Stealing The Countess

Since becoming an unlikely millionaire and quitting the St. Paul Police Department, Rushmore McKenzie has been working as an unlicensed private investigator, basically doing favors for friends and people in need. But even for him, this latest job is unusual. He's been asked to find a stolen Stradivarius, known as the Countess Borromeo, that only the violinist seems to want him to find. Stolen from a locked room in a B&B in the violinist's former hometown of Bayfield, Wisconsin, the violin is valued at $4 million and is virtually irreplaceable. But the foundation that owns it and their insurance company refuses to think about buying it back from the thief (or thieves.) However, Paul Duclos, the violinist who has played it for the past twelve years, is desperate to get it back and will pay out of his own pocket to get it back. Though it's not his usual sort of case, McKenzie is intrigued and decides to try and help, which means going against the local police, the insurance company, the FBI's Art Crime division, and his own lawyer's advice. And, as he quickly learns, there's a lot more going on than the mere theft of a priceless instrument.

Eight Dublin schoolboys and their teacher travel to a remote fishing village on the west coast of Ireland to celebrate the Celtic feast of Mid-Summer Night. It is there, back in the year 1631, that the notorious Barbary pirate, Morat Rais, captured one hundred and thirty men, women, and children, and carried them away to the North African coast of Algiers. The villagers were never heard from again. What happens when the boys’ trusted teacher, Mr McDonagh, takes on a new skin? What happens when ancient Celtic spirits rise up and catapult the young travellers and their teacher back in time to that fateful year when the villagers disappeared? And what happens when those Celtic spirits begin to bargain for the travellers’ souls? Land of Stolen Dreams is the third book in the middle school adventure series that features a group of boys from St. James’ Secondary School in Dublin’s inner city.

Seventeen-year-old Snow lives within the walls of the Whittaker Institute, a high security mental hospital in upstate New York. Deep down, she knows she doesn't belong there, but she has no memory of life outside, except for the strangest dreams. And then a mysterious, handsome man, an orderly in the hospital, opens a door – and Snow knows that she has to leave ... She finds herself in icy Algid, her true home, with witches, thieves, and a strangely alluring boy named Kai. As secret after secret is revealed, Snow discovers that she is on the run from a royal lineage she's destined to inherit, a father more powerful and ruthless than she could have imagined, and choices of the heart that could change everything. Heroine or villain, queen or broken girl, frozen heart or true love, Snow must choose her fate ... A wonderfully icy fantastical romance, with a strong heroine choosing her own destiny, Danielle Paige's irresistibly page-turning Snow Queen is like Maleficent and Frozen all grown up.

Reproduction of the original: Rank and Talent. A Novel, Vol. 3 by William Pitt Scargill

This book explores the untold history of women, art, and crime. It has long been widely accepted that women have not played an active role in the art crime world, or if they have, it has been the part of the victim or peacemaker. Women, Art, and Crime overturns this understanding, as it investigates the female criminals who have destroyed, vandalised, stolen, and forged art, as well as those who have conned clients and committed white-collar crimes in their professional occupations in museums, libraries, and galleries. Whether prompted by a desire for revenge, for money, the instinct to protect a loved one, or simply as an act of quality control, this book delves into the various motivations and circumstances of women art criminals from a wide range of countries, including the UK, the USA, New Zealand, Romania, Germany, and France. Through a consideration of how we have come to perceive art crime and the gendered language associated with its documentation, this pioneering study questions why women have been left out of the discourse to date and how, by looking specifically at women, we can gain a more complete picture of art crime history.

Raised by Captain Jean Bouclaire, Delphine Delaronde lost her heart to his partner Philibert Bertrand when she was just a girl. But when she finally came of age and confessed her love to the dashing Louisiana smuggler, he dismissed her “juvenile crush.” Embarrassed and hurt Phiney fled to France, hoping to forget his cruel rejection, unaware that Phil had realized too late the precious gift he had cast aside. By the time fate brought them together again, Delphine had inherited a title, and a noblewoman’s responsibilities. Now she seems beyond Philibert’s reach forever. But beneath the poise and grace of the beautiful Countess Delaronde beats the passionate heart of a woman who will never give up her one true love. “I’m saving a spot for Cherie Claire on my keepershelf!” —Heather Nordahl, Affaire de Coeur BOOK DETAILS • Historical American romance, set in Louisiana in 1778 • Book Four of Cherie’s The Cajun series • A full-length novel of 90,000 words (about 365 printed book pages) • R-rated content: Steamy love scenes! • Originally published by Kensington Publishing Co. The Cajuns series follows a family of Acadians (Cajuns) who travel to South Louisiana and start anew after being exiled from their Nova Scotia home. The first three books follow the Gallant sisters as they attempt to reunite with their father in the wilds of Louisiana and Delphine (Book Four) takes place during Louisiana's role in the American Revolution. The Dugas family saga continues with A Cajun Dream (Book Five) and The Letter (Book Six). For a family tree, visit http://www.cherieclaire.net. The Cajuns historical saga Book One: Emilie Book Two: Rose Book Three: Gabrielle Book Four: Delphine Book Five: A Cajun Dream Book Six: The Letter “Author Cherie Claire masterfully blends the challenges of history, love and loyalty in Delphine. From the grand mansions of the aristocrats of France to the marauding dangers of the high seas, this rich plot combines intrigue, treachery, and traitorous love in a riveting novel readers will not be able to put down….Delphine comes highly recommended.” —Cindy Penn, Word Wrap