Humorous fiction

Book SynopsisThe Wraiths have raised an army of the dead. An army of the living is marching on the throne. Caught in the middle, Myla is supposed to be spying on a sorceress who can read minds. Things are not going well. Far away, Seth and Fings are trying their hardest to have nothing to do with any of this. All Fings has to do is not steal anything. All Seth has to do is not meddle with Forbidden Magics. All they have to do is lie low. And for once, it’s all going swimmingly. Until, that is, Fings sees a face he thought they’d left behind in the ashes of Deephaven. As Seth’s past catches up with him and Myla unravels the true nature of the Empire’s new Princess-Regent, the trio converge on the dead city of Valladrune. Armed with sinister secret behind an old war, they once more hold the fate of the Empire in their reluctant hands. If only they knew what the heck to do with it. File Under: Fantasy [ Tough crowd i-Spy Forbidden fun End of an era ]Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR STEPHEN DEAS"Subterfuge and skulduggery from one of my favourite fantasy writers.”– RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships"Adventure fantasy in the classic style, as faction battles faction in a city of blood and grit and deathtrap back alleys. But it’s the storytelling that makes the pages fly by. Wit, humor, and a percolating sense of enchantment are signatures of a Stephen Deas novel, and this is Deas at the top of his game.”– Robert V.S. Redick, author of Master Assassins and The Red Wolf Conspiracy"A big, rich world, with a plot full of surprises and characters that will linger long after you finish the book… not to be missed."– Joshua Philip Johnson, author of The Forever Sea"This dark and gritty fantasy is recommended for readers wanting the scope of an epic with the grittiness of grimdark urban fantasy. It will be loved by those who are looking for stories that exhibit all the darkness at the heart of “Game of Thrones” set in the mean streets of the grittiest of fantasy cities, and/or those who like antihero protagonists stuck in a morally gray area."– Library Journal"Three unlikely characters land in the midst of political intrigue in this fun fantasy from Deas...This will most appeal to fantasy readers who love seeing everyday characters caught up in sweeping events."– Publishers Weekly"Deas's prose is witty, occasionally almost Pratchett-like...there's something vital and dangerous going on in the world, but our fun comes from the petty tragedies of three downtrodden rogues."– SFX"Readers who like their high fantasy laced with revenge and political intrigue will find this tale of interest."– Booklist

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Book SynopsisHeir to the FIBA button factory in Lombardy, Augustus is profiting from Italy’s postwar industrial boom. Yet the dreamy young man is far from your stereotypical industrialist. He is less interested in making money than in talking to the birds in the surrounding garden and in making love to a beautiful factory worker named Palmira. But when the money-hungry Palmira schemes to have him institutionalized, Augustus finds a new love among his fellow mental patients: flute-playing flower child Serafina. Can Augustus and Serafina find a way to break free and express their love of each other and of nature in this crazy world? Newly translated into English, Giuseppe Berto’s charming 1973 novel Oh, Serafina! was one of the first works of Italian literature to deal with ecological themes while also questioning the destructive effects of industrial capitalism, the many forms spirituality might take, and the ways our society defines madness. This translation includes a foreword from literary scholar Matteo Gilebbi that provides biographical, historical, and philosophical context for appreciating this whimsical fable of ecology, lunacy, and love. Trade Review"A madcap, modern-day St. Francis who talks to the birds, Augustus is committed to an institution by his wife at a time when mental health care rested on marginalization and segregation. There he falls in love with Serafina, another outcast, in this lighthearted fable that is sometimes pointed, but never caustic."— Anne Milano Appel, award-winning translator “Oh, Serafina! is a bizarrely beautiful fable for the ages. Thanks to the deft work of translator Gregory Conti, this tale of industry, lust, mental illness, and ecological sensibility is a most welcome addition to the small but growing canon of Italian environmental literature available in translation.”— Monica Seger, author of Landscapes in Between: Environmental Change in Modern Italian Literature and Film “Fifty years ago, Giuseppe Berto wrote his fable of ecology, lunacy, and love against the backdrop of the industrialized Italy of his day. But books, fortunately, outlive their occasional contexts. In Gregory Conti's flawless translation, Oh, Serafina! shines as a tale that belongs even, if not especially, to our own time.”— Federica Capoferri, coauthor of Badlands: Il cinema dell'ultima Roma "Entertaining, profound, and timely, Giuseppe Berto’s Oh, Serafina! shows the marvels hidden in worlds that, despite their apparent marginality, teem with vitality and poetry. Perfectly attuned with the novel’s spirit and rhythm, Gregory Conti’s elegant translation prompts the rediscovery of this jewel of Italian literature."— Serenella Iovino, author of Ecocriticism and Italy: Ecology, Resistance, and LiberationTable of ContentsContents Author's Note, Giuseppe Berto Translator's Note, Gregory Conti Foreword, Matteo Gilebbi Oh, Serafina! About the Author About the Translator

