and starting another ? Calculate the best options for the AI to move using Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, Map Preprocess Implementation, and Forced Neighbours ? Create Theta algorithms to the AI to find short and realistic looking paths ? Add many characters into the same scene and make them behave like a realistic crowd In Detail The book starts with the basics examples of AI for different game genres and directly jumps into defining the probabilities and possibilities of the AI character to determine character movement. Next, you’ll learn how AI characters should behave within the environment created. Moving on, you’ll explore how to work with animations. You’ll also plan and create pruning strategies, and create Theta algorithms to find short and realistic looking game paths. Next, you’ll learn how the AI should behave when there is a lot of characters in the same scene. You'll explore which methods and algorithms, such as possibility maps, Forward Chaining Plan, Rete Algorithm, Pruning Strategies, Wall Distances, and Map Preprocess Implementation should be used on different occasions. You’ll discover how to overcome some limitations, and how to deliver a better experience to the player. By the end of the book, you think differently about AI. Style and approach The book has a step-by-step tutorial style approach. The algorithms are explained by implementing them in #.

Over 80 recipes to help you improve vSphere 6.5's performance and solve problems before they arise About This Book ? The practical recipes provide cost-effective and high performance for any application running in a virtual machine ? Contains best practices and troubleshooting techniques to resolve vSphere 6.5 performance issues ? Get a comprehensive coverage of performance issues and solutions including vCenter Server design and virtual machine and application tuning Who This Book Is For If you are a system administrator and are planning to deploy vSphere 6.5 in your organization and want to maximize its performance, then this book is for you. Prior knowledge of the vSphere 6.5 concepts is essential. What You Will Learn ? Understand the VMM Scheduler, cache aware CPU Scheduler, NUMA aware CPU Scheduler, and more during the CPU Performance Design phase ? Get to know the virtual memory reclamation technique, host ballooning monitoring, and swapping activity ? Choose the right platform while designing your vCenter Server, redundant vCenter design, and vCenter SSO and its deployment ? Learn how to use various performance simulation tools ? Design VCSA Server Certificates to minimize security threats ? Use health check tools for storage and boost vSphere 6.5's performance with VAAI and VASA In Detail vSphere is a mission-critical piece of software for many businesses. It is a complex tool, and incorrect design and deployment can create performance related issues that can negatively affect the business. This book is focused on solving these problems as well as providing best practices and performance-enhancing techniques. This edition is fully updated to include all the new features in version 6.5 as well as the latest tools and techniques to keep vSphere performing at its best. This book starts with interesting recipes, such as the interaction of vSphere 6.5 components with physical layers such as CPU, memory, and networking. Then we focus on DRS, resource control design, and vSphere cluster design. Next, you'll learn about storage performance design and how it works with VMware vSphere 6.5. Moving on, you will learn about the two types of vCenter installation and the benefits of each. Lastly, the book covers performance tools that help you get the most out of your vSphere installation. By the end of this book, you will be able to identify, diagnose, and troubleshoot operational faults and critical performance issues in vSphere 6.5. Style and approach This cookbook is written in a practical, helpful style with numerous recipes focusing on answering and providing solutions to common and not-so-common performance issues and problems.

Everything is going wrong for Caitlin Saylor. Her boyfriend has left her. Her musical trio is disbanding. And for their trio's swan song? They'll be playing another wedding: a chance to watch someone else's happy ending. And then, unexpectedly, Chase Hollister enters the scene. The candle factory owner is handsome, charming and very interested in Caitlin. His gift of a special candle proves it. But there's something more to the candle than Caitlin or Chase suspect. Something that puts Caitlin at risk. To keep Caitlin safe, Chase must face a haunting crime from his past–and a deadly killer in the present.

You can't hide from me. Her anonymous stalker's threats are getting scarier and scarier. Now Kylie Summers fears for her life. She flees her home for the protection of a former military man in a small Virginia town. But her brother's handsome best friend already has a long list of obligations. Kylie knows she's intruding on Nate Richardson's life. Even though he promises to keep her safe, Nate's keeping her at arm's length emotionally. Until her stalker emerges from the shadows, forcing Nate to choose between keeping guard over his wary heart - or Kylie.

Sophie Clarkston is shocked to learn that she isn't who she thinks. Her birth certificate is forged. Her name - made up. And her widowed father is suddenly missing, leaving behind a heartbreaking letter asking forgiveness. Desperate for answers, Sophie turns to private investigator Cain Garrison in tiny Promise, Virginia. But the moment they leave his office, her life is threatened and her home ransacked. Who is after her? And who, exactly, is she? With questions about his own past, Cain vows to help Sophie uncover the truth. Before someone comes out of the shadows to keep it hidden forever.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE Had her brand-new husband been involved in something shady? Before Caroline Hampton could confront him, he was killed in a car crash…or so it was claimed. Unsettling incidents–escalating in dange–warned her he could be very much alive. And so Caroline fled for the safety of her sisters' Amish country inn. But someone who suspected her–handsome police chief Zachary Burkhalter–was waiting for Caroline. Waiting for her to slip up. And watching her every move. Daring her to trust him with all of the truth.

VOICE FROM THE PAST An urgent call from a brother Angelina Harding hadn't seen in years brought her thousands of miles to Australia. Only to find Marcus gone. DANGER IN THE PRESENT What was a former Secret Service agent to do? Ditching the men who ambushed her at the airport was a start. But it was only with the help of her brother's friend, David Lemming, that Angelina had a chance to find Marcus. QUESTION FOR THE FUTURE Across the Outback…and into the enemy's lair, Angelina raced against time – but her brother wasn't the only one at risk. Angelina's life, her new romantic interest…and perhaps even her country were on the line this time.

An intruder in her house? But why? Tea shop owner Krista Yates has nothing worth stealing, and Wentworth, Michigan, is hardly a danger zone…or is it? DEA agent Luke McIntyre warns Krista that the prowler has some dangerous connections, and that she needs around-the-clock protection. Luke's presence in her life is a bit too easy to get used to - and his growing presence in her heart makes her dread saying goodbye. But her nonstop defender can't hide Krista away forever. And there's more than her safety - or her love - at risk when the threat steps out of the shadows again.

For Callie Merton, one of Finders, Inc.'s best agents, discretion had become a way of life. Even when she married fellow agent Max Chambers, there were matters she couldn't bring herself to discuss with him. But now that withheld information is threatening to break up her marriage. As Callie and Max embark on a fi nal case together, will Callie be able to reveal the truth and save her marriage–or will she allow her past to destroy her future?

THE JUNGLE SOUGHT TO CLAIM HER. ASSASSINS MEANT TO SILENCE HER. There was no way her brother was dead. Officials claimed the biochemist had been murdered in the Brazilian rainforest, his body fallen prey to the mists of the jungle. But Kate Collier knew Zach and couldn't leave it at that; Zach was all she had left. Tall, dark and mysterious, A. C. Slader had a past that was as turbulent as the Amazon River. Yet he was the only one who could guide her on a journey from which many never returned. A journey that would stretch the limits of their faith in God and each other….