Fiction: literary and general non-genre

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisLum has always been on the outside. At eight, she was diagnosed with what we now call an intersex condition and is told she can't expect to marry. Now, at thirty-three, she has no home of her own but is shuttled from one relative's house to another—valued for her skills, but never treated like a true member of the family. Everything is turned upside down, however, when the Blue Ridge Parkway is slated to come through her family’s farmland. As people take sides in the fight, the community begins to tear apart—culminating in an act of violence and subsequent betrayal by opponents of the new road. However, the Parkway brings opportunities as well as loss.Trade Review“Lum is an engaging portrait of a village in the Virginia Blue Ridge during the Great Depression. Lum’s courageous journey to selfhood is profound and moving, and a metaphor for the process of self-acceptance necessary for anyone who doesn’t fit into traditional social norms.” —Lisa Alther, author of Kinfolks “Libby Ware has written with a rich new southern voice and captured the dying art of storytelling in her debut novel.” —Ann Hite, author of the award-winning Ghost On Black Mountain and Georgia Author of the Year, 2011 " . . .a startlingly good debut novel.” —Atlanta Magazine “ . . . captivating . . . Ware writes with a charismatic Southern voice that will appeal to readers of Ron Rash, Lee Smith, and Wiley Cash. I read Lum from start to finish in one day and relished its fresh characters and take on history… Select if for your book club, and get ready for a rip-roaring discussion.” —Hungry for Good Books “ . . . a treat for those who appreciate character-centered historical fiction. Lum’s courageous journey toward independence makes her a heroine worth fighting for, and readers will find themselves missing her company after the final page turns.” —Historical Novels Review

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Book SynopsisConflict between Boomer parents and Millennial children about how you should lead your life…. When Jenn Adler returns from a year in India, she has a surprise for her parents: a young guru from Bangalore whom she intends to marry. Her father, Paul, is wary of this “beggar” Jenn has brought home—who, he suspects, is conning his much-loved daughter—while her mother, Maggie, is frightened that this alien stranger will steal away her only child, her focus in life. In the months leading up to the backyard wedding, Maggie is forced to reevaluate her virtues as she casts about for support, and Paul faces an unexpected threat at work—one that Maggie could help him meet, if he would only ask. But even with these distractions, the two parents are focused on one primary question: Can they convince their daughter she is making a terrible mistake before the wedding takes place?Trade Review2016 USA Best Book Awards: General Fiction Finalist Author listed on “100 creatives you should know in metro Phoenix” by the Phoenix New Times, December 2016 "Appetite examines the different ways we seek satisfaction in our lives—some of us are hungry for power, others for love, and some find comfort in duty and tradition. This realistic and engrossing portrait of two generations is a promising first novel with wide appeal.” —Booklist “Sheila Grinell’s debut novel Appetite takes us into the heart of a family being torn apart by conflicting beliefs about what constitutes love, marriage, and success. Do parents have the right to try to stop an adult child from marrying if they see disaster looming, or should they back off and wait to pick up the pieces? In this tight, well-written novel, Grinell highlights the conflict between youthful idealism and adult disillusionment in ways that are both moving and thought-provoking.” —Mary Mackey, author of the New York Times bestseller A Grand Passion “Appetite is the story of the conflict between a boomer couple, Maggie and Paul Adler, and Jenn, their millennial daughter, over the daughter’s impending marriage to an Indian guru. It is an engrossing account of a struggle to find common ground about how life should be lived. Long-held principles can be lost, debased, and degraded over time, sometimes to disastrous effect, while hopeful and idealistic plans for the future remain untried. This intergenerational drama of relationships, both long-established and newly formed, makes for a gripping journey—not only for the characters but for the reader as well. Sheila Grinell has done a splendid job in this fascinating first novel.” —Mickey Friedman, author of Hurricane Season “In her debut novel, Sheila Grinell weaves a rich and sensual tapestry of individuals held together by devotion and duty. Taut and sexy, Appetite is a story about finding your own way and the magnetic appeal of youth, ambition, and freedom. A fun read that will leave you hungry for more.” —Gina Gotsill, co-author of Surviving the Baby Boomer Exodus: Capturing Knowledge for Gen X and Y Employees

