When Ellie Kent moves to an English village with her new husband Graham, she fears the villagers will always see her as that young American who snared their attractive vicar during his sabbatical in California. But this challenge is nothing compared to what happens when she stumbles across a...  more

When Ellie Kent moves to an English village with her new husband Graham, she fears the villagers will always see her as that young American who snared their attractive vicar during his sabbatical in California. But this challenge is nothing compared to what happens when she stumbles across a body in the churchyard. The villagers insist they don't know the murdered man, so suspicion mounts that the killer must be the incomer -- the vicar's new wife. As evidence piles up against her, Ellie tries to stay one step ahead of the police to unravel a decades-old literary mystery and love story. Will others die before she can solve it? And what will be left of her new life and marriage, even if she succeeds?

This last book in the series (following Simply Soothing Crosswords and Simply Satisfying Crosswords) provides solvers of all skill levels a chance to take on some of the New York Times' best crosswords. *150 easy to hard Times crosswords* Fun for solvers of all skill levels * Edited by Will Shortz

Thirty Nine actual funny police stories gathered during the authors thirty three years on the Toledo, Ohio Police Force. Police work is ongoing stress. It includes tense association with people who commit theft, murder and mayhem. It also includes the human duties of telling someone their loved...  more

Thirty Nine actual funny police stories gathered during the authors thirty three years on the Toledo, Ohio Police Force. Police work is ongoing stress. It includes tense association with people who commit theft, murder and mayhem. It also includes the human duties of telling someone their loved ones have been maimed, killed, or arrested. Punctuating this bitterness are those precious humorous moments which make the job acceptable and keep an officer's sanity.

A Police Officer's job can't be told in just one story! That's not what being a street cop is like. Real street cops handle dozens of jobs in a single day and the jobs vary from one extreme to the other. "WE'RE THE POLICE" is a collection of 50 short stories from the authors days of...  more

A Police Officer's job can't be told in just one story! That's not what being a street cop is like. Real street cops handle dozens of jobs in a single day and the jobs vary from one extreme to the other. "WE'RE THE POLICE" is a collection of 50 short stories from the authors days of serving as a Police Officer and Detective in the NYPD. Recounted to you by the author they are told just as they happened, one job at a time. These stories are true accounts and vary in a manner which gives you a great example of the everyday work a street cop can face. "WE'RE THE POLICE" will intrigue and entertain you as you gain a new appreciation for the job of a New York City Police Officer

In a world of HMOs, insurance companies, and an endless flood of forms, Hull Cook reminds us that there was a time when a visit to the doctor?s office cost three dollars and doctors still made house calls. Cook recounts fifty years of service as a rural doctor in Texas and Nebraska, where a wide...  more

In a world of HMOs, insurance companies, and an endless flood of forms, Hull Cook reminds us that there was a time when a visit to the doctor?s office cost three dollars and doctors still made house calls. Cook recounts fifty years of service as a rural doctor in Texas and Nebraska, where a wide spectrum of dilemmas tested his resourcefulness, endurance, and sense of humor. He describes helping to deliver a baby via telephone during the Blizzard of ?49, and he explains his ?special delivery? of medication in the dead of winter?an operation involving his Beechcraft Bonanza airplane and a parachute jerry-rigged from dental floss and a red handkerchief. Cook saw it all, from cow-manure poultices to snakebite to kerosene poisoning to drug addiction. His humorous account of life in the first half of the twentieth century conveys a distinct sense of the slings and arrows of doctoring on the plains.

THE NEW RECTOR Peter Harris is the new rector of Turnham Malpas but, as he soon discovers village life is more complex than he'd bargained on. As events turn nasty in the village, Peter's pastoral role become more crucial than ever - and yet he must wrestle with his own demons that could still...  more

THE NEW RECTOR Peter Harris is the new rector of Turnham Malpas but, as he soon discovers village life is more complex than he'd bargained on. As events turn nasty in the village, Peter's pastoral role become more crucial than ever - and yet he must wrestle with his own demons that could still wreck his life. TALK OF THE VILLAGE The village of Turnham Malpas is bedevilled by talk. In the Royal Oak, the usual banter has turned to bitter wrangling amongst the inhabitants. No one is exempt from the cruel speculation of the village gossips.

"I DON'T BRAKE FOR NUNS!" is a hilarious narrative of Catholic School in the 1960s as seen through the eyes of a kid stuck right smack in the middle of a nun-run educational system. For every kid who ever felt the snap of a nun's ruler or the sneaky, crisp slap of a shrouded sister, this book...  more

"I DON'T BRAKE FOR NUNS!" is a hilarious narrative of Catholic School in the 1960s as seen through the eyes of a kid stuck right smack in the middle of a nun-run educational system. For every kid who ever felt the snap of a nun's ruler or the sneaky, crisp slap of a shrouded sister, this book pays in recompense. "I DON'T BRAKE FOR NUNS!" will bring tears of laughter to anyone who can empathize with children trying to survive the fanatical discipline of nuns. While witty and marvelously perspicuous throughout, the book is also poignant, and impels readers to be introspective, too. Most notably, the book is funny. "I DON'T BRAKE FOR NUNS!" is a serious, tongue-in-cheek, precise exaggeration that enables readers to put themselves back at their desk and relive for themselves their own school days. This book appeals to everyone who always wanted to go back to those days of yesteryear with an adult mind, and alter the course of classroom history.

Cautious Grace Singleton, uncertain of her place in an intimidating world. Outspoken Hannah Parrish, harboring private fear that may change her life. Fragile Ameila Declose, shattered by devastating grief. Circumstance has brought these disparate women of "a certain age" to a...  more

Cautious Grace Singleton, uncertain of her place in an intimidating world. Outspoken Hannah Parrish, harboring private fear that may change her life. Fragile Ameila Declose, shattered by devastating grief. Circumstance has brought these disparate women of "a certain age" to a Pennsylvania boardinghouse where three square meals and a sagging bed is the most any of them can look forward to. But friendship will take them on a starting journey to a rundown North Carolina farmhouse where the unexpected suddenly seems not only welcome, but delightfully promising. And with nothing more than a bit of adventure in mind, each woman will be surprised to find that the years they've reclaimed from the shadow of twilight will offer something far more rare: confidence, competence, and even another chance at love...

Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez?s never-before-told story of surviving a harrowing childhood and of how she found success?both in and out of the Hollywood limelight.   Rosie Perez first caught our attention with her fierce dance in the title sequence of Do the Right Thing and has since...  more

Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez?s never-before-told story of surviving a harrowing childhood and of how she found success?both in and out of the Hollywood limelight.   Rosie Perez first caught our attention with her fierce dance in the title sequence of Do the Right Thing and has since defined herself as a funny and talented actress who broke boundaries for Latinas in the film industry. What most people would be surprised to learn is that the woman with the big, effervescent personality has a secret straight out of a Dickens novel. At the age of three, Rosie?s life was turned upside down when her mentally ill mother tore her away from the only family she knew and placed her in a Catholic children?s home in New York?s Westchester County. Thus began her crazily discombobulated childhood of being shuttled between ?the Home,? where she and other kids suffered all manners of cruelty from nuns, and various relatives? apartments in Brooklyn.   Many in her circumstances would have been defined by these harrowing experiences, but with the intense determination that became her trademark, Rosie overcame the odds and made an incredible life for herself. She brings her journey vividly to life on each page of this memoir?from the vibrant streets of Brooklyn to her turbulent years in the Catholic home, and finally to film and TV sets and the LA and New York City hip-hop scenes of the 1980s and ?90s.    More than a page-turning read, Handbook for an Unpredictable Life is a story of survival. By turns heartbreaking and funny, it is ultimately the inspirational story of a woman who has found a hard-won place of strength and peace.

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist comes one of the funniest, warmest, most delightful Christmas stories ever. My name is Doug Barnes, and this stuff happened on Christmas Eve in my town, which is Asquont, New York. The year is 1960, and, as it is every year, the Christmas pageant at...  more

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist comes one of the funniest, warmest, most delightful Christmas stories ever. My name is Doug Barnes, and this stuff happened on Christmas Eve in my town, which is Asquont, New York. The year is 1960, and, as it is every year, the Christmas pageant at St. John's Episcopal Church, directed by Mrs. Elkins-who used to be in The Theater in New York, and who is tall and skinny, with hair the color of the orange part of a candy corn-is a very big deal. Doug is a shepherd this year, which is better than being a Three King, because, for one thing, you get to carry a stick. But there are problems everywhere: His fellow shepherds are hacking around, which makes Mrs. Elkins yell at all of them; the girl he likes is playing Mary opposite a Joseph who is depressingly smart and athletic and cute; the family dog is doing very poorly, and they have no idea what they're going to tell Doug's little sister Becky, who's playing one of the Host of Angels and who loves the dog more than anything; and his dad's just gotten a flat tire, which means they might not even get to the pageant at all. But Christmas is a time of miracles. And for Doug and his family, this will be the most miraculous Christmas of all. Dave Barry has been delighting readers for decades with his newspaper columns, nonfiction, novels for adults and novels for children, but this book is something special: a story for all ages that'll touch the heart and make you laugh out loud. And you may never look at a manger scene the same way again.

The comic strip Stone Soup has been endearing itself to millions of newspaper and online readers for more than ten years. Stone Soup follows the not-so-perfect lives of an extended, blended family. In Book Five the Stones have expanded into two households living just across the fence from one...  more

The comic strip Stone Soup has been endearing itself to millions of newspaper and online readers for more than ten years. Stone Soup follows the not-so-perfect lives of an extended, blended family. In Book Five the Stones have expanded into two households living just across the fence from one another. Readers will find some of their favorite episodes including: • Joan and Wally adjust to married life and a blended family • Val organizes her famous Book Club with women from other comic strips • Gramma learns to paint... nudes. Stone Soup is unabashed, hilarious and addictive. Enjoy!

Times are changing in Turnham Malpas.  Wealthy, brash  Craddock Fitch up at the Big House seems determined to make his mark on the village - and the village is equally determined to stop him.  Sir Ralph, recently returned, is having trouble adjusting to his more modest status,...  more

Times are changing in Turnham Malpas.  Wealthy, brash  Craddock Fitch up at the Big House seems determined to make his mark on the village - and the village is equally determined to stop him.  Sir Ralph, recently returned, is having trouble adjusting to his more modest status, while his new wife, Muriel, is struggling with her own changed circumstances. But these concerns are eclipsed by tragedy when young Flick Charter-Plackett, adored by just about everyone in the village, is knocked down by the unpopular barman, Alan.  Before the shock of the accident has passed, a new, bitter dispute springs up over houses Sir Ralph wants to build on his land.  Reaction to the plan seems extreme, even by village standards - but is there a personal motive behind one particular source of opposition?

Blue Memories is a very personal accounting of the private and professional life of a New York City Police Officer, from early childhood until retirement. Originally intended for immediate family s consumption, the early years describe both heartrending and heartwarming stories. The later years...  more

Blue Memories is a very personal accounting of the private and professional life of a New York City Police Officer, from early childhood until retirement. Originally intended for immediate family s consumption, the early years describe both heartrending and heartwarming stories. The later years describe the professional life of a police officer s rise to lieutenant in the largest police department in the world. The police stories are timeless, describing tribulations similar to current police controversies that seem perpetual.

I had told myself when I did that line that I would only try it once. . . . But when I started to come down, I couldn?t face being plunged into the icy cold water of my real life. I couldn?t bear to have those feelings return. I did another line, bigger than the first. It made me feel calm,...  more

I had told myself when I did that line that I would only try it once. . . . But when I started to come down, I couldn?t face being plunged into the icy cold water of my real life. I couldn?t bear to have those feelings return. I did another line, bigger than the first. It made me feel calm, confident, excited about my future. Meth was the answer to all my problems. As a beautiful, ambitious, and fearless young woman, Allison Moore had everything going for her: She had been the star student of her recruit class and was quickly promoted to vice cop at the Maui Police Department, while earning the respect of her colleagues and a stellar reputation. But when a doomed love affair with another cop led Allison to seek a desperate escape, her life took a sudden and violent plunge. Using her position of authority and skills of manipulation, Allison hid her addiction from her lover and her department for as long as possible. She fabricated an elaborate story that she had ovarian cancer and needed to seek treatment on the mainland, while actually traveling to get a steady supply of meth from a brutal Seattle drug dealer. When her intensifying dependence on meth put her at the mercy of the ruthless dealer, he made her a prisoner in his house, subjecting her to unthinkable physical and sexual abuse, and monitoring her every move through a web of hidden cameras. Astounding, gripping, and told firsthand in a deeply sympathetic voice, Shards spares no detail of Allison?s horrific experiences and the tangle of addiction and betrayal that cost her the career she loved, the colleagues who adored her, and the island that was once her paradise.

Very interesting and unique Peanuts SNOOPY book! SNOOPY and the GANG OUT WEST features all types of good "cowboy/western" RECIPES that kids can prepare (with adult help). In addition to the recipes, there are many informative sections regarding all manner of COWBOY LORE.

