A compulsively readable thriller that skillfully weaves together past and present to uncover the sinister secrets buried in the ancient stone quarries under Bath. Kit Parry is reluctant to take the job shoring up the ancient quarries beneath her hometown of Bath — a place as riddled with memories she'd rather forget as it is with Roman ruins. The miners certainly don't want her there, and her burgeoning romance with lanky foreman Gary looks likely to complicate matters even further. But when dark developments threaten the spa town's placid facade, Kit must face up to the past she's tried so desperately to bury. Someone wants her out of Bath — that much is clear — but who was it that brought her childhood to an abrupt end in the summer of her fourteenth year? Why has she never been back to Bath, and how did she escape her violent father? When Kit stumbles across evidence of a lost Mithraic temple, the mysteries in her own past become entangled with a search for what could be the archaeological discovery of the decade — and what turns into a dangerous obsession!

Sex, intrigue and adultery in the world of high politics and huge wealth in late eighteenth-century England. Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, was one of the most flamboyant and influential women of the eighteenth century. The great-great-great-great aunt of Diana, Princess of Wales, she was variously a compulsive gambler, a political savante and operator of the highest order, a drug addict, an adulteress and the darling of the common people. This authoritative, utterly absorbing book presents a mesmerizing picture of a fascinating world of political and sexual intrigues, grand houses, huge parties, glamour and great wealth — always on the edge of being squandered by the excesses and scandals of individuals. Georgiana's extraordinary life has now been made into a major film — starring Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes — which is due for release in summer 2008.

Samantha Willan would rather work than take a vacation, but her sisters won't take no for an answer. Whisked away to the family cottage, things go from bad to worse when the power goes out. Then three very sexy men show up next door, claiming to be in a rock band, and Samantha starts to think this may not have been such a bad idea afterall. The last thing Garrett Mortimer needs is to worry about three mortals. He's on the trail of a rogue vampire and keeping up his cover around these three women is an added headache. Now is not the time to find a lifemate — but Fate has other plans. Mortimer has to find the rogue, help Samantha find her friend who's suddenly gone missing, and convince his destiny that they've gotten it all wrong... before he makes the mistake of falling in love.

In the sleepy English countryside of decades past, a lovelorn young man stepsthrough a gap in a high stone wall, and into the most unforgettable adventureof his life.

The world-wide, mega selling author of Man and Boy is back with a sizzling, Shanghai tale of sex, romance and second wives Hot shot young lawyer Bill Holden and his wife Becca move with their four year old daughter to the booming, gold-rush city of Shanghai, a place of enormous wealth and crushing poverty, where fortunes are made and foreign marriages come apart in spectacular fashion. Bill's law firm houses the Holden family in Paradise Mansions — a luxury apartment block where newly rich Chinese men install their second wives: fabulous young beauties like JinJin Li, ex-school teacher, crossword addict and the Holdens' neighbour. After Becca witnesses a tragedy that awakens her to the reality of life beyond the glitzy surface of the city, she returns temporarily to London with Holly — and Bill and JinJin are thrown together. Bill wants to be a better man than the millionaire who keeps JinJin Li as a second wife on the side. A better man than anyone who cheats. Becca is his best friend. And, in the end, adrift without his young family, can he give JinJin anything better than she had before? My Favourite Wife is a book about where sex, romance and obsession ends, and where true love begins.

From the number one New York Times bestselling coauthor of Judge & Jury and Lifeguard comes this electrifying solo debut, The Blue Zone, Kate Raab's life seems almost perfect: her boyfriend, her job, her family... until her father runs into trouble with the law. His only recourse is to testify against his former accomplices in exchange for his family's placement in the Witness Protection Program. But one of them gets cold feet. In a flash, everything Kate can count on is gone. Now, a year later, her worst fears have happened: Her father has disappeared — into what the WITSEC agency calls the blue zone — and someone close to him is found brutally murdered. With her family under surveillance, the FBI untrustworthy, and her father's menacing friends circling with increasing intensity, Kate sets off to find her father — and uncover the secrets someone will kill to keep buried.

