Black Eyed Susan
My name is Susan Spector. I have one black eye, and one blue eye. I am colorblind. I experience synesthesia. My blood type is AB negative. I was born on a leap year. Do I sound like a freak yet? Oh yeah, and I'm dying of stage four lung cancer. My diagnosis prompted me to review my life to that point. I had spent the past decades of my life wandering, not really living. I couldn't die yet. There was so much more I wanted to do. I'd never been to a nudist resort. I'd never slept with a stranger. I'd never gone to Vegas. It was the luckiest place on Earth. I figured I would try my luck there, since I'd run out of it in California. On my way to Vegas, I had an accidental hit-and-run, which would follow me throughout the next two weeks. Once I got to Vegas, I drowned my woes in alcohol at the nearest bar. I met an exotic dancer named Calliope, who quickly became my friend. After getting drunk and spending the night at the house of a guy dressed like George Washington, an idea occurred to both Calliope and me. We created a bucket list, and decided to go on a spontaneous road trip. I didn't want to die young and boring. I needed to live fast first. When we made it to Utah, we encountered a drunk, out-of-work actor dressed as a knight. Will Hudson was his name. We took him back to his house at his boss' request, and spent the night there with him. While I did not appreciate his pompous and sleazy attitude, Calliope kept an open mind. He decided to join us on our road trip, since he had nothing left to lose. What happens next? Maybe I fall in love, like everyone expects. Maybe I find out I'm actually adopted. Maybe I find out that my father is a murderer. Maybe a couple of henchmen find me and I die during the second week of the road trip. You'll just have to find out for yourself, because I'm quite the storyteller.
Man Card
Nothing ventured, nothing banged.I'm a very smart woman--a total girl boss. And I'm on track to win a bonus at work that will solve all my problems.Until he comes along with his slick banter and party boy smile, trying to snatch away a commission that I deserve.But I won't go down without a fight. He can't bring me to my knees. (Except for that one time in the pantry. But we're not discussing it ever again.)He's my enemy. I want to crush him.I also want to lick him. And it's kind of a problem. Because I need to win this thing.And I can't risk losing my heart.
Less
A struggling novelist travels the world to avoid an awkward wedding in this hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning novel full of "arresting lyricism and beauty" (The New York Times Book Review).WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZENational BestsellerA New York Times Notable Book of 2017A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award, and the California Book AwardWho says you can't run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes--it would be too awkward--and you can't say no--it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town?ANSWER: You accept them all.What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last.Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story.A scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, a bittersweet romance of chances lost, by an author The New York Times has hailed as "inspired, lyrical," "elegiac," "ingenious," as well as "too sappy by half," Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy."I could not love LESS more."--Ron Charles, The Washington Post"Andrew Sean Greer's Less is excellent company. It's no less than bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful."--Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review
The Man I Almost Met for 18 Minutes in an Edinburgh Coffee Shop
A cruise is an experience most people find excitingan enjoyable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. For one woman, however, it is sheer hell. Before the cruise, however, she is an American on her first trip to Edinburgh, where she chats with a man in a coffee shop for less than an hour. Although she feels a strong connection, afterward, she goes on her way. But once shes back home, she cant stop thinking about him. Was it a missed chance? She has to go backand so her friend Bimsa convinces her that the only way to get there is by cruise ship. Trapped, crowded, and huddled in with bizarre people who drive her crazy and stuck in circumstances only slightly better than a bad case of hemorrhoids, the heroine is happy to drown herself in scotch. In spite of the insanity, however, she is motivated to reach the other side of the pond, where she will revisit that one perfect moment in timemaybe. In this novella, after a random encounter with a man while on a trip to Scotland, a young woman is persuaded to take a cruise to go back, despite her hatred of cruise ships.
In Search of Jimmy Buffett
Much to her mother's dismay, Carolina girl Livie Green has long resisted the Southern d矇butante lifestyle, opting instead for cheap cigars, Ernest Hemingway novels, and Jimmy Buffett's early albums. But when her career as a college professor becomes a drudgery of meetings and reports, she realizes that academia might not be for her, either. In a leap of banana-colada fueled faith, she heads to Key West, Florida in search of Buffett and a carefree lifestyle. What she finds instead will reshape and revitalize her life and her heart.
