Three unforgettable novels from the "subversive and ever-mischievous imagination" of a celebrated British author and five-time Man Booker Prize nominee (The New York Times). With crisp prose and sardonic wit, Dame Beryl Bainbridge established a unique position for herself in the landscape of modern British literature. In the three novels collected here, Bainbridge explores disasters both epic and intimate, drawing inspiration from historical figures as well as her own life experiences to produce tightly woven tales that are at once ironic and honest, subtle and surprising. An Awfully Big Adventure: In postwar Liverpool, a teenage girl joins a local theater troupe and discovers the unflattering truths behind the gloss of adulthood. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, this atmospheric novel was adapted into a film starring Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman. "A former actress herself, Ms. Bainbridge chronicles the backstage... Views: 133
"Wonderfully diverting." —Fresh Fiction for Last Gentleman StandingThe Reluctant RakeProper, elegant Miss Julia Devere is shocked when she spies her fiancé in the arms of another woman. She awakens to the fact that the game of love can be played by very different rules than her own. And unless she can beat this new mistress at her own game, Julia stands to lose all that she suddenly realizes she wants.How to Beguile a BaronMiss Susan Wyndham's and Miss Marianne MacClain's debut at the first ball of the season is ruined when they realize they're wearing the same gown—and enamored of the same gentleman. Randal Kenyon, Baron Ellerton, is the most eligible lord in London. And far from making peace, he sparks a battle between the pair of dazzling young beauties who now want only him.Praise for Brave New Earl:"A refreshingly different, sweetly romantic love story."—Booklist"Readers will be... Views: 133
Look for Stealth Insurgence, December 2, 2021Jayda and Zander leave Washington, DC, and return to Albuquerque, satisfied that they have completed their mission for President Jackson. They are bursting with joy for the unborn child Jayda carries and are keen to share the news of their blessing with those they love: Abe, Emilio, Zander's parents, his sister, Izzie, and Dr. Bickel.The couple can finally let down their guard: No enemies stalk them and no plots to overthrow the nation peer at them from beyond the horizon. They relax into a normal life—as "normal" as life with the nanomites can be—finding work, making a home, renewing relationships with their church family at Downtown Christian Center, growing in their faith, spending time with family, and looking forward to the birth of their child around the first week of April.Their "normal" life doesn't last long.The nanomites—ever vigilant and alert to the virtual... Views: 133
A dramatic page-turner that captures the devastating toll of war and the impact of women's struggles and solidarity, through the lens of a little-known slice of history.In 1917, Russia is losing the war with Germany, soldiers are deserting in droves, and food shortages on the home front are pushing people to the brink of revolution. Seventeen-year-old Katya is politically conflicted, but she wants Russia to win the war. Working at a munitions factory seems like the most she can do to serve her country—until the government begins recruiting an all-female army battalion. Inspired, Katya enlists. Training with other brave women, she finds camaraderie and a deep sense of purpose. But when the women's battalion heads to the front, Katya has to confront the horrifying realities of war. Faced with heartbreak and disillusionment, she must reevaluate her commitment and decide where she stands. Views: 133
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Award-winning author Elizabeth George gives us an early glimpse into the lives of Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, forensic scientist Simon Allcourt-St. James, and Lady Helen Clyde in a superlative mystery that is also a fascinating inquiry into the crimes of the heart. Lynley, the eighth earl of Asherton, has brought to Howenstow, his family home, the young woman he has asked to be his bride. But the savage murder of a local journalist is the catalyst for a lethal series of events that shatters the calm of a picturesque Cornwall village and embroils Lynley and St. James in a case far outside their jurisdiction—and a little too close to home. When a second death follows closely on the heels of the first, Lynley finds he can't help taking the investigation personally—because the evidence points to a killer within his own family.From the Paperback edition. Views: 133
Three Delightful Christmas Tales from Beloved Storyteller Michelle Griep Pour yourself a cuppa, get lost in the merriment of the season, and enjoy a Dickensian Christmas in three stories from fan favorite Michelle Griep: 12 Days a Bleakly Manor: Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love. A Tale of Two Hearts: Pleasure seeker William Barlow needs a wife immediately to gain his uncle's inheritance, and Mina Scott is just the girl to make him look respectable—too bad she turns him down. Ought he give her a second chance? The Old Lace Shop: Recently widowed Bella White is finally freed from the domination of the overbearing men in her life, but when she enters into a business partnership with the handsome Edmund Archer, she begins to wonder if... Views: 133
First published in 1927, Love Lies Dreaming is one of C.S Forester's earliest novels. Told in the voice of a young writer struggling to pen his next novel and therefore superficially preoccupied with the art of novel writing, at its true core this is a story about the quarrels and joys of early married life. In the end, as the narrator discovers, the best inspiration for good novel writing comes from the very ordinary jealousies and insecurities that make up his daily relationship with his wife, Constance. Written tenderly, but without nostalgia, this novel is a commentary on what it means to be young, married and in love, and is as relevant today as when it was first published. Views: 132
Adriana Trigiani, the New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster epic The Shoemaker's Wife, returns with her biggest and boldest novel yet, a hypnotic tale based on a true story and filled with her signature elements: family ties, artistry, romance, and adventure. Born in the golden age of Hollywood, All the Stars in Heaven captures the luster, drama, power, and secrets that could only thrive in the studio system—viewed through the lives of an unforgettable cast of players creating magic on the screen and behind the scenes.In this spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling, and beguiling as Hollywood itself, Adriana Trigiani takes us back to Tinsel Town's golden age—an era as brutal as it was resplendent—and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame and success. With meticulous, beautiful detail, Trigiani paints a rich, historical landscape of 1930s Los Angeles, where European and American artisans flocked to pursue... Views: 132
