Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Open Road Media The Case of the Lazy Lover
Book SynopsisA runaway witness leads a lawyer into a whodunit: “The only dull pages in this book are the blank ones” (The New York Times). Defense lawyer Perry Mason is surprised to receive two checks from a stranger named Lola Allred. And when he speaks with Lola’s husband, he discovers the woman has run off with her daughter’s boyfriend--who happens to be an important witness in a lawsuit. Soon Mason’s caught up in a complicated case involving not only a missing witness but forgery and murder as well . . . This mystery is part of Edgar Award–winning author Erle Stanley Gardner’s classic, long-running Perry Mason series, which has sold three hundred million copies and serves as the inspiration for the HBO show starring Matthew Rhys and Tatiana Maslany. DON’T MISS THE NEW HBO ORIGINAL SERIES PERRY MASON, BASED ON CHARACTERS FROM ERLE STANLEY GARDNER’S NOVELS, STARRING EMMY AWARD WINNER MATTHEW RHYS.Trade Review“The only dull pages in this book are the blank ones just inside the covers.” - The New York Times on The Case of Lazy Lover
£15.15
Open Road Media Enter, Night: A Novel
Book SynopsisA murderous madman plans to resurrect an ancient monster buried beneath a small Canadian town in this chilling novel for fans of Joe Hill.It’s 1972, and there are some new arrivals to the remote mining village of Parr’s Landing . . .The recently widowed Christina Parr and her brother-in-law, Jeremy, are the first to show up. Both fled town years ago because of the same woman—but for ultimately different, dark reasons. They weren’t expecting a warm welcome upon their homecoming, but they had nowhere else to turn.Meanwhile, Dr. Billy Lightning is searching for clues to prove the grisly death of his anthropologist father was not an accident. But the police aren’t likely to be helpful to someone like him.Then there’s Richard Weal. With his long hair and cowboy hat, the disheveled man looks like a hippie. But the contents of his hockey bag will show he’s anything but peaceful. He has cut a bloody path across the country to answer a powerful, supernatural call. In a cave near Bradley Lake, there slumbers a three-hundred-year-old horror that urgently wants to be released . . .“Skillfully brings to mind the classic works of Stephen King and Robert McCammon.” —Christopher Rice, New York Times–bestselling author of the Burning Girl series“[Rowe] rescues the modern vampire novel from its current state of mediocrity with his dead-on portrayal of the gothic small town, rich characters and deeply frightening story. . . . Read Enter, Night. With the lights on.” —Susie Moloney, bestselling author of The ThirteenTrade Review“Skillfully brings to mind the classic works of Stephen King and Robert McCammon. But the novel’s breathtaking, wholly unexpected and surprisingly moving conclusion heralds the arrival of a major new talent.” —Christopher Rice, author of Burning Girl “With Enter, Night, Michael Rowe does the near impossible and rescues the modern vampire novel from its current state of mediocrity with his dead-on portrayal of the gothic small town, rich characters, and deeply frightening story.” —Susie Moloney, bestselling author of The Dwelling
£17.05
Open Road Media Agent 355: A Novella
Book SynopsisA fictional portrayal of a real-life Revolutionary spy and her daring deeds, from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Only Woman in the Room.Agent 355 is a result of author Marie Benedict’s quest to bring history’s most fascinating and courageous women to life for contemporary readers. Known to history only by her alias, this mysterious female spy, able to move freely and unobtrusively in loyalist circles, became a member of George Washington’s New York–based Culper Ring. This thrilling novella depicts who Marie Benedict thinks Agent 355 could have been, though her true identity remains unknown. During the sweltering summer of 1779, eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Morris attends the social events of the British-occupied city, but the forced merriment holds no charm for her. She finds herself in the company of enemy soldiers, who think nothing of discussing matters of government and war in front of mere women. This invisibility becomes Elizabeth’s greatest asset as she offers her services to Robert Townsend, a Continental sympathizer. Her bravery will bring down one of the most notorious traitors in American history and ultimately seal her fate as a woman willing to sacrifice everything for love and country.
