Download or read book Tainted Chalice written by Dominic Palumbo and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2020-07-26 with total page 286 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The novel is a story of forbidden love, which takes the reader on a poignant but delightful journey that begins in a little Wheatbelt country town in Western Australia and leads to world-famous Opera Houses. It was a serendipitous encounter between Emily Grey and Father Matteo da Luca, a young and recently ordained Catholic Parish Priest. They were instantly attracted to each other - Emily fell in love with Father Matteo on that very first day. Emily is a strikingly beautiful woman whose effect on Father Matteo is to make him emotionally conflicted between his growing affections for Emily and his Priestly vocation. Father Matteo is seriously affected by Emily's beauty, but he has taken Vows of Chastity. Also, he is already in a relationship with God. God has presented him with a tainted chalice. His dilemma could be solved by deciding between his Priesthood or his relationship with Emily - Or, he could have both. Father Matteo is a very principled, and he would never allow himself to be in two relationships, although he knows priests do have sexual relationships. In his mind, that would be cheating, badly. Emily understands Matteo's conflicted state. Both don't want to 'break up', so they decided to have a Romantic Relationship that is based on music rather than sexual desires. Emily is always hopeful that their relationship will develop to more than that. Regardless, their relationship becomes entwined by their special gift - their singing voices. Emily is an emerging opera diva with a beautiful soprano voice, and Matteo has a God-given tenor voice. The story follows the lives of these two protagonists. Matteo's story begins in a small Wheatbelt town in Western Australia through to him being ordained a Catholic Priest and assigned as Parish Priest to a Perth Parish. Meanwhile, Emily is studying Law at the University of Western Australia. She discovers that Law is a mistaken career choice. With the help of a good friend, she switches to classical voice training under the tutelage of a retired but world-renowned opera diva. The relationship between Emily and Matteo continues to strengthen. Finally, Father Matteo admits to himself that he loves Emily. He wants to marry her and enjoy a lifetime of music with her. In his Church, and under the hanging Crucifix overhead, Father Matteo tells God that he is going to quit the Priesthood. But God has other plans for His disciple. He will decide Matteo's destiny.

Download or read book The Stone of Knowing Complete Set written by Allan N. Packer and published by Luminant Publications. This book was released on 2022-08-06 with total page 895 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The epic fantasy saga of The Stone Cycle begins... The Stone of Knowing A talisman that unmasks thoughts, desires, deepest secrets. The fate of kingdoms depends on mastering its power and protecting it... The untroubled world of young Thomas Stablehand is changed forever when he stumbles upon an unusual stone. With the thoughts and intents of others laid bare to him, he eagerly indulges his curiosity. But seeing into other minds isn’t like Thomas expected. And troubles are only beginning. Invaders attack the kingdom of Arvenon, and Thomas has nowhere to turn except to his friend Will Prentis, a gifted and ambitious leader who has risen rapidly in the ranks of the king’s army. Will is fearless, and where he leads men follow. With the kingdom on the brink, Will leads a small band on a perilous quest to thwart the invaders. Fearing his secret will be exposed, and hoping to help prevent catastrophe, Thomas flees with them. But dangerous enemies seek the stone for their own ends. As Will faces a relentless opponent whose true purpose remains hidden, Thomas must decide what price he's willing to pay to protect the stone and preserve the kingdom. The Cost of Knowing The ripples begin to make waves Thomas Stablehand’s life is not the only thing spinning out of control since he found the stone. Entire kingdoms are now in turmoil. Will Prentis, newly appointed as army commander, must outmaneuver a growing array of enemies as he prepares for an unequal showdown with Arvenon's invaders. Thomas, hunted unceasingly, must sacrifice all to safeguard the stone. The fate of kingdoms soon hinges on them as they confront a ruthless invader hiding a darker purpose. The odds are hopeless. And for three kingdoms, the stakes are higher than anyone knows. The Seer: A Prequel to The Stone of Knowing Eyes see only a glimpse Sheylha is a seer—a woman with unique and extraordinary abilities. Powerful men want to control her, to use her to dominate others. Kalvor is a warrior of unusual tenacity, a hunter who never gives up. Driven by his past, he has become a dangerous enemy. When Kalvor is sent to find and capture the seer, each of them will be tested in ways they could never have imagined. In time the outcome will determine the fate of kingdoms. The Stone of Knowing Complete Set is a complete story that includes the novels The Stone of Knowing and The Cost of Knowing as well as the novelette The Seer: A Prequel to The Stone of Knowing. If you enjoy epic fantasy with gripping action, relatable characters, and clean romance in a sweeping coming of age saga, try The Stone of Knowing Complete Set now!

