"Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise"--film historian and acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer Scott Eyman has written the definitive biography of Hollywood legend Cary Grant, one of the most accomplished and beloved actors of his generation, who remains as popular as ever today (see my review)

 

Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise

Born Archibald Leach in 1904, he came to America as a teenaged acrobat to find fame and fortune, but he was always haunted by his past. His father was a feckless alcoholic, and his mother was committed to an asylum when Archie was eleven years old. He believed her to be dead until, when he was thirty-one years old, he was informed she was alive. Because of this experience Grant would have difficulty forming close attachments throughout his life. He married five times and had numerous affairs.

Despite a remarkable degree of success, Grant remained deeply conflicted about his past, his present, his basic identity, and even the public that worshiped him in movies such as Gunga Din, Notorious, and North by Northwest.

Drawing on Grant’s own papers, extensive archival research, and interviews with family and friends, this is the definitive portrait of a movie immortal.

MY REVIEW: Noted celebrity biographer Scott Eyman examines the life of a beloved Hollywood megastar in "Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise". All of his life, Cary Grant was followed by the shadow of his birth persona, Archie Leach--or was it the other way around? Despite his impeccable on-screen skills, Grant was a man riddled by insecurities and self-doubts, shaped in large part by his troubled childhood. His father was a drinker who committed young Archie's mother to a mental asylum and later told him that she had died. Years later, Grant would learn that his mother was still living. He would never fully reconcile with either parent. From the time that teen-aged Archie arrived in America as a vaudeville acrobat, to decades later when sixty-two-year-old Cary effectively retired from show business in order to spend time with his only child, Grant was an entertainer like no other. In his private life, he was prone to neurosis, he was a known penny-pincher, and he married five times. His sexuality was questioned, but his talent was never in doubt. His combination of looks, charm, wit, physical comedy, and his ability to also project a dark, mysterious allure still stands without peer. Later in life, he traveled the country in a series of one-man shows--"An Evening with Cary Grant"--which were extremely well-received. White-haired and bespectacled, Grant was possibly more handsome and charming than ever, and audiences were enthralled. The love of Grant's life was his daughter, Jennifer. He had waited a very long time to become a father, and he cherished every moment of their time together. His timeless appeal far eclipses whatever his inner conflicts may have been, and he remains one of the top film stars of all time. Author Scott Eyman's lengthy biography, which includes wonderful black & white photos chronicling Grant both on and off screen, is appropriate for such a storied life. It contains a wealth of information about its subject and the glittering world of entertainment. It includes insights featuring a galaxy of stars and show business luminaries, but none shine brighter than Grant himself.

Book Copy Gratis Simon & Schuster

Reviews

 

"The most entertaining and enlightening star biography in years . . . A captivating look at a captivating star." -- Douglass K. Daniel ― Associated Press

"[An] estimable and empathetic biography . . . Eyman rightly homes in on [Grant's] inner chiaroscuro, that never-resolving oscillation between dark and light — or, if you like, between Archie Leach and the man he became." -- Louis Bayard ― The Washington Post

"That gap between the sublimely charming screen invention and the real man born Archie Leach is at the center of Scott Eyman's new biography, Cary Grant: A Brilliant Disguise, a complex portrait of Hollywood's original leading man." -- Maureen Lee Lenker ― Entertainment Weekly

"Replete with meticulous research, perceptive observations, and sharp critiques, this account of the actor’s life consistently engages and illuminates. . . . Top-shelf film history." ― Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Eyman’s best and most heartfelt book . . . Eyman’s biographical insights show that [Grant's] jauntiness was a mask covering insatiable unease." -- David Thomson ― The London Review of Books

“As always, Scott Eyman builds on a bedrock of scrupulous research, spiking his narrative with juicy behind-the-scenes stories. The result is a richly detailed portrait of the man whose greatest performance was the one that fooled moviegoers for decades: the belief that Archie Leach was just like the movie star we knew as Cary Grant."   -- Leonard Maltin, film critic and historian

“Was there ever a more fabulously charming, witty, stylish and seductive movie star than Cary Grant? Scott Eyman’s biography peers under the hood of Hollywood’s most self-invented persona to explore the anxious, self-pitying, needy and depressed narcissist lurking within. Eyman does so with empathy, critical admiration and a deeply historical perspective that bring to life not just this remarkable performer but the golden age of Hollywood that he dominated.” -- Glenn Frankel, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Searchers and High Noon

"The long quest by Scott Eyman to reclaim the Golden Age of Hollywood reaches its apotheosis with this always intelligent, carefully documented, intimate life story that helps explain the charm, genius, and immortality of Cary Grant." -- Patrick McGilligan, author Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

"As Scott Eyman's masterful biography reveals, being 'Cary Grant' required A Brilliant Disguise. This is a riveting, scrupulously researched account of how Archie Leach, a penniless runaway from a broken home, willed himself into becoming one of the most iconic stars in Hollywood history. In examining Grant's incredible feat of self-invention and the steep price the actor paid for his extraordinary success, Eyman once again demonstrates why he is one of our finest biographers." -- Mark Griffin, author of All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson

"Here is the astonishing  story of someone with enormous talent and charm, who  never quite believed he had become the man he most wanted to be. And how lucky we  were, his adoring public, to have watched it happen."-- Meryle Secrest, author of Stephen Sondheim: A Life 

 

 

 

Scott Eyman

 

Scott Eyman has written fifteen books, three of them New York Times bestsellers, including John Wayne: The Life and Legend. His most recent book is Hank and Jim. He has been awarded the William K. Everson Award for Film History by the National Board of Review. He teaches film history at the University of Miami and lives in West Palm Beach with his wife, Lynn.

http://www.scotteyman.com

"THE NEWCOMER"--from acclaimed author MARY KAY ANDREWS--After her sister's mysterious death, Letty Carnahan is on the run with her four-year-old niece in tow--following a clue to a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town, can she find the truth and maybe discover a new love and a new happy life?

 

The Newcomer

After she discovers her sister Tanya dead on the floor of her fashionable New York City townhouse, Letty Carnahan is certain she knows who did it: Tanya's ex; sleazy real estate entrepreneur Evan Wingfield. Even in the grip of grief and panic Letty heeds her late sister's warnings: "If anything bad happens to me--it's Evan. Promise me you'll take Maya and run. Promise me." So Letty grabs her sister's Mercedes and hits the road . . .

With a trunkful of emotional baggage...

and her wailing four-year-old niece Maya. Letty is determined to out-run Evan and the law, but run to where? Tanya, a woman with a past shrouded in secrets, left behind a "go-bag" of cash and a big honking diamond ring--but only one clue: a faded magazine story about a sleepy mom-and-pop motel in a Florida beach town with the improbable name of Treasure Island. She sheds her old life and checks into an uncertain future at The Murmuring Surf Motel.

