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Cakes and Ale
by Jordan DemaineAndrew Fletcher has a quiet life, living in the sleepy English seaside town where he was born and managing a theatre open only during the busy summer tourist season. He makes an unexpected friend in one of the actors, Oliver James, who comes down from London to play Christian in Cyrano de Bergerac. Over time, their friendship turns into something more, but a burgeoning relationship is complicated by the fact Oliver has a partner in London.When the COVID pandemic hits and the theatre is forced to close, seemingly for good, Andrew moves on from his job and from his crush. Will an unexpected encounter with Oliver several years later let them pick up where they left off? Or has too much time passed for there ever to be anything between them?
Dashing Through the Dough
by Jordan DemaineBlake gave up his Toronto-based baking business a year ago when his father was badly injured in an accident. A request to help cater a Christmas party at the prestigious Pine Ridge riding school might be the push he needs to get back into the swing of things, but a mistake from his past continues to cast a shadow over everything he does.Michael was once an Olympic medal-winning show jumper, but a miscalculation years ago sent him into a downward spiral from which he's only now beginning to recover. When he's asked to play Santa Claus at the Pine Ridge Christmas party, Michael is firmly against the idea.Once he meets the intriguing party caterer, he starts to rethink his opposition, but can he expect anyone to look beyond his dark past long enough to get close to him? Can he look beyond it long enough to forgive himself? And can Blake and Michael help each other finally move on from what came before?
Melting for Her
by Alex WintersIvy Madison has never seen snow before. Or driven up a mountain. Or driven up a mountain in a blinding snowstorm. But as one of the country’s premiere interior stagers, she has a job to do and no mere blizzard is going to stop her from turning Bear Mountain Ski Lodge into a winter wonderland this holiday season. Then again, she’s never met anyone like Maya before, and what a blizzard couldn’t do, the sexy ski instructor just might!Maya Carlton can’t believe anyone made it up the summit before the mountain patrol shut down the pass for the holidays, but if anyone could, it’s sexy Ivy, emerging from her tiny little rental car shaken but unbowed. Maya is the sole caretaker of the Lodge until the roads are cleared for travel after Christmas, and Ivy is her responsibility now, and one the young ski instructor can’t help but take personally.As the blinding snowstorm seals them off from the rest of the world, the two can’t help but fall for each other, and by the time the roads clear after the holidays, love will make parting after the New Year harder than ever.Unless they decide to make Bear Mountain their happily ever after.
Beard on Birds
by James BeardAn essential guide to cooking all things poultry from the master of American cuisine James Beard&’s culinary relationship with fowl has a most fascinating history. On Christmas Eve, 1942, Beard, along with eleven other air force recruits, was chosen to carve four thousand pounds of turkey overnight—an experience that put him off turkey for years. When he finally returned to the nation&’s favorite bird, it was with remarkable vigor and creativity. Beard on Birds reflects this passion with expertly crafted dishes that will appeal to a modern twenty-first-century palate. The definitive classic equips home cooks with the skills and techniques they need to artfully prepare chicken, turkey, duck, goose, and more. With more than two hundred recipes ranging from squab to stuffing and from quiche to quail, Beard on Birds will banish boring and bland poultry dishes forever. Whether you&’re cooking an intimate dinner or a Thanksgiving feast, Beard&’s good humor and simple-yet-elegant recipes are sure to stand the test of time.
September Song: Stories
by William HumphreyFrom one of America&’s most acclaimed authors comes a masterful collection of bittersweet tales about the autumn of life In the exquisite title story, seventy-six-year-old Virginia Tyler will finally marry the love of her life—as soon as she finds the courage to leave her husband of almost fifty years. In &“The Apple of Discord,&” a Hudson Valley farmer, heartsick that none of his three daughters or their husbands wants to keep the family orchard, commits an act of desperation.&“Vissi d&’Arte&” is the poignant story of a husband whose belief that his wife is destined to become a world-famous painter borders on the delirious. In &“A Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man,&” an aging writer realizes that the young reporter sent from the big-city newspaper to interview him is gathering material for his obituary. The lies he tells her are a delicious act of defiance. By turns tender, funny, and sad, September Song is William Humphrey at his most eloquent and empathetic. This ebook features an illustrated biography of William Humphrey including rare photos form the author&’s estate.
