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A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage: A Novel
by Asia MackayTwo former serial killers trying to keep their past buried realize that old habits die hard in this &“wildly original, razor-sharp thriller&” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark). &“An invaluable manual that I return to again and again.&”―Hugh GrantI wasn't smashing the patriarchy; I was killing it. Literally.Hazel and Fox are an ordinary married couple with a baby. Except for one small thing: they're murderers. Well, they used to be. They had it all. An enviable London lifestyle, five-star travels, and plenty of bad men to rid from the world. Then Hazel got pregnant.Now, they&’re just another mom-and-dad-and-baby. They gave up vigilante justice for life in the suburbs: arranged play dates instead of body disposals, diapers over daggers, mommy conversations instead of the sweet seduction right before a kill. Hazel finds her new life terribly dull. And the more she forces herself to play her monotonous, predictable role, the more she begins to feel that murderous itch again.Meanwhile, Fox has really taken to being a father. Always the planner, he loves being five steps ahead of everyone and knowing exactly what&’s coming around the bend. Plus, if anyone can understand Hazel needing one more kill, it&’s Fox. But then Hazel kills someone without telling Fox. And when police show up at their door, Hazel realizes it will take everything she has to keep her family together.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Collection: Books 1-3 with Bonus Material (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
by Lemony Snicket Brett HelquistLemony Snicket's unhappy tale of the unlucky Baudelaire siblings begins with The Bad Beginning. In this short bothersome book alone, the three orphans encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. Should you not mind deadly serpents, slippery salamanders, lumpy beds, large brass reading lamps, long knives, and terrible odors, then proceed with caution to the second book in the miserable series, The Reptile Room. Readers unbothered by inclement weather, hungry leeches, and cold cucumber soup will want to continue with the third installment, The Wide Window. Others will not. If you've got the stomach to wade through the first three tragic tales in Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, then this troubling collection might be the one for you. Several loathsome extras, including a compilation of unsettling quotations and a very disturbing portrait, await those who successfully complete the wretched journey. You've been warned!
A Series of Unfortunate Events Collection: Books 10-13 (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
by Lemony Snicket Brett HelquistIf you have come this far, it is likely too late. Readers who have experienced the first nine volumes in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket are usually so weakened by their dreadful knowledge of the Baudelaire orphans' story that they spend most of their time moaning and weeping, and have no strength to read The Slippery Slope, The Grim Grotto, The Penultimate Peril, or The End. If, by chance, your moaning and weeping is more or less under control, there is no need to further risk your physical, emotional, and literary health by reading the four remaining volumes in the series. It would be better to regain your strength by spending your time indulging in less alarming activities, such as whistling or making cupcakes for the elderly. After all, this collection contains all of the calamities in the last four volumes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, including abandoned condiments, cigarette smoking, a shocking revelation, a ridiculous laugh, a fearsome storm, a herd of wild sheep, a truly haunting secret about the Baudelaire parents, another shocking revelation, and Phil. There is no need to exposure yourself to such atrocities, not after all you've been through already.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Collection: Books 4-6 (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
by Lemony Snicket Brett HelquistA Warning from the Publisher:<P><P> Imagine you are wearing a bandage that needs to be removed. Are you the sort of person who tears the bandage right off, causing an enormous amount of pain in a short instance? Or do you prefer to spread your pain out over a longer period of time, by slowly unpeeling the bandage from your injury?<P> If you are the first type of person, then this three-book electronic collection might be for you. All of the misery and woe available in three Lemony Snicket volumes—The Miserable Mill, The Austere Academy, and The Ersatz Elevator—have been joined into one compactly miserable package, so readers foolish enough to read about the Baudelaire orphans can be unnerved in a slightly more economical fashion.<P> If you are the second type of person, then volumes 4 through 6 in A Series of Unfortunate Events might be for you. Even if you unwisely choose to read them at a more leisurely pace, you will encounter such atrocities as poorly paid employees, a hypnotist, an evil scheme, a gym teacher, dripping fungus, another evil scheme, a fake accent, three mysterious consonants, a red herring, and at least one more evil scheme.<P> Of course, most people would prefer not to be injured at all. We salute these sensible people, who will doubtless not purchase any books by Lemony Snicket, no matter how conveniently bundled.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Collection: Books 7-9 (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
