Showing results by author "J. Smith" in All Categories

Travel agent Gabby LeClair, a divorced big-city transplant trying to find some aloha spirit in her soul, prides herself on working hard to give the Aloha Lagoon Resort guests a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But that turns out to be more than anyone bargained for when the body of a client is found dead during one of Gabby's island tours.

Crucibles: History's Most Formidable Rites of Passage explores fourteen elite organizations, with a special emphasis on the onerous trials designed to cull initiates from aspirants. It analyzes the underlying commonalities of such trials, describing how they work, why people are willing to subject themselves to such rigors, and how such tests benefit or harm the organizations that require them.

The road to Sandy June's Legendary Frybread Drive-In slips through every rez and alongside every urban Native hangout. The menu offers a rotating feast, including traditional eats and tasty snacks. But Sandy June's serves up more than food: it hosts live music, movie nights, unexpected family reunions, love long lost, and love found again. That big green-and-gold neon sign beckons to teens of every tribal Nation, often when they need it most.

In another age, the pathways connecting Earth to the Wildworld were sealed, forever separating humans from the shimmering parallel universe where legends still live. A great sorceress, Morgana Shee, guards the solitary gate between the worlds. She alone holds the secret of Fell Andred, her mansion built directly on the Great Coastal Passage, whose mirrors are the last doorways to enchantment.

Driven from their hometown of Mystic Falls, both Stefan Salvatore and his brother, Damon, arrived in Europe looking for a fresh start. But Samuel, a wealthy and cunning vampire, has other plans for them. First he ruined Stefan’s peaceful existence and now he’s framing Damon for the most gruesome murders London has ever seen. United against their common enemy, Stefan and Damon are stunned when they realize that the source of Samuel’s rage lies in their past - tied up with the woman who changed their lives.

Heidi and Ann have been together nearly sixteen years, and yet, something hasn't been right in their relationship from the start. Struggling with deep trauma, Heidi pulls away and doesn't know how to function in a normal loving relationship. Ann is overwhelmed by shame when it comes to her needs. Eighteen months ago, they took a leap and opened their relationship in hopes of finding a better balance. Insert Lila. Lila is young, vicarious, and a strength for both Ann and Heidi. With trauma of her own, she was graced with the tools to cope and thrive.

Step into the shadows where the line between flesh and nightmare blurs, where the body becomes both canvas and cage. In this chilling anthology, darkness reigns supreme as twisted minds explore the depths of human agony and transformation. From the grotesque to the surreal, each story delves deeper into the macabre, weaving tales of torment that will leave you breathless and disturbed.

If you have questions about U.S. civics, law, and justice but don’t want to wade through dry and dull legalese to get the answers, you will love this down-to-earth collection of essays that provide an insider’s view of the legal system. In Civics, Law, and Justice - How We Became U.S., career trial lawyer and judge J. Layne Smith offers crystal-clear insight and straightforward answers to everything you’ve ever wondered about the art and science of justice in American history and society.

A powerful collection of essays that challenge the dangerous propaganda that is being spread by those who seek to justify Putin’s aggression in Ukraine or shift the blame onto “NATO NATO NATO”. Seasoned antiwar activists, the writers have dedicated their lives to promoting peace and human rights. Sadly, many former colleagues have gone into the camp of “tankies” — those who support authoritarian regimes. Knee-jerk opposition to American foreign policy leads too many people to buy into “anti-imperialist” rhetoric to the point of carrying water for some of the most horrendous ...

You know the benefits of having a limited liability company, but you don't know how to get started. You're not alone! Lots of people know that an LLC is a great business entity for tax benefits and legal protection, but few know the steps to create one. LLC: The Ultimate Guide to Forming Your LLC in 10 Simple Steps will show you exactly how to create your limited liability company for whatever industry you're in. Discover the fundamental elements needed for your new LLC.

