The Gilded Hour

The Gilded Hour
Author: Sara Donati
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 754
Release: 2015
Genre: Historical fiction
ISBN: 0425271811

Haunted by childhood losses in spite of successful medical careers in 1883 New York City, surgeon Anna Savard and her obstetrician cousin, Sophie, consider taking in a child and helping a desperate young mother, while avoiding dangerous anti-vice crusader Anthony Comstock.

Forty Autumns

Forty Autumns
Author: Nina Willner
Publisher: HarperCollins
Total Pages: 223
Release: 2016-10-04
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0062410334

In this illuminating and deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer goes beyond traditional Cold War espionage tales to tell the true story of her family—of five women separated by the Iron Curtain for more than forty years, and their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Forty Autumns makes visceral the pain and longing of one family forced to live apart in a world divided by two. At twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany. But the price of freedom—leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—was heartbreaking. Uprooted, Hanna eventually moved to America, where she settled down with her husband and had children of her own. Growing up near Washington, D.C., Hanna’s daughter, Nina Willner became the first female Army Intelligence Officer to lead sensitive intelligence operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War. Though only a few miles separated American Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin, Cordula, a member of the East German Olympic training team—a bitter political war kept them apart. In Forty Autumns, Nina recounts her family’s story—five ordinary lives buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. She takes us deep into the tumultuous and terrifying world of East Germany under Communist rule, revealing both the cruel reality her relatives endured and her own experiences as an intelligence officer, running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall that put her life at risk. A personal look at a tenuous era that divided a city and a nation, and continues to haunt us, Forty Autumns is an intimate and beautifully written story of courage, resilience, and love—of five women whose spirits could not be broken, and who fought to preserve what matters most: family. Forty Autumns is illustrated with dozens of black-and-white and color photographs.

The Five Star Church

The Five Star Church
Author: Stan Toler
Publisher: Gospel Light Publications
Total Pages: 252
Release: 1999-04-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780830723508

Ever wonder how a restaurant or hotel earns a five-star rating? Is it the people? The location? The service? In most cases, it is all of this and more. Why should your church be any different? The Five Star Church reveals how you can pursue Christian excellence and uphold the Lord's command to "honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10). It contains tips, tools and the inspiration you need to build a top-quality church that people will flock to and participate in. Now matter how small your ministry or budget, God can use your church effectively to make everyone there feel welcome and cared for - the marks of a five-star church!

The Prince of Midnight

The Prince of Midnight
Author: Laura Kinsale
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 469
Release: 2014-04-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1497620368

A lady desiring vengeance seeks a highwayman’s help in this tale by an author whose novels are “the gold standard in historical romance” (Lisa Kleypas). Lady Leigh Strachan’s father governed the town of Felchester—until a religious zealot murdered her family and turned the village into hell on Earth. Now, there is room in her heart for only one thing: revenge. Leigh plans to kill her father’s murderer once she learns to aim a pistol, slash a sword, and ride a horse. She seeks out the Prince of Midnight, a legendary highwayman exiled to France, as her choice of tutors. But the man she finds in a crumbling French castle is no hero. Half deaf and suffering from vertigo, S. T. Maitland can scarcely walk, much less wield a sword atop a dancing stallion. Yet for reasons she can’t explain, she remains with him, steeling her heart against the sight of his gold-streaked hair, green eyes, and brows adorned with a devilish curl at the arch . . . Women mean nothing but trouble to the highwayman, so he wishes Leigh were less alluring. Alas, she is beautiful, with a piercing gaze and a determined spirit. Despite his broken balance, the loss of his horse, and the price on his head, he vows to return to England with her. He cannot resist the challenge—or the chance to sacrifice everything for love . . . The New York Times–bestselling author of Flowers from the Storm and Shadowheart, Laura Kinsale writes an “unfailingly brilliant and beautiful” romance (Julia Quinn).

Five Stars

Five Stars
Author: Carmine Gallo
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2018-06-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1250183472

“As technology threatens to displace countless jobs and skills, the ability to communicate is becoming more important than ever. This book is full of examples to help you get better at transporting your thoughts and emotions into the minds of other people.” —Adam Grant, New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take, Originals, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg How to master the art of persuasion—from the bestselling author of Talk Like TED. Ideas don’t sell themselves. As the forces of globalization, automation, and artificial intelligence combine to disrupt every field, having a good idea isn’t good enough. Mastering the ancient art of persuasion is the key to standing out, getting ahead, and achieving greatness in the modern world. Communication is no longer a “soft” skill—it is the human edge that will make you unstoppable, irresistible, and irreplaceable—earning you that perfect rating, that fifth star. In Five Stars, Carmine Gallo, bestselling author of Talk Like TED, breaks down how to apply Aristotle’s formula of persuasion to inspire contemporary audiences. As the nature of work changes, and technology carries things across the globe in a moment, communication skills become more valuable—not less. Gallo interviews neuroscientists, economists, historians, billionaires, and business leaders of companies like Google, Nike, and Airbnb to show first-hand how they use their words to captivate your imagination and ignite your dreams. In the knowledge age—the information economy—you are only as valuable as your ideas. Five Stars is a book to help you bridge the gap between mediocrity and exceptionality, and gain your competitive edge in the age of automation. In Five Stars, you will also learn: -The one skill billionaire Warren Buffett says will raise your value by 50 percent. -Why your job might fall into a category where 75 percent or more of your income relies on your ability to sell your idea. -How Airbnb’s founders follow a classic 3-part formula shared by successful Hollywood movies. -Why you should speak in third-grade language to persuade adult listeners. -The one brain hack Steve Jobs, Leonardo da Vinci, and Picasso used to unlock their best ideas.

