"The Magnolia Harbor Series"--from author Hope Ramsay--small-town contemporary romance filled with love, laughter, and friendship--charming, quaint South Carolina island setting and culture

 

The Cottage on Rose Lane

Jenna Fossey's life is about to change. An unexpected inheritance and the chance to meet relatives she never knew existed has her heading to the charming little town of Magnolia Harbor. But as soon as she arrives, long-buried family secrets lead to even more questions, and the only person who can help her find the answers is her sexy-as-sin sailing instructor.

Nothing makes Jude St. Pierre feel more alive than racing on the open sea - at least, not until Jenna comes strolling down his dock asking for sailing lessons. But it feels wrong to be attracted to her - especially when he learns why she came to town. Jude knows she deserves the truth but can he help her discover it without losing her and the family he's come to think of as his own?

*Includes the bonus story "A Wedding on Lavender Hill" by Annie Rains! When an event planner is asked to create the perfect wedding in just three days, she must turn to the last person she wants to ask for help - the infuriating owner of the house on the hilltop.*

"Ramsay mixes a tasty cocktail of sweet and sexy in this heartfelt launch of the Moonlight Bay series. Ramsay's expert characterization (particularly with the multilayered hero and heroine), entertaining cast of secondary characters, and well-tuned plot will make readers long for a return trip to Magnolia Harbor."―Publishers Weekly

"Every story by Hope Ramsay will touch a reader's heart."―Brenda Novak, New York Times bestselling author

"Happiness is a new Hope Ramsay series."―Fresh Fiction

 

 

Summer on Moonlight Bay

Only one thing can make veterinarian Noah Cuthbert return to Magnolia Harbor-his mother's failing health. He'll do anything to help his family, including taking a short-term gig at the local animal clinic. What he doesn't count on is getting up-close-and-personal with the clinic's new manager, a woman whose love and compassion for every stray that crosses her path has him rethinking his plans to head back to his big-city life...

After her time in the Navy, Lia wants nothing more than to settle down. The quaint seaside town is just what she'd been hoping for, and not just because her new boss is movie-star handsome. As they grow closer, Lia starts wondering if Noah could be the one. But when a town crisis forces Noah to take a stand that jeopardizes their new-found happiness, can Lia convince him that home doesn't have to be a four-letter word?

*Includes the bonus novel Then There Was You by Miranda Liasson!*

 

 

Return to Magnolia Harbor

An enemies-to-lovers story about a man who returns home to his small town and finds love in the most unlikely of places.

She never forgot him...but can she forgive him?

Jessica Blackwood is trying to make her architectural design firm a success, and she's off to a great start, thanks to a recommendation that leads to the job of the century-designing a house for a wealthy but reclusive bachelor. The only problem? Jessica's new client happens to be her old high school nemesis. The bigger problem? He's no longer the cocky boy who once tormented her, and suddenly she finds herself intrigued by her new client.

Christopher Martin isn't proud of his past behavior. He regrets nothing more than hurting Jessica all those years ago, and now that he's back in Magnolia Harbor he finally has a chance to make amends. As the two work side by side, Topher begins to realize he wants more than a house. He wants forgiveness and a future with the woman he's never forgotten. But can he prove to Jessica he's truly changed? 

 

 

A Wedding on Lilac Lane

After leaving her old life behind and starting over for good, a former country star finds herself at odds with a handsome new man. But is he the enemy . . . or her only ally?

Musician Ella McMillan can't believe she just walked away from her life. So long, boyfriend. Goodbye, country music career. Coming home to Magnolia Harbor could be a fresh start with her mom—until Ella discovers that her mother is getting married again. Now Ella's been roped into planning an engagement party with the groom's utterly gorgeous and infuriatingly buttoned-up son. 

Fortunately, they have one thing in common, even if they don't agree on what to do about it. Dr. Dylan Killough strongly objects to his father's upcoming marriage. He'll do almost anything to sabotage the engagement, and he needs Ella's help. But despite her own feelings, Ella is determined to throw the perfect party and give her mother the wedding of her dreams. Between sampling party hors d'oeuvres and visiting romantic wedding venues, sparks are suddenly flying between Ella and Dylan-and Dylan is questioning everything he thought he knew about relationships. Now can he convince Ella that he believes in happily-ever-afters after all?

 

Hope Ramsay

 

Hope Ramsay is a USA Today bestselling author of heartwarming contemporary romances, set below the Mason-Dixon Line. Her children are grown, but she has a beloved fur baby, Daisy the Cockapoo who keeps her entertained. Hope lives in the medium-sized town of Fredericksburg, Virginia and when she’s not writing or walking the dog, she spends her time knitting and noodling around on her collection of guitars. 

http://www.hoperamsay.com

 

"Off the Furrow"--by Mark Lages--one day, at age sixty-five, Howard Mirth goes "off the furrow", losing his mental equilibrium and finding himself confined to a psychiatric hospital--join him as he journeys through his own mind to find his way home (see my review)

  

Off the Furrow

Howard Mirth is a sixty-five-year-old son, husband, and father. He earns a decent living, pays his taxes, loves his family, and stays out of trouble. But one day he snaps, and he finds himself locked up in a mental hospital. Join Howard as he sorts through his confusing life and finds his way back to the real world.