Son of Pink Flamingo
The hero of this humourous book is the son of a circus-owning lawn flamingo. The young plastic pink flamingo runs away from the circus to the big city, attracted by its superficial pleasures, and joins a gang of car-stealing lawn gnomes. For him at least, crime does pay and he finds financial stability. But wealth is not enough and he yearns for meaning in a hollow world. He joins a cult, hoping to meet movie stars, and seeks to discover himself as a bird. Nothing satisfies until he meets a group of artists in a bowling league and becomes an abstract expressionist. He flees to the north, painting wanted posters, is discovered, and achieves the recognition he craves. He sails off into the sunset seeking the remains of the lost civilization of Lemuria.
Faculty of Lies
When Fred Tarrasco retired from teaching, he thought he had his next career all locked up. It wasn't to be. A loving teacher for many years, Fred now found himself at loose ends. He had worked since he was twelve, become a full-fledged teacher at twenty-four, and now in his midfifties, was adrift. Many wonderful experiences to look back upon. Great students, many of whom he was a father figure to. Lots of laughs. Lots of terrific lessons and colleagues. But also, some nutcases. And outright criminality. Such is life. But Fred taught in Catholic schools and never thought such chicanery would occur among priests, nuns, and other assorted holy rollers. When he tried to reenter the life of his final school, his eyes were opened . . . as the knife was plunged into his back! Faculty of Lies tells the sad, but often amusing tale of the fictional Fred Tarrasco-a man who wanted to give unselfishly while others couldn't.
The Non-Backpackers Guide to Backpacking
Outdoor fun has long been a staple in our world. However, not all of us enjoy this woodsy world. If you have any reservations about leaving the comforts of modern life, this story is for you. An honest and comical look at a Girls' Trip Gone Wrong, you will be entertained by the pitfalls of backpacking and life outdoors. This easy reading comedy, sprinkled with useful information and humorous outdoor experiences, is written for those reserved about any outdoor experience.
Less
A struggling novelist travels the world to avoid an awkward wedding in this hilarious Pulitzer Prize-winning novel full of "arresting lyricism and beauty" (The New York Times Book Review).WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZENational BestsellerA New York Times Notable Book of 2017A Washington Post Top Ten Book of 2017A San Francisco Chronicle Top Ten Book of 2017Longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence, the Lambda Award, and the California Book AwardWho says you can't run away from your problems? You are a failed novelist about to turn fifty. A wedding invitation arrives in the mail: your boyfriend of the past nine years is engaged to someone else. You can't say yes--it would be too awkward--and you can't say no--it would look like defeat. On your desk are a series of invitations to half-baked literary events around the world.QUESTION: How do you arrange to skip town?ANSWER: You accept them all.What would possibly go wrong? Arthur Less will almost fall in love in Paris, almost fall to his death in Berlin, barely escape to a Moroccan ski chalet from a Saharan sandstorm, accidentally book himself as the (only) writer-in-residence at a Christian Retreat Center in Southern India, and encounter, on a desert island in the Arabian Sea, the last person on Earth he wants to face. Somewhere in there: he will turn fifty. Through it all, there is his first love. And there is his last.Because, despite all these mishaps, missteps, misunderstandings and mistakes, Less is, above all, a love story.A scintillating satire of the American abroad, a rumination on time and the human heart, a bittersweet romance of chances lost, by an author The New York Times has hailed as "inspired, lyrical," "elegiac," "ingenious," as well as "too sappy by half," Less shows a writer at the peak of his talents raising the curtain on our shared human comedy."I could not love LESS more."--Ron Charles, The Washington Post"Andrew Sean Greer's Less is excellent company. It's no less than bedazzling, bewitching and be-wonderful."--Christopher Buckley, The New York Times Book Review
Two Steps Forward
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Rosie Project comes a story of taking chances and learning to love again as two people, one mourning her husband and the other recovering from divorce, cross paths on the centuries-old Camino pilgrimage from France to Spain. "The Chemin will change you. It changes everyone..."The Chemin, also known as the Camino de Santiago, is a centuries-old pilgrim route that ends in Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain. Every year, thousands of walkers--some devout, many not--follow the route that wends through quaint small villages and along busy highways alike, a journey unlike any other.Zoe, an artist from California who's still reeling from her husband's sudden death, has impulsively decided to walk the Camino, hoping to find solace and direction. Martin, an engineer from England, is road-testing a cart of his own design...and recovering from a messy divorce. They begin in the same French town, each uncertain of what the future holds. Zoe has anticipated the physical difficulties of her trek, but she is less prepared for other challenges, as strangers and circumstances force her to confront not just recent loss, but long-held beliefs. For Martin, the pilgrimage is a test of his skills and endurance but also, as he and Zoe grow closer, of his willingness to trust others--and himself--again. Smart and funny, insightful and romantic, Two Steps Forward reveals that the most important journeys we make aren't measured in miles, but in the strength, wisdom, and love found along the way. Fans of The Rosie Project will recognize Graeme Simsion's uniquely quirky and charming writing style.
