Contemporary lifestyle fiction

Book SynopsisThe fiery new romance from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author L.A. Casey—can Noah unlock her memories…and find true love? When Noah Ainsley wakes up in a hospital room with no recollection of how she got there, all she knows is that she needs to see Elliot, the love of her life. Then she learns the horrifying truth: her short-term memory has been destroyed by a car accident. She and Elliot broke up five years ago. And now she’s married to Anderson, a man she doesn’t even recognise. In an instant Noah’s world is turned on its head. All she wants is Elliot by her side, but it’s clear Anderson is hurt by her rejection. Can she really have fallen in love with this stranger? Nothing makes sense—and when even Elliot refuses to answer her questions, Noah is left feeling all alone. But as her memories slowly return, Noah begins to wonder if she’s been wrong to shut Anderson out—and wrong to put all her trust in Elliot. The ex she loves and the husband she doesn’t remember hold the keys to her past. And when the truth is finally revealed, which future will Noah’s heart choose?

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Book SynopsisA compelling and provocative debut novel told in intersecting timelines over a tumultuous, defining year in one woman’s life. Simone is trying her best not to think of what she’s lost. Diagnosed with MS, she awaits the results of another anxiety-inducing MRI. She’s just walked away from Connor, “a fixer” but possibly the love of her life. And nearing the holidays, the sights and sounds of winter in South Dakota only prick memories of better years gone by. Then, on a December morning at the university where she works, jarring gunshots pierce the halls. In a temporary safe place and terrified, Simone listens and pretends this will all be over soon. As she waits for silence, her mind racing, Simone’s past year comes into focus. Falling in love and missing it. Finding strength in family and enduring friendships. Planning for the future, fearing it, and hoping against hope in dark places. Her life has been changing at the speed of light, and each crossroad brought Simone here, to this day, to endure the things she can’t control and to confront those that she can.Trade Review“Thrilling as it is heart-felt, The Speed of Light drew me in from the first page. While its newly-diagnosed heroine struggles with life’s unexpected twists, Dickey delivers a story about family, friendship, and the kind of love that truly makes us feel seen.” —Elle Marr, bestselling author of The Missing Sister “Compellingly readable, Elissa Grossell Dickey’s The Speed of Light takes readers on a harrowing journey through the storm that is Simone Archer’s life, starting with her diagnosis of an unpredictable, incurable illness. With the stakes high, the wry and quick-witted Simone discovers hidden inner strength that drives her forward even as she comes face-to-face with her own mortality. The Speed of Light is a suspenseful tale about overcoming illness and fear, and discovering the untapped powers we have within ourselves.” —Meredith O’Brien, author of four books including Uncomfortably Numb: A Memoir “The Speed of Light is a gripping page-turner, infused with a compassionate and insightful look at chronic illness.” —Kimmery Martin, bestselling author of The Queen of Hearts “Gripping, compelling, and real, The Speed of Light is an incredible debut that lets you inside the mind of a woman whose life has been turned upside down, first by a life-changing medical diagnosis, then by an important new relationship, and then by an unimaginable tragedy at her workplace. Dickey weaves together a story that is impossible to put down, and even as it reminds you that your own life could be irrevocably altered at any moment, it is also filled with encouragement, wisdom, and warmth. A book that calls its reader to empathy and bravery.” —Suzy Krause, author of Valencia and Valentine and Sorry I Missed You

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Book SynopsisFor three women with so much to hide, there’s no such thing as a little white lie… All three women who live at 1054 Mockingbird Lane have secrets…and with a body at the bottom of their apartment building’s staircase, those secrets need to stay buried. Sylvia Webb has a plan. And a potential Mr. Right. He’s sweet, simple, and dependably clueless about what she’s up to. The only thing unpredictable about him is his needy ex-girlfriend, who is this close to shattering Sylvia’s dreams. But Sylvia’s not going to let that happen. Riki McFarlan has a good career and an amazing boyfriend who wants to settle down. If only she didn’t have feelings for her neighbor—who happens to be her close friend’s husband. With everything going so right, why is Riki flirting with something so wrong, so…dangerous? Embry Taylor is as devoted to her children as she is to her husband, who’s a bartender by night, an aspiring actor by day. She is his biggest fan. But with his career not taking off and tensions high, even sweet Embry has something she’s desperate to keep hidden. Lies, secrets, and revenge. For three neighbors with stakes so high, someone is headed for a downfall.Trade Review“Wise masterfully captures the tension between appearances and reality, spinning a fast-paced and darkly funny tale of three young women each with her own secrets, each reaching for her dreams. I loved it!” —Kaira Rouda, international and USA Today bestselling author “Stacy Wise writes characters who get under your skin; whose secrets and lies set off land mines beneath seemingly ordinary lives; and who will stay with you long after you finish the last page of this clever, satisfying, and ultimately hopeful book.” —Carol Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of The Lake of Dead Languages and The Sea of Lost Girls “Lie, Lie Again starts with a bang—a body at the bottom of the staircase! And it’s a wild ride—filled with wild lies—until the very last page. Stacy Wise writes with intensity, emotion, and just the right amount of humor as she tells the story of three women whose lives intersect at an apartment complex on Mockingbird Lane. Their secrets bubbling below the surface, threatening to be revealed…unless they lie. Lie, Lie Again is a must-read!” —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of How to Save a Life “On Mockingbird Lane everyone has a compelling reason to lie. For three young women, all neighbors in a cozy apartment complex, secret yearnings and dark desires become the ties that bind them tightly together. Mistrust and misunderstandings thicken the plot—with fatal consequences. Readers who enjoy claustrophobic tension with a sexy sizzle will find themselves racing to finish Lie, Lie Again.” —Linda Keir, author of Drowning with Others

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Book SynopsisA bittersweet reunion becomes a time for looking back and starting over in a heartwarming new novel from New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown. Miss Janie is at the end of a long and full life, but she has no intention of crossing that finish line until she’s found her girls… It’s been ten years since Teresa and Kayla shook off the dust of Birthright, Texas, went their separate ways, and never looked back. Apart from their foster mom, Miss Janie, they don’t have many fond memories of their hometown. Or of each other. Still, neither can forget the kind woman who opened her home and heart to two teenagers in need. When a private investigator—who just happens to be Miss Janie’s handsome nephew—tracks them both down and tells them Miss Janie is dying, Teresa and Kayla know deep down that they’ve got to be there for her as she had been there for them. With Teresa and Kayla together again under the same roof, old tensions may flare, but with Miss Janie’s help, they might rediscover that home is the perfect place for new beginnings.Trade Review“[A] heartfelt tale of familial love and self-acceptance.” —Publishers Weekly “Heartfelt moments and family drama collide in this saga about sisters.” —Woman’s World

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Book SynopsisThree generations of women—and the love, loss, sacrifice, and secrets that can bind them forever or tear them apart. Millicent Glenn is self-sufficient and contentedly alone in the Cincinnati suburbs. As she nears her ninety-first birthday, her daughter Jane, with whom she’s weathered a shaky relationship, suddenly moves back home. Then Millie’s granddaughter shares the thrilling surprise that she’s pregnant. But for Millie, the news stirs heartbreaking memories of a past she’s kept hidden for too long. Maybe it’s time she shared something, too. Millie’s last wish? For Jane to forgive her. Sixty years ago Millie was living a dream. She had a husband she adored, a job of her own, a precious baby girl, and another child on the way. They were the perfect family. All it took was one irreversible moment to shatter everything, reshaping Millie’s life and the lives of generations to come. As Millie’s old wounds are exposed, so are the secrets she’s kept for so long. Finally revealing them to her daughter might be the greatest risk a mother could take in the name of love.Trade ReviewFinalist in the Fiction: Historical category of the 2020 International Book Awards “This touching story of the love and forgiveness between mothers and daughters will win fans.” —Library Journal “If you love midcentury nostalgia and novels that delve deep into family relationships, you’ll enjoy this well-crafted, historical tale.” —The Augusta Chronicle “This is a heart-warming story of three generations of strong, independent women. The love of Millie for her family is at the core of the story and some well-placed twists and turns keep the reader engaged to the very end.” —Red Carpet Crash “The book explores how one moment can shape a person’s life forever.” —STYLECASTER “This tenderly written, fast-moving tale of marriage, women’s friendships, and family reconciliation is satisfying and extremely moving.” —Historical Novel Society “A heartwarming and affecting novel centered around the love between mothers and daughters, of what we share and the secrets we keep…Whitaker brings us back to the 1950s, highlighting the old gender norms and the cost paid by those who tried to shake them…an engaging and illuminating walk through the not-so-distant past…with a worthy heroine to lead readers through a life full of loss, love, heartbreak, and, ultimately, of forgiveness.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author of A Long Time Gone and the Tradd Street Series “A novel about the legacies women pass to their daughters—and the price of the secrets they keep. Millie is a heroine to cheer for as she makes her journey from…working wife and mom to grandmother seeking forgiveness for her decisions—made because of jaw-dropping challenges you will never forget. You’ll miss her long after the book’s cover is closed.” —Jenna Blum, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Family and Those Who Save Us “Get ready to meet your new favorite author as Tori Whitaker moves deftly forward and back in time in a lyrical exploration of motherhood and longing, secrets and regrets, mistakes and, ultimately, absolution. This is an author with great insight into both history and the female heart, and I highly recommend this heartfelt, beautifully written debut.” —Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Never Have I Ever and The Almost Sisters “Tenderly told and full of heart, Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a deeply satisfying story that hooked me from the first page. Tori Whitaker’s debut offers a fresh and poignant perspective on motherhood, loss, and, ultimately, forgiveness.” —Lynda Cohen Loigman, bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters “Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a delight of a book that explores how one long-held secret can shape a family. Tori Whitaker’s characters sparkle with warmth and humanity, especially ninety-year-old Mil, whose voice rings clear and true throughout these charming pages.” —Tara Conklin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Romantics “Written with compassion and grace, Tori Whitaker’s Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish is a nuanced debut illuminating the multigenerational strength of love, loss, survival, and the limitless power of family. I dare you to read without shedding a tear. Readers will think on these characters long after turning the last page.” —Sarah McCoy, New York Times and international bestselling author of Marilla of Green Gables “Tori Whitaker explores the depths of mother-love with insight, care, and heart-wrenching honesty in this post–World War II story brimming with exceptional historical detail. A moving and emotionally charged debut by a writer to watch.” —Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War “I loved this story. Tori Whitaker has created characters who are irresistibly real and hard to leave behind! A meticulously crafted debut.” —Lynn Cullen, bestselling author of The Sisters of Summit Avenue and Mrs. Poe “Attend the debut of a bright new talent…It’s alternately joyous and sad, scary and hopeful, but always wise and warm and overflowing with the wonder of being human.” —William Martin, New York Times bestselling author of Cape Cod and Bound for Gold “A poignant and touching story of three generations of women and the secret family tragedy that unwittingly binds them. With rich settings and fully realized characters that you’ll root for, this book broke my heart—and then stitched it back together again.” —Colleen Oakley, author of You Were There Too “Tori Whitaker’s moving novel…offers a clear-eyed look at how ‘the good old days’ were not always so good, particularly when it came to women’s reproductive health and autonomy. This well-researched and timely novel made me thankful for past generations of women, who, like the titular character, fought hard for the rights I hold so dear today. An impressive debut.” —Susan Rebecca White, author of We Are All Good People Here “A beautifully told and astonishing tale of the mysterious ties that hold a family together…Rich in detail and imbued with compassion, these characters struggle toward necessary forgiveness of a shocking maternity ward tragedy that feels all too relevant, even today. Whitaker cuts close to the bone from page one!” —Kimberly Brock, award-winning author of The River Witch “Packed with midcentury nostalgia and Cincinnati local interest, Whitaker’s dual-timeline debut walks a tightrope between a mother’s yearning to be truly known with what makes her eminently unknowable: a desire to protect her daughter that was born of love. Mothers and daughters alike will not soon forget Millicent Glenn’s last wish; they’ll recognize it as their own.” —Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy and The Art of Falling “Readers, meet Millicent Glenn, a tough, savvy lady who has survived many challenges in her ninety-one years. But now she’s facing her biggest one yet…I rooted for Millicent and found the tenderness and complexity of the mother-daughter relationship so lovingly woven through this emotional and gripping story.” —Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, author of This Secret Thing and cofounder of She Reads “A page-turner…of the lives of three generations of women, spanning the post–WWII baby boom into the modern age. Each has experienced life at a different phase of emerging feminism. As the layered revelation of long-held secrets peels away, these women discover healing for years of misunderstanding, grief, and betrayal…a masterwork.” —Diane C. McPhail, author of The Abolitionist’s Daughter

