For The Thrill Of It

It was a crime that shocked the nation: the brutal murder in Chicago in 1924 of a child by two wealthy college students who killed solely for the thrill of the experience. Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were intellectuals—too smart, they believed, for the police to catch them. When they were apprehended, state's attorney Robert Crowe was certain that no defense could save the ruthless killers from the gallows. But the families of the confessed murderers hired Clarence Darrow, entrusting the lives of their sons to the most famous lawyer in America in what would be one of the most sensational criminal trials in the history of American justice. Set against the backdrop of the 1920s—a time of prosperity, self-indulgence, and hedonistic excess in a lawless city on the brink of anarchy—For the Thrill of It draws the reader into a world of speakeasies and flappers, of gangsters and gin parties, with a spellbinding narrative of Jazz Age murder and mystery.

At college in 1980s Luton, Robbie Goulding, an Irish-born teenager, meets the elusive Fran Mulvey, an orphaned Vietnamese refugee. Together they form a band. Joined by cellist Sarah-Thérèse Sherlock and her twin brother Seán on drums, The Ships in the Night set out to chase fame. But the story of this makeshift family is haunted by ghosts from the past. Spanning 25 years, The Thrill of it All rewinds and fast-forwards through an evocative soundtrack of struggle and laughter. Infused with blues, ska, classic showtunes, New Wave and punk, using interviews, lyrics, memoirs and diaries, the tale stretches from suburban England to Manhattan’s East Village, from Thatcher-era London to the Hollywood Bowl, from the meadows of the Glastonbury Festival to a wintry Long Island, culminating in a Dublin evening in July 2012, a night that changes everything. A story of loyalties, friendship, the call of the muse, and the beguiling shimmer of teenage dreams, this is a warm-hearted, funny and deeply moving novel for anyone that’s ever loved a song.

Isn't there some sort of limit on thrills? Clay Granger thrived on life in the fast lane. He wasn't afraid to take on his friend Izzy's "problem." Besides, a temporary wife was just what he needed; matchmakers were making his life miserable. Izzy Fabrioni was pregnant and alone, except for her best friend, Clay, who just happened to be the most eligible bachelor in the world. The most eligible and the riskiest. He'd do anything just for the thrill of it—including marrying her! The roller-coaster ride begins… For the Thrill of It! "Ever a master of characterization and sexual tension, Patricia Ryan…is sure to heat up our reading pleasure!" —Romantic Times "Some of the wittiest characters I've had the pleasure to meet in a long time!" —The Literary Times

"Star Trek meets Cheech & Chong!" – #1 INTERGALACTIC BESTSELLING author Tom Sadira invites you on another trip to the farthest reaches of outer space in this hilarious sci-fi adventure saga. Lifetime stoner, longtime carnivore, and novice spaceship captain Charlie Hong craves meat–one of the few things the Starseed won’t provide. After striking a secret deal with a seductive and mysterious member of his crew, Charlie hires a professional hunting guide and sets course to a dangerous planet in search of one of the galaxy’s most delicious, and elusive, prey: a chocolate moose. When the hunting trip turns sour, Charlie and his crew must find a way to survive on a planet where everything, especially stoners with no survival skills, become prey. INTERPLANETARY PRAISE FOR FAR OUT CHRONICLES: “★★★★★ Since being published in our sector, the FAR OUT CHRONICLES series has become our planet’s currency, our only imported or exported resource, the founding document of our government, the origins of our religion, and our species’ primary source of nutrients. Oh yeah, makes for pretty good toilet paper, too.” — Crytix Fru-Fru, Supreme Leader of Annekc M’ecneret “★★★★★ After our planet was destroyed, the hilarious sci-fi series FAR OUT CHRONICLES inspired us to regroup and strike back. Now, we’ve claimed our aggressor’s planet as our own, and have scattered what was left of the Essari scum to the darkest corners of the galaxy. Thanks Tom Sadira!” — Garbok Svenzi, survivor of the Essari Rebellion & First President of New G’warkonia “★★★★★ If the Galactic Federation hadn’t mandated that the FAR OUT CHRONICLES be stocked in every emergency escape pod in the galaxy, I wouldn’t be alive to write this review. Without the charming characters and the fast-paced adventures, I would’ve succumbed to the hopelessness of outer space weeks ago. I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but… I actually dodged rescue ships a few times just so I could keep on reading without being interrupted!” — Hin’swa Doh, ex-Captain of the J.J.Binks, floating somewhere beyond the Gevaar system Readers have compared Tom Sadira’s Far Out Chronicles series to Douglas Adams ' Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Terry Pratchett ‘s Ringworld series, Grant Naylor's Red Dwarf series, Barry J. Hutchison's Space Team series, as well as books by Ernest Cline, David Wong, Tom Robbins, Christopher Moore, and Rob Dircks.

From the author of Shoeless Joe—the basis for the film Field of Dreams—come baseball stories that capture the magic and wonder of the game. No one can write about baseball with the same brilliant combination of mysticism and realism as W. P. Kinsella. Lovers of the game and lovers of fine writing will thrill at the range and depth of the eleven stories that make up this collection. From the magical conspiracy of the title story, to the celestial prediction in “The Last Pennant Before Armageddon,” to the desolation of “The Baseball Spur,” Kinsella explores the world of baseball and makes it, miraculously, a microcosm of the human condition. Praise for W. P. Kinsella’s The Dixon Cornbelt League and Other Baseball Stories “[Kinsella] defines a world in which magic and reality combine to make us laugh and think about the perceptions we take for granted.” —The New York Times “His short stories about baseball are wistful things of beauty which serve to remind us how the game should feel—the innate glory of a diamond etched in the minds of Americans.” —Calgary Sun “[Kinsella] uses baseball . . . As a familiar starting place for exploring, with pinpoint control, the human psyche.” —Booklist “Stories that read like lightning and tantalize the reader with fascinating scenarios.” —Publishers Weekly

“‘Forget everything you’ve ever heard about technique. Kiss me the way you think a bad girl would and we’ll both have a much better time.’” Sportswriter Judd Mackie has earned fame with his scathing columns. Women’s tennis pro Stevie Corbett is a favorite target of his sarcastic prose. In his view, she’s too focused on being a cute, crowd-pleaser to be taken seriously as an athlete on the court. What Stevie’s nemesis doesn’t know is that she’s suffering a medical condition that’s all too serious and potentially ruinous to her career. When Judd uncovers the sensational story, he recognizes it as one that comes along only once in a lifetime...but telling it would cost him the woman he now doesn’t want to live without.

Dawn Eden, internationally known speaker and author, presents a completely revised Catholic edition of her bestselling work, The Thrill of the Chaste. In this version, Eden shares her story of conversion to Catholicism and invites readers into a Catholic understanding of chastity and its spiritual benefits. When Dawn Eden released The Thrill of the Chaste in 2006, she was a Jewish convert to Protestant Christianity, preparing to make the final leap into Catholicism. Now, nine years later, Eden has extensively updated The Thrill of the Chaste, sharing how her Catholic faith, the lives and intercession of the saints, and the healing power of the sacraments have led her to find her true identity in Christ. This revised, Catholic version offers spiritual and practical advice for both men and women seeking to live chastely in a world that glorifies sex. Eden offers tips to help readers avoid temptation and live faithfully—including dressing modestly, but not being afraid to feel good about the way they look; trusting that God has a plan for their life and relationships; and making sure their “yes” comes from the heart.