Cats And Curses

The fourth title in the brilliant mystery adventure series by Waterstones Book Prize shortlisted author, Elen Caldecott. For fans of the Laura Marlin Mysteries by Lauren St John. Meet Piotr, Minnie, Andrew, Flora and Sylvie – the Marsh Road Mystery solvers. It's a good day for Andrew. His mum is feeling better than she has done in ages and she's even going back to work at last. But things begin to go badly wrong when she signs for a mysterious package containing an ancient Egyptian mummified cat. Has the fated feline cursed the Marsh Road junk shop – or is there something else afoot? The five friends have a new case to solve.

Cardea, follower of the Great Goddess is cursed to live an eternity as a blood drinker. For centuries she has lived with hate hunting and feeding off humans. Now she finds herself at the end of a sword blade held by the most handsome and arrogant man she has ever met. Aedan mac Gabrain, prince of Dal Riata and a Christian, trusts no one after suffering a curse that keeps him from touching any females or he will turn into a black cat like his brother. He especially distrusts this strange female who could be the one who cursed his clan since no one knows Cat Anna's true face. Can two tortured souls find love while battling a dark goddess determined to destroy them?

The first installment in The Curse Workers series from New York Times bestselling author Holly Black: “Urban fantasy, con story—whatever you call it, read it” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). Cassel comes from a family of con artists and grifters, all of them curse workers but him. On top of that, Cassel is plagued by guilt that he killed his best friend, Lila, years ago. When Cassel begins to have strange dreams about a white cat and people around him are losing their memories, he starts to wonder what really happened to Lila, and what that means about his actions. In Cassel’s search for answers about Lila and himself, he realizes that his brothers have been conning him for years, and that the final piece in their quest for power is about to fall into place. Cassel has other ideas. He’s going to create an even more elaborate trap and, with Lila’s help, con a bunch of magic using conmen. This “beautifully realized dark fantasy...with prose that moves from stark simplicity to almost surreal intensity in a moment” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) is rife with the unexpected. “Readers will be hooked” (Booklist) on White Cat.

Exclusive Waverly Academy looks like a medieval castle, but the horrors there are up-to-date. With minor incidents and cruel pranks running rampant, and each incident accompanied by a curse note from the Black Cat, soon everyone is spooked—even the teachers. At the headmistress’s request, Nancy and George go undercover as teaching interns, and it isn’t long before Nancy herself gets one of the menacing notes. Who is the mysterious Black Cat? An unhappy student? Or is a more sinister force at work?

As his eighteenth birthday draws near, prince Alrik-heir to the throne of Edan-must choose a wife. But when his first kiss with a beautiful princess leaves him feeling cold, he knows that although it is his duty, he cannot love a woman. In a fit of panic, he seeks out the aid of the witch Gwydion. The witch, however, has other plans.

This work was sparked by the Chicago Cubss 2016 world championship win. Joel M. Levin felt instant joy of victory after waiting seventy-one years to see it happen. This was quickly followed by a stirring of memories and emotions going back to 1945 when he saw his first ball game. He calls the memories, the treasures of his mind, and shares them with the reader. They include impressions of the world at large; details of his inner life; and the fortunes, fables, and foibles of his favorite baseball team. The story starts with a young boy whose family experiences early America with both depression and an oncoming war, but he is able to start on a lifetime journey as a loyal Chicago Cubs fan. In truth, the book is not a memoir, as few people are interested in the life of an ordinary man. It is more an examination of life as time moved on and how the author experienced it. It is not a pure or objective sports book nor is it analytical, critical, or historical. Once again, it is from the vantage point of a fan. It is called a trilogy, a combined tale of the world at large, the impact on the author, and the destiny of the Chicago Cubs on the long, winding path to becoming the best team in baseball. The work includes references to music of the time and is peppered with poetic expressions; humor; and a creative look at curses, superstitions, and symbolization. The story begins with a young fan who sits in the bleachers and, in time, graduates to a premier seat near the Cubss dugout. Every Cubs fan in Joel Levins age group has a unique story to tell. The best part is they reached the finish line together, seeing their lovable losers as the last team standing. There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle (Albert Einstein).