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Book SynopsisFrom a bold new voice in literary fiction comes a compelling story of three mothers whose lives intersect during a generation-defining period in South Africa’s history. The year is 1994, and South Africa is in political turmoil as its first democratic election looms. Against a backdrop of apartheid and racial violence, traumatized artist Yolanda Petersen returns from the Appalachian foothills to the land of her youth at the behest of her mother. While there Yolanda longs to reconnect with her estranged daughter, Ingrid, the product of an illegal mixed-race affair with a white man. But Ingrid is missing, and as Yolanda quickly discovers, she isn’t the only woman in Cape Town desperate to protect her own. Ingrid’s very existence is proof of a white man’s crime, and that man’s mother will do anything—even kill—to ensure the truth remains buried. An evocative debut novel set during a defining period in history, A Conspiracy of Mothers tells a gripping story of love and betrayal from multiple perspectives while deftly balancing the painful legacy of apartheid with the trials of motherhood.Trade Review“The fierce maternal instincts of an entire community of women drive this unforgettable debut novel. Van Niekerk paints a vivid portrait of how the political was personal, and often tangled to the point of rot, in this time and place. These characters, their resilience, and van Niekerk’s reverence for her native South Africa make for an unforgettable read.” —Booklist (starred review) “Reading Colleen van Niekerk’s A Conspiracy of Mothers was a gut-wrenching, emotional roller-coaster experience, with many lines resonating with my own belief that for South Africans to attain restorative justice, we first need to experience restorative memory. Colleen captures all this so well in cameos of captured time, which closely touched many a raw nerve of yet-unhealed wounds that are part of many of our lives. The world of lies and secrets and the pain that goes with it are vividly brought to life.” —Patric Tariq Mellet, author of The Lie of 1652: A decolonized history of land “Deeply affecting and beautifully rendered, A Conspiracy of Mothers is a tapestry woven with sacrifice, suffering, and loss but also with a love between generations of women so deep it invokes ancestral magic that defies the laws of space and time. This story of pilgrimage and reckoning amid the unraveling of apartheid should resonate with anyone interested in breaking down systems of racism and oppression, wherever they exist. A brilliant novel to be read alongside Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime and Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste.” —Susan Bernhard, author of Winter Loon

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Book SynopsisAn endearing novel of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart. It was a lifetime ago that recently widowed Maggie Flynn was in Wyndham Beach. Now, on the occasion of her fortieth high school reunion, she returns to her hometown on the Massachusetts coast, picking up right where she left off with dear friends Lydia and Emma. But seeing Brett Crawford again stirs other emotions. Once, they were the town’s golden couple destined for one another. He shared Maggie’s dreams—and eventually, a shattering secret that drove them apart. Buying her old family home and resettling in Wyndham Beach means a chance to start over for Maggie and her two daughters, but it also means facing her rekindled feelings for her first love and finally confronting—and embracing—the past in ways she never thought possible. Maggie won’t be alone. With her family and friends around her, she can weather this stormy turning point in her life and open her heart to the future. As for that dream shared and lost years ago? If Maggie can forgive herself, it still might come true.Trade Review“Through events that involve a major rock star, a failing bookstore, DNA testing and much more, the book’s feel-good message comes through: It’s not too late for second chances.” —AARP

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Book SynopsisA novel of explosive family secrets, regret, and all the little decisions that shape our lives and make us who we are. At the age of thirty-nine, Alice Chang suddenly finds herself living in the last place she expected: her mother’s house. But in the face of divorce, eviction, and the recent death of her father, she doesn’t have a choice. Watching as her mother thrives in a new job and meets younger men at the local gym, Alice struggles, reflecting on her parents’ marriage, her relationship with each of them, as she adjusts to being single again for the first time in twenty years. Then she finds her father’s old journal…and uncovers a shocking family secret that forces her to question everything she thought she knew about love, regret, family, and her own path forward. As Alice comes to terms with the man her father really was, she must finally decide who she wants to be and what it will take to get there.Trade Review“Shot through with humor and empathy, this well-crafted novel weaves together the stories of various lives of quiet desperation…compelling intergenerational family drama set in a Korean American community in Southern California. Readers will root for Alice to emerge from a decades-long crisis of confidence and self-doubt to reach her full potential.” —Library Journal

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Book SynopsisUSA Today bestselling author Liz Talley’s emotional and heart-lifting novel about facing the past, unconditional love, and a woman on the verge of a breakthrough. After another all-night bender, one more failed stint at rehab, and a parole violation, self-destructive actress Chase London has to deal with her demons. She’s been written off as a Hollywood casualty by almost everyone, including her own mother. But handsome superstar Spencer Rome has her back. So does an uncompromising stranger determined to start Chase at square one and help her pull her future into focus. If Chase is willing. Life coach Olivia Han is devoted to “adulating” boot camp therapy. It’s not just her professional specialty, though—it’s also one way to avoid focusing on building a life of her own. To escape the pressures of Tinseltown, the two women head to Olivia’s cabin in the wilds of Northern California. There they discover a place in need of TLC. As they work together to rehab the once-charming cabin, they create a refuge where Chase can come to terms with her unsettled past, and where Olivia has an unexpected reckoning with her own troubling history. For two women doing damage control, this is a time for second chances—in life, in finding love, in forgiving family, and in an emerging friendship that might be exactly what each of them needs to heal.Trade Review“The balance of sobering themes and upbeat tone is moving…in this touching tale of female friendship and personal growth.” —Publishers Weekly “For fans of women’s fiction with a little romance thrown in…” —Library Journal “Witty, warm, and engaging, Adulting explores the most unlikely friendship between life coach Olivia Han and her self-destructive client Chase London as each woman—by facing past secrets on a journey of personal growth—discovers a second chance at love.” —Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of The Passing Storm “Adulting is a charming, moving and heartfelt novel about two women—both hot messes—finding out just what they’re truly made of.” —Falguni Kothari, USA Today bestselling author “In Adulting, Liz Talley gives us an uplifting story of second chances and paints a poignant reminder that sometimes in life you have to stop living what others expect of you, and hit restart knowing what you expect of yourself.” —Kay Bratt, international bestselling author of Wish Me Home “Liz Talley’s prose is crisp and clear, her characters achingly flawed and seriously funny in this redemptive story of self-discovery about the families we find and the sisters we keep.” —Virginia Kantra, New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisFrom the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This comes a witty, magical story about improbable connections, difficult gifts, and the unexpected events that heal us and bring us together. Jailbird. Klepto. Spectacular failure to launch. Nicole Wood’s sticky fingers have earned her many names, but it’s not that she’s stealing—some objects just need to be moved elsewhere, and the universe has chosen her to do it. Still, being a relocator of objects isn’t easy. With her marriage on the rocks, no real-world skills, and the threat of prison hanging over her head, Nicole is determined to change her ways. Things seem to be looking up, thanks to a godsent job with her sister’s housecleaning business—until she encounters a seemingly harmless paperback that insists on moving from one client’s home to another’s. Nicole hopes no one will notice, but the action stirs up long-hidden secrets and triggers a series of fateful events that threatens to destroy the life she’s creating and hurt those closest to her. She’ll need to embrace her unwieldy gift and take a chance on love in order to unravel the mystery and fix what’s gone wrong.Trade Review“This is a really well-written book with interesting plots that interwind. The characters of Nicole and Hawk are great and I wouldn’t mind more adventures with these two. Hopefully this will be a potential series of books. A great fall read.” —Red Carpet Crash “Other People’s Things is a mesmerizing novel with an unforgettable, indomitable heroine. Kerry Anne King is at the top of her game, weaving humor and magic and reality into a story that shines with surprise.” —Maddie Dawson, Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners “Woven with suspense, family drama, magic, and just the right touch of romance, Other People’s Things is an utterly compulsive read. With a compelling cast of characters and a delightfully imaginative plot, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery as a young woman struggles to embrace her unique gifts and find her place in a world that has already made up its mind about her. King’s emotionally honest storytelling and wonderfully flawed protagonist remind us that people aren’t always who we think they are—and that some curses might actually be blessings in disguise.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls “A funny, unexpected, magic-touched read with plenty of twists and turns, and a Legally Blonde-esque courtroom finish! Loved it!!” —Susan Mallery, #1 New York Times bestselling author “What a fantastic read! A beautifully written novel with a cast of flawed but loveable characters and a plot twist I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended.” —Soraya M. Lane, Kindle bestselling author of The Last Correspondent

