UNDER THE RANCHER’S PROTECTION Someone is dead set on stopping Shelby Arroyo from doing her job: assessing mineral rights in a mine in gold country. But after rancher Barrett Thorn rescues her from an attack, the handsome widowed cowboy seems to feel responsible for her. That is, until he discovers she’s from the family that he’ll never forgive for his wife’s death. As the threats against Shelby escalate, cowboy honor and an unexpected attraction keep Barrett by her side, even at his own risk. And since Shelby won’t back down, Barrett must protect the brave, loyal woman he has no business falling for…a woman someone wants to kill by Christmas. Gold Country Cowboys: The code of the west rules the land for these men.

FORGOTTEN MEMORIES None of her training prepares astronaut Natasha Stark for what she wakes up to three weeks after her groundbreaking space voyage: a target on her back—and no memories. But there's something oddly familiar about the FBI agent who rescues her. Christopher Barton can't believe he drew the mission of safeguarding his long-ago fiancée and her daughter—a child he has every reason to believe is his. To learn the truth, though, he has to help Natasha regain her memory. But with threats mounting against the family he hopes to join, Chris is running out of time to take down the assailants before they kill the woman he never forgot and the child he never knew existed.

ONE WILD RIDE After careful planning, Jess Hayward is finally hitting the bull riding circuit to chase his dreams. There’s just one complication—he’s agreed to bring along his late best friend’s little sister, Emma Sullivan. Jess could use a second driver, and after calling off her wedding, Emma needs an escape. It’s a win-win arrangement…in theory. Free-spirited and impulsive, Emma is the exact opposite of Jess—a problem he’s anticipating on the road. Only she’s not the annoying little tag-a-long he remembers. And the intense attraction between them is no childhood crush. If Jess wants to be a champion, he needs to keep his head in the game. But lately all he can think about is Emma…

A COWBOY FOR CHRISTMAS? Barrie Jones needs a Christmas miracle. Five months pregnant, she's already the talk of Hope, Montana, because she won't tell anyone who the father is. And now her ex, Curtis Porter, is back in town, throwing her life into chaos. Curtis is about to retire from bull riding, which means selling the building that houses Barrie's veterinary practice—essentially putting her out of business—so he'll have enough money to start over. He's the bad guy, right? And Barrie should know better than to give him a second chance, but Curtis seems different… He's talking about settling down, maybe becoming a family man. Has Curtis really changed? And can Barrie change, too, and trust Curtis to do right by her and her baby?

The Farmer's Instant Family Jeremiah Stoltzfus hopes the Amish community of Harmony Creek will provide a fresh start…until days before closing on his new farm, he finds a beautiful trespasser. Mercy Bamberger claims the property is hers, promised by her late grossdawdi. Jeremiah can't turn out the single mom and her daughter, nor can he leave. His solution: temporarily sharing the farm until ownership is settled. Once a city kid adopted by a Mennonite family, Mercy yearns to make the farm a haven for unwanted children. But living beside the handsome Amish farmer has her yearning for everything that's eluded her…laughter, love and a forever family.

Big Texan Reunion Between providing for her five-year-old twins and achieving her dream of running a wildlife sanctuary, Danica Bergmann has no room for anything—or anyone—else. So when the wildlife volunteer she’s taken on turns out to be Reid McAllister, her secret husband, who disappeared before she got a chance to reveal she was pregnant, it flips her world upside down. Six years ago he wasn’t worth chasing down, but Danica can tell Reid’s a changed man—and he’s still the only man she’s ever loved. It’s a long road to redemption, but can Danica learn to trust Reid with their children…and their future?

Her Temporary Cowboy Attorney Jackson Harris regularly goes toe-to-toe with the world’s toughest lawyers—but none of them compare to Lucy Maxwell. The feisty director of Oklahoma’s Big Heart Ranch for orphans is as stubborn as she is pretty. But Jack must stay focused; he’s only there to evaluate the ranch’s funding. Falling for Lucy and the sweet children she protects is out of the question. Though Lucy is determined to keep the ranch, she’s not about to give control to a city slicker—even a devastatingly good-looking one. But as they bump heads, Jack and Lucy gradually nudge open their hearts. Could a temporary cowboy become a permanent part of Lucy’s life?

