Unintentional Pirate
Amelia's cruising for a bruising, but at least her bucket list will be shorter!She never expected winning a free cruise would start a cascade of events that completely alter the Moriarty Mafia's future. From making a splash at a gala, almost starting a mafia war, and unintentionally becoming a pirate, Amelia's life has no chill. She's going to have to use all her charm and wits to clear her name, but an unexpected development causes her alpha males to go into berserker mode. Will Amelia prove to be the Moriarty Mafia's salvation or their downfall?
Dregs II
Following hot on the heels of the magnificent "Dregs - The First Batch", comes a new phenomenon."Dregs II - The Aftertaste". Just when you thought it was safe to pick up an anthology again, here something very disturbing indeed.Yes, it's true! Dregs is back; and this time it is wearing shoes.As before, you will find poetry, short stories, angst, and thoughts about frost-bitten buttocks.Everything you need to read, but nothing you want to think about.Give it another go.You know you want to.
Manic Sonata Movement II
Love is Always Sane. Gaius Mahler is coming down from his most recent manic episode after finding the love of his life, Lenore, in an insane asylum, yet depression lurks around every corner as his well-medicated mind is startling to comprehend the impossibility of being in love with someone crazier than him. Further complicating his efforts to free his lady fair from the men in white coats are the Armenian mafia who have their own reasons for keeping Gaius away from Lenore, a harpsichord tutor who incomprehensibly enjoys the music of Ottorino Respighi, his brain's insistence on providing incredibly lucid hallucinations, and the author of his story, who keeps inexplicably breaking the fourth wall. As Gaius discovers, there is nothing like the fear of death to put an end to suicidal tendencies, nothing worse than reality in the face of hallucinations, and when dealing with Armenian gangsters, it is best to have a healthy knowledge of Khachaturian.
Hokey Pokey
If you're lookin' for Hokey Pokey, you'll have to drive straight into the Buckle of the Bible Belt. Once you pass the old lightnin'-split willow oak that used to grow behind Poly Bryant's taxidermy shop on Route 111 (before he burned it down in a still fire), take the first right-hand exit, then an immediate left onto the gravel frontage road, and just keep on drivin' 'til the sheep start lookin' nervous. You can't miss it. Watch your step, though - it's a little dark in here. David VanDevelder will be happy to show you around, and to spin you the yarn of how a crew of misfits, through no fault of their own, found themselves in charge of an adult toy store in a tin shed beside the highway on the outskirts of Kochville, TN, a loose-knit but closely situated community of traditional mountain folk known widely amongst itself as both impeccably moral and strictly genteel. In his novel, Hokey Pokey, VanDevelder tells a story that's as authentic and emotionally charged as a tweaker sprinting half-naked through the middle of a country revival - and by the end, you may have to rethink everything you ever thought you really knew about biscuits and gravy.
The Adventures of Dan Lewis and Clark Hamilton
This is the story of two young entertainers - one a singer, the other a ventriloquist and comedian a singer and a comic. One July Fourth, a New York TV Producer and her husband visited the resort where the duo was working, saw their act and invited them to appear on a TV show. The appearance was such a success, the duo found themselves doing TV and working in New York, Las Vegas and Hollywood. All was well, except for Dan. Something was missing from his life. Until one day...
The Vow
Can something that exists merely as a literary text, say a story, come about in real life? Can reality, to put it another way, steal something from literature, the same way literature steals from reality? Such is the question that Libor Hrach, the author of The Adventures of the Wise Badger, fields one evening over a hedonistic supper in a tony Brno restaurant from Kamil Modr獺ček, himself a burrowing animal of sorts, in Jiř穩 Kratochvil's novel The Vow.'Quite simply, I said, everything that has been written either has already happened, or is about to. You write a story, and you can never be sure if what you're writing isn't actually taking place two streets away from where you sit...' If this does not send chills down the spine of the reader of The Vow, they have got a high tolerance for the creepy.Set in 1950s Brno, at the height of Gottwald's Stalinist reshaping of Czechoslovakia into a Communist prison, and partially in today's independent Czech Republic, Kratochvil, alternating between the dry Czech humour of Jaroslav Hasek and the uncanny, chilling otherworldliness of Edgar Allan Poe, takes the reader on a journey such as they have never been on before: to geographic areas in the beautiful Moravian city where no foot has set since the Middle Ages, and... places deep inside all of us, where most of us would rather never venture...
What's Mine
"What's Mine is a surprising and deep work with a persistent quiet momentum carrying the reader back-and-forth in times and spaces across the slivers of four interlocking lives. It is totally engaging." --Brian Eno, musician, artist, activist354 Rooseveltlaan, Amsterdam. It's Saturday afternoon and Luis Sol is hauling his brand-new smart fridge up the stairs. A self-described "visual" person, Luis has filled his white-carpeted apartment with clean beautiful things: a glass table, a white couch, marble countertops, workout equipment. He can afford to on his meager bagel shop salary thanks to inheriting his mother's city apartment. This is his home--a refuge from a confusing and intimidating world. Professor William Rose is an Oxford intellectual. He's visiting Amsterdam to learn where he came from with the aid of an old letter which may prove Edward Hond, the renowned Dutch philanthropist, is his biological father. Following the letter's address, he finds himself looking up into the lit windows of a small, one-bedroom apartment... only to see Luis. His choice to knock on the door, and Luis's choice to let him in, will unravel each of their pasts, dismantling their lives as fifty square meters of meticulously decorated space becomes a territorial battleground. What's Mine is Bette Adriaanse's humorous and heartbreaking tale of two men who refuse to share. Luis and William's conflicting world views, not to mention living habits, will test the limits of their sanity as well as those around them. A nosy neighbor, a philosophical cleaning lady, a maritime space lawyer, and the old park gardener will all begin to seek the answer to one critical question: Can what's mine be yours too?
