Richly drawn and sharply observed, A Nearly Perfect Copy is a smart and affecting novel of family and forgery set amidst the rarefied international art world.Elm Howells has a loving family and a distinguished career at an elite Manhattan auction house. But after a tragic loss throws her into an emotional crisis, she pursues a reckless course of action that jeopardizes her personal and professional success. Meanwhile, talented artist Gabriel Connois wearies of remaining at the margins of the capricious Parisian art scene, and, desperate for recognition, he embarks on a scheme that threatens his burgeoning reputation. As these narratives converge, with disastrous consequences, A Nearly Perfect Copy boldly challenges our presumptions about originality and authenticity, loss and replacement, and the perilous pursuit of perfection. Review"Gracefully wielding a collage of unlikely elements, A Nearly Perfect Copy pits authenticity against imitation, deception against personal fulfillment, and replacement against irretrievable loss ... Intricate and ambitious ... Amend’s characters [are] relatable and visceral ... [Her] crisp, even prose is hard to pull away from and subtle in its elegance."—The *Dallas Morning News"A smart page turner ... Amend creates very real characters who live in a very unreal world. This is a wonderfully witty and stylish novel, perfect for the summer."—Elizabeth Taylor, *Chicago Tribune"A well-crafted and introspective novel that will provide fodder for thoughtful discussions on morality and integrity."—*Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star"[A] fast-paced, intriguing novel."—People"Allison Amend has given us a flawlessly rendered, totally engrossing, class-and-continent hopping story about the day to day struggles of marriage and loss, the commerce and caprice of high art, the reality of being talented and ambitious when talent and ambition are not enough, and the ethics of cloning. Every scene, every page, every passage of this novel has been written with the stunning clarity and great humanity of a true artist at the height of her abilities. My guess is, if you read this book you will soon be shoving it into the hand of someone you love. I certainly will."—Charles Bock, New York Times bestselling author of *Beautiful Children*"Just when you think you know where A Nearly Perfect Copy is going, it swerves, like life, in some new direction. Allison Amend has packed this book with wit, style, yearning, risk, damage, truth, and compassion, populated it with characters who breathe with their own individual mystery, and along the way written what just might be the definitive fictional treatment of art forgery."—Kevin Brockmeier, author of *The Brief History of the Dead"This is what people mean when they use the term 'intelligent page-turner.' Amend is a brilliant storyteller, whose pitch-perfect observations call to mind Jonathan Franzen and Jennifer Egan. The complicated, completely fascinating characters (built with such human sympathy), the intricacy and cleverness of the plot, and the razor sharp exploration of contemporary mores make for a truly masterful read. I loved, loved, loved it."—Joanna Smith Rakoff, author of A Fortunate Age"Clever, wry ... Amend makes her characters immediately real, depicting their complicated desires and decisions in a highly enjoyable, nearly perfect novel." —Publishers Weekly, starred review“Amend creates suspense by charting in wincing detail Elm’s and Gabriel’s progress through ethically gray areas in the art market to unquestionably illegal acts ... Well-wrought ... the author meticulously delineates [her characters’] yearnings and frustrations ... Cleverly rendered.”*—The Washington Post*"[Written] with supple command, caustic wit, and a deep fascination with decent people who lose their moral compass ... As Amend tracks the descent of her two wounded and alienated innocents into lies, desperation, and crime, her visual acuity, fluent psychology, venture into the shadow side of the art world, and storytelling verve make for a blue-chip novel of substance and suspense."—*Booklist*"Something very real comes out of the many layers of forgery in Allison Amend's brainy intrigue of the shadowy side of the art world. Provenance is earned in more than the expected ways! A Nearly Perfect Copy is a captivating story."—Ron Carlson, author of *The Signal "Allison Amend is a gifted storyteller—no, more than gifted. Her writing is powerful enough to create its own kind of weather. Her characters are so real it's as if you could reach between the pages and shake hands with them."—Hannah Tinti, author of The Good Thief*"A fast-paced, lively novel of forgery ... Amend provides a fizzy, entertaining insider's look at the conjunction of visual art and commerce—especially the world of art auctions ... Her exploration of the ethics and the mechanics of the art world provide charm and enjoyment ... A provocative and likable read."—*Kirkus Reviews"Amend’s talent is on full display as these smart, complex narratives dance around each other, each capturing the reader’s imagination without ever detracting from the other story. Although she’s received critical acclaim for her work in a number of literary publications and for her historical novel, Stations West, this finely rendered portrait of two lives should introduce Amend to a wider audience."—*BookPage*About the AuthorALLISON AMEND, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, is the author of the Independent Publisher’s Award-winning short story collection Things That Pass for Love and the novel Stations West, which was a finalist for the 2011 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature and the Oklahoma Book Award. She lives in New York City. Views: 44