The No Vacancy sign is flashing & the sharks are circling...

And that's the good news. Because The Surf, as the regulars call it, is the winter home of a close-knit flock of retirees and snowbirds who regard this odd-duck newcomer with suspicion and down-right hostility. As Letty settles into the motel's former storage room, she tries to heal Maya's heartache and unravel the key to her sister's shady past, all while dodging the attention of the owner's dangerously attractive son Joe, who just happens to be a local police detective. Can Letty find romance as well as a room at the inn--or will Joe betray her secrets and put her behind bars? With danger closing in, it's a race to find the truth and right the wrongs of the past.

 

 

 

MARY KAY ANDREWS

MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels (including Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental; The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.

Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.

She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.

http://www.marykayandrews.com

"Morningside Heights"--by Joshua Henkin--a tender, powerful, and big-hearted novel about love in the face of loss, from the award-winning author of "The World Without You" and "Matrimony"

  

Morningside Heights

When Ohio-born Pru Steiner arrives in New York in 1976 after graduating from Yale, she follows in a long tradition of young people determined to take the city by storm. But when she falls in love with Spence Robin, her hotshot young Shakespeare professor, her life takes a turn she couldn't have anticipated.

Thirty years later, something is wrong with Spence. The Great Man can't concentrate; he falls asleep reading The New York Review of Books. With their daughter Sarah away at medical school, Pru must struggle on her own. One day, feeling particularly isolated, Pru meets a man, and the possibility of new romance blooms. Meanwhile, Spence's estranged son from his first marriage has come back into their lives. Arlo, a wealthy entrepreneur who invests in biotech, may be his father's last, best hope.

Morningside Heights is a sweeping and compassionate novel about a marriage surviving hardship. It's about the love between women and men and children and parents, about the things we give up in the face of adversity, about what endures when life turns out differently from what we thought we signed up for.

Reviews

 

One of 2021’s Most Highly Anticipated New Books —Newsweek

“In the sheer pleasure of reading Joshua Henkin’s new novel—of following its swift narrative movements, getting to know its all-too-human characters, inhabiting its detail-perfect settings, its relentlessly accurate portrayals— of marriage and parenthood and siblinghood—we can almost forget, for moments on end, that its subject is one of the most painful imaginable: the loss of a self, of a marriage, of a shared life.  But the real magic of Morningside Heights is the way it lifts us up, reminding us that ordinary people undertake extraordinary acts of survival every day.” —Julie Orringer 

“Reading Morningside Heights is an emotional experience. How much can befall a marriage, and what extraordinary demands must sometimes be met for loved ones to endure. But it is a delightful read as well, because the people here are such thoroughly engaging company. So much that happens in this book is unexpected that it reads at the pace of a suspense novel, but its greatest achievement is to make us feel that we are in the presence of real people, living out their joys and sorrows and making their way in the real world.” —Sigrid Nunez

"Henkin brilliantly conveys the complexities of a New York City family in this humane, compulsively readable tale . . . In 2006, Shakespeare scholar Spence Robin, 57, is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, and his wife, Pru Steiner, is forced to return his book advance . . . [Henkin] shows how Spence was a wunderkind in Columbia’s English department, making the tragedy of his illness particularly poignant . . . Equally well handled is Pru’s transformation from wife and lover to caretaker—wrenching changes that Henkin conveys without dissolving into sentimentality or cliché, but rather leaving readers with a kernel of hope. This is a stunning achievement." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
"A superstar literature professor is struck down in his prime in the cruelest possible way . . . Henkin specializes in melancholy stories about complicated families, and this one is a real heartbreaker. His portrait of Pru is nuanced and sensitive, following her into one of the darkest places a spouse can go and hitting the notes just right . . . Caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's is an ever more common heartbreak, illuminated by this tender portrait of a marriage." —Kirkus Reviews

“What does it really mean: in sickness and in health, till death do us part? Morningside Heights knows the answer. In this tender, wise, and unflinching novel, Joshua Henkin traces the bittersweet arc of a lifelong love, with all its joy and pain.” —Tom Perrotta

“You know a novel is good when the thought of leaving the world it creates and the people who live there fills you with sadness and a profound sense of loss.  Joshua Henkin’s Morningside Heights is just such a novel.” —Richard Russo

"Morningside Heights is a lovely novel, and a moving meditation on how the act of loving a specific person changes us. When Pru Steiner’s marriage to Spence Robin is tragically cut short, she has to take stock of who she has become in the intervening years. Henkin has written a beautifully nuanced story that I was unable to put down.” —Ann Napolitano, author of DEAR EDWARD

 

 

 

JOSHUA HENKIN

 

 

 

JOSHUA HENKIN is the author of the novels Swimming Across the Hudson, a Los Angeles Times Notable Book, Matrimony, a New York Times Notable Book, and The World Without You, winner of the 2012 Edward Lewis Wallant Award for Jewish American Fiction and a finalist for the 2012 National Jewish Book Award. His short stories have been published widely, cited for distinction in Best American Short Stories, and broadcast on NPR's "Selected Shorts." He lives in Brooklyn, NY, and directs the MFA program in Fiction Writing at Brooklyn College. 

 

http://www.joshuahenkin.com .

"Margreete's Harbor"--by Eleanor Morse--a literary novel set on the coast of Maine during the 1960s, tracing the life of a family and its matriarch as they negotiate sharing a home

  

Margreete's Harbor

Margreete’s Harbor begins with a fire: a fiercely-independent, thrice-widowed woman living on her own in a rambling house near the Maine coast forgets a hot pan on the stovetop, and nearly burns her place down.

When Margreete Bright calls her daughter Liddie to confess, Liddie realizes that her mother can no longer live alone. She, her husband Harry, and their children Eva and Bernie move from a settled life in Michigan across the country to Margreete’s isolated home, and begin a new life.

Margreete’s Harbor tells the story of ten years in the history of a family: a novel of small moments, intimate betrayals, arrivals and disappearances that coincide with America during the late 1950s through the turbulent 1960s. Liddie, a professional cellist, struggles to find space for her music in a marriage that increasingly confines her; Harry’s critical approach to the growing war in Vietnam endangers his new position as a high school history teacher; Bernie and Eva begin to find their own identities as young adults; and Margreete slowly descends into a private world of memories, even as she comes to find a larger purpose in them.

