Ben is the last unattached member of the five-man executive team of K&A Associates. The other four, all Masters, have found the submissive of their dreams. That’s fine. The sharp-edged lawyer knows he’s the most hardcore of all of them, with extreme tastes as a Master he satisfies physically through experienced club submissives. He doesn’t really need anything more than that. Marcie has loved Ben since she was sixteen. He’s never behaved as anything more than a protective big brother, a family friend. But now she’s twenty three and starting her career as a corporate investigator. She may be a blood-and-bone deep submissive, but she won’t hesitate to use her aggressive talents to prove she’s meant to be his. With a Master as tough as Ben, she’ll have to take whatever measures are needed—even if her deepest desire isn’t a hostile takeover of his heart, but an unconditional surrender to it.

When an heiress moves to a villa on Italy’s Lake Nemi, a houseguest plots to take it—and more—in this novel by a prizewinning master of dark comedy. When American heiress Maggie Radcliffe relocates to enchanting Lake Nemi, just south of Rome, she is determined to live in tune with ancient pagan rhythms of art and nature. At her new home—one of three that she owns—she is constantly surrounded by a cast of quirky characters, and her latest guest is old friend Hubert Mallindaine, an unrepentant grifter who claims to be a direct descendant of the goddess Diana, whose spirit is said to rest at Nemi. As soon as Mallindaine arrives, Radcliffe’s vast material wealth begins to slip quietly out the door. Desperate to regain it, Radcliffe attempts to evict Mallindaine from her home, but a host of new problems threaten to destroy all that she has. From the PEN Award–winning author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Driver’s Seat, and other modern classics, The Takeover is a suspenseful, acidic comedy about the clash between the conventions of old wealth and the inevitable tide of modernity. It is a testament to the mind and work of “the most sharply original fictional imagination of our time” (Sunday Times). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Muriel Spark including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author’s archive at the National Library of Scotland.

Sometimes, when you ask the universe for your soulmate, you wind up with your hate mate instead.On Nami's 30th birthday, she's reminded at every turn that her life isn't what she planned. She's always excelled at everything – until now. Her fiancé blew up their engagement. Her pride and joy, the tech company she helped to found, is about to lose funding. And her sister, Sora, is getting married to the man of her dreams, Jack, and instead of being happy for her, as she knows she ought to be, she's fighting off jealousy.Frustrated with her life, she makes a wish on a birthday candle to find her soulmate. Instead, the universe delivers her hate mate, Nami's old high school nemesis, Jae Lee, the most popular kid from high school, who also narrowly beat her out for valedictorian. More than a decade later, Jae is still as effortlessly cool, charming, and stylish as ever, and, to make matters worse, is planning a hostile take-over of her start-up. Cue: sharp elbows and...

"Packed to the gills with fun." —Kirkus Reviews Stranger Things meets The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl in this lightly spooky debut about Maggie, an aspiring young naturalist, and her YouTuber best friend, Nate, who use their smarts and science to solve the mystery behind a mutant fungus that's threatening the town.Ever since Magnolia Stone's scientist dad left Shady Pines to find a new job, Maggie's been stuck in her gramma's mobile home with her grumpy older brother, Ezra. Now she's on a mission to put her family back together by winning the Vitaccino Junior Naturalist Merit Award. When Maggie and her best friend, Nate, a wannabe YouTube star and alien conspiracy theorist, scout out a rare bioluminescent fungus, Maggie is certain she's a shoo-in to win. But after animals around town start sprouting unusual growths and Ezra develops a bluish glow and hacking cough, Maggie wonders what they've really stumbled...

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • "Grisham meets Ludlum on Wall Street . . . a fast-paced roller coaster of love and lust, murder and betrayal, politics and business."—USA Today"Entertaining and energetic . . . superbly taut . . . Frey keeps up the suspense right to the end."—Financial TimesInvestment banker Andrew Falcon is spearheading the biggest hostile takeover in Wall Street history—and counting on a staggering five-million-dollar fee if he can pull it off. But Falcon doesn't realize that he has stumbled onto the secret power of a shadowy organization known only as The Sevens. He discovers a scheme so interwoven in financial and political sabotage, so vast and brilliantly designed, that it staggers the imagination.His only chance to stop it depends on taking overwhelming risks—and learning which of the two beautiful women in his life can be trusted. Andrew Falcon's struggle for survival begins as he tries to...