In the 1980s, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the original Varga Girl's first appearance in Esquire, the magazine commissioned Timothy White to create a contemporary version of the perennially popular pinup. Simultaneously paying homage to Vargas yet completely reinventing the form, White created a series of pin-up portraits of the hottest actresses and models at the time. White's portraits were comparable to Vargas' in their poses, attitude, and playfulness, but were over the top in their creative approach, imagination, and use of digital technology. White began by shooting most of the models completely nude (Vargas, by the way, drew his images as nudes, too, but was forced to draw on their clothes at Esquire's insistence!), save for high-heeled shoes and embellishments such as dozens of real diamonds used as gloves and pasties! Through a digital process, White then created clothes for his models — and the ultimate effect was unbelievable. Imagine supermodel Vendela looking back over her shoulder in translucent lingerie; Cindy Crawford, nude save for a leopard bra and cuffs; Christie Brinkley in black combat boots and racy camouflage; Tyra Banks floating in a sea of bubbles, nude except for white pantyhose and heels. These gorgeous portraits, which also included Bridget Hall, Stephanie Seymour, Elle McPherson, Rachel Williams, Naomi Campbell, Elizabeth Berkley, and Angie Everhart, appeared one at a time over a period of over a year as a regular feature in the magazine. Esquire then went on to use the images in a major advertising campaign. Models and starlets participated because it was great — and very tasteful — publicity.

Richly illustrated and clearly focused, Post-Modern Art surveys American and European art, 1945-2008. It discusses the major art movements and features all the great painters who changed the landscape of art history, including Pollock, Rauschenberg, Warhol, De Koons, Haring and others. The volume contains an overview of other artistic disciplines — sculpture, architecture, design, cinema, and photography. It also includes a detailed chronological table and biographies of the artists. This comprehensive and authoritative volume reflects the vitality, complexity, and unfolding patterns of modern art and will appeal to a general audience.

The best annual reports express a company's accomplishments and goals with compelling design solutions. Annual Reports 2007-2008 showcases the finest in corporate communication with spreads and covers from award-winning reports selected by a distinguished international jury. This year's judging panel includes B. Martin Pedersen, Deanna Kuhlmann, Joyce Nesnadny and other highly respected design professionals. A broad spectrum of industries is represented: education, entertainment, non-profit, technology, fashion, and more. A must-have for anyone involved in graphic design and production, Graphis Annual Reports 2007 is packed with striking, surprising ideas and innovations.

While working on a routine case of money laundering by the Russian mob, Dan Gordon discovers a plot by Islamic terrorists to unleash a devastating bio-weapon on the world.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of 'March' and 'People of the Book'. A young woman's struggle to save her family and her soul during the extraordinary year of 1666, when plague suddenly struck a small Derbyshire village. In 1666, plague swept through London, driving the King and his court to Oxford, and Samuel Pepys to Greenwich, in an attempt to escape contagion. The north of England remained untouched until, in a small community of leadminers and hill farmers, a bolt of cloth arrived from the capital. The tailor who cut the cloth had no way of knowing that the damp fabric carried with it bubonic infection. So begins the Year of Wonders, in which a Pennine village of 350 souls confronts a scourge beyond remedy or understanding. Desperate, the villagers turn to sorcery, herb lore, and murderous witch-hunting. Then, led by a young and charismatic preacher, they elect to isolate themselves in a fatal quarantine. The story is told through the eyes of Anna Frith who, at only 18, must contend with the death of her family, the disintegration of her society, and the lure of a dangerous and illicit attraction.Geraldine Brooks's novel explores love and learning, fear and fanaticism, and the struggle of 17th century science and religion to deal with a seemingly diabolical pestilence. 'Year of Wonders' is also an eloquent memorial to the real-life Derbyshire villagers who chose to suffer alone during England's last great plague.

«I'm the Cat in the Hat, and we're off to have fun. We'll visit the planets, the stars and the sun!» And so Dr. Seuss' famous Cat in the Hat whisks young readers off on a fun-filled tour of the solar system. This title and others form part of a series of books that takes an off-beat look at nature and natural sciences through a fun combination of Seussian rhymes and zany illustrations. Aimed at early readers — from four to seven year olds — the books are designed to bridge the gap between concept books written for preschoolers and more formal non fiction titles that require fluent reading skills. By presenting the facts in a lively and rhythmic manner, they provide the critical foundation upon which complex facts and ideas can eventually be built.»

t's a perfect world, where everything looks right. But ugly truths lie beneath the surface! It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in The Community wants for anything. Everyone is provided for. Each Family Unit is entitled to one female and male child. Each member of The Community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders, and they never make a mistake. Jonas, a sensitive twelve-year-old boy, had never thought there was anything wrong with his Community, until one day. From the moment Jonas is selected as the Receiver of Memory at The Ceremony, his life is never the same. Jonas discovers that The Community is not as perfect as it seems. Although they appear to have everything, they are missing something of great importance. It is up to Jonas, with the help of the Giver, to find what long ago had been lost. And so Jonas embarks on an adventure to save the world as he knows it. Simply and beautifully written, The Giver is sure to touch the heart of every reader. Lois Lowry deals with issues of everyday life that are so often taken for granted.Through the noble character of Jonas, she presents a glimpse of what could be the future. As the tension in the novel mounts, so does the number of questions that Lowry confronts the reader with. The Giver is a book of courage and adventure, and most importantly, one of deep thought. Once readers make contact with Lowry's treasure, they may never see things exactly quite the same. Lowry presents a forceful novel that demands to be heard and philosophically dealt with.