Miss Elizabeth Asherwood has a secret that she has kept from the ton: a young half-sister, Marguerite, living in France. But this is the time of the Terror, and when Marguerite needs to be rescued, Elizabeth must seek out assistance. Should she rely on her almost-fiancé, Geoffrey Winthrop? Or on that notorious rake who works for the Foreign Office, Lord Peregrine Blakeley? Georgian Romance by Amy Lake; originally published by Belgrave House/Regency Reads Views: 44
How many lives fit in a lifetime?When Hero De Vera arrives in America—haunted by the political upheaval in the Philippines and disowned by her parents—she's already on her third. Her uncle gives her a fresh start in the Bay Area, and he doesn't ask about her past. His younger wife knows enough about the might and secrecy of the De Vera family to keep her head down. But their daughter—the first American-born daughter in the family—can't resist asking Hero about her damaged hands.An increasingly relevant story told with startling lucidity, humor, and an uncanny ear for the intimacies and shorthand of family ritual, America Is Not the Heart is a sprawling, soulful debut about three generations of women in one family struggling to balance the promise of the American dream and the unshakeable grip of history. With exuberance, grit, and sly tenderness, here is a family saga; an origin story; a romance; a narrative of two nations and the... Views: 44
Victory is on the horizon, but will it bring lasting happiness for Martha's beloved girls? Irene loves her job at the aircraft factory but her pregnancy is making the work increasingly difficult. She feels her job and her independence slipping away. How will she cope when the baby arrives? Peggy falls under the spell of a dashing Guards officer. Much older than her and a sophisticated man of the world, he persuades Peggy to keep their relationship quiet. But does the major have other secrets too? Pat has overcome tragedy and found love again. But then her fiancé, US Army captain Tony Farrelly, is posted to North Africa, and Pat teeters on the edge of heartbreak once more. Sheila, the youngest of the girls, has met a teacher who seems the perfect match – but she still longs for excitement. A chance encounter with a recruiting sergeant for the WAAF takes her away from home – and towards danger and romance. If you've read Martha's Girls and The Golden Sisters,... Views: 44
The very name Beverly Hills conjures images of glamour, wealth, and success; in reality, the place has more than its share of malice, mayhem and, yes, even murder. In the breathtaking, and sometimes-macabre pages of Beverly Hills Confidential, the underbelly of the tummy-tucked gets exposed. Straight from the files of the Beverly Hills Police Department come the scoops the media often missed, and many never-before-published images enhance the blood-curdling accounts. Meet a Hollywood wannabe—at least she’s finally a cover girl, now—sprawled on a gurney, but what’s that mysterious message carved on her back? See Bugsy Siegel’s gruesome stare, his eyeballs shot out of their sockets; and a dead macaw in its ornate cage, its silence the clue that led investigators to the mummified remains of a talk-radio icon’s mother. In Beverly Hills Confidential, investigative reporter Barbara Schroeder and BHPD CSI inspector Clark Fogg re-examine the sensational and never-to be-forgotten stories of the past century, such as the Charlie Chaplin paternity trial, and the mystery surrounding the death (was it murder?) of Jean Harlow’s M-G-M-mogul husband. Revisit the most horrific crimes: the heinous Menendez murders; the ill-fated Van Cleef & Arpels heist; the much-publicized shooting of high-powered publicist Ronni Chasen. Beverly Hills Confidential shows how greed, jealousy, passion, corruption, and sometimes just simple bad luck, turned the once-idyllic movie star sanctuary into a haven for headlines. With an impressive response time of around two minutes, the BHPD has established itself as a protective force to be reckoned with. Over the last century, crime in Beverly Hills has consistently been international fodder. From a murder-suicide at Greystone Mansion in the Twenties—was it a gay love affair or a political payback?—to a fashion designer-turned covert molester who catered to the contemporary Who’s Who of 90210. Then there’s the nude female police aviatrix falling from the sky, and a millionaire madam running a stable of beautiful women and selling sought-after drugs—the BHPD has seen it all. Now, for the first time ever, the renowned department has opened its files to share the captivating chronicle of a city and its crime stories. Award-winning investigative journalist Barbara Schroeder and celebrated BHPD Senior Forensic Specialist Clark Fogg have crossed paths on many a case. In Beverly Hills Confidential, they partner their effort and expertise to inform and entertain readers with thrilling and often-morbid misdeeds woven into a history of the land of luxe. For more photos and information, visit www.beverlyhillsconfidential.com Views: 44