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS A dog-sitting favor for a friend takes a terrifying twist when the police-dog-in-training runs off and leads Alexis Thompson into the middle of a drug drop. Only the quick thinking of a passing stranger gets them both out alive. Veterinarian Nick Kendrick, who’s running for mayor, knows the race for survival is just beginning. As moving targets, he and Alexis must work together to learn the identity of the drug ring’s murderous mastermind. But having killers on their tail isn’t the only problem they face. Alexis’s past as a disbarred lawyer could jeopardize Nick’s political future. Only by putting their dreams and their safety on the line can they eliminate the threat to their town, and find a way forward together…

She's got nowhere left to run After a year of searching, ex-marine turned private eye Tack Reeves has finally located Cate Allen. She’s traded in her high heels for flip-flops but Tack would recognize the stunning beauty anywhere. He just needs proof. Posing as a tourist at her Caribbean resort is the perfect cover. Except that the closer Tack gets to Cate the less his case makes sense…and their intense attraction is only fueling the confusion. When he learns that the mom and her four-year-old son are hiding from her abusive ex, he vows to protect them. But Cate may not let him when she learns why he's on the island…

Now that she’s healed… can she heal him? Armed with a clean bill of health, ER doctor April Sprader is ready to check off items on her bucket list. After meeting Zach Harrison, number four–start dating–shoots to the top. But the workaholic sports agent and caregiver has no spare time. Unless April can persuade Zach that this could be a second chance for them both…

Now that she’s healed… can she heal him? Armed with a clean bill of health, ER doctor April Sprader is ready to check off items on her bucket list. After meeting Zach Harrison, number four–start dating–shoots to the top. But the workaholic sports agent and caregiver has no spare time. Unless April can persuade Zach that this could be a second chance for them both…

HE'S CALLLING IN BACK-UP As the law in Rodeo, Montana, Sheriff Cole Payette can handle just about anything. Taking in his orphaned niece and nephew, though, puts him out of his depth. Grief-stricken himself, Cole turns to bar owner Honey Armstrong. Cole’s long-time crush on Honey has always made him tongue-tied, but now she’s the only one he can ask. Honey is shocked by Cole’s request. He rarely says two words to her and now he needs her to help care for the children? She’s willing to pitch in, but bonding with the kids starts to feel a lot like being a family. And that’s not something Honey has ever let herself dream about–no matter how tempting Cole is…

Small arms have developed hugely since the introduction of the machine gun in the 1870s. Magazine-fed rifles, submachine guns, automatic pistols and, later, assault rifles and personal defence weapons have changed the face of infantry warfare, offering a range of weaponry designed for both the specialist and novice. The World’s Greatest Small Arms features 52 weapons from the late 19th century to the present day. The book includes the best-known weapons from throughout the modern era, from the Gatling gun, SMLE rifle and Luger pistol, to the Uzi, FN MAG and the M110 sniper rifle. Great iconic weapons, such as the Colt M1911 pistol, Bren Gun, MP5 submachine gun, and Steyr AUG rifle are featured, as well as timeless classics still in use today: the M2 Browning 50 cal, AK-47 and M16 rifle. Each weapon is illustrated with a colour profile artwork and photographs, along with a description of the weapon’s development and history, key features and a full specifications box. Including more than 200 artworks and photographs, The World’s Greatest Small Arms is a colourful guide for the military historian.

Charles Dickens’ timeless story is brought to life in this vibrant new version by the award-winning playwright Neil Duffield. Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year! Well, it is for everyone except the miserable Scrooge. He prefers to spend Christmas all alone in his large house, instead of celebrating with mistletoe and merriment. Bah, humbug! But one cold, dark Christmas Eve Scrooge is surprised by the ghost of Marley, his former business partner. Marley warns Scrooge that he will be called upon by three spirits – each will take him on a mysterious and magical journey to show him the error of his ways… Can Scrooge discover the true wonder and meaning of Christmas before it’s too late?

