This book honors the voices of African Americans of the Civil War era through their letters, inviting readers to engage personally with the Black historical experience. Amidst bloody battles and political maneuvering, thousands of African Americans spent the Civil War trying to hold their families together. This moving book illuminates that struggle through the letters they exchanged. Despite harsh laws against literacy and brutal practices that broke apart Black families, people found ways to write to each other against all odds. In these pages, readers will meet parents who are losing hope of ever seeing their children again and a husband who walks fifteen miles to visit his wife, enslaved on a different plantation. The collection also includes tender courtship letters exchanged between Lewis Henry Douglass and Helen Amelia Loguen, both children of noted abolitionists, and letters sent home by the young women who traveled south to teach literacy to escaped slaves. Roberts' expert curation allows readers to see the wider historical context. The transcriptions are accompanied by reproductions of selected original letters and photographs of the letter writers. FRESH ANGLE ON HISTORY: Roberts reframes the Civil War era by telling the story of American slavery through letters. And by focusing on the strong bonds of love that these letters represent, she offers a deeply human and relatable version of history. AUTHORITATIVE YET ACCESSIBLE: Throughout the book, Roberts provides expert context while weaving compelling stories about the individual letter writers. Readers can connect with history directly by reading actual words from the time and seeing photographs of both the letters and the writers. NUANCED PERSPECTIVE: As Americans wake up to the complex legacy of race in this country, Roberts' book challenges a notion of a monolithic Black experience during the Civil War. BEAUTIFUL BOOK: This handsome hardcover provides an elegant presentation, complete with images throughout. While intense and often tragic, the stories carry inspiration for how to live and love through incredibly difficult times. This will make a truly meaningful addition to any book collection. Perfect for: Readers of Black history, Civil War history, and American history History students Letter writers Fans of historical letters

Highly acclaimed UCLA Women's gymnastics coach of 7 NCAA championships Valorie Kondos Field shares insights on how to use uniqueness and authenticity to achieve success. Former professional ballerina Valorie Kondos Field--or Miss Val, as she's affectionately known--has never tumbled, flipped, or even played any type of organized sports, and yet she has been able to craft a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for the overall well-being of her athletes. For Miss Val, it's not about winning and losing, it's about choreographing your life and owning the choices you make. Miss Val has shaped her UCLA Gymnastics program as a life skills class and now she's sharing those lessons with you, whether you're an athlete, business leader, or simply someone who wants to own their destiny. Miss Val's philosophies are timeless. Her coaching style is unorthodox. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is a thought-provoking, fun journey through the anecdotes of the 35-year career of a dancer/choreographer turned athletic coach. The book includes unforgettable stories of the Olympians and athletes with whom she's worked-including the inspirational journey of Katelyn Ohashi, whose joyful transformation under the tutelage of Miss Val was evident to the world when her perfect 10 floor routine went viral -- reaching over 100 million viewers. Other triumphs include Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who found her confidence at UCLA and learned the tools to combat her previous abuse; and sensation Christine Peng Peng Lee, who helped the Bruins clinch the 2018 NCAA championship with back-to-back 10's. Miss Val also shares her favorite memories of her mentor, legendary basketball coach John Wooden, as well as her thoughts on Larry Nassar and the gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. Miss Val reveals how her coaching journey had a rocky start before she found her own best approach. In time she realized that her dance background wasn't a detriment, it was a gift. When she embraced this, Miss Val led the Bruins to victory. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is packed with great advice for anyone on a quest for success, delivered in Miss Val's reassuring and inspirational tone. She took the same approach to her breast cancer diagnosis, explaining how she made that struggle into one of the best years of her life. For Miss Val, it's all about attitude. Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance is a powerful book that shows you how to make the leap of faith in choosing your own path to greatness.

"Before I even knew what love meant, I felt it for you, and it's made my time on earth more meaningful." After devoting months to bettering the lives of those displaced by Agro's reign of terror, Brietta and Kegan are ready to dive into their wedding countdown, but their dreams begin to crumble when tragedy strikes the refugee camp, endangering everyone inside. Thrust into a terrifying world of uncertainty, Brietta and Kegan must embrace a love worth dying for while facing a harsh reality. Sometimes the only acceptable choice leaves wounds that never heal.

I knew to take her as my client was playing with fire! But the moment she walks into my office, And I lock my eyes with her; She ignites that passion and then there is no turning back. Nova’s been through a lot, An abusive marriage that’s scared her to death. But she has a hidden fiery side that makes me WILD, And then my worst fears come true, The trouble that once only affected her, starts coming for both of us. Her husband who would do anything to possess her. He might be a hunter, but I'm a f*cking beast. I'll do everything to protect her I’ll fight for her and bring her back home.

In 1886, Clara, a young peasant girl and prostitute, steals a baby from a rich family in the hope that Henry, the man she lives with will believe the baby his and marry her. He doesn’t believe her and leaves. Stuck with the stolen child Nellie, Clara has two more children with unknown fathers and spends all her money on drink. One day while Nellie is out looking for food, the police arrest her “mother” because of her neglect of the children, and her “siblings” are taken to the workhouse. Nellie runs away from her hometown and settles in Ulverston, Cumbria, making a makeshift bed near the canal and boat yards. She eats what she can forage and steals when she must. Nellie meets a rich boy named Charles Nicholson, who left home to become a sailor. Nellie persuades Charles to return home and they become friends. Nellie becomes employed by a farmer who tries to assault her. The man injures himself on the pitchfork she uses to defend herself and Nellie runs away. The farmer finds her, beats her badly, and leaves her for dead. Charles and his father find Nellie and get her medical attention. Nellie becomes a kitchen maid in the Warburton household, only to discover that she is the lost baby kidnapped from the Nicholson family so many years before. Could it be that Charles, the man she has come to love, is really her brother?

Burning Blossom is the second book in The Vaughan Chronicles series. It chronicles the second of seven lives of Magnolia Vaughan. We meet up with Magnolia again as she and Alexander Charles are locked into the darkness, forcing Alexander to become fully awoken and fully aware during this life as Bessie tries to break the bond between them. Bessie continues to become darker as her envy and wickedness begins to take hold of her, warming her blood within the deep purple fire causing her to change into her true Onca state as she continues to visit the lowest paralleled realm of purgatory, where Alexander sent Bessie's sister, Karent, when she tried to kill Magnolia in an earlier lifecycle. As Magnolia continues to surface, Alexander will be forced to protect her against the madman feigning for her hypnotizing essence and star-shined blood and keep her alive long enough to live within the expected balance as she fights him the entire way at every turn. Magnolia will also be forced to come to grips with her destined path as she tries to let go of Justus as she saves his life, and the enticing secrets she has been keeping from a very suspicious Alexander as he tries to find out the truth about Stagger, which will make him become unhinged. Kerrigan, Magnolia’s assistant will become her closest confidant as she begins to realize exactly who she is working for. As the Blossom try to protect the Queen, Alexander will begin to pressure her to commit further than she is willing to allow. Will the blossomed pair have what it takes to toe the line or will this madman’s insanity succeed at finally getting even? Their future gets threatened as the force may just be too much for them to endure as the Blossom begins to beckon and burn brighter than anticipated.

Amelia Stalwood lives in a London townhouse, but she's never actually met any nobility. Then, by chance, she meets the Hawthorne family, who welcome her into their world. When a nasty rumor is circulated, threatening her reputation, society turns its back on her. Will her new friends--and the marquis she's fallen for--do the same?