SUZANNE MORGAN HAS LOST HERSELF. Peter Stewart has lost his way. Though from different worlds, grief has exposed their weaknesses and left them both searching for truth that heals. Suzanne and her ten-year-old daughter, Blair, take a three-month trip to the southern coast of England to...  more

SUZANNE MORGAN HAS LOST HERSELF. Peter Stewart has lost his way. Though from different worlds, grief has exposed their weaknesses and left them both searching for truth that heals. Suzanne and her ten-year-old daughter, Blair, take a three-month trip to the southern coast of England to recover from the year's events. As they settle into village life, they make unexpected friends who will change them forever. Eleanor Cavendish, a wise widow who shows them motherly love. Ian Hamilton, a high-strung vicar who takes an immediate interest in Suzanne. And Peter, the charming headmaster, who gets Suzanne's attention with his tender care for Blair. Set in rugged Cornwall, this is a story of true identity, real friendship and the nature of love. "In a world choking with isolation, Finding the Way Home is a refreshing, restorative reminder of the power of love and forgiveness." -Kim Newlen, Founder and President, Sweet Monday® "Does not disappoint...Richly-layered and overflowing with life and redemption!" -Jana Ford Muntsinger, literary publicist, Muntsinger-McClure Public Relations "Captures humanity in its truest sense...An absolute must read." -Shawn Boyer, Founder and CEO, snagajob.com "Deeply satisfying." -Kim Greene, Women's Leadership Development, WEPC

As a child, Gina Cascone would hide under her bed, in the closet, and run away from her parents, hoping somehow to escape her worst fear. But she couldn't hide from the awful truth...She had to go to Catholic school.Do nuns have legs? Is Original Sin the "starter sin" for novices? Can the...  more

As a child, Gina Cascone would hide under her bed, in the closet, and run away from her parents, hoping somehow to escape her worst fear. But she couldn't hide from the awful truth...She had to go to Catholic school.Do nuns have legs? Is Original Sin the "starter sin" for novices? Can the rosary be said in under fifteen minutes? These are some of the questionsthat vex young Gina Cascone as she makes her way, grade by grade -- and prayer by prayer -- through the rigors of a Catholic education. All the answers can be found in this hilarious classic of childhood foibles: the traumatic first day of school, the dorky plaid uniform complete withmatching beanie, glow-in-the-dark rosary beads, first confession trauma, proper dashboard decor ("Cadillacs got Jesus; Oldsmobiles got Mary"), and the race to save the most "pagan babies," who weren't lucky enough to be born Catholic and American.

A true story with the heart, the humor, and the humility of a raw young doctor in his very first days as a new family doctor in a little town in the Smoky Mountains.

After Daniel Howard, the adored minister of Grace Chapel passes away, his three spirited daughters come home to remember their father, and find out that each has inherited a share of his run-down Victorian house. As the three wander through rooms rich with childhood memories, Louise dreams of a...  more

After Daniel Howard, the adored minister of Grace Chapel passes away, his three spirited daughters come home to remember their father, and find out that each has inherited a share of his run-down Victorian house. As the three wander through rooms rich with childhood memories, Louise dreams of a small music conservatory where she can give lessons, and Alice, who is very involved with church, thinks the house would be perfect for a youth ministry. Jane, a splendid cook, would like to open a restaurant. the squabbling begins ... as does a brilliant solution to the sister's dilemma. Grace Chapel Inn -- a unique bed and breakfast is born, and a new life begins for them all.

An upper-class college graduate from a Ohio suburb joins the New York Police Department on a bet - and wound up stationed in the city's toughest, meanest precinct: The 75, Brooklyn's East New York, where he struggles with unceasing violence and police corruption.  In...  more

An upper-class college graduate from a Ohio suburb joins the New York Police Department on a bet - and wound up stationed in the city's toughest, meanest precinct: The 75, Brooklyn's East New York, where he struggles with unceasing violence and police corruption.  In this ghetto hell of drugs, guns, death and its dealers, a kid from an elite Ohio suburb grew up fast -- learning when to get  involved...and when to look the other way.  Because it wasn't about law and order anymore.  It was about staying sane...and alive.  A good cop, if he was smart, played by a whole different set of rules -- and sometimes made up new ones as he went along.

?"Calvin and Hobbes both defined its time and yet floated above it. Read it today and it hasn't aged a day; read it today, and tell me you wouldn't drop everything to play Calvinball just once." ?---Entertainment Weekly Exploring Calvin and Hobbes is the catalogue for an exhibit by the same...  more

?"Calvin and Hobbes both defined its time and yet floated above it. Read it today and it hasn't aged a day; read it today, and tell me you wouldn't drop everything to play Calvinball just once." ?---Entertainment Weekly Exploring Calvin and Hobbes is the catalogue for an exhibit by the same name at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum at Ohio State University, which opened in March 2014. The exhibit is Bill Watterson's personal exploration of how the wonder of Calvin and Hobbes came to be. It include soriginal art of Calvin and Hobbes, along with Watterson's original commentary on each. The show will also include art from cartoonists who Watterson has identified as influential in the development of his art, including Peanuts, Pogo, Krazy Kat, Doonesbury, Pat Oliphant, Jim Borgman, Flash Gordon, Bloom County, and Steadman. ?The Billy Ireland Cartoon Museum and Library is the repository of the Bill Watterson Deposit Collection (including the entirety of Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes artwork).

Newcomer to the village Craddock Fitch is keen to make a splash by holding a village show - the best ever - in the grounds of his large house. Co-ordinator of the show Louise Bissett is in deep personal trouble. As the weeks roll by into summer and nerves tighten in anticipation of the great...  more

Newcomer to the village Craddock Fitch is keen to make a splash by holding a village show - the best ever - in the grounds of his large house. Co-ordinator of the show Louise Bissett is in deep personal trouble. As the weeks roll by into summer and nerves tighten in anticipation of the great day, romances heat up and then cool down and misunderstandings multiply.

The book is an account of my first 8 months in veterinary practice. It is a humorous account of the people and animals that I dealt with in that time.

A guide for the faithful, the fallen, and everyone in-between. You've lived through Latin Masses. You've struggled through May Crownings and Vatican II. Years later, you can still recite the Act of Contrition by heart. You even gave up chocolate for Lent.  For all those who...  more

A guide for the faithful, the fallen, and everyone in-between. You've lived through Latin Masses. You've struggled through May Crownings and Vatican II. Years later, you can still recite the Act of Contrition by heart. You even gave up chocolate for Lent.  For all those who lived it and those who wondered, here is an affectionate, humorous look into the glorious mysteries of GROWING UP CATHOLIC. Including: What ever happened to Limbo? Best-loved Catholic hymns. A uniformed girl's guide to fashion. Appropriate Catholic names. Do you have what it takes for sainthood? The happiest day of your life: your First Holy Communion. Martyrs: above and beyond the call of duty. The perfect Catholic vacation. How to use Holy Water.