£999.99
Balboa Press It Is This I Am: The Inner Mentor
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£8.99
University of Minnesota Press American Gospel: A Novel
Book SynopsisRadically personal and quintessentially American, an intimate drama at the heart of an apocalyptic vision On a small farm beside a lake in Minnesota’s north woods an old man is waiting for the Rapture, which God has told him will happen in two weeks, on August 19, 1974. When word gets out, Last Days Ranch becomes ground zero for The End, drawing zealots, curiosity seekers, and reporters—among them the prophet’s son, a skeptical New York writer suddenly caught between his overbearing father and the news story of a lifetime. Into the mix comes Melanie Magnus, a glamorous actress who has old allegiances to both father and son. Meanwhile, Nixon’s resignation has transfixed the nation.Writing with clear compassion and gentle wit, Lin Enger draws us into these disparate yet inextricably linked lives, each enacting a part in a drama forever being replayed and together moving toward a conclusion that will take all of them—and us—by surprise. Set during a time that resonates with our own tension-filled moment, American Gospel cuts close to the battles occurring within ourselves and for the soul of the nation, and in doing so radiates light on a dark strain in America’s psyche, when the false security of dogma competes with the risky tumult of freedom. Trade Review"No one illuminates father–son relationships better than Lin Enger. He masterfully weaves a deeply moving and unforgettable story about faith, ambition, and the tangled threads that bind family and community. Wise and lyrical, American Gospel kept me spellbound from the first word to the last."—Ann Weisgarber, author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree and The Glovemaker "A tightly constructed novel in which unexpected second chances lead to forgiveness, lost and found families, and enlightenment. American Gospel is tenderly written, expertly plotted, and culminates in an ending for the ages. A wonderful book."—Nickolas Butler, author of Shotgun Lovesongs and Little Faith "Lin Enger’s American Gospel is a marvel, a novel of suspense featuring an unlikely cast of characters: a backwoods preacher in northern Minnesota whose near-death experience propels the plot; his son, a struggling journalist; and a glamorous movie star addicted to pain pills. A prediction that the Rapture is imminent brings them together, and each must confront personal beliefs as well as unresolved issues of their shared history. Long after its exciting climax, the captivating characters, vivid images, and provocative themes of American Gospel are sure to linger with readers."—Larry Watson, author of Montana 1948 "The word gospel means “good news,” and Enoch Bywater, a self-styled preacher with a ministry at the Last Days Ranch in northern Minnesota believes he’s heard the best news of all. During an incident of Sudden Cardiac Death, Enoch had a vision of the Rapture, and believes God told him the date it would happen: August 19, 1974, two weeks away. Events move quickly after this revelation. Enoch leaves the hospital to begin preparations at the Last Days Ranch for the crowds of the faithful whom he is sure will come. He also manipulates his son, Peter, to return from New York City for the event, and convinces a former neighbor, now a Hollywood actress, to return as well. The novel is plot-driven, and moves quickly, often with gentle humor. Events in the book occur against the backdrop of Nixon’s resignation from the presidency, and the political maneuvering around it, reminding readers of political tension earlier in our history as a nation. Like to guess how a book will end? Chances are you won’t be able to do it with this book!"—Sally Wizik Wills"American Gospel is a glorious novel about what people choose to believe—and, more importantly, why they choose to believe it."—Foreword Reviews, starred review"Enger effectively expands on themes of belonging and blind devotion as a group of true believers face their final day of reckoning... There is plenty of apocalyptic excitement."—Publishers Weekly"Redemption comes in many guises, and that is what this clever, hyperactive story is all about. That it’s set in our own Minnesota makes it doubly endearing."—Star Tribune"Enger intersperses busy scenes at the farm with gentle interludes in which Peter and Melanie go fishing with their son, trying to get to know this boy who is a mystery to them. The writing is so vivid any Minnesotan will smell the freshness of the lake and recall what it feels like to bait a hook."—Pioneer Press"Though much of the plot feels carefully orchestrated, events go in unexpected directions near the end, and the opposing perspectives of faith vs. reason are given equal weight in a story that will appeal to many fiction readers."—Library Journal"Enger nails his state’s specific flaws, while showing us its natural beauty."—Literary Hub"As the momentum of Enoch’s vision builds, Enger’s writing sweeps readers up with it, forcing a reckoning with belief amid a whirlwind of extremist Christianity, political uncertainty, and loved ones lost and found."—The Christian Century"American Gospel contains an unlikely case of characters and an unpredictable ending."—Northern Wilds "Enger has a special talent for developing his main characters. Attention to minute physical details and subtle emotional nuances bring them to life."—UP Book Review
£14.99
Alfred A. Knopf The Spy: A novel
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£17.60
Penguin Books Ltd The Killer in Me: A Novel
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£13.60
Penguin Books Ltd Baby of the Family: A Novel
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£15.30
Penguin Books Ltd In Case of Emergency: A Novel
Book SynopsisWhen her boyfriend goes missing and a woman turns up dead, Charlotte must connect the dots for herself before she becomes the suspect, or the next victim. Charlotte, a mid-thirties Long Island woman, has felt so alone since her promising career in neuroscience imploded. But she has an online support group; she has Rachel, a friend who has seen her through the worst of it; and now she also has Peter, a mysterious new boyfriend who has asked that their budding romance remain a total secret. That is why she is too scared to report his disappearance to the authorities when he vanishes without a word. Weeks later, police contact her to make an ID on a body, and she fears the worst for her missing beau. Instead, she arrives at the morgue and feels a terrible relief when she sees a woman she has never met on the table in front of her. But relief is replaced by confusion, then terror, when Charlotte realizes she has become a person of interest. Why did Jane Doe have Charlotte listed as her emergency contact? Was it revenge or a warning? And where exactly does Peter factor into all this? As Charlotte becomes the prime murder suspect, she enters into a race against the clock to find out the truth about the dead woman and the connections they shared. But what she discovers is beyond anything she could have ever imagined.
£15.30
Penguin Books Ltd Recipe for a Perfect Wife: A Novel
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£14.45
Penguin Books Ltd Say Nothing: A Novel
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£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd All My Mother's Lovers: A Novel
Book SynopsisOne of . . . Electric Literature’s "Most Anticipated Debuts of Early 2020" • O Magazine’s "31 LGBTQ Books That''ll Change the Literary Landscape in 2020" • Publisher Weekly’s "Spring 2020 Literary Fiction Announcements" • Buzzfeed''s "Most Highly Anticipated Books Of 2020" • The Millions''s "Most Anticipated: The Great First-Half 2020 Book Preview" • The Rumpus''s "What to Read When 2020 is Just Around the Corner" • LGBTQ Reads''s "2020 LGBTQAP Adult Fiction Preview: January-June" • Lit Hub’s "Most Anticipated Books of 2020" • BookRiot’s "Must-Read Debut Novels of 2020" • Bitch’s "27 Novels Feminists Should Read in 2020" • Harper’s Bazaar''s "14 LGBTQ+ Books to Look For in 2020" • NewNowNext’s "11 Queer Books We Can’t Wait to Read This Spring" • Cosmopolitan''s "12 Books You''ll Be Dying to Read This Summer" • Salon’s "The Best and Boldest New Must-Read Books for May" • Lambda Literary’s “Most Anticipated LGBTQ Books of May 2020” • The Rumpus "What to Read When You Want to Celebrate Mothers""A queer tour-de-force . . . Compelling and astonishing."–Kristen Arnett, author of Mostly Dead Things Unfolding over the course of nine days, and written with enormous heart, All My Mother''s Lovers is a meditation on the universality and particularity of family ties, grief, and generational divides, as well as a tender and biting portrait of sex, gender, and identity. After Maggie Krause’s mother dies suddenly in a car crash, Maggie finds five sealed envelopes with her will, each addressed to a mysterious man she’s never heard of. Maggie and her mother, Iris, weren’t close, especially since Maggie came out, but she never thought they would run out of time to figure each other out. Now in her late twenties, Maggie is finally in something resembling a serious relationship, wondering if some of whatever shaped her parents’ decades-long love story might exist after all. Overwhelmed by her grief and frustrated with her family, Maggie decides to escape the shiva and hand-deliver her mother’s letters. The ensuing road trip takes her over miles of California highways, through strangers’ recollections of a second, hidden life (that seems almost impossible to reconcile with the Iris she knew), and a journey through her own fears as she navigates her new relationship. As she fills in the details of Iris’s story, Maggie must confront the possibility that almost everything she knew about her mother — her marriage, her lukewarm relationship to Judaism, her disapproval of her daughter’s queerness — is more meaningful than she ever allowed herself to imagine.
