Reader Advisory: This erotic Regency-set historical contains dubious consent. How hard can it be to seduce one’s own wife? Leopold Spencer is shocked to learn his shy and awkward wife is secretly headed to Chateau Follet, where the most wicked, wanton forms of debauchery take place. Though he has not touched Trudie in over a year—not since their disastrous wedding night—he is not willing to be made a cuckold. Furious, he heads to Chateau Follet to retrieve her before she is in over her head. But shortly after arriving, he discovers a unique—and provocative—opportunity to test the fidelity of his wife. Under guise, he decides what he wants to do is seduce his wife. Commanding her submission, however, is not as easy as he expects…

"Highly recommended... Perfect for readers of Wonder and Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe."— Booklist magazine, starred review Etan has stopped speaking since his mother left. His father and grandfather don’t know how to help him. His friends have given up on him. When Etan is asked to deliver a grocery order to the outskirts of town, he realizes he’s at the home of Malia Agbayani, also known as the Creature. Malia stopped going to school when her acute eczema spread to her face, and the bullying became too much. As the two become friends, other kids tease Etan for knowing the Creature. But he believes he might have a cure for Malia’s condition, if only he can convince his family and hers to believe it too. Even if it works, will these two outcasts find where they fit in?

Most scientists and researchers aren’t prepared to talk to the press or to policymakers—or to deal with backlash. Many researchers have the horror stories to prove it. What’s clear, according to Nancy Baron, is that scientists, journalists and public policymakers come from different cultures. They follow different sets of rules, pursue different goals, and speak their own language. To effectively reach journalists and public officials, scientists need to learn new skills and rules of engagement. No matter what your specialty, the keys to success are clear thinking, knowing what you want to say, understanding your audience, and using everyday language to get your main points across. In this practical and entertaining guide to communicating science, Baron explains how to engage your audience and explain why a particular finding matters. She explores how to ace your interview, promote a paper, enter the political fray, and use new media to connect with your audience. The book includes advice from journalists, decision makers, new media experts, bloggers and some of the thousands of scientists who have participated in her communication workshops. Many of the researchers she has worked with have gone on to become well-known spokespeople for science-related issues. Baron and her protégées describe the risks and rewards of “speaking up,” how to deal with criticism, and the link between communications and leadership. The final chapter, ‘Leading the Way’ offers guidance to scientists who want to become agents of change and make your science matter. Whether you are an absolute beginner or a seasoned veteran looking to hone your skills, Escape From the Ivory Tower can help make your science understood, appreciated and perhaps acted upon.

Sci-fi awesomeness

Historical romance and intrigue abound as a woman with a cause falls in love with a man she hopes to save; set in 1870's Baltimore.

“[A] gritty, wide-angled modern noir . . . The first standalone novel by Birtcher, author of the Mike Travis series, pulls no punches.” —Kirkus Reviews In 1976, as America celebrates its bicentennial, the drug game changes. Cocaine makes a comeback, bringing with it a previously unheard of level of violence. The copious amounts of blow crossing the US-Mexico border herald the beginning of a brave new—and terrifying—world. Far from the brutality on the border, the nameless narrator and his partner—both Vietnam vets—live a mostly peaceful life growing pot under the northern California redwoods. But when their livelihood is threatened by heavily armed robbers and a worthless rat, they find themselves drawn into a war with no good guys. Caught in the crossfire between a paranoid Mexican drug kingpin and dirty federal agents, they’ll soon realize that—like every other player in the game—they’re just pawns in a vast conspiracy that starts at the top . . . “A top-class thriller.” —San Francisco Book Review “White-knuckle tension and crisp, clean prose . . . Many books call themselves ‘thrillers,’ but this is the real deal.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Birtcher combines a gritty, action-filled thriller with a nuanced, almost contemplative character drama . . . Thoroughly entertaining.” —Booklist “A thriller with genuine shocks and chills.” —Cafe Libri

A meddling Regency miss gets a set-down from the rakish Earl of Blythe, but can she resist his more wicked intentions?