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In the year 2025, four months following the cataclysmic events of Episode Two, a rogue search & recovery operation is carried out by a select faction of Shadow State operatives known as the Storm Renegades commando units. Their objective: locate and retrieve the hidden EJFS strong box, containing a fragment of Vritra's remains buried at sea.The EJFS founder and chief commander, Khali Mehta Sherpa, remains missing after being captured and imprisoned somewhere in Siberia, Russia. The last person to see Khali was his adoptive son, Singh Puneet Sherpa (a.k.a. Leon Evans), who was contacted by impeached and convicted ex-POTUS Kenneth Hill in a threatening phone call, ending with Singh receiving a media message showing Khali strung, bound, and gagged inside a cargo ship named the Siberia King while en route to Belfast, Northern Ireland.Star EJFS Agent Abhu Dhuval Sandeep (a.k.a. Caleb Porter), now entering his second year since his enlistment into the superagency, supports his grieving best friend as they aim to facilitate the rescue of Khali. Little did they know that Khali is the catalyst to bring about world destruction and extinction to pave the way for the elite tier of society to live a post-apocalyptic life of paradise. Will Abhu, Singh, and the rest of the EJFS find and save Khali and the world before it's too late?------The story opens with a new rogue group of commandos on a search & recovery operation to locate and retrieve the strongbox containing Vritra's relic with assistance from naval officers in the Arctic Ocean.The strongbox containing the lost fragmented vestige was buried at sea to prevent another dragon apocalypse from imperiling the Earth.Newly inaugurated President Wes Grisham and his cabinet work to avert crises involving the EJFS and numerous foreign nationals based in the UK and Russia. Unbeknownst to the Grisham administration, a mole operative was in their midst and awaited the signal to strike at the most opportune moment.------The compromised US Secretary of State, Pamela Harsh, routinely abused her authority for personal and political gain. As a rogue government official aligned with what's remaining of The Shadow State, she reformed new factions of the US military by seeking the assistance of Gordon Crowley, a British national leading the Storm Renegades.The nefarious malefactors work with multiple bad actors to subvert the EJFS on all fronts.The decimated Shadow State faction has been continually operating secretly in a plot to bring back Vritra and use ex-POTUS Kenneth Hill's political prisoner, Khali Mehta Sherpa, as the catalyst for the War of Storms endgame.------Impeached and convicted ex-POTUS Kenneth Hill remains exiled at his private London estate during the height of the War of Storms operations. Hill's lust for revenge plagued his mind and influenced his decision-making.Working overseas via encrypted messaging correspondence, Kenneth Hill seeks the assistance of the former Counterintelligence Response Bureau, James Wade Matthews, while under house arrest in his New York apartment.The Elite Justice Force Squad's intent to bring all the malefactors to face true justice and to get Khali safely home and back with the EJFS was the top priority of the superagency.------The grand conclusion of the original EJFS trilogy has arrived as Abhu and his best friend, Singh, lead the charge to locate and rescue Khali after his capture and imprisonment four months prior. Together, they encounter multiple obstacles to liberate the EJFS founder. With the deck stacked against the duo, will Abhu and Singh overcome impossible odds to save Khali and avert world catastrophe again?------The journey spans Atlanta, Norfolk, New York City, Belfast, Dublin, London, Moscow, Oblastnaya, Siberia, and Amsterdam.