Maverick the Buddy!
Maverick the Buddy! Is a wonderful childrens story about a Jack Russel Terrier whose unkind behavior has positioned him to learn some valuable lessons about friendship. Challenged by his sister and friends, Maverick realizes that humility and kindness are very important if you want others to be your friend. Truly a story that is sure to tug at the heart strings of us all.
My Wife, My Life and Other Random Nonsense
The author is a first-time book-writing person (he cant remember what a book writer is called). He has gathered a collection of short stories based on his true life and day-to-day experiences combined with only 99 percent made-up stuff. These short stories have been created to bring laughter into your day and to give the reader a sense of just how much space is on the back of a toilet to store a book.
Totlandia - Book 8 (The Twosies, Summer)
IN BOOK 8 OF THE TOTLANDIA SERIES: The final book of the series is filled with surprising conclusions for the Pacific Heights parents you've come to love--and the one you love to hate: Stress from the club and motherhood puts Lorna into a tailspin that threatens life. Will Matthew make the right choice for her and their children?Jade's past puts her career and her marriage to Reggie in jeopardy;In the hope of salvaging her friendship with Jillian, Ally makes a decision that will affect their lives forever. But can it also save her relationship with Brady?And finally: when Art's funeral fails to end Bettina's personal purgatory in San Francisco's social circles, her newfound success puts her back on top--but at a high price: the love and acceptance of those she loves most.Welcome to Totlandia's summer of love, lust, temptation, and redemption.
Why do birds fly South for the Winter?
"Mom! Hey Mom! Why do birds fly South for the Winter?" "It's too far to walk!" That has been the standard answer for ages: not anymore! Climb on board the train with me (unless you're a migrating animal, that is) and let's find out together why birds fly south for the winter.
Dec. 13th
Author Chris Butcher wrote this story on his birthday, which is December 12. He was in a mental institution and knew he wasn't gonna make it home for Christmas, so he decided he was gonna do something that would not only make him happy but make others happy too--and that's how December 13th was born. His advice to all is the world can be a dark and cold place, so get in to gear and light it up with holiday cheer.
Petty Business
As they do every year, Yosef Zinman, a well-to-do Tel Aviv grocer, and his beloved wife Zippi plan a vacation during the holiday of Sukkot to Seefeld in the mountainous Tirols region of Austria. This year, Zippi decides to invite her sister, who has fallen on hard times with a failing perfumery business. Soon, more and more relatives join in on the trip, and the expenses quickly begin to add up. To gather all the funds needed, the family goes into the business of inexpensive clothing and fashion shows for workers' unions. The summer promises handsome revenues, but as the Zinman family nears their goal, they become increasingly vexed by their competing interests. A tragic-comic novel in its essence, Petty Business chronicles a year in one family's life, set against the backdrop of Tel Aviv's rapidly changing global economy in the early 1990s. Pinkus's biting critique of Tel Aviv's provincial character and its residents' shtetl mentality is delivered with a perfect combination of wit, humor, and tender pathos.
Totlandia - Book 1 (The Onesies, Fall)
IN BOOK 1 OF THE TOTLANDIA SERIES: The Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club is the most exclusive children's playgroup in all of San Francisco. For the city's ultra-competitive elite, the club's ten annual spots are the ultimate parenting prize. But not everyone is PHM&TC material. The club's founder, Bettina Connaught Cross, adheres to strict membership rules: Moms only. No single parents or working mothers allowed. Membership is an arduous commitment. And there's no room in the club for scandal, bad behavior, or imperfection...from tots or their moms. In a world of power and prestige, no one has more than Bettina. And as every mom in Pacific Heights knows, you simply cannot cross her. But this year's admissions process is more rigorous than ever, pitting prospective members against each other to prove their mettle. But four of the six candidates vying for the remaining four slots have a secret that would knock them out of the running. Jade is a former stripper and porn actress, who has been absent for most of her son's life. Jillian's husband cleaned out their joint accounts and left her for his pregnant assistant. Ally never even had a husband--just a sperm donor--and she's hiding a high-ranking corporate job. And Lorna fears that her son may have special needs... just the excuse her sister-in-law, Bettina, needs to deny her entry to the club. Can these hopeful moms keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition? Or will their chances--and their private lives--go up in flames? Friendship. Lies. Seduction. Betrayal. Welcome to Totlandia.
