Life in Spades

Life in Spades
Author: Frances Frost
Publisher: Invisionbooks LLC
Total Pages: 378
Release: 2013-04-20
Genre: Female friendship
ISBN: 9780989113908

Four African-American women rely on their friendship as they face insecurities, negotiate love, and define happiness: Gina, an admittedly unathletic runner training for a marathon with her White boyfriend in an effort to change her mother's mind about interracial dating; Sherry, a divorcee enjoying her new single life, but still debating motherhood; Cookie, a cupcake baker wrestling with memories of her late fiancée and an obvious attraction to the delivery man who comes by every day; and Laura, a professional escort who plays by a strict set of self-imposed rules in order to maintain her one-woman business. With humor and insight, they consider their cards and wonder which will be the trump that wins. With humor and insight, Frances Frost weaves a story of these women as they face their personal insecurities, negotiate love, strengthen their friendship, and define happiness.

Normal Life

Normal Life
Author: Dean Spade
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2015-07-23
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 082237479X

Revised and Expanded Edition Wait—what's wrong with rights? It is usually assumed that trans and gender nonconforming people should follow the civil rights and "equality" strategies of lesbian and gay rights organizations by agitating for legal reforms that would ostensibly guarantee nondiscrimination and equal protection under the law. This approach assumes that the best way to address the poverty and criminalization that plague trans populations is to gain legal recognition and inclusion in the state's institutions. But is this strategy effective? In Normal Life Dean Spade presents revelatory critiques of the legal equality framework for social change, and points to examples of transformative grassroots trans activism that is raising demands that go beyond traditional civil rights reforms. Spade explodes assumptions about what legal rights can do for marginalized populations, and describes transformative resistance processes and formations that address the root causes of harm and violence. In the new afterword to this revised and expanded edition, Spade notes the rapid mainstreaming of trans politics and finds that his predictions that gaining legal recognition will fail to benefit trans populations are coming to fruition. Spade examines recent efforts by the Obama administration and trans equality advocates to "pinkwash" state violence by articulating the US military and prison systems as sites for trans inclusion reforms. In the context of recent increased mainstream visibility of trans people and trans politics, Spade continues to advocate for the dismantling of systems of state violence that shorten the lives of trans people. Now more than ever, Normal Life is an urgent call for justice and trans liberation, and the radical transformations it will require.

Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades
Author: Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Total Pages: 342
Release: 2021-06-01
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 125080082X

Gossip Girl meets Get Out in Ace of Spades, a YA contemporary thriller by debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé about two students, Devon & Chiamaka, and their struggles against an anonymous bully. All you need to know is . . . I’m here to divide and conquer. Like all great tyrants do. —Aces When two Niveus Private Academy students, Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo, are selected to be part of the elite school’s senior class prefects, it looks like their year is off to an amazing start. After all, not only does it look great on college applications, but it officially puts each of them in the running for valedictorian, too. Shortly after the announcement is made, though, someone who goes by Aces begins using anonymous text messages to reveal secrets about the two of them that turn their lives upside down and threaten every aspect of their carefully planned futures. As Aces shows no sign of stopping, what seemed like a sick prank quickly turns into a dangerous game, with all the cards stacked against them. Can Devon and Chiamaka stop Aces before things become incredibly deadly? With heart-pounding suspense and relevant social commentary comes a high-octane thriller from debut author Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé.