 

Reviews

 

"Margreete's Harbor is an exquisite family epic of many moods and much dramatic incident. I experienced the character of Liddie as sent from a George Eliot novel into 1950's and 1960's brooding coastal Maine ― Liddie is magnificently compelling, like an actress you cannot take your eyes away from. Eleanor Morse has more gifts as a writer than you could count on an abacus."―Howard Norman, author of The Ghost Clause and The Bird Artist

"Timely as well as timeless, heartfelt as well as heartbreaking, this beautiful novel of a family at the crossroads of becoming reminds us of the very real perils of aging, the legacies bequeathed as generations succeed each other, the betrayals that shape us, and the sustaining strength of the ties that bind."―Janet Peery, author of The River Beyond the World and The Exact Nature of Our Wrongs

“I was held spellbound by the brilliance and beauty of Margreete's Harbor. The family, the children, the music, the pets, the senile grandmother, the idealistic father, still live in Maine, in my heart and mind, like all the very best novels we are given to treasure.”―Nancy Thayer, best-selling author of Girls of Summer

“Margreete’s Harbor is a novel that embraces your neighborhood, then the people who live on the other side of the world; then you. It cradles us all and shakes us awake. If you don’t want to feel your heart expand or to live a bit closer to your own bones, don’t read this book. If you want to feel more, to understand more than you felt and thought yesterday, start reading and don’t stop.”―Sena Jeter Naslund, best-selling author of Ahab’s Wife

“Margreete's Harbor breaks and mends the heart in the way of all great literature. It’s a collective story, roaring with love in the little moments. Profound revelations about relationships, emotions, and life in general. Descriptions of land, place, animals, and the natural world: some of the best I've ever read. The narrative moves with power, grace, and vivid music through history and the characters simultaneously--and differently. The people Morse writes are so real that I wouldn’t be surprised to meet them on the street.”―Neela Vaswani, author of Where the Long Grass Bends

"Eleanor Morse's Margreete's Harbor, a polyphonic novel in which each voice is earned yet blends seamlessly with the others, shines with its author's warmth, humanity, and intelligence: I'm a better person for having read it.”―Robin Lippincott, author of Our Arcadia

 

Eleanor Morse

 

Eleanor Morse is the author of Margreete's Harbor, the most recent of four novels. White Dog Fell from the Sky was a Publishers Weekly Pick of the Week; An Unexpected Forest won the 2008 Independent Book Publisher's Award for best regional fiction and the 2008 Maine Literary Award. She is on the faculty of Spalding University's School of Creative and Professional Writing and lives on a small island off the coast of Maine. 

http://www.eleanormorse.com/about.html

"Glades County Cowboys Series"--from author LEIGH DUNCAN--four generations of Judds have made the Circle P one of the most successful ranches in southern Florida--the passing of a patriarch will lead to new responsibilities and unexpected chances at new love

The Rancher's Lullaby

SERENADING HIS SON...

The Circle P has always been home to the Judds. That's why Garrett Judd came back—to take over as temporary ranch manager and to shelter his infant son in the warmth and love of his sprawling family. Bluegrass singer Lisa Rose isn't part of his long-term plans. But ever since she hit town, the single father has been fighting his attraction to the willowy blonde.

Lisa gave up her life on the road to open a music store, but if business doesn't pick up she may not last. Watching the rugged widowed rancher serenade his baby boy plucks at her heartstrings, making her long for something she'll never have. But as long as Garrett keeps one cowboy boot in the past, they don't stand a chance of building a future together. Do they?


 

His Favorite Cowgirl

You Can Go Home Again...

A stint as ranch manager on the Circle P may be the perfect way for Hank Judd to reconnect with his ten-year-old daughter. And selling his former girlfriend's family ranch will provide the cash he needs to restart his failed real-estate business. He just has to resist falling for the girl next door all over again.

Kelly Tompkins needs to sell her grandfather's ranch quickly to pay for his medical expenses and get back to Texas before she loses her chance at a promotion. Hank is the last person she wants to see, but she can't deny she needs his help. But spending time with the boy who let her down twelve years ago may unearth a heartache that has never truly healed…. 


 

The Bull Rider's Family

RECIPE FOR DISASTER?

Four generations of Judds have made the Circle P one of the most successful ranches in southern Florida. And even though he's only taking the reins as ranch manager temporarily, Colt Judd isn't about to let the new chef challenge their traditions! Emma Shane may be running the kitchen, but the petite widow and her irresistible four-year-old daughter answer to him.

Runaway bulls, a ruined family treasure and one less-than-welcoming cowboy weren't what Emma envisioned when she relocated her tiny family to the Everglades. Colt isn't going to bully her, even if he is easy on the eyes. The attraction's mutual…and her little girl is also getting attached. But how can Emma trust their future to a lifelong wanderer? 


 Leigh Duncan

  

Leigh Duncan is an Amazon best-selling author and a National Readers' Choice Award winner, the author of more than two dozen novels, novellas and short stories. However, the biggest thrill of her career--so far!--came when she saw her book, Journey Back to Christmas, featured on the Home and Family Show after Hallmark Publishing chose Journey to introduce its new line of romance novels. Her newest Hallmark Publishing release, A Simple Wedding, and her upcoming A Cottage Wedding (6/2/20) are the first of several books in Leigh's Heart's Landing series. These sweet, contemporary romances take place in a small town known as America's Top Wedding Destination, and each book centers on one couple who fall in love in Heart's Landing.

Leigh lives on Central Florida's East Coast where she loves to stay in touch with readers through social media.  

www.facebook.com/LeighDuncanBooks
 
www.leighduncan.com

"Mistletoe and Magnolia"--by Paula Adler--welcome to Magnolia Bloom, where anything is possible—even an authentic Scottish castle in the magnolia groves of East Texas, brought to life not by a man’s desire, but by a woman’s determination and defiance

 

Mistletoe and Magnolia

Not everyone deserves second chances and a happily ever after, fairy tale ending…right?

Kiki MacInnes has burned more than a few bridges in her time. Now, as a recovering alcoholic, she’s dedicated to helping others avoid addiction. She can only hope her temporary role as the new chatelaine for Castle MacInnes will help her stay on the straight and narrow, too.

But even if she’s somehow able to redeem herself for the mistakes of the past, could all the people she’s hurt ever forgive her? Could the handsome small-town pastor who has her longing for a Christmas miracle?

Somewhere between the mistletoe and magnolias, amidst the magic of the holiday season, Kiki will need to learn that the greatest gift of all is forgiveness. Especially forgiving herself.

Welcome to Magnolia Bloom, where anything is possible—even an authentic Scottish castle in the magnolia groves of East Texas, brought to life not by a man’s desire, but by a woman’s determination and defiance.

 

 

Welcome to Magnolia Bloom

She thought she knew everything about her ancestors. Oh, how wrong she was…

1967
Violet MacInnes didn’t expect to find anything surprising when she tackled her genealogy assignment. Everyone in her small town knew her great-grandmother was a sought-after debutante, and her great-grandfather was a sea captain. Everyone knew they built a legacy together. So when Violet discovers just how close that legacy came to never happening in the first place, she can’t help but dig deeper into the family diaries…

1867
Evajean Whitson wants more. More than the debut, courtship, and proper arranged marriage she’s supposed to want. She wants an education, a career, and adventure. Then she meets him. The devilishly handsome Alisdair MacInnes sails into her life and makes her question everything. But can there truly be room for romance in her life when she has >no intention of giving up her quest for independence?