Totlandia - Book 2 (The Onesies, Winter)
In Book 2 of the Totlandia series: Five mommies are just one misstep away from entry into the elite Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club. Everyone has a scandalous secret to hide, but who will be the next to fall? As the club's founder, Bettina, ratchets up the stress level with a series of holiday-themed challenges, the cracks begin to show. Jade's past catches up to her in the most unlikely of settings. Jillian's struggles to make ends meet are complicated by Bettina's demands. Ally's work and home lives collide, threatening to expose all of her secrets. And Lorna's already fraying family ties are torn to shreds by a series of devastating events. With just four spots remaining, will the five remaining ladies turn cutthroat? Or will their newfound friendships be strong enough to help them band together?
Not So Politically Correct
Martha Howald grew up on a farm, and she loved spending time with her dad. Even when he was loading manure onto a spreader, there she'd be with a little pitchfork, doing her part to clean up the mess from the cows and hogs. During summers, the family would often go to Lake Erie, where they'd fish and spend time on the beach. In fourth grade, she was thrilled when her older brother returned home from the army and started dating her favorite teacher-Miss Hill. The two would end up getting married, and Martha couldn't have been happier. Seeing her grandparents was always a treat: Her grandma would make delicious, thick maple syrup to put on biscuits, and her grandfather always kept candy in a little dish. These small things meant a lot. During her senior year of high school, she began dating a boy named Frank, who would become her husband of sixty-four years. One day at baseball practice, she walked by, and he took his eye off the ball, losing a tooth as a result. Join Martha as she recalls funny moments, challenges conquered, and lessons learned over a life that's been not-so-politically Correct.
So Far So Good
In this humorous, inspirational story of Rhondas antics, failures, and ultimate understanding of who she was meant to be, the authors wit and Rhondas character come to life.
So Far So Good
In this humorous, inspirational story of Rhondas antics, failures, and ultimate understanding of who she was meant to be, the authors wit and Rhondas character come to life.
Why do birds fly South for the Winter?
"Mom! Hey Mom! Why do birds fly South for the Winter?" "It's too far to walk!" That has been the standard answer for ages: not anymore! Climb on board the train with me (unless you're a migrating animal, that is) and let's find out together why birds fly south for the winter.
Deal with the Devil
Withrow Surrett has two big problems: a vigilante and a villain who keep getting in his way as he searches the small Southern city of Durham, North Carolina, for a vampire who shouldn't be there. Throw in Withrow's mad cousin Roderick, a coven of technopagans, neighborhood kids who stay up late to watch the bogeyman walk down their street, a quest for revenge, hidden history and an unexpected acquaintance from the past and Withrow's having a hell of a time as the self-proclaimed boss of all the vampires around. Withrow finds himself chasing - and chased - down dark alleys, up suburban streets and across ivied campus quads in pursuit of hidden truths and flamboyant foes. Confronting feelings he hasn't experienced in decades, Withrow is forced to question the life he's made for himself. They say no man is an island but can a vampire spend forever alone? Is it possible Withrow has even less control over the world around him than he thought? In DEAL WITH THE DEVIL, Withrow tackles all this with his signature dark humor and readiness to fight.
Not Exactly Rocket Scientists and Other Stories
From ROCKET SCIENTISTS WE WERE NOT... and Other Stories "We were goofballs, and magnets for mischief. Pinheads, really. Boys who managed to screw up just about everything, everywhere: scouts, camp, school, dancing lessons, church, vacations, team sports, bowling, first dates, and summer jobs. You name it..."In these stories of misadventures from small town mid-20th century America, three lifelong buddies celebrate the fragile magic of youth, the enduring miracle of friendship, and the gift of fondly remembered tales told with laughter and tears. The zany, wondrous and sometimes bittersweet journey of their youth rested squarely on the broad shoulders of the Greatest Generation, grown-ups who really did know best, and whose patience and grace allowed their offspring to grow up gently.About ROCKET SCIENTISTS WE WERE NOT... and Other Stories Tony Dow ("Wally" on "Leave It To Beaver" TV series): "What fun! It was like I was hanging out with Lumpy, Eddie and the guys from our show again. Every adult will be able to see something of themselves in these great stories of youth. They are a must read for anyone who longs for the simple, innocent fun of growing up with the spirit of the 50's and 60's. I feel like I know these three loveable goofballs and wish I could have spent more time being with them. Rocket Scientists should be a television series itself, underscoring the sweetness, innocence, and simplicity that have passed us by." Pat Conroy (Novelist, "The Great Santini," "My Losing Season," "The Prince of Tides"): "A great book about friendship, growing up in the fifties, and a lost America that will never come again." Amanda Forbes Silva (Essayist): "Between the parenting prowess of the Greatest Generation and the luck that allows us to eventually recount our childhoods, ROCKET SCIENTISTS WE WERE NOT reveals a world of innocence and adventure. As a reader who grew up in a world more often animated on screens than schoolyards, these stories bridge a distinct past with a present readership that--fingers crossed--will inspire future generations to look up from their screens and seek adventures of their own design."