Cliff Slater spent 30 years fighting rail transit projects. Needing to know more than his opponents about transit, he gained a different view of what caused it to accrue two trillion dollars in subsidies since 1975, versus none before then.Rail transit in America was initially the product of innovative private enterprise. But by 1960, rail transit was almost wholly publicly owned and heavily subsidized.The nation's 1,150 transit bus systems were still largely private and profitable in 1960, but by 1983, municipal governments had taken over the entire transit bus industry.Despite the subsidies, there has been a marked deterioration in the condition of the nation's transit infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers tells us that: "a backlog of $176 billion for transit investments has emerged and is expected to grow to nearly $250 billion through 2029."This book explains to students and others what our municipal, state, and federal governments have been changing, especially during the last 60 years, to bring us to this point. If we can understand how it happened, we can intelligently discuss what needs remedying.This book is also the story of what happens when a private industry is socialized and unharnessed from the disciplines of the marketplace. Originally, America's transit systems earned their incomes by satisfying the needs of their customers, whereas transit today is about adjusting to the agendas of bureaucrats, politicians, and special interest groups.The socialization of the transit industry resulted from the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 and its subsequent amendments. Little was written about the academics and politicians who opposed the act, and how correctly they forecast the outcome for transit. This book tells their story.The book also tells how President John F. Kennedy in 1962 defined what transit needed in new legislation, and how the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 that President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed was the antithesis of Kennedy's recommendations and set the stage for a public-transit takeover. The final action was President Richard Nixon's surprising 1970 political effort that resulted in $10 billion in funding for the 1964 Act.When the transit data from the period known as the Great Inflation, 1965 to 1982, is adjusted for inflation, we see a different picture of what happened compared to the conventional history.This then is the story about the rise and decline of transit in the U.S from 1831 to today. We also discuss possible futures for transit. We examine private sector successes such as the Atlantic City Jitney Association, profitable for over 100 years, Uber and Lyft in the modern era; the potential impact of autonomous vehicles; and the long-term effects of the COVID pandemic. We discuss why the impact of all this on transit, as we know it, is likely to lead to its demise.

Can we humans change who we really are? The characters in this collection of 20 short stories - some mostly humorous and some mostly poignant - come in all shapes and sizes. Some of the characters, unsatisfied with who they are, consciously present a false image to others or unconsciously deceive even themselves. Other characters fully accept and even embrace their own fundamental natures, often after brief detours. Some others make earnest attempts to change who they are, with varying degrees of success. And still others transform unconsciously, for better or for worse. Is it possible to sense which people will meet which fates?In the final story, the characters from all the preceding stories meet each other for the first time at a "reunion." Hailing from different places, different cultural backgrounds, and even some different historical eras, and with a diverse array of personalities and insecurities, they clash at times. In the process they do some serious soul-searching. Have they really changed? Are either their self-images or the images they've presented to others realistic, or are they delusional? In the end the characters unite in a near-consensus, mocking and railing against the author for having portrayed them in an unflattering light. The author's few fictional defenders liken fiction writers to gods, to whom they owe their very existence. The reunion ends with a surprising twist.

A nice read for a cold, wintry night, filled with unusual characters.In this anthology of short stories you will encounter a man's greatest fear.A mist which contains something evil.You will read a scary experience as seen by a toddler (and his grandmother).A budding athlete who is the queen of basketball.And a teenage girl who searches for the missing family dog in a snowstorm.

Welcome to Crooked Sidewalks Too. I purposely titled it this way, and not Crooked Sidewalks Two, because it is a follow-up to my first book, Crooked Sidewalks. I also see it more as a 'Crooked Sidewalks "Also', or a continuation with more stories with the same format and purpose to share lessons learned.I should state right up front that it is my personal belief that each and every one of us is put here on this earth for a purpose. I may not know what that purpose is, but at some time in my life, I may figure it out. There is a beginning, which starts even before we are born, and there is an end on the day we pass away. Everything that happens in between is "the story" of that life. In Crooked Sidewalks, and now Crooked Sidewalks Too, I share a very important principle of life, which I believe relates to how we look at life. I also believe, as I have heard on many occasions, "our life is God's gift to us, and what we do with that life is our gift back to God." I believe it.So, life happens! I believe every life is a story, and every story is a book, but not all books are written. The book is made up of chapters, and unfolds over time. Each chapter represents a period of time, a certain event, a personal relationship or something that defines or leads to what happens next. It can even change the direction of our journey. Some chapters may be short, but others may be long. Some are exciting and some are seriously boring. These chapters can be filled with joy and happiness and some may be filled with sorrow, pain and despair. Some are good and some are bad, or somewhere in between. Some are magical and some are tragedies.From the time of our birth, and even before, we are impacted by our surroundings, our environment, relations or interactions with those we come in contact with. Some circumstances we have control over, while there are many others we have no control over. As I've explained on many occasions, we are being carried downstream in a rushing river with life happening around every bend. It can be extremely exciting or it can be extremely terrifying. Regardless, it is life and the story of our journey.Since every life matters, a book would do so much to help us learn about our family, our history and our efforts to make the world a better place. We can learn from our failures and successes and share with others, while also learning from others who share their story with us. It may also help us when we contemplate questions like, "Who am I" or, "Why do I exist" or, in the grand scheme of things, "What is my purpose here on earth?" Lord knows, I don't have all the answers, but I have learned a few things along the way.My personal stories are represented by the chapters of this book. My story is no more special or less special than anyone else's. What does make it special to me is that it is mine. They tell me that with age, one gains wisdom. I hope with each lesson learned, I can offer you some insights that will encourage you on your own journey in understanding and in writing the various chapters of your own book.As I have journeyed through my life, I've had my ups and downs, my wins and my losses, and even a few memorable and worthy achievements. Realistically, though, my life is not that so different from a lot of people and, when all is said and done and with all that has happened, I can rejoice in the fact that I have yet another day to live and another chapter to write. Apparently, God isn't done with me yet. So, I will celebrate that fact and continue to enjoy my journey as I keep moving forward.