by Lemony Snicket Brett HelquistWould you rather sprain your ankle, bruise your hip, and lose a toe to frostbite on the same day? Or would you rather have these accidents happen on three different days? This electronic collection of volumes 7 through 9 in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket is the e-equivalent of having three ghastly accidents right in a row. Contained here are such unpleasantries as kidnapping, disguise, murder, paperwork, another disguise, heart-shaped balloons, false allegations, stiletto heels, a shattered crystal ball, a cryptic map, an irritating song, and quite a few more disguises, all bundled together into a continuous barrage of horror and dismay. The more sensible approach would be to read The Vile Village, The Hostile Hospital, and The Carnivorous Carnival months or even years apart from one another, so you have time to recuperate from the misery each volume offers—or better yet, to turn your eyes away from Mr. Snicket's work and find an electronic experience that would cause you no distress whatsoever.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Complete Collection: With Bonus Material (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
by Lemony Snicket Brett HelquistIf you have not read anything about the Baudelaire orphans, then before you read even one more sentence, you should know this: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny are kindhearted and quick-witted, but their lives are filled with bad luck and misery. All of the stories about these three children are unhappy and wretched and will most likely fill you with deep despair.<P><P> From The Bad Beginning to The End, this comprehensive collection with unfortunate bonus material that may or may not include trivia questions, character profiles, and several very sad sentences is the only choice for people who simply cannot get enough of a bad thing!
A Serious Man: A Novel
by David StoreyA successful playwright, painter, and novelist confronts his mortality and the past during a major life crisis in this novel by Man Booker Prize–winning author David Storey Richard Fenchurch has had a long and successful career as a playwright, painter, and novelist. But at age 65, he is coming apart at the seams. Fearing he will do something drastic if he remains alone, Fenchurch&’s married daughter, Harriet, takes charge of his life. She moves her father from his squalid London apartment to his ancestral mansion, where he courted his 1st wife—Harriet&’s mother, Bea—whom he met at a Christmas dance. Home again, with ghosts all around, Fenchurch journeys back in time while struggling to maintain his freedom and sanity. Past and present seamlessly intersect through the rich landscape of memory as Fenchurch begins to ruminate on his passionate affair 35 years earlier with his mother-in-law. In spite of their nearly 30-year age difference, the beautiful, exotic Isabella became the enduring love of his life. He relives his other romantic relationships as well, and through it all is plagued by self-doubt, depression, and guilt about how he has fared as a husband, a father, a friend, and a lover. Both a witty, spot-on portrayal of the indignities of age and an ardent evocation of youthful love, A Serious Man is above all a story about family.
A Severed Wasp: A Novel (Katherine Forrester Vigneras)
by Madeleine L'EngleA retired musician returns to performing in this &“soul-satisfying&” novel from the award-winning author of A Wrinkle in Time (Norman Lear). Now in her seventies, Katherine Vigneras, née Forrester, has returned to New York City after a successful career touring as a concert pianist in Europe. Much has changed for Katherine: She is widowed and retired, and has lived through the harrowing years of World War II. But when she encounters an old face from her youth in Greenwich Village, Katherine finds herself agreeing to perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, an endeavor that proves to be unexpectedly rewarding—and challenging. Touching and thought-provoking, A Severed Wasp explores the ebbs and flows in the life of an artist, and continues the story of the singular character who began Madeleine L&’Engle&’s accomplished career as a writer in her debut novel, The Small Rain. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Madeleine L&’Engle including rare images from the author&’s estate.