£14.45
Penguin Books Ltd The Familiar Dark: A Novel
Book SynopsisOne of Publishers Weekly''s Best Books of 2020 (Mystery/Thriller)"From its gripping beginning to its sobering finale, Amy Engel''s The Familiar Dark never fails to enthrall with surprising twists."–Associated PressA spellbinding story of a mother with nothing left to lose who sets out on an all-consuming quest for justice after her daughter is murdered on the town playground. Sometimes the answers are worse than the questions. Sometimes it''s better not to know. Set in the poorest part of the Missouri Ozarks, in a small town with big secrets, The Familiar Dark opens with a murder. Eve Taggert, desperate with grief over losing her daughter, takes it upon herself to find out the truth about what happened. Eve is no stranger to the dark side of life, having been raised by a hard-edged mother whose lessons Eve tried not to pass on to her own daughter. But Eve may need her mother''s cruel brand of strength if she''s going to face the reality about her daughter''s death and about her own true nature. Her quest for justice takes her from the seedy underbelly of town to the quiet woods and, most frighteningly, back to her mother''s trailer for a final lesson. The Familiar Dark is a story about the bonds of family—women doing the best they can for their daughters in dire circumstances—as well as a story about how even the darkest and most terrifying of places can provide the comfort of home.
£11.40
Penguin Books Ltd The Girl with the Louding Voice: A Read with
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£15.30
Random House USA Inc The Other Americans: A Novel
£23.36
Random House USA Inc The Little Blue Kite
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£18.99
Hogarth Press Only to Sleep: A Philip Marlowe Novel
Book SynopsisLawrence Osborne brings one of literature’s most enduring detectives back to life—as Private Investigator Philip Marlowe returns for one last adventure. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW AND NPR • NOMINATED FOR THE EDGAR AND SHAMUS AWARDSThe year is 1988. The place, Baja California. And Philip Marlowe—now in his seventy-second year—is living out his retirement in the terrace bar of the La Fonda hotel. Sipping margaritas, playing cards, his silver-tipped cane at the ready. When in saunter two men dressed like undertakers, with a case that has his name written all over it. For Marlowe, this is his last roll of the dice, his swan song. His mission is to investigate the death of Donald Zinn—supposedly drowned off his yacht, and leaving behind a much younger and now very rich wife. But is Zinn actually alive? Are the pair living off the spoils? Set between the border and badlands of Mexico and California, Lawrence Osborne’s resurrection of the iconic Marlowe is an unforgettable addition to the Raymond Chandler canon. Praise for Only to Sleep “A new case for Philip Marlowe and—have a smell from the barrel, all you gunsels and able grables —it crackles.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice) “Brilliant. Osborne and Chandler are a perfect match.”—William Boyd, author of Any Human Heart “A Marlowe we at once know, but have never met before. As much a meditation on aging and memory as it is a crime thriller.”—Los Angeles Times “It’s the kind of book where, when you read it, it turns the world to black and white for a half-hour afterward. It leaves you with the taste of rum and blood in your mouth. It hangs with you like a scar.”—NPR
£11.54
Sjp for Hogarth A Place for Us: A Novel
Book SynopsisAN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “5 UNDER 35” NOMINEE • NEW YORK’S “ONE BOOK, ONE NEW YORK” PICK Named One of the Best Books of the Year: Washington Post • NPR • People • Refinery29 • Parade • BuzzFeed “Mirza writes with a mercy that encompasses all things.”—Ron Charles, Washington Post Hailed as “a book for our times” (Christiane Amanpour), A Place for Us is a deeply moving and resonant story of love, identity, and belonging.As an Indian wedding gathers a family back together, parents Rafiq and Layla must reckon with the choices their children have made. There is Hadia: their headstrong, eldest daughter, whose marriage is a match of love and not tradition. Huda, the middle child, determined to follow in her sister’s footsteps. And lastly, their estranged son, Amar, who returns to the family fold for the first time in three years to take his place as brother of the bride. What secrets and betrayals have caused this close-knit family to fracture? Can Amar find his way back to the people who know and love him best? A Place for Us takes us back to the beginning of this family’s life: from the bonds that bring them together, to the differences that pull them apart. All the joy and struggle of family life is here, from Rafiq and Layla’s own arrival in America from India, to the years in which their children—each in their own way—tread between two cultures, seeking to find their place in the world, as well as a path home. A Place for Us is a book for our times: an astonishingly tender-hearted novel of identity and belonging, and a resonant portrait of what it means to be an American family today. It announces Fatima Farheen Mirza as a major new literary talent.
