**Best Books of August ~ Apple Books**

“Coauthors Steve Berry and M.J. Rose take lots of hairpin turns, making for an intense, suspenseful, and action-packed read. The Lake of Learning is the kind of page-turner that makes you crave a big bowl of popcorn—we just wanted it to keep on going.” ~ Apple Books

For over a decade Cassiopeia Vitt has been building an authentic French castle, using only materials and techniques from the 13th century. But when a treasure is unearthed at the construction site—an ancient Book of Hours—a multitude of questions are raised, all pointing to an ancient and forgotten religious sect.

Once the Cathars existed all across southern France, challenging Rome and attracting the faithful by the tens of thousands. Eventually, in 1208, the Pope declared them heretics and ordered a crusade—the first where Christians killed Christians—and thousands were slaughtered, the Cathars all but exterminated. Now a piece of that past has re-emerged, one that holds the key to the hiding place of the most precious object the Cathars possessed. And when more than one person becomes interested in that secret, in particular a thief and a billionaire, the race is on.

From the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, to the crest of mysterious Montségur, to a forgotten cavern beneath the Pyrenees, Cassiopeia is drawn deeper and deeper into a civil war between two people obsessed with revenge and murder.

A deep secret that only one man knew … until the whole world found out. Richard Halliburton, the world famous travel writer and explorer in the early 1920s and 30s, embarked on a journey to explore the world. But he found much more than he ever imagined—and far more than he ever told. Following the end of World War I, the German Reichswehr set out on an ambitious—and unconventional—expedition to rebuild the military’s war chest beyond the auspices of the restrictive Treaty of Versailles. But when U.S. Army intelligence got wind of what the Reichswehr was doing, action was required. And Richard Halliburton was the man drafted into service. Join Halliburton on this pulse-pounding adventure in his race to stop the Germans from uncovering one of the greatest artifacts—and secrets—in Egyptian history. If you love the Indiana Jones franchise, Clive Cussler, or Dan Brown, you’re sure to enjoy this new series from Garrett Drake.

A rancher and three ex-Texas Rangers embark on a dangerous cattle drive through the wilderness in this action-packed Western adventure."Lovers of Louis L'Amour-type Westerns will welcome [this] series." —Nashville BannerThe only riches Texans had left after the Civil War were five million maverick longhorns and the brains, brawn and boldness to drive them north to where the money was. Now, Ralph Compton brings this violent and magnificent time to life in an extraordinary epic series based on the history-blazing trail drives . . .Former Texas Rangers Benton McCaleb, Will Elliot and Brazos Gifford ride with Charles Goodnight as he rounds up thousands of ornery, unbranded cattle for the long drive to Colorado. From the Trinity River brakes to Denver, they'll battle endless miles of flooded rivers, parched desert, and whiskey-crazed Comanches. And come face-to-face with Judge Roy Bean and legendary gunslingers like Clay Allison.For big, brawling McCaleb and his hard-riding crew, the drive is a fierce struggle against the perils of an untamed land. A fight to the finish the brave reach glory . . . or die hard.

“James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"FROM USA TODAY & MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR J. ROBERT KENNEDYALL WHO DISTURB THE TOMB OF IMHOTEP ARE DOOMED TO DIE.AND PROFESSOR JAMES ACTON HAS JUST DISCOVERED ITS LOCATION.Djoser, Pharaoh of Egypt, has set his eyes on his next conquest.Imhotep’s youngest sister.Imhotep, respected physician and architect, trusted advisor to Djoser, is placed in an impossible position—turn a blind eye, condemning his sister’s future, or lose everything by intervening.Unfortunately, the gods offer him a third, more terrifying choice.And almost 5000 years later, Professors James Acton and Laura Palmer pay the price when they dare disturb the final, cursed resting place of Imhotep.In The Curse of Imhotep, award-winning USA Today and million-copy bestselling author J. Robert Kennedy delivers a riveting thriller that will have you burning through the pages late into the night. If you enjoy fast-paced adventures in the style of Dan Brown, Clive Cussler, and James Rollins, then you'll love this thrilling tale of archaeological intrigue.Get your copy of The Curse of Imhotep today, and see if James Acton and those he loves can survive the deadly curse…About the James Acton Thrillers:????? "James Acton: A little bit of Jack Bauer and Indiana Jones!"Though this book is part of the James Acton Thrillers series, it is written as a standalone novel and can be enjoyed without having read any other installments.????? “Non-stop action that is impossible to put down.”The James Acton Thrillers series and its spin-offs, the Dylan Kane Thrillers, the Delta Force Unleashed Thrillers, and the Just Jack Thrillers span over 60 novels and have sold over one million copies. If you love non-stop action and intrigue with a healthy dose of humor, try James Acton today!????? “A great blend of history and current headlines.”

Spur Award–Winning Author: The thrilling conclusion of "a series that brings to mind L'Amour's multi-generational Sackett Family saga" (Booklist).In the mid 1830s, a steady flow of American pioneers into Mexican Texas has sown the seeds of revolution. In the midst of the turmoil are the Lewis brothers—Andrew, Michael, and James—scions of Mordecai Lewis, who crossed the Sabine River into Texas a decade past.Now the news along the frontier is of a young general, a self-styled "Napoleon of the West" named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who wants to stamp out any gringo talk of independence from Mexico and oust the American interlopers from Texas. Standing in opposition to Santa Anna is the former governor of Tennessee and veteran of Andrew Jackson's Indian battles, Sam Houston, who is gathering a volunteer army to meet the Mexican forces.Against the heroic, bloody backdrop of the Texas War of Independence—the battles of Gonzalez, San Antonio de Bexar, Goliad, the Alamo, and San Jacinto—the Lewis men and their families will join such rebels as Jim Bowie, James Fannin, Ben Milam, Juan Seguin, James Butler Bonham, William Barret Travis, and David Crockett, in wresting Texas from Mexican rule."Kelton has always been a masterful western storyteller of tales rich with historical detail, vivid characters and sharply defined plots. Here he concludes the Sons of Texas trilogy with the strongest entry [in] this superb saga of the Lone Star State." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Back in his day, Ethan Marston was the best of the best when it came to taking down the worst of the worst in Miami. Now though? Well, he's just a humble bar owner with a story to tell, a girl to save, and a few drinks to make... or is he?