A Collection of Poems by A Passionate Heart People often describe the poetry of Kristy Raines as unique and passionate. Hence came the name of her book, "The Passion Within Me". And that is exactly what you will find as you turn every page. Her poetry is bold, yet sensitive, with an unconventional tone. Every poem peels back a layer of deep emotions. It is her hope that you will feel her every line as deeply as she did while writing them. Kristy writes of romantic moments, lost love, happiness, and the yearning for endless love. Her poems are inspired by a thought, a picture, a vague memory or a song. Some are written as love letters. Each poem is filled with an unforgettable message of life and love, and ends with a line that leaves one wanting to read the next. Savor Kristy's unique poetry through every turn and twist that her heart takes you on, and enjoy the deep and emotional feelings along with the memorable lines of this gentle hearted poet, who has written this beautiful collection of 100 of her poems called, The Passion Within Me - Volume One- A Collection of Poems By a Passionate Heart .

From hardscrabble days as homesteaders and farmers in the 1880s to becoming successful entrepreneurs of the postwar boom generation, Italians settled and later thrived in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Italians labored in several industries, including railway tie hacking in Idaho, coal mining in Black Diamond, logging in Aberdeen, canning salmon in Astoria, terra-cotta and brick manufacturing in Taylor, and growing onions in Walla Walla. Those who ventured into business later grew notable local companies such as DeLaurenti Food & Wine, Pacific Food Imports, Oberto Sausage, Napoleon Oil, and La Panzanella Crackers. Further still, Italians in the area contributed to inventions from the collapsible crab pot and trawl nets to the atomic bomb, the vaudeville circuit, the Pellegrini bean, and one-of-a-kind accordions. Italian pioneers in the Pacific Northwest also have a connection to Hemingway, Elvis, President Kennedy, Mother Cabrini, and the Loprinzis, the "strongest family in America." Today, over 300,000 Italian Americans call this region home, and it is the author's hope that this book highlights the contributions of many Italians, known and unknown.

When an Italian bride witnesses an accidental death three days before her Christmas Eve wedding, can she ferret out if the victim fell by accident or by design before her Castle of Love wedding turns into happily-never-after? Padua, Italy 1897. Upon arriving at her fiancé's ancestral home, Renata Bombonatti witnesses a man falling from the castle's tower to his death. But suspicion is cast when the body vanishes. Add to that, her fiancé Placido has gone missing, her parents are in a bind, and a police officer takes a shine to her. However, Renata, a secret fan of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, pines for her first case, as unladylike as that is for the future Contessa Pelicani. On the cusp of her marriage and her first Christmas with her in-laws, the bride-wanna-be-sleuth teams up with the police to expose the villain-all while encountering threats, obstacles, and an unexpected love interest along the way. Time is running out for romance, suspects are piling up, and the castle is in an uproar. Will Renata succeed in her sleuthing before her wedding and Christmas go off the rails?

A cost for every action, and a price for every deed. The Historical Writers’ Forum proudly presents seven stories of Crime and Punishment, from across the ages. From an anchoress to a war hero; from Italy to Missouri; this anthology has a story for everyone. Included stories are: The Ignoble Defence by Virginia Crow Agatha’s Eyes by Rachel Aanstad A Pact Fulfilled by Eleanor Swift-Hook Carte de Viste by Ronan Beckman A Dish Served Cold by Brenda W. Clough Shadows of the Adriatic by Tessa Floreano A Dangerous Road by D. Apple

The Beginning: Volume One Two Poets from two different countries who have never met, but have crossed cultural borders to write a book of Epistolary poems together, of love, life, passion, heartbreak, and romance, that has rocked the Literary World. This is a Beautiful Anthology of Epistolary Poems written by two Authors. The poems of Kristy Raines and Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai are written as conversations or love letters between two passionate people. " I Cross My Heart from East to West", has taken the literary world by storm. Their poems tell a story of love in the poetry it holds between the covers of this book. It is one of deep passion, emotion, and love, unlike any book of poetry you will ever read. The poetry of Dalai and Raines has become very popular in the literary world and has shaken it. These types of poems date back to the 1500s. Or even earlier. The two poets keep this art alive by continuing to write them together. Raines and Dalai have written over 230 poems together. They have been named the King and Queen of Epistolary Poems and will wow you with their passionate verses. Both Poets are Internationally known. Kristy Raines from The United States and Dr. Prasana Kumar Dalai from India have never met in person, but the bond they share in the poetry they write together gives you the impression that they are close in heart. "We are both eager to see the impression our poems leave in the hearts of the reader and invite you to take this journey with us, two poets who love literature and who hope to capture the hearts of all who enter the pages of the first volume of our first book titled, "I Cross My Heart from East to West-The Beginning- Volume One".