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Book SynopsisA mystery, a love story, and a search through a shadowy past. Two strangers unite in this novel of family secrets by international bestselling author Marc Levy, the most read contemporary French author in the world. When London journalist Eleanor-Rigby Donovan receives an anonymous letter alluding to a crime committed by her deceased mother, her life is turned upside down. It points her to a bar on the Baltimore Harbor, where she finds a stranger who has received the same mysterious letter about his own mother. Together, Eleanor-Rigby and this young man, George-Harrison Collins, embark on a quest through the shadowy past of the Stanfields, a moneyed Maryland family full of unimaginable secrets. These secrets will transport them back decades, across continents, and to a mysterious crime long buried…until now.Trade Review“[A] breezy family drama that plays out its familiar narrative beats right on time.” —Kirkus Reviews “The Last of the Stanfields is a compelling tale of mystery, love, and a search through a shadowy past.” —Brooklyn Digest “Amusing at times, nostalgic and wistful at others…” —New York Journal of Books

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Book Synopsis ”I’ll read anything she writes” EMILY HENRY Can a little Christmas magic mend a broken heart? Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR LINDSEY KELK’S ROMCOMS: ”Funny, engaging and sparkly”—JANE FALLON ”Sparkles on the page like champagne in the glass”—MILLY JOHNSON 'This novel tastes like mince pies fresh out of the oven, sprinkled with a dusting of magical realism…A heartwarming romance about the biggest love of our lives: ourselves (and the hot, tall surgeon next door).' Good Housekeeping ’As warm and satisfying as a hot chocolate on a winter’s day’ HEAT ‘We all need an escape at times, and who better to serve a delicious, escapist romance?’ Woman’s Weekly ‘We loved this feel-good book’ Bella ‘Funny and feel-good, this is another brilliant read from Lindsey Kelk’ Closer ‘Another perfect romantic comedy from Lindsey Kelk, who always gets the balance of rom and com exactly right’ Sarra Manning, RED ‘Swoops you up and fills your heart with such joy’ GIOVANNA FLETCHER ‘Sparkling and gorgeously romantic’ SARAH MORGAN ‘Touching, hugely romantic and properly laugh-out-loud funny’ SOPHIA MONEY-COUTTS ‘I laughed and cried with every chapter, I never wanted it to end’ LUCY VINE ‘Utterly brilliant: super smart, achingly funny and just impossible to put down’ ROSIE WALSH ‘The perfect balance between sparkly escapism and big-hearted realness’ SOPHIE RANALD ‘As warm as a hug but as funny as a night out with the girls’ LAURA JANE WILLIAMS ‘Perfect, escapist fiction’ LIA LOUIS ‘You will not want to miss your invite to this ball’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN ‘Full of Lindsey’s trademark warmth and wit’ ALEX BROWN ‘Everything a perfect and iconic romcom should be’ CARMEL HARRINGTON

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Book SynopsisSavvy, smart, and sexy! Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author of That Thing Called LoveHolly didn''t expect to be a widow at thirty-two. She also didn''t expect to be so big. After her husband''s death, food was the one thing she could always count on. Then she meets Logan Montgomery, a personal trainer so hot that he makes her sweat in all the right (and so embarrassingly wrong!) places. Charmed by her witty wisecracks and sharp insights, he offers to help her get back in shape. Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym, slimming down into a bona fide looker with killer curves—and a new kind of hunger. Before either of them can stop it, their training sessions lead to even more steamy workouts away from the gym.But can Logan commit to a woman who doesn''t fit his ideal? Now that Holly''s turning other men''s heads, does she even need Logan anymore? Are they a couple built to last . . . or destined to fizzle?

