Chad Kultgen, cult hero and author of the buzz-generating illicit classics The Average American Male and The Lie, cuts to the quick of the American psyche like no other author writing today. In Men, Women & Children he explores the sexual pressures at work on a handful of troubled, conflicted junior-high students and their equally dysfunctional parents. From porn-surfing fathers to World of Warcraft-obsessed sons, from competitive cheerleaders to their dissatisfied, misguided mothers, Kultgen clicks open the emotionally treacherous culture in which we live—in his most ambitious and surprising book yet.

One of the fiercest and most feared warriors of the Knights Templar, Arn de Gotha can finally return home to his beloved Sweden, now that Jerusalem has been lost to Saladin. But during his twenty years of exile, Arn's homeland has been torn apart by warring clans—and the brave nobleman soldier is determined to reunite it and establish lasting peace.Waiting for him is his beloved Cecilia, emerging from a convent to join him after their unfathomably long separation, against the stern demands of her clan. Their reunion could incite a war unless they can convince the clan that love ranks higher than politics, and that it can sustain a new quest: to create a new people, a new society, with Arn at its helm.

Meena Harper has a special gift, but it’s only now that anyone’s ever appreciated it. The Palatine Guard—a powerful secret demon-hunting unit of the Vatican—has hired her to work at their new branch in Lower Manhattan. With Meena’s ability to predict how everyone she meets will die, the Palatine finally has a chance against the undead.Sure, her ex-boyfriend was Lucien Anton?escu, son of Dracula, the prince of darkness. But that was before he (and their relationship) went up in flames. Now Meena’s sworn off vampires for good . . . at least until she can prove her theory that just because they’ve lost their souls doesn’t mean demons have lost the ability to love. Meena knows convincing her co-workers—including her partner, über-demon-hunter Alaric Wulf—that vampires can be redeemed won’t be easy . . . especially when a deadly new threat seems to be endangering not just lives of the Palatine, but Meena’s friends and family as well.But Meena isn’t the Palatine’s only hope. Father Henrique—aka Padre Caliente—New York City’s youngest, most charming priest, has also been assigned to the case. So why doesn’t Meena—or Alaric—trust him?As she begins unraveling the truth, Meena finds her loyalties tested, her true feelings laid bare . . . and temptations she never even imagined existed impossible to resist.This time, Meena may finally have bitten off more than she can chew.

Though they were raised by the same decent and well-respected parents, two brothers could not be more different than Frank and Joe Arnold. The pair have nothing in common but blood . . . and Alice Jacobs. Joe has fallen hard for the shy, kindhearted young woman. But it is Frank, a devious schemer, who is determined to have her. He sees Alice as the key to his fortune, and will do everything, including hide his brutal nature, to succeed.When Frank and Alice announce their engagement, Joe leaves home, determined to put distance between himself and temptation. Despite his best efforts, the inevitable happens when Joe returns for the wedding. And though Alice is drawn to Joe too, she ultimately chooses duty and Frank—a decision that will have dark and violent repercussions for them all.From number one Times of London bestselling author Josephine Cox comes a powerful and dramatic story of a love triangle gone terribly wrong.

Mattie’s body has healed from the cancer that nearly took her life . . . but can she find the man who can mend her lonely heart?Mattie has faced more in her twenty-three years than she ever imagined possible. Having successfully battled cancer, she’s ready to reenter the world with hopes for her future. But while she was in and out of hospitals, other Amish girls her age were courting and finding the men they would marry. The only man who’s ever made her heart beat faster is Graham Weaver, her best friend, who has always been there to comfort her, in good times and bad. Is it finally time for their friendship to become something moreBut cruel gossip is spreading, claiming that Graham’s the father of the baby Jenna Yoder’s carrying. Will Mattie’s dreams of a happily-ever-after be crushed before they’ve left the ground?