From Publishers WeeklyCorporate financier Frey's debut novel concerns a secret society of powerful businessmen who attempt to engineer a large-scale economic disaster to topple the President. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Library JournalThe unlikely hero of this first novel, an investment banker with (gasp!) a conscience, risks all in probing a crooked takeover scheme. Plans for a motion picture from Paramount are underway.Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

With the illusion machine in their power, aliens plan the takeover of earth, because the vampires, man-eating plants, cannibal children, and other things, are illusions no longer

Better Nate than Ever meets Love Sugar Magic in this fourth and final novel in the Fearless middle grade series from Hamilton and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez about a young thespian and emerging influencer whose social media gets hacked.Twelve-year-old April DaSilva loves performing—and connecting with fans on her social media accounts. Thanks to her role in the hit Broadway show Our Time, she is close to reaching a huge follower milestone. In celebration, she's hosting a contest: three lucky followers will win a special backstage tour and tickets to the show. April feels on top of the world, but her brother isn't so thrilled about her attention always being glued to a screen. His warnings don't bother April. What's wrong with wanting more followers and likes? When meet and greet day arrives, the Squad helps make the event special. All goes without a hitch until April attempts to log into her social media...it's gone. Her...

Earth has been taken over by a strange alien force - creatures whose instinct for survival overrides any human resistance. Then a vital weapon - with the power of electronically warping the mind - falls into the hands of a terrorist group still strong enough to oppose the aliens. A weapon so powerful that it cannot be controlled. The control of Earth is in the balance - and the balance is a terrifyingly precarious one.

**eBook Edition** Sometimes you've gotta bend the rules to straighten things out! The second book in the hilarious Elizabella series is middle-grade at its finest.It's the beginning of term for Elizabella and her gang, but instead of being a fresh start, it's a rotten one. The school is falling apart and misery sets in when a big corporation takes over the tuckshop, leaving poor Miss Duck out of a job. Meanwhile, there's a lice outbreak at Bilby Creek Primary and a competition to write the School Song. How will Elizabella deal with all of this? In true Elizabella style, of course!

Better Nate than Ever meets Love Sugar Magic in this fourth and final novel in the Fearless middle grade series from Hamilton and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez about a young thespian and emerging influencer whose social media gets hacked.Twelve-year-old April DaSilva loves performing—and connecting with fans on her social media accounts. Thanks to her role in the hit Broadway show Our Time, she is close to reaching a huge follower milestone. In celebration, she's hosting a contest: three lucky followers will win a special backstage tour and tickets to the show. April feels on top of the world, but her brother isn't so thrilled about her attention always being glued to a screen. His warnings don't bother April. What's wrong with wanting more followers and likes? When meet and greet day arrives, the Squad helps make the event special. All goes without a hitch until April attempts to log into her social media...it's gone. Her...

Armed only with squirt guns and water balloons, A 10 year old, orphan girl, and her Artificially Intelligent toy Koala, take on thousands of rogue Ai toys, deceitful humans, and gods to save the universe.Content synopsis: There are two things which can deeply shock people’s hearts, one is the sublime code of ethics in our hearts, and the other one is the gorgeous starry sky over our heads-- Kant.When Sheilor held back his eyes from this line of words, really saw those numerous like sesames stars behind the dust for the first time, was not shocked by, but was angry instead: The stars outside of the region’s sky are so dazzling, who can bear it? If he is shined by these lights everyday, it’s afraid that he will become those stupid wild cats shined by the headlamp in the mine tunnel!So Sheilor gave up the dream to become an auxiliary officer of a noble female warship commander, began to fall in the effect of the gravitation force, fall, fall to become a nonnative poor boy to guard the entrance, a selling body poor man, an engaged in trivial works male nanny… In the magnificent upsurge big era, showing the white teeth, narrowing the eyes and having the silly smile, clothing in the inexplicable splendor, marching toward the nobody knows distance one step by one step.……………………Sheilor, a citizen of the East Forest Region, left from a deserted half-abandoned planet, possessed some bizarre knowledge in his mind, his body also possessed the strength that nobody ever got in touch with in this world, not confused at all and only contented with his lot absurdly to enter into this most boring and also most interesting world.The life of the Guest, should be very exciting.

