Urban City

Jeff Speck has dedicated his career to determining what makes cities thrive. And he has boiled it down to one key factor: walkability. The very idea of a modern metropolis evokes visions of bustling sidewalks, vital mass transit, and a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban core. But in the typical American city, the car is still king, and downtown is a place that’s easy to drive to but often not worth arriving at. Making walkability happen is relatively easy and cheap; seeing exactly what needs to be done is the trick.

After decades of unchecked sprawl, more people than ever are moving back to the city. Dense urban living has been prescribed as a panacea for the environmental and resource crises of our time. But is it better or worse for our happiness? Are subways, sidewalks, and tower dwelling improvements on the car dependence of sprawl?

Every city has a story. Some will chill you long after the last page. From the neon glow of Las Vegas to the haunted tunnels beneath New York, America hides dark secrets in every skyline. This gripping anthology dives into 50 terrifying urban legends, each rooted in real locations, whispered folklore, and chilling mysteries that refuse to stay buried. 👻 Inside, you’ll discover: • Ghostly apparitions roaming iconic landmarks • Cursed objects and sinister doppelgängers • Unexplainable creatures lurking in lakes and alleyways • Vanished souls who demand to be remembered • ...

The last in a proud line of witches, he’s come to test his small magic in the big city. Stealing enchanted artifacts pays the rent, but the competition is fierce. And handsome. And great at magic too.

Bryce Quinlan had the perfect life-working hard all day and partying all night - until a demon murdered her closest friends, leaving her bereft, wounded, and alone. When the accused is behind bars but the crimes start up again, Bryce finds herself at the heart of the investigation. She'll do whatever it takes to avenge their deaths. Hunt Athalar is a notorious Fallen angel, now enslaved to the Archangels he once attempted to overthrow. His brutal skills and incredible strength have been set to one purpose - to assassinate his boss' enemies, no questions asked.

If his status ain't hood, I ain't checkin' for him Better be street if he lookin' at me I need a soldier that ain't scared to stand up for me Known to carry big things, if you know what I mean —Destiny's Child, “I Need a Soldier” This bundle features three series that showcase street ninjas and the women who love and desire them. Fast-paced action, steamy scenes, and plenty of twists and turns will keep you on the edge of your seat. The series are jam-packed with shootouts, breakups, makeups, baby daddy drama, surprise pregnancies, baby mama drama, addiction, infidelity, pain, ...

Jane Jacobs and the Human City: Exploring the Principles of Human-Centered Urban Design is a powerful exploration of one of the most influential urban thinkers of the twentieth century. Jane Jacobs changed the way the world understands cities by insisting that real urban vitality comes from people—their interactions, diversity, and daily lives—not from abstract blueprints or top-down planning. This book introduces Jacobs’s life and legacy while connecting her ideas to the modern framework of human-centered design. From her defense of sidewalks and public spaces to her critique of ...

Family over everything! It sounds good in theory. But in reality family can be the first to screw you over. Paris, the stunningly beautiful sister, has always been the golden child, effortlessly captivating everyone around her. However, her breathtaking exterior hides a darker side—one that led her to betray her sister Samaya’s trust by sleeping with her man. Their once inseparable bond, igniting a fierce rivalry filled with resentment and longing. Samaya, on the other hand, is equally beautiful but feels overshadowed by Paris's allure. As she grapples with the betrayal, she finds ...

Ezekiel Zane’s once-quiet retirement has rapidly become very complicated. His long-dead wife has returned as a banshee, and a manic-pixie goblin girl is working overtime to turn his life upside down. To make matters worse, a half-slime federal agent wants in on the action. The Fates have other ideas.

Growing up in the hood, Micha knew there were certain unwritten rules that were sacrosanct - practically biblical commandments: Do what you have to to get over. Never snitch; do your time like a man. And - above all else - never drop any hint that you might be gay. (Hell, if anybody even joked about it, you were honor-bound to break their jaw!) Initially, Micha has no problem with any of these, but an unexpected encounter suddenly awakens something in him that he never knew existed. Feelings. Longings. Desires. Physical needs that women prove incapable of satisfying. As Micha grapples with ...

