The Orchid and the Emerald

The Orchid and the Emerald
Author: Timothy David Mack
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Total Pages: 406
Release: 2022-03-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1665046813

William Gunn wants nothing more than a quiet life. After returning home from the Napoleonic wars, he accepts a position on the Duke of Devonshire’s idyllic estate. Destiny, however, intervenes when his young daughter Sarah falls prey to a mysterious sickness, and Gunn must strike out once more into the unknown and search for an unusual cure—the black orchid, a plant found only in the forbidding Amazon rainforest, where the last man who saw it went insane. Across the Atlantic, American frontiersman Nathanial Yankee has left his country and his past behind to join a new revolution, fought by General Simón Bolívar to free South America from the Spanish. Nate, however, is no hero—he fights for land, and a chance at a fresh start. Pursued by a cruel enemy in a race against time, William and Nate must survive the battlefields of the Spanish Main, cross the snow-covered peaks of the Andes, and finally reckon with the rulers of a dying Amazonian empire. For one man, the goal is a chance to save his daughter’s life; for the other, a priceless treasure beckons. If they cannot learn to work together, one of a thousand enemies will kill them (that is, if they don’t kill each other first). Unbeknownst to them, both men are pawns in a far larger game, and some secrets cannot be hidden forever ...

The Islands at the End of the World

The Islands at the End of the World
Author: Austin Aslan
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Total Pages: 386
Release: 2014-08-05
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0385374216

In this fast-paced survival story set in Hawaii, electronics fail worldwide, the islands become completely isolated, and a strange starscape fills the sky. Leilani and her father embark on a nightmare odyssey from Oahu to their home on the Big Island. Leilani’s epilepsy holds a clue to the disaster, if only they can survive as the islands revert to earlier ways. A powerful story enriched by fascinating elements of Hawaiian ecology, culture, and warfare, this captivating and dramatic debut from Austin Aslan is the first of two novels. The author has a master’s degree in tropical conservation biology from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Praise for Islands at the End of the World: “A riveting tale of belonging, family, overcoming perceived limitations, and finding a home.”--School Library Journal, Starred "Aslan’s debut honors Hawaii’s unique cultural strengths--family ties and love of home, amplified by geography and history--while remaining true to a genre that affirms the mysterious grandeur of the universe waiting to be discovered."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred "Aslan’s debut is a riveting tale of belonging, family, overcoming perceived limitations, and finding a home."--School Library Journal, Starred

The Deception of the Emerald Ring

The Deception of the Emerald Ring
Author: Lauren Willig
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 465
Release: 2007-09-04
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1101211210

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Willig presents the third novel in her charming Pink Carnation series... Harvard grad student Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she started spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip-two of the deadliest spies to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France. Not only has she unearthed secrets that will rearrange history, she's dallied with Colin Selwick and sought out a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another fierce heroine running headlong into history... In June 1803, Letty Alsworthy attempts to prevent her sister’s midnight elopement—only to be accidentally whisked away herself. The scandal forces her into a hasty marriage with Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe, who then decamps immediately to help the Pink Carnation quash a ring of Irish rebels led by the Black Tulip. Not to be outdone, Letty steals away to the Emerald Isle herself, ready to learn a thing or two about espionage—and never imagining she might learn a few things about love along the way.

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer
Author: Susan H. Gray
Publisher: Cherry Lake
Total Pages: 36
Release: 2008-01-01
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1602793425

Emerald Ash Borers have shiny green bodies and an appetite for ash trees. This native Asian insect hitchhiked to North America and has killed millions of ash trees. Learn more about the emerald ash borer and what is being done to try to stop its spread.

Power of Lies

Power of Lies
Author: Auryn Hadley
Publisher:
Total Pages: 502
Release: 2019-01-15
Genre:
ISBN: 9781792885723

Everyone lies. When working for a sex mage, it's the only way to stay safe. That's the first thing Jaeda learns when she's named as the Chosen. The mage needs a sacrifice, and she's willing to give it. Maybe too willing. After all, this man is lust incarnate; a woman would have to be insane not to want him, even if he is dangerous. But desiring someone's body is very different from falling in love. In her line of work, the two must never be confused. She doesn't even know his name! He's simply The Jackal, a terrifyingly powerful sex mage, and she's his altar. Her lust fuels him. He needs it. And that puts her in control. Now, she gets to spend her days with a mage who wields sex like a weapon and his assistant who's as irresistible as some long-lost god brought to life. The things they do to her body are amazing, and the rest? These men want to spoil her with the kind of riches she's always dreamed of. It's the best job she can imagine. Unfortunately, it's never that easy. This is supposed to be about making magic - that's it. Feelings have no place in a mage's temple. Affection is a curse. But when the enemy decides she'll make the perfect weapon to steal the Jackal's power, what's she supposed to do? After all, she's just a stupid girl caught in the middle. Her job is to just lie back and take it. Except, someone's been lying. It might even be her. POWER OF LIES is a complete novel with a reverse harem, polyamorous storyline. It is intended for a mature audience due to the presence of consensual sex, group sex, M/M scenes, and plenty of vulgar language - as well as some potentially triggering violence since the bad guys don't always play nice. While this is a love story, it may not be right for all readers.

The Orchid Hunter

The Orchid Hunter
Author: Leif Bersweden
Publisher: Short Books
Total Pages: 276
Release: 2018-04-12
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 1780723350

He has just a few months to complete his quest – no one has ever done it before within one growing season – and it will require ingenuity, stamina and a large dose of luck.As he battles the vagaries of the British climate, feverishly chasing each emerging bloom, Leif Bersweden takes the reader on a remarkable botanical journey.This study of the 52 native species is a fantastic gateway into the compendious world of orchids – one that will open your eyes to the rare hidden delights to be found on our doorstep.Like Two Owls at Eton and My Family and Other Animals, The Orchid Hunter is a charming account of a precocious adolescent’s obsession with the natural world.Leif’s enthusiasm for his quest is infectious, as is the quiet conviction with which he keeps at it, showing how plant hunting can be the ultimate mindful activity.

Hardy Cypripedium

Hardy Cypripedium
Author: Werner Frosch
Publisher: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 9781842464649

The main feature of this book is the array of spectacular and beautiful photography of the 50 species and 100 hybrids of Cypripedium. The accompanying text includes plant descriptions, distribution, ecology, habitat and habit, as well as cultivation methods and details of nurseries offering slipper orchids. Other sections cover the history, morphology, ecology and conservation of Cypripedium.

Tropical Slipper Orchids

Tropical Slipper Orchids
Author: Harold Koopowitz
Publisher: Timber Pr
Total Pages: 411
Release: 2008-01-15
Genre: Gardening
ISBN: 9780881928648

Offers a comprehensive, informative manual on how to grow, collect, and hybridize a variety of beautiful slipper orchids, offering detailed descriptions of a wide range paphiodpedilum and phragmidpedium orchid species, as well as essential care, cultivation, and plant selection guidelines.