In the eighth chapter book in the New York Times–bestselling series, Amelia Bedelia puts on her dancing shoes and dances up a storm! The Amelia Bedelia chapter books have sold more than one million copies and feature funny family and friendship stories with lots of wordplay just right for fans of Judy Moody and Ivy & Bean.All of Amelia Bedelia's friends love to dance. She has friends who are ballerinas, friends who do modern dance, and friends who tap. But Amelia Bedelia isn't sure what kind of dance is right for her. After all, if she is going to dance to a particular tune, she'd like it to be her own! Amelia Bedelia's funny search for the perfect dance fit involves friends, family, teachers, and pets, and it will have readers dancing on air! The Amelia Bedelia chapter books star Amelia Bedelia as a young girl, are great for building vocabulary, and feature a guide to some of the idioms and expressions introduced in the story.

Lose weight and feel great by indulging in the world's healthiest and most delicious dietAncient Greeks ate for pleasure, regularly enjoying wine and rich ingredients like olive oil and honey with their legendary feasts. The Greeks were known for their Adonis-like physiques, and their bodies were immortalized in sculpture as a standard of beauty and sensuality. Today, centuries later, new studies prove that the Mediterranean diet, with its trademark staples like wine, yogurt, and coffee, is the healthiest food plan in the world. Research shows that it is especially noted for reducing the risk of diabetes, improving heart health, and sharpening the mind with foods rich in omega-3s. Now, in The Greek Diet, world-renowned chef Maria Loi—who grew up in a small Greek village where she learned to cook from family recipes—has teamed up with veteran health-journalist Sarah Toland, and the two have combined their individual areas of expertise to bring the weight-loss and health benefits of the traditional Greek diet straight to your table. Structured around the twelve Pillar Foods of the Mediterranean diet, The Greek Diet offers easy-to-follow meal plans to jump-start your weight loss and improve your overall health, including one hundred authentic, mouthwatering Greek recipes using whole foods and unprocessed ingredients. The plans can be modified to fit any lifestyle, including gluten-free and dairy-free alternatives. Also included are tips for incorporating exercise and improving sleep—both metabolism boosters—into your Greek lifestyle. On this diet, there is no starving; no calorie counting; no long, grueling hours at the gym; and no restrictive plans that force you to give up foodie favorites like carbs, caffeine, or alcohol. More than just a weight-loss plan, The Greek Diet is a path back to health and a way of eating that is not only sustainable but completely satisfying and enjoyable. Once you learn how good it tastes (and how good you'll feel) eating Greek, you'll never want or need another diet again. So go ahead and indulge; your body and your taste buds will thank you.

Secure your iOS applications and uncover hidden vulnerabilities by conducting penetration testsAbout This BookAchieve your goal to secure iOS devices and applications with the help of this fast paced manualFind vulnerabilities in your iOS applications and fix them with the help of this example-driven guideAcquire the key skills that will easily help you to perform iOS exploitation and forensics with greater confidence and a stronger understandingWho This Book Is ForThis book is for IT security professionals who want to conduct security testing of applications. This book will give you exposure to diverse tools to perform penetration testing. This book will also appeal to iOS developers who would like to secure their applications, as well as security professionals. It is easy to follow for anyone without experience of iOS pentesting.What You Will LearnUnderstand the basics of iOS app development, deployment, security architecture, application signing, application sandboxing, and OWASP TOP 10 for mobileSet up your lab for iOS app pentesting and identify sensitive information stored locallyPerform traffic analysis of iOS devices and catch sensitive data being leaked by side channelsModify an application’s behavior using runtime analysisAnalyze an application’s binary for security protectionAcquire the knowledge required for exploiting iOS devicesLearn the basics of iOS forensicsIn DetailiOS has become one of the most popular mobile operating systems with more than 1.4 million apps available in the iOS App Store. Some security weaknesses in any of these applications or on the system could mean that an attacker can get access to the device and retrieve sensitive information. This book will show you how to conduct a wide range of penetration tests on iOS devices to uncover vulnerabilities and strengthen the system from attacks.Learning iOS Penetration Testing discusses the common vulnerabilities and security-related shortcomings in an iOS application and operating system, and will teach you to conduct static and dynamic analysis of iOS applications.This practical guide will help you uncover vulnerabilities in iOS phones and applications. We begin with basics of iOS security and dig deep to learn about traffic analysis, code analysis, and various other techniques. Later, we discuss the various utilities, and the process of reversing and auditing.Style and approachThis fast-paced and practical guide takes a step-by-step approach to penetration testing with the goal of helping you secure your iOS devices and apps quickly.

