Moments before he is murdered, Fleur's father tells her the terrible secret of who he really is. Now orphaned, Fleur has little choice but to leave her home and join the man who comes to claim her - her estranged uncle, William Hart. But William is a terrifying and ruthless pirate and Fleur is thrust into life on board the Libertine. Living amongst a devilish crew of battle-hardened buccaneers is dangerous for a young girl and earning their respect seems impossible. But Hart blood runs in Fleur's veins and when she gets the chance to avenge her father's death she might just prove to be the fiercest pirate of them all ...

Join gemologist Kimberley West on a thrilling adventure in The Pirate's Ruby, a cozy mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. When thieves steal an infamous pirate's ruby amulet from Osprey Beach's new Pirate Museum, they leave behind a shattered display case and a dead busybody. Kim's long-time friend, the museum's director, quickly tops the suspect list. Armed only with her standard poodle and her expertise in gemstone lore, Kim sets out to clear her friend's name and unravel the mystery of a ruby with a deadly past. As she delves deeper, she must confront the bully from her childhood, dodge treasure hunters, and navigate small-town politics. When a child disappears during a hurricane, Kim races to save her before the killer strikes again. Written by an award-winning author, The Pirate's Ruby weaves together ruby legend and lore into a fast-paced whodunit with a feisty heroine, charming characters and humor. Whether you're a fan of David Rosenfelt, Kate Carlisle, or Kathi Daley, this book is sure to be a hit. Kimberley West Gemstone Mystery Series: The Blue Diamond (book #1) The Pirate's Ruby (book #2) The Carolina Emerald (book #3) The Turquoise Treasure (book #4) What readers are saying about the series: “Took me back to that oh-so-delicious time when I couldn’t put a book down.”– 5-star review "Wonderful series! Warm, funny and just delightful!" – 5-star review “A perfect whodunit with characters you will love and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end. Could not put it down.” – 5-star review “These are characters so real you want to call them up and visit. And get invited for dinner.” – 5-star review "Perfect reading for these very imperfect times." 5-star review

No one likes a rebellious captive. I learned that the hard way. I've been abducted from earth and cruelly tormented for my fighting spirit until I learned that the only thing that would keep me safe is to be sweet and calm and agreeable. It's what keeps me alive. When I'm rescued by space pirates, they tell me I'm safe. I'm told I can be myself again. I don't believe them, of course. I certainly don't believe Alyvos, the muscle of the pirate ship. Everyone says that he like nothing more than a good fight, but to me, he's kind and protective. How can I fear someone who holds me tenderly through the night and has fuzzy skin?

A few days ago, in a galaxy right here... The earth faces total annihilation and one young woman signs up for a mission to rescue humanity. Only she ends up getting rescued herself, by a gorgeous space pirate. And the sex is out of this world! Hopeless romantic, Ruby Robbins spends her days as an accounts clerk, and her nights with her head in the stars, dreaming of space adventures in the arms of an alien...or two. Then one day, she's approached to help her country by going undercover...in space! She jumps at the chance and before she knows it, she finds herself in the cargo hold of an alien slaver ship. Space pirate, Killian Sharpe owes a lot of money to some very bad people. So when an anonymous employer offers him a tidy sum to extract one Ruby Robbins from a slaver ship, it sounds like easy money. But once he sets eyes on Ruby, he knows he's in over his head. Not only is she breathtakingly beautiful—she refuses to be saved. Luckily Killian hasn't met a woman yet who could hold out against him for long.... The Ruby Robbins' Sexy Space Odyssey 3-Part Serial is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Part 1 - Rescued by the Space Pirate Part 2 - Stolen by the Space Pirate Part 3 - Saving the Space Pirate

"I always knew my father was a pirate and I always knew I wanted to be one, too." At age fifteen, Catherine's life is about to change. Her mother has just died and Catherine can't stand the thought of being sent to live with her aunt in Boston. She longs for a life of adventure. After she discovers her father's secret life as captain of the pirate ship Reprisal, her only thoughts are to join him on the high seas. Catherine imagines a life of sailing the blue waters of the Caribbean, the wind whipping at her back. She's heard tales of bloodshed and brutality but her father's ship would never be like that. Catherine convinces her father to let her join him, disguised as a boy. But once the Reprisal sets sail, she finds life aboard a pirate ship is not for the faint of heart. If her secret is uncovered, punishment will be swift and brutal.

The Ruby programming language is perfect for beginners: easy to learn, powerful, and fun to use! But wouldn't it be more fun if you were learning with the help of some wizards and dragons? Ruby Wizardry is a playful, illustrated tale that will teach you how to program in Ruby by taking you on a fantastical journey. As you follow the adventures of young heroes Ruben and Scarlet, you’ll learn real programming skills, like how to: –Use fundamental concepts like variables, symbols, arrays, and strings –Work with Ruby hashes to create a programmable breakfast menu –Control program flow with loops and conditionals to help the Royal Plumber –Test your wild and crazy ideas in IRB and save your programs as scripts –Create a class of mini-wizards, each with their own superpower! –Organize and reuse your code with methods and lists –Write your own amazing interactive stories using Ruby Along the way, you’ll meet colorful characters from around the kingdom, like the hacker Queen, the Off-White Knight, and Wherefore the minstrel. Ruby Wizardry will have you (or your little wizard) hooked on programming in no time. For ages 10+ (and their parents!)

Ruby is a thief-in-training and a keeper of secrets—ones she doesn't even know herself. A Riddle in Ruby is the first book in a witty and fast-paced fantasy-adventure trilogy for fans for Jonathan Stroud, Septimus Heap, and The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates. Ruby Teach, daughter of a smuggler and pirate, has been learning how to swindle and steal and pick the most complex locks for as long as she can remember. But a collision with aristocratic young lord Athen sends her spinning into chaos. Little did she know that her whole life has been spent in hiding from nefarious secret societies and the Royal Navy . . . who are both now on her trail. In this debut middle grade adventure, Kent Davis weaves a rip-roaring tale through an alternate colonial Philadelphia. A world where alchemy—that peculiar mix of magic and science—has fueled the industrial revolution. With this highly original setting, a cast of fully rounded characters and rapid-fire, funny dialogue, A Riddle in Ruby will call to mind fantasy greats like Diana Wynne Jones and Terry Pratchett.