Spike Unleashed
Our English Bull Terrier hero and his master Bud continue their hilarious antics in this latest installment of Spike the Wonder Dog's adventures. This laugh-out-loud novel, with its interwoven and inventive plotlines, could be called Game of Bones. In the midst of being ensnared in a devious revenge plot, Spike the Wonder Dog manages to unleash his celebrated brand of absurdist humor, shrewd social commentary, and certifiably funny grievances at human shortcomings, while romping through all manner of sexy scenarios in the rich and famous playgrounds of Palm Beach, Manhattan, and East Hampton. Spike and the wacky but deeply developed characters he encounters will definitely tickle your funny bone as he and his talk show host owner Bud dig up some brilliant twists on popular culture scenarios, celebrities, and behind-the-scenes action in the world of entertainment.
Death At The Excelsior and Other Stories
P. G. Wodehouse wrote a short story titled "Death at the Excelsior". A group of visitors had gathered at the Excelsior Hotel for a weekend stay, where the narrative is set. Mr. Peter, one of the visitors, is found dead in his room, reportedly from a heart attack. The hotel manager, though, is skeptical and starts to look into it. As the manager questions the other visitors, he learns that Willard had a significant amount of money with him that has vanished. He starts to believe that Willard was killed, and with the aid of another visitor, he embarks on an investigation to find the killer. The manager and his ally find a succession of evidence as the inquiry goes on that lead them to suspect numerous of the other visitors. In the end, the real offender is identified, and justice is done. The story is typical of Wodehouse's smart and amusing style, with intriguing characters and a clever plot. The narrative is lively and pleasant despite its rather gruesome subject matter, and it showcases Wodehouse's skills as a master of the short story form.
The Bedtime Story-Books-The Adventures Of Unc' Billy Possum
"The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum" is a children's book written by Thornton W. Burgess, first published in 1914. The story follows the adventures of a possum named Unc' Billy, who is known for his love of sweet things, his craftiness, and his ability to play dead when necessary. The book is set in the Green Forest, where Unc' Billy lives with his wife and children. One day, while out looking for something sweet to eat, he is caught by Farmer Brown's boy and placed in a cage. With the help of his friends, including Jimmy Skunk, Sammy Jay, and Peter Rabbit, Unc' Billy must use his wits to escape and make his way back home. Along the way, the characters encounter a variety of other forest animals, including Reddy Fox, Bobby Coon, and Granny Fox. They work together to outsmart their enemies and ensure that Unc' Billy makes it back to his family safely. "The Adventures of Unc' Billy Possum" is a classic children's book that teaches valuable lessons about friendship, resourcefulness, and perseverance. It is also a celebration of the natural world and the importance of living in harmony with the creatures around us.
The King Of Scanlon's Rock
Ageing Rock God, Jim Sullivan, is heading for the quiet life on his newly acquired, tiny island, off the coast of Cornwall.That is until he sends a letter to the queen, announcing his intent to declare independence from the UK and appointing himself king.Determined not to cede one inch of British territory, the UK government despatches low-level Foreign Office researcher, John Cabot, to put a stop to Sullivan's ambitions.What they didn't anticipate was Cabot's tenacity for unearthing information they'd rather he didn't, or Sullivan's relentless, but completely unfounded, optimism in his own ideas.Armed with nothing more than a guitar and a spreadsheet, can these two stand up to the might of the British Empire?No contest.
Dancing to Mozart
The culture is out of control, everyone knows it, and Dancing to Mozart is an imaginative satire that will appeal to readers who sense that the best way to deal with the situation is to have a good laugh at its expense. Personal relationships, silly behavior, Hollywood movies, extremes in politics and religion-eccentric characters and other wacky stuff offer the reader a good deal of amusement in colorful worldwide settings that include Europe, Africa, Asia, and New York City. Of course, there is a plot to the story, and it carries the reader along to the final and sensible ending, where all is resolved and the characters come to a common sense view of themselves and the world around them.
The Secret History of my Sojourn in Russia
Jaroslav Hasek (1883-1923) is known by readers around the world as the author of The Good Soldier Svejk, one of the greatest comic novels of all time. Not all of his fans are aware of his six year anabasis in Russia, however, which began with his capture on the front lines of Galicia during the First World War. The Secret History of My Sojourn in Russia, translated by Charles S. Kraszewski, brings that fascinating period in Hasek's life to the attention of the English reader. Comprised of fifty-two short stories and other writings from Hasek's stay in Sovietising Russia, The Secret History collects the Bugulma stories, in which Hasek trains his satirical eye on the infant communist utopia, as well as non-fiction works by Hasek, who played a not insignificant role in the progress of the Soviet Revolution in Siberia, before his return to his native Czechoslovakia in the early 1920s. These include propagandistic pamphlets and newspaper articles, letters, and official scripts dating from his agitation as a communist operative among Austro-Hungarian citizens stranded in the Soviet Union, all of which provide a fascinating context for his good-humoured fiction, which rivals his great novel in rollicking fun.