A Shadow of Guilt (Sicily's Corretti Dynasty #3154)
by Abby GreenA desperate woman must seek help from the one man she swore she’d never trust again in this romance of guilt, forgiveness, and passion.Valentina Ferranti has always blamed Gio Corretti and his reckless behavior for her brother’s death. The last time she saw Gio she slammed the door on him—forever shutting out her youthful infatuation. Or so she thought . . . Now, Val finds herself broke and publicly slandered by the infamous Carmela Corretti. There’s only one person she can turn to for help . . . the cold, inscrutable man from her past whose green eyes flash with guilt, regret, and a passion that calls to her.Valentina may have had the strength to ask for help, but does she have the willpower to resist all that entails?
A Sharon Creech Quartet
by Sharon CreechNewbery and Carnegie Medal-winning author Sharon Creech's stories become instant classics, beloved for their genuine characters and celebration of classic themes such as the gifts of love, family, and forgiveness. This quartet collects four of her bestselling novels, including the Newbery Medal-winning Walk Two Moons.Walk Two Moons: In this Newbery-winning novel, thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle, proud of her country roots and the "Indian-ness in her blood," travels from Ohio to Idaho with her eccentric grandparents. Along the way, she tells them of the story of Phoebe Winterbottom, who received mysterious messages, who met a "potential lunatic," and whose mother disappeared. As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe's outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold--the story of a girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.Ruby Holler: "Trouble twins" Dallas and Florida are orphans who have given up believing there is such a thing as a loving home. Tiller and Sairy are an eccentric older couple who live in the beautiful, mysterious Ruby Holler, but they're restless for one more big adventure. When they invite the twins to join them on their journeys, they first must all stay together in the Holler, and the magic of the place takes over.The Great Unexpected: Young Naomi Deane is brimming with curiosity and her best friend, Lizzie Scatterding, could talk the ears off a cornfield. Naomi has a knack for being around when trouble happens. She knows all the peculiar people in town--like Crazy Cora and Witch Wiggins. But then, one day, a boy drops out of a tree. Just like that. A strangely charming Finn boy. And then the Dingle Dangle man appears, asking all kinds of questions. Curious surprises are revealed--three locked trunks, a pair of rooks, a crooked bridge, and that boy--and soon Naomi and Lizzie find their lives changed forever.The Boy on the Porch: When a young couple finds a boy asleep on their porch, their lives take a surprising turn. Unable to speak, the boy Jacob can't explain his history. All John and Marta know is that they have been chosen to care for him. And, as their connection and friendship with Jacob grow, they embrace his exuberant spirit and talents. The three of them blossom into an unlikely family and begin to see the world in brand-new ways.
A Sharp Intake of Breath
by John MillerWinner of the 2009 Canadian Jewish Book Awards - Martin and Beatrice Fischer Award in Fiction Born with a split lip and cleft palate, Toshy Wolfman’s life is an uphill battle. Believing he is dim-witted and ugly, Toshy finds his resentment slowly building as he is ridiculed, used, and misled. Ultimately, he is imprisoned after being caught stealing a valuable and famous diamond, the Orange Sunset. But Toshy’s story is not his alone - it is shared with his two sisters: Lil, a radical and a devotee of anarchist Emma Goldman; and Bessie, who goes to work for one of Goldmans enemies, the owners of the Orange Sunset. Toshy’s love for his sisters drives him to make some of the bravest decisions of his life. But despite having seemingly overcome his obstacles, an aging Toshy stuns his nephew by asking for his assistance in committing suicide.Toshy wont fully explain his decision. Nor will he fully explain why, at this late stage in life, he is obsessed with making a journey to France.
A Shattered Life: A Novel
by Karen ShapiroA moving story of denial and depression taking the reader inside the complexities of a marriage shattered by the devastating loss of their only child. Kim, a psychotherapist and Mark, an emotionally distant actuary, build layers of protective defenses around them in order to survive. But when Kim receives a diagnosis of cancer, her unhealed pain rises to the surface.Kim embarks on an exploration of her Midwestern ancestors to find answers to the "why me" question. Starting with a diphtheria epidemic in the late 1800s to her current practice as a psychotherapist, she seeks understanding of the person she has become.Following Kim and Mark through doctor's visits, chemo drips, long nights, and even longer days, the story chronicles the grueling process of chemotherapy, as well as the complicated dance of a marriage in crisis. As Kim's treatment progresses, so too does her relationship with Mark, and the layers of emotional pain begin to peel away.