Simmy has been adjusting to life in Windermere, running her florist shop, Persimmon's Petals, and trying to put her tragic past behind her. But just when she thinks her life is quietly coming together, it starts to unravel at the seams.She delivers a bouquet of flowers with a mysterious message...  more

Simmy has been adjusting to life in Windermere, running her florist shop, Persimmon's Petals, and trying to put her tragic past behind her. But just when she thinks her life is quietly coming together, it starts to unravel at the seams.She delivers a bouquet of flowers with a mysterious message attached to an elderly lady that brings sinister secrets to light. And when another old woman is found murdered in her own home, Simmy is drawn into the center of the investigation after the prime suspect names her as an alibi.As the murky lives of her neighbors tangle and swirl around her, Simmy must uncover the motive behind the murder before the killer strikes again ?

"How ya doin?" With these four syllables, delivered in an unmistakably authentic New York accent, Steve Osborne has riveted thousands of people through the legendary storytelling outfit The Moth (and many tens of thousands more via YouTube) with his hilarious, profane, and touching tales from...  more

"How ya doin?" With these four syllables, delivered in an unmistakably authentic New York accent, Steve Osborne has riveted thousands of people through the legendary storytelling outfit The Moth (and many tens of thousands more via YouTube) with his hilarious, profane, and touching tales from his twenty years served as an NYPD street cop. Steve Osborne is the real deal, people, the tough streetwise New York cop of your dreams, one with a big big heart. Kojak? NYPD Blue? Law & Order? Fuggedaboutem! The Job blows them out of the water with this unputdownable book.      Steve Osborne has seen a thing or two in his twenty years in the NYPD?some harmless things, some definitely not. In "Stakeout," Steve and his partner mistake a Manhattan dentist for an armed robbery suspect and reduce the man down to a puddle of snot and tears when questioning him. In "Mug Shot," the mother of a suspected criminal makes a strange request and provides a sobering reminder of the humanity at stake in his profession. And in "Home," the image of his family provides the adrenaline he needs to fight for his life when assaulted by two armed and violent crackheads. From his days as a rookie cop to the time spent patrolling in the Anti-Crime Unit?and his visceral, harrowing recollections of working during 9/11?Steve Osborne's stories capture both the absurdity of police work and the bravery of those who do it. His stories will speak to those nostalgic for the New York City of the 1980s and '90s, a bygone era of when the city was a crazier, more dangerous (and possibly more interesting) place.

As they say here in New York, Trebor has been around the block, twice. He has taken his years on the job and transcribed them into some very funny, very touching stories. With great wit, sharp details and some brisk writing, his War Stories describe what life was like down there in the Electric...  more

As they say here in New York, Trebor has been around the block, twice. He has taken his years on the job and transcribed them into some very funny, very touching stories. With great wit, sharp details and some brisk writing, his War Stories describe what life was like down there in the Electric Sewer - Actor/Comedian John DiResta, New York's Funniest Cop

Every day, millions of people enjoy Jumbles in newspapers across the country. Now you can enjoy these popular puzzles while being encouraged by inspirational thoughts from the Bible and wisdom from the world?s most successful people. Perfect for families, trivia buffs, and puzzle fanatics,...  more

Every day, millions of people enjoy Jumbles in newspapers across the country. Now you can enjoy these popular puzzles while being encouraged by inspirational thoughts from the Bible and wisdom from the world?s most successful people. Perfect for families, trivia buffs, and puzzle fanatics, Inspirational Zingers Jumble is packed with six different kinds of puzzles for hours of fun: Jumbles Double Jumbles Mystery Person Jumbles Word Search Jumbles Super Jumbles Criss-Cross Jumbles

The village school is to get a new Head and the inhabitants of Turnham Malpas await her arrival with avid curiosity.  At first sight Kate Pascoe seems ideal - young, pretty and she obviously loves her job - but before long the villagers are beginning to think differently....  more

The village school is to get a new Head and the inhabitants of Turnham Malpas await her arrival with avid curiosity.  At first sight Kate Pascoe seems ideal - young, pretty and she obviously loves her job - but before long the villagers are beginning to think differently.  Mysterious lights are seen in Sykes Wood at night, a dog long dead comes to life, and a sudden shocking death plunges the village into a state of superstitious dread.  And always at the heart of the storm is Kate Pascoe.  As May Day approaches, with its traditional celebrations, the rector Peter Harris makes it his job to discover the truth about the strange happenings in the village.

Tucked away in the rolling Tennessee countryside is the charming community of Watervalley, whose inhabitants are quirky and captivating and more surprising than you might expect… As an ambitious young doctor with a penchant for research, Luke Bradford never wanted to set up practice in...  more

Tucked away in the rolling Tennessee countryside is the charming community of Watervalley, whose inhabitants are quirky and captivating and more surprising than you might expect… As an ambitious young doctor with a penchant for research, Luke Bradford never wanted to set up practice in a remote rural town. But to pay back his student loans and to fulfill a promise from his past, he heads for Watervalley, Tennessee—and immediately stumbles into one disaster after another.  Will he be labeled the town idiot before he’s even introduced as the new doctor?  Very quickly he faces some big challenges—from resuscitating a three-hundred-pound farmer who goes into cardiac arrest to not getting shot by a local misanthrope for trespassing. He expects the people of Watervalley to be simple, but finds his relationships with them are complicated, whether he’s interacting with his bossy but devout housekeeper, the attractive schoolteacher he consistently alienates, or the mysterious kid next door who climbs trees while wearing a bike helmet.  When a baffling flu epidemic hits Watervalley, Luke faces his ultimate test. Whether the community embraces him or not, it’s his responsibility to save them. And he’ll soon discover that while living in a small town may not be what he wants, it may be just what he needs… READERS GUIDE INCLUDED

Jane Hatton and her British husband Andrew relocate from New York City to a small village on the Cumbrian coast. Jane has been city-based and career-driven but when her fourteen year old daughter Natalie falls in with the wrong crowd at school in Manhattan, she and Andrew decide to try country...  more

Jane Hatton and her British husband Andrew relocate from New York City to a small village on the Cumbrian coast. Jane has been city-based and career-driven but when her fourteen year old daughter Natalie falls in with the wrong crowd at school in Manhattan, she and Andrew decide to try country living. However Jane has trouble getting used to the silence and solitude of a remote village. Natalie hates her new school, and eleven-year-old Ben struggles academically. Only seven-year-old Merrie enjoys country life. Has Jane made a horrible mistake? The Hattons have bought the old vicarage in the village. When Jane finds a scrap of shopping list, she grows curious about Alice, the vicar's wife who lived there years before. As we follow the twin narratives of Jane, in the present, and Alice in the 1930s we discover that both are on a journey to discover their true selves, and to address their deepest fears.