My Not So Perfect Life
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - Part love story, part workplace drama, this sharply observed novel is a witty critique of the false judgments we make in a social-media-obsessed world, from the author of The Party Crasher and Love Your Life. "Sophie Kinsella keeps her finger on the cultural pulse, while leaving me giddy with laughter."--Jojo Moyes, author of The Giver of Stars and The Last Letter from Your Lover Everywhere Katie Brenner looks, someone else is living the life she longs for, particularly her boss, Demeter Farlowe. Demeter is brilliant and creative, lives with her perfect family in a posh townhouse, and wears the coolest clothes. Katie's life, meanwhile, is a daily struggle--from her dismal rental to her oddball flatmates to the tense office politics she's trying to negotiate. No wonder Katie takes refuge in not-quite-true Instagram posts, especially as she's desperate to make her dad proud. Then, just as she's finding her feet--not to mention a possible new romance--the worst happens. Demeter fires Katie. Shattered but determined to stay positive, Katie retreats to her family's farm in Somerset to help them set up a vacation business. London has never seemed so far away--until Demeter unexpectedly turns up as a guest. Secrets are spilled and relationships rejiggered, and as the stakes for Katie's future get higher, she must question her own assumptions about what makes for a truly meaningful life. Sophie Kinsella is celebrated for her vibrant, relatable characters and her great storytelling gifts. Now she returns with all of the wit, warmth, and wisdom that are the hallmarks of her bestsellers to spin this fresh, modern story about presenting the perfect life when the reality is far from the truth.
It Is What It Is
The foregoing is the adventure of two families who thought their lives would follow the familiar patterns of all their ancestors that had preceded them. They believed their lives would be lived with the environmental restrictions of their culture. But, real life changed the course of both families with the onset of World War II. Through circumstances that are beyond belief a Jewish family, whose native home was Germany, and a Redneck family from Mississippi became intertwined without their knowledge. As the story unfolds every familiar part of their own culture and environment became increasingly uncertain and unclear. The story revolves around the adjustments that each family had to make to endure the changes that love brought into their lives. Life is filled with secretes, some good, some not so good, and some that no one ever discovers and some that when discovered needs to be kept secret."It Is What It Is" was written and meant for those things in life that have no real explanation. Simply put "It Is What It Is".
Oh Honey
"Hello, my name is Esther. I am calling on behalf of Krippler Incorporated, a market research institute. Today we are conducting a survey on feline diabetes. Do you, or any member of your household, own a cat?" They hang up. "Hello. My name is Joan. I am calling on behalf of--" They hang up. "Hello. My name's Doreen."Jane is a telemarketer. She uses a different name each time, and soon it becomes clear that she is calling the same man again and again. Each call is a new battle between them, with him becoming angrier and more threatening. But Jane isn't calling him at random; Jane has a purpose; Jane has a past which seems to change each time she tells it. The story is revealed through exchanges like ritual incantations..A sharp, funny and dark novel about identity and connection.
The Slip
In this wickedly funny novel, one bad afternoon and two regrettable comments make the inimitable Philip Sharpe go viral for all the worst reasons. Dr. Philip Sharpe, absent-minded professor extraordinaire, teaches philosophy at the University of Toronto and is one of Canada's most combative public intellectuals. But when a live TV debate with his fiercest rival goes horribly off the rails, an oblivious Philip says some things to her that he really shouldn't have. As a clip of Philip's "slip" goes viral, it soon reveals all the cracks and fissures in his marriage with his young, stay-at-home wife, Grace. And while the two of them try to get on the same side of the situation, things quickly spiral out of control. Can Philip make amends and save his marriage? Is there any hope of salvaging his reputation? To do so, he'll need to take a hard look at his on-air comments, and to conscript a band of misfits in a scheme to set things right.
