Owning the Stone-Chance Protection Agency has its perks. It's a profitable company that allows Ramsey and Keilah Stone to enjoy the finer things in life; however, it has also added an element of danger to their otherwise normal lifestyle. When Keilah was a field agent, she was an excellent marksman, known for being fearless when it came to protecting her clients. Now that she has a baby daughter, she's lost that competitive edge and longs for a slower life. That might not be possible, though, when the return of a shady ex-lover brings chaos into Keilah's life. At home, Ramsey is a warm and caring father and husband, but on the job, he finds it necessary to maintain his tough persona as an ex-military officer. When an unexpected tragedy darkens his doorstep, he finds himself in a cat-and-mouse game with a dangerous assailant. He will be forced to make some very difficult decisions in order to protect his family. Essence best-selling author Darrien Lee delivers another page-turner with Precious Stones.

Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones provides both the connoisseur and the casual collector with a compact, easy-to-use volume describing more than 100 rare varieties of minerals whose beauty and mystery have possessed our imaginations from time immemorial. More than 450 brilliant photographs accompany profiles of each gem, covering such aspects as appearance, physical properties -- density, hardness, refraction -- occurrence, and how to judge quality and value. Additional sections describe the process of cutting gemstones and the techniques professional gemologists use to evaluate a stone's weight and optical properties. Detailed and comprehensive, this book is essential for anyone interested in the study of gems and precious stones.

This fascinating work provides a truly stunning visual guide to the beautiful world of gemstones. It brings together a wealth of information in clearly worded text accompanied by a dazzling collection of color photographs showing gems in their natural and cut states. From subjects as diverse as identifying and collecting minerals and advanced testing, to ethical sourcing of gems, every aspect of gemstones is covered, and is presented with a wealth of research in easy-to-understand sections, making it a must-have reference work for anyone who wants to delve into the exciting world of gems.

A popular description of their occurrence, value, history, archaeology and of the collections in which they exist, also a chapter on pearls and on remarkable foreign gems owned in the United States...