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Book SynopsisBroken by their unorthodox Midwestern childhood, sisters Catherine, Anne, and Jessica Mathers search for love, acceptance, and worth—often in the most unlikely places. Catherine, the oldest of the Mathers sisters, is an English professor battling breast cancer with Cytoxan, red wine, and profanity. Anne is a wife and stay-at-home mother of two struggling to make ends meet in a suburban existence that both suffocates and confounds her. Jessica, the youngest by ten years and estranged—by choice—from her family, is an exotic dancer who feels safer on stage than in a relationship. But when the sisters are faced with an incomprehensible loss, they are forced to reevaluate themselves, their damaged bonds, and their fragile future. Parting Gifts illuminates one highly dysfunctional family’s tentative, desperate crawl toward a life of meaning and worth.Trade Review2016 USA Best Book Awards: General Fiction, Finalist 2016 USA Best Book Awards: Literary Fiction, Finalist “Katrina Willis can take a painful experience and offer enlightenment. She can take a hardship and reveal opportunity. She can describe deep despair and make you feel hopeful. How? Through her extraordinary gift of detail and language . . . through her brave willingness to go where others dare not go . . . through her heart that feels deeply and fully. Unlike any author I've ever read, Willis transports me into a moment so I can see, hear, taste, and feel it as if I am there. And when I am lost in one of her stories, I don't want to come back. Because through her stories, I am healed. I am understood. I am fully alive.” —Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times best-selling author of Hands Free Mama "In Parting Gifts, Willis paints the portrait of three sisters with careful and exacting strokes. All three women are seeking to overcome their own personal and shared tragedies, and you will become attached to each one of them as they make their way back home to each other." —T. Greenwood, author of Two Rivers, Bodies of Water, and The Forever Bridge "Parting Gifts is a rare treasure, the sort of book that leaves the reader attached to the characters long after finishing the final page. Katrina Anne Willis has painted a family portrait, intricate, and real, capturing what it means to be family, what it means to struggle with both our need to belong, and our need to be set free. Parting Gifts cracked my heart open, and reminded me of what it means to be human. I loved this book." —Karen Lynch, author of Good Cop, Bad Daughter: Memoirs of an Unlikely Police Officer

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Book SynopsisIt is the spring of 1989 in New York City when Jill Dodge, a post-punk rocker from Texas, finally gets her big promotion at Mega Big Records. She is thrust into a race to find a gritty, urban rapper before the “Gangsta” trend passes their label by. As Jill and her mostly middle-class coworkers search for the next big rap star, they fluctuate between alliances and rivalries, tripping over the stereotypes of race, class, and musical genre. They work to promote their current roster of acts as well as the new rap artist they sign to a contract. It turns out, he may not be what they expected. Full of original lyrics and wit, Start With the Backbeat is a compelling examination of the nuances of class, race, and culture in America―which are sometimes ridiculously serious.Trade Review2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Best Cover Design, Fiction 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist in Chick Lit 2017 IPPY Silver Medal Winner in Contemporary Fiction 2016 Best Book Award Finalist Fiction: General “How we hold on to our authentic selves in the face of change is the reverberating question behind Isassi’s witty and knowing first novel.” —Booklist “Start with the Backbeat is the touching story of one idealistic young woman's journey into the music industry when it was at its multiplatinum peak. Holding onto those ideals is a challenge, but Garine Isassi's clear, smart, good-hearted storytelling is itself a blow against easy cynicism. She reveals a sharp eye for how quickly greed and self-interest can displace a love of music—and an equally sharp understanding of how a dedicated person's daily principled decisions can make sure that doesn't happen. It's a tale that's both poignant and uplifting.” —Anthony DeCurtis, Contributing Editor, Rolling Stone magazine “Told with an insider's ear for dialogue and setting . . . Start with the Backbeat is a fresh, interesting look at a little-known slice of the music industry.” —Sarah Pekkanen, best-sellling author of The Opposite of Me and Catching Air “Music, friends, family, love, and a career anyone would envy! It's 1989 and Jill Dodge is working her way up the ladder at a NYC music label. Her quirky friends and diverse co-workers saunter in and out of Jill's life as she attempts to create a world that's artistic but also pays the bills. Insight into the glamorous world of music as rap was coming on scene provides a backdrop that is unique and dynamic as we watch Jill move past post-college angst and insecurity. A fun read that brought a smile to my face and got my feet tapping as I went on Jill's journey