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Book SynopsisA witty and unexpected novel about a woman trying to keep her family vacation—and yes, her life—from going south by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. It’s been thirteen years since doctors declared Libby Ross-Velasquez a goner. Yet here she is—cancer free. So why doesn’t she feel more alive? Sure, Libby’s husband, Shiloh, has been distant. One of their daughters has a serious health condition. And her father’s death hovers over Libby like a rain cloud. Still, this eternal optimist knows she’s the winner of the existential lottery. But when her forced cheer isn’t enough to keep her family from catching her blahs, she decides to fly them all to Vieques. The Puerto Rican island is where she and Shiloh fell in love—and where she decided to fight for her life after her cancer diagnosis. Where better to put their problems into perspective? Then a tropical storm strikes. Libby pretends everything’s fine, even as she fears she’s doomed her family. What she can’t see is that the worst disaster they’ve faced may be the best thing that ever happened to them. But first, they have to get through it.Trade Review“Pagán combines realistic midlife concerns with likable characters, showing that perfection is an illusion and that it’s the difficult times that truly bring us together. Fans of Maddie Dawson and Allison Winn Scotch will enjoy vacationing with the Ross-Velasquez crew.” —Booklist “Pagán delivers a relatable motherhood journey and all of the struggles that middle age bring to us. Bigger than that are the beautiful reminders of the importance of family, especially in times of struggle, that we really need right now.” —MomAdvice “A funny yet oh-so-relatable narrative.” —POPSUGAR “The Amazon charts bestselling author Camille Pagán writes with depth and soul about what makes a family whole.” —Good Morning America “An impressively crafted and deftly written novel, Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around by author Camille Pagán is an inherently compelling read from first page to last. With having a special appeal to readers who appreciate humor and family dynamics.” —Midwest Book Review “A powerful story of family and hope—have tissues at the ready!” —Woman’s World “With her trademark wit and charm, Camille Pagán invites us back into the lives of Libby and Shiloh thirteen years after we first met them in Life and Other Near-Death Experiences. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is rich, raw, and real, a new favorite…Readers like me can’t help coming back for more of Pagán’s gorgeously written stories. I loved it!” —Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post bestselling author “Oh my goodness! Camille Pagán has achieved such an exquisite, delicate balance, writing a profoundly moving novel that expresses both the beauty and heartbreak of loving other people. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is everything: funny and warm and scary and sad and reassuring—just like real life. I read this in one sitting because I simply couldn’t stop.” —Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners and A Happy Catastrophe “Camille Pagán’s latest page-turner brilliantly captures the nuances of marriage and family while tackling the tough challenges along the way. Libby is every wife and mother, and when life throws her a curveball, she finds the courage to keep moving…and keep believing. With wit and wisdom, Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around will have you laughing and crying along with these perfectly flawed characters and asking yourself, What does it mean to have enough?” —Rochelle Weinstein, bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends “Pagán masterfully guides us on a stormy journey through a morass of middle-age malaise and deposits us on the other side with charm, humor, truth, and a few lessons about the power of love and unbreakable family ties.” —Andy Abramowitz, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall “Camille Pagán pens another hit with the compulsively readable Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around. I trust Pagán’s storytelling, and in her latest, she masterfully guides us through a woman’s journey through real ups and downs in marriage and motherhood.” —Tif Marcelo, author of Once Upon a Sunset “Camille Pagán once again gives us a heartfelt and relatable story about a woman on the edge. This time, Libby knows she should be feeling euphoric about beating cancer for good—and instead she finds the limits of her unrelenting optimism. She can’t stop her tween daughters from arguing, make her work more fulfilling, or insulate her marriage from the pressures of middle-age. Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is a lovely novel about banishing ‘shoulds’ and welcoming the adventures and inevitable pain of growing just a little bit older.” —Kathleen West, author of Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes “Don’t Make Me Turn This Life Around is a delightful blend of humor and tension. Poignant, layered, and achingly real, we’re treated to a true-to-life protagonist we can both laugh and cry with as she navigate the anxieties of marriage and motherhood as middle age approaches. I devoured this charming, not-to-be-missed novel in a single sitting, and found myself hating to say goodbye to characters that had started to feel like friends.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Last of the Moon Girls

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Book SynopsisA freshly funny and heartfelt novel about one woman’s secret life, the stories she tells, and the thrill and notoriety of being noticed. On the same day Bells Walker learns that her IUD has failed, her husband, Harry, is denied tenure at his Manhattan university. So Bells, Harry, their two adolescent children, and her baby bump move to New York’s Hudson Valley, where Harry has landed a job at Dutchess College in the town of Pigkill. When the farm-to-table utopia Bells envisioned is anything but, she turns to the blogosphere. Under the pen name the County Dutchess, she anonymously dishes about life in Pigkill, detailing the activities of hypercompetitive parents and kombucha-drinking hipsters. Suddenly, Bells has a place to say all the things she’s been secretly thinking about being a wife and mother. As Bells turns the focus of her blog on her new neighbors, her readership continues to grow, but her scandalous posts hit closer to home: she puts Harry’s new job in jeopardy, derails her children’s lives, and risks the one real friendship she’s built. When Bells uncovers scandals right under her nose, the Dutchess goes viral, and soon everyone is asking, Who is the County Dutchess? Now Bells has to ask herself if it’s worth losing the people closest to her to finally feel noticed by everyone else.Trade Review“This engrossing romp makes for delightfully voyeuristic commentary on wealthy upstate life.” —Publishers Weekly “A brave, bold, laugh-out-loud, heartwarming, nail-biting story of family life in these uncertain times. Bells Walker is so relatable, I wanted to yell advice to her as I read. A pure delight.” —Shelley Noble, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky’s Beach “What do you do when life throws a bunch of less than welcome surprises your way? If you’re Bells, the plucky protagonist of The Truth and Other Hidden Things, you make a string of questionable (if hilarious) choices…that land you exactly where you were always supposed to be. Lea Geller’s latest novel is a clever, witty, and insightful novel that just may inspire you to look at your own plot twists in a whole new light.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of This Won’t End Well “The Truth and Other Hidden Things is a perfect escape, whether you’re a city mouse like the hilarious and lovable narrator, Bells Walker, or used to the bucolic settings that amaze the Walker family so. As Bells navigates a whoops baby, a career tumble, two surly teens, and that PTA lady we all know, you’ll laugh—with and at her—and cheer for her every step of the way. I loved this romp and you will, too!” —Kelly Harms, Washington Post bestselling author of The Overdue Life of Amy Byler “In this humorous, smart novel, Geller brilliantly tackles one woman’s need for approval and the desperate lengths she’ll go to to get there. Bells Walker is the imperfect mom and friend we can all relate to and eventually root for. Readers will devour this book in one sitting. I did.” —Rochelle B. Weinstein, USA Today bestselling author

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Book SynopsisFour people looking for love. Four choices that could be the start of everything. At thirty-three, nurse Heather is desperately waiting for her romantic life to begin. Then she meets handsome, strong Anthony and is sure she’s found the one. Brushing any doubts aside, she projects all her hopes for true love onto him. Meanwhile, at a yoga retreat in Spain, happy-go-lucky Joe can’t believe his luck when he meets vivacious, witty Amy. She’s the sharpest, most beautiful woman he has ever dated, and the fact that she’s interested in him feels like a dream come true. But new love can be blind, and when the two couples meet, the cracks are easy to see. Will their crossed paths lead the way to happiness? Or are they all destined for heartbreak?

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Book SynopsisThree friends, two secrets, one love—and the journey of a lifetime. Every week for twenty years, three friends meet in a leafy enclosure under the Verrazzano Bridge: Gertie, a feisty Norwegian divorcée and former athlete; Maria, a family-obsessed Italian American widow; and Corinna, a book-loving, hash-smoking eccentric. Together they sit and watch the sea as the ships—and the last years of their lives—sail by. On the eve of Gertie’s eightieth birthday, they realize that time is running out. Gertie decides she wants to travel the world. Maria secretly plots to reunite Gertie and Corinna with their estranged families. And Corinna falls in love. As the three women strike out in different directions, a series of events unfolds that threatens to destroy the most precious thing of all: their friendship. Heartfelt and humorous, And the Bridge Is Love invites readers to travel alongside these dynamic women in this inspiring novel about love, family, and forgiveness.Trade Review“I loved David Biro’s emotional and moving novel, And The Bridge Is Love, which is the heartfelt story of three older women—Gertie, Maria, and Corinna—who have been friends for decades. But when one of them learns a long-hidden secret, everything changes. This novel resonates with friendship, love, and the power of forgiveness. If you haven’t read Biro before, start now!” —Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author “An unhurried evaluation of the importance of companionship and friendship at any age.” —Kirkus Reviews “David Biro’s And The Bridge Is Love is a love story. A love story of three Brooklyn women—each with her own disappointments and dreams—who cleave to one another as the decades pass by and ultimately give each other the strength to take one last shot at life. Filled with love and hope, this book is for anyone who has ever had an enduring friendship—and anyone who dares to believe that the next best thing is just around the corner.” —Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The Good Left Undone “What marks David Biro as a fine writer is his warmth, his emotional accuracy, and his ability to let his characters catch us by surprise—and these talents are all happily at work in his moving new novel And the Bridge Is Love.” —Matthew Kneale, Booker Prize–shortlisted author of English Passengers “In And The Bridge Is Love, David Biro deftly draws personalities and places, he invigorates the present and the past. Through his lovely and uniquely crafted characters, he convincingly connects regret to hope, inertia to growth, and evil to love. The highest compliment you can pay a novel is that nothing in it feels made up. That’s how Biro’s beautiful new book unfolds.” —Andy Abramowitz, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Free Fall and Darling at the Campsite

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin comes an uplifting story about two old friends finding new love. Rennie Wallace has it all: a boyfriend, a good job, a best friend who lives a stone’s throw away…but something’s missing. She isn’t sure what until she returns to Cape Harbor, her favorite home away from home. There, she crosses paths with an old love, Graham. Rennie’s drawn to him but senses their paths in life have wandered too far apart. Graham Chamberlain has returned to Cape Harbor to care for his brother, the town alcoholic. Managing and serving drinks at his family’s bar, Graham can’t believe how mundane his life has become. He’s resigned himself to living for others, his own desires for adventure and romance taking a back seat to running the family business—until Rennie walks through his door. Graham feels the weight of his small-town life; Rennie has a boyfriend and a busy life in the city. But neither can deny the rekindled spark between them. Will they find their way back to one another?Trade Review“Authentic, imperfect characters enhance the emotional story line. Series fans will find plenty to root for in this earnest romance.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisAn intrepid heroine confronts the dark underworld of espionage and war in this daring historical romance by Violet Marsh, the award-winning author of The Aviatrix.It?s spring 1919, and the Great War has ended. New life flourishes on the red cliffs of the Northern Isles of Scotland?sea pinks and primrose, puffins and guillemots. But this windswept corner of the world harbors a dark secret.Rose Van Etten has always reveled in danger and defiance. When the war started, she went from racing cars to driving ambulances and learned of an insidious spy ring from a dying soldier. Now that the war is over, she ventures to Scotland in search of the truth.The isles? stark beauty quickly captivates her, but so does one of the locals. Unlike most men, the rugged, Viking-esque Thorfinn Sinclair respects Rose?s independent spirit. It seems she?s met her equal.But Thorfinn has secrets of his own. Fiercely loyal to home and family, he will do whatever it takes to protect the land he loves. As the spies close in, Rose must decide for herself: Is Thorfinn friend or foe?

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Book SynopsisA smart, modern novel about a woman trying to balance her career, her best friend, and falling in love without crashing and burning.Nicole Palmieri is married to her job. As a user experience designer at Virtuality, an artificial intelligence company in Los Angeles, Nicole is at her desk from sunrise to sunset. She doesn?t have time for a social life (or a love life), but that?s perfectly fine with her. Until her best friend, Parisa Shahin, announces her engagement and asks Nicole to be her maid of honor.That?s when Nicole decides to meticulously schedule out the next six months of her life?from her project due dates to her dress-fitting appointments to how many hours she plans to sleep each night. If she can stick to her schedule, she?ll balance everything fine. Of course, that?s a really big if. And after she crosses paths with emerging restaurateur Brandon Phelps, Nicole is feeling feelings she hasn?t felt in?well, ever. But scheduling time to fall in love might push even the most meticulous plans into pure chaos.