C.H.O.I.C.E.S. Model: Choosing Love Instead of Fear is a self-empowerment book which was 35 years in the making and based on extensive research.That research distilled down to its essence demonstrates that stress is not, as is often portrayed in popular culture, the enemy. Data from two separate fields, academia, and industry, while having opposing views on who is responsible for reducing felt stress, both agree that the primary mitigator of harmful distress is locus of control (LOC).Internal LOC locates the control within the individual whereas external LOC locates the control from outside forces. The consensus by academia and industry is the more LOC is internal, the less distress is felt. Chosen versus imposed stressors yield less harmful impacts from the distress.This research becomes a powerful tool to help reduce distress by restoring control to the individual. Life can be so overwhelming that automatic knee jerk reactions are used to fend off a constant barrage of stressors. The CHOICES Model provides a way to be proactive. The more this is done consciously the greater the sense of wellbeing.The book presents seven life areas which give purpose and meaning. The areas include Community, Health, Occupation, Investment, Creativity, Education, and Spirituality. Each is essential to a quality life. The premise of this book is that an individual's perception of their own personal power increases with every small success and one area of success gives the individual confidence to believe in themselves enough to attempt challenges in the other domains.There's a chapter for each of these seven equally important domains. Each area is defined along with the rationale and tools necessary for personal development. Community is important because we are social beings with needs for belonging. Letting someone know you care allows joy to spring through both your hearts.No matter our physical or mental condition, health matters to all of us. Our personal level of wellbeing sets the limits for what can be our personal best. Build strength and immunity when feeling well and be gentle with yourself when you're not.Occupation is important because we all have a need to be part of something bigger than ourselves; a calling to make a difference; and a desire to leave a meaningful legacy. This needn't be one's vocation. It is literally what occupies our time and energy. It may be an avocation or volunteer service work. However we spend our time, let our life's work lift our hearts and move us all into better days.Investment is not limited to finances. This area is all about how we spend our resources. Besides money, it includes our time, energy, and level of commitment. Let's be generous and give of ourselves without expecting anything in return. In this way we all have the power to be superheroes.Creativity is important because it defines who we are. We build a life. We express who we are. We make something that only we can imagine. Expressions from our hearts are never wasted. When we bring something new into this world we give birth to something that will survive us.Education is something we do naturally and have done since we took our first breath. Lifelong learning helps us make our way in the world. We know that reading to a child instills curiosity and ignites intelligence. Let's read to a child tonight and if that's not possible, let's all continue reading to our inner child.Finally, spirituality provides transcendence to see and feel beyond our limitations and provides love when facing the void. Namaste! The light within me bows to the light within you. Let's spread this message and celebrate the sacred in each other.

A fairytale set in modern times of a Dark High Priestess who is envious of her daughter's destiny of wealth and true love, and her attempt to siphon her energy through numerous curses and abuses.This tale is one of witchcraft used to thwart a princess in every way from her happiness, and her future of fame and wealth.Unbeknownst to the Dark High Priestess, her daughter is heir to be Queen of the Unseen of the Sidhe, who comes with inherent spiritual protection, unbreakable inner strength, to ensure she makes it to her destined throne and true love, in order to free her people from the in-between.