– Itt Zachary Horner beszél! Miben segíthetek? – Jó estét kívánunk Zachary James Horner! A Brit Szerencsejáték Sz?vetség ?r?mmel értesíti ?nt, hogy megnyerte a British Bonus f?nyereményét, azaz nyolcvan?tmillió fontot. – A rohadt élet! – d?bbent meg a fiatalember a hír hallatán, majd felülve az ágyán, nagy ?r?mmel folytatta – Ez most azt jelenti, hogy eltalálták mind a négy számot, amit megjátszottam? – Igen, tisztelt uram! Ez a legmagasabb ?sszeg, amit ember eddig valaha nyert. Nyereményét bármikor átveheti a londoni k?zpontunkban is személyesen, de akár bankszámlára is elutalhatjuk ?nnek.

Fegyverek lehetnek-e pusztítóbb, gyilkos fegyverek, Mint a ragyogó n?i szemek? Lágy természet sátrába bekuporodva, A nap csak mécsesként pislákolva, ?rzi szerelmedet. Hallottál még annyi árulásról, Mit egy szép h?lgy magába tárol? ?szi es?ként patakba folyt a k?nny, F?ld anyánk méhében új gy?trelem k?sz?n. Burkában fogva vagy. Menekültél már asszonyi kacagás el?l, Mi kíméletlenül, hátadba t?rként kerül? Ha igen, keress meg engem kedvesem, ?n már régen letettem fegyverem. Szeg?dj társamul. Ajánlások... ?Els?re nagyon szép! Azok a k?lt?i képek, hasonlatok. Tudom, nem lehet egy m?b?l kiragadni részeket /nem is illik/, de mégis... ?Ha igen, keress meg engem kedvesem, ?n már régen letettem fegyverem.” Nem gy?ny?r?? A hangulata is tetszik.” - Szabó Mihály ?Fantasztikusan szép vers!” - Lehoczky Judit ?nekesn? ?Mária versei a mindennapi emberhez szólnak. Helyettünk fogalmazza meg az ?r?m?t, bánatot, érzéseket, melyek olyan ismer?sek számunkra. Hiszen mindenki volt szerelmes, a szerencséseknek még van szeretett ?desanyja, és mindenki találkozik élete során azzal a kérdéssel, mi végre is született erre a világra. Ezért olyan k?zeliek számunkra Mária sorai, hiszen az életünk legfontosabb gondolatait formálja meg k?lteményeiben.” - Geberle Zsóka

A háború el?szele már mindenütt érezhet?: az utakat másfajúak renegát csapatai tartják rettegésben, a városok utcáin rejtélyes halálesetek t?rténnek. A királyok nem bíznak t?bbé a varázslókban, akik azt képzelik, varázshatalmuk feljogosítja ?ket, hogy beleártsák magukat a politikába. Némelyikük a szabad országok javáért cselekszik, mások ?n?s érdekb?l, de a varázslók álságos mosolya és felszínes csevegése m?g?tt sorsd?nt? játszmák zajlanak. Ríviai Geralt mindig is büszke volt semlegességére. A vaják korábban úgy gondolta, elegend?, hogy a saját sorsáról d?nts?n… csakhogy akkor még nem kellett mások miatt aggódnia. Egyedül k?nny? semlegesnek maradni, de ha egy kislány élete a tét, már nem annyira. Geralt igyekszik mindent megtenni Ciri védelmében.  