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Book SynopsisA heartbreaking, heartwarming story of two best friends—and the choices that could tear them apart. London, 2012. With her adoring fiancé, financial independence and a close-knit group of friends, Erika should have life all figured out—but she can’t shake the feeling that there’s something missing. And when she stumbles upon a reminder of her past one day, she’s confronted with a part of her life she’s spent almost twenty years trying to forget. 1995. Smart, tenacious Niamh is in her second year at Oxford University. Unlike her best friend Erika, she’s shy and feels like she doesn’t belong, so she’s happy to let Erika take the lead in their friendship. But everything changes when she meets Leo and feels the uplifting power of love for the first time. As Erika’s story takes us back into the past, Niamh’s brings us forward towards the present, until the two meet one fateful summer’s night that will change the path of their friendship forever.

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of The Aftermath comes the story of a whirlwind friendship—and the dark secrets lurking beneath it. After a tumultuous marriage, Mary Wilson is happy in her uncomplicated life, focusing on her twelve-year-old son. She’s always been content with her little family—but then she finds an old postcard that throws her whole past into question… When an invitation arrives for her high school reunion, Mary jumps at the chance of a distraction from the shock discovery, and meeting her old classmate April feels like a gift. Despite barely remembering April, Mary throws herself into the new friendship and finds her previously quiet social life reinvigorated. But as the bonds between them are forged, Mary finds herself drawn further and further into April’s life and marriage, increasingly fearing that everything is not as perfect as it seems. Is her own painful past clouding her judgement, or is Mary right to suspect that the people she trusts most are the ones with the most to hide?

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Book SynopsisThree women: a mother, a daughter, a friend. Can they save each other from the past? It’s been twenty-six years since the accident, but Helen still lives on autopilot, going through the motions of work and motherhood. Her one wish is for her daughter Julia to settle down with her own family—so Helen can let go. Julia has dealt with her mother’s emotional distance by looking for love in all the wrong places. But when her latest choice drives away her best friend, Claire, Julia realises she’s on her own. Impossibly perfect Claire is so busy caring for everyone—even her cheating ex-husband—that she’s forgotten to look after herself. Reeling from Julia’s betrayal, she doesn’t know who to trust. As their lives unravel, these three women reconnect in unexpected ways. But with a devastating secret still hanging over them, will they ever be able to leave the past behind? Revised edition: Previously published in South Africa as The Accident, this edition of The Aftermath includes editorial revisions.

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Book SynopsisA grandmother’s loving bequest changes three lives forever in a heartwarming novel about finding love, hope, and family by New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown. An inheritance has reunited three estranged cousins. Their grandmother Lucy left Nessa, Flynn, and April her home nestled in the woods near Blossom, Texas, as well as a hope chest to be unlocked after they complete a special task. Together, they must hand-stitch a cherished quilt Lucy left unfinished. It meant everything to her. And now, to three people struggling with their own patchwork pasts… To Nessa, the house has always been an escape from her strict parents—a home away from home. Flynn has followed a profligate path into adulthood, never guessing it would lead him here. And the town of Blossom only stirs up a lifetime of disappointments for April. Lost and with nowhere to go, her last chance is helping fulfill Nanny Lucy’s final wish. Thread by healing thread, Nessa, Flynn, and April bond over the quilt and all it represents. As they discover the family they’ve been looking for in one another, they share more than memories. They share the hope of new beginnings.

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Book SynopsisA woman challenges the constraints of life in Prohibition-era Appalachia in this sweeping and richly rewarding novel about endurance, survival, and redemption. The McKenzie women, empowered with a formidable history rooted in the foothills of Appalachia, have passed down their folk-healing wisdom through generations. Rosalee, the last living headstrong daughter in Granny McKenzie’s line, soaked up everything she could about the secrets of the forest before a series of tragedies left her alone, without the protection of the women who came before her. The close-knit ties of Rosalee’s childhood are long gone. Now, at her eastern Kentucky farm, she bears a marriage with a volatile bootlegger. She struggles with the demands of motherhood. And her independence is relegated to its “proper place”: under the thumb of men. Her optimism dimming, Rosalee finds solace in the Kentucky woods, a space that holds secret powers of protection from a life Rosalee can no longer control. To the graves of her female ancestors, beside the waters of an enchanting spring, Rosalee returns time and again to consider her future—and discovers a mysterious connection to her past. As Rosalee wrestles with her isolation, with being a wife in an increasingly dangerous marriage, and with being a woman of her time, she must draw on her strength and resilience to survive—and to protect—on her own terms.Trade Review“A Woman in Time by Bobi Conn is a rich novel that transports readers into the mountains of Prohibition-era Appalachia and into the lives of an incredible family of female healers. An unflinching look at the struggles and suffering that came with being a woman in early twentieth-century Kentucky, A Woman in Time is a truly unique journey into a time and place that are too often overlooked in American history. Bobi Conn proves herself to be a powerful voice for Appalachia.” —Stephanie Storey, bestselling author of Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo “The grace and lyricism of Conn’s prose stuns and sustains the reader through this lush tale of women’s strength, creativity, and will to love in Depression-era Eastern Kentucky. Conn’s poise and confidence as a storyteller hold the reader in a loving embrace through many a well-wrought and gut-wrenching episode, then brings us out the other side more awake to the preciousness of life and what it means to be accountable to one another across a span of generations. Bobi Conn’s A Woman in Time is an inspiration.” —Robert Gipe, author of Pop: An Illustrated Novel “A Woman in Time is an epic debut novel, told in intimate moments that transport the reader to a place so vivid that we feel we are walking through the lush woods, gathering flowers with these memorable characters. Especially Rosalee, a character I came to love and will not soon forget. Bobi Conn delivers on the promise showcased in her moving memoir and has become a wonderful novelist, as well. This is a book that is sure to find an admiring audience, and one that reveals the complexities of rural life and the extraordinary nature of ordinary people.” —Silas House, author of Southernmost

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Book SynopsisA woman challenges the constraints of life in Prohibition-era Appalachia in this sweeping and richly rewarding novel about endurance, survival, and redemption. The McKenzie women, empowered with a formidable history rooted in the foothills of Appalachia, have passed down their folk-healing wisdom through generations. Rosalee, the last living headstrong daughter in Granny McKenzie’s line, soaked up everything she could about the secrets of the forest before a series of tragedies left her alone, without the protection of the women who came before her. The close-knit ties of Rosalee’s childhood are long gone. Now, at her eastern Kentucky farm, she bears a marriage with a volatile bootlegger. She struggles with the demands of motherhood. And her independence is relegated to its “proper place”: under the thumb of men. Her optimism dimming, Rosalee finds solace in the Kentucky woods, a space that holds secret powers of protection from a life Rosalee can no longer control. To the graves of her female ancestors, beside the waters of an enchanting spring, Rosalee returns time and again to consider her future—and discovers a mysterious connection to her past. As Rosalee wrestles with her isolation, with being a wife in an increasingly dangerous marriage, and with being a woman of her time, she must draw on her strength and resilience to survive—and to protect—on her own terms.Trade Review“A Woman in Time by Bobi Conn is a rich novel that transports readers into the mountains of Prohibition-era Appalachia and into the lives of an incredible family of female healers. An unflinching look at the struggles and suffering that came with being a woman in early twentieth-century Kentucky, A Woman in Time is a truly unique journey into a time and place that are too often overlooked in American history. Bobi Conn proves herself to be a powerful voice for Appalachia.” —Stephanie Storey, bestselling author of Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo “The grace and lyricism of Conn’s prose stuns and sustains the reader through this lush tale of women’s strength, creativity, and will to love in Depression-era Eastern Kentucky. Conn’s poise and confidence as a storyteller hold the reader in a loving embrace through many a well-wrought and gut-wrenching episode, then brings us out the other side more awake to the preciousness of life and what it means to be accountable to one another across a span of generations. Bobi Conn’s A Woman in Time is an inspiration.” —Robert Gipe, author of Pop: An Illustrated Novel “A Woman in Time is an epic debut novel, told in intimate moments that transport the reader to a place so vivid that we feel we are walking through the lush woods, gathering flowers with these memorable characters. Especially Rosalee, a character I came to love and will not soon forget. Bobi Conn delivers on the promise showcased in her moving memoir and has become a wonderful novelist, as well. This is a book that is sure to find an admiring audience, and one that reveals the complexities of rural life and the extraordinary nature of ordinary people.” —Silas House, author of Southernmost

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Book SynopsisWhat if you woke up one day and the loved one you’d lost was suddenly, inexplicably alive again? Chloe Howard’s devotion to her job has come at a cost: spending time with the most important person in her life—her mother. Vowing to change, she plans a trip home. Sadly, hours before she arrives, her mother passes away, leaving Chloe without a goodbye and riddled with grief and regret. But maybe…maybe it’s not too late. Just days before the funeral, Chloe finds her mother unaccountably alive and well. And it’s no longer May; she’s been transported back in time to March. No one—not Chloe’s brother, friends, or colleagues—understands why Chloe is so confused. How can she make sense of this? It’s impossible. But Chloe is going to make the most of it. She’s going to do everything differently: repair family rifts, forge new bonds, tell her mother every day how much she loves her, and possibly prevent the inevitable. This is a second chance Chloe never saw coming. She’s not wasting a minute of it.Trade Review“This is a heart-wrenching novel about family and love, with a wide range of well-developed characters. Readers who enjoy novels by Jessica Strawser or Barbara O’Neal will need a box of tissues for this one.” —Booklist (starred review) “Sarah Echavarre’s debut women’s fiction is a moving story about second chances and the precious time we have with loved ones. This was a page-turner, immersive, and all-consuming, and the perfect book to pick up this holiday season. Three More Months is a must-read.” —Tif Marcelo, USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away

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Book SynopsisTwo devoted sisters at a tragic breaking point discover the beautiful and painful truths of being alive in a powerful novel by Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author Jamie Beck.Winning the lottery changed Amy Walsh?s life, but the cost was greater than she could bear. In the aftermath, she struggles to find joy and purpose. Only one thing feels certain now?she will never spend one cent of the prize money on herself.Worried, her older sister, Kristin DeMarco, invites Amy to live with her family while she heals. Unfortunately, this arrangement leads to trouble for Kristin: Divided focus affects her career. Her daughter prefers Amy to her. And Amy?s unsolicited opinions provoke tension between Kristin and her husband.Meanwhile, Amy is making drastic plans of her own, which include giving away all her money. But first she must convince Kristin not to squander her most valuable asset?time with her family.As the sisters help each other reimagine their futures, life?s unpredictability sends them to surprising places that test their love and resilience. Will they learn to live in the now, before it?s too late?