Welcome to Magnolia Bloom, where anything is possible—even an authentic Scottish castle in the magnolia groves of East Texas, brought to life not by a man’s desire, but by a woman’s determination and defiance.

 

Return to Magnolia Bloom

Her marriage was magical. Until it wasn’t…

With divorce looming, Paige MacInnes isn’t sure what to do with herself. She’s spent so much time being everything to everyone else that she’s pretty sure she’s forgotten how to just be Paige, the woman.

Maybe she’ll be able to find herself again in Magnolia Bloom…

With the help of loved ones and lifelong friends (and maybe even a sexy Scotsman), Paige will need to figure out how to preserve the legacy of the MacInnes estate—all while learning the importance of trusting her heart, the power of second chances, and ensuring her own happily ever after.

Paula Adler

 

Paula Adler is a born and raised Texan with a traveling soul. She’s Mom to the two greatest kids in the universe who make her proud every day. She and her husband defied convention and all naysayers to marry at seventeen and nineteen, and are still married over forty years later.

https://www.facebook.com/PaulaAdlerAuthor/

https://paulaadler.com/

"Nevermoor Series"--a breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world--but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination

 

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.

But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.

It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Reviews

A tour de force of fantastical invention, revealing original conceits with each page-turn-- "Horn Book"

A Harry Potter-esque adventure.-- "Time magazine"

Exciting, charming, and wonderfully imagined, it's the sort of delightful, grand adventure destined to be many a reader's favorite book.-- "Trenton Lee Stewart, New York Times bestselling author"

Morrigan is a captivating heroine, filled with moxie and wit... Whimsical world-building, humorous dialogue, and colorful supporting characters compliment an adventurous, magic-filled plot that champions bravery, self-confidence, and hope.-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"

Narrator Gemma Whelan provides listeners with an immersive experience of the wondrous world of Nevermoor...Whelan's clear English accent is perfect for the otherworldly nature of both worlds, Jackalfax and Nevermoor, as well as the characters. Younger characters' voices have not yet dropped, and each voice has a unique characteristic, such as Noelle's prideful, sarcastic, and slightly nasal tones or Fenestra the Magnificat's confident boredom. Listeners will be left eagerly awaiting the next installment. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award.-- "AudioFile"

Readers, like Morrigan herself, will feel at home in this evocative novel where magic and confidence go hand in hand. An excellent and exciting work.-- "School Library Journal (starred review)"

Townsend knows how to keep the pages turning in this fast-paced story.-- "Booklist"

 

 

Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow

Wunder is gathering in Nevermoor ...

Morrigan Crow may have defeated her deadly curse, passed the dangerous trials and joined the mystical Wundrous Society, but her journey into Nevermoor and all its secrets has only just begun. And she is fast learning that not all magic is used for good.

Morrigan Crow has been invited to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, a place that promised her friendship, protection and belonging for life. She's hoping for an education full of wunder, imagination and discovery - but all the Society want to teach her is how evil Wundersmiths are. And someone is blackmailing Morrigan's unit, turning her last few loyal friends against her. Has Morrigan escaped from being the cursed child of Wintersea only to become the most hated figure in Nevermoor?

Worst of all, people have started to go missing. The fantastical city of Nevermoor, once a place of magic and safety, is now riddled with fear and suspicion...

Reviews

*"Townsend's sophomore endeavor once again fully immerses her readers in a world that intermixes the magic of the Emerald City with Howl's pithiness, Percy Jackson's humor, Coraline's darkness, and perhaps a dash of the depravity of Katniss' District One. Fantasy fans will not be disappointed."―Kirkus, starred Review

"Readers delighted by Nevermoor's zany absurdities and enchanting incongruities will welcome further peeks into this magical world...the high-stakes action will keep fans on the edge of their seats..."―Horn Book

"An absolutely delightful fantasy novel....[A] spiritual hybrid of Doctor Who and Harry Potter."―Barnes & Noble Kids Blog

"Townsend's skillful, suspense-filled storytelling in "Wundersmith" will keep readers entertained, as Morrigan and her eccentric classmates face a test of loyalty and bravery in what will surely be the first of many to come."―The New York Times Book Review

"Jessica Townsend lives up to the promise of her marvelous debut in this second book set in the brilliantly imagined fantasy world of Nevermoor.... Morrigan is a marvelous heroine - smart, loyal, brave, conflicted, struggling to do the right thing in a world where it's not always clear what the right thing might be. Readers will savor this latest adventure and look forward to the next one."―The Buffalo News

"Townsend offers a detailed and broadly envisioned alternate world, scenes of action and suspense, and a wide array of colorful characters; but the spotlight shines on Morrigan as she struggles with her emotions and her elusive powers."―Booklist

"Poignant.... A Harry Potter-esque adventure."―Time Magazine

"Imaginative."―The Washington Post

"Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is more than just a spectacular debut. Exciting, charming, and wonderfully imagined, it's the sort of delightful, grand adventure destined to be many a reader's favorite book."―Trenton Lee Stewart, New York Times bestselling author of The Mysterious Benedict Society series and The Secret Keepers

 

 

 

 

Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow

 

Morrigan Crow and her friends have survived their first year as proud scholars of the elite Wundrous Society, helped bring down the nefarious Ghastly Market, and proven themselves loyal to Unit 919. Now Morrigan faces a new, exciting challenge: to master the mysterious Wretched Arts, and control the power that threatens to consume her.

But a strange and frightening illness has taken hold of Nevermoor, turning infected Wunimals into mindless, vicious Unnimals on the hunt. As victims of the Hollowpox multiply, panic spreads. And with the city she loves in a state of fear, Morrigan quickly realizes it's up to her to find a cure for the Hollowpox, even if it will put her - and everyone in Nevermoor - in more danger than she ever imagined. 

 

Jessica Townsend

 

 

 

Jessica Townsend lives on the Sunshine Coast in Australia but has lived on and off in London for a few years. She was a copywriter for eight years and also the editor of a children's wildlife magazine.

 

https://www.instagram.com/digressica/

"The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul: Allowing God's Spirit to Transform You from the Inside Out"--by Carla Gasser-We all want more love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Let this book be your guide to the abundant life you've always wanted. (see my review)

  

The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul: Allowing God's Spirit to Transform You from the Inside Out

When the world seems chaotic, extreme, and out of control, we sometimes find ourselves desiring to order and simplify our personal lives, hoping to gain a sense of peace and purpose. Scroll through social media, read bestselling self-help books, or watch any DIY television show, and you will discover there are plenty of ways to transform your home, your body, and your life.

But how do we care for our souls?

The Bible teaches us how to apply the principles of self-care and minimalism to the clutter within as well. Using the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) as a guide, this nine-week devotional will help you cleanse your soul from the inside out by allowing God's Spirit to come and produce the soul qualities you're longing for.