Download or read book DemonWars Saga Volume 2 written by R.A. Salvatore and published by Del Rey. This book was released on 2014-06-24 with total page 2803 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the DemonWars Saga continues, R. A. Salvatore expands his sweeping fantasy epic to include a new generation of heroes and villains. Picking up where the first three books leave off, this convenient eBook bundle contains the follow-up novel and sequel trilogy that round out the beloved series: MORTALIS ASCENDANCE TRANSCENDENCE IMMORTALIS The long struggle is over at last. The demon is no more, its dark sorceries shattered by the gemstone magic wielded by the woman known as Pony. But victory did not come easily. Many lives were lost, including Pony’s lover, the elf-trained ranger Elbryan Wyndon, and their son. And despite the demon’s demise, the kingdom still seethes in a cauldron of plots and machinations. When a deadly sickness suddenly appears among the people of Corona, Pony must undertake a pilgrimage that will test her powers—and her faith—as never before. But unknown to Pony, her child never died. Instead, he is secretly raised to be a weapon. Stolen away by the queen of the elves, the headstrong Aydrian shows great promise in the arts of combat, and he is as powerful with the gemstone magic as Pony. Hungry for power, Aydrian soon joins forces with his own mother’s mortal enemy, setting himself on a collision course with destiny. Praise for the DemonWars Saga “An enthralling epic adventure story, it introduces memorable characters and an intricate scheme of magic the readers won’t soon forget.”—Terry Brooks, on The Demon Awakens “R. A. Salvatore at his best—and even better.”—New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole, on Mortalis “As R. A. Salvatore continues to build his detailed and complex history, his readership is sure to build as well.”—New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson, on Ascendance “Outstanding . . . [Transcendance has] a first-rate female high-fantasy protagonist.”—Booklist “Fans will dance with joy.”—Kirkus Reviews, on Immortalis

Download or read book Authoritarian Absorption written by Yan Long and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2024-11-08 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Authoritarian Absorption unveils the transformation of China's pandemic response system from 1978 to 2018 through its battle against HIV/AIDS. Chinese bureaucrats, facing pressure from foreign agencies--especially those of the US and UK--and grassroots social movements, developed ways to turn epidemics into opportunities for enhancing domestic control and international stature. Drawing on longitudinal-ethnographic research, Yan Long reveals how Western liberal interventions can simultaneously bolster public health institutions and reinforce authoritarian power, a development pivotal to China's subsequent handling of COVID-19 and instrumental in advancing the rights of groups like gay men.

Download or read book Before The Fall written by Aaron J Clarke and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2013 with total page 150 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Before the Fall' is a retelling of Henry James' 'The Golden Bowl', but with a twist as it involves the gay lovers, Marty Townsend and Carlton Aspern, seducing and manipulating the widowed Australian millionaire Clara de Veer and her daughter Maggie. The precious vase, with its almost invisible flaw, is the vehicle, which Clarke uses to extinguish the flame of trust that previously burnt in Maggie's heart: revealing past misdemeanours and the price one must paid for the sin of adultery -- the surrendering of one's desires.

Download or read book The Royal standard and loyal political register written by and published by . This book was released on with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Shakespearean Tragedy and Its Double written by Kent Cartwright and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 2010-11-01 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Cost of Knowing written by Allan N. Packer and published by Luminant Publications. This book was released on 2022-07-29 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The ripples begin to make waves Thomas Stablehand’s life is not the only thing spinning out of control since he found the stone. Entire kingdoms are now in turmoil. Will Prentis, newly appointed as army commander, must outmaneuver a growing array of enemies as he prepares for an unequal showdown with Arvenon's invaders. Thomas, hunted unceasingly, must sacrifice all to safeguard the stone. The fate of kingdoms soon hinges on them as they confront a ruthless invader hiding a darker purpose. The odds are hopeless. And for three kingdoms, the stakes are higher than anyone knows. The Cost of Knowing continues the saga of The Stone Cycle, concluding the story begun in book one, The Stone of Knowing. Further background to the climax is also revealed in an included bonus novelette, The Gamble. The Stone Cycle reading order: - The Stone of Knowing (Book One) - The Cost of Knowing (Book Two) - The Stone of Authority (Book Three) - The Struggle for Authority (Book Four) - The Stone of Vitality (Book Five) - The Hope of Vitality (Book Six) Additional reading for The Stone Cycle: - The Seer: A Prequel to The Stone of Knowing is a complete story of novelette length that can be read independently of other books in the series. The recommended reading order is after The Cost of Knowing( Book 2) and before The Struggle for Authority (Book Four). - The Rending: A Prequel to The Cost of Knowing is a complete story of novelette length that can be read independently of other books in the series. The recommended reading order is after The Cost of Knowing (Book 2). Subscribe to my mailing list at allanpacker.com for a free copy of the ebook. Print and audiobook editions are available from a wide range of online stores.