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Book SynopsisSisters of the heart play Cupid in New York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s funny and heartwarming novel about friendship, family, and finding love.Gussie, Ina Mae, and Blanche have been best friends for more than sixty years. From their humble beginnings of founding the Sunshine Club when they were girls to becoming the matchmaking queens of Newton, Texas, these three were inseparable. When Blanche passes away, Gussie and Ina Mae feel the best way to honor their dearly departed is with a shot of whiskey, some good music, and making a match for Blanche’s niece, Sissy.Never mind that Sissy’s in town for only six weeks. Is there a better reason for her to stay? And is there a better prospect than handsome, charming, blue-eyed local preacher Luke Beauchamp? No and no. The attraction is already there. Now it’s up to Gussie and Ina Mae to make sure the sparks really get to crackling by Christmas.The Sunshine Club is back in business. Don’t underestimate two feisty women who have their hearts set on a happy ending.

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Book SynopsisAn exhilarating novel about fast friends and fashionable revenge by Liz Talley, the USA Today bestselling author of Adulting.Antique-store owner Cricket Crosby’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that the rumors of her husband’s affair aren’t just leisurely southern gossip. Her plan: hire an investigator; find an attorney; enlist the help of her new assistant, Ruby; and make her husband pay.Ruby knows how quickly everything changes. After a dicey past, she’s determined to forge a new future by working for Cricket and reinventing herself as a designer, deconstructing vintage haute couture. If anybody can help mend a few tears in Cricket’s life, she can.But turns out Cricket’s life isn’t just a little torn. It’s wrinkled, stained, and falling apart at the seams. With Ruby and her ragtag relatives—a soused PI and a hunky tow truck driver—Cricket is sleuthing her way to the truth, no matter how dangerous it gets.Sure, Cricket’s life isn’t what she imagined. But she’s embracing change and figuring out what she really wants. And that’s kind of fabulous.

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Book SynopsisTo her followers, she advocates for an authentic and transparent life. In reality, she’s living a perfect lie. Wellness influencer Ava Maloney’s enormous success is based on total transparency, extolling the well-documented virtues of her full, balanced life. But the truth is, Ava’s social media platform is built on a lie. And her double life is beginning to take its toll. Escaping Los Angeles for a luxury wellness retreat on Martha’s Vineyard, Ava believes she can get everything back on track. No fans will be the wiser to the real reason for her visit. With the help of the other guests, staff, and a supportive local, Ava begins regaining control of her body, her mind, and her life. Except someone is onto her, threatening to expose the secret she’s hidden for so long. Ava was prepared to face her demons, but not publicly. Not yet. The fallout might also force Ava to finally reconcile who she’s been pretending to be with who she actually is—a woman discovering the real meaning of a full and balanced life.Trade Review“Raw and unflinching, this heartbreaking portrait of one glamorous social media influencer’s quest for physical perfection is insightful and moving, thanks to author Julia Spiro’s talent in proving the power of authenticity. The main character’s transformative journey to Island Wellness and Martha’s Vineyard delights with an insider tour of the sparkly New England island, a place where nature can heal the deepest wounds.” —Brooke Lea Foster, author of Summer Darlings

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Book Synopsis“The show must go on” takes on a whole new meaning for one single mom in a witty and emotional novel by the USA Today bestselling author of I Thought You Said This Would Work. It seems lately that Poppy Lively is invisible to everyone but the IRS. After her accountant absconded with her life savings, newly bankrupt Poppy is on the verge of losing her home when an old flame, now a hotshot producer, gives her a surprising way out: a job in costumes on a Hollywood film set. It’s a bold move to pack her bags, keep secrets from her daughter, and head to Los Angeles, but Poppy's a capable person—how hard can a job in wardrobe be? It's not like she has a choice; her life couldn't get any worse. Even so, this midwesterner has a lot to learn about the fast and loose world of movie stars, iconic costumes, and back-lot intrigue. As a single mom, she's rarely had time for watching movies, she doesn't sew, and she doesn't know a thing about dressing the biggest names in the business. Floundering and overlooked, Poppy has one ally: Allen Carol, an ill-tempered movie star taken with Poppy’s unfiltered candor and general indifference to stardom. When Poppy stumbles upon corruption, she relies on everyone underestimating her to discover who’s at the center of it, a revelation that shakes her belief in humanity. What she thought was a way to secure a future for her daughter becomes a spotlight illuminating the facts: Poppy is out of her league among the divas of Tinseltown. Poppy must decide whether to keep her mouth shut, as she's always done, or with the help of a scruffy dog, show the moviemakers that they need her unglamorous ways, whether the superstars like it or not.Trade Review“As a novelist, author Ann Garvin has an impressive and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that will keep readers with an interest in romantic comedy simply riveting from first page to last.” —Midwest Book Review “Charming, witty, and real, There’s No Coming Back from This will have you laughing, cheering, and looking at your own past through Poppy-colored glasses.” —Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of She’s Up to No Good “Brimming with wit and wisdom, There’s No Coming Back from This is the story of one woman’s attempt to find meaning in the middle of a mess she didn’t create, but has no choice but to clean up—which is to say: this is one relatable book. I laughed, teared up, and sped through the pages even as I attempted to savor them. Ann Garvin’s latest just happens to be her absolute best.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of Good for You “Readers will root so hard for Poppy Lively as she navigates the cutthroat world of Hollywood with a scruffy dog strapped to her body. Full of warmth and humor, Poppy and her motley crew of coworkers will worm their way into your heart and stick around for a very long time.” —Lyn Liao Butler, Amazon bestselling author of Someone Else's Life and Red Thread of Fate “An Ann Garvin novel is like curling up beside your favorite, wittiest friend and laughing and crying all at once about the hilarity and heartbreak of life. In classic Ann Garvin style, There’s No Coming Back from This is an engaging look at motherhood, friendship, and dating that will remind readers everywhere it’s never too late to start over—or find out where we’re truly meant to be. Don’t pick this one up unless you’re prepared to read it all the way through; it’s impossible to put down! Five huge stars!” —Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Veil “Ann Garvin’s genius lies in creating endearing, authentic women in the throes of midlife. There’s No Coming Back from This is another gem. Just when Poppy Lively thinks her life has bottomed out, life throws her one more plot twist, and this fifty-year-old single mom digs deep in her own Midwest Nice way to finally become the hero of her own life. Readers will cheer for Poppy, and her little dog Kevin, too!” —Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Homewreckers “Ann Garvin has written my favorite kind of book—a hilarious yet suspenseful story starring a down-on-her-luck, sassy, mid-life heroine who has to reinvent herself to avoid complete disaster. Throw in a new job working backstage in Hollywood and some surprising villains, and you've got a novel you can't put down. I raced through it, loving every page.” —Maddie Dawson, The Washington Post bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners and Snap Out of It

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Book Synopsis“A heartfelt, delicious story.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace From the author of Husbands and Other Sharp Objects comes a witty, bighearted novel about the happy accidents that lead to love and second chances. Forty-one years old, the last of her friends to marry, and down to a size 12, Lauren Leo is in her gown and about to tie the knot. There’s just one thing missing: the groom. With one blindsiding text, Lauren is unceremoniously dumped at the altar. In the aftermath, her mother is an endless well of unsolicited advice (Stay on your diet and freeze your eggs). Her sisters only add to the Great Humiliation: one is planted on Lauren’s couch while the other is too perfect. Picking her heart up off the floor, Lauren turns to her work in advertising as she gathers courage to move on and plan her next step. She should know by now that nothing in life goes according to plan. What lies ahead is the road to self-acceptance and at long last feeling worthy. With a new way to measure love and success, Lauren chucks her scale—and finds a second chance in the most unexpected place.Trade Review“A fun, well-paced jaunt.” —Kirkus Reviews “This fast-paced and entertaining story will appeal to those who like tales of women succeeding on their own terms.” —Booklist “Poignant and funny, Crazy To Leave You is chock full of Rothstein’s signature fast-paced, smart dialogue and brimming with wit. A heartfelt, delicious story.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace “Crazy to Leave You is the funniest book I’ve read in practically forever. Lauren Leo, who’s been jilted at the altar at forty-one, is sarcastic, lovable, brave, and drop-dead hilarious—in other words, perfect. As she makes her way through the humiliation of her postwedding world, not only does she have to deal with some pretty rough dieting decisions, but she’s also got some needy sisters, a judgmental mom, a crazy work life, and waaay too many wedding presents. Plus, there’s the really big question on everyone’s mind: Is anybody ever going to love her again? Trust me: this book will have you snort-laughing from page one. Do not be drinking hot liquids while you read.” —Maddie Dawson, author of The Magic of Found Objects “I’ve been eagerly awaiting Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s next novel, and Crazy to Leave You exceeded my expectations. From some of the funniest one-liners I’ve read in years to a cast of all-too-relatable characters, this witty, heartfelt story of one woman’s attempt to live on her own terms after her fiancé leaves her lifted my spirits and reminded me of what a gift it is to have choices—even the kind that take some warming up to. This is exactly the book we all need right now.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You “With her trademark wit and wisdom, Marilyn Simon Rothstein brings us her most delightful and disarming heroine yet in Lauren Leo, a jilted fortysomething bride who finds her superpower. Fun, funny, and smart, Crazy to Leave You will keep you turning the pages and aching to offer your own shoulder to cry on as Lauren turns her tale of woe into a tower of strength. If you haven’t yet experienced the sheer joy of a Marilyn Simon Rothstein novel, this is a perfect place to start.” —Jamie Brenner, author of Blush “Marilyn Simon Rothstein does it again with another star, hilarious heart-warmer about a girl who is driven from her current location of heartbreak to her final destination of love and sanity. You’d be crazy not to love Crazy to Leave You.” —Jennifer Belle, bestselling author of Going Down and High Maintenance “Marilyn Simon Rothstein’s heartwarming new page-turner, Crazy to Leave You, has all the feels. Enter Lauren Leo—a brilliant advertising exec on top of her professional game who can’t get a break in her personal life. Over forty and jilted at the altar, Lauren berates herself and allows the critical, fat-shaming voice of her mother to echo relentlessly inside her head. Lauren’s journey is to stop weighing everything against a vicious scale, and instead to finally embrace who she is by learning that self-love and acceptance are truly the gifts that keep on giving. Rothstein’s genius lies in her keen observations, richly developed characters, razor-sharp ability to expose family dysfunction at its rotten core—and most of all, her unparalleled laugh-out-loud humor through love, loss, hope, and healing.” —Lisa Barr, author of Woman on Fire “On the surface, Crazy to Leave You is a funny, lighthearted story. But underlying Rothstein’s signature humor and wry, engaging voice is the shattering dilemma of every woman who has ever believed that she is not enough—not thin enough, not successful enough, not loved enough. Lauren’s journey to loving herself is one to which we can all relate. I think every book club is going to want this one!” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Other People’s Things “Reading a book by Marilyn Simon Rothstein is like sitting at the fun table at a wedding, listening to all an insider’s funny stories about the blessed event’s guests, and those she unsparingly tells on herself. Marilyn Simon Rothstein makes me laugh—and reminds me that even in a comic novel, the emotional dynamics in a nosy, tight-knit Jewish family with three competitive daughters can be as twisted as they are laughable. In Rothstein’s third hilarious novel, we follow the victim of a brutal hit-and-runaway groom, a bride with a ticking biological clock and a brilliant Manhattan advertising career. Despite her bona fides, this abandoned singleton has no way to spin the mortifying situation she finds herself in—dumped at the altar by a weakling who announces his plan by texting her sister. Will she ever love again? Will she ever stop eating to fill the hole he left? You’ll find out, and if you’re like me, you’ll be waiting for this author’s next book.” —Thelma Adams, author of The Last Woman Standing and Bittersweet Brooklyn “Heartfelt, captivating, and beautifully written. This is one of those rare books that leaves you feeling as if you’ve spent the day with a best friend. Rothstein is a master at creating flawed characters that make you laugh, cry, and fall in love with them.” —Bette Lee Crosby, USA Today bestselling author “Marilyn Simon Rothstein returns with her inimitable blend of heartache, romance, and hilarity. Crazy to Leave You is five stars all the way.” —Patricia Sands, author of Drawing Lessons “If you don’t laugh out loud while reading a book by Marilyn Simon Rothstein, you’re dead inside. Filled with everything I love in a story: a well-meaning, insanity-inducing family, gut-busting laughs, and a heroine who feels like a friend. Crazy to Leave You will be an instant classic.” —Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Pack Up The Moon