Hemdeep Singh knows exactly what he wants. With his intelligence and determination, he has what it takes to build his own legacy away from Bharat, Inc. and the empire his father created. But when his brother calls him home, Hem puts his dreams on hold once again to help save the company he walked away from. That's when he encounters the devastating Mina Kohli in the Bharat boardroom, and he realizes he's in for more than he had bargained.Mina will do whatever it takes to recover control of her mother's law firm, even if it means agreeing to an arranged marriage. Her newest case assignment is to assist Bharat in the midst of a potential takeover. It could be the key to finally achieving her goal while preventing her marriage to a man she doesn't love—as long as her explosive attraction to Hem doesn't get in the way. As Mina and Hem work to save Bharat, they not only uncover secrets that could threaten the existence of the company, but they also learn that in...

First published, in paperback, in 1967, this is one of two novels Dick wrote in collaboration. Stylistically, it is typical Dick, but it lacks the gravity and conviction of most of his other novels. It's set in the 21st century when the Earth has been conquered by a race of alien, telepathic, wormlike creatures, one of whom, Mekkis, is attracted to the theories of the psychologist Rudolph Balkani. Although ostensibly a "wik" or worm-kisser (i.e., one who freely serves the Ganymedians), Balkani is a complex man whose allegiances and motives are not easily discerned; indeed, Mekkis's attraction to his ideas leads to the worms' undoing. Other characters include the musicologist Joan Hiashi, whom Balkani unsuccessfully pursues, and Percy X, the black revolutionary who represents the ony overt resistance to the worms. Characterizations are unusually weak for Dick, and the ultimate instrument of the alien downfall--Dr. Balkani's "hell-machine," which distorts reality--cannot summon up in the reader the ontological confusion and terror that drives Dick's best work. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A billionaire's baby deal! One look into his infant son's trusting blue gaze and Aiden Langford knows his wild, carefree days are over. If only he can get Sarah Daltrey, his son's temporary guardian, to give him daddy lessons... Certainly the soft-hearted entrepreneur will agree to his ten-day proposal to stay as the nanny. Aiden just needs to keep his mind on parenting and off Sarah's seductive curves... Being in the handsome tycoon's arms puts up Sarah's emotional defenses even as her body begs her to let go. But being a babysitter with benefits isn't on her agenda—especially for a father and son who might steal her heart...

Cassandra was determined to impress Lang Dalton, her fiance's high-powered boss— and his glamorous party seemed the perfect opportunity. Only it turned out to be a setup— Lang wanted Cassandra for himself!Cassandra refused to let Lang hijack her wedding plans, but he had a seductive hold over her: he was gorgeous, sexy— and he was blackmailing her.

Takeover—One Last Chance for HumanitySince the announcement of Unbounded existence, the mortal world has quickly polarized. One faction wants all Unbounded—Renegade and Emporium—dead. Others worship them as gods who have come to save the world and bring it immortality. The tension between these groups is ready to explode.Meanwhile, the Emporium has a new player, one who has upped the stakes in the battle for humanity. Many innocent mortals are sacrificed as the Emporium Triad grabs for control.As Erin Radkey, Ritter Langton, and their Renegade allies struggle to stay one step ahead of the enemy, their increasing abilities are tested to the limit—as is their trust in each other. They have only one chance to change the game, to save humanity. A desperate plan that requires an ultimate price no one can bear to pay.But everything is not always what it seems, especially in the world of the Unbounded."The Takeover amazingly pulls in threads from all the previous novels for a richly...

