Araminta Jewell is one of the beauties of her day; a witty resourceful dazzling young lady who manages to resist all the blandishments that come her way. Even her marriage to the staid & ugly Sir Martin Culthorpe has not discouraged the rakes of London; for them she has assumed an almost iconic status. Before she wed a special club had been set up
- the Society for the Capture of Aramintas Maidenhood
- with the first man to bed her standing to win a sizeable wager. Though she is now a wife she is still pursued with unflagging zeal. It is during her first sitting for a portrait painted by the fashionable French artist Jean-Paul Villemot that the architect Christopher Redmayne meets the lovely Lady Culthorpe although he has heard much about her through his dissipated brother Henry one of her most ardent pursuers. Before the portrait can be finished & revealed however Sir Martin is murdered. Joining forces with Henry & his good friend the puritan Constable Jonathan Bale Christopher embarks on a quest to discover the killers identity. But with each new day bringing a fresh batch of suspects & the matter of whether Sir Martin was killed because of his shady business dealings or for the exquisite prize of his wife still unclear Christopher knows this will be far from an easy case to crack.

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For every woman who simply wants a beautiful piece of artwork to decorate her body there is one who wants to tell a story with her tattoo. As the number of women getting tattooed has sharply increased over the past few decades both classic & contemporary styles of tattooing have taken on a more feminine feel. The Painted Lady explores the styles popular among women today & how these have developed from very humble origins featuring fabulous photographs & beautiful h&-painted illustrations. Be inspired by modern interpretations of Vintage classics such as lockets hearts & roses pretty Butterflies & Flowers & Nautical figures such as swallows & anchors. Discover the Eastern influences behind the ornate Japanese style & the intricately detailed Mehndi patterns. Unlock the secret to contemporary Fusion tattoos by combining a number of styles to create the perfect aesthetic partnership. ...

The stunning debut fantasy novel from author Peter V. Brett. The Painted Man book one of the Demon Cycle is a captivating & ...

The stunning debut fantasy novel from author Peter V. Brett. The Painted Man book one of the Demon Cycle is a captivating & ...

Stripped of her glittering facade... Athan Teodarkis knows her type well: women for whom designer dresses & priceless jewellery are paid for only in kind. But hes never been distracted by one
- until now. Suspecting his sisters husband of having an affair with the dangerously beautiful Marisa Milburne Athan determines to put a stop to it! Confident the Teodarkis millions will easily divert this gold-diggers attentions Athan has a simple plan: seduce then discard. But contrary to what the cynical Athan believes shy Marisa is no home-wrecker & her innocence is powerless to resist his vengeful seduction...A simmering tension which drew me in right from the start
- another excellent novel from Julia James.
- Victoria Retired Belfast


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SHORTLISTED FOR THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION 2012 Iasi Romania the early 1950s. A nameless man is found on the steps of a hospital. Deaf & mute he is unable to communicate until a young nurse called Safta brings paper & pencils with which he can draw. Slowly painstakingly memories appear on the page. The memories are Safta's also. For the man is Augustin son of the cook at the manor house which was Safta's family home. Born six months apart they grew up with a connection that bypassed words. But while Augustin's world remained the same size Safta's expanded to embrace languages society
- & a fleeting love one long hot summer. But then came war & in its wake a brutal Stalinist regime & nothing would remain the same.
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Packed with need-to-know information this comprehensive handbook should be every painters companion in the studio. Chapters focus on essentials: colours required for a basic palette; preparing a support; which are the most vibrant & permanent pigments etc. while describing how materials & techniques have developed over the centuries & how to apply them for the best results. The emphasis on practical advice will appeal to artists who like to explore & experiment are economically minded or simply find satisfaction in doing it all themselves. The author

Includes:: recipes for making glazes acrylic ground gesso & pastel sticks; information on photographing & archiving work yourself; a guide to setting up a studio; & the results of the authors own extensive testing of materials from paints to papers. The Painters Studio Handbook is a complete resource for all artists working in oils acrylics watercolour pastel chalk or ink.

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Clear challenging & inspiring this book contains instructions for 65 abstract paintings that you can get to work on straightaway with no previous experience. All the basic information relating to picture elements composition theme & design is provided at the start of the book together with an exploration of the meaning of abstract painting & its importance as a means of self-expression & creativity. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions each of the exercises consists of information on method materials technique composition imagery & structure which will direct you to the finished piece while at the same time allowing your creativity to flow. ...

Painting Accessible Abstracts is an inspirational but practical book that will help artists to paint in a less figurative way. Laura Reiter demonstrates different ways to approach an abstract painting from just a little bit abstract to completely abstract. She does this by focussing on ideas & themes as starting points looking at the creative processes involved & more unusual techniques. Laura Reiter also covers how to use materials creatively -- watercolour acrylics mixed media & collage -- & how to experiment with colour & composition. Several projects are included & in addition to Lauras vibrant colourful paintings the work of several other contemporary abstract artists is featured. ...

Terry Harrison shows how to paint landscapes in acrylics using a range of simple brush techniques & the authors own range of brushes. He introduces the brushes which he has designed to carry out specific techniques & also explains which other materials are required including using a limited palette of paint colours. He then describes what each of the brushes is suitable for before going on to explain acrylic painting techniques such as painting a tree close-up painting reflections & snow creating distance & using texture pastes glaze medium & palette knives. There are six beautiful demonstrations with easy to follow text & step by step photographs covering popular Terry Harrison subjects: a summer landscape a winter scene a coastal view a landscape with a barn a Venetian scene & a beautiful building covered in wisteria. Readers who loved Terrys Brush with Acrylics will enjoy this all new title in which Terrys brushes are put through their paces in a completely new range of illustrations & demonstrations. ...