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Book SynopsisFrom The Brighter the Light author Mary Ellen Taylor comes an uplifting tale of hope and love between a mother and daughter as they learn that life is a masterpiece in the making.When artist Dani Manchester learns she’s slowly losing her vision, she becomes unmoored. Her ex-husband died only months before, leaving Dani and her preteen daughter grief stricken. Suddenly, the life Dani built for her family on the Outer Banks feels like a painful reminder of all they’ve lost.On a whim, Dani sells her waterfront home and buys an old farm inland near the Virginia state line. But Dani’s daughter recoils at the sudden, drastic change. The Outer Banks’ sun-swept beaches, pink dawns, and savage storms are all she’s ever known.But Dani is resolute, and the pair move to Virginia to embark on a challenging renovation. That summer, their efforts to turn a run-down silo into an art studio bring forth new friends, new loves, and new challenges.As mother and daughter navigate the fiercest storm of their lives, they learn that instead of waiting for the skies to clear, they can withstand the wind and rain, so long as they do it together.

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Book SynopsisShe ran from her past, abandoned her dreams. But is it too late to start again? Since the death of her big sister, Beth has felt lost, a shadow of her former self. It’s been years since she abandoned her youthful musical aspirations and settled for playing piano in a hotel bar; when she lost Lucy, she lost the one who was always there to encourage her, the one who stopped her from giving up on life entirely. In her grief, Beth finds herself sinking deeper into the rut Lucy was forever trying to lift her out of. But then a posthumous gift from Lucy, a puzzle box, arrives weeks after the funeral, containing clues that Beth must follow to reopen long-closed doors to the past—including memories she’s been running from for years. As she reluctantly follows the trail, rediscovering friendships she discarded on her downward spiral, Beth realises that she lost her way long before she lost Lucy. But is it too late to find her way back to the hopeful, trusting person she was before—and to finally start living the version of the future that Lucy always wanted for her?

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Book SynopsisTwo broken hearts discover an unpredictable path to healing in an emotional romance about fate and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst. It’s been two years since Chiara Kennedy lost her dearest friend, Rory. Chiara misses everything about her. Rory’s widowed husband is another story. Sebastian Ryder is a man Chiara had secretly wanted, let slip away, and hoped to never see again. Then fate throws them together for an unexpected one-night stand and a morning after of new challenges. Sebastian had a soul mate in Rory. Shutting down after his tragic loss, he kept a cool distance from everyone—including Chiara, with whom he once shared a deep if fleeting affection. That was over and done with a long time ago. But when they meet again, old emotions resurface along with a heart-wounding past that haunts them both. As Chiara and Sebastian grow closer, finally getting to know each other, Chiara struggles with feelings of guilt even as she cherishes her second chance with Sebastian. Will fate allow them to overcome the past, or are they destined to always wonder if they are truly meant to be?

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes a romance about childhood friends who marry in Vegas and embark on a wild ride to find their happily ever after.With two protective older brothers and a traditional Catholic Italian mother, it’s surprising that Chloe D’Angelo can manage a date without someone in the family naysaying her romantic choice. And Dante Mancuso…oh, no. Her brother’s best friend is not a dating-app right swipe.But when they are left unsupervised on a late night in Vegas, all of that changes. Add in a Vegas wedding chapel and a couple of “I dos” and Chloe wakes up with a ring on her finger and a hangover. Dating Dante was always a secret desire, but marriage? The rift that this news would cause in her family has both of them keeping their nuptials to themselves as they scramble to undo their Vegas mistake.Dante knew the rules: Chloe was off-limits. Only, he can’t stop once his mind starts to believe she might be his forever. Just as their attraction deepens, Chloe flees to Bali, desperate to clear her head.All Dante has to do is keep her brothers from killing him and convince Chloe that they are meant for each other. But first, Dante has to find her.

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Book SynopsisAn unusual inheritance leads to a life-changing journey in a novel of romance, secrets, and the treasure of found family. Blythe Harmon is on the fast track to a life she never wanted. On her thirtieth birthday, just as she’s about to lock herself into a high-powered job and accept a marriage proposal to match, an unusual bequest from her beloved late grandmother, Nomi, offers an escape and an invitation to adventure. Equipped with Nomi’s urn of ashes and a treasure map, Blythe sets off for a small island in the San Juans where she rents the mysterious and unsettling Improbable House. Secret by secret, clue by cryptic clue, she begins to unravel the puzzle her grandmother has left her to piece together. Her quest is complicated, though, by a powerful attraction to an enigmatic islander and empathy for his orphaned niece, both of whom are inexorably tied to the old house. Just when Blythe thinks she’s on the verge of solving the mystery, her quest takes an unexpected turn, and she discovers that the treasure she’s really seeking is something that could never be buried in the ground. While she’s on the treasure hunt of a lifetime, the past and the future are coming together in this magical novel by the Amazon Charts bestselling author of Whisper Me This.Trade Review“Fans of Lia Louis, Samantha Verant, and Linda Francis Lee will appreciate King’s deft handling of Blythe’s fish-out-of-water experience and her journey of self-discovery that’s more valuable than any buried treasure.” —Booklist “An enchanting read filled with satisfying mystery and romance. And I love a hint of magical matchmaking!” —Willa Reece, author of Wildwood Whispers “This book has it all—a quirky island, a hot Viking, even ghosts!—but most of all, it has soul. I was charmed and moved by this lovely story that reminds us sometimes we have to dig up the past to remember who we are in the present. A real gem.” —Colleen Oakley, author of The Invisible Husband of Frick Island “Kerry Anne King’s charming novel will warm your heart as you follow the clues to where X marks the spot. I flew through Improbably Yours faster than a talking raven!” —Amy E. Reichert, author of The Kindred Spirits Supper Club “In my next life, I want to come back in a world created by Kerry Anne King. She expertly weaves tales filled with love and suspense and flashes of magic into generous, fun stories of people finding their way through adversity and discovering the lives they were meant to live. Improbably Yours is just the best: an antidote for tough times. I loved it!” —Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners “If you’ve never read a book by Kerry Anne King, remedy the situation now. She conjures the most enchanting characters able to rise above self-doubt and past tragedy to seize their finest hopes and dreams. I dare you not to fall in love with Blythe, Savannah, Flynn, and the book’s other brightly rendered characters as events lead them toward a fulfilling, nearly magical future—if only they have the courage to believe.” —Christine Nolfi, bestselling author of A Brighter Flame “If you’re looking for a book with all the feels, Kerry Anne King’s latest novel is it. Woven with a hint of magic and a heartwarming cast of characters, Improbably Yours is the story of a young woman determined to fulfill her dead grandmother’s last wish, only to find herself on the trail of long-buried secrets and an unexpected path to self-discovery. A treasure of a novel about finding your true place in the world and embracing the life you were meant to live.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings

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Book SynopsisA woman delves into science and superstition, fear and persecution, and the hope and courage of belief in an award-winning and internationally bestselling novel by Kateřina Tučková. Last in a centuries-old lineage of healing women, Dora Idesová was raised by her aunt Surmena in the White Carpathians. Resistant to superstition, Dora grew up hearing stories of the “goddesses” who were said to conjure love and curses and, through divine connection, cure the spirit and the body. Now an academic, Dora is researching the tales that for generations spellbound the hillside where she grew up. As the mysteries become truths, they reveal a stunning discovery that reaches back from the witch trials of the seventeenth century through Nazi-occupied Germany. Embarking on an emotional journey, Dora is about to find out how deeply and fatefully she is entwined with secret tradition. Beautifully weaving together fact, folklore, and fiction, Kateřina Tučková draws on the stories of her ancestors to explore the extraordinary history of goddesses who walked the earth.Trade ReviewPraise for Kateřina Tučková’s Gerta “The story is an unvarnished chronicle of a young woman doing what she must to protect herself and her daughter.” —Historical Novel Society “Gerta’s main strength is its lyrical language, translated exquisitely from the original Czech into English by Véronique Firkusny. The nimble text elevates the narrative and evokes deep emotions, while succinct descriptions capture Gerta’s—and her country’s—pitiable condition.” —Washington Independent Review of Books “Tučková has tackled one [of] the most difficult chapters in European history, one that has been influencing the relationship between two nations for decades. It’s a tale of prejudice, of exclusion and collective shame. Gerta is both a disturbing novel and a wonderful piece of literature that could easily become a classic.” —The Constant Reader

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Book SynopsisA sleight of hand. A trick up the sleeve. A call for the dead. It’s all part of the game in this twisty tale by the bestselling author of After Alice Fell. New Hampshire, 1877. Maud Price was once a celebrated child medium, a true believer in lifting the veil between the living and the dead. Now penniless, her guiding spirits gone, the so-called “Maid of Light” is desperate to regain her reputation—but doing so means putting her faith in deceiving others. Clementine Watkins, known in spiritualist circles for her bag of tricks and utmost discretion, creates the sort of theatrics that can fill Maud’s parlor again, and with each misdirection, Maud’s fame is restored. But her guilt is a heavy burden. And the ruse has become a risk. Others are plotting to expose the fraud, and Clem can’t allow anyone—even Maud—to jeopardize the fortune the hoax has made her. When the deception hints at a possible murder, Maud realizes how dangerous a game she’s playing. But to return to the light from which she’s strayed, she must first survive the darkness created by Clem’s smoke and mirrors.Trade Review“Kim Taylor Blakemore’s The Deception captures the fascinating world of nineteenth-century mediums in this story of intrigue, deceit, and the otherworldly. Historical fiction lovers will delight in the wonderfully captured details and the mystical elements at the center of this novel. A must-read!” —Lydia Kang, author of The Half-Life of Ruby Fielding “Delightfully wry as it is unsettling, The Deception had me turning pages at a blistering pace. Blakemore bewitches with her shrewd, incisive look at the Spiritualist movement and two down-on-their-luck heroines bound in an unlikely partnership. Teeming with intrigue, seething jealousies, and theatrical atmosphere. Absolutely impossible to put down!” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil and The Witch of Tin Mountain “A sinuous tale of deception amidst the fascinating backdrop of post-Civil War Spiritualism, The Deception seethes from the very first sentence all the way through to its riveting conclusion. Blakemore, a modern day Brontë, gleams in dark, moldering, claustrophobic places.” —Robert Gwaltney, award-winning author of The Cicada Tree “Suspense, romance, spirits, both living and dead—The Deception has it all, as well as a loving recreation of late nineteenth century New England. Kim Taylor Blakemore has created the kind of spooky, riveting story readers of this genre will love. The Deception delivers all the thrills and chills of a great séance, in a world where ghosts walk the earth, and the truly evil spirits may just be the ones in your own house.” —Carole Lawrence, author of Cleopatra’s Dagger “With a magician’s brilliant sleight of hand, Kim Taylor Blakemore weaves an intricate plot that is at once playful, moody, sinister, and deliciously clever. The Deception crackles with intrigue and richly detailed historical atmosphere.” —Liza Nash Taylor, author of In All Good Faith

