Almost Odis

Get an unrestricted peek inside a real life version of the TV show Frasier, if the Cranes were from Mississippi. In a fit of post 40th birthday generosity, displaced Southern Gentleman and Writer, Dusty Thompson, invites his redneck father to live with him in California. Not knowing what to expect as their life-long relationship has been very subdued, if informal, not unlike those of an English Lord and his downstairs staff, Dusty feels sure two adults can be successful roommates. However, when his Dad shows up with the largest La-Z-Boy recliner in America, and a dog named Lulu, in the back of his pick-up, Dusty realizes the only thing they have in common is oddly short legs and the belief he is adopted.

Get an unrestricted peek inside a real life version of the TV show Frasier, if the Cranes were from Mississippi. In a fit of post 40th birthday generosity, displaced Southern Gentleman and Writer, Dusty Thompson, invites his redneck father to live with him in California. Not knowing what to expect as their life-long relationship has been very subdued, if informal, not unlike those of an English Lord and his downstairs staff, Dusty feels sure two adults can be successful roommates. However, when his Dad shows up with the largest La-Z-Boy recliner in America, and a dog named Lulu, in the back of his pick-up, Dusty realizes the only thing they have in common is oddly short legs and the belief he is adopted.

The unearthing of a 60,000 year-old Neanderthal skull brings visions of a brilliant mechanism to one man. But, it opens a doorway from the past and unleashes an extinct species of hominid upon the unsuspecting residents of a small Kentucky town. Now the town's law enforcement and it's terrified citizens must grapple with a time-traveling brute whose only goal is to exterminate the perceived Gods that have entered his Ice Age world!

Readers met Charlene Charlie Goodnight Myers in the novella A Christmas Cactus. Now Charlie is Mayor of Brangus, Texas. When a Hollywood movie company comes to town, the citizens of Brangus cant wait to get into the action. Movie stars, mysterious strangers and a cruel director show up to enliven the plot. When a local socialite is accused of the murder of one of the movie staff, Charlie recruits her friends to help solve the crime. Readers will recognize Darci Tenant, Charlies wealthy best friend, and Manuela, now owner of Cowgirls and Curls beauty salon. The redoubtable Vessie Lou Culpepper and feisty Justine Longacre also pitch in to help find the killer. Along the way, Mayor Charlie works hard to take care of business for the zany eccentric citizens of Brangus.

In alternating chapters from past to present, Chance Carter, former general manager of a TV station in Florida, learns about his grandmother Rista, his family's ranch in Texas, and the mysteries and secrets of his family and of their impact on him.

If Chris Gayle stands by his decision to retire from ODIs after the World Cup there is little doubt that he will be missed by the entire cricketing community the world over. For some time there has never been any doubt that Ross Taylor is one of New Zealand’s greatest batsmen. New Zealand these days is doubly fortunate that they have not one but two outstanding batsmen in Taylor and Kane Williamson. Enjoy the action packed edition of Cricket Today.

SELECTED AS ONE OF WATERSTONES BEST SPORT BOOKS OF 2022. A CRICKETER BOOK OF THE YEAR. 'Superb' Matthew Syed, The Times 'Fascinating' The Observer 'Crickonomics is packed with sufficient statistical analysis to have the most ardent cricket geek purring with pleasure' Mail on Sunday 'An insightful, Hawk-Eye-like analysis of the numbers behind cricket' Financial Times An engaging tour of the modern game from an award-winning journalist and the economist who co-authored the bestselling Soccernomics. Why does England rely on private schools for their batters – but not their bowlers? How did demographics shape India's rise? Why have women often been the game's great innovators? Why does South Africa struggle to produce Black Test batters? And how does the weather impact who wins? Crickonomics explores all of this and much more – including how Jayasuriya and Gilchrist transformed Test batting but T20 didn't; English cricket's great missed opportunity to have a league structure like football; why batters are paid more than bowlers; how Afghanistan is transforming German cricket; what the rest of the world can learn from New Zealand and even the Barmy Army's importance to Test cricket. This incisive book will entertain and surprise all cricket lovers. It might even change how you watch the game.

A splendid selection of stories from the lady who taught dragons to fly and rockets to sing . . . Lady in the Tower The Rowan was one of a select group of telepaths—a complete Prime, one of only five. Then one day, another Prime appeared mysteriously from the outer boundaries of space, asking for help in a savage battle against evil! Finder's Keepers Young Peter had a unique gift which earned him and his mother a little money and gave pleasure to others. Then, one day, an unscrupulous man forced Peter to use his precious gift in a crooked scheme—and Peter grew up fast! Honeymoon Helva and her new brawn were sent on an especially urgent mission . . . a mission that not only put them both in great danger, but a mission that also caused them to break the ultimate taboo! The Smallest Dragon Boy The only thing Keevan wanted in life was to be a dragonrider, just like his father . . . but everything seemed to stand in his way!