The Secret History of my Sojourn in Russia
Jaroslav Hasek (1883-1923) is known by readers around the world as the author of The Good Soldier Svejk, one of the greatest comic novels of all time. Not all of his fans are aware of his six year anabasis in Russia, however, which began with his capture on the front lines of Galicia during the First World War. The Secret History of My Sojourn in Russia, translated by Charles S. Kraszewski, brings that fascinating period in Hasek's life to the attention of the English reader. Comprised of fifty-two short stories and other writings from Hasek's stay in Sovietising Russia, The Secret History collects the Bugulma stories, in which Hasek trains his satirical eye on the infant communist utopia, as well as non-fiction works by Hasek, who played a not insignificant role in the progress of the Soviet Revolution in Siberia, before his return to his native Czechoslovakia in the early 1920s. These include propagandistic pamphlets and newspaper articles, letters, and official scripts dating from his agitation as a communist operative among Austro-Hungarian citizens stranded in the Soviet Union, all of which provide a fascinating context for his good-humoured fiction, which rivals his great novel in rollicking fun.
The Duke of D.C.
In this comic parody, Ray Almaviva is minding his own business when the FBI wrongly accuses him of fomenting insurrection. Before they can nab him, he and Ilsa Guilford-Schlitz, an avid researcher, are zapped back to the year 1776, when they help Ray's madcap ancestor, Don Raimondo, hijack the Spanish Treasure Fleet and supply the gold that helps America win the Revolutionary War. The grateful Founders confer upon him the title of Duke and deed him the Duchy of Almaviva on the north bank of the Potomac River. When the three are zapped back to the twenty-first century, the FBI scoops Ray up. Ilsa and Don Raimondo swing into action and rescue Ray by proving his legal and long-forgotten rights to all the land on which the District of Columbia now sits. It's a standoff! Ray and his growing number of populist friends and foreign allies defy the mighty forces of a Federal Government gone rogue. Can the world once more be turned upside down? Can there again be a new birth of freedom? And can love still really come to two patriots in such trying times?
Letters From Wheatfield
Letters From Wheatfield - Second Edition. All the original stories plus twenty new zany reports on life in Wheatfield, Montana. What do you do for fun if you live in a small town, dauntingly far from the nearest city's amusements? Upon what resources do you draw to spice up your existence? "Letters From Wheatfield" provides the answer-and it isn't always pretty. In this new edition, cousin Amelia's book on Wheatfield has been published under the title, "Little Nut House on the Prairie," and the folks love it. They can't wait for it to be made into a movie, and ranger Ned wants Brad Pitt to play him. But the fame does not go to their heads. They keep right on being as colorful as ever, and providing plenty of new material for Amelia's sequel. Now you can enjoy the entire "Letters From Wheatfield" collection of stories in one volume.
Up Dinc-Bottom
In this highly original and hilarious first novel by Mark Hubbard, the peace and tranquility of the DincValley in the Southwest of England is shattered when Dinctum Village Youth Club crosses swords witha primary school head, hell-bent on shutting them down.Used to getting her own way, Agnes Braintree has suffered abuse and humiliation throughout herteaching career, and the time has come for her to take some action. Prompted by a very publicdisplay of cheek from a junior youth club member, out of his tiny little mind on vodka, Agnes sets outto force the club's closure using any means she can. However, senior club members prove to be morethan a match, coming up with a cunning plan to bring about her downfall. After a promising start, events spiral out of control until the armed forces must be deployed to restore peace. Cars are set on fire; a house is blown to smithereens, ferrets are raced, cows sing, missiles are launched, and a frog croaks.Featuring a cast of eccentric landowners, doddering members of parliament, and a doctor whobuilds rockets flown by hamsters, this laugh-out-loud, action-packed fiction culminates in a showdown with explosive consequences.
An Inspector Calls
Charlie Horse has very set ideas of just how his pub should be run. No food (apart from crisps and nuts) and very definite ideas about what kind of customers are welcome in his hostelry. Unbeknown to Charlie however, there is something very odd indeed going on in "The Bucket and Shovel", and for just this once, Charlie is going to be the last person to find out. Because very shortly, an inspector is going to call...Please note this is a short story and is quite difficult to categorise - there are slight elements of fantasy (although it has a contemporary setting) as well as a smattering of mystery, and also is intended to have a slight Pratchettesque feeling to it. This short story is also available in the "Paul McCartney's Coat and Other Stories" collection, along with nine other tales, and is available to purchase separately.
The Un-circle of Life
In this comedy, a rebel, siren, spy, musician, scientist, and capitalist discuss the mysteries of life. Intriguing banter and humorous ripostes reveal the characters are far from normal. Proposals and counter-proposals spiral out of control in a deeply emotional battle to survive beyond the familiar circle of life. .
The Last Will Of Sven Andersen
When Harry Spittle, nearly qualified as a solicitor, is approached to write a Will for old acquaintance Sven Andersen, he is somewhat surprised but rather pleased. That pleasure sours after he finds that the Will Sven actually signs is very different to the one he has drawn up, with Harry as the executor. Disappointment turns to horror when he discovers that Sven has been winding up his late father's criminal empire and a number of not very nice people are interested in the Will's contents.If he is to remain in one piece, able to continue his career in the law and save his on-off relationship with his girlfriend Penny, who is unfortunately under suspicion of murder, he needs to find out what's happened to the money and distribute it according to Sven's wishes. The trouble is Sven has not only hidden the assets but also the identities of those who benefit. Harry will have to solve a fiendish puzzle Sven has left behind with the help of his sister Dina before his world comes crashing down. With so many people depending on him, Harry knows it's time for him to grow up - it's just that he really, really doesn't want to.Set in 1981 to the backdrop of punk, Thatcherite politics and an upcoming Royal wedding, this is a book for those who like their nostalgia served with a side of humour and a dash of optimism all wrapped up in a compelling mystery.