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Book SynopsisA single lie becomes a defining moment in a family’s life in an unforgettable novel of psychological suspense. After being gone for two decades, Maddy’s half sister, Emily, is back in town to settle their late father’s estate. Emily’s not the troubled girl Maddy remembers from their volatile childhood. Apparently, all is well. It can’t possibly matter anymore that Maddy married Emily’s first love, but the pictures Maddy finds on her husband’s phone tell a different story. Suspicions of an affair are hard to ignore. Then again, Maddy hasn’t been herself lately. She’s increasingly confused. She’s losing items that are precious to her. She forgets where she’s going. The line between what’s real and unreal has become a blur. Even the damning photos have disappeared. Though her state of mind starts to become everyone’s cause for concern, Maddy refuses to believe she’s losing her grip on reality. But the one thing she can’t deny is the secret from the past that rewrote all their lives—a secret that’s ready to come out.Trade Review“Virginia Franken’s compelling Half Sisters takes sibling rivalry to a whole new level. Secrets, deception, backstabbing on top of some pretty wicked twists—what more could you ask for? Read it!” —Avery Bishop, author of Girl Gone Mad “Immersive and engrossing, Half Sisters is filled with revelations about chosen vs. given family, and complex, well-drawn characters who will go to great lengths to right wrongs and heal old wounds. Virginia Franken expertly peels back layers until we’re finally faced with an inevitable yet shocking conclusion. I stayed up late reading this artfully crafted and completely original novel.” —Kathleen Willett, author of Mother of All Secrets “A riveting psychological thriller by Virginia Franken: I could not put this book down. My pulse quickened page after compelling page as I fell deep for and into this tale of two very different jealous sisters, one dark heck-of-a-secret, and the ultimate unimaginable revenge. Five stars—a sun and a moon.” —Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Husbands and Other Sharp Objects “A domestic suspense full of intrigue, Franken’s Half Sisters sets a delicious premise that will satisfy and needle readers page to page. A definite must-read!” —Brandi Reeds, author of Trespassing

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Book SynopsisA single mother faces her worst fear—the past—in a provocative novel of suspense by the author of The Speed of Light. Iris Jenkins knows that bad things happen. She’s tried to escape these things for years. So when Iris is entrusted to house-sit at a lodge on the South Dakota prairie, she thinks she’s prepared for anything. But one surprise is Sawyer Jones, the property’s neighbor and caretaker. He’s a caring, reassuring presence who’s making her feel safe and alive again. Then late one night, Iris hears a chilling cry for help coming from a walkie-talkie buried in a box of toys. As the calls get more desperate, personal, and menacing, Iris realizes the person on the other end isn’t reaching out for help. They’re reaching out to terrorize her. Now the only way for Iris to move forward in life is to confront the past she’s been running from…a threat that has now followed her into the dark.Trade Review“A lucky few of us walk in the sunshine, and the rest of us have to fight our way out of the dark. Elissa Grossell Dickey’s Iris is one of the latter, and in elegant prose, she makes Iris’s journey heart-wrenching, memorable, and all too real. Pages turn faster and faster as you speed to the satisfying resolution of Iris in the Dark.” —Kristin Wright, Amazon bestselling author of The Darkest Flower and The Darkest Web “Iris in the Dark investigates the shadowy corners of one woman’s past—and how they try to reclaim her, just as she finally finds some light. It’s a moving and suspenseful story with prose as impactful as its characters’ journeys. I read this one in a single sitting, pulled along by the novel’s stunning revelations and Elissa Grossell Dickey’s beautiful storytelling.” —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot “Iris in the Dark is an unputdownable, unforgettable story of trauma and strength. Dickey expertly fuses romance and internal struggle with moments of abject terror, making for a fast-paced one-sitting read.” —Suzy Krause, author of Valencia and Valentine and Sorry I Missed You “Elissa Grossell Dickey is back with a suspenseful visit to America’s heartland. The windswept prairie makes the perfect backdrop for hurt people to be healed by love.” —Jennifer Bardsley, author of Sweet Bliss “A nail-biter of a thriller, with a looming sense of dread etched on every page, shot through with hope, love, and purpose, as Iris navigates complicated emotions and confronts a troubling history that threatens the simple small-town life she’s always longed for. I could not put it down!” —Paulette Kennedy, author of Parting the Veil “It is a rare story that can keep you on the edge of your seat, fill you with a sense of foreboding, and warm your heart all at the same time, and Iris in the Dark is one of those extraordinary gems. Joining Iris on her journey of healing, redemption, and resilience kept me up late at night turning the pages.” —Mansi Shah, author of The Taste of Ginger “Filled with suspense and the all-too-real fears involved in keeping a small human alive, Elissa Grossell Dickey’s Iris in the Dark will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. As Iris is forced to confront the demons from her past in an isolated lodge, she realizes that help isn’t coming and she has to do this on her own. Don’t start this book before bed…” —Sara Goodman Confino, author of For the Love of Friends

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Book SynopsisSisterhood is the secret weapon for two women at crossroads in a bighearted multigenerational novel about family, forgiveness, and fresh starts by the author of The After Party. When Rita McCall discovers her husband’s affair, there isn’t a lick of surprise—not a single tear or broken heart. Just a wife and mother who’s over it and ready to watch her twenty-three-year marriage go up in flames. Sticking close, thick as thieves since childhood, Rita’s unfailingly loyal cousins Jemel and Sharae become her lifeline. They stand beside her as she contemplates a new career and navigates the murky waters of being a preacher’s daughter disgraced by scandal. Although she would never turn her back on her cousin, Sharae has her own issues to deal with after learning of her father’s jailhouse death and an inheritance she doesn’t want. The last things she needs right now are a handsome lawyer snooping around in her business and a secret that comes back to bite. With the cousins at life-changing crossroads, it’ll take the wisdom of the Aunts and their family’s legacy of feeding the soul to guide them through the painful secrets, betrayals, and empowering revelations ahead. They’ll learn that what matters most is holding tight to love, to the promise of happiness, and most of all to each other.Trade Review“Arthur writes strong female characters, compelling story lines, and the message that family always has your back. Her fluid writing with touches of humor, romance, and enough issues to keep things interesting will keep readers engaged. Will appeal to fans of Terry McMillan and Eric Jerome Dickey.” —Library Journal “With snappy dialogue and an emotionally charged plot, not to mention a few sexy scenes, Arthur keeps raising the stakes until a final showdown tests the bonds of the women’s friendship. A great choice for readers of Kimberla Lawson Roby and Terry McMillan.” —Booklist

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Book SynopsisA nineteenth-century utopia becomes a powder keg of political intrigue and betrayal in an enthralling historical novel—inspired by actual events—by the author of Flight Risk. Key West, 1886. The booming cigar industry makes it the most prosperous city in Florida. As a rebel base for the anticolonial insurgency in Cuba, it’s also a tinderbox for six young friends with ambitious dreams. They all brim with secrets: Zenaida, the daughter of an assassinated Havana journalist; power-hungry Sofia, who plots a fast track to success; Chaveta, Zenaida’s loyal comrade in arms who fearlessly flouts tradition; Feliciano, a charismatic Spanish anarchist; Líbano, the cafetero, silent and watchful; and Maceo, a daring guerrilla soldier who fights a brutal undertow. As lives intertwine, revolution smolders, and passions ignite, the bustling coral island is set to explode. Against the backdrop of the Great Fire of Key West, One Brilliant Flame explores the luminous fates of consuming passion and encroaching peril in the face of insurrection, sacrifice, and inextinguishable hope.Trade Review“This is a fascinating, informative, and important read.” —Booklist “Suspenseful and steeped in history, Joy Castro’s One Brilliant Flame transports readers to a vibrant nineteenth-century Key West, one stoked by revolution in Cuba and inflamed by the passions of striking young characters. Castro’s novel beautifully illuminates a largely forgotten history in a memorable and compelling light. I learned so much, but more importantly, I couldn’t put it down.” —Chantel Acevedo, author of The Distant Marvels “An absorbing and fascinating look at a forgotten part of Key West (and US) history. Joy Castro’s One Brilliant Flame introduces us to three young women whose ties to each other and to the Cuban fight for independence are as complicated as their personalities. One Brilliant Flame proves that the political is also the personal.” —Ana Veciana-Suarez, author of The Chin Kiss King “As the old Spanish Empire falls and the new North American one rises, a tiny island in Florida becomes the key to understanding a world without empires. This historical novel is conjured by the ghosts of lectors in tobacco factories, visionary preachers of anarchy and love who understood that partial freedom is no freedom at all. With her signature elegance, Joy Castro’s One Brilliant Flame illuminates a forgotten and fundamental chapter of US history, while it also indulges in the revolutionary fervor of burning it all.” —Luis Othoniel Rosa, author of Beginnings for an Anarchist Aesthetics: Borges with Macedonio “Stunning historical fiction that puts women front and center—at last!—in the late-nineteenth-century world of Cubans seeking freedom for their island from the other side of the sea. Beautiful and illuminating!” —Ruth Behar, Distinguished University Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan, and author of Letters from Cuba “A stunning work of the imagination—a brilliant evocation of the way war, exile, and freedom defined the Cuban nation from the start and how the wounds of the early republic haunt us still. In animating a lost world, Joy Castro beautifully traces the future that might have risen from its ashes. A spectacular achievement that continues to resonate beyond the book’s close.” —Ana Menéndez, author of In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd “Through spare, direct language and a remarkable cast of characters, One Brilliant Flame manages organically and seamlessly to examine poverty and privilege, politics and spirituality, poetry and revolution. Set in late nineteenth-century Key West, a beehive of radical activity bolstering the insurgence in the Cuban War of Independence, Joy Castro’s page-turner deftly explores the social struggles that the rebellion has spawned among these indelible Floridian expats: class uprising, the liberation of women, equality for people of African descent, the freedom to love whom one chooses. One Brilliant Flame is as delicious in its perpetual surprises as it is vital in reviving an extraordinarily rich episode in American history.” —Kia Corthron, author of Moon and the Mars and Windham-Campbell Prize recipient “An incisive examination of politics, power, desire, gender, sexuality, class, race, and the ruinous legacy of colonialism, One Brilliant Flame reintegrates women into the heart and history of the Cuban revolution. Joy Castro’s evocative language lures us to the sands of Key West to walk beside her revolutionary exiles, the sun searing our skin and their words echoing in our hearts. I was unable to pry myself from this novel’s grip.” —Jennifer Steil, author of Exile Music “Set in 1886 against the backdrop of Spain's colonial rule of Cuba, Joy Castro’s One Brilliant Flame takes us on a journey through Florida’s Key West at a moment when Cuban immigrants filled the streets, cigar factories, and cafés. Her young rebels—whether fueled by guilt, betrayal, love, loss, or hope—come alive with charged eroticism both for revolution and for each other. The entwined lives of Zenaida, Sofia, Chaveta, Feliciano, Maceo, and Libano are fiercely affected by passion as they struggle to be true to their causes, their families, and each other.” —Emma Pérez, author of Forgetting the Alamo, Or, Blood Memory and The Decolonial Imaginary