Fuller Sight is a metaphysical novel. Much of the book takes place outside of time as we know it. Danny Anderson is an 18-year-old young man who has decided that he needs to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the girl he loves from throwing away her dreams of becoming a doctor. He kills himself by running his father's car into a bridge's concrete abutment.Upon his death he meets his mother, Nora Anderson, who died nine years earlier. She is his guide for the remainder of the book, helping him review and better understand himself and those around him.As he reviews his life, we gain a better understanding of his father, brother, and the Nigerian American family across the street who became a second family after his mother died in an automobile accident. We especially become acquainted with that family's daughter and Danny's best friend, Sadé Okoro. Their friendship becomes mildly romantic to the point of Sadé expressing her dream of going to college together which Danny believes is financially out of reach.In any case, her university plans with Danny are abruptly shunted when she witnesses a drunken Mitchell Anderson violently slap Danny on the 9th anniversary of Nora's death. Sadé takes Danny to be tended to by her mother, Ezzine Okoro. Danny experiences complete memory loss due to his father's blow.That night, Mitchell dies in his sleep due to an accidental overdose accompanied by liquor. The next day Mitchell is discovered dead in his bed and the death is deemed suspicious. Circumstantial evidence along with a violent scene the day before makes Danny a person of interest.Sadé is convinced of Danny's innocence but Danny has less trust in himself than she has in him. She determines to tell the police she was the one responsible, reasoning that if the detectives have more than one suspect then their theory of the case would be so weakened that they wouldn't be able to charge Danny.All throughout this story, Nora and Danny see all of this as well as the fuller view. They come to understand the karmic life lessons and how the greater community, both living and dead, are all on a path to grow, learn, and love each other. No one is excluded in the greater community, not even those who think and do their worst.This same process continues as Nora guides Danny through previous lives as the son of South Carolina plantation owners in 1775; as a blind beggar and former commander of the royal guard in the Gorkha Kingdom (near Tibet and India) in 1680; as a monk and former heir to an English nobleman in 1349; as a widow and spy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1780; as an observer of Danny's grandmother when she was a suffragette in Washington DC in 1917; and finally back observing his father's actions in 1971.

In a future Brittany, Elin and Talla, the main characters, take parallel pilgrimages from the extreme west to their destination, Mont St. Michel. For both of them, it is a growing experience.Talla leaves her town after her grandmother's tragic death to find her aunt she has never met. The town's people don't trust her and think she has run off with her grandmother's inheritance that doesn't just belong to her. This inheritance is plastic bags which in this time are valuable treasures. Two young cousins follow her. Talla is alone and afraid until she meets up with Fen and his young sister Darling, both walking east. Fen has a treasure, too, books that belonged to his father. The three decide to continue their journey together, although Darling, at first, is suspicious of Talla. The walk is long and sometimes dangerous. Fen is separated from the two girls for several days, and Talla and Darling must learn to get along and work together to survive. They manage but are happy when Fen finds them again. Continuing their journey, they avoid other people when possible. Unfortunately, Talla's cousins are still following her. The trio follows the northern boundary of Brittany, staying fairly close to the coast. They meet Lance and are introduced to the Arthurian legend. Later, they help a grumpy man living alone who offers Darling a dog. Darling is ecstatic, but Fen is reticent. Just before arriving at Michelmont, tragedy spoils the end of their journey. Talla finds the aunt she was hoping to find at Miklemont.Elin leaves her home, also, after a tragedy. The man she was to marry died suddenly and her life seemed to be over. She first stops on her way east to visit an old friend, Rozenn, who is pregnant and waiting for her husband to return. Elin stays with her friend until the baby is born and the husband returns. Her visit over, Elin sets off for Miklemont (Mont St. Michel), and a new life begins for her. She becomes a companion to an invalid woman who teaches her herbal medicine. Later, as she wanders in the fields around Miklemont, she meets Leyla. Mona and Leyla were once friends but became rivals. Elin learns from both of them and in time she discovers the reason for their disaccord. They were in love with the same man. As the years pass, Elin finds her place in the workings of the Mont. She meets Jon. He becomes a perfect friend and something more, although she has difficulty forgetting her long-lost love. When Talla arrives, they are reunited - Elin is Talla's aunt. Talla has found family, and Elin has the chance to find in Talla a renewal with her family she left on bad terms so long ago.