£22.40
Penguin Putnam Inc The Golden Girls: 'Twas the Night Before
Book SynopsisCelebrate this holiday season with the Golden Girls!'Twas the night before Christmas and out on the lanai...This holiday season, celebrate with Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia. This illustrated gift book is a perfect stocking stuffer for fans of the show that won eleven Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, and a place in pop culture fame as one of the best shows of all time.
£11.69
Random House USA Inc How to Love a Jamaican: Stories
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£12.87
Random House USA Inc Odd Partners: An Anthology
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£22.40
Forever When I Was Yours
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£11.69
Grand Central Publishing A Dog's Hope
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£11.69
Little, Brown & Company The Rescue
Book SynopsisIn this heartfelt Southern love story from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Notebook, a daring fireman rescues a single mom—and learns that falling in love is the greatest risk of all. When confronted by raging fires or deadly accidents, volunteer fireman Taylor McAden feels compelled to take terrifying risks to save lives. But there is one leap of faith Taylor can't bring himself to make: he can't fall in love. For all his adult years, Taylor has sought out women who need to be rescued, women he leaves as soon as their crisis is over and the relationship starts to become truly intimate. When a raging storm hits his small Southern town, single mother Denise Holton's car skids off the road. The young mom is with her four-year-old son Kyle, a boy with severe learning disabilities and for whom she has sacrificed everything. Taylor McAden finds her unconscious and bleeding, but does not find Kyle. When Denise wakes, the chilling truth becomes clear to both of them. Kyle is gone. During the search for Kyle, a connection between Taylor and Denise takes root. But Taylor doesn't know that this rescue will be different from all the others.
£15.29
Grand Central Publishing Before the Fall
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£9.99
Grand Central Publishing The Family Lawyer
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£15.19
Grand Central Publishing The Simple Truth
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£999.99
Forever Not My Daughter
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£11.69
Grand Central Publishing Lovers and Gamblers
Book SynopsisA book that left burn marks on night tables across continents, ''Lovers And Gamblers ''has become a Collins classic. It features two of her most memorable characters: Al King, the rock-and-roll superstud who is everything any sex-crazed groupie ever imagined her hero to be; and Dallas, the beauty queen whose sky-high ambitions stem from a sordid secret--the type that tabloids tingle to tell. Together, they''re on a wild ride from London to New York, from Hollywood to Rio and the steaming jungles of the Amazon--where all their dreams and nightmares are about to come true.
£16.19
Grand Central Publishing Pleading Guilty
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£15.19
Grand Central Publishing A Bend in the Stars
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£15.29
Grand Central Publishing The Punch
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£14.39
Grand Central Publishing On the Bright Side: The New Secret Diary of
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£16.19
Grand Central Publishing The Last Trial
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£15.29
Forever Snowbound at Christmas
Book SynopsisSurviving the holidays will take a Christmas miracle . . . Ex-cop Cat O''Connor is bored working for her sister, Chloe, as a personal assistant on the set of her soap opera. Until Chloe gets an opportunity to audition for the role of a lifetime and asks her identical twin to substitute for her on the soap with no one the wiser. It''s a perfect switch-until Cat attracts the attention of the mysterious Mr. Tall, Dark, and Way-too-handsome leading man. Grayson Alexander never thought being snowbound in the charming town of Christmas, Colorado, for the holiday would get so hot. But between working with sexy, tough Cat on set and keeping his real reason for being there under wraps, he''s definitely feeling the heat. And if there''s one thing they''ll learn as they bring out the mistletoe, it''s that in this town, true love is always in season . . .
£7.59
Grand Central Publishing The Family Lawyer
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£9.49
Grand Central Publishing Consensual Hex
Book SynopsisThe Craft for the #MeToo era, this debut unfolds a riveting psychological drama shot through with sharp humor and dark magic for readers of Ninth House and The Power. When Lee, a first year at Smith, is raped under eerie circumstances during orientation week by an Amherst frat boy, she''s quickly disillusioned by her lack of recourse. As her trauma boils within her, Lee is selected for an exclusive seminar on Gender, Power, and Witchcraft, where she meets Luna (an alluring Brooklyn hipster), Gabi (who has a laundry list of phobias), and Charlotte (a waifish, chill international student). Granted a charter for a coven and suddenly in possession of real magic, the four girls are tasked by their aloof Professor with covertly retrieving a grimoire that an Amherst fraternity has gotten their hands on. But when the witches realize the frat brothers are using magic to commit and cover up sexual assault all over Northampton, their exploits escalate into vigilante justice. As Lee''s thirst for revenge on her rapist grows, things spiral out of control, pitting witch against witch as they must wrestle with how far one is willing to go to heal.Consensual Hex is both a gripping page-turner and a sensitive portrait of a young woman coming of age, uncovering the ways in which love and obsession and looking to fit in can go hand in hand. Lee, an outstanding, magical anti-heroine, refuses to be pigeonholed as a model victim or a horrific example. Instead, her caustic voice demands our attention, clawing out from every page, equally vicious and vulnerable as she lures us, then dares us, to transgress. Dark, biting, and archly camp, Consensual Hex announces Harlowe as a significant talent.