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Book SynopsisIn The Dark Lord—a hilarious parody of epic fantasy—Jack Heckel (author of The Charming Tales) tells the story of a young man traveling into a dark and magical world of dwarves, elves, and sorcerers to restore the balance between good and evil.After spending years as an undercover, evil wizard in the enchanted world of Trelari, Avery hangs up the cloak he wore as the Dark Lord and returns to his studies at Mysterium University. On the day of his homecoming, Avery drunkenly confides in a beautiful stranger, telling her everything about his travels. When Avery awakens, hungover and confused, he discovers that his worst nightmare has come true: the mysterious girl has gone to Trelari to rule as a Dark Queen. Avery must travel back to the bewitched land and liberate the magical creatures . . . but i

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Richard Kadrey's The Everything Box is a manic and hilarious Venn diagram of Elmore Leonard, Dave Barry, and the Book of Revelations. The last time the end of the world in a novel was this funny, aliens destroyed Earth to build a hyperspace bypass through it." -- Matt Wallace, author of Envy of Angels and Lustlocked on THE EVERYTHING BOX "This book has everything I need in a book, and some things I didn't know I needed. I couldn't stop laughing at the freelance poltergeists, inept angels, doomsday devices, mooning werewolves (...mooning werewolf. I just got that), and small time career criminals in way over their heads. Highly recommended." -- Mur Lafferty, author of The Shambling Guide to New York on THE EVERYTHING BOX "The story is fast paced, very funny, and exceptionally clever. Kudos to this author!" -- Suspense Magazine on THE EVERYTHING BOX "A supernatural comic caper that reads like one of the late Donald Westlake's Dortmunder novels sprinkled with some fairy dust." -- Kirkus Reviews on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Kadrey's plot doesn't depend on magic; instead, magic is the broth bringing all manner of delicious ingredients together in this wonderful stew of a story. This unusual urban fantasy is a delight." -- Publishers Weekly on THE EVERYTHING BOX "A rolling bouncy-house of a caper tale, The Everything Box abounds with quick-witted characters, snarky dialogue, and surreal analogies. If you haven't sampled Richard Kadrey's take on fantasy yet, this is a great place to start." -- Christopher Moore, New York Times bestselling author of Lamb, A Dirty Job, and The Serpent of Venice on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Fans of the Sandman Slim novels as well as newcomers wo the author will be thrilled by this fast-paced, smart-mouthed adventure." -- B&N Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog on THE EVERYTHING BOX "[Kadrey] can make Hell funnier than you'd believe. Raymond Chandler meets Good Omens, in which multiple doomsday cults, secret government agencies, and crooks of every description compete to retrieve the box, a perfect McGuffin, a Maltese Falcon with the power to destroy all of Creation." -- Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Kadrey's simultaneously glib and snide voice [peppers] his story with delightful turns of phrase...The Everything Box is a fun read for all of the Kadrey-isms alone." -- Locus Magazine on THE EVERYTHING BOX "His books are a romp... and they go down like cold lager on a hot afternoon. He'll hit you with the heavy stuff... but he'll give it to you in the first couple pages, cover it in stripper glitter, and have someone get socked in the nose." -- NPR Books on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Hilarious, exciting, poignant, romantic, horrifying, and absurd in the very best way ..." -- New York Journal of Books on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Richard Kadrey's work has often possessed a dark, satirical edge, but in "The Everything Box," the San Francisco author allows himself to venture far into the realm of the outright silly...reminiscent of the comic novels of Christopher Moore, Neil Gaiman or Terry Pratchett" -- San Francisco Chronicle on THE EVERYTHING BOX "Mr. Kadrey's invention never flags. He always has another joke up his sleeve. Even if the joke is on us and our ability to drag the Heavenly Hosts themselves down to street level, and then corrupt them." -- Wall Street Journal on THE EVERYTHING BOX

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Book SynopsisReturn to New York Times Bestseller Sandra Hill’s Cajun country, where the Louisiana bayou is steamier than ever . Plus, he’s in love with a gorgeous almost-nun named Fleur . With his whiskey-colored eyes and fierce bravery, Aaron is like her own personal Cajun cowboy, re-introducing her to .