Love in Spades

Love in Spades
Author: Charlie Cochet
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2018-04-22
Genre:
ISBN: 9781717203243

When the cards are stacked against you, the Kings will even the odds. Ex-Special Forces soldier Anston "Ace" Sharpe is fighting a different battle these days-one involving the world of private security across the state of Florida. As part owner of Four Kings Security, Ace and his fellow Kings tackle everything from armed transport and investigations to cyber intelligence and executive protection. Cocky, fearless, and brash, Ace isn't afraid to take risks. After years of working alongside his father, Colton Connolly is ready to take the helm at Connolly Maritime, but his father's retirement is put on hold when Colton begins receiving death threats. If that isn't bad enough, his father signs a contract with Four Kings Security to provide Colton with round-the-clock protection, despite his adamant refusal. Colton's life has been turned upside down, the last thing he needs is a shadow, especially in the form of infuriating, sexy-as-sin Ace Sharpe, who seems to be on a mission to drive Colton mad. Sparks fly the moment Colton and Ace meet on a sultry night club dance floor. But getting involved with a client, even one as fiery and beautiful as Colton Connolly, is a line Ace is unwilling to cross. Colton might be attracted to Ace, but he'd been burned before. He might be willing to put his life in Ace's hands, but not his heart. As the Florida nights heat up, so does their passion, and Ace and Colton are faced with a difficult choice-take the plunge and risk it all, or play it safe and walk away? If Ace can keep a deadly threat from robbing Colton of a future....

Master Spades

Master Spades
Author: Steve Fleishman
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2002-04
Genre: Spades (Game)
ISBN: 9780971434011

Master Spades details technique and strategy for the popular card game of Spades. Written by the leading authority on the game, this book instructs the serious player on winning techniques.

Play Your Cards Right

Play Your Cards Right
Author: Alexander Dunlop
Publisher:
Total Pages: 231
Release: 2017-06-06
Genre:
ISBN: 9781521434352

"This book is a must-read..." This book gives you the clarity, answers, confidence, and direction you've been seeking for your life. Read this book and you'll discover a hidden toolkit you can use to craft the life you really want. You see, what we've called a deck of playing cards is actually a timeless system of knowledge that represents the mathematical fabric of reality. And we can trace this knowledge all the way back to 5,000 BC! Did you know there are 52 cards in the deck and 52 weeks in a year, 4 suits and 4 seasons...and if we add up the face values of all the cards, we get exactly 365 1/4, which is our calendar year?! But more important than the mathematical precision is what this knowledge reveals about your life and how it empowers you to make better decisions in your life. Here's the deal: Based on your date of birth, you have 13 Cards to play. Each of these Life Cards represents different aspects of your life experience. In your Life Cards, you'll discover your pathway to More fulfilling work Healthier, happier relationships Authentic self-expression And to be clear, this is not offering a quick fix or predicting the future. Your future is determined by the decisions you make today. (So, if you're looking for a cartomancy-style book to do yearly readings or predictions, this book is not for you.) What this book does offer you is a simple toolkit you can utilize to make better decisions in your everyday life. For, once you find out "what's in the cards" for you, you'll have both the blueprint and the roadmap of your life. From there, the choice is yours... "In his soul-affirming book... Alexander has brought these cards to life, revealing their extraordinary truth." ~ Peter Roth "This book is a must-read..." ~ Marty Katz INTRODUCTORY CLASS INCLUDED This book comes with a complete introductory workshop to help you play your cards right in life. In this 60-minute online video tutorial, you'll learn, among other things: the key to rise to great heights in your life how to stop bleeding your power in romantic relationships the real reason why your life is not the way you want it to be a fun story of a Zen Abbot who discovered his cards to play the crazy thing Alexander's Ace of Diamonds son did a simple strategy for successful parenting What Jesus really meant when he said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Inspirational success stories with real life examples of what happened for people when they started playing their cards right As part of the mission of his non-profit organization, Alexander is offering this introductory workshop as a free gift to anyone who reads the book. Once you purchase the book, you'll find instructions in the back of the book to login and watch the complete video tutorial for free.