Digging to Australia: A Novel
by Lesley GlaisterAn English girl takes a &“tumble into a warped wonderland&” when her Lewis Carroll-inspired journey unearths unexpected secrets, desires, and dangers (Los Angeles Times). Trapped in suburban England, appalled by her parents, and desperately shy, twelve-year-old Jennifer Maybee is facing the terrors of adolescence alone. After reading Alice in Wonderland, she digs a hole in her backyard hoping to find what her mother calls the &“topsy-turvy world of Australia.&” Instead, led by a stray cat, Jennifer follows a secret pathway of a different sort. On the other side of a tangle of bramble, Jennifer claims her own Wonderland: an empty playground, a deserted church, and an unattended graveyard. But Jennifer isn&’t alone. She meets something close to a friend in Bronwyn, a girl burdened by family tragedy. However, it&’s in a squatter named Johnny that Jennifer&’s fantasies for a new life begin to bloom. He&’s too charming, and too unaccountably sexy for Jennifer to listen to those nasty rumors that he might be responsible for the disappearances of other lonely girls. All Jennifer can do now is marvel at the mysteries to come. From the Somerset Maugham Award–winning author, &“dangerous secrets and sinister undertones power this uncommon coming-of-age tale&” (Publishers Weekly). Jennifer Maybee, the protagonist of this &“enormously enjoyable&” novel of innocence lost, returns in Leslie Glaister&’s Partial Eclipse (Nick Hornby). &“Perverting Wonderland into a place to smoke cigarettes and pry into other people&’s secrets . . . this Alice is a match for any dark thing she encounters.&” —Los Angeles Times &“Before Gillian Flynn, there was Lesley Glaister.&” —Harper&’s Bazaar
A Diamond Before You Die: A Neal Rafferty New Orleans Mystery (The Neal Rafferty New Orleans Mysteries #2)
by Chris WiltzA &“likable, savvy New Orleans private eye&” deals with marriage, murder, and Mardi Gras in this mystery by the author of The Last Madam (Publishers Weekly). Richard Cotton, aspiring to become district attorney, has hired private detective Neal Rafferty to keep tabs on his wife—who, in turn, has hired someone else to keep tabs on him. It&’s almost Mardi Gras in 1980s New Orleans, and when the masks go on they hide a multitude of sins—like bribery, corruption, and drug-running, not to mention Richard Cotton&’s own particular secret. And once bodies start showing up, Rafferty realizes that adultery is far from the only scandal. In this town, all things eventually settle into the Mississippi River mud. It&’s just a question of what stays buried . . . &“Wiltz bring a refreshing individual outlook to the formula of hard-boiled detective fiction.&” —The Washington Post Book World
Blameless
by B. A. ShapiroA Boston psychologist fights for her life—and her unborn child—in this &“compelling&” thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Art Forger (Boston Herald). In Blameless, a psychological thriller set in Boston&’s Back Bay, psychologist Diana Marcus must fight to save her good name, career, and marriage when a patient, James Hutchins—who suffers from borderline personality disorder—commits suicide, and his family files charges of malpractice, sexual abuse, and wrongful death against her. Although she is far from blameless, Diana clears her name by proving that James did not commit suicide—a revelation that throws her into a battle for her life, as well as that of her unborn child, when she becomes the prime suspect in James&’s murder—and perhaps the real murderer&’s next victim.
The Adventurer's Guide to Living a Happy Life: 63 Simple Tips to Add Happiness to Your Life Each and Every Day
by Matt MostellerThe Adventurer&’s Guide to Living a Happy Life is a no-nonsense, straightforward collection of tips that will guide you forward on your journey to a happy life. Leave it to Powder Matt, coach, executive, family man, lover of life, and outdoor adventurer to provide simple tips that you can easily use to enhance your own life. Distilled from his own vast knowledge and experience, from heart-pounding adventures to walking in his local park to preparing and training for one of the world&’s toughest adventure races, or his harrowing, life-changing experience of surviving a grizzly attack, he boils down what has worked for him into this easy-to-read guide consisting of sixty-three simple tips to add happiness to your life each and every day. This book will help you to: Stick to adding happiness to your life each and every day Take stock daily and become aware of your actions Focus on positive action that creates a ripple effect Stay motivated, focused, and refreshed Celebrate the small successes daily Believe that you will feel happier every day!