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Book SynopsisFrom acclaimed author Alyssa Cole comes the tale of a city Cinderella and her Prince Charming in disguise . . .Between grad school and multiple jobs, Naledi Smith doesn’t have time for fairy tales…or patience for the constant e-mails claiming she’s betrothed to an African prince. Sure. Right. Delete! As a former foster kid, she’s learned that the only things she can depend on are herself and the scientific method, and a silly e-mail won’t convince her otherwise.Prince Thabiso is the sole heir to the throne of Thesolo, shouldering the hopes of his parents and his people. At the top of their list? His marriage. Ever dutiful, he tracks down his missing betrothed. When Naledi mistakes the prince for a pauper, Thabiso can’t resist the chance to experience life—and love—without the burden of his crown.The chemistry between them is instant and irresistTrade Review“Alyssa Cole is the newly coronated queen of contemporary royal romance! A Princess in Theory is delicious fun... a smart, funny heroine; a sweetly sexy prince; swoon-worthy romance; and an epic happily-ever-after. Long live the queen!” — Meg Cabot, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Princess Diaries “A delightful and sexy take on love between a suave African prince and a nerdy epidemiology student.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Attention-grabbing from page one, this first book in the Reluctant Royals series will absolutely warm your heart. A Princess in Theory is a delightful love story that introduces a princess — with attitude! — who readers will enjoy rooting for. Naledi is skeptical about modern royalty, but her ambition and tough demeanor shine. Cultural differences aside, this is a simple and heartfelt story to be savored.” — RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars- TOP PICK) “a funny, fast-moving, smart-alecky romance... A PRINCESS IN THEORY is pure fun. It will have you laughing, cringing and hooked from the start!” — Romance Junkies “the best new romance I’ve read in a while...” — New York Times Book Review “This is a fun, fanciful romance perfect for readers dreaming of royal weddings.” — BookPage “In Cole’s world, royalty and romance go hand in hand with compassion, open-heartedness, and intelligence, as well as a clear-eyed sense of real-world politics. A Princess in Theory is a fairy tale, yes, but one consistently grounded in reality, which makes the happily-ever-after all the more satisfying.” — Entertainment Weekly “This book was a lot of fun, sexy, with a compelling story. I really enjoyed the romance as it developed between Ledi and Thabioso, both interesting characters together and as individuals. Lots of erotic tension and a deeply satisfying ending. Definitely dive into this one.” — Roxane Gay

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Book SynopsisIn USA Today bestseller Christi Barth’s last Bad Boys Gone Good novel, the brother who’s always followed the rules finally gets to be a little bad.Kellan Maguire was a semester away from becoming a lawyer when his life imploded.Trade Review“Christi Barth has done it again! I want to wrap Kellan up in a big, red bow, give him to myself as a birthday present, and then unwrap him over and over again.” — Jen Doyle, author of the award-winning Calling It series “Christi Barth delivers another sexy Irish brother with all the banter and toe-curling heat I’ve come to love and expect from her, plus a twist I didn’t see coming!” — Kelly Siskind, author of the Over the Top series “The edge of danger kept me on the edge of my seat, while the humor, banter, and romance kept me turning the pages. It’s good to be bad!” — New York Times & USA Today bestselling author, Melanie Moreland “This series gets better with each installment. The retelling of the story from each brother’s point of view adds depth and provides the chance to revisit characters you fell in love with in the previous books.” — Library Journal “an engaging mix of combustible love scenes and lively writing, seasoned with a generous serving of snarky wit.” — Booklist

