Family life fiction / Stories about family

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 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 women wake up to the consequences of one impulsive pact in an insightful novel about friendship, love, and fulfillment by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.While at a casino to celebrate her birthday, Jess Clarke proposes a pact to her reserved sister, Liz, and their childhood friend Chloe: the three women will say yes to any adventure that comes their way. Jess is mourning her recent divorce, so the other two reluctantly agree. Twelve hours later, they awaken to the shocking consequences of their behavior.A viral video throws Liz’s career and reputation into question. A major loss at the craps table rocks the foundation of Chloe’s staid marriage. And Jess’s desperate bid to unblock her artistic creativity results in a life-changing choice. Staring down the crossroads, each woman finds her relationships—with herself, with each other, and with loves both old and new—tested. At every turn, they struggle not to let fear decide their fates. Will they give in, or will their misadventures lead to the greatest fulfillment of all?

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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 SynopsisAn inheritance that comes with a warning. Ashley Brooks’s life isn’t working out as planned. After years of struggling to make it in Hollywood, she’s still waiting for her big break. When fate leads her to the doorstep of legendary casting director Louisa Lake George, Ashley thinks her luck is about to change: the prickly old pro knows about a role she’s perfect for. The aspiring actress never gets to thank her, though, because the day after the audition, Louisa is dead. The bigger shock—she left all her money to Ashley. Louisa’s grown children arrive stunned and ready to fight. Her nephew tries to play peacemaker, while Ashley grapples with why Louisa would leave her fortune to a stranger—and whether she should keep it. But Ashley quickly discovers everyone, including the dead woman, is hiding something, and it’s a race to get to the truth before someone else winds up dead.Trade Review“Over Her Dead Body is a psychological thrill ride that takes us into world of Hollywood and the heart of a family with deeply hidden secrets. Susan Walter is a master storyteller with an insider's view of the film business, and her novel glints with danger and brilliant insight into the hopes and dreams of an aspiring actress. I read it in one sitting, guessing the whole way through, stunned by the conclusion.” —Luann Rice, New York Times best-selling author of The Shadow Box and Last Day “A devilishly fun romp, full of eccentric characters and unexpected twists; Over Her Dead Body will keep you turning pages, pulling back the curtains on Hollywood from the point of view of a struggling actress, caught up in a mystery laced with darkly comedic beats. Thoroughly enjoyable!” —Ben Mezrich, New York Times bestselling author of Bringing Down the House, The Accidental Billionaires, and The Midnight Ride “Susan Walter swerves the reader back and forth and around blind corners in a page-turning domestic psychodrama that will twist your sympathies and drop your jaw. An A-list Hollywood thrill ride, right through to the breathtaking end!” —Judy Melinek & T.J. Mitchell, New York Times bestselling authors of Working Stiff, First Cut, and Aftershock “Where there’s a hefty will, there’s a way. With its eccentric ensemble cast and all the family drama of Knives Out, Over Her Dead Body is darkly funny and highly entertaining with more twists than a bus tour through the Hollywood Hills. Fans of Janet Evanovich and Elle Cosimano will be delighted.” —Tessa Wegert, author of Death in the Family “Over Her Dead Body is a whodunnit with more twists and turns than a boardwalk roller coaster, where secrets abound and nothing is what it seems. If you're looking for a book that will keep you turning pages deep into the night, Susan Walter has absolutely written one.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings “What a clever, fun, twisty, juicy ride! Over Her Dead Body will keep you guessing over and over with its kaleidoscope of conflicted characters, crisscrossed allegiances and masterful point-of-view shifts. Knives Out has nothing on this quintessential L.A. story of ambition, greed and good intentions gone wrong. You’ve never read a mystery quite like it.” —Gary Goldstein, author of The Last Birthday Party

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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 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 SynopsisA humorous and heartwarming novel about friendship and all its little secrets by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.Wendy Moore hides her collection of pilfered bric-a-brac from everyone, including her husband. He thinks she licked her kleptomania in therapy more than a decade ago. Therapy did help, as did focusing her attention on motherhood. But now Wendy?s gardening and furniture-refinishing hobbies fill up only so much of the day, leaving the recent empty nester lonely and anxious?a combination likely to trigger her little problem. She needs a project, fast. Luckily, Harper Ross?a single, childless younger woman in desperate need of highlights?just moved in next door.The only thing Harper wants to change is the writer?s block toppling her confidence and career. Then a muse comes knocking. Sensing fodder for a new antagonist, Harper plays along with Wendy?s ?helpful? advice while keeping her career a secret so Wendy keeps talking. Sure, she?s torn about profiting off her neighbor?s goodwill?especially when Wendy?s matchmaking actually pans out?but Harper?s novel is practically writing itself.Just as a real friendship begins to cement, their deceptions come to light, threatening Wendy?s and Harper?s futures and forcing them to reconcile who they are with who they want to be. Easier said than done.