Totlandia - Book 7 (The Twosies, Spring)
IN BOOK 7 OF THE TOTLANDIA SERIES: For the women of Totlandia, spring brings new life and emotional renewal. The births of Lorna's twins brings depression--over Dante's future. The decision she makes will drive a wedge between her and Matt. As for Jillian, she's working harder than ever in launching Life of Pie. The good news: Caleb has taken to his new role as 羹ber-dad with gusto. The bad news: it's causing trouble in the Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club. Also, when one of Jade's darkest secrets is exposed, her past and future collide, forcing her to makes some hard decisions regarding her life--with or without Reggie. On the other hand, Ally is afraid that the truth about her father may be the end Brady's love for her.As for Bettina: will she succumb to an easy fix for her problems, or will she embrace the challenge that may lead to the financial and emotional freedom she craves?
The Speaker's Wife
The Rev Tom Ross's quiet and semi-alcoholic life as chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons is about to be shattered. Pastor Petroc Stone of a central London, evangelical church gives sanctuary to a young man being chased by the police for making an anti-Islamic protest. Politicians rage about the Church of England giving a safe haven to a dangerous criminal and Islamists surround the church building, furious at the boy's insult. Meanwhile, the charismatic, white-maned Don of Doubt, Augustus Dymock, and his secular campaign, the Thought Foundation, are pressuring the Church to sell hundreds of its under-used places of worship. As the stories twist and flow together, Ross finds himself caught up in a world of bribes, violence and political spin and, at high personal cost, he must confront his demons. The Speaker's Wife mixes Westminster intrigue with searching depictions of an England which has neglected its beliefs. Laugh-aloud satire is mixed with moving passages about the human condition and even a fairytale love story.
The Penny Drops
Benjamin Matthews, n矇 Benjamin Pollock, is a successful businessman marketing the slimming formula "The Daisy Effect." He is preparing for a new life with his wife Rebecah and their twins, Luke and Lucy, moving from England to the United Arab Emirates, where Rebecah just got a job as a nurse.Ben's unfortunate white lie (that his name is Pollock) leads him to discover just as he is about to fly out of the country, that his origins are not all that they seem. The confusion over his real last name gets him stopped at the airport, whilst he watches his wife and children fly away without him.Will Ben be able to get a new passport and prove his identity so he can fly out to join them? Or will other incidents prevent him from leaving? More to the point, can he escape Daphne, the undercover cop who is chasing him?Ben's continuing story is fraught with calamities and frustrations ... until The Penny Drops! This second book in the Penny series offers a rollicking tale of confusion and nonstop action. It is the sequel to A Penny for Them.British crime author Pat McDonald lives in a rural part of the Midlands, United Kingdom. She previously worked as a researcher, project manager, and programme manager in the NHS, as well as in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. She is now a full-time novelist. This is her sixth book.
Dawn of a New Beginning
Some friendships that last a lifetime do so in spite of secrets. Some are interrupted when that secret is discovered, others continue unconditionally. Blackjack dealers are daily exposed to and confronted with the best and worst in character. The interactions with others in circumstances that try patience and empathy can well be documented life experiences for philosophical and psychiatric knowledge and speculation.
Dawn of a New Beginning
Some friendships that last a lifetime do so in spite of secrets. Some are interrupted when that secret is discovered, others continue unconditionally. Blackjack dealers are daily exposed to and confronted with the best and worst in character. The interactions with others in circumstances that try patience and empathy can well be documented life experiences for philosophical and psychiatric knowledge and speculation.
53 SMILES - Colour
53 SMILES is about life - your life, my life, our lives - and its tiny stories address the big questions of the human condition and tell of our simple greatness, our foibles and how to let go of the need to be something for somebody else. This book, then, has many uses: - For daily meditations, - For personal/spiritual development workshops, - For teaching children (of any age) life lessons, - As a coffee table book - For table topics for Toastmasters - A conversation starter, and - To remind you of who you are each day - simply great
The Adventures of Flat Cat Book Three
The Adventures of Flat Cat - Book Three In Book Three, the adventures continue when the Great Spirit Master informs Flat Cat and Jalico that the Cave of Honour and medallion in Italy are in jeopardy. Flat Cat and two of the gypsy dwarfs go on a mission of help to restore them and try to rid the nearby village of the dangerous men responsible. Situations occur and plots unravel when Flat Cat's plan to save the village doesn't go as expected. Back in the Enchanted Forest, Sky keeps a secret to herself. During Flat Cat's absence, she leaves the forest to help with a good deed, which ends in a risky situation.
