- Table View
- List View
The Merriest Misters: A delightful holiday rom-com!
by Timothy Janovsky'There is no one I trust more to deliver the holiday spirit wrapped up in perfectly-timed comedic gold than Timothy Janovsky' ALICIA THOMPSON'The Merriest Misters is endlessly inventive and just plain magical!' R. ERIC THOMAS...............Saving Christmas? Easy!Saving their relationship? Not so much . . .Patrick Hargrave and Quinn Muller have been married for less than a year, but their passionate romance is cracking under the pressures of domestic life. That's until Christmas Eve, when Patrick wakes Quinn up with: 'I think I've killed a man.'When Quinn realises that the 'burglar' Patrick knocked out is none other than Mr. Claus himself, the couple soon find themselves looped in by a harried elf to (red) suit up and save Christmas!But, as the sun rises on Christmas morning and the sleigh takes them back to the North Pole instead of New Jersey, they're in for a massive shock. The couple must assume the roles of Santa Claus and the first ever Merriest Mister, or Christmas will be cancelled . . . permanently.With Christmas - and their marriage - on the line, Patrick and Quinn agree to make a go of it for one year. But can running a toy shop together save their relationship, or will Patrick and Quinn be stuffing coal in each other's stockings by next Christmas?________________________________________________Readers are LOVING The Merriest Misters:'Holiday spirit abounds, with lots of whimsy and room for creativity...I'm not even that big of a holiday book reader, but I admittedly was starting to check the forecast in hopes of cooler days. Break out the hot chocolate!' 'A joyfully queer romcom''Queer people deserve this type of heartwarming, healing holiday story and I'm so glad to see books like this being published. Feel like it would be the perfect read to cosy up with a hot chocolate on Christmas Eve!''I absolutely adored this book, it was like Santa Clause the movie but make it LGBTQ+'
The Merriest of Men
by J. M. SnyderRobin of Locksley is renown for his prowess and cunning, and none of the men among his band of outlaws can best him when it comes to the bow and arrow. None but the brash youth called Will Scarlett, who can bring the man called Robin Hood to his knees in more ways than one.
The Merry Spinster: Tales of Everyday Horror
by Daniel M. Lavery“Empowering, subversive. . . . Lavery twists fairy tales into elegant garrotes . . . There’s not a single weak link in the cat’s-breath chain of this collection.” —The New York Times Book ReviewAdapted from the beloved “Children’s Stories Made Horrific” series, The Merry Spinster takes up the trademark wit that endeared Daniel M. Lavery to readers of both The Toast and the bestselling Texts from Jane Eyre. Sinister and inviting, familiar and alien all at the same time, The Merry Spinster twists traditional children’s stories and fairy tales with elements of psychological horror, emotional clarity, and a keen sense of feminist mischief.Unfalteringly faithful to its beloved source material, The Merry Spinster also illuminates the unsuspected and frequently alarming emotional complexities at play in the stories we tell ourselves, and each other, as we tuck ourselves in for the night.“A wholly satisfying blend of silliness, feminist critique, and deft prose makes this a collection of bedtime stories that will keep you up at night for all the right reasons.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Lavery’s sly, scathing renditions . . . strike directly at the heart. . . . The book brings the shock of the new and the shock of recognition into play at the same time; it’s a tour de force of skill, daring, and hard-earned bravura.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Dark and dreadful and persistently clever. Lavery bloodily turns familiar tales inside out.” —Rainbow Rowell, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Carry On“Subversive fun.” —Ms Magazine“Twisted tales that will shock and delight you.” —Esquire“Feminist fairy tales? Just what the doctor ordered.” —ELLE“Primordial, oppressive, and funny.” —Boris Kachka, New York Magazine
The Messiah
by Lee HayesIn this heart-pounding thriller full of dark passion, an ambitious investigative reporter faces off with a mysterious serial killer who might just turn out to be his own lover. Gabriel Kaine is working furiously to revive his stalled reporting career. Years ago, he got his first big break by investigating murders committed by a killer known as the Messiah. But when the Messiah vanished from the public six months ago, Gabriel's success hit a downward slope. Now the Messiah has returned, and no one is safe from his evil. Desperate to bring this man to justice and to reap the professional reward for uncovering the final truth, Gabriel teams up with Jazz McKinney, the only known survivor of an encounter with the Messiah who was freed by the killer so he could warn others of an encounter with the Messiah who was freed by the killer so he could warn others of the Messiah's impending return. But as Gabriel and Jazz come closer to discovering the Messiah's identity, Gabriel realizes all the evidence points to Dr. Garrett Lord - a respected doctor and Gabriel's lover. The personal stakes have never been higher, and readers will be on the edge of their seats to see what awful truths are uncovered in this take of misguided passion, deadly secrets, and thrilling danger.