A Shelter in Our Car
by Monica GunningSince she left Jamaica for America after her father died, Zettie lives in a car with her mother while they both go to school and plan for a real home.
A Shetland Christmas Carol: The perfect cosy read for the holiday season! (From Shetland, With Love #4)
by Erin Green'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin, you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!'A lovely, heart-warming story . . . I was hooked!' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A delightful tale of friendship, family and love' JENNI KEER'Thoroughly entertaining. The characters are warm and well drawn' SUE ROBERTSReaders are loving the latest From Shetland, With Love book!'An excellent and highly enjoyable read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Brilliant escapism' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A good cozy read!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐...................................... Will the gift of friendship save their past, present and future?Callie has taken multiple jobs to make the money she desperately needs. Her favourite is being the new guide for Lerwick Manor's alpaca walks. But her troublesome past is making it difficult to prove to others that she's learned from her mistakes. Heather has been content breeding Sheltie sheepdogs and taking care of her grownup daughters. But now she feels that something is missing. Taking the leap into online dating, she makes an unexpected connection to which her daughters react very differently. Tabitha sells homemade soap at the Stables Gallery, but her true passion is for amateur dramatics. Winning a role in the group's festive production of A Christmas Carol, Tabby is determined to make her mark - but will her growing feelings for fellow actor Rabbie distract her? As Christmas draws near, can true friendship save the past, present and future of the Lerwick community?...................................... Don't miss any of Erin Green's gloriously uplifting reads in Lerwick - look out for From Shetland, With Love; From Shetland, With Love at Christmas and Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel - perfect for any season! 'Wow! Reading this book was like comfrey tea. The more it fermented the better it got' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'What a lovely and uplifting read. I really really enjoyed it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A perfect heartwarming read which has provided a great escape' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Loved this thoroughly feel good read & now I'm just off into my garden to plant some carrot seedlings!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed . . . look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! 'Utterly charming . . . an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool Places If you don't ask you'll never know . . . don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now! 'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough Telegraph
A Shetland Christmas Carol: The perfect cosy read for the holiday season! (From Shetland, With Love #4)
by Erin Green'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin, you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!'A lovely, heart-warming story . . . I was hooked!' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A delightful tale of friendship, family and love' JENNI KEER'Thoroughly entertaining. The characters are warm and well drawn' SUE ROBERTSReaders are loving the latest From Shetland, With Love book!'An excellent and highly enjoyable read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Brilliant escapism' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A good cozy read!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐...................................... Will the gift of friendship save their past, present and future?Callie has taken multiple jobs to make the money she desperately needs. Her favourite is being the new guide for Lerwick Manor's alpaca walks. But her troublesome past is making it difficult to prove to others that she's learned from her mistakes. Heather has been content breeding Sheltie sheepdogs and taking care of her grownup daughters. But now she feels that something is missing. Taking the leap into online dating, she makes an unexpected connection to which her daughters react very differently. Tabitha sells homemade soap at the Stables Gallery, but her true passion is for amateur dramatics. Winning a role in the group's festive production of A Christmas Carol, Tabby is determined to make her mark - but will her growing feelings for fellow actor Rabbie distract her? As Christmas draws near, can true friendship save the past, present and future of the Lerwick community?...................................... Don't miss any of Erin Green's gloriously uplifting reads in Lerwick - look out for From Shetland, With Love; From Shetland, With Love at Christmas and Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel - perfect for any season! 'Wow! Reading this book was like comfrey tea. The more it fermented the better it got' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'What a lovely and uplifting read. I really really enjoyed it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A perfect heartwarming read which has provided a great escape' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Loved this thoroughly feel good read & now I'm just off into my garden to plant some carrot seedlings!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed . . . look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! 'Utterly charming . . . an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool Places If you don't ask you'll never know . . . don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now! 'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough Telegraph
A Shetland Christmas Carol: The perfect cosy read for the holiday season! (From Shetland, With Love #4)
by Erin GreenCurl up this Christmas with the new feel-good listen for the holiday season from Erin Green!...................................... Will the gift of friendship save their past, present and future?Callie has taken multiple jobs to make the money she desperately needs. Her favourite is being the new guide for Lerwick Manor's alpaca walks. But her troublesome past is making it difficult to prove to others that she's learned from her mistakes. Heather has been content breeding Sheltie sheepdogs and taking care of her grownup daughters. But now she feels that something is missing. Taking the leap into online dating, she makes an unexpected connection to which her daughters react very differently. Tabitha sells homemade soap at the Stables Gallery, but her true passion is for amateur dramatics. Winning a role in the group's festive production of A Christmas Carol, Tabby is determined to make her mark - but will her growing feelings for fellow actor Rabbie distract her? As Christmas draws near, can true friendship save the past, present and future of the Lerwick community?(P) 2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
A Shining Affliction: A Story of Harm and Healing in Psychotherapy
by Annie G. RogersIn the midst of her work with Ben, a severely disturbed five-year-old, Annie is hospitalized with her own breakdown and must finally uncover where her history of childhood terror overlaps with Ben's and learn how her work in the field of psychotherapy involves great risks and great gifts.