Harness the latest features of MongoDB 3 with this collection of 80 recipes – from managing cloud platforms to app development, this book is a vital resourceAbout This BookGet to grips with the latest features of MongoDB 3Interact with the MongoDB server and perform a wide range of query operations from the shellFrom administration to automation, this cookbook keeps you up to date with the world’s leading NoSQL databaseWho This Book Is ForThis book is engineered for anyone who is interested in managing data in an easy and efficient way using MongoDB. You do not need any prior knowledge of MongoDB, but it would be helpful if you have some programming experience in either Java or Python.What You Will LearnInstall, configure, and administer MongoDB sharded clusters and replica setsBegin writing applications using MongoDB in Java and Python languagesInitialize the server in three different modes with various configurationsPerform cloud deployment and introduce PaaS for MongoDiscover frameworks and products built to improve developer productivity using MongoTake an in-depth look at the Mongo programming driver APIs in Java and PythonSet up enterprise class monitoring and backups of MongoDBIn DetailMongoDB is a high-performance and feature-rich NoSQL database that forms the backbone of the systems that power many different organizations – it’s easy to see why it’s the most popular NoSQL database on the market. Packed with many features that have become essential for many different types of software professionals and incredibly easy to use, this cookbook contains many solutions to the everyday challenges of MongoDB, as well as guidance on effective techniques to extend your skills and capabilities.This book starts with how to initialize the server in three different modes with various configurations. You will then be introduced to programming language drivers in both Java and Python. A new feature in MongoDB 3 is that you can connect to a single node using Python, set to make MongoDB even more popular with anyone working with Python. You will then learn a range of further topics including advanced query operations, monitoring and backup using MMS, as well as some very useful administration recipes including SCRAM-SHA-1 Authentication. Beyond that, you will also find recipes on cloud deployment, including guidance on how to work with Docker containers alongside MongoDB, integrating the database with Hadoop, and tips for improving developer productivity.Created as both an accessible tutorial and an easy to use resource, on hand whenever you need to solve a problem, MongoDB Cookbook will help you handle everything from administration to automation with MongoDB more effectively than ever before.Style and approachEvery recipe is explained in a very simple set-by-step manner yet is extremely comprehensive.

Enhance your understanding of Computer Vision and image processing by developing real-world projects in OpenCV 3About This BookGet to grips with the basics of Computer Vision and image processingThis is a step-by-step guide to developing several real-world Computer Vision projects using OpenCV 3This book takes a special focus on working with Tesseract OCR, a free, open-source library to recognize text in imagesWho This Book Is ForIf you are a software developer with a basic understanding of Computer Vision and image processing and want to develop interesting Computer Vision applications with Open CV, this is the book for you. Knowledge of C++ is required.What You Will LearnInstall OpenCV 3 on your operating systemCreate the required CMake *s to compile the C++ application and manage its dependenciesGet to grips with the Computer Vision workflows and understand the basic image matrix format and filtersUnderstand the segmentation and feature extraction techniquesRemove backgrounds from a static scene to identify moving objects for video surveillanceTrack different objects in a live video using various techniquesUse the new OpenCV functions for text detection and recognition with TesseractIn DetailOpen CV is a cross-platform, free-for-use library that is primarily used for real-time Computer Vision and image processing. It is considered to be one of the best open source libraries that helps developers focus on constructing complete projects on image processing, motion detection, and image segmentation.Whether you are completely new to the concept of Computer Vision or have a basic understanding of it, this book will be your guide to understanding the basic OpenCV concepts and algorithms through amazing real-world examples and projects.Starting from the installation of OpenCV on your system and understanding the basics of image processing, we swiftly move on to creating optical flow video analysis or text recognition in complex scenes, and will take you through the commonly used Computer Vision techniques to build your own Open CV projects from scratch.By the end of this book, you will be familiar with the basics of Open CV such as matrix operations, filters, and histograms, as well as more advanced concepts such as segmentation, machine learning, complex video analysis, and text recognition.Style and approachThis book is a practical guide with lots of tips, and is closely focused on developing Computer vision applications with OpenCV. Beginning with the fundamentals, the complexity increases with each chapter. Sample applications are developed throughout the book that you can execute and use in your own projects.