The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers: Two Novellas
by Bruce WagnerThe sacred and the profane come together with visceral force in two novellas by Bruce Wagner, The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers.The Met Gala follows a prominent family of influencers and would-be philanthropic socialites in the Hollywood hills as they spiral ever further away from reality. Candida is a young actress who sleeps with the &“unhoused&”—the ultimate charitable act—and her brother, Charlie, transitioned into womanhood at the age of eleven. Their mother and father have long been divorced but still come together to torment their children, mutilating and destroying friends and enemies along the way.Tales of Saints and Seekers is the digestivo, a collection of stories about the journey to enlightenment and the wisdom given by gurus. Where The Met Gala pushes past boundaries and steps over the line, Tales of Saints and Seekers knows that there is no line at all, only characters who travel on their own path, sometimes straying and other times going completely off the map. Wagner is able to hold the dichotomy of the sacred and profane in one book, smearing them together, and ripping them apart. The Met Gala & Tales of Saints and Seekers is an illuminated manuscript of Heaven and Hell.
The MetSche Maelstrom
by Stephen A. ThebergeAs the story begins, there is deep discord in the MetSche Alliance. In addition, a rogue MetSche hybrid, Padma, is determined to escape her place of birth and rule Earth with the cruelty that she herself experienced in youth. Andre, the human recipient of the profound MetSche message that was delivered in the prequel to this book, is wracked with guilt concerning his previous drug addiction, as well as with grief following the death of his long-time lover, John. Attempting to come to his aid is Min, a kindly MetSche hybrid disguised as a cat. Andre, knowing that he must have further training before he can seek employment and attain stability, finds himself strongly drawn to the somewhat mysterious Jared at a vision rehabilitation center. Is there any hope or a relationship with him? And what of the beautiful planet with the yellow sky and the turquoise moon? Who are the benevolent but non-corporeal beings who show all this to Andre? In this sequel to The MetSche Message, the author presents us with a true maelstrom of emotions and conflicts. Journey along with him to the surprise ending for all the main characters, both human and alien.
The Metsche Message
by Stephen ThebergeYoung Andre, with his severe visual disability, experiences years of alienation, frustration, and abiding sadness in the face of human beings' cruelty to one another. At his boarding school for the blind and then later at college, his sources of joy are few: good food, music, and computer science-and eventually, the arms of his lover, John. Only in middle age does he learn that he and a very few others have been chosen by two far superior alien races to deliver a crucial message to all of humankind. The story is told primarily in the form of a long account of Andre's life: from his very earliest memories of being a visually impaired baby to the stunning visions of their planets imparted to him by the aliens, the Metans and Schegnans. Along with allowing him to view their beautiful present worlds, they show him the extremely violent past that they have evolved beyond. Can human beings ever do the same? Will Andre, John, and the two psychiatrists who are also privy to the aliens' powerful message be able to convince others on Earth to listen and learn?Readers are left to imagine their own answers to these questions. What they could never doubt are the emotion and deep humanity from which this imaginative and poignant story obviously springs.
The Middle Finger
by Saikat MajumdarNever afraid of taking risks, Saikat Majumdar has taken his place as one the most striking novelists writing today.– SHASHI DESHPANDE In prose of spare elegance and understated precision, Saikat Majumdar explores an ethical conflict around mentorship, as well as a welter of questions around creative compromise, cultural privilege and entitlement, including the insidious pressures on poets to be &‘snarky and snappy&’. Here is a storyteller whose language is writerly yet beautifully unmannered, supple enough to combine irony with gentleness, finely-modulated observation with axiomatic ease. – ARUNDHATHI SUBRAMANIUM A novel of love and friendship, pleasure, pain and jealousy. – R. RAJ RAOWhat are the ethical boundaries of friendship and intimacy between a student and a teacher? Megha, a young writing lecturer in New Jersey struggles to finish her thesis and find full-time employment even as she begins to find underground fame as a poet. Restless and disenchanted, she lets her professor and friends persuade her to take up a position at a new university in Delhi. Moving continents, resettling in the city she knew as a teenager, she discovers that the university is an island of wealth and privilege, and that her mandate is to teach and train some of the key members of India&’s ruling class. But her life as a teacher is disrupted as she makes a new friend who unsettles her and asks for unexpected support. In sharp and lyrical prose, The Middle Finger tells the story of a poet grappling with questions about mentorship and belonging, disrupting boundaries set by society and the hierarchies hidden in the world of education.