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Book SynopsisFirst Time in Print!(A standalone Heartbreaker Bay novel) When love drives you crazy . . . When sexy Joe Malone never calls after their explosive kiss, Kylie shoves him out of her mind. Until she needs a favor, and it’s a doozy. Something precious to her has been stolen and there’s only one person with the unique finder-and-fixer skills who can help—Joe. It means swallowing her pride and somehow trying to avoid the temptation to throttle him—or seduce him. the best thing to do . . . No, Joe didn’t call after the kiss. He’s the fun time guy, not the forever guy. And Kylie, after all she’s been through, deserves a good man who will stay. But everything about Kylie makes it damned hard to focus, and though his brain knows what he has to do, his heart isn’t getting the memo. . . . is enjoy the ride. As Kylie and Joe go on the scavenger hunt of their lives, they discover surprising things about each other. Now, the best way for them to get over “that kiss” might just be to replace it with a hundred more. 

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Book SynopsisWho needs mistletoe?Most people wouldn’t think of a bad Santa case as the perfect Christmas gift. Then again, Molly Malone, office manager at Hunt Investigations, isn’t most people, and she could really use a distraction from the fantasies she’s been having since spending the night with her very secret crush, Lucas Knight. Nothing happened, not that Lucas knows that—but Molly just wants to enjoy being a little naughty for once . . .Whiskey and pain meds for almost-healed bullet wounds don’t mix. Lucas needs to remember that next time he’s shot on the job, which may be sooner rather than later if Molly’s brother, Joe, finds out about them. Lucas can’t believe he’s drawing a blank on his (supposedly) passionate tryst with Molly, who’s the hottest, smartest, strongest woman he’s ever known. Strong enough to kick his butt if she discovers he’s been assigned to ba

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"With twists and turns right out of a Bollywood drama . . . [a]nother win from this rising romance star." -- Booklist"The second book in Rai’s Modern Love series, this is a romance novel you need in your life… The true takeaway from this novel is Rai's artful depiction of how, with the right communication and care, two people can work through mental health issues to find meaningful love.” -- Shondaland.com (Five Books to Read in April)"Girl Gone Viral is a fun, sexy rom com that's impossible to resist.” -- PopSugar (25 of the Best New Books to Add to Your Reading List This Spring)"gorgeous romance... Rae handles her characters’ mental health issues with incredible care while not shying away from depicting the effects such issues would have on a relationship. Katrina and Jas’s loving, mutual support of one another is truly touching. This sensitive and sexy contemporary is sure to be a hit." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)"The Right Swipe is a fun, hilarious and touching modern romance... Anyone who has been in the dating world in the past 10 years will find something to relate to in this book, and will also fall hard for this love story." -- Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author of Royal Holiday“I absolutely loved it… volcano-hot sex and cackle-worthy dialogue…I highly recommend this!” -- Sally Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of The Hating Game and 99 Percent Mine"Girl Gone Viral is a fun, addictive romance and when the layers kick in, it's a page-turner you won't put down." -- NPR“An ideal gift for the reader who loves comedy and emotional complexity, and who knows all too well the unique challenges of dating in the modern era.” -- Washington Post (Best Romances of 2019)“Rai turns up the heat and finds the funny in modern dating, from almost-dick pics to glitter grams and ghosting. But it’s not all steamy, as the characters have issues with trust and love, making them vulnerable both to each other and the public. Taking the dating app business to another level, with a dose of girl power, sexual politics, and one eccentric red-headed aunt, Rai scores a touchdown.” -- Booklist“One of the very brightest romance writers working right now develops sizzling romantic tension...” -- Entertainment Weekly"This hilarious, heartfelt new novel from Alisha Rai is the perfect way to add a little warmth to a chilly fall evening." -- Today.com “Rai’s GIRL GONE VIRAL sizzles with heart and family. Jas and Kat's fiery chemistry is irresistible, fulfilling every bodyguard fantasy. This book satisfies as much as Kat’s sourdough waffles.” -- Roselle Lim, author of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune“Alisha Rai — hands down, one of our favorite authors in the genre — manages to do something fresh every time she lowers her hands to a keyboard, and The Right Swipe is our favorite yet. It’s smart, empowering, juicy, and exploding with voice. We love getting lost in her books and this one is the perfect pick for these warm and indulgent days of summer! We absolutely adored this book!” -- Christina Lauren, New York Times bestselling author of The Unhoneymooners“Alisha Rai delivers compelling emotion, fascinating characters and edgy romance in a razor-sharp, thoroughly modern voice that readers will adore. I sure did!” -- Jayne Ann Krentz"Rai follows up The Right Swipe with a sweet and spicy romance that delves into some deep issues of mental health for both main characters (severe anxiety and PTSD), as well as the effects of social media on people’s lives. Essential for public libraries." -- Library Journal (starred review)"Rai's lovely, slow-building romance between the very appealing Katrina and Jasvinder will delight readers." -- Booklist