MY REVIEW: "Off the Furrow", by Mark Lages, is imminently revealing, unavoidably personal, and highly readable. It is now my favorite work by this author. Howard Mirth is an advertising executive in his sixties who is seemingly successful in all aspects of his life. One day, during an ad campaign, Howard unravels as he is speaking. He knows what he is saying--but no one else does. Deciding to shake off the oppressive weight of the world, Howard heads for the desert. Luckily, he is rescued, but he is just beginning a journey that will take him through a long series of mental vignettes in which his life and a lifetime of observations play out. As Howard recovers in a mental hospital, his family, friends, and coworkers all cope with his condition in their own way. His wife, Victoria, handles things in the best way she knows--by talking. As she sits by Howard's bedside, she talks and talks--of family, friends, his employer and coworkers, and the family dog. Howard hears her voice and perceives her words, but he is somewhat confused about the passing of time. Gradually, through his own psychological processing, and with professional help, he begins to regain a clearer sense of self. His journey toward wellness is fascinating--even entertaining--and also uncomfortably close to home for readers. I actually am a former ad person in my sixties. Howard's mindful interactions include many different people and experiences, but some of his best advice comes from a mouse. You will root for Howard to see his way clear again--he's not perfect, but he's a decent guy. "A mouse knows these things."

Book Copy Gratis Author

 

 

MARK LAGES SAYS:

"I was born and raised in California, but now live in South Carolina with my wife and our animals. I am neither a liberal nor a conservative. In fact, I despise politics. I think of myself as an artist, and not as a journalist. I've been influenced by Milton Friedman, Frank Lloyd Wright, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Salvador Dali, MC Escher, JS Bach, Keith Jarrett, Vincent Price, Tom Waits, and many others. I like to smoke cigars and drink lots of coffee. And I do love to write. Lock me in a room with a box of cigars, a coffee maker, and a computer, and I will do just fine. Click here to leap to my website for more info about me and my books."

http://www.marklages.com

 

"Along a Storied Trail"--by Ann H. Gabhart--saddle up for a heartfelt story of love--love of family, love of place, and the love of a lifetime--set in a Kentucky Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression (see my review)

  

Along a Storied Trail

Kentucky packhorse librarian Tansy Calhoun doesn't mind the rough trails and long hours as she serves her Appalachian mountain community during the Great Depression. Yet she longs to find love like the heroines in her books. When a charming writer comes to town, she thinks she might have found it--or is the perfect man actually closer than she thinks?

Perdita Sweet has called these mountains home for so long she's nearly as rocky as the soil around her small cabin. Long ago she thought she could love, but when the object of her affection up and married someone else, she stopped giving too much of herself away to others.

As is so often the case, it's easier to see what's best for others than to see what's best for oneself, and Perdita knows who Tansy should choose. But why would anyone listen to the romantic advice of an old spinster?

Saddle up for a heartfelt story of love--love of family, love of place, and the love of a lifetime--from bestselling author Ann H. Gabhart.

"Along a Storied Trail might be Gabhart's best book yet."--Suzanne Woods Fisher, author of The Moonlight School

"Fabulous! This beautifully written book brings a little-known part of American history to life with characters so real they linger long after the last page is turned."–Amanda Cabot, bestselling author of Dreams Rekindled

 

"A story of resilience that we so deeply need in our times."– Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and Stories That Bind

MY REVIEW: Wonderful storyteller Ann H. Gabhart brings to vivid life the Kentucky mountains of Appalachia during the Great Depression in "Along a Storied Trail". Tansy Calhoun had always loved to read, even if she did have to do it in secret. He father didn't approve of her books. Once he left the family home to find work outside the area, Tansy found a job of her own. Through a government work program, she became a "packhorse librarian", getting paid for sharing her love of books and reading with children and folks who would have no other access to books. At times, the weather made the treks through the woods and creeks, over the rough and rocky ground, and up and down the steep hills almost unmanageable, but determined Tansy forged on. At age twenty, Tansy was unattached--she had yet to find someone like the heroes in the romance books she read. When a writer comes to the area to create a perspective of the county for the government, Tansy is given the task of being his guide. Will the newcomer steal her heart, or will Tansy finally see the local man who has always loved her? Changing times, families facing hardship, and a devastating natural disaster will leave no one untouched. However, the mountains remain steadfast, and I dearly love my own Virginia mountains, which give me peace and remind me of my faith. "Along a Storied Trail" is beautifully written, with captivating characters and a genuine sense of time and place. I have read a number of works by Ann H. Gabhart, and I highly recommend her superlative storytelling.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books

 

Ann H. Gabhart

 

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. At the age of ten, she started dreaming of writing stories others would want to read. That dream has come true as she's published over thirty-five novels. She and her husband have three children married to three beautiful in-law children who have gifted her nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dogs, reading, and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, was a best-seller and was followed up by two more stories about the Merritt sisters. She keeps her stories in Kentucky and has enjoyed going to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for some stories including These Healing Hills and Along a Storied Trail. And if you like mysteries, you can try her Hidden Springs Mysteries published under the author name, A.H. Gabhart. Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com to find out more. There you can sign up for her newsletter where she does giveaways several times a year.  

"THE CHASE" and "THE ESCAPE"--"US Marshals Series"--from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris--action-packed inspirational contemporary romantic suspense (see my reviews)

 

The Chase

US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse.

For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option.  

MY REVIEW: The "US Marshals Series" from bestselling and award-winning author Lisa Harris is a terrific, action-packed, inspirational contemporary romantic suspense series. I so enjoyed Book One, "The Escape", and I greatly looked forward to Book Two, "The Chase". In this second entry, Us Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are on the trail of bank robbers who love the hormone-fueled high of the steal as much as they love the loot. Madison is recovering from being shot several months before, and Jonas, whose care for Madison has grown, is feeling very protective. Madison can't escape the memories of her husband's unsolved murder years earlier, yet she can't remember who shot her. She wants to solve her own personal mysteries as well as fulfill her duties as a US Marshal. Madison and Jonas are longtime professional acquaintances who have become a solid team who respect and rely on one another. They will need all of their special skills and personal fortitude to bring to justice these wily bank robbers who lead them on quite "the chase". Madison and Jonas are well-written characters, and the suspenseful tale is a top-notch thrill ride. The developing relationship between the two, as well as insights into their own vulnerabilities and the importance of faith in their lives, adds depth to the action-filled story line. I highly recommend this series, and I can't wait to read the next entry.