Brian Viner and his family had enjoyed much about their nice little middle-class patch of north London, but gradually realised they were suffering from a severe case of 'metropause' -- the desire to swap the hassles of London life for the serenity of the countryside. After a long search...  more

Brian Viner and his family had enjoyed much about their nice little middle-class patch of north London, but gradually realised they were suffering from a severe case of 'metropause' -- the desire to swap the hassles of London life for the serenity of the countryside. After a long search they found the house of their dreams in rural Herefordshire. But is country life all it's cracked up to be? More importantly, where *does* one go to get a decent cappuccino? 'A Year in Provence' with less sunshine but more laughs, TALES OF THE COUNTRY is a wonderfully entertaining and heart-warming account of the Viners' adjustment from town to country. Focusing on their first year in Herefordshire and the attendant misadventures with mice, ponies and septic tanks, not to mention some sceptical locals, it is a terrific blend of humour and memoir. Full of anecdote and character, and beautifully written, TALES OF THE COUNTRY is a superbly beguiling book about what is really important in life, and the joys and trials encountered along the road towards it.

The Projects, a gritty crime drama revealing the dark side of the New York City boroughs, is base on a number of true events from the author's twenty-seven year career as a lieutenant in the N.Y.P.D. The novel is set in the violence-battered streets and housing projects of East New York,...  more

The Projects, a gritty crime drama revealing the dark side of the New York City boroughs, is base on a number of true events from the author's twenty-seven year career as a lieutenant in the N.Y.P.D. The novel is set in the violence-battered streets and housing projects of East New York, Brooklyn. The characters provide somber, yet sometimes hilarious, depictions of lives of heroism and cowardice, gallant struggle and abysmal indifference. In particular, the novel tells the story of one young man's dilemma, as he is urged to join the N.Y.P.D. by his drug-dealing boss. We follow Linc, along with many other characters, through the labyrinths of struggle and decision-making, ending in triumph, tragedy, or sometimes just mediocrity.

WILD AND REAL-LIFE STORIES ABOUT LAPD COPS A Dented Badge is a snapshot of LAPD during the 1970s and 80s. Between the pages you'll find over one-hundred and thirty stories about LAPD coppers and the extreme violence--as well as wild behavior--associated with high crime rates. Some of these...  more

WILD AND REAL-LIFE STORIES ABOUT LAPD COPS A Dented Badge is a snapshot of LAPD during the 1970s and 80s. Between the pages you'll find over one-hundred and thirty stories about LAPD coppers and the extreme violence--as well as wild behavior--associated with high crime rates. Some of these stories are funny, a few are poignant, a few are sad and several are simply unbelievable. At the same time, it's a journey by a recruit that starts at the academy where some self doubts surface but are eventually dispelled and ends as a seasoned officer working LAPD's elite Metropolitan Division.

In TALES OF THE COUNTRY, Brian Viner described how he and his family upped sticks from north London to deepest Herefordshire, chasing a rural idyll that, eventually, they caught up with. By the end of their first year at Docklow Manor, Brian was struck by how quickly they had adapted to their...  more

In TALES OF THE COUNTRY, Brian Viner described how he and his family upped sticks from north London to deepest Herefordshire, chasing a rural idyll that, eventually, they caught up with. By the end of their first year at Docklow Manor, Brian was struck by how quickly they had adapted to their new life, and been adopted by their new friends and neighbours. But wondering when they would stop being referred to by the locals as the 'buggers from off' paled into insignificance as they tried to develop some of the cottages attached to the manor as holiday lets. Neither Brian nor Jane had any experience in the tourist industry, and this quickly showed as they encountered their share of "Fawlty Towers"-type disasters -- and guests. A wonderfully warm follow-up to the first volume, and full of the same delightful humour and digressions, THE PHEASANTS' REVOLT: MORE TALES OF THE COUNTRY brings us right up to date with the Viner family's trials and tribulations.

The house opposite the church, overlooking the Cornish coast, is home to three generations of Tremains. Fred Tremain, the country doctor who built the house for his wife, Martha (and for whose sake he became estranged from his family); Anna, the difficult, determined older child, now a highly...  more

The house opposite the church, overlooking the Cornish coast, is home to three generations of Tremains. Fred Tremain, the country doctor who built the house for his wife, Martha (and for whose sake he became estranged from his family); Anna, the difficult, determined older child, now a highly successful lawyer; Barnaby, the easygoing second child, now a vicar to the parish; and the beloved granddaughter, Lucy. A safe haven for a loving family, especially now that Fred and Martha are growing old, the house and cottage are also the keeper of secrets, solemn and tragic. That is until the day Lucy discovers a hidden cache of papers that brings to light the first of many long-hidden mysteries. As each layer is unwrapped and each secret laid bare, the family is forced to confront its past, to question the price paid for the upheavals caused by violence, wars, and prejudice, and ultimately to unlock the path to new relationships and new loves.

In part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. Th is is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen?s, Dunbridge?including...  more

In part two of the Dunbridge Chronicles, Neil Fisher returns from ordination inspired by his sense of ministry, but determined to distance himself from the two ladies in his life. Th is is not altogether well received, and a wide segment of the congregation of St Stephen?s, Dunbridge?including the music group?points Neil to the error of his ways.Meanwhile Neil?s close friend Colin and his wife Jeannie are delighted by the birth of a daughter, but is all well with the baby? Neil?s mother Iris continues to meddle, to his irritation. Churchwarden Peter has said a relieved farewell to his flighty wife Glenda?or has he? Dunbridge is not as peaceful as it seems.