As a snowstorm begins, Dr. Roger Branford picks up an old woman from the street and takes her to St. John's Hospital. Once in the emergency room, she slips out of sight amid the crowd of incoming patients. Suddenly patients at the hospital begin to experience mysterious cures literally overnight. This phenomenon ends up on the news, and sick or injured people begin flocking to St. John's. The doctors are baffled and are even more stunned when, several days later, the cures suddenly begin to reverse.Can these unexplainable events continue? Both doctors and police are shocked to finally find the truth and the horror that lies behind it.

During the post-WW2 period, change came about swiftly. Money, opportunity, and jobs were available for most who wanted to benefit. However, there were those in society who still played race against race and country against country. During a challenging time in 1958, much would happen, and an evil secret Caucus of seven men became formed to influence and control an ever-changing modern society.Over many decades, this secret Caucus built its domination, success, and financial strength through strategic partnerships and streams of well-calculated decisions that only benefitted them. Whether the benefits gained were by peaceful means or subtle barbarism.The name applied to this seven-person Caucus was-The Grandfathers.The Rebel Brigade denounced everything The Grandfathers represented, fighting in vain for many years against the brutal consequences of The Grandfathers' calculating, self-serving interests. Often, in the dark-of-the-night, silent raids by The Effectuators, The Grandfathers' loyal and elite Police Force, would punish the Rebel Brigade and their sympathizers, dragging them off to secret Stewardship Farms and Detention Centers, for re-education before releasing them back into a changing society.The struggle continues until a man who once served The Grandfathers and now seeks revenge for lives lost and promises broken unwittingly becomes a driving force for justice. But can this reluctant stranger bind together a tattered Rebel force? Or must he first continue his struggle to discover redemption from his past sins?

Vince Hopman didn't believe in the tale of the Dreamkillers that his father wrote about until he received a visit from his mother, Tracy Kingston. Allen Corgan has vowed to find the Forbidden Realms. As he closes in on Vince, he unleashes hell on earth once he discovers his own identity. While Allen struggles to unearth his past, Vince and his friends must protect an unborn child destined to bring an end to the Dreamkillers.

After the death of her husband, Katarzyna Weiglowa (Kasia) begins to find her own way in the world. She and Melchior, a bookish couple more interested in big ideas than new furniture, had taken their first steps toward answering the question of whether the God in the Church was the same God they found in their hearts.No longer in need of their big house in Krakow, Kasia accepts an offer from Mosche Fiszel, an old friend and customer of her husband's, to move among his Jewish neighbors in Kazimierz. The adventure of living as a Christian in a Jewish community and exploring Mosche's brand of spirituality helps to fill an emptiness in her heart.On a trip to Silesia to visit Melchior's dying brother, she and her son Andrzej cross paths with religious reformers. Kasia joins a community who question their faith by attending salons held by free thinkers from Krakow's University. She is shaken deeply when she learns that some of the reformers she has met have been executed for their beliefs. But her letters to them, asking deep questions about her faith, have been intercepted by the Church. She is tried for suspicion of heresy. While in prison and after much soul-searching she recants her apostasy and is released with the warning that the next time it will not go so easily for her.Almost a decade later as the Polish legislature debates the question of what to do with the Jews, who are competing with Christian merchants and it is said proselytizing their religion, Kasia becomes the first woman invited to address the Polish Sejm. When she throws Christ's words at them, reminding them that the true Christian loves his or her neighbor, she becomes persona non gratis to the conservatives, is re-arrested, tried again and sentenced to burn as an unrepentant heretic.Meanwhile, in parallel chapters, Poland's new queen Bona Sforza struggles to adapt to the Polish climate and culture. Her relationship as a child with Leonardo daVinci, come to Milan to paint his Last Supper, remains a touchstone of her life. Married to the much-older King Zygmunt, Bona struggles to protect herself, her inheritance, and her children by building her own power base at Wawel Castle. At her husband's request she begins a correspondence with the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman's wife Roxelana, a Polish woman captured in a slave raid. To strengthen her political base against her husband's she establishes a surreptitious line of communication with Istanbul, a dangerous and potentially treasonous act.Kasia's and the Queen's stories intersect when Kasia's fate falls into the Queen's hands. After a miscarriage throws her into her own religious doubts, will she follow her conscience and have Kasia released, or will she give in to political expediency and hand the old woman over to the Church?