THE 'HITS' KEEP COMING: SUSPENSE FICTION WITH A DIFFERENCE Hired killers. Vigilantes. Executioners. Contract killers. Assassins working from a moral or political motivation. You’ll find them all in this thrilling suspense anthology. But these are not ordinary killers, not your run-of-the-mill hitmen. The emphasis is on the "uncommon" here—unusual characters, usual situations, and especially unusual means of killing. Here are tales by some of the best suspense/thriller writers today, including F. Paul Wilson, Ken Bruen, J. Carson Black, Billie Sue Mosiman, Laura DiSilverio, Joseph Badal,...

There is no universal adoption experience, and no two adoptees have the same story. This anthology for teens edited by Shannon Gibney and Nicole Chung contains a wide range of powerful, poignant, and evocative stories in a variety of genres. These tales from fifteen bestselling, acclaimed, and emerging adoptee authors genuinely and authentically reflect the complexity, breadth, and depth of adoptee experiences.

If you’ve always wanted to uncover the secrets to influence people and discover how the environment affects our brain development, then keep reading...Influencing people requires you to have a certain power over them. In this guide, you will learn: The principles of persuasion and how use them in daily life, the difference between influence and manipulation, the tools and techniques used to influence people's behavior, and much more.

Death is only the beginning. . .Elena Gilbert’s entire world has shattered in a single moment. Her true love, Stefan is dead, staked through the heart by their so-called friend Jack. Now the only thing Elena cares about is destroying Jack and his race of scientifically created vampires.

Someone is killing the people of London, leaving behind bodies drained of blood and bite marks upon their necks. Faced with the possibility of a vampire attack in London, Sherlock Holmes is called upon by Scotland Yard to uncover the identity of the killer. Once on the case, it doesn’t take long for the detective to follow a trail leading to a bar along St. Katherine Docks. Soon after, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson stumble upon an improbable ring of immortal spies, into which they are promptly recruited. It is a cat and mouse game, with Sherlock and Watson as the bait. But with London's ...

Elena Gilbert is dying. When Damon Salvatore avenged his brother Stefan’s death, he broke the sacred deal he’d made with the Guardians - and put Elena’s life at risk. She should be dead, but instead, the Guardians are offering Elena a once-in-a-lifetime chance: To start over. Ever since she met the Salvatore brothers, Elena’s love for them both has caused endless death and destruction.

Grace Adair has spent the last thirteen years in captivity, ruled by evil men. Loss, pain, and sadness has defined her. After a quick escape, the world she finds is large and exciting, but completely terrifying. All she wanted was some peace and quiet filled with delicious food, DIY projects, and all the books one woman can read. Teaching herself how to survive is hard enough, but when her animal initiates a reconnection as well as a mating bond with a complete stranger, she is in for the fight of her life. Dayo Agu has spent his long shifter-life fighting wars that can't be won. Now, after...

Every seven years, a boy disappears from Camp Waukeelo. Joey Proctor can't swim, but that doesn't stop camp counselor Alex Mason from leaving him out on a raft in the middle of the lake in a fit of rage. Alex only meant to scare the kid, teach him a lesson. He didn't mean to forget about him. But now Joey is gone, and his body is never found. More than 20 years later, Alex is a success. No one knows what happened that summer at camp. At least, no one should know. But it looks like Joey Proctor may be back to take his revenge.

A recent release from a glorified prison system, Jeraldine Adelric wants nothing more than to live as legally as possible so she’s never sent back to Joab. As she buys her ship and works toward being an owner and proprietor, she also finds a potential new love in Arloa, an older woman, an aristocrat, and someone way out of her league. As her crew takes their first job, problems arise. Not only are they ill-prepared for the work, but the virus that rages through their planet hits her crew, and Jerry has to make a choice. Who will she save and who will she kill?

Influence and persuasion are a huge part of our everyday lives. The point of this book is to help you let go of that baggage and finish your business. What might this unfinished business be? Whatever it is, it might be affecting your level of anxiety. If you’ve always wanted to uncover the secrets to influence people and discover how the environment affects our brain development, then buy this audiobook today.