Totlandia - Book 6 (The Twosies, Winter)
IN BOOK 6 OF THE TOTLANDIA SERIES: Winter's chill isn't just in the air. It also runs through the veins of all the women in the Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club... Besides dealing with the politics of the Pacific Heights Moms & Tots Club, Lorna discovers a secret that will scandalize the members--and perhaps have one them leaving in disgrace; Jade's new part-time job on the UC Berkeley campus allows Reggie to see her in a whole new light--one that will either make, or break, their relationship; As for Jillian, she's juggling too much--not just the twins, the growth of Life of Pie, and the details of her wedding, but the guardianship of the infant, Scotty. Will her fianc矇, Caleb man up to fatherhood--or will he be scared off by threats of a lawsuit from Rona, the mother her deceased ex-husband, Scott? And Brady's frustration over Ally's refusal to commit to marrying him leads him down a slippery slope-into her past. Finally, Bettina's idea for a new mobile app may get her out of hock--but will it keep her in the good graces of Daniel Warwick, the Federal agent chasing down Art?
Ella
Celebrity TV Reporter Sylvia Stark is determined to find a real investigative news story instead of the fluff she usually covers. She discovers just what she's searching for in the most unlikely person: Cinderella's evil stepmother, Charlotte Johansson Baker. Sylvia decides it's time this infamous old crone tells her side of the story, since everyone knows all about Cinderella. Since the story broke twenty years earlier, Cinderella has become society's image of female perfection. She is the lowly, downtrodden young maiden who suffers the injustice of others with grace, never getting angry--always beautiful and yet also dignified. She embodies the ideal values of goodness and ultimate virtue, as well as finding true love. However, what if all that's just a bunch of bull? After talking to the cursed stepmother, Sylvia's world is turned upside-down. Then, she and her cameraman are kidnapped and rescued by--who else?--Humpty Dumpty. Sylvia is now more determined than ever to find out the truth of what's really going on in the magical land where fairy tales began.
El Diente Que Se Cre燰 Muy Fuerte
El Diente Que Se Cre穩a Muy Fuerte es la historia de un diente llamado Bud que no se cuidaba como deb穩a. Todo eso cambi籀 un d穩a cuando Bud se siente enfermo y tiene que correr al dentista. Con la ayuda de Rosita, la higienista dental, Bud est獺 punto de aprender la lecci籀n m獺s grande de su vida.
COFFEE!!! Stories of Extreme Caffeination
'He opened the cupboard and stared in disbelief at the emptiness within. There wasn't any coffee left...' So begins this marvellous foray into a wondrous London-based coffee adventure combining literature, fantasy, history and art into a frothy cappuccino. Bob Biderman is a social historian and author of numerous books, both fiction and non-fiction, including A People's History of Coffee and Cafes.
Butch Parker's Conversion
Butch Parker has a dream, but the dream dumps him. His friend Arm and Arm's girl Toot, as they call her, try to cheer him up, but Arm crashes his car, and Toot runs out of beer. Mark Blommer would love to help, but he is totally nervous. Hand says he has the answer, but Butch will have to wait for a copy of Hand's magnum opus in progress, Critique of Pure Will.In the end, it is the unlikely pair of Mr. and Mrs. Parker who, equipped with an arctic potion and a cake, must rescue their only son from whatever hope remains.
Sunny's Story 2
Sunny's Story, the first novel in this trilogy, tells the story of a young woman, Sunny, who falls in love, finds out that she's pregnant, marries, is betrayed, and then sets out on her own to discover who she is and what she wants. Sunny's Story 2, picks up where the first one left off. Be prepared for more adventures, laughs, tears and ultimately love, as Sunny lives her life 'out loud' surrounded by her family and friends, while choosing to trust and love again. Will she choose Jake, the one who broke her heart? Or will she choose Keeve, the one who loves her unconditionally? Or will it be somebody new? Even if you missed the first book, no worries...Sunny's Story 2, set in the picturesque town of Crescent Beach-just south of Saint Augustine, Florida-will capture your heart and keep you entertained until the very end.
Sunny's Story 2
Sunny's Story, the first novel in this trilogy, tells the story of a young woman, Sunny, who falls in love, finds out that she's pregnant, marries, is betrayed, and then sets out on her own to discover who she is and what she wants. Sunny's Story 2, picks up where the first one left off. Be prepared for more adventures, laughs, tears and ultimately love, as Sunny lives her life 'out loud' surrounded by her family and friends, while choosing to trust and love again. Will she choose Jake, the one who broke her heart? Or will she choose Keeve, the one who loves her unconditionally? Or will it be somebody new? Even if you missed the first book, no worries...Sunny's Story 2, set in the picturesque town of Crescent Beach-just south of Saint Augustine, Florida-will capture your heart and keep you entertained until the very end.