to fulfillment.” —Kathleen Shoop, bestselling author of Love and Other Subjects “A joy ride through the heyday of the eighties rap craze with a heroine you can’t help but root for, Start With the Backbeat is smart, stylish, and fun from beginning to end.” —Kamy Wicoff, author of Wishful Thinking “Fast-paced and entertaining, Start with the Backbeat is about a young woman's search for love and success in the exciting but sometimes cutthroat music industry. It’s a fun and heartwarming—a genuine pleasure to read. Like your favorite tune, you'll find yourself humming it for days.” —Andee Reilly, author of Satisfaction “Garinè B. Isassi’s funny, tender, and smart novel, Start with the Backbeat, is one of the few books that give us a woman’s point of view of the music industry and an ethnically diverse range of characters. Set in the late ’80s, it tells the story of Jill Dodge, who, after several years as a temp in the Admin Pit (think, ‘armpit’) of Mega Big Records, is promoted to a staff position. The brisk pace and breezy style keep the reader turning pages as Jill struggles to maintain authenticity in the face of clueless execs, romantic snafus, and a wannabe rapper. Isassi skewers the racism and sexism at the core of the industry with a light touch while evoking the deep love of music that drives each of her delightfully unique characters.” —Céline Keating, author of Layla and Play for Me

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Book SynopsisIPPY Gold Medal for Regional Fiction (South) True Stories at the Smoky View is a wry, intricate novel about family and friendship, tyranny and justice. Although Vrai (short for Vraiment), an art history librarian in Baltimore, has not spoken to her friend Skip for over a year, after his sudden death, she dutifully takes his ashes and his dog home to his mother in Knoxville, Tennessee. Vrai has no idea why Skip stepped into traffic in Baltimore with his hands over his eyes, or why he so abruptly ended their longtime friendship. After Skip’s service, Vrai rescues ten-year-old Jonathan, who has been abandoned in the funeral home parking lot. The Blizzard of 1993 soon strands this unlikely duo at the Smoky View Motel, where Jonathan, whose parents were assassinated by Pinochet’s henchmen, comes across clues pointing to a possible suspect in Skip’s death. By the end of this story of mutual rescue, both Vrai’s and Jonathan’s lives have been changed forever.Trade Review“This debut author has a knack for storytelling and great characters.” —Booklist “With intricate story lines involving murder, library research, road trips, and [a] quest for justice, and motifs including motherhood, love, marriage, betrayal, and true friendship, there is something for everyone in this light/dark Southern novel by a writer to watch.” —Library Journal “True Stories at the Smoky View is a riveting literary mystery you won’t soon forget. Jill McCroskey Coupe handles this complex tale of troubled romance, broken families, redeeming friendship, and inexplicable evil with intelligence, grace, and grit. This exhilarating debut novel brims with honesty, charm, heart, and good humor.” —John Dufresne, author of I Don't Like Where This is Going “Intrigue abounds in True Stories at the Smoky View, but this wonderful first novel is above all testament to Eudora Welty’s observation that “all serious daring starts from within.” With an abundance of wit and accuracy of feeling, Jill Coupe beautifully charts both the complexities of loyalty and the internal growth of Vrai Lynde, her central character, and she does so in clear, precise prose.” —Jane Brox, author of Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light “Skillfully written, with careful attention to detail and a liberal sprinkling of humor, this novel by a librarian and with a librarian protagonist combines mystery and suspense with a woman’s journey toward fulfillment in middle age.” —Teddy Jones, author of Jackson’s Pond, Texas “This is a thoroughly absorbing book that I found difficult to put down. The personalities Coupe conjured stayed with me long after I finished reading. The writing is beautiful: spare and funny. A most enjoyable read.” —Maureen Beck, former Director of Library Services, Stevenson University "True Stories at the Smoky View examines the mysteries and complexities of family, friendship, love and romance, and evil both grandiose and petty. In Vrai Lynde, in particular, Coupe has given us a vivid portrait of a complicated woman torn in many directions by her loves and her loyalties." —Smoky Mountain News