Friday's Feast (The Executioner #37)
by Don PendletonIn Baltimore the Executioner prepares for his final showdown with the mob For four days Mack Bolan has carried the battle against organized crime all across the country in a take-no-prisoners firefight that&’s hotter than any he&’s ever fought. After crippling Mafia operations in Florida, he makes his way to Baltimore, home of the last great capo, where the minions of organized crime prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, the Executioner&’s endless war is about to come to a close. With the help of his oldest ally, undercover cop Leo Turrin, Bolan infiltrates the establishment one last time. With Turrin feeding him information from the inner circles of Mafia power, it should be a cinch to crush this last outpost of mob resistance. But even a dying snake has venom in its fangs, and the ruthless killers of Baltimore will bring mortal danger to Bolan and his closest friend. Friday&’s Feast is the 37th book in the Executioner series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Golden Swan (The Book of Isle #5)
by Nancy SpringerA shape-shifter and an errant soul share an unbreakable bond and a curse, and must join together to fulfill an ancient magical prophecy in Nancy Springer&’s final installment of the Book of Isle When Prince Dair was a small child and still in wolf form, he saw his future in the loom of Ylim, the weaving seeress as old as the world. It was prophesied that he, the changeling son of King Trevyn of Isle, would travel far from his home and his loved ones, carrying his magic to the mainland. For the first time, Dair saw the golden swan, and the face of the stranger to whom he was eternally linked, the wanderer called Frain. But this mysterious youth who can feel everything Dair feels—his emotions, his anxieties, his pain—bears an obligation to a lost love and a curse of dark enchantment. Still, the bond that unites Dair and Frain is stronger than iron, and in their mystical union rests the fate of a troubled land. Reviewers have compared the volumes in Nancy Springer&’s enthralling Book of Isle series to the works of J. R. R. Tolkien and other masters of fantasy literature. The captivating saga concludes spectacularly with an unforgettable tale of duty, friendship, peril, fate, and love that adds a new richness and color to this remarkable island realm and its magical inhabitants.
Boy: A Novel (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics Ser.)
by James HanleyTo escape a brutal life on the Liverpool docks, a boy runs away to sea Arthur Fearon is nearly thirteen, and in the eyes of the law, that makes him a man. He wants to study to become a chemist, but his family cannot afford for him to continue school. The thought of a life working the docks makes Fearon break down in front of his classmates, but there is no time to cry. This boy has to get to work. The docks are hellish, and Fearon&’s first day is his last. He hops a steamer to Alexandria, looking for a better life on the sea, but everywhere he goes, he finds cruelty, vice, and the crushing weight of adulthood. He will not be a man for long. The subject of an infamous 1930s obscenity trial, this is the original, unexpurgated text of James Hanley&’s landmark novel: an unflinching examination of child labor and a timeless tale of adulthood gained too soon.
Nina Todd Has Gone: A Novel
by Lesley GlaisterThe truth behind a one-night stand becomes just as terrifying as the consequences, &“engrossing&” (The Guardian). Nina Todd is a woman of unextraordinary looks, with a dependable boyfriend and a menial job in Sheffield. It&’s what she&’s craved for years—a completely normal life. Then, while on a business trip in Blackpool, she&’s approached by a younger man in the Hotel Astoria. She should have said no, but he was too handsome, and too persuasive to let go. The only trouble is . . . now he won&’t let her go. What can he possibly want with her? He doesn&’t even know her real name. It wasn&’t a random pick-up. Nina&’s the one Rupert had been searching for. And he&’s not giving up on her. Wherever she goes, Rupert will be there, too—gorgeous, irresistible, distracting, and determined to rip apart Nina&’s newly ordered life. Now all she has to fear is her relationship and her job. She&’ll never suspect there&’s so much more. Nina doesn&’t even know his real name. If she did, she&’d run like hell. What begins as a fatal attraction takes a terrifying detour as the paths of two apparent strangers converge, in this psychological thriller from &“the suspense writers&’ suspense writer&” (Harper&’s Bazaar). &“A gripping page-turner.&” —Cosmopolitan &“Horribly plausible and crisply executed.&” —The Sunday Telegraph
The Hidden Pope: The Untold Story of a Lifelong Friendship That Changed the Relationship Between Catholics and Jews (Inspirational Ser.)