The Midnight Bear Express
by Francis GideonCody Langley is a broke college student who wants to do something nice for his niece and nephew for the holidays. Before New Year’s, he decides to take them to Treasure Bears, a toy workshop which allows children to build and customize their own personal stuffed toy. With some prep and warning from his sister, Cody takes the kids to the mall and hopes the adventure will go smoothly.Inside the loud and overbearing store, Cody soon sees something catch his eye: a sales clerk with dark hair, broad shoulders, and a bit of a beard. Taggart, a sales associate, is Cody’s perfect type. But before Cody can make a good first impression on Tag, his nephew Cameron decides to have a tantrum in the middle of the store.Unprepared and embarrassed, Cody’s not sure what to do. That’s where Taggart, who’s had more than enough experience with kids, saves the day. To get Cameron to cooperate, Tag tells him about the Midnight Bear Express: a train full of stuffed bears who will fill up any empty bear-skin during the night. The story wows Cameron just enough to calm him down and get him out of the store without any more issues. The story also allows for Tag and Cody to meet up again later that night, to grab the toy Cameron leaves behind.But after their evening is done, Cody wonders about his role in Taggart’s story. Will Cody get his very own boyfriend from the bear express, or will he be left out in the cold on New Year’s again?
The Midnight Detective
by Edward KendrickWhat is Wyn to do when he can't find his five-year-old daughter Celyn because she and her mother Marianne have disappeared with Marianne's new boyfriend? He hires a detective.The detective is Christoph Andreu, owner of Andreu Detection Agency. What few people know is that Christoph is a vampire, thus his definitely strange working hours. Wyn knows, however, but his need to find Celyn overrides the few concerns he might have that Christoph is more than human.Christoph was willing to take Wyn's case. More than willing when two men attack Wyn, believing he knows where to find Marianne's new lover. Despite the fact Christoph abhors physical violence; he deals with the men to save Wyn.Christoph finds himself drawn to Wyn, especially when he learns the man is not as straight Christoph believes, given the circumstances. In fact, Wyn is bi, which he readily admits. Bi, and drawn to the power and raw sexuality Christoph emits. As their search for Celyn intensifies, so does their immediate attraction for each other.Can Christoph find Wyn's missing daughter? And how will the two men handle their becoming lovers in spite of the fact Christoph is a vampire and Wyn isn't?
The Midnight Gardener (The Town of Superstition #1)
by R. G. ThomasThe Town of Superstition: Book OneAt fifteen, Thaddeus Cane has moved thirty-two times with his father. Each time he's displaced without explanation, Thaddeus loses any friends he's made. The name of their latest town is Superstition, but it seems normal enough, with one exception. Thaddeus's bedroom window gives him a view into the beautiful gardens next door. Every night after dark, an attractive guy around Thaddeus's age appears to tend the plants. When Thaddeus visits his neighbor, he discovers not only how deep his interest in the other man runs, but also that Teofil, the midnight gardener, isn't human. He's a garden gnome, a revelation that will lead to more secrets coming to light and an adventure unlike anything Thaddeus ever imagined.