A Ship Made of Paper: A Novel
by Scott SpencerDaniel Emerson lives with Kate Ellis, and he is like a father to her daughter, Ruby. But he cannot control his desire for Iris Davenport, the African-American woman whose son is Ruby's best friend. During a freak October blizzard, Daniel is stranded at Iris's house, and they begin a sexual liaison that eventually imperils all their relationships, Daniel's profession, their children's well-being, their own race-blindness, and their view of themselves as essentially good people.
A Short Gentleman
by Jon CanterHow did Robert Purcell, distinguished barrister and perfect specimen of the British Establishment, end up in prison? An intellectual giant but an emotional pygmy, Robert is a man struggling to come to terms with the forces that have brought him down, from the wife who wanted him to change, to the ex-girlfriend who came back to haunt him and the childhood bully who turned into an adult bully.Despite everything, Robert remains the same magnificently self-righteous man he always was, utterly resistant to therapy, change and the emotional demands of the opposite sex.
A Short Introduction to Attachment and Attachment Disorder
by Colby PearceThis book presents a short and accessible introduction to what 'attachment' means and how to recognise attachment disorders in children. The author explains how complex problems in childhood may stem from the parent-child relationship during a child's early formative years, and later from the child's engagement with the broader social world. It explores the mindset of difficult and traumatised children and the motivations behind their apparently antisocial and defensive tendencies. A Short Introduction to Attachment and Attachment Disorder includes case vignettes to illustrate examples, and offers a comprehensive set of tried-and-tested practical strategies for parents, carers and practitioners in supportive roles caring for children.
A Short Walk Home
by David Cry J. K. SimmonsA Short Walk Home is a heartfelt and inspirational memoir of a father raising and ultimately losing a child to the neurological disorder adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). Exploring the full extent to which a disease like ALD can shape and affect a life, as both David Cry and his family try to come to grips with the inevitable conclusion to their struggles, A Short Walk Home captures the helplessness and anger that every parent feels at being unable to save their children.Presented in prose both simple and true, A Short Walk Home shows us how to find peace and acceptance--at a time when we need it most. Drawn from the author's personal experience, as well as years of working with individuals and families suffering from ALD, Cry's story is at once both very personal, and very accessible--a story of appreciating what you have, making the most of the time you have left, and finding solace in the face of grief.Contrasting sadness with hope, vulnerability with strength, and frustration with acceptance, A Short Walk Home demonstrates that grief, no matter how great, can give way to a greater understanding.From the Trade Paperback edition.
