Left to rot in an Iranian prison and under the shadow of death, Kamaal tells fellow-insurgent Drew the story of the four drunk beauties – Elvira the housekeeper and ex-assassin, Lou the Senegalese sculptor, virtuoso cellist Mimi, and Adriette, a food fundi from the Free State. The two men follow the beauties’ wild chase through Iran in pursuit of a killer, a quest undertaken to prevent a catastrophe. And all the while the ancient and modern flavours of a country – its poetry, architecture and music – come to life in the rich and sensual tapestry of Alex Smith’s story-telling.

"Left to rot in an Iranian prison and under the shadow of death, Kamaal tells fellow-insurgent Drew the story of the four drunk beauties ... The two men follow the beauties' wild chase through Iran in pursuit of a killer, a quest undertaken to prevent a catastrophe. And all the while the ancient and modern flavours of a country - its poetry, architecture and music - come to life ..."--P. [4] of cover.

When thirteen-year-old Erin Dearlove has to move in with her aunt on Cape Town’s bustling Long Street, she struggles to adapt to her new life, harbouring a dark secret. But her friendship with their upstairs neighbour, Mr Devilskein, soon helps her to adjust. Like Erin, Mr Devilskein has something to hide: he is the keeper of six mysterious doors. He entrusts Erin with the key for one of these doors, and she discovers that they lead to infinite magical worlds. In wonder she explores an underwater paradise, the lost works of William Shakespeare, and a beautiful Chinese garden. During her adventures she meets a prisoner names Julius Monk, but Julius is not all he appears to be. The captive and his Book of Dooms prove dangerously enticing, and soon it is up to Erin to save the lives of those she’s grown to love. Devilskein & Dearlove is as sinister and intriguing as it is quirky and colourful. With inimitable storytelling flair, Alex Smith weaves an enchanting tale of friendship, adventure and magic.

We live in a world full of pain and bitterness. The daily headlines show a tide of distrust, discord, and disharmony sweeping across the globe. People of faith can be effective in such an environment, but only if they recognize that pain and perplexities abound wherever real people encounter the real struggles of everyday existence. In Beauty for Ashes: Portraits of Faith, you will meet some remarkable women with incredible stories of faith and redemption. They are not celebrities. Their names and faces do not grace the covers of the magazines in the grocery checkout line. They are everyday women who have faced a variety of trials not unlike those everyone faces. In their darkest hours, they turned to God and discovered that he was the only hope that remained. They surrendered their lives to his love, mercy, compassion, and goodnessand God did not fail them. God has helped them to become extraordinary women of faith, courage, and strengthable to reach out in love and compassion to others who are struggling and offer them the same hope that they have found. By working through ordinary people who are facing the sometimes overwhelming issues of daily life, God lets the world know that there is hope beyond the struggles and heartaches that can leave us feeling hopeless. Come and walk with these women and let their faith and stories touch your heart. You will discover renewed hope and strength for your own journeyand perhaps even more.

He had both martial arts and medical skills, and went down the mountain to carry out the tasks assigned to him by his master. However, in the city, there were too many grudges and conflicts of influence. The youth that just left the mountain relied on his medical skills and ancient martial arts to protect his master's daughter from harm!

Looks at how family, religion, history, news and entertainment keep women thinking they are defenseless. Snortland contends that women are capable of defending themselves and their loved ones--if they learn how. She argues that is not the female's size, it is her culturally induced ignorance that makes her think she is helpless. Snortland offers a clarion call to all women to wake up and take charge of their own self-defense--both verbal and physical--and celebrates women (and kids) who fought back. --Adapted from publisher description.