Susan Elia MacNeal: Books

May 1940. As England stands alone against imminent Nazi invasion, betrayal and treachery threaten to bring her down from within.

Maggie Hope, a young American in London, finds work as a secretary to the newly appointed Prime Minister Winston Churchill. When the P.M. is threatened by assassination, Maggie is thrown into the worlds of spies, secret agents, code-breaking and betrayal. As she searches for her missing father, she finds herself in the center of a conspiracy to murder the Prime Minister and destroy England.

Racing from the damp streets of London to the hallowed halls of Trinity College to the code-breakers' huts of Bletchley Park, Maggie struggles with the brute realities of a world at war. She penetrates the heart of an undercover spy ring and, despite revelations of the most horrific kind, carries out one of the war's most deadly missions.

The saga of Maggie Hope continues when MI-5 sends her undercover as a tutor to Windsor Castle, to protect the young Princess Elizabeth, England's future queen.

When Princess Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting is murdered, Maggie realizes the threat must come from someone inside the castle walls and does everything in her power to protect the (often willful) pPrincess, while searching for clues, mastering royal etiquette and navigating the upstairs-downstairs nature of a tutor's role in the castle hierarchy.

Everything You Need to Know to Make and Mix, with 100 Recipes

Infused liqueurs are the hot new ingredients for cocktails. With more than 30 infusions plus dozens of drinks to use them in, Infused combines spirits like vodka and rum with fruits, flowers, herbs, and spices to create superior liqueurs. Take the Gibson and give it a kick with Onion Vodka. Cool down with Watermelon Martinis on warm summer days, or get the heat going with Hot Mint Chocolate spiked with Mint Vodka, a perfect antidote to cold winter nights. Many infusions pair with multiple recipes: herb-infused vodkas enliven both the Rosemary Martini and the Strawberry Basil Martini. Chocolate Vodka is the indulgence in the Chocolate Martini, Brandy Alexander, and the Grasshopper. The versatility of each infusion makes giving a bottle of homemade liqueur a unique gift for any drink connoisseur. With tips on how to shake, stir, and chill, and enough recipes and ideas to reinvent any party, this colorful little book is the ultimate infusion of fun. -- Chronicle Books

Infused Making your own infused liquors is both simple and delicious. It's also an act of creative self-expression, allowing you to play and experiment with intensities and combinations of flavors. Vodka -- clear and neutral-tasting -- makes an ideal blank canvas for infusions. But other liquors work beautifully as well: rum, tequila (especially 100% agave silver tequila), bourbon, brandy, gin -- even cognac if you're feeling especially decadent. And once you've picked your base, the choices of flavors to infuse are dizzying: fruits, flowers, herbs, spices -- the combinations and permutations are endless. While they do take some time, infusions are surprisingly easy to make and well worth the effort. The depth and intensity of flavors that can be achieved is unparalleled.

In this book, you'll not only learn how to make your own delicious infusions, but also how to mix them to great effect. Lush and aromatic, infused liquors intensify the taste of your favorite cocktails -- and can even inspire you to try and create new ones. Included here are easy recipes for creating a fabulous array of liquors, as well as cocktail recipes -- both classic and creative -- for using them. Whether you prefer a tangy Cosmopolitan (with cranberry-orange-infused vodka), a classic such as a Margarita (with lime-infused silver tequila), or the tongue-tingling Wasabi Mary (with Thai pepper-infused vodka), Infused will instantly expand and invigorate your repertory of cocktails. A sweet splash of raspberry-infused vodka enlivens champagne in Miss Blonde; other infusions for fizz include the Gingersnap, Lychee Fizz and Rose Kiss. Delight in the aromatic Dirty Ear Grey Martini, the decadent Saffron Martini or the refreshing Tokyo Martini (with cucumber-infused vodka and sake). Strawberry Meringue, with strawberry-infused vodka, makes a dramatic finish after a meal, while Le Cognac aux Truffes -- cognac infused with truffles -- is unparalleled.

And, should inspiration hit, create your own alchemy, Make your own, original liquors and signature cocktails. Infused also gives guidance in "the psychology of drink creating" -- how to create your own concoctions for dinner á deux, your next cocktail party, or even for gift giving.

Brimming with inventive ideas, Infused is an inspiring gift for yourself and others. Let the fun -- and the party -- begin.

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Wedding Zen For stressed-out brides-to-be, finally there's an alternative to last-minute elopement: Wedding Zen is an oasis of calm amidst the chaos of planning a wedding. By applying the classic teachings of Zen to time-honored nuptial traditions, this darling book shows that a little namaste can improve The Big Day in a dramatic way. Drawn from Zen teachings such as staying mindful of worldly attachments (remember: it's the thought, not the gift, that counts!) and surrendering the ego (but she's your mother, and you love her), here are dozens of tips for warding off trouble in nirvana. Wedding Zen packs a bouquet of wisdom into a charming, beautifully illustrated volume, making this a perfect bridal shower gift. So when preparations get a little crazy -- or a lot crazy -- relief for the bride, and good karma for the giver, is close at hand.

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by Josh Axelrad (Penguin Group; March 8, 2010)

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The Art of Peter Max Colorful and cosmic, Peter Max's art has been an integral part of contemporary American culture for more than three decades. Beginning in the 1960s, when his bold bright paintings embodied the spirit of the times, up to the present day, his prolific output has inspired people in every corner of the world. Premier art institutions regularly exhibit solo shows of his work, and his trademark posters have achieved international popularity. From being named Official Artist of the Grammy Awards for five successive years to painting a Continental Airlines 777 plane, Max's projects always garner enormous media attention.

In this comprehensive Max retrospective, 350 full-color images -- many never before published -- illustrate the artist's life and prolific career.

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