by Darcy O'BrienFrom a PEN/Hemingway Award–winning author: The true story of Pope John Paul II, his Jewish childhood friend, and a milestone in religious history. In October 1978, Karol Wojtyla, Polish Archbishop of Krakow, became Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pontiff in 455 years. He had a mission to improve the Catholic Church&’s relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Anglican Communion. Only days after the election, he granted Jerzy Kluger, a virtually unknown Jewish businessman, the privilege of first audience at the Vatican. Jerzy was overwhelmed, but not surprised. When they were children, Karol and Jerzy were best friends, known then as Lolek and Jurek. For the pope, this union of Catholic and Jewish faiths was a profound symbol of things to come. It was also a personal gesture that reflected a remarkable bond between the two men. The Hidden Pope is the story of that relationship, from their simple boyhood in the small town of Wadowice in southern Poland to their separation at the beginning of World War II and their survival under Nazi occupation and Soviet tyranny. The reunion almost thirty years later—after Jerzy lost his family in the Holocaust and spent years in Stalinist labor camps—would not only deepen a friendship, but also afford Jerzy a unique perspective on papal intrigue and policies when he was eventually appointed diplomat between the Vatican and Israel. Set against the landmark events of the twentieth century, and the monumental reconciliation between Christianity and Judaism, this singular portrait of John Paul II reveals him as only one of his closest friends can. Readers will come to know the Holy Father as a man, to understand his controversial ideas as expressions of his life experiences, and to discover the genesis of an enduring friendship that would impact the world. The Hidden Pope is &“a fascinating personal tale played out against the great moments of modern European history. . . . Anyone intrigued by the often surprising confluences of history, politics and religion will relish this impressive study in faith, friendship and mutual respect&” (Publishers Weekly).
Once More, Miranda
by Jennifer WildeAgainst the backdrop of the Jacobite rebellion, New York Times–bestselling author Jennifer Wilde spins the passionate tale of a beautiful pickpocket who finds love in the arms of a Scotsman bent on revenge In 1746 Miranda James lives by her wits on the streets of London, searching for easy marks—until she&’s caught picking the wrong pocket. Sentenced to hang, she is saved from the gallows by a fierce-eyed Scotsman . . . on the condition she become his indentured servant. A loyal subject until his brothers were murdered at the Battle of Culloden in an attempt to restore Prince Charles to the Scottish throne, Cameron Gordon lives for revenge. As Miranda&’s master, he teaches her the power of words—and the pleasures of passion. From street urchin to celebrated author, from the dangers of a secret insurrection to the truth about her mysterious past, Miranda struggles against insurmountable odds, ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for the love that could be her future and her enduring legacy.
A Rare Benedictine: The Advent of Brother Cadfael (The Chronicles of Brother Cadfael #0)
by Ellis Peters&“Three classic stories featuring Brother Cadfael . . . whose powers of deduction are practically miraculous&” in the Silver Dagger–winning medieval mystery series (Booklist). &“Brother Cadfael sprang to life suddenly and unexpectedly when he was already approaching sixty, mature, experienced, fully armed and seventeen years tonsured.&” So writes Ellis Peters in her introduction to A Rare Benedictine—three vintage tales of intrigue and treachery featuring the monastic sleuth who has become the best-loved ecclesiastical detective since Father Brown. Although Cadfael has appeared in twenty novel-length chronicles, the story of his entry into the monastery at Shrewsbury has been known hitherto only to a few readers. Now his myriad fans can discover the chain of events that led him into the Benedictine Order.