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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 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 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 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 tragedy upends a family’s delicate balance in an emotional novel about secrets, guilt, friendship, race, and reconciliation by Jerry McGill, author of Bed Stuy: A Love Story. Who wants to believe their family could ever be broken? Devon and James Payne are brothers and rivals since childhood. But they share an affinity for sports that brings glory to their Connecticut town and promise for the future. Then they’re in a car accident. Devon is paralyzed for life, while James goes on to live the dream. For the Paynes, the tremulous repercussions of that evening never settled. Over the course of a decade, Devon decides to visit his seven siblings now scattered across the globe. Each has moved on, yet each struggles to cope with the traumatic event that irrevocably connects them. Devon confronts not only his own demons and family secrets but also the guilt and heartbreaking betrayals that followed in the wake of the tragedy. He also discovers the power of forgiveness—and that coming to terms with the past is the only way to live free in the present.Trade Review“A uniquely structured novel with memorable characters and a generational scope.” —Kirkus Reviews “The shifting perspectives give contours to the sprawling family and its painful secrets.” —Publishers Weekly “McGill’s prose is theatrical, packing every paragraph with action. The Color of Family crosses vast expanses of time and space, with secrets and twists unraveling at breakneck speed; it’s deeply engrossing. The family’s voices are alive and expressive through diary entries, interviews, rich dialogue, and detailed accounts of their familial relationships and social circles. The Payne family is unforgettable, and the humanity McGill observes through them is a gift.” —Booklist (starred review) “In sparkling slivers of stories set from the early 1960s to the early 2000s, fortune batters a wealthy Black family of Connecticut, whose six children initially seem set for stardom in sports and beyond. A car wreck, [a] drug bust, illicit passions, and long-kept secrets change all that.” —People Magazine

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Book SynopsisA tragedy upends a family’s delicate balance in an emotional novel about secrets, guilt, friendship, race, and reconciliation by Jerry McGill, author of Bed Stuy: A Love Story. Who wants to believe their family could ever be broken? Devon and James Payne are brothers and rivals since childhood. But they share an affinity for sports that brings glory to their Connecticut town and promise for the future. Then they’re in a car accident. Devon is paralyzed for life, while James goes on to live the dream. For the Paynes, the tremulous repercussions of that evening never settled. Over the course of a decade, Devon decides to visit his seven siblings now scattered across the globe. Each has moved on, yet each struggles to cope with the traumatic event that irrevocably connects them. Devon confronts not only his own demons and family secrets but also the guilt and heartbreaking betrayals that followed in the wake of the tragedy. He also discovers the power of forgiveness—and that coming to terms with the past is the only way to live free in the present.Trade Review“A uniquely structured novel with memorable characters and a generational scope.” —Kirkus Reviews “The shifting perspectives give contours to the sprawling family and its painful secrets.” —Publishers Weekly “McGill’s prose is theatrical, packing every paragraph with action. The Color of Family crosses vast expanses of time and space, with secrets and twists unraveling at breakneck speed; it’s deeply engrossing. The family’s voices are alive and expressive through diary entries, interviews, rich dialogue, and detailed accounts of their familial relationships and social circles. The Payne family is unforgettable, and the humanity McGill observes through them is a gift.” —Booklist (starred review) “In sparkling slivers of stories set from the early 1960s to the early 2000s, fortune batters a wealthy Black family of Connecticut, whose six children initially seem set for stardom in sports and beyond. A car wreck, [a] drug bust, illicit passions, and long-kept secrets change all that.” —People Magazine