Over 25 hands-on recipes to create robust and highly-efficient cross-platform distributed applications with the Boost.Asio libraryAbout This BookBuild highly efficient distributed applications with easeEnhance your cross-platform network programming skills with one of the most reputable C++ librariesFind solutions to real-world problems related to network programming with ready-to-use recipes using this detailed and practical handbookWho This Book Is ForIf you want to enhance your C++ network programming skills using the Boost.Asio library and understand the theory behind development of distributed applications, this book is just what you need. The prerequisite for this book is experience with general C++11. To get the most from the book and comprehend advanced topics, you will need some background experience in multithreading.What You Will LearnBoost your working knowledge of one of the most reputable C++ networking libraries—Boost.AsioFamiliarize yourself with the basics of TCP and UDP protocolsCreate scalable and highly-efficient client and server applicationsUnderstand the theory behind development of distributed applicationsIncrease the security of your distributed applications by adding SSL supportImplement a HTTP client easilyUse iostreams, scatter-gather buffers, and timersIn DetailStarting with recipes demonstrating the execution of basic Boost.Asio operations, the book goes on to provide ready-to-use implementations of client and server applications from simple synchronous ones to powerful multithreaded scalable solutions. Finally, you are presented with advanced topics such as implementing a chat application, implementing an HTTP client, and adding SSL support. All the samples presented in the book are ready to be used in real projects just out of the box.As well as excellent practical examples, the book also includes extended supportive theoretical material on distributed application design and construction.Style and approachThis book is a set of recipes, each containing the statement and de*ion of a particular practical problem followed by code sample providing the solution to the problem and detailed step-by-step explanation. Recipes are grouped by topic into chapters and ordered by the level of complexity from basic to advanced.

Learn the A to Z of building excellent Splunk applications with the latest techniques using this comprehensive guideAbout This BookThis is the most up-to-date book on Splunk 6.3 for developersGet ahead of being just a Splunk user and start creating custom Splunk applications as per your needsYour one-stop-solution to Splunk application developmentWho This Book Is ForThis book is for those who have some familiarity with Splunk and now want to learn how to develop an efficient Splunk application. Previous experience with Splunk, writing searches, and designing basic dashboards is expected.What You Will LearnImplement a Modular Input and a custom D3 data visualizationCreate a directory structure and set view permissionsCreate a search view and a dashboard view using advanced XML modulesEnhance your application using eventtypes, tags, and macrosPackage a Splunk application using best practicesPublish a Splunk application to the Splunk communityIn DetailSplunk provides a platform that allows you to search data stored on a machine, analyze it, and visualize the analyzed data to make informed decisions. The adoption of Splunk in enterprises is huge, and it has a wide range of customers right from Adobe to Dominos. Using the Splunk platform as a user is one thing, but customizing this platform and creating applications specific to your needs takes more than basic knowledge of the platform.This book will dive into developing Splunk applications that cater to your needs of making sense of data and will let you visualize this data with the help of stunning dashboards.This book includes everything on developing a full-fledged Splunk application right from designing to implementing to publishing. We will design the fundamentals to build a Splunk application and then move on to creating one. During the course of the book, we will cover application data, objects, permissions, and more. After this, we will show you how to enhance the application, including branding, workflows, and enriched data. Views, dashboards, and web frameworks are also covered.This book will showcase everything new in the latest version of Splunk including the latest data models, alert actions, XML forms, various dashboard enhancements, and visualization options (with D3). Finally, we take a look at the latest Splunk cloud applications, advanced integrations, and development as per the latest release.Style and approachThis book is an easy-to-follow guide with lots of tips and tricks to help you master all the concepts necessary to develop and deploy your Splunk applications.