Illumination Night: A Novel
by Alice HoffmanA &“wondrous&” novel of fear, desire, loss, and discovery on Martha&’s Vineyard by the New York Times–bestselling author of Practical Magic and Seventh Heaven (Chicago Tribune). Elizabeth Renny has only made two decisions of consequence in her seventy-plus years. While the first, marrying her husband, had adequate results, the second—deciding she could fly from her bedroom window—is less successful. But her flight sets in motion a series of events that will forever change the lives of six residents of Martha&’s Vineyard: a young boy who refuses to grow, a wife stifled by her irrational anxiety, a husband tempted by the unknown, a girl flirting with disaster, a gentle giant tortured by his size, and an old woman with nothing to lose. Praised as &“an intelligent novel&” by the New York Times and &“achingly vivid&” by Newsday, Illumination Night is a sparkling and heartbreaking narrative that explores marriage, friendship, youth, yearning, disillusionment, and desire, a book as bright and memorable as the festival of lanterns for which it is named.
Lady of the Beasts: Poems
by Robin MorganRobin Morgan&’s second collection of poems is a rich tapestry of female experience, both literal and mythic Daughter, wife, mother, lover, artist, and even priestess are all here in shorter lyrics that cluster around four subjects: blood ties, activism and art, love between women, and archetypes. But Morgan surpasses the political grief and rage she delineated in Monster, her acclaimed first book of poems—especially in the four major metaphysical poems here: &“The City of God,&” balancing grace and despair; &“Easter Island,&” on the ironies of transcendence in embattled love; &“The Network of the Imaginary Mother,&” which became a virtual anthem of the women&’s movement; and &“Voices from Six Tapestries,&” inspired by the famous Lady and theUnicorn weavings that hang in the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Themes of familial love and hurt, mortality, survival, and transformation inform the poems collected here as the author weaves a wise and powerful self into being. Lady of the Beasts is Robin Morgan at her most lyrical yet.
Arizona Ambush (The Executioner #31)
by Don PendletonWhen the mob opens up a drug pipeline, the Executioner comes to shut it off Far from the lights of the city, in the desert near the Mexican border, the mob has erected a sprawling compound where planes can land undetected. This will be the heart of the Arizona corridor—a drug-smuggling route that will dwarf even the infamous French connection. And Mack Bolan will kill to keep the operation off the ground. Wearing a black jumpsuit, his belt full of ammunition, the Executioner plans to make Arizona the new front in his war against organized crime. He has spent days cataloging the Mafia heavies who come and go from the compound in the desert, and now he is ready to strike. Two mob factions are working together in Arizona—and Mack Bolan will ensure that they destroy each other. Arizona Ambush is the 31st book in the Executioner series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Crossword Murder: A Crossword Mystery (Crossword Mysteries #1)
by Nero BlancSolving puzzles can be murder when a PI and a crossword editor join forces to catch a killer in the first novel of Nero Blanc&’s fiendishly clever crossword mystery series Playboy Thompson C. Briephs has just been found strangled in his bed. The police believe the Newcastle Herald crossword editor, a scion of a blue-blooded New England family, died from kinky sex gone wrong. But cop-turned–private investigator Rosco Polycrates thinks there&’s a six-letter word for what happened. Enlisting the help of Annabelle Graham, the crossword editor for a rival paper, Rosco unearths a crazy quilt of suspects who had it in for the victim—and one of them was blackmailing him. Belle is certain the answers lie in Briephs&’s twisty puzzlers. Now she and Rosco will have to employ some dazzling wordplay of their own to stop a cunning killer from crossing paths with another victim. Readers will delight in solving the crime, along with six crossword puzzles, which can be downloaded as PDFs, with answers in the back of the book. The Crossword Murder is a book to be savored by mystery lovers and crossword-puzzle enthusiasts alike.The Crossword Murder is the 1st book in the Crossword Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
Loonglow: A Novel
by Helen EisenbachYoung New Yorkers negotiate challenging relationships in this &“sharp, witty and touching&” novel of friendship, sex, and love (Time Out). Manhattan offers the promise of escape for an aimless young man from Memphis. When Clay Lee comes to town hoping to take refuge from family ghosts, he has no idea that a fleeting encounter with an impossibly beautiful woman will upend his life. What begins as a brief obsession becomes the catalyst for exploring the meaning of love itself—in ways Clay could never have anticipated. As he attempts to get his hard-won lessons into focus—and print—he enters a world he didn&’t know existed. Wry New York book editor Louisa Mercer has a puzzle she can&’t solve: Her love affair with the dazzling, mercurial Mia D&’Allesandro has imploded for reasons she can&’t pinpoint, and she can&’t seem to break its spell. When Louey discovers a manuscript with more than a few direct applications to her own life, her collaboration with its author transforms them both. With New York City as its glittering backdrop, Loonglow explores the exhilarating and heartbreaking turns that life delivers to both the victors and the victims of love.