Firebrand
NO ONE is their authentic self at work Currant Keppler has a fresh MBA and her first corporate job: participating in the LATTE Management Rotation Program at Alpine Chalet Coffee Company, the Midwest's second-largest coffee chain. She's fluent in jargon, excited for new challenges, and completely bought in-until she realizes that there's something fishy with her first project. I'm in the big leagues now, she tells herself. This is just how the game is played. But when a question of ethics turns into a question of murder, she learns that some people will do anything to succeed - and that NO ONE is their authentic self at work.
The O'Maras Go Greek
This summer, Dublin's O'Mara clan are embarking on a family holiday of a lifetime when they travel to the stunning Santorini in the Greek Islands for a destination wedding. Patrick O'Mara is about to marry Cindy, the woman of his dreams, and his family is determined to support him, even if it means stepping out of their comfort zone. However, Mammy O'Mara, can't help but feel uneasy about the barefoot on the beach wedding her son has planned. As the family sets off on their holiday, they'll discover that it's not all about the wedding and that the destination holds secrets of its own.If you loved the heartwarming family drama of feel-good films like Mamma Mia!, then you will enjoy Patrick, Cindy and the O'Mara clan's wedding adventure in Santorini.
Somewhere, Idaho
In the essay collection "Somewhere, Idaho," former journalist Ralph Bartholdt colorfully documents adventures in Idaho's backcountry, taking readers on an all-seasons tour to quiet hideouts, podunk taverns and secluded streams.In a literary, journalistic style and with dry humor, Bartholdt describes the wild landscapes and people of Idaho's Panhandle and Snake River country encountered while he hunts birds and big game, casts flies and ponders the importance of old boots, a gun, or a whitefish run."Everyone wants an empty road to a fishing destination. It's more than a nudge. In a world of digital grit like tallow on our tongues, it has become a necessity that says odds don't matter, only the roar of the water matters and the cold heft of sky in a day stunted by time," Bartholdt writes in the essay, "Big River, Empty Roads."Bartholdt worked as a journalist in Montana and Idaho and was field editor for the Idaho Outdoor Journal.
Truly Grim Tales
Once upon today, there is a collection of short fables which explore this wondrous world we share in a whole new way. Twenty-four tales... all conjured to delight and enchant you. Includes these oft-requested favorites: The Horrible Giant; The House Mouse And The Laboratory Rat, The Woodsman And The Princess, The Great Pretender; The Ice Princess; and the near-classic How The Skunk Got His Stripes.
Violent Solutions to Popular Problems
Extracted from the maw of a resting shrew, these ten cankers reek of huff and qualm. A librarian teams up with a weeping bus-dweller to suppress a talentless writer. A man attempts a perfect equilibrium of pain and pleasure to forge a life of matchless keel. A triumvirate of Dans spiral into oblivion with operatic panache. Two sub-people struggle for ascension to the normal realm in a heckish caste system. Various narked sods explain the violent solutions to their popular problems in a tale that Butch Vig might call "titular". Someone explains the complex sociological web of mayhem that is the modern coffeehouse. Postmodernism makes a shocking return in a classic postmodern tale about postmodernism shaking its postmodern bahookie. In future Texas, women attempting abortions are held captive and forced to whelp at gunpoint. And in a finale one Dutch arborist has called "a botched stew", the world's unwritten characters mingle in a bardo where their untold stories flex and throb in painful collocation. For the first time in his life, the unacclaimed novelist M.J. Nicholls has written a collection of prose fit for hexagonal man.
In the Hollow Lotos Land
When James Knowlton, Associate Professor of English at a small Maritimes university, is denied a well-deserved promotion by his surly Dean, he spins a plot for revenge that makes today's election hackers and dirty-tricks operators look like rank amateurs.Retired UPEI professor T. K. Pratt, who chaired both an English department and a search committee for president, knows the outrageous world of university politics from the inside. You will never look at your alma mater in the same way again.Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia judges lavished praise on IN THE HOLLOW LOTOS LAND when they awarded an earlier version the H. R. Percy Prize for an unpublished novel in the 2004 Atlantic Writing Competition: "A beautifully executed piece of satire with all the wit and hilarity of Lucky Jim. The humour is perfect-pitch, laugh-out-loud funny at times.""An engrossing novel in the vein of Richard Russo's Straight Man, well written, expertly managed, and eminently publishable."
In the Hollow Lotos Land
When James Knowlton, Associate Professor of English at a small Maritimes university, is denied a well-deserved promotion by his surly Dean, he spins a plot for revenge that makes today's election hackers and dirty-tricks operators look like rank amateurs.Retired UPEI professor T. K. Pratt, who chaired both an English department and a search committee for president, knows the outrageous world of university politics from the inside. You will never look at your alma mater in the same way again.Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia judges lavished praise on IN THE HOLLOW LOTOS LAND when they awarded an earlier version the H. R. Percy Prize for an unpublished novel in the 2004 Atlantic Writing Competition: "A beautifully executed piece of satire with all the wit and hilarity of Lucky Jim. The humour is perfect-pitch, laugh-out-loud funny at times.""An engrossing novel in the vein of Richard Russo's Straight Man, well written, expertly managed, and eminently publishable."
