Great Winter

Her name is Barbara - in Russian, Varvara. Nimble-witted and attentive, she’s allowed into the employ of the Empress Elizabeth, amid the glitter and cruelty of the world’s most eminent court. Under the tutelage of Count Bestuzhev, Chancellor and spymaster, Varvara will be educated in skills from lock picking to lovemaking, learning above all else to listen, and wait for opportunity. That opportunity arrives in a slender young princess from Zerbst named Sophie, a playful teenager destined to become the indomitable Catherine the Great.

Inspired as a boy by the multiple meanings to be found for a single word in the dictionary, Kohei Araki is devoted to the notion that a dictionary is a boat to carry us across the sea of words. But after thirty-seven years creating them at Gembu Books, it's time for him to retire and find his replacement. He discovers a kindred spirit in Mitsuya Majime - a young, disheveled square peg with a penchant for collecting antiquarian books and a background in linguistics - whom he swipes from his company's sales department.

Young Elizabeth Stuart was thrust into a life of wealth and splendor when her godmother, Queen Elizabeth I, died and her father, James I, ascended to the illustrious throne of England. At 16 she was married to a dashing German count far below her rank, with the understanding that James would help her husband achieve the crown of Bohemia. Her father's terrible betrayal of this promise would ruin "the Winter Queen", as Elizabeth would forever be known, imperil the lives of those she loved, and launch a war that would last for 30 years.

A fresh look at the endlessly fascinating Tudors - the dramatic and overlooked story of Henry VII and his founding of the Tudor Dynasty - filled with spies, plots, counter-plots, and an uneasy royal succession to Henry VIII. Near the turn of the sixteenth century, England had been ravaged for decades by conspiracy and civil war. Henry Tudor clambered to the top of the heap, a fugitive with a flimsy claim to England’s crown who managed to win the throne and stay on it for 24 years.

The story is about a young widow, Sarah Bennett, who struggles to save her cattle ranch and community during a harsh winter and severe drought in 1886 Montana, showcasing her resilience and determination.

Fourteen years after the dawn of darkness the Hamilton family still leads the Red Hawk Republic. Through personal tragedy and unspeakable hardship they've forged a new society from the ashes of the greatest empire the world had ever known. Old allies have fallen and new enemies surround them. Now the truth of what ruined the electronic world all those years ago is revealed, leading to discoveries nearly impossible to comprehend. While longing for peace, the folk of the Republic mobilize for total war against their enemies.Founder of the Republic Alex Hamilton forges ahead with a plan to ...

At the height of the Great Depression, 250,000 teenagers were roaming America. Some left home because they felt they were a burden to their families; some fled homes shattered by the shame of unemployment and poverty; some left because it seemed a great adventure. Whether with the blessings of parents or as runaways, they hit the road and went in search of a better life. By summer 1932, the "roving boy" had become a fixture on the American landscape. The occasional girl was sighted, too, most passing unrecognized in male garb.

Inspired by TRUE Events! - In a historical with romance, action-adventure, family, foreign and national intrigue between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, all kinds of exciting things...Through blizzards, gale-force winds, temperatures falling below -80, and over 700 miles of death-dealing terrain, teams of brave men and courageous and smart dogs of in dominatable fighting spirit, mush sleds across the Alaska wilderness, in an around the clock relay, race with lifesaving serum for 11,000 plague-ravaged people inaccessible by everything, but death and their determined rescuers, warring with the...

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of Henry VIII: The Quest for Fame by John Guy, read by John Banks. Henry VIII's reign transformed the physical and spiritual landscape of England. Magnificent, tyrannical, a strong ruler, a 'pillager of the commonwealth', this most notorious of kings remains a figure of extreme contradictions: a devout traditionalist who oversaw a cataclysmic rupture with the church in Rome, a talented, charismatic, imposing figure who nevertheless could not bear to meet people's eyes when he talked to them.

From the grand old man of comedy, George Burns to the up-to-the minute observations of today's everyman, Dave Barry, these great humorists share one thing in common: their very individual, often raucously funny perception of the world around them. Laugh and enjoy!