£999.99
Grand Central Publishing Julian Fellowes's Belgravia
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£999.99
Grand Central Publishing Saving Faith
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£15.19
Grand Central Publishing At First Sight
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£18.05
Amazon Publishing This Terrible Beauty: A Novel
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The Forgotten Hours comes an unforgettable story of one woman’s journey to reclaim what she lost in a country torn apart by the devastating legacy of WWII. On the windswept shores of an East German island, Bettina Heilstrom struggles to build a life from the ashes. World War II has ended, and her country is torn apart. Longing for a family, she marries Werner, an older bureaucrat who adores her. But after joining the fledgling secret police, he is drawn deep into its dark mission and becomes a dangerous man. When Bettina falls in love with an idealistic young renegade, Werner discovers her infidelity and forces her to make a terrible choice: spend her life in prison or leave her home forever. Either way she loses both her lover and child. Ten years later, Bettina has reinvented herself as a celebrated photographer in Chicago, but she’s never stopped yearning for the baby she left behind. Surprised by an unexpected visitor from her past, she resolves to return to her ravaged homeland to reclaim her daughter and uncover her beloved’s fate, whatever the cost.Trade Review“Lyrically written, fantastic worldbuilding…It’s about forgiveness, as three people who have all made mistakes struggle to do what is right in the end for the innocent. This book will stay with me a long time.” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction A She Reads “most anticipated women’s fiction” book of 2020 “The timeliness of Schumann’s fiction, along with the intriguing history she relates in This Terrible Beauty, makes her book a wonderfully exciting and compelling read. This Terrible Beauty is a wise and stirring contribution to the literary canon written about the German Democratic Republic that deserves to find as many enthusiastic readers as the bestselling books about World War II.” —Historical Novel Society “Schumann’s graceful evocations of people and place make this novel hard to forget.” —Maria Hummel, author of Motherland and the Reese Witherspoon book club pick Still Lives “Deeply relevant to our current times, This Terrible Beauty explores the lengths to which we will go to find love and the sacrifices we make for family and community. I fell in love with these characters and came away heartened and hopeful.” —Christopher Castellani, author of Leading Men “A compelling and richly layered story of love, motherhood, art, and ultimately self-preservation—this is a vivid, rapidly paced historical novel. Unputdownable!” —Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of The Lost Letter and In Another Time “Schumann’s vivid focus reveals characters who crumble with heartbreak and rise with strength, and above all draws her readers in and never lets them go.” —Rachel Barenbaum, bestselling author of A Bend in the Stars “Set in postwar Germany, this gorgeously written, sweeping, cinematic story is also a riveting and romantic page-turner. Get ready to put everything on hold and let yourself get lost in this sensual tale.” —Erica Ferencik, bestselling author of The River at Night, a #1 Oprah.com pick, and Into the Jungle “A complex, moving story of love and loss, beautifully written. This Terrible Beauty explores the critical nature of art as a lens through which we can understand history and asks us to be mindful of the ways we choose to look at the world. This is one historical fiction fans can’t miss.” —Olivia Hawker, Washington Post bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night “This Terrible Beauty kept me turning the pages long into the night. Katrin Schumann evokes an often-forgotten time and place to weave a story that is equally captivating and fascinating.” —Eoin Dempsey, bestselling author of White Rose, Black Forest
£13.41
Amazon Publishing Amora: Stories
Book SynopsisFrom an emerging talent comes an exquisite collection of stories exploring the complexity of love between women, each a delicate piece in a mosaic transcending the boundaries of literary romance. Amora dares explore the way women love each other—the atrophy and healing of the female spirit in response to sexual desire and identity. These thirty-three short stories and poems, crafted with a deliberate delicacy, each capture the candid, private moments of women in love. Together, these stories and the women who inhabit them reveal an illuminating portrait of the sacred female romance, with all its nuances, complexities, burdens, and triumphs revealed. Violence, sickness, chaos, tenderness, beauty, and freedom adorn these pages in a mosaic of unforgettable moments, including a lesbian granddaughter discovering unexpected commonalities with her grandmother, a teenager’s tryst with her friend after disenchanting sex with a boy, and an old couple’s dreamy Sunday-morning ritual. Sweeping nearly every major Brazilian literary prize in 2016—including the Prêmio Jabuti and Prêmio Açorianos de Literatura—Amora has propelled Natalia Borges Polesso to the forefront of the international literary world.Trade Review“With brevity, abstraction, and narrative tension, Polesso offers a poignant look at women alternately broken down and resilient. Fans of Lucia Berlin will love these tense and twisty tales.” —Publishers Weekly “Borges Polesso explores the depths of amorous relationships between women young and old, married and single, out and closeted, independent and cripplingly co-dependent—but first and foremost, in love…A romp through 33 stories of lesbian love.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] thrillingly idiosyncratic collection.” —OprahMag.com “Offers nuanced snapshots of heartbreak and desire…a springy translation…There’s a lot to love in these 33 stories of love between women…Polesso’s writing is brisk and fresh, and she captures the bleak human comedy of the myriad ways we mess up when it comes to matters of the heart. Her women often have a hefty sense of self-loathing, and a drily pained view of the world. But Polesso can be sweet too. She offers windows into the private worlds created by long-term lovers…an enjoyable collection…many stories ripple with the ingrained fear and shame that comes from feeling you have to keep your sexuality hidden.” —The Guardian (UK) “Natalia Borges Polesso’s brilliant short story collection follows a circle of lesbians living in Brazil, some of whom know one another and some of whom don’t. Love is what threads these 33 stories together—self-love, love for other women, and a love for a freedom that only truth can bring…real, vulnerable, and full of twists you’ll never see coming.” —Bitch Media (UK) “Moving beyond romantic and sexual love in its exploration of women’s relationships, Amora is, at turns, tender and raw.” —Bustle “Less a collection of stories than a collage of vibrant snapshots, Polesso’s entrancing compilation—awarded Brazil’s most prestigious literary prizes—offers pithy-poetic glimpses into the lives of women of various ages who love and desire other women.” —O, the Oprah Magazine “Amora elevates the stories of women loving women…Each story is a new shape. In each of the thirty-three stories (Yes truly. Every single one of them!) a woman confronts her feelings for another woman. Sometimes, like in ‘Dreaming,’ the Sapphic desire is the crux on which everything is built. Other times, like in ‘Bite Your Tongue,’ it’s just a fact vaguely audible to the larger plot. But it’s always there. Even if it’s lurking in the background. And sometimes that’s what feels the most groundbreaking. A story can be queer, even if the point of it isn’t queerness…the stories feel very much alive.” —Lambda Literary “Amora captures the realness of what relationships are like in a real way.” —OprahMag.com “Natalia Borges Polesso is a rising Brazilian writer who deserves to be on all your lists…I was enchanted with these tales at every turn.” —Book Riot
£20.96
Amazon Publishing The Warning
Book SynopsisA strange pattern of death emerges in a small Spanish town in this novel of twisting suspense by international bestselling author Paul Pen. I don’t wish to frighten you, reads the anonymous note introverted and bullied eight-year-old Leo Cruz finds in his backpack. All the sender asks is that he avoid a certain spot on a certain day, or he’ll die. Leo has reason to be afraid. The warning hearkens back to nearly a decade ago—to the same site, where a murder has become local folklore and a favorite campfire tale reinvented year after year by the kids of Arenas, a small Spanish town. Leo’s parents initially suspect the lonely boy’s cruel classmates. The perfect joke to terrorize an impressionable victim. Unless, as they come to believe, it’s Leo himself who is the author of the warning. Is Leo being lured to an unavoidable fate? Is someone taking bullying to a dangerous new level? Or is there something else at work in Arenas, a town with intersecting destinies and a century of secrets?
