Mr Lucky

Mr Lucky, a tough teddy bear from Bayonne, NJ, journeys around the world and through the tunnels of time learning over a hundred poker variations from many fascinating characters.

How would you describe losing your house to a fire? Being held up at gunpoint? Falling off the roof face-first? You probably wouldn't choose the word lucky. But Mr. Lucky does--and after reading about his life experiences both challenging and rewarding, you will too. Whether you're just starting your career, launching your own business, or seeking greater satisfaction in your everyday life, Mr. Lucky: My Unexpected Journey to Success presents a perspective that will help you become more prosperous and feel more joyful. Mitchell Epstein demonstrates that you don't have to be the smartest person in the room to succeed in the business world. His unique viewpoint enabled him to take "the stupidest idea" one co-worker had ever heard and build the foundation for a business that was so successful it allowed him to retire at age 47.

Tony Valentine made his living and his name as a cop in Atlantic City–and is now known worldwide for his ability to spot the kinds of scams, grifts, and rip-offs that cost casinos billions every year. A man with a biting wit who drives a ’92 Honda, Tony is low-profile, old-school, and has seen it all–until he meets the luckiest man on earth. Ricky Smith was once a small-town loser. Then he went to Las Vegas, jumped out the window of a burning hotel, lived to tell the tale, and tore up the Strip on an incredible winning streak. Ricky didn’t just win at one slot machine or table game. He won at blackjack, roulette, and craps, and then beat the pants off the world’s greatest poker player. Tony knows that goofy, loudmouthed Ricky Smith–or anyone else, for that matter–couldn’t possibly be that fortunate. But when “Mr. Lucky” returns home to the little town of Slippery Rock, North Carolina, he keeps on winning everything from a horse race to a $50,000 lottery. Hired by a desperate casino, Tony starts to pry into Ricky’s past, his friends, and the strange little town that is benefiting from Ricky’s fame and fortune. Unfortunately for Tony, his cover is blown when he is forced to reveal a trick he has up his own sleeve: a pocket Glock he can shoot with laser-like precision. Suddenly, two men are dead, the cops are on Tony’s tail, and the investigation explodes in violence–putting the lives of Tony’s son and his young family in danger. For years, Tony’s son Gerry has dueled with his own criminal impulses. Now, the Ricky Smith case has lured Gerry through the gates of temptation and into a murderous confrontation with the Dixie Mafia. With Tony stuck on the slippery slope of Slippery Rock and Gerry fighting for his life, the Valentines are finding out just how bad good luck can get. Against a neon-tinted backdrop of adrenaline rushes, hard crashes, big money, and high-wire tension, the inimitable James Swain has set his best Tony Valentine novel yet: a funny, furious ride with an astounding array of crooks, marks, and one killer scam.

A tropical paradise… Jemma and Alex are paranormal investigators, writing a book on hauntings around the world. When Jemma begins researching a cryptic diary written by a young woman who committed suicide on a supposedly haunted island in the Philippines years earlier, they think they've found their next chapter. A tragic past… It doesn't take long for the pair to learn that the island harbors long-buried secrets, while savagely mutilated bodies turn its cerulean seas bloodred around them. An ancient legend… For the spirits here are demanding, and Jemma must confront her own demons while attempting to save herself and Alex from taking a permanent vacation to Sacrifice Island.

Planet Property details the inner workings of the UK commercial property, residential development, and rental markets. The book provides a plain-English explanation of how Planet Property spins.

English File's unique, lively and enjoyable lessons are renowned for getting students talking. In fact, 90% of English File teachers we surveyed in our impact study found that the course improves students' speaking skills.