Purge your past.
Shake out your worry.
Open your heart.
Cleanse your mind.
Declutter your attitudes.

We all want more love, joy, peace, patience, and self-control. Let this book be your guide to the abundant life you've always wanted.

MY REVIEW: "The Beauty of an Uncluttered Soul: Allowing God's Spirit to Transform You from the Inside Out" is a lovely book, filled with gentle water-colored botanical illustrations that are a peaceful pleasure to view. Author Carla Gasser advises how to "cleanse, tidy, detoxify, purge, and simplify' on a deeper spiritual level. Her own realization that the reasons for cleaning, decluttering, and maintaining her home were principles that could be applied to her inner, spiritual home as well led her to search Biblical Scriptures for direction and guidance. By allowing the Heavenly Spirit to enter her life through prayer and meditation, she discovered nine attributes attributed to a transformed life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In her own life, the author states that following this spiritual path has led her to "an inner sense of peace, purpose, and contentment". In times of widespread uncertainty when doubt and spiritual confusion threaten to overwhelm, finding your own calm center can give you back your joy in everyday living. This beautiful book is a blessing to keep and a blessing to give.

Book Copy Gratis Bethany House Books

 

 Carla Gasser

 

Carla Gasser is a speaker, teacher, and author. She blogs weekly on her website, AT THE CROSSROADS, writes for online magazines, contributes to several inspirational blogs, and has self-printed devotionals and faith-based curriculum guides.

She loves to share about the messy, ordinary, and unexpected ways her faith and her life intersect and is passionate about connecting fellow travelers for hope, encouragement, and inspiration.

She is a proud mother of four young adults (plus a daughter-in-love!) and lives in northeast Ohio with her husband, Michael.

You can learn more about her and join her on the journey by visiting her website: https://carlagasser.com/

Or connect with her on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlagasseratc
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carlagasseratc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlagasseratc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlagasseratc

 

Vivian Kammel

 

Vivian Kammel is an artist and graphic designer based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When not designing or creating, she spends her time exploring the city with her husband, Caleb. View more of her work and story at www.viviankammel.com or on Instagram @viviankammel.

Neil Diamond 1968 Brooklyn Roads

Neil Diamond - Morningside

Neil Diamond "I Am... I Said" awesome video 1971

"THE MOONLIGHT SCHOOL"--from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher--inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools in rural 20th Century Kentucky--you'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading (see my review)

 

The Moonlight School

Haunted by her sister's mysterious disappearance, Lucy Wilson arrives in Rowan County, Kentucky, in the spring of 1911 to work for Cora Wilson Stewart, superintendent of education. When Cora sends Lucy into the hills to act as scribe for the mountain people, she is repelled by the primitive conditions and intellectual poverty she encounters. Few adults can read and write.

Born in those hills, Cora knows the plague of illiteracy. So does Brother Wyatt, a singing schoolmaster who travels through the hills. Involving Lucy and Wyatt, Cora hatches a plan to open the schoolhouses to adults on moonlit nights. The best way to combat poverty, she believes, is to eliminate illiteracy. But will the people come?

As Lucy emerges from a life in the shadows, she finds purpose; or maybe purpose finds her. With purpose comes answers to her questions, and something else she hadn't expected: love.

Inspired by the true events of the Moonlight Schools, this standalone novel from bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings to life the story that shocked the nation into taking adult literacy seriously. You'll finish the last page of this enthralling story with deep gratitude for the gift of reading.

MY REVIEW: Talented storyteller Suzanne Woods Fisher shines a light on a revelatory chapter of American history in "The Moonlight School". Blending fact and fiction, and introducing real life figures to created characters, the author weaves an inspiring tale which focuses on adult illiteracy in 20th Century Kentucky. "Moonlight Schools" got their name because classes for adults were held in children's daytime one-room schools on nights when the moon cast enough light for students to see the paths and trails to the school buildings. In the Spring of 1911, Lucy Wilson is sent by her father to rural Rowan County, KY to assist her cousin Cora (real-life historical heroine, Cora Wilson Stewart) in the fight for literacy by providing reading and writing lessons for adults seeking to improve their lives. Raised in privilege, Lucy is taken aback by the poverty and age-old primitiveness of the lifestyles she encounters. However, as time passes, she begins to see a simplistic beauty in the people and the surroundings. A certain young man of a fine character, Brother Wyatt, catches her interest and stirs her heart. Long haunted by the childhood disappearance of her younger sister, Charlotte, Lucy will also discover unexpected, life-changing news about what really happened to her sister all those years ago. This story really resonated with me because one of my goals is to promote literacy--there are still many people in the United States and the world who are struggling with literacy. Improving reading skills boosts self-esteem, opens up the world, enables informed decision making, and brings forth all kinds of new opportunities. People who read for pleasure have good imaginations, an ability to think outside the box, and the vision to go beyond black and white to see all the shades in between. Suzanne Woods Fisher is a wonderful writer, and she brings these people and their place in history to life with great care and detail. Highly recommended.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via LibraryThing

 

Reviews

 

"An unforgettable story about love and the transforming power of words and community. Deeply moving and uplifting!"--Laura Frantz, Christy Award-winning author of Tidewater Bride

"A captivating story with rich history and engaging characters who pull at your heartstrings. If you like fascinating history mixed with great storytelling the way I do, you'll love The Moonlight Schools."--Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of These Healing Hills and An Appalachian Summer

 

 

Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling, award winning author of fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish for Revell Books, host of the radio-show-turned-blog Amish Wisdom, a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazine.

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, who was raised Plain. A theme in her books (her life!) is that you don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate the principles of simple living.

Suzanne lives in California with her family and raises puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To her way of thinking, you just can't life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth.

Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com

Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers

Neil Diamond September morn

BEAUTIFUL SONG...BEAUTIFUL RENDITION...Neil Diamond - Unchained Melody (Live 1998)

Neil Diamond - America (Live At The Greek Theatre / 2012)

"UNKNOWN THREAT'--award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn pulls out all the stops in this brand-new romantic suspense series that will have you holding your breath one minute and swooning the next (see my review)

 

Unknown Threat (Defend and Protect, #1)

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

MY REVIEW: Author Lynne H. Blackburn begins her thrilling new "Defend and Protect Series" with the suspenseful "Unknown Threat". When US Secret Service Agents in the Raleigh, NC division begin to fall victim to a deadly unknown assailant, FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is chosen to lead the investigation into the attacks. Agency delineators blur when law enforcement officers come under fire, and service members unite to protect their comrades-in-arms. For Faith, the assignment is made more personal when one of the surviving victims turns out to be US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell. Luke, with whom Faith had worked on numerous occasions during the past several years, was a colleague, a friend, and perhaps, something more. Seeing Faith again under these circumstances would take some getting used to, especially when she was the lead investigator, but Luke knew they had to work together to stop the vicious killer before he struck again. As the search for the assassin becomes more intense, so does the growing attraction between Faith and Luke. Can they combine their special skills and abilities and stop evil in its tracks? If they survive, is there a chance for the feelings they share to become a lasting, happy future together? Author Lynn H. Blackburn has a created a compelling romantic suspense read with appealing protagonists and an involving story line. I look forward ti more entries in the "Defend and Protect Series".