Friggin' Candy
So freaking sweet, I'll give you diabetes.On the road. On the run. Back to life exactly the way I like it. We may have a few tag-alongs, but for Angus and I, it's just like old times. For the most part anyway - as long as I can keep the strange sinking feeling threatening to drag me under at bay. I used to know exactly who I was, what I stood for. Yet a recent betrayal has forced me to question everything.The Monarchs told me their pretty lies and tricked me with their gorgeous bodies. They took the trust I wasn't willing to give and shattered it into pieces. I made a vow once to teach these bullies a lesson, but instead it's me who has learnt the hard way deceit can't be washed away with merely a stick of gum. It'll take a deep-rooted thirst for vengeance and sweet justice from the Candy Crusher to right the wrongs dealt onto me. But that's not up to me to pursue. If the Monarchs want me, they'll have to catch me, and then I'll make them sorry they ever did.Trigger Warning: This is book three of the I Love Candy series, featuring a feisty female lead. Candy is spontaneous, impulsive and reckless, which makes this book inappropriate for under 18's. She gives as good as she gets, causing chaos and leaves you wondering who is bullying who! Expect excessive amounts of steam, violence and cursing throughout. This book concludes the RH trilogy with a HEA!
Less Is Lost
In the follow-up to the "bedazzling, bewitching, and be-wonderful" (New York Times​) best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning Less: A Novel, the awkward and lovable Arthur Less returns in an unforgettable road trip across America. "Go get lost somewhere, it always does you good." For Arthur Less, life is going surprisingly well: he is a moderately accomplished novelist in a steady relationship with his partner, Freddy Pelu. But nothing lasts: the death of an old lover and a sudden financial crisis has Less running away from his problems yet again as he accepts a series of literary gigs that send him on a zigzagging adventure across the US. Less roves across the "Mild Mild West," through the South and to his mid-Atlantic birthplace, with an ever-changing posse of writerly characters and his trusty duo - a human-like black pug, Dolly, and a rusty camper van nicknamed Rosina. He grows a handlebar mustache, ditches his signature gray suit, and disguises himself in the bolero-and-cowboy-hat costume of a true "Unitedstatesian"... with varying levels of success, as he continues to be mistaken for either a Dutchman, the wrong writer, or, worst of all, a "bad gay." We cannot, however, escape ourselves--even across deserts, bayous, and coastlines. From his estranged father and strained relationship with Freddy, to the reckoning he experiences in confronting his privilege, Arthur Less must eventually face his personal demons. With all of the irrepressible wit and musicality that made Less a bestselling, Pulitzer Prize-winning, must-read breakout book, Less Is Lost is a profound and joyous novel about the enigma of life in America, the riddle of love, and the stories we tell along the way.
The Garden by the Sea
'What a wonderful escape to perfect Cornwall...truly magical! More please!' Faith Hogan #1 eBook bestseller A heartwarming standalone novel of new beginnings, love and finding your community when you need them the most... A precious heirloom passed down from mother to daughter... Lowena Rowe's beloved mum always claimed her family seed box was special. Said to contain soil from Tintagel, the mysterious seat of the legendary King Arthur, whomever made a wish upon the box would have 'a beautiful garden, bountiful crops and love of their fellow man'. Lowena isn't inclined to believe the myth but can't part with the box, knowing how much it meant to her mum. Starting over with a new home and a new job in the Cornish village of St Merryn, Lowena can't help feeling lost and alone... but she isn't the only one. Now, as a community of misfits finds solace and friendship in the shade of her growing garden, she realises there might have been truth to the mythical box after all, and she may just be growing the life and love she's always wanted... Readers are loving The Garden by the Sea: 'What a lovely book! Makes you feel all warm inside & that the world is actually a good place!' Christine 'A magical read, one of my favourite reads of the year... Cosy yet exciting' Angela 'A heartwarming story of new beginnings and community spirit' Meena 'A beautiful, feel good story full of characters you'll love and more happy endings than you can shake a stick at' Anne 'What a beautiful read...Great writing and fantastic characters' Barbara 'A heartwarming and thoroughly engrossing read...this book is a real gem' Lois 'Amanda has such a way with words... so descriptive you could really imagine yourself there - especially sitting on the bench watching the sea' Carol 'Lovely story set in Cornwall with a hint of magic' Joanne 'A truly special story' Mary 'I have only recently discovered this author and am so pleased that I have as I love that Amanda James writes books from the heart about real people and real issues' Helen
The Forgotten Beach
Don't miss this chance to escape to stunning Cornwall for a heartwarming new standalone novel about secrets and second chances They say a single moment can change your life... For Cornish artist Sennen Kellow that moment comes with the discovery of her late gran's epic love story - a story that happened years before she ever met Sennen's grandfather. Now, as Sennen digs into her grandmother's past and discovers a forgotten beach, a hidden poem, and a love that blazed brightly before Fate intervened, her search for answers leads her on a fated journey of her own. One which sees history repeating itself, and Sennen faced with a chance at the kind of once-in-a-lifetime love her gran experienced...but only if she's willing to risk everything. Readers LOVE The Forgotten Beach: 'A true love story...curl up in a comfy chair and be transported by this talented author' Brenda 'A beautiful love story that spans generations...I loved how the old house slowly got renovated and came back to life plus I could picture the steps down to the private beach with the cave' Muriel 'Complex characters, with a simple love story and a heartstopping final arc but the ending we all wanted!' Ritu 'The author does a wonderful job of describing the beauty of Cornwall ... a good beach read' Sarah 'Perfect escapism and I read it in almost one sitting...so much more than just a romance' Helen 'A heartwarming love story...My eyes were a bit teary at the end' Anne 'I have always been an avid fan of Amanda James, a truly talented author who strives to write a beautiful story for others to enjoy time after time' Joan 'Delightful story with the past gently woven into the present....a joy to read' Judy
