Gossip is an often misunderstood subject of personal interaction. Some gossip is innocuous idle chatter and is pretty much harmless. The ugly side of gossip, which is the more prevalent - and the focus of this book - can destroy personal relationships and do serious harm to business workplaces. Entire families have been turned into dysfunctional turmoil because of malicious gossip. The author outlines powerful methods for spotting the origins of a "gossip chain" at its inception and stopping it before it builds up a head of steam and sews its seeds of destruction. His methods work wonders in fostering an atmosphere of positive interpersonal communication within families, circles of friends, social groups and companies - both large and small. This book encourages readers to look at themselves through a different lens. It's informative, entertaining and actionable. After reading this book, you'll walk away a better person who is seen as a respected leader across the board.

When scandal surpasses discretion... James Trelissick, Marquis of Lasterton, will do anything to free his mother and sister from a notorious pirate. Their disappearance threatens his sister’s reputation and future. Desperate after months of fruitless searching, he disguises himself as a servant for the pirate’s daughter and kidnaps her, intending to exchange the hoyden for his beloved family. Daniella Germaine’s only wish is to be back on the deck of her father’s pirate ship, the wind in her hair and adventure on the horizon. But her father foisted her off on her brother to join London’s marriage market and find a husband. To prove herself unmarriageable, Daniella hurls herself into scandal after scandal only to be ‘rescued’ by her handsome but disapproving coachman who takes his protection duties far too seriously for her agenda. When the rescue turns into a hostage swap, Daniella finds herself knee-deep in intrigue and adventure that could prove as deadly to her heart as it is to her life.

A lovely collection of two heartfelt Regency romances about Valentine's Day. Includes Metzger's "Valentines" and Porter's "Road to Ruin." Original.

'There will be no wrecking, no undermining, and no sniping.' -Tony Abbott, 15 September 2015 Abbott's performances in the party-room debates on education and climate change had ranged between woeful and pathetic. He sounded desperate, he was inconsistent, and -- his colleagues thought -- slightly ridiculous. They knew he would never stop going after cheap headlines during soft interviews where he sucked up the oxygen, with revision and division as his calling cards. All they could hope was that people would soon grow tired of listening to him. Normal people might have, but the media grew more and more hysterical, as if a challenge were imminent. In the original edition of The Road to Ruin, prominent political commentator, author, and columnist for The AustralianNiki Savva revealed the ruinous behaviour of former prime minister Tony Abbott and his chief of staff, Peta Credlin. Based on her unrivalled access to their colleagues, and devastating first-person accounts of what went on behind the scenes, Savva painted an unforgettable picture of a unique duo who wielded power ruthlessly but not well. That edition became a major bestseller, and went on to win an Australian book industry award for the best general non-fiction book of the year. Now Savva continues where she left off. This updated edition contains a new, 13,500-word final chapter, in which Savva reveals the inner state of the Turnbull government -- and the behind-the-scenes jockeying of friends and foes alike. From Christopher Pyne's career-stalling own goal, to Peter Dutton's post-Turnbull leadership ambitions, to Tony Abbott's ramped-up destabilisation campaign, it is, as usual, an unputdownable and impeccably sourced account.