Chamber Music: A Novel
by Doris GrumbachIn her later years, a woman reflects on her marriage, her stifled passions, and her life At age ninety, Caroline Maclaren, widow of the prominent composer Robert Maclaren, finally decides to tell her own story. &“Perhaps the time was not right to do it before,&” she remarks. But now she takes pen to paper, reliving her sheltered girlhood, her chilly marriage to a brilliant man, and—perhaps above all—the melancholy solitude in which she has lived nearly all her life. It was only when her husband fell ill that Caroline found fulfilling companionship with Anna, Robert&’s caretaker. This masterful tale of loneliness and of passion late in life is widely considered to be Grumbach&’s finest work. Bittersweet, touching, and profoundly resonant, Chamber Music is captivating.
The Scent of Magic: The Five Senses Set (The Five Senses Set #3)
by Andre Norton&“A heady mixture of Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and aromatherapy in this new magical adventure&” from the Science Fiction Grand Master (Publishers Weekly). An orphaned child and captive scullery maid, young Willadene possesses an uncanny ability to sense and understand the magical odors that pervade her world. It is this remarkable talent—or curse—that carries her far from the fetid kitchen into an apprenticeship with a revered herbalist and ultimately to the highest circles of the Ducal court. But there is depravity lurking within the castle&’s walls, inspiring brazen treacheries and usurpations—and foul abduction as unthinkable as it is unexpected. And an innocent girl finds the heightened sense that has been her fortune is now drawing her down into a maelstrom of evil.
Savage Fire (The Executioner #28)
by Don PendletonTo save a friend, the Executioner comes home with a vengeance In a Pittsfield cemetery Mack Bolan looks down at his family plot. A space has been left for him, but Bolan is not yet ready to die. His war against the Mafia has taken him around the globe, and now he is back where it all began—not to avenge his family, but to save a friend. Undercover cop Leo Turrin has spent years climbing the ranks of organized crime, risking his life and his family to help put mobsters behind bars. Now the mobsters are about to strike back. The local kingpin suspects a rat in his ranks and is close to sniffing out Leo. To save his friend&’s life, Mack asks him to sit tight so he can shore up Leo&’s cover story the only way he knows how: with a gun. Savage Fire is the 28th book in the Executioner series, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Genome: A Novel
by Sergei LukyanenkoA science fiction thriller by the author of Night Watch, the hit novel that inspired two major motion picturesFive months after the horrific accident that left him near death and worried that he&’d never fly again, master-pilot Alex Romanov lands a new job: captaining the sleek passenger vessel Mirror. Alex is a spesh—a human who has been genetically modified to perform particular tasks. As a captain and pilot, Alex has a genetic imperative to care for passengers and crew—no matter what the cost.His first mission aboard Mirror is to ferry two representatives of the alien race Zzygou on a tour of human worlds. His task will not be an easy one, for aboard the craft are several speshes who have reason to hate the Others. Dark pasts, deadly secrets, and a stolen gel-crystal worth more than Alex&’s entire ship combine to challenge him at every turn. And as the tension escalates, it becomes apparent that greater forces are at work to bring the captain&’s world crashing down.