In a world where time has split into Before and After, the protagonist finds himself at the epicenter of an impending catastrophe. The city he loved and dedicated his entire life to is on the brink of destruction. In these final moments, before the sirens have even wailed, he already knows that the end is near. The feeling of cold, piercing to the bone, and the sounds of the city slowly dying gradually envelop his mind, extinguishing the last sparks of optimism. Sitting on a bench by the embankment, he writes his final thoughts in a notebook, understanding that his words may never be read. But in these lines, he tries to leave a mark, even if ephemeral, in this dying world. Time flows like sand through his fingers, and he feels a strange calm, accepting his fate. His writings are a cry of the soul, an attempt to capture the moments before the inevitable end.

Alongside Rosa, a young girl in a post-third-world-war, we listen with love, fascination and sometimes utter disbelief, to her Oma's stories of the past. Her Oma's recollections are both extraordinary and ordinary, juxtapositioned against Rosas own collection of more simple experiences and the insular life in her small village community. -1. The end and the beginning 0. Duties 1. Summer sun 2. All dressed up 3. Family parties 4. On stage 5. Skinny dipping 6. Travel 7. Clubbing 8. Winter wonderland 9. The yacht 10. Theatre 11. Chickens and eggs 12. The helicopter ride

John C. Maxwell, #1 New York Times bestselling author, helps readers take the first steps to living a life that matters inIntentional Living. We all have a longing to be significant. We want to make a contribution, to be a part of something noble and purposeful. But many people wrongly believe significance is unattainable. They worry that it's too big for them to achieve. That they have to have an amazing idea, be a certain age, have a lot of money, or be powerful or famous to make a real difference. The good news is that none of those things is necessary for you to achieve significance and create a lasting legacy. The only thing you need to achieve significance is to be intentional. And to do that, all you need to do is start. You can't make an impact sitting still and doing nothing. Every major accomplishment that's ever been achieved started with a first step. Sometimes it's hard; other times it's easy, but no matter what, you have to do it if you want to get anywhere in life. In Intentional Living, John Maxwell will help you take that first step, and the ones that follow, on your personal path through a life that matters.

Embrace the enchantment and thrill of Vienna's captivating stories as you delve into the city's rich history, folklore, and supernatural mysteries. In the heart of Vienna's school corridors, a peculiar teacher harbors a surprising secret: a passion for donning clown attire in his off-hours. Experience the chilling tale of a woman's crippling fear of cats, an aversion that threatens to consume her very existence. Step into the world of Royal Poodle, the devoted dog companion of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as "Sisi."Venture into the mystical realm of the Wienerwald Witch Coven, a secret society of women wielding ancient magic.Delve into the enigma of the Dancing Plague of 1518, a bizarre historical episode in which individuals were seized by an irresistible urge to dance until exhaustion or death. Embrace the allure of the Devils Ball, an enigmatic gathering of the supernatural.

This book is about everything I am too scared to tell him. It is about love, pain and the desperation when nothing works out the way you want it to work out. These are short stories that explain my feelings better than I could ever explain them by talking. So, if you are ready for a whole lot of heartbreak, pain and the sad reality of my first love: start reading. This is my way of telling him "I love you" without actually saying it out loud and my way to get over everything.

Chester is in his late twenties, works as a detective and lives in London with forensic scientist Archie. Although still emotionally scarred by his childhood, his life is going well until one night out and the next day's case throw his whole life out of balance. Forced to face painful memories and doubt themselves, Chester and Archie try to find out the real truth and solve the most important case of their whole lives.

Alec, a fourteen year old diplomat son leads a double life. On the outside he might be your average teenager, but secretly he is on his way to become a notorious art thief. When he gets into an argument with his parents, he decides to put his skills to practice and play a little prank on them. But what first was only meant to be a prank takes an unexpected turn, challenging Alec like never before. And he can't help but wonder whether he'll make it out alive.