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Book SynopsisA cherished heirloom opens up a century of secrets in a bittersweet novel about family, hard truths, and self-discovery by the author of Millicent Glenn’s Last Wish. Melanie Barnett thinks she has it all together. With an ex-fiancé and a pending promotion at a Kentucky bourbon distillery, Melanie has figured out that love and career don’t mix. Until she makes a discovery while cleaning her Jordan MX car, a scarlet-red symbol of the Jazz Age’s independent women that she inherited from her great-great-great-aunt Violet. Its secret compartment holds Violet’s weathered journal—within it an intriguing message: Take from this story what you will, Melanie, and you can bury the rest. Melanie wonders what more there is to learn from Violet’s past. In 1921 Violet Bond defers to no one. Hers is a life of adventure in Detroit, the hub of the motorcar boom and the fastest growing city in America. But in an era of speakeasies, financial windfalls, free-spirited friends, and unexpected romance, it’s easy to spin out of control. Now, as Melanie’s own world takes unexpected turns, her life and Violet’s life intersect. Generations apart, they’re coming into their own and questioning what modern womanhood—and happiness—really means.Trade Review“Tori Whitaker’s tender and lighthearted work of historical fiction…journeys between Kentucky’s present-day Bourbon Trail and the bustling metropolis of 1920s Motor City, Detroit. Whitaker’s multigenerational dual narrative probes into how women, driven by a thirst for success and independence, have advanced over the last century, while exploring what it has cost them to achieve their dreams. An explosive secret…will crack open deep issues between mother and daughter, challenge their placement in the family, and question the history they believe to be true. As they come together through the experience of sharing Violet’s diary, Whitaker brings about a reckoning that is heartfelt and beautiful.” — Atlanta Journal-Constitution “This witty and engaging story is about Melanie, an up-and-coming executive in the whiskey business in Louisville, Kentucky, and her ‘Grape Aunt Violet.’…The plot flows easily, and the characters, both modern and in the 1920s, are interesting people.” —Historical Novels Review “This novel provides glimpses into the growing automobile industry in 1920s Detroit, where Violet lives. We also get to see the growth of the boutique spirits world in twenty-first-century Kentucky as Melanie tries to make a name for herself. Ultimately, A Matter of Happiness is a story about listening to and trusting yourself, while surrounded by family, friends, love and loss. [A]n entertaining historical fiction read.” —BookTrib “A thrill of a ride and a beautiful read. Violet and Melanie are connected across generations by blood, bourbon, cars, and a great need for independence. Tori Whitaker unfolds the narrative with a deep sense of history imbuing every sensational page, weaving the women’s stories until the inspiring conclusion. This is a compelling story of women who understand that we can choose our happiness and we can choose our lives. Whitaker crafts a riveting read about strength, fate, and choice that you will not want to put down until the very last page.” —Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah “A Matter of Happiness will take you on a wild ride to remember, from the modern-day bourbon distilleries of Kentucky to the speakeasies and parties of Detroit in the twenties. With astute attention to historical detail, Whitaker tells the tale of two strong-willed women, Melanie and Violet, determined to make it on their own terms. You’ll find yourself rooting for these two young women, connected by a cherished 1923 Jordan MX, as they attempt to navigate modern womanhood and what it really means to be happy.” —Nicola Harrison, author of The Show Girl “Tori Whitaker weaves an inspiring inter-generational story that goes down with the sweet surprising warmth of a “Kentucky hug”—that first sip of bourbon. Secrets unravel, revealing the loving sacrifices made by the women of a family with roots on the Bourbon Trail. Their strength is passed down, woman to woman, only to be more appreciated over time like the best aged spirits. A tale to be savored.” —Lynn Cullen, national bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and The Sisters of Summit Avenue “Tori Whitaker’s A Matter of Happiness is an absolute trip back to the Roaring Twenties, so vividly written the reader can see the fringe of the flappers’ dresses, hear the jazz from the speakeasies, and taste the bourbon. A dual timeline novel, both the 1920s and the contemporary stories proceed with delectable suspense and feature strong, independent women characters I adored—and am still thinking about all these days later.” —Joy Jordan-Lake, author of the bestselling Under a Gilded Moon and A Bend of Light

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling author Carolyn Brown’s bighearted novel about family, secrets, small-town Texas romance, and—with a little bit of luck—starting over.Family doesn’t mean everyone has to like each other. That’s the case when cousins Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja return to Shamrock, Texas, to help manage their grandmother’s flower shop, the Lucky Shamrock. The reunion isn’t exactly a beautiful arrangement—considering they’re as compatible as ranchers and coyotes.Thank heaven for a handsome go-between like Clinton, who lives above the shop. The easygoing war vet, and most eligible bachelor in Wheeler County, is now throwing romance into the mix and setting the local women to gossiping. But as the hot months wear on, hidden secrets begin to surface for the temperamental Irish trio. And it’s bringing them closer together than they ever thought possible.With a flurry of weddings, a love story in the making, a surprise baby, and crazy good fortune, maybe that shamrock painted on the window does bring luck. Because for Taryn, Anna Rose, and Jorja, this could be the summer that’ll change their lives forever.