Download or read book A Poisoned Chalice written by Jeffrey Freedman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-11-10 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Poisoned Chalice tells the story of a long-forgotten criminal case: the poisoning of the communion wine in Zurich's main cathedral in 1776. The story is riveting and mysterious, full of bizarre twists and colorful characters--an anti-clerical gravedigger, a hard-drinking drifter, a defrocked minister--who come to life in a series of dramatic criminal trials. But it is also far more than just a good story. In the wider world of German-speaking Europe, writes Jeffrey Freedman, the affair became a cause célèbre, the object of a lively public debate that focused on an issue much on the minds of intellectuals in the age of Enlightenment: the problem of evil. Contemporaries were unable to ascribe any rational motive to an attempt to poison hundreds of worshippers. Such a crime pointed beyond reason to moral depravity so radical it seemed diabolic. By following contemporaries as they struggled to comprehend an act of inscrutable evil, this book brings to life a key episode in the history of the German Enlightenment--an episode in which the Enlightenment was forced to interrogate the very limits of reason itself. Twentieth-century horrors have familiarized us with the type of evil that so shocked the men and women of the eighteenth century. Does this familiarity give us any special insight into the affair of the poisoned chalice? In its final chapter, the book takes up this question, reflecting on the nature of historical knowledge through an imaginary dialogue with Enlightenment-era interlocutors. But it does not reach any definitive conclusion about what happened in the Zurich cathedral in 1776. To search for the truth about such a mystery is merely to extend a dialogue begun in the eighteenth century, and that dialogue is as open-ended as the process of Enlightenment itself.

Download or read book The Mammoth Book of Hard Bastards written by Robin Barratt and published by C & R Crime. This book was released on 2011-02-24 with total page 482 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: They know who they are and what they're capable of - cross them at your peril. No real hard bastard needs to brag or bully; most are modest, thoughtful and quiet. They have nothing to prove, as opposed to wannabe tough guys, who may pump themselves full of steroids or devote themselves to the study of a martial art, but can they handle themselves during an aggressive confrontation? It is the real hard bastard's absolute willingness to fight literally anyone, his ability to be uncompromisingly violent, his complete lack of fear, and unwillingness to admit defeat that makes him stand out in a crowd. A real hard bastard exudes an unmistakable air of confidence and authority. The full list of Hard Men is: Geoff Thompson (Former British nightclub bouncer and world-famous martial artist. Now a BAFTA-award-winning writer); Thomas Silverstein (America's most dangerous prisoner); Arthur White (Once one of London's most notorious debt collectors. Now reformed and a Christian); Tom Taylor (A former US Presidential bodyguard); Don Murfet (Minder to the rock band Led Zeppelin); Charlie Bronson (Britain's most violent prisoner - also an artist and writer); Gary Alexander (Full-contact fighting champion of North America); Roy Shaw (British bare-knuckle fighting champion; Ali vs Tyson; Hard Bastards: what exactly are they?; Noel 'Razor' Smith (Former British gangster serving multiple life sentences); Street Kings & Bare-Knuckle Fighters (the toughest of them all); Mike Tyson (Boxer); The Krays (Britain's most infamous gangsters); Dave 'Boy' Green (British boxer); Luciano Leggio (Sicilian gangster); Bob Honiball (Martial arts expert currently training Eastern European special forces); Peter Rollack aka 'Pistol Pete' (New York City gang member); Gregory Peter John Smith (Australian bandit); John Brawn (Ireland's hardest man, martial artist and bouncer); William Coss (Just a regular US citizen put in an extreme situation); Mickey Francis (Manchester's most notorious football thug and gangster, now a professional wrestler); Jake LaMotta (Boxer); Vladimir Bogomolov (Soviet bodyguard); Big Joe Egan (Probably the hardest white man on the planet); Dennis Martin (Doorman, bodyguard and Liverpool's hardest man).

Download or read book Nephilim s Rise written by William Pedersen and published by Page Publishing Inc. This book was released on 2021-12-13 with total page 547 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a world torn apart by the chaos of rebellion and war already, magic and essence began to permeate their way through society as a precursor to a series of a single future conflict with hell. As the conflicts escalated, new methods of travel were discovered to other worlds. Leading to new allies and alliances while complicating everything with old enemies.

