Discusses the geography, history, government, economy, people, and culture of the Philippines, an archipelago of many islands in the Western Pacific.

In Veil of Shadows, the fourth book of the Spellbound Hearts series, Alex and Liam embark on their most perilous journey yet as they strive to protect Willowshade from a darkness that grows ever more menacing. Guided by the Heart of the Grove and strengthened by trials of magic and resilience, they must venture into the depths of the Whispering Woods, uncovering secrets and encountering creatures bound to ancient curses. As they unravel mysteries of the past, they uncover a hidden power—one that could either save or doom their cherished village. Amid battles against shadowy forces and the weight of generations-old sacrifices, Alex and Liam confront their deepest fears and relentless whispers of doubt. Their love, a beacon against the darkness, will be tested as never before. Together, they must harness not only their magic but the unbreakable strength that comes from unity, love, and the ties that bind them to Willowshade. Veil of Shadows is a tale of courage, sacrifice, and the enduring power of love. In a world on the brink of light and darkness, Alex and Liam must risk everything to secure the future they’ve fought to create. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but one thing is sure: they are stronger together, no matter what shadows await.

A contemplative ethnographic study of a Benedictine monastery in Vermont known for its folk-inspired music.

Joyce Carol Oates adds to her extraordinary body of work with this stunning National Book Award Finalist filled with violence, love, racism, and a shared secret in mid-century New York. In the early 1950s in an industrial town, racial boundaries may keep people apart—or bring them together explosively. Iris Courtney, who is white, is the only witness when handsome Jinx Fairchild, a black basketball player, kills a white man in order to protect her. The secret link between Iris and Jinx is not only their attraction to each other, but a bond of passion and guilt that has formed between them. This one irrevocable, tragic act shapes their lives and alters their destinies in Joyce Carol Oates’s finest, emotion-packed novel—a work critics call a masterpiece, the best work of America’s best writer of contemporary realism.

On the continent of Alaria, in a palace deep within Mount Chestnut, lived a queen like no other. The Heart Queen had a great power—the ability to compel those around her to feel what she felt. But when the Heart Queen discovered she’d been betrayed by her own people, she unleashed a storm of emotion like no other, plunging the hares and their land into an age of darkness and despair—until, slowly but surely, the darkness lifted, peace returned, and her story became that of legend. Centuries later, near the hare town of Barrowton, in the Leporidae Valley, rumours of danger beyond the borders of the valley begin to stir. Hares begin to disappear one by one without a trace. Lyselle, a young bright-pink hare like no other, is visited in a dream by the Cerulean Star—the owl god and one of the Seven Stars that created Alaria. He implores her to find a legendary sword, and issues a warning: “Beware her wrath . . .”

The Barbarian and the Goddess… Tessa is the Etruscan Goddess of the Dawn, worshipped by an entire civilization. At least, she used to be. Now her powers are weakening, and she’s been targeted by a malicious god who wants to consume her remaining magic. She needs a hero and fast…preferably one who’s good in bed because sexual energy boosts her magic. She seeks out Caligo, a barbarian whose sexual prowess is legendary... Caligo is a fabled Cimmerian warrior determined to stay out of the affairs of the deities. He thought he’d learned his lesson after his last affair with a goddess left him barely breathing. But there's something irresistible about Tessa, something that draws him in. Now they’re on the run from the God of the Underworld, and Caligo is Tessa’s only chance to escape the encroaching darkness...

When a bookish codebreaker and a dashing spy are reunited, their lives depend on their ability to resist temptation. But fate is a mistress who cannot be denied. . . England, 1815. Heloise Hampden is a high-value asset to the Crown. When she cracks the enemy’s most recent communication, French agents are sent to silence her. But it’s the agent assigned to protect Heloise who poses the greatest threat to her heart: William de l’Isle, Viscount Ravenwood. Raven’s imprisonment six years ago has made him wary of love, but his heart still pounds whenever he’s within ten paces of Heloise. He’s a shadowed Hades pining for sun-kissed Persephone, but he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe—even if that means taking her to Spain as an unwilling hostage. Protecting her from danger will be a challenge; protecting her from desire will be pure agony. Praise for K. C. Bateman’s books: “[To Steal a Heart] is rich with espionage and suspense. Multidimensional believable characters and fast-paced plotting propel the story forward to its moving conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly “The writing and characterization are superb, the romance is hot, snarky and tender and the hero is delicious. I couldn’t ask for much more in an historical romance”—All About Romance Perfect for readers who love Loretta Chase, Julia Quinn, Caroline Linden, Janna MacGregor, Scarlett Peckham, Laura Kinsale, Kerrigan Byrne, Lisa Kleypas, Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare, Eloisa James, Grace Burrowes, Madeline Hunter, Lenora Bell, Sophie Jordan, Lorraine Heath, Eva Leigh, Mary Jo Putney, Jo Beverley, Joanna Shupe, Sarah MacLean, Shana Galen, Stephanie Laurens and Sabrina Jeffries. Keywords: Historical romance, Regency romance, Victorian romance, action-adventure, sexy, bodyguard, best friend’s sister, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, second chance romance, Napoleonic romance, fake relationship, marriage of convenience, Sexy, spies, Bow Street, spicy, funny, charming, Bestseller, Kindle, Nook, Ebook.