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via LibraryThing

The Escape

US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are thrust into a high-profile case when they are called on to transport two prisoners across the country on a private plane. But when the plane experiences engine trouble en route from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado, the pilots crash-land the aircraft deep in the heart of the sprawling Salmon-Challis National Forest.

When Madison and Jonas regain consciousness, they find both pilots and one prisoner dead--and one fugitive on the run. They'll have to negotiate the rugged and remote backcountry through Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado while tracking a murderer who is desperate to disappear--and will do anything to stop them.

"An excellent, entertaining read."--Booklist on Traitor's Pawn

"Lisa Harris never fails to amaze."--Interviews & Reviews on Deadly Intentions

"Pulse-pounding suspense."--Family Fiction on A Secret to Die For

MY REVIEW: "The Escape" is Book One in the thrilling contemporary inspirational romance "US Marshals Series" from author Lisa Harris. When US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are assigned to transport two dangerous prisoners via plane from Seattle to Denver, they have no ides that it will turn out to be a destiny-changing journey of a lifetime. Madison and Jonas had previously met several years prior when he was conducting task force training, and each of them had earned the respect of the other. At that time, Jonas was unaware that Madison was grieving the loss of her husband, Luke, an ER doctor who had been murdered. After five years, Madison is still haunted by the unsolved case of her husband's death--and each year someone unknown marks the anniversary of his murder with a black rose. Jonas has also experienced personal loss, and he has just returned to the Seattle area to start anew.  The transport plane crashes during a turbulent storm over Idaho. The two pilots and one of the prisoners are all killed, leaving Madison and Jonas to track armed and deadly master criminal Damon Barrick through unfamiliar, rugged territory. It will take all of their skills, all of their faith, and a growing trust and reliance on each other to capture the wicked, wily felon. Author Lisa Harris has created compelling characters and given them an involving story line which had me reading "The Escape" all in one sitting. I look forward to further entries in this series, and I highly recommend it to lovers of inspirational romantic suspense. 

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books

LISA HARRIS

LISA HARRIS is a Christy Award finalist for Blood Ransom and Vendetta, Christy Award winner for Dangerous Passage, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel for 2011 (Blood Covenant) and 2015 (Vendetta) from Romantic Times.

She has almost forty novels and novellas in print. She and her family work as missionaries in southern Africa. Lisa loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush on safari. Visit Lisa’s website to learn more.  

http://www.lisaharriswrites.com 

 

"My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris"--by Alexander Lobrano-in this debut memoir, a James Beard Award–winning writer, whose childhood idea of fine dining was Howard Johnson’s, tells how he became one of Paris’s most influential food critics--includes Lobrano’s “little black book,” an insider’s guide to his thirty all-time-favorite Paris restaurants

  

My Place at the Table: A Recipe for a Delicious Life in Paris

Until Alec Lobrano landed a job in the glamorous Paris office of Women’s Wear Daily, his main experience of French cuisine was the occasional supermarket éclair. An interview with the owner of a renowned cheese shop for his first article nearly proves a disaster because he speaks no French. As he goes on to cover celebrities and couturiers and improves his mastery of the language, he gradually learns what it means to be truly French. He attends a cocktail party with Yves St. Laurent and has dinner with Giorgio Armani. Over a superb lunch, it’s his landlady who ultimately provides him with a lasting touchstone for how to judge food: “you must understand the intentions of the cook.” At the city’s brasseries and bistros, he discovers real French cooking. Through a series of vivid encounters with culinary figures from Paul Bocuse to Julia Child to Ruth Reichl, Lobrano hones his palate and finds his voice. Soon the timid boy from Connecticut is at the epicenter of the Parisian dining revolution and the restaurant critic of one of the largest newspapers in France.

A mouthwatering testament to the healing power of food, My Place at the Table is a moving coming-of-age story of how a gay man emerges from a wounding childhood, discovers himself, and finds love. Published here for the first time is Lobrano’s “little black book,” an insider’s guide to his thirty all-time-favorite Paris restaurants.

Reviews

“A redoubtable restaurant critic and 30-year resident of Paris sets the table with an enticing menu of memories...Lobrano writes with mouthwatering elan, dash, and feeling.”—Kirkus

“Lobrano’s story is inspiring, and his prose lush and inviting. Readers will savor every last page.—Publishers Weekly

“Rest assured, there’s never a dull moment in My Place at the Table. It’s a veritable feast of humility, humor and emotion.”—BookPage

“Like so many food-lovers, Alec Lobrano dreamed of a life in Paris. Unlike the rest of us, he made the dream come true. In this warm, delicious, and extremely candid book, he lets us in on all his secrets. Everyone who loves French food will want to read this memoir.” —Ruth Reichl
 
“A flat-out wonderful read, full of the stories and secrets that make eating in Paris what we want to be doing right now. Lobrano has a genius for finding characters at every level of the food chain—the peasant chef, or the grande dame home cook, or the bistro revolutionary with his simple, perfect dishes—and for owning up to tasting foods for the first time and describing them with surprising poetic flair. Reading My Place at the Table on a New York subway, I did something I have never done: I missed my stop.”—Bill Buford, best-selling author of Heat and Dirt
 