The Midnight Girls
by Alicia Jasinska"Within a fiercely beautiful, cruel world, three young servants of three deadly witches change each other's lives forever. Alicia Jasinska's lush, darkly romantic The Midnight Girls is the subversive sapphic monster girl fantasy you've been waiting for."—Maya Gittelman, Tor.comIn a snow-cloaked kingdom, two wicked rivals secretly compete for the pure heart of a prince, only to discover they might be falling for each other.Karnawa? season is a time for mischief and revelry. For the next few weeks, all will be wintry balls, glittery disguises, and nightly torch-lit sleigh-parties.Unbeknownst to the merrymakers, two uninvited girls join the fun. Zosia and Marynka are drawn to each other the moment they meet, until they discover they're rivals, who both have their sights set on the prince's heart. If one consumes a pure heart, she'll gain immeasurable power. Marynka plans to bring the prince's back to her patron in order to prove herself. While Zosia is determined to take his heart and its power for her own.Their ambition turns into a magical contest with both girls vying to keep the prince out of the other's grasp, even as their attraction to one another grows. But their attempts on his life draws the attention of the city that would die for him, and suddenly their escalating rivalry might cost them not just their love for each other, but both their lives.Perfect for fans of:The Wicked Deep and A Curse So Dark and LonelyKilling Eve and WitcherWitchy talesDark fantasy fictionLGBTQ booksEnemies to lovers romancePraise for The Dark Tide:"Striking the perfect balance, The Dark Tide demands to be read in one held breath as its tide bears down on all."—Foreword, Starred Review"A dark scenic adventure, sensitively written for romantics, Jasinska's debut novel is a fantasy of promises, betrayal, unrequited love, and black magic."—School Library Journal, Starred Review"The Dark Tide is the dark, queer fantasy of your dreams that's part beauty and the beast, part something entirely new and original... a lush world that begs to be lived in... It's beautiful, and fast paced, and everything I ever want from a fairy tale."—Cat VanOrder, Bookmarks (Winston-Salem, NC)"Fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope will be ecstatic with this book...The Dark Tide offers an exciting and immersive story with a strong feminist slant that subverts common YA tropes and forges its own original path."—The Nerd Daily
The Midnight Lie (The Midnight Lie)
by Marie Rutkoski'Utterly immersive' Roshani Chokshi, bestselling author of The Gilded WolvesSet in the world of the Winner's Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us - and the lies we tell ourselves.Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society's pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colours. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest.But then she encounters is, a rakish traveller from far away, who whispers rumours that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.
The Midnight Lie: The epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy (The Midnight Lie)
by Marie Rutkoski'Rich characterization, exquisite worldbuilding and rock-solid storytelling make this a fantasy of unusual intelligence and depth . . . Breathtaking, tragic and true' Kirkus on The Winner's CurseSet in the world of the NYT-bestselling Winner's Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us - and the lies we tell ourselves.Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society's pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colours. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest.But then she encounters id, a rakish traveller from far away, who whispers rumours that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
The Midnight Sun
by Alexander VerlangenCove does not want to be matched. Matching changes everything. Every moment of Cove’s life has been documented using the most advanced AI system ever created. Every thought, every action, and every dream will be used to determine his perfect match. Ciaran is a dutiful prince of the Space Nation. His family expects a political match. They demand a marriage that will expand their power. When Cove and Ciaran are matched, the world is thrown into chaos.A love match between a surfer and a prince. One that tests the political and social boundaries between two feuding nations. Can love bring peace? Does the technology behind their matching even work? Does any of it matter when power demands their compliance?
The Mighty Have Fallen
by Bonnie DeeTheatre headliner Trevor Rowland is at the peak of his career when disaster strikes. In one fell swoop, he loses his eyesight, his fame, and his boyfriend, who absconds with most of his money. Trevor must take on a flatmate, hardworking East Ender Jack Burrows, to afford the rent. Anger and bitterness have taken up residence in his heart—but Jack shines light into the shadowy corners with his relentlessly sunny disposition. Jack introduces Trevor to a local drag club and convinces him he can enjoy the stage again. Trevor’s defences slowly come down as Jack becomes much more than a barely tolerated roommate. But will Trevor’s fragile trust be destroyed when it appears he’s been manipulated yet again by a man he’s come to care for? Will he reclaim his life or crawl back into a shell of defeat? Trevor must learn to trust not only a man, but himself, once more.
The Millionaire Upstairs (Dreamspun Desires #1)
by M. J. O'SheaHe might be hard to work for, but he's impossible to resist. Sasha Sobieski has the perfect job working at legendary American fashion house Harrison Kingsley--or at least he used to. He just never thought he'd have to work for Harrison Kingsley himself. Harrison is exacting, difficult, cold, and hands-down the sexiest man Sasha has ever seen. After years at the top, Harrison Kingsley knows what he wants, when he wants it, and exactly how he'd like it to be delivered to him. What he wants most right now? His new assistant. Sasha is mouthy, opinionated, and he drives Harrison mad. Problem is, Harrison can never tell if it's with anger... or desire.