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Book SynopsisLiz Morgan is a talented, ambitious flutist headed for a brilliant career. But before she can achieve the world-class recognition she craves, an accident puts an end to her dreams. Desperate to fulfill her mother’s musical legacy, she fights to reinvent her path, and settles on a new passion: singing. She even leaves San Francisco and returns to the town in Wales where she spent her early childhood to do it. But as Liz works to perfect her voice and launch a new career, she is confronted with her mother’s other legacy: the choice between the seduction of fame and the constancy of an ordinary life. Magic Flute is an intimate exploration of the world of grand opera. Amid the backstage detail is a story of passions and choices that explores the humanity behind the most dramatic of art forms.Trade Review“A smart and uplifting tale of personal and musical renewal; an impressive debut.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS “Magic Flute is a beautifully constructed inside-look at the world of grand opera, and the passion that accompanies the power of art.” —Bookstr “This beautifully crafted novel is so close to an artist’s heart, and the heart of any true lover of music, that it defies description. The Magic Flute is such a mystical story in just the opera alone, that to merge it with a true love story is amazing for the reader. I felt my head actually falling in love again just with the beauty of the music along with the story.” —Carol Vaness, soprano “Magic Flute is the wonderful tale of a musician's desire to leave her mark on the world. Elizabeth Morgan's journey from devastating loss to reinvention and success reminds us that great artists must embrace all of life -- including precious and complicated relationships -- to offer the world something of value, and that no one succeeds alone. I loved every page of this compelling story!” —Jane Erwin Hammett, Sweet Spot Performance “Patricia Minger has captured the essence of a musicians attachment to their instrument and their passion for music. When Liz Morgan has to face the abandonment of her career as a flutist, it is a devastating blow and is beautifully and very accurately presented by the author. The only bond more important than a musician and their instrument is that between parent and child! It is a wonderful story and is very true to the nature and portrayal of an instrumentalist and a singer. Brava to Ms. Minger and thank you.” —Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano

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Book SynopsisIn a Silent Way chronicles the coming of age in the late sixties of young Jeanna Kendall as she quietly facilitates a close-knit community of learners in a progressive urban school, grapples with racism and sexism within her community activist group, and experiences the extreme highs and lows of her first intimate relationship—which happens to be with a revered and powerful community leader. Jeanna encounters all the same issues we confront today: youth of color demeaned and destroyed, wise community elders discounted by leaders who “know better,” and the “sexploitation” of women in the movement. Gradually overwhelmed by the mounting challenges she faces on all fronts, and on the verge of a breakdown, a crisis emerges within her movement group that transforms everything and everyone and opens up a new world of possibilities—ones deeply relevant to us today.Trade Review2016 Best Book Awards: Fiction: Multicultural Finalist “In a Silent Way offers a moving portrayal of a committed, young teacher-activist, Jeanna, who is determined to effect change in her urban school and community. Jeanna's culturally relevant and inclusive pedagogy, and her determination to never give up on her students, ultimately wins their respect and admiration. All the while, Hetzel makes sure to shine a much needed light on undemocratic practices and unequal gendered power dynamics in social and racial justice movements.” —Jonathan Kozol, education activist and award-winning author of Death at an Early Age and Savage Inequalities: Children in American Schools “In A Silent Way is a deeply personal historical novel of importance, because it reveals what happens when the convergence of race, gender, and class struggles intersect inside people’s lives and communities. Mary Jo Hetzel has written an unconventional coming of age story of a young white woman swept up into the political whirlwind of urban America in the late sixties. A must-read for those who want to know the roots of today’s #BlackLivesMatter Movement, as well as the contemporary offshoots of the Occupy Walls Street Movement.” —Sam E. Anderson, co-editor of The Black Activist Journal, writer, and education activist “In a Silent Way captures the racial, class, and leadership issues of the 1960s that continue today as they play out in an alternative school and multi-racial movement group. The main character of the teacher is are well developed, and her students’ quandaries, anger, fear, despair, then hope and action ring true. Leading by listening, in the classroom and the movement, emerges as an essential touchstone. In the novel, as I’ve learned in my own work, students can and do lead, often seeing more clearly and less encumbered by ego than adults.” —Monty Neill, Executive Director of FairTest “Much as her main character does with her students, author Mary Jo Hetzel grabs hold of your heart and mind in this compelling, beautifully written, and breathtakingly honest story of an idealistic young teacher’s struggle to connect and work for a better world. In a Silent Way will resonate powerfully with teachers, students, parents, and anyone involved or interested in today’s struggles