Death of a Diva: From Berlin to Broadway by Brigitte Goldstein A veteran actress’s brutal murder at a Broadway theater in 1941 sets off a police investigation that reaches back to pre-WWI Vienna and 1920s Berlin in Brigitte Goldstein’s densely plotted noir mystery novel, Death of a Diva. In 1941 New York, the murder on Broadway of Stella Berger, famed star of screen and stage of Weimar Germany and outspoken critic of the Nazi regime which had forced her into exile, sends shock waves through the American public. The police act quickly, and the prime suspect, an emigrant street musician, is tried and put on death row. But Misia Safran, a young Jewish refugee from Germany and part-time employee at the theater who becomes inadvertently involved in the investigation, is haunted by the possibility of his innocence and a suspicion that there's more to the case than meets the eye. Determined to uncover the truth, Misia delves into Stella's background. She patches together the life of the revered actress from testimony by those who had been closest to her throughout her rise to stardom. From accounts of her humble origins in a Viennese ghetto to her rise to the pinnacle in the acting world of 1920's Berlin, to her battle with Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels, emerges the portrait of a woman of great strength of character and resolve, albeit one that conceals a vulnerable side which ultimately may have been the cause of her undoing. As Misia cuts through a bewildering thicket of lies, hidden agendas, and deceptions, she is met with intimations of a deep secret in Stella's past, evidence of which may be stored in the vault of a Swiss bank. If made public, this secret could provide the clue to the mystery, but could also destroy the star's carefully guarded public persona.
Mom on the Road by Allyson Ochs Primack Shortly after she turned forty, Maggie Stevens took an unexpected journey that changed the course of her life. She didn't decide to visit all of the Earth's rain forests or spend months roaming through the African desert. It was not for scientific research nor was it for purposes of investigative journalism. Maggie’s journey took place in the most unlikely of places: on a bus with a bunch of actors. Think "Almost Famous," except instead of a teenage boy, it was a pre-pre-menopausal mom of three. Forced to face all of her fears on the road, Maggie must figure out how to get back the one thing she lost many years ago: herself. Inspired by the author’s own journey on the road while accompanying her son as his guardian on a Broadway tour and documented in the popular blog, www.momontour.com.
Physical Literacy 12 Steps Pledge Ambassadorship by Steven C. McCartney Physical Literacy 12 Steps Pledge Ambassadorship is the passport that connects a path (the yellow brick road to health and fitness) for readers young and old: Or fit and unfit with 12 proven strategies according to scientific based research and national health and fitness objectives to learn how to workout smarter, stay healthier, reduce health disparities and build a healthier community globally. The rhythmic and metaphor of dance provides the vehicle in which the reader becomes engaged in the environment in which we live. Reading this educational and instructional tool can provide new understanding for young teen readers and adults by introducing 12 various topics on total health and fitness for personal best. In addition this book includes an Ambassador Certificate, Glossary, Total Fitness Chart, and Assessment Quiz. Rather than a get-fit-quick scheme, the Physical Literacy 12-Step Pledge Ambassadorship focuses on a lifetime of healthy behaviors and activities and is geared toward both the fit and the unfit. Whether children encounter the program in school physical education programs, at home, or during an extracurricular activity, they will discover something much larger than themselves. They will discover their ability to hone different aspects of their everyday lives in order to become healthy and stay healthy in both body and mind. The plan described within the Book is practical and completely attainable despite anyone’s current lifestyle. It was designed to be concrete, positive and completely inclusive with a number of goals that can be reached and celebrated over time. Individuals who take the time to implement these strategies will develop a core foundation that revolves around their overall well-being.
Road to Siran: Erin's Story by Behcet Kaya Erin Ozcomert, a beautiful, graduate student at UCLA, has always felt compelled to learn more about the little known stories of her father; stories that have been hidden from her since his death several years before. Leaving modern day Los Angeles, Erin is swept into the ancient customs and traditions of her father’s village in northeastern Turkey. What she learns there is not at all what she had expected to find. As she is enfolded into the loving arms of her Aunt Fatma Ozkoy, Erin discovers a place where tradition prevails in social ceremonies and family feuds are still kindling hatred and murder, torn by some never forgotten malice performed by past generations. Trying to integrate these discoveries, Erin is given the gift of her grandmother’s journal. Reading the handwritten treasure, her emotions are stripped raw as she uncovers her heritage and the answers to her questions. Forced to leave the village before she is ready, Erin returns to Istanbul only to discover more secrets from her father's past.
Harmonology: An Insider's Guide to Healthy Relationships Through Music by Mr. Stephen John O'Connor A groundbreaking, practical and unique insight for transforming troubled relationships into positive ones. Whether you're single and searching for your "soul-mate," or want to heal the relationships you already have, the groundbreaking ideas in this book--and the inspiring stories of real people expressing the various interval relationships--will open you to a whole new world of possibilities. Because Harmonology is more than just a book. It's a great way of viewing your life.
Kittens Can Kill: A Pru Marlowe Pet Noir by Clea Simon The dead don’t keep pets. So when animal behaviorist expert Pru Marlowe gets a call about a kitten, she doesn’t expect to find the cuddly creature playing beside the cooling body of prominent Beauville lawyer David Canaday. Heart attack? His three adult daughters angrily blame drug interactions, feline allergies—and each other. And begin to feud over their father, his considerable estate, and that cute ball of fluff. While the cause of death is pending, each sister has an axe to grind—with arguments that escalate when David’s partner reads out the will. Pru’s special sensitivity to animals, which caused her to flee the cacophony of Manhattan for the quiet Berkshires, adds further problems. The local vet is overwhelmed as the animal hospital's money runs out. There’s a needy Sheltie and some invasive squirrels, too. But the dead man’s kitten, his former partner, and his troublesome family keep drawing “wild-girl” animal psychic Pru back in. Despite the wry observations of her trusty tabby Wallis, now the wrongfully accused kitten’s guardian, and the grudging compliance of her cop lover, this may be one time when Pru can’t solve the mystery or save the kitten she wants to believe is innocent. A single witness knows the truth about that bright spring morning. How far can Pru investigate without risking her own hidden tale?
War Bonds: Love Stories from the Greatest Generation by Cindy Hval America’s World War II is most often told through the stories of its great battles, when an entire generation of our young men was suddenly thrust across the oceans to represent the New World in deadly combat against the great powers of the Old. On sea, in the air, and on land our boys fought against totalitarian powers that threatened to overturn the American ideal of liberty for every individual, even civilization itself. But while often forgotten, America’s women participated too. On the home front they were more than willing to share in the hardships of wartime, and in countless cases they fairly lived and breathed with support for our troops overseas. Whether working in factories or taking care of families, rationing or volunteering, their unflagging support contributed more to our victories than has ever been told. From blind dates to whirlwind romances to long separations, War Bonds highlights stories of couples who met or married during WWII. Each of the 30 stories begins with a World War II-era song title and concludes with a look at wartime couples in their twilight, as well as when they were so hopeful and young and determined to save the world. Illustrated with photographs from the 1940's as well as current ones of each couple, War Bonds offers readers a glimpse of bygone days, as well as a poignant glimpse of our own.
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