“In this coming-of-age tale, Alec Lobrano chronicles his discovery of taste during a challenging youth, which led him to emerge as one of the most astute and brilliant writers on French cuisine. Few understand France, and its cuisine, as deeply as Alec, and readers will devour My Place at the Table, which is seasoned by his sharp humor, a soupçon of heartbreak, and the satisfaction of triumph, all framed by his reminiscences of delicious dining at Paris’s most lauded tables. This book is truly a recipe for pleasure!—David Lebovitz, author of My Paris Kitchen and French Drinks
 
“Alexander Lobrano's beautiful memoir about finding himself through writing about food is charming, wise, and often very funny. An American who has lived in Paris for more than thirty years, he offers fresh insights into French culinary culture.”—Alice Waters 
 
“A long-lasting love story with the French food scene told with wit, verve, and great expertise." —Chef Alain Ducasse
 
“Lobrano excels in weaving a full and timeless human story with bits of mouthwatering epicureanism. He elevates food to an essential anchor of memory in a rich and dynamic human story and shows us that deliciousness, in food and in writing, is achieved through authenticity, clarity, and vulnerability. This book is another example of why Alec Lobrano’s voice is so important:  His writing is a meticulous, generous, and joyful affirmation of life.”  —Daniel Rose, chef, New York City (Le Coucou) and Paris (Chez la Vieille)
 
“All I really wanted to do was go to different places to eat, and then write it all down,” says a young Alexander Lobrano in My Place at the Table. Thank goodness he followed his appetites, which eventually led him to Paris, renown as a food critic and now, the author of a memoir that’s by turns poignant, hilarious, wise, and bravely honest. Mouth-watering, too. Lobrano writes beautifully about food. But he’s just as adept at mining life’s truths. Lobrano’s debut book is a lovely feast.” —Tom Sietsema, food critic, Washington Post

 ALEC LOBRANO

 

ALEC LOBRANO’s name is virtually synonymous with Paris food. He writes regularly on food and travel for the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal,Bon Appétit,Saveur,Food & Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, and many other publications. He writes a regular column on Paris restaurants for France Today, and he is also the French correspondent for Germany’s largest food magazine, Der Feinschmecker. He has appeared on CBS Morning News,TODAY,Chef’s Table, and Iron Chef. He lives in Paris.

http://www.alexanderlobrano.com/

 

"Once Upon a Royal Summer"--by author Teri Wilson--a delightful royal romance from Hallmark Publishing--A theme park “princess” meets a single dad…who turns out to be a real prince! (see my review)

   

Once Upon a Royal Summer: A delightful royal romance from Hallmark Publishing

A theme park “princess” meets a single dad…who turns out to be a real prince!
Enjoy the delightful royal romance from acclaimed author Teri Wilson and Hallmark Publishing.

Lacey found her dream job: playing a princess character at a popular fairytale theme park in sunny southern Florida. Her diamond tiara might not be real, but the smiles of the children she meets every day certainly are. It’s just too bad that her ex-boyfriend was never impressed with her career choice.

Henry, the crown prince of Bella-Moritz, is trying to fulfill his young daughter’s birthday wish: to be a normal girl with a normal life. That’s why they’re pretending to be ordinary tourists at an American amusement park. Henry lost his wife four years ago, and he’s been going through the motions ever since. But could a meeting with a make-believe princess lead to real love?

This enchanting romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Cucumber Dill Tea Sandwiches.

MY REVIEW: Author Teri Wilson is a magical storyteller. Her contemporary romance tales have a special sparkle all their own. "Once Upon a Royal Summer" is a charming love story with a thoughtful royal single dad and a sincere pretend princess--and the irresistible little real-life princess who brings them together. Lacey Pope is a professional fairy tale star, and she takes her role as "Princess Sweet Pea" very seriously. Each performance she gives at the Once Upon A Time amusement park in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida is filled with her heart and her dedication to the happiness of the children in attendance. As a young girl, Lacey had spent lonely hours in the hospital where her terminally-ill mother was a patient. Those dark days had been brightened by visits from in-character theme-park princesses who brought a bit of sunshine to the oncology ward. Grown-up Lacey's realization that her boyfriend Mark just doesn't get--and just doesn't approve--of her devotion to her job brings their relationship to an end. At one of her shows, she notices a dad and his adorable daughter sitting alone at a table meant for a group of ten--meaning they had reserved the whole table for just the two of them. While the little girl is a cutie-pie and completely into the performance, her dad is rather skeptical--but he does have amazing blue eyes and he can waltz like a fairy tale hero. Prince Henry of the kingdom of Bella-Moritz is trying to remain incognito while giving his daughter Rose a dream vacation. Being a widowed prince with a young child, Henry feels the pressures of his royal legacy and the sharp-eyed scrutiny of his mother, the Queen. Lacey becomes the theme-park guide for Henry and Rose during their visit, and they are both quite enchanted by "Princess Sweet Pea". Henry invites Lacey to visit his country and be his guest at the royal palace. Feeling an empathetic bond with Rose and an attraction to Henry, Lacey accepts, and her stay in Bella-Moritz is more compelling than she expected, and far more heart-tugging than she could have imagined. It's hard for her to resist Henry's "soulful blue eyes", but can he convince her to take a leap of faith and reach for a real-life fairy tale happily-ever-after? Author Teri Wilson writes wonderful characters and amazingly-detailed story lines that are filed with heart and hope--just perfect for romance lovers like me.