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Book SynopsisOne of Real Simple’s Best Books of 2019“I loved this book. . . .Funny, heartbreaking and clever with a mystery at its heart.” —Jojo Moyes“With an eye as keen for human idiosyncrasies as Miranda July’s, and a sense of humor as bright and surprising as Maria Semple’s, this is a novel of pure velocity.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)?The adult debut from bestselling, award-winning young adult author Jaclyn Moriarty—a frequently hilarious, brilliantly observed novel—that follows a single mother’s heartfelt search for greater truths about the universe, her family and herself.Twenty years ago, Abigail Sorenson’s brother Robert went missing one day before her sixteenth birthday, never to be seen again. That same year, she began receiving scattered chapters in the mail of a self-help manual,

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Meg Cabot is chick-lit royalty.” -- Newsweek“There is a school of thought that says reading should be entertaining, and this is exactly what Meg Cabot produces for us: fun. She is the master of her genre; she is the George Bernard Shaw if not the George Eliot of [her genre].” -- Publishers Weekly“Meg Cabot is best known for her books for younger readers, but her adult fiction is a total delight.” -- Popsugar“As in Cabot’s previous adult romances (e.g., The Boy Is Back), our heroine’s wit and humor and determination to stay the course shines through in this breezy story that is a pure delight to read.” -- Library Journal“The ever-delightful Cabot charms in her latest, which is equal parts sweet and steamy. Animal lovers unite—this one’s for you.” -- Booklist“Meg Cabot is a fabulous author.” -- USA Today“(Cabot) is a master at entertaining and amusing readers.” -- Booklist“Cabot’s strength is her heroine’s funny, authentic voice. Great fun.” -- Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisWhen assisting in her brother Victor’s ground-breaking experiment to bring a reassembled man back to life, she realizes that having an agreeable gentleman convalescing in the guest suite might be a chance to let a man get to know the real her.Trade Review"Take everything you’ve come to love in a Sally Thorne novel: witty banter, a sexy, toe-curling romance, and voice that pirouettes off the page, but add one part Tim Burton. Dear reader, that is what’s waiting for you, and we are OBSESSED. This is Sally Thorne at her absolute best." -- Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author“Second First Impressions is about realizing that life is short, and that to live it to the fullest we must be both selfish and selfless. It urges us to soak up the beauty of each passing moment—and this wondrous book is a good place to start.” -- Entertainment Weekly“Thorne manages to bring all the characters to vivid life, endearing them to the reader through the enumeration of their quirks and fleeting revelations about their pasts. Each scene between the protagonists—whose first meeting will make you laugh and wince simultaneously—is a delight, as is Ruthie’s motley found family.” -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review) on Second First Impressions“Second First Impressions is the warmest, coziest, sweetest book of the year, an absolutely perfect blend of humor and heart. I want to live inside Sally Thorne’s brain.” -- Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Beach Read“Sally Thorne satisfies hearts longing for laughter in their love stories….Their battle of wits is tremendously fun—acerbic and sexy and filled with tension. The result is a wicked, witty romance that will capture readers’ hearts long before Joshua manages to capture Lucy’s.” -- Sarah MacLean, Washington Post, on The Hating Game“If you miss romantic comedies, the kind that were so funny, you would pay $15 to see them in the theater—plus the cost of popcorn and candy—this novel will make you very happy indeed...The rising tension and Thorne’s biting dialogue will make you wish for the romantic comedies of days gone by—or just more books like this one.” -- NPR Books on The Hating Game

