Millionaire Joel McAlister doesn't love Bethany. But he wants her, and won't let anyone else have her. When he whisks her off to New York for a romantic wedding, showering her with diamonds and whispering words of love, Bethany thinks it's a match made in heaven. But Joel has a hidden agenda….

This book represents a comprehensive study of 'The Bejewelled Buddha' considering stylistic as well as iconographic issues. A crucial moment in the Buddha's life seems to have been referred to through this image, namely, the sojourn on Mount Meru, where the Buddha sat on Indra's seat and taught all the gods. By occupying the seat of the king of the gods he was able to endorse the royal function of this deity; this becomes particularly evident in the late fifth century, and probably reflects the dramatic situation that the Buddhist community was confronted with, i.e. the political power essentially fostering the Hindu religion and social structure. Hence, the Buddha is depicted as a perfect and powerful ruler sitting at the top of the universe and showing himself adorned as a king; more than any human ruler, the Buddha rules over the universe. There is also another dimension that should never be neglected - as in any other Indian cult, worship of his image entailed offerings of various kinds, such as flower garlands or jewels, being made to the Buddha. The image of the Bejewelled Buddha thus included various constituents while at the same time it was used as the locus where different religious or political concepts found a way of expression. The result was the creation of an image of multi-layered significance which found its way into all Asian cultures.

Jewelry, long associated with luxury, is also becoming a medium for social responsibility and ethical values. Kyle Roderick, an authority on ethical jewelry, profiles fifteen designers who are at the forefront of refashioning the medium for today's consumers. In the wake of Charles Leavitt's insightful 2006 movie Blood Diamond, which told how conflict diamonds fund civil wars, the buying and wearing of ethically sourced and sustainably mined jewelry has become a priority in today's luxury market. Bejeweled is the first book to cover this timely subject. Profiling leading international designers who are at the forefront of the ethical jewelry movement, this beautifully photographed publication examines how an ancient art is powering a green revolution in chic jewelry for everyone. Included are renowned designers such as Pippa Small, an early user of fair-mined gold, who employs local artisans to fabricate her one-of-a-kind pieces; Dewey Nelson, a Native American Hopi who incorporates 1,000-year-old tribal motifs in his reclaimed-silver pieces; and Loren Nicole, whose jewelry features intricate hand-carved gemstones and 22-karat gold alloyed in the same formula used by ancient Roman goldsmiths. Illustrated with exquisite photographs of individual pieces, featured both alone and on celebrities, who are turning the red carpet "green" by wearing ethically sourced jewelry, Bejeweled is for all gemstone and design fans.

From jewelry to lifestyle, this unique book is a journey into an aesthetic appreciation of the wonders of nature, art, and culture, as seen through the exceptional life of jewelry designer Farah Khan Ali. The World of Farah Khan encapsulates the compelling story of Farah Khan Ali, a contemporary Indian woman, and takes you through the intimate facets of this bold entrepreneur and jewelry designer's journey. The book showcases her unique aesthetic vision, which embraces the past and the future, avant-garde and traditional, local and global influences, weaving a new perspective through visual codes of the historically rich and present-day India. Born to Bollywood royalty, Farah Khan Ali always dreamt in Technicolor. As a renowned jewelry designer and gemologist, Farah's repertoire as a jeweled alchemist comes from triumphantly molding her inspiration into the mastery of her craft and transforming exquisite gems into extraordinary jewelry.

An intense exploration of exoticism and the boundaries of erotic desire. Willing captive Marietta is settling into an opulent life of privileged captivity as favoured concubine in the handsome Kasim's harem. But when she is kidnapped by Kasim's enemy, Hamed, her new-found way of life is thrown into chaos. Reunited with her beautiful slave lover, Gabriel, she suffers the torments of a tainted desire. Kasim, too, has to face the toughest challenge of his life, For the only way he can win back Marietta from the clutches of Hamed and the arms of Gabriel is to agree to spend time as Hamed's plaything. Will his honour - and, indeed, his flesh, stand the test?