£12.22
Amazon Publishing Bridge 108
Book SynopsisFrom the Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning author, a dystopian novel of oppression set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life, a finalist for the Kitschies award and Philip K. Dick Award. Late in the twenty-first century, drought and wildfires prompt an exodus from southern Europe. When twelve-year-old Caleb is separated from his mother during their trek north, he soon falls prey to traffickers. Enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester, the resourceful and determined Caleb never loses hope of bettering himself. After Caleb is befriended by a fellow victim of trafficking, another road opens. Hiding in the woodlands by day, guided by the stars at night, he begins a new journey—to escape to a better life, to meet someone he can trust, and to find his family. For Caleb, only one thing is certain: making his way in the world will be far more difficult than his mother imagined. Told through multiple voices and set against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.Trade Review“This coming-of-age story, told through a mosaic of voices, is enjoyable for readers young and old alike.” —Kirkus Reviews “Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with hopeful messages will be gratified by this topical tale of human resourcefulness in the face of climate disaster.” —Publishers Weekly “Arthur C. Clark Award-winning Charnock (Dreams Before the Start of Time) provides a window into a future that feels all too near in this post-Brexit world. From the fears and repercussions of intense drought to the politics and panic of immigration, Caleb’s story, sadly, rings true.” —Library Journal “An interesting and thoughtful book that keeps readers engaged throughout, both emotionally and politically.” —Interzone “Anne Charnock’s Bridge 108 is set in the same universe as her terrific 2013 debut A Calculated Life…[Bridge 108] seems horribly prescient. With the inclusion of climate refugees, child trafficking, and slavery, Bridge 108 adds that final touch of verisimilitude to Charnock’s post-Brexit nightmare.” —LOCUS Magazine “Charnock tells her story through the lives of ordinary people caught up in situations beyond their control, and Bridge 108 is all the more powerful for that.” —The Guardian “[Bridge 108] tells a very strong message of the potential consequences of allowing global warming to continue as it is. The world that Charnock builds for us is realistic and frighteningly possible in the current political and social environment.” —BSFA Review “The novel’s near-future setting feels grimy, sweltering, and lived-in. Environmental collapse has brought out the worst in everyone, and instances of kindness are few and far between. It’s a commanding, if demanding, read.” —Financial Times “Like her three previous novels, this one reveals how large, systemic problems like economic stratification and climate change are tightly entwined…Through vibrant storytelling and compelling character development, Bridge 108 depicts a possible future rife with ecological destruction and millions of climate refugees.” —Chicago Review of Books
£12.42
Amazon Publishing The Other Family: A Novel
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Digging In comes a witty and moving novel about motherhood, courage, and finding true family. With a dissolving marriage, strained finances, and her life in flux, Ally Anderson longs for normal. Her greatest concerns, though, are the health problems of her young daughter, Kylie. Symptoms point to a compromised immune system, but every doctor they’ve seen has a different theory. Then comes hope for some clarity. It’s possible that Kylie’s illness is genetic, but Ally is adopted. A DNA test opens up an entirely new path. And where it leads is a surprise: to an aunt Ally never knew existed. She’s a little wild, very welcoming, and ready to share more of the family history than Ally ever imagined. Coping with a skeptical soon-to-be-ex husband, weathering the cautions of her own resistant mother, and getting maddeningly close to the healing Kylie needs, Ally is determined to regain control of her life. This is her chance to embrace uncertainty and the beauty of family—both the one she was born into and the one she chose.Trade Review“…this engaging, plot-driven tale examines what it really means to be part of a family…Moments of self-doubt and embarrassment abound, but they are tempered by messages of hope and palpable love that hit just the right note. A captivating and uplifting tale about the essence of self-reliance and the unsung benefits of modern families.” —Kirkus Reviews “…a heartwarming tale that is also captivating and amusing.” —Writers & Readers “Colorful characters, sharp wit, and a heartwarming story-line are artfully woven together in The Other Family, a novel of hope, healing, and the search for true family.” —West Suburban Magazine “The author writes compassionately, with smooth flowing words, and really draws you in to her story.” —Long and Short Reviews “Loretta Nyhan has a knack for creating colorful characters with emotional depth and sharp wit. The Other Family is a heart-warming story of what it means to be family and the sacrifices we make for those we love. Nyhan weaves together sensitive and tender moments, delivering a flawless tale of faith, understanding, and perseverance.” —Rochelle Weinstein, USA Today bestselling author of Somebody’s Daughter “For Ally Anderson, life is uncertain. Her daughter’s constant illness from illusive allergies have Ally’s family constantly on edge, so much so, that a loving family drifts apart. The Other Family is a touching look into the dissolution of a marriage where there’s no love lost, just a gradual drift, and the search for answers at all costs, even if those answers involve another family and a past Ally has been content to avoid until her daughter’s health depends on it. The Other Family stabs at the insecurity an answerless life brings and the way we redefine ourselves to untangle the truth.” —Kristin Fields, author of A Lily in the Light “Through the eyes of Ally Anderson, a delightfully vulnerable and surprisingly powerful woman who will stop at nothing on her quest to cure her daughter’s mysterious illness, Nyhan redefines the traditional boundaries of family and reminds us that strength can be displayed in unexpected and unusual ways. I loved every minute of this book and its cast of lovable, eccentric people—don’t miss it!” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Whisper Me This and Everything You Are “Ally Anderson has a problem any parent can relate to: she’ll do anything to save her daughter’s life. Kylie has severe allergies that seem to be getting worse. When Ally enlists the help of an unconventional doctor who has a protocol that might help, she finds more than she bargained for as she embarks on a journey that leads her to her birth family as well as a new philosophy of life and love. Written with Loretta Nyhan’s trademark humor and compassion, The Other Family is a beautiful, suspenseful story of hope standing up to fear in a world where we never have the control we wish for.” —Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners “Both timeless in [its] portrayal of the lengths a mother would go to for her child, and timely in its thoughtful discussion of hot-button topics, this funny yet touching story had me in its grip from the very first page. You’ll root for Ally as soon as you meet her!” —Lea Geller, author of Trophy Life
£12.42
Amazon Publishing A Happy Catastrophe: A Novel
Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners comes a novel about love, loss, and the beautiful mess of family. Marnie MacGraw and Patrick Delaney have been in love for a few years now, enough to realize that they are imperfectly perfect together. Still, there are some things that maybe need a little attention. Marnie’s ebullient; he’s brooding. She thrives on change; he prefers stability. She sees marriage and parenthood in their future, but he can’t see beyond the shadow of an earlier tragedy. Then an eight-year-old surprise from Patrick’s past shows up on their doorstep, cartwheeling into their lives and spinning things in all directions. While it’s not exactly the change she envisioned, it looks like instant family to Marnie. But Patrick, afraid of being hurt again, retreats further into himself. Suddenly, two very different pieces of a beautiful puzzle find it harder and harder to fit. How can Marnie trust in the magic of the universe when it seems to be doing its best to knock her off her feet? But some love stories are worth waiting for. And what’s love without a little chaos anyway?Trade Review“Dawson has created a truly quirky story, filled with a little bit of magic (think unicorn glitter and sparkles) and a lot of love…An optimistic, feel-good story that celebrates love, community, goodness, and the creation of family, however it might appear.” —Kirkus Reviews “Alive with action, compelling and evolving characters, and screwball comedy, Dawson’s latest will appeal to readers looking for a story that is both pleasurable and substantial. Personal growth is achieved by overcoming obstacles, and the ending is honest and satisfying.” —Booklist “An inherently engaging and entertaining novel from cover to cover, A Happy Catastrophe by Maddie Dawson will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary General Fiction collections.” —Midwest Book Review “The perfect effervescent antidote to these strange times, Dawson’s book sparkles with wonder, delight and a true sense of what love can mean and how it might reconfigure when faced with chaos. Honest to God, when I finished this novel, I put my hand on my heart and sighed.” —Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Cruel Beautiful World and With or Without You “In A Happy Catastrophe, author Maddie Dawson works magic on the page as she takes us into the life of bighearted Marnie MacGraw, a woman who can literally see the sparkle of love in the air. Marnie is surrounded by a constellation of vivid characters who, whether searching for connection or confronting loss, keep pressing on through the rich and wondrous catastrophe of life. A beautifully written testament to the tenacity of hope and the power of love.” —Nancy Star, bestselling author of Sisters One, Two, Three “If you enjoyed Matchmaking for Beginners as much as I did, prepare to be spellbound by A Happy Catastrophe—in which Marnie and the people closest to her discover that magic isn’t getting what you want, but rather in loving what life surprises you with. Maddie Dawson is at the top of her game in this charming and unputdownable novel.” —Camille Pagán, bestselling author of I’m Fine and Neither Are You “A triumphant tale about the redemptive magic of love—and the way life sometimes drags us through the muck before giving us what we never knew we wanted. Marnie is one of the most delightful heroines in contemporary fiction, and you won’t want to miss her!” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Whisper Me This “I am a big, big fan of Maddie Dawson, and A Happy Catastrophe is one of those rare books—a sequel that is even more enjoyable than its stellar predecessor. In the follow-up to Matchmaking for Beginners, Maddie Dawson has taken her airy, madcap character on a walk through the hard work of not just falling in love, but staying the course with a man who has a few things to work out. And what results is a tale of great heart and insight—sprinkled with stardust and hope.” —Barbara O’Neal, author of When We Believed in Mermaids
£12.42
Amazon Publishing The Last Bathing Beauty