San Francisco bartenders offer helpful, amusing remedies for nagging hangovers. A map of bar locations and whimsical illustrations of cocktail slurping dogs add to this book's intoxication and allure.

When Logan McAllister, a high school senior team roper from Wyoming, surfed the internet, all he wanted to find was a girl with heart and soul to talk to. Skylar Alexander, a high school junior equestrian from Arizona, wanted a friend she could believe in again. Neither of them knew where their first conversation would lead. After meeting over the Thanksgiving holidays, Logan and Skylar's friendship developed into a deeper relationship, one that neither of them was sure they were ready for.As Logan competed in rodeos across Wyoming with his roping partner, Jim Abernathy, Skylar blazed through the show arenas in multiple states toward a World Championship with Ben Adkins, her older mentor, who eventually convinced her to work in Italy with him to further his own career. Tragic circumstances bring Skylar home to face an uncertain future.Will Skylar find her soul mate, or simply find a friend, when she comes back to Logan? Distance, separation, and loneliness will test their relationship, but they are the only ones who know if their sacrifice was worth it.

THE VATICAN BATTLE OF BISHOPS: A VIEW FROM THE PEWThere are two problems with the Catholic Church: the Hierarchy thinks they own the Church, and the pew-Catholic is too comfy in his cushioned pew. The Catholic Laity have been enablers of the Hierarchy. The basic and formal difference is that the Hierarchy sees they own the Holy Spirit. In general, the lay folks have had their voices ignored. The Bishops of Vatican II have decreed and Pope Francis has issued a formal invitation to the pews to present their thoughts. Invited to speak, the pew-Catholics voice their inspirations. The Hierarchy [most] disdain the Faithful's inspirations. That suggests a Vatican Battle: Bishops defending the status quo versus Bishops defending the pews.Three factors explain why the Church Hierarchy does not listen to the Holy Spirit from the pews. The Hierarchy is not open to "becoming." They view the status quo as sacred. Second, the Hierarchy is truly convinced they constitute the Church. The oils of Holy Orders mark the anointed with the special gifts needed to guide God's society. Finally, the Hierarchy has traditionally been a caste of privilege. The Roman Emperor Constantine gave the clerics official Roman rank which in turn offered a paycheck. The clergy were no longer required to work for a living alongside the regular believers. They lost touch with all the other believers. In their minds, the ordained are above listening to the laity.In the pews, Catholics have long been second class citizens. They need question how did the Hierarchy arrive at their status. The Roman Emperor Constantine saw the community-minded Christians as a unifier for his empire, and made all clergy officials of the State. The clergy were the ones who had the time and leisure to make memorial meal arrangements. That's when the clergy took on a culture of clericalism, i.e. The clergy own the Church and the Holy Spirit through ordination.That was Ancient Rome. Now priests are abusing the innocence of the youth. Pope Francis calls that Church "a bride caught in adultery." In Biblical terms the use of "adultery" is reserved for the Jews when they went off to worship other gods, idolatry! Pope Francis asserts the Hierarchy worshipped a false god. They worshiped their "ordained-only-church," a sham church, trying to keep the appearance of "Holy." They were covering up the sin [also legal crime] of priests who abused children to fake holy.What about the People of God when all of this was going on? Did they just sit there? The answer is "yes" and "no." Most pew-Catholics did nothing because most did not know what was really going on. Some heard but concluded it must be a lie from some disgruntled Catholic trying to make trouble for one of the priests. These Laity were true enablers of the Hierarchy to sin. But the Holy Spirit managed to alert some of the Catholics. They followed up on what they had heard: "Trust but verify." When they learned of the abuse, they warned their pastors and Bishops about the problem priests. Their pastors and Bishops went numb, denied, hid the abuse, and some Bishops had their law team actually dishonor the victims in courts of law.Again, the Holy Spirit did not allow silence to cover the snub the Hierarchy had dealt the Spirit's counsel. An offended Spirit counseled Pope Francis to call for a Synodal Process to allow the pew-Catholics voice. Because the pew-Catholics had listened to the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete now favored them with the spiritual opportunity of a Synod. Thus, the pew-Catholic had a chance to speak.The agenda for the Bishops is out. The issues are clearly controversial, (women priests, optional priest celibacy, foundations of sexual morality, divorced-remarried catholics) for The Vatican Battle Of Bishops.