Gear up for a roller-coaster ride into the world of JavaScript and programming with this easy-to-follow, fun, and entertaining project-based guideAbout This BookGet to know the concepts of HTML and CSS to work with JavaScriptExplore the concepts of object-oriented programmingFollow this step-by-step guide on the fundamentals of JavaScript programmingWho This Book Is ForIf you've never written code before or you are completely new to the world of web programming, then this book is the right choice for you. This book is for kids of age 10 years and above and parents who are completely new to the world of programming and want to get introduced to programming.What You Will LearnLearn how to work with Google Developer tools to iterate, debug and profile your codeDevelop a Battleship game using the basic concepts of HTML and CSSGet to know the fundamentals of JavaScript programmingCreate our own version of Pac Man game.Discover the vital concepts of object-oriented programmingIn DetailJavaScript is the most widely-used programming language for web development and that's not all! It has evolved over the years and is now being implemented in an array of environments from websites to robotics. Learning JavaScript will help you see the broader picture of web development.This book will take your imagination to new heights by teaching you how to work with JavaScript from scratch. It will introduce you to HTML and CSS to enhance the appearance of your applications. You’ll then use your skills to build on a cool Battleship game! From there, the book will introduce you to jQuery and show you how you can manipulate the DOM. You’ll get to play with some cool stuff using Canvas and will learn how to make use of Canvas to build a game on the lines of Pacman, only a whole lot cooler! Finally, it will show you a few tricks with OOP to make your code clean and will end with a few road maps on areas you can explore further.Style and approachThis is an easy-to-follow, informative, and fun guide that takes a project-based approach to teaching programming in JavaScript. You will learn everything you need to get started with serious web application development.

Discover how to build iOS and watchOS applications in Swift 2 using XcodeAbout This BookGets you up and running with Swift programming without any prior iOS development experience.A fast paced guide showing best practices and lets you get up to speed with Swift to quickly build your own iOS applicationsA unique practical approach to make your life with Swift easy.Who This Book Is ForAre you interested in learning SwiftDo you want to write iOS applications in SwiftIf yes, then this is the book for you. No prior iOS programming experience is assumed; however, having some experience with any programming language will be beneficial.What You Will LearnDive into Swift and explore its innovative and powerful syntaxWork with Swift in Xcode to get a unique and productive approach to developmentFind out how to create complete iOS applicationsDiscover rapid prototyping with a Swift playgroundGet to know how to use the Swift storyboard to develop multi-page applicationsGet to grips with parsing JSON and XML data from network sourcesBuild a network client for GitHub repositories, with full source code on GitHubIn DetailSwift was considered one of the biggest innovations last year, and certainly with Swift 2 announced at WWDC in 2015, this segment of the developer space will continue to be hot and dominating.This is a fast-paced guide to provide an overview of Swift programming and then walks you through in detail how to write iOS applications. Progress through chapters on custom views, networking, parsing and build a complete application as a Git repository, all by using Swift as the core languageStyle and approachThis fast-paced practical guide will quickly give you hands-on experience with all the features of Swift programming. Following the practical examples in the book will help you successfully create your own iOS applications.

Jim moves to ancient Minerva Hall and encounters the ghosts of six children. They urge him to find the seventh child and leave him cryptic clues that point to a dark, ancient prophecy that only Jim can stop from being fulfilled. Jim turns to Einstein, a brilliant autistic boy who lives at the Hall. If anyone can help Jim, Einstein can. But the boy, who speaks in riddles, proves to be as mysterious as the dead children. Time is running out; if Jim doesn't figure out the clues, innocent people will die.Christine Morton-Shaw has linked ancient rites with modern mystery to create a chilling, suspenseful tale that will keep readers guessing to the very end.

What if your dearest friends were trapped in a world that was dying?Mehera Beatrice Crosby has one great love—and it's not following the latest health fads (like her school friend Celeste), and it's definitely not Andrew Suarez (even if he does have a ridiculous crush on her). It's Imaginalis, her favorite book series.When she learns that the long-awaited last book in the series has been canceled, Mehera is devastated—until strange events begin unfolding, and she realizes that her Imaginalian friends are counting on her to rescue them from their fading existence. Soon Mehera finds herself traveling between her world and the kingdom of Imaginalis. But what will happen when she accidentally brings the villain of the series, Pralaya, back to Earth, along with Prince Imagos and his CompanionsHas Mehera doomed both worlds beyond repair, or is there a way to save Mehera's world—and Imaginalis, too?Expert storyteller J. M. DeMatteis's richly imagined fantasy is a fast-paced adventure and a testament to the power of loyal friendship, creativity, and imagination.

