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Stuff Every Coffee Lover Should Know

This pocket-sized handbook is the perfect gift for coffee connoisseurs, those looking to grind and brew their own beans, and anyone who appreciates a cup of coffee with or without caffeine.
 
If you’re like most people, you start every day with a hot cup of joe. But beyond your steaming morning mug, there’s a whole world waiting to be discovered—from roast varieties to brewing methods to the traditions, ceremonies, and customs of cultures around the globe.

Within the pages of this guide, coffee lovers of all levels will find useful information, helpful how-tos, and fascinating trivia about their beloved beverage, including
 
·  Highlights from Coffee History
·  Anatomy of the Coffee Cherry
·  Freshness in Coffee
·  Caffeine Content 101
·  Popular Espresso Drinks
·  Coffee Cocktails
 
So get ready to read about the world’s best coffee-growing regions, learn how to host a coffee cupping like a pro, get tips for buying ethically sourced beans, and much, much more!

Posted by impart

Whisper Down the Lane

Inspired by the McMartin preschool trials and the Satanic Panic of the ‘80s, the critically acclaimed author of The Remaking delivers another pulse pounding, true-crime-based horror novel.

Richard doesn’t have a past. For him, there is only the present: a new marriage to Tamara, a first chance at fatherhood to her son Elijah, and a quiet but pleasant life as an art teacher at Elijah’s elementary school in Danvers, Virginia. Then the body of a rabbit, ritualistically murdered, appears on the school grounds with a birthday card for Richard tucked beneath it. Richard doesn’t have a birthday—but Sean does . . .

Sean is a five-year-old boy who has just moved to Greenfield, Virginia, with his mother. Like most mothers of the 1980s, she’s worried about bills, childcare, putting food on the table . . . and an encroaching threat to American life that can take the face of anyone: a politician, a friendly neighbor, or even a teacher. When Sean’s school sends a letter to the parents revealing that Sean’s favorite teacher is under investigation, a white lie from Sean lights a fire that engulfs the entire nation—and Sean and his mother are left holding the match.

Now, thirty years later, someone is here to remind Richard that they remember what Sean did. And though Sean doesn’t exist anymore, someone needs to pay the price for his lies.

Posted by impart

Stuff Every Cheese Lover Should Know

The perfect gift for the cheese lover in your life, this pocket guide includes a brief history of cheese, a primer on the different types of cheese, cheese pairing guides, essential cheese recipes, home cheese-making tips, how to host a cheese tasting, and more.

It's hard to think of a more universally beloved food than cheese. But cheese lovers know there's more to the world of cheese than grilled cheese, parmesan on salads, and a plate of cheese and crackers.

There are over a thousand different types of cheeses produced worldwide, offering a wide variety of flavors, textures, and aromas. All of them are unique depending on the type of milk used, the aging process, pasteurization, herbs and spices added, and more. Even the biggest cheese lover has a lot to learn about the age-old art of cheese. How is cheese made? What makes certain cheeses so stinky? What is raw cheese? Why do some cheeses melt better than others? How should one store cheese? And why are some cheeses banned by the FDA?

Within the pages of this pocket-sized guide, you'll find information, how-tos, and trivia for cheese lovers at all levels. Experts and newbies alike will learn:

    Highlights from Cheese History
    Types of Cheese
    Perfect Cheese Pairings
    Essential Cheese Gadgets
    How to Make Cheese at Home
    How to Host a Cheese Tasting
    And more!<

Posted by impart

Secret Santa

The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer.

Out of work for months, Lussi Meyer is desperate to work anywhere in publishing. Prestigious Blackwood-Patterson isn’t the perfect fit, but a bizarre set of circumstances leads to her hire and a firm mandate: Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre.

But as soon as she arrives, Lussi finds herself the target of her co-workers’ mean-spirited pranks. The hazing reaches its peak during the company’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange, when Lussi receives a demonic-looking object that she recognizes but doesn’t understand. Suddenly, her coworkers begin falling victim to a series of horrific accidents akin to a George Romero movie, and Lussi suspects that her gift is involved. With the help of her former author, the flamboyant Fabien Nightingale, Lussi must track down her anonymous Secret Santa and figure out the true meaning of the cursed object in her possession before it destroys the company—and her soul.

Posted by impart

Redemption

Filled with quotes from Bob Marley’s speeches, interviews, and writings, this collection is sure to resonate with fans of his music and political activism, at a time when we need exemplary heroes. 

Redemption has many meanings, but there is one definition that embodies the spirit of Bob Marley’s beliefs and music: to reform, or to change for the better. Forty years after the release of his iconic “Redemption Song,” his desire to make the world a better place through mental and spiritual emancipation—important first steps to physical emancipation for the larger community—remains powerful and vital to this day.

Using Marley’s own words from interviews and his powerful song lyrics, his eldest daughter, Cedella Marley, creates a powerful narrative about the hard but rewarding path to redemption.

Posted by impart

Crystal Clear

From amethyst to obsidian, Basic Witches author Jaya Saxena explores the multi-faceted meanings and history behind eleven popular crystals in this relatable personal essay collection.

Highly prized for their beauty, crystals can take the shape of jewelry, household objects, and an array of self-care products. But it’s the ideas they stand for that draw people to their raw forms. Like astrology, tarot, and modern witchcraft, crystals help practitioners understand themselves and the wider world around them.

In this collection of sharply observed essays, Jaya Saxena reflects on–and challenges–the ideas associated with eleven popular stones, including unconditional love (rose quartz), happiness and success (citrine), balance (amethyst), self-care (black tourmaline), purity (pearl), imposter syndrome (pyrite), toxic positivity (carnelian), change (opals), traditional concepts of marriage (diamonds), presentation versus identity (obsidian), and death (amber).

The result is a deeply personal book with universal appeal, exploring how we assign meaning and power to crystals in order to give meaning and power to our lives.

Posted by impart