Hit Hard

Hit Hard is the exciting, heroic saga of the 761st Tank Battalion, a U.S. Army unit of black soldiers, clashing and dying in front-line combat. Thirty years after World War II, their glorious exploits and matchless fighting spirit were finally recognized in a unit citation. Here is their story.

Life hit Pat and Tammy McLeod hard when their son Zach collapsed on a high school football field; he had sustained a severe brain injury. Facing the devastating possibility that things would never be the same for their beloved son, they committed to staying strong as a family and finding a way to maintain their footing. But the journey would reshape their faith, their family, and their future in ways they never saw coming. What would it take for them to navigate the endless fallout of their son’s life-transforming injury? How could they reconcile their grief over the life Zach lost, with gratitude for the life that remained? And how does a couple move forward together in their search for hope, rather than letting indefinable loss drive them apart? Hit Hard is the true story of the McLeods’ journey through ambiguous loss—both having and not having their son. It’s the story of a family who faced unexpected heartbreak, a story that offers us all glimpses of how we can pick up the pieces, redefine expectations, and trust God for hope in the midst of unresolved pain.

"It Only Takes One Match ... Vivi Fiori wondered how the day could have gotten so bad so fast. One minute, she's on a train moving through the Thai countryside, a precious archeological artifact in her hands; the next, she's being chased through the jungle by the Thai mafia with some hardcore American marine right behind her, shouting orders like she should be grateful for his macho interference. What Vivi needs is to get to her contact in Bangkok--warm shower, nice hotel, girly clothes, no dead bodies or sexy armed Marines. Her practical side is telling her to run like hell. Then again, her practical side never met a guy like Sam Wyatt ... To Start An Uncontrollable Fire Sam has a mission--follow a trail of stolen diamonds, hoping it will lead him to the weapons sale he needs to stop. Finding the terrorists who took down his buddy will be the icing on the cake. But now, he's stuck babysitting a curvy, talk-a-mile-a-minute redhead who's hell-bent on playing Indiana Jones with her piece of Thai history. He can't just abandon her to the snakes, the crocs, the Mafia, and whatever else is out there. She wouldn't last ten seconds. And he can't deny that everything about her stirs a deep hunger in him--or that the power of their attraction is so electric he knows he can never really let her go. Now, protecting Vivi is his new mission--his most dangerous yet--and one that will lead them both to a deadly threat beyond all imagining ... "A fabulous writer! Fetzer rocks!"--Cherry Adair."--

A stunningly candid portrait of the Seattle grunge scene of the '90s and a memoir of an addict during the last great era of rock 'n' roll excess, by Hole drummer Patty Schemel Patty Schemel's story begins with a childhood surrounded by the AA meetings her parents hosted in the family living room. Their divorce triggered her first forays into drinking at age twelve and dovetailed with her passion for punk rock and playing the drums. Patty's struggles with her sexuality further drove her notoriously hard playing, and by the late '80s she had focused that anger, confusion, and drive into regular gigs with well-regarded bands in Tacoma, Seattle, and Olympia, Washington. She met a pre-Nirvana Kurt Cobain at a Melvins show, and less than five years later, was living with him and his wife, Hole front-woman Courtney Love, at the height of his fame and on the cusp of hers. As the platinum-selling band's new drummer, Schemel contributed memorable, driving beats to hits like "Beautiful Son," "Violet," "Doll Parts," and "Miss World." But the band was plagued by tragedy and heroin addiction, and by the time Hole went on tour in support of their ironically titled and critically-acclaimed album Live Through This in 1994, both Cobain and Hole bassist Kristen Pfaff had died at the age of 27 With surprising candor and wit, Schemel intimately documents the events surrounding her dramatic exit from the band in 1998 that led to a dark descent into a life of homelessness and crime on the streets of Los Angeles, and the difficult but rewarding path to lasting sobriety after more than twenty serious attempts to get clean. Hit So Hard is a testament not only to the enduring power of the music Schemel helped create but an important document of the drug culture that threatened to destroy it.

In 1997, amid Aerosmith's sold-out world tour and number one album release, word about Joey's troubles was reported in the press.Despite the advice he had received to play it down, Joey revealed in an interview his ongoing struggles with depression. The response from fans and people battling those same internal demons was overwhelming. Joey—who has been the drummer in Aerosmith since it was founded in 1970 and is the first member of the band to release his own book—now tells the complete story: the early days of the band, glamorous drug-addled events leading up to their eventual sobriety, battles within his family and among bandmates, and the explosive internal dynamics in Aerosmith that continue to unleash a fury of endless creativity. This is not just another rock 'n' roll memoir. In addition to the never-before-told Aerosmith war stories that abound in the book, Hit Hard unpacks the history of a rock star who was both fragile and tough, who after years of insane wildness became willing to accept help and finally kick a serious alcohol and drug addiction, only to find that the real terrors and hard work were still ahead. It's the story of an average kid from an average American suburb who went through physical and emotional trauma. It's about years of depression and the nervous breakdown at the height of the band's comeback success. Ultimately, Hit Hard is about how Joey recognized his confusion between love and abuse, awakening to the kind of self-acceptance and compassion that make relationships possible in the "real world" as a member of the biggest band in American history.

A rising high school baseball star faces his most difficult challenge when his father is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Soft Core-Hard Rock Inspirational Memoir"Hit Back, Hit Hard, and Dream On"This is the real life love story of a beautiful young girl and a world famous drummer. Nancy Karlson Bridge is a former Playboy Bunny and the longtime girlfriend of Aerosmith drummer, Joey Kramer. She is also a person with epilepsy and advocate for people with disabilities.In this coming of age transformational memoir in the world of rock and roll when all people had to rely on was imagination, grit, and sheer determination, Nancy shares with you her journey of living on the edge with a burning desire to contribute passion, excellence, and an unstoppable spirit.This book is for lovers, musicians, artists and poets; and for all those bold enough to believe in the beauty of their own dreams.It will inspire you to let go of preconceived notions about your own limitations and open up to a life far greater than what you imagine. It will remind you to dream bigger and jump from the highest place.* Dare you be caught with your pants down?* Can you speak up, tell the truth and have it make a difference?* What if you got naked with the facts of your life?* Could you possibly inspire someone else to live to the fullest?* What happens when you discover you're not the character in your story?Big, bad and beautiful mistakes are part of the journey of life. You can let them squash your dreams or you can discover what it takes to hit back, hit hard, and dream on - for a lifetime.

Solid Advice From A Casino Industry Insider In this outstanding, fully updated guide to winning at blackjack, gambling columnist and consultant Victor H. Royer provides a wealth of tips and step-by-step techniques for enhancing the casino gaming experience and becoming a more knowledgeable and more successful player. With methods proven on casino floors around the world, he guides you through the basics of blackjack, from knowing when to split cards and when to stand pat to the finer points of betting for maximum success. Powerful Profits from Blackjack can increase your odds of winning and getting more enjoyment from every trip to the casino. Here are just a few of the valuable tips you'll learn: The truth behind Shuffling Machines—which are OK, and which to avoid, and why Includes a Modified Basic Strategy for your best advantage! Also includes a card-size Modified Basic Strategy that you can copy (print) and carry with you Why you should never split 10s—except in some Blackjack Tournaments The importance of "soft hands," and why casinos hate them How the number "17" can make or break your hand Why all blackjack games are NOT the same How to find a casino that offers you the best chance of winning And much more! Can This Book Give You An Edge? Bet On It! 134,500 Words