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The Handsome Man's Deluxe Café

The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency often helps people find things they have lost. But they have never had to help a client find herself—until now, in this latest installment of Alexander McCall Smith’s best-selling and beloved series. A kindhearted brother and sister have taken in a woman known only as “Mrs.”—a woman with no memory of her name or of how she came to Botswana. And so it’s up to Precious Ramotswe and her new co-director, Grace Makutsi, to discover the woman’s identity. Meanwhile, motherhood proves to be no obstacle to Mma Makutsi’s professional success. As she settles into her role as partner at the agency, she also launches a new enterprise of her own: the Handsome Man’s De Luxe Café, a restaurant for Gaborone’s most fashionable diners. But even Miss 97 Per Cent isn’t fully prepared for the temperamental chefs, drunken waiters, and other challenges that come with running one’s own business. Help may come from an unexpected source, if only Mma Makutsi can swallow her pride and ask. And next door to the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni is all too familiar with the difficult decisions of business owners. He is finally forced to make a tough choice, one that will bring major changes to both Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors and the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency—and that will require all of Mma Ramotswe’s finesse and patience to sort out. With sympathy and indefatigable good humor, Mma Ramotswe and her friends see one another through these major changes and discover along the way what true friendship really means.
Views: 703

Kiss and Tell

A TASTE OF ROMANCE LEADS NANCY TO A RENDEZVOUS WITH DANGER! Esme Moore, America's hottest romance writer, has come to River Heights, and the rumors are swirling. She's written her autobiography, a book of true confessions, and the scandals are sure to explode off the page. But someone has vowed to kill the book -- or Esme -- before her revelations come to light. It's up to Nancy to find the source of the threat. Speaking of scandals, Nancy may be on the verge of starting one of her own. A handsome young River Heights detective has joined her on the case, and Nancy's beginning to wonder if romance is simply in the air. But for now, she must attend to the intrigue at hand: the web of jealousy, suspicion, and betrayal that threatens to destroy Esme Moore.
Views: 703

The Cardturner: A Novel About Imperfect Partners and Infinite Possibilities

From Louis Sachar, New York Times bestselling author and winner of the Newbery Medal for HOLES, comes the young adult novel THE CARDTURNER, an exploration of the human condition. How are we supposed to be partners? He can’t see the cards and I don’t know the rules! The summer after junior year of high school looks bleak for Alton Richards. His girlfriend has dumped him to hook up with his best friend. He has no money and no job. His parents insist that he drive his great-uncle Lester to his bridge club four times a week and be his cardturner—whatever that means. Alton’s uncle is old, blind, very sick, and very rich. But Alton’s parents aren’t the only ones trying to worm their way into Lester Trapp’s good graces. They’re in competition with his longtime housekeeper, his alluring young nurse, and the crazy Castaneda family, who seem to have a mysterious influence over him. Alton soon finds himself intrigued by his uncle, by the game of bridge, and especially by the pretty and shy Toni Castaneda. As the summer goes on, he struggles to figure out what it all means, and ultimately to figure out the meaning of his own life. Through Alton’s wry observations, Louis Sachar explores the disparity between what you know and what you think you know. With his incomparable flair and inventiveness, he examines the elusive differences between perception and reality—and inspires readers to think and think again. From the Hardcover edition.
Views: 702

Kaspar the Titanic Cat

When kaspar the cat first arrived at London’s Savoy Hotel, it was Johnny Trott who carried him in. After all, Johnny was a bellboy and was responsible for all of Countess Kandinsky’s things— including Kaspar. But when tragedy befalls the Countess during her stay, Kaspar becomes more than Johnny’s responsibility: Kaspar is Johnny’s new cat, and his new best friend. And when Kaspar and Johnny meet Lizziebeth, a spirited young heiress, they find themselves journeying across the Atlantic with Lizziebeth’s family on England’s newest and most magnificent ship, the Titanic. Because there is always adventure in the air with a cat like Kaspar around. After all, he’s Kaspar Kandinsky, Prince of Cats, a Londoner and a New Yorker and, as far as anyone knows, the only cat to survive the sinking of the Titanic. . . .
Views: 702

Look for Me by Moonlight

When the mysterious Vincent Morthanos arrives to stay at her father's inn, 16-year-old Cynda is mesmerized. His charm and sensitivity are irresistible. His attentiveness is constant. Cynda's sure she's in love. Daring to hope that the stranger shares her feelings, Cynda is innocently blind to who he really is--or to the terrible danger of coming under his spell.
Views: 701

Karen's Grandmothers

When Karen's class "adopts" grandparents, Karen eagerly signs up for the program. Now she has five grandmothers and that's a lot of work!
Views: 701