Ho, Ho, Ho Merry Christmas Join Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, and Pluto as they deck the halls in preparation for their favorite holiday. The Clubhouse pals and Toodles need to make sure that each tree is trimmed, each sprig of mistletoe is hung, each twinkling light is just right before the big day arrives. With this new Clubhouse-shaped novelty format, preschoolers will have great fun joining in the countdown to Christmas. The premiere of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse delivered the highest ratings ever for a Playhouse Disney series premiere among Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5, Households, and Total Viewers. It also premiered at #1 among all basic cable networks in its time period for Kids 2-5.Mickey Mouse Clubhouse shows no signs of slowing down. It is the number one show among preschoolers.

In the winter of 1951, a storyteller, the last practitioner of an honored, centuries-old tradition, arrives at the home of nine-year-old Ronan O'Mara in the Irish countryside. For three wonderful evenings, the old gentleman enthralls his assembled local audience with narratives of foolish kings, fabled saints, and Ireland's enduring accomplishments before moving on. But these nights change young Ronan forever, setting him on a years-long pursuit of the elusive, itinerant storyteller and the glorious tales that are no less than the saga of his tenacious and extraordinary isle.

A collectionof short stories featuring some of Agatha Christie's best-loved detectives — Hercule Poirot, Parker Pyne, Mr Satterthwaite and Harley Quin! All great crime writers have their favourite creations. Similarly, every great sleuth has his, or her, own preferred method of deduction. Take the charming Parker Pyne, who relies upon an intuitive knowledge of human nature to solve the Problem at Pollensa Bay. Or Mr Satterthwaite, who seeks inspiration through his collaboration with the enigmatic Mr Quin in The Harlequin Tea Set mystery. Then, of course, there's Poirot, whose measured analysis of motive and opportunity is tested to the full in Yellow Iris, when he receives an anonymous call about a matter of life and death.

Captain Hastings recounts 18 of Poirot's early cases from the days before he was famous... Hercule Poirot delighted in telling people that he was probably the best detective in the world. So turning back the clock to trace eighteen of the cases which helped establish his professional reputation was always going to be a fascinating experience. With his career still in its formative years, the panache with which Hercule Poirot could solve even the most puzzling mystery is obvious. Chronicled by his friend Captain Hastings, these eighteen early cases — from theft and robbery to kidnapping and murder — were all guaranteed to test Poirot's soon-to-be-famous 'little grey cells' to their absolute limit.

A flamboyant party host is murdered in full view of a roomful of bridge players! Mr Shaitana was famous as a flamboyant party host. Nevertheless, he was a man of whom everybody was a little afraid. So, when he boasted to Poirot that he considered murder an art form, the detective had some reservations about accepting a party invitation to view Shaitana's private collection. Indeed, what began as an absorbing evening of bridge was to turn into a more dangerous game altogether!

Meeska, Mooska, Mickey Mouse! Welcome to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy and Pluto in stories that teach valuable lessons about letters, numbers, shapes, decision-making, and friendship. Kids love rainbows! In this colorful tale, Minnie Mouse simply explains how these beautiful apparitions are formed. Soon, she and her Clubhouse pals begin to see a world of rainbows around them. Young readers will enjoy a hands-on learning experience as they use the included mylar wand to make a rainbow of their very own. The premiere of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse delivered the highest ratings ever for a Playhouse Disney series premiere among Kids 2-5, Girls 2-5, Households, and Total Viewers. It also premiered at #1 among all basic cable networks in its time period for Kids 2-5. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse shows no signs of slowing down as it settles in to its first season. It is the number one show among preschoolers!

The new novel from the bestselling Patrick Gale. Renowned Canadian artist Rachel Kelly — now of Penzance — has buried her past and married a gentle and loving Cornish man. Her life has been a sacrifice to both her extraordinary art and her debilitating manic depression.