Book Copy Gratis Hallmark Publishing    

Teri Wilson

 

USA Today Bestselling Author Teri Wilson writes heartwarming contemporary romance with a touch of whimsy. Three of Teri's books have been adapted into Hallmark Channel Original Movies by Crown Media, including UNLEASHING MR. DARCY (plus its sequel MARRYING MR. DARCY), THE ART OF US and NORTHERN LIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS, based on her book SLEIGH BELL SWEETHEARTS. She is also a recipient of the prestigious RITA Award for excellence in romantic fiction for her novel THE BACHELOR'S BABY SURPRISE. Teri has a major weakness for crowns, cute animals and pretty dresses, and she loves ballet and Audrey Hepburn films. Visit her at www.teriwilson.net or on Instagram @TeriWilsonauthor.

"Fault Lines"--by Emily Itami--a compulsively readable and astonishingly relatable debut novel about marriage, motherhood, love, self and the vibrant, surprising city that is modern Tokyo

  

Fault Lines

Alluring, compelling, startlingly honest and darkly funny, "Fault Lines" is a bittersweet love story and a daring exploration of modern relationships.

Mizuki is a Japanese housewife. She has a hardworking husband, two adorable children, and a beautiful Tokyo apartment. It’s everything a woman could want, yet sometimes she wonders whether she would rather throw herself off the high-rise balcony than spend another evening not talking to her husband and hanging up laundry.

Then, one rainy night, she meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur. In him, she rediscovers freedom, friendship, and the neon, electric pulse of the city she has always loved. But the further she falls into their relationship, the clearer it becomes that she is living two lives—and in the end, we can choose only one.

Funny, provocative, and startlingly honest, Fault Lines is for anyone who has ever looked in the mirror and asked, who am I and how did I get here? A bittersweet love story and a piercing portrait of female identity, it introduces Emily Itami as a debut novelist with astounding resonance and wit.

Praise for Fault Lines:

 

"A brilliant modern love story. Atmospheric and transporting but also wise, clever and universal in its exploration of love, family and identity. I loved it."--Cathy Rentzenbrink. author of The Last Act of Love

 

"Such a fantastic voice – I loved the dark dry humour and the sharp observations . . . the way it moves between the ordinary and the passionate, the transporting and the relatable, funny and tragic. I'll be thinking about it for a while. "--Kate Murray-Browne, author of The Upstairs Room

 "Mizuki is one of the most engaging adulteresses I’ve ever encountered, and a wonderfully witty guide to the morals and mores of contemporary Tokyo. I now know just how to behave while picking up children from school, or meeting strangers. Fault Lines is a moving and suspenseful novel full of the best kinds of incidental wisdom." -- Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in the Field

Emily Itami

 

Emily Itami is the author of Fault Lines. She grew up in Tokyo before moving to London, where she now lives. She has been widely published as a freelance journalist and travel writer.

https://www.emilyitami.com/

"The Orphan Witch"--by Paige Crutcher--Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere--however, unexplainable things happen when she’s around--A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found...

 

The Orphan Witch

A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found.

Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. To someone. However, Persephone is as strange as she is lonely. Unexplainable things happen when she’s around—changes in weather, inanimate objects taking flight—and those who seek to bring her into their family quickly cast her out. To cope, she never gets attached, never makes friends. And she certainly never dates. Working odd jobs and always keeping her suitcases half-packed, Persephone is used to moving around, leaving one town for another when curiosity over her eccentric behavior inevitably draws unwanted attention.

After an accidental and very public display of power, Persephone knows it’s time to move on once again. It’s lucky, then, when she receives an email from the one friend she’s managed to keep, inviting her to the elusive Wile Isle. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. However, upon arrival, Persephone quickly discovers that Wile is no ordinary island. In fact, it just might hold the very things she’s been searching for her entire life.

Answers. Family. Home.

And some things she did not want. Like 100-year-old curses and an even older family feud. With the clock running out, love might be the magic that saves them all.

Reviews

"Impressive." - Publishers Weekly

"Enthralling and lyrical, The Orphan Witch weaves a story of a haunting curse and a homecoming that is so well deserved. I love this book!" -J.R. Ward, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Paige Crutcher’s debut THE ORPHAN WITCH is an enthralling and mystical journey into the heart of her wildly inventive characters. A page-turning story that transports and bewitches, Crutcher knows her magic well. For fans of Alice Hoffman and Deborah Harkness, this debut is imbued with the beauty of myth, lore and legend. Crutcher is a dazzling new voice in fantasy.” --Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Once Upon a Wardrobe

"Mystical, magical, and wildly original, THE ORPHAN WITCH is a great story from an exciting new voice in fantasy. Persephone May is a witch for the ages, a tough, uncompromising, powerful time walker with a wicked gaze and a heart of gold. Her journey to find her family and herself and the lost witches of Wile Ilse is both rollicking adventure and intimate exploration. If Alice Hoffman and Sara Addison Allen had a witchy love child, she would be Paige Crutcher. Do not miss this beautifully realized debut!"--- JT Ellison, New York Times bestselling author of HER DARK LIES

"Cozy and alluring as a magic cup of tea or a magic library, you'll want to adopt THE ORPHAN WITCH even if she is dangerous." --Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author of the Demon Lexicon Trilogy

“THE ORPHAN WITCH is a well-crafted, magical tale about finding out who you really are―and discovering the true meaning of home. Paige Crutcher’s enchanting debut will charm you from the first page to the last!” --Julianne Maclean, USA Today bestselling author of A FIRE SPARKLING

 

Paige Crutcher

 

Paige Crutcher is the author of THE ORPHAN WITCH. Her work appears in multiple anthologies and online publications, and she is a former Southern Correspondent for Publishers Weekly. She is an artist and yogi, and when not writing, she prefers to spend her time trekking through the forest with her children, hunting for portals to new worlds. 

http://www.paigecrutcher.com

"Murder at Mallowan Hall (Phyllida Bright Mystery #1)"--by Colleen Cambridge--charming and inventive new historical series introduces an unforgettable heroine in Phyllida Bright, fictional housekeeper for none other than famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie--when a dead body is found during a house party at the home of Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan, it's up to the famous author's head of household, Phyllida Bright, to investigate...

