I threw my neck out in the middle of Swan Lake last night. So begins the tale of Kate Crane, a soloist in a celebrated New York City ballet company who is struggling to keep her place in a very demanding world. At every turn she is haunted by her close relationship with her younger sister, Gwen, a fellow company dancer whose career quickly surpassed Kate’s, but who has recently suffered a breakdown and returned home. Alone for the first time in her life, Kate is anxious and full of guilt about the role she may have played in her sister’s collapse. As we follow her on an insider tour of rehearsals, performances, and partners onstage and off, she confronts the tangle of love, jealousy, pride, and obsession that are beginning to fracture her own sanity. Funny, dark, intimate, and unflinchingly honest, The Cranes Dance is a book that pulls back the curtains to reveal the private lives of dancers and explores the complicated bond between sisters.Review“A page-turning narrative…Howrey captures the intricacies of an ambitious and thwarted ballerina dealing with the weight of her younger sister’s success in the same field.”—Vogue.com“An engrossing novel about the cutthroat world of New York City ballet, without the hallucinations…The Cranes Dance is an addictive, absorbing take on competition and sisterhood. B+”—Entertainment Weekly (Must List, 5/18)"The Cranes Dance holds the door open to the candy store—the sacrosanct world of ballet—and I couldn’t be happier for the privilege. It’s fresh and often hilarious, sharp and adroit. Finding out who’s behind that stage curtain, really behind the curtain, makes for utterly engaging reading. I love this novel!" —Amanda Boyden, author of Pretty Little Dirty “Howrey’s engaging new novel exposes the competitive world of professional ballet through Kate Crane, a charmingly sarcastic ballerina at a crossroads. . . . Kate is an ideal guide to an unfamiliar world, from her irreverent explanations of her ballets (Howrey was a professional dancer) to her relatable self-doubt and honesty. Her revelations about family, talent, and what makes us special create a thought-provoking and entertaining read.” —Publishers Weekly “Witty, sharp and exhilarating. . . . A tale of sibling rivalry, youthful ambition and dreams lost and found.” —Susan Fales-Hill, author of One Flight Up “With its universal themes of ambition and competition, sisterhood and sacrifice, it will appeal to bad dancers as well as balletomanes—an addictive, readable delight.” —Caroline Weber, author of Queen of Fashion “Playful and smart, Meg Howrey’s fresh voice unveils an eye opening tale about the secretive and obsessive world of ballet.” —Amanda Foreman, author of A World on FireAbout the AuthorMeg Howrey was a professional dancer and actress. She currently lives in Los Angeles. Views: 9
Needing rest and recuperation after a car crash, Laura goes to stay with her brother Edward and his wife Caroline in the peaceful Kent village of Brocklehurst. But as soon as she enters their home, Four Winds, she is aware of a terrible wave of despair emanating from the house, and a feeling of panic overwhelms her. From an upstairs window, she sees some dark, twisted trees—trees that aren't there. And then comes the dream: a handsome, dark-haired man bending over her, kissing her passionately. She tries to dismiss it—but the dark-haired man is real, and he will pull Laura deeper and deeper into a web of terror . . . Views: 9
Join DJ Smith an her feline friend Gorgonzola, heroes of the acclaimed No Suspicious Circumstances, as they prepare to go undercover once more.DJ Smith is sent on her most daunting task to date. After the murder of an undercover agent, it is DJ's duty to take over where he left off – infiltrating a suspected money-laundering operation run by the formidable Ambrose Vanheusen. A ruthless criminal he may be, but DJ knows he has an Achilles heel: an obsession with his Persian Cat. DJ's passport into Vanheusen's empire comes in the form of her unlikely sidekick, Gorgonzola, a moth-eaten ginger Persian and sniffer cat extraordinaire.Under Suspicion confirms identical twin sisters Helen and Morna Mulgray as top notch crime writers – after all, two heads are better than one... Views: 9
Two eleven-year-old amateur detectives set out to solve the mystery of a deceased neighbor's missing will and to identify a stranger snooping around the house where the will is thought to be hidden. What begins as an excuse to use their new detective kit turns into a frightening experience that has the girls running for their lives.This is the first in a new mystery novella series recommended for ages 9-12. Views: 9
When Jenny Starling, the travelling cook with a penchant for trouble, accepts an assignment to cook for a wealthy businessman on his luxurious river-boat, the fabulous Stillwater Sam, she sees nothing but plain sailing ahead. The River Thames is especially lovely in summer, the limited number of guests a doddle to cook for, and even her employer's parrot has taken a fancy to her. All looks set for a peaceful and happy few days. So when someone is murdered, Jenny finds herself once again in the thick of things. And since anyone aboard could be the murderer, she'd better keep her wits about her – and her sharp knives handy! Views: 9