THE MAUS TRAP A quiet winter vacation in the Alps. A romantic and secluded hotel. Only nine guests. A famous crime novelist who is being stalked. Three shots, one dead body—a new case for Penny Küfer. Each book in the series features a complete, standalone mystery—perfect to enjoy in any order.

Just days before Christmas, after returning from a business trip, Luke Sutherlin found the last thing he would have ever expected.Her letter. Luke knew he would only ever have to read it once. Each word was now seared into his memory. He knew too it wasn’t something she had done easily. Her every written word tells him that. He knows that he’s made some bad choices and even worse decisions over the years. Then hadn’t paid attention when she saw what he didn’t. Or didn’t want to. Those things had changed him. He had never meant to take anything for granted. But he had. Worse, he ...

When Flea returns to the human world, his dreams are haunted by the heroic consequences of his actions from the end of last Christmas. He expects another long year of being the outcast at school, especially now that he has to deal with the effects of Flea-bot taking his place for so long. However, he DOESN'T expect the changes to his life he soon discovers... Jack Frost steps up his efforts to destroy Flea, finally sending more than just simple snowmen to the human world to stop the boy... Flea finds his life back at the North Pole similar to what he left behind in the human world. ...

From IndieReader.com: "Part fantasy, part coming-of-age tale, part humorous romp, THE NORTH POLE CHALLENGE is both entertaining and imaginative. As the first book of five, the narrator skillfully positions his central character to have numerous other adventures." From reviewer Oh My Bookness: "This is a perfect children's tale, even good for interested adults to read who like the holiday season and a twist on characters such as Jack Frost, Old Man Winter, and the creation of Christmas. If you are interested in taking a magical ride through the holiday season this the story for you or any ...

Life is a journey, and few things are guaranteed. There is one thing, however, promised to all of us that is conflict. Regardless of your race, nationality, political affiliation, sexual preference, economic status, or even your religious beliefs, conflict affects all of us. The question is; how do you make the most of the conflicts in your life? How do you recognize and use the power of conflict to unearth hidden greatness? Can these questions even be answered? I believe so. Furthermore, I think this book does a phenomenal job addressing our concerns. With the threat of war in the air, ...

In 1641, England exits a plague-ridden and politically unstable summer having reached a semblance of peace: the English and Scottish armies have disbanded, legislation has passed to ensure Parliament will continue to sit, and the people are tentatively optimistic. But King Charles I is not satisfied with peace—he wants revenge. So begins England’s winter of discontent. As revolutionary sects of London begin to generate new ideas about democracy, as radical new religious groups seek power, and as Ireland explodes into revolt, Charles hatches a plan to restore his absolute rule.

Utah has long claimed to have the greatest snow on Earth - the state itself has even trademarked the phrase. In Secrets of the Greatest Snow on Earth, Jim Steenburgh investigates Wasatch weather, exposing the myths, explaining the reality, and revealing how and why Utah’s powder lives up to its reputation. Steenburgh also examines ski and snowboard regions beyond Utah, making this book a meteorological guide to mountain weather and snow climates around the world.

When Vavara, a young orphaned Polish girl, is brought to serve at Empress Elizabeth's glittering, dangerous court in St Petersburg, she is schooled by the Chancellor himself in skills from lock-picking to love-making, learning above all else to stay silent - and listen. Soon, she is Elizabeth's 'tongue' - her secret eyes and ears. Then Sophie, a vulnerable young princess, arrives from Prussia as a prospective bride for Elizabeth's heir.

Flea returns to the North Pole after the most challenging Christmas ever. Not everyone has survived and even more danger is coming. The South Pole Army is closer than ever and the war for the North Pole - and the fate of the world - is finally at hand. With Santa Claus gone and nobody left to guide Flea, he feels more alone than ever. North Pole vs. South Pole isn't the only looming battle. A final showdown with Jack Frost seems unavoidable, but Flea still has many difficult decisions to make, decisions that will define the future of Christmas... OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR FLEA'S FIVE ...

Stevie loves to toot, chilly snowy farts. However, most people do not enjoy tooting like he does, and unfortunately for Stevie, his tooting makes him unable to work at all the different jobs that he tries. But maybe there is a way that Stevie can turn his tooting into his biggest advantage rather than a disadvantage? Find out whether Stevie is able to use his tooting skills to his advantage by listening along this classic holiday story for kids!