The thesis of this book is that the techniques of personal romance can be adapted directly to all public speaking settings. Communication begins like a blind date: without anxiety, one secures a favorable first impression and then aims to win approval. You must notice and address your listener's "wandering eye" - with the realization that your audience's attention is a precious commodity that should not be squandered through unclear communication objectives, verbal digressions or nonverbal distractions. Just as in romance, great communicators build relationships with their listeners. By asking questions about the audience in advance, speakers can maximize the target effectiveness of their message. Communicators must "listen while they talk," adapting to the audience's response, be it restlessness, confusion or disagreement.

A practical guide to effective public speaking details the key elements of successful presentations and offers techniques used by leading communicators, including establishing a common ground with an audience, using visuals and anecdotes, and winning over an audience with substance.

How far will he go to protect his mother’s legacy? As Prince Gian-Paulo Montovanni’s thirtieth birthday approaches, the paparazzi are hounding him to marry and put his pleasure-seeking days behind him. But before he can propose to any of the women vying for his attention, he must locate a precious family heirloom—his mother's beloved emerald necklace—stolen in a blackmailing scheme twenty years earlier. No Montovanni bride-to-be has ever gotten engaged without it, forcing Gian-Paulo to collaborate with an American jeweler who’s replicated the necklace in elaborate detail, a secretive woman who knows the location of the original. Luring his quarry to Italy to finalize the deal, Gian-Paolo is not above participating in wicked deceptions to get what he wants. Is she Fit for a Princess? Abandoned by her mother as a child, Carolina Beugre sought haven with her uncle, a renowned and respected jeweler. Passionate about gemstones, she attends a prestigious university with plans to open a jewelry shop in downtown Atlanta one day. Lenox Street is high end, the perfect place to sell her creations to wealthy clientele, but the property is expensive. To finance her store, she agrees to sell Grace, the twenty-carat emerald necklace she recreated from one of her uncle's silent auction pieces. The exchange is scheduled to take place on a tiny provincial island during a masque ball. What happens next leads to a fake betrothal, kidnapping, and an emotional roller coaster that nearly strips away everything Carolina has worked so hard to achieve—including what she knows about herself.

Addie Greyborne loved working with rare books at the Boston Public Library—she even got to play detective, tracking down clues about mysterious old volumes. But she didn’t expect her sleuthing skills to come in so handy in a little seaside town . . . Addie left some painful memories behind in the big city, including the unsolved murder of her fiancé and her father’s fatal car accident. After an unexpected inheritance from a great aunt, she’s moved to a small New England town founded by her ancestors back in colonial times—and living in spacious Greyborne Manor, on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. Best of all, her aunt also left her countless first editions and other treasures—providing an inventory to start her own store. But there’s trouble from day one, and not just from the grumpy woman who runs the bakery next door. A car nearly runs Addie down. Someone steals a copy of Alice in Wonderland. Then, Addie’s friend Serena, who owns a nearby tea shop, is arrested—for killing another local merchant. The police seem pretty sure they’ve got the story in hand, but Addie’s not going to let them close the book on this case without a fight . . .

Sir Phillip knew that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except . . . she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her . . . and more. Did he think she was mad? Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking . . . and wondering . . . and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except . . . he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered, and while Phillip was certainly handsome, he was a large brute of a man, rough and rugged, and totally unlike the London gentlemen vying for her hand. But when he smiled . . . and when he kissed her . . . the rest of the world simply fell away, and she couldn't help but wonder . . . could this imperfect man be perfect for her?

What is God saying to you in your dreams? Decoding Your Dreams is a beginner’s guide to understanding the true source of our dreams, dream classifications, and even dream symbols. This book answers questions like: Can we control our dreams? I used to dream all the time. Why has my dream life suddenly ceased? Should I pray for the gift of dream interpretation? What does it mean if I see people in my dreams who have already passed away? When do I share a dream I’ve received and when do I keep it to myself? Where does déjà vu fit into the world of dreams? Why should I pay attention to my children’s dreams? There are dozens of mentions of dreams in the Bible. From Abraham to Joseph, from Daniel all the way to Pontius Pilot’s wife, God has communicated with His people through dreams throughout recorded history. Why would God choose to speak to us while we sleep? Perhaps it’s because we are too distracted during the day to sit still long enough for Him to share the deep secrets of His heart. Jennifer LeClaire is convinced God speaks to us in ways that are very personal. At times he may use pictures, memories, impressions, or even a still small voice. Let Decoding Your Dreams help you embrace your Spirit-inspired dreams!

Born to live a life of intrigue and adventure, beautiful Secret Service agent Lia Charles has never met a challenge she can't overcome. That is, until she receives her latest assignment–rescue the brilliant, boldly charismatic and bona fide hottie Armand Magliore, a revolutionary leader of a war-ravaged Caribbean republic.