Mystery surrounds James Ricketts, a New Jersey officer in the King's service during the American Revolution. Unable to return home because of the war, he leaves his first posting in the West Indies for Scotland to rendezvous for his marriage to Sarah Livingston, daughter of a prominent New York patriot. Their hosts include a British general. From then on they become entangled in disturbing plots. A duel to the death develops between James and an archenemy, the venomous Peter Cartwright. After training recruits at St Augustine, James comes to grips with slavery on the family sugar plantation in Jamaica. Transferred to New York, his career increasingly centers on the bitter struggle between loyalists and rebels. Taking refuge in London, James and Sarah encounter some of his former foes with surprising results.The story is ground-breaking in opening up an ignored chapter in American history - the persistent connections maintained with Britain by many Americans, including some who enthusiastically espoused the cause of independence. Family connections make it possible for James and Sarah to marry under the protection of the Montgomeries of Eglinton Castle in Ayrshire. The British general who is their host had served in the French and Indian Wars and knows America well. This relationship proves to be a mixed blessing since the general is obliged to put James to a test of his loyalty to the Crown. How James handles that predicament and the unforeseen results for the couple, running up unavoidably against a renegade Scot who loathes the Hanoverian dynasty on the British throne, is one of the intriguing aspects of the story.James also has the mission of searching out the intentions of a fellow New Jersey officer of the 60th Royal Americans. How he honorably copes with this officer, Thomas Hutchins, later Geographer of the United States, reveals more of the complex character of James.James's loyalty in another respect is tested by an increasing entanglement with a troubled and irresistible woman of Savannah, where James serves during the successful defense of that city against the Franco-American siege of 1779. Plots interweave in that Cartwright has a hold over the lady, putting James in danger - a danger which dogs both James and Sarah throughout their three-year stay in New York with Army headquarters. What will the British departure from the city mean for the family? What outcome awaits their unexpected meetings with former enemies?

In "The Hopper Rescue," church secretary Abbey Quill is plunged into an investigation of a stolen painting. She finds her life and those of her neighbors threatened when the search gets too close to home. With the aid of her brother, she helps the police close the case.Abbey finds herself once again involved in solving a series of mysteries. This time, though, she is aided by the Agathas, a group of senior women whose main purpose is "solving problems." Read along as Abbey and the Agathas match wits with scoundrels.In the case of "Alibi for Murder," Abbey and the Agathas are instrumental in solving the murder of a well-known local librarian. A member of the group of elder sleuths is the key to discovering the killer.

Gabriella de Conte Thornsen, Gaby, a former young plantation owner from Louisiana who'd followed her cherished cousin Cardinal Thornsen, to the old continent to pursue an operatic scholarship at the Académie de Musique in Paris has become the new sensation in the City of Light and across Europe in the late 1800's. She is crowned as one of the greatest divas ever to sing on the myriad stages of the European Royal Courts.On her way to a singing engagement in Rome, an invitation by the Director of the Palais Garnier in Paris is received requesting an acceptance to sing the lead in Fromenthal Alévy, La Juive. Her singing contract has been purchased at an astronomical price by a mysterious aficionado.Stunned by the change of venue, she nonetheless accepts the role, knowing that her overbearing aristocratic former husband has returned to Paris from the Americas. An uncommon coincidence.An unexpected turn of events which could affect her relationship with her former husband unfolds which takes the Duke, his first officer, Cunnan, and Cardinal Thornsen to a journey in England and Ireland to unravel the mystery. Has the Duke de Bourbonne, Jean-Louis-Pierre de Pleyssis schemed the unusual outcome to once again control his former's wife professional goals? Gossips has it in the City of Light that he wants Gaby's return to their charmed lives at any cost. Will the Diva succumb to his wishes?A monumental life changing discovery could alter their views of reunification as they ponder the ignominies of familial deeds committed for the sole purpose of saving his lineage, grand titles, and social hierarchy.