Az Uralom Koronája egy ?si, egyedülálló varázser?vel rendelkez? elveszett ereklye. A civilizációtól távol, az elhagyatott Felejtés-sivataggal k?rülvett, misztikus Piramisf?ld?n nyugszik titkos rejtekhelyén. A legendák szerint megszerz?je Erabon világának urává válhat. A tolvajfiú Antor, tanítványa Morghan, a varázslón? Kyranda, a szerencsevadász Monteris és az íjászn? Elvana kapják azt az életveszélyes kényszerfeladatot, hogy megszerezzék ezt a fenséges varázstárgyat a rettegett Birodalom császárának. A k?z?s cél a viszontagságokkal teli utazás során elszánt és lelkes csapattá kovácsolja ?ket ?ssze. Egy ármányos és velejéig romlott rosszakaró, valamint a fondorlatos alvilág jelenléte miatt azonban a folytonos kihívások mellett ellenségekb?l sincs hiány. A konfliktusok során szerepet kap a hagyományos küzdelem, a kül?nféle harcm?vészetek, a mágia szinte minden iskolája és formája, továbbá a pusztán beavatottak által használt titokzatos kozmikus er?. A megpróbáltatások folyamán el?térbe kerülnek birodalmak, népek, kultúrák, vallások, világi és titkos rendek, szokások és kivételes világcsodák; mindek?zben változatos helyszíneken igaz barátságok és szenvedélyes szerelmek születnek. Az igazi meglepetéseket mégis az ismert világ peremvidékén túli, lakatlannak vélt vidék tartogatja. Vajon képes lesz-e a csapat megküzdeni minden nehézséggel? A k?nyvben ?tv?z?dik a páratlan részletességgel kidolgozott háttérvilág a rendkívül precíz ?sszefonódású, egymásra utaló eseményekkel, és mindezt életh?en színes leírások, filmszer? jelenetek, valamint hangulatos párbeszédek tarkítják. Nem mindennapi terjedelmét, színvonalas tartalmát és kimagasló mélységét tekintve e m? egyike a valaha megírt legnagyobb eredeti alkotásoknak. www.aholdsarlofenye.hu

Cirilla, a cintrai trón?r?k?s a Fecske-toronyban elt?nik saját világáról, és olyan útra indul, ahová sem védelmez?je, a fehér hajú vaják, sem mentora, a fekete hajú varázslón? nem k?vetheti. Olyan útra, amelynek a végén a végzet várja – az a végzet, amelyr?l már oly sok látomás kísértette. Minden a helyére kerül, a kígyó a saját farkába harap, valami véget ér, és valami elkezd?dik… A Vaják-saga befejez? k?tetében Sapkowski még magához képest is elképeszt? bravúrral ábrázol nagyszabású háborút és ugyanakkor az egyes ember drámai sorsát. Képzeletének és érzékletes leírásainak hatására megelevenednek el?ttünk az országok, városok és falvak, a t?le megszokott néz?pontváltások pedig gondoskodnak róla, hogy a sorssz?tte t?rténet végét a lehet? legalaposabb, legmélyebb módon kapjuk meg. A sagát átsz?v? fekete humor pedig tükr?t tart nemcsak a társadalom, de az egyes ember kicsinyessége és nagysága elé. ??

". . . aphorism are seldom couched in such terms, that they should be taken as they sound precisely, or according to the widest extent of signification; but do commonly need exposition, and admit exception: otherwise frequently they would not only clash with reason and experience, but interfere, thwart, and supplant one another." ? ? ? ? Issac Barrow "The very essence of an aphorism is that slight exaggeration which makes it more biting whilst less rigidly accurate." ? ? ? ?—Leslie Stephen There are of course, girls and girls; yet at heart they are pretty much alike. In age, naturally, they differ wildly. But this is a thorny subject. Suffice it to say that all men love all girls-the maid of sweet sixteen equally with the maid of untold age. There is something exasperatingly something-or-otherish about girls. And they know it—which makes them more something-or-otherish still:—there is no other word for it. A girl is a complicated thing. It is made up of clothes, smiles, a pompadour, things of which space and prudence forbid the enumeration here. These things by themselves do not constitute a girl which is obvious; nor is any one girl without these things which is not too obvious. Where the things end and the girl begins many men have tried to find out. Many girls would like to be men—except on occasions. At least so they say, but perhaps this is just a part of their something-or-otherishness. Why they should want to be men, men cannot conceive. Men pale before them, grow hot and cold before them, run before them (and after them), swear by them (and at them), and a bit of a chit of a thing in short skirts and lisle-thread stockings will twist able-bodied males round her little finger.It is an open secret that girls are fonder of men than they are of one another—which is very lucky for the men. Girls differ; and the same girl is different at different times. When she is by herself, she is one thing. When she is with other girls she is another thing. When she is with a lot of men, she is a third sort of thing. When she is with a man. . . But this baffled even Agur the son of Jakeh.As a rule, a man prefers a girl by herself. This is natural. And yet is said that you cannot have too much of a good thing. If this were true, a bevy of girls would be the height of happiness. Yet some men would sooner face the bulls of Bashan.Some foolish men—probably poets—have sought for and asserted the existence of the ideal girl. This is sheer nonsense: there is no such thing. And if there were, she could not compare with the real girl, the girl of flesh and blood—which (as some one ought to have said) are excellent things in woman. Other men, equally foolish, have regarded girls as playthings. I wish these men had tried to play with them. They would have found that they were playing with fire and brimstone. Yet the veriest spit-fire can be wondrous sweet.Sweet? Yes. On the whole a girl is the sweetest thing known or knowable. On the 6 whole of this terrestrial sphere Nature has produced nothing more adorable than the high-spirited high-bred girl.—Of this she is quite aware—to our cost (I speak as a man). The consequence is, her price has gone up, and man has to pay high and pay all sorts of things—ices, sweets, champagne, drives, church-goings, and sometimes spot-cash.