 

Murder at Mallowan Hall

The first in an exciting new historical mystery series set in the home of Agatha Christie! Phyllida Bright, housekeeper and amateur sleuth, discovers a body in the library—and a mystery to baffle even her famous employer... 

Tucked away among Devon's rolling green hills, Mallowan Hall combines the best of English tradition with the modern conveniences of 1930. Housekeeper Phyllida Bright, as efficient as she is personable, manages the large household with an iron fist in her very elegant glove. In one respect, however, Mallowan Hall stands far apart from other picturesque country houses...

The manor is home to archaeologist Max Mallowan and his famous wife, Agatha Christie. Phyllida is both loyal to and protective of the crime writer, who is as much friend as employer. An aficionado of detective fiction, Phyllida has yet to find a gentleman in real life half as fascinating as Mrs. Agatha's Belgian hero, Hercule Poirot. But though accustomed to murder and its methods as frequent topics of conversation, Phyllida is unprepared for the sight of a very real, very dead body on the library floor...

A former Army nurse, Phyllida reacts with practical common sense--and a great deal of curiosity. It soon becomes clear that the victim arrived at Mallowan Hall under false pretenses during a weekend party. Now, Phyllida not only has a houseful of demanding guests on her hands--along with a distracted, anxious staff--but hordes of reporters camping outside. When another dead body is discovered--this time, one of her housemaids--Phyllida decides to follow in M. Poirot's footsteps to determine which of the Mallowans' guests is the killer. With help from the village's handsome physician, Dr. Bhatt, Mr. Dobble, the butler, along with other household staff, Phyllida assembles the clues. Yet, she is all too aware that the killer must still be close at hand and poised to strike again. And only Phyllida's wits will prevent her own story from coming to an abrupt end...

Praise for Colleen Cambridge

“Cambridge pens a thoroughly intriguing mystery, told in a unique manner from the perspective of the staff belowstairs rather than the upper class above, in this splendid first installment in a new series. Her heroine, Phyllida Bright, is the confident, shrewd, and eminently capable housekeeper for none other than the grand dame of mystery herself—Agatha Christie—and a great admirer of Christie’s fictional detective Poirot, whose methods she seeks to emulate. Fans of Tessa Arlen and Jennifer Ashley will be delighted.”—Anna Lee Huber, bestselling author of the Verity Kent Mysteries 

"Marple and Poirot have nothing on Agatha Christie's housekeeper, Phyllida Bright. Details and diligence being the tools of her trade, Phyllida puts them to good use whether she's arranging a country house party for her employers, or determining which of the guests is a crazed killer. You'll love this new Christie-inspired series!"   —Alyssa Maxwell, author of A Lady & Lady's Maid Mysteries and The Gilded Newport Mysteries 

“What if Agatha Christie’s housekeeper was the best detective of all? In this delightful book, she is! You will love watching Phyllida spot the clues the authorities miss when a dead body shows up in Agatha’s library. An outstanding start to what promises to be a winning new series.” —Victoria Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Murder on Wall Street 

“Agatha Christie’s indomitable and mysterious housekeeper Phyllida Bright takes on a killer in this exciting new series from Colleen Cambridge. Fans of historical mysteries—and Christie herself—will love this well-imagined homage, and the clever twists and numerous suspects will keep readers on their toes. I’m already looking forward to Phyllida’s next adventure!” —Erica Ruth Neubauer, author of the Jane Wunderly mystery series 

 

Colleen Cambridge

 

Colleen Cambridge is a pseudonym for a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than eight languages. She lives in the Midwest and is hard at work on her next novel. Visit her at ColleenCambridge.com.  

http://www.colleencambridge.com

"INSTAMOM"--by Chantel Guertin--funny, sexy, and emotional novel that looks at modern relationships, modern choices, and redefining—not to mention rebranding—your dreams, through the eyes of an Instagram influencer

Instamom

In this #funny, #wise, #emotionally compelling look at modern love and finding your true path, a proudly kid-free influencer meets the ultimate #dealbreaker . . .

It’s the influencer’s golden rule: know your niche. Kit Kidding has found hers on Instagram, where she gets paid to promote brands and share expertly curated posts about her fun, fabulous, child-free life. Kit likes kids just fine, but she passionately believes that women who choose not to become mothers shouldn’t have to face guilt. Or judgement. Or really hot chefs who turn out to be single dads.

Will MacGregor is aggravating, sexy, persistent, averse to social media, and definitely a bad idea. As soon as Kit learns his parenting status, she vows to put their scorching one-night stand behind her and move on. But Will and Kit are thrown together on an Instagram campaign, and the more time she spends with him—and his whip-smart, eight-year-old daughter, Addie—the more difficult it is to stay away, much less sustain what Will so cleverly calls her “Resting Beach Face.” Kit’s picture-perfect career path is suddenly clashing with the possibility of a different future—messy, complicated, and real. Which life does she truly want? Will she have to re-invent herself? And will love still be waiting by the time she figures it out?