The Mimicking of Known Successes
by Malka OlderThe Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older, author of the critically-acclaimed Centenal Cycle.“Every once in a while, a book comes along that is both a comfort read and a rousing, fist-pumping adventure, and The Mimicking of Known Successes absolutely is both of those things. An utter triumph.”—Charlie Jane AndersA Most Anticipated in 2023 Pick for Today.com | Buzzfeed | Polygon | Book Riot | Ms. MagazineOn a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university—and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems.Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake—and, perhaps, their futures, together.The Centenal Cycle by Malka OlderInfomocracyNull StatesState TectonicsAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
The Mingled Destinies of Crocodiles and Men (The River Dwellers)
by Eric Arvin2nd EditionSequel to Azrael and the Light BringerMinerva True is a River Dweller and mystic who lives deep in the forested hills of a river valley on the fringes of the world. She is the only person who sees the ancient danger that resides on a nearby chapel grounds. Most pay little heed to her warnings, and in the end only a small band of friends stand beside her. A tale of love and duty ensues, challenging the destinies of Minerva, the young hero Leith, his lover Aubrey, and the mute boy, Deverell. Leith’s half-crazed mother Calpurnia has her own aspirations, however, that prove detrimental not only to Minerva, but to everyone she comes in contact with.First Edition published by Wilde City Press, April 2013.2013 Rainbow Awards Finalist for Best Gay Fantasy, Best Gay Novel & Best LGBT Cover
The Minus-One Club
by Kekla MagoonFrom the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and Revolution In Our Time comes a moving contemporary YA novel about the bonds between a group of teens whose lives have been upended by tragedy.Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders knows grief and its all-encompassing shadows. After losing his beloved older sister in a tragic car accident, nothing quite punctures through the feelings of loss. Everywhere Kermit goes, he is reminded of her. But then Kermit finds a mysterious invitation in his locker, signed anonymously with "-1." He has no idea what he's in for, but he shows up to find out. Dubbed the "Minus-One Club," a group of his schoolmates has banded together as a form of moral support. The members have just one thing in common—they have all suffered the tragic loss of someone they loved. The usual dividing lines between high school classes and cliques don’t apply inside the Minus-One Club, and Kermit’s secret crush, the handsome and happy-go-lucky Matt (and only out gay student at school), is also a part of the group. Slowly, Matt's positive headstrong approach to life helps relieve Kermit of his constant despair. But as Kermit grows closer to Matt, the light of his new life begins to show the cracks beneath the surface. When Matt puts himself in danger by avoiding his feelings, Kermit must find the strength to not only lift himself back up but to help the rest of the group from falling apart."This evocative exploration of grief, sexual identity, and personal spirituality will be a boon to any teen grappling with these issues." –Horn Book"Magoon tells an emotionally complex narrative that emphasizes the importance of the roles loved ones play in individual lives and the ways one can be forever changed when they’re gone.” - Publisher's Weekly"In award-winning author Kekla Magoon's superbly written coming-of-age novel, a teenager tries to navigate life after the death of his sister . . . Magoon thoughtfully includes themes relating to depression, suicide, identity and religious expression as she compassionately builds Kermit's complicated, sensitive inner life and depicts the various ways people might respond to the loss of a loved one." -Shelf Awareness starred review
The Mirror
by Bell EllisWhen Vic Ledore buys an antique mirror only to find it's haunted, his initial fear turns to intrigue when he realizes he and the ghost wear the same face. The mirror is possessed by Philippe Montmarche, a vagrant who lived in early-1800s New Orleans and committed suicide after his lover went to war and died. Philippe is helplessly trapped until he can find his true love again. He also believes Vic is his reincarnation, but Vic isn't so sure. Soon after, Vic meets Jules Cassell, a gorgeous, witty, interesting man who relieves Vic's ennui and quickly finds his way to Vic's heart. But Philippe has captivated Vic as well, and when Philippe's search to find his lover mysteriously involves Jules, Vic can't help but be drawn into the tragic love story as he hopes to discover his own.