The Fleecing of Fort Griffin
When the young Englishman Baron Jerome Manchester Paget arrives in 1878 Fort Griffin with a satchel full of money to start a buffalo ranch and find a bride, a horde of colorful swindlers from throughout Texas arrive to help him. With a passel of oddball characters and more twists and turns than a stagecoach trail, "The Fleecing of Fort Griffin" pits the baron against crooked gamblers, a one-eyed gunfighter, a savvy marshal, conniving females and a worldly stump preacher. To stay rich, the baron must stay alive! Written by Spur Award-winning author Preston Lewis, a master of western plot twists and humor, "The Fleecing of Fort Griffin" takes readers on an unconventional and uproarious journey through the Old West.
A Penny for Them
Benjamin Matthews is the hapless hero with the innocent face of an angel and only two GCSEs in chemistry and history. At the vast age of thirty, he has not yet found his niche in life, but has drifted along performing a series of jobs that always go wrong. Then he meets Rebecah, a nymphomaniac and the beautiful daughter of a failed politician who is one of the most successful villains in his hometown. If lying should ever become an art form, Ben would succeed, because people believe in his honest face. From his very first white lie (about his name being Benjamin Pollock), he digs himself in deeper and deeper, realising that it is important to be considered a Pollock. Even he has to admit that he is rather good at this lying malarkey. Ben finds he has a talent for being a criminal, going from strength to strength, and taking Daisy Productions to new heights. But will his latest business venture follow the usual pattern and fail? Will his fabrications be the end of him? A Penny for Them takes a humorous look at crime from the viewpoint of the criminal and is spot on. British crime author Pat McDonald lives in a rural part of the Midlands, United Kingdom. She previously worked as a researcher, project manager, and programme manager in the NHS as well as in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. She is now a full-time novelist.
3 American Cranks
America is downtown earth and will not be ignored. Yet the question lingers: the last best hope of earth or the land that Satan blessed? 3 American Cranks takes you on a satirical roller coaster tour of the best and worse of the Land of the Free and the Homeless and, when that breathless ride comes to a sudden stop and you wobble away, you will be primed to give forth an opinion of your own on the matter, if you are not too dizzy. Three eccentric American outsiders bare their souls and air their outlandish opinions about personal sanity in today's America gone haywire. A rollicking and irreverent, no-holds-barred satirical romp, bursting with American spunk and spirit, shying away neither from the underside nor the persistent promise of America. Laughter rings out on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial when street preacher/soapbox orator D. C. Washington steps up to transform the lunchtime crowd into his congregation and delivers a string of delightfully outrageous sermonettes on life and love in America under the reign of the One Percent. Meanwhile at the rear of the congregation a shy, sex-starved college freshman is thrilled to discover that the distant brunette standing just inches away is, like him, holding a copy of Edgar Allan Poe's The Philosophy of Furniture. So begins a madcap mix of all-in-their-heads courtship and all-out war between the sexes, interwoven with the witty truth-telling of D. C. Washington on race in America, Wall Street, Inequality, the disappearing Muddled Class, and the need to Declare Your Independence. On his way to explaining why the black man is the only 100% American, the street preacher/soapbox orator declares, "Hello, my fellow slaves. We used to pick cotton now we pick dollars, and the necktie is the new shackle. My name is D. C. Washington, and I cannot tell a lie." The college freshman confesses his titanic failures to break the ice with the opposing sex. "The trouble with females is they are not thinking about sex all the time." A young brunette of bristling intelligence lambasts the fraud of male superiority. "Marriage? I refuse to spend my days as a trophy wife in a trophy case, gathering dust. I believe I can do more with my intelligence than pair socks."
A Lesson in Hope
Sam Gardner has been pastor of Hope Friends Meeting for just four months when ninety-eight-year-old member Olive Charles passes away. What's more shocking news is that Olive has left her entire estate--worth nearly one million dollars--to the meeting. At first the gift sounds to Sam like a like a godsend. Yet as word of the unexpected windfall spreads, it stirs up a storm of conflicting opinions amongst the church members as to how the money would best be used. And before the estate is even released to the meeting, Olive's estranged niece, Regina Charles, turns up tipsy and furious in Hope and threatens a lawsuit over what she believes is rightfully hers. Although it may be an opportune time to ask for a raise, Sam finds himself questioning his future in Hope while trying to guide his lively congregation and find a peaceful way to deal with Regina.