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Book SynopsisFrom New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bybee comes the story of two wine enthusiasts who ride the ups and downs of love in the vineyards of Tuscany.Tasting wine is not enough: sommelier Giovanni D’Angelo wants to create it. To put his family first, he’s always deferred his dreams—a vineyard to run, a woman to marry. But a three-week vineyard tour in Italy could set him back on track.For Emma Rutledge, wine is in her blood. Intent to run the family wine business one day, she finds that the men in her family are only intent to push her out of it. But that’s fine—she’s got a plan.When Gio and Emma meet on a wine tour in Tuscany, their shared aspirations fuel an undeniable chemistry. Returning home to California, they work toward setting up Emma’s vineyard and a label of their own. But when Emma receives a life-altering diagnosis, she worries it’s all been for nothing.As Emma works to cement her family legacy while dealing with this unexpected challenge, Gio tries to convince her that their future isn’t just wine.It’s each other.

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Book SynopsisEverything’s just perfect in Charlie’s life. Apart from all the things that are wrong. It’s been more than a decade since Charlie Trewin left her sleepy Cornish fishing village for the dazzling lights of London, vowing never to return. But when shocking news of her father’s death forces her back to Carncarrow, she’s confronted with everything she thought she’d left behind: the tragic loss of her mother, her father’s obsessive hoarding—and her own unresolved emotions about them both. At first Carncarrow seems like the same stuck-in-the-past, dead-end village Charlie escaped years ago. Nothing like London, where she’s built a wonderful new life: solid job, loving fiancé, and endless, boundless happiness. But as she sorts through her father’s stockpiled mementoes, she begins to rediscover the place she once called home—and realises that her life in London may not be as happy, happy, happy as she keeps telling herself. When her fiancé unexpectedly shows up in Carncarrow, her two complicated worlds collide. With the past and the present competing for her attention, can Charlie finally make her peace with her memories? And can she find a way to be truly happy on her own terms?

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Book SynopsisA funny, warmhearted novel about falling in love, falling apart, and pulling it all together again by the bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners. After three marriages and a lot of living, resilient Billie Slate knows exactly what trouble love can bring. Now she’s reinvented herself as the Heartbreak Bunny, an on-call performance artist who can heal anyone who’s been burned by that four-letter word, LOVE, by hopping about and whisking away sad mementos from their past relationships. Call it magic. Call it peculiar. But her bunny costume is as perfect as her breakup mantra: SNAP OUT OF IT. As Billie’s business goes viral and skyrockets her to sudden fame, her comfortable life turns surreal: her daughter’s marriage begins to fail, and Victor, aka Worst Husband Ever, wants not only to bond with the daughter he left but to win Billie back. Only, he’s got competition: a charming widower might be falling in love with a woman who no longer believes in love. As every romantic notion Billie had pushed away starts pushing back, the Heartbreak Bunny must confront the possibility that, just maybe, love has some tricks left up its sleeve.Trade Review“Snap Out of It is a laugh-out-loud delight from start to finish with characters that are drawn with a unique wisdom and insight into human nature. My heart is full, and I am still smiling. I absolutely loved this book.” —Annabel Monaghan, author of Nora Goes Off Script “Maddie Dawson has a rare ability to craft quirky, offbeat characters that are also utterly believable. Dawson is at the top of her game with Snap Out of It, a magical, wise, tender, joyously relatable read. From the moment Billie the Heartbreak Bunny stepped onto the page, I felt as though I’d met a soulmate. There is only a handful of authors whose name on the cover elicits from me an automatic buy; Maddie Dawson is one of them.” —Marie Bostwick, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Restoration of Celia Fairchild “Maddie Dawson’s Snap Out of It is as delightful as it is original. Protagonist Billie Slate is on a one-woman mission to rid the world of unnecessary heartbreak—while dressed in a bunny suit. The consequences are both messy and magical. Dawson has given us an utterly charming story that manages to be both light and profound; it is a clear-eyed and sometimes laugh-out-loud look at the complications of grown-up love with an important lesson at its heart: healing is always possible when we keep our heart open to the possibilities of love.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings “Maddie Dawson just gets better and better. I utterly adored this fast-paced, big-hearted beauty of a book! It’s bursting with light and humor and hope, guaranteed to cure your blues or heartbreak or just make your day bright. I wish there was a Billie in everybody’s life.” —Barbara O’Neal, USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids “Maddie Dawson has done it again. Snap Out of It is the enchanting story of a woman on a mission to ease the pain of the lonely hearted while dealing with her own lifelong loves and losses. The modern mother-daughter relationship will sit in your head for weeks. Delightful and magical, Snap Out of It will snap you out of it—with the perfect witty and light-hearted book club read.” —Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Crazy to Leave You and Husbands and Other Sharp Objects “Where has Billie the Heartbreak Bunny been all my life? Maddie Dawson’s latest novel will have you arguing against the title only because you will want to fall deeper in rather than snapping out of it. Filled with heart, healing, laughter, and the complexities of modern families, Snap Out of It is a warm blanket of a novel that will make you believe in love and second chances at any age.” —Sara Goodman Confino, author of She’s Up to No Good “In Snap Out of It, Maddie Dawson proves once again she is truly the queen of hearts. Whimsical, quirky, and a touch magical, there is much to ponder in this captivating story as the Heartbreak Bunny cleans house. With guaranteed laughter and an ending that makes you cheer, this is the perfect story to warm any heart and be reminded it’s never too late for a second chance.” —Patricia Sands, bestselling author of the Love in Provence series “I was in at the premise: a sixty-year-old woman in a bunny suit hopping into people’s houses to remove the detritus of lost love so they can snap out of grief and get on with their lives? Yes, please. But wait—it gets better! Add in a supporting cast of delightfully quirky (but deeply human) characters, family drama, and an unexpected (and unwanted) romance, all sparkling with Dawson’s trademark touches of magic and found family, and you’ve got an absolute winner. Snap Out of It is a wise, funny, heartfelt novel filled with complex relationships and whimsical surprises—a book that leaves you better than it found you. Love it.” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Improbably Yours

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Book SynopsisA richly rewarding novel about family bonds, the power of words, and the resilience of mothers and daughters in 1930s Appalachia. The folks in the Kentucky Appalachians are scraping by. Coal mining and hardscrabble know-how are a way of life for these isolated people. But when Amanda Rye, a young widowed mother and traveling packhorse librarian, comes through a mountain community hit hard by the nation’s economic collapse, she brings with her hope, courage, and apple pie. Along the way, Amanda takes a shine to the MacInteer family, especially to the gentle Rai; her quick-study daughter, Sass; and Finn, the eldest son who’s easy to warm to. They remind Amanda of her childhood and her parents with whom she longs to be reconciled. Her connection with the MacInteers deepens, and Amanda shares with them a dangerous secret from her past. When that secret catches up with Amanda in the present, she, Rai, Sass, and Finn find their lives intersecting—and threatened—in the most unexpected ways. Now they must come together as the truth lights a path toward survival, mountain justice, forgiveness, and hope.Trade Review“This moving tale of family bonds and the resilience of mothers and daughters is filled with rich period details, regional dialect, and fascinating local customs and foods…Readers of Kim Michele Richardson, Ann H. Gabhart, and Kim Vogel Sawyer will also enjoy this engaging historical novel.” —Booklist “A gorgeously written and well-layered novel that immediately transports us to the Appalachian Mountains of the 1930s. The ways, superstitions, folklore, and justice of the mountain people are woven deeply into the story. Rich in color, tradition, and character, this mountain saga will hold you spellbound.” —Historical Novels Review “A bright and vibrant debut. Light to the Hills is a touching meditation on motherhood and the importance of community, especially during difficult times. Bonnie Blaylock will be one to watch in the realm of historical fiction.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow “The packhorse librarians of the 1930s opened up entirely new worlds to people through the power of literature, a power no better showcased than within these pages: the vibrant Appalachians, courageous women, and a moving tale of compassion, justice, and forgiveness. Lush and rich with detail in a setting like no other, Bonnie Blaylock’s Light to the Hills will transport readers, capturing not only the resilience of those living among the Appalachians but of the lasting and binding magic of stories.” —Gabriella Saab, author of The Last Checkmate “Bonnie Blaylock is a gifted author, and her Light to the Hills is an impressive debut. Set in the eastern Kentucky mountains during the Great Depression, Blaylock takes the reader into the lives of an Appalachian rural coal-mining family hit hard by hard times. Blaylock skillfully weaves a grand story of moonshiners, coal miners, tough people, regional language, a beautiful setting, danger, romance, and more than a little humor. The compelling characters in Light to the Hills will live with you long after you finish the last page. This is a beautiful novel, and I recommend it heartily!” —John Carenen, award-winning author of the Thomas O’Shea series and Keeping to Himself “Bonnie Blaylock’s Light to the Hills paints a loving, vivid portrait of the families, communities, and landscape of 1930s Appalachia. Its characters endeared themselves to me in their pluck and spirit, their attunement to the natural world, and their fierce love for one another. I wanted to stay immersed in their world.” —Susannah Felts, author of This Will Go Down on Your Permanent Record and cofounder of Porch Writers’ Collective

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Book SynopsisA beautiful fugitive. A hot bodyguard. A high-stakes game of temptation. For Nasir, former Special Ops military man and bodyguard, his new job seems like an easy-money gig: trail a Russian mobster’s runaway wife in Mexico, enjoy the sun, observe, and report. Just one rule: don’t get too close. But it’s all Naz can do not to watch the alluring dancer’s every move. A closer look is irresistible—especially when she’s in trouble. Evalina escaped to the island getaway to live an untraceable life—as far away from the past as she can get. But Eva can’t ignore the dark, muscled stud who rescues her from a drug gang. He says he’s an ex-cop on vacation. When providence throws them together time and again, Eva thinks it’s all a beautiful coincidence. Now she’s giving in to a strange new sensation: trust. But Naz has a mission to accomplish and a secret to keep. Eva has her share of secrets, too. And as the heat flares between them, Naz knows that trust could become the most dangerous impulse of all.

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