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via LibraryThing

Reviews

"Do. Not. Miss. This. One!"--Ronie Kendig, bestselling and award-winning author of The Tox Files

"Lynn H. Blackburn is an amazing voice in romantic suspense--don't miss her!"--Lynette Eason, bestselling author of Danger Never Sleeps series

"Unknown Threat is a fantastic read!"--Elizabeth Goddard, award-winning author of the Uncommon Justice series

"Lynn Blackburn has created a page-turning novel with all the elements I've come to love in her books."--Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Risk and Imperfect Justice 

 

Lynn H. Blackburn

 

Lynn H. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She's passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don't make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in South Carolina with her true love, Brian, and their three children. Her first book, COVERT JUSTICE, won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery/Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Her second book, HIDDEN LEGACY, released June 2017. She began a new series, Dive Team Investigations with BENEATH THE SURFACE in March of 2018.

http://www.LynnHBlackburn.com

 

"How to Astronaut: Everything You Need to Know Before Leaving Earth"--by Terry Virts--a wildly entertaining account of the rules, lessons, procedures, and experiences of space travel, How to Astronaut is a book that will appeal to anyone— male or female, young or old—with even a passing interest in space--it answers all of our curious questions and much more

 

 

How to Astronaut: Everything You Need to Know Before Leaving Earth

Ride shotgun on a trip to space with astronaut Terry Virts. A born storyteller with a gift for the surprising turn of phrase and eye for the perfect you-are-there details, he captures all the highs, lows, humor, and wonder of an experience few will ever know firsthand. Featuring stories covering survival training, space shuttle emergencies, bad bosses, the art of putting on a spacesuit, time travel, and much more! 

Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts offers an insider's guide to astronauting—a behind-the-scenes look at the training, the basic rules, lessons, and procedures of space travel, including how to deal with a dead body in space, what it’s like to film an IMAX movie in orbit, what exactly to do when nature calls, and much more, in 50 brief chapters.

 

Reviews

 

How to Astronaut is an amusing and enlightening insight into an astronaut's work life...This is an eye-opening insider's view on what it's really like to be an astronaut: the joys, the dangers, the fear, and the day-to-day reality of it. Virts' writing is humorous, playful, down to earth, and often wise."-- "Booklist"

"There's something intriguing to be learned on practically every page...[How to Astronaut] captures the details of an extraordinary job and turns even the mundane aspects of space travel into something fascinating."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Virts' firsthand accounts are richly detailed and...hilarious."-- "Discover" 

 

Col. Terry Virts

 

Col. Terry Virts (ret) served as a U.S. Air Force test fighter pilot, is a NASA veteran of two spaceflights and a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and Harvard Business School.

He recently directed his first film, ​One More Orbit​. His next book, ​The Art of Space Travel​, is due out in the fall of 2020. He is currently involved in several film and television projects, serves on corporate boards, consults to the entertainment industry,
writes and promotes public policy.

He is a celebrated thought leader, speaker and author whose ​seven months in space included: piloting the Space Shuttle; commanding the International Space Station; three spacewalks; and performing scientific experiments, while working closely with multiple international partners. Virts worked with Russian Space Agency cosmonauts during some of the most stressful
U.S.-Russian relations since the Cold War.

While in space he took more than 300,000 photos – more than on any other space mission. The images are an integral component of the National Geographic IMAX film ​A Beautiful Planet​, which Virts also shot and stars in. His first book for National Geographic, ​View From Above​, combines his best photography with stories about spaceflight alongside his
perspectives about life on earth and our place in the cosmos.

An in-demand speaker at events across the globe, Virts’​ inspires audiences with stories from space as well as his insights into life on earth. He brings his unique perspective to businesses worldwide on diverse topics such as our environment, global wealth, intercultural leadership, crisis and risk management, innovation, strategy and vision and decision making.

https://terryvirts.com/

"The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn"--by Alice L. George--on February 20, 1962, John Glenn became a national star--that morning at Cape Canaveral, the small-town boy from Ohio took his place atop a rocket and soared into space--in a time when an increasingly cynical world needs heroes, John Glenn’s aura burns brightly in American memory (see my review)

 

The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn

On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became a national star. That morning at Cape Canaveral, a small-town boy from Ohio took his place atop a rocket and soared into orbit to score a victory in the heavily contested Cold War. The television images were blurry black-and-white phantoms. The cameras shook as the rocket moved, but by the end of the day, one thing was clear: a new hero rode that rocket and became the center of the world's attention for the four hours and fifty-five minutes of his flight. He became celebrated in all corners of the world as not just the first American to orbit the Earth, but as the first space traveler to take the human race with him. From that day forward, Glenn restively wore the hero label. Wherever he went, people knew his name and what he had done. Refusing to let that dramatic day define his life, he went on to become a four-term US senator—and returned to space at the age of seventy-seven. The Last American Hero examines the many layers that formed the man and unravels the reasons for his singular role. He was a creation of the media, in some ways, but he was also a product of the Cold War. Not even Glenn himself seemed to fully understand his celebrity. He was a war hero, a two-time astronaut, a veteran senator, a devoted husband, a father, and much more. At a time when increasingly cynical Americans need heroes, his aura burns brightly in American memory.

MY REVIEW: Early on in his idyllic Ohio childhood, John Glenn developed a lifelong passion for science and aeronautics and a deeply-rooted sense of patriotism. Biographer Alice L. George explores the life of this amazing American in "The Last American Hero: The Remarkable Life of John Glenn". From his small-town Midwest boyhood, through his combat pilot experience in both WWII and the Korean War, to his historic achievements in space and his Senate term of more than two decades, John Glenn lived a life of courage, curiosity, and service to his country. Before becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, he enrolled in the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School and set a new speed record for traveling from Los Angeles to New York--he went from coast to coast in less than three and a half hours. While serving his final year in the senate, Glenn signed on for a mission that would return him to the role of astronaut. At age seventy-seven, he became the oldest person to enter space. John Glenn had a special partner in his long and storied life. He and his wife Annie, with whom he had two children, were childhood sweethearts, and they remained married for over seventy three years until his death at age ninety-five. Annie, who had struggled with a severe stuttering problem, worked hard through a therapy course and eventually overcame her speech impairment. The first time that she was able to speak easily with her husband in complete sentences, he wept with joy. Annie Glenn survived her husband by several years, passing away ate age one-hundred. John Glenn once stated: “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self interest.” The author does an admirable job of letting readers learn about a true American hero and offers an in-depth look at a remarkable man.