Book SynopsisA former beauty queen faces the secrets of her past—for herself and the sake of her family’s future—in a heartfelt novel about fate, choices, and second chances. Everything seemed possible in the summer of 1951. Back then Betty Stern was an eighteen-year-old knockout working at her grandparents’ lakeside resort. The “Catskills of the Midwest” was the perfect place for Betty to prepare for bigger things. She’d head to college in New York City. Her career as a fashion editor would flourish. But first, she’d enjoy a wondrous last summer at the beach falling deeply in love with an irresistible college boy and competing in the annual Miss South Haven pageant. On the precipice of a well-planned life, Betty’s future was limitless. Decades later, the choices of that long-ago season still reverberate for Betty, now known as Boop. Especially when her granddaughter comes to her with a dilemma that echoes Boop’s memories of first love, broken hearts, and faraway dreams. It’s time to finally face the past—for the sake of her family and her own happiness. Maybe in reconciling the life she once imagined with the life she’s lived, Boop will discover it’s never too late for a second chance.Trade Review“This novel of first loves and second chances will resonate with fans of historical fiction authors such as Beatriz Williams or Lauren Willig.” —Library Journal “The Last Bathing Beauty is a pitch-perfect summer read, starring Betty ‘Boop’ Stern, a plucky heroine with a tackle box full of secrets and enough regret for a lifetime. Using dual timelines, Nathan expertly unravels the events that derailed Betty’s sparkling future in 1951 and continue to haunt her even as an eighty-four-year-old woman. Full of characters that shine and told with compassion and humor, this is women’s fiction at its best.” —Sonja Yoerg, Washington Post bestselling author of True Places “Amy Sue Nathan is a true storyteller, and The Last Bathing Beauty is her best book. It’s an epic tale of family, secrets, loss, marriage, betrayal, friendships, laughter, and regrets.” —Cathy Lamb, author of Julia’s Chocolates and All About Evie “The Last Bathing Beauty is a gorgeous story about how life doesn’t always work out the way we want it to, but if we’re willing, we can still make it a great life. This book ripped at my heart in the best possible way, and I won’t forget it. Told across three generations of smart, determined, compassionate women, The Last Bathing Beauty is the loveliest of stories about the sacrifices and triumphs that come from being a daughter, wife, mother, and friend.” —Juliet McDaniel, author of Mr. & Mrs. American Pie “For those who believe in happily ever after, Amy Sue Nathan’s The Last Bathing Beauty is a real winner. She has spun a heartfelt tale about romance, heartbreaks, friendship, and the wisdom that comes from living a life with no regrets. Told with tenderness and humor, readers will love this journey back in time with Boop and the girls.” —Renée Rosen, bestselling author of Park Avenue Summer “In this reimagining of Dirty Dancing, Nathan demonstrates expert storytelling when we meet the charismatic Betty ‘Boop’ Stern as a young woman, and also as an eighty-four-year-old as she looks back on a difficult choice that altered the path of her glittering future. Told with empathy and lyrical prose, The Last Bathing Beauty is a winning tale of friendship, regret, and second chances with a ring of endearing and spirited women at its heart.” —Heather Webb, USA Today bestselling coauthor of Meet Me in Monaco “A thoroughly enjoyable, past-and-present tale of a life-changing summer and its echoes decades later. This story has it all—great characters, sensory-rich settings, and a sweet salute to believing in second chances. The finale will have you cheering.” —Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War “The Last Bathing Beauty is an emotionally gripping story that captivated me from page one. Amy Sue Nathan knows how to thread the past and present together in a way that readers won’t soon forget. A moving tale about second chances and the fathomless depths of true love.” —Tina Ann Forkner, author of Waking Up Joy
£12.42
Amazon Publishing Once Night Falls
Book SynopsisA harrowing historical novel of the extraordinary acts of ordinary people in Nazi-occupied Italy. Italy, 1943. Luca Benedetto has joined the partisans in their fight against the German troops ravaging the shores of his town on Lake Como. While risking his life to free his country, Luca is also struggling to protect Sarah, his Jewish lover who’s hiding in a mountain cabin. As the violent Nazi occupation intensifies, Luca and Sarah fear for more than their own lives. In the heart of their village, their mothers have also found themselves vulnerable to the encroaching Nazis. But Luca’s mother, undeterred, is devising her own revenge on the occupiers. With Mussolini deposed and Allied armies fighting their way up the peninsula, the fate of Italy hangs in the balance, and the people of Lake Como must decide how much they’re prepared to sacrifice for family, friends, and the country they love. The most trying of times will create the most unexpected heroes and incredible acts of courage in this stirring narrative as seen through the eyes of those devastated by war-torn Italy.Trade Review“A gripping story conveyed through brief yet deeply personal vignettes that shine like the facets of a gem. Merullo’s prose is beautifully refined; the characters interweave in complex and surprising ways. This is one of the most original and fascinating historical novels I’ve read in a long time.” —Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of The Ragged Edge of Night “Merullo’s colorful characters are believable, sympathetic, and well developed. The short chapters rotate quickly between characters and scenes and are so tense it’s impossible not to keep reading, whilst leaving an ending that begs a sequel. Kudos to Mr. Merullo for writing this fine book.” —Flora J. Solomon, bestselling author of A Pledge of Silence and Along the Broken Bay “Chock-full of characters that leap off the page, and laced with intrigue, Once Night Falls is a hard book to put down. Set in wartime Italy, it depicts how the war affected everyone, from the peasants trying to get by to the partisans resisting the cruel Nazi regime, to the leader of the Italian fascists—Il Duce himself.” —Eoin Dempsey, bestselling author of White Rose, Black Forest “History is woven creatively into a story about oppression, disruption, and perseverance in northern Italy during WWII. Highly recommended to gain understanding of these times through absorbing characters and their plight, as well as insight into those obsessed with power.” —Gemma Liviero, historical fiction author
£12.72
