Loosely based on real-life events, this suspenseful story, by a debut novelist, is also funny and touching and will have readers riveted from start to finish. Lucy's mother is the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, so Lucy's life must be one big adventure, right? Wrong. Lucy's worrywart mother keeps her locked up inside the ambassador's residence. All Lucy can do is read about the exotic and exciting world that lies beyond the compound walls and imagine what it would be like to be a part of it. That is, until one day Lucy decides she has had enough and she and a friend sneak off for some fun. But to their horror, Lucy gets kidnapped! With only herself to rely upon, Lucy must use her knowledge of African animals, inventiveness, will, and courage to escape, and in the process embarks on an adventure beyond her wildest imagination. Includes bonus material! - Book Club Discussion Guide

He escaped from one of the world’s most brutal regimes.Then, he decided to tunnel back in. In the summer of 1962, a young student named Joachim Rudolph dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall. Waiting on the other side in East Berlin were dozens of men, women, and children—all willing to risk everything to escape. From the award-winning creator of the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 podcast, Tunnel 29 is the true story of this most remarkable Cold War rescue mission. Drawing on interviews with the survivors and Stasi files, Helena Merriman brilliantly reveals the stranger-than-fiction story of the ingenious group of student-diggers, the glamorous red-haired messenger, the Stasi spy who threatened the whole enterprise, and the love story that became its surprising epilogue. Tunnel 29 was also the first made-for-TV event of its kind; it was funded by NBC, who wanted to film an escape in real time. Their documentary—which was nearly blocked from airing by the Kennedy administration, which wanted to control the media during the Cold War—revolutionized TV journalism. Ultimately, Tunnel 29 is a success story about freedom: the valiant citizens risking everything to win it back, and the larger world rooting for them to triumph.

Foreword by Laurel Cooper, author of Sell Up and Sail Selling up and escaping to sea on their own boat is a dream that many think they can never make happen. Escape Under Sail is here to show you that it can be done, and for less money that you might think. This book delves to the very heart of what it takes and shows you exactly how you can go from casual cruiser to long-term liveaboard. Escape Under Sail covers all of the crucial topics, including budget and costs, how to choose a boat, making sure crew are equipped and trained, letting go both practically and psychologically, preparation and provisionioning, education and, most importantly, the challenges and rewards of living at sea. The book pays special attention to making the liveaboard dream come true for those with a limited budget, while providing further options for those with the means and desire to spend more and splurge where they like. Written in the voices of both authors, so you can follow their experiences from each of their perspectives, which are sometimes wildly different, this practical handbook is peppered with personal anecdotes and hard-earned wisdom. Light-hearted but informative, it contains all the questions, answers, lists, figures and diagrams you need to make your liveaboard dreams come true.