Slam Book

Anna is desperate to be popular, but the key to being cool has devastating consequences About to start her freshman year of high school, Anna wants more than anything to be popular. At a family reunion, her cousin describes a secret “slam book”—a notebook kids use to write all kinds of comments about one another. Anna decides this may be her key to success. Anna’s friends Paige, Randy, and Jessie quickly jump in on the nasty fun and before long, Anna has realized her dreams of popularity. But the slam book keeps getting meaner, and Paige and Anna start using the book to fight with each other. Soon, Anna comes up with the ultimate prank, using lonely and insecure Cheryl as her means to pull it off. But Anna’s vicious trick may lead to tragic consequences. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of Ann M. Martin, including rare images from the author’s collection.
Views: 700

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Think yourself back in years, my friends. . . .It's New Year's Eve in Camelot, where King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and all their good Knights wait breathlessly for an extravagant feast to begin. Suddenly, a strange and frightening Knight bursts into the hall—a giant of a man, green from head to toe, who mockingly challenges the Court to a shocking game. Only the chivalrous Sir Gawain dares to take on the hideous Green Knight. But over the unexpected course of his test, will Gawain prove as brave and honest as he'd like to believe? Welcome to a medieval world full of sword fights and shape-shifting, monsters and magic, and timeless characters both gallant and wonderfully human. Written anonymously in the fourteenth century, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight is retold in its entirety by Michael Morpurgo in a lively and accessible narration that captures all the tale's drama and humor. Vivid illustrations by the celebrated Michael Foreman infuse this classic tale with the...
Views: 700

The Collectors

An brand-new e-short, set in the world of Philip Pullman's beloved and bestselling The Golden CompassIn this darkly delicious sliver of a tale, Philip Pullman offers a glimpse of the enigmatic girl who will become the sinister Mrs. Coulter. On a cold winter's night, two art collectors are settled before a fire in the Senior Common Room of a college in Oxford, discussing the unusual pieces one has recently added to his collection. What the two men don't know is that the portrait of a striking young woman and the bronze sculpture of a fearsome monkey are connected in mysterious ways. How could they imagine that they are about to be caught in the cross-fire of a story which has traveled time . . . and worlds. Published in 50 countries with over 22 million copies sold, The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass are renowned for their engrossing storytelling and epic scope. This new short tale will delight the...
Views: 700

Dark Calling

I know it's ridiculous. Lights can't whisper. But I swear I heard a voice calling to me. It sounded like static to begin with, but then it came into focus, a single word repeated over and over. Softly, slyly, seductively, insistently. "Come. . . " The Disciples are being manipulated by beings older than time. Only Kernel Fleck knows that something is wrong. But he is in the grip of a creature who cares nothing for the fate of humanity. Voices are calling to him from the darkness and he's powerless to resist. Kernel has already been to hell and back. Now he's about to go further.
Views: 700

Common Cause

A lost literary relic of the First World War, Common Cause tells the story of Jeremy Robson, a crusading newspaper editor in the fictional midwestern town of Fenchester. The Guardian's muckraking has led special interests to withhold advertising in order to drive Robson out of business. But he and local plutocrats put their differences aside when war is declared in 1917 in order to attack the German-American community for its supposed fealty to their Fatherland. Common Cause provides a vivid picture of the America-first fear and hate that gripped the midwestern United States during the Great War.
Views: 699

The Mystery Girl

One of Carolyn Wells\' more well-known novels, The Mystery Girl is a fascinating read considered a classic by some and definitely worth taking the time to read.
Views: 699

The Bog Beast

The charming chapter book series about the friendship between a human boy and a young Sasquatch It's a big day for Hugo, Boone, and the students at the Academy for Curious Squidges (a Squidge is a young Sasquatch). Today's the day they'll get their Bimbling Badge, which allows them to explore the North Woods on their own. But humans, snakes, and sinkholes aren't the only things they have to look out for! The legend of a lizard-like monster lurking in the swamp is enough to spook any young Sasquatch. When Hugo, Boone, and Gigi find themselves stranded in the middle of Ripple Worm River, they discover that there are more mysterious creatures in the North Woods than they'd bargained for.
Views: 699

Haunting of Horse Island

An invitation to a rustic retreat in upstate New York seems like a dream come true until a series of threatening messages, a poisoned picnic, and tales of a haunted mansion send many of the island patrons away, but Nancy is determined to stay and uncover the truth.
Views: 698

Kristy's Big Day

The megahit series returns to charm and inspire another generation of baby-sitters! Following a brand-new prequel in April 2010, the original BSC titles are back with a new look. Kristy's mom is getting married, and FOURTEEN little kids are coming to the wedding! Stacey, Claudia, Mary Anne, Dawn, and Kristy think they can handle it -- but that's before they spend a week changing diapers, stopping fights, solving mix-ups ... and getting sick and tired of baby-sitting! But together, the BSC can do anything -- even keep things under control for Kristy's big day!
Views: 698