 

Reviews

 

"Instamom is a delightfully cheeky rom-com about women's choices that fall outside of the norm, the vulnerabilities of modern love, and having the courage to change how you show up in the world—all in the complicated age of Instagram. Kit Kidding is a heroine you'll think of often as you scroll through your social media feeds!" —Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push
 
"Themes of personal choice and female empowerment underscore this tender rom-com from Guertin. . . . A cast of wonderful supporting characters . . . add authenticity and tug at the heartstrings. Readers will be charmed." —Publishers Weekly

"Chantel Guertin's Instamom is the #InstaFun rom-com you need right now: witty and spirited, with a modern love story that satisfies thanks to a charming meet-cute and timely insights. Pitch-perfect, sexy and smart! #LovedIt." —Karma Brown, bestselling author of Recipe for a Perfect Wife

"Instamom reads like a love letter to my soul, a laugh-out-loud funny, sexy, moving novel about love and family that is as smart as it is delightful, and doesn't shy away from unpacking the fascinating complexities of modern women's lives." —Kerry Clare, author of Waiting for a Star to Fall

"There's a provocative question at the heart of this charming rom com from Chantel Guertin: What if the social media brand you've built—one that celebrates personal growth and empowerment—prevents you from growing yourself? This is the dilemma faced by Kit Kidding, charismatic online promoter of the child-free life, when she falls for an irresistible single dad and has to decide whether to risk her carefully curated life. Guertin's insider observations on the influencer lifestyle are sharp and funny, and will leave you rooting for Kit . . . and wondering if you should delete your social media accounts." —Kate Hilton, author of Better Luck Next Time

"Instamom, Chantel Guertin's terrific romantic comedy of oh-so-modern manners, takes us beyond expected tropes and deftly skewers the outdated expectations and assumptions that continue to limit our 21st-century lives, among them the undying conundrum of career versus motherhood—but she does so with wit and warmth and verve. Delicious and compulsively readable!" —Jennifer Robson, international bestselling author of The Gown

"Chantel Guertin shines in this witty and tender rom-com that amplifies the pressures women face navigating career, relationships, motherhood . . . and, of course, social media. All with a delightful cast of side characters, and some seriously swoony hot-chef vibes, this is a book I wish someone would have handed to me in my twenties." —Jean Meltzer, author of The Matzah Ball

"Instamom has it all: a heroine you'll wish you were friends with, a male lead you'll want to date, and a cast of characters that make this smart, refreshing story about love and life choices truly shine. Chantel Guertin made me laugh, she made me swoon, she made me obsessively turn pages—but she also made me think deeply about how our pasts shape our futures, and how change takes courage. Perfect for fans of Sally Thorne and Emily Henry, this is the book you'll be telling all your friends to read next!" —Marissa Stapley, bestselling author of Lucky

"Fun, romantic, and thought-provoking, Instamom explores a woman's journey to discover what she needs as opposed to what she always thought she wanted. Chantel Guertin's characters are so endearing and compelling, and the story is full of joy, hope, and inspiration. A perfect escape read that will also empower you to reach for your dreams." —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge

"Witty and compelling, this is a modern story about unexpected connections and adapting priorities. Kit's growth as she learned how to let more into her life while staying true to herself was expertly crafted. A delight!" —Farah Heron, author of Accidentally Engaged --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

 

Chantel Guertin

 

 

 

Chantel Guertin is a bestselling author, brand ambassador, and Toronto-based beauty expert whose own life story reflects elements of Instamom. She, too, lived a glamorous, well-documented social-media lifestyle before she fell for a single dad and her world turned upside down. She has been the first-ever beauty editor at ELLE CANADA, the editorial director at Sweespot.ca, and a founding editor at THE KIT. Currently, she is the beauty expert on Canada's number-one daytime talk show, the Marilyn Denis Show, as well as the founder and coordinator of the Lifestyle Media post-graduate program at Centennial College in Toronto. She has contributed to more than fifty publications, including USA Today, ELLE, National Post, Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Food Network Magazine, Flare, Maclean's, Reader's Digest and more. She gives beauty tips, book reviews and career advice at her website, ChantelGuertin.com and can be found on Instagram @ChantelGuertin. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.  is a bestselling author, brand ambassador, and Toronto-based beauty expert whose own life story reflects elements of Instamom. She, too, lived a glamorous, well-documented social-media lifestyle before she fell for a single dad and her world turned upside down. She has been the first-ever beauty editor at ELLE CANADA, the editorial director at Sweespot.ca, and a founding editor at THE KIT. Currently, she is the beauty expert on Canada's number-one daytime talk show, the Marilyn Denis Show, as well as the founder and coordinator of the Lifestyle Media post-graduate program at Centennial College in Toronto. She has contributed to more than fifty publications, including USA Today, ELLE, National Post, Globe and Mail, Chatelaine, Food Network Magazine, Flare, Maclean's, Reader's Digest and more. She gives beauty tips, book reviews and career advice at her website, ChantelGuertin.com and can be found on Instagram @ChantelGuertin.

"The Second Mrs. Astor"--by Shana Abé--mesmerizing novel of historical fiction tells the sweeping real-life Titanic love story of Madeleine Force, who became the teenaged bride of one of the world's richest men, and triumphed over tragedy and heartache

The Second Mrs. Astor

Inspired by the real-life Titanic love story between America's richest man and teenaged beauty Madeleine Force.

He was American royalty, the richest man in the country and Fifth Avenue scion of the Gilded Age. She was a vivacious teenage socialite suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into fame simply for falling in love with a famous man nearly three decades her senior. Brought to life in this sweeping work of historical fiction by New York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Shana Abé, the love story between Jack Astor and Madeline Force, from scandalous courtship to tragic honeymoon aboard the Titanic, which made them the most famous couple of their time...

A mesmerizing novel of historical fiction from New York Times bestselling author Shana Abé, The Second Mrs. Astor tells the sweeping real-life Titanic love story of Madeleine Force, who became the teenaged bride of one of the world's richest men, and triumphed over tragedy and heartache.

"I won't begin with our ending, which everyone in the world knows anyway. Our beginning, however, belonged only to us..."