for educational, social and racial justice.” —Lisa Guisbond, Executive Director of Citizens for Public Education “As I read In a Silent Way, I was filled with hope and empathy for the main character, a young teacher named Jeanna. Self-empowerment is learned, not taught, and once learned, it is the greatest gift of all. I wish we could assign this book to all teachers in urban communities, so that the conversations that need to take place toward quality education can happen with clearer understanding. This will be our parent group’s first read.” —Malikka Williams, black parent and organizer in Dorchester, MA “Teacher Jeanna’s willingness and courage to confront the social, racial, and political realities of urban life, and to give her students the powerful literacy tools needed to achieve social, economic, and educational justice, is nothing less than astounding. On the other hand, her tortuous coming-of-age journey through a world riddled with traps and snares, and her suffocating silence, evoke the reader's empathy and rage. In a Silent Way is a must-read for all educators of urban students.” —Junia Yearwood, BPS English teacher of 32 years and literacy empowerment facilitator “At its core, In a Silent Way is about a young teacher, Jeanna, unleashing the brilliance and unique talents of her students while seeking to remain true to herself within a fractured grassroots social justice group. By sharing character Jeanna’s educational practice, Mary Jo Hetzel offers compelling guidance to all those interested in creating an urban educational system that promotes the aspirations of youth, teacher, parents, and community. —Ellen Hewett, Director of the National College Transition Network at World Education “This riveting, engaging journey of a young, white, activist educator in the late 60s unfolds unlike any other story previously told. This young woman chooses to join in the struggle for Civil Rights, while allowing her students to utilize their passions to change the course of their lives in an urban alternative high school. The reader is drawn in as the story unfolds, and taken along unanticipated pathways where the incidents and learnings that occur are completely applicable to this day. Since learning from our history may prevent future missteps, this powerful novel is a must-read.” —Karla Nicholson, Executive Director, Haymarket People's Fund “A fascinating and compelling story showing how the choices we make shape the world in which we live.” —Chuck Turner, Boston Community Organizer/Activist “Mary Jo Hetzel is an activist and humanist of the first order. Her weaving of students’ projects into exciting presentations shows how students can soar when a teacher believes in them. I hope this novel will help people see the need for change in our ‘change’ organizations and our schools.” —Sandra McIntosh, Chair of The Coalition for Equal, Quality Education and former Parent Coordinator at English High School “In a Silent Way is a riveting debut novel that starts with what appears to be a familiar trope—the idealistic, young, white teacher who takes on a classroom of inner city kids—and turns it on its head. However, this gripping, nuanced portrait set in 1969 also reflects a difficult reality for women in progressive movements, one that is often glossed over.” -—Lisa Borders, author of The Fifty-First State and Cloud Cuckoo Land

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Book SynopsisHonorable Mention in the New England Book Festival: General Fiction Honorable Mention in the London Book Festival: General Fiction Tzippy is a wealthy widow, feisty, determined, vain and living in Florida. Her three children will be visiting for Tzippy’s 80th birthday celebration and will be bringing with them the old wounds that Tzippy did more than her fair share to inflict. As her birthday approaches, the death of a close friend as well as the aches, pains and daily indignities of aging are preying on her mind. Tzippy wonders how she will be remembered? Her relationship with her children is not good, particularly with Shari, her youngest and most screwed up. Shari is a problem drinker and still plagued by the eating disorder she’s had since adolescence. She always blamed her mother for her problems and lately Tzippy has had the uncomfortable feeling Shari may be right. On the day of the party, on edge and anxious, Tzippy decides on a shopping trip to Saks which is always her quick fix, and while there, sees a brooch she wants, but not enough to pay for it. It finds its way into her purse and as she is making her get away—unlike the other times—she is caught and hauled off to the police station. Now that Tzippy is turning 80, there is not an infinite amount of time left. Will She be able to repair the damage that has taken a lifetime to create?Trade Review“Tzippy, The Thief marks the introduction of a major new voice in American fiction. Every day, we are buried below an avalanche of consumerism that validates only the young. Keenly observant and humane, Rohner explores the tucked-away realities of aging: the fears of approaching twilight, the regret at loss of beauty and health, the examination of family