Storm Tide

Two brothers divided over the future of a country on the brink of revolution. Multimillion copy bestselling author Wilbur Smith returns with a brand-new historical epic, set against the backdrop of the American revolution. The Courtney family is torn apart as three generations fight on opposing sides of a terrible war that will change the face of the world forever. 'Best Historical Novelist' Stephen King 1774. Rob Courtney has spent his whole life in a quiet trading outpost on the east coast of Africa, dreaming of a life of adventure at sea. When his grandfather Jim dies, Rob takes his chance and stows away on a ship as it sails to England, with only the family heirloom, the Neptune Sword, to his name. Arriving in London, Rob is seduced by the charms of the big city and soon finds himself desperate and penniless. That is until the navy comes calling. Rob is sent across the Atlantic on a ship to join the war against the rebellious American colonists. But on the other side of the Atlantic, unbeknownst to Rob, his distant cousins Cal and Aidan Courtney are leading a campaign against the British. Their one desire is American independence, and they are determined to drive the British out of America - by whatever means necessary. . . A powerful new historical thriller by the master of adventure fiction, Wilbur Smith, of families divided and a country on the brink of revolution.

A washed-up minor league pitcher gets more than he bargained for when his affair with an older woman draws him into a tangled web of deceit and scandal When Cape Cod high school star pitcher David Greene left home, everyone in his small beach town rallied behind his dream of making it in the pros. No one expected the local legend to return broke a few years later, with an undistinguished minor league record and a painful divorce behind him. As he tries to rebuild his life, David begins an affair with Judith Silver—one that her much older, terminally ill husband, Gordon, condones on the condition that David run for a seat on the town’s board of selectman against Gordon’s political rival. Set in a lushly drawn seaside resort town, this thrilling novel pushes its complicated and fascinating characters to extremes of emotion. Driven by passion and a lust for power, David, Judith, and Gordon are all guilty of seduction and manipulation that will result in irrevocable consequences. As David’s romantic and political involvements escalate at a fever pitch, a forceful storm rolls in off the ocean, leading up to a tumultuous climax.

Left alone for the first time on the island he calls home, Simon is looking forward to a day of personal indulgence. His sister Ellen only wants to make sure they get their chores done. Their parents are busy trying to convince the government not to close the lighthouse that the family operates, and it's up to the kids to make sure everything runs smoothly. Neither Simon nor Ellen is prepared for the mysterious and potentially dangerous visitor who brings with him an unexpected storm and a riddle that may lead to treasure—treasure that could help them save the lighthouse. Simon and Ellen have to work together to solve the riddle before the stranger—or the weather—destroys their chances.

Tragedy, Hope, and Triumph in Tuscaloosa

“Fans of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson can add Fionn Boyle as a generous and brave hero from the Emerald Isle.” – School Library Connection on The Storm Keeper's Island There is magic deep within Arranmore Island, and Fionn Boyle is beginning to discover how it has woven its way through generations of his family's history. But Arranmore is in trouble; evil sorceress Morrigan's soul stalkers have returned, giving rise to widespread fear and suspicion. Fionn wants to help, but the Storm Keeper magic passed down from his grandfather seems to have deserted him. Fionn sets out to summon the merrows, a vast army of sea creatures who may be his only chance. But how can he find them without the faintest idea of where to look? The battle to save Arranmore has begun. This gorgeously written, magical tale of family, bravery, and self-discovery is perfect for fans of Orphan Island and A Snicker of Magic.

At long last Joanna Bennett is returning to her family’s island, the childhood home that her heart has yearned for ever since she was forced to the mainland by catastrophe. At her side stands Nils Sorensen, her oldest friend, stalwart admirer, and new husband. Together they will restore Bennett’s Island to its former glory: enticing former residents and other hardworking mainlanders to join their small community, repairing damaged buildings pummeled by the elements during five years of abandonment, and reclaiming the lobstering territory that was once the sole province of islanders but has been overrun by the nearby Brigporters. All the while, Joanna and Nils are setting the foundation of their future, one that will surely be stormy if Joanna tries to apply the rules of her previous marriage to her relationship with Nils. Joanna Bennett will always be a strong and fiercely independent woman, but without learning to trust and be vulnerable in her marriage, she will find herself proud and alone. This story, the second book in Elisabeth Ogilvie’s beloved Tide Trilogy, transports readers to the beautiful and rugged Maine coast, where families must eke their livelihoods from the tempestuous ocean but in return they’re afforded the daily splendor and simple pleasures of island life.

In this Special Issue, seven high-quality papers covering the application and development of many high-end techniques for studies on storm tides, surges, and waves have been published, for instance, the employment of an artificial neural network for predicting coastal freak waves [1]; a reproduction of super typhoon-created extreme waves [2]; a numerical analysis of nonlinear interactions for storm waves, tides, and currents [3]; wave simulation for an island using a circulation–wave coupled model [4]; an analysis of typhoon-induced waves along typhoon tracks in the western North Pacific Ocean [5]; an understanding of how a storm surge prevents or severely restricts aeolian supply [6]; and an investigation of coastal settlements and an assessment of their vulnerability [7].