Moving from the Allied zones of postwar Germany to New York City, an astonishing novel of grief and anger, memory and survival witnessed through the experiences of "displaced persons" struggling to remake their lives in the decades after World War II In May 1945, Pavel Mandl, a Polish Jew recently liberated from a concentration camp, lands near a displaced persons camp in the British occupation zone of newly defeated Germany. Alone, possessing nothing but a map, a few tins of food, a toothbrush, and his identity papers, he must scrape together a new life in a chaotic community of refugees, civilians, and soldiers. Gifted with a talent for black-market trading, Pavel soon procures clothing, false documents, and a modest house, where he installs himself and a pair of fellow refugees—Fela, a young widow who fled Poland for Russia at the outset of the war, and Chaim, a resourceful teenage boy whose smuggling skills have brought him to the Western zones. The trio soon form a makeshift family, searching for surviving relatives, railing against their circumscribed existence, and dreaming of visas to America.Fifteen years later, haunted by decisions they made as "DPs," Pavel and Fela are married and living in Queens with their young son and daughter, and Chaim has recently emigrated from Israel with his wife, Sima. Pavel opens a small tailoring shop with his scheming brother-in-law while Fela struggles to establish peace in a loosely traditional household; Chaim and Sima adapt cheerfully to American life and its promise of freedom from a brutal past. Their lives are no longer dominated by the need to endure, fight, hide, or escape. Instead, they grapple with past trauma in everyday moments: taking the children to the municipal pool, shopping for liquor, arguing with landlords.For decades, Pavel, Fela, and Chaim battle over memory and identity on the sly, within private groups of survivors. But as the Iron Curtain falls in the 1990s, American society starts to embrace the tragedy as a cultural commodity, and survivor politics go public. Clever and stubborn, tyrannical and generous, Pavel, Fela, and Chaim articulate the self-conscious strivings of an immigrant community determined to write its own history, on its own terms.In Displaced Persons, Ghita Schwarz reveals the interior despairs and joys of immigrants shaped by war—ordinary men and women who have lived through cataclysmic times—and illuminates changing cultural understandings of trauma and remembrance.

The bestselling author of Labor Day returns with a spellbinding novel about friendship, family secrets, and the strange twists of fate that shape our livesThe Good DaughtersThey were born on the same day, in the same small New Hampshire hospital, into families that could hardly have been less alike.Ruth Plank is an artist and a romantic with a rich, passionate, imaginative life. The last of five girls born to a gentle, caring farmer and his stolid wife, she yearns to soar beyond the confines of the land that has been her family's birthright for generations. Dana Dickerson is a scientist and realist whose faith is firmly planted in the natural world. Raised by a pair of capricious drifters who waste their lives on failed dreams, she longs for stability and rootedness.Different in nearly every way, Ruth and Dana share a need to make sense of who they are and to find their places in a world in which neither has ever truly felt she belonged. They also share a love for Dana's wild and beautiful older brother, Ray, who will leave an indelible mark on both their hearts.Told in the alternating voices of Ruth and Dana, The Good Daughters follows these "birthday sisters" as they make their way from the 1950s to the present. Master storyteller Joyce Maynard chronicles the unlikely ways the two women's lives parallel and intersect—from childhood and adolescence to first loves, first sex, marriage, and parenthood; from the deaths of parents to divorce, the loss of home, and the loss of a beloved partner—until past secrets and forgotten memories unexpectedly come to light, forcing them to reevaluate themselves and each other.Moving from rural New Hampshire to a remote island in British Columbia to the '70s Boston art-school scene, The Good Daughters is an unforgettable story about the ties of home and family, the devastating force of love, the healing power of forgiveness, and the desire to know who we are.

Sidney Sheldon returns with a tale of two equally determined people headed on a collision course. One the governor of a small southern state, Oliver Russell is a man with a strategy to win the White House. The other is the beautiful and ambitious Leslie Stewart, a woman intent on seeing him lose everything. Soon they will both discover that even the best laid plans can go dangerously astray--with deadly consequences.

Handpicked by the NSA to track down and identify the ten known witnesses to the recent crash of a weather balloon, Robert Bellamy searches for clues in Rome, Budapest, and Texas.

Our newest ambassador to an Iron Curtain country, Mary Ashley has been marked for death by the world's most proficient assassin. Only two people can offer her help. And one of them wants to kill her.