Congress declared in 1864 that it could never accept a foreign monarchy in Mexico. Upon the signing of the surrender at Appomattox Courthouse by 1865, General Ulysses S. Grant freed up over 50,000 men to send to the Texas-Mexico border under the command of Philip Sheridan. In addition, many local organizations called Monroe Doctrine Societies had organized to raise volunteers, weapons, and supplies to support the Mexican Army. One group, the American Legion of Honor, was commissioned by the Mexican president, and played an active role in support of the Mexican forces fighting the French invaders. Members of the US Colored Troops also accepted discharges at the end of the Civil War and aided Mexico in the conflict. Finally, Matías Romero, Mexico's tireless ambassador to the United States, raised money from US investors through Mexican bonds. Those funds financed the purchase of advanced artillery and repeating rifles. The addition of veteran ex-Union officers to the Mexican forces helped turn the ragtag guerrilla bands of the Mexican resistance into an organized military. They handily defeated the French imperial army at Querétaro, captured the Emperor, retook Mexico City, and restored the Republic.

The New York Times bestseller from the conservative commentator and 2016 presidential candidate. In God, Guns, Grits and Gravy, Mike Huckabee explores today’s fractious American culture, where divisions of class, race, politics, religion, gender, age, and other fault lines make polite conversation dicey, if not downright dangerous. As Huckabee notes, the differences between the “Bubble-villes” of the big power centers and the “Bubba-villes” where most people live are profound, provocative, and sometimes pretty funny. Here, Huckabee takes on government bailouts, politician pig-outs, and popular culture provocations from Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Honey Boo-Boo and Duck Dynasty. The former Arkansas Governor also discusses gun rights, gay marriage, the decline of patriotism, and the mainstream media’s contempt for those who cherish a faith-based life. The trouble with Democrats, the even bigger trouble with Republicans, our national security complex, and how our Constitution is eroding under our noses.

1965: Stories from the Second Indo-Pakistan War On 1 September 1965, Pakistan invaded the Chamb district in Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a series of tank battles, operations and counter-operations. It was only the bravery and well-executed strategic decisions of the soldiers of the Indian Army that countered the very real threat of losing Kashmir to Pakistan. Recounting the battles fought by five different regiments, the narrative reconstructs the events of the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war, outlining details never revealed before, and remembers its unsung heroes. Shoot, Dive, Fly: Stories of Grit and Adventure from the Indian Army SHOOT, DIVE, FLY aims to introduce teenagers to the armed forces and tell them about the perils-the rigours and the challenges-and perks-the thrill and the adventure-of a career in uniform. Ballroom dancing, flying fighter planes, detonating bombs, skinning and eating snakes in times of dire need, and everything else in between-there's nothing our officers can't do!. Read twenty-one nail-biting stories of daring. Hear from some amazing men and women about what the forces have taught them-and decide if the olivegreen uniform is what you want to wear too. The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories Twenty-one riveting stories about how India's highest military honor was won. Talking to parents, siblings, children and comrades-in-arms to paint the most vivid character-portraits of these men and their conduct in battle and getting unprecedented access to the Indian Army, Rachna Bisht Rawat takes us to the heart of war, chronicling the tales of twenty-one of India's bravest soldiers.

Stephen Elkins-Williams had the extraordinary good fortune to preach in the same pulpit for 30 years, and it was equally fortuitous for generations of parishioners at the Chapel of the Cross in the vibrant university community of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Guiding his listeners through a thorough grasp of scripture, as well as personal insight and lively storytelling, his preaching also reflects a keen understanding of his place in the leadership lineage of a 170-year-old parish. Stephen made the Chapel of the Cross a trusted leader among churches in a caring, giving and activist community, and a source of inspiration, comfort and teaching to young minds and hearts on a college campus. In the words of a long-time associate, When Steve preaches I always learn something that changes my understanding of God and/or the practice of faith. Stephen joined the Society of Jesus while completing his studies toward degrees in philosophy and divinity, and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1975. He soon realized that Gods purposes for his life were changing; he left the Jesuits and was received as an Episcopal priest in 1982. He arrived in Chapel Hill that year as associate for parish ministry, and was chosen rector three years later. Here are more than 80 of his sermons that bring ancient liturgy thoroughly alive to a modern faith community.

David Carr was an addict for more than twenty years -- first dope, then coke, then finally crack -- before the prospect of losing his newborn twins made him sober up in a bid to win custody from their crack-dealer mother. Once recovered, he found that his recollection of his 'lost' years differed -- sometimes radically -- from that of his family and friends. The night, for example, his best friend pulled a gun on him. 'No,' said the friend (to David's horror, as a lifelong pacifist), 'It was you that had the gun.' Using all his skills as an investigative reporter, he set out to research his own life, interviewing everyone from his parents and his ex-partners to the policemen who arrested him, the doctors who treated him and the lawyers who fought to prove he was fit to have custody of his kids. Unflinchingly honest and beautifully written, the result is both a shocking account of the depths of addiction and a fascinating examination of how -- and why -- our memories deceive us. As David says, we remember the stories we can live with, not the ones that happened.

Imagine being Stuck: Stuck in anything, be it a situation, a thought, a feeling, or even a relationship. For Aditya Thakur, life threw curveball after curveball. First came Deepti Gaekwad, oblivious to the love Aditya had for her. Then came Lavanya Gaekwad, who messed with Aditya simply with her name. And then, Muskaan: who, just like her name, put a smile on Aditya’s face. Between these three Aditya’s journey grows into a funny kind of a limbo - A journey in which he is insanely Stuck!

"A wonderful, absorbing read, with characters to capture the heart of the imagination...it's a romance not to be missed."—Heather Graham on Outlaw Hearts "Stop! Or I'll shoot your hat off." Maggie Tucker has just gone through hell. Outlaws murdered her husband, looted their camp, and terrorized Maggie before leaving her lost and alone in the wilds of Wyoming. She isn't about to let another strange man get close enough to harm her. Sage Lightfoot, owner of Paradise Valley ranch, his hunting for the men who killed his best ranch hand. But what he finds is a beautiful, bedraggled woman digging a grave. And pointing a pistol at his heart. From that moment on, Sage will do anything to protect the strong-yet-vulnerable Maggie. Together, they'll embark on a life-changing journey along the dangerous Outlaw Trail, risking their lives...and their love.