Dark Gold

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan delivers another deliciously dark paranormal romance in the DARK Series They were masters of the darkness, searching through eternity for a mistress of the light . . . was he a man . . . or a miracle? Alexandria Houton will sacrifice anything—even her life—to protect her orphaned little brother. But when both encounter unspeakable evil in the swirling San Francisco mists, Alex can only cry to heaven for their deliverance . . . And out of the darkness swoops Aidan Savage, a golden being more powerful and more mysterious than any other creature of the night. The ageless Carpathian male snatches them from a hideous fate. But is Aidan a miracle . . . or a monster? Is he Alex's salvation . . . or her sin? If she surrenders to Aidan's savage, unearthly seduction and gives him the color, the light, the family he craves, will Alex truly save her brother . . . or sacrifice more than her life?

Black Gold and Blackmail seeks to explain why great powers adopt such different strategies to protect their oil access from politically motivated disruptions. In extreme cases, such as Imperial Japan in 1941, great powers fought wars to grab oil territory in anticipation of a potential embargo by the Allies; in other instances, such as Germany in the early Nazi period, states chose relatively subdued measures like oil alliances or domestic policies to conserve oil. What accounts for this variation? Fundamentally, it is puzzling that great powers fear oil coercion at all because the global market makes oil sanctions very difficult to enforce. Rosemary A. Kelanic argues that two variables determine what strategy a great power will adopt: the petroleum deficit, which measures how much oil the state produces domestically compared to what it needs for its strategic objectives; and disruptibility, which estimates the susceptibility of a state's oil imports to military interdiction—that is, blockade. Because global markets undercut the effectiveness of oil sanctions, blockade is in practice the only true threat to great power oil access. That, combined with the devastating consequences of oil deprivation to a state's military power, explains why states fear oil coercion deeply despite the adaptive functions of the market. Together, these two variables predict a state's coercive vulnerability, which determines how willing the state will be to accept the costs and risks attendant on various potential strategies. Only those great powers with large deficits and highly disruptible imports will adopt the most extreme strategy: direct control of oil through territorial conquest.

In the years following the end of the Shah’s dynasty, a major petrochemical refinery is being constructed in northern Iran by the Islamic Regime. While this is good for Iran, it’s not so good for the West. Enter the Organization for Reorganizing Business (ORB), led by Murray Stockman. ORB sends their senior field operative, Matthew Black, into Iran to “fix” the refinery problem. But this won’t be an easy task. Black needs to refocus the Regime on being pro-West, a tall order that’s going to require all his skills and the support of many. During significant political unrest and social upheaval, Black and the other ORB operatives on the ground, use every element at their disposal to upset the Regime’s plans. Amid the rise of the Iranian working men’s union movement and the birth of the Friends of Iran youth organization, ORB works to sabotage the refinery, cut the Regime’s access to funds, and bring about the failure of the Revolutionary Guard. Can Stockman and his people cut Iran’s ties to Russia and China and wrest control of the Iranian oil industry from the Regime before it’s too late?

Anne Cartier, a teacher of the deaf, accepts an offer to help a deaf child whose governess died in a fall down the stairs of the family's palatial mansion. Anne suspects the death might not have been an accident and begins to investigate. She is aided by her friend and suitor, Paul de Saint-Martin. They believe the young woman's death may have been the work of renegade French army officer Captain Fitzroy, already accused of a brutal rape in Paris. Fitzroy has found refuge at the mansion with his cousin and intimate friend, Lady Margaret, lady of the house and wife of slaver Sir Harry Rogers. Soon Anne discovers she must protect as well as teach young Charlie. Watching it all is Lord Jeff, a black footman and a bare-knuckle fighter of impressive skill who may win Sir Harry a large purse. But the slave has his own agenda. The abolition of slavery is a hot topic in Bath, a city that draws much of its wealth from that brutal business.

Coal and gold, two diverse, valuable extremes that have a common bond. Mining is tough, backbreaking employment, but four friends' lifetime was shaped by their experiences that involved the husbands working in the Jasper, Alabama, coal mines: two refined Negro women who were determined to remain classy and have families and two dedicated hardworking ministers whose desire was to have ministry, family, and success. This group of four was able to achieve their goals, beginning in the coal mines. Friendship, faith, love, understanding, and hard work paid off for this group of coal miners. Coal is gold.

No one thinks much of Black Gold because he is so small. But Jaydee sees something special in his eyes. He knows Black Gold would be great if he was his rider! Finally, Jaydee gets his wish. And Black Gold grows strong and fast under his careful hands. Soon it will be time for the most important race in America. Do they really have what it takes to win? Black Gold’s inspirational story proves that the power of love and dedication can make any dream come true. Set against the thrilling and colorful world of Thoroughbred horses, Black Gold is the true story of a legendary horse and his determined young jockey.

Following the Yom Kippur war of October 1973, OPEC raises the price of oil by 70% along with a 5% reduction in oil production. Len Saunders a highly skilled and knowledgeable British engineer for Jaguar motors, is approached by the UK energy commission in the January of 1974 to create a new propulsion system; using a secret document from a German WW2 scientist, that they have come into possession of. Len Saunders sets to work on creating the holy grail of energy. Seven years later 1981, Haidar Farooq the Kuwait oil minister working at OPEC and head of a secret organisation named Black Gold becomes aware of this research and its fruition and he cannot allow it to become a new energy source. Len Saunders dies in what appears to be a hit and run road traffic collision, his research work goes missing. Fast forward to 1988, Robin Saunders an officer in the British Parachute regiment learns that his father’s death was no accident and whom was behind it. He resigns his commission and what follows is death and destruction on an immense scale. The stakes are high; the dice have been rolled and this deadly game is afoot. Again, Max Storm and the Operational Strike Command must enter the arena against one of their own. The OSC is Britain’s first and last line of offence.

Oil is not pretty, but it is a resource that drives the modern world. It has made fortunes for the lucky few and provided jobs for millions of ordinary folks. Thick and slippery, crude oil has an evil smell. Yet without it, life as we live it today would be impossible. Oil fuels our engines, heats our homes, and powers the machines that make the everyday things we take for granted, from shopping bags to computers to medical equipment. Nations throughout the last century have gone to war over it. Indeed, oil influences every aspect of modern life. It helps shape the history, society, politics, and economy of every nation on earth. This riveting new book explores what oil is and the role this precious resource has played in America and the world.