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Book SynopsisShe’s always wanted a sense of belonging. The last place she expects to find it is home. Vale Lightner’s dreams turn to ash when the Pittsburgh bar she owns goes up in flames. Just like the past she escaped, very little seems salvageable. Facing unavoidable change, Vale returns to her hometown of Philadelphia to stay with her grandmother. She knows that returning also means facing everything she left behind: a mother and stepfather who shunted her into the background from the day they married, and her charmed and favored half sister, Blythe, who has abandoned a perfect marriage and is now at a crossroads of her own. Everyone has their secrets, and this reunited family racked by them is about to reach a crisis point. For a mother and her two daughters, this reunion is a chance for closure, newfound love, and forgiveness. As each of them reassesses her own memories of the past, only the truth can bring them together—in ways that could last forever. From the bestselling author of The Passing Storm comes a poignant novel about family secrets, healing, and the hope of second chances.Trade Review“I devoured this book in one sitting. An uplifting novel which explores how misconceptions and half-truths can taint even that closest of relationships—the one with our own family. Nolfi draws us into this complicated family drama and doesn't let us go until the story reaches its intense and captivating climax.” —Imogen Clark, million copy selling author of Impossible to Forget “A Brighter Flame is a deeply touching and uplifting novel that explores the troubled history and buried secrets of a family torn apart long ago. The book captured my heart and drew tears as I was reminded that it’s never too late to heal.” —Boo Walker, bestselling author of A Spanish Sunrise “In this layered family drama, Nolfi explores the unreliability of memories and how inaccurate perceptions of past events impact the present. As estranged sisters Vale and Blythe uncover a clearer picture of their childhood and the circumstances that shaped their contentious relationship, understanding and forgiveness blossom, bearing the fruit of previously unimagined acts of generosity and love. A story that is sure to keep book clubs talking late into the night.” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Improbably Yours “Memories blurred by years of estrangement pit sister against sister in Christine Nolfi’s emotionally complex new novel about a family torn apart by secrets. Authentic, poignant, and enormously uplifting, A Brighter Flame is certain to touch the heart of anyone who’s ever struggled to heal old family wounds—and remind us all that with love, second chances are always possible.” —Barbara Davis, bestselling author of The Keeper of Happy Endings

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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 SynopsisIn the isolated estate she’s found the perfect getaway. But there’s no escaping the past in this chilling novel from the bestselling author of The Unremembered Girl. Filmmaker Tessa Shepherd helped free a man she believed was wrongly imprisoned for murder. When he kills again, Tessa’s life is upended. She’s reeling with guilt, her reputation destroyed. Worse, Tessa’s mother has unexpectedly passed away, and her sister, Margot, turns on her after tensions from their past escalate. Hounded by a bullying press, Tessa needs an escape. That’s when she learns of a strange inheritance bequeathed by her mother: a derelict and isolated estate known as Fallbrook. It seems like the perfect refuge. A crumbling monument to a gruesome history, the mansion has been abandoned by all but two elderly sisters retained as caretakers. They are also guardians of all its mysteries. As the house starts revealing its dark secrets, Tessa must face her fears and right the wrongs of her past to save herself and her relationship with Margot. But nothing and no one at Fallbrook are what they seem.Trade Review“Suspense fans will be satisfied.” —Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA missing child sets the lives of three women on a collision course in this powerful and compelling novel by USA Today bestselling author Bette Lee Crosby. 1971. When a music festival rolls through the sleepy town of Hesterville, Georgia, the Dixon family’s lives are forever changed. On the final night, a storm muffles the sound of the blaring music, and Rachel tucks her baby into bed before falling into a deep sleep. So deep, she doesn’t hear the kitchen door opening. When she and her husband wake up in the morning, the crib is empty. Emily is gone. Vicki Robart is one of the thousands at the festival, but she’s not feeling the music. She’s feeling the emptiness over the loss of her own baby several months before. When she leaves the festival and is faced with an opportunity to fill that void, she is driven to an act of desperation that will forever bind the lives of three women. When the truth of what actually happened that fateful night is finally exposed, shattering the lives they’ve built, will they be able to pick up the pieces to put their families back together again?

