From New York Times bestselling author Tasha Alexander comes STAR OF THE EAST, a Lady Emily holiday story that will enchant readers and keep them guessing until the very last page... Emily and Colin Hargreaves make it a rule to spend as little time as possible with her parents in Kent, but are unable to refuse Lady Catherine Bromley's invitation to join them for a pre-Christmas party that includes the family of Ala Kapur Singh, a powerful Punjabi maharaja who has come to England after receiving the Order of the Star of India. Lady Bromley, quite taken with the exotic beauty and spectacular jewels of the maharani and her daughter, Sunita, throws herself with abandon into her own version of Indian culture, planning a feast she is certain will be more spectacular than any seen on the sub-continent. When a priceless diamond maang tika and a simple gold bangle disappear from Sunita's room, a diplomatic incident seems imminent, particularly after the maang tika turns up in Emily's possession. Emily may have what appears to be the more valuable of the two pieces, but the maang tika cannot be worn without the bangle, upon which is engraved the words necessary to ward off a curse placed on the set five hundred years ago by a princess forced to forsake the man she loved. Sunita must wear the maang tika at her wedding but cannot do so without the bangle. Can Emily convince the maharaja that she is not a thief? And, more important, can she and Colin find the bangle?

The story of Krishnamurti, one of the twentieth century's most influential and controversial spiritual figures, takes place in the crucible of sexual scandal, mysticism, and an extraordinary personal history. "Discovered" by a leader of the Theosophical Society, Krishnamurti was hailed as a messiah and groomed to be the new World Leader. Rejecting the society's claims, he then set out on a teaching career that covered six decades, and produced fifty books and thousands of talks. Until his death in 1986, he continued to challenge many generally cherished ideas of spirituality. His lectures, books, and interviews are still widely read and studied.In this first truly objective biography, English author Roland Vernon uses primary and secondary sources as well as numerous unattributed interviews with Krishnamurti's friends and students to provide a wealth of detail. With unflinching and non-judgmental clarity, Vernon describes the details of Krishnamurti's life, including his formative years with the allegedly pedophilic Charles Leadbeater and the notorious Anne Besant, and the painful purification "process" that he was forced to undergo. Vernon also provides insight into Krishnamurti's highly-private personal life, including an extended clandestine affair with longtime friend Rosalind Williams Rajagopal. By painting full pictures of the people who most influenced Krishnamurti, especially in his formative years, the author gives valuable clues to some of the often less well-illuminated aspects of Krishnamurti's character.

An escapade of stolen treasure, with deadly consequences. As part-time operatives, Conor McBride and Kate Chatham are trained for unexpected developments, but their current troubles have nothing to do with undercover work. Overwhelmed by meddling relatives, an engagement party they didn’t want, and their own short tempers, they’d welcome any stress-relieving antidote. They just didn’t expect it to appear in the form of stolen treasure, buried in a bloody mound of snow on a deserted back road. Their startling discovery quickly turns to unstoppable escapade, and unlike others Conor barely lived through, it feels like a Sherlock Holmes caper more than any MI6 enterprise. In pursuit of an unknown thief, the mystery sends him north to the border, teamed with a deceptively folksy police chief, and a sergeant from the Royal Canadian “Mounties” who’s keen for the adventure. While they follow a trail of clues into the mountains of Quebec, Kate remains in Vermont to identify the treasure and its owner. Working with an eccentric gem expert and two FBI agents, she learns its incredible history points directly to Fifth Avenue, and one of the most celebrated names in New York. Once there, Kate uncovers an international connection that raises the stakes beyond anything they’d imagined. The game is afoot and every bit the distraction they wished for, but as Conor chases their elusive thief up the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the teeth of a blizzard, the odds of missing his own engagement party grow with every mile. Even more troubling, the whispered warnings of his sixth sense are proving once again prophetic. Their escapade is turning deadly, looking more like an MI6 mission, after all. Now, he and Kate will need all their operational skills to finish what they started, and to make it home alive.

What is the state of Christianity in China? Some scholars say that China is invulnerable to religion. In contrast, others say that past efforts of missionaries have failed, writing off those converted as nothing more than “rice Christians” or cynical souls who had frequented the missions for the benefits they provided. Some wonder if the Cultural Revolution extinguished any chances of Christianity in China. Rodney Stark and Xiuhua Wang offer a different perspective, arguing that Christianity is alive, well, and on the rise. Stark approaches the topic from an extensive research background in Christianity and Chinese history, and Wang provides an inside look at Christianity and its place in her home country of China. Both authors cover the history of religion in China, disproving older theories concerning the number of Christians and the kinds of Christians that have emerged in the past 155 years. Stark and Wang claim that when just considering the visible Christians—those not part of underground churches—thousands of Chinese are still converted to Christianity daily, and forty new churches are opening each week. A Star in the East draws on two major national surveys to sketch a close-up of religion in China. A reliable estimate is that by 2007 there were approximately 60 million Christians in China. If the current growth rate were to hold until 2030, there would be more Christians in China—about 295 million—than in any other nation. This trend has significant implications, not just for China but for the greater world order. It is probable that Chinese Christianity will splinter into denominations, likely leading to the same political, social, and economic ramifications seen in the West today. Whether you’re new to studying Christianity in China or whether this has been your area of interest for years, A Star in the East provides a reliable, thought-provoking, and engaging account of the resilience of the Christian faith in China and the implications it has for the future.

Hans Holzer rediscovers Christmas, from its pre-Christian beginnings to its celebration in many lands yesterday and today; from the Star in the East to the origins of holly, hymns, trees, and Santa Claus (yes, Virginia, he lived!). Through ancient astrological and astronomical charts he shows how the Three Wise Men were led from opposite ends of the earth to Bethlehem, and why the undertook the long and dangerous journey—separately—to the birthplace of Christ. Using his skills as an archaeologist, historian, and numismatist, Professor Holzer reveals the true identities of the three Kings called Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, focusing new light on the spiritual significance of Christmas.