Prologue The midday Mexican sun beat down mercilessly, turning the chipped paint on the Playa del Carmen police station steps into a shimmering mirage. Max clutched the flimsy police report, its Spanish a mockery of his meager vocabulary.Stolen cash meant a one-way ticket back to dusty textbooks, not sun-drenched beaches. A Mother's Warning Ignored Defeat felt like a cold hand squeezing his heart, slowly draining the life out of him. He couldn't face calling his parents,not after boasting about a life-changing archaeological dig. Less than 24 hours in Mexico, and all his dreams were gone. Shame burned in his throat. How naive could he have been? A memory flickered, a stark contrast to the harsh reality. The Send-Off The aroma of coffee wafted up the stairs, coaxing him out of bed. His mom stood in the kitchen, a symphony of clanging pots and clattering plates heralding his send-off breakfast. "You haven't forgotten anything, have you?" she asked, her voice laced with a concern he couldn't quite decipher. "Nope, all packed," he mumbled, stuffing a forkful of fluffy waffle into his mouth. Her words echoed in his ears now: "You're just a tourist. The law there doesn't always work the way it does here at home. Always be on your guard, Max." He'd brushed it off then, blinded by anticipation. Now, stranded and desperate, those words haunted him. A Glimmer of Hope The stolen money stung, but the loss of his Mac and passport felt like a punch to the gut. He needed a plan, and fast.Turning a corner, a familiar landmark sparked a flicker of hope. Grabbing his tattered map, he located his Airbnb – a lifeline in this storm. With a surge of determination, he pulled out his phone, the battery hovering on fumes. Inspiration struck. Holding it up,he pretended to record a live video, hoping to deter potential threats. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. Vendors vanished like phantoms. Just then, a policeman appeared, his expression a storm cloud. Max's heart hammered against his ribs. Playing with fire, he thought, but it was his only shot. "Doing a live feed for my family," he blurted, his voice strained. "Been watching this street for a long time, you know?" The policeman grunted, amusement flickering in his eyes. He moved on, leaving Max weak with relief. A Mysterious Figure Across the street, a man leaned against a souvenir shop awning. His weathered face held stories beneath a battered cowboy hat. One leg propped against the wall, his gaze was fixed on Max, unwavering. Intrigued yet unnerved, Max noticed a slight head tilt towards a side street branching off the main avenue. Was this a concerned citizen, a potential savior, or something else entirely? A Refuge Found, But Questions Remain He hurried towards his Airbnb, the confirmation email a beacon of hope. Relief washed over him as he entered the cool lobby. But a glance back revealed a chilling absence – the man with the cowboy hat was gone. Vanished without a trace. Max shivered, a phantom sensation of eyes boring into his back. He entered his room, the safety of four walls a temporary comfort. But the encounter with the stranger lingered, a seed of unease planted in his gut. Who was the man in the cowboy hat? Friend or foe? And in a city where paradise can mask danger, would Max find his dreams or his doom?

Three mischievous Santa Barbara sailors embark on a journey to Ensenada, Mexico to take delivery of a sail boat. But before they can leave, Tom, who is captain of the vessel becomes involved in a traffic accident with the Prince of Pop Jeremy Princeton. Concerned for Tom's well being, Jeremy insists Tom accompany him to his Santa Ynez estate Tierra Bella to consult with his in-house physician. While Visiting there, Jeremy's art consultant Peter Harrison shows him two paintings, a Renoir and a Rembrandt, which have been stolen from the Swedish National Museum and which were shipped to Jeremy anonymously in a shipment of musical instruments. Also in Jeremy's possession is a mystical sphere called the Black Piper which is a mysterious and supernatural relic that at first is a godsend but later becomes a curse to the person who possesses it. Enter Joy Heather Kensington, an Interpol agent and Lynne Northland, an FBI paranormal psychologist who are assigned the Swedish National Museum case. The duo team up with a Swedish cop and a CIA agent to solve the mystery. The clues lead the group on an amazing and harrowing journey from Beirut to Stockholm to CAdiz to Ensenada where they uncover along the way some ancient mystical writings called the Emerald Tablets of Troth, a monk who knows how to save the world from Armageddon, a demon called Wegreog, and a malevolent smuggling scheme led by one of the most powerful persons in the U.S. government. Escape from Ensenada is a light-hearted tongue-in-cheek fictional adventure about three rogue sailors on a lark whose mischievous inclinations lead them into a labyrinth of extreme danger and mystical intrigue amidst the backdrop of today's contemporary political world scene.

How far will they have to go to outrun their pasts? Joey Ferra booked a one-way ticket to Europe to shake his grief. But a deadly scuba-diving experience transforms his casual trip into an unexpected fight, especially to crack the tough exterior of his gorgeous, green-eyed rescuer. Modern-day pirates and thieves threaten to end him, but he's found someone worth turning his life upside down for, if she'll let him. Kristiana Duvall is a treasure hunter at heart and a professional scuba diver by day. She's not the settling kind. Her life is spent uncovering other people's secrets, and avoiding hers. But when she rescues an unconscious, handsome diver, her world takes a dive of its own into a realm she's never explored—love. The secrets unravel at the hands of Joey Ferra. "The Unexpected Escape" is a gripping tale of love, loss, and the extraordinary lengths we'll go to in search of hope and healing.