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Doesn’t a romantic comedy set on a 1930s Nevada dude ranch teeming with about-to-be-divorced women owe a certain debt to the era’s big-screen classics? Then again, it’s hard to believe a cinematic version could be any more fun." — New York Times Book Review "Johnson’s rollicking comedy sizzles, thanks to the immensely appealing voice of its aging narrator...brims with the clever banter and farcical situations of a classic Capra film." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Do you want to read something funny? Let’s say, a novel set at a divorce ranch in Reno in the 1930s? A book with memorably eccentric characters, sparkling dialogue, a satisfying plot twist, and some romance and sex? A feel-good literary comedy/western? Here it is, then, the book you've been looking for: Julia Claiborne Johnson’s Better Luck Next Time." — Julie Schumacher, author of Dear Committee Members and The Shakespeare Requirement "Rollicking, nostalgic, wistful and wise, Better Luck Next Time is another gem from Julia Claiborne Johnson. Like a modern-day Anita Loos (but with more heart), Johnson spins an irresistible yarn that captures Depression-era disappointments, hopes, and determination, and paints a touching story of how even a life gone wrong can be a life well lived." — Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party “Hilarious and clever.” — New York Post "Julia Claiborne Johnson's real skill is a literary sleight of hand: creating humorous characters with big hearts, then using them to deliver a story with a surprising emotional wallop. There were tears from heartbreak and joy! My face still hurts from smiling." — Steven Rowley, author of Lily and the Octopus and The Editor "Invites comparisons to Shakespeare’s madcap comedies...Like Shakespeare with his fairies, Johnson uses her own brand of magic to bring these characters to life and to remind us that love often requires a second chance." — Chattanooga Free Press "Channels Frank Capra’s screwball comedies...There is a delightful sense of closure in the way Johnson wraps up this shiny package, which arrives just after New Year’s like a late holiday gift." — Christian Science Monitor "An engrossing portrait of 1930s Reno...witty and charming." — Booklist

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Book SynopsisAn arranged marriage leads to unexpected desire, in the first book of Alyssa Cole’sRunaway Royals series…When Shanti Mohapi weds the king of Njaza, her dream of becoming a queen finally comes true. But it’s nothing like she imagined. Shanti and her husband may share an immediate and powerful attraction, but her subjects see her as an outsider, and everything she was taught about being the perfect wife goes disastrously wrong.A king must rule with an iron fist, and newly crowned King Sanyu was born perfectly fitted for the gauntlet, even if he wishes he weren’t. He agrees to take a wife as is required of him, though he doesn’t expect to actually fall in love. Even more vexing? His beguiling new queen seems to have the answers to his country’s problems—except no one will listen to her.By day, they lead separate lives. By night, she wears the crown, and he bows to hTrade Review"Cole’s majestic new Runaway Royals series spins off from her excellent Reluctant Royals trilogy, adding more dazzling depth... Cole’s contemporary romances shine with unique settings and complex characters. Fans will eagerly await her next royal match." — Booklist (starred review) "Cole launches the “Runaway Royals” series with a bang, introducing a sexy but shy king, a determined and caring queen, and a host of characters who leap off the page into the reader’s imagination. Fans of the “Reluctant Royals” series will adore cameos by some of their favorites, but this is a solid starting point for new readers." — Library Journal (starred review) "Cole subverts both expectations and gender roles with the smart, sexy contemporary romance that opens her Runaway Royals series... Their unlikely arranged marriage strikes a delicate balance of politics and passion that is sure to delight." — Publishers Weekly (Best Books of 2020) “How to Catch a Queen is a cracking good tale. Cole’s worldbuilding is, as always, perfection, helped along by some engaging characters... one of the best romances of the year." — All About Romance "[O]ne of the year's best romances." — Popsugar

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