Who is the Piper? . . . Special Agent Patrick Bowers returns in an electrifying prequel to the Bowers Chess series from critically acclaimed, national bestselling novelist Steven James. A mysterious suicide and a series of abductions draw Patrick into a web of intrigue involving an international conspiracy where no one is who they appear to be and the stakes have never been higher. Soon, Patrick discovers that the secret to stopping the Piper’s current crime spree lies in unlocking answers from an eight-year-old cold case—and the only way to do that is by entering the terrifying world of the conspirators himself. Dark, probing, and chilling, Every Crooked Path takes an unflinching look at the world of today’s cybercrimes and delves into a parent’s worst nightmare as it launches a new chapter of Patrick Bowers thrillers.

Someday we all reach the end of our journey through life and pass on. How do we conduct ourselves at that point? Can we change or alter the issues in ourselves we have encountered? "Crooked Path" illustrates through the dynamic story of Peter Stevens that eventually we all have to examine our own makeup and come to terms with who and what we are. Every person will inevitably examine and judge his own faults and strengths. Are you ready to look?

Esther Cox is challenged with coping with the death of her husband, Samuel, and raising her teenage daughter, whose heart has drifted from God. David Fisher is a well-respected farmer in the town of Williamsville, Missouri. His heart is broken over his wife, Sadie. He is determined not to give his heart to another. Will He open his heart to love again?

From the bestselling author of The Girl From the Train, comes another compelling coming of age story of delayed love, loss, and reconciliation in WWII-era South Africa. Lettie has always felt different from and overshadowed by the women around her– this friend is richer, that friend is more beautiful, those friends are closer. Still, she doesn’t let this hold her back. She works hard to apply her mind, trying to compensate for her perceived lack of beauty with diligent academic work and a successful career as a doctor. She learns to treasure her friendships, but she still wonders if any man will ever return her interest. Marco’s experience in the second world war have robbed him of love and health. When winters in his native Italy prove dangerous to his health even after the war has ended, he moves to South Africa to be with his brother, husband to one of Lettie’s best friends. Marco is Lettie’s first patient, and their relationship grows as she aids him on the road back to restored health. In the company of beloved characters from The Child of the River, Marco and Lettie find a happiness that neither of them thought possible. With that joy comes pain and loss, but Lettie learns that life—while perhaps a crooked path—is always a journey worth taking.

Part the thorny bramble and take a walk along the bewitchingly mysterious Crooked Path. Within these pages discover a wealth of hands-on tips and techniques to begin your journey into the realm of Traditional Witchcraft. Learn to weave a powerful personal practice that is informed by folklore and grounded in your own location and natural landscape. Along the way you will find valuable information regarding the tools, rituals, and spells of this fascinating tradition, together with lessons on connecting with deities, familiar spirits, ancestors, and the spirits of place. With supportive advice and encouragement, Kelden provides everything you need to successfully navigate your own path, helping you master even advanced practices such as hedge-crossing as you transform your day-to-day experience into a life filled with magic and spirit.

In his youth, a mean-spirited stepfather teaches Vladimir Antonovich that the only way to succeed in life is to become highly proficient in the art of fighting. Vladimir's early years are filled with fights and brutality. At the age of eighteen, he's drafted into the Soviet Army. He swears he will kill his stepfather some day, once the Army shows him how.He faces a new brutality at the Course of the Young Soldier, but survives it, too, and is selected to attend an Airborne College where he is commissioned a lieutenant. Later, he marries Aleksandra and they have a son. The hate for his stepfather still burns.Eleven years later, in 1980, he's given a special assignment to Afghanistan where he assassinates a Mujahedin leader, after losing most of his men. He returns home a hero with the hate for his stepfather burning even more. He finally visits him one last time, and while they talk and drink vodka, ugly images flash. He recalls the brutality of his youth, the brutality of basic training, and the brutality of Afghanistan. His brain crackling with fire, a question flashes. Should he kill the old man or not?

Issue 1 of The Crooked Path Journal contains the following articles: Inside the Wicker Man - Peter Paddon The Origin of the Word "Witch" - R.J. Thompson Witch's Ritual For Getting Rid of Evil Magic - "Ku Potula" - Radomir Ristic Tapping the Bone - Peter Paddon Morning - Hedgewizard Usage of Animals and Animal Body Parts in Traditional Witchcraft - Radomir Ristic Candlemas and the Land Ceremonies Charm R.J. Thompson Cosmic Soup and the Mighty Dead - Peter Paddon The Rite of Candlemas and the Land Ceremonies Charm R.J. Thompson Blacksmith as Magus - Radomir Ristic Celtic Nine Poems - Peter Paddon As I Do Will It - Ann Finnin Walking the Crooked Path - Peter Paddon Turning The Hand of Fate - Raven Womack Making a Traditional Witches' Besom - Peter Paddon The Crooked Path Journal is a quarterly magazine for Traditional Witches, Cunningfolk and other practitioners of the Nameless Art.

Issue 2 of The Crooked Path Journal contains the following articles: Artemisia - Eric De Vries Bag of Bones - Steven Posch Balkan Traditional Witchcraft - Radomir Ristic Sympathetic Magic - R.J. Thompson The Call - Veronica Cummer The Dragon and the Dragon Slayer - Robin Artisson Away With the Fairies - M.V. Wragg Childe Ballad 243 - Steven Posch Scourges and Traditional Craft - Radomir Ristic Occult Significance of the Crossing Rite - R.J. Thompson Cupmarks - Steven Posch Great Spirits of Fate - Radomir Ristic Virtues and Ethics - R.J. Thompson Young Hornie Steals Fire - Steven Posc

Winning is awesome, but is it worth achieving at any cost? That's just what ten-year-old Geri Martile will have to find out. Geri is excited For The upcoming soccer season, even more so when she learns she and her best friend, Yvonne, are going to be the co-captains of the Bayside Blasters. Geri is determined to be the best, and she is sure that things on the team need to change if they are going to win the big championship game against the Clayton Canyon Cannonballs. Soon she is telling the girls they shouldn't goof off at practice and that they should do homework at lunchtime so they'll have more time to practice, because they have to win. As Geri begins to belittle her teammates For The smallest mistakes and lose their respect, Yvonne tries to reach out, but Geri just thinks Yvonne doesn't want to win. Geri's bad attitude leads her down the Crooked Path to Victory, which she will discover isn't fun to follow alone. Will she ever learn the true meaning of victory?