This story belongs to the year 1837, and was regarded by the generations of that and a succeeding time as the most miraculous of all the recorded deliverances from death at sea. It may be told thus: Mr. Montagu Vanderholt sat at breakfast with his daughter Violet one morning in September. Vanderholt's house was one of a fine terrace close to Hyde Park. He was a rich man, a retired Cape merchant, and his life had been as chequered as Trelawney's, with nothing of romance and nothing of imagination in it. He was the son of honest parents, of Dutch extraction, and had run away to sea when about twelve years old. Nothing under the serious heavens was harsher, more charged with misery, suffering, dirt, and wretchedness, than seafaring in the days when young Vanderholt, with an idiot's cunning, fled to it from his father's comfortable little home. He got a ship, was three years absent, and on his return found both his father and mother dead. He went again to sea, and, fortunately for him, was shipwrecked in the neighbourhood of Simon's Bay. The survivors made their way to Cape Town, and presently young Vanderholt got a job, and afterwards a position. He then became a master, until, after some eight or ten years of heroic perseverance, attended by much good luck, behold Mr. Vanderholt full-blown into a colonial merchant prince. How much he was worth when he made up his mind to settle in England, after the death of his wife, and when he had disposed of his affairs so as to leave himself as free a man as ever he had been when he was a common Jack Swab, really signifies nothing. It is certain he had plenty, and plenty is enough, even for a merchant prince of Dutch extraction. Besides Violet, he had two sons, who will not make an appearance on this little brief stage. They are dismissed, therefore, with this brief reference—that both were in the army, and both, at the time of this tale, in India. Violet was Vanderholt's only daughter, and he loved her exceedingly. She was not beautiful, but she was fair to see, with a pretty figure, and an arch, gay smile. You saw the Dutch blood in her eyes, as you saw it in her father's, whose orbs of vision, indeed, were ridiculously small—scarcely visible in their bed of socket and lash. An English mother had come to Violet's help in this matter. Taking her from top to toe, with her surprising quantity of brown hair, soft complexion, good mouth, teeth, and figure, Violet Vanderholt was undoubtedly a fine girl. THE LAST ENTRY "OPINIONS OF THE PRESS ON THE LAST ENTRY": '"The Last Entry" is a rattling good salt-water yarn, told in the author's usual breezy, exhilarating style.'-”Daily Mail. 'In this new novel Mr. Russell has cleverly thrown its events into the year 1837, and there are one or two ingenious passages which add to the Diamond Jubilee interest which that date suggests.... "The Last Entry" is as certain of general popularity as any of Mr. Russell's former tales of the marvels of the sea.'-”Glasgow Herald. 'We do not think it possible for anyone to dip into this novel without desiring to finish it, and it adds another to the long list of successes of our best sea author.'-”Librarian. 'In addition to mutiny and murder, "The Last Entry" contains many of those good things which have made Mr. Russell's pages a joy to so many lovers of the sea during the last twenty years.... "The Last Entry" is a welcome addition to Mr. Clark Russell's library.'-”Speaker. 'The writer is as realistic and picturesque as usual in his vivid descriptions of the stagnant life on board the homeward-bound Indiaman.'-”Times. 'It is full of pleasant vigour.... As is always the case in Mr. Clark Russell's books, the elements are treated with the pen of an artist.'-”Standard. 'We expected plenty of go, of fresh and vigorous description of sea-faring life, coupled with a story which would not be wanting in interest. All this we have here.'”-Tablet.