Books with author Michael Beck

The Shadow demon nearly took everything from Dynalya Astron, and it would soon return for more. When she discovers a way to fight back, she must go on a perilous journey and risk it all for those she holds dear.Along the way, she meets Cassiel, a Celestial Prince with magic blood and wings as black as his heart. He wants nothing to do with Dyna until he learns she could lead him to a place he has been searching for all his life.But reaching their destination is not as easy as they thought, nor are they the only ones searching for it. With danger at every turn and harrowing secrets between them, the quest will require much more than determination. They must fight for what they desire—or die trying.For fans of Throne of Glass, The Cruel Prince, and The Lord of the Rings comes Beck Michael's debut novel with remarkable characters, a budding romance, and gripping action. Divine Blood is the first book of an Epic Dark Fantasy series that explores the depths of loss, acceptance, and the true meaning of courage.“I blew through this book. Could not put it down. It had everything. Magic. Angels. Werewolves. Demons. Mages. All sorts of fantastical beasts and a fantastic plot. I’m super annoyed that I don’t have the rest of the series, because I need more.”— Alexa Abee, WRITING THE UNIVERSE BLOG“A refreshing, beautifully crafted, and gripping read!” —Jessica Scurlock, author of PRETTY LIES"Excellent! Kept me awake into the wee hours of the night." — P.C. Benson, author of FORTIS“Divine Blood is a must-read for anyone who enjoys fantasy. This book brought out all of my emotions, it left me in tears, fits of anger, and bouts of laughter.” — Nikki Mitchell, author of NIGHTSHADE FOREST“Epic quest a la Tolkien...” — GOODREADS REVIEW“It is a journey through the worlds. Get it, read it, and then get her other books and read those. Truly blown away…”— GOODREADS REVIEW

★Buy the Paperback and Receive the Kindle eBooks for FREE★Mia Takes an Educational Journey into the World of Food A magical journey filled with fun and intrigue. "Mommy, What do Unicorns eat?" tells the story of Mia, a unicorn who is curious by nature and eager to learn just what her ideal diet looks like. She is a friendly unicorn, and throughout the story, she meets many other animals who are just as friendly as she is, including an elephant, a squirrel, a dolphin, a cow, a parrot, a rabbit, and a caterpillar. Each of the animals she meets has some wisdom and advice to share, each recommending their favorite food as the best food there is. They also explain the benefits of each food, from strength to speed to tail fluffiness. As a parent, you know you need to explain to your child how important each food type is, but this topic is a big one, and you want to make it easy on yourself – or at least easier than it seems on the surface. "Mommy, What do Unicorns eat?" is a fun and simple way to introduce your child to a healthy, wholesome, rounded diet, the animals explaining in detail why they like each food and what each food does for them.  Join Mia as she gallivants, makes friends, and learns about food! 

The low rays of the sunset fell around him in a red, golden hue, accenting his silk black wings and striking features framed by hair so black it looked like spilled ink against his face. He didn’t seem real. How could he be? His kind no longer existed in the world. Not sure if she was dreaming, Dyna reached out to touch him, needing to prove he was there. The moment her fingertips brushed his cool cheek, a gentle electric current pulsed between them. He flinched, inhaling a sharp breath. His ethereal features tightened into a scowl, and he withdrew his arms, leaving her to fall. — Divine BloodThe Shadow demon nearly took everything from Dynalya Astron, and it would soon return for more. When she discovers a way to fight back, she must go on a perilous journey and risk it all for those she holds dear.Along the way, she meets Cassiel, a Celestial Prince with magic blood and wings as black as his heart. He wants nothing to do with Dyna until he learns she could lead him to a place he has been searching for all his life.But reaching their destination is not as easy as they thought, nor are they the only ones searching for it. With danger at every turn and harrowing secrets between them, the quest will require much more than determination. They must fight for what they desire—or die trying.For fans of Throne of Glass, The Cruel Prince, and The Lord of the Rings comes Beck Michael's debut novel with remarkable characters, a budding romance, and gripping action. Divine Blood is the first book of an Epic Dark Fantasy series that explores the depths of loss, acceptance, and the true meaning of courage.“I blew through this book. Could not put it down. It had everything. Magic. Angels. Werewolves. Demons. Mages. All sorts of fantastical beasts and a fantastic plot. I’m super annoyed that I don’t have the rest of the series, because I need more.”— Alexa Abee, WRITING THE UNIVERSE BLOG“A refreshing, beautifully crafted, and gripping read!” —Jessica Scurlock, author of PRETTY LIES"Excellent! Kept me awake into the wee hours of the night." — P.C. Benson, author of FORTIS“Divine Blood is a must-read for anyone who enjoys fantasy. This book brought out all of my emotions, it left me in tears, fits of anger, and bouts of laughter.” — Nikki Mitchell, author of NIGHTSHADE FOREST“Epic quest a la Tolkien...” — GOODREADS REVIEW“It is a journey through the worlds. Get it, read it, and then get her other books and read those. Truly blown away…”— GOODREADS REVIEW

Explore the fascinating prehistoric world of the dinosaur with this fully illustrated guide to over 130 dinosaurs. Each description includes clear, up-to-date notes on where, how, and when the animal lived, a precise and colorful illustration, and a complete description of its size, diet, habits, and ecological significance. Also include as special features of this unique pocket reference are: An extensive time chart A list of museums and sites to visit around the world Projects and hints on how to further your interest in dinosaurs And a comprehensive glossary and index. Everything a dinosaur lover wants and needs, in a handy, take-along pocket size for home and school use!