Become a shifter. Build my pride. Be the leader these people need. I’ve always known I was different. There’s a beast inside me, clawing to get free—and it finally breaks loose when I return to Thornveil City, a magic-soaked metropolis crawling with shifters.

After a chaotic breakup with Franko, the father of her five- year old, Mimi’s world is shattered, leaving her with only the love of her daughter, to sustain her. Although she makes peace with the situation, she still feels hurt and alone until fate takes an unexpected turn. This is when Mimi crosses paths with Dustin, a thoughtful and caring man who appears to be the missing piece in her life. Unlike Franko, Dustin values and respects Mimi. As the two of them navigate the delicate dance of new love, secrets from Dustin's past threaten to unravel the budding romance. Mimi must decide ...

For the past six months, Loren Calla's life has consisted of one simple objective: stay alive. With the help of her new friends and the love of a ruthless Darkslayer, she has defied the odds. But with the Veil rapidly falling, and swarms of bloodthirsty creatures invading Yveswich, survival has once again stepped beyond her reach. Pushed into a war between worlds, she must ask herself a question: what—or who—is she willing to sacrifice for victory? For love?

Bang! Bang! Bang! Shots rang out and echoed in the night... The assailant walked away and looked back once. She walked away cool and calm, vanishing into the night! She had stopped running! In her mind, he deserved it! All she could think of in that moment, was the fact that he would never get the chance to kill another woman’s spirit. Killing her spirit was the same as her dying… And Ursula felt dead! The trauma and injury inflicted upon her by the men proved too much, and her resilient and tough exterior crumbled under the strain. And when tragedy strikes, it ups the ante! Things go ...

For readers of What an Owl Knows and The World Without Us, this infectiously impassioned tour of the five New York City boroughs offers jaded city dwellers and bird lovers everywhere an unexpected, delightful new view of the concrete jungle – through its surprisingly enormous and diverse bird...

A scholarly, atmospheric tour of real urban legends and modern folklore, told with care, context, and curiosity so you finally understand why brightly lit cities still keep unquiet stories. Urban Legends Around the World is a nonfiction, city by city guide that explains where famous stories began, how newspapers, radio, television, forums, and tourism amplified them, and why they endure in places you can still visit today. Nathaniel Hargrove blends cultural history, folklore studies, psychology, and place based narrative so readers who enjoy intelligent ghost stories, haunted places, and ...

For the first time in the history of our planet, more than half the population - 3.3 billion people - is now living in cities. City is the ultimate guidebook to our urban centers - the signature unit of human civilization. With erudite prose, this unique work of metatourism explores what cities are and how they work. It covers history, customs and language, districts, transport, money, work, shops and markets, and tourist sites, creating a fantastically detailed portrait of the city through history and into the future.

Humans greatest strength is our ability to adapt to our surroundings, but what if those surroundings are unhealthy? What is the conditions we are growing accustomed to are not fit for our own habitation? What if the very places we find ourselves living are making us sick? The places we shape, in turn, shape our lives. We are a product of our environment and our environment has degraded to the point of having severe consequences for our personal health. As we have experienced decline all around us, we can’t help but follow suit internally. Our places dictate the people we become, the ...

My life changed dramatically ever since I found out that I’m a long-lost lion shifter, complete with awesome magic and special abilities. Being the only male lion shifter in Thornveil City comes with a few perks of its own, and my new celebrity status means that everyone wants to know what I’ll do next.

Akia (Kia) Masters has been backed into a corner by the love of her life’s father, Anton Morales. She will do anything to protect her family, even if that means giving up what she wants the most, a life with Santano“Tan” Morales. Tan knows that something is going on between Kia and his father but is not sure what. Tan has a lot on his plate with trying to keep his ex-wife’s advances at bay and finding out the secrets his wife and father are keeping from him. Will Kia trust Tan enough to confide in him? Sable Mills thought she had escaped her troubled past life in Nashville. Her ...