A charming, adrenaline packed love story set in post-9/11 Manhattan, Sheer Pressure follows Alex Halaby and Emily Lukes, two thirty-year-olds emotionally encumbered by money and family, as they struggle through a social and business minefield to become fully realized adults. Alex, the stunted son of a pantyhose magnate, is struggling to break away and find himself, but is soon thrust into an arena way over his head where the stakes are all or nothing. Emily’s marriage to billionaire art collector Charles Lukes lacks passion and respect, and her overpowering attraction to Alex threatens to destroy the lives and dreams of many. While treachery abounds, two parallel universes threaten to collide with untold consequences. Sheer Pressure deftly captures the worlds of Upper East Side Manhattan and big business with unique flair, offering a bona fi de insider’s perspective. While lampooning upper-crust New York society—especially its expensive women and high-powered moguls—Sheer Pressure is a suspenseful romp that buzzes along with high humor, terrific hairpin turns, unpredictable twists, and a slam-bam surprise ending like The Graduate that leads the reader curiously and irresistibly into the book’s gripping, mind-blowing sequel.

Sheer Off is a relatable tale for young children illustrating the various challenges and blessings of the Christian life. Charlotte Maria Tucker was a prolific English writer and poet for children and adults, who wrote under the pseudonym A.L.O.E. (a Lady of England).

Calling upon teachers G.K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis, Sam Portaro wades into the abyss of confronting a life of faithfulness in a world where the Church has created a dictionary unintelligible to anyone not part of itself.

Now, Hargate, what a fellow you are! I've been looking for you everywhere. Don't you know it's the House against the Town boys. It's lucky that the Town have got the first innings; they began a quarter of an hour ago. "How tiresome!" Frank Hargate said. "I was watching a most interesting thing here. Don't you see this little chaffinch nest in the bush, with a newly hatched brood. There was a small black snake threatening the nest, and the mother was defending it with quivering wings and open beak. I never saw a prettier thing. I sat quite still and neither of them seemed to notice me. Of course I should have interfered if I had seen the snake getting the best of it. When you came running up like a cart horse, the snake glided away in the grass, and the bird flew off. Oh, dear! I am sorry. I had forgotten all about the match." "I never saw such a fellow as you are, Hargate. Here's the opening match of the season, and you, who are one of our best bats, poking about after birds and snakes. Come along; Thompson sent me and two or three other fellows off in all directions to find you. We shall be half out before you're back. Wilson took James's wicket the first ball." Frank Hargate leaped to his feet, and, laying aside for the present all thoughts of his favorite pursuit, started off at a run to the playing field. His arrival there was greeted with a mingled chorus of welcome and indignation. Frank Hargate was, next to Thompson the captain of the Town eleven, the best bat among the home boarders. He played a steady rather than a brilliant game, and was noted as a good sturdy sticker. Had he been there, Thompson would have put him in at first, in order to break the bowling of the House team. As it was, misfortunes had come rapidly. Ruthven and Handcock were bowling splendidly, and none of the Town boys were making any stand against them. Thompson himself had gone in when the fourth wicket fell, and was still in, although two wickets had since fallen, for only four runs, and the seventh wicket fell just as Frank arrived, panting, on the ground.

This short novel is dedicated to my wonderful family: my children, Cathy, Fernando, Phillip; my grandchildren Jozette, Alaena, Phoenix; and my husband, Max. The novel is especially written for an audience of young readers or adults who choose to have a childs imagination. It was such fun for me to develop the characters and scenes of this mystery. It all starts with a womans silhouette that appears on the third-floor window of this old Victorian mansion. No one in the town of Sneila has ever seen her except when she stands behind the sheer curtain. The children of the town look forward to Halloween every year. The children together walk down the dirt road to the mansion that sits at the edge of town behind enormously tall trees and a black iron fence. Every Halloween, the children know that, in front of the mansion outside the gate, there will be a mysterious white cauldron filled with magic candies for each child. The candies are in baggies with each childs name written on the front of the baggie. How does she know every childs name? Where does this candy come from? The children agree that the candy is very different, like its out of this world. These are only two of the mysteries that exist in the town of Sneila. Much mystery lives in the town of Sneila. The number of people in this town never changes. When one person dies, another is born. People who die are not buried. The number 8 appears throughout the town. Sometimes you have to add two digits to find the 8. The infinity symbol appears throughout the novel. Magic turtles surface and communicate with the two main characters, Samantha and Victoria. Flickering lights, hidden doors, basement, baskets, spaceships, magic turtles, mysterious bubbles, candles, and fairies create a magical kingdom. Wrinkles and gray hair are witnesses to times past. The surprise ending is sure to give you goose bumps! Other books from the author include the following: Sleepy Tears Laughing Tears Sleepy Tears Miss You Tears Gods Love is Real (poetry book) Friends and Angels (poetry book) The Secret Meeting of the Sworceracs

Did Patrick Mount, philosopher and visionary, discover the secret of sheer bliss? And why did he disappear? If Connie Benson, his former lover, knows the secret, she's not telling. A reclusive artist, she has kept her final portrait of Mount under wraps for over thirty years. Finally, she has decided to unveil it at a London exhibition. But stepping out of seclusion brings her into the orbit of one of Mount's most terrifying deciples. As events veer out of control, Connie finds herself fighting for her life...