More than a decade after its initial publication, the groundbreaking anthology Charlie Chan Is Dead remains the best available source for contemporary Asian American fiction. Edited by acclaimed novelist and National Book Award nominee Jessica Hagedorn, Charlie Chan Is Dead 2: At Home in the World brings together forty-two fresh, fascinating voices in Asian American writing—from classics by Jose Garcia Villa and Wakako Yamauchi to exciting new fiction from Akhil Sharma, Ruth Ozeki, Chang-Rae Lee, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Monique Truong. Sweeping in background and literary style, from pioneering writers to newly emerging voices from the Hmong and Korean communities, these exceptional works celebrate the full spectrum of Asian American experience and identities, transcending stereotypes and revealing the strength and vitality of Asian America today. Views: 44
Claire's greatest dream is to leave behind the quiet life at the cattle station where she grew up for the bright lights of swinging 1960s Sydney. But just when it seems it might finally become a reality, she's summoned to a family reunion organized by her formidable Great Aunt Aurelia. Annoyed that she must again put her life on hold, Claire begrudgingly agrees, but what she discovers there could challenge everything she thought she knew about the station, her family, and even herself. Views: 43
The beautiful, sought-after Eloise Watkin has a painful secret, and he's just walked back into her life. Renowned rake Jareth Darby vows he is reformed and seeks only forgiveness from the woman he wronged five years ago. How can Eloise settle for sweet revenge when what she truly wants is his love? Recommended in The Ultimate Reading List as one of the best Regency romances of the last decade. Regency Romance by Regina Scott; originally published by Zebra Views: 43
Sarah, Bride of Minnesota is 32nd in the unprecedented 50-book American Mail-Order Brides series.Sarah, along with one-hundred other women, is out of a job thanks to a fire in the factory where she's worked since she left school. At loose ends, she decides to become a mail-order bride, moving to Minnesota to marry a man she's never met. She trusts God to guide her steps and send her to the man who is right for her, but when she meets the stubborn German, she has to wonder at His sense of humor.Karl, an immigrant who has fought hard to achieve everything he has in life, is startled when he meets his bride. In his mind, he'd pictured a homely woman who couldn't find a man any other way but through the mail, and instead he found himself face to face with a strong, funny woman. Would her strength and longing for romance keep them apart? Or would they find a way to compromise and make things work out? Views: 43
On a steamy summer day in 1977, Emanuel Jaques was shining shoes in downtown Toronto. Surrounded by the strip clubs, bars and body rub parlors of Yonge Street, Emanuel was lured away from his friends by a man who promised some easy money. Four days later the boy's body was discovered. He had been brutally raped and murdered, and Toronto the Good would never be the same. The murder of the Shoeshine Boy had particularly tragic resonance for the city's Portuguese community. The loss of one of their own symbolized for many how far they were from realizing their immigrant dreams. Kicking the Sky is told from the perspective of one of these children, Antonio Rebelo, a character first introduced in Barnacle Love. Twelve-year-old Antonio prizes his life of freedom and adventure. He and his best friends, Manny and Ricky, spend their days on their bikes exploring the labyrinth of laneways that link their Portuguese neighborhood to the rest of the city. But as the details of Emanuel's death expose Toronto's seedier underbelly, the boys are pulled into an adult world of danger and cruelty, secrets and lies much closer to home. Kicking the Sky is a novel driven by dramatic events, taking hold of readers from its opening pages, intensifying its force towards an ending of huge emotional impact.Review“The novel remains an impressive achievement: a synthesis of two fraught worlds. It reminds us that hidden gay lives blossom, or shrivel, inside every larger community. Kicking the Sky bridges its polarized worlds, staying true to the humanity in each. It’s one of the best things fiction can do.” —National Post “Anthony De Sa may be the most impressive two-book-oeuvre writer in Canada. . . .De Sa, who is described on the book’s cover as a librarian-teacher in Toronto, has given us a beguiling coming-of-age story – harked back to an event that shocked the country and had massive repercussions – and at the same time managed to beautifully capture a community and an era.” —The Globe and Mail “De Sa tells his story with a sure hand. Emotion is balanced by dark humour. . . . Kicking the Sky is a rich and compulsively readable addition to the fiction of [Toronto], a novel that, like most of the good ones, is funny, heart-breaking and humane.” —Toronto StarAbout the AuthorAnthony De Sa, author of the story collection Barnacle Love, grew up in Toronto’s Portuguese community. He graduated from University of Toronto, did his postgraduate work at Queen’s University, and attended the Humber School for Writers and Ryerson University. He lives in Toronto with his wife and three boys. This is his first novel. Views: 43