Prejudice. Legacy. Redemption. Erys carries a secret that could shatter his world. The telepathic Elegrian has spent his life atoning for his dead father’s role in humanity’s disastrous first contact. Now, as a tech specialist for the Earth-led alliance, he serves in silence—until sabotage threatens the lives of dozens of human children. And the traitor is one of his own. Forced to work with a brilliant but hostile human engineer, Erys must dismantle not only the deadly conspiracy but also the deep-seated mistrust between their peoples. With time running out, he faces an impossible choice: break the fragile Elegrian-Human treaty and invite the death penalty to forge a forbidden mind link with a human… or let innocent lives be lost. Two worlds on the brink. A single act of defiance. Can compassion rewrite a doomed future? The Elegrian Legacy begins here—a gripping sci-fi adventure rich in high-stakes dilemmas, deep character bonds, and first-contact intrigue.

General Gustave Perna U.S. Army Retired, Operation Warp Speed Commander "Lt. Col. John McBrearty, a natural leader, combat Veteran, and family man, shares his unique perspective on history through his essays, reflections, and reviews. His personalized style provides the reader with a kaleidoscope of American history, in which he cleverly weaves his own military story within. This is a must-read for all Veterans and American history buffs alike." Having risen from the rank of Private to Lieutenant Colonel, combat veteran John J. McBrearty shares his unique insight of American History through essays, reflections, and reviews. “Colonel Mack” takes the reader through the significant milestones of American History, starting with a discussion of the initial human migration of the North American continent right up to and through the Global War on Terror. He concludes his personal journey through American History with a speech given in honor of a fallen comrade.

In Volume II, Lt. Colonel John J. McBrearty chronicles his unit's triumphs and failures in the combat zone of Iraq through a selection of essays and letters written home. With his insight, candor, and love for history, Colonel Mack provides the reader with a rare inside view of this microcosm of American military history. I want to shed light on military operations in Iraq that are far less known to the general public. These operations include a multitude of civil-military efforts designed to make a difference for that country. While facing hostile enemy engagements, we built schools, hospitals, roadways, water canals, bridges, and even a golf course. These infrastructure improvements elevated the Iraqi citizens' quality of life. This book is a testament to how citizen-soldiers made a difference. John J. McBrearty

Teach the Golf Swing in 4 Easy Steps How would you like to teach your child to swing a golf club in one hour? Impossible? Not if you follow John J. McBrearty’s 4-step approach to the golf swing. John has developed the golf swing into the simplest of terms. By way of numerous well photographed pictures, John's techniques can be easily followed in this how to guide to Children's Golf.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to fight in a war? This is the book that will put you there. Lt.. Colonel McBrearty explicitly chronicles the day-to-day stress and pressures of a National Guard battalion mobilizing for Operation Iraqi Freedom. “Colonel Mack” will have you laughing on one page and crying three pages later in this uniquely honest representation of what combat is really like. This book will forever change the way you look at our nation’s military. Folks, this is not your typical blood-and-guts war story. COMBAT JOURNAL is a real story containing real emotions, tragedy, love, despair, hope, faith, and even death. You are about to go on a journey like you have never been before. You will observe Major Darby Hillcrest mobilize, train, and certify his Armor Battalion of citizen soldiers for combat duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Never has there been such a detailed account of the day-to-day experiences of a National Guard combat deployment.

After many months of pre-combat training and certification, we will finally see if the citizen soldiers of California’s Army National Guard are ready for the task at hand: combat operations. This time, it is no drill; it is not training, and the bullets are real. The responsibility of commanding troops in combat weighs heavily upon the shoulders of our main character, the Battalion Executive Officer, Major Darby Hillcrest. See how he holds up in this Part 2 of COMBAT JOURNAL.

The death of the battalion’s first soldier weighs heavily on the unit, and particularly on our main character, Battalion Executive Officer Major Darby Hillcrest. Darby is faced with overwhelming odds stacked against him, not to mention his impossible Commanding Officer. How will this young officer handle this insurmountable pressure while under enemy fire? Find out on the following pages of Major Hillcrest’s intuitive and emotional COMBAT JOURNAL. This book will show you just how truly difficult life can be for our soldiers in combat.