In a small Midwest town, the Parker family was living the idyllic life.Laura Parker and her family just wanted to live the American dream. That wouldn't be the case though. They had been hit with not one, not two but three tragedies. All involved James Martin in one way or another. These two families were intertwined in many different aspects but not all were pleasant. James verbally abused Laura for many years. It only go worse once he was forced to reveal a secret he had been keeping.The ugliness just snowballed after this. It ended in the worst abuse yet. Laura's pain took on many forms. All the Parkers were tough though. It takes them years to regain some semblance of normalcy. Funerals, assaults and trials is all they seem to experience. They proved faith and family could get them through the worst and end well.There may be a light at the end of the tunnel. After all is said and done, Laura was the winner. James and friends were the losers.

Prince - The Concert Chronicles+ is Francis Nicholas Driscoll's expert witness account of 11 Prince Concerts over 32 years, in great, explicit, funky design and detail!This book was written in the summer of 2016 in the hot ghetto of East Side Las Vegas, Sam's Town specifically, where original gangster and recording studio engineer and owner Francis Nicholas Driscoll was recording his debut album Vegas Dayz when Prince transitioned, the author elected not to release this gem of essays for a multitude of different reasons......until now.The book starts in Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City, takes you to Prince shows in both New Jersey and Connecticut in ways that make you feel like you were there, then it lands in no other place than Sin City, Las Vegas Nevada where Francis got to achieve the Prince Concert Experience 3 times in 2 nights at the legendary Hard Rock Hotel on what proved to be his last tour, and then the aftermath, well, let's say in closing that its the quintessential tribute to the greatest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Musician of all time: The one and only Prince Rogers Nelson. Note: Listen to funky Prince albums while reading for best results! Thank you.

A World of DilemmasAfrica, Europe, the Middle East, North America... During a lifetime of global travels, first in international business and then with charitable endeavors, author Imran Riffat has experienced a wide range of people engaged in complex entanglements, be it in business, politics, or personal relationships. This collection of fictional short stories reflects the fascinating real-life characters he has met and the predicaments they have found themselves in. Stories read like fables, with central characters facing moral dilemmas.

Professor Giovanni, an associate within D.A.R.C., performs a procedure that saves TAG's life. TAG feels the professor has overstepped their agreement in regards to experimental research boundaries. To avoid further tension within D.A.R.C., the professor takes tenure at Dresden University to continue his research with nanorobotic technology. Professor Giovanni eventually discovers a way to enhance a nano procedure by remote switching. This breakthrough will directly change all areas of applied medical science and medicine. This research soon draws the attention from several governmental and private entities. It's not long before MI6 comes knocking on D.A.R.C.'s door informing them of the professors possible kidnapping. What comes to light as the action unfolds is that a hostile Middle Eastern corporation, along with a private mercenary agency, will do whatever it takes to acquire the professor's discovery. Their control of this technology has the potential to be worth more than their oil reserves within their country. TAG and Dutch race headlong into an explosive chase that will take them from Dresden, Monaco, Corsica and Marseille. With the stakes this high, there's nobody better to tackle this mission than TAG, along with his D.A.R.C. team.Strap in and hold on as Dennis Collins pulls you into the inaugural flight of D.A.R.C., a Michael Tagtmeyer series. This insight into the plausible future of nanorobotics will have you questioning what is real and what may be right around the corner.

Joseph Halz returned to his Southern roots from the Vietnam War a broken, hollow soul. Unsure and aimless at first, but searching for meaning, he struggles to rekindle old relationships and a lost love only to have his dreams dashed and his expectations shattered.Always the seeker, he explores new possibilities and finally finds redemption and grace when he accepts the spiritual path he was destined to walk.

Tomorrow Won't Be Any Better is a collection of short stories in the noir fiction genre, where the protagonists are morally compromised, the settings are raw and gritty, and the bleakness of human nature is revealed. A fun-read for those attracted to the dark side of human existence.