Enfold yourself in a world of Japanese folklore with this tale of a nobleman and his family who return to a country estate after he is passed over for promotion at the Imperial court. Dissatisfied with his life, and growing increasingly distant from his wife, Kaya No Yoshifuji becomes obsessed with watching a family of foxes. He is also being observed by Kitsune, the female fox who falls in love with him, and sacrifices her world to become human. Kitsune builds a magical construct of the perfect home with her fox magic. She lures the lord into this parallel and always perfect world beneath the gate house. Enter a realm of illusion in this strange and sometimes disturbing love story of human and fox that discover who they really are through physical and mystical metamorphosis.

Annika Bengtzon is a committed journalist investigating the terrorist cells in Sweden operating forty years ago during the turbulent 1960s and 70s. On her way to interview a journalist about sabotage at an air base in Lulea, her contact is murdered. She continues to follow the story even after being told to let it drop because of growing political and professional concerns. Annika will not let it go despite her own personal demons. The Red Wolf, a patient and calculating killer, begins to emerge from the frigid and dark Swedish winter. Annika has to keep her own family life from shattering as she races to expose a long dormant killer who is now set on reaching the pinnacle of a terrifying call to arms.

Please welcome the first authorized Sherlock Holmes story since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's last. Watson begins the tale by apologizing for its tardy publication, ~The story was too sensitive at the time to have been published when it occurred.~ Watson gradually tells the story in true fashion, Holmes' methods and behavior are all remembered, the plot seems familiar, the characters too and the mood is just right. Horowitz has created a Holmes and Watson true to Conan Doyle's originals in a London described so well I see it clearly. And I was completely surprised at the end... I was so sure of my conclusions.

December 1941, thirty-one days that will enthrall you. Mr. Shirley has researched and presented a page-turner pulled from the headlines of that fateful month, December 1941, that brought The US into the Second World War. Shirley keeps the pace brisk, distilling each day's reporting to sound bites grouped into snapshots and organized in 31, day-by-day chapters. At times he expands the coverage, while over the month a very complete picture of the American psyche evolves. In spite of some poor editorial preparation the content is great; it's well developed, structured and presented albeit through a conservative lens. I really enjoyed the format. It is easy to pick up and put down. It is filled with facts and factoids assembled chronologically that build an incredibly compelling story of a nation uniting against evil.

Netsuke (nets-kay) are the catalyst for this absorbing journey through one man's family past. Mr. de Waal, a world renowned ceramicist, inherits 264 miniature Japanese sculptures. How did they come to him? This century long memoir relates the rise and fall of a European banking family, the Ephrussis of Vienna, contemporaries of and just as wealthy and respected as the Rothschilds. What happened? The once proud scion, Viktor, by way of his patriotism is aryanized when the Nazis arrive in Vienna and subsequently loses all of his wealth and prestige. The netsuke survive as one of the few possessions returned to his daughter Elizabeth after the war and only because a family retainer secreted them out of their display in her skirts and hid them in her mattress until after the war. de Waal's sleuthing to locate and characterize his family and his charming vignettes of the family's life coupled with canny insights make this a tremendous memoir and history; a not to be missed peek into the lives of three generations of one of Europe's respected banking empires.

Welcome back to the early 18th century in feudal Japan and Sano Ichiro’s world of power, honor and control. Ronin’s Mistress retells the tale of the 47 Loyal Retainers and de-romanticizes a story told on the Japanese stage for three centuries. Lord Kira is brutally murdered by the retainers of Lord Asano led by chief retainer Oishi in a vendetta that is banned by the Shogun. The populace is very sympathetic towards the 47 Ronin and the Shogun must retain his authority by making the correct decision regarding their fate, whether they will live or die. To complicate matters Sano has been demoted through the machinations of Chamberlain Yanagisiwa and his son Yoritomo. And to cap it all, Sano must provide a satisfactory outcome for the Shogun’s decision to be correct! If he fails, he is banished to southern Japan while his family will stay in Edo never to be seen again. There seems no hope for Sano and his retainers. While not exactly a who-done-it because we know who did rather a dark mystery with insights into the struggle at the top in a totalitarian society through the retelling of a classic true story.

Take a good look at this Virginia author’s novel as she chronicles the experiences of a boy who packs a lifetime of living in the last year of his life. Daniel Solstice Landon is diagnosed with AML ( acute myeloid leukemia) in his 10th grade year. As he tries to sort out the responses of his family, peers and the community around him, he turns to the book Catcher in the Rye as a point of comparison. When Daniel’s desperate mother takes him to a clinic in Mexico for treatment his growing maturity is put to the test and he passes. Honenberger’s clear and unstinting tale of a boy crossing the threshold from childhood to adulthood will leave you with greater faith in a child’s ability to grow up, no matter what the circumstances.

Everyone wants to write a family memoir so take notice with Marty Glenn Taylors account of growing up in the small fishing community of Morattico, Virginia in the 1930’s. In a series of vignettes Marty gives us a rich peek into her family. At times amusing, learn how to hypnotize a chicken, chuckle at the humorous admonishments of her grandmother, at times poignant, her father’s bouts with alcohol and her indignation as a child when the “come here’s” visit to see how the natives live. Enjoy this generous serving of a time gone by and the proud, resourceful, and independent heritage of the microcosm which is Morattico.

This true story will delight animal lovers of all ages. When a little runt piglet cannot compete with his siblings he is brought inside the author’s farm house and placed with a dachshund mother named Tink. Although she has already taken on the responsibility of two foster puppies in addition to one of her own, she tenderly cares for him and he thrives.

Pink the pig prefers his dog family and has some definite canine preferences. He only eats dog kibble and sleeps on a nice soft dog bed instead of straw. The charming full color photos capture this playful and close knit cross-species family.

In this engrossing biography of the Atlantic Ocean, Winchester gives us the history of the ocean from its earliest geological origins around 190 million years ago when the continent Pangaea split into two parts, to its projected demise in 140 million years when the shifting continents will cause Cape Horn to collide with Singapore and displace the water of the Atlantic to form new oceans. This fascinating history of explorers, poets, profiteers, and brave souls who tested and mapped the Atlantic’s boundaries and gave rise to our modern Western world will give you a new and deeper understanding of the living organism that is the ocean.

In this 16th Jack Reacher novel Child does not disappoint. Our hero is sent to a military base in Mississippi to monitor a murder investigation. Once there he’s to keep a low profile, control the flow of information and disappear once the investigation is resolved to the military’s satisfaction. But he doesn’t expect to meet an attractive local sheriff that wants justice served. When evidence points to a soldier with powerful friends, Preacher’s faith in the mission is almost destroyed and he must join forces with Sheriff Devereaux to uncover the truth no matter what the cost.

Twins Jaide and Jack Shield are suddenly thrust into a frightening world of guarding the earth from an evil and ancient force. This force can only enter through portals which are guarded by Wardens. When they move into their grandmother’s house they discover that they are Troubletwisters, young wardens learning to harness the ability to keep humanity safe. Australian author Nix teams with fellow fantasy writer Williams to give young fantasy readers a dark yet redeeming tale.