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Book SynopsisA missing young woman, ten years gone. A town still held in the grip of an unsolved mystery. A breathtaking novel of psychological suspense by the bestselling author of We Were Mothers. A decade ago in upstate New York, art student Emma McCullough walked into the woods and was never seen again. It’s a mystery that still haunts her bucolic university town and her broken family, especially her sister, Haley, whose need for closure has become an obsession. But now, finally, the first piece of evidence in the vanishing has been found: Emma’s bracelet, lodged in a frozen piece of earth at the bottom of a gorge. For Emma’s three best college friends, for a beloved former teacher, and for Haley, the chilling trinket is more than a clue in a resurrected cold case. It’s a trigger. Then a woman is attacked during an open house, and the connections between the two crimes, ten winters apart, begin to surface. So do the secrets that run as deep and dark as the currents in this quiet river town.Trade Review“A chilling thriller, Open House tracks a missing art student who vanished 10 years prior and how her disappearance connects with a recent attack during an open house in a small university town. It also showcases the unending loyalty of close girlfriends and sisterhood in life or death.” —Good Morning America “Part murder mystery, part interpersonal drama, a serviceable who-done-it (or did anyone?) with a host of compelling characters…this novel has just enough twists to keep its readers along for the ride. Sleuths will delight in piecing together clues and untangling lies alongside the protagonists.” —Kirkus Reviews “Sise (We Were Mothers) weaves together the stories of two crimes in Waverly, N.Y., in this crafty novel…Sise’s talent is her ability to keep readers guessing about which character might be covering for whom, and she keeps the surprises coming. This will appeal to fans of Big Little Lies.” —Publishers Weekly “Sise captures the insular nature of small towns in this domestic drama, and a series of unpredictable twists makes everyone the culprit for at least a little while. The resolution is satisfying, and an epilogue, set five years after the mystery is solved, shows that justice has been served. Readers who enjoy suspense fiction with a strong focus on relationships, like that of Liane Moriarty or Jessica Knoll, will be drawn into the McCulloughs’ story.” —Booklist “This twisty tale is full of secrets and thrills sure to keep you interested in what is going on through the very end.” —Book Riot

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Book SynopsisOne of the New York Times Book Review's 100 Notable Books of 2014!Ullmann’s characters are complex and paradoxical: neither fully guilty nor fully innocent   Siri Brodal, a chef and restaurant owner, is married to Jon Dreyer, a famous novelist plagued by writer’s block. Siri and Jon have two daughters, and together they spend their summers on the coast of Norway, in a mansion belonging to Jenny Brodal, Siri’s stylish and unforgiving mother.   Siri and Jon’s marriage is loving but difficult, and troubled by painful secrets. They have a strained relationship with their elder daughter, Alma, who struggles to find her place in the family constellation. When Milla is hired as a nanny to allow Siri to work her long hours at the restaurant and Jon to supposedly meet the deadline on his book, life in the idyllic summer community takes a dire turn. One rainy July night, Milla disappears without a trace. After her remains are discovered and a suspect is identified, everyone who had any connection with her feels implicated in her tragedy and haunted by what they could have done to prevent it.   The Cold Song is a story about telling stories and about how life is continually invented and reinvented.

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Book SynopsisLike diving into the mind of a brilliant, infuriating friend, this novel dissects the experience of the other woman with tremendous wit and insight.When Ester Nilsson meets the actor Olof Sten, she falls madly in love. Olof makes no secret of being married, but he and Ester nevertheless start to meet regularly and begin a strange dance of courtship. Olof insists he doesn't plan to leave his wife, but he doesn't object to this new situation either...it's far too much fun.Ester, on the other hand, is convinced that things might change. But as their relationship continues over repeated summers apart, and winters full of heated meetings in bars, she is forced to realize the truth: Ester Nilsson has become a mistress.Ester's and Olof's entanglements and arguments are the stuff of relationship nightmares. Cutting, often cruel, and written with piercing humor, Acts of Infidelity is clever, painful, maddening, but most of all perfectly, precisely true.

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Book SynopsisMorton Hall, with its beautiful, ruined grounds and its reclusive mistress, Emilia Morton, is full of mysteries. For freelance editor Anne Marie, the wild garden has become a serene and secret refuge from her loveless marriage. The only other regular visitor is Cape, the hall’s part-time gardener, who is forbidden to tend to anything except the magnificent maze or to meet his enigmatic employer. When Emilia dies, Cape and Anne Marie are astonished to find themselves among an unlikely group of villagers named in her strange will. Morton Hall, including its dazzling art collection and once glorious grounds, can belong to the community forever, but only if they work together to bring the garden back to life within a single year. As they try to put their differences aside to restore the tangled grounds, long-buried secrets are unearthed. Can the past be forgiven as hope and new love begin to bloom?

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Book SynopsisIn the Mormon community of Draper, Utah, seemingly perfect families have deadly secrets.

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