My greatest enemies demand that I give them an heir... When billionaire brothers Nicholas, Max, and Reed Bennett capture me, I'm at the mercy of their dark and twisted desires. These three dominant men crave my ultimate submission. They want an heir. My heir. A baby to unite our powerful families. And they'll take me, share me, and pleasure me until I've given them what they want. But I don't submit that easily. The only secret I carry is one that will destroy my enemies--the men I've started to trust...the ones I'm beginning to love. These tempting, devious men will stop at nothing until one of them becomes a father to my future son. They're monsters.They're gorgeous.They're dangerous.They're fools if they think they can control me. ...And I'm lost if I fall for them. *Note: The Takeover Trilogy is the very definition of a dark romance. You'll squirm. Your heart will race. And some content might be a little much for certain readers. But, for those of you who like their romances over-the-top, rough, and remorselessly passionate...this series is for you. Takeover is a bdsm ménage romance, but no characters will cheat on their way to a happily-ever-after. There's ménage. BDSM. Three men desperate to put a baby in an innocent woman's belly. This is a book about risk, love, and revenge. It's as sexy as it is enthralling.Curious? Don't be scared. This is the dark romance you were too afraid to ask for...***

Jack Reed spells trouble. But has trouble met its match? The business world trembles at the mere mention of Jack Reed, but Becca Stevens has no such fear. Her pleas for him to end his hostile takeover of Lassiter Media should be laughable. Yet there's such sincerity in her eyes, such a light his own life seriously lacks. Becca wants to show him just what his ruthless quest is costing others. And he goes along with her plan, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to woo her into his bed. But is he walking right into her trap--one that neither of them will want to escape?

To: Julia, Maggie, Jen, SharonFrom: LaurenDate: 12/01RE: I'm not a pregnant virgin!You'll never believe what Rafe did today! He asked me if I was pregnant! Just because he suspected my flu was morning sickness. The worst of it is, as soon as I denied it, he looked relieved! He said he didn't really think it possible. Does he mean he doesn't believe anyone would want me enough to get me pregnant? Watch out, Rafe Mitchell, you drop-dead gorgeous bachelor. Because once you see the new and improved Lauren, you won't doubt any man would long for me!

RetailThe biggest takeover in American business that you’ve n ever heard of The American supermarket seems to represent the best in America: abundance, freedom, choice. But that turns out to be an illusion. The rotisserie chicken, the pepperoni, the cordon bleu, the frozen pot pie, and the bacon virtually all come from four companies. In The Meat Racket, investigative reporter Christopher Leonard delivers the first-ever account of how a handful of companies have seized the nation’s meat supply. He shows how they built a system that puts farmers on the edge of bankruptcy, charges high prices to consumers, and returns the industry to the shape it had in the 1900s before the meat monopolists were broken up. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, the greatest capitalist country in the world has an oligarchy controlling much of the food we eat and a high-tech sharecropping system to make that possible. Forty years ago, more than thirty-six companies produced half of all the chicken Americans ate. Now there are only three that make that amount, and they control every aspect of the process, from the egg to the chicken to the chicken nugget. These companies are even able to raise meat prices for consumers while pushing down the price they pay to farmers. And tragically, big business and politics have derailed efforts to change the system. We know that it takes big companies to bring meat to the American table. What The Meat Racket shows is that this industrial system is rigged against all of us. In that sense, Leonard has exposed our heartland’s biggest scandal.**

The new boss... Her family hotel has just been taken over and Wynne needs to do whatever it takes to seem bright, breezy and unflappable. Easier said than done! If she can work nicely with the charismatic Xavier Ramos then her colleagues might just keep their jobs... Xavier has no qualms about ruthlessly transforming a homely motel into a chic boutique hotel—only, he has a fight on his hands against fiery Wynne! While he's busy taking over her hotel, with every battle he finds she's taking another piece of his heart...