Book Copy Gratis Chicago Press

Reviews

 

“Alice George’s superbly written biography provides a fair, accurate, and insightful account of all John Glenn’s careers—as Marine pilot, astronaut, politician, and American hero.” —Michael J. Neufeld, curator at the National Air and Space Museum and author of Von Braun: Dreamer of Space, Engineer of War

“John H. Glenn Jr.—United States Marine, combat pilot, Mercury and shuttle astronaut, US senator from Ohio—a ‘Greatest Generation’ American and hero.” —Rudy deLeon, former Deputy Secretary of Defense

"Today, it seems, we cherish our cinema superheroes, forgetting that people like John Glenn used to walk among us—and probably still do." —Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist American Museum of Natural History, Author of Space Chronicles:Facing the Ultimate Frontier

“Alice George has the ‘Right Stuff’ to tell the amazing tale of this extraordinary fighter pilot, astronaut, and US senator.” —Ron Grimes, John Glenn’s Senate Legislative Director

"A well-informed biography that presents its subject in a golden light." —Kirkus Reviews

"Time’s “Colonel Wonderful” receives a new biographical treatment in The Last American Hero, which positions him as an adventurer, a statesman, and a role model." —Foreword Reviews

"George (Awaiting Armageddon, 2006) scrupulously details Glenn’s transformation from his Ohio farm upbringing." —Booklist

 

 

 Alice L. George

 

Alice L. George is an independent historian with a special interest in America during the 1960s. She has authored or co-authored eight books, primarily focusing on Twentieth Century American history or Philadelphia history. She has written a new biography, John Glenn: The Last American Hero, which will be released in November. She earned a Ph.D. in history from Temple University in 2001, a master of liberal arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, and a bachelor's degree from Dickinson College in 1974. Prior to becoming a historian, she was a senior editor at the Charlotte (NC) News, the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Detroit Free Press, and the Philadelphia Daily News. She serves as vice chair of the board at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, vice chair of the national Theodore Roosevelt Association, and a member of the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, the National Space Club and Foundation, and the Planetary Society. Born in Hickory, North Carolina, she resides in Philadelphia.

https://www.alicelgeorge.com/

"How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible"--by Peter Horrobin--Discover Hope and Healing through Forgiveness (see my review)

 

How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible

Discover Hope and Healing through Forgiveness...

On the cross, Jesus prayed these dramatic words: Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. He set a powerful example for us, demonstrating that forgiveness is possible even in the face of the worst that human beings can do to one another. Forgiveness is the key to healing in the most hurtful relationships. It transforms our relationship with our heavenly Father and is the beginning of a fresh new adventure with Him.

This liberating teaching from Peter Horrobin explores the most powerful prayer on earth: the prayer of forgiveness--even toward those who don't seem to deserve it. As we learn to set forgiveness as a foundation stone for our faith, we can rise above the bondage of bitterness. Here you will find words of healing for your past and the ability to walk through new doors of freedom in your future.

MY REVIEW:  Author Peter Horrobin is the founder and director of Ellel Ministries, an international, non-denominational, Christian organization. His book "How to Forgive When It Feels Impossible" is a slim little volume which offers a simple, yet powerful, message: "Forgiveness is the master key which opens the door of hope and healing". The author details his own personal experience with forgiveness, which led to the founding of Ellel Ministries. He also includes true stories of others whose faith and lives were transformed by forgiveness. Peter Horrobin cites the Eight Steps to Freedom as: "Make a Decision"; "Make a List"; "Start to Forgive:' "Ask God to Set You Free"; "Say You Are Sorry For Blaming God"; "Pray the Most Powerful Prayer on Earth"; "Pray That Jesus Will Forgive Them"; and "Expect Your Resurrection Morning". Peter Horrobin began Ellel Ministries in 1986, and today, along with his wife Fiona, he continues to spread his message of the power of forgiveness across the globe.

Book Copy Gratis Chosen Books

                      

 

Peter Horrobin

 

Peter Horrobin (www.ellel.org) is the founder and international director of Ellel Ministries. There are more than 50 Ellel operations in more than 35 countries. Each center provides training courses, schools and opportunities for personal prayer ministry. Peter is a graduate of Oxford University and was a successful publisher before starting Ellel in 1986. He and his wife, Fiona, live near the first Ellel center, Ellel Grange, in Lancashire, England. Learn more at www.ellel.org. 

"Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch"--by Erin French--from the owner and chef of the critically acclaimed The Lost Kitchen, a TIME world dining destination, a life-affirming memoir about survival, renewal, and finding a community to lift her up

 

 

Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story; Remaking a Life from Scratch

Long before The Lost Kitchen became a world dining destination with every seating filled the day the reservation book opens each spring, Erin French was a girl roaming barefoot on a 25-acre farm, a teenager falling in love with food while working the line at her dad's diner and a young woman finding her calling as a professional chef at her tiny restaurant tucked into a 19th century mill. This singular memoir--a classic American story--invites readers to Erin's corner of her beloved Maine to share the real person behind the "girl from Freedom" fairytale, and the not-so-picture-perfect struggles that have taken every ounce of her strength to overcome, and that make Erin's life triumphant.

In Finding Freedom, Erin opens up to the challenges, stumbles, and victories that have led her to the exact place she was ever meant to be, telling stories of multiple rock-bottoms, of darkness and anxiety, of survival as a jobless single mother, of pills that promised release but delivered addiction, of a man who seemed to offer salvation but in the end ripped away her very sense of self. And of the beautiful son who was her guiding light as she slowly rebuilt her personal and culinary life around the solace she found in food--as a source of comfort, a sense of place, as a way of bringing goodness into the world. Erin's experiences with deep loss and abiding hope, told with both honesty and humor, will resonate with women everywhere who are determined to find their voices, create community, grow stronger and discover their best-selves despite seemingly impossible odds. Set against the backdrop of rural Maine and its lushly intense, bountiful seasons, Erin reveals the passion and courage needed to invent oneself anew, and the poignant, timeless connections between food and generosity, renewal and freedom.