The Wedding Crasher
One reluctant photographer. One high society wedding. And a whole lot of chaos. 'Abigail Mann is at her absolute best . . . she skillfully uses comedy alongside other more serious topics'Holly McCulloch 'Packed with humour . . . wonderfully brilliant characters' Hannah Tovey 'Great fun, genuinely laugh out loud and a gorgeous celebration of friendship' Emily Kerr 'Wise, witty and utterly unputdownable . . . the perfect romcom' Kitty Wilson 'Queen of the romantic comedy' Lauren Forsythe 'Packed with wonderful characters, gorgeous friendships, a glamourous setting and a whole lot of hilarity. An absolute joy!' Kate G. Smith *** Poppy got married young. Too young in fact, and she put her dreams aside for love. Fast-forward eight years(ish) and now it's time to reclaim her life and first love - photography. What better way to celebrate her new-found freedom than a blissful week alone on an island with just her camera for company. Until her best friend has a catastrophe with the high-profile wedding she's planning and begs Poppy to help. After all, she owes her. Poppy doesn't expect to recognise the groom as an old friend, nor for the bride to get cold feet but what's a wedding without a little drama. And as the wedding week - yes, week - gets underway, Poppy might find happiness again, just not in the way she expected. If you love Mhairi McFarlane, Marian Keyes and Beth O'Leary, you will love Abigail Mann. Readers love The Wedding Crasher 'Original, funny, clever . . . not your typical romcom' 'A tender story that will have you laughing one minute and I did shed a few tears' 'A fun escapist read' 'Delightful . . . the perfect [read] for people looking to fall back in love with their lives' 'The characters are delightful [and] the plot is fun' 'A fab, easy to read book' 'A great combination of escapism . . . highly recommend' 'A fast moving comedy romance for the modern age' 'Perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella or Anna Bell . . . plenty of romance and humour'
Rootie Kazootie
Richard's married to Caroline, but how long can he endure her constant chatter? When cool, calm Cynthia tempts Richard with sex, money, and peace and quiet, crazy Caroline goes on the warpath.Rootie Kazootie was a children's television show in the early 1950s. The show was broadcast live from New York City on Saturday mornings. Rootie also appeared in comic books and Little Golden Books during that period. In this novel, the title refers to a character who shares Rootie's personality.
28 Days Sassier
The last man on Earth.Bigfoot.Goblins.When humanity fled to another dimension, Jim Tiptree got left behind to deal with concrete-eating goblins.It's already a bummer... then Bigfoot shows up.A humorous post-apocalyptic tale about Bigfoot, goblins from Hopkinsville, and a man who just wants to open his canned pasta.
Say Hello to My Little Friend
Finalist for the Kirkus Prize Scarface meets Moby Dick in Say Hello to My Little Friend--"a masterclass in pace and precision...brilliant" (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, National Book Award Finalist of Chain Gang All Stars) about a young man's attempt to capitalize on his mother's murky legacy--a story steeped in Miami's marvelous and sinister magic. Failed Pitbull impersonator Ismael Reyes--you can call him Izzy--might not be the Scarface type, but why should that keep him from trying? Growing up in Miami has shaped him into someone who dreams of being the King of the 305, with the money, power, and respect he assumes comes with it. After finding himself at the mercy of a cease-and-desist letter from Pitbull's legal team and living in his aunt's garage, Izzy embarks on an absurd quest to turn himself into a modern-day Tony Montana. When Izzy's efforts lead him to the tank that houses Lolita, a captive orca at the Miami Seaquarium, she proves just how powerful she and the water surrounding her really are--permeating everything from Miami's sinking streets to Izzy's memories to the very heart of the novel itself. What begins as Izzy's story turns into a super-saturated fever dream as sprawling and surreal as the Magic City, one as sharp as an iguana's claws, and as menacing as a killer whale's teeth. As the truth surrounding Izzy's boyhood escape from Cuba surfaces, the novel reckons with the forces of nature, with the limits and absence of love, and with the dangers of pursuing a tragic inheritance. "Blistering, hilarious, [and] tragic" (The Miami Herald), Say Hello to My Little Friend is Jennine Cap籀 Crucet's most daring, heartbreaking, and fearless book yet.
Dodgy Dates and a Dinosaur
Single-parent and daydreamer Sophie steps back out into the crazy world of dating and finds that there really are plenty more fish in the sea, but none that she would really want to catch. A year later with her self-esteem at an all-time-low she shelves the plan, maybe her idea of a fairy-tale ending didn't need to include a prince after all. "A great debut""Brilliant book.... funny, intelligent and a must read- I couldn't put it down""A funny and entertaining read""Elizabeth Ball is a wonderful writer who knows how to keep the story flowing""Sophie is everything you would want in a chick-lit character- funny, prone to mishaps but loveable.... I missed her when I finished the book"
Convenient Beauty
Convenient Beauty(A Beauty Regency Novella, Book 3) NO ONE WOULD SAVE HIM NOW...Lord Cayden Knights, Fifth Earl of Caswell, resented attending social events, after suffering the loss of a dearest friend, enjoyments seem like a betrayal. His life became meaningless until one night, a beautiful dark-haired, insufferable, nuisance of a lady invaded his life, disturbing whatever plans he had to change his life. EXCEPT, A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS'Princess Rosemary Of Blackmane, needs to get married, ' were the words of her grandmother and those awful words had sent Rosemary in a whirlwind of never-ending social events, leaving no time to pursue her writing. But when she unexpectantly meets a young earl who seems to need help as well, only her brilliant ideas and quick wit may save them all. Don't miss the other books in the Beauty Regency Series Hidden Beauty(Book 1)Blind Beauty(Book 2)
"We Go Camping!"