The Mirror and the Mask (Jane Lawless #17)
by Ellen HartMinneapolis restaurateur Jane Lawless is at crossroads. The rough economy has put her plans for a third restaurant on hold, and her long distance romance is on the rocks and quite possibly unsalvageable. Unsure of what to do next, she takes her good friend A. J. Nolan up on his standing offer to take her on as a private investigator. While still in training, her first job seems simple enough. All she had to do is find Annie Archer's stepfather. Jane tracks down a likely match--a man who has made a small fortune in real estate. While she's happy to close her first case, she finds it hard to reconcile the difference between PI work, "finding what people pay you to find" and uncovering the truth, the whole truth, especially when clues in this seemingly simple case point to more threatening family secrets than where Annie's father has been hiding out. Ellen Hart's The Mirror and the Mask is another engrossing mystery filled with the deceit and psychological intrigue that fans have come to expect from this Lambda and Minnesota Book Award-winning author.
The Miseducation of Cameron Post
by Emily M. Danforth<P>When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl. <P>But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and leaving well enough alone (as her grandmother might say), and Cam becomes an expert at both. <P>Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship-one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self-even if she's not exactly sure who that is. <P>The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.
The Miseducation of Evie Epworth: The Bestselling Richard & Judy Book Club Pick
by Matson TaylorThe Bestselling Richard & Judy Summer Book Club Pick 2021 The Bestselling Radio 2 Book Club Selection &‘Tight, clever and riddled with wit. Like discovering Adrian Mole or Bridget Jones for the first time.&’ Joanna Nadin, author of The Queen of Bloody Everything &‘A sweet, fizzy sherbet dib-dab of a book - deliciously nostalgic, hugely funny and ultimately heartwarming. The perfect book for our times.&’ Veronica Henry &‘Such a joyful and uplifting read. Just the sort of thing that people will want to be reading right now.&’ Anita Rani, Radio 2 Book ClubIt is the summer of 1962 and sixteen-year-old Evie Epworth stands on the cusp of womanhood. But what kind of a woman will she be? Up until now, Evie&’s life has been nothing special: a patchwork of school, Guides, cows, lost mothers, lacrosse and village fetes. But, inspired by her idols (Charlotte Brontë, Shirley MacLaine, the Queen), she dreams of a world far away from rural East Yorkshire, a world of glamour lived under the bright lights of London (or Leeds). Standing in the way of these dreams, though, is Christine, Evie&’s soon-to-be stepmother, a manipulative and money-grubbing schemer who is lining Evie up for a life of shampoo-and-set drudgery at the stinky local salon. Luckily Evie is not alone. With the help of a few friends, and the wise counsel of the two Adam Faith posters on her bedroom wall (&‘brooding Adam&’ and &‘sophisticated Adam&’), Evie comes up with a plan to rescue her future from Christine&’s pink and over-perfumed clutches. She will need a little luck, a dash of charm and a big dollop of Yorkshire magic if she is to succeed, but in the process she may just discover who exactly it is she is meant to be. Moving, inventive and achingly funny, with an all-star cast of bold-as-brass characters, The Miseducation of Evie Epworth is a perfectly pitched modern fairytale about love, friendship and following your dreams while having a lot of fun along the way. 'Full of fabulous characters, sprinkled with joy and drenched in wit.&’ Milly Johnson 'Funny and original with a cast of eccentric characters, this debut novel is a tour de force. Not to be missed.' Sunday Express 'A rich triumph of comic writing.' Waterstones.com 'One of the funniest, wittiest and most joyful books you will read this year.' Lancaster Guardian
The Misfit
by Ellie ThomasSequel to Gentlemen's AgreementAt the start of 1816, Luc Gerrard is summoned home to rural Essex from his sanctuary in the West Indies due to a dangerous downturn in his mother’s health. When she recovers, Luc is determined to pick up his musical employment in London's theatres, concert halls and ballrooms.He receives support and even friendship from a surprising source, the circle of gentlemen who spirited him away from certain arrest due to his connection with his former lover and Napoleonic plotter, James Beaufort.Luc juggles his pride and finances while attempting to gain an orchestral position at Drury Lane Theatre for the upcoming spring Season. Bittersweet memories are revived when he inevitably meets his longtime companion and sometime lover, Harry Kent. However, charming, easy-going casual Harry seems changed by Luc’s absence.Can Luc re-establish his interrupted career with a little help from his new friends? And might he and Harry find a lasting connection?