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A woman invites a famous artist to use her guesthouse in the remote coastal landscape where she lives with her family. Powerfully drawn to his paintings, she believes his vision might penetrate the mystery at the center of her life. But as a long, dry summer sets in, his provocative presence itself becomes an enigma―and disrupts the calm of her secluded household.

Seventy-five percent of all new restaurant ventures fail, and of those that do stick around, only a few become icons. Danny Meyer started Union Square Cafe when he was 27, with a good idea and hopeful investors. He is now the co-owner of a restaurant empire. How did he do it? How did he beat the odds in one of the toughest trades around? In this landmark book, Danny shares the lessons he learned developing the dynamic philosophy he calls Enlightened Hospitality. The tenets of that philosophy, which emphasize strong in-house relationships as well as customer satisfaction, are applicable to anyone who works in any business. Whether you are a manager, an executive, or a waiter, Danny’s story and philosophy will help you become more effective and productive, while deepening your understanding and appreciation of a job well done.

Ryoko Kui, the master storyteller behind the beloved manga series Delicious in Dungeon, pens seven brand-new tales that will delight fantasy fans and manga devotees equally. Covering a broad range of themes and time periods, no two stories in this collection are alike!

Source title: Sexually, I'm More of a Switzerland: Personal Ads from the London Review of Books

Shingo Shimazaki was kidnapped as a boy by the LEL, an international terrorist organization who turned him into an elite covert operative in their war against the international community. After thirty years, he has finally escaped their clutches and returned to his native Japan. All he wants now is to live in peace…but what will happen when his past catches up to him? The acclaimed, action-packed slice-of-life adventure begins here!

Forced to become a covert operative for the international terrorist group LEL, Shingo Shimazaki has escaped and is back in his native Japan, doing his best to live a peaceful life. He has a job at a local coffee shop, where he feels happy and comfortable—until the arrival of a certain wayward young man brings a world of trouble down on his beloved Café Lupaso. Will Shimazaki be forced to use the skills he learned in war to secure his own peace—?

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Ako finds herself coasting along, watching her twenties pass her by. Work at the video rental store, see her boyfriend, repeat... Her days are becoming an indistinguishable, listless blur. Until she encounters a skateboarder practicing a trick--and she's a girl! For some reason, Ako feels a pull toward the sport. Slowly, all the dreams and ambitions she gave up on and the futures she imagined for herself come flooding back, and Ako resolves to change herself now, before it's too late. But is it ever really too late to discover something new?

Ako's love of skateboarding continues to grow as she goes to another lesson with her coworker, Shiho. The two of them buy their own boards and officially become skater girls! But as Ako struggles to learn her second trick, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly be able to skateboard...

At age forty-five, office worker Sasaki has had enough of the corporate grind. His only solace is smoking—and the friendly smile of supermarket cashier Yamada. When Sasaki can't find Yamada after a particularly trying day, a striking woman invites him to smoke with her. The despondent man thinks he's made a new smoking buddy in the cool, teasing Tayama, but Sasaki doesn't realize he already knows her!

After the stress of a medical misdiagnosis, Sasaki resumes his strange yet calming nighttime smokes with Tayama. Yet he's still unaware that Tayama and Yamada, his therapeutic idol, are the same woman! Sasaki and Yamada are merely customer and cashier inside the store, but as more quirky supermarket employees enter the mix, will Sasaki's relationship with Tayama begin to change?

As the end of the year approaches, Yamada feels blindsided by a coworker’s claim that Sasaki is a married man! Naturally, misunderstandings ensue. Later, on Christmas Eve, Sasaki has a chance encounter with a super-shy supermarket employee. And as the new year begins, Sasaki receives a message that shakes up the smoking buddies’ relationship again…

The new year starts strong for Sasaki when the beleaguered salaryman forgets his own birthday. But his days turn around when he meets Daigoro's owner and discovers a new side of Tayama. Sasaki begins to realize the importance of the bond he shares with Tayama, even through her lighthearted teasing. This part of his life has become a collection of strange and gentle moments that he hopes never end, but will one night change everything?

After smoking away from the supermarket together for the first time, Yamada and Sasaki begin to realize their fleeting feelings for each other are taking shape. Sasaki is too hesitant to move forward, and Yamada—shackled by the past—resolves to take the secret of "Tayama" to her grave! Sasaki hears of Tayama's relationship with a coworker who's been transferred back to the store. Will jealousy finally spur him to action?

Urasawa’s characters confront fantastical elements ranging from psychic powers to attacks by giant monsters. On the flip side, the author philosophizes about his real-world experiences with the wild and wacky international music scene.

IT WAS THE SUMMER of 1994, more than six years ago now, when I first heard about Rafael Sanchez Mazas facing the firing squad.

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Master spy Twilight is unparalleled when it comes to going undercover on dangerous missions for the betterment of the world. But when he receives the ultimate assignment—to get married and have a kid—he may finally be in over his head!

Twilight must infiltrate the prestigious Eden Academy to get close to his target Donovan Desmond, but has he ruined his daughter Anya’s chances with his outburst during the admissions interview? Perhaps the truly impossible mission this time is making sure Anya both becomes an exemplary student and befriends Donovan’s arrogant son Damian!

Twilight has overcome many challenges in putting together the Forger family, but now all his hard work might come undone when Yor’s younger brother Yuri pops in for a surprise visit! Can Twilight outsmart Yuri, who actually works for the Ostanian secret service?!