"We go camping!", is not your typical camping holiday! Divorcee John is about to 'lose' his daughter when she announces she is going to live abroad with her mother. Morris, Eddie and Gary three unreliable mates, want to help John find alternative focus, and they decide a camping holiday is the perfect tonic. Theoretically, camping should be relatively easy to organise and execute, but four grown men demonstrate reality is something quite different. They provide a masterclass in lack of organisation, and creating bizarre situations. What follows is a catalogue of adventures and mishaps, involving an ambulance emergency, a hospital trip, a game involving manure, a bull, eviction, and a sea burial, to name but a few! Add to all of this, that one of the four has a secret no one could have foreseen, and also the merest hint of a holiday romance, and it's amazing what can be packed into a two week camping holiday.
Why Should You Doubt Me Now?
The Virgin Mary had made an untoward appearance in Dublin. Is she real? Is she a hoax? Mary Breasted's gift for poking fun where it hurts the most has produced an irreverent, irrepressible, unforgettable book. Ireland will never be the same. "Breasted's perfectly aimed dialogue and brisk action skewer the jumbled politics--sexual, religious and marital, in academia and the governing Dail--that shape life in modern Ireland." - Publishers Weekly
Last Gasp Motel
When retired maintenance man Frank Sinatra finds Darell Willows's body in the swimming pool of the Last Gasp Motel in Omnipodge, California, Frank must deal with the responding police officer making wisecracks about his name while trying to figure out what happened.Detective Duke Lambert arrives and quizzes Frank. Frank agrees to help the detective, whom he has worked with before. Suspects include the residents of the Last Gasp and the son and daughter-in-law of the unpopular victim.The aging residents are a quirky lot including chain-smoking manager Hedda Robinson; kleptomaniac Carolyn Bryant; "Accident" Al Utley, who causes traffic accidents and then collects money from the other drivers; dog-poop vigilante Pat Pope known as "Mr. Poop"; good Samaritan Mira Neighbors; potassium-obsessed, banana-chomping Banny Zamora; flower petal-scattering Gladys Terry; womanizer Caruthers Quinter; authority-avoiding Varenka; and conspiracy-theory nut Ethel Ogden. Each of the suspects argued recently with the deceased-and all of them have reasons to want him dead. The eccentric tenants must work together to solve the case before the city demolishes the place they call home and replaces it with a shopping mall-the race is on to find the killer and save the Last Gasp Motel!
Friends Don't
A heartfelt and hilarious romantic comedy, loosely inspired by While You Were Sleeping.As the oldest of three sisters, Poppy Kasper doesn't remember a time when she wasn't the glue holding her siblings-and their lives-together. So moving across the country to Cashmere Cove, the hometown of her new boyfriend, is completely out of character. Add in the fact that said boyfriend is leaving for a months-long pro-golf tour, and it's enough to make Poppy question her sanity. But it's fine. Everything's fine. She can still be a good sister from a distance, and she'll keep the spark in her relationship alive with calls, texts, and old fashioned love notes. See? Fine.Quiet and serious Mack Bradley is used to playing second fiddle to his famous younger brother, especially since his own reputation was ruined nearly a decade ago. He's made his peace with his circumstances, but when his brother begs him to show his new girlfriend the Cashmere Cove ropes, and then ups the ante with an even bigger request to stand in as her pen pal, Mack finds himself thrown into the path of the effervescent Poppy Kasper. She's his foil in every way...she also makes him feel things he's never felt before.A summer of pranks, late-night swims, and stargazing finds Poppy and Mack forging an unlikely friendship-one built on laughter and pushing each other to see life in a different light. But when Poppy's relationship with Mack's brother unravels, will she leave town? Or is there another reason for her to stay?After all, friends don't fall in love...do they?(Friends Don't is the first book in the Fall In Love series, which follows three sisters as they find love after moving across the country to the small town of Cashmere Cove, Wisconsin. This is a closed door romcom with plenty of sizzling chemistry and romantic tension, but no spice.)
Coffin Dodger
When your favorite actors aren't acting, they're dealing with ghost-snakes, giant crocodiles, spiders with human faces, and cults kidnapping them. One of these cults kidnaps a group of actors from a cult classic horror series. This cult forces the group to play a game where they have to face their biggest fears in order to gain eternal life. They don't even want eternal life. It's all pretty inconvenient.
Low Country Lamentations
A new novel by the author of Recondite Oblivion. "A striking, character-driven tale . . ." Kirkus Reviews When news of her long-lost brother's reappearance reaches Savannah D'Bergeolet, she begins a quest to uncover the many secrets that surround both him and their childhood in the South Carolina low country. For her, and her friends and family who are dragged into the ever-thickening plot, things will never be the same.
The Wisdom of Beasts and Boogeymen
"...punctuated by broad humor and a healthy sense of the absurd." KirkusThe thunderous roar of beasts Once made them supreme on earth!But as modern noise increased, Roars aren't what they used to be worth.Now humans rule the Universe!We've knocked the beasts down a peg.Yeah, it looks pretty good in verse, But a dog will still whiz on your leg.That's to remind the human race, And ponder while your pant leg is oozing, There still is no safe space.Your pets will think that's amusing.