Madeleine Talmage Force is just seventeen when she attracts the attention of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. Madeleine is beautiful, intelligent, and solidly upper-class, but the Astors are in a league apart. Jack's mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York's most formidable socialite. Jack is dashing and industrious--a hero of the Spanish-American war, an inventor, and a canny businessman. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and the scandal of Jack's recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love--and becomes the press's favorite target.

On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time--and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner. When the ship hits an iceberg close to midnight on April 14th, there is no immediate panic. The swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic seems unsinkable. As Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat, he assures her that he'll see her soon in New York...

Four months later, at the Astors' Fifth Avenue mansion, a widowed Madeleine gives birth to their son. In the wake of the disaster, the press has elevated her to the status of virtuous, tragic heroine. But Madeleine's most important decision still lies ahead: whether to accept the role assigned to her, or carve out her own remarkable path.

Praise for Shana Abé's The Second Mrs. Astor 

  

"I was brought to tears by this shimmering account of the tragically brief courtship and marriage of John and Madeleine Astor. Abé is an exquisite storyteller, gracefully transporting the reader from Newport to Egypt to the cold seas of the Atlantic. Rich in detail and deeply moving." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue  
 
"One of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, THE SECOND MRS. ASTOR brings to glittering life the romantic love story between John Jacob Astor and his young bride, Madeleine. You’ll find yourself glued to every page, falling in love with this dazzling couple, and despite knowing better, hoping against hope that they avoid the tragedy that awaits them on the ill-fated Titanic. A gorgeous, phenomenal novel I won’t soon forget.” —Ellen Marie Wiseman New York Times bestselling Author of The Orphan Collector 
  
“Through Madeleine, we see a young woman fall in love with America's wealthiest man, the society scandal that follows, a level of media intrusion not dissimilar to that endured by a young Princess Diana, and, of course, the tragic events that unfold during Titanic's maiden voyage....A touching, compelling, and haunting love story that will delight fans of historical fiction and enthrall those of us for whom the Titanic will always fascinate.” —Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of When We Were Young and Brave 
 
“The Second Mrs. Astor is an engaging novel told with both heartbreaking care and vivid detail. Shana Abé introduces us to the extraordinary Madeleine Astor and her profound love for the enigmatic and famous Jack Astor. Abé's intimate prose brings to life a fascinating and heartbreaking piece of history. A harrowing and yet ultimately hopeful tale of survival and courage, fate and love, and the ultimate question of who do we become after great loss. The Second Mrs. Astor is historical fiction at its gripping and irresistible best.”—Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis

 

Shana Abé

  

Shana Abé is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of seventeen books, including the acclaimed Drákon Series and the Sweetest Dark Series.

She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently resides in the mountains of Colorado with her very patient husband and a lot of pets.

http://www.shanaabe.com/

 

"The Magician"--by Colm Tóibín--from one of today’s most brilliant and beloved novelists, a dazzling, epic family saga set across a half-century spanning World War I, the rise of Hitler, World War II, and the Cold War--a fictionalized account of the life of German author Thomas Mann

 

The Magician

Colm Tóibín’s magnificent new novel opens in a provincial German city at the turn of the twentieth century, where the boy, Thomas Mann, grows up with a conservative father, bound by propriety, and a Brazilian mother, alluring and unpredictable. Young Mann hides his artistic aspirations from his father and his homosexual desires from everyone. He is infatuated with one of the richest, most cultured Jewish families in Munich, and marries the daughter Katia. They have six children. On a holiday in Italy, he longs for a boy he sees on a beach and writes the story Death in Venice. He is the most successful novelist of his time, winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, a public man whose private life remains secret. He is expected to lead the condemnation of Hitler, whom he underestimates. His oldest daughter and son, leaders of Bohemianism and of the anti-Nazi movement, share lovers. He flees Germany for Switzerland, France and, ultimately, America, living first in Princeton and then in Los Angeles.

In a stunning marriage of research and imagination, Tóibín explores the heart and mind of a writer whose gift is unparalleled and whose life is driven by a need to belong and the anguish of illicit desire. The Magician is an intimate, astonishingly complex portrait of Mann, his magnificent and complex wife Katia, and the times in which they lived—the first world war, the rise of Hitler, World War II, the Cold War, and exile. This is a man and a family fiercely engaged by the world, profoundly flawed, and unforgettable. As People magazine said about The Master, “It’s a delicate, mysterious process, this act of creation, fraught with psychological tension, and Tóibín captures it beautifully.

Praise for The Magician

"As with his triumphant fictional biography of Henry James, The Master (2004), Tóibín once again takes as his subject a literary titan, the Nobel laureate Thomas Mann ... Employing luxurious prose that quietly evokes the tortured soul behind these literary masterpieces, Tóibín has an unequalled gift for mapping the interior of genius. In Mann, Toibin finds the ideal muse, one whose interior is so rich and vast that only a similar genius could hope to capture it."—Booklist, starred review

"As with everything Colm Toibin sets his masterful hand to, The Magician is a great imaginative achievement—immensely readable, erudite, worldly and knowing, and fully realized." —Richard Ford

"This is not just a whole life in a novel, it’s a whole world – with all its wonders, tragedies and sacrifices. I loved every page of this beautiful and immersive journey into The Magician’s mind.—Katharina Volckmer author of The Appointment 

 

 Colm Tóibín

 

Colm Tóibín is the Irish author of ten novels, including The Master, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize; Brooklyn, winner of the Costa Book Award; The Testament of Mary; and Nora Webster, as well as two story collections and several books of criticism. He is the Irene and Sidney B. Silverman Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University. Three times shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Tóibín lives in Dublin and New York.  

http://www.colmtoibin.com/