The perfect series for kids who loved THE LEMONADE WAR series and are ready for more mysteries!"With wit, cunning, snappy dialogue and superior math skills, The Red Blazer Girls represent the best of girl-detectives while still feeling relatable and real. Nancy Drew would be right at home with this group." -- Huffington Post's 15 Greatest Kid Detectives ListSophie, Margaret, Becca, and Leigh Ann are back in an all-new Red Blazer Girls caper. In the third installment, Sophie is nose to fist with her arch-rival, Livvy, all while taking care of movie-star Nate Etan's dog, when Father Julian hires the Blazers to help him authenticate a painting. Mayhem and mystery follows as the girls attempt to uncover the truth. Oh, and, uh, Sophie's friend-who-is-not-a-boyfriend, Raf, is back. . . . Michael Beil, a New York City high school English teacher and life-long mystery fan, delivers a middle-grade caper that's perfect for middle-grade readers who have finished THE LEMONADE WAR series and are ready for more advanced mysteries!

The Shadow demon nearly took everything from Dyna, and it would soon return for more. When she discovers a way to fight back, she must go on a perilous journey and risk it all for those she holds dear.Along the way, she meets Cassiel, a Celestial Prince with magic blood and wings as black as his heart. He wants nothing to do with Dyna until he learns she could lead him to a place he has been searching for all his life.But reaching their destination is not as easy as they thought, nor are they the only ones who search for it. With danger at every turn and harrowing secrets between them, the quest will require much more than determination. They must fight for what they desire-or die trying.

The perfect series for kids who loved THE LEMONADE WAR series and are ready for more mysteries!"With wit, cunning, snappy dialogue and superior math skills, The Red Blazer Girls represent the best of girl-detectives while still feeling relatable and real. Nancy Drew would be right at home with this group." -- Huffington Post's 15 Greatest Kid Detectives ListWhen there are mysteries to be solved, the Red Blazer Girls are on the case! The discovery of the Ring of Rocamadour has secured the girls' reputation as Upper East Side super-sleuths, bringing many sundry job requests (no mystery too small, right?) and some unwanted attention from crooks. This time the girls must follow a trail of cryptic clues, involving everything from logic to literature, to trace a rare violin gone missing. But nothing is as it appears, and just as a solution seems imminent, the girls find themselves scrambling to save the man who was once their prime suspect.Bowstrings and betrayal, crushes and codes abound in this suspenseful companion to the Red Blazer Girls' 2009 debut. Michael Beil, a New York City high school English teacher and life-long mystery fan, delivers a middle-grade caper that's perfect for middle-grade readers who have finished THE LEMONADE WAR series and are ready for more advanced mysteries!

Katelyn Wolfraum, a German expat, had been working as a field agent for MI-6, until an unfortunate incident just before the war, involving a member of the British Royal Family, left her persona non grata with the authorities.Fast forward to 1941, in the depths of World War II. Kat is now working incognito as a German translator for the British 7th Armored Divison (Desert Rats) in North Africa.With Field-Marshall Rommel tearing across the terrain in a blitzkrieg, she finds herself trapped deep behind enemy lines along with a band of British soldiers. When they discover evidence of a Nazi super-weapon about to be deployed, Kat and her colleagues decide to take the fight to the enemy and sabotage the Third Reich's plans.

The cofounder of Microsoft, Bill Gates helped transform society by ushering in the era of ubiquitous personal computing. This book examines the life and achievements of this standout American inventor and philanthropist.Bill Gates has been instrumental in creating and developing the home computing era that has thoroughly transformed nearly every aspect of our lives, from work to commerce to communication. Stepping down as CEO of Microsoft in 2000 after 25 years at the helm, he remained as chairman, a position he still holds.This book paints a vivid picture of Bill Gates that covers his early life and his years as an inquisitive and adventurous student to his experiences as a budding entrepreneur and billionaire philanthropist who has often been listed among the richest individuals in the world. Author Michael Becraft presents complete information on how Microsoft evolved, from the company's inception until Gates's departure from active leadership; documents the economic, ethical, financial, legal, management, and leadership applications inherent in Gates's work; and examines the criticism that Gates's actions and decisions have drawn throughout his career.• Provides a balanced and unbiased account of Bill Gates that includes his own writings as well as criticisms of Gates's management style that allows readers to reach their own conclusions• Documents Gates's philanthropic activities and commitment to dispersing some of his accumulated wealth to help those in need worldwide• Includes images, timelines, and charts and graphs that enrich the reading experience as well as an extensive bibliography that provides researchers with easy access to original source documents

So you think you're smarter than a fifth grader? Well, as many contestants have already discovered on the smash hit TV show hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, you may have either forgotten more than you realize about "the three R's" or simply never learned in the first place! How much do you really know about third grade math? Fourth grade social studies? Fifth grade science? First grade spelling?You may have a high school diploma or a college degree hanging on your wall, but are you smarter than a fifth grader? You'll find out in this book, which includes brain-teasing ten-question quizzes (including million-dollar bonus questions) on information the average eleven-year-old is expected to know—plus there are great bits of fun and fascinating trivia sprinkled throughout. Go ahead—we dare you to prove you're as bright as that gum-chewing kid with the backpack who's waiting on the corner for that yellow bus every morning. School is back in session. And maybe you'll even learn a thing or two that you missed by not paying attention the first time around.