Wise's captivating epic follows Jean-Baptiste Tavernier's life-long adventures in the gem trade and grand romance with Madeleine de Goisse, the bastard daughter of a French courtesan and a Persian king.

Get set for this suspense-packed historical thriller. Why prepare? Because you'll be up all night reading it! Guaranteed. Return of the French Blue begins in California's Wine Country and moves quickly to the French Riviera, creating a thriller filled with international intrigue. Catalina Syrah, former CIA agent and internationally known art historian, is on a mission to redeem her family's priceless blue diamond necklace. French Directorate spy, Nicholas Bonhomme, sets up a sting operation on the Riviera, offering the necklace, strung with diamonds cleaved from Louis XIV's massive French Blue. Bonhomme's target: Gul Mazeer, a rogue assassin who seeks diamonds for cash to pay for his next terrorist attack. Like Indiana Jones, Catalina carries a weapon of choice. Not the hallmark whip that Jones used, but two blades strapped in a double holster on her back -- a gift from her grandmother and one-time spy for the French Resistance. Return of the French Blue plunges the reader into a clash of terrorists, spies, jewel thieves and lovers. Will the spy skills Catalina once possessed be enough to redeem the family necklace, trap the assassin, and keep the ruggedly handsome Nicholas Bonhomme at bay? You are about to find out.

Discusses the reasons French people left their homeland to come to America, the experiences the immigrants had in the new country, and the contributions this cultural group made to American society. Includes sidebars and activities.

The stunning first book in a new series of psychological thrillers introducing an unforgettable London psychotherapist Frieda Klein is a solitary, incisive psychotherapist who spends her sleepless nights walking along the ancient rivers that have been forced underground in modern London. She believes that the world is a messy, uncontrollable place, but what we can control is what is inside our heads. This attitude is reflected in her own life, which is an austere one of refuge, personal integrity, and order. The abduction of five-year-old Matthew Farraday provokes a national outcry and a desperate police hunt. And when his face is splashed over the newspapers, Frieda cannot ignore the coincidence: one of her patients has been having dreams in which he has a hunger for a child. A red-haired child he can describe in perfect detail, a child the spitting image of Matthew. She finds herself in the center of the investigation, serving as the reluctant sidekick of the chief inspector. Drawing readers into a haunting world in which the terrors of the mind have spilled over into real life, Blue Monday introduces a compelling protagonist and a chilling mystery that will appeal to readers of dark crime fiction and fans of In Treatment and The Killing.

Discover design inspiration as a photographer and blogger details the story of her renovation of a 1940s cottage in the California countryside. A little, abandoned vacation house that could, set in the center of rolling fields and trees becomes the cottage home of her dreams. A French country–style cottage filled with original elements and an exquisite mix of rustic and refined. The years of renovation allowed Courtney to create a lifestyle that is fueled by inspiration and beauty, a touch of whimsy, and an abundance of everyday elegance. The journey has been shared on her popular blog French Country Cottage, and now, through the publication of her first book, her readers will experience a reveal of more of her home and property and the inspirations behind her beloved style. Courtney's inspiring photography reveals every nuance of her style and home including a muted color palette, old brassy door knobs, chippy paint, antiques, her greenhouse and garden, and an abundance of entertaining and holiday decorating style. Blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor and embracing well-worn as well loved, French Country Cottage is a style that celebrates simplicity, indulges in romance, cherishes pieces with history and believes a chandelier and fresh flowers belong in every room.

The complete history, mysterious curse, and probable origin in India is explored in this book that also traces the gem stone's roster of owners. 24 illustrations, 4 in color.