Behind the Bar
A humorous drink recipe book about what not to do when you're a customer in a bar.Johnny Metheny, aka Johnny Love, opened a series of successful and legendary bars and grills in California called Johnny Love's. He is one of San Francisco's best-known bartenders and a seasoned expert on the nightlife scene. Metheny got his nickname, "Johnny Love," while a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his degree in Economics from Cal, was a member of three national championship rugby teams, and became a licensed stockbroker, but his true calling has been as a bartender, club owner, and purveyor of fine spirits. Metheny was inducted into The Bartender's Hall of Fame by Bartender's Magazine. In 2004, Metheny sold his restaurants and clubs to launch Johnny Love Vodka, a line of flavored and ultra-premium American vodkas. In 2009, Metheny partnered in the launch of the first Sugar-Free, Gluten Free vodka, Devotion. Metheny wrote a screenplay about four guys that bartend together in San Francisco and a book entitled "Guide To Bar Etiquette" which is a humorous look at the things bar customers unknowingly do that annoy bar staff. Metheny then went back to his passion, bars and restaurants. Johnny Love was part of the team that purchased The Blue Light Caf矇 from Boz Skaggs in 1991, which he sold his stake a year later to open Johnny Love's, and in 2015 he repurchased The Blue Light from his old partners. The Blue Light's name recognition and sales figures have increased significantly, and in 2023 The Blue Light became a Legacy Business in San Francisco. Metheny currently also owns Toy Soldier, a successful restaurant on Belden Place as well as the Latin Steakhouse next door. In addition, Metheny owns a Bed and Breakfast in Santa Cruz, CA, by the beach and boardwalk.
The Citadel of Bureaucracy
Part story, part game, this is a book in which YOU make all the decisions!The Citadel of Bureaucracy holds dark and dangerous perils for civil servants unprepared for its labyrinthine cubicle walls, but enter you must. The Albatross Pay System has shorted you, money's tight, and long hours have left you ragged and in desperate need of a vacation. You've just got to make it through one more day. But it won't be easy. Packed with asbestos, bad wiring, and with air quality equivalent to a dank, rat-infested dungeon, the Darby Complex, known as "The Citadel" to its hapless inmates, is riddled with appalling hazards and frantic civil servants to test you beyond all reasonable limits.Working against the clock, you must fight unreliable transit, dodgy I.T., the dreaded Canada goose, and a rising sense of nihilism in an effort to get paid and clear your desk before your vacation. YOU decide which paths to take, which dangers to risk, and which colleagues to confront. May the blessings of the Janus-faced God of Finance and H.R. be with you, for you'll find little succour in the Citadel's unhallowed halls.
Behind the Bar
A humorous drink recipe book about what not to do when you're a customer in a bar.Johnny Metheny, aka Johnny Love, opened a series of successful and legendary bars and grills in California called Johnny Love's. He is one of San Francisco's best-known bartenders and a seasoned expert on the nightlife scene. Metheny got his nickname, "Johnny Love," while a freshman at the University of California, Berkeley. He received his degree in Economics from Cal, was a member of three national championship rugby teams, and became a licensed stockbroker, but his true calling has been as a bartender, club owner, and purveyor of fine spirits. Metheny was inducted into The Bartender's Hall of Fame by Bartender's Magazine. In 2004, Metheny sold his restaurants and clubs to launch Johnny Love Vodka, a line of flavored and ultra-premium American vodkas. In 2009, Metheny partnered in the launch of the first Sugar-Free, Gluten Free vodka, Devotion. Metheny wrote a screenplay about four guys that bartend together in San Francisco and a book entitled "Guide To Bar Etiquette" which is a humorous look at the things bar customers unknowingly do that annoy bar staff. Metheny then went back to his passion, bars and restaurants. Johnny Love was part of the team that purchased The Blue Light Caf矇 from Boz Skaggs in 1991, which he sold his stake a year later to open Johnny Love's, and in 2015 he repurchased The Blue Light from his old partners. The Blue Light's name recognition and sales figures have increased significantly, and in 2023 The Blue Light became a Legacy Business in San Francisco. Metheny currently also owns Toy Soldier, a successful restaurant on Belden Place as well as the Latin Steakhouse next door. In addition, Metheny owns a Bed and Breakfast in Santa Cruz, CA, by the beach and boardwalk.
If That Was Lunch, We've Had It
Listen up, people! Rodney here. This book is about me and my mate Will and our attempts to write a book. I hope you get the irony because this book is a test of your sense of humor. Not everyone can write a book (or have a sense of humor - just read the reviews) which may or may not include me, but I'm not spilling the beans on that at this early stage of our relationship. Anyway, in the book, Will and I spend a lot of time avoiding responsibility and real work, which, in my humble opinion, is what most people want to do but won't admit to. We ricochet around lots of jobs like hospital orderly, farm worker, merchant seaman, lawyer, and pineapple picker in lots of different places like Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Singapore, the UK, Canada, and the USA, and we play a lot of sport, and I waste some time dating nurses. But in the end ...no, sorry, you'll just have to read for yourself what happens in our climate-challenged, topsy-turvy, scandal-mongered world where we're all wondering who will be first up against the wall when the revolution comes. In the meantime, eat chocolate fish (an Antipodean delicacy), read like a demon, and don't spare the hubris. (What on earth does that mean you say? Don't ask me, I'm just a character.) And don't forget to check in regularly to see updated blurbs from me. Catch the cosmo flow, bro, Rodney "I've been thinking, bro, maybe we should join a writers' group." Rodney, surprisingly, sounded serious. "What for? I've been to a writers' group. It was called school." "We need a catalyst." "I'd rather chew barbed wire." "I've heard a lot of women go to writers' groups." Kim bit into a celery stick wrapped in a lettuce leaf. "Sign me up." I wasn't stupid.