and emotional legacy. This is an important book, and the debut of a clarion voice.” —Charles Bane, Jr., Pushcart Prize Nominee and author of The Chapbook and New Poems "Tzippy the Thief clearly establishes novelist Patricia Striar Rohner as an original and gifted storyteller. A thoroughly entertaining and deftly crafted read from beginning to end, Tzippy the Thief is an especially recommended addition to community library General Fiction collections." —Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisRichard and Michael, both three years sober, have just decided to celebrate their love by moving in together when Richard—driven by the desire to do the right thing for his ten-year-old-daughter, Brady, whom he has never met—impulsively calls his former father-in-law to connect with her. With that phone call, he jeopardizes the one good thing he has—his relationship with Michael—and also threatens the world of the fundamentalist Christian grandparents who love Brady and see her as payback from God for the alcohol-related death of her mother. Unable to reach an agreement, the two parties hire lawyers who have agendas far beyond the interests of the families—and Brady is initially trusted into Richard and Michael’s care. But when the judge learns that the young girl was present when a questionable act took place while in their custody, she returns Brady to her grandparents. Ultimately, it’s not until further tragedy strikes that both families are finally motivated to actually act in the “best interests of the child.”Trade Review"A nuanced portrait of what it means to be a family, with a bit of melodrama but plenty of heart." —Kirkus Reviews "A poignant literary pageant of custody battles, alchoholism, religious restraint and family turmoil, this tremendously moving read will leave you in bouts of feels all summer long." —Redbook "An emotionally gripping read that explores the deepest of cracks in a dysfunctional family, this poignant book belongs in the hands of every parent this summer." —Working Mother "This emotionally gripping tale about a gay man who must battle his way to sobriety and convince his ex father-in-law he is worthy of a relationship with his 10-year-old daughter will leave every dad moved. If you want your gift to finally induce your dad to weep in your presence, this might be your chance." —Popsugar "When Richard confronts his daughter’s fundamentalist Christian grandparents for a second chance at fatherhood, the most emotionally harrowing and heavy family drama of 2017 unfolds. Be sure you pack tissues in the glove compartment." —Brit+Co "A heartbreaking and emotionally riveting reading experience that reminds readers that most every American family has its dysfunctional ghosts. This explosive novel will add drama to your summer from Page 1." —SheKnows

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Book SynopsisGold Medal IPPY Winner in Religious Fiction Finalist in the novel/fiction category of the Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner: Best Religious Fiction, International Book Award 2017 2017 USA Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Religious 2017 International Book Awards Winner in Fiction: Religious The Divine Shekinah seeks deliverance from exile to heal a world desperately in need of Her wisdom. Her chosen mission keeper, three generations of kabbalists from places as diverse as a 19th century shtetl and modern day Israel/Palestine, must grapple with profound injustices and the shadows of humanity. If they choose the path of righteousness, love, and forgiveness, Her light can return to the world. Will the mission succeed? Will the divine feminine return to the world? The Shekinah calls to all of us to find our own way to ‘knit the world back together.’Trade Review"Leah Chyten’s Light Radiance Splendor is at its essence a beautiful love story between humanity and the Shekinah, the feminine aspect of the divine. Unrelenting in its depiction of the human drama, it begs each character to respond with forgiveness and love in order that She may return, and offer Her much needed guidance to a world in desperate need of healing. The book is masterful in presenting universal themes in a deeply personal way. Reading Light Radiance Splendor is a consciousness-changing experience." —Linda Carleton, author of

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Book Synopsis2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in New Fiction 2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Women's Fiction 2018 IBPA Ben Franklin Finalist in Best New Voices: Fiction Becca Meister Fitzpatrick—wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community—is the dutiful steward of her family’s iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter’s boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long ago: the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel—with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship—will react. Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca’s family—her parents’ beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother’s own secret struggles in the grand home her father named “Eden.”Trade Review"The 2000 summer season in fictional Long Harbor, Rhode Island, becomes the setting for a family reunion and the revelation of a long-held secret, not to mention the airing of more than a few resentments, in this debut novel. An engrossing, character-driven family saga.” —Kirkus "Eden is [a] poignant and powerful debut novel." —Reader Views "With familial drama so mesmerizing and gripping from the first page, it’s hard to believe that this is only Blasberg’s first literary blessing to the world." —Brit+Co “ . . . [A] beautifully written masterpiece that takes you on a historical journey inside a tormented family’s summer home to reveal painful secrets, utter heartbreak, and major family drama. An inspiring first novel.” —Boston Herald "A stirring historical novel perfect for women's fiction fans.” —Booklist "Eden is not just another farewell-to-the-summer-house novel, but instead a masterfully interwoven family saga with indelible characters, unforgettable stories, and true pathos. Most impressive, there's not an ounce of fat on this excellent book." —Anita Shreve, author of The Stars are Fire "Eden is a heartbreaking novel about the wounds that are passed down through generations. Blasberg’s voice is strong and clear, and her characters are so real—with their ambitions and their weaknesses, their good intentions and their resentments—that no reader is likely to forget them." —Ivy Pochoda, author of Visitation Street "Jeanne Blasberg¹s brilliant first novel conjures a family home so poignantly that I feel as if I¹ve returned there every summer of my life. In Eden, Blasberg invites us into the fearsome echo chamber of a dysfunctional family, and shows us ‹ in unsparing, crystalline prose how the members of such a family can begin to make their way into the light." —Louisa Hall, author of Speak and The Carriage House

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Book SynopsisThough twenty-one-year-old Karla Most manages to bag Saxton Perry, a virtual prince thirty years her senior, she has no idea how to live happily ever after, with or without him. Karla cannot get past her anger at having been deceived by her single, now-dead mother, Mutti, who—supposedly a “Holocaust victim,” complete with tattooed numbers—was in fact a German Christian who got into the United States by falsifying her background. So what does that make her daughter? Before she can answer that question, Karla must track down the actual story of her own existence.Trade Review"Ann Z. Leventhal's Among the Survivors is a rarity: a novel that fuses a modern Cinderella tale to an intriguing Holocaust mystery. The result is a unique hybrid, the likes of which I've never read before." —Wally Lamb, author of She's Come Undone and I'll Take You There "When the ineluctable past catches up to the present, the stakes are raised, and Among the Survivors, mordantly witty from the first pages, becomes a disturbing and consequential story. Ann Z. Leventhal is an astute and surprising writer who has really hit her stride with this long-awaited second novel." —Katharine Weber, author of True Confections and Triangle

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Book SynopsisAt seventy-three, eccentric widow Clara Breckenridge is on a last-ditch journey to reconcile with her estranged son, finally confront the guilty secrets surrounding her daughter’s death, and maybe find love again before she dies miserable and alone. But Clara is her own worst enemy. Rigid and afraid of change, she has cocooned herself in her old house to escape from life. Magic purple wasps saved her as a child from an abusive father and they want to help her now, but wasps only live 120 days. Clara’s time is running out. When her beloved house is slated for demolition, she panics and persuades her son to haul the house from Eugene to Jackpot, Nevada, where Clara’s life is turned upside down by two troubled young people. Can the rowdy purple wasp, a spirit guide with surprising powers, help Clara confront her past and join life again or is it too late? Clara at the Edge is imaginative, eventful, sometimes funny and deeply moving.Trade Review“Clara is a fascinating, feisty character….The writing is haunting and lyrical, and frequently ripples with humor and heart….Clara truly is at the edge of something greater than herself....[and her] story unspools in a compelling and engaging way.” —Foreword Reviews "Fox’s writing says yes to every surreal and absurd possibility life offers." —Booklist “This dazzling combination of riotous imagination with bottomless compassion makes this such a stellar debut. Readers will surely remember Clara and her crew—they are utterly distinct, and beautifully realized.” —Aimee Bender, author of The Color Master, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, and four other novels "We will follow Clara anywhere.” —Walter Kirn, author of 8 books, including Up in the Air and Blood Will Out “Who knew wasps could be protectors, champions, and the best friends a girl ever had? Maryl Jo Fox has written a wild, enchanting, constantly surprising story of one woman’s resilience, courage, and redemption through what may be a kind of magical insanity. Clara At the Edge kept me buzzing on every page.” —Diana Wagman, author of Life #6, The Care and Feeding of Exotic Pets, and four other novels "The writing is just like Clara—unpredictable and powerful. Each decision can lead to unimaginable consequences." —Heavy Feather Review