The Great CEO Within: The Tactical Guide to Company Building

The Great CEO Within: The Tactical Guide to Company Building
Author: Matt Mochary
Publisher:
Total Pages: 202
Release: 2019-12-05
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9780578599281

Matt Mochary coaches the CEOs of many of the fastest-scaling technology companies in Silicon Valley. With The Great CEO Within, he shares his highly effective leadership and business-operating tools with any CEO or manager in the world. Learn how to efficiently scale your business from startup to corporation by implementing a system of accountability, effective problem-solving, and transparent feedback. Becoming a great CEO requires training. For a founding CEO, there is precious little time to complete that training, especially at the helm of a rapidly growing company. Now you have the guidance you need in one book.

The Lacquered Talisman

The Lacquered Talisman
Author: Laurie Dennis
Publisher: Earnshaw Books Limited
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022-02-08
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9789888552467

A sweeping coming-of-age epic, The Lacquered Talisman launches the story of one of the most influential figures in Chinese history. He is the son of a bean curd seller and he will found the Ming Dynasty, which ruled China from 1368 to 1644. Known as "Fortune" as a boy, Zhu Yuanzhang is part of a large and doting family who shepherd him through hardship until drought and plague ravage the countryside. Left with nothing but a lacquered necklace from his grandfather, Fortune is deposited in the village temple and is soon wandering the countryside as a begging monk. He encounters pockets of resistance to the ruling Mongol dynasty, studies the stars, and tangles with Daoists as he seeks to understand his destiny. Signs and dreams convince him that he has a special fate. Is he to be the abbot of a monastery? A general? What matters most is that he proves himself to be a filial son. Praise for The Lacquered Talisman: "Historical fiction lovers will delight in The Lacquered Talisman, which gives us a vividly-imagined, brilliantly-told story of a real-life emperor's humble origins. The first part of a biography of the first Ming Emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang, it is a vivid and engaging portrayal of a young man determined to honor the love and sacrifices of his tragedy-stricken family, set against the beautifully-drawn backdrop of 14th century China." --IndieReader "This epic coming of age story is about Fortune, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, as a boy until he reached the age of twenty-three. The author writes in a literary style, and although it is fiction, it reads similar to an account told by a first-person narrator. The style is evocative of the ancient Classic style and suits this lovely novel exactly." --Discovering Diamonds

5-Star Life

5-Star Life
Author: Britney Ruby Miller
Publisher: Whitaker House
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2021-09-21
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1641237511

Allow Adversity to Refine You, Not Define You "[Britney Ruby Miller] is a change agent who brings the possibility of transformation to all those she leads and influences. From hostess to CEO, Britney leads with courage and humility and impacts the lives of her employees, family members, community, and beyond." —Ford Taylor, Founder, Transformational Leadership Crisis rarely comes with a warning. When blindsided by trauma, betrayal, or soul-crushing news, it’s natural to want to give up. Is it possible to rise above calamity and even thrive despite the turmoil? Britney Ruby Miller, entrepreneur and CEO of a nationally ranked, family-owned restaurant group, says yes, it absolutely is. Having faced family tragedy, peer rejection, infidelity, infertility, and a pandemic that threatened not only to close her family’s business but also to decimate the restaurant industry, Britney battled back with the winning combination of faith and fight that has led to her five-star life. Britney demonstrates what it means to live authentically and effectively as a strong woman in leadership. With captivating stories and practical applications to lead you deeper into principles for success, this book will show you how to increase your faith and hope in the midst of challenges, setbacks, and even tragedy as you persevere to attain your own Five-Star Life. “Every battle [Britney] has faced has been hard won. The scars she has received have become the stars she has earned…. Sit down. Relax. Enjoy. Savor. You’re about to experience a delicious meal.” —Kathie Lee Gifford

Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit

Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit
Author: Leonardo Inghilleri
Publisher: AMACOM
Total Pages: 190
Release: 2010-04-14
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0814415393

What if you could protect your business against competitive inroads, once and for all? Customer service experts Leonardo Inghilleri and Micah Solomon's anticipatory customer service approach was first developed at The Ritz-Carlton as well as at Solomon's company Oasis, and has since proven itself in countless companies around the globe--from luxury giant BVLGARI to value-sensitive auto parts leader Carquest and everywhere in between. Their experience shows that the most powerful growth engine in a tight market--and best protection from competitive inroads--is to put everything you can into cultivating true customer loyalty. Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit takes the techniques that minted money for these brands and reveals how you can apply them to your own business to provide the kind of exceptional service that nearly guarantees loyalty. Soon, you'll be reaping the benefits of loyal customers who are: less sensitive to price competition, more forgiving of small glitches, and, ultimately, who are "walking billboards" happily promoting your brand. Filled with detailed, behind-the-scenes examples, Exceptional Service, Exceptional Profit unlocks a new level of customer relationship that leaves your competitors in the dust, your customers coming back day after day, and your bottom line looking better than it ever has before.