Download or read book Story of Enchantment written by Leon de Kock and published by Leon De Kock. This book was released on 2016-03-15 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the story of a man and a woman who have the most amazing experiences. It is told through two hundred and fifty poems, into which are woven magic and mystery, witches, wizards, dragons and many more. Join John the smith as he follows and captures the heart of Jasmine, a dancer in a band of gypsies. But when an evil prince falls in love with Jasmine and pays a witch to put a curse on John, the two lovers go on the adventure of a lifetime to break the spell, and in the end it is their love that must overcome all kinds of obstacles, from a witch’s familiar to a great old dragon.

Download or read book Bryan Faussett Antiquary Extraordinary written by David Wright and published by Archaeopress Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2015-03-31 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A biography of Bryan Faussett, F.S.A., (1720-1776), pioneering Kent genealogist, archaeologist and antiquary who, at his death, had amassed the world’s greatest collection of Anglo-Saxon jewellery and antiquities.

Download or read book Transcendence written by R.A. Salvatore and published by Del Rey. This book was released on 2002-04-29 with total page 602 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Outstanding . . . Brynn Dharielle is a first-rate female high-fantasy protagonist.”—Booklist Brave and beautiful Brynn Dharielle has ventured on a daring mission to free her beloved homeland from tyrannical rule. But she cannot imagine the depth of chaos and betrayal that seethes amid a ruthless sect of warrior priests, led by an evil chieftain who conceals a dark, age-old secret. For Brynn and her trusted elven companion, the way to Behren turns into a fierce and illuminating voyage. But by the time Brynn reaches the land where she once saw her parents murdered, the seeds of revolution are already flourishing. The first salvo of a sweeping battle has begun—one that will threaten to destroy the heart and soul of her world. . . . “As R. A. Salvatore continues to build his detailed world and complex history, his readership is sure to build as well.”—Kevin J. Anderson “Salvatore [is] one of the premier writers in fantasy.”—The News-Star (Monroe, LA)

Download or read book The Year of Broken Glass written by Joe Denham and published by Harbour Publishing. This book was released on 2015-06-15 with total page 317 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Joe Denham’s debut novel The Year of Broken Glass follows struggling crab fisherman Francis “Ferris” Wichbaun’s journey across the Pacific Ocean to deliver a legendary glass fishing float to an enigmatic, high-paying collector. Against a backdrop of worldwide seismic devastation, Ferris is forced to confront increasing concern for his two families—his wife Anna and their son Willow, and his girlfriend Jin Su and their baby daughter Emily—as well as pervasive feelings of disappointment and disillusionment. In the midst of his contemplation, he becomes entangled in both a romantic affair with his travelling companion and an ancient legend that seems to offer the possibility of redemption. Denham’s poetic background is evident in the novel’s entrancing imagery and thematic complexity, yet in his transition to prose he has also succeeded in crafting a unique, unpredictable plot and intriguing, sincerely rendered characters. Haunted by environmental degradation and human suffering, Denham affixes the carefree Wedding Guest in all of us with his glittering prose and weaves a story that is both sobering and compelling.

Download or read book Athena s Champion written by David Hair and published by Canelo. This book was released on 2018-11-08 with total page 465 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Gods and mortals collide in this spellbinding retelling of a legend from classic Greek mythology, the first in the epic Olympus Trilogy. A prophecy condemns him, a goddess binds him, but wisdom can set Odysseus free . . . Young Prince Odysseus is about to have his world torn apart. He has travelled to the oracle at Pytho to be anointed as heir to his island kingdom, but instead a terrible secret is revealed, one that tears down every pillar of his life and marks him out for death. Outcast by his family and on the run, Odysseus is offered sanctuary by Athena, goddess of wisdom, and thrust headfirst into the secret war between the gods. But can his wits, and his skill as a warrior, keep him ahead of their power games—and alive? “If you like magic and mayhem wrapped around ancient historical legends, this cup of nectar has your name on it. Recommended.” —Historical Novel Society “A refreshing, modern take of Odysseus’ story. It has humor and exciting action.” —Book Rambler

Download or read book Azerbaijan Diary written by Thomas Goltz and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-04-08 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In its first years as an independent state, Azerbaijan was a prime example of post-Soviet chaos - beset by coups and civil strife and astride an ethnic, political and religious divide. Author Goltz was detoured in Baku in mid-1991 and decided to stay, this diary is the record of his experiences.