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Book SynopsisFor most of his adult life, the only place he felt at peace was at home in Silver Lake, Ohio with his parents—but after their sudden death, he is left on his own. Eager to help their brother, Steve’s siblings, Scott and Sylvia, who both live in Los Angeles, scramble to find someone reliable to live with Steve. The answer to their problem comes in the form of Sylvia’s sister-in-law, Nancy, who is desperate to find a place to live; within days, she moves in with Steve. This is the story of Steve and Nancy, who, as virtual strangers thrown together out of necessity, forge a way to live in fragile harmony. Sometimes dark, sometimes humorous, Just in Time is a hopeful, firsthand account of the day-to-day roller coaster of life with a schizophrenic.Trade Review2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Finalist in Second Novel 2018 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary "Jackson effectively represents the overwhelming nature of caring for a loved one with schizophrenia, which is seldom seen in fiction. She offers readers an expert understanding of the pitfalls of such a life: the revolving-door culture of caregivers, a mental health system that often leaves families at a loss, and the social stigma that constantly threatens to derail healing progress.” —Kirkus Reviews “Finally, finally, our culture is talking about mental illness and the suffering it brings to those it strikes and those who love them. In this addictively readable, well-written novel, based on her own true story, Joan Jackson humanizes—and even humorizes—the impact of schizophrenia.” —Meredith Maran, author of The New Old Me “I loved it. An honestly told story of a family coping with a situation that they have inherited. So beautifully written. It will resonate with many readers.” —Liz Murphy, former owner of The Learned Owl Book Store, Hudson, OH “What a lovely book! Your characters jump off the page and into our hearts. Steve lives and breathes. Thank you for letting me read it.” —Carol Burnett, author, comedienne, and actress “Joan Jackson delivers a pitch-perfect account of a family in crisis and the complex challenges of mental illness. With delicate intimacy, humor, and heart, Jackson seamlessly weaves reality into fiction in this moving document of the resiliency of the human spirit.” —Alexia LaFortune, MA Developmental Clinical Psychology, MARI, FAMI, author of Sex, Love, and Spirit: A Memoir “This remarkable book is an illuminating experience that brings a schizophrenic’s world to life. Bold and uplifting, Just in Time is a heartfelt, valuable contribution for families and professionals dealing with mental illness as well as an entertaining read for all.” —Ellen G Ruderman, Psychotherapist, Encino, CA "An intimate and lovely book about the messiness of a life lived with schizophrenia; filled with kindness, and quirkiness and a generosity of spirit; at times you feel like a voyeur; other times a family member. Joan L. Jackson weaves the story with a precise needle and thread; you feel exasperated, joyful, hopeful, worried, a bit anxious, and in one exquisitely drawn chapter toward the end of the book - waiting to exhale as you hold on to the seat of your pants. But, mostly, because of the beauty in Ms. Jackson's writing, you feel the power of resilience and love.” —Amy Ferris, author, Marrying George Clooney, Confessions from a Midlife Crisis, and editor of Shades of Blue "Just In Time is both a compelling & sensitive narrative, an emotional roller coaster that chronicles the journey of a family confronted with a loved one diagnosed with a mental disorder—in this case schizophrenia. Jackson is a good storyteller and Just In Time captures the emotions, challenges, successes, and failures that are part of siblings Steve & Sylvia’s complex relationship that evolves over the years. Its underlying premise is uplifting, because it is a story about hope. Sometimes it's not about tough love – it's just about love – that can make that which seems impossible, possible." —Jim Vidakovich, media strategist and best selling author "As the novel moves forward, it feels like reading a diary. The moments are intimate, the dialogue sincere, and the conflicts real . . . The book is a perfect read for anyone interested in the authentic struggles of a family trying to move forward, because, as Nancy says, eventually, “We’re all moving on.” —San Francisco Review "Joan L. Jackson has written an important and realistic novel about schizophrenia and its impact on a family. The characters were well developed, and the plot, though simple, kept the story moving with brisk pacing throughout the novel. Its strength was the depictions of Steve's symptoms and thought processes." —Storybook Circle Reviews

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