A Shot of Hope: Real Wisdom from a Real Sibling Warrior Providing Real Hope for Autism
by Zack Peter"Autism shakes up your world. It has changed my life and I wasn't even the one diagnosed with it. My brother's name is Ethan Wolfgang, but we call him Deets. He is one of the greatest gifts my family has ever received. And one of the most challenging."So begins Zack Peter's memoir of his family's struggle to cope with his brother's autism. And thus began Peter's mission to ensure that his brother will one day live an independent life. He candidly describes his attempts to get his family on board with Ethan's biomedical treatment and his fight against their reluctance. He relates how his life changes when he comes up with the idea of hosting a local fundraisers, which then throws him into the world of activism. He describes how this leads to his becoming a full-time advocate for autism. As everything in his life becomes more and more centered around "the spectrum," Peter faces the personal struggle of being a voice for the cause while trying to maintain his own identity. Sharing the wisdom he's learned in a voice that's equal parts snark and heart, Peter offers a memoir that's as funny as it is poignant, filled with no-nonsense advice and what he calls "The Hope Rules," which are designed to help preserve sanity, dignity, and the will to stay strong.Whether you know someone with autism or not, Zack Peter's refreshing take on his life as a sibling and activist serves as inspiration to persevere, even when the odds seem impossibly long. It's everything you need to help keep your head up...like the bottom of your glass.
A Shower of Summer Days: A Novel
by May SartonNational Book Award Finalist: A couple returns to an Irish village after years away in this novel by the New York Times–bestselling author of As We Are Now. The Irish estate home Dene&’s Court has been empty for years—its icy visage, shuttered windows, and overgrown tennis court are a burden for its caretakers and a curiosity for the nearby townspeople. And so the announcement that Violet Dene Gordon and her husband, Charles, are on their way back from British Burma to settle in the long-dormant estate sends a ripple of excitement through the sleepy village. For Violet, Dene&’s Court stands as a monument to her childhood, but lingering doubts remain about whether she and Charles will be happy there. Adding complexity to the arrangement is the arrival of Violet&’s American niece, a college student named Sally who has been sent by her mother in an effort to put an ocean between the impetuous young woman and the object of her affection, an actor. Anxiety, tempers, and long-buried emotions flare as the estate&’s new residents search for a sense of belonging and peace between its hallowed and serene walls.
A Simple Case of Angels
by Caroline AddersonNicola’s adorable little dog, June Bug, keeps getting into trouble. She steals the neighbor’s turkey, yanks down the Christmas tree and destroys Mum’s almost-finished giant crossword. Everyone is mad, and it looks as though June Bug’s days are numbered.Will doing a good deed make up for June Bug’s bad behavior?Nicola certainly hopes so. And when she and June Bug come across a new nursing home in the neighborhood, it feels like a Sign. They volunteer to become regular visitors at Shady Oaks, certain that June Bug’s cute tricks will cheer up the elderly residents.In fact, they could all use some cheering up. It’s the holiday, and yet everyone seems to be cranky and off balance. Nobody has put up any lights, Nicola’s grade five teacher is inexplicably crabby, and Nicola’s big brother Jared stays holed up in front of the computer playing Inferno 2, eagerly sending winged creatures into a fiery abyss. Even Nicola is not herself, and when a new girl, Lindsay, tries to be her friend, Nicola finds herself being uncharacteristically mean, because Lindsay seems to be one of those hair-and-jewelry girls who wants her own subscription to Bride magazine for Christmas.But Nicola’s mother won’t let her visit Shady Oaks by herself, so when Lindsay offers to go with her, Nicola agrees. And the girls discover that something unusual is going on at the home, where it seems that a few of the more remarkable patients are being kept against their will. Freeing them will bring out the very best in Nicola, and especially in June Bug.
A Simple Distance: A Novel
by K.E. SilvaA California lawyer is reunited with her Caribbean mother, and must cope with a crisis, in a novel about identity and family. Jean has lived in the United States—and avoided her Caribbean homeland—for years. But as she prepares to work on a lesbian couple&’s child custody case, in the hopes of advancing her law career, she is suddenly pulled in another direction. Her uncle, a prominent man back on the island, has died, and Jean&’s mother, who nursed him through his long illness, demands her daughter&’s attention. She wants to come visit her in Oakland. As Jean struggles through memories of both childhood and adulthood, she must come to terms with her past, her future, her true identity—and her relationship with a woman who has made her life difficult, but who may now desperately need her help.