Reviews 

“Erin is an overcomer and a risk-taker. She’s the kind of person who, when faced with a setback, pushes forward and makes beauty out of hardship. Her story is full of passion and courage, and when you read this book, you will walk away feeling inspired and encouraged in your own life.” ―Joanna Gaines, Co-Founder, Magnolia

"Erin French is a talented chef, a successful entrepreneur, a beautiful young woman, and a passionate promoter of living the 'good life.' This book chronicles the incredible ups, and relatable downs, of building a life and a business. Congratulations, Erin! You have done it!"―Martha Stewart, Founder Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

"Women everywhere will respond to Finding Freedom, a story of the triumph of true passion against all odds. With grit, honesty, and lyrical writing, Erin French takes us on her journey: working the line at her father’s diner, surviving addiction, toxic relationships, raising her son as a single mother, to finally re-inventing herself as a renowned chef and restaurateur. Finding Freedom is a wild ride, one you won’t soon forget."―Stephanie Danler, bestselling author of Sweetbitter and Stray

"Erin and I grew up in very different kitchens (an American diner; Chez Panisse), but I recognized so much in her experience: the intimacy and immediacy of a restaurant-as-second-home; the sounds and smells of cooking; the pleasure of bringing joy to people through food. Erin's story is a gritty, sensuous, honest story of finding her own path―with the pursuit of good food as her bellwether."―Fanny Singer, author of Always Home

 

Erin French

Erin French is the owner and chef of The Lost Kitchen, a 40-seat restaurant in Freedom, Maine, that was recently named one TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places and one of "12 Restaurants Worth Traveling Across the World to Experience" by Bloomberg. A born-and-raised native of Maine, she learned early the simple pleasures of thoughtful food and the importance of gathering for a meal. Her love of sharing Maine and its delicious heritage with curious dinner guests and new friends alike has garnered attention in outlets such as The New York Times (her piece was one of the ten most read articles in the food section the year it was published), Martha Stewart Living, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and Food & Wine. She has been invited to share her story on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Chew, CBS This Morning, and The Today Show. Erin was featured in a short film made by Tastemade in partnership with L. L. Bean, which won a James Beard Award, and The Lost Kitchen Cookbook has been named one of the best cookbooks by The Washington Post, Vogue.com, and Remodelista and was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award.

https://www.findthelostkitchen.com/ 

"Anywhere for You"--by Abbie Greaves--a poignant and thrilling love story about one woman’s decade-long search to reconnect with the love of her life who disappeared without a trace

 

Anywhere for You

The straphangers of Ealing Broadway station are familiar with Mary O’Connor, the woman who appears every day to watch the droves of busy commuters. But Mary never asks anything from anyone. She only holds out a sign bearing a heartrending message: Come Home Jim.

While others pass her by without a thought, Alice, a junior reporter at the Ealing Bugle, asks Mary to tell her story. Many years ago, Mary met the charming and romantic Jim Whitnell. She was certain she’d found her other half, until one day he vanished without any explanation. But Mary believes that Jim isn’t a cad, that he truly loved her and will return—especially because she’s recently received grainy phone calls from him saying he misses her.

Touched but also suspicious, Alice quietly begins her own investigation into Jim’s disappearance, unraveling a decade-long story filled with desire, heartbreak, and hope. With Greaves’s signature warmth and charm, Anywhere for You is a romantic and immensely moving novel about the enduring power of love and finding happiness in unexpected places.

Reviews

 

“Abbie Greaves’s Anywhere for You is a gorgeous story about hope, healing, and human connection—one of those rare novels that is as elegantly written as it is emotionally raw. Greaves’s words will stay with me for a long time.” (Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read, on Anywhere for You)

“A remarkably assured debut which doesn’t go where you expect it to go. I very much look forward to seeing what she writes next.” (Jojo Moyes, New York Times bestselling author, on The Silent Treatment)

"Greaves finds extraordinary in the ordinary, carefully pulling apart this seemingly happy marriage to reveal the guilt and desperation that lie beneath. Frank and Maggie’s struggle to define themselves when life doesn’t meet their expectations is full of intensity and emotion, their love for one another the only constant. With the sincerity and hope of Tayari Jones' An American Marriage (2018) and the thoughtful, circumspect snapshots of marriage in Lauren Groff's Fates and Furies (2015), Greaves' debut depicts the many joys and sorrows that make up a marriage." (Booklist on The Silent Treatment)

"Abbie Greaves held me spellbound with this intimate, emotional story of the brutal power of silence and ostracism. Yet this deep dive into a troubled marriage is ultimately uplifting as Frank and Maggie make their way through the challenges of isolation, mental health, ageing, and the yearning for connection. Keep the tissues handy for this lovely read." (Susan Wiggs, #1  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Oysterville Sewing Circle, on The Silent Treatment)

“The premise alone had me, but The Silent Treatment itself is just heartrendingly lovely. It’s beautiful, so moving and clever. I truly adored it.” (Josie Silver, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One Day in December, on The Silent Treatment)

"The Silent Treatment is a gorgeous heart-breaker of a novel—an intimate, unpretentious, precisely drawn and surprisingly suspenseful look at a decades-long marriage: how it soars and plummets and, gem-like, alters its appearance under different lights. Abbie Greaves has a bright future and I can’t wait to see what it brings." (Meg Mitchell Moore, author of Two Truths and a Lie and The Islanders, on The Silent Treatment   )

“An original and moving debut from a talented new voice.”   (Santa Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Secret Hours, on The Silent Treatment)

“Not so much a case of ‘he said/she said’ as ‘he didn’t say/she didn’t say,’ this moving debut unpicks the secret selves of Maggie and Frank to reveal the tragic miscommunications of their broken family. It’s a pleasure to read such a stylish and confident new voice—readers are going to love discovering Abbie Greaves.” (Louise Candlish, internationally bestselling author of Our House and Those People, on The Silent Treatment)

“In her tremendously moving debut, a novel that pulses with emotional tension, Abbie Greaves masterfully unpicks a history of ordinary lives facing extraordinary challenges. I found it impossible to look away from the relationship at the heart of this novel.” (Gilly Macmillan, New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew, on The Silent Treatment)

"In an urgent race against the clock, the layers of Frank and Maggie's decades-long love story are peeled back to reveal the heartrending secrets that lurk below. But will the truth save Maggie's life, let alone their marriage? Greaves' gripping and poignant debut had me hooked from beginning to end." ( Meg Donohue, USA Today Bestselling author of All the Summer Girls and You, Me, and the Sea, on The Silent Treatment) 

 

 

Abbie Greaves

 

 

 

Abbie Greaves is the author of THE SILENT TREATMENT (2020) and THE ENDS OF THE EARTH (UK) / ANYWHERE FOR YOU (US) which is forthcoming in April 2021.

When she's not writing, she enjoys modern calligraphy, travelling for inspiration and reading - the greatest hobby of all. She lives in the UK.

Follow her on Instagram: @abbiegreavesauthor

https://abbiegreaves.com

'I'm Just Happy to Be Around!' Neil Diamond on His New Album and Living With Parkinson's

'I'm Just Happy to Be Around!' Neil Diamond on His New Album and Living With Parkinson's: Three years ago, Neil Diamond shook the music world with the news that he’d been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and wouldn’t be touring anymore. But did that mean the end of his music? Not at all. “I’m working on new songs right now,” he says brightly, on a Zoom call with Parade from his home [...]

 

 

 

ELVIS PRESLEY - MEMORIES

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