Professional Troublemaker

Professional Troublemaker
Author: Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 337
Release: 2021-12-28
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1984881922

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the New York Times bestselling author of I'm Judging You, a hilarious and transformational book about how to tackle fear--that everlasting hater--and audaciously step into lives, careers, and legacies that go beyond even our wildest dreams Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling. But even she's been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear. She was once afraid to call herself a writer, and nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. As she shares in Professional Troublemaker, she's not alone. We're all afraid. We're afraid of asking for what we want because we're afraid of hearing "no." We're afraid of being different, of being too much or not enough. We're afraid of leaving behind the known for the unknown. But in order to do the things that will truly, meaningfully change our lives, we have to become professional troublemakers: people who are committed to not letting fear talk them out of the things they need to do or say to live free. With humor and honesty, and guided by the influence of her professional troublemaking Nigerian grandmother, Funmilayo Faloyin, Luvvie walks us through what we must get right within ourselves before we can do the things that scare us; how to use our voice for a greater good; and how to put movement to the voice we've been silencing--because truth-telling is a muscle. The point is not to be fearless, but to know we are afraid and charge forward regardless. It is to recognize that the things we must do are more significant than our fears. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower. Let's go!

King of Spades

King of Spades
Author: Kiniesha Gayle
Publisher: Kensington Books
Total Pages: 404
Release: 2008-04-29
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781933967431

When Natalie "BabyGirl" Smith, who is on a dangerous mission to find the people who killed her parents, comes into his life, Andre Chin finds his growing empire in danger, while his fiancee Porsha and his business partner conspire against him. Original.

Jack of Spades

Jack of Spades
Author: Joyce Carol Oates
Publisher: Open Road + Grove/Atlantic
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2015-05-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0802191037

An exquisite, psychologically complex thriller about opposing forces within the mind of one ambitious writer and the delicate line between genius and madness. Andrew J. Rush has achieved the kind of critical and commercial success most authors only dream about: He has a top agent and publisher in New York, and his twenty-eight mystery novels have sold millions of copies. Only Stephen King, one of the few mystery writers whose fame exceeds his own, is capable of inspiring a twinge of envy in Rush. But Rush is hiding a dark secret. Under the pseudonym “Jack of Spades,” he pens another string of novels—noir thrillers that are violent, lurid, and masochistic. These are novels that the upstanding Rush wouldn’t be caught reading, let alone writing. When his daughter comes across a Jack of Spades novel he has carelessly left out, she picks it up and begins to ask questions. Meanwhile, Rush receives a court summons in the mail explaining that a local woman has accused him of plagiarizing her own self-published fiction. Before long, Rush’s reputation, career, and family life all come under threat—and in his mind he begins to hear the taunting voice of the Jack of Spades. “Sleek and suspenseful . . . Readers are sure to be gripped and unsettled by [Oates’s] depiction of a seemingly mild-mannered character whose psychopathology simmers frighteningly close to the surface.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review “Just when you think you’ve got her all figured out, Joyce Carol Oates sneaks up behind and confounds you yet again. She does it with a wicked flourish in Jack of Spades.” —The New York Times Book Review

Ace of Spades

Ace of Spades
Author: David Matthews
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Total Pages: 324
Release: 2007-02-06
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1429905034

A take-no-prisoners tale of growing up without knowing who you are. When David Matthews's mother abandoned him as an infant, she left him with white skin and the rumor that he might be half Jewish. For the next twenty years, he would be torn between his actual life as a black boy in the ghetto of 1980s Baltimore and a largely imagined world of white privilege. While his father, a black activist who counted Malcolm X among his friends, worked long hours as managing editor at the Baltimore Afro-American, David spent his early years escaping wicked-stepmother types and nursing an eleven-hour-a-day TV habit alongside his grandmother in her old-folks-home apartment. In Reagan-era America, there was no box marked "Other," no multiculturalism or self-serving political correctness, only a young boy's need to make it in a clearly segregated world where white meant "have" and black meant "have not." Without particular allegiance to either, David careened in and out of community college, dead-end jobs, his father's life, and girls' pants. A bracing yet hilarious reinvention of the American story of passing, Ace of Spades marks the debut of an irresistible and fiercely original new voice.