Taking advantage of recent tourist interest, the residents of Prior's Ford plan a summer festival. But someone is determined to sabotage the event, and it takes all the villagers' detective skills to stop the vandals in their tracks. Meanwhile, at Tarbethill Farm, things are going from bad to...  more

Taking advantage of recent tourist interest, the residents of Prior's Ford plan a summer festival. But someone is determined to sabotage the event, and it takes all the villagers' detective skills to stop the vandals in their tracks. Meanwhile, at Tarbethill Farm, things are going from bad to worse. In dire financial straits, Victor, the eldest son, is tempted by a developer's offer on their land. But if his father finds out it promises to tear their family apart. And at the big house, Lewis remains absolutely besotted by his baby daughter, while his family still secretly wonder if she really is his. And as Molly starts to take advantage of Lewis' good nature, can Ginny bear to keep silent about her feelings for him?

Tony Cavalucci is a New York City police officer fighting for his life. The crime and corruption he sees on the job combined with a failing family life leave Tony feeling drained, lost, and frightfully alone, causing him to look for happiness in all the wrong places. Just when he is about to...  more

Tony Cavalucci is a New York City police officer fighting for his life. The crime and corruption he sees on the job combined with a failing family life leave Tony feeling drained, lost, and frightfully alone, causing him to look for happiness in all the wrong places. Just when he is about to give up, Tony is partnered with Joe Fiore, another Italian-American cop who exudes the strength and confidence that Tony has been searching for. Though wary of his new partner, Tony finds that the day-to-day toils of his job force him to swallow his pride and look to Fiore for help. Writing with grit, freshness, and authenticity, authors Frank and Pam Lione, born-and-bred native New Yorkers themselves, bring to life the loneliness that haunts even New York's finest

A warm-hearted, feel-good, laugh-out-loud story by a terrific natural writer. This is the third instalment of Tessa Hainsworth's escape from the rat-race with her actor husband to a Cornish seaside town.        Seagulls in the Attic left Tessa thrilled as Annie, her best friend from London, fell...  more

A warm-hearted, feel-good, laugh-out-loud story by a terrific natural writer. This is the third instalment of Tessa Hainsworth's escape from the rat-race with her actor husband to a Cornish seaside town.        Seagulls in the Attic left Tessa thrilled as Annie, her best friend from London, fell in love and married a local Cornishman. Alas the newlyweds decide to settle out of the county but Tessa and her husband are delighted when a new young couple arrive in the village fresh from the city. However what looks such a promising new friendship turns to a nightmare as these are people who think money can buy them acceptance -- and the village is soon in quiet revolt. Tessa finds herself in the thick of it -- and realises that she has grown very strong roots in the community in the two years she has been in Cornwall. Like so many in the country, she has to think about turning her house into a source of income in the summer months. Having finally got the place up to scratch, she and her family are wondering whether to camp for a couple of months when they are asked to take over a B&B owned by friends of friends. Tessa is bubbly, outgoing -- but quite inexperienced at being a landlady. She muddles through only with the generous help of the 'customers' on her postal round. Written with her usual warmth and good humour, Tessa Hainsworth enchants us again with her stories of life as a newcomer to 'deep' Cornwall and makes us dwell on the true value and meaning of 'home'.

Experience a journey through the intense desperation, confusion and emotions of lawmen and lawwomen as they are being shot and savagely and tenaciously fight for their lives. Warning! If you have a heart condition these stories are not for you. You will live these horrific life and death...  more

Experience a journey through the intense desperation, confusion and emotions of lawmen and lawwomen as they are being shot and savagely and tenaciously fight for their lives. Warning! If you have a heart condition these stories are not for you. You will live these horrific life and death encounters millisecond-by-millisecond and bullet-by-bullet as experienced by those who survived them. ?If you want to know what it is like to be in a gunfight, then this is a must read. It is a compelling, and true to life compilation of harrowing, not to be forgotten true events. Chilling!? -Deputy Willie Robinson, 31 years Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department, 17 years Special Enforcement Bureau. ?The stories will rip your heart out. Shockingly explosive and gritty! It does not get more real than this. This is a tale of courageous heroes?men and women of morals, values and principles. Once you start reading you won?t be able to continue?and you won?t be able to stop.? - Lieutenant Gregory Saunders, 34 years Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department, 14 years Special Enforcement Bureau.

Out of the kindness of his heart, shopkeeper Jimbo Charter-Plackett asks his mother to come and live with him in the village. However, she soon spreads rumours and half-truths around the village, causing dissent and unhappiness wherever she goes.

Even as a struggling opera singer, Paige Marshall has never seen anything like the cutthroat competition of the Prospect Glen High School show choir. Coaching these championship-hungry students may be her toughest gig yet... Especially when her best young male singer is suspected of killing...  more

Even as a struggling opera singer, Paige Marshall has never seen anything like the cutthroat competition of the Prospect Glen High School show choir. Coaching these championship-hungry students may be her toughest gig yet... Especially when her best young male singer is suspected of killing the arrogant coach of Prospect Glen's fiercest rival. To clear his name, Paige will have to sort through a chorus of suspects, and go note-for-note with a killer who wants her out of the spotlight for good.

In the parish of Dunbridge, the news is out--Claire and Neil are engaged! And yet, almost before the celebrations have begun, Ben, the father of Claire's son, appears back on the scene--keen to pick up where he and Claire left off.As Neil reels in the face of Claire's confusion, Wendy always...  more

In the parish of Dunbridge, the news is out--Claire and Neil are engaged! And yet, almost before the celebrations have begun, Ben, the father of Claire's son, appears back on the scene--keen to pick up where he and Claire left off.As Neil reels in the face of Claire's confusion, Wendy always seems to be there to provide support and comfort. Little does he know of Wendy's involvement in Ben's reappearance . . .However, Neil has little chance to ponder his love life as the whole weight of running the church and parish descends upon his inexperienced shoulders. His mother, Iris, who has never hesitated to share her opinions, has just moved to be near him and Neil's time as a curate in Dunbridge is coming swiftly to an end. Where should he go next, and just who will go with him?

Cindy's church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah's Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The...  more

Cindy's church is getting ready to celebrate Easter, and Jeremiah's Temple is preparing for Passover when Cindy literally stumbles over the body of an unknown man lying dead in the sanctuary. The church was locked, and a bloody cross necklace on the floor seems to be the only clue. The killer is likely a member of the congregation, but there are hints that similar deaths have happened in the past. Are Cindy and Jeremiah dealing with a serial killer? They have to unravel the clues before Easter Sunday arrives and more people die. Cindy and Jeremiah come from two different worlds, even though they work right next door to each other. Cindy is a strong Christian who lives a normal but somewhat dull life, working as a church secretary. Jeremiah is a Reformed rabbi with a mysterious past full of danger and excitement. But one eventful Easter/Passover week, the two find themselves working together to solve a murder and stop a serial killer from striking again. Solving the mystery should put an end to their alliance, but the church secretary and the rabbi quickly find themselves enmeshed in another mystery. Soon the two form a friendly alliance and friendship, exploring personal history and faith and growing closer with each passing adventure. Despite their differences Cindy and Jeremiah find a lot of common ground.

How does it feel to be in a high-speed car chase? What is it like to shoot someone? What do cops really think about the citizens they serve? Nearly everyone has wondered what it?s like to be a police officer, but no civilian really understands what happens on the job. ?400 Things Cops Know?...  more

How does it feel to be in a high-speed car chase? What is it like to shoot someone? What do cops really think about the citizens they serve? Nearly everyone has wondered what it?s like to be a police officer, but no civilian really understands what happens on the job. ?400 Things Cops Know? shows police work on the inside, from the viewpoint of the regular cop on the beat?a profession that can range from rewarding to bizarre to terrifying, all within the course of an eight-hour shift. Written by veteran police sergeant Adam Plantinga, ?400 Things Cops Know? brings the reader into life the way cops experience it?a life of danger, frustration, occasional triumph, and plenty of grindingly hard routine work. In a laconic, no-nonsense, dryly humorous style, Plantinga tells what he?s learned from 13 years as a patrolman, from the everyday to the exotic?how to know at a glance when a suspect is carrying a weapon or is going to attack, how to kick a door down, how to drive in a car chase without recklessly endangering the public, why you should always carry cigarettes, even if you don?t smoke (offering a smoke is the best way to lure a suicide to safety), and what to do if you find a severed limb (don?t put it on ice?you need to keep it dry.) ?400 Things Cops Know? deglamorizes police work, showing the gritty, stressful, sometimes disgusting reality of life on patrol, from the possibility of infection?criminals don?t always practice good hygiene?to the physical, psychological, and emotional toll of police work. Plantinga shows what cops experience of death, the legal system, violence, prostitution, drug use, the social causes and consequences of crime, alcoholism, and more. Sometimes heartbreaking and often hilarious, ?400 Things Cops Know? is an eye-opening revelaqtion of what life on the beat is really all about.

One sunny day on his postal route, Vincent Wyckoff crosses the path of an elderly gentleman whistling for his lost parakeet. The old man is upset, and Wyckoff moves down the block slowly, looking high and low, hoping to spot the little bird. He reaches the man’s house and offers sympathy...  more

One sunny day on his postal route, Vincent Wyckoff crosses the path of an elderly gentleman whistling for his lost parakeet. The old man is upset, and Wyckoff moves down the block slowly, looking high and low, hoping to spot the little bird. He reaches the man’s house and offers sympathy to his wife, who smiles sadly and says, ?We haven’t had that bird for twenty-five years.? Letter carriers like Wyckoff walk through the same neighborhood each day, observing the lives and routines of its residents. They learn its stories, make connections between people, and, in many ways, become the common thread that connects neighbors to one another. Along Wyckoff’s mail route, Native American children teach him about totems. He finds assistance for a reclusive chain-smoking book collector who can’t maintain his property. He delivers a much-delayed registered letter mailed from Saigon in 1976. Over the years, Wyckoff sees the neighborhood of blue-collar retirees change as a diverse group of younger people move in and raise their families. Celebrating the triumphs in everyday life and demonstrating the danger of trusting first impressions, Beware of Cat reveals the inner workings of an ordinary place of extraordinary interest. Vincent Wyckoff was a laborer, a construction worker, and a sheetmetal worker before he became a letter carrier in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1990. This is his first book.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and Persimmon 'Simmy' Brown's flower shop near Lake Windermere is doing good business. But when Simmy receives a string of anonymous delivery orders, each one causing their recipient great distress, she begins to suspect that the messages they contain mask a...  more

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and Persimmon 'Simmy' Brown's flower shop near Lake Windermere is doing good business. But when Simmy receives a string of anonymous delivery orders, each one causing their recipient great distress, she begins to suspect that the messages they contain mask a sinister intent. When one of the recipients disappears, it would seem that her worst fears have been confirmed.As if that isn't enough, Simmy's friend Kathy turns up, on the trail of her wayward daughter Joanna, who she fears has grown unhealthily close to one of her university tutors. When Kathy attempts to reason with her daughter she finds that Joanna's older lover may be even more menacing than she had imagined. With both Kathy and Joanna in peril, Simmy and her friends find themselves caught up in a web of deception, blackmail and murder. It seems that Simmy Brown faces her most puzzling, and perhaps her most dangerous, case yet.

The fifth warmhearted novel of village life in Evelyn Hood?s much-loved Prior?s Ford series - Cookery writer Laura Tyler arrives in Prior?s Ford determined to become immersed in village life ? and the village drama group?s forthcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest offers her the...  more

The fifth warmhearted novel of village life in Evelyn Hood?s much-loved Prior?s Ford series - Cookery writer Laura Tyler arrives in Prior?s Ford determined to become immersed in village life ? and the village drama group?s forthcoming production of The Importance of Being Earnest offers her the perfect opportunity. But Laura has cause to regret her involvement when murder calls a halt to rehearsals. Constable Neil White investigates, with help from an unexpected source ? American visitor Amy Rose, with her passion for crosswords and mystery-solving, can?t resist a spot of amateur sleuthing . . .

The peaceful lives of the inhabitants of Turnham Malpas are disrupted when Hugo, a famous actor, comes to stay. An instant attraction develops between him and Caroline, the Rector's wife, and preparations for the play he is directing turn the lives of many of the villagers upside down.

Resurrecting Sissy is the unforgettable account of the life of Leslie "Sissy" Montgomery, whose family tree began when her father raped her mother and gun-point. Forced to marry her rapist at seventeen years of age by her own mother, Leslie's mom enters a marriage wrought with violence, fueled...  more

Resurrecting Sissy is the unforgettable account of the life of Leslie "Sissy" Montgomery, whose family tree began when her father raped her mother and gun-point. Forced to marry her rapist at seventeen years of age by her own mother, Leslie's mom enters a marriage wrought with violence, fueled by alcohol, and justified by prejudice. Leslie is one of three children and the only girl from this union and with her father's panache for violence, driven by underlying rage, and insatiable power and control, Leslie is abused in every way imaginable by him, as well as by her grandfather and a neighbor boy. Haunted by the abuse and covered with a blanket of shame, Leslie attempts suicide for the first time at twelve years of age. When she is unsuccessful, she rebels against everything and everyone; she quits school, becomes sexually promiscuous, and jumps head first into drugs and alcohol, and doesn't look back for years to come. At nineteen, she has been married and divorced, has two children whom she's abandoned, had an abortion, been in and out of mental hospitals like they have revolving doors, and is facing five years in the Idaho State Penitentiary. No one expects Leslie to become little more than a statistic, but God has another plan. Through a series of unexpected events that can only be attributed as miracles in Leslie?s life, God sets her life onto a new path with a promise to ?restore the years eaten away by the locust?. Over the course of the next ten years Leslie begins the process of healing from her past, completes school, becomes a counselor, is reunited with her children, begins writing for Focus on the Family, among other world-wide ministries and media outlets, begins her own radio program, and becomes a sought out speaker and teacher. Since that time, she has authored twelve books, remarried and had two additional children. But life has not all been a bed of roses as a Christian. Leslie has gone on to endure great tragedy and trials, but with the hope and promises of God and His Word she has endured and overcome through Christ. Through each struggle in Resurrecting Sissy you?ll find yourself enduring the youthful child?s pain, comforting her loneliness, relating to her rebellion, and fighting for her will to survive. After she becomes a Christian, you will experience her joy in Christ as you take a front-seat view of her transition from a broken woman-child into a child of God and watch how, through Christ, she handles adversity, trials, and tragedy, and triumphs over her past. This compelling story will awaken you to the redeeming and resurrecting power of a God who promises to give Life to those who are broken and spiritually dead. This book is inspiring, encouraging and empowering, and one that will stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned. As one reviewer has said, ?This may be the only memoir ever written that?s a page turner!?

Snoopy steals the spotlight in these carefully color-restored ?60s Peanuts comic strips. Since their original publication, Peanuts Sundays have almost always been collected and reprinted in black and white. But many who read Peanuts in their original Sunday papers remain fond of the striking...  more

Snoopy steals the spotlight in these carefully color-restored ?60s Peanuts comic strips. Since their original publication, Peanuts Sundays have almost always been collected and reprinted in black and white. But many who read Peanuts in their original Sunday papers remain fond of the striking coloring, which makes for a surprisingly different reading experience. The early- to mid-1960s strips in our latest volume houses the first golden age of Peanuts Sundays in one gorgeous, full-color coffee table book. Linus, Charlie Brown, Pig-Pen, Shermy, Violet, Sally, Patty, and Schroeder are all present, but the rising star is undoubtedly Snoopy. Peanuts Every Sunday: 1961-1965 has been scrupulously re-colored to match the original syndicate coloring ? allowing readers to plunge into Charles Schulz?s marvelous world. Full-color illustrations throughout

Gripping trilogy of short stories about a club for people who wish to end their lives chronicles the exploits of Prince Florizel and his aide as they travel incognito through some of 19th-century London’s most dangerous haunts.

This is the true life story of a modern hero whose perseverance and faith helped him to turn at-risk kids away from gangs and prison. Born in Brooklyn, Frank DiPaola drove to Los Angeles to maybe become an actor. Instead he became a cop. He also became an actor. He also saved lives.

Not In My Memo Book is a compilation of over 50 humorous short stories about the New York City Police from 1956 through 1978. It includes a few about the NY State Police prior to 1956. The title evolves from the memo books the New York City Police were mandated to carry to enter their...  more

Not In My Memo Book is a compilation of over 50 humorous short stories about the New York City Police from 1956 through 1978. It includes a few about the NY State Police prior to 1956. The title evolves from the memo books the New York City Police were mandated to carry to enter their assignments and any incidents. Many police actions involved "unorthodox methods" used by police officers when dealing with the public, boredom, the elements or merely because of their sense of humor. Therefore, as you read their stories the author depicts the different areas, customs and police procedures used during the era. Also, as you read on you will find yourself walking side by side with the cop on beat, hopefully getting to know their lighter side. It has been said on many occasions that a cop has a front row seat to the greatest show on earth. The main theme is humor - let the news media talk about the serious issues.

Because of a promise made to his mother, Don Herlihy's life takes on many trials and tribulations. The culmination of these stories of his life range from escaping death during the Korean War, to the practical jokes played by the Brothers in Blue. This autobiography is a true testament...  more

Because of a promise made to his mother, Don Herlihy's life takes on many trials and tribulations. The culmination of these stories of his life range from escaping death during the Korean War, to the practical jokes played by the Brothers in Blue. This autobiography is a true testament to how the brothers of the N.Y.P.D. lived their lives day by day while on the force and how they became lifelong friends on and off the job. With tales that could make you laugh and sometimes cry, you'll be captivated by this author's life as one of New York's Finest.

By turns harrowing, moving, and ultimately redemptive, this is a war story -- a war that rages out of control on the streets of the United States, claiming the lives of our loved ones and neighbors. In this memoir, complete with child soldiers, unspeakable violence, and eventual salvation, we...  more

By turns harrowing, moving, and ultimately redemptive, this is a war story -- a war that rages out of control on the streets of the United States, claiming the lives of our loved ones and neighbors. In this memoir, complete with child soldiers, unspeakable violence, and eventual salvation, we witness the journey of an East Coast member of the notorious Bloods gang coming to terms with the lost boy he was and the transformation into the man he wants to become.Unlike the child warriors of Mozambique and Sierra Leone, gang members and the wars they wage are the United States' homegrown nightmare. Lacking protection, support, or any alternatives, Dashaun Morris is forced into battle for the first time at age eleven, in the streets of Phoenix, when a friend's older brothers put him in a car filled with 40s and weed smoke, put a gun in his hands, then make him point it at the men on the corner and squeeze the trigger. The targets are Crips, of course, and, as Morris writes, "In the darkness of the streets, my childhood is murdered.... I am reborn -- a gangster."In this haunting, violent memoir, Morris takes us through an American childhood turned grotesquely inside out. In the fourth grade, he loses his first friend in a drive-by shooting. By high school he is the man, a champion on the football field by day and a reputable banger on his 'hood turf by night.Living the life of a gang banger, Morris does it all -- drug dealing, jacking, and continuing the aimless war with rival gang members -- almost opening fire one night on a close friend, a cheerleader, as she hangs out with young men he mistakes for Crips.He eventually makes it to college on a football scholarship, but on the verge of being drafted by the NFL, Morris can't escape his gang-banging mentality and gets caught up in crimes that snatch away all future hopes. Sitting in a prison cell, he anticipates the birth of his first child while counting the friends he's buried.War of the Bloods in My Veins is part of Morris's redemption, a cry to his brothers that gang life is mental illness. It is a rare and brutally honest look into the relentless storm of abandonment, violence, crime, death, and the endless rush